USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 23
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 23
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
CHAPTER X.
FREDERICKSBURG TOWNSHIP; LOCATION; EARLY SETTLEMENT; OR- GANIZATION; VILLAGE OF FREDERICKSBURG; SCHOOLS; CHURCHES; SOCIETIES; ETC.
The sketches of Fredericksburg township and the village of Fredericksburg, which follow, were written from notes. obtained from William S. Pitts, M. D., of Fredericksburg, who has gone to much labor and trouble to obtain accurate and exhaustive infor- mation, for a detailed history of the first thirty years of his town- ship, which he contemplates publishing in an appropriate form at a not distant day. For his kindness and courtesy in the premises, Dr. Pitts, has the sincere thanks of the editor and publisher of this work.
Fredericksburg township is in the southeastern corner of Chick- asaw county. Its boundaries are: on the north, Stapleton town- ship; south, Bremer county; east, Fayette county; west, Dresden township. The township contains thirty-six sections of land and one-half of sections 12 and 13, 94-12, set off from Dresden town- ship. With the exception of two small groves of natural timber, it is a township of prairie land. Its physical conformation is an
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
undulating plain, with a general inclination from east to west. The soil is excellent, land arable and water courses abundant.
Prior to its organization as a township, the first election for pre- cinct officers-this township being then included in what was known as Yankee precinct-was held at the residence of T. P. Vokes. Thomas Staples was the first assessor, Osgood Gowan road supervisor and C. C. Stone his deputy, for this locality. This was in the year 1855. In 1857, O. H. P. Searle and D. B. Hanan were elected justices of the peace, being the first to hold this office in this locality.
At present H. B. Carpenter and George Bishop are the justices, Peter Case, clerk, and R. W. Kidder, assessor of Fred- ericksburg township. The township was organized as an indepen- dent school district in 1871, and so remains.
Frederick Padden, of whom more detailed mention is made in the sketch of the village, was the first permanent settler in the town- ship, in honor of whose prænomen both the township and the village were named. Padden settled with his family on the pres- ent village site, September 21st, 1854, and was during that year the only settler in the township.
In 1855 a number of settlers came in, among whom may be mentioned the following: Samuel Marsh of Ohio, came in April, and located on the southwest quarter of section 9, 94-11. He erected a shanty and broke ten acres of land, which he planted to. corn in May, raising the first field of corn in the township. His family came in 1856. In 1859, he went to California, but. returned in 1861, and is still living on the farm where he first located. His wife, Julia, died February 20th, 1883.
Thomas P. Vokes came in May, 1855, and entered land on the northwest quarter of section 6, 94-11, where he still resides.
June 3d, 1855, William Case and family located on the south- west quarter of section 4, 94-41-11. James Potter, of Pennsylvania, came in July of this year. He first built a shanty on the village site, and afterwards located on the northwest quarter of section 19, 94-11, where he has ever since continned to reside. In the same year Charles Connor, of Illinois located on the southwest quarter of section 31, 94-11. In September, John S. Marr, of New York, located on the northwest quarter of section 31, 94-11, where he still resides. John I. Quackenbush, afterwards justice of
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the peace and a well-known pioneer, located in the township in this year. Quackenbush died in 1864. John Dayton, of Ohio, came in December, 1855, locating on the northwest quarter, of the northeast quarter of section 10, 94-11.
By the spring of 1856, the tide of immigration had set in steadily, from that time the population of the township continued to in- crease with gratifying rapidity.
The question as to who were the first couple married in the township, is to some extent in controversy, the bridegroom being either Charles Zwick or George Fountain, with the probability strongly in favor of Zwick, whose marriage.(to whom is not ascer- tained) occurred in 1857.
The precedence of births is also a mooted question, but impar- tial investigation indicates that the first child born in the town- ship was Rosa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Padden, born in the early part of June, 1856; next in order was Emilia, daughter of Frederick and Julia Padden, and third was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Vokes-both of which latter were also born in June, 1856. The death of Emilia Padden was the first, to occur in the township.
The township contains but one cemetery, which is located about two and one-quarter miles east of the village, and is called the east cemetery in contra-distinction to the west cemetery just over the line in Dresden township.
The first school house occupied in the township was erected in the village, and is mentioned in its proper place. There are nine school houses now in th township, well built and adequately furnished, at each of which there is a fair attendance, the schools of Fredericksburg township comparing very favorably with those of any other section of the county.
The township of Fredericksburg is well settled with a progres- sive and intelligent type of immigration, and it would indeed be diffi- cult to find a more exemplary class of citizens or a better "neigh- borhood" than that comprised within its borders. Further and additional particulars are necessarily commingled with the histor- ical account of the village of Fredericksburg, which is herewith presented.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
THE VILLAGE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
The village of Fredericksburg takes its name from that of Fred- erick Padden, its first settler and founder, and by whom it was laid out in 1856, Padden and Bloxham being the original town proprietors. It is located on sections 4 and 18 in 94-11, and 12 and 13 in 94-12.
The first house was built by Frederick Padden on lot 4, block 18, in October, 1854.
Lewis Padden built the first store'in the autumn of 1855; Emory Combs was the first blacksmith; J. V. Carpenter the first shoemaker, and George Hillson the first wagonmaker.
Frederick . Padden built the first saw mill in 1856. It was run by steam power, was destroyed by fire in 1857, was re- built in 1858, and again burned in. January 1862. This mill was located on the bank of Plum creek on block 5.
The Fredericksburg Cheese company opened a factory on Plum creek in May 1875. It was a stock company, and erected a build- ing at a cost of $1,600. Oliver Briggs, of Elgin, Illinois, was the superintendent, and H. A. Simons, now of New Hampton, was. secretary and treasurer. This company made cheese of excellent quality for three successive seasons, when they ceased operations, and the Wapsie creamery was opened in the same building in the autumn of 1880, by Messrs. Udall and Davis, of Jessup, Iowa, who, after a few months, sold to Christopher Haskett. Haskett continued the business until September, 1882, when he sold to Messrs. Kipp and Harris, of New Hampton, by whom the cream- ery is now operated, its business being extensive and remunera- tive.
In October, 1882, Loren Padden opened a creamery near his residence, which he still continues to operate.
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Jerome Padden opened an extensive brickyard in 1876 on land east of the school house. This yard was only worked one year during which 200,000 brick of fair quality were made.
The first school in Fredericksburg was taught during the sum- mer of 1857, in a pole shanty erected by Edwin Cain, and which stood southeast of where the Baptist church now stands. Miss Anna Bishop was the teacher.
The graded schools of Fredericksburg were opened in 1866.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
The following are the names of the successive principals to the present time: '
Nan M. Warren, summer of 1866.
D. F. Callender, winter of 1866-7.
C. S. Haywood, winter of 1867-8.
Nan M. Warren, summer of 1868.
N. Austin, winter of 1868-9.
A. P. Fowler, summer of 1868-9.
W. W. Quivey, winter and spring of 1869-70.
Hattie Coryell, summer of 1870.
N. M. Warren, winter of 1870-1.
Maggie McFarland, summer of 1871, to, and including summer of I872.
Kate M. Warren, winter of 1872-3.
H. C. Hudson, summer of 1873.
C. A. Lyman (taught only part of the term which was finished by Agnes Howe), winter of 1873-4.
B. B. Potter, summer of 1874.
Maggie McFarland, winter of 1874-5, to, and including winter of 1876-7.
J. C. Smith, summer of 1877.
H. A. Simons, winter of 1877-8 to and including summer of 1879.
Agnes Howe, winter, spring and summer of 1879-80.
Minnie Sherman, winter of 1880-81.
Lillie Scales, summer of 1881.
Alfred Martin, winter of 1881-2.
Mrs. Lillie Steadman, summer of 1882.
H. S. Adney, winter of 1882-3.
The present school building was erected in 1865, by Frederick Padden, at a cost of $1,000. Additional improvements made have increased the total cost to about $1,600. There are two rooms, one 30x30, the other 30x20 feet in dimensions.
The first sermon preached in Fredericksburg, was' by Rev. S. M. Prentiss in Frederick Padden's hotel (the Fountain house), in the front room, May 19th, 1855. Mr. Prentiss was a Baptist clergyman.
A preliminary meeting, looking to the organization of the First
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Baptist church of Fredericksburg, was held June 3d, 1860, and all present united in a call for recognition from the churches of this denomination. Those present at this meeting were: The pastor Rev. E. G. O. Groat, T. S. M. Flowers, Gilbert Page, James Lovesee, Jonathan Russell, Mrs. Gilbert Page, Mrs. T. S. M. Flow- ers, Mrs. Jonathan Russell, Mrs. Billings and Mrs. Munger. Mr. Flowers was made secretary of the society. July 7th, 1860, the society held its second meeting, and letters of recognition were read from the following churches: Fredericka, Fairbanks, Polk and Providence. This meeting was held in the small building which had previously been erected by a society of the United Brethern persuasion. The building had, in fact, been erected about the year 1858, but this organization was not of a sufficiently permanent nature to long survive. At this second meeting, then, recorded above, the organization of the First Baptist church of Fredericksburg was perfected. The following are the names of the pastors of the society in the order of this succession: E. G. O. Groat, Shadrach Sherman, G. W, Goodrich, M. E. Arkills, T. C. Briggs, William Simons, J. C. Abbott, M. H. Perry, J. N. Johnson, James Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell is the present pastor. The first deacon of the society was W. G. Eldret. Charles Mabry and C. W. Stickney are the present deacons. Mr. Mabry is the Sabbath school superintendent, the other officers of the Sabbath school being C. W. Stickney, assistant superintendent; W. S. Pitts, chorister: J. Mabry, secretary; Mrs. C. Mitchell, treasurer. Charles Mabry is also secretary of the church organization. The church edifice was erected in the spring of 1870, and was dedicated in July of that year. It dimensions are 32x52 feet, the total cost being about $2,800. The parsonage was purchased by the society in 1874 at a cost of $450, and is located near the church.
The Methodist Episcopal church society of Fredericksburg is also in possession of a commodious edifice, 32x50 feet in dimen- sions, which was erected in 1875 at a cost of $2,700. The first M. E. clergyman to preach in this section was Rev. C. M. Webster. Rev. W. P. Holbrook preached at Fredericksburg about the last of June, 1856. August 8th, 1856, he organized a class of the fol- lowing ten members: George Hillson, Sarah Hillson, Alphens, Adams, Cornelia Adams, Catherine Marvin, Maria Gibbs, Lovina Padden, Hester Vokes, Jesse T. Appleburg. George Hillson was
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the first-class leader. The pastors in regular order were: Elijah Kendall, Charles Hollis, J. L. Kirkpatrick, W. P. Holbrook, James Leslie, James Stout, Thomas More, Samuel J. Gossard, Reece Wolf, George Edmunds, Zelotes R. Ward, H. H. Hammond, Edwards Hoskyn, Philip E. Miller, J. R. Cameron, John Dawson B. D. Alden. Mr. Alden is the present pastor. In the early part of the conference year, 1864, a board, of trustees was organized, viz: Ebenezer Perry, president; George W. Adams, vice-president; Buel Sherman, secretary; Hiram Benedict, D. Berkstresser, J. P. Hartley. G. C. Cleghorn. This board purchased the residence, now the parsonage, of W. S. Pitts, paying therefor $400. Buel Sherman is the present secretary, Leonard Nourse the present treasurer of the society, The church has also a large and flourish- ing Sabbath school.
A Presbyterian mission was organized at Fredericksburg in 1860, and continued about five years. L. R. Lockwood was the pastor.
Mount Horeb Lodge No. 333, A. F. and A. M., received its charter in June, 1875, having previously worked one year under dispensation. There were ten charter members. Its first of- ficers were, W. S. Pitts, W. M .; Leonard Nourse, S. W .; S. H. Holcomb, J. W. The following is a complete list of the officers at date of present writing: S. H. Holcomb, W. M .; W. S. Pitts, S. W .; D. B. Nourse, J. W .; L. W. Pond, secretary; E. Cullens, treasurer, R. W. Pond, S. D .; George Bolton, J. D .; S. P. More, Tyler. The lodge has thirty members. and is in a prosperous condition. Meetings are held Wednesday evenings on or after each full moon, in Pitts and Warren's hall over Milo L. Sherman's :store.
There have been various temperance organizations in Fredericks- burg, all of which have proved to be of a more or less evanescent nature, save the Fredericksburg temperance society, which meets every fourth Sunday evening in the two churches alternately. The exercises are of a popular and beneficial nature, and the meetings are largely attended. The officers of the society are: W. S. Pitts, president; Milo L. Sherman, vice-president; William Brown, secretary; Mrs. B. D. Alden, treasurer.
J. V. Carpenter, Post No. 104, G. A. R., of the department of Iowa, was organized in November, 1882, and has already taken
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
rank as one of the live posts of the state. At the date of present writing (March, 1883,) there have been mustered into full mem- bership forty-seven, and eight applications are on file. Fredericks- burg township contributed largely to Chickasaw county's quota during the war of the rebellion, and the soldier element of the township is unusually large. Carpenter Post meets semi-monthly, on Saturday evenings, in Armory hall.
The following is the official roster: Milo L. Sherman, C .; H. B. Carpenter, S. V. C .; J. N. Coleman, J. V. C .; W. H. Grems, A .; J. Ellison, Q .; S. N. Brace, O. D .; J. H. Langdon, O. G. Rev. James Mitchell, Chaplain; H. A. Pond, S. M .; R. W. Kidder, Q. M. S.
The ladies aid societies in connection with both churches are active and efficient in promoting the objects of their organiza- tions.
A feature of the organizations of the village was the church choir which was organized with W. S. Pitts as director in 1864, and which held rehearsals regularly every Sabbath afternoon for thirteen years. This choir became widely known in this section as one of the best church choirs in northern Iowa. The following persons comprised its membership: Sopranos-Miss Nan M.Warren, Mrs. Helen C. Kendall, Mrs. Elmira Mabry. Altos-Miss Nettie M. Warren, Mrs. Emily E. Dayton, Mrs. S. E. Ellis. Bassos-Joseph H. Benedict, George H. Benedict, Allison Congdon, Abner War- ren. Tenors-William S. Pitts, George Bishop. The first death among the membership of this choir, was that of Mrs. Kendall, who was first soprano at the time of her demise, November 18th, 1871.
Fredericksburg has an efficient cornet band, the successor to an equally excellent one, which latter was organized in the winter of 1865, and was called Pitts' Cornet band. The roster of this pioneer band was as follows:
W. S. Pitts, 1st Eb cornet.
A. J. Warner 2d Eb cornet.
Jerome Padden, 1st Bb cornet.
Joseph H. Benedict, 2d Bb cornet.
George Benedict, 1st Eb alto.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Charles Chapman, 2d Eb alto.
John H. Miller, Bb tenor. E. N. Olmsted, Bb baritone.
M. W. Warren, Bb bass.
A. P. Fowler, Eb tuba.
M. L. Sherman, drummer.
This band was disorganized in 1870, and in the spring of 1878 the present band was organized under the name of the Freder- icksburg cornet band. The following is its roster:
W. S. Pitts, 1st Eb cornet.
Robert Padden, 2d Eb cornet.
Watson Pond, 1st Bb cornet.
Frank Warren, 2d Bb cornet.
George Carpenter, 1st Eb alto.
Clarence Sherman, 2d Eb alto.
L. W. Pond, Bb tenor.
Jerome Padden, Bb baritone.
M. M. Padden, Eb tuba. Lucius Steadman, snare drum.
M. L. Sherman, bass drum.
D. B. Hanan, the only attorney who has resided in Fredericks- burg, came here in 1857, and about the year 1874 removed to New Hampton.
A Dr. Mack located here in the practice of medicine about the year 1858, and remained two years. He was not a regularly ad- mitted physician however. Dr. John March, an electric physi- cian came in 1860, and left in 1865.
The first regularly graduated physician to locate at Fredericks- burg was Dr. E. H. Olmstead, who came in 1865, and practiced his profession here until 1872, when he removed to New Hamp- . ton, where he is still in practice.
Dr. W. S. Pitts was the next to locate in the village of Freder- icksburg, where he continues to reside in the practice. He came in 1867.
The first hotel (subsequently known as the Fountain house) was erected by F. Padden in 1855, and after occupancy by various proprietors, ceased to be used as a hotel about 1870. The building is now occupied as a residence by Daniel Pond.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
The present hotel the Julien House, was built by Padden in 1857, and is now owned and conducted by L. F. Howe.
The postoffice of Fredericksburg was established in 1856. Fred- erick Padden was the first postmaster, F. W. Barrow, deputy. Daniel Pond succeeded Padden, with Elisha Smith as deputy. Peter Case, the present postmaster, was appointed in 1860, and has held the position ever since. The office was made a money order office in 1882.
The village of Fredericksburg is not incorporated. It is very prettily located, and with its neat residences and advantageous surroundings, presents a very handsome appearance. Its popula- tion is not far from 300.
Among its pioneer merchants were: F. W. Barron, now a lum- ber dealer at Spirit Lake, Iowa; Elisha Smith, now in England; S. G. Merrian, now a resident of Nebraska, and J. H. Haskett, now a resident of Kansas. A. K. Warren, another pioneer busi- ness man, died in June, 1863. Frederick Padden died August 8th 1867.
At the present time the business of Fredericksburg is repre- sented as follows: Milo L. Sherman, general merchandise; C. H. Clough, drug store; George W. Bolton, hardware; John Phillips, & Eli Gooldsbury, blacksmith; Hillson Brothers, wagon making and blacksmithing; Peter Case, groceries; L. W. Pond, harness; H. B. Carpenter, boots and shoes; Vail and Warren, axe-helve factory.
Among the preceding sketches of religious organizations, men- tion has not been made of the society of Dunkards, which owns 9 parsonage and forty acres of land three miles east and one mile south of the village of Fredericksburg. About twelve fami lies are represented by this organization, of which Mark Lawler is the pastor.
A record of fires which have occurred in the village since its existence began, is as follows: -
The saw mill owned by Frederick Padden was destroyed by fire in 1857, and the second mill erected on the same site was burned in January, 1862.
John H. Miller's saloon building, on the lot now occupied by the Baptist parsonage, was burned in the spring of 1870.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
In the spring of 1872, J. V. Carpenter's residence was destroyed by fire.
The most disastrous fire that has visited the village occurred in February, 1877, when Padden Brothers' hardware store, Mrs. Howe and Mrs. Stone's millinery establishment, and Amaziah Smith's merchant tailoring establishment were destroyed with all their contents.
J. G. Haskett's store building, occupied by L. Padden as a drug and hardware store, burned in the spring of 1881.
In October, 1882, the Bolton building, occupied by Pomeroy and Co's. grocery store, was destroyed by fire.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XI.
.STAPLETON TOWNSHIP; LOCATION; EARLY SETTLEMENT AND HIS- TORY; LAWLER; RISE AND PROGRESS; GREAT FIRES; GENERAL. HISTORY.
STAPLETON TOWNSHIP.
Township 95 north, range 11 west, is the township of Stapleton, and contains thirty-six sections, the soil is good, although. sandy in some places. Crane creek and two smaller ones traverse the town- ship, which with a number ofsmall affluents, all fringed with tim- ber, make plenty those two items of good farming land, viz: wood and water.
The first settlement was made in 1850, by T. G. Staples, after whom the township was named; he settled on section 36, where he lived for many years; being the 1st postmaster in the township, at. the P.O. called also after him. He afterwards went to Lawler, and after acting as "mine host" of a hotel, emigrated in December, 1882,. to Missouri, where he now resides. Among the pioneers of this township, we find the names of Patk. Casey, James Casey, and two brothers by the name of Hill, who all came about the year 1855. It seems that the tide of emigration set in but slowly, in this part of
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the county, for the next two years, but in 1857 it secured a new impetus, and from that date it has steadily grown with a healthy growth. We are credibly informed, that in 1855 there were but two houses within the bounds of what now constitutes the town- ship, and also, that in the same year but 60 votes were cast within the four townships of Dresden, Fredricksburg, New Hampton and Stapleton. The first store in the township was kept by John Nicholas about the year 1857, and was located on what is now the farm of Mr. Menzes about one and a half miles east of where the town of Law- ler now stands, and was the only stopping place on the road from Jacksonville and Waucoma, between those places.
The first account we find of anything, approaching to an organiza- tion, is an order, emenating from the county court, bearing date, March, 1855, directing, that the four townships now known as New Hampton, Dresden, Fredricksburg, Stapleton, then without names and simply designated by their number and range, be united for election purposes, and be known as the Yankee Settlement. How- ever, at the April term of the county court, in the year 1857, an order was issued for the organization of township 95, range 11, as an independent township, and to be known as Stapleton. This was accordingly done, and the township organized on the basis it. now occupies.
LAWLER
"At a meeting of the residents of the townships of Utica, Staple- ton, Jacksonville and Fredericksburg, held in Stapleton, November- 14th, 1868, of which H. B. Wood was chairman and W.D.Lawrence,. Secy., a resolution was passed appointing E. Wetner a committee, to wait upon Mr. John Lawler, and ascertain the conditions, upon which the McGregor and Soux City railway would establish a. depot, on the west side of Crane Creek, viz: west one-half of the south west quarter of section 4, township 95 range 11.
At the same meeting, on motion of B. F. Stinson, of Stapleton, a committee on subscription was appointed, consisting of Seth Mar- tin, of Utica, S. Swennumson, of Jacksonville and J. G. Haskett, of Fredericksburg.
On motion, H. B. Wood, was also appointed to confer with John Lawler, with regard to blank subscriptions.
The above is the very earliest notice of what is now known as Lawler, and was taken from the New Hampton Courier of Nov. 27,
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1868. The original proprietors of the town plat were, Patrick Lynch Mathias Konzen, Geo. Benz, Martin and Patrick Green and Peter Pitts, who resided in primitive log cabins on the site of the future town, and may said to be the pioneer settlers.
But,on the railroad locating a depot here, in July,1869, suddenly, as if by magic, arose a town, whose proud pre-eminence,as the great- est shipping point for years, on this branch of the Chicago, Mil- waukee, and St Paul railroad, is still remembered with pride by her citizens, and although now suffering from the effect of the many conflagrations, that have devastated it, still enjoys considerable prosperity.
Among the first buildings erected was a hotel, which the owner J. Nicholas,moved here, from Conover in the year 1869, and having built on considerable additions, called it the Nicholas Hotel; he, run it successfully until the year 1875, when it passed into the poss- ession of Mr. Parker, who also added large additions, but it was de- stroyed by fire in the spring of 1876, and never rebuilt. Also the building, known as the American hotel, was moved to Lawler from Jacksonville, in the same year, by C. Bolton, after passing through the hands of Messrs. Hobart and King, it was kept from 1880, by T. G. Staples, who sold out and emigrated to Marysville, Missouri, in December, 1882. He was succeeded by W.E. Wisner, who now conducts it in a first-class manner, it being the only hotel in the place.
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