USA > Iowa > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 32
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
Augustus Davis came From Ohio to lowa in 1851 and settled in Elk Town- ship. He was one of the charter members of the Christian Church, organized in a log schoolhouse near the Robert Hunter home, in 1857. Mr. Davis died September 16, 1913.
Among the first settlers in this township was James Martindale, who came in 1851. He proved to be one of the leading farmers in this community, as was also John Martindale, who arrived in 1851. John Martindale was a clergy- man of the Christian Church and was a valiant expounder of its tenets for over a half century. He settled two miles northwest of Greeley. He organized the
FOUNTAIN SPRING MILLS, ON ODELL'S BRANCH OF ELK CREEK
277
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Christian Church at Greeley and was instrumental in erecting the building there.
Job Odell settled in this township in 1851, coming from Ohio in that year. IIe built a residence on his land, which was the only one between Greeley and Delhi on the main road. A son, G. H., was one of the sheriff's of Delaware County and William Odell was a leading farmer of this township.
Samuel Lewis was an early settler in Elk Township, coming from Dubuque county in 1852 or 1853 and settling here. Ile married Catherine Overocker in 1854. Mr. Lewis became prominent in the township.
Thomas J. Armstrong came to Delaware County in 1852. He married Luey M. Bellows, a daughter of Ira Bellows, who was one of the first settlers in Elk Township. Mrs. Armstrong still resides at Greeley and is unusually active for a woman of her age.
Zebina Snow immigrated to Towa from Massachusetts in 1853 and settled here in the brush, where he opened a farm consisting of 164 acres.
Henry Millen had reached the venerable age of ninety-one years at the time of his death in August, 1913. Up to that time he had been a resident of Dela- ware County sixty-two years, having settled in Elk Township in 1853. He joined the Advent Church at Greeley soon after his arrival and was one of its leading spirits. II. G. Millen of Marion, once superintendent of schools for Delaware County, and W. I. Millen of Earlville, are sons of Henry Millen.
William Stoner came to Delaware County as early as 1853 and settled on a farm in Elk Township north of Earlville, where for many years he resided. He was a good farmer, thrifty and industrious, and died in 1913, regretted by a large number of friends.
John S. Drybread came to this county in 1853 and settled on a farm on sec- tion 21, near Greeley, where he lived many years. About twenty years before his death he retired, making his home at Greeley. Mr. Drybread, or "Uncle John." as he was more familiarly known, was for many years prominent in the county as one of its leading farmers and business men, having bought and sold grain at Greeley for many years.
Father John Trowbridge, as his neighbors called him, with Philander Daw- ley, his son, and their families, moved from Solon, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to the eastern part of Elk Township in 1854.
Father Trowbridge was born in 1790 and died in 1884. The forty years of his life in the West were nearly all spent in Elk Township with his son Dawley, as he was familiarly known. Both of these men were physically strong, were also men of strong convictions and ardent Methodists. They not only preached, but practiced the Golden Rule.
In 1906 P. D. moved to Holtville, in the Imperial Valley, California. In 1911 he died and his remains were brought to Earlville. His wife, one of the noblest of women, died at Holtville, September 27, 1914, and her remains were also brought to Earlville and now these two worthy people who lived together so many years in Elk Township, sleep side by side on the same lot in Fairview Cemetery, Earlville.
John Winters belongs in the ranks of Elk Township's first settlers, coming here in 1850 and entering land on which he located and improved. The elder Winters died that spring and John's mother then built a log cabin on the
280
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
also in the ehrch at 'Yankee Settlement.' There were somewhere near two hundred conversions. Much of my time was spent at the home of A. R. Loomis, Manchester. Mrs. Loomis assigned me a 'prophet's' room, and Mr. Loomis a stall for my horse, showing me the bin containing the oats and telling me to see that the animal was well fed. 1 have never forgotten their kindness. The children were all small then, but were always at the gate when I returned from my trip around the circuit, to open it for me. I do not forget the treatment received from the William Cattrons of Greeley and James Prestons and Isaac Prestons of 'Yankee Settlement ;' and the Watsons, at Greeley."
GREELEY
The Town of Greeley is quite an important business center of the northern portion of the county. It was laid out on the northwest quarter of the north- east quarter of section 29, the survey being made August 28, 1854, by A. G. Noble, and plat recorded February 24, 1855. Sammuel Lough owned the land and projected the town, giving it much assistance in its infancy. The post- office was established in 1854 and named Plum Spring, but in 1863 this was changed to Greeley. The reason of the first name was that a splendid spring of water was near the Lough residence, near the town site.
In the fall of 1854, Charles S. Taylor built a house one-half mile east of the Lough home and was the first building to be put up in Greeley.
Early in March, 1855, William Cattron purchased the Taylor property and also lot six of Lough. On lot six he put up a building, stocked it with mer- chandise and at once opened the first mercantile establishment in the place.
The next persons to build and enhance the importance of Greeley were J. B. Taylor, H. C. Drybread and Miss Lizzie White. Soon their activities in this direction were followed by others, who engaged in business.
It is probably not generally known in Delaware County that the Village of Greeley is the home of one of America's most famous song writers and talented vocalists-J. F. Martindale, better known in theatrical eireles by the stage name of "Frank Howard." Mr. Martindale is the son of one of Delaware County's early settlers and esteemed citizens, Rev. John Martindale, of the Christian Church. J. F. Martindale was born March 7, 1851, and that same year his father settled in the vieinity of the present Village of Greeley, where the young man spent his childhood and youth. He was a musician from infaney, although he never took a lesson in his life, his father being opposed to children receiving any musical training. His first song was entitled "Baby's Kiss," written in 1878, and met with publie favor. This was followed by "'Still Far From Me." Then in 1882 appeared "Pansy Blossoms." Everybody sang that, and the author's next songs were "When the Robins Nest Again," "I'll Await My Love, " "Sweet Alpine Roses, " "Howard's Cradle Song," "Sweet Heather Bells;" and the "Springtime and Robins Have Come." "Veneta," "A Faded Pansy," "The Sailor Boy's Return," "Two Little Ragged Urchins," "Only Ble Bells," and others of less popularity. Mr. Martindale sang for two years in the Coliseum at Chicago, and in 1874 was with Happy Cal Wag- ner's minstrel troupe, one of the popular organizations of its day. He then joined the Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West Company, and it was during his
CC: . RIGHTED.
OLD POULTNEY SCHOOLHOUSE, ELK TOWNSHIP
281
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
engagement with this company that he brought out and sang for one season "When the Leaves Begin to Turn." His next engagment was with Thatcher, Primrose & West, with whom he traveled three years. He also was with Dock- stader's Twenty-ninth Street and Broadway minstrels in New York City. Re- tiring from the stage. Mr. Martindale took up his residence at his ohl home in Greeley, giving his attention to farming in a small way, and to the breeding and developing of trotting horses on a somewhat extensive scale. He owns a farm of 200 acres adjoining the site of Greeley, which is well improved and has a splendid stud of thoroughbred horses, containing some notable purse winners, among which may be mentioned "Happy Medium," "Membrino Me- dium" and "Saxony." Ilis brood mares were all of the Hambletonian and Membrino breed.
Greeley did not amount to a great deal until the coming of the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad in 1873. Then outsiders began to take notice of the coming little village, and the population grew apace, until now there are about four hundred souls within its corporate limits, 100 less than in 1900, however. In 1872 llorace White contributed to the advance by building a hotel, which received the traditional name of the "White House," and was Greeley's premier hotel. Previous to this event, however, a tavern had been kept for some time by Abram Parliman, at his house on the Lough farm.
Greeley was incorporated Angust 29, 1892, and on the 3d day of April, 1914, voted by a majority of 26, for the establishment of a municipal electric light plant. Work on the improvement at once was begun; it was completed and in full operation August 15, 1914. The corporation was empowered by vote of the citizens to issue $8,000 in bonds and the powerhouse, equipment, poles, wire, etc., built and installed at a eost within the obligation assumed in selling the bonds. The town has not as yet a waterworks or sewerage system. but these are in contemplation and will be inaugurated at no far distant day.
Greeley's equipment for educating its children is of the best. The Inde- pendent School District of Greeley was organized April 11, 1875, at which time II. C. Drybread, L. II. Keyes, and George Griffith were elected directors; the board then selected H. C. Drybread for president of the board, L. II. Keyes secretary, and James Wilson treasurer. In the fall of 1875 a schoolhouse was built, which in 1894 was destroyed by fire and the present excellent building, a two-story brick, was immediately built to take its place. This is a graded school and employs four teachers.
The postoffice was established in 1863. S. N. Talcott received his eommis- sion as postmaster April 28. 1863. The names of those who succeeded him follow : Jerome Baker, December 7, 1863; Job Gildersleve, April 7, 1871; Milo Blodgett. August 8, 1876; E. H. Cummings, July 24, 1882; Milo Blodgett, June 15, 1883: B. E. Farwell, December 3, 1885; Timothy W. Hatfield, De- cember 3, 1901.
Greeley claims the largest creamery in the county. It has been established a quarter of a century, and is operated on the cooperative plan.
Another claim Greeley boasts of is its market for imported draft horses. A. B. Ilolbert has long been in the business of going to Europe and bringing back with him large strings of big horses for breeding purposes and claims to have the largest stables of them in the United States. The many large and
282
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
splendidly appointed buildings on his farm near town, filled with the choicest and handsomest of big, splendidly built Percheron and Belgian horses, go a long way to confirm the position the people here take in regard to this great industry. The firm of Lang & Co. also is extensively engaged in the importation and sale of horses.
The Seenrity Savings Bank is an outgrowth of the private banking concern of Thomas Cole, founded in 1890. This was a year or so after William Millen attempted to found a bank in the village and failed. The Security Savings Bank was incorporated September 15, 1908, after taking over the Cole interest. by J. V. Rector. J. D. Chase, 1. C. Odell, William Odell, W. P. Harris, G. L. Baker, Gertrude G. Cole, 11. Wilson, D. W. Clements and W. II. Norris. The capital stock was $15,000, and officials: W. II. Norris, president : J. D. Chase. vice president, who died February, 1914, and was succeeded by I. C. Odell ; F. B. Wilson, cashier.
The Christian Church was organized before the founding of Greeley. at a meeting in the Poultney schoolhouse, three miles east of the town. June 15, 1851. Rev. John Martindale and H. (. Drybread and wife. James Roe and wife, David Martindale, Robert Overoeker and Job Gildersleve established this society. After additional members had been admitted. Job Gilderslove and John Fosselman were chosen elders, and E. Hutton and S. Talcott, deacons. The first services of the society were held in the schoolhouse and private homes of members until 1867, when the present church building was erected. For over a quarter of a century John Martindale ministered to the spiritual welfare of this congregation and then resigned. when the pulpit was occupied in their turn by Rev. W. M. Roe. John Eucell and John Smith. For some time past there has been no resident minister.
St. Joseph's Catholic church building was erected in 1874. The first serv- ices were held by Rev. M. Quirk, in May, 1875. in the new structure. lle remained until October, when he was succeeded by Rev. B. Coyle, who was followed by Rev. John Hackett. For many years past there has been no resident priest in Greeley. the church being attended by a priest from Strawberry Point. The present pastor who visits here from the place mentioned is Rev. Father Erdland.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Greeley was founded in the old Poult- ney log schoolhouse in the early 50s and became a part of the church at Greeley, organized in 1883. by Rev. L. L. Lockland. then pastor of the charge at Edgewood. Among the members at that time were Jesse Perkins and wife, James Rutherford, Sr .. and wife, Mrs. Alvira Wilson, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Tlenry Box and daughter, Charlotte Box, Mrs. A. A. Strong and daughter, lennie Strong. Under Reverend Lockland's faithful pastorate, the member- ship increased in number and soon a Sunday school was established. The first meetings of the society were held at Greeley, in the Universalist Church. In 1886 Reverend Loekland, by request, returned to Greeley for the third time. Ile was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. E. J. Loekwood, under whose administra- tion a house of worship was built and dedicated.
In 1913 Rev. B. A. Alexander came to this charge and during his stay re- modeled the church. The following pastors. in addition to the ones already mentioned, have presided over this charge: Rovs. John Gammons. De Witt C.
-
-
1. 0. 0. F. BUILDING, GREELEY Erected in 1904.
1
283
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Perry, E. R. Leamon, Jesse Smith, Robert Lusk, Charles Blake, W. A. Gibbons, John Dunson, under whose pastorate the parsonage was built ; J. B. Metcalf, 11. C. Crawford, Elo Keller, Earl Carnahan and B. A. Alexander.
There was a Universalist Church here at one time. It was established De- comber 28. 1865, at the residence of JJ. Baker. In 1868 the society built a house of worship and Rev. Joy Bishop was the pastor. This church lost its local identity a number of years ago.
Tachor Lodge, No. 225. A. F. & A. M., was instituted under dispensation, November 15, 1867, and received its charter June 3, 1868. The first officers elected and installed were J. Il. Nietart. W. M .; D. W. Jenkins, S. W .; John Drybread, 1. W. : John Corell, Treas .: Luther Keyes, See. : Jerome Baker, S. D. : Timothy Noble, J. D .: Lewis Wells, Tyler. The lodge has 121 members.
Rob Morris Chapter No. 208. Order Eastern Star, was organized October 28. 1891, with twenty-nine members .. The above lodge of Masons has an antograph letter hanging on the wall of its lodge room which it prizes very highly. It was sent to the lodge April 15. 1901, by the Marquis Landsdown, acknowledg- ing receipt of a letter by him. in which the lodge expressed the regrets of its members upon the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria.
Greeley has a very strong and enthusiastic lodge of Odd Fellows, the mem- bership now numbering 140. It is Greeley Lodge No. 418, organized October 21. 1880. In the year 1904 this organized body of men erected a splendid two-story brick business and lodge building, having a frontage on the main street of the town of fifty feet, and extending back eighty feet. The cost was about twelve thousand dollars.
Elk Encampment of this body, No. 141, was organized October 20. 1891, and has eighty members.
Maple Degree No. 227. Daughters of Rebekah, was organized October 18, 1895. It now has 150 members. The names of the charter members follow : N. Griffith. Naney Griffith, Q. M. Taylor, Kittie Taylor, S. B. and Sarah S. Sloan, R. W. and Annie C. Fishel, May Fishel, J. M. Fishel, Ida V. Fishel. 1 .. Matthews. C. Matthews. J. M. Lillibridge, Mary Lillibridge, Ed and Louisa Corell. Charles and Belle Kellogg, Cyrus and Etta MeKinnis, Etta MeRichard. M. C. and Jennie L. Way and Henry and Lolee MeGarvey.
CHAPTER XXIV COFFIN'S GROVE TOWNSHIP
Coffin's Grove Township lies to the west, on the Buchanan County line, and on the north of it is Richland Township. To the east is Delaware Township and the southern line is demarked by Prairie Township. Congressional town- ship 89, range 6, was separated from Delaware Township by the Commissioners' Court, February 7, 1855, and named Coffin's Grove, in honor of its first settler, Clement Coffin. The schoolhouse, one of the first to be built, was designated as the voting place for the first election. The land here is very fertile and some of the best farms in the state are notieed, monuments of the judgment of those who first selected the land. and evidences of thrift and splendid husbandry. Prairie Creek, sometimes called Coffin's Grove Creek, begins in slough lands in the eastern part of Buchanan County and flows eastward through the southern portion of Coffin's Grove Township, to join the Maquoketa above Manchester. In section 28, the channel of Prairie Creek is cut through a timbered, rocky hill. The drainage is excellent and conditions are equally so for stock-raising.
During the year 1840 immigration to the Delaware settlements began to increase and among those who sought homes in the groves and prairies of this county was Clement Coffin, who made his headquarters at Eads' Grove while he explored the country. He afterwards permanently located in a beautiful grove in the south central part of the township, which afterwards was given his name and he became one of the leading and influential citizens of the county. A friend, in speaking of him, passed this eulogium upon Judge Coffin : "He was a genuine and true man to his friends, of great fidelity to his trust, entirely free from anything like hypocrisy. He made up his mind with deliberation and then expressed his opinion whether his hearers were pleased or not and we always knew where to find him. He was a millwright and earpenter, a dairy- man and wagon-maker, and a successful, energetie farmer. Mrs. Coffin knew how to draw around her wilderness home the wise and the good. She raised her family well and fitted them for the highest and best social positions." Judge Coffin was largely instrumental in the organization of the county and always took a lively interest in its affairs. Among other offices held by him was that of probate judge, being the second person in the county elected to that position. The first frame barn raised in the county was built by Clement Coffin and Henry Baker in Coffin's Grove, in the summer of 1849. On the 4th of July of that year Judge Coffin had a "barn raising," at which the people from all parts of the county, from Delhi, Plum Creek, Colony, South Fork and other localities gathered. The barn was raised in the forenoon and settlers dined and supped at the Coffin home. Judge Coffin died July 28, 1867.
In 1841 quite a number of additions were made to the settlement in this county. Among those who came this year were Charles Osborn, Hiram Mink- ler. Henry Baker, Horace Tubbs and others.
285
286
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Ilenry Baker, as has been stated, settled here in 1841, locating on section 22. At the time there were but four families in the township. His wife was Elizabeth W. Coffin, whom he married in 1840. She was a daughter of Judge Clement Coffin. The young couple arrived in the early part of June and pur- chased eighty acres of Government land in Coffin's Grove township. where they built a temporary log cabin 12 by 12 feet. There were at the time but two families besides themselves within the limits of the township. Deer, elk and bear were frequently seen. Mr. Baker killed quite a number of deer and one bear and for the first few years was seldom without venison for table use. The Winnebago Indians were stationed north of him and frequently passed through the neighborhood on hunting expeditions, camping within thirty or forty rods of his house for four or five days at a time. They always evinced a friendly disposition and with the exception of begging food or some trifling trinket never molested him. In the fall of 1841 he erected a story and a half hewed log house 16 by 20 feet in dimensions, which he occupied for a number of years. In 1845 he purchased 200 acres of land and in like manner continued to purchase until he at one time owned over seven hundred acres. In 1856 he erected a handsome brick residence and a large frame barn a few years before that time.
Aaron Sullivan, an Ohioan, made a permanent settlement in this township in 1844, on section 28. This became one of the fine farms of the county and was the home of the Sullivans for many years.
Oscar Wellman Jeft the old home in the State of New York in 1852 and in the fall of that year located on a farm of 320 acres in section 31. Coffin's Grove Township. In 1856 he built a large frame house, hanling the lumber from Dubuque-a distance of fifty-five miles, which consumed four day's' steady travel to make the trip there and return. The following year he put up one of the first large frame barns in the county. For a number of years he kept what. might be called a wayside inn. Here the old-time stage coaches in their over- land route from Dubuque westward would stop for refreshments or put up for the night, and many were the times when the house was crowded with travelers and the haymows were resorted to for shelter and rest. At one time during a driving wind and rain storm the roads became impassable when the Wellmans furnished food and shelter for forty teams and eight men, women and children. One of Mr. Wellman's principal occupations on his farm was raising horses and cattle, in which he made a marked suceess.
William Cook settled on section 11 in 1853. lle was one of the influential men of the township, and being held in high esteem, was elected to local offices by his neighbors.
Charles P. Tripp, by energy and good judgment, was successful in gaining a foothold in Coffin's Grove Township and became quite influential as one of its prosperous and leading citizens. He settled here in 1853 and in 1862 enlisted in Company F. Twenty-seventh lowa Infantry.
Frank K. Smith took up his residence in Delaware County in 1853, and this became his permanent home. Hle drove through in a two-horse wagon from Ohio to lowa and located on a traet of land consisting of 120 acres in Coffin's Grove Township. He built a log house of the regulation dimensions and at once entered upon the pioneer life of the then far West.
287
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Harvey Minkler was a native of New York. After living in Ohio a while he immigrated to lowa in May, 1853, and settled on a farm on seetion 29, Coffin's Grove Township. Mr. Minkler was one of the first trustees of Coffin's Grove Township and at the time there were but fifteen votes here, five of which were east by members of his family. He was a member of Company F, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry.
Alexander G. Alcock settled near the present Town of Masonville in 1854, coming from the State of Illinois. His first habitation for himself and family was built by driving poplar poles in the ground and then weaving willows in around the poles. The roof was of hay and for many years this house was ealled Willowdale.
D. N. Davis came from the State of New York to Delaware County in 1854 and settled in this township, where he lived for many years on seetion 30. Edwin Davis, a native of Connecticut, arrived in the township in 1854 and settled on section 28. That year he ereeted a log house. By industry and thrift he brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, became an extensive dealer in and raiser of fine stock and was looked up to by his neighbors as one of their leading citizens.
Among the pioneers of Coffin's Grove Township was James Towner, who came from New York with his family and located here in the spring of 1855.
Patrick Trumblee left the State of Massachusetts in the year 1855 and in September settled in Coffin's Grove Township, where he was successful as a farmer and held a high place in the estimation of his neighbors.
Isaac McGee was born in Canada, immigrated to the United States and set- tled in this connty in 1855, locating on section 23. He was an extensive farmer and a prosperous one. John MeGee left Canada in 1854 and selected a tract of land for his future activities on section 23. He became prosperous and was a good citizen of the community.
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.