USA > Iowa > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 37
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
bors, as soon as a few of them had erected modest homes and gotten a start in farming, took the first opportunity to secure for their children schools and instructors. This was also the case in relation to religious matters. A church was established and a building erected for the purpose, on section 11. There are seven schools, having average yearly sessions of about eight months. There is not a village or railroad in the township.
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CHAPTER XXXI
HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP
On petition of George W. Stewart and O. S. Boggs, township 90, range 5, was created September 16, 1858, by merging Coldwater, erected in 1849, and York. ereeted in 1852, and naming it loney Creek. The election to complete the organization was ordered to be held at the house of Caspar Dunham.
Iloney Creek Township lies in the northern tier and is bounded on the west by Richland Township, on the south by Delaware Township, on the east by Elk and on the north by Clayton County. Honey Creek, with its tributary, Lindsay Creek, drains the larger part of its territory. In the west half of section 35, lloney Creek wanders in a broad valley bounded by rocky cliffs twenty-five feet high. The township is generously supplied with gravel, particularly along the valleys of the creeks. This is a good farming community and as far as the eye can reach, fine modern homes make a vista which is indicative of the wealth and progress of their owners.
William Bennett was not only the first settler in this township, but also the tirst person to take up a habitation and assume the customs of the white man in Delaware County. Bennett was a hunter and trapper and, in the winter of 1834-35 built a cabin in section 35, on the banks of Honey Creek. In the l'ol- Jowing summer he and his family occupied their new home and took up the course of life that comes to the pioneer. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of William Eads, and the abortive site for the county's capital was named Elizabeth, in honor of Mrs. Bennett, having been the first white woman to settle in Delaware County. However, the Bennett family left the county in the spring of 1838, and for that reason futile efforts were made to wrest from Ben- nett the distinction of being the first settler. He certainly was in the community long enough to become acclimated at least and to acquire a residence for po- litical purposes. Bennett with his family returned to Eads Grove in the fall of 1840, but only remained until the summer of 1841, when his restless spirit prompted him to seek other scenes of activity. Ile thereupon went over into Buchanan County, built a eabin on the "Wapsie" and was the first white set- tler. so it is said. in that county. On April 16, 1842, he laid out a town, em- ploying Joel Bailey as the surveyor. This town he called Democracy. The name was afterward changed to Quasqueton, and here Bennett built a mill in 1843; that same year he again moved, this time to Dubuque.
The pioneer. Bennett, had not long been gone, in the early part of 1838, when William Eads and family took up their residence in the cabin left vacant by the son-in-law. This cabin was in the timber, a beautiful traet of woodland, which afterwards became known as Eads' Grove. It was here that another son-in-law of Eads. John Hinkle, Jocated with his family about this time. ITinkle later settled further north, near the site of York, in what after-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
wards was called Hinkle's Grove. William Eads was quite prominent in the early days of the county and put forth every effort to establish the county seat at Eads' Grove. He accomplished his aim but his triumph lasted only a short time and the fruits of victory were wrested from him.
B. T. Lonsberry entered land in the vicinity of Eads' Grove in 1839, on April 4, and on the 12th Eleazer Frentress entered land there, which was long occupied by the family. Frentress also entered land at Hinkle's Grove. This same year Robert B. Hutson, John Clark and Michael H. Hingst settled near Eads' Grove.
Daniel Brown, said to have been the first blacksmith in the county, located at Eads' Grove in 1840. Among others who sought homes here in the year just named were Robert Gamble and William Evans.
In 1841 Alexander Brown and Morris Reed settled near Eads' Grove.
D). II. Thornburg was a settler here when there was not a dozen families in the whole county. He came in 1841 from Ohio and settled in Honey Creek Township.
R. N. Steele was a native of New York, where he married Elizabeth A. Alger in 1837. With his wife he arrived in Delaware County in 1843 and settled on section 1. Honey Creek Township, on a farm consisting of 200 aeres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. This was his home for many years. His son, Hiram E. Steele, was a veteran of the war of the rebellion.
Derastus J. and O. E. Noble came with their parents from the State of New York in 1845 and located on section 1, in this township.
One of the early settlers in Honey Creek Township was H. B. Alger. He was a native of New York and emigrated to the West in 1845, locating that year on section 1, Honey Creek Township.
George W. Martin and James Martin, with their parents. left the Buckeye state in 1845 and after many days in traveling they reached Delaware County, where they settled on seetion 26, in Honey Creek Township. The Martins were among the leading and most prosperous farmers of this section.
George II. Bliss removed from the State of Illinois to Iowa in 1849 and settled on a farm consisting of forty-seven aeres, in section 33, Honey Creek Township. John Bliss came with his parents at the same time.
Orin S. Boggess, a native of New York, immigrated to Illinois and in 1850 arrived in Iloney Creek Township, probably settling on section 28, where his widow and two children resided for some time.
J. H. Clark came to Delaware County in 1853. where he married Esther 1. Ilowland in 1865.
Selden F. Bush also came in the '50s. He was a native of Herkimer County, New York, and settled on section 4 in 1853, where he lived many years and improved a fine farm.
Lewis G. Clute came to Iowa from the State of New York in September, 1853, and first rented land in Honey Creek Township. He was married in 1859 and in 1862 bought a farm.
James II. Barr located on seetion 6 in 1855. William Barr and family settled here in 1856.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
George W. Belknap, son of Joseph Belknap, was born in Edgewood, Honey Creek Township. in 1855. married Mary Worley in 1874, and located in Mito Township.
William Parker settled in Honey Creek Township in 1855. He entered land on section 20, which he improved and made his home for a number of years. In 1858 Mr. Parker married Lueretia T. Larrabee.
Wallace JJohnson, with his family, settled in this township in 1856, coming from the State of New York.
J. E. Eldridge settled on a farm in section 6, in June, 1856. He married Angusta Fitzsimmons in 1857. Mr. Eldridge was a veteran of the Civil war.
J. J. Eaton came with his parents to this township and settled on section 13. lle enlisted in the Civil war and was honorably discharged in 1864. He became a very good citizen.
N. R. Nichols, an early settler, left his home in the East for the prairies of lowa and located on section 18. in this township. in 1857. Mr. Nichols died in 1864.
John M. Coolidge was born in Honey Creek Township, March 5, 1857. He was the eldest son of Zena E. Coolidge, one of the oldest settlers of this town- ship and one who took a lively interest in all that pertains to the improvement of the county in which he lives.
John F. Graham was born in Nova Scotia. Ile immigrated to this county in 1858 and settled on section 17. Mr. Graham became one of the prominent farm- ers of his community and served as a member of the board of supervisors.
Truman R. MeKee was one of the quasi pioneers of Delaware County, hav- ing settled in this township in 1859, selecting a traet of land on section 20, where he improved a farm of 120 acres. Mr. MeKce was a veteran of the Civil war and a noted drummer.
DEFUNCT TOWN OF YORK
In the year 1851 George W. Stewart, who had settled on section 9 in 1855, laid out a town on part of his land and named the "future great" York. On the site was a house which he had built the year of his arrival, and in this modest structure he lived and opened a small general store in 1855. In December of that year. a postoffice was established and Mr. Stewart was placed in charge. Ile also entertained travelers who desired accommodations. At one time the place contained three or four mercantile concerns and the hope was entertained that York one day would grow to larger proportions, but the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad came to Edgewood and blasted the hopes of all here, and the Town of York is now but a memory. In 1873 a schoolhouse was built near the edge of town, but in 1875 the postoffice was discontinued. To the south of York. on section 33. is Thorpe. a station on the Chicago Great Western.
EDGEWOOD
The greater part of this town lies in Clayton County. The place got its origin from the settlements made here and in the vicinity by people who came from the far eastern states. Among these were Lorenzo Mulliken and Daniel
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
B. Noble, natives of the State of New York. They located in the edge of Turkey timber, on section 1. in the spring of 1812. In a short while they had for neighbors Heury W. Lyon and family, who moved to Eads' Grove the following spring.
Nelson Steele and family came in the fall of Ists and in ISH, Sammel Mulliken, father of Lorenzo, and his family became a part of the colony.
By this time the locality became known as the " Yankee Settlement." Elder N. W. Bixby and wife arrived in 1846. lle was a clergyman of the Freewill Baptist Church and both the Bixbys held religious services in the homes of the pioneers. It is said Mix. Ruby Bixby could preach more interestingly and strenuously than her husband and was much "smarter. " R. J. Bixby, now one of the most prominent citizens of Edgewood, was a son of these excellent pioneers.
The first house erected in the future village was put up by Joseph S. Belknap in the spring of 1849. In this building he kept a store and also made his resi- dence. He was the founder of " Yankee Settlement." or Edgewood. At the time there was only one settler near the place on the Clayton County side - John Gibson, who arrived in 1st6.
The " Yankee Settlement" postoffice was established on section 1. January 12. 1sts. and Bohan Noble was the postmaster.
In 1852. Mr. Belknap opened his store, the first in the village. He also kept tavern. Mr. Belknap built several houses in 1858 and Is54, and in one of them, which was on the Clayton County side, he opened a store and moved there in 154. previously selling his interests in Delaware County to Harrison Gitford.
I Congregational Church was organized and a building created in 1554. The first pastor was Rev. Il. N. Gates. Rev. A. Graves came to this charge in IF and was followed, in 1962, by Rev. I. P. Matthews. Within a few years no regular pastor was engaged and the church was attended by a minister from Manchester.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1-55. The first hotel was kept by Joseph Belknap.
The name was changed from "Yankee Settlement" to Edgewood when the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad Company made the place a station on its line. Its depot is on the Clayton County side. also the postoffice, churches, most of the business houses and schoolhouse. On the Delaware side there are 260 people : on the Clayton side. 2.300 people.
CHAPTER XXXII
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP'
Township 89. range 5, attained its political status January 6, 1851, and was named Delaware. It was ordered by the Commissioners' Court at the time that the place of holding elections in the township "Shall be at Delaware Center near where Quaker Mill now stands)."
This township lies in the second tier and is bounded on the north by Honey Creek, south by Milo, east by Oneida, and west by Coffin's Grove. The Ma quoketa River enters its borders on the northwest, and flows through the county's capital city. Here Prairie Creek joins the Maquoketa after traversing a small territory in the western part of the township. Honey Creek, with its principal tributary. Lindsay Creek. drains the northern part and joins the Maquoketa above Manchester. So it is plain to be seen that this region is well watered and drained, making for good pasture and fertile land. There is con- siderable sand, but the broad swales or low lands are generally free from sand and are covered with a rich black loam.
Delaware Township, of course, had her first settlers, but they did not appear as early as in some other localities in the county. Be that as it may, land was entered and improved here while lowa stood in the Union only as a territory and the county had not been as yet organized.
The Jate Judge Joel Bailey declared upon occasion it was his opinion that Robert B. Hutson, who settled hear Eads' Grove in 1840, was located on section 2. His son, Matthew D., was born here in 1845, and growing to manhood, became a veteran of the Civil war.
William R. Adin. John and Leverett Paddleford, with their mother and three sisters, settled near the mouth of Honey Creek, about two miles north- west of Manchester. in Delaware Township, in 1940. Delotia, one of the girls, married John Nagle, an early settler. Leverett Paddleford. and sister. Sarah. died many years ago and lie buried near Jones' woolen mills.
.Joel Pike took up land in the township, near Hutsons' in 1840.
Among the first settlers of Delaware Township and Delaware County was Albert Raymond and Matilda. his wife, who came to the township in June, 1949. They took up farming and became highly respected citizens of their community,
On June 7. 1×50. George. Henry and John Agers, with their families, ar- rived in Delaware County and made their first stop at Eads' Grove. in Honey Creek Township. Before the expiration of June, George made a selection of a farm, which happened to be the site of Delaware County's future seat of gov- ernment. Here the family resided until the fall of 1452. when, desiring to get nearer the timber. George removed with his possessions to section 17, Delaware Township. Upon this place he erected a primitive dwelling houses and at oner
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ILISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
began felling the timber and by "grubbing, " burning brush and breaking the stump land, in a few months had his "eighty" in the initial stages of a culti- vated farm. By industry and good judgment this worthy pioneer thrived and became one of the stanch pillars of the community. His helpmate, who bravely stood by him in his struggles for supremacy over many difficulties, was the daughter of Jesse D. and Hannah Scott, both early venturers into this new country, coming here in 1853. John Acers settled on land which became the townsite of Acersville, or Delaware Center. He removed to Texas a number of years ago. Henry spent a long and active life in Manchester before going to his final reward.
D. S. Potter married Laura A. Brayton in New York, his native state, and in the fall of 1851 settled in this township on section 25.
Albert Thompson was one of the pioneers of Delaware Township. He was born in New York in 1822 and moved to Michigan with his parents in 1837, where he married Margaret Darah. In the spring of 1852 they came to this county and settled on section 8. Mr. Thompson had a large family of girls, two of whom, Mrs. Fred Manson and Mrs. Will Jones, now reside at Manchester.
John Kaltenbach immigrated to the United States from Germany with his wife in 1834. They removed to Wisconsin from lowa in 1852, and in the spring of that year settled in this township on section 3. where Mr. Kaltenbach built a sawmill. This he reconstructed in 1864 as a grist mill. A son-in-law, John Welterlin, born in France, joined him in 1854 and became a member of the family.
Thomas Hetherington settled here in 1853. Amos and Asher, twin sons, were born in 1856.
Henry L. Edmonds settled on section 26, in this township, in August. 1853. Stephen J. Edmonds immigrated to this county in 1854 and settled on sec- tion 22.
Rufus Dickinson was one of the pioneers of Delaware County. locating in this township on seetion 12, in May, 1853. He began the improvement of his farm in 1854.
Theophilus Crosby, a native of Massachusetts, immigrated from Ohio to Towa in 1853 and in October that year settled in this township at Eads' Grove. In 1869 Mr. Crosby located on section 32, where he planted a nursery on what he called Pleasant Hill Farm.
lames H. Covey was an early settler, coming from New York in 1854. He settled on a farm and improved it.
llassel Munson left his native State of New York in the spring of 1854 and settled in this township. In 1859 he married Carrie Eaton, and in 1865 settled on seetion 8.
John H. Taber, a native of Pennsylvania, visited this township in 1854 and settled here on December 10th of that year. In the summer of 1857 he located on seetion 16.
Watson Childs, born in LeRoy, Jefferson County, New York. came to Iowa in 1855. In 1859 he married Prusilla Sheldon. In 1863 they located in Dela- ware Township. Mr. Childs was a man of good judgment as shown in his selee- tion of a farm considered one of the best in the township. He was a member of Jones Mill Grange, a successful farmer, always attended farmers' con-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
ventions. farmers' institutes, and was interested in and identified with every- thing that tended to the betterment of farming conditions.
John Hempstead was a New Yorker and came from Wisconsin to this county in October, 1854. He settled on section 16 and in 1859 married Lucinda Wilcox. Hle moved on a farm on section 11 in 1868.
A. R. Loomis settled in Delaware Township in 1854 at Acersville (Dela- ware Center). where he opened the first store in Delaware Township. In 1855 lie removed to Manchester and several years afterward engaged in business. being associated with various persons at different times. In 1863 he retired from the mercantile business and in 1868 engaged in banking, having as his asso- ciate David LeRoy, the firm name being Loomis & LeRoy. Mr. Loomis was the first mayor of Manchester after it was incorporated.
John Welterlin was a native of Alsace Lorraine. At the age of twenty-two he sailed for America and in 1854 located at Millheim, Delaware Township, where he built a shop and began work at his trade of blacksmithing. Here he continued until 1871, when he closed his shop and moved on to a farm and be- rame one of the largest husbandmen in the township. His land was located in sections 2. 11 and 12, Delaware Township.
David W. JJones was born in South Wales in 1821. He was brought up to his father's trade. that of machinist and manufacturer of woolen goods. In the spring of 1843 he came to America with his young wife, landing in New York with only seventy-three dollars in his pocket. He found employment on a farm in Pennsylvania and in 1844 started for the farther West. He settled on a small tract of land in Ohio and began work at his trade in the woolen mills at Newton Falls. He remained there ten years and in 1854 came to Iowa and settled in Delaware Township, on section 16, where he entered a tract of Gov- ernment land. He later returned to Ohio and resumed work in the woolen mills at Newton Falls, but in the fall of 1857 brought his family and settled on the place two miles north of Manchester, where he engaged in the tilling of the soil for the following seven or eight years. In the meantime he pur- chased a tract of 200 acres of land near his farm, lying on Honey Creek, whereon, in the spring of 1865, he began the erection of what was after- wards known as the Manchester Woolen Mills. This grew to be one of the chief industries of Delaware County and the only enterprise of its kind ever attempted here. The building is located on Honey Creek, two miles north of Manchester and as originally erected was 30x40 feet in size and three stories high. It had one set of cards, one set of custom cards and a spinning jack. Mr. .Jones added thirty feet to the building in 1867. This more than doubled the capacity of the plant by adding a large set of cards. From year to year he continued to add new machinery and increase the capacity. Mr. Jones built another mill about a half mile below his first one in 1876, the dimensions of which were 46x80 feet and three stories high, not including a basement. Here nothing but spinning and weaving was done, the dyeing, fulling and teasling being effected at the upper factory. In these two establishments were manu- factured all kinds of fancy cassimeres of various grades, beaver for overcoats, tricots, doeskins, jeans, and various grades of blankets and yarns. There were from forty to fifty hands employed. The larger share of the goods was sold from wagons and occasionally from samples by traveling salesmen. The people for
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
fifty miles around would also come to the mill with their wool "clips," which they exchanged for fabrics, yarn, ete., made here, Opposite the mill was a store building, stocked with the products of this industry, which really were "all wool and a yard wide," to use a common expression. Mr. Jones kept from six to seven wagons on the road and traveling salesmen were sent out at certain seasons of the year to look after the merchants' trade. Mr. Jones had assistants in his two sons, William B. and Josiah S. The original mill is still standing but the machinery was silenced a number of years ago.
William MeIntosh was one of the early settlers of Delaware County, coming here after arriving from Scotland in 1854. He shortly thereafter married Jane Love, daughter of one of the pioneers of the county, and settled down to farm- ing, which he followed two years. He was a stone entter and returned to his trade, which he followed until 1862 and then engaged in contracting and build- ing. In the fall of 1876 he bought the marble works of Reuben Durrin and the establishment is continued today by his son. William.
I. R. Williams made his first stop in Earlville in 1853, where he decided to locate and accordingly bought 207 acres of land in that vicinity. which he began to improve, but after two years' time he sold it and came to Delaware Township, where he purchased a tract of 164 aeres in section 6.
William IT. Hollister, a native of New York, settled in this township on section 9, in the spring of 1855.
William Schelling, a Pennsylvanian, came with his family to Delaware Comty in 1855, and that spring settled on section 27, in this township, where he re- sided many years and raised a large family of children.
Ferdinand W. Dunham was born in 1814, in the State of New York. He came from Indiana in 1855 and settled on section 26. He removed to Manches- ter in 1869 and served on the board of supervisors.
Silas S. Underwood was born in Massachusetts and married Catherine Love. of New York, in 1838. They immigrated to lowa and to this county in June, 1855, where they settled on section 2 of this township.
Abner Dunham was a settler here in 1855, coming from Indiana. He located on section 26. Ile was a veteran of the Civil war-first lieutenant in the Twelfth lowa. In 1869 he married Sophronia Boynton, who is still a resident of Manchester. Hle served as sheriff of the county two terms. He was a son of Ferdinand W. Dunham. Obadiah A. Dunham was another son of Ferdinand W. Dunham, who came with his father in 1855. He is now one of Manchester's respected citizens.
David P. Ferris was born in the State of Ohio. immigrated to lowa from Indiana and in -Inly, 1856, settled on section 15, Delaware Township.
Jolmi W. May was married in Boone County, lowa. in the fall of 1855, and in January, 1856, arrived in this county and settled on section 5, Delaware Township.
Amos F. Coon was an early settler of this township, coming from New York with his family in 1857. He was one of the largest landowners in the county. E. Spaulding Coon, a son, was but a lad at the time his parents settled here. lle married Ettie Coleson for his second wife. She was born in this county in 1857.
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OLD QUAKER MILL, NOW MANCHESTER FLOUR MILLS, TWO AND ONE-HALF MILES NORTHWEST OF MANCHESTER.
WOOLEN MILLS
JONES MILL, KNOWN AS THE MANCHESTER WOOLEN MILL
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Ward C. Cooley immigrated from New Hampshire to lowa on the 2d day of December. 1859. settling on a farm in Delaware Township, where he died in 1865.
DELAWARE CENTER
This is one of the towns lost in the ruck. It was laid out by Dr. John Acers in November. 1854, on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 19. and was first called Acersville. The township had been created the year before and Delaware Center was nominated as the polling place. Dr. John Acers entered land here in 1851 and located thereon that year. In the follow- ing year he and his brother, Henry. built a mill on the Maquoketa, which was leased to Henry Ryan.
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