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 80
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 80
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
that capacity nntil 1855, during which time he sailed around and visited all the princi- pal parts of the world. When he left the ocean he came to the United States and bought and located on a farm in Grant Co., Wis. Not liking his location, he sold out in 1863, and purchased and settled on a farm in German township, Grundy Co., Iowa, and lived there until 1868, when he removed to Franklin county. He was married in 1841 to Mary Gamble, a native of Prince Edwards Island, and they have thirteen children, eight of whom are now living-Michael, Myrtie, Sarah E., Collin- wold C., Archie, Orrin, Eva and Oscar H.
William Henderson, residing on section 13, Bath township, was born in Westmore- land Co., Penn., June 17, 1831. When quite young, his parents moved to Harri -. son Co., Ohio, where they lived on a farm, he receiving a good common school edu- cation. He was married in 1854 to Mar- tha Kelley, a native of Harrison county, and in 1857 they removed to Allamakee county, and were among the early settlers there, buying wild land in Linton town- ship. He built a log house and cleared seventy acres of this land, remaining on it six years, when he engaged in the mercan- tile business at Rossville, until 1874, when he moved to Cerro Gordo. He is largely engaged in raising grain and stock, giv- ing considerable attention to the raising of sheep, of which he has a large flock.
Henry Boble, a resident of the southeast quarter of section 31, is a native of Iowa, born in Dubuque county, April 6, 1854. He was brought up on a farm and received his education in the district school. He was married there, in 1875, to Catherine Conrad, coming in the spring to Cerro
Gordo county, buying unimproved land, upon which he now has a fine grove, a nice house and barn, and altogether is as pleasant a residence as is in the county, They have three children-John, Ray and Frank.
Henry Hill came to Iowa in 1876, bought land in Bath township, improved and settled upon it, and which is still his home. In 1855 he was married, in Wis- consin, to Juliana Decker, of Erie Co., N. Y., who died ten months after her marriage, and in 1857 he married her sis- ter, Abigail Decker, who has borne him two children-Frank W. and Cora J. Mr. Hill was born Feb. 9, 1835, in Lycom- ing Co., Penn., and is the son of Daniel and Margaret (Shoner) Hill, who started from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin in a one- horse conveyance. The father died on the way, in Ohio, when Henry was seven years of age. The family went on and joined his brother and two sisters in Wis- consin, where Henry lived till he was married. He bought land and settled in Green Co., Wis., in 1859, sold out, re- moved to Allamakee Co., Iowa, and bought land and settled in Jefferson town- ship. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 27th Iowa Infantry, company A, and went to Minnesota to fight the Indians. In the fall he went south. He served with his regiment until the war closed and was mustered out, Aug. 8, 1865. He was in the battles of the Red River expedition, Fort De Russey, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Old Town Creek and Fort Blakely. On his return from the war he resumed farming in Allamakee county, remaining there until 1876 when he came to this county.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Norman Densmore, one of the best farmers in Cerro Gordo county, settled in Bath township in 1877, on section 35, and he has so improved and beautified his home, by all essential buildings and forest and ornamental trees, that one could scarcely believe the wild prairie could so soon be transformed, but by thrift, labor and energy, he has accomplished it. He is the oldest son of Orrin and Elizabeth (Fowle) Densmore, born at Riga, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept 19, 1829. When seven- teen years of age his parents moved to Bradford, Wis., where they were early settlers. He was married there in Octo- ber, 1854, to Delia Webster, a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He rented a farm in Rock Co., Wis., until 1877, when he re- moved to this county. On first coming he built a barn, in which the family lived until completing his house, whence they removed on a thanksgiving day. They are the parents of five children-Ellis, Elsie, Ray, Ora and Webb.
Charles Graham made settlement on section 24, Bath township, in 1877, where he has made good improvements, and now makes his home. Ile was born in Dela- ware Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1829, where he was reared on a farm and attended the common schools. He made his home there till 1856, then came to Iowa and lo- cated in Tama county, lived there three years, returned to New York, bought a farm in Meredith, Delaware county, en- listed, September, 1861, in the 89th New York Volunteer Infantry, company I, was in the battles of Newbern, South Moun- tain and Antietam, Fredericksburg, siege of Charleston and many other battles. He was dangerously wounded, Sept. 29, 1864,
by a ball which entered his mouth and passed out at the side of his neck, but by skillful treatment his life was saved and he received an honorable discharge on the 4th of the following December. He then returned to New York, bought a farm in Yates county, lived there until 1877, sold ont and came to his present home in Cerro Gordo county. He was married in 1865 to Louisa Henry, of Schuyler Co., N. Y. They have four children-Isabella A., Charles W., Fred. M. and Helen Louisa.
G. H. Overbeck has lived on the south- west quarter of section 31 since 1877. The place was partly improved when he purchased, but he has since greatly im- proved it by planting a fine grove of fruit trees and erecting a substantial frame house. He is the son of William and Margaret Elizabeth Overbeck, born in Clayton Co., Iowa, Oet. 3, 1849, his parents being early settlers in that county. He remained with his parents until 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Overbeck have had four children -William Henry, born Nov. 13, 1878; Willhelmine Katharine, born April 24, 1880; Anna M., born Oct. 18, 1881 (died Oct. 20, 188 ); John G., born July 12, 1883.
John A. Kuppinger, in 1877, settled on section 22, Bath township, on land which he had previously bought, made good im- provements, set out a grove and built the house in which he now resides. He is a native of Baden, Germany, born Jan. 20 1830. Here he attended school, and at the age of fourteen years, he commenced to learn the carpenter trade with his father, at which he continued to work until 1853, when he came to America and located at Canal Dover. He was superintendent of
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
a coal mine for one winter. In 1855 he went to Allamakee Co., Iowa, bought wild land in Waterloo township, but lived in Dor- chester and worked at his trade for three years, at which time he started a wagon shop, working at times on his land until he had thirty-five acres cleared. He re- mained there until 1872, when he came to Mason City and engaged to work on the C. M. & St. P. Railroad, and after three and a half years, went to Austin, Minn., where he was employed by the same com- pany about one year and a half, when he returned to Mason City, opened a wagon shop and after running it a few months, settled on his land where he now lives. He was married, in 1858, to Margaret Elizabeth Naas. They had six ehil- dren, four of whom are living :- Jacob F., John A, George H. and J Fred- erick ; Willie died in infancy, April 14, 1869. The only daughter, Mary E., died, Nov. 5, 1874, aged fifteen Mrs. Kuppin- ger died, Nov. 21, 1879. Ile was a second time married in February, 1881, to Mary Canneff, who is a native of America.
H. W. Kahlke was born in Hamburg, Dec. 24, 1824. He attended school until sixteen years of age, when he engaged with a ship carpenter to learn the trade. In 1843 he left his native land and came to the United states, landing at New Or- leans, and there engaged to work at his trade. He remained there until 1866, having been there through the stormy times of the war. In 1866 he came to Dubuque, where he engaged in boat build- ing. In 1873 he made a new departure and engaged in building pontoon bridges; the first one he built was across the Mis-
sissippi river, at McGregor. He is now engaged at both boat and bridge building. He was married in 1853 to Anna Hart, also a native of Hamburg, who bore him five children, of which but one is now living-Eliza, who is now the wife of Henry Sadler. Mrs. Kahlke died at New Orleans in 1863. In 1878 Mr. Kahlke bought a traet of wild land in Bath town- ship, which he has had improved and has erected a good frame house, and a large barn. He still makes his home in Du- buque, but spends some time each year at his farm.
James H. Brown came to Cerro Gordo county in 1879, buying wild land on sec- tion 17, Bath township, which he im- proved well and sold in 1881. He then purchased an improved farm on section '16, northwest quarter, which he still re- tains as his present home. He was born in Boone Co., Ill., July 9, 1855, where he made his home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, receiving a lib- eral education. He then went to Winne- bago county where he engaged in farm- inguntil 1879, when he came to this county. He is one of the trustees of Bath township.
George C. Armsbury, engaged largely in real estate, is the son of Collins F. and Amanda (Boomer) Armsbury, born in Belleville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Oet. 15, 1850. He was a member of the Ilunger- ford Collegiate Institute in 1870, since then has been employed with his father, who is a large owner of real estate in the west as well as New York State. He was married in June, 1879, to Ida V., a daugh- ter of Gardner and Deziah Fowle, who died Jan. 11, 18~2, leaving him one son- Alonson A. Mr. Armsbury spends some
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
763
time each year in Bath township looking after the landed interests of his father here.
The land in Bath township was chiefly held by speculators, and in 1875 com- menced to be improved by them. John A. Ramsey, a pump and engine manufac- turer of Seneca Falls, N. Y., purchased section 29, except the east half of the northeast quarter. Improvements were commenced on this as early as 1875. It has been thoroughly drained, two good houses erected, and a beautiful row of trees set out around the entire farm.
C. F. and G. H. Armsbury, of Belleville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., owned section 32, except the southwest quarter, in 1883, and were improving the same in a very thorough manner. George C. Armsbury superintended the improvement of this extensive farm.
FIRST THINGS.
The first birth was a daughter of Mr. Cantonwine, Dec. 2, 1856.
The first school in the township was taught by Emma Adams, during the sum. mer of 1857, in Mr. Cantonwine's house.
The second birth in the township was Nella, daughter of II. B. and Caroline Morrison, born Nov. 17, 1865.
An early death was an infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, in 1868. Mrs. Morrison died a few weeks later. They were both buried in Rockwell Cemetery.
ORGANIC.
Bath township was organized in 1876. The first township meeting was held at the school house on section 16, at which time and place the following officers were elected : T. B. Lymans, George Gibson
and George O. Fuller, trustees ; H. H. Willey, clerk ; Philip Brisbin, assessor.
In 1883 the officers were : Philip Bris- bin, J. II. Brown and John Murray, trustees ; R. L. Lillibridge, clerk ; V. C. Lewis, assessor, ; William Henderson and H. A. Groves, justices of the peace. The Constitutional Amendment vote stood forty-eight for and seven against
BATII POSTOFFICE.
This postoffice was established in 1864, with H. B. Morrison as the first post- master. Ile kept the office in his house, and the mail was carried semi-weekly over the route from Mason City to Rockwell. The office was discontinued in 1868.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Bath township was taught in a straw shed, during the sum- mer of 1865, by Louisa Vandermark. In 1873 a school house was erected on the northeast quarter of section 16. Lizzie Rockwell, afterward wife of J. A. Felt house, taught the first term in this build- ing. She boarded with George O. Fuller, who ran a wire from his house to the school house so that the teacher and schol- ars might not get lost in the blinding storms of winter, so frequent in northern lowa. This building was moved in 1877 to the southwest quarter of section 3. The same year a new building was erected on the northwest quarter of section 22. Ida Case taught the first school in this build- ing. The Congregational people have had preaching in this house for some years. Rev. C. J. Richardson of Rockwell, was the preacher for a time.
District No. 2 comprises eight sections, and this is provided with two school houses.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
The first was moved from section 16, in 1878, and placed on the southwest quar ter of section 3, where Lizzie Murray tanght the first school. The second school house was erected in 1882, on the south- west quarter of section 1. The first teacher here was Joseph Riley. In district No. 3, the first school was tanght in Jacob Kup- pinger's house, in 1879, on section 7. Ida Jeffers was the first teacher. In 1880 a school house was built on the southwest quarter of section 6. During the summer of 1873 a school house was built in distriet
No. 4, on section 19, and the first term of school was taught by a Norwegian named Juglun. The first school building in dis trict No. 6 was erected in 1876 on the northwest quarter of section 14. This was used for school purposes but a short time, and then converted into a residence. In 1877 a house was built on section 13, and Ella Miller taught the first term of school in this building. In 1875 a school house was built in district No. 7, on the southeast quarter of section 25.
CHAPTER XXII.
CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP.
· This township takes its name from the deep rich loam of a very productive qual- beautiful Clear Lake within its borders. [ity. It is bounded on the north by Grant town- EARLY SETTLEMENT. ship, on the east by Lake, on the south by Union,and on the west by Hancock county, and comprises congressional township 96, range 22 west.
This territory is made up principally of rolling prairie land, which descends toward Clear Lake, which is one of the prettiest sheets of water in all Iowa, containing about 3,100 acres, being six miles long and two and one half miles wide. There are no streams within the township ex- cept the ontlet of the lake, which furnishes good water power. The soil is not unlike most of that in Cerro Gordo county, a
During the fall and winter of 1850, re- ports were circulated in the sparsely set- tled river counties of our State, by Indians and adventurous hunters, that a beautiful lake existed way back in the center of the State, where buffalo, elk, deer and fur bearing animals roamed the prairie in abundance, and wild fowls covered the waters; where a large lake filled with fish shone forth as a gem in the prairie, and large bodies of timber afforded shelter from the storms of winter. Those were the days of pioneer adventure when the few people of our State lived, not by the
765
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
fruits of agriculture or mechanics, but by a wild pioneer mode of life, roaming from place to place, seeking the best location for game, discovery or Indian trade.
These reports reached the ears of Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson, then living at Strawberry Point, Clayton county, in this State, and May 20, 1851, they started out with their teams and families to find the beautiful lake that had been described to them by Indians. They passed the few scattering settlers along the river until they reached the last settlement, of three families, near where the town of Bradford, in Chickasaw county, is now located. From there west, not even a wagon track had ever indented the prairie, and they pur- sned their journey until they reached Willow creek, one mile east of this place, which they found impassible, spending nearly two days in attempting to cross, and finally succeeding in crossing the stream near Andrew Swart's present resi- dence, reaching the shores of Clear Lake July 14, 1851; fifty-six days to make a journey that now occupies but eleven hours by railroad.
Messrs Hewitt and Dickirson each had a wife and one child, and they selected a point on the south side of the lake, on the bank nearly north of where Ed At- kin's house now stands, and a large burr oak tree, nearly covered by a wild grape vine, afforded them shelter from the sun and a safe place to hang the game they captured.
John Alloway and Henry Robinson, two young men, accompanied them and stayed about a year. When they came here it was their intention to hunt, fish and explore the country and then return to
the settlement in the fall, but owing to an unusually wet season and high water that made the streams unfordable and impossi- ble to return, they erected cabins in the umber near their summer camping ground, and these eight persons, four men, two women and two children, spent the winter here entirely cut off from communication with the world for thirteen months, ex- cept a visit by William Garnis, who called on them in February, 1852, and stopped there three days to rest his team. He was the first rusticating visitor at Clear Lake.
During the winter Hewitt and Dickir- son resolved to"make Clear Lake their home, and early in the spring, Alloway and Robinson returned.
Mr. Dickirson claimed the land where the town is now located, also his farm east of town, and in the spring of 1852 he cleaned up and plowed a piece of brush land, and that summer raised a crop of corn on a portion of the ground now oc- cupied by Judge Rosecrans' and Elder Robinson's places, and adjoining them south, which was the first grain raised in this part of the State. Thus they lived through the summer and winter of 1852, with an occasional visit from a hunter or Indian.
In July, 1853, the Wright's settled on Lime creek, three miles north of where Mason City now is, and in the fall of 1853, James and R. O. Sirrine, with their families, arrived and settled here, and have remained most of the time since. Rowland Gardner claimed the farm now owned by E. A. Tuttle, three miles east of town, and built a cabin, a portion of which is now standing near the Wescott school
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
house. He went to Spirit Lake, and with his entire family, except two daughters, was murdered by the Indians at the Spirit Like massacre, in 1856. One daughter was taken prisoner, and was held by the Indians about a year, when she was ran- somed by the government.
The other daughter was away from home at the time and escaped. She after- ward married William Wilson.
Harvey Luce and family were all mur- dered by the Indian, at the same time.
Michael Callam, Jr., came to Clear Lake township in 1855. He was born in Ireland in 1839, and becoming a resident of the State at fifteen years of age, has literally grown up with the country. He has seen Cerro Gordo county advance from its al- most primitive condition to a prominent rank among the counties of Iowa. He owns a farm of 180 acres on section 27, where he resides; he also owns eighty acres in Union township and is classed among the most intelligent and prosperous farmers of the township of Clear Lake. His wife, Mary Gray, of Linn Co., Iowa, was probably the first white child born in the town of Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Callam have five sons and four daughters. Michael Cal- lam, Sr., was born in Ireland in 1803, and came to America in 1842, settling in Can- ada where he lived about five years. He went to Illinois and settled near Rockford, and about 1852 he purchased a farm at Pilot Grove, near Independence, in Buchanan county, and removed his family there. In the spring of 1854 he made a claim on section 26, in Clear Lake township, Cerro Gordo county, where he has since resided. His children are-Mary (Mrs. Kennedy),
John, Martin, Michael, Jr., James, Charles and Joseph.
Calvin S. Goodwin has been a resident in Cerro Gordo county since February, 1856, at which date he came to Mason City. . That place included four or five log structures, and the only person in trade there was John L. McMillen. Mr. Good- win remained in that locality about one and a half years. Not long after coming to the county he entered a claim of 160 acres, which he afterwards proved up and sold. He is a native of Boston, Mass., born in 1824. He remained in the Bay State until sixteen years old and then went to New Hampshire He married Rosanna Abbott of Cheshire county in that State. He had a natural aptitude for the mechan- ical arts, and without giving any allotted time to acquiring its details, he began to operate as a carpenter and has spent some years of his life in that vocation,, and also as a cabinet maker. When he came to this county he left his family be- hind until he could provide for their com- fortable reception, returning for them in 1858, when he located at Clear Lake, ar- riving May 16, of the year named. He was one of the first settlers on the plat of Clear Lake, and resides on the same lot which he originally occupied. Of late years he has given some attention to farming, having become the owner of a good farm in Lake township. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have three children-Mary (Mrs. E. H. Simpson), Perley Lincoln and Winnie. The eldest was born in New Hampshire, the others at Clear Lake.
Benjamin H. Frost resides on section 2, and has resided in Cerro Gordo county since the fall of 1860. He was born in
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Vermont in 1816, where he lived until about thirty years of age. He was mar- ried in Vermont to Amanda L. IIamilton. They were both born in the same town, the latter in 1827. They removed from Vermont to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1843, where they lived for several years. They came to Scott Co., Iowa, in 1847, thence to Floyd county, in 1860, and here, as stated, in 1862, and settled where he now lives several years later. Mr. Frost bas seven children. Chauncy, the eldest son, enlisted in 1863, in the 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he served nearly two years. He joined that regi- ment as a recruit, and when the regiment was discharged at the expiration of its term of service, he was transferred to the 8th Infantry, and served the balance of his term of three years enlistment. He now resides with his father; married Sarah Martin; they have three children.
Seth M. Richardson, justice of the peace, received his appointment to the office in 1873, and has been its incumbent most of the time since. He entered eighty acres of land in what is now Owen town- ship, Cerro Gordo county, in June, 1855, on which he settled permanently with his family, Sept. 18, 1860. He removed, in 1865, to Clear Lake township, where he worked at the trade of blacksmith about seven years, when he was compelled by failing health to relinquish manual labor to a great extent. Mr. Richardson was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and soon after, with his mother and family, removed to Cayuga county. He was brought up in Cayuga and Cortland counties. At the age of fifteen he learned his trade, which he has followed since for forty years. In
the fall of 1854 he located in Dane Co., Wis., where he lived. Ilis wife, formerly Locena Salisbury, was born in Cortland Co., N. Y. They are the parents of four children-Byron, a resident of Lincoln township; Phebe L, Mrs. F. M. Rogers, resides at Mason City ; Carrie S.and Melirra A., Mrs. G. E. Ehle, who resides at Clear Lake.
Fred Langenberg, the oldest German resident of Clear Lake township, settled in Cerro Gordo county in July, 1866. His father, John Langenber came to America with his family in 1850 and located near Fond du Lac, Wis. In 1870 he came to this township, where he died. Mr. Lang- enberg, of this sketch, was born in Saxe Weimar, Germany, in 1842. In 1877 he located on his present property on section 10, where he owns 240 acres of land under an advanced state of enltivation. He is a notable farmer and stock-raiser of the township, and is in the front rank of its substantial and prosperous citizens.
James A. Hammond resides on section 1, Clear Lake township, where he settled in 1838. He purchased his land unim- proved, but he now owns 120 acres, and has good improvements. He was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 3, 1825, his parents being Stephen and Lorency Ham- mond. He was reared on a farm, and re- ceived a good education. On Sept. 30, 1853, he married Mary Williamson, who is a native of Otsego Co., N. Y. Mr. Ham- mond followed farming in his native State until he came to Iowa, in 1868. They have six children-Edgar, Ida, Ste- phen, Jennie, Francis and Minnie. In politics Mr. Hammond is a republican, but
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
only takes enough interest in political matters to go to the polls and vote.
Henry Burkholder lives on section 28, where he settled in 1869. He bought his farm of George Hines. Mr. Burkholder was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., in 1845. He removed to Green Co., Wis., in 1855, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade. On the breaking out of the war he en- listed in the 5th Wisconsin Battery, where he served twenty months, when he was discharged for disability ; but afterward re-enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, where he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, etc. · His wife was Elizabeth Case, born in Delaware Co., N. Y., in April, 1831. He has been mar- ried twice ; his first wife being Mary Far- ley. He had seven children by his first wife, five sons and two daughters, Only two sons and two daughters are living. Mrs. Burkholder's first husband was Wil- liam Merchant, by whom she has one daughter-Rosa.
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