USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 63
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The first regular physician was Dr. Barron, the second was Dr. Finely, and the third was Dr. Greenleaf.
The first religious service was held in a log school-house near the Liten graveyard, by Franklin New, a Methodist minister.
The first school was taught by Grant Tousey; it was a subscription school with about fifteen pupils, at about $2.00 a term.
The first school-house was built of logs, in district No. 5, in the year 1844.
0.1 1840 Genaua
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
The first weaving or making of eloth was done by a Mrs. Bigsby.
The hardships passed through by the early pioneers in this township were the same experienced by all early pioneers; going twenty five or thirty miles to mill and for provisions, and going without many things which are now considered necessaries.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Was organized in this township in the fall of 1850, and the original mem- bers were Henry Wright and wife, Leonard York and wife, A. Taylor and wife, A. Botts and wife, S. P. Penny and wife, and Mr. Andrews. A frame church was erected in 1870 at a cost of $1,500, and dedicated by J. C. Cevey and Elder Wright. The names of the pastors are Cevey, Morris, IIedrix, and A. J. Shepard. The present membership is eighty.
The postoffices for this township are Eldon and Floris, neither of them in the township.
James H. Jordan is said to be the oldest living settler in the State, and is also in Davis county, of whom a more extended account is given in the chapter on pioneers, is a genius, preminently the product of our western civilization. He came to this State in 1822, before it was even a territory, He settled in the northeast corner of this township in 1836, on the east side of the Des Moines river, on the richest land in the State, where he has lived ever since. Considering the hardships and disadvantages of their early life, the culture, refinement and intelligence displayed in Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, and the taste shown in their surroundings indicate a high natural order of intellect.
At the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876, Mr. Jordan re- ceived the first premium for the best eorn grown in the United States, be- ing a diploma and a medal.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 1,236 .- This is congressional township 69, range 12. It was named from the union of States: emblematical of strength.
This township contains 23,314 aeres of land, and was divided into ten school districts.
"Union township* was first settled in 1840 along the Van Buren county line near where the village of Troy is situated. The earliest settlers were Fleming Mize, Samuel Evans, Samuel Swearengen, William MeCormick, Joel Staley, B. F. Wilson, Tariton Elder, Peter Marson, Levi Piekens, Wil- liam D. Evans and others.
*Col. Moore.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
"The first sermon preached in the county, Capt. Ilorn tells us. was preached in this township by a pioneer of the Methodist church, Rev. Thomas Fitz- patrick, at the house of William McCormick, early in the year 1841. Rev. W. L. Rankin organized in the same year a church of New School Presby- terians. The Fox River church was organized in this township in 1842 by Elder Post, a Baptist minister. To this township belongs the credit of building the first school-house in the county. It was built in the spring of 1841 of hewed logs on the claim of Mr. Samnel Swearengen.
"The second mill built in the county was built in this township, near the county line between Davis and Van Buren counties, in the spring of 1.841, by Peter Marson and a Mr. Brunnelle, a Frenchman. It ran by horse power, and of course its capacity was not sufficient to supply the settlers with corn meal, especially if the story of the little mill's trials and beset- ments are true. It is related that the speed of the mill did not at all inter- fere with the usual avocation of the miller on his claim. That after care- fully measuring the grist, and as carefully and honestly taking his toll, that he would start the horse to going, and wonid himself start to his plowing, leaving his little mill to the care of the ground squirrels that assembled, and placing one of their number at the shoe, would catch the grain as fastas it appeared in sight, and before it reached the eye of the stones. And when one got his jaws full he would fall back in good order, and another squirrel would take his turn at the mill. Candor, and a sense of justice to the memory of those who had enterprise enough in those early days to erect a mill of any kind compels me to say that this story does not come to me backed up and forti- fied by that amount of testimony that forces a conviction of its truth.
"While speaking of mills in this township, I am tempted to trespass a moment longer on your good nature to relate a story which was current, when I came to this county. My old friend, John Brown, the one I men- tioned as keeping three yoke of oxen to haul his corporeal frame, owned a mill on Fox river, near Stringtown, in an early day. Mills were very scarce in the county, and, as a consequence, were over-tasked and crowded with work. Our old friend Brown was clever and in his anxiety to accom- modate all of his patrons, sometimes failed to get the mill stones within speaking distance of each other, and the customer was sometimes at a loss to determine by the grist in his sack whether it had been through the mill or not. It is related that on one occasion a little boy came to old Brown's mill, and after his grist had been safely deposited and marked, he approached the old man, and in a pleasant, silken voice, said: "Mr. Brown, mother told me to ask you to grind this grist a little finer than yon did the last one." "Tell your mother," the old man replied, "that I am so linrried with my custom- ers that I can only promise to grind corn so fine it won't grow." "Oh!" replied the boy, "that's all mother expects you to do; but she mixed up some of the last grist and it sprouted before she could get it into the skil- let."
The first orchard planted in this county was in this township. It was set out by Mr. Fleming Mize. And it is also claimed that the same gentleman sowed the first field of wheat in the county. May he never want for a loaf of bread, and may long life and health attend him to pluck the fruit of the first trees planted in this fruitful county by his hands in the days of his early, hopeful manhood. Others have followed his example until mansion
18
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
and cottage and cabin alike are surrounded with fruit-bearing trees, and shrubs and vines, and adorned with flowers, promising abundance and luxury.
The first marriage in this township was between Fleming Mize and Miss Harriett Briggs, which took place in 1840. This marriage, if we have ob- tained the correct date, was the first marriage in the county.
The first birth of a male child was to William Evans, in 1841.
The first female child was M. Victoria Rankin, born August 10, 1841. The first death was Mrs. William M. McCormick, who died in July, 1841. The first regular physician in this township was Dr. John D. Elbert. The first minister was William Taylor, Methodist.
The first school was taught by Z. Bryant, who received fifteen dollars a month, to be paid in corn and coonskins.
The first school-house was built by volunteer labor, and built without nails or glass.
The first justice of the peace was W. W. Rankin.
CHURCHES.
Hickory Grove Baptist church was organized December 11, 1875, by El- der S. E. Nelson, with the following members: Martha E. Pherigo, O. P. Mongler, M. C. Mongler, Charles Mongler, William Mustard, Sarah Mon- gler, E. Powell, Peter Mongler, Nancy A. Mongler, Charlotte Mongler, Martha Vorhis, James A. Wise, J. F. Radcliff, and R. Hopkins, and they have a present membership of thirty-four. The different pastors have been S. E. Nelson, N. Hays, William Beard, and John Leamstie, the present pas- tor. They have no house of worship, but meet in a school-house, services being held the third Sunday of each month.
Bethel M. E. church was organized about the year 1846, with the follow- ing members: Samuel Mathew, Rachel Mathew, Caroline Mathew, Na- than Hall, Permelia Hall, Rev. William Taylor and wife, and some others. A frame church building was erected in 1863, at a cost of about $1,000, and dedicated in 1864 by L. T. Crowley, P. E. The present membership is about thirty, and the following have been their pastors: William H. Har- rison, F. H. Cary, I. P. Teter, C. Morey, G. W. Friend, - Waymon, - Lathem, C. W. Shepherd, - Cheney, - Dailey, - Adams, - Patterson, - Fawcett, - Hurt.
LODGES.
Prosperity Temple, No. 21, was instituted by D. B. Bernard, of Kirks- ville, Missouri, and the present officers are, R. M. Pierson, M. T .; Ruth A.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
MeHugh, A. T .; H. M. Arney, L. T .; H. W. Rullman, chaplain; A. Pier- son, T .; Z. L. Rullman, A. T .; C. W. Taylor, F. T. They hold their meet- ings in a school-house.
Union Star Grange, No. 1140, was instituted March 26, 1873, by J. M. . Randall, of Ottumwa. The names of the present officers are: G. W. Tibbs, W. M .; J. Tharp, O .; J. Taylor, L .; D. H. Tayers, S .; F. Penrod, A. T .; W. Taylor, C .; J. A. Steele, T .; H. H. W. Rullman, secretary; J. T. Arney, G. K .; T. E. Tayres, Ceres; M. Johnson, Pomona; Z. L. Rullman, Flora: H. M. Arney, L. A. Steward. They have a present membership of twenty-nine.
STRINGTOWN.
This was the first town in Davis county. It was first ealled Harpersville then Dover, then Stringtown. The town was on land originally owned by B. F. Wilson, situated partly on the ne qr. and the nw qr. of section 35, town- ship 69, range 12, about a mile and a half south of the present town of Troy. It was surveyed and platted February 8, 1848, by John W. Ellis, connty surveyor. One of the earliest settlers was Berney Carter, a whisky seller, and the population in 1851 was thirty-two. This town is long since dead, and the only record of it is in the mind and recollection of the early settlers.
TROY.
The town of Troy was surveyed and platted by John W. Ellis, county sur- veyor, February 15, 1848, on land belonging to J. I. Earhart, James A. Sawyers, J. C. Ewing, and D. Haine, and named by J. I. Earhart, after Troy, Ohio, where he came from. The population of this town in 1851, was 101. Here is located the well known pioneer educational institution of Davis county,
TROY ACADEMY.
This school was commenced about the year 1853, and has now entered upon its twenty-eighth year with bright prospects for the future. A large number of the most prominent citizens of this and adjoining counties ac- quired their education within her elassie halls. Prof. C. E. Foster at pres- ent has charge of the school. The trustees are B. F. Shreve, Pres. W. H. Rosser, W. M. Evans, W. Parks, and R. M. Loek, secretary.
WEST GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 1.093 .- This township lies partly in four congres- sional townships, and the reader is referred for a fuller description of its lo- cation, to the chapter on township organization. It was named from Dead Man's Grove, where the remains of a murdered man were found, in the
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IHISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
early settlement of the county. This township contains 23,187g acres of land, and is divided into seven school districts.
One of the first settlers in this township was Jeff Hockersmith, who set- teled here in the spring of 1848, and laid out a land warrant on section 25, where he has since resided.
The first marriage in the township was Roland Sont to Jane Beard.
The first birth was Grady Hockersmith, born September 5, 1848. The first death was John Owens.
The first physician was Dr. Selman, of Bloomfield.
The first minister was Rev. Dooly, of the Baptist church.
The first school was taught in a log cabin, built by donation, by Jack Grady, J. Hockersmith and others. The first teacher was Dick Rawlins.
WEST GROVE.
The town of West Grove was surveyed by Major William H. Cheever, on the sw qr sw qr section 35, township 69, range 15, and nw qrnw qr section 2, township 68, range 15, on the 20th day of November, 1853. The land was owned by E. H. Sawyers, known as " Uncle Peck."
This town is located on the Burlington and Southwestern Railroad, abont nine miles southwest of Bloomfield. It is now a thriving town and grow- ing steadily, and is surrounded by a splendid country.
THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Of West Grove, was built in the summer of 1881. It is a good frame building, costing about $1,500. It was dedicated by Rev. T. R. Lester, of Cedar county, and the pastor is Rev. H. W. Bryant. This church was or- ganized in October, 1845. The present membership is about 11S.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Of West Grove, was organized about the year 1870, with the following orig- inal members: I. N. Short and wife, E. L. Field and wife, E. L. Baldridge and wife, Joshua Eastburn and wife, and Mrs. Benjamin Morris. They oc- cnpy a nice frame church, built in 1873, costing about $1,000. Rev. J. T. Black was the first regular pastor. The succeeding pastors are S. B. Down- ing, Moses Downing, M. M. Boyer, J. Northent, Elder Carr, Elder Nor- ton and Elder Samnel Jordan. The present membership is about 40.
WYACONDAH TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 1228 .- This is all of congressional township 67, range 14, north of the Missouri state line; and also congressional township 68, range 14, except six sections taken from the northwest corner, in form- ing. West Grove township. It was named from Wyacondah Creek which
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
flows southeastwardly across the northeast corner of the township. This township contains 30,6283 acres of land, and is divided into ten school districts.
Wyacondah township had among its early settlers Henry Dooley, Joel Fenton, Samnel and Reuben Riggs, James Rigsly, Snow Sailing, Jona- than Riggs, Anderson Willis, Abner Tharp, Joseph Carter, Adam Smith, William Russell, John Bragg, David Howell.
THE HAIRY NATION .*
"The Hairy Nation originally was confined to what was known as the forks of the Wyacondah, embracing the settlements between and along the margin of two streams, and when anyone spoke of the Nation, its locality was understood as here described. But in process of time the whole of Wyaeondah township was denominated the Ilairy Nation; and for many years past persons at a distance have recognized anyone hailing from Davis county as a resident of the "Hairy Nation."
"Onr senators and representatives from this county have always been recognized at the capital of the State, and hailed as representing in face, figure, language and garb the peculiar people whose fathers pitched their tents, erected the pole eabins and watched their flocks in the valleys and on the table lands of what was then known as the Wan-kin-daw.
"I am indebted to Judge McAtee for many incidents connected with the early settlement of the county, and for many humorous anecdotes illustra- tive of the times and of the people who first settled the Hairy Nation. I learn from him that somewhere in the mountainous regions of Kentucky or Tennessee there was a settlement of trappers and hunters whose wild, rude, mode of life, their fondness for the ruder sport of drinking, horse- racing and fighting, gave to that particular locality of their mountain home the name "Ilairy Nation." And that some of the settlers, not all by any means, in their wild mode of life so nearly resembled the denizens of that hunting, trapping, drinking and fighting region that they assumed the name of "Hairy Nation." And with your indulgence I will relate an anec- dote told me by the Judge as illustrative of the character of some of those who contributed to fasten the name on that beautiful part of our county, that has long since ceased to be the theatre of seenes like the one here described.
"The ,Indge tells me that on his first visit to the Nation, he was on horse- baek, and was hunting for the blacksmithshop of one Jeff. Sailing, to get his horse shod. While riding along through the brush, and when near the place where Morris MeCracken now lives, he heard a most unearthly thump- ing and stamping, accompanied with the wild "yip" and "war-whoop" peculiar to the "Ingin" in those days. Bending down the bushes, and peering in the direction of the noise, he discovered a little cabin with the door standing open, and a tall man, bare-headed, with a shock of wild, shaggy, straggling hair, shirt collar and bosom open; the veins in his red, turkey-gobbler like neck distended like whip cords, with no other clothing save his shirt and a primitive pair of breeches, swinging his hairy, naked arms high in air, and dancing a wild dance of triumphant joy, back and forth across the puncheon floor. Discovering the Judge, he yelled out through
*Colonel Moore.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
his iron lungs: "Hello, there; come in; you shan't be hurt: won't you wait? I'm old Dan Sailing. The boys in the Nation have been bantering me to come up and take a spree; said they would drink me blind. But come in, stranger. Look thar!" and at the same time raising a puncheon in the floor. "Look in thar, stranger; there they are, all three of 'em. I've drunk 'em dead drunk, throwed 'em in the tater hole, and I'm danein' over their graves." The Judge failed to get his horse shod, for Jeff., the black- smith, was dead drunk in the "tater hole."
I have been told that in the very early days of the settlement of the Hairy Nation good water was rather searce; bnt whisky was cheap, and it was the custom to buy a barrel of that kind of moisture, and leaving it on the "liazrd," or "bob sled," in the brush, each man went on his own motion with his bottle, jug or coffee pot, and took what he wanted, kept his own ac- counts, and reported at the proper time to the owner the amount consumed, and that he was not required to specify and itemize the quantities used for medicinal mechanical, culinary or sacramental purposes.
SAVANNAH.
The oldest town in this township is Savannah. As early as 1849, there was a post office established here, called "Tippo," from Tippo Williams, an old settler, and who became the first post-master.
October 7, 1851. John McCullough, the owner, employed John W. Ellis, county surveyor, to survey the present town, on the nw qr ofthe ne qr of sec- tion 10, township 67, range 14. The name was then changed to Savannalı, and John M. Denny put up the first store in the town, and afterwards sold ont to David Wells.
MARTINSVILLE.
This town was surveyed and laid off August 30, 1856, by Thomas Duf- field, county surveyor, on the se qr of the nw qr, and the ne qr of the sw qr, of section 30, township 68, range 14, of which Ezra W. Martin and W. H. Bunch were the owners.
SPRINGVILLE.
This town, located at "Carters Springs," on the nw qr of the sw qr, of sec- tion 34, township 68, range 14, on land belonging to Mrs. Jane S. Barnes, was surveyed by Thomas Duffield, county surveyor, March 15, 1857.
The first marriage in Wyacondah township was between John Burton and Miss Sarah Atteberry, the exact date of which we cannot give.
The first birth was Wm. Fenton, born April 24, 1840. The first death was a child of Abram Mays, who died in February 1850.
The first minister in this township was Rev. J. Dooley, a Baptist preacher.
The first school was taught in a log school house; built on section 11, by volunteer work.
The first election held in this township was in the spring of 1844, being the first held in the county. It was held at Mr. Fenton's.
1
BIOGAPHICAL SKETCHES.
All men cannot be great; each has his own sphere, and the success of his life is to be measured by the manner in which he fills it. But men may be both true and good, may be morally great, for in true living there are no degrees, there is no respect of persons. The word sketeh, as here used, im- plies an outline or delineation of anything, giving broad touches by which only an imperfect idea, at the best, can be conveyed. It is not designed to include all the several and separate acts of a man's life, important or other- wise, for that would necessarily be both comprehensive and minute; nor is any single sketeli purely biographieal, which would imply a review of the life and character of each person. The design is to give the merest outline, with particular reference, however, to the public life of the persons named. To go into each man's private life, or into his home life, would be both un- warranted and valueless. Few care to know these facts, and many of them, perhaps, had best be forgotten. As a rule one's neighbors know full enough about him, and to afford thein correct data for information may deprive them of the topic of quondam conversations.
LIere will be found few, if any, who are not entitled to a place in public «confidence. The names are, in great part, those of men who have been closely and for a long time identified with the interests of the county and their respective townships. If in their lives no mention appears of the hardships they endured in the early days of the county's history it is beeanse these are the common experiences of pioneer life, were not exceptional in their character, and have already been referred to in other pages of this volume. A repetition here of individual experiences would be absolutely void of both interest and aim. To the residents of the county the names of none of its earliest settlers are withont interest. So far as they could be gathered they illustrate quite fully the character of the early settlers; if the names of any such do not appear in these pages it is because facts were not accessible, or that an inauspicious destiny had arrested their career. Their place was already marked. To have obtained sketches of their lives at first hand, would have been, next to the consciousness of duty fulfilled, the high- est of gratifications. Their lives would obtain, and justify all sympathy, and
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even their names recall heroic examples of which the men of to-day, with better fortunes, though with less daring, are neither the companions, the rivals nor the masters. In the great majority of instances the battles in which many persons named have been engaged are suppressed, not because. they are valueless, but because the engagements of the several Iowa regi- ments may be found elsewhere in this work. This has not been generally the ease with regiments outside of the State.
BLOOMFIELD CITY.
ANDERSON. REUBEN W., County Superintendent, Bloomfield, whose. portrait appears in this work, was born in Pike county, Ohio, January 4, 1854. When three years of age he came with his father, Captain W. Anderson, to Roscoe township, this county, where he grew to manhood, helping his father on the farm and going to school; attending Troy academy four terms, taught his first school when fifteen years old; teaching six terms, then. In 1873, went to Ohio and taught two terms, then attended two terms at the National Normal at Lebanon, Ohio; then, after teaching two more terms, attended the college at Delaware one year; then taught two terms at l'iketon, Ohio, first as assistant, then as principal: then took charge of his uncle's farm one year, and, in 1878, returned to this county. Taught one term in his home district, then took charge of the Pulaski schools, as principal, for one year, and in the fall of 1879, was elected County Superintendent on the democratic ticket, by a majority over the greenback ticket of 114, and over the republican ticket of 222. He was elected principal of the Bloomfield schools in June, 1881, where they have one of the best graded schools in the State. He was married May 9th, 1877, to Miss Plana Hayes, of Ross county, Ohio, who died May 9. 1878, and he married again to Miss Celina C. Plank, daughter of J. J. Plank, of Pulaski, Iowa. Mr. Anderson is a mason, an odd fellow, and a member of the M. E. church.
Professor Anderson, though still young, has attained a proud position among the school workers of the State, and during the short time he has been connected with the Bloomfield schools, has more than met the most sanguine expectations of his friends. As an organizer he has few equals and no superiors. He owns a nice farm near town, and is making himself a home.
ALLENDER, REV. R. B., Bloomfield; one of the pioneers of the gospel in Iowa, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1816, where he lived till 1839. He united with the church Angust 25, 1837, and in the fall of 1839, came to Jefferson connty, in what was then the territory of Iowa. He entered a farm of the government, where he lived till 1853, when he was ordained a minister of the M. E. Church, and sent to Monroe circuit, two years; Centerville circuit, two years; Agency circuit, two years; Osceola cirenit, one year; Knoxville cirenit, two years; then the war com- ing on, he accepted the call of the Twenty-second Iowa infantry, Colonel Stone, as chaplain, and was out with the regiment eleven months. Then
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
resigned, and returned to Knoxville, then was sent to Atica, two years; Knoxville, one year; Albia district, two years; Ottumwa, two years; Agency, three years; then, in 1879, superannuated, and came to Bloomfield. He was elected presiding elder, of Albia district, Iowa conference, Bishop Ames, presiding. Mr. A. has received into the chmureh, 3,000 persons. He was married July 6, 1839, to Almyra Frauzey, of Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, and they have had eight children, D. R., John C., R. B., Emma J., Olive E., and three deceased; William II., of Third Cavalry, received a mor- tal wound at Jackson, Mississippi; Francis A., of Third cavalry, killed at Big Blue, Kansas. Rev. A. is located in this city, where he has spent nine years of his life.
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