History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history, Part 91

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 91

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Conine, came west and settled in Jones county, in 1868, and in 1870 came to Cass county and settled in Atlantic township, where he resides at present. Mr. and Mrs. Trainer have had three children- Arthur, (deceased), Rosetta and Frank Ray. Mr. Trainer is a member of the town board of trustees. He has served as road supervisor, and in 1884 was a candi- date for county supervisor of the Fifth district.

EDUCATIONAL.

The school board of Union township is at present as follows: E. R. Moore, president; George Van Vlack, secretary; H. W. Studley, treasurer; R. J. McNally, John Michaels, H. W. Studley, W. B. Edwards, Henry Boggs, J. R. Carter, E. R. Moore, directors.

Among the first terms of school taught in the township, was a term by Laura Woodward, in the spring of 1865, in the southwest corner of the township.

School district No. 1 has a school house on the northeast corner of section 11, near Seven-Mile creek. The district in- cludes the territory contained in sections 1, 2, 11 and 12. The huilding was erected in 1881, at a cost of seven hundred and seventy-five dollars. Carrie Neely was the first teacher in this building. The present director is R. J. McNally. The first school taught in the district was about the year 1860, by Mrs. Sterling, in a house built by John Newlon, on section 1. - The building was a temporary affair, constructed of hickory poles, which were placed on end and thatched with mud. The Sterling family occupied the house at that time, and the scholars, about four in

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

number, assisted Mrs. Sterling in the care of the children.

School district No. 2 embraces sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19 and 20. It has a school honse located on the northeast corner of section 19, erected in June, 1873, at a cost of six hundred and seventy-five dollars, and is 22x32 feet in size. The first teacher in this building was Anna Hand- ley. The present teacher is Anna Stewart, with John Michaels director,

School district No. 3 has a house on the southwest corner of section 25, which was erected in the summer of 1879, at a cost of six hundred and fifty dollars. To G. W. Poppy belongs the credit of teaching the first term of school in this building. The present teacher is Ella Potter, with H. W. Studley director.

School district No. 4 has a school house house on the southeast corner of section 28, erected in 1874. The district embraces the territory contained in sections 27, 28, 33 and 34. The first teacher in the dis- trict was Mattie Chapman. Katie Jem- erson is the present teacher, and W. B. Edwards present directof.

School district No. 5 embraces sections 29, 30, 31 and 32. The first house in this district was built in 1868 or 1869, at a cost of about five hundred dollars, and was situated on section 29. Mary Ben- nett was the first teacher in this building. The edifice was subsequently sold, when the present house was erected in a more convenient place, on the northeast corner of section 31, in 1876. William Vrooman was the first teacher in the new house, and John Graham was the first director of the district. The present teacher is

Albert H. Perryman, and Henry Boggs is now director.

School district No. 6, includes sections 3, 4, 9 and 10. The school house, which was erected at a cost of $684, in 1880, is. located on the southeast corner of section 4. Mary R. McNally taught the first term of school in this building, and Amy Marker is the present teacher, with J. R. Carter, director.

School district No. 7, embracing sec- tions 25, 26, 35 and 36, has a school house on the southwest corner of section 25, erected in the summer of 1884, at a cost of $790. Ida Moore was the first and present teacher, with E. R. Moore, director.

ORGANIC.

Union township was originally known as Breckenridge, and contained the ter- ritory now occupied by Massena and Union. It was organized September 6, 1858, by S. L. Lorah, county judge, and named after John C. Breckenridge, then vice-president. As the sentiment of that township was strongly in favor of the Union forces, after the war broke out, and John C. Breckenridge became a major- general in the rebel army, the name of the township was changed to Union, at the September meeting of the board of super- visors, in 1862, by motion of John H. Hardenburgh. At the first election held in Breckenridge township, in October, 1858, the following officers were elected, the election being held at the house of Peter Hedges: I. S. Rich, clerk; F. H. Whit- ney, assessor; Peter Hedges, John Whit- ney, justices of the peace; George Shan- non, A. T. Whitney, constables; Peter Hedges, F. H. Whitney, L. W. Winkley, trustees, and George Shannon, supervisor.

-t

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

The first election held in Union township, was October 14, 1862, at the house of F. H. Whitney, when the following officers were elected: John M. Scott, clerk; T. T. Rogers, assessor; James M. Hedges, constable; John Meredith, road super- visor; T. T. Rogers, F. H. Whitney, J. M. Scott, trustees. The present officers of Union township, are: W. A. Dowell, clerk; S. I. Chester, assessor; Hiram Studley, justice of the peace; Thomas Morgan, Orlando Trego, constables; Ed- win Trainer; W. B. Speron, trustees; William Roberts, A. Sherwin, William Cool, Louis Bennett, Prosper Pettinger, Charles Bittman, Enos Moore, D. P. Roberts, J. M. Chew, road supervisors.

GENERAL STORE.

At the southeast corner of section 30, there was a small store of general mer-

chandise. It was established in July, 1884, and owned by M. S. Durbam and Company. It was soon afterward discon- tinued.

BLACKSMITH SHOP.

At this point, there is also a blacksmith shop, owned by John E. Beckwith. He established this enterprise in August, 1884.

HISTORICAL.

The first marriage of Massena, was that of John Whitney and Mrs. Page, in the fall of 1860.

Mrs. N. M. Whitney cooked the first meal at Whitneyville, prepared by a lady.

An early death of the township, was that of May Edwards, who was killed by a cane mill, on section 21, in the fall of 1867.

CHAPTER XXIX.

EDNA TOWNSHIP.

Lying in the southern line of townships, 1

the second from the eastern boundary of the county, is the sub-division of Cass county, known as Edna. Beautifully diversified as its surface is, with groves, and streams, hills, valleys and plains, it vies with any of the bright galaxy of townships that go to make up the county, in picturesqueness and beauty. It is

intersected, diagonally, by the West Nodaway, which enters the township on the east line of the northeast quarter of section 12, and crosses sections 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 29, 30 and 31, making its exit on the west line of the southwest quarter of the latter. Whisler's Branch, a tribu- tary of this stream, has its head waters partially on section 2, and flows through

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

sections 3 and 4, in a westerly course, and tlien bending to the south, crosses sec- tions 9 and 16, making a confluence with the main stream in the southwestern cor- ner of the latter. Several other smaller water courses, without names, or having but a local nomenclature, meander through various other parts of the township, draining the land thoroughly, and afford- ing a bountiful supply of excellent run- ning water for stock purposes. Several . fine natural groves of timber dot the sur- face of the country, the largest and most important of which are Brenton's Grove, located on the west half of sections 14 and 23, and parts of sections 15 and 22, Edna Grove, on sections 20, 21 and 29, and the grove on sections 27 and 28. As is usual, all the first settlements were made in or about these groves, and in their vicinity the country has an older ap- pearance than in the open prairie portions of the township.

The surface is rolling prairie, for the most part, but some portions of it are rather hilly and broken, but not to a degree as to invalidate it for agricultural uses. The soil, in common with the rest of Cass county, is a rich, black loam, with a wonderful power of fertility, and richly repays the industrious, hard-working farmer who tills it. There are many fine, commodious farm houseswithin its borders, and these and the general air of thrift that pervades the whole, induces the be- lief in the prosperity of the people, who are, as a class, intelligent, enterprising and energetic agriculturalists.

There is one regularly laid out town within its borders, Reno, but which has never had any considerable growth, owing

no doubt to its want of railroad facilities. This is spoken of further on.

The township is bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by that of Victoria, on the west by Noble, and on the south by Union county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first to effect a permanent settle- ment in Edna township, was a man by the name of William S. Townsend who located on the northeast quarter of section 20, about the year 1852, when he erected a small log cabin. After a short residence here, he removed to the north west quarter of section 21, and built a double log house on the south bank of the Nodaway river. This house was open to travelers, and for some time he carried on quite an extensive business in this line. Mr. Town- send was a Kentuckian by birth, and, al- though uneducated and somewhat rough in appearance, was an energetic and enter- prising citizen, and always a gentleman in his treatment toward others. The chris- tian name of his wife was Edna, and in honor of her, the township and postoffice was so named by him. He remained here until 1855, when he removed to a point about two miles distant from where the town of Avoca now stands, in Pottawat- tamie county, where he engaged in the mercantile business. A few years after- ward he disposed of his business there and went to Nebraska.

Branch Miller was a native of Tennes- see, and first settled near Edna Grove, in 1853, and was a great hunter. He did not remain in the township very long, and since his removal therefrom, died. A son of his, by the name of Hurom, is now serving a life sentence in the penitentiary

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

for the murder of a man by the name of Dr. Glenn, in California.

During the year 1853, James White, a native of Illinois, settled on section 15. He erected a frame house upon the place, where he lived a year or more, and then removed from the township.

A man by the name of Prosser, settled on section 22, in 1853, where he built a double log cabin. A short time afterward he sold to a man by the name of Flowers, and left the country. In 1854 Flowers disposed of the property and returned to Illinois.

Andrew Ams, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Edna from Illinois, and settled on section 17, in 1853. He remained in the township a few years, when he returned to Illinois, and subsequently went to Missouri, where he now resides.

In June, 1854, John Brenton, a native of Kentucky, settled on the old Prosser place, on section 22, purchasing it of Flowers. He remained a resident of the township until a short time prior to his death, making his home with his son, William F., who eame to Edna in' Octo- ber, 1854, and resides at present on sec- tion 23. John Brenton, was born in the Blue Grass region, Kentucky, 1797. His father, William Brenton was a native of Virginia, born on the south branch of the Potomac river. He served in the war for our independence, and after that time he came to Kentucky and remaining there some time he participated in the Indian war of 1799. He then emigrated with his family to what was then the territory of Louisiana, and settled in what is now known as Clark county. He purchased some fine timber land, which he improved

for farming, and there he made his home until his death. John Brenton, was reared to manhood in the manner in which all young men were reared in those days, and was married in 1817, to Catherine Bullock, a native of Virginia. Soon after his marriage he settled in Clark county, and worked at his trade of boot and shoe-making, until 1830, when he moved to the Wabash valley, and there remained for two or three years, when he went to Clay county, Indiana, and re- mained a resident of that county until 1854. He then sold out and started for Council Bluffs, Iowa, with a team, and on reaching Edna Grove, he concluded it would be a good country for farming, so he bought land on section 22, and erected a log cabin, and began a pioneer's life. The first winter of his being a resident of his new home, he killed twenty-two deer, and thus kept the family well sup- plied with fresh meat. The next fall he went to live with his son William F., and there remained until May, 1868, when he went to Montgomery county to visit his children and remained until his death, which occurred in 1869. There were seven children in the family, three of whom are now living-Sarah, William F. and Nancy.

William F. Brenton was born in Clark county, Indiana, on the 20th of August, 1827, and received his education, and was reared on a farm. He was married on the 13th of July, 1854, to Elvina Matthews, a native of Park county, Indiana. After his marriage, William started to join bis parents in Iowa, and settled first on sec- tion 22, Edna township, and in company with his father he purchased 2,000

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

acres of land, and began dealing in real estate. In 1862 he settled on his present location, on section 23, where he has erected a large frame house and has a set of nice farm buildings. He has beautified his place with shade trees, and has planted various kinds of fruits. Mr. Brenton has filled many offices of trust in the township, having been assessor and township clerk, and was a member of the school board for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Brenton have one child, Edna A.

John Erwin, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Edna, from northern Indiana, in 1854, and settled on section 17. He re- mained a resident of the township until the time of his demise. His son, Rufus, came to the township with him and set- tled on section 30. He afterward removed to Page connty, Iowa, where he has since died.

Kirby H. Wilson made a settlement in Edna later than John Erwin, in 1854, on section 15, coming from Illinois. He re- mained here several years, when he sold his property, removing to Mills county, Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile business. At present he is a resident of of Pottawattamie county, Iowa.

Edward Porter came to Cass county in September, 1855, and settled in Round Grove, now a part of Edna township, and located on the farm owned by William S. Townsend, who was one of the first set- tlers in Cass county. Edward lived in a small log cabin until 1870, when he built a nice frame house, in which he now re- sides. Mr. Porter was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of February, 1813. When about ten years of age he moved with his father to Rich-

land county, Ohio, and there remained until about twenty years of age. In the fall of 1833, he moved to Macon county, Illinois, where his father died, leaving Edward to support the family. Edward remained in that county until 1835, when he removed to Stark county, Illinois, and there remained a short time, when he came to Iowa, and has since made this his home. Mr. Porter was married in Stark county, Illinois, on the 25th of October, 1838, to Clarissa Powell, a native of New York State. They have had thirteen children, eight of whom are now living- Elizabeth, Jane, Amelia, Isaiah, Alice, John, Rosa and William. Daniel W., the eldest son, enlisted in 1862, in the Twen- ty-third Iowa Infantry, and died in the service. Mr. Porter's mother died in 1883, in Stark county, Illinois, at the age of ninety-six years.

William Gardner entered a tract of land in Edna township in 1855, and settled on it. He was a very enterprising man, and built, at his own expense, a bridge span- ning the Nodaway. In making his start in the township he had to go to Missouri to get his supplies. He removed from Edna to Atlantic township, in Turkey Grove.

In 1855, Samuel Whisler, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated from Wayne county, Indiana, and made a settlement on section 16. He improved a farm here, where he made his home until his death, which occurred November 17, 1876. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of May, 1811, and when six years of age his parents moved to Colum- biana county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, being reared on a farm and ed-

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

ucated in the public schools. When a young man he was engaged in clerking in a general store, and was later engaged in the business for himself. He married Elizabeth R. Pike, a native of Ohio, in 1837. In 1851 they moved to Indiana and located on a farm, where he lived until 1855, when he sold his place and started with teams for Iowa. He settled on sec- tion 16, Edna township, where he built a small log cabin, and lived there until a few years before his death. There were six children in the family-Hugh, Wil- liam L, John T., Mary A., Matilda J. and Robert M. Mr. Whisler united with the Christian church at Churchill, Columbiana county, Ohio, and began preaching in that denomination, and a few years after he came West, was ordained and preached regularly until his death. Robert M. was born in Stark county, Ohio, on the 7th of February, 1848, and when seven years of age came to Cass county, and was there reared to manhood. IIe was married in 1883 to Mary Lloyd, a native of England. He now lives upon the old homestead, and his mother now makes her home with him. He is engaged largely in the stock business, principally cattle and hogs, and has a large quantity of grazing land.

Joseph Edwards, a member of the board of trustees, came to Cass county in 1855, and settled on section 14, Edna township. He stopped but a short time there, when he returned to Illinois, and there remained until 1858, when, accompa- nied by his family, he started with a team for their new home. They brought their household goods and provisions, and camped out when they first arrived. He

erected a log cabin in which the family lived for a number of years, when a frame house of considerable size took the place of the rude log cabin. His farm is pleas- antly located, and is known as one of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Ed- wards is a native of Morgan county, Illi- nois. He was married in 1851, to Isabella Bartles, and by their union nine children have been born-Hiram N., Joseph, Lafay- ette, Francis, Margaret L., Ella B., Jacob S., Minnie May and Johnnie D. Mr. Ed- wards has always taken an interest in the public affairs, and has filled a number of offices of trust in the township.

Samuel Wilson, one of the early settlers of Edna, came in 1856. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1825, there was reared to manhood. He moved to West Vir- ginia when a young man, and was there married to Elizabeth Sutton, a native of that State. In 1856, he came to Cass county, settled in Edna township, and in 1858 in Edna Grove. He enlisted in 1862, in company H, Twenty-third Iowa In- fantry. He died in the service in 1863. His widow married John Erwin, who died in 1868, and then married Joshua Calvin, and now resides on the Erwin farm on section 30. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had seven children-Mary, Sarah A., Wil- liam, Emeline, Martha J. and Amanda.

Isaac Johnson, who resides in Edna township, came in November, 1858.

Isaac Johnson was born in the town of Bethany, Genesee county, New York, in 1827, and there grew to manhood. He resided on a farm until he was fifteen years of age, when he learned the shoe- makers' trade. His father, Seril Johnson, was a native of Vermont, and when four

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

years of age his parents emigrated to the Western frontier, and settled in Gene- see county. He married Miss Launda Greene. Isaac Johnson worked at his trade until he was eighteen years of age, when he moved to Ohio, and settled in Ashtabula county, at Rock Creek, and there worked at his trade. In 1850 he started with a team for Wisconsin, driv- ing through Michigan, Indiana and Illi- nois, and after driving about nine weeks, he located in Rock county, Wisconsin, and there remained until the fall of 1850, when he returned to Ohio, and there spent eighteen months, when he returned to Rock county, and continued farming, and working at his trade until November, 1858, when he started with a team for Cass county, and bought a homestead in Victo- ria township, and lived a short time in Lewis. In 1860 he made a visit to Pike's Peak, and on his return he began to work at his trade, at Lewis. In 1865 he settled at his present location, on section 5, Edna township, where he owns a farm of two hundred acres of land, and has one of the finest residences in the township. Mr. Johnson was married in January, 1847, to Miss Sophronia Walden, and by their union they have been blessed with six children-Earl W., Lafayette M., Ver- nett J., Oscar F., Eugene M. and El- mer G.

William Perkins settled near Edna Grove in the summer of 1858, and in the spring of 1859, removed to Newlon's Grove, Union township, where he died.

James Edwards came to Edna township about the spring of 1859. He owned no land, and after a short stay removed to Noble township.

M. M. Edwards settled in Edna town- ship in 1859. He is now in Oregon.

William Wilson came to Edna town- ship from Turkey Grove in the spring of 1861, and removed to Union township in the spring of 1862.

John Archer, justice of the peace of Edna township, was born in Clay county, Indiana, on November 23, 1842, and is the son of Benjamin Archer, a native of Ohio. When ahout eleven years of age, John emigrated with his parents to Iowa, and settled in Montgomery county, where his father hought a farm, and there remained until the time of his death. John en- listed in July, 1861, in company H, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was wounded once in the service, and was in thirty-two battles. Among the most important battles in which he took part were Pea Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. After his discharge he spent two years in Montgomery county, and then came to Cass county, where he pur- chased land on section 9, Edna township. In the spring of 1878 he came to Reno, and is now operating the Edna flouring mill. He was married in 1864 to Miss Mary Whisler, a native of Ohio. They have six children-Samuel, Bertie, Tillie, El- lery, John W. and Orpha L. Mr. Archer was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and is the present incumbent.

Charles W. Dutcher came to Cass county in 1870, and located in Noble town- ship, where he purchased land on section 32. He improved a farm and built a nice comfortable house, and there remained about twelve years. He then sold his

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

farm and bought in Edna township, where he now resides. He is a native of Cook county, Illinois, and was born on the 10th of April, 1840. Ilis parents were early settlers of that county, and he there grew to manhood. When seventeen years of age he learned the carpenter trade, and worked in Chicago about four years, when he went to Kansas, and located in what is now Cherokee county, and was there en- gaged at working at his trade until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted, and acted as scout for the Union army until August, 1862, when he re-enlisted in company D, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the engagements at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Kane Hill, and sev- eral skirmishes. After his discharge he settled in Bureau county, Illinois, and there made his home until 1870, when he came to Cass county. Mr. Dutcher was united in marriage in 1861, to Ruth A. Taylor, a native of Michigan. They have been blessed with eight children-Eva A., Clarissa, Mary, Minnie, Charles J., Jennie A., Jessie and John T.

Zachariah D. Keith came to Cass county in 1861, and settled on section 30, Edna township, where he made his home until the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1870. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, on the 1st of May, 1829, and when about nine years of age his parents moved to Allen county, and wlien seventeen years of age he learned the blacksmith tride. He was married in September, 1844, to Jernsha A. Enos, born in Ohio. In 1851 they moved to Indiana and there re- mained until 1856, when they started over- land for Iowa. After a travel of five

weeks, they landed in Page county, and built a small log cabin, in which they lived until 1861, when he came to Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Keith had eleven children, seven of whom are now living- Alexander, Mary J., Julia A., Harriet E., William E., Sarah E. and Andrew J. William E. was born in Page county, Iowa, in May, 1859. He was married in February, 1883, to Adeline Myers, and their union has been blessed with one child-Celia. William and his brother, Andrew J., reside on the old homestead, and their mother now lives with them.

Jesse T. Mercer came to Cass county in 1883 and bought one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land on section 5. He now has one hundred acres improved and has built a good frame house. He is engaged in grain and stock raising. He was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky,. in April, 1854. When he was fourteen years old, his parents moved to Iowa and settled in Pottawattamie county, where his father purchased two hundred and forty acres of wild land, and improved a farm. He (the father) still makes that his home. Jesse T. remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age. He was then married to Mary E. Dewitt a native of Delaware county, Iowa, and settled in Sherman township, Montgom- ery, county, where he remained until he came to Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer have had three children-William, George E. and Lancelot. William died at the age of six years.

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Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918