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 49
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 49
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his sons in Iowa. He came to Hampton in June, 1882, and died on the 22d of the same month, at the home of his son, Cromwell J. Mott. He was buried in the cemetery at Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa.
Cromwell J. Mott, the oldest son of Jonathan and Charlotte (Crumb) Mott, was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., March 8, 1830. During early life his educational advantages were such as the public schools of that place and period afforded. In 1859, he came to Franklin Co., Iowa, and, to- gether with a brother-in-law, bought 780 acres of land near Hampton. He soon after purchased his partner's interest, and has since added to his estate until it ag- gregates 825 acres, all in good condition and under good improvement. Mr. Mott has of late years given his attention chiefly to stock-raising, and is now one of the most successful stock men in Franklin county. Since his arrival he has actively interested himself in the progress of pub- lic affairs. He was the first to bring a herd of Shorthorn cattle to this county, and, in company with Captain R. S. Benson, brought the first imported Norman horses to the county. He is still engaged in breeding from thoroughbred and imported stock. Mr. Mott was one of the organiz- ers of the Citizens' Bank, of Hampton, was the first vice-president of that institution, and is at present one of the directors. He has been a member of the board of super- visors for several years, and has held most of the local township offices. He is a re- publican in politics. In 1856, Mr. Mott was married to Catherine Clark, of Otsego Co., N. Y. Their children are-Flora C., Linnie and Bertie.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Delos W. Mott, second son of Jonathan and Charlotte (Crumb) Mott, was born Nov. 11, 1832, in Otsego Co, N. Y. He had the advantages of a fair common school education until 1852, when he was sent to Mayville Academy one term, and in the winter of 1852-3, he taught school in Ellery, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., after which he attended high school at South New Berlin until the fall of 1853. The following winter he taught school at Co- lumbus, Chenango county, and, in the fall of 1854, went to Indiana, where he re- mained one year, and then went back to New York on a visit. Returning to Indi- ana a few weeks later, he started for Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river on the last day of January, 1856 In February he went to Jasper and Marshall counties, and then started on foot for Fort Dodge, where he hired a horse and came to Frank- lin county. Returning to Fort Dodge, he entered several tracts of land in Franklin and Wright counties. He then returned to Marshall county with frozen feet, and in May started north, walking from Eldora to Wright county, thence to Hampton and the farms now owned by himself and brothers, then to Fort Dodge and back to Iowa Falls, having on this trip walked over 210 miles. He concluded to "pitch his grip" and make this his home. In July, while living at Iowa Falls, Gilbert R Felton came out from New York, be- ing the first person D. W. had seen in Iowa whom he had ever met before. On the 12th of June, 1859, Mr. Mott was married to Mary P. Jones, daughter of H. P. Jones, of New Haven, Conn. In the fall of 1862, he removed to Ce- dar Falls and became principal of the
schools of that city the following winter. In the spring of 1863, Albert M. Mott came from New York and the two joined interests, and bought grain in Cedar Falls. They then went into the cattle business, and, in 1865, closed out, and loading a steamboat, went down the Mississippi and up the Red, Black and Onatchita rivers. In 1866, they bought the Tom Swan, a small steamer, at Memphis, and ran that until July, when it sank, while they were in New York. Upon their return they started a store at Carolina Ledge, Miss., also the first store and postoffice at Leota Ledge, A. M. becoming postmaster, and the third store at Lake Washington. They were also engaged in planting cotton, em- ploying ninety-six hands in 1868. During the summer, while . on a visit to Iowa, they made a purchase of some land east of Hampton, and returned to their business in the South. Mrs. D. W. Mott remained at Cedar Falls, and on the 17th of October, Delos Wells Mott, Jr., was born, and was five months old when his father first saw him. In the spring of 1870, D. W. Mott removed from Mississippi to Franklin county and improved the land previously bought, calling it Spring Valley Farm. A. M. Mott attended to the business in Mississippi until 1873, when he sold out and removed to the farm in Iowa. The Spring Valley farm was owned and man aged by the two until 1876, when it was divided, D. W. taking 1,440 acres and A. M. 2,060, each running his farm separately; but cattle are usually bought and sold together. D. W. Mott has an interest in the Citizens' Bank, of Hampton, Brule County Bank, Dakota, and in four other companies in Dakota and Colorado. Of
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Mr. Mott it will suffice to say that his word is everywhere considered as good as his bond.
Damon Mott, third son of Jonathan and Charlotte (Crumb) Mott, was born Feb. 17, 1837. His educational advantages were the district schools, finished by terms at the Cooperstown Seminary and the institute at Fort Plain. In January, 1862, he was married to Lucy, daughter of Palmer Dye, of Leonardsville, N. Y., and the same spring moved on a farm of 660 acres, in the southeastern part of Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where he still lives. He is a good farmer, well read upon all topics and a deep thinker. His favorite place is his home, with his wife and only remaining daughter, Addie E. Mott, now seventeen years of age.
Albert Monroe Mott, fourth son of Jon- athan Mott, was born Sept. 3, 1843. When four years and a half of age his mother
died. He a'tended school at West Edmes- ton, Fort Plain, and at Hudson River In- stitute, Claverack, N. Y., a military school on the Hudson. In 1863, he came to Iowa and engaged in business with his brother, D. W. Until 1876, his business was iden- tical with that of D. W. Mott, as has been stated. A. M. Mott was married, in Chi- cago, in June, 1873, to Ella C. Wood, a daughter of Dr. George B Wood, of that city. They then returned to the farm, which Mr. Mott is still engaged in man- aging. The farm consists of over 2,100 acres, all of which is well improved. It is well stocked, containing over 700 head of cattle, several hundred hogs and nearly 100 head of horses and colts Mr. Mott also owns land adjoining, in the town of Hampton, and has laid out Mott's addition to Hampton. Mr. and Mrs. Mott have two children-the oldest, Grace Edna; the youngest, George A.
CHAPTER XXIV.
LEE TOWNSHIP.
Lee is one of the townships on the southern line of Franklin county; the second from the western border and com- prising congressional township 90, range 21 west. It is bounded on the north by Hamilton township, on the east by Grant, on the south by Hardin county and on the west by Oakland township. Lee is a prairie township, and in 1883 was very thinly settled. There are three streams
-Elk creek, Rock creek and Mayne's creek. There is no native timber within the limits of the township, but many fine groves planted by the hands of the pio- neer. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railway passes through the south-western corner of the township.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement was effected by William Taylor in 1854, who pre-empted
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
land. He soon afterward died, but the family moved on the claim and improved it.
William Taylor located near Iowa Falls, Hardin connty, in the fall of 1854 with his family, consisting of his wife 'and seven children. In the winter of 1856, Mr. Taylor pre-empted 160 acres of land in Lee township, intending to settle on it the next spring, but he was taken sick and died a few days before the day fixed upon for moving. Mrs. Taylor, with her children, located upon the land in the early spring of.1857, and lived there until her sad death, which was caused by her clothes catching fire while trying to save her home from a sweeping prairie fire. This occurred September, 1859, and the mother was laid to rest in a quiet grave on the homestead where she lost her life. HIer house was an humble cabin, 16x24 feet, one and a half story. Some of the chil- dren are still living at Iowa Falls, and Alden, Hardin county.
George Wright settled on section 1, in 1862, and was the oldest settler liying, in 1883, in Lee township. He was born in Cumberland, England, in 1821, and grew to manhood in Lancastershire, where he was married in 1846 to Sarah Wood. They emigrated to Vermont in 1848, and remained there until 1862, when they came to their present home. They have had five children, three of whom are liv- ing
Jeremiah Lane came in 1865, locating on section 27, where he still lives, engaged in farming. He was born in New Hamp- shire, in 1807, and was married to Abigail Morrison, also a native of New Hampshire. In 1850, they emigrated to Kane Co., Ill.,
where they lived until coming to Lee township. They have had three children, two of whom are living.
The next settlers in the township were: Lee, Jones, Norman, Fitch and J. W. Slocum, all of whom came about 1869
J. W. Slocum located on section 36. Ilę was born in Duchess Co., N. Y ,, in 1825. When three years of age his parents moved to Pennsylvania, where they died. They were of English descent, having ten children, J. W. Slocum being the eighth. He was married in 1847, to Emma Wood, born in Pennsylvania, in 1831, the third daughter of a family of seven children. Her father was anative of Duchess Co., N. Y., and her mother of Massachusetts In September, 1862, he enlisted in company D, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving until June 20, 1865. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Coal Harbor and nu- merous skirmishes. After his discharge, he returned to Pennsylvania, laboring : t his trade which was that of a carpenter and joiner, removing to Iowa in 1869, where he has since followed farming. He is a republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace almost consecutively since coming. He is regarded as an ex- cellent citizen, and is the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living- Floretta M., Aletta L., Carrie E., Jennie L., Annie J., Mary F. and Susan E.
D. C. Mott and J. N. Montgomery also settled in the township in 1869. Mr. Mott located on section 33, where he remained until the time of his death, in 1875, after which his family moved to California.
J. N. Montgomery was born in Penn- sylvania in 1827, and was there married
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
to Luceva Ward. In 1849 they removed to Illinois, where his wife died. He sub- sequently married Mrs. Amanda Strider. He is member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a greenbacker and has held local offices.
In 1870, among those who came to Lee township to effect permanent settlement, were J. W. Fraser and George H. Wilson.
J. W. Fraser is still living on section 1. His occupation is farming. He was born in York, Livingston Co., N. Y., March 15, 1814. He is the fifth son of William and Jeanette (Davidson) Fraser, who were the parents of eight children, and were na- tives of Inverness, Scotland, emigrating to the northern part of New York in 1800, where the father died. The family then moved to .Waukesha Co., Wis., where the mother died. He was educated in the common schools, and was married in 1845 to Jane MeIntyre, born in New York State, in 1819. Her father was a native of Scotland and her mother of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are the parents of six children-James K., Mary J., John, Isa- belle, Joseph and Eleanor. He is a demo- crat and has held local offices.
George H. Wilson came in the spring of 1870, settling on section 27. He was born in Du Page Co., Ill., in January, 1845, where he grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. He was mar- ried to Sarah E Hoyt, also a native of Illinois, Dec. 28, 1868, who died June 6, 1874, leaving one child-Charles. He was again married, December, 1875, to Abbie Lane, a native of New Hampshire, born in 1848. In politics he is a republi- can, and has held local offices. His par- ents were old settlers of Du Page Co.,
Ill., removing from New York State, where they were married. They had sev- en children, George H. being the second, and are now living in Iowa Falls.
H. S. Eddy came in the spring of 1871, locating on section 26, where he now re- sides. His occupation has been farming. He was born in Kane Co., Ill., October, 1839, where he grew to manhood, having good educational advantages. He served nine months in the 52d Illinois Infantry. He was married to Mary Ladd, in 1866, also a native of Illinois. They have four children. He is a republican and has held offices of trust in the township.
Simon Doherty moved on section 22, in Lee township, in February, 1879, where he is now living. He has gen- erally been engaged in farming. He was a native of Kings Co., Ireland, born in 1829 In 1849, he emigrated to Phila- delphia, where he married Bridget Car- bary, in 1852, a native of West Meath Co , Ireland, born September, 1827. In 1856, they moved to LaSalle Co., Ill., where they farmed, remaining until 1879, when they removed to Franklin county. They are the parents of eight children-Kate, Thomas, Simon, Maggie, Mary A., Wil. liam, Emma and James. Mr. Doherty has always taken an active interest in educa- tional matters, and has given his children a good education, three of them being teachers. Thomas, the eldest son, who is the present town clerk, was born in Phila- delphia, in March, 1855. He grew to manhood and received his education in the high schools of LaSalle Co., Ill., and came with the family to Iowa, where he has since been engaged in farming during the summer months, and in winters teach-
9
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ing. He also holds the offices of school director and road supervisor. They are all members of the Catholic Church.
ORGANIC.
This township was set off from Oakland in 1870, and at first called Iowa township, but soon changed to Lee, in honor of Wil- liam H. Lee, one of the first settlers. The first election was held at the house of D. C. Mott, some claim, while others think it was at a school house afterward called No. 1. The date of this election was Oct. 10, 1870. The judges were: J. W. Slo- cum, J. Bolitho and J. R. Norman; and B. R. Fitch, clerk. The following officers were elected: Trustees, B. R. Fitch, J. Bolitho and J. W. Slocum; assessor, P. Smith; clerk, B. R. Fitch; constable, J. R. Norman and P. Smith. The officers for 1883 were : Trustees, C. W. Cassack, Philo Loss and O. P. Lane; clerk, Thom- as Doherty; assessor, H. S. Eddy; jus- tices, J. W. Gratre iks and J. W. Slocum; constables, William Fiddler and Peter German.
The vote on the proposed prohibitory amendment stood eighteen for, and twen- ty-seven against.
At a special election held at the Center school house, June 19, 1880, at which 79 votes were cast for and against a five per cent tax in aid of the B. C. R & N. rail- road, fifty were for and twenty-seven
against the tax, which was to be paid, one-half in one year and one-half in two years. The first year's tax was paid, but owing to some illegality, the balance was never paid. The case was carried up to the courts by Dow & Co., of Hampton.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The first marriage in the township was Mr. and Mrs. Frank Taylor.
The first fatal accident was the acci- dental shooting of a fifteen year old son of James Bolitho. He was hunting, some- time in the summer of 1880, when his gun was discharged by an accidental move. ment while walking through the brush.
The first religious services were held at the school house in district No. 1, by Rev. C. R. Miller, an evangelical preacher, in the summer of 1876. R. L. Kenyon, Methodist, preached at about the same date.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Lee township was kept in a private house on section 36, where J. W. Slocum now lives, and was taught by Mrs. George Wilson. A school house was built in 1868, on section 35, and used for a number of years, when it was sold to Jesse McDonald for $35 and moved to section 13, and a new building erected which was still serving the dis- trict in 1883, at which time the township had six school houses and 115 scholars en- rolled.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXV.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
Marion township comprises township 92, range 21, and is bounded by Richland on the north, Mott on the east, Hamilton on the south and Scott on the west, con- taining 23,840 acres of land. The south- east corner of Marion township is the exact geographical center of Franklin county.
The topography of the township, in common with those on either side of it, has no very striking features. The land is of a very rich, productive quality, and is gently rolling, with but little land which is untillable. There are two small streams passsing through the township- Tharp's creek and Spring creek. The former rises on section 6, taking an east- erly course, and passes through sections 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 1, and leaves the township from the northeast part of this section. Spring creek enters the township on section 19, running eastward through sections, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 26, 25 and 24, leaving the township from the eastern part of section 24. There is natu- ral timber on sections 1, 2 and 12. The Iowa Central & Northwestern railway line pass through the township, pro- viding a station and market place at the village of Latimer, situated on section 19
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement in Marion township was made by three families named Fin- ney, Scheidler and Howard, who re-
mained but a short time, and the date of their coming is now unknown. Henry Hacker came in 1864. T. H. Hacker came with his parents to Marion township in 1864. He was born in Medina Co., Ohio, in 1852. When two years of age, his parents moved to Madison, Wis., where they lived until he was twelve years old. He received a liberal educa- tion, attending the Wisconsin State Uni- versity during the years 1877, 1878 and 1879. He taught school when he was twenty years old, and has devoted the most of his life to that vocation. IIe has held several important township offices.
Gideon Lumley came in 1864. He is a son of Caughlin and Frances (Milligan) Lumley, and was born at Dunrick, pro- vince of Ontario, Canada, January 9, 1847, where he spent his childhood. At the age of seventeen he came to Franklin county, Iowa, and lived in Mott township for some time and then settled on sections 1 and 2 in Marion township, living on section 1, where he now resides. On the 17th of January, 1868, he married Laura E. Riddle. They have five children-James C., Edward, Joseph, Elmer and Harry. Frank, their second son, died July 20, 1869. Mr. Lum- ley has been a school director two terms.
John Menning, who came in 1870, is the oldest settler living in Marion township. He is the youngest of seven children, and was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 24,
35
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
1827. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Konig) Menning, also born in Bavaria. He emigrated to America when twenty- four years of age, first locating in Colum- bia Co., Wis , but was in different parts of that State for seventeen years, when he came to Franklin county, Oct. 16, 1870, and settled on section 13, April 9, 1872. He was at that time a very poor man, having when he arrived but $17, but energy and hard work, soon placed him in better circumstances. He bought 160 acres of land on section 13, at $7.50 per acre which is now in an excellent state of cultivation, and he has also a comfortable home. He was married to Barbara Stop- pel, also from Bavaria, Germany. They have a f mily of nine children-John, Michael, George A., Margaret, Elizabeth, Barbara, Henry F., Andrew and Emma C. They belong to the Lutheran Church and were one of three families who were original members. He usually votes the democratic ticket and has held offices of trust in his township.
In 1873, George Shaver came from Ackley and settled on section 12, purchas- ing the west half of the northwest quarter of that section, where he was still living in 1883.
James Riddle, G. R. Minor and Fred- erick Rodemeyer were the next, all of whom settled prior to 1877. From 1877, the township settled quite rapidly and in 1883 there was over a hundred voters in the township, showing a very marked increase of inhabitants since 1877. J. S. Riddle, the youngest of eight children, and son of F. M. and Abigal (Chaffee) Riddle, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov 5, 1827. He remained in that
vicinity until 1851, when he came to Grinnell, Iowa, and from there he went to Marshalltown, where he remained until 1864, and then came to Franklin county. He lived in several parts of the county, but finally purchased land and settled in Marion township. IIe was married to Anna Harrington, on his nineteenth birth- day, Nov. 5, 1846. They have two chil- dren-Laura and Willie. Mr. Riddle has held many of the local offices in his county and is held in high esteem by all.
Frederick Rodemeyer came to Franklin Co., Iowa, about 1874, bought, and located on 480 acres of land on section 34, Marion township He is the son of Deitrich and Sophie (Holz) Rodemeyer, and the fourth of five children. He was born in Hano ver, Germany, Dec 9, 1847. At the age of eighteen, he came to America and set tled at Lyons, Ill., lived there about eighteen months, then moved to Chicago and engaged in the milk business for about seven years, at which time he came to Iowa. He married Louisa Fehrmann, in 1867, and they have had eight children, seven living : Caroline, Louisa, Minnie, Frederick, Harry, Amanda and Bertha. Mr. Rodemeyer has been justice of the peace four years, was a trustee, and is the present assessor and has held other local offices. He usually votes the democratic ticket, and is one of the best citizens and most successful farmers in the county
Byron Jeffers, one of the reliable men of the county, came when fifteen years of age, first settling in Washington township, where he remained until the fall of 1875, when he moved to Chapin, in the same county, and soon after to Marion town- ship, where he purchased eighty acres on
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
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section 36, where he has a pleasant home, nicely situated about three and a half miles from Hampton. He is the oldest son of Robert and Elizabeth ( Day ) Jef- fers, and was born in LaFayette Co., Wis., May 4, 1855; where he spent his boyhood, receiving a good common school education. Mr. Jeffers married Miss Edith Day, Oct. 10, 1875, and they now have two children living-Lyle, aged five, and Clyde Garfield, who was born the day President Garfield was assassinated, July 2, 1881. Mr. Jeffers is regarded as an excellent citizen, having held the office of town treasurer, and several local offices of trust. In connection with farming, he is interested in a creamery, gathering about 1,200 pounds of cream daily, and is raising a large amount of cattle.
One of the settlers of 1876, was Her- man Missman, who was born in Oldeburg, Germany, in 1837. He came to America with his parents when eight years of age, and settled in Somerset Co., Penn., where the family remained but a short time, re- moving to Illinois, where they lived about ten years. Here the subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, received a com- mon school education, and in 1865, came to Iowa, locating in Osceola township, Franklin county, where he lived until 1876, when he settled in Marion township, where he has 160 acres of good land on section 22. He has now about twenty- eight head of stock He was assessor for years and was elec ed at the last election, township trustee. He was married to Minnie Spechlt, a native of Germany. They have had ten children, eight now living : Charles A., Clarence H., Ferdi- nand, Norman, Frank W., Elvira H.,
Clara Bell and Carrie .- Mr. Missman's father died when he was a child. His mother died in Illinois, in 1871.
Heinrich Meyer also came in 1876 and located in Marion township, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 15 Mr. Meyer was born in Hanover, Germany, Nov. 22, 1856, and remained in his native country until he was nineteen years old, when he came to the United States. He stopped for some time in Cincinnati, Ohio, then came to Iowa, locating in Franklin county, as above stated. In 1877 Mr. Meyer was married to Dorothea Gotts- chalk, also a native of IIanover, Germany. This union has been blessed with three children-Alvina, Dorothea and Augusta Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are both members of the Lutheran Church.
Henry Rodemeyer, the oldest of five children, and son of Deitrich and Sophie (Holsen) Rodemeyer, was born Nov. 25, 1840, in Hanover, Germany. At the age of fourteen he came to America and lived at Chicago four years, afterwards went to Du Page Co, Ill., and remained there till the war, when he enlisted in the 55th Illinois Volunteers, company E, and was in the army four years. He was in many of the principal battles of the rebellion, and after the war he returned to Cook Co., Ill., and followed farming. In 1869 he went to Waterloo, Iowa, remained there till 1876, when he came to Franklin county and bought land on section 26, Marion township. Mr. Rodemeyer mar- ried Wilhelmine Helmes, March 8, 1867. They were married in Cook Co., Ill., and have four children-Caroline, Deitrich, Henry and Frederick. In politics Mr. Rodemeyer is a democrat.
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