USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 12
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In the fall of 1851 the Iowa Conference sent a missionary by the name of Lyman Briggs to Decatur County. Three sermons were preached and on week days, but every Sabbath the class met at Pat- terson's.
John Parker was the next one; he came in the fall of 1852. Barnes and family came and lived where W. A. Boone lives. McIl- vaines came and lived on the Doctor Baker farm. Doctor Thompson came in the fall of 1851. Quarterly meeting was at Albia and Uncle John Patterson went on horseback, as it was the only way to travel. as there was no road with the exception of the Indian trail and no bridges. This year Thomas Smith and family came and added five more to the church. Others who came were: Stanleys, Vanderpools, Hatfields, I. N. Clark, Thomas Winn, James Garrett, Frank Smith.
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Brother Swim came to preach, but not often, as there were five counties to be supplied. The first quarterly meeting was held at Decatur City in a house built for a courthouse. John Hayden was the first presiding elder; John Parker, pastor; John Patterson, class leader; John Jordan, steward.
The first Sunday school in Decatur County was organized in 1853, in John Patterson's cabin, by Williams, a Presbyterian, and John Patterson as superintendent. In 1854 the Decatur mission was formed and D. L. Swim appointed pastor in charge. In the same year it became Leon Circuit, which was composed of the counties of Decatur, Ringgold, Clarke and Union. Owing to the increase in population it was thought best to divide the circuit so Decatur Cir- cuit was established. There being a substantial church in Decatur City the minister aroused the people of Leon to build a large church. Services were held at Patterson's and other members' homes and later they were held in a school where Mrs. Landis now lives. In 1856 preaching and Sunday school were held in an old courthouse in the east of town, where the Varga residence now stands. Then in the old brick courthouse in the southwest corner of the square. The Pres- byterian and Methodist societies plastered this building to obtain its use, each society occupying the building on alternate Sabbaths. The bell now used by the public schools once called the worshippers to this church.
On January 13, 1859, a committee was appointed to estimate the cost of a new church and shortly afterward the lot where the public library now stands was taken over and work begun on the building. The committee named was composed of: George Hawley, John Jordan, John Patterson, John Tharp, Daniel Shaffer, Rev. J. D. De Lay. It was through great effort that the building was enclosed, floored and one coat of plaster put on in the fall of 1859. For seats slab benches were made with no backs. The threatenings of the Civil war and later the war itself stopped all work upon the church. In 1860 the trustees were ordered to buy or build a parsonage. In 1863 part of the pastor's salary of $400 was paid in produce. In 1876 the church building was renovated. W. P. Wood and L. P. Sigler gave the church its first organ in 1877. On July 5, 1888, the church was incorporated.
The cornerstone for the new church structure was laid August 23, 1888, and completed at a cost of $9,000.
The following are the names of the pastors who have served this society: Lyman Briggs, John Parker, Swim, J. B. Rawls, David
METHODIST CHURCH. LEON
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LEON
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Dickinson, Erasmus T. Coiner, Jacob De Lay, Benjamin Williams, Samuel Farlow, J. B. Cary, Benjamin Shinn, D. O. Stuart, William F. Hertwood, G. P. Bennett, R. W. Thornburg, J. C. R. Layton, Simpson Guyer, Amos Wilson, A. P. Hull, D. MeIntyre, William Plested, A. Brown, W. H. Shipman, C. L. Nye, C. H. Newell, James Boreman, A. T. Jeffrey, W. C. Hohanshelt, George M. Hughes, George Winterbourn, John Gibson, Joseph Stephen, I. N. Woodward, A. M. Pilcher, Ray Shipman, James L. Boyd, E. M. Hoff, Guy J. Fansher.
The Christian Church was an aggressive force among the early pioneers of Decatur County. An organization was established in good season in Leon, and the efforts of the pastor and visiting evan- gelists exercised a material influence toward the moral and educa- tional advancement of the people.
The first regular organization of the Christian Church was effected the first Sunday in June, 1854, by Elder Josephus C. Por- ter, who served as preacher in charge for nearly twenty years. Names that are now mentioned with respect and affection as members of this devoted band of pioneer Christians are: John Gardner and wife, Christina A. Gardner, Franklin Gardner, J. C. Porter and wife, Anna Bradfield, Catherine Gardner, Wilson I. Gardner, Anna Thatcher, Jacob Witter and wife, Reuben Shackleford and wife, Andrew McElvain, J. McElvain and wife, John W. Gardner and wife, W. W. Ellis and wife, Dr. J. R. McClelland and wife, Daniel Bradley and wife, and Nancy Weldon. Among those who assisted in evangelistic work during the early days were Elders John Polly, W. B. Fisk, O. E. Brown, J. C. Levey and T. V. Berry.
In 1867 the congregation had increased in numbers to such an extent that a church building became a necessity. Accordingly a brick structure was erected which cost $4,000 and was used as a house of worship until the spring of 1902. It was 40 by 60 feet in size and for many years was the best church building in the county. The new building was dedicated on Sunday, February 14, 1903.
The list of pastors who have served this church in Leon is as fol- lows: Revs. J. C. Porter, James Gaston, T. V. Berry, A. B. Cor- nell, S. H. Hedrix, H. A. Lemon, W. E. Jones, O. Elbert, A. E. Major, John P. Jesse, C. F. Stevens, H. T. Clark, R. J. Castor, H. H. Hubbell.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1857. Among the leading members were John W. Warner, Mr. Gillam, W. P. Blair, Robert Patterson and George T. Young, with their
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families. They met in the courthouse on alternate Sunday mornings for four years and then discontinued services. Reverend Post was their only pastor during this time.
The Presbyterian Church was formed June 2, 1866, in the Metho- dist Church. The first members were Francis and Mary Varga, W. H. Smith, Thomas and Mary Baldwin, Fidelia F. Thompson, Robert and Keturak Kinnear, Margaret Stone, W. W. and Rebecca J. Moore, W. P. Blair, Mary A. Blair, Mary E. Young and Martha E. Avery. The meetings were first held every month in the old schoolhouse. After 1869 they were held on alternate Sundays, one preacher serving this and the Grand River Church. In 1871 a house of worship was erected on Commercial Street, two blocks east of Main, costing $7,000. The pastors who have served here are: Revs. D. S. Hughes, R. J. Burt, A. A. Mathes, F. Rea, C. M. Des Islets, Cyrus Johnson, W. C. Cort.
The Baptist Church first held services four miles southeast of Leon, some years before the war. The meeting place was shortly removed to town. Among the early members were: Mr. and Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Hammer, Samuel C. Thompson, Robert E. Dye and wife. Rev. John Woodard preached for the congregation for some years just before the war and then the organization went down. About 1867 Reverend Cake preached for one year. Then came Revs. Morton, Tillbury, Freeland Edwards. The new organization was effected November 1, 1879. Among the members who helped in this revival were: Robert E. Dye and wife, Mrs. Hammer, Mr. and Mrs. Burns, Warren Cole and wife, N. P. Bullock and wife, C. M. Murray and S. P. Nott and wife. The society rented a hall over Bowman's harness shop until the church was constructed in 1883 on the second block east of the square. It was a frame structure and cost $3,500.
The Seventh Day Adventists formed a society in Leon in 1888 under F. C. Watkins. A house of worship was constructed soon after the organization of the society. The society has now but twenty-three members and hold meetings every other Sunday. There is also an Adventist Church at Woodland, nine miles south- east of Leon, and one at Tuskeego. Both of these congregations are small.
The United Brethren Society began their work in the county in 1856, when Elder Abraham Replogle, of Appanoose County, gath- ered the members at Franklin and organized them into a church with William J. Stout, Sam A. Gurber and Harry Spurlock as ministers.
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The charter members of this society were: Susan Hendricks, Jacob Sears and wife, Christ Heaston and wife, Jacob Heaston and wife, Samuel Sears, William Stout and wife, Harvey Spurlock and wife, Samuel Garber and wife, and James Owensby and wife. The first communion was held at the Owensby home. The first church was constructed in the county in 1874, six miles northeast of Leon, and was known as Franklin Church. In 1883 came the unfortunate division of the church over the question of uniformity in religious garb. The liberal conference joined with the Presbyterians in build- ing a union chapel at Crown. The following preachers have served there: Revs. S. H. Bashor, Mrs. Clara Flora, Noah Flora, Isaac Thomas, Sadie Gibbons, W. A. Witty, S. J. Wood, F. Rawlinson, J. F. and F. A. Garber, G. T. Ronk. The church at Union Chapel was organized in October, 1912. The church building in Leon was begun May 28, 1914, the lot having been purchased in October, 1913, and the church was dedicated October 25, 1914.
THE SWIFT COMPANY
The plant of Swift & Company in Leon was completed in Sep- tember, 1904, and opened for business the same month with T. D. Watson as resident manager. He was manager of the Chariton plant before coming to Leon, and after the big fire that destroyed the former Swift plant in this city he had charge of both the houses of the company, here and at Chariton. The first plant was built and opened in 1902, and was completely destroyed by fire in the winter of 1904 .. The cost of the second structure was $5,000. This second plant burned to the ground on Saturday, October 24, 1914. The loss amounted to $100,000.
COMMERCIAL CLUB
The Leon Commercial Club was established April 26, 1907. The object of the elub is to promote the civic and industrial interests of the city and to place Leon on equal footing with similarly sized cities in the state. The present officers are: James F. Harvey, presi- dent; A. L. Ackerley, vice president; William J. Springer, secre- tary; C. W. Robinson, treasurer.
REMINISCENCES OF LEON By Maj. J. L. Young
In November, 1859, when I first saw Leon there was not a foot of sidewalk in the town. The men engaged in the mercantile busi-
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ness were Richards & Hale, who had a nice stock of goods in an old frame shack at the northwest corner of the square. Bradley & Gard- ner were doing business in the frame building that stood on the oppo- site corner of the square, where the Evans Block now stands. J. D. Harrow & Co. were in a still smaller frame building that stood where the Park Hotel now stands. Stevens & Stillwell were in a frame building on the west side of the square near the Hurst store. I am not certain whether John R. Wharton or Wharton & Rich- ardson were then in business, but I think they were in a 2-story frame building standing on the alley where Stempel's drug store stood. That was the first imposing business building in the town and had an outside stairway on the south side leading to the second story, where the Binckleys printed the Pioneer, the only paper then published in the county. Alexander Updegraff and Ab Gillham had a harness shop just south of Farquhar Brothers' hardware store.
The legal guessing on points of law and equity at that time was done by Judge Sears, while Bob Parrott, of Osceola, was prosecuting attorney for the district. George T. Young was clerk; Harrison Weldon, sheriff; John Jordan, treasurer, and L. H. Sales, county judge. The jail was a log structure and had iron bars in the win- dows which we thought awfully secure in those days. I guess it was, for nobody broke jail then as they have since the cage system was introduced. The jail then stood one block west of the northwest corner of the square.
At that time I. N. Clark was the only retired merchant in Leon. M. H. Wood made and mended our shoes, and Uriah Bobbitt filled the same office for the horse and mule population. Judge Samuel Forrey was the leading lawyer of the place, while Joe and John Warner dropped in the procession next, and P. H. Binkley, George A. Hawley and George S. Adams brought up the rear, with V. Wain- wright just newly admitted, looking out for a good place in which to drop.
John Warner and George A. Hawley were the Presbyterian preachers for the town and vicinity. John concluded to give all of his time to the church and sold his practice and good will to Young & Wainwright and quit the practice for six or eight months, and then went into the firm for active practice again.
The hotel accommodations then were fully up to the present con- sidering the town size. The Patterson House, kept by Robert Pat- terson and his estimable family, was a 21/2-story structure, of wood, that stood on the south side of the square just east of the site of the
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Varga Block, where a nice, cheerful wood fire in the old-fashioned fire-place gave such a comfortable greeting to the traveler that he was prepared to partake heartily of the substantial and well cooked meal he was always sure of having placed before him. The Free- man House, a clean, comfortable place to stay, was kept by Mrs. Rhoda Hawkins, Billy Boone's mother. Billy was then a bare- footed boy, usually with his big toe tied up or a stone bruise on his heel. John Warner and Old Man Shackleford had been engaged in the hotel business, but they retired and gave way to more pretentious hostelries. Shortly before this Karl Hoffman completed the build- ing known for years as the Sales House. Hoffman traded the building for eighty acres of land north of Leon, where his son Cal now resides.
The frame Methodist Church was not completed in 1857, but they held meetings every Sunday at 11 o'clock, and at "early candle lightin' " when they could get a preacher. When they could not, Unele Johnny Patterson would hold class or Jimmie Garrett would "exhort" for an hour or two.
John Lee, an importation from Illinois, started a saloon in a pho- tographer's car on the west side of the square in 1861, but a committee composed of the best women of the town visited the place one fine day with axes, hatchets and matches, and John did not keep a saloon in Leon after that.
In 1856 the population of Leon had increased to 600. In 1871 it was only 850, but the arrival of the railroad during that year brought many people to the place so that the population had increased to 1,367 in 1880. The greater portion of the main line of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad through Iowa and also the branch from Chariton to Leon was constructed during the year 1871. Eight years later the road was extended to Bethany, Mo. In order to procure the branch line Garden Grove Township donated $25,000, while Center gave $50,000 and the right of way from Garden Grove to Leon. The advent of the railroad stimulated immigration, pro- moted business activity and increased the value of real estate through- out the country.
Among the members of the Leon bar in 1871 were John W. Har- vey, Warner & Post, N. P. Bullock, J. B. Morrison, E. W. Curry, W. M. Porter, W. E. Dawson and Albert Hale. The physicians were J. P. Finley, H. C. Sanford and J. R. McClelland. A. S. Updegraff conducted a harness shop, and Q. M. Lindsey officiated as landlord at the Sales House. The First National Bank had a
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capital of $60,000 and was officered as follows: President, John Clark; vice president, William Davis; cashier, L. P. Sigler; directors, J. D. Wasson, A. M. Hilton, R. E. Hutchinson, William Loving, J. H. Garrett, J. E. Logan and S. C. Thompson. The druggists were Hildreth & Woodbury, Thompson & Gillham and Hammer & Finley. Among the prominent merchants were S. W. Hurst, Rich- ards & Close and W. D. Coventry. S. V. Walton & Brothers adver- tised themselves as breeders and shippers of Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Spanish fowls. Phillip Blind was the barber, and A. C. Davis the dentist. L. S. Lunbeck was the painter and paperhanger. The woolen factory was owned and operated by C. M. Knapp, and Jordan & Robb owned the abstract books and conducted a land agency. Sinclair & Jenks were the restaurant people, and S. A. Miller supplied bread for the public at his bakery located south of the square. P. O. James had established the Journal in 1868 and in his issue of August 24, 1871, occurred the following: "We learn that work commenced on the B. & M. Branch at Garden Grove on Monday. This is glorious news to our people and gives us room to hope that we will soon have a railroad in Decatur County."
THE LEON BOARD OF TRADE
This organization has been superseded by the Commercial Club, but nevertheless. the history of the same is interesting. On January 15, 1888, a meeting of the business men of Leon was held at the courthouse at which steps were taken towards organizing a business men's association. At this meeting a committee was appointed for the purpose of drawing up a plan of organization. At a second meeting held on Friday evening, January 13th, the committee reported, recommending that an association be formed at once under the name of the Leon Board of Trade. The shares of stock were fixed at $5 each, and each member of the board was required to take not less than one share of the stock. The constitution and by-laws were at once circulated for signatures, and within fifteen minutes thirty of the business men of the town had signified their intention of becoming members of the board. The board of trade existed suc- cessfully and helpfully for a number of years. The purposes of the organization, of course, were largely the same as the present Com- mercial Club.
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LEON AS DESCRIBED IN 1869
The Decatur County Journal, issue of Tuesday, March 4, 1869, has the following to say of Leon :
This is the county seat and is situated about two miles northeast of the geographical center of the county. Thomas H. East had built a house on the townsite before the town was laid out. Judge S. C. Thompson built the first after the location of the town. Clark, Winn & Co. built the first business house, and I. N. Clark sold the first goods in September, 1853.
It now contains six general stores, two family groceries, two drug stores, two stove and tinware stores, three shoe shops, two printing offices, two harness shops, two jewelers, two milliners, three hotels, one livery stable, three blacksmiths, three wagonmakers, one cabinet dealer, two land agencies, eight lawyers, six physicians, two churches, one schoolhouse, two flouring mills, one woolen factory, with the usual proportion of mechanies of different kinds.
Among the substantial business men are Richards & Close, J. D. Harrow and G. D. Sellers, general dealers; Hildreth & Sales and T. W. Hammer, druggists; S. Farquhar and J. W. Shaeffer, dealers in stoves and tinware; J. L. Simms, boots and shoes; A. S. Updegraff and Patterson & Darr, saddles and harness; Jacob Warner, jeweler; Mills & Cross, Uriah Bobbitt, blacksmiths; G. Irelan, wagonmaker. J. O. Johnson keeps the Sales House; this is known as the best hotel in Southern Iowa. Among our prominent lawyers are Young & Harvey, S. Forrey and J. B. Morrison. The physicians are J. P. Finley, Sr., B. F. Raiff, R. D. Gardner, H. Clay Sanford, J. R. McClelland and C. P. Mullinnix.
A Masonic lodge, known as Grand River Lodge No. 73 and Leon Chapter No. 32, located in Leon, are in a flourishing condition. Leon Lodge No. 84, I. O. O. F., is also in flourishing condition. A Chapter of Temperance was organized during the past winter and is doing good work.
Considerable attention has been given by the citizens to the plant- ing of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery. The Public Square, a block of ground 216 feet square, has been enelosed and planted in forest trees, mostly maple, yet of small size. Half a mile north of town there is a large and well-stocked nursery of fruit and ornamental shrubbery of almost every variety. The nursery has been in operation twelve or more years, and is owned and operated by the practical horticulturist, J. B. Lunbeck.
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Wood is the principal fuel used and is delivered in Leon during the winter season at $2 per cord.
There are forty-four arrivals and departures of the mails each week to and from different directions. The postoffice here is a money order office.
The population of Leon is about one thousand. During the past season about thirty good buildings were erected.
MEMORIES OF LEON
The following items were prepared by J. N. Machlan. The writer makes the items doubly interesting by using the historical present tense :
As Abraham Lincoln is now running for President of the United States it is fitting that some demonstration in honor of the occasion be given at Leon. It is useless to state that there is no little interest shown by both political parties on the occasion. Prominent among the Lincolnites that are among those that are parading the streets of Leon are Jesse Roberts and George Machlan, who with a string of teams hitched to a wagon loaded with logs are playing an important part as they pass through the streets of young Leon, one of them driving and the other splitting rails with a mall and wedge.
News has reached us that El. Curry, son of William Curry and brother of E. W. Curry, has returned home from the war on a fur- lough.
That Grandma Taylor, mother of Uncle Ben Taylor, living in the northeast part of Franklin Township, had disappeared from the homestead of her son, Ben, where she made her home. The news was heralded from place to place over the sparsely settled country, and a searching party, consisting of John Lillard, George Machlan and others, have searched diligently for the missing woman and have found no traces of her whereabouts except some small bits of her clothing.
News has also reached us that Denver Curry, youngest son of William Curry, met with a sad accident while watching his father bore holes in a stick of timber to be used in making a bob sled. The little fellow became anxious to ascertain if the auger point was about to come through the lower side of the timber, and in doing so thrust his front finger into the hole that was just being completed, when it was instantly seized by the crude jaws of the auger and cut off. The severed piece was preserved in alcohol.
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We are informed that the young daughter of Mr. Clinkinbeard, near Prairie City (now Van Wert), who, with her parents, was visit- ing at the Machlan homestead, became anxious to cat some home- made soap from a kettle near the house. The child was attracted by the looks of the soap, and thinking it was sorghum molasses, ate quite a mouthful before she learned it was hurting her. Presently she began to suffer, and as soon as it was learned what she had eaten she was given raw egg and cream, which relieved her somewhat.
We are informed that a dance will take place at Jesse Roberts' one night next week. All are invited.
There will be a spelling school at the Walker schoolhouse next Friday night. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
Strange, isn't it, that we have just learned that the little round yellow and red varieties of Jerusalem cherries that some people call tomatoes, such as our mothers raise in their gardens for ornaments, are said to be relished by some people as edible.
Horrible Accident .- Mrs. Day, wife of Joshua Day, living in central Franklin Township, was killed by a runaway team while returning home from Leon with her son, Joe Jackson. When about 414 miles north of town the team became frightened, and running for some distance when Mrs. Day was thrown from the carriage, her clothing catching about the vehicle. She was dragged near the horses' heels for some distance, when Joe became unable to hold the team. They kept on running, the carriage upsetting, and becom- ing loosened, they continued on toward home, leaving the corpse in a badly mutilated condition in the little muddy creek 41/2 miles north of town.
The Eclipse of the Sun .- The other day, while we were busily engaged stacking wheat and had a stack almost finished at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we observed first a hazy atmosphere, then a smoky appearance, then in a few minutes a yellowish tint, then dark- ness was coming on and peculiar sensations were chasing cach other up and down our spine as it grew darker and darker. We climbed down from the stack, as it was too dark to work, and went to the house. The fowls had gone to roost. But ere long Old Sol began to show his shining face as if nothing extraordinary had taken place, and before his face disappeared beneath the western horizon we had our wheat stack finished and climbed down for supper.
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