USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 29
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
The first settlement was made in Deerfield township, this year, by Almon Harris, John and Myrick Spurr, Edwin Hale and others, in May.
Hazard Green, one of the most prominent men of the early days, first settled in Jacksonville township, this year, and built the first building, in what was in later times the village of Jacksonville. He was afterwards hotel keeper, justice of the peace, postmaster and sundry other things.
The first tax levy was made this year also.
At Nashua, in Bradford township, the first settlement is recorded as occuring this year.
Wm. Millikan located in Dayton township, and established on an island in the "Wapsie," a cabin known far and wide as the "hunter's home;" this, with the location of a man by the name of Smith, was the first attempt at settlement in that township.
The first settlers in Richland township are recorded as coming in this year also, among them we find the names of J. B. Upham, Joel Parsons, and David Tingley.
1855.
It is recorded that the first church society organized in the county, was of the Congregational denomination, and was estab- lished under the ministrations of Rev. O. Littlefield during this year.
William Tucker opened the first store in the village of Chicka- saw, in the spring, and the grist mill and a steam saw mill was erected during the summer of the year.
At Jacksonville, in the township of the same name, this year, was established the first store in the town, as was the postoffice.
The first settlement in Washington township dates from this year, as does that of the town of New Hampton, the first house in
319
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the latter being a small board building, owned by David Edwards. The first store by Jacobs & Ross.
The township of Obispo was organized and an attempt made to do the same in Washington, but was a failure, being set aside for informality.
Dr. S. C. Haynes, the first physician in the county, also located this year, at Greenwood.
During this year, at Fredericksburg, Rev. S. M. Prentiss, a Baptist clergyman preached the first serman. The first hotel and store were also erected at the same place. The following named persons also began to carry on their respective business at the village of Fredericksburg, this year, viz: Emory Combs, black- smith; J. V. Carpenter, shoemaker; George Hillson, wagonmaker.
Postoffice established this year at New Hampton. Osgood Gowan, postmaster.
H. Bartlett, the first child born in Chickasaw township, dates his advent from this year.
The township of Chickasaw was organized
1856
June, Rosa Padden, the first child in the township of Fredericks- burg, was born. The town was also laid out, this year, by Fred- erick Padden and Daniel Bloxham. In the same township occurs the following events, this year: Steam saw mill erected; Methodist society organized, and the postoffice established at the "Burg," with F. Padden, as postmaster.
First election takes place since organization of county, and 296 votes cast. There was also a special election this year in aid of the McGregor, St. Paul & Miss. railroad, the vote being by a large majority in favor of such aid.
This year the county divided into various election precincts, and Deerfield and Richland townships were organized.
With this year the county seat question comes to the front. In February a petition was presented to the county court, asking that a vote be taken, at the next election, on the location of the county seat, as between Bradford and New Hampton. The petition was granted, and at the April election the question was submitted to the voters, and decided in favor of Bradford, by the board of can- vassers throwing out the vote of Washington township and ten votes in Deerfield, for alleged informity. This led to lawsuits,
.
320
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
etc., but was finally settled in favor of New Hampton, that being the geographical centre of the county.
During the year "Brinks Folly" was erected; this was a large hotel, far in advance of the town, built at Bradford.
Deerfield township was organized April 7th of this year; W. F. Wright, organizing constable.
The first school in the town of Jacksonville was established by a party named Cole, and the village laid out and platted in. March.
Miss Maggie Nichols teaches the first school in Nashua. Also, the first store, in the same place, established, being that of Smiley: Sample.
1857.
This was a hard year on the early settlers, and is now remem -. bered by them as "starvation year," many subsisting all winter on soft corn.
In May the Jacksonville Republican, the first newspaper in the county, was established. This was followed, the next week, by the Cedar Valley News. The first was edited by Isaac Watson, and the latter by Andy J. Felt. In November of the same year, was formed a stock company, known as the Chickasaw County Republican Association, who purchased the Jacksonville paper of Watson, and changed the name of it to The Chickasaw County Republican.
The first agricultural society of the county was organized this year. This was a failuare and finally collapsed.
During this year we find the first mention of the town of. Nashua on the records of the county judge.
An election held in aid of the Chicago, Iowa & Minnesota rail -- road results in a majority in favor of such aid of said road, being; 309 for and 216 against it.
Washington, Dayton, New Hampton, and Fredericksburg town- ships organized.
The first kiln of brick burned and first brick building erected in the county, being some out building on the place of Hiram Bailey, at Forest City.
A party by the name of Montgomery erects the first hotel in Nashua, and Andy Sample erects the first grist mill at the same place.
321
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Saw mill at Fredericksburg destroyed by fire.
The following are among the events happening in the township of Fredericksburg, this year: First school opened by Miss Anna Bishop; 'the first marriage was celebrated, being that of Charles Zwick; D. B. Hanan locates as attorney; Julien house built.
Plat of New Hampton is recorded this year, and recites that Gideon Gardner, H. Hamlin, David Edwards, H. Gurley, and E. T. Runion were the original proprietors thereof.
Jno. Nicholas erects first store in Stapleton township, near Crane creek, and the township of Stapleton organized.
1858.
April 5th a vote was taken on the county seat question, as between New Hampton and Forest City. On account of alleged informality in some votes in Deerfield, and the board throwing out the entire vote of Washington township, Forest City is decided to have had the matter adjudged in its favor, and court adjourned to that place. The matter was taken to the courts, and the next year decision was given that New Hampton was entitled to the distinction of being the seat of the county government.
In many parts of the country the crops were lost, this year, by entailing much misery.
Utica and Jacksonville townships organized in March of this .year.
By a vote of the county the aid in favor of the McGregor, St. Peter & Miss. river railroad was rescinded in April.
February 8th the Congregational church, at New Hampton, was organized under the name of the Pilgrim Church of New Hampton. Sawmill, at Fredericksburg, rebuilt.
Dr. Mack, the first physician in the latter town, locates.
1859.
The county seat relocated at New Hampton, where it has re- mained ever since.
During this year was erected at the village of Bradford the Con- gregational church, well known everywhere as the "Little Brown Church." This was the first church edifice, properly so called, in the county, and stands, to-day, a monument of early days. J. R. Nutting was the first pastor.
Dresden township was organized this year.
.
1
322
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1860.
This year was made eventful by the first issue of the New Hampton Courier, a paper that still survives the vissitudes of a newspaper life.
In April was organized the agricultural society of Chickasaw county, at New Hampton, and in September 27th and 28th was held the first exhibition of the same. This was a success, and the society still is in existence and maintains a healthy organi- zation.
Baptist church, at Fredericksburg, organized, with Rev. E. G. Groat as pastor, as was the Presbyterian mission, of the same place, with Rev. L. R. Lockwood as minister.
First board of supervisors meet. The tocsin of war having resounded throughout the land, and the President of the United States having called for men to put down the rebellion that threatened the life of the government, the board pass a resolution, granting to all volunteers from the county a bounty and support for those dependent upon them, who are left to the tender mercies of the world.
In June, of this year, is raised a full company in the county, under the command of Captain Gideon Gardner, and which was incorporated in the famous seventh Iowa infantry regiment, and known as company "B."
In November was also raised a full company, which was attached to the fourth Iowa cavalry, and known as company."H." Besides these many men were enlisted in the county for various other regiments.
New Hampton cemetery association organized.
October, company "C," thirty-eighth Iowa infantry, was raised in the county and went to the front.
Saw mill, at Fredericksburg, destroyed by fire for the second time.
1863.
During the year the congregational church, at New Hampton, was erected. The noted Philadelphia banker, Jay Cooke, donating the sum of five hundred dollars in aid of the same.
1864.
Mary Case, appointed deputy clerk, being the first instance in the county of a woman's right to public office.
5
323
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
October 3d the first teachere institute held.
1865.
The Congregational church, incorporated under the laws of the state of Iowa.
Gideon Gardner, donates the land, in New Hampton, on which to build a court house for the use of the county. The contract to erect the building, was let to J. H. Powers, June 6th, and was to cost $2,986.00.
Cornet band, at Fredericksburg, organized.
The present school house, at the same place, erected.
1866.
During the year, a committee appointed, by the board of super- visors, to let a contract, to build the bridge over Cedar river, at Nashua; and to oversee the work on the same.
1867.
The committee, appointed by the board, report that they have let the contract, to build the bridge at Nashua, to A. Spaulding, and that he has complied with the terms thereof, and said bridge is completed.
The school house at New Hampton, erected.
The city of Nashua incorporated, under the laws of the state of Iowa.
W. S. Pitts, M. D., locates in village of Fredericksburg. 1868.
During the summer of this year, the first railroad broke ground within the limits of the county. This was the Cedar Valley and Minnesota railroad, which entered the town of Nashua in July. It is now known as the Cedar Valley branch of the Illinois Central railroad.
Meeting held in Stapleton township, November 14th, appoint a committee to wait upon the officers of the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, approaching the boundary of the county, to ask upon what terms they would put a station at or near Crane Creek.
The fires settlement at the town of Lawler, dates from this year also.
Rosenbaum Brothers, start a bank in Nashua, the first in the county.
1
324
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1869.
In the early summer the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad broke the ground of Chickasaw county, and located the station at Lawler (or as it was at first called, Crane creek station.) This road was then known as the McGregor and Sioux City, but was shortly after absorbed into the present company, and known as the Iowa and Dakota divison of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway. The settlement of the town of Lawler really dates from this year. The first postoffice was also established with J. A. Green as postmaster.
August 13, Arcana Lodge No. 274, A. F. and A. M. instituted at New Hampton.
1870.
The Chickasaw county bank, organized in January, this year.
The town of Lawler, was incorporated, with J. W. VanAuken, as mayor. Bryan J. Castle, also established the Lawler Gazette, which however, was of short life as it only run about a year.
Methodist church at Fredericksburg erected, and John H. Hil- ler's saloon at same place destroyed by fire. -
1871.
Congregational and Catholic churches, of Lawler, organized.
Also the German Lutheran church at New Hampton organized, in March of this year.
Independent school district of Fredericksburg organized.
1872.
The poor farm purchased, by the county, of Don A. Jackson, for the sum of $3,200, being 160 acres of land, and contract awarded A. W. Utter, New Hampton, to erect the necessary build- ings, for the accomodation of the destitute.
Several churches erected during the year; notably, the Catholic and Congregational, at Lawler, and the Methodist at New Hamp- ton.
J. V. Carpenter's residence, at Fredericksburg, burned in the spring the year.
1873.
Town of New Hampton incorporated, and first city election takes place May 21st.
Roman Catholic church at Nashua organized, and Catholic cemetery at New Hampton, established.
325
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1874.
German Congregational church, at New Hampton, organized.
Mount Horeb Lodge, 333, A. F. and A. M. at village of Freder- icksburg, established.
1875.
Chickasaw County Times, a weekly newspaper, started at Lawler, by F. M. Haislet, now owner of the New Hampton Tribune.
Cheese factory at Fredericksburg established.
1876.
There being some irregularity in the previous incorporation of the town of Lawler, a new act of incorperation was past this. year.
September 2nd, a lodge of workmen organized, at New Hamp- ton.
1877.
This year is marked by the big fire at Lawler, that wiped out nearly the entire business portion of the community. It de- stroyed, the Times office, the stores of Green and Lynch, E. A. Ervin, Miss E. Lawrence, J. Fitzsimmons, F. Clarkin, W. M. O'Brien, P. O'Reilly, John Nicholas, Lovejoy and McFarland, Mrs. M. F. Binns, Genshaw and Co., J. N. Baker and Co., the saloons of Fitsimmons Bros., and John Doyle, the Lawler litrary, law lit- rary of D. West, the butcher shop of J. A. Real, five grain ware- houses and numerous other building, and property, aggregating in value $83,500 on which there were was an insurance of only $56,450.
The Episcopal church, at New Hampton, was organized July 30th.
Conflagration at Fredickersburg, destroying the buildings and stocks of Padden Bros., Mrs. Howe and Mrs. Stone, and A. Smith. 1878.
John Kolthoff starts the cheese factory, in Dresden township.
New church erected in Nashua, by the Methodist denomina- tion, the finest religious edifice in the county.
Lawler Oddfellows organize a lodge.
1879.
Smith and Darrow, organize a banking office at New Hamp- ton.
-
326
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Again fire devastates the town of Lawler, burning McNevins, saloon, R. D. Parker's store King's hotel, Exchange bank and the barber shop. The loss was about seven or eight thousand dollars, but the people whose property was thus destroyed, were not dis- couraged, but went to work with a will and almost before the fire had died out, were making arrangements to continue their busi- ness.
First National bank of Nashua organize, with A. G. Case as pres- ident, and A. J. Felt, cashier.
1880.
Court house at New Hampton destroyed by fire, supposed to have had an incendiary origin. This necessitated a new court house and on this issue hinged the contest for the county seat of this year. Nashua, offering to build a court house and loan it to county for as long as they occupied it for that purpose, but New Hampton merchants, and business men generally, accepting the situation, donated to the county of $5,000 toward a building. This, together with the influence of a remonstrance, signed by a majority of the voters of the county, induced the board of super- visors, to relocate the seat of county government at New Hamp- ton and build the present elegant and commodious building which graces the city.
1881.
Again fire visits the apparently doomed city of Lawler, devouring the stores of H. S. Blackett, G. Miller, A. Bechelt, A. P. Johnson, P. O'Reiley and many other buildings, making a loss of about $55,000, of which but a small portion is covered by insurance.
School house, at New Hampton, is also burned during the spring.
During the year, the Methodist Episcopal church, at Williams- town, is erected.
This being a good year for fires, the Dixon house, one of the oldest hotels in New Hampton is destroyed by flames.
First National bank at New Hampton, was organized December 15th.
1882. 1
Vote on the amendment, to prohibit the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liqour, in the state results as follows: 1382 for the adoption of the amendment and 1068 against adoption.
327
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY; GEOGRAPHY; GEOLOGY; RECOURCES; EARLY SETTLE- MENT; NAMES OF SETTLERS, AND DATE OF LOCATION; EARLY MILLS, CHURCHES, STORES, SCHOOLS, POSTOFFICES, ETC .; FIRST BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, COURT, AND NEWSPAPERS.
From the early days, when the adventurer, seeking his future in this new world, landed, on the sunny shores of Virginia, when the rigid puritan, in search of the religious liberty so dear to him, moored his bark on New England's bleak and inhospitable coast, the searcher after wealth or liberty has been pushing westward, ever westward, overflowing the eastern and middle states, deluging Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, until the great tide of emigration, which is still pressing on, toward the setting sun, reached our own fair state. In 1854 quite a number came into the land, now known as Howard county, then an unbroken wilderness, emerald prairie, majestic groves, and smiling water courses-all in primeval loveli- ness-blest their sight; but few white men's feet had pressed its sod, and the habitations of man was represented by the skin wigwam of the Indian, or the rude shanty of the few hunters or trappers that infested the streams. Among those whose names
328
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
are mentioned as among the earliest settlers of the county, how many still are with us? Alas, there number is small and diminish- ing every day. Many removed from the county ere many years had flown, others followed from year to year in hopes to better their condition in other localities; others have passed to the "shining shore" of the beautiful river, while others still linger in the homes, among us, that they have reared by their industry and perseverance on these beautiful prairies of Howard county.
What changes the intervening years have brought! These wild glades and grassy meads have been converted into magnificent farms, gardens of beauty, comparatively speaking. The rude habitations of the barbarian and semi-civilized has given place to the substantial farmhouse and palatial dwelling. The camping ground of the Winnebago, Sac, Fox, and kindred tribes of red men, are now occupied by cities. towns, and villages; zig-zag trails are superceded by broad roads, and fine bridges span the streams where once the bark canoe was the only means of transport from shore to shore.
Howard county is in the extreme northern tier of counties, and the third west from the Mississippi river, and is bounded on the east by Winnesheik county, on the south by the county of Chickasaw, west by Mitchell and on the north by the state of Minnesota.
.
In speaking of the surface, soil, timber, and geological forma- tion, Andreas' Atlas, says:
"This is chiefly a prairie county. The surface is undulating, and the elevation such that it is healthful and agreeable, while the landscape is beautiful and pleasing in any direction the observer may choose to look. All the rough land lies in the northeastern part, Albion township. No county in Iowa presents, in propor- tion to its size, less waste land than Howard.
The soil is very uniform; it is a black loam, with clay sub-soil. In some places the loam reaches to the underlying limestone formation. In point of productive worth it can not be excelled, and all grains, grasses, and cereals common to highly valuable agricultural districts, succeed well.
The timber region embraces a small proportion of Howard county, probably one-twelfth. A large proportion of this is young timber of different varieties, but chiefly oak and poplar, but small
.
329
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
bodies of burr oak may be found about the county at various points, skirting the rich prairies. There is also considerable timber along the western Wapsipinicon, and in places along the other streams.
The rock basis of Howard county, in the northeast corner, belongs to the Lower Silurian age. On the southwest nearly one- half its area lies within the Devonian region. The intervening space is that of the Niagara limestone of the Upper Silurian age. There are frequent exposures of rock along nearly all the streams, furnishing good quarries of excellent building stone and lime."
The Wapsipinicon flows through the county, while the Little Wapsipinicon rises within the limits of the county. The deriva- tion of the name is Indian, and there seems to be some question as to the exact meaning, but on the authority of Antoine Le Claire, of Davenport, one of the best Indian linguists of his day, it is a corruption of Wau-bis-e-pin-e-ka, and translated, would be Waubis, white; pineka, potato; so that, if rendered into English, it would be the White Potato river.
The Upper Iowa river, the largest stream in the county, pursues a winding course, running through the northern tiers of townships in a general easterly direction. The headwaters of the Turkey river is near the center of the county in the township of Howard, Center, aud Paris. Crane creek waters a large part of the county, flowing in a southeasterly course, rising in Jamestown township, and traversing the entire county. The Upper Iowa affords a very excellent water power, which is improved to a considerable extent. These streams, with their numerous affiuents, well supply the county with never-failing water-the dryest season failing to produce a lack of that necessity.
The natural resources of the county are great, but the loss of the wheat crop of 1878 has paralyzed the energies of many farmers, and business seems to stagnate, but under the judicious manage- ment of the present the outlook is good, and we may soon see Howard take the place among the counties which it should hold- that of a leader. The farming community have seen the folly of sticking to the raising of wheat alone, and the fine herds of cattle and droves of swine testify to the increasing prosperity of the people.
The first white man that we have any record of, that inhabited
330
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
this county. is said, by reliable tradition, to have been one Hiram Johnson, of whom it is told that he erected a cabin and settled near Oregon Grove, but as he never broke up or cultivated any land, but subsisted by hunting and fishing; the old settlers dis- claim all right of his to be considered in the light of one of them- selves. The date of his location was December, 1851. But the actual pre-emptors, as they were called, did not attempt anything until spring of 1853, when the tide of emigration first cast its ripples this way; we give below the list of all the early settlers, whose names we could learn with the year of their incoming. Many more were there, but time has wrapped their names in his oblivious mantle, and it is impossible to find any record of them. Those who first located in
1853,
were Henry Brown, in May, in Oakdale; Daniel Crowell and Andrew Nelson, in the spring, in Albion; Wm. Cottrell, Thos. Lewis, H. Shuttleworth, and Wm. Brown, at New Oregon; Owen Sprague, Wm. Harlow, Thos. Fitzgerald, Thos: Granathan, and --- Noonan, at Vernon Springs.
1854.
S. M. Cole, George Schofield, J. F. Mitchell, Jas. G. Upton, E. Gillett, M. G. Goss, M. L. Goss, M. L. Shook, H. Blodgett, J. M. Fields, Thos. Lewis, and C. M. Munson, in Vernon Springs town- ship; R. S. Buckminster, A. D. C. and Jos. Knowlton, Jno. Adam, R. E. Bassett, Benj. and Geo. Gardner, Oscar Cheseboro, and the three Mertimers in Forest City township; Jared Sigler and Chas. Salmon, in Saratoga; C. S. Thurber, and L. Aspinall, in Albion; A. Pooler, Jos. Hall, Lemuel Potter, Martin Boardman, Edward Butters and W. P. Hough, in Afton; W. S. Pettibone, in Howard; Robt. Jerod, Josiah Laws, O. M. Thayer, M. Gates, in Oakdale; A. W. Kingsley, Norman Freeman, C. M. Sawyer, in Chester.
1855.
Thos. Griffin and Patrick Richards, in Paris; Joseph Daniels, S. L. Cary and G. M. Van Leuvan, in Forest City, Augustus Beadle, in Vernon Springs; Oliver Arnold, Thos. Osborne, H. D. Lapham, and W. D. Darrow, in Albion; Royal O. Thayer, Alfred Eldridge, W. E. Thayer, Ira Eldridge, Michael Creamer, Patrick Mullen, and Aseph Webster, in Howard Center township.
.
Y
331
HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.
C. D. Cutting, Geo. Edward, Stephen and Albert Tuples, Ed- ward Irish, Samuel Hallett, Willis Spencer, David Patterson, Thos. DeMoss, L. Fassett, Wm. and Dennis Rice, James E. Bennett, James A. Cutting, D. P. Bradford, John Moffitt, Lyman Southard, Milo S. Torsey, Hazen Ricker, John Fiefield, Asel Wilmot, and Luther Titeum, in the present township of Jamestown.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.