USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 35
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 35
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On Sunday morning, June 23, 1872, Hampton was visited by a $3,500 fire. At an early hour the millinery store of the Misses Haight was discovered to be on fire. The alarm was given, and soon a crowd collected. The flames had gained such headway, previous to discovery, that it was impossible to save any of the large and valuable stock of goods on hand, and it was wholly consumed. The fire imme- diately communicated to the dwelling house of N. McDonald, adjoining, and that too, was laid in ashes. All of the household goods were saved, as also were the doors. Both buildings were owned by Mr. McDonald, and there was no in- surance upon either. The Misses Haight had their stock insured for $1,500.
The Franklin Recorder, relates an odd occurrence, which took place in Franklin
county, in August, 1872, as follows: "Last Tuesday night Aug., 27, 1872, as Henry Patterson was returning from Otisville to his home west of Mayne's Grove, he was attacked, on the unsettled prairie, by a man who presented a pistol and demanded a horse. Under the circumstances, Patter- son did not think best to parley with the highwayman, and proceeded to unharness. On mounting the horse, the scoundrel dropped his pistol, and while regaining it, Patterson loosened the throat latch to the bridle. When the thief had regained his position on the horse, Patterson yelled at the animal, and away he ran pell mell, and as the bridle dropped off the rider was soon thrown to the ground, wherenpon the horse followed Patterson home. The next day search was made for the criminal, but without avail."
On the 4th of November, 1875, as train No. 2, on the Iowa Central railroad, with Charles Norton, conductor, was near- ing Faulkner, the locomotive jumped the track, just as a bridge was being passed about two miles south of that station. The train, however, passed in safety, except the rear passenger coach, which was comfortably filled with passengers. From the last coach the rear trucks flew out just as the bridge was gained by the coach. This let the end of the coach fall upon the ties, and after being dragged a short distance, it was hurled down an embankment ten feet and capsized. Every seat in the coach was filled with passen- gers who were hurled with tremen dous force to the bottom of the inverted car. The seats were wrenched from their fastenings and thrown upon the heads of those below. Strange to say no one was
314
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
killed, although thirteen were seriously, although not fatally, injured.
George W. Hall, of Sheffield, was killed by an accident July 4, 1876. It seems that an anvil had been loaded before Mr. Hall had arrived upon the ground, by filling the cavity in the bottom with powder, and then placing a cast iron burr from the axle-trec of a thimble skein wagon over the hole and filling that with powder. Upon this was placed another anvil, and upon the whole a heavy iron weight. When Mr. Hall came upon the scene a train of powder had been laid in readiness for the explosion, and he took the torch, consisting of a lighted paper attached to a long iron rod, and applied it to the train. The explosion which fol- lowed burst the cast-iron burr, a portion of which struck Mr. Hall in the abdomen, causing his death in a few hours.
Early in August, 1876, J. W. Stocks, of of Sheffield, was killed by falling from a building, which was in course of erection. The unfortunate man had recently moved his family from Dubuque, to Sheffield, and left them illy provided for.
On Monday, Aug. 8, 1876, John Schliep, a blacksmith, of Sheffield, was kicked in the head by a horse and his skull badly fractured.
Early in January, 1877, W. H. Hoxie had two valuable horses shot.
On Saturday evening, Feb. 24, 1877, the depot at Hampton was robbed. It seems that C. W. Vankirk, station agen , and Leroy Carriel, operator at this place, went home to supper, as usual, at about half past six, locking the door of the office, but leaving that of the waiting room unfastened. On their return it was
found that during their absence some per- son had obtained access to the office, broken open the money drawer with a hatchet left upon the floor, abstracted the money and scattered the other stuff, such as railway tickets and blanks, upon the floor. The thief had apparently clam- bered over the high railing between the passenger room and ticket office, hastily performed his nefarious job and left. At the time it was estimated that $650 was stolen.
In February, 1877, the school house at Old Chapin was destroyed by fire. The building was 30x40 feet in size, and two stories high. The bell, which was in the building, weighed 560 pounds and cost $400. It was donated by Hon. J. B. Grinnell. The building was insured for $1,000.
On Saturday, May 19, 1877, John Banty, nineteen years of age, was drowned in a creek ten miles northwest of Hampton. He and an associate near his own age were in bathing, and while wading around in the water he stepped into a deep hole, and being unable to swim, at once sank to the bottom. On his again coming to the surface, his companion swam up to him, and endeavoring to render assistance came near losing his own life.
In June, 1877, a span of horses, wagon and harness, were stolen from J. H. Beard, of Geneva township, by Dwight Penny. Penny was Mr. Beard's hired man, and was sent out on the prairie to do some breaking, when he improved the opportu- nity by running away, taking the entire outfit with him. He was subsequently heard from t Ackley and Iowa Falls, and was supposed to have gone north.
G
315
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Early in October, 1877, the wife of Nel- son Brown of Hamilton township, met with an accident which proved fatal in its results. She was assisting her husband in stacking hay, and fell from the top of a high load to the ground, receiving so se- vere a shock that her body was completely paralyzed from the chest downward. She remained in this condition, with full con- trol of her mental faculties, though suffer- ing no pain, until death ensued.
Hampton was visited by a destructive fire on the morning, of Nov. 27, 1877. At about 2 o'clock in the morning the inmates of the Hampton House were awakened by the stifling sensation of smoke in their apartments. Every room was densely filled, and with the utmost haste the family and guests put on their apparel and groped their way into the open air. It was with difficulty that some made their escape. The fire spread rapidly and it was but a few moments before the entire structure was wrapped in flames. The alarm had been given and the people of the town turned out en masse, all willing to do what they could to stop the progress of the flames. The fire had made such headway that any attempt to save the building was futile, nor was it possible to save much of the furniture, so attention was turned toward saving adjacent property. Immediately adjoining the hotel, on the west, was the grocery store of S. S. Page. It was evi- dent that the building must be burned, and the work of removing the stock was at once begun, and speedily accom- plished. The building was then on fire on the side next to the Hampton House and the roof and walls were pushed over, re- straining the fire in that direction. The
Citizens' Bank being a brick building was saved. The meat market of Phelps & Atkinson was in imminent danger, but was saved. On the east the fire quickly communicated to the meat market kept by Rule Brothers, which was soon reduced to ashes. The contents were all taken out except what was in the cellar. At this stage of the progress of the fire it appeared almost certain that a clean sweep would be made to the street upon the east. Next to the meat market was the barber shop of John Buckingham, a small one story building, and here, by hard labor, the flames were stayed. Had this building been another story in height it would have been impossible to have checked the fire at this point. The loss was estimated at the time to have been about as follows: John Coloney, hotel building and furniture, $5,000, insurance $2,000; S. S. Page, build- ing and damage to stock, $800, building insured for $300, stock for $900; Rule Brothers, meat market, $800; no insurance; J. M. Buckingham, barber shop, $200; no insurance.
In December, 1877, a good sized ante- lope was killed on the farm of I. W. Myers, in Hamilton township, by Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Latham. The animal was cap- tured in this way: In attempting to jump a pieket fence near the house it got canght and Mrs. Latham ran out, grabbed it by the hind legs and held on until her hus- band, who had a few moments before started with his team to take the children to school, but in answer to her call, re- turned, came to her rescue and dispatched the rare game. It was claimed that this was the first and only antelope ever seen I in the county, and much speculation was
316
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
indulged in as to how this one wandered so far from his "native heath" without being halted by the bullet of some hunter.
In November, 1878, Wm. Bolitho, a bright, active youth of about fourteen years, met with a tragic death at Hampton, by the accidental discharge of a gun. The shot inflicted a terrible wound, from which he died the following day.
An Anti-Horse Thief Association was organized in December, 1880, with the following officers: President, M. B. Jones; vice-presidents, L. P. Holden, L. J. Kron, N. B. Claypool; secretary, J. B. Peck; treasurer, II. A. Harriman. The follow- ing townships were represented in this society: Washington, Mots, Ross, Ing- ham, Gene ra, Clinton, West Fork, Reeve and Hamilton.
On the adjournment of the fall term of district court, in Franklin county, in 1881, his honor, Judge Henderson, paid the fol- lowing compliment to the citizens of the county, in his remarks to the grand jury:
"Gentlemen of the grand jury, I con- gratulate you and the people whose in- terests you represent, that after five days of careful and diligent inquiry and inves- tigation, you have been unable to find a single nuisance existing within the limits of Franklin county."
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The constitutional amendment, section 26, is as follows: "No person shall manu- facture for sale, sell, or keep for sale, as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors what- ever, including ale, wine and beer. The General Assembly shall, by law, prescribe regulations for the enforcement of the prohibition herein contained, and shall
thereby provide suitable penalties for vio- lations of the provisions hereof."
The vote in Franklin county on the adoption of the amendment, stood as follows:
REEVE TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment ..
119-97
Against the amendment.
22
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
50-10
Against the amendment.
40
ROSS TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
79-46
Against the amendment.
33
MOTT TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
64-50
Against the amendment.
14
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment. .
209-115
Against the amendment.
94
WEST FORK TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
62-46
Against the amendment.
16
INGIIAM TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
81-69
Against the amendment.
12
OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP.
Against the amendment
90-68
For the amendment.
22
LEE TOWNSHIP.
Against the amendment.
27-9
For the amendment.
18
SCOTT TOWNSHIP.
Against the amendment.
10-7
For the amendment.
3
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
48 -- 40
Against the amendment
8
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
66 -- 62
Against the amendment.
4
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
65 -- 59
Against the amendment.
6
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
48-21
Against the amendment.
G
HISTORY OF FRANKIN COUNTY.
317
WISNER TOWNSHIP',
For the amendment. 5-5
Against the amendment. 0
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
Against the amendment.
69-52
For the amendment. 17
GENEVA TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment.
86-25
Against the amendment. 61
MARION TOWNSHIP.
For the amendment. 29-5
Against the amendment. 24
Majority in county for amendment ...... 514 TIIE STATE VS. JACKSON BENIIAM.
This was about the most important case ever tried in Franklin county. From the evidence taken, the following farts re- garding it were gleaned : It seems that Z. T. Shepherd, on the 11th of October, 1866, was engaged in hauling sand from the banks of a creek in the northern part of Franklin county. While thus engaged, Jackson Benham came up on the other side the creek with gun in hand. Shepherd hallooed to him that he did not want him to drive off his cattle, as Benham had been doing. Benham replied that he had as much right to drive off cattle as he (Shepherd) had to shoot other's cattle, ashe said he could prove Shepherd had done. This made Shepherd angry and he told Benham that if the remark was repeated he would eross the creek and give him a thrashing. Benham repeated it, and Shep- herd plunged into the creek with the in- tention of giving him the thrashing. Shepherd had an ox whip in his hand, and as he approached, Benham warned him to stand back. As to whether Shepherd struck him or not, the testimony was con- flieting. At any rate, Shepherd seized the gun, and in the struggle that ensued it was discharged, taking effect ir Shep- herd's thigh. This took place Oct. 11,
1866 ; the victim died Oct. 17, 1866. Jack- son Benham, who was only sixteen years of age, was arrested at once, and upon ex- amination was discharged, it being thought at the time that the injury to Mr. Shepherd was slight. But, as stated, the wound proved fatal, and a few weeks later the grand jury found a bill of indict- ment against Jackson Benham, and he was arrested and admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000 for his appearance at the ensuing term of the district court. The trial came off in May, 1867, before Judge D. D. Chase. The attorneys were : J. H. Bradley, in behalf of the State, and Enoch W. East- man and W. N. Davidson for defense. The jury rendered a verdict of man- slaughter, and the judge sentenced him to four years in the penitentiary and to pay a fine of $100 and costs. The case was appealed to the supreme court and he was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000.
When the case came before the supreme court, a new trial was granted and the case - came back to the district court, where it was tried in June, 1868. The jury again ren- dered a verdict of guilty of manslanghter, and the court sentenced Jackson Benham to two years in the penitentiary and $100 fine. Gov. Eastman, one of the counsel for the defense, gave notice that if the prisoner conducted himself in a proper manner for a reasonable length of time, a petition would be circulated for his par- don ; and the Hampton Reporter of that date said : "The sympathies of the public are largely on the side of young Benham, and such a petition would be very gener. ally signed." In January, 1869, Gov. Merrill pardoned Benham and he returned lome.
318
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
This township embraced the territory contained in congressional township 93, range 20, until June 4, 1879, when the board of supervisors divided it, calling all the territory, except sections 3, 4, 9, 10, and a part of 5 and 8, Ross township, thus limiting Clinton to less then six sec- tions, the greater portion of which is embraced in the incorporate limits of the town of Sheffield.
The township is mostly prairie except a small belt of timber along Bailey's creek, which enters the township on section 8, and after coursing its way diagonally . southeast across the corner of the town- ship, passes out from section 10.
The soil, in common with the other town- ships of Franklin county, is a very rich productive loam.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers in what now comprises Clinton township were: L. W. Bailey, S. E. Baker, John Goldsberry and John Goldsberry, Jr.
L. W. Bailey came from Ohio in 1856, and settled on section 9.
S. E. Baker came from Illinois in 1859, locating on section 9, where he lived until 1874, at which time he sold out and re- moved from the county.
John Goldsberry and his son, settled on section 9, about 1857, but left before 1860.
In 1860, A. F. Crosby came from Ohio and purchased the northwest quarter of section 9, and engaged in farming; he also run the first wagon shop in the township, doing repair work at a shop on his farm. He remained on the farm until 1874, when he moved to Sheffield and there started a wagon shop.
Among those who have arrived and taken up homes since that time are the following: H. D. Abrams, Joseph Per- rin, John Richer, B. R. Tilton, A. H. Bird, D. Loomis, J. Bender, James Green, Chris- topher Green and John L. James.
D. Loomis was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1828. His father and mother, Ben- jamin and Martha (Denslow) Loomis, went to Oakland Co., Mich., when the sub- ject of this sketch was a mere child. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-three years of age, having re- ceived a common school education. He then bought a farm of his own, in the same State, which he continued to work for twelve years then removed to Winne- bago Co., Ill., where he bought a farm and lived until 1870; then sold and came to Iowa settling on the southwest quarter of section 16, West Fork township. Here he engaged in stock raising. His farm is now worth $30 per acre, which he has rented to a son and son-in-law, he having
.
John Henry Richer.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenox and li den
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY. 321
bought a residence in the town of Shef- field. He has held local offices in the dif- ferent States in which he has lived. Polit- eally, he is and has always been a republi- can. Mr. Loomis was married in 1853, to Lucy Cross, a native of Michigan. They have five children-Lydia, Amy, Elmer, Incy and John. They have buried three. His parents both died in Michigan, at the age of seventy years.
J. Bender, one of the enterprising farm- ers of Clinton township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lycoming county, Sept. 10, 1838. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Koontz) Bender, natives of the same county and State, afterward re- moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, and from there to Mercer county. In 1861, J. Bender enlisted in company C, 31st Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and took part in the battles of Mill. Spring, Ressaca, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Chicka- mauga, and other minor engagements. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and on the march to Richmond. At Triune, Tenn., a minnie ball passed through his arm, tearing the muscles but breaking no bones. He enlisted as a pri- vate, served three years, re-enlisted in the same company, and in July, 1865, he was honorably discharged, as corporal. After the war he returned to Mercer Co., Ohio, and resided there till he came to Franklin Co., Iowa, in 1873. He lived two years in Hampton, then removed to his present farm of eighty acres, in Clinton township, near Sheffield. He is an intelligent farmer, and is meeting with success. In 1866, he and Hannah Murlin, of Mercer Co., Ohio, were united in marriage, and have had five children, four of whom are living-Will-
iam, Mary, Frank and Ralph. Their sec- ond child, Joseph, died in Ohio. Mrs. Bender had eight brothers in the army, all of whom served four years. One of them was killed at Nashville, and another was killed by accident shortly after his return from the war. Mr. and Mrs. Bender are members of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Bender has always been a republican.
James Green, another of the leading farmers of Clinton township, was born at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., March 6, 1846. His parents, Jesse and Martha (Hanson) Green, were born in Yorkshire, England, and settled in Illinois in 1842. James learned the trade of spinner when twenty-one, and worked at it four years at Council Hill, Ill., then went to Elizabeth, and for six years was foreman of a farm of 2,000 acres. In 1876 he removed to Sheffield, Iowa, and engaged in general merchandise, in company with Mr. Com- bellick. The partnership was dissolved in six months, as Mr. Green did not like the confinement of the store. He then bought the farm on which he now resides, consisting of eighty acres of good land in Clinton township, adjoining the village of Sheffield. He has made good improve- ments and has a pleasant home. He pays considerable attention to the raising of stock, has seventy-five hogs, twenty head of cattle and four horses. His land is valued at $45 per acre. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Green married Sarah Combellick, of Council Hill, Ill., by whom he had six children, five of whom are living-Edith N., Charles Cyrus, John W., James Jesse and baby Dot. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the M. E. Charch. In poli-
21
322
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
tics he is a republican, and has held the office of town trustee.
Christopher Green, who came to Clinton township in 1879, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1836. His parents, Jesse and Martha Green emigrated to New Diggings, Wis., when he was six years old, residing there two years. They then removed to Jo Daviess Co., Ill., where they still live at the age of seventy-five, hale and hearty, and able to read without glasses. In 1857, Christopher went to Stephenson Co., Ill. In 1861, he enlisted as bugler and musician, in the 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remaining about two years and being in some of the fiercest engagements of the war. He then returned to Illinois, and was at home but five months, when he went to the Washoe district, Nevada, en- gaging in the lumber business, which proved successful. Three years after, he sustained heavy losses, and disposed of the business. He then pursued ranching until 1872, when he went to White Pine Co., Nev., where he engaged in mining and cattle raising, in which he was successful until 1877, when his mines became almost worthless, and the hard winter killed most of his cattle. After these reverses he re turned to the Washoe district. He was acquainted with Mackey, Fair, O'Brien, Flood and other mining millionaires of to-day, but at that time poorer than him- self. After an absence of sixteen years, he returned to Jo Daviess county, and in 1879, came to Franklin Co., Iowa, when he purchased his present farm, now val- ued at $50 per acre. He takes an interest in politics and is a member of the school and township boards. He was married to Catherine Winkless, a native of England,
in 1867, and has two children-Frances Isabella and Martha Lula.
John L James was born in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., on the 8th of March, 1859. His parents, Richard T. and Mary (Combellick) James, were na- tives of England, and were among the early settlers of Jo Daviess Co., Ill. The family remained in that county until April, 1881, when they removed to Franklin Co., Iowa, and settled on a farm in Clinton township Richard James died in Jan- uary, 1882, leaving a wife and nine chil- dren, six of whom reside on the farm. John L James conducts the farm devoting his time to the raising of stock, for which the place is well adapted. He has forty head of cattle, forty hogs and four horses. The farm comprises 120 acres of fine land, worth $40 per aere, and adjoins the vil- lage of Sheffield on the west. Mr James is an industrious and energetic young man, and is meeting with well deserved success.
The first child born in Clinton township, was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs Lyman Bailey, in 1857. The first death was a Mrs. Brown, in 1857. The first wedding in the township, was a daughter of A F. Crosby, to Charles Smith They were married at the house of Mr. Crosby, by A. T. Little, justice of the peace, in 1865.
ORGANIC.
Clinton was detached from Washington township in 1859 and named after Clin- ton, N. Y., from whence came some of the early settlers. In 1879 it was again divid- ed, all of its territory but about five sections being organized into what is known as Ross township. The first elec tion was held in October, 1879. In 1883, the township officers were : C. Green, H.
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY. 323
D. Abrams, T. II Harris, trustees ; H. D. Ilawkins, clerk ; H D. Abrams, assessor ; W. S. Bowen and John Bolton, justices of the peace ; J. W. Hall and T. F. Allen, constables.
CEMETERY.
The township purchased seven acres of land in the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 3, in 1878, for cemetery purposes. This is the only cemetery in the township.
TOWN OF SHEFFIELD.
Sheffield is located in Clinton township, on section 4, and in 1883, contained about 600 inhabitants. It was named for Mr. Sheffield, of Dubuque, who was the origi- nal owner of the town site. Gilman and Thompson laid out the town plat, March 2, 1874, which contained forty acres, to which additions have been made from time to time. In 1883, it contained about 160 acres.
The first building after the erection of the depot, was a small store erected by James Thompson, one of the founders of the place, which stood where Tompkins & Thompsons business house afterward stood.
INCORPORATION.
The place was incorporated in 1876, the first election being held May 13, 1876. The following were the first officers : Mayor, W. S. Bowen ; recorder, MI. Crawford ; trustees, R. Wilde, H. K. Phelps, S. E. Spalding, P. A. Pope and G. C. Culver. The next year S. B. Elder was elected mayor, and served one year. He was succeeded by W. S. Bowen, who at the present time, August, 1883, is still in office. J. T. Wilde, W. T. Mckenzie, O. P. Thompson, H. Morehouse, J. H
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