History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 54

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 54
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 54

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).

Richard T. Blake, one of the first set- tlers in Franklin county, came in 1854. McCann and Butterfield coming at the same time. Mr. Blake was born in Dub- lin county, Ireland, Feb. 20, 1826. His

father, Thomas Blake, was in the British service, and Richard was born while his father was stationed in Dublin county. Richard spent most of his childhood in Scotland At the age of fifteen he went to sea, following that life until twenty- four, when he was married and began farming at Homewood, twenty-four miles south of Chicago. Soon afterwards he came to Franklin county to avail himself of cheap lands, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Blake was married to Mrs. Sarah Ridgeway, at Homewood, Ill., Oct. 8, 1850. They are the parents of twelve children, all of whom were living in 1883 Their names were as follows : Louisa, Jane, Richard, Frank, George, John, Alice, Bessie, Kate, Charles, Sarah and Nettie, all of whom were born in Franklin county, except the two eldest daughters. In 1883, John was at Coe College and Alice at the Cedar Falls Normal School.

Patrick McCann, one of the settlers of 1854, entered the land upon which he now lives. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine (Lynch) McCann, of Ireland, where he was born in the county of Meids, March 17, 1825. Emigrating to America at the age of fifteen, he first settled in New York, then went south, thence to Illinois, remaining six years. and finally to Iowa. He was married in 1856 to Mar- garet McCarle, at Cedar Falls, Iowa, who is also a native of Ireland. They have seven children living-Mary Ann, aged twenty- three ; Margaret, aged nineteen ; James, aged seventeen ; Catherine, aged fifteen ; Henry, aged thirteen ; Florence, aged ten; Elizabeth, aged eight. They were all born in the township. Mary Ann was married

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

to William McPherson, at Ackley, Jan. 30, 1883. They live in the township in the vicinity of Ackley.

Luther . Butterfield was a man who had always been on the frontier. His parents resided in Illinois at the time of the Black Hawk war and he was born in that State. About 1849 or 1850 he went to California, returning home the spring of 1854. He was eminently fitted for the life of a pioneer, although his health was; at this time, somewhat broken down by exposure and the hardships that he had endured. He was a good citizen, a good neighbor and an honest man. His health gradually became worse, and when he died on the 9th of January, 1857, aged thirty-two years, there was sincere sorrow and mourning in the whole settlement over his untimely death.

Later in the fall of 1854, probably in October, Siefferman and Koppas came back to their claims -built log cabins, and moved into them, and these five families- Downs', Butterfield's, Blake's, Sieffer- man's and Koppas'-comprised the entire population of what is now Osceola town- ship until the fall of 1855. To get through the winter of 1854-5, Blake went for corn to Cedar Falls and for a load of potatoes, to Peck's place, near New Hartford, but in the northern part of Grundy county. They got their mail at Eldora which was the nearest postoffice.

In the fall of 1855, Theobald Miller, now one of Osceola's well-to-do citizens, came from Freeport, Ill., and located where he now resides, about one mile northwest of McCormick's Grove. Blake, who had meanwhile built himself another house- sold Miller the log shanty formerly occu- pied by McCormick-but when the deliv-

ery came, Koppas came in and claimed the house. It really stood on the line be- tween the two farms, but Blake made the delivery all straight and forthwith Kop- pas sued him for the value of the house, and this was" Osceola township's first law- suit. It was tried before 'Squire Leggett, who lived on the Andrews' place in Reeve township, and who the attorneys were on either side Blake has now forgotten, but he remembers distinctly that he paid his attorney all the money he had in the world which was $2.50. When the trial came on the plaintiff was nonsuited, as there was no date to the notice and all parties went home again, no one any the richer unless it might be Blake's attorney as the costs were never paid. Koppas sold out to John Fahey, who came from Ohio in 1858, and went back to Cedar Falls or that vicinity.

Siefferman lived on his place until 1867 or 1868, when he sold out and went to Missouri. So far as is known, Miller was the only settler who came in 1855.

Mrs. Sawyer, then Mrs. Butterfield, re- lates a circumstance where their family of seven had to live on corn meal grated by a hand grater. This destitution continued about four months, on account of failure in the crops, and their nearest market place being Cedar Falls, thirty-five miles away, the neighbors, Blake and Luther Butter- field, made trips and bought provisions for the three families. They raised noth- ing but corn for several years as they were unable to procure seed wheat to sow.

The next settler was H. H. Marsh, who came from Chicago and bought 1,500 acres of land where Faulkner now stands, but not meeting with success, left.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

James Henry came in and bought land near Ackley. He afterward sold out and returned to Wisconsin.

Next was William Richardson and Mil- ton Pierce and their families. Richardson entered about 500 acres, which he after- ward sold.

Peter Carlson, a native of Sweden, came to America in 1849, and first set- tled in Illinois, but in 1855 came to Osceola township, and entered the homestead of 160 acres, where he was still living in 1883, having added to his possessions until he has 400 acres of land in one body.

James McManus came to Osceola, Frank- lin county, in 1857, and entered 320 acres of land at government price, of which the heirs retain the greater part. He was born in Ireland. He was married in Huntingdon, Penn., to Catherine Lough- ren, and had nine children, five of whom are dead. Those living are-Mary Ann, William H , James and John Thomas, and are esteemed and intelligent cilizens. Mr. McManns died Oct. 24, 1861.

John Fahey, a prominent citizen of O-ceola, settled in 1859. He is the son of Francis and Catherine (Ryan) Fahey, and was born in Ireland May 4, 1814. He came to America in 1851, and settled in Marion Co., Ohio, remaining there nine years, and then came to Iowa in the spring of 1854, entering land in Hardin county. Returning to Ohio for his fan- ily he removed · to his present home in Franklin county. He was married in Marion Co., Ohio, to Bridget Fahey, who is . also a native of Ireland, in March, 1852. They are both members of the Catholic Church. They have six children -Thomas, Kate, Mary, Julia, John and

Ella. Mr. Fahey is regarded as an ex- cellent citizen, and was a member of the board of supervisors six years, also asses- sor, and is the present town trustee and road supervisor. His two eldest children are married. Kate was married to John Fitzgerald, who lives in the township in the vicinity of Ackley.

James Whiteside also came in 1859, and purchased land upon which he was living in 1883.

In 1866, among the few who came in were: Martin Cooney and S. A. French.

Martin Cooney, son of John and Alice (Lahiff) Cooney, settled on section 18. He was born in Claire Co., Ireland, in 1822, and grew to manhood in his native country. At the age of twenty-five, Mr. Cooney came to America and traveled over the United States a few years, but did not permanently locate at any place. In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque county, remaining there about two years. In this county he was mar- ried in 1861 to Ellen Welch. This union has been blessed with nine children -- Kate, Hannah, John, Austin, Mary, Ellen, Bridget, Alice and Martin. The second daughter, Hannah, was united in marriage 'to Nicholas Kearney, a resident of Osceola township. They were married in 1878, and have two children-John and Nicho- las. Mr. Cooney is a democrat in poli- tics. He has been clerk of Osceola town- ship for two years. Mr. Cooney and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Cooney is an honest, indus- trions man, a good citizen and well re- spected by his neighbors.

Among those who settled in the town :- ship, between 1867 and 1873, were M. K.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Donovan, Edward O'Brien, Moses Myers, Michael Holloran, Isaac Wagner, Michael Burns and John R. Trumbower.

Michael Burns settled in Osceola town- ship, about the year 1868. He is the son of Michael and Mary (Coyne) Burns, and was born in Roscommon Co.,Kilmore parish, Ireland, in 1821, where he spent his youth. In 1844, he came to Amer- ica and first settled in Chester Co., Penn., where he was engaged in farming about three years, then went to Niagara Co., N. Y., and remained about six years. He then came west and settled in Manitowoc Co., Wis., where he followed farming for about eleven years and afterwards removed to Osceola township. In 1852, Mr. Burns was married to Bridget Welch, at Lock- port, N. Y. She is a native of Ireland, and came to America when she was a child. Mr. and Mrs Burns are the par- ents of three children, all of whom are un- married and still reside at home-James, Emma and Mary. Mr. Burns is a demo- crat He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Burns relates the following incident in his life after crossing the ocean: After he landed he went to Canada and first stopped near Toronto for the purpose of looking up land. After doing so he was confronted by men who inquired of what religion he was. He told them that his parents were Roman Catholics and that he was of the same religion. As soon as they heard this they informed him that they were Orangemen from the north of Ireland, and that he had better be making himself scarce as lively as he knew how or they would skin him alive or burn him to the sod. He asked them if a man had not the

right to choose his own religion and think as he pleased. They replied, "If you do not think and do as we do, you had better leave." And Mr. Burns did leave. He then went to New York where he was much better pleased, and where he could think and act independently.

James Treanor is the present assessor of Osceola township. He came in 1869, and resided on section 17. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Treanor) Treanor, and a native of Leod county, Ireland, born May 17, 1850. When he was two years of age, the family emigrated to America, and settled in Dubuque Co., Iowa, where James received his education and re- mained until coming to Franklin county. He is a single man, and has seven sisters and brothers, living - Margaret, Ann, Bridget, James, John, Bernard, Mary and Rosa. His brother John married Maggie Kearney, in 1876. Mr. Treanor and family are Catholics. In politics, James is a democrat. He was town clerk one term, and is the present assessor. He is regarded as an excellent citizen, and held in high esteem.

M. K. Donovan came first to Franklin county in 1867, purchasing the northeast quarter of section 10, Osceola township, where the family lived until 1882, when they met with the misfortune of having their home burned to the ground. Mr. Donovan has since built a fine resi- dence on section 11, and has one of the finest farms in the township. He had formerly been engaged in lumbering in the Wisconsin pineries, but his present vocation is farming. He was born in lower Canada, near Quebec, in October, 1838, and at the age of seventeen, removed

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

to Fond du Lac Co. Wis., where he was engaged in the pineries for ten years. He was married, in 1865, to Margaret Mc- ginley, also a native of Canada, who re- moved to Wisconsin at the age of sixteen. They purchased a farm near Ripon, Wis., where they farmed three years, then removed to Osceola township where they have since resided. They have had ten children, seven of whom are now liv- ing-Michael D., Mary C., Margaret E., Bernard S., Edward J., Louis Patrick and Elizabeth A. Mr. Donovan and family belong to the Catholic Church ; and in politics he is a staunch democrat. He has been justice of the peace several years, and has served several years as president of the school board.

Edward O'Brien came in 1868 to Franklin Co., Iowa, bought land and located in Marion township where he farmed until 1872, at which time he settled in Osceola township. He was born in New York city, in 1842, and was the son of Edward and Margaret (Kelly) O'Brien. When he was one year of age, he came with his parents to Wisconsin, and settled in Ozaukee county. Here he spent his child- hood and youth until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Hartford, Conn., and soon after to Meriden, same State, where he remained six years, then re- turned to Wisconsin, and,in 1868, came to Iowa. In 1870, he was married to Rose Halpin. By this union there are four children-Julia A. M., Rose Ann, Mary E. and Edmond W. They have lost two children by death. The parents are mem- bers of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. O'Brien is a democrat, and has held several local offices.

Moses Myers located on section 16, in 1869. He was the son of John and Bar- bara (Negley) Myers, and was born Jan. 31, 1814, in York Co., Penn., where he spent his boyhood. At the age of twenty- one he went to Canada, where he re- mained about four years, then went to Ohio in 1838 and remained fifteen years in Clarke, Montgomery and Darke coun- ties. He then removed to Ogle Co., Ill., in 1853, finally coming to Iowa in 1869, where he has since made his home. He was married in Canada, in 1837, to Mary Martin, who was born and reared in Lan- caster Co., Penn. His wife died in Osceo- la, July 18, 1869. They had nine children, seven of whom are living-John, Amos, Sarah, Mary, Moses, Samuel and Joseph. Henry and Abraham are dead. He has held the office of road supervisor for sev- eral terms. He was again married Sept. 11, 1870, to Mrs. Isabelle Diamond, who was born in Ireland and is about fifty years of age.

Michael Holloran was born in Mayo Co., Ireland, in 1837. He moved to York- shire, England, in 1850, and there worked on a farm five years, and then joined the militia, serving one year in the British army in the Crimean war, Charles Napier commanding general. He sailed from one port to another and, finally, on the 10th of March, 1857, he landed at New York, where he learned the plumber and gas fitter's trade on Staten Island, under Thomas McNight. From there he moved to Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill. Here he learned the stone cutter and mason's trade, and soon after removed to Scotland Co., Mo., where he remained a year, thence back to DeKalb Co., Ill., where he

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

farmed until 1870, at which time he came to Franklin county, settling on section 30, Osceola township, where he owns 400 acres of land. He was married to Ann Carroll in 1859. By this union there are eleven children : Mary, Kate, Martin J., Julia, Frank P., Annie Maggie, John W., Michael Edward, Thomas Joseph, and Robert Henry. Mary was married to Thomas Fahey in 1880. Mr. Holloran is a democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic Church.

Isaiah Wagner, living on section 9, first came to Franklin county in 1868, and pur- chased land, but returned to Illinois where he remained about one month, then return- ing to Iowa he located on his present farm. He follows farming, and is one of the solid, reliable men of the county. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Wagner, and · was born in Ogle Co., Ill., in 1839, where he spent his childhood, and was educated. When twenty-three years of age he en- listed in the 34th Illinois Volunteers, com- pany H, and served three years, being in most of the principal battles in the south. After receiving his discharge he returned to Illinois, remained eight years, and then came and purchased land in Franklin county. He was married to Sarah Jacobs, of Ogle Co., Ill., in 1867. They are the parents of seven children; the eldest, Enos, died when eleven months old, the remaining are-Hattie, George, Bessie, John, Hezekiah, and Franklin Clay. Mr. Wagner is a republican in politics, and has held offices of trust in the county, and, as a citizen, is held in high regard.

John R. Trumbower came to Franklin Co., Iowa., in 1873, and bought land in Geneva and Osceola townships to the

amount of 220 acres. He has always made farming his occupation, and thus, having given his whole energies to it, has made it a success. He is an intelligent and pro- gressive farmer. He now lives in Ackley, Hardin Co., Iowa, but still owns land in Osceola township. He was born in Mont- gomery Co., Penn., Feb. 25, 1838, and was married Dec. 16, 1862, to Amelia Butz, who was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Trumbower are the parents of seven children-Jacob, Sarah, Minnie, Emma, John, Milton and Cora Eva. The young- est and John were born in Iowa, and the others in Illinois. Mr. Trumbower is a good citizen, and among the most enter- prising men in the community.

Daniel Meyer is the possessor of a fine farm of eighty acres on section 1. He is a farmer, and the son of Jacob and Cathe- rine ( Koppas ) Meyer, of Bavaria, Ger- many, where he was born April 29, 1838. When he was fourteen years old, his par- ents came to the United States, going first to Stephenson Co., Ill., where they lived ten years, then coming to Iowa in 1873. He was married in Osceola town- ship to Mary Miller, in 1870, by whom he has six children-Jacob, William, Eliza- beth, Frank, George and John.

Thomas McCarron located on section 4, in the year 1877. His occupation is farming. He was born in the parish of Old Saints, Ireland, July 8, 1817. He came to the United States in 1833, and lived in Lancaster Co., Penn., until 1846 He was married in 1843, to Nancy Wood, of American birth, whose death occurred Nov. 29, 1864. Ten children had been born to them, all of whom are living- Margaret, Mary, Thomas, Sarah, William,

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Ellen, John, Marjule, Nancy J. and Elizabeth . They lived twenty-three years in Dubuque Co., Iowa, then moved to Etna township, Hardin county, from thence to Geneva township, and finally to their present home in Osceola township, Franklin county. Ellen was married to William Graw, and they are the parents of three children. Sarah was united in marriage to Benjamin Turner; they have one child.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth in Osceola township was Bennie J. Butterfield, born Dec. 8, 1854 ; he died, Oct. 13, 1859.

The first marriage was Samuel Burke and Jane Herman, in June, 1856.

The first death in the township was Luther L. Butterfield, Jan. 9, 1857. He was buried on the farm, a half mile north of where Ackley afterwards stood.

ORGANIC.

Osceola township assumed its present limits in 1870, but was organized in 1857. The first records show that Thomas Cast- low was appointed clerk in place of B. Witheral, who resigned in 1859. The trustees that year were J. Koppas and R. T. Blake. In 1883, the township offi- cers were as follows: James Burns, clerk; John Fahey, William Miller and E. Weik, trustees.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in Osceola town- ship was in the winter of 1857-8, in what is known as the Whiteside district, by Mrs. Luther Butterfield, now Mrs. Horace Sawyer. It was held in a log building which in 1883 was still standing on the Whiteside farm. The average attendance was twenty-one. The first school house

built by public funds, was in 1864. There were eight fine frame school buildings in the township in 1883, at which date the township had an average enrollment of 309 scholars.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services held in the township were at the house of William Richardson, by Father Connell, a Metho- dist minister, who preached for the pion- eers in 1858, and by whose hand the good seeds were first sown in the township. He also held meetings at the house Mrs. But- terfield, becoming much endeared to all the settlement, who would listen with eagerness to his teachings regarding the word of life. Since the more mature development of the country, the religious element has centered mainly at Ackley, where nearly all the denominations are represented.

FAULKNER.

This village is a station on the Central of Iowa, located on section 15. It was named after a stockholder of this company. The place was platted by Truman Pattee, about 1870.

The first grain buyers of the place were Brown & Austin, who were succeeded by Pattee Bros. and Lush, Carton & Co.

The first store was started by McLain & son, owned in 1883 by C. E. Butler. At this date there was one store, one saloon, one warehouse and one blacksmith shop.

A postoffice was established in 1871. Mr. Dows was the first to act as postmaster. In 1883 E. F. Whitney was the postmas- ter.

CEMETERIES.

The first place of burial in Osceola township was just north of where Ackley

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

now stands, at which point a public ceme- tery was laid outin 1862. Prior to this the few who had died in the township were laid away by their friends in some quiet resting place near the home of their rela- tives. The first to thus rest from life's labors was Mr. Luther Butterfield.

The next regular cemetery was platted in 1863, two and a half miles north of Ackley, called Franklin Street Cemetery. The first one buried in these grounds was Mrs. Ingham, a daughter of William Richardson, one of the pioneers of the township.

KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

During the month of May, 1872, during a fearful thunder storm, Patrick Cassady and a man named Hayes, who was sleep-

ing with him, were instantly killed by lightning. Mrs. Cassady and the little children were sleeping in one bed and Mr. Cassady and his friend Hayes in an- other in the same room, when there came a terrible thunder bolt which frightened Mrs. Cassady, and she remarked to her husband that lightning must have struck very near the house. No one answered and she spoke again, but receiving no reply supposed the men to be asleep; but in an instant one of her little children raised up and screamed, "Mamma, the other bed is on fire!" Mrs. Cassady arose and found her husband, together with Mr. Hayes, silent in death, the lightning hav- ing done its terrible work. The family still live in the place where the accident happened.

CHAPTER XXX.

REEVE TOWNSHIP.

Reeve township has the honor of being the first settled in Franklin county. Here Mayne erected his trading hut, and Judge Reeve, from whom it was named, made his permanent home. He was a captain in the 32d Iowa Infantry, and died in the ser- vice at Columbus, Tenn., in 1863. The village of Maysville was laid out in 1856, on section 27, and at once became compe- tition with Hampton for the county seat. The contest lasted through a series of years, and was not regarded as being set- tled until the tax was voted in 1865 for the court house, which was built at Hamp-

ton. Maysville was formerly a town of some importance, but when the town of Geneva, on the Central of Iowa railroad, was located,most of the business was taken there, it being only three miles to the east. This old town, however, in 1875, had one of the finest school houses in Franklin county. Reeve township was one of the three original townships of the county, being organized in 1855. In 1880, Frank- lin county being sub-divided into con- gressional townships, Reeve comprised township 91, range 20, and was bounded by Mott on the north, by Geneva on the

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

511

cast, Grant and Hamilton on the south and west ; the northwest corner of its ter- ritory being the geographical center of the county.

Mayne's Grove, the largest body of timber in Franklin county, covers six sections of the township. Mayne's creek and its branches water the township, and give drainage to the land, thus making it one of the best townships in the county. The soil, in common with that of the. whole county, is of a most excellent quality, of dark, rich loam, which pro- duces every crop suited to this latitude in abundance. On the creek bottoms the soil is inclined to be sandy.

SETTLEMENT.

In the autumn of 1852, James B. Reeve, Adison Phelps and Mr. Moore came from the Iowa river, looking at the country. When they reached what was afterward known as Mayne's grove, they found Mayne, together with his wife and child, looking for a place to camp. The party camped together that night, and all de- cided to locate there. Mayne squatted on section 23, and built a log house 16x16 feet, cove ing it with shaker and flooring it with puncheon. For a time they used a beaver skin stretched over a wash tub for a table. Mr. Reeve and Mr. Phelps boarded at Mayne's that winter, and en- gaged in hunting and trapping, and get- ting out logs for a cabin which they in- tended to build in the spring. When spring came, Mr. Reeve bought oxen and joined teams with Mayne, and did some breaking on each of their places, on which they planted sod corn, from which they realized a good crop. Mayne was a pio- neer in the broadest sense of the word,

and seemed to delight in the hardships of frontier life. lle was a hunter and trap- per and was best pleased when seated around his own camp fire, roasting meat or fish upon a stick, and relating incidents of pioneer life; and it is said, he became stoop-shouldered by sitting in one certain position relating these incidents. He was over six feet in height, dark skinned and a very strong man. Before his sod corn had ripened he sold his claim to G. D. Sturms and made another on section 28, where he remained about a year, and then removed to Hardin county. Phelps remained during the winter, became home- sick and left his claim, which was soon taken by Leander C. Reeve, a brother of James B. Leander came in 1854, and re- mained until 1862, when he sold to Mr. Carter. In addition to those already men- tioned, the following were about all who came in during 1854: S. Garner, Isaac Miller, C. M. Leggett, John G. Mitchell, H. J. Mitchell, Hymon Mitchell, William May, J. Springer, Dr. S. R. Mitchell, Jacob Rice and a Mr. Webster.

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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 54

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