USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 97
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J. G. Wiggins was born in Maine, Oct. 6, 1814. Here he received a common-school education when a young man; also learned the carpenter's trade, which avocation, in connection with farming, he pursued till he was about forty-three years of age. He made his home with his parents, and managed the home farm for them, and cared for their welfare during their life-time. His mother died about the year 1841, and his father in the year 1852. His parents' names were Asa and Abigail. In 1857 Mr. Wiggins came to Iowa, locating in Winneshiek County, where he bought 181 acres, and farmed seventeen years. In 1874 he became a citizen of Floyd County. He purchased, the same year, 180 acres in Ulster Township, where he still resides. This was prairie land, and cost $2,800. He has since brought it all under cultivation except thirty acres, which he keeps for grass land. In 1878 he built the finest residence in the township; there are few, if any, better in the county. His premises are beautified with symmetri- cally planted shade and forest trees, and he has indeed a pleasant Western home. Mr. Wiggins's age forbids his wroking very much
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himself, but the farm's interests are well looked after by his son, R. C. Wiggins. In Maine, in the year 1843, April 12, Mr. J. G. Wiggins and Miss Ann H. Morrill were united in marriage. She was also a native of Maine, being born Dec. 24, 1820. Their family consists of three children-Henry C., now thirty-eight years . of age, married Miss Sarah Jane Demry, and resil in Ulster Township; Fredric M., twenty-seven years of age, married Jennie Prall, and resides also in Ulster Township; R. C., twenty-five years of age, married Carrie Wyman. Mrs. J. G. Wiggins died July 25, 1880. She was a member of the M. E. church for twenty years prior to her death. Mr. Wiggins and his three sous are all Republicans.
John Witzel was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1841; came to America in 1855, with his father, Christopher Witzel, who located in Wisconsin, where he remained till his death, which occurred only two or three years after his arrival. Here the family remained several years, and Mrs. Witzel made it her home till 1879, when she came to Floyd County, Iowa, and made her home with her son John till her death in 1879. Mr. John Witzel became a citizen of the county in 1869, and worked land on the shares the first six years. In 1875 he purchased eighty acres of prairie land on section 28, Ulster Township, where he still resides. This he broke up and has now under a fine state of cultivation. In 1877 he bought twenty- four acres of timber land in Floyd Township. Mr. Witzel was married in Wisconsin in 1869, to Miss Minnie Anding, a native of Germany. They have six children-Lena, Clara, Minnie, Ella, Eddy, and an infant son not yet named. Both Mr. and Mrs. Witzel are members of the M. E. church. Politically he is a Re- publican ; cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
Carl Woelfer was born in Germany, Kingdom of Prussia, Prov- ince of Saxony, in the year 1841. He came to America in 1870, stopping first in Aurora, Ill., and worked in a railroad shop about nine months; he afterward worked as a farm hand about three years. In 1874 he came to Floyd County and worked in Nora Springs about a year as a farm hand. At the expiration of this time he moved upon his farm, where he now resides, on section 18, Ulster Township. In 1873 he built an addition to the house al- ready on the place. The farm consists of something over eighty acres, and is one of Floyd County's good farms. In 1878 he pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 17, Ulster Township, which is also under good cultivation; has in a crop of thirty acres of
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wheat, twenty-four of oats, sixty-two of corn, twelve of hay, and twenty-six acres in pasture; has seven head of horses, twenty-one head of cattle, and seventy-five head of hogs. Indeed we can say he is one of the strong and successful farmers of the county. April 3, 1875, in Floyd County, he and Miss Minna Sann were united in marriage. They have a family of seven children-William, Carl, Fredic, Albert, Oscar, Huldah, and Minna. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woelfer are members of the Methodist church. He is a Republican, and has for the last three years been a School Director.
Mrs. Eliza R. Young was born in Scotland in 1827, and mar- ried Mr. Charles Young in Scotland in 1850; came to the United States the same year, locating first in Wisconsin, where they re- mained till 1875. In the year 1861 Mr. Young died, leaving a family of four children-Frank, who is in the lumber regions in Minnesota; Archibald R., in Fargo, D. T., working in a grist-mill; Charles B., working at Orlando McEwen's; William, who makes his home with his mother. In 1874 Mrs. Young bought forty acres of land in Ulster Township, section 33. They have put in crop this year thirteen acres of corn; have raised seventeen acres of oats.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Union Township lies east of Scott, south of Ulster, west of Pleasant Grove and on the north line of Butler County. It is six miles from the east to the west line, and seven miles from the north line to the south line of the county, -containing nearly forty-two sections of land. Its settlements are among the oldest in Floyd County, and its natural advantages are equal to those of any other township among her eleven enterprising sisters.
DRAINAGE.
The Shell Rock River, called by the Indians " Dashonaugh," or "Neshonagatan." signifying " Otter River," enters the town ship about a mile and a half south of its northwestern corner, and runs in a southeasterly direction, leaving the township about two miles west of its southeastern corner. Along this stream in Union Township are several water-powers, one of which is substantially improved by the construction of a flood-defying dam and a spacious flouring mill.
Flood Creek, which, when once aroused, is large enough to float "a man of iron," enters the township about two miles from its northeast corner, and zigzags it way out about four miles be- low, on its eastern line.
STONE.
There are in Union Township several quarries of stone of superior excellence, which quarries when well worked will be a great benefit to their fortunate owners. Among the most valuable of these quarries is one owned by Warren Boon, and which is already famous for its choice qualities and its splendid layers of granite.
It was opened by Mr. T. W. Boon, in 1874. It is situated on the east bank of the Shell Rock River, about three quarters of a mile northwest of Marble Rock. The jutting rock along the bank gave evidence of good rock. The land was owned by a man who held it at a high price, and would not open it himself. But about four years after the railroad came through Marble Rock, Mr. Roon
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was able to purchase twenty-two acres, and has since purchased eighteen acres, making a tract of land of forty acres, all of which is underlayed with splendid rock. From an analysis made by the United States Geologist, he pronounces it a species of granite, with a small per cent. of lime and sand. This embraces the upper strata, which is about thirty-two feet deep. Below this is a strata of fine sandstone, probably twelve feet deep above water. The upper strata admits of rock being taken out 16 x 26 feet, while the sandstone is without seams and can be taken out at any desired size, running from ten to thirty-two inches in thickness, the upper strata being the same depth in thickness. This quarry is worked the whole year, taking out as high as 1,000 yards a year; employs from fifteen to twenty hands and from six to seven teams. Shipping as far as Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, and ships cutting rock as far as 160 miles away. This business amounts to from $3,000 to $5,000. The beauty of this quarry is its easy access, besides its very fine quality of material. His orders are principally for bridges and fine buildings. Is now filling an order for cut stone to be used in the court-house at Clarksville.
Stone is also found in large quantities and good qualities at convenient distances along the bank of the Shell Rock River.
TIMBER.
Union has about four sections covered with timber, the main body of which lies on the Shell Rock River, beginning at Marble Rock and extending up the stream on either side, a distance of about three miles. This is known as Beelar's Grove, an appellation it has borne since the first settler, Jacob Beelar, located his claim amid its inviting forests. It contains all the varieties of timber found in the county, and was once a magnificent forest, but is now being rapidly cleared away. In the northeast corner of the town- ship, and along the banks of Flood Creek, is another grove of timber covering about one section of land. The remainder of the township is prairie land of the choicest quality.
RAILROADS.
Union Township has one railroad. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway crosses her boundary line one mile west from the southeast corner, and runs on a straight line for eight miles, leaving the township a half a mile east of the north-
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west corner. This railroad was built through here in 1871, and cost Union a tax of five per cent. on all assessable property. The amount thus levied was $9,380; private donations amounted to $20,000; and the depot grounds, which were donated, were valued at $500; making the total contribution $29,980. See chapter on Railroads.
BRIDGES.
In January, 1869, the first bridge that ever spanned the Shell Rock in Union Township was completed at Marble Rock. The builder was A. Spaulding, of Cedar Falls. The length was 210 feet in a single span. It was a Howe truss bridge, of wood, and the contract price was $5,400. In February, 1875, this bridge was condemned by the Board of Supervisors, and in the summer of 1876 they erected at the same site an iron bridge. The work was done by the Canton Bridge Company, of Canton, Ohio. The bridge is composed of two spans, each of which is 1221/2 feet in length, and which rest on a stone pier, substantially planted in the center of the river bed.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The historical era of Marble Rock and Union Township begins in 1850. The rolling prairie, the undulating hills, and the clear stream of flowing water, touched the sympathy and awakened the hopes of the pioneer hunters and trappers, who kept a little in advance of the westward moving civilization. Jacob Beelar, a native of East Tennessee, was one of those conquered by the strength of nature's wiles, and in the spring of the year mentioned his bright ax caused echoes through the woods; and his log cabin, the first house in the vicinity, was soon raised. The name then given to the place was " Beelar's Grove."
In March, 1851, Mr. Beelar's family arrived, nine in number, including parents. Charles is still with us; the others are scattered over the earth.
The same spring Mr. Beelar did the first breaking of ground in the township.
The nearest neighbors at this time were resident at what was termed " Coon's Grove," at the mouth of Flood Creek, and at a dis- tance of twelve miles in a southeasterly direction. At Clear Lake the Beelar family had staunch friends, in the persons of Messrs. Dickerson and Hewitt, who were distant about a two days' journey.
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In 1852 Jacob Beelar entered the land upon which the present town is situated, and other pioneers began to appreciate the beauty of the location. In 1852 Mr. Inman erected a log house, which still stands, about eighty rods northeast of the town center. This gentleman sold out to Mr. Baltimore, who, in turn, disposed of the property to Levi Halstead, whose widow is the present occupant. In 1853 Samuel Beelar laid claim to land and "broke" twenty acres of it. The Baltimore above spoken of jumped the claim, causing the first disturbance in the settlement. Baltimore eventu- ally paid $50 indemnity and the matter became a memory of the past.
The hardships of these pioneers can be better appreciated when it is stated that the nearest grist-mill was located at Cedar Falls, a distance of forty miles. To visit it required a three days' journey over fearfully rugged roads. The postoffice visit was quite an important and difficult one to make, it being thirty miles remote, at Waverly.
The usual stopping-place for the teamsters on these journeys was at Coon's Grove, and there the settlers would meet and in friendly chat exchange the latest bit of news, and speak of the affairs of the world, which then had passed the nine days' wonder. The settle- ment, in 1855, received three acquisitions to its strength in the persons of Ralph Horr, John Gates and William Ackley. In the same year one Corey erected a double log shanty and established the first store, with a stock of goods sufficient to meet the frugal wants of the settlers.
A school was opened in this building during the following winter. The teacher was a Mr. Worsfield. About a dozen pupils attended his school, some of them being bearded men. This first school continued two weeks, and then closed its first term. In 1856, and before more settlers came, another school was instituted, with Sam Sours as teacher. He is said to have been a popular man and an able instructor.
The first School Treasurer was Ambrose Smith, who held the office for several years; then Rudolph Rex, until 1865, and then John Gates, to the present time.
In 1856 came a number of new settlers, among them the Wal- lace, Rex, Asper, Clay, Judd and Schermerhorn families, and the village began to prosper. The outlook became still more encourag-
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ing, when later such men as H. Rozenkrans came and contributed their energy, culture and means to the development of the settle- ment.
The first court was held before Esquire Shattuck. The prisoner, who had shown his patriotism by fighting on the 4th of July, was complained of, as a pre-concerted movement, by Julge Johnson, and let off with a small fine. The following day he was re-arrested and taken before Esquire Frost, in Aureola, where Judge Johnson non-suited the prosecution by his first complaint and trial.
The early settlers were very social, frequently passing the even- ings in dancing, singing, or in games. Every man's home was hospitably open to whoever came. In 1858 a great revival was held by Rev. Mr. Holbrook, a pioneer Methodist preacher, and almost the entire settlement was converted to the Methodist faith.
Some good stories are told of Rev. James Hankins, an itiner- ant preacher, who occasionally visited this settlement before the war. Hankins was very muscular, and a militant Christian, and when playing cards and snickering and other disturbances in meeting became oppressive, he subdued the rebels physically. He used to enter town giving forth hymns in a musical voice, and this vocal power answered the purpose of a bell. All flocked to hear the singing, the result being a large congregation. It so happened that, during the prayer of Judge Rosencrantz (no relative to the present Rosenkrans family), considerable noise emanated from the euchre corner, with such expressions as "Pray on, Judge, I'll go down among the sinners." Mr. Hankins promptly begin to take steps toward quelling the disturbance. This action caused talk, and considerable braggadocio was manifested. It was threatened that the "preacher was going to get licked." Hearing of the in- tention of the "great unwashed," Hankins took him by the fore- lock and caused a few of the braggarts ever after to have a high respect for the preacher's muscle. The meetings had been con- stantly interrupted, more especially after the arrest of a boy whose case came to trial, with Gen. Trumbull, then an attorney at Clarks- ville, for the defense. He made an eloquent plea, the boy was acquitted, and the roughs became still more obstreperous, causing Hankins to adopt the use of his muscle as the last means of re- storing the peace.
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The citizens of Union Township were zealously loyal during the war. A Union League was organized, and was very active. The services of that organization were needed. Disguised rebels and
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sympatizers came in every shape. As preachers they soon showed their colors in prayer, and the religious found themselves listen- ing to messages to heaven, beseeching that " even the Union Gov- ernment should not be heeded by the people " in protecting their hearts and homes. The reverend wolves were visited by members of the league and made to retract their supplications or vacate the ranch. They retracted, and were then compelled to take the oath of allegiance. Union Township answered every call for volun- teers, and supplied even more than her quota of men.
ORGANIC.
On the 4th of September, 1854, Judge John M. Hunt divided the county into four townships, among which was that of Union, which then comprised congressional townships 94 and 95, range 17, and townships 94 and 95, range 18. July 21, 1855, the west half of township 94 north, range 16, and sections 29, 30, 31 and 32 in township 95, in range 16, were detached from the territory embraced in St. Charles Township and attached to Union by John Ball, then County Judge. March 25, 1856, sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, in township 95, range 16, were detached from Union Township and once more became a part of the township of St. Charles. A. L. Collins was then County Judge. March 2, 1857, congressional townships 95, ranges 17 and 18, were detached from Union and called Rockford, by Judge A. L. Collins. June 12, 1858, section 26 was set off from Rockford to Union for " election purposes," by Judge David Ripley. The Board of Supervisors at their June ses- sion, 1861, detached township 94 from Union and the south tier of sections from Rockford, and gave to the detached territory the name of Scott. At the June session, 1867, of the Board of Super- visors, the west half of township 94, range 16, was detached from Union and was united with the east half of the same township, receiving the name of Pleasant Grove Township.
The following is the first record in the township minute books : "Pursuant to public notice, the electors of Union Township met March 28, 1855, at the house of Jacob Beelar for the purpose of choosing delegates to meet at the house of John Ball, on Thurs- day, March 29, 1855. On motion, Nelson Shattuck was called to the chair, and T. W. Allen was chosen clerk. On motion of Thomas Conner, a committee, consisting of Thomas Conner, Jacob Beelar and Peter Beaver, was appointed to present suitable names
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to the meeting. This committee recommended Peter Weaver, T. W. Allen, Thomas Conner and Nelson Shattuck." These were elected and served as delegates to the meeting above mentioned.
The present township officers are : Trustees, Charles T. Ackley, George Lines, Samuel Sonrs; Clerk, Charles E. Wood; Assessor, Harvey C. Inman; Road Supervisor, District No. 1, Matthias Nixt; No. 2, Peter N. Vorhes; No. 3, Hezekiah Garber; No. 4, Alonzo Inman; No. 5, John Barth; No. 6, Abraham Palmateer; No. 7, Charles W. Bowman; Justices of the Peace, Jolin Gates, C. F. Beelar; Constables, Samuel Rex, Philip Schultz.
Union Township has been liberally represented in the list of county officials of Floyd. Thomas Conner was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1854, but failed to qualify. J. P. Johnson was chosen County Coroner in the same year. Rudolph Rex was elected County Supervisor in 1862. Benjamin Darland was elected County Supervisor in 1863. Henry Wady was elected County Supervisor in 1865. J. B. Shepardson was elected County Supervisor in 1868. William H. Johnson was chosen County Judge in 1860. L. S. Horr was elected Sheriff in 1866-'7. Isaac Teeple was chosen Connty Surveyor in 1868. The same office was held by H. C. Inman in 1863 and 1865. John Wallace was County Coroner in 1863 and 1865. Benjamin Darland was a Representative in the General Assembly of Iowa during 1874 and 1875. Immediately following him in the same office was J. B. Shepardson, in 1876 and 1877. George H. Nichols was elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1877, and held the office four years. He was succeeded by the present incumbent, H. H. Davidson, who was elected Oct. 11, 1881.
SCHOOLS.
The Union Township District is one of the oldest in the county, having had an organized and continuous existence for nearly twenty-five years. There has been no independent district organ- ized from it, Marble (Rock being still a part of the township district. The first records on the books are of a meeting held May 22, 1858. The proceedings are given in full, as an item of interest: "The board of school officers for Union Township District met pursuant to notice May 22, 1858, at the usual place of holding elections in Marble Rock, and organized according to law, and proceeded to business.
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" On motion the meeting adjourned one hour for dinner.
" The board met at two o'clock, pursuant to adjournment, and again proceeded to business. [It is said by some that here the board 'on motion adjourned one hour for supper,' but we cannot vouch for this, the secretary having made no record of the fact.]
"On motion, A. Bashford was appointed to fill vacancy occa- sioned by the failure of District No. 2 to elect a resident of said sub-district for the office of local director.
"A resolution was passed to the effect that the board of school directors of Union Township authorize the local director of Sub- district No. 3 to use the school in said sub-district for a select school under the supervision of the local director.
"On motion the secretary was authorized to procure the bounda- ries of each sub-district preparatory to sketching a map or plat of Union Township District.
"On motion adjourned.
J. R. MAHIN, Sec."
The office of President of the School Board has been filled as follows: 1858-'59, Loren Inman; 1859-'60, J. R. Frost; 1860, Loren Inman ; 1862, L. G. Hiscox; 1863, David Comstock; 1864, L. G. Hiscox; 1865-'66, William A. Judd; 1867, John Gates; 1868, Thomas Elley; 1869, Wm. H. Johnson ; 1870, A. Gleason ; 1871-'72, J. W. Darland ; 1873, H. Rosenkrans; 1874, Wm. J. Little; 1875-'78, H. Rosenkrans ; 1879, W. Bucklin ; 1880, George Maxson; 1881, Martin Gates; 1882, Job Randall.
The office of Secretary of the School Board has been filled as follows: 1858-'59, H. C. Inman; 1859-'60, W. Brubacher; 1860- '61, William H. Johnson ; 1862-'63, A. J. Asper; 1864-'78, H. C. Inman; 1879, C. B. Martin ; 1880-'81, Charles Gates, Jr. ; 1882, Henry B. Nies.
There are ten sub-districts in Union Township, and their Directors for the present year are as follows: 1, R. S. Vorhes; 2, M. Nixt; 3, H. Rosenkrans; 4, A. W. Hawks ; 5, C. Town; 6, Charles Gates, Sr .; 7, John Gates; S, Job Randall; 9, F. C. Sellman. All the districts have at least one school each. No. 4 has two schools; and No. 3, which comprises Marble Rock, has three departments, or schools, in the same building.
The first school-house erected in Union Township was built in 1857, on lot 3, block 8, section 9. This was in Marble Rock, now known as District No. 3. The school-house built in District No. 1 was erected in 1872, on section 4, at a cost of $500. That in No. 2 was built in 1858, at the corner of sections 1, 2, 11
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and 12, at a cost of $400. The first school-house in No. 4 was erected in 1860, of stone, on section 8, at a cost of $1,600. An- other one has since been built in the same district, at a cost of $500. The school-house in No. 5 was built in 1872, at a cost of $500, on section 20. That in District No. 6 was built of wood on section 33, in 1872, at a cost of $500. That in No. 7 was built in 1871, on section 22, at a cost of $500. That in No. S was built in August, 1879, at a cost of $500, on section 31. That in No. 9 was built in 1872, at a cost of $500, on the corner of sections 25, 26, 35 and 36.
In 1873 the village of Marble Rock (District No. 3) erected an elegant school-house near the southeast corner of the village plat. The dimensions of the building are 26 x 46, with wings 22 x 26, two stories high. It has a cupola, bell, spacious apartments and all the modern equipments of a well-furnished educational insti- tution, where all branches, from the rudiments to the grade of a high-school, are successfully taught. This building cost $4,000, and will accommodate 200 students. The Principal of the school for 1882-'3 is C. F. Gates.
FIRST THINGS.
The first house erected in Union was constructed of logs, by Jacob Beelar, in 1852, on the southwest corner of section S.
The first ground used for agricultural purposes was broken by Jacob Beelar, on the northwest quarter of section 16, in the sum- mer of 1852, and by Ashbury Baltimore, in 1853,on the south west quarter of section 5.
The first store was one of small dimensions on block 1, of the village of Marble Rock, opened by Alanson W. Corey, in the win- ter of 1855-'6. He afterward removed his store to section 6, when the first store of general merchandise was started at Marble Rock, in 1857, by John Wallace and William A. Judd. The first drug store was opened on Main street, in 1870, by Messrs. Clark and Martin.
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