History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 53

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990

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 53
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 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

The year following he removed his fami- ly hither, and the oft-repeated but ever interesting tale of pioneer privations and struggles forms a chapter in their history. In this land of marvelous progress the re- sistless march of posterity is fast relega- ting the f thers, with their matchless rec- ords, to the past. It is the province of county history to redeem their chronicles from oblivion. Mr. Popejoy was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Feb. 10, 1824. IIis fa- ther was a merchant, and at the age of eight years he became an assistant in his store, acquiring a practical insight into all the details of local commerce. At a suit- able age he was sent to Carey's Hill Sem- inary, at Cincinnati, where he took a thor- ough course of commercial study. He en- gaged in traffic in merchandise of varied character, and also as a drover, taking cattle over the Alleghanies to eastern markets. In 1841, his father became se- curity for a friend and thereby lost his property. Thus, at seventeen, Mr Pope- joy was forced to depend on himself. He determined to be fitted for emergencies and worked a year at shoe-making. He next went into a grain and provision house at Chillicothe, Ohio, became bookkeeper and retained his position until the death of his employer, when he returned to the home of his youth and began to operate as formerly in stock, buying and selling in the eastern markets. This he contin- ued until his settlement in Iowa. He en- tered 640 acres of land to which he has added by purchase until his possessions include nearly 4,000 acres. His home- stead estate embraces 2,860 acres, with 1,000 acres devoted to the cultivation of tame grass. He has from the first oper-

ated in stock and is one of the heaviest shippers in Franklin county. His herd ranges from 250 to 500 head, and his an- nual shipments of hogs aggregate about $2,890. Mr. Popejoy has always been prominent in public affairs, and has repre- sented his district in the county board of supervisors sixteen years, was the first as- sessor in Franklin county and has been school treasurer for twenty years. He has also officiated as town clerk and trus- tee. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Iowa Falls, and is a Universalist in belief. Mr. Popejoy was married, in November, 1849, to Frances Sophia Pearson, of Ohio. They h ve seven children-Mary E., now Mrs. L. R. Fobes; Virginia E., wife of J. H. Gilder; Flora A .; Frances, now Mrs. F. A. Thayer; E. P., Ethel A. and J. H. Popejoy.

In 1855, Jesse R. Dodd, G. A. Polhemas and Mr. Beaty settled in the township.

Mr. Dodd first settled in what is now Morgan township, but soon moved to Oak- land Grove, named by John I. Popejoy, and in the autumn of that year platted the village of Oakland.

G. A. Polhemas came from Illinois and located on the south side of the Iowa riv- er, where he lived until the spring of 1883, at which time he moved to Dakota.

Mr. Beaty remained a short time and then returned to Vermont.

James D. Brande came to the county in 1857, settling on seetion 35, purchasing 130 acres of land.

James Brande came to Iowa in the fall of 1854, locating near Alden, Hardin county, on 130 acres of land, to secure which, he walked to Des Moines to make

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

the entry. Two years later he sold this property for depot grounds for $2,615 cash, and came to Franklin county, locat ing in Oakland township. In January, 1857, he purchased 130 acres of land on secton 35, twenty-one acres of which was under the plow. There was also a block house on the place, one of the best in the township. Mr. Brande now owns 444 acres of good farming land, keeps from fifty to eighty head of cattle, twelve or fifteen horses, and about 100 hogs on hand, and has always made a specialty of stock raising. Mr. Brande is a native of Broom Co., N. Y., born Jan. 10, 1831. His parents were Allen and Eunice ( Wat- tles ) Brande, the former a native of Con- neeticut, the latter of Rhode Island. His father was a merchant for a number of years, but later in life became a farmer. James was reared on a farm until twenty years of age, then for a time attended school at Schoharie, and after leaving school, was engaged in teaching for about five years. Early in 1854, he came west to Illinois, spending the summer at Naper- ville, and that fall started with his wife from Joliet to Hardin county, this State. The trip was made with an ox-team, and, December 10, after traveling thirty- three days, they arrived at Alden. Mr. Brande was married, Oct. 25, 1855, to Jeannett Brandon, a native of Otsego Co., N. Y. Her parents settled in Illinois, in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Brande have been blessed with five children, three of whom are living-Clarissa, Rose and Allen. The parents are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Brande has held the offices of assessor, justice of the peace, township trustee, road supervisor and

school director. He is a warm supporter of the republican party and a strong advocate of prohibition.

In 1856, Levi Bigelow settled at Otis Grove, and the following year moved to Oakland. Levi Bigelow has been post master at Oakland Valley twenty years, has officiated as township clerk ten years as assessor one year, as justice two years, and, also, as school director. Since 1866, he has conducted a general merchandise business. He is a pioneer of Franklin coun y, where he fixed his residence in 1857, at Otis Grove, and the next year made a permanent transfer to Oakland. He was born at Fitzwilliam, N. H., March 9, 1801. His parents, Thomas and Han- nah ( Lewis ) Bigelow, were natives of Massachusetts. His father combined the callings of farmer and shoemaker, and, at sixteen, the son learned the trade of har- ness maker and saddler. At the age of twenty-three he established himself in business at Jeffry, Cheshire Co., N. H., where he remained about a year and re- turned to Fitzwilliam, his native town and lived there until his health failed and he was compelled to change occupa- tion. In 1847, he exchanged his town property for a farm. In 1849, in company with others, he bought and loaded a ship for California. The sale of the vessel and cargo paid the expense of the voyage. Mr. Bigelow engaged in mining about three years, when he made a visit to the east, returning to the Golden State. He mined successfully a year longer and went back to the Granite State in 1854. In 1856 he made a prospecting trip to Iowa. He was married in May, 1825, to Mary Cutler. She died at Oakland, in 1874.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Two of her five children are living-Levi S., resident at Worcestor, Mass., and Eliz- abeth, wife of E. A. Smith, of Oakland. The second wife was Cordelia Wilson, of Otisville. Her death occurred in 1880. She left one son, Elliott P., then four years old. Mr. Bigelow has always been a member of the republican party. He was an Odd Fellow in his native State.

E. A. Smith, a son-in-law of Mr. Bige- low, came to the township in 1857, and finally located on section 28, where he still lives.

The following settled between 1865 and 1870: C. W. Walton, N. W Hagen- son, Erick S. Iverson, Rev. N. Pederson, Claus Erickson, Frank Evans and A. O. Sime

C. W. Walton has been a resident in Iowa since the fall of 1864. He spent a year in Hardin county and then removed to Oakland township, where he has since lived. He owns a valuable farm of 130 acres all under cultivation save a timber tract of twenty acres. He was born in Oak- land Co., Mich., June 15, 1838. His par- ents went, when he was thirty months old, to Steuben Co , N. Y. When he was six- teen years of age he went to Tioga Co., Penn. In October, 1861, on President Lincoln's call for 300,000 more, he enlisted in company H, 45th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served until November, 1862. At that date he was discharged for disa- bility. His weight on reaching home was ninety pounds, and he has never recovered from the effects of illness contracted in the army. He was married June 30, 1856, to Mary E. Turk of Tioga Co., Penn. It is believed that Mr. Walton has the banner family, at least as far as heard

from, consisting of thirteen children liv- ing and two deceased. Following are the names of the living-Charles H., Lydia J., Sarah E., Julia A., Mary C., William W., Richard F., Delilah E., George T., Robert A., Shirley L., Charlotte L. and Alice P. Two daughters and one son are married. Mr. and Mrs. Walton are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Walton has served his townsmen twelve years as justice, also as assessor, road supervisor, president, secretary and sub-director of the school board. In the church society he has been steward, Sunday school superintendent and president of the grave-yard associa- tion.

A. O. Sime, one of the first of the Nor- wegian settlers in Oakland township, was born in Bergen, Norway, Dec. 16, 1833. He was a farmer in his native country, where he resided until he was twenty- seven years old. In 1860 he came to America and located first in La Fayette Co., Wis. He passed five years there and in 1865 went to clear Lake, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, remaining but one year. The date of his arrival in Oakland was June 10, 1867. His first purchase of land was a tract of eighty acres, which he has added to, until he now owns 240 acres in this township, and twenty-five acres in Wright county. Mr. Sime is character- ized by the traits of thrift, economy and careful management, which render his countrymen valuable citizens, and he has, as the reward of his industrious energy, a fine home and a large farm stocked with forty head of cattle, thirty-five hogs and ten horses. He was married in Wisconsin Dec. 27, 1861, to Anna Christenson, born in Norway. Five of their eight children

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

are deceased. Those living are-Julianna, Oscar and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Sime are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He is a republican and has served two terms as school director.

N. W. Hagenson located where he now resides, on section 17, of Oakland town- ship, in 1870. His first settlement in the town was in 1867, on section 7. He is the proprietor of 180 acres of land, and keeps about thirty head of cattle. He was born in Norway, March 22. 1836, and at the age of twenty, fixed on America as his future home. He came to Chicago, and after- ward went to Dane Co., Wis. Five years later he proceeded to Yanktown, Dakota, where he was one of the first to establish a residence. He held his homestead four years, when the combined forces of the grasshopper invasion and Indian outbreak interfered with his hopes and plans. Per- sonal threatenings from the "Lo" fraternity caused him to absent himself from his holdings for five weeks. He finally went to Ogle Co., Ill., and six months later to Wisconsin. He was married in that State in 1861, to Synneva Lampson, who died in the fall of 1873, leaving seven children -Helena, Annie, Edward S., Albert N., William N., Martin Olaus and Nicholas. In 1877, Mr. Hagenson married Johanna Johnson of Oakland. They have one child-Synneva J. Mr. and Mrs. Hagen- son are members of the Norwegian Luth- eran Church. He is a republican in politi- cal faith, and has officiated in several township and school offices.

Rev. N. Pedersen, pastor of the Otis Grove Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, was born in Denmark, Nov. 20, 1842. In 1866, he came to the United 1

State, and was engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Indianapolis, Ind, several years. In 1873, he went to Decorah, Iowa, and entered the Norwegian Lutheran College to prepare for the ministry. He studied there two years, one year at the German Luth eran Seminary, at Springfield, Ill., and the Norwegian Lutheran Seninary of Mad- ison, Wis, and entered upon the duties of his present pastorate, in 1877. The following named congregations are included in his charge: Otis Grove Nor- wegian Church; Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Tipton, Iowa; Rigsoger Norwegian Lutheran Church, in Wright county; St. Peters Danish Evangelical Church, of Franklin county; Richland Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, in Franklin coun ty, and "Our Saviours Danish Evangelical Lutheran" Church, in Hancock county. He preached at each place once a month. He married Julia Frederick Peterson at Indianopolis, Ind., in 1870, and they have six children-Ingeborg Magdalena, Johanna Sophia, Peter Johannes, Walter Stephannes, Louisa Christiana and Ida Caroline. The fourth and fifth named are twins.

Claus Erickson is a Norwegian by birth and came to America when twenty two years of age, locating in La Fayette Co., Wis. He was born June 15, 1833, and when he had been a resident of this county seven years, and entitled to its privileges as well as its perils, he assumed his right to defend the flag which protected him, and enlisted in company G, 22d Wisconsin, serving three years. He was wounded at the battle of Resaca, a minnie ball hitting him in the shoulder. He served the remainder of his term in the Invalid Corps. He re-

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

turned to the "Badger State," where he remained until 1868, sought a residence in Oakland township. He owns 133 acres of fine farming land which he holds at a value of $3,325. His stock includes thirty head of cattle and thirty hogs. He was married in Wisconsin in 1860, to Caroline Edson. They have buried one child and have four living-Joseph I., Andrew, Isa- bella and Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are members of the Norwegian Evangel- ical Lutheran Church.

Iver Iverson, accompanied by his brother Erik, came from Norway to America, in 1868. His parents are still living in their native country. He came from Wiscon- sin to Iowa with his brother, and has since been a resident of Oakland township. He first purchased forty acres of land and be- gan farming. He has increased his prop- erty to 160 acres, located on sections 20 and 28. He is a good farmer and has 100 acres under good cultivation, and values his land at $3,500 in the aggregate. He owns twenty head of cattle and turns off thirty hogs annually. He was married, in 1868, to Anna Erickson, a native Nor- wegian. Of their seven children five are living-John A., Martin, Ellmen, Oliver and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Iverson are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Iverson was born Aug. 22, 1842, near Christiana, Norway. He is a republican in political action.

Erik S. Iverson is a substantial farmer of Oakland township, and is located on 160 acres of land on section 18. His farm is valuable from its situation and degree of cultivation, Mr. Iverson being a skilled agricultorist from training and practice. He was born in Norway, near Christiana,

Nov. 27, 1831. At twenty-two, he came to this country and went to Green Co., Wis. In 1864, he enlisted in company A, 46th Wisconsin Infantry, and was in the service eight months, his term expiring with the close of the war. In 1868, he came to Franklin county and fixed his res- idenee as stated. He has made all the improvements on his farm, and keeps thirty head of cattle and about the same number of hogs. He was married, in Wisconsin, in 1858, to Martha Erickson. Four of seven children born to them are living-Edwin, Julius, Adolph and an in- fant daughter, Emila Matilda. Mr. Iver- son is a republican in political sentiment, and has been school director two years. He and his wife are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran Church.

Frank Evans is a stock farmer in Oak- land township. He located on his pres- ent place in the spring of 1868, where he owns 160 acres of land in first class con- dition, located on section 18. He has made a specialty of raising stock since 1879. He was born in Christiana, Norway, July 2, 1840. His father came to America when he was fourteen years old, and settled in Green Co., Wis. Mr. Evans remained there eight years, when he made an over- land trip to Gold Hill, Nev., and engaged as a miner, working by the day and hold- ing personal interest in some claims. In 1867, he returned to Wisconsin, and re- mained there a year. He has recently begun raising horses. Mr. Evans has been twice married. His first wife, Christiana Peterson, to whom he was married in 1868, died in 1870,leaving one child-Ell- men M. The present wife, Mrs. Mary J. Evans, is a sister of her predecessor, and

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

was married Dec. 20, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Evans belong to the Norwegian Lutheran Church, at Otis Grove. He is a republican in politics.

HISTORICAL EVENTS.

The first marriage in Oakland township was that of James Martin and Nancy Gar- ner, in the fall of 1856. They took a bug- gy and started for Hampton, but on the road their buggy broke down and they were compelled to spend the first night on the prairie.

The first birth was that of James Mitch- ell, son of Sanford Mitchell, in 1855.

The first death was a son of Sanford Mitchell, who died in 1856, and was buried at Oakland. Mrs. Mitchell died in 1860, and was buried in what was after- ward known as Popejoy's Cemetery.

The first election for Morgan township, which embraced Oakland township, was held at John I. Popejoy's residence, in 1856.

The first school was taught by Tabitha Wyatt, in a building erected by J. I. Popejoy and J. R. Dodd, west of the Iowa river on section 27, in 1857. Miss Wyatt was the daughter of C. W. Wyatt, who settled in Oakland, in 1856, and was only twelve years of age.

At the time of the Spirit Lake massa cre all the settlers of the township left but Popejoy and Mitchell's families. Popejoy's house was overrun with the fu- gitives, who stayed from ten to fourteen days.

The first preaching service was at Pope- joy's house, conducted by Rev. Philoman Plummer, in 1855. There were Metho dists, Baptists and Congregational socie- ties formed prior to 1875, but in 1883, the

Methodists were the only society in Oak- land township. A union Sunday school was formed in 1858. Popejoy and Moss were among the superintendents.

At Oakland, there was a steam mill erected in 1857, by Amasa Wyatt and J. R. Dodd.

Sanford Mitchell opened a blacksmith shop in 1856.

A store was opened by Dodd, and was afterward run by Silas Pearce.

RAILROAD.

The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & North- ern railway crosses Oakland township in a southeasterly direction. It was constructed in 1880. Carlton station was established on section 22. Up to 1883, there was no business or residences,-sim- ply the depot buildings and grain ware- house. The town was platted in 1880 by the Railroad and Town Lot Company.

POSTOFFICE.

A postoffice was established, in 1857, when there was not more than a dozen families in the township, yet the petition contained the names of over 100 peo- ple, who were passing through the county from time to time, who were only too glad to help the pioneers secure a postoffice. Amasa Dodd was the first postmaster, and the name of the office was Oakland. In the fall of 1862, Oak- land Valley postoffice was established, with Levi Bigelo . as first postmaster.

OAKLAND VILLAGE.

In January of 1857, Jesse R Dodd filed a plat of Oakland village, before John I. Popejoy, notary public. The plat embraced the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 28, township 90, range 22, and up to 1883, had not been vacated,

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

although no town, in fact, existed thereon except the postoffice and a few other buildings.

In 1866, Mr. Bigelow built a store, keep- ing the postoffice and running a small stock of general merchandise, adding thereto from time to time, as the county developed. He was still engaged in busi- ness in 1883.

CHURCHES.

There was an organization of the Pres- byterian church in 1860, with Rev. James Carroll as pastor, continuing for several years. He was followed by Rev. Gordon. The church was soon changed to a Con- gregational society, which continued sev- eral years.

In 1883, the Methodist was the only de- nomination having a regular society in the township, at which date they were still on the Alden circuit.

The Baptist Church, of Oakland was or- ganized in the spring of 1872, with seven members, and B. W Stilson as their pas- tor ; J. D. Brandt, deacon ; John Hollis ter, clerk. The society held services in the school house at Oakland for about four years, when they disbanded on account of removals and other causes.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland was the first organization in the township, and was formed about 1860 ; in 1864, there were fifteen members. Rev. Jones was the first pastor. In 1866 Rev. R. L. Kenyon was in charge, and was suc- ceeded by Revs. Hamilton, Kimball, J. H. Todd, John Horswell, Owens, Hobbs, Wil- liams, Jamieson and Warren. In 1883, meetings were held at the school house, at which time the society num- bered twenty-five. Under Rev. Ham-

ilton's preaching there was a revival in which fifteen persons were converted. The next season of refreshing was under Rev. Owen, during which twenty were con- verted. Under Rev Warren's pastorate in the winter of 1881-2, about fifteen were were converted. Under Rev. Williams' preaching twenty were converted, and the total membership of the Church was sixty. A new class was formed, but soon dissolved. The Church at Alden drew from this society, decreasing the member- ship, somewhat.

While Rev. Hamilton was pastor at Oakland, the parsonage was sold and the proceeds appropriated towards building a church edifice at Alden, where the preacher resided in 1883, at which date the church membership was about forty.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Otis Grove, was organized in 1872, with about eighteen families. Meet- ings were held in school houses. Rev A. Omlund was pastor one year; O. A. Sauer, five years; Rev. N. Pederson fol- lowed him. In 1883, there were about forty families belonging to the society, and services we e held in school houses The society owns a house and five acres of ground on section 7 as their parsonage property.

CEMETERIES.

The first cemetery in Oakland township was known as Popejoy's Cemetery, on section 27, which contained about an acre of land. In 1864, an association was formed to take charge of it. William Walton was its president. The township has another cemetery on section 8, con- taining about two acres, where about forty bodies were interred in 1883.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

TERRIFIC TORNADO.

Those living in Oakland township in 1875 can never forget the fearful tornado which swept through their township dur- ing the summer of that year. It unroofed many houses: tore down fences, and picked up cattle and horses, carried them to a great distance and crushed them to pieces. Barns of large proportions were

moved from off their foundations and de- molished; stately trees which had stood the storms for a century were uprooted and tossed about like slender shrubs. A school house, located on section 19, in which Miss A. Popejoy was teaching, was blown to pieces, she having left the build- ing but a short time before the storm came up.

CHAPTER XXIX.

OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP.

This is the southeasterly township in Franklin county, comprising congressional township 90, range 19, and is bounded on the north by Geneva township, on the east by Butler county, on the south by Hardin county, and on the west by Grant township. Osceola is one of the most valuable agricultural townships of the county. It was given a seperate or- ganization in 1857. Its first settlement dates back to 1853, and was made by Thomas Downs and Dr. Arledge. It is a prairie township, except three beautiful groves of natural timber, which changes its otherwise monotonous prairie appear- ance. It is well watered by Beaver creek and its branches. The soil is a dark rich loam, which produces all the crops com- mon to this latitude, in the greatest abundance. The surface of the land is quite rolling for a prairie country; but it may here be stated that not one of the 23,040 acres of land, contained in this

township, ever washes, and practically speaking there are no waste lands in the entire township. The Central Railway of Iowa passes through Osceola from section 35, running in a northwest direction, en- tering Geneva township from section 5. The station on this line of road, for this township, is Faulkner, situated in the northwest corner of section 15. Perhaps no section of Iowa has developed more rapidly than this township since 1868, at which time lands were worth only from $7 to $10 per acre.

The first settlement was made by Mr. McCormick, Dr. Arledge and Thomas Downs, in 1853.

In September, 1854, a large amount of land in this portion of the State, that had been set apart by the General Govern- ment for the endowment of the State University, came into market, and a large emigration was attracted thither in conse- quence. Among the number were Richard

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

T. Blake, Luther Butterfield and Patrick McCann who left Bloom, C'ook Co., Ill., on the 5th of July of that year. They had ox teams and made slow progress, crossing the Mississippi river at Dubuque, about the first of August. Wearily they toiled along the line of what is now the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Railroad as far as Cedar Falls, where they turned southerly and brought up at or near Hardin City. Butterfield had been to Hardin City the preceding spring on his return from California, and it was this fact that took their steps to that place. Arriving there, they could find no one who was willing to show them vacant land, for either love or money, and becom- ing disgusted with the selfishness of the natives and hearing of the two groves in the southeast part of Osceola township, they loaded up and went up to Downs' Grove, arriving there about the 15th of August. Downs' family had just returned from their absence caused by the Indian troubles and other families came back abont the same time. A man named Mc Cormick had a cabin and a claim just north of Beaver creek and south of John Fahey's house. This claim Blake bought of McCormick and took possession forth- with. Eight or ten acres had been broken on it in 1853. MeCormick, finding civili- zation getting too thick around him, went to Wall Lake, in Wright county, and from there still farther west or southwest twenty years ago at least.

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History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 53

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company Number of Pages: 990

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990