USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 45
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399
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
swine, whose piteous shrieks and squeals and grunts punctuated each rut and declivity in the road, while stolid drivers strode along, beating their arms for warmth or enlivening the way by merry shouts and calls and glad "Good mornings," or a catch of some old German song.
Have you ever seen the ridge road on a circus day? Even the horses are glad when they come out of the everlasting hills, and with a swagger and a swing show their best paces as they strike the ridge. Father relaxes and gives himself. up to the luxury of his pipe. There is no need of driving on the ridge road. Mother sits back and nestles baby closer and smiles her greetings to the neighbors. The girls, in white, be-sashed and be-ribboned like so many rainbows. The boys, with shining, apple cheeks, eyes tingling with excite- ment, fingers counting over the change that is soon to be metamorphosed into red lemonade and peanuts. My, but it is a happy crowd, a pretty picture.
"Good morning! Are you going to the show?" Such a silly, senseless question, but so neighborly and kind, it would be a shame not to evoke the glad reply, "Yes, of course. Are you?" And so they go swinging down the ridge road into town.
There is a cloud of dust at the roadside, a spanking team goes dashing by. It is a brand new buggy, Just as shiny and black as paint and varnish and hard scrubbing can make it.
There is a flutter of a kerchief and a merry shout as Mary and her beau rush by. Father grunts contentedly, the youngsters snigger, and mother, well, mother knows, and mother sighs. Last year Mary rode to the circus with the family and it seems such a little while ago when she was the baby and rode in mother's arms. But there, this is a day of gladness and of joy. See the long line of teams winding on ahead and down into the valley and up the hill to town. We hope none of them will be late for the parade.
The ridge road could tell many stories if it wished. It could tell of slow processions with a big black wagon on ahead. It could tell of rapid flights for doctors needed in the night, of tired farmers peering into the darkness for the bright gleam of home, of little travelers, dinner pail in hand, plucking the wild flowers on their way to school.
But for ourselves we must admit that the gladdest sight has been the lights of Denison gleaming from its home among the hills. Now straight in front, now to the right, now to the left, but gleaming ever like a diamond brooch on the breast of mother earth. What if the winds be sweeping o'er the ridge, what if the rain be cold, what if the night be dark-it only makes the lights gleam brighter.
There is your journey's end; there await comfort and light and warmth and food; and there await those loving hearts: the wifely kiss, the childish voice. There at your journey's end is all that makes life worth living. Yes, there is no road like the great ridge road as it winds among the hills. It is bleak and drear, but it tells of cheer at the end of your journey's ills. It is vast like life, and its tortuous course tells the tale of mortal toil with its turns and twists and windings, drawing ever near the goal. Out betwixt the stars and the prairies, with God on every hand, there is something about the great ridge road that appeals to the best in a man.
400
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
CRAWFORD COUNTY CENSUS.
Through the kindness of the United States Census Commission the following comparative table of the census of Crawford county for the years 1890, 1900 and 1910 have been secured for the purposes of this history in advance of the Iowa official publication. The table is as follows:
1910
1900
1890
CRAWFORD COUNTY
20,04I
21,685
18,894
Boyer township
497
514
373
Charter Oak township, including Charter Oak town Charter Oak towen.
1,313
1,49I
1,214
734
772
567
Denison township, including Denison city
3,715
3,646
2,503
Denison city
3,133
2,77I
1,782
Ward I
973
Ward 2
875
. .
... . .
Ward 3
1,285
East Boyer township
543
629
686
Goodrich township
600
807
794
Hanover township
706
746
821
Hayes township
560
736
830
Iowa township
763
952
921
Jackson township
61I
659
655
Milford township, including Deloit town.
912
1,085
950
Deloit town
208
Morgan township
610
836
874
Nishnabotny township, including Manilla town. Manilla toren
875
773
526
Otter Creek township, including Kiron and Schles-
wig towns
1,390
1,187
90I
Kiron town
207
89
Schleswig town
455
233
Paradise township
694
788
619
638
653
687
Stockholm township
754
946
800
Union township, including Arion and Dow City towns
1,296
1,408
1,078
Arion town
168
192
. .
Dow City town
462
462
451
Washington township, including Buck Grove town Buck Grove tower
731
793
706
Westside township, including Vail and Westside towns
1,466
1,518
1,658
Vail torem
631
578
538
Westside town
367
396
448
Willow township
564
636
602
...
. . . . .
. . . . .
1,678
1,655
1,222
Soldier township, including Ricketts town. Ricketts town
102
87
..
Plate V-Fragments of tusks of fossil elephant from sand pit at Denison, Iowa
Photos by S. Calvin
Plate VI-Lower jaw of Mastodon Americanus from Missouri Valley, Iowa. This jaw is thirty-two inches long, the figure is only a little more than one-fifth natural size. This gigantic, elephant-like creature once inhabited Crawford County
401
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
THE FIRST IRISHMEN.
At an old settlers picnic an interesting paper was read concerning the early Irish settlers of Crawford county. This element has done much for the up- building of the county and enrolls many of those who have been most prominent in the county's history. Unfortunately it is impossible to give the complete text of this address but below is given a list of the Irish settlers from 1854 to 1870, and also a list of the first Irishmen in the different townships of the county.
Early Irish Settlers :- 1854-1870.
Charles Kennedy, 1854; Samuel Kennedy, first surveyor; 1855, Thomas O'Connor, 1857; Dr. David McWilliams, 1856-58; A. D. and Michael Molony, 1858-60. Morris McHenry, 1856; W. A. McHenry, '66; Michael McAndrews, Owen Cain and mother and sister, Mrs. John Lucy, J. C. and Martin Barrett, James and Samuel Smith, Thomas Luney, James Rollins, 1865; Martin Conroy, Michael Haley, John Noonan, Michael Caulfield, Owen and Henry DeVitt, 1865- 69; Michael McMahon, Mike Houlihan, Tom and James Collins, 1869-70.
Early Irish Settlers by townships.
Jackson, Owen Cain, mother and sister Mrs. John Lucy, 1865.
West Side, Michael McAndrews and family, September, 1865.
Hayes, Jas. E. Walsh and family, 1871.
Iowa, Michael McMahon, 1869.
Nishnabotna, Patrick McGrath, 1872.
East Boyer, Dr. David McWilliams, 1856-58.
Milford, Morris McHenry, 1856, and Michael Caulfield and Owen and Henry DeVitt, 1869.
Stockholm, Anthony Gonnigle, and Ed. Monaghan, 1876.
Denison, Thomas Connor, 1857, A. D. and Michael Molony, 1858-60.
Washington, Isaac Gilmore, 1869, John O'Leary and E. Moore, 1871.
Union, Charles Kennedy, 1854; Michael Haley, 1867-8; J. V. McHenry, 1867. Paradise, J. C. Saul, Wm. Purcell, John Keating, 1870-72.
Hanover, Michael Purcell, 1872; John Meehan, 1866-68.
Soldier, J. C. Barrett, and Martin Barrett, 1866-68.
Charter Oak, John A. O'Doherty, 1875.
Willow, Con Flynn, 1874.
Boyer, John Noonan, 1867-8.
Vol. I-26
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CHAPTER XXXV.
ARION.
The town of Arion sprang up, although within a short distance of Dow City, on account of the building of the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail- way which crossed the Northwestern where Arion stands. The large passenger traffic interchanged by the two roads necessitated accommodations for travelers and around this nucleus grew up the new town. Later the building of the Illinois Central gave Arion added importance as a junction point and gave it the best shipping facilities of any town of its size in Iowa. One can but think that in time this will be an important distributing point.
The town was incorporated in April 1894, and the first mayor was Mr. N. Richards, who early engaged in the hotel business. Mr. Richards died during his term of office and S. H. Downs presided over the council, until the election of W. B. Evans in 1896. In 1898 Valdo Talcott was elected and, upon his resignation, Mr. Bert Slocumb was elected to fill the vacancy. The following is a list of succeeding mayors : 1900, W. B. Evans; 1902, L. M. Coon ; 1904-'6, J. L. Maurer ; 1908, A. A. Conrad; 1910, N. F. Stilson. J. A. Rule is clerk and the council is composed of Mr. C. W. Nelson, A. A. Conrad, Henry Peterson, S. J. Maurer, and J. N. Lee. The population of Arion is 255 by actual count and it is a neat, clean little town with many pleasant homes. Its earlier history was marked by some lawlessness on account of the fact that it was a convenient stopping point for that class of undesirable citizens known as tramps. The perpetration of several serious crimes aroused the good citizens of the place and of the county so much that a deputy sheriff was appointed for Arion and vicinity. The Deputy was however removed to Denison in 1907. These efforts to maintain law and order were successful and of late years Arion has been so well policed that in spite of the large drifting population it is as peaceful and orderly as any other part of the county. Under the circumstances, this is a decided victory for the better element of the town. On account of the many trains passing daily and the net work of tracks, occasioned by the crossing of three railroads Arion has also been the scene of several fatal ac- cidents. It is to be hoped that the future historian can record that these con- ditions have been remedied.
Arion received a temporary set-back when the large store building of the Arion mercantile company, together with other business houses, was totally
40
404
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
destroyed by fire on October 11, 1909. The town is recovering from this, however, and is showing a commendable spirit of progress and activity. One of the successful enterprises in which the people of Arion and vicinity have engaged as a whole, assisted very largely by good men all over the county, is the re- founding and maintaining of the Crawford county fair. An association has been formed, grounds leased and successful exhibitions given for four years. The present officers of the Crawford county Agricultural Society are : President, W. E. Eggers; Vice-president, Chas. Smith, Dow City ; Secretary, O. M. Cris- well, Arion; Treasurer, J. B. Glassburner, Arion.
Arion owns an ample water system furnishing abundant supply for the use of the people and good fire protection. The city is provided with fire fighting apparatus and a good volunteer company. The business houses of Arion in- clude two good hotels, a general store, owned by A. A. Conrad, who has been in business since 1897; a meat market and grocery; a hardware and harness- store; a shoe and furnishing goods store; a barber shop, restaurant and lunch room, pool hall, saloon, lumber yard, grain business, livery stable, building con- tractor, mason and a blacksmith and wagon shop, operated by the worthy mayor, Mr. N. F. Stilson.
The Arion State Bank was organized August 1, 1902, with J. L. Maurer, president ; M. B. Nelson, cashier. The present officials are Sam Fox Sr., Pres- ident; W. E. Eggers, vice-president ; C. M. Criswell, cashier. This bank holds and deserves the confidence of the community and does excellent business. In 1903, the bank built a fine two story brick building which is now occupied, the first floor, by the bank and the post office, which is presided over by Mrs. W. B. Evans, and the second floor, by the offices of the Arion Exchange of the Crawford county telephone company, which operates from this point, the tele- phones of Dow City and of a large area in the southwestern part of the county.
In its earlier history Arion had three church organizations, Baptist, Meth- odist, and Christian. At a meeting of the various churches it was decided that the town could not well support so many religious institutions and differences of creed were laid aside and all the good people of the city joined in worship- ping as one congregation. This Union church is affiliated with the Congrega- tional Brotherhood, the first pastor being Rev. A. W. McNeal, who, after two years, was succeeded by Alfred Bashford. During his pastorate, a fine new church was erected. Rev. E. C. Walcott, now of Sioux City, succeeded and he was followed by Reverends Grigsby and Freedline. Later, the church called Rev. C. E. Walch and the present pastor is Rev. E. D. Calkins. The Union Sunday School, over which N. F. Stilson has been superintendent since 1905, is an important factor in the religious life of the city.
Arion has maintained a good school system although until August 1, 1910, it was a part of the Union township school district. Upon becoming an indepen- dent district, the following officers were elected: N. F. Stilson, George Argot- singe, Henry Peterson, Joseph Kepford, George Reynolds, directors, J. A. Rule, clerk, P. M. Doidge, treasurer. Mr. Stilson is president of the board. The school is conducted in two rooms, and the teaching force for this year was Miss Mabel Howorth, principal ; Mrs. C. C. Bunch, assistant ; Miss Lysle Goldworthy, prim- ary. The board has added a third room to the schoolhouse and will carry the
405
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
work of the high school to the eleventh grade, a year more than at present. This year . witnessed the first commencement of the Arion school with a class of six graduates.
Arion camp No. 5560, of the Modern Woodmen of America was organized in 1898, with N. F. Stilson, V. C .; P. J. Eggers, W. A .; A. A. Conrad, clerk. There were many changes among the officers of the camp, although Mr. Stil- son occupied the chair almost continuously up to January 1, 1910, when Mr. T. F. Howlett succeeded him as V. C. and the officers for 1911 are, M. R. Doidge, V. C .; Louis Kepford, W. A .; Earl Kepford, banker; P. M. Doidge, clerk ; N. F. Stilson, Henry Doidge, and L. C. Butler, managers. This lodge includes a large proportion of the residents of Arion and vicinity and, together with the auxiliary order of the Royal Neighbors, is the center of the social life of the town.
Conger Camp No. 2277, Royal Neighbors of America was organized with the following officers, Mrs. Chas. Underhill, O .; Mrs. Minnie Westerman, V. O .; Mrs. Lillie Lee, receiver ; Mrs. L. Butler, recorder. The present officers are, Mrs. L. C. Butler, O .; Mrs. Lillie Lee, V. O .; Mrs. Alice Butler, C .; Mrs. Pearl Turland, receiver ; Mrs. N. F. Stilson, recorder ; Mrs. S. Marr, marshall. This camp was organized at the time of the Boxer uprising in China and the camp was named in honor of the United States minister to China, Major E. H. Conger, of Iowa.
The business houses of Arion are established on a sound business basis and are gaining for themselves an increasing trade territory. The business brought to the town by the travelling public is of considerable volume, and at some time the economic value of Arion as a shipping point will be more fully rec- ognized and the little city will come into its own.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHARTER OAK.
As we have seen in our chapter on county history, the territory now com- prising Charter Oak was in the earlier days a part of Monona county. For this reason it was not identified with the first history of our settlers and was in some respects, an unknown territory. It first became a part of this county as a portion of Boyer township, and it was not until a number of years later that it had an identity of its own. The land along the Maple and the Soldier north of Charter Oak was first settled as the open prairie, and was not supposed to be of great value. The great land companies, however, became interested in the vicinity and it was exploited by the Providence Western Land Co., the American Emigration Co. and the Iowa Railroad Land Co. The government post road from Denison to Sioux City went through Charter Oak and Soldier township and the mail was distributed from different points. One of the earliest newspaper mentions we find is one on August 13, 1869, where it is mentioned that W. H. Crombie of Davenport, Iowa, had purchased a large tract of land near Charter Oak, had many acres broken, and seven houses built. For many years Charter Oak was the most sparsely settled of any town- ship in the county. In 1871 we find that the school census showed 22 males and 18 females, and for a long time school apportionments showed that Charter Oak had the fewest inhabitants of any township in the county. The township is, of course, named after the famous Charter Oak of Connecticut. In 1872 Charter Oak embraced what is now Soldier township, also a board of trustees is given as H. W. Bristol, Jacob Barrett and Barnes Dowd. In 1874 the town- ship officers were as follows: O. M. Criswell, clerk; Barney Brazell, A. P. Hart, E. LeValley, trustees ; A. P. Hart, assessor ; E. LeValley and J. H. Hub- bard, justices; G. Cribbs, E. Adams, constables; O. M. Criswell, G. Cribbs, road supervisors.
In 1874, the statement is made that the Iowa Railroad Land Co. owned nearly half of the non-resident lands of the township. Mr. O. M. Criswell was one of the pioneer settlers and around his hospitable farmhouse finally grew the nucleus of Charter Oak. A postoffice was located, a blacksmith shop and a store built and this became the nucleus of the present town. Mr. and Mrs.
407
408
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
Criswell were open-handed, hospitable people then, as they are to-day, and their home became a well recognized halfway house between Denison and the settlement along the Maple river. The increasing emigration to the county finally reached the vicinity of Charter Oak, although it was a long way from a market and this discouraged settlement. For many years the hay lands in Willow and Charter Oak were considered a common property and we find rec- ords of Denison people going there to make hay upon the non-occupied lands.
It was not until the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway from Manilla to Sioux City that the present town of Charter Oak took form. At the sale of lots the competition was brisk and business sites brought high prices, as it was felt that the new town was to be one of the best trading points in the county. The first building was the old Oak store, occupied by W. W. Cushman. This building was moved from the old site of Charter Oak post- office on the Criswell farm, and it has remained one of the chief business centers of the city, the old building now being replaced by a handsome brick structure. Many other buildings followed and the town sprang up as if by magic. Nu- merous business houses including a bank, and a newspaper were soon estab- lished and the town at once became a busy market. By December, 1890, the town had sufficiently advanced so that incorporation was necessary and a peti- tion was presented to the district court. This petition was filed February 14, 1891. Judge C. D. Goldsmith appointed as commissioners, O. M. Criswell, H. F. Arff, S. Schurke, F. Dubois and W. P. Mulhoren, to carry out the for- malities of incorporation. W. P. Mulhoren was the first mayor and Ed Haas the first clerk. It is significant of the prosperity and enterprise of the city that ordinance No. I provided for bonds to the extent of $3,500 for a system of water works. Since that time the city has built an extensive water works system worth $10,000, and it also owns a gas plant valued at $8,000 and the city will be entirely free from debt within the coming year. Particular atten- tion is also paid to schools and Charter Oak has an excellent schoolhouse and may well be proud of its school system.
Those who have held the office of mayor are W. P. Mulhoren, W. C. John- son, P. D. McMahon, John Bolieu, Dr. Waterhouse, Dr. J. J. McWilliams, the present mayor. In addition to Mayor McWilliams, Mr. E. F. Glaue is clerk, W. F. Peterson is treasurer, M. Copps, Hans Hagge, A. Rogers, Charles Rob- inson and J. Grabow, councilmen.
Charter Oak prides itself not only upon its volume of business, which is very large, as it has a splendid agricultural territory from which to draw, but upon its residence streets, its well kept lawns and substantial cement walks. The business of the city is represented by four general merchandise establish- ments, one jewelry store, two hardware, two millinery, one shoe, one furniture, two banks, two drug stores, three implement houses, three cream stations, two barber shops, one meat market, one elevator, one flouring mill, two lumber yards, one livery, two garages, one cigar factory, one hotel, one restaurant, one lunch room, one photograph gallery, one newspaper, three saloons, three physicians, two dentists, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, telephone exchange, gas plant, four churches, one schoolhouse containing eight rooms.
CITY HALL, CHARTER OAK
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CHARTER OAK
409
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
LIVE OAK LODGE, A. F. & A. M.
A dispensation was issued to Live Oak Lodge, A. F. & A. M., on August 5, 1895, upon petition of the following: F. P. Guild, J. L. Walter, J. H. Stough, J. J. McWilliams, O. M. Criswell, A. P. Hart, F. W. Pithon, C. H. A. Davis, C. C. Booth, J. S. Sherman, Isaiah Liglin, George Richardson and W. W. Cushman, at which time the following officers were elected: F. P. Guild, W. M .; J. L. Walter, S. W .; J. H. Stough, J. W .; F. W. Pithon, treasurer; and O. M. Criswell, secretary.
The lodge worked under the dispensation until July, 1896, when it was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Of the original charter members only two now reside in Charter Oak, namely, F. W. Pithon and J. J. McWilliams. The lodge has always been fairly active and has initiated forty-three members since its organization. Of these members, four have been lost by death, namely, C. Schurke, A. P. Hart, C. H. A. Davis and J. H. Kuehl.
The present officers are: R. R. Weed, W. M .; C. A. Mains, S. W .; John Grubon, J. W .; F. W. Pithon, treasurer; J. Pruehs, secretary. It is a note- worthy fact connected with this lodge that one man, Dr. G. S. Waterhouse, served as Worshipful Master for ten consecutive years.
CHARTER OAK LODGE, NO. 105, I. O. O. F.
Charter Oak Lodge No. 105, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Charter Oak, Iowa, December 24, 1888, by District Deputy Grand Master Jackson, of Ma- nilla, Iowa. The charter was issued October 18, 1889, by Grand Master Wil- liam Musson and Grand Secretary William Garrets to the following members of the order: Robert L. Owens, M. L. Jones, W. S. McVey and James K. Wilson. Among the charter members were Charles Robertson, Theo. Drake, John Adams, John H. Jones, C. C. Hardy, George Hecht, Charles Robertson and S. W. Seymour. The lodge room is comfortably furnished and heated, being free from all indebtedness. The members possess a complete outfit of costumes and regalia, purchased in 1906 at a cost of five hundred dollars. At present the lodge has a membership roll of forty-eight active members. They have lost one brother by death, Orlando Cavett, who died in 1909.
The spirit of fraternity which constitutes the foundation of the organiza- tion has prompted them to extend aid to brothers who are in need, sick benefits ranging from three to twenty dollars a week, according to the exigencies of the case, having been allowed to many. The finances of the organization are divided into three funds, namely: the Relief Fund, the Widows and Orphans Fund and the General Fund. They now have to their credit about five hun- dred dollars in bank certificates.
The present officers are: Noble Grand, L. L. Perry; Vice Grand, Julius Pruehs; Secretary, J. E. Glau; and Treasurer, Theodore Drake.
410
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
THE REBEKAH LODGE.
The Pleasant Oak Lodge, No. 563, of the great order of Rebekahs, was founded at Charter Oak March 20, 1906. The charter members were: J. L. Bean, Mrs. Katherine Bean, A. Snyder, Mrs. Priscilla Snyder, G. M. Deter, Mrs. Hester Deter, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Heald, Theodore Drake, Mrs. Nellie Brewster, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Jones and Charles Roberts. The lodge was in- stituted by the staff of the Ute Lodge and the first officers were: N. G., Mrs. Katherine Bean; V. G., Mrs. Priscilla Snyder; Secretary, Mrs. Alice Jones ; Treasurer, Mrs. Hester Deter; Warden, Mrs. H. G. Heald; Conductor, Mrs. Nellie Brewster; R. S. to N. G., J. L. Bean; Charles Robertson and Nellie McWilliams; L. S. to V. G., Nellie Robertson; chaplain, Cora Robertson; I. G., G. M. Deter; O. G., Asa Jones; Trustees, A. Snyder, Mrs. H. G. Heald, Mrs. Nellie Brewster. The present officers are: Mrs. Minnie Davis, N. G .; Clara Pruesh, V. G .; Clara Davis, Secretary ; Arthur Hanchette, Treasurer. The camp has lost two members by death, Mrs. Theodore Wyckoff, who died in November, 1908, and Miss Meta Jacobsen, who died February 2, 1911. The lodge now has a membership of forty, is in excellent financial condition, and furnishes many of the most delightful events of Charter Oak's social life.
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