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 79
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 79
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The year 1877 was made memorable by the "tramp plague." The following clipped from the Mason City Express, will show how Mason City people defended themselves against these human pests:
"We had another invoice of tramps shipped in this week; but they did not run this town as they did Ackley. This was the crowd of sixty or seventy that
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captured a freight train down at Ackley, and though the Railroad Company aban- doned the train, they stuck to it, fed by the citizens, waiting for the road to con- vey them north. They held the train two days, defying all authorities of Hardin county, the railroads and every body else. Finally the U. S. Marshal was sent for and he could not make anything out of them, and at last they forced a ride to this city. A telegram from down the Central of Iowa stated that the train would arrive with them, about eleven o'clock that night, and our citizens had ample time to get ready to receive them. The military company, under command of Capt. Dexter, with muskets and bayonets, supported by a heavy posse of well armed resolute men, headed by Marshal McMillen, were at the depot half an hour before train time, and on its arrival, thickly covered with swar- thy tramps, the militia and citizens formed a close cordon around it. By the glare of a dozen lanterns the astonished tramps found themselves, as the train halted, sur- rounded on all sides by bright gleaming naked bayonets, in the hands of men who had no words to bandy with them. Only the prompt command to climb down from the train, march to the other side of the depot, and go into some box cars fitted up to receive them. They obeyed, most of them promptly, though some of them tried to escape up town by crawling under the car, but a bayonet punch into the leg of one gave the rest to understand the boys meant business, and they were soon housed for the night in the box cars, and put un- der guard. The following day they were provided a "cracker and cheese" meal, di- vided into two squads and escorted some
four or five miles up the Central and Aus- tin branch of the M. & St. Paul Railway, toward Minnesota, to which State they all wanted to go. This was the toughest gang we have seen yet, they were under the leadership of two big saucy negroes."
In the fall of 1877 George B. Rockwell, one of the most prominent citizens of Cerro Gordo county, met with a misfor- tune which resulted in his losing an arm. The cause of this was brought on by a thorn being thrust into the palm of the hand while attending a calf in the barn lot. The thorn was thrust in with such force as to baffle the efforts of Dr. Miller to extract it. Inflamation immediately ensued and despite the most attentive and skillful treatment, the physicians were unable to subdue it. Finally, as a last resort, ampu ation was decided upon and the limb was taken off near the shoulder. Mr. Rockwell speedily recovered.
On the 10th of November, 1877, Wil- liam Bruce, who was clerking in Mr. Car- ter's store at Clear Lake, was drowned in the Lake while skating. The young man was a stranger, having only been a resi- dent of Clear Lake for a few weeks.
On the 4th of May, 1878; Theodore P. Gates accidentally shot himself with a revolver. The unfortunate young man had come to Cerro Gordo county from Boston, Mass., about four weeks prior to the accident, in company with H. P. Loring, to improve and work a large tract of land owned by Mr. Loring's father. The young men were to improve it and have the use of it for five years for their pay. They entered heartily into the project of becoming western farmers, and built many bright castles for their future.
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They were boarding at the Dyer House while the breaking was being done, going out daily to oversee and to work upon their farm. On the night in question, Gates had gone to his room and, it seems, had taken his revolver from his satchel for the purpose of examining it, when it went off and he was shot through the breast, dying almost instantly. The body was taken back to Massachusetts for burial.
Thomas Law, Sr., one of the early settlers of Lincoln township, died Friday, May 3, 1878, of paralysis. Thomas Law was born in Scotland in 1806. He was married in 1830 to Mary Hamilton, and they were blessed with twelve children- six boys and six girls ; two of each died in infancy and eight lived to man and womanhood and settled about the family homestead. Mr. Law came with his fami- ly to America in 1849, and first stopped in New York for a time. From there he moved to Wisconsin, and in 1863 came to Iowa and settled in Lincoln township, this county, where he lived until the time of his death. He was ever an upright and honest citizen, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him for his many good traits of character.
The Cerro Gordo Republican, in June, 1878, gives an account of the tremendous flood of June 1, in the following lan- guage:
"The memory of the oldest settler don't reach back to a time when there was such a flood, occasioned by rain fall, as that of June 1, 1878. The whole sky was covered with a cloud of inky blackness, out of which water fell in sheets for about two hours, uninterruptedly. The total depth
which fell was three and a half inches. Every gutter in Mason City was a raging river. Willow creek spread out like the Father of Waters. Much damage was done by washouts. Whitman's blacksmith shop slipped from its foundation and glided down stream gracefully with tools, material and all. At Parker's mill the water had cut around and carried away the embankment, thus forming a chute of great depth through the ground west of the mill. l'his chasm went a stream, whirling the blacksmith shop and contents against a tree, when the force of the torrent crushed it like an egg-shell and stranded it. Ham- mers, anvils, chisels, etc., were picked up in the vicinity and some fully a half mile away. The rise of the water was so sud- den that it cut off all escape from the mill. Thus Mr. Parker and Bumgarden had to remain in the mill till early next day, while the angry waters beat around the mill; but its walls proudly resisted the as- saults of the flood and came out without damage. But the dam and embankment were badly used up Inside the mill some loss was sustained among the stock of flour and grain on the first floor.
"But no doubt the most severe loss was that of W. O. Barnard, at his lime kiln. The flood swept around his office and un- dermined it until it fell, a mass of stone. The Watson bridge, west of town, came riding down as majestically as a queen and lodged near Parker's mill. The corner of his lime kiln was caved in. The damage done in other parts of the county proved that it assumed the form of a terrific tor- nado in the southwest part of the county. Mr. Butt's house was totally demolished and scattered over the prairies. As many
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as a half a dozen houses were destroyed in Cerro Gordo county alone.
"The north bound freight train on the Central of Iowa, near Rockwell, came thundering along after dark, and when the light from the headlight showed the en- gineer the yawning gulf below, he re versed his engine and he and his fireman jumped in time to save their lives, but the engine, tender and seven cars went crash- into, and buried themselves in the dark, deep stream. The bridge and dam at Rockford both went out. At the house of Thomas Featherspiel the destruction was equally as great, besides his four-year old daughter was thrown fully thirty rods into a wheat field, where she was found dead after the storm, and another child, two years older had an arm broken, the mother one broken, and the husband was badly bruised. The loss of property and suffer- ing caused by this fearful storm of wind, rain and hail has no parallel in this section of Iowa."
A most terrible accident occurred in Dougherty township in January, 1879. John Bly, a poor, but industrious and hard working man, was engaged in some kind of team work and by some mishap the team ran away, throwing him with fearful force to the hard, frozen ground. He struck upon his head with such force as to crush in the whole top of the skull. He was picked up and carried to a house near by, where he was furnished efficient medical services, but to no avail, as he died about one week later. He left a wife and three children needy and destitute.
An interesting case of horse stealing came to light at Mason City in April, 1879, the particulars of which were about
as follows: A few months previous to the time indicated, Samuel Maher, a promising young man, bought a small place on Lime creek north of Mason City, and seemed to settle down to comfortable living. There was nothing about the fel- low that especially directed attention. He was well thought of by his neighbors, and seemed to have their confidence. Early in April he gave out that he was going to to Kansas to spend the summer, and ac- cordingly rented his place. On the even- ing of April 3, 1879, he came to Mason City and stopped over night, leaving orders to be called for the 6:20 train, Fri- day morning, on the Central of Iowa Rail- road. He arose and started for Kansas. On Friday night the Farmers' Club of Lime Creek township met as usual at the Vinton school house. The evening was a moonlight one and very pleasant. Among the attendants were Alden Sim- kins and Will Sherman, who rode there on horseback. They hitched their horses in the grove and attended the exercises. At the close the bridles were found slipped and the horses gone. At first it was sup- posed to be a case of bad luck for the boys who were booked to walk home; but on arriving home the horses were not found, and the conclusion was arrived at that they were stolen. . The alarm was at once given, and C. B. Dike rallied his Anti- Horse Thief Company and started them in every direction. A net was woven around the law-breaker by telegraph. The trail of the horses was struck leading towards Rhode's mill, but was lost. The pursuit was active all along the line dur ing Saturday and Sunday. Early Monday morning Dike received a telegram from
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the sheriff at Albert Lea, Minn., that the horses were there and the thief in the lockup. Sheriff Schell and C. B. Dike at once went to that place to get the horses and bring the thief back, provided he would come without a requisition. Im- agine their astonishment when conducted into the presence of the thief, to find him none other than the veritable Sam Maher, he who started for Kansas on Friday morning. He refused to come back until extradited, as soon as necessary papers could be got out he was brought back to Mason City, and upon trial was sentenced to the penitentiary.
John Florence, one of theoldest settlers in the neighborhood of Mason City, died at that place in October, 1879. John Florence was born in Virginia, May 4. 1790. He lived in that state when the war of 1812 began, and entered the service. He was at Washington when the British burned the Capitol building and National records. He served through the war as a faithful and brave soldier, and after its close married Ellen Wells, with whom he lived for over fifty years, and who bore him seven children. About 1830 he moved to Ohio, where he remained for a few years and then went to Indiana. From there he moved to Illinois, and, in 1851, with his family, came to Iowa and settled in Bellevue, Jackson county. In 1856 he came Mason City and remained here until the time of his death. He was nearly ninety years old when he died.
One of the most shocking cases of child- beating that ever took place in Iowa, was perpetrated in what is now Union town ship, in January, 1880. In December, 1979, a man named Gillett, living. in that
township, took Zearman McGoon, an or- phan, seven years old, to adopt, agreeing to treat him well. On Friday, Jan. 9, 1880, he brought the child to Clear Lake for medical treatment, nearer dead than alive. In speaking of the boy's condition, the Clear Lake Mirror said : "As soon as the affair came to our notice, we repaired to the bedside of the little victim, where one of the most horrible sights met our eyes that we have seen since the days of the late war. There, stretehed upon a cot, lay the emneiated form of the boy, bandaged from head to foot, unable to move a limb, and suffering the most excruciating pain. His left foot had been badly frozen. The toes were entirely gone, and the balance of the foot badly frost bitten; his right foot is nearly shorn of its little toe, and more may come off, or the surgeons be- compelled to remove them ; his fingers are frozen ; his ears badly frozen, and other marks of frost about the head. His body had been lacerated with a club or whip, in a most shocking manner. From the small of his back to the lower part of his hips, were nearly or quite fifty marks, and at least a dozen holes in his flesh, some as large as a silver half dollar. The boy's own story was almost too shock- ing to relate. He said that during the re- cent cold weather he was compelled to work out in the bitter cold, with scanty cloth- ing. His feet, hands and ears were frozen the first day. The next he was so sore and stiff he could hardly move, and then this couple of devils incarnate-Gillett and wife-brutally pounded him because he could not move faster They actually drove him ont in the bitter cold, frozen nearly unto death, and compelled him to
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
ยท carry large loads of corn to the stock. This he did through fear of being killed by these inhuman wretches, until his poor frozen and lacerated limbs refused their offices, and he sank exhausted. They paid no attention to his suffering until becoming afraid he would die on their hands, they bundled him up and brought him to town. This was the boy's own story. We have his own words for their truthfulness, but the frozen limbs, the stump of his left foot and the terrible condition of his body, speak for themselves, and give the impress of truth to his horrible tale of suffering." Gillett and wife were duly arrested, and bound over to the district court, and after being kept in the Mason City jail for a number of months, were allowed to go.
A sad accident happened at Mason City Dec. 11, 1880, by which John Daily, the railroad yard master, lost his life. It seems that in attempting to jump on the engine he lost his footing and fell beneath the wheels. His body was taken to Cal- mar for burial.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, 1881, as the east- bound freight train was leaving the Mil- waukee depot, at Mason City, a stranger attempted to get on board, and missing his hold, fell under the cars and was terri- bly multilated and killed. He was dragged nearly 100 yards by the cars, the great wheels all the time grinding his legs into fragments, crushing the bones and strew- ing the ground with pieces. He must have taken hold of something to which he firmly held, or he would not have been
dragged so far. When taken out he was found to be fatally injured. The left leg was crushed below the knee; the right was literally ground to pieces clear to the groin. The hips were mashed into a shapeless mass, and the entrails left pro- truding, while the whole body was bruised and blackened. The unfortunate man was carried into the waiting room of the de- pot, and medical aid was summoned; but death soon relieved his suffering. The deceased had been working on a farm near Portland, and was on his way to his home in Portage City, Wis., where his people lived.
On the 5th of August, 1883, a sad acci- dent occured midway between Mason City and Clear Lake, by which Libbie Andrews lost her life, and a pleasant and happy home its brightest ornament Oliver Andrews and his daughter, the deceased, started for Clear Lake in a buggy. When near the poor farm the horses got fright- ened and became unmanageable. The buggy struck several ruts and Miss An- drews was thrown forward between the wheel and spring, being dragged for nearly 200 yards before she fell to the ground. When Mr. Andrews was able to stop the team and return to her, life was nearly extinct and she died shortly after. Miss Andrews was twenty-one years of age, born in Freeborn Co., Minn. She came to this county with her parents two years previous to her death. She was of a bright, cheerful disposition and had won many warm friends.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
BATH TOWNSHIP.
Bath township comprises congressional township 95, range 20 west, and is bounded by Mason on the north, Owen on the east, Geneseo on the south and Mt. Vernon on the west. Bath is a prairie township and the surface of the land is gently roll- ing, made up of a dark, rich loam. There are some prairie sloughs, but nearly all can easily be drained, and converted into fine pasture lands. Three small streams traverse the township from north to south, two of which unite on section 34, entering Geneseo township as one stream. Owing to the fact that there was no native tim- ber in the township, it did not settle as rapidly as some other parts of the county; but in 1883 was fast developing into a fine agricultural section.
SETTLEMENT.
Two men-Tucker and Cantonwine- made the first settlement, near Owen's Grove, on section 1, in 1856. Mr. Tucker came from one of the eastern States, re- mained a few years, and removed to Nebraska. Cantonwine, who was a car- penter by trade, remained until the following spring. No other settlers came in until 1864, at which time Horatio B. Morrison, a native of New Hampshire, settled on section 15. Mr. Morrison was a very enterprising man, possessed of natural genins, and a thorough mechanic.
He opened a blacksmith shop and re- mained here until 1868, when he moved to Mason City, but later, moved to Britt, Hancock county, where he engaged in the hardware trade.
Among the next settlers were: George C. Fuller, Thomas N. Brown, Andrew Roder, Philip Brisbin and Robert L. Lillibridge, all of whom came before 1875.
George O. Fuller is the oldest living settler in Bath township. He was born in Andover, Merrimac Co., N. H., April 18, 1834. He had good school advan- tages, attending Highland Lake Institute, at East Andover. He then engaged with a number of bridge builders, working on the Northern New Hampshire Railroad, and continued in their employ seven years. He was married, Jan. 13, 1857, to Louisa A. Brown, and remained in Andover till 1859, then moved to Bureau Co., ill., renting a farm until 1866, when he re- moved to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, buying wild land on section 16, now known as Bath township, which he has well im- proved and beautified with fruit, shade and ornamental trees. They are the par- ents of four children-Charles D., Eva J. Cora B. and Georgia May. Mr. Fuller is a prominent man in home affairs, and has held offices of trust in the township.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Thomas M. Brown, one of the oldest settlers of Bath township, came in 1870, and bought land and located on section 26, where he has made substantial improve- ments and has a pleasant residence. He was married, in 1865, to Emma A. Bran, of Orange Co., Vt. They have four chil- dren-Cora M., Harley E., John B. and Clara G. Mr. Brown was born at Sebago, Cumberland Co., Maine, Feb. 7, 1824. He lived on a farm until 1847, then went to Moosehead Lake and followed lumbering three years. In 1850 he went to Pennsyl- vania and engaged in the same business until 1852, followed the same in Michigan for two years, and then went to Green Bay, Wis. There, in October, 1861, he enlisted in the 12th Wisconsin Infantry, company H. He was promoted to ser- geant, March, 1862. He re-enlisted in February, 1864, and was promoted to first sergeant, in May of that year. He served until the close of the war, and was dis- charged at Louisville, Ky., July 16, 1865, when he returned to Brown Co., Wis. He remained there until June, 1869, then moved to Delaware Co., Iowa; and lived until the fall of 1870, when he moved to this county.
Andrew Roder came in 1871 and bought the south west quarter of section 32, renting land, however, on section 34 three years, and in the meantime improving his own land, upon which he built, and in the spring of 1875 moved to it. His land is now all under cultivation, having a splendid grove, a good barn and granary and all other necessary buildings. He was born in Germany, November, 1823. He attended school until twelve years of age, after which he was employed in herding
sheep. In 1856 he came to America, landing at New York, where he spent but a few days, then going to Buffalo, where he was two years engaged in general work, thence to Dubuque county, ten miles from Dubuque City, where he farmed, and then came to Cerro Gordo county. He was married in 1854 to Mary Friend. They have eight children living-Kate, Barbara, Maggie and Annie (twins), Mary, John, Caroline and Andrew.
Philip Brisbin, one of the trustees of Bath township, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, May 30, 1835. When seven years of age his parents moved to the United States and settled in Winne- bago Co., Ill. He enlisted there, in 1862, in the 127th Illinois, company E. He participated in the siege at Vicksburg and battle of Mission Ridge, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea, partici- pating in many battles of that memorable campaign. He was discharged with the regiment at Washington, June 5, 1865, and joined his family in Winneshiek Co., Iowa. He engaged in farming there for one year, then moved to Allamakee and en- gaged in farming near Waukon, remain- ing there until 1873, when he came to Cerro Gordo county and purchased land on section 33, Bath township. He im- mediately erected a house and commenced cultivating the land. He was married in 1856 to Anna M. Michael, who bore him two children named John and Charles. Mrs. Brisbin died in 1866. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1868, was Rosanna Moore. They have been blessed with four children-Ida, Luther, Elmer and Ernest.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Robert L. Lillibridge became a resident of Bath township in 1874, where he bought land on section 16, but for two years rented land and resided on section 15, meanwhile improving his own land until 1876, when he built his hou-e, moved into it, and now resides there in comfort. Ile is a native of Waterford, Erie Co., Penn., born May 26 1840. His youth was spent in school and on the farm. In December, 1869, he went to Michigan, spending the winter and spring in Ovid Center. In the spring of 1860 he went to Carroll Co., Ill., and engaged in farming until July, 1861, when he enlisted in com- pany A, 45th Illinois Volunteers. He re- enlisted at Black River, Miss., January, 1864, and was with his regiment till the close of the war and took part in many of the severest battles. In February, 1862, at the battle of Fort Donelson, he was wounded and was in the hospital for a while, went home on a furlough to Penn- splvania, but soon rejoined his regiment at Jackson, Tenn. He was also with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was honorably discharged July 6, 1865, then returned to Pennsylvania, March, 1866, came to Iowa and stopped in Greeley, Delaware county, where he was married June 14, 1868, to Rachael Tripp, a native of Canada, whose parents were among the first settlers of Delaware county, where he was brought up. Ifere he and his wife resided until February, 1874, when they came to Bath. Since he came here he has taken an active part in township affairs, and was elected town clerk in 1882, an office which he now holds.
Among the number who made settle- ment in the township between 1874 and
1877 were George Gibson, Capt. Hugh Clark, William Henderson, Henry Bable, Henry Hill, Norman Densmore, Charles Graham, G. II. Overbeek and J. A. Kup- pinger.
George Gibson has 240 acres of well improved land on sections 34 and 35, and has been a successful farmer. Beginning with little, he has worked up until now he has one of the finest farms in the county, and a good residence with all nec- essary farm buildings. He is a native of Sligo Co., Ireland, born Oct. 19,. 1834. When six years of age his parents emi- grated to the United States and settled in Westmoreland Co., Penn. In 1860 he went to Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wis., where he rented land until 1863, when he came to Iowa and bought land in Ing- ham township, Franklin county, living npon it until 1875, when he sold and came to Bath township, where he purchased wild land and has since lived. He was married Sept. 26, 1857, to Mary McDowell and has five children-Robert A., William A., Benjamin F., Nina E. and George E.
Capt. Hugh Clark was an early settler in Franklin Co., Iowa, having bought land and moved there in 1868. He improved this land, erected a good set of buildings, and lived there until 1875, then came to Bath township, Cerro Gordo county, and bought land on sections 27 and 28. He has erected a good set of buildings, improved and cultivated his land, and now makes it his home. He was born Nov. 9, 1816, on Prince Edwards Island, was brought up on a farm until he was fourteen years of age, then went to sea and sailed before the mast for eight years ; was then pro- moted to captain and followed the sea in
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