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 76
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 76
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In October, 1870, O. T. Denison was elected county recorder and was re-elected in 1872 and 1874. He is now cashier of the City Bank. He was born in Brook- field, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1847. His parents emigrated to Wisconsin in 1857, where he grew to manhood, receiving a liberal education. He came to Mason City in 1867 and was employed as clerk in a store. In 1869-70 he was deputy recorder, then was elected recorder, hold- ing the office three consecutive terms. In 1877 he associated with Mr. Emsley in the banking business, in which he is now
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
engaged. He was married to Orpha E. Willard, a daughter of Judge Willard, of Mason City, in 1871. They have two children -Mamie and Lyman. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Richard Valentine was elected county recorder in 1876, and re-elected in 1878 and 1880, serving six years.
In the fall of 1882 Lizzie Fitch was elected recorder of Cerro Gordo county, and is making a most efficient and satis- factory official.
Miss Lizzie Fitch, the present recorder of Cerro Gordo county, was born in Win- nebago Co., Ill., June 24, 1855. Her par- ents, Joseph and Mary L. (Nutting) Fitch, moved to Illinois from Massachusetts, their native State, in 1854, and two years later returned to their native State. The mother died in May, 1869, and the father in February, 1880. In November, 1869, Miss Fitch came to Cerro Gordo county, being at that time fourteen years old. In 1875 she was appointed deputy clerk of courts, her brother-in-law, M. S. Schermer- horn being clerk at that time. For five years she acted in the capacity of deputy clerk, when she was chosen bookkeeper in the City Bank. In the fall of 1882, as stated, she was elected recorder, which office she now fills. Miss Fitch is a lady of academic education, and is highly es- teemed in all circles.
CLERK OF COURTS.
This office was in existence at the time Cerro Gordo county was organized. Henry Martin was the first to fill it for this county, being elected in August, 1855. During the following winter, Mr. Martin resigned the office, and C. W. Scott was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In the fall of 1860 H. B. Gray was elected clerk of court over Solomon Zuver and F. B. Frisbee. Zuver contested the election of Gray, but finally the suit was withdrawn. Gray was a lawyer living at Mason City. He was re-elected in 1862, and died July 1, 1863.
Horace G. Parker was elected to fill the vacancy in the fall of 1863, and closed out the term.
In November, 1864, Robert Hickling was elected clerk of court but did not- serve out the full term.
Robert Hickling was born in South Lin- colnshire, England, July 18, 1831. He came to America in his eighteenth year and went to Ottawa, LaSalle Co., Ill., where he was in the employ of Walker & Hickling as bookkeeper for some years. Here he was married to Deborah S.Pierce, Feb. 27, 1853. The family of Mr. Hick- ling consisted of six children, four of whom are now living-Eugene, Walter, Isabelle and Ette. On account of poor health they moved from Illinois to Iowa. In November, 1856, they came to Ow en's Grove where Mr. Hickling bonght a farm of 160 acres. He resided there four years when he purchased a piece of land in Floyd Co., Iowa, where he lived three years and then sold out and moved to Mason City. After coming here he was employed as clerk for three years with J. H. Valentine and also one year with C. H. Day & Brother. In November, 1864, he was elected clerk of the district court, but after a short time had to resign the office on account of impaired health. He built the first cheese factory in Cerro Gordo county. He has been a citizen of this county for nearly twenty-seven years.
GY
725
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
B. F. Hartshorn succeeded Mr. Hickling as clerk. He was elected in October, 1866, and served until Jan. 1, 1869. Mr. Harts- horn was a lawyer living at Mason City. He left the county about 1878 and moved to Minnesota.
By the election in November, 1868, F. M. Rogers became clerk of court. He was re-elected in 1870 and 1872, serving six years.
F. M. Rogers came to Cerro Gordo county, in 1855, with his father's family. The father, J. J. Rogers, settled at what was then called Linn Grove, but is now the village of Rockwell. They left the State of New York in the fall of 1854 and passed the winter at Warren, Ill., then the terminus of the railroad. From that point they traveled overland with a team, and sheltered themselves in their wagon until their log house, 12x18 feet, was built. The floor of this primitive resi- dence was of the sort known as "pun- cheon," made of split logs. Cedar Falls was their nearest point to obtain supplies, and the first year they lived on hulled corn and potatoes. Their nearest neigh- bor was at Owen's Grove, and, in 1860, George A. Fuller and family came, and other families soon followed. The family were in straitened circumstances when they came to Cerro Gordo county, but in- dustry and thrift soon placed them in com- fort and afterwards in competency. Mr. Rogers, Sr., held several official positions during his life and died, in 1871, respected and honored. The mother is still living. Mr. Rogers, of this sketch, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., May 20, 1838. He was raised on a farm and received a common school education. He enlisted in August, 1862,
in company B, 32d Iowa Volunteers, and participated in many severe engagements of the war. He was discharged at Mont- gomery, Ala., in July, 1865, on account of disability. After his return to Cerro Gor- do county he engaged in farming. He was married in October, 1865, to Phæbe Richardson. She was a native of New York and came to Iowa in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have three daughters and two sons-Lloyd, Maud A., Daisy J., Ross R. and Alice C. Mr. Rogers belongs to the A. O. U. W., No. 171, and is a mem- ber of the G. A. R., No. 42.
M. S. Schermerhorn succeeded Mr. Rogers as clerk. IIe was elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1876 and 1878.
Duncan Rule was elected clerk of court in 1880, and re-elected two years later. The term which he is now serving will expire Jan. 1, 1885.
Duncan Rule, clerk of court, was born in Dodge county, near Fox Lake, Feb. 19, 1856. His parents, James and Mary Rule, were of Scotch descent and the father was a farmer. Duncan was raised on the farm until fourteen, receiving a fair com- mon school education, and afterward spent three years at the Iowa State University. In 1881 he married Huldah Thompson, daughter of James Thompson, of Mason City. She was born in 1856. Mr. Rule is a staunch republican, and a hard worker for his party. He was one of the charter members of the Mason City Lodge, K. of P. Mrs Rule is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rule is now serving his second term as clerk of court. He makes an efficient, accommodating and satisfac- tory official.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
SHERIFFS.
The first sheriff of Cerro Gordo county was Nathan W. Stackhouse, who was elected on the organization of the county in August, 1855. Two years later he was re-elected. Stackhouse was a North Caro- linian, but came to Cerro Gordo county in 1854, from Illinois, and settled at Mason City. He was a married man, and was poor. He was not a polished man, nor ingenious, but was full of energy and thrift. He remained here for a number of years and moved to Missouri, in 1858.
John L. McMillen was the second sher- iff. He was elected in 1859 and served for two years. McMillen settled at Mason City at an early day and opened a large stock of goods there. He remained for a number of years, acting a prominent part in the history of Mason City. He is now in the northern part of Minnesota.
In 1861 Wilbur F. Hoyt was elected sheriff. Mr. Hoyt came to Cerro Gordo county, at an early day, and began work- ing for Judge Randall on the saw mill at Mason City. He was an honest, pleasant, genial man, and made many firm friends among the pioneers. When the war broke out he enlisted and died in the ser- vice. He was married while in Mason City to Martha Teeple.
W. B. Stillson was elected sheriff of Cerro Gordo county in 1863, and served for two years.
In 1865 Henry A. Marsh was elected sheriff, to succeed Mr. Stillson, and served a like term.
Henry A. Marsh is now a carpenter and joiner of Mason City. He came to Cerro Gordo county with his parents, in 1857, and was reared to manhood on the farm
of his father, in Owen township, where his mother still resides. His father, Allen S. Marsh, was born in Essex Co., Vt., in 1811, and died in Owen township, in April, 1873. His mother, Adaline (Riley) Marsh, was born in Massachusetts, in 1810. They had two children Henry A. Marsh obtained a common school education of a solid character, and, on coming to the county, he was employed in the log school houses of the pioneers as teacher. In 1862 he enlisted in the 32d Iowa Volun- teers, company B. He was a participant in many severe engagements, and was wounded at Yellow Bayou, in the arm, the bullet shattering the bone. On re- covery, he was sent to Vicksburg, and a few months later came home on a fur- lough. He received his discharge at Dav- enport, April 22, 1865. Mr. Marsh was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Nov. 5, 1841. He was married in 1862 to Charlotte, daughter of Isaac Trivett, a native of Dorchester, England, born Oct. 5, 1842. They have three children-Edwin, Fred and Eva. Mr. Marsh is a staunch repub- lican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
A. M. Thompson became sheriff by virtue of an election in October, 1867.
In 1869 William B. Stillson was again elected sheriff of Cerro Gordo county. In 1871 he was re-elected, and served until Jan. 1, 1874.
H. H. Schell succeeded Mr. Stillson. He was elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1875 and 1877.
E. J. Rosecrans was elected sheriff in 1879, and re-elected in 1881.
E. J. Rosecrans, sheriff of Cerro Gordo county, was born in Delaware Co., Ohio,
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY. 729
Feb. 22, 1849. His parents, M. P. and Lucy (Green) Rosecrans, emigrated to Hancock Co., Iowa, in 1856, where they were pioneers, settling there prior to the organization of the county. Mr. Rose- crans received a liberal education in his youth. In 1871 he was appointed deputy sheriff under W. B. Stillson and served one year. In the fall of 1879 he was elected sheriff and re-elected in the fall of 1881. He was married Oct. 19, 1876, to Jennie B., daughter of James Spears, born in Carroll, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1858. Mr. Rosecrans is a member of the Masonic order and Knights of Pythias. Ile has been a resident of Cerro Gordo county since 1866, and has seen the growth and advance of northwestern Iowa from its almost unpeopled state to its present pros- perity and development.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
When Cerro Gordo county was organ. ized, the laws of the State provided for the election of a prosecuti g attorney in each county. C. B. Raymond, A. B. Tut -. tle and J. W. Murphy, were the only gen- tlemen to serve in this capacity for Cerro Gordo county, as the office was abolished and that of district attorney created.
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
In an early day this was one of the most important of the county offices, and but very few of the pioneers were quali- fied to discharge the duties. I. W. Card was the first surveyor of Cerro Gordo county, being elected when the county was organized, in August, 1855.
In 1857 Alfonzo Garner was elected surveyor and served two years. Garner came to Cerro Gordo county from Free- port, Ill., in 1855, and settled a
Mason City. He remained, engaged most of the time at the nursery business, until 1870, when he moved to Missouri. He was a man who meant to be honest but be- came involved in debt previous to coming here and was thrown into bankruptcy. He was not a practical surveyor, but was a stirring, energetic man, a jeweler, by trade, and did a great deal towards improving and beautifying the city as a pioneer hor- ticulturist and nurseryman.
J. H. T. Ambrose succeeded Garner as sur- veyor. He was elected in 1859 and served two years. He was a German, but had been in this country for many years, settling at Mason City in 1857. He was engaged at various occupations for a time but finally took up surveying, and succeeded very well. Shortly after the war he removed to Winnebago county.
George E. Frost was the next surveyor, being elected in October, 1861, and serv- ing for two years.
Charles W. Tenney was the successor of Mr. Frost. He was elected in 1863.
In 1865 George E. Frost was again elected surveyor.
Charles MeNany succeeded Mr. Frost by the election in 1867, and served for two years.
In 1869 C. F. Vincent was elected sur- veyor of Cerro Gordo county, and in 1871 was re-elected.
W. Scott Johnson was elected in 1873 ,
and served nearly two years. Johnson was brought to Mason City at an early day by John I. Blair. He was a civil engineer and a lawyer; having an edu- cation which few men succeed in obtaining. He was a fine elocutionist
and
a refined, polished gentleman.
63
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
The story is that he left a girl whom he oved in the east, and upon find- ing that she was not true to him, it broke him down; he became discouraged and took to drinking. Before his term of office expired he went away leaving his engineering and surveying too s, which were purchased by H. A. Dyer. Where he is now is unknown.
In 1875 C. F. Vincent was elected sur- veyor, and in 1877, 1879 and 1881, he was re-elected, having served twelve years in this capacity.
COUNTY ASSESSOR.
This office was created at about the time Cerro Gordo county was organized. Frederick Pattee was the first assessor, being elected in November, 1856. Pattee came to Clear Lake from Janesville, Bre- mer Co., in 1855. He was a brother to John and William Pattee, at one time Auditor of State. Frederick remained here until about 1865, when he moved west. It was reported that he had been shot by an Indian, while boating on the Missouri river.
In the fall of 1857 James H. Tucker was elected assessor. Tucker was a Kentuckian. Upon his coming west he first settled in Hardin county, and, in 1856, came to Cerro Gordo county and located upon a farm in Owen's Grove. He was a married man and had a large family. Five or six years after his settlement there he removed with his family to Nebraska, where he died in 1875.
Notwithstanding, these gentlemen were elected assessors, John Porter, afterward judge of the district court, did most of the work. In 1857 the office was abolished by
law, the duties reverting to the former and present system of township assessors.
CORONER.
James Dickirson was the first coroner for Cerro Gordo county, being elected upon the organization of the county in August, 1855. James Dickirson was one of the two first settlers of Cerro Gordo county.
Alonzo Beebe was the second coroner, being elected in 1857. IIe did not serve the full term. Beebe came to Cerro Gordo county in 1855 and located near where the brick kiln now is in Lime Creek township. He erected a little log cabin and moved in his family during this year. He only remained a few years, his wife dying, he left for parts unknown. He was a carpenter by trade, and a man of push and energy.
In April, 1858, Christopher Tucker was elected coroner. He was a son of James H. Tucker, who is mentioned as having been county assessor. Christopher went to Nebraska with his parents, where he still lives engaged in the cattle trade. Christopher married his wife in Hardin county before coming to Cerro Gordo county. In that early day she was thought to be a remarkable lady, as she could play a fiddle nicely and rattle off the "Arkan- sas Traveler" in the most approved fash- ion.
In 1859 T. B. Wilson was elected county coroner, and served for two years.
Lyman Hunt succeeded Mr. Wilson, by election in the fall of 1861. Hunt settled on the West Fork, in the southeastern part of the county, in 1855. He remained there until the time of his death, a num- ber of years ago. His widow has been
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
married several times since, but is now Mrs. Locie, of the same part of the county.
In 1863 A. G. Morey was elected cor- oner, and served for two years.
Anson C. Owen was elected successor to Mr. Morey, in 1865, and served the same length of time.
Gabriel Pence was the next coroner, being elected in 1867. Gabriel Pence was one of the earliest settlers of the county, and one of the most prominent. The Pence settlement was named in his honor. He was the progenitor of a family numbering over sixty persons, most of whom are resident of this and Worth counties. After his settlement Mr. Pence remained in the county until his death, which occurred Feb. 16, 1880. He was seventy-two years old at the time. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and his life was one of marked integrity.
In 1871 W. H. Stanley was elected county coroner, and served for one year.
In 1872 Harvey Brown was elected cor- oner.
Rev. D. B. Mason was elected in 1874, was re-elected and served for four years. Mr. Mason came to Mason City to preach for the Congregational Church. He was instrumental in building the church of that denomination at Mason City, carrying stone and mortar for the building, and working nobly for the cause. He ro- mained for about four years, when he went to Forest City, where he still lives.
W. S. Harding, or "Bill Shakespear," as he is generally called, succeeded Mr. Mason as coroner by the clection in 1879, but did not qualify. He is still a resident of Mason City.
Dr. E. C. Miller was elected to fill the vacancy in 1880, and was re-elected in 1881.
DRAINAGE COMMISSIONER.
This is one of the offices in existence at the time Cerro Gordo county was organ- ized. It was never of any importance, and it is doubted whether those who filled it ever performed a single official act. Much of the time the office was vacant.
H. G. Parker was the first drainage commissioner of Cerro Gordo county. He was elected in April, 1856.
In October, 1857, George L. Bunce was elected drainage commissioner. Mr. Bunce was one of the early settlers on the Shell Rock, in Cerro Gordo county, and was one of the first justices of the peace in the county. Ile lived on the Shell Rock, where he settled, for a num- ber of years, then sold his farm and moved to Rockford, to engage in running a brew- ery. He subsequently returned to Mason City, and for some time ran a hotel.
In April, 1858, George Vermilya was elected drainage commissioner.
Christopher Tucker succeeded Mr. Ver- milya, being elected in 1859.
In 1860 S. M. Richardson was elected and served one term.
Gabriel Pence came next by the elec- tion in 1863.
James S. Saxby succeeded Mr. Pence, being elected in 1865. Saxby was an early settler at Clear Lake. Ile died a number of years ago.
In 1867 Daniel Dougherty was elected to this office.
George E. Frost succeeded Mr. Dough- erty, being elected in 1871. Mr. Frost was the last gentleman elected to this office, as it was abolished by law.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVI.
RAILROADS.
In 1856 the project of an east and west railroad was extensively agitated in this part of Iowa and it took firm hold of the settlers of Cerro Gordo county. The Mc- Gregor, St. Peter & Missouri River Rail- road Company had secured a land grant for the purpose of aiding in the construc- tion and operation of a line of railroad east and west across the northern part of the State, from McGregor to Sioux City, following the forty-third parallel as near as practicable.
During the summer of 1857 a prelimi- nary survey was made by which the road was to pass through Cerro Gordo county, south of Mason City, passing through the territory now comprising the townships of Owen, Bath, Mount Vernon and Union. At Owen's Grove the surveyors were treated to a grand dimmer by Anson C. Owen and wife.
The county voted at the October elec- tion in 1856 to take $130,000 stock in the company, and later donated much of the swamp land. A large amount of private subscription was taken by the settlers, and many of them deeded their farms to eventually lose them. For a time it was expected that the road would be built with- in three months. Matters ran along for some time and no grading or work was done. When the war broke out the mat-
ter was forgotten except when some set- tler was ousted from his farm to pay for the stock which he had subscribed. After the close of the war the McGregor & Sioux City Railroad Company was or- ganized, and spurred the old company to action. The new company proposed to build a road as per a preliminary survey, according to which it was to pass through Mason City. The old company renewed their promises to build near the 43d par- allel, passing south of Mason City and Clear Lake. As a matter of course the Mason City and Clear Lake people warm- ly advocated the new road. The lately organized company asked that the land grant, which had been given to the old forty-third parallel company, be transfer- red to them. In the winter of 1868-9, the twelfth General Assembly transferred the land grant which had been forfeited from the old to the new company. Work on grading at once began. Mason City gave the new company a bonus of $5,000; the county gave a large amount of swamp lands, and the new company was other- wise largely aided. Even at the last moment Mason City almost lost the road. The railroad company demanded that the city give them $5,000 and a half interest in the 160 acres now comprising Sonth Ma- son City. This the people refused to do,
b
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
and the company ran their line a mile and a half south of the present city. The citi- zeus were given a certain number of days to agree and in case they failed the com- pany would go on with the location of building upon a tract of 160 acres which they had bargained for one mile and a half south of the city. At about eleven o'clock in the evening of the last day, the citizens agreed to give what the company demanded. The result was telegraphed to the railway officials and the line was changed accordingly, and the depot and other buildings were located in South Ma- son City. In November, 1869, Cerro Gor- do county was in railroad connection and communication with the world.
. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL COMPANY.
A few years after the completion of the McGregor & Sioux City line, the road was purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and this pow- erful corporation still owns and operates the road.
This railroad enters Cerro Gordo county by way of section 13, Portland township, and passing through Mason, Lake and Clear Lake townships, enters Hancock county by way of section 18 of Clear Lake township. The towns on this line, in Cerro Gordo county, are-Portland, Mason City and Clear Lake.
CENTRAL RAILWAY OF IOWA.
Soon after the projection of the McGre- gor & Sioux City Railroad Company, the Iowa Central Railway agitation com- menced. This was a company which was organized for the purpose of constructing and operating a line of railway from the south to the north line of the State. The company had no land grant, but tried hard
to get a portion of the grant formerly given to the forty-third parallel company. A number of the citizens of Mason City were on the board of directors of the Cen- tral Company, and much excitement was manifested over the project of having a north and south road. A five per cent. tax was voted by Mason City, and aid was furnished by most of the townships trav- ersed by the road. The road was com- pleted in 1870. It runs through Cerro Gordo county in an almost direct north and south line. It passes through the townships of Geneseo, Bath, Mason and Lime Creek. There are three stations on the line in Cerro Gordo county-Rockwell, Mason City Junction and Mason City. In the history of Franklin county will be found a more full history of this road.
AUSTIN & MASON CITY RAILROAD.
The Austin & Mason City Railway, for- merly the Mason City & Minnesota, is a branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, extending from Mason City, northeast, to Austin, Minnesota. It was built in 1871, by the company, without any agitation or aid from the people. The only towns in Cerro Gordo county, on this line, are Mason City and Plymouth, the latter being in Falls township
BURLINGTON, CEDAR RAPIDS & NORTHERN.
This line of railway passes through the northeastern corner of Cerro Gordo county. When this road was constructed, in 1872, it was the design to have it pass through Mason City. Taxes were voted for aid to the company, and the road was complet- ed to Rockford, in Floyd county. Mason City voted three and a-half per cent. tax to the road but, as the railroad company
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
afterward claimed, the amount of funds whichi would result from a five per cent. tax had been misrepresented to them, so they built the road ten miles east of Mason City.
The line enters Cerro Gordo county by way of section 12, Portland township, and and, bearing north westerly, passes through Falls, and the northeast corner of Lime Creek township. The towns on this rail- road, in Cerro Gordo county, are Rock Falls,.and Plymouth.
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