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 82
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 82
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The next contract recorded was made June 1, 1858, with Susan Tompkins for a twelve weeks' term, at four dollars per week.
The next teacher was probably W. N. Skinner, though nothing on the records proves this, but it is well known that he was a teacher there about that date.
The next contract appearing is one made with A. E. Howard, on the 29th day of November, 1858, for a four months' school, at $25 per month.
Miss A. M. Whitney succeeded Mr. Howard on the 19th of May, 1859, at five dollars per week of five and a half days each-until Saturday noon.
J. M. Brainard was the next teacher, his contract dating Oct. 23, 1859, for forty weeks, for the consideration of $318.
He was succeeded by George Griffith, who taught several terms.
Nathan Bass, Jean Duncan, Ira Kling, Della Camp, Florine Bloom, John McGraw, Miss Sweeney, Jeannette Duncan, Fanny Hicks, Alice Rosecrans and several others whose names do not appear on record, have taught the school in Clear Lake down to 1872.
From that date until the village was or- ganized as an independent district, in 1874, Professor D. A. Ham, associated with Mr. Fluent, had charge of the schools. Professor Ham was a very successful teacher and improved the condition of the schools in Clear Lake.
The following named have been princi- pals of the Clear Lake graded schools : Prof. M. M. Gilchrist, M. F. Miller, F H. Hannah, and A. W. Wier. The salary has usually been $75 per month.
The assistant teachers, down to 1883, have been : Miss Haskell, Miss Duncan, Ella C. Palmer, Miss E. Sober, Florence Nichols, Mr. Hall, Miss E. Robertson, Eva Donahue, (afterward Mrs. L. G. Hollister), Miss Miner, Miss Bennett, Miss Nash, Miss Wier, Miss Gardner, Miss Wetherall.
S. M. Richardson held the office of treas- urer of the district from the time of its organization to the date of this book. M. P. Rosecrans also served as secretary since 1877, attending every meeting of the board-about 150 in all. About 1880 this large'independent district was sub-divided into five districts, also of an independent character.
In 1883 there were 324 pupils-163 males and 161 females-at which time there were six teachers employed, five females and one male.
The public schools of Clear Lake are managed by thefollowing corps of teach-
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
ers : Adolphus W. Wier, superintendent and principal of the High School ; Miss Clara B. Wier, grammar department; Miss Janet Duncan, intermediate; Marion Dun- can, 2d primary ; Florence A. Nichols, 1 st primary.
Prof. Wier is a native of Prussia, where he was born in 1844. He came to the United States when thirteen years of age, and located in Grant Co., Wis. He was educated at the Normal School, at Viroqua, Vernon Co., Wis., and at Iowa College, Grinnell, where he was a student two years. He began teaching in 1865, and the following year came to Iowa. Since 1869 he has been continuously engaged in school work. His first term of labor in this county was at Rockwell, where he continued until the autumn of 1882, when he was appointed to his present position.
A good description of the school houses of this village was published in the Clear Lake Observer, in 1876, of which the fol- lowing is an extract :
"The old school house, as it is now called was built by M. Bumgardner, in 1857, and still stands in this village, and could its history be written in full, what a record it would yield up. Here our schools were kept for years. The young of our township assembled here, and with few exceptions, acquired their entire school education within its walls. Here all religious meetings were held, and the people of all the country around gathered together therein. Although the house was but twenty-six feet square, there was room for all, for we were few in number, all equals; all denominations could listen to the same preacher, and the open hand of
of fellowship, friendship, and pioneer equality, was extended to all within its walls. Here the teachers of our county assembled in their institutes. The politi- cian stood on its rostrum and made prom- ises to his constituents ; the boys met here in their debating clubs ; the Good Tem- plars in their lodge ; the girls came to the old school house to singing school. On its floor stood sixteen of Clear Lake's best and bravest boys, raised their hands to- ward heaven, and took upon themselves the oaths to serve their country as soldiers and protect their country's flag. Here they met to exchange a last farewell, and bnt few of them ever returned to its walls. Here friends met to pay the last sad rites to departed friends, and hear words of consolation from the minister. Here the wife, mother, child, brother and sister, met when near the end of a long week the anxiously looked for mail was expected to arrive and bring tidings from loved ones away in the army. Here for nineteen years the annual election has been held, and the ballot box contest been decided ; here courts of justice have been nearly all held; forensic eloquence has flowed freely; here'disputes between neighbors have been settled, innocence established, and guilty ones started from its walls to prison; here young men and maidens have come to be made as one.".
Long may the old school house stand a relic of the past. The school house near the Methodist church was built in 1869, and the other one in 1872, and dur- ing the past winter nearly 200 scholars were in regular attendance, and four teachers were employed.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
POST OFFICE.
The Clear Lake postoffice was estab- lished in 1856, with Joseph Hewitt as the first postmaster, who kept the office at his residence, at what was later known as old Clear Lake City. In 1859 he was suc- ceeded by Edwin Nichols, and in 1862 came George E. Frost. The entire re- ceipts of the office during Mr. Frost's first and second quarters was $9.38. Mr. Frost served uutil 1875, except an interval of six months, during which time Marcus Tuttle was postmaster. Frost was finally succeeded by Alexander Campbell, who served until 1877. Mr. Frost was then re- appointed, but as he did not desire the of- fice longer, he became instrumental in the appointment of A. D. Eldridge, who was the post master in 1883. This office became a money order office in 1873. The first order was issued July 12, 1873. In January, 18~3,it was made a Presidential office of the third class, and the salary fixed at $1,200. At this date A. D. Eldridge was re-appointed.
Alfred D. Eldridge came to Clear Lake in 1869. He was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1843. His parents settled in Winneshiek Co,, Iowa, in 1875, and subsequently removed to Grundy county, aud finally returned to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Mr. Eldridge is also engaged in the drug business, and has been con- nected with that business since 1875. His store is the oldest drug store in the town, having been established by Johnson & Sweeney, in 1868. The business has changed hands several times since it was established. Mrs. Eldridge was a daugh- ter of E. C. Johnson, one of the early set- tlers of Clear Lake.
SOCIETIES.
The Tom Howard Post, No. 101, of the Grand Army of the Republic was organ- ized Oct. 15, 1832. The name Tom How- ard Post was adopted in honor of Lieut. Thomas Howard of the 23d Iowa, a gallant soldier from Clear Lake, who was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
The following was published in one of the county papers after the preliminary meeting held for the organization of the post at this place:
"The old soldiers of Clear Lake have held a preliminary meeting and will organize a post of the G. A. R. with the above name. No more appropriate title could be found for this company of vet- erans than that of brave Tom Howard. The writer of this and the brave lieuten- ant were borne off the bloody battle field of Pleasant Hill together, on that terrible evening of April 9, 1864; poor Tom shot through the bowels and the writer through . the thigh. We lay side by side until long into the night on a grass plat in front of one of the houses of the village, and were then removed to a pig pen or cow shed which had been created into a hospital, and we were there separated, never to meet again. The brave Howard knew that his was a mortal wound, but not a murmur escaped his lips, while his bright young life was ebbing slowly away, and our conversation was foreign to the hor- rors of war. The 23d Iowa contained scores of good and brave men, but none braver, better or more beloved than Lient. Tom Howard, of company B. When the army retreated he was left in the hands of the rebels, and his body lies buried in the pine clad hills of Louisiana, but his noble
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
783
spirit has received a better reward, and the boys of the Lake are to be commended for the selection of so good a name to des- . ignate their post."
The charter members of this post were: J. B. Charlton, II. A. Groves, Ed. Nichols, G. W. Richardson, James MeLaughlin, D. K. Williamson, G. W. Donaldson, William H. Shenafelt, William Cox, John Phillips, J. Bowers, Fred Sheldon, Charles Smith, Benjamin Leonard, F. Landenberg, E. Newton, A. Cotterell, A. R. Netley, J. Sprague, J. A. Smith, C. A. Hurning, George H. Prime. In 1883 the post had thirty members, with the following: Commander, J. B. Charlton; S. V. C. H. A. Groves; J. V. C., Ed. Nichols; O. D, J. W. Phillips; Q., M., G. W. Richardson; adjutant, J. A. Smith. The commander is the presiding officer of the post and J. B. Charlton has held this position ever since its organization. The total member- ship in 1883 was thirty. At that date the post was a s rong one.
Verity Lodge No. 250, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation from grand master John Scott, on Friday Nov. 30, 1868, with the following officers: M. P. Rosencrans, W. M .; Marcus Tuttle, S. W .; Edwin Nichols, J. W .; Charles Wal- bridge, treasurer; George E. Frost, sec- retary; R O. Sirrine, S. D .; F. Folsom, J. D .; and James Dickirson, tyler.
The lodge met in the hall in the third story of the Lake House, where the meet- ings were held until the June following, when they moved . to Tuttle & Goodwin's Block and from there to Stevens' Hall on Main street, at which place they met in 1883. The lodge meets on Wednesdays before the full moon in each month.
The names of the worshipful masters, and the terms they served, are as follows: M. P. Rosecrans, two years; Marcus Tut- tle, three years; George E. Frost, one year; R. O. Sirrine, three years; W. R. Patrick, one year; J. O. Davis, four years; A. I). Eldridge, one year; G. F. MeDowell being in office in 1883, at which time the lodge was in a flourishing condition.
Lake Side Lodge No. 170, A. O. U. W., of Clear Lake, was organized May 28, 1878, by the following charter members: O. Stevens, J. O. Davis, W. A. Burnap, J H. Boeye, J. H. Woodstock, George Stock. bridge, J. H. Salisbury, Charles Miller, Elon Hayes, O. A. Bishop, H. D. Wester- man, C. O. Ingalls, William L. Backhus, A. H. Green, James Nolan, E. D. Babcock, L. G. Hollister, James A. Rice, (deceased), A. Stevens, Marens Tuttle. The first officers of this lodge were: J. O. Davis, P. M. W .; W. A. Burnap, M. W .; J. H. Boeye, foreman; J. H. Woodstock, over- seer; George Stockbridge, recorder; J. H. Salisbury, financier; O. A. Bishop, re- ceiver. The officers acting in 1883 were: J. O. Davis, P. M. W .; A. Nelson, M. W .; A. Stevens, foreman; William L. Backhus, gnide; Oscar Stevens, overseer; William McFadden, recorder; J. H. Boeye, finan- cier; H. A. Palmeter, receiver. When first organized this lodge contained thir- ty-nine members, but owing to various reasons in 1883 there were but twenty- nine. Only one death has occurred in the lodge from its organization to August, 1883; that of James A. Rice. The lodge was a flourishing one, and well repre- sented by the most prominent men of Clear Lake.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Clear Lake Lodge, No. 187, I. O. O. F. was organized under dispensation, Feb. 4, 1870. The charter members were : John W. Phillips, N. W. Ellis, F. W. Kimball, D. S. Dodds, H. P. Manning, John Chap- man, L. F. Knapping. The first officers were : J. W. Phillips, N. G .; N. W. Ellis, V. G .; D. S. Dodd, R. S .; H P. Manning, P. S .; L. F. Knapping, treas urer ; C. S. Goodwin, C., George Gilmore, W., Oscar Stevens and L. J. Thatcher, R. S. N. G At the first meeting petitions for membership were received from George E. Frost, George R. Congdon and James Goodwin, all of which were accepted and duly installed. The receipts at the first meeting were $57. The lodge was incor- porated Dec. 16, 1878. The following is article second, in the form of their incor- poration :
" The title of said corporation shall be Clear Lake Lodge, No. 187, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, formed for the object of improving the moral and social condition of its members and to create, hold, manage and disburse a beneficiary fund for the relief of the members of said corporation and their families under such laws, rules and regulation as are now and shall hereafter be prescribed by the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the United States, and the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa for its government, and by such rules, by- laws and regulations as the corporation may establish, not in conflict with the con- stitution and laws of the State of Iowa. "
The by-laws of the lodge were drafted by a committee consisting of C. H. Stan- ley, L. F. Knapping and D. S. Dodds. The first regular officers were elected June
30, 1870, and were as follows: N. W. Ellis, N. G .; D. S. Dodds, O. G .; H. D. Lindley, R. S .; George E. Frost, treas- urer; G. R. Beaver, P. S .; J. W. Phillips, G. R. The lodge received its charter Oct. 26, 1870. The following have served as N. G. since the organization to 1883 : C. S. Goodwin, George Frost, Oscar Ste- vens, N. W. Ellis, T. S. Simpson, J. H. Boeye, C. S. Goodwin, T. S. Simpson, E. D. Babcock, William L. Backhas, D. D. Hawe, J. H. Woodstock, A. M. Thayer, D. G. Hollister, J. A. Smith, Thomas Baker, J. H. Salisbury, J. Thacker, D. R. Williamson and J. W. Dawson. ,In June, 1883, the following were the officers of the lodge : J. W. Dawson, N. G. ; W. Winnie, V. G .; J. H. Boeye, treasurer; William McFadden, P. and R. secretary. The lodge meets every Monday evening, and, in 1883, had a membership of fifty- four, in good standing At that date their place of meeting was at Steven's Hall, which they rented in November, 1882, for five years ; sub-renting to the A. F. & A. M., the A. O. U. W., G. A. R. and the encampment of the I. O. O. F. In 1883 the lodge owned $300 worth of property and has several hundred dollars in cash in its treasury. They have suffered the loss of but one by death-George Gil- more.
Clear Lake Encampment, No. 107, I. O. O. F. worked under the dispensation given them June 22, 1882. The first officers were : William L. Backhas, C. P .; J. H. Salisbury, H. P .; J. H. Smith, S. R .; J. Thayer, J. W .; J. W. Phillips, guide; J. H. Boeye, treasurer; Oscar Stevens, scribe. In 1883 the encampment numbered twenty-one members ; holding
785
IHISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
meetings the second and fourth Thurs- days of each month, in the hall of I. O. O. F.
"Tina" Lodge, No. 101, Rebecca De- gree of the I. O. O. F., work under dispensation granted them April 14, 1860. N. W. Ellis, N. G .; Minnie Stevens, V. G .; William Mc Fadden, secretary; Mrs. W. L Bockhus, treasurer. The charter members of the society were: William McFadden, Mrs. A. E. McFad- den, J. H. Salisbury, J. W. Phillips and wife, Thomas Baker and wife, N W. Ellis, J. Tasker, A. M. Thayer, J. A. Smith, Joseph Bowers, Azor Stevens, Mrs. S. A. Stevens, Oscar Stevens, J. H. Boeye. The charter was received Oct. 21, 1880. They had a membership of thirty- six in 1883. The lodge took its name in honor of Tina Tasker, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs John Tasker, who died March 30, 1883, and was buried April 1, at Clear Lake Cemetery. -
RELIGIOUS.
The Methodist Episcopal Church may justly claim the honor of first sending a herald of the cross to Clear Lake, which has since become so famous for its relig- ious gatherings and church societies. In the summer of 1857, Elder Elias Pattee preached the first sermon ever listened to at Clear Lake. The services were held at the house of Joseph Ilewitt, near the bank of the lake. Elder Pattee died Sept. 29, 1860, and his remains lie buried in the cemetery east of town. A class was organized at the time mentioned. The following pastors served on the circuit in which Clear Lake was situated, from the time of the organization of the class, until 1870; Rev. W. P. Holbrook, Rev.
James Hawkins, Rev. Glassner, Rev. John Ball, Rev. Gassure, Rev. Taylor, Rev. Cooley, Rev. Burge, Rev. A. S. Groom, Rev. Smoy and Rev. White. In 1870 the Des Moines district, at its session held for such purposes, appointed Rev. James Williams to the circuit in November, 1870. The Rev. J. W. Todd, presiding elder of the Fort Dodge district, held the first quarterly meeting, of which J. M. Davis was recording secretary, and James Price, Ira L. Bailey, Marcus Tuttle, Levi Lloyd and J. Tasker were elected trustees, and Yokum, Lockwood, James Price, J O Davis and Dyer were elected stewards. The society was incorporated Nov. 20, 1870, and the church building was purchased the following year. The pastors since 1870, inclusive, were: Rev. James Williams, Rev. James A. Robinson, A. Jamison, B. Webster, M. Conley and Rev. J. Walker.
In 1883 Rev. J. Walker was pastor, with the following church officers: C. B. Chris- tian, treasurer of stewards, and T. Carter of trustees. At this date the church had 145 members, with an average attendance of 185 at its services. In 1883 the society sold their old building and built in a more central location. The new church is a Gothic structure, costing about $4,000. They also have a good parsonage property. The Sunday school in 1883 was under the management of the pastor in charge, and had an enrollment of 165 members, with an average attendance of eighty-five.
Rev J. W. Walker, pastor of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Clear Lake, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1844. In 1870 he went to the United States and preached at St. Johnsbury, Vt., but feeling the need of a better education
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
he took a preliminary course of study at the New Hampshire Seminary. After re- ceiving his diploma he entered the Boston University, where he graduated with hon- ors, in 1876. The same year he joined the New Hampshire Conference and was sta- tioned at Amesbury, Mass. Then he filled four of the best appointments in the Con- ference: Keene, Methuen and Exeter. Com- pelled by throat troubles to leave the sea- coast, he bade farewell to the classic town of Exeter in the autumn of 1882, joined the Northwest Iowa Conference and came to Clear Lake. Mr. Walker is an impres- sive and effective speaker, his sermons hav- ing the true ring, and his efforts are greatly promoting the religious growth of his present charge. A beautiful church edifice was being{erected in 1883 under his pastorate. Mrs. Walker is a native of New Hampshire and received her educa- tion at the New Hampshire Seminary and Female College. After leaving school she passed three years in active temperance work and lectured successfully throughout that State, Massachusetts and Vermont. She left the platform to become a minis- ter's wife, entering heart and hand into the work, and is beloved everywhere. Two little girls-Ethel and Marion-make sunshine in their home.
The Baptist Church was organized Jan. 30, 1867, at the Clear Lake school house, then situated at the corner of Main street. It took the name of the First Baptist Church. Revs. Freeman and Wood were present, aiding in the organization.
The first deacons were: Willard Dort and Elon A. Tuttle. The first members were as follows: Willard Dort, Elvira Dort Rosa A. Howard, Levi Frost, Elizabeth
Saxby, Emma Bryan, Elizabeth Rider, Nancy Pizer, J. S. Saxby, Joel Fay, Elon A. Tuttle, Orrissa C. Tuttle, Adel- mer Tuttle, Lucian Tuttle, Marcus Tuttle, Caroline M. Tuttle, A. Batterson and Mrs. Spencer.
Their house of worship was commenced in the autumn of 1872 and dedicated Dec. 15, 1873. 'The dedication hymn was writ- ten by Mrs. L. Boardman. This edifice cost about $2,000. The following pastors have served: Revs. Morgan Edwards, F. H. Hannah, J. L. Coppoc, H. C. Nash, A. C. Nicholas and H. B. Waterman.
In 1883 the Church officers were: 11. M. Day, Thomas Baker and W. S. Howc, deacons; F J. Fisher, James Dawson and Wilber Glidden, trustees; H. O. Warner, clerk; James Dawson, treasurer At this date the membership was about sixty.
A Sunday school was organized Jan. 1, 1874. The first superintendent was M. J. Hull. In 1883 the superintendent was II. M. Day. The total membership was then 146.
The Congregational Church of Clear .. Lake was organized, in 1870, by Rev. A. S. Allen, who continued to be their pastor until 1876, when by an accident and old age he was obliged to give the work over to other hands. His labors were under the auspices of the American Home Mis- sionary Society. The first organization consisted of nine members, and when his pastorate closed there were twenty-six. The Congregational and Methodist socie- ties built a union church that finally became the sole property of the Methodists, after which Rev. A. S. Allen commenced to build a house of worship, and succeeded in getting a foundation and frame up
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
when his labors ceased. In February, 1876, Rev. R. R. ยท Wood was called to be their pastor and served the church until 1878. His labors resulted in completing the building and adding to the church a membership of over forty. In August, 1878, the Rev. A. M. Case was engaged as pastor, serving three years. At the close of his work the church numbered 100, above losses and removals and deaths. The Rev. Cutler was next called, coming in February, 1882, remaining one year.
The following befitting tribute to Rev. A. S. Allen, one of the above pastors, was published in the Cerro Gordo County Republican, under the head of "A good man fallen-Father Allen:"
"The people of Clear Lake and Cerro Gordo county in general suffered a great loss in the death of Rev. A. S. Allen, who departed this life Nov. 8, 1876. His death was not unexpected to his friends, but when the final hour came, they were shocked and greatly mourned the sad event. Mr. Allen was a very remarkable man in many respects, and one whose works will live long after him, to bless the coming gener- ations. He was born in Medfield, Mass., in the year 1797, and in his youth removed to Andover, N. Y., where he practiced law and was afterwards elected judge of one of the State courts. While under direction of Rev. Dr. Hunter he studied theology, and in 1833 he entered the ministry and preached ten years to Con- gregational Churches in that State, at the end of which time he removed to Wiscon- sin, and soon after devoted his entire time and talent to the work of a home mission- ary. His benevolence was one of his
adorning traits of character. When he began his ministerial career he was worth $30,000, but by his donations to charity and benevolence, he expended nearly all of it. He was one of the first peace com- missioners at Phidelphia. In 1848 he lost his wife-the choice of his youth-leaving a family of small children, to whom he was devotedly attached. In 1868 he lo- cated at Clear Lake, and afterward served Cerro Gordo county as school superintend- ent, to the entire satisfaction of all. He continued in his work with vigor and success until a few months prior to his death, when he, by reason of advanced years, was compelled to give it up. Mr. Allen stood out prominently as one of the noble grand old men, who seemed to have come down to us, as from the past. His heart and soul was in his work, and to do good was the chief aim of his life. But this grand Christian character has passed away, and he has been gathered to his fathers, like a shock of ripened grain is gathered into the garner to await its re- ward. The deceased left two sons and six daughters. Of the former, one is our well known townsman, Dr. Allen, and the other, Gen. Thomas Allen, of Oshkosh, Wis., editor of the Northwest, and for four years Secretary of that State. The daugh- ters are excellent types of pure Christian womanhood, whose lives have been de- voted to the elevation of their sex and race. One was a missionary to Jamaica for years, and another a teacher among the Freedman at the South. In fact the impress of their father's goodness was distinctly marked in the life and character of all his children. The funeral services of this man-this pioneer patriot and
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Christian-was conducted by Rev. Mr. Adams, of Waterloo, Iowa.
Rev. R. R. Wood, Congregational cler- gyman, was born in Franklin Co., Vt., in 1819. In 1837 he went to Grant Co., Wis. He entered the ministry in 1842 in con- nection with the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church, and labored with that body until its division, when he became a member of the Wisconsin Con- ference. During the period of his labors as a Methodist minister, he had the fol- lowing charges: Milford circuit in the R. R. Conference, the Dundee part of the Elgin circuit, Joliet, Black River Falls, Mission, Dodgeville, Delavan, Monroe, Sylvania circuits; thence to La Crosse, and was the first presiding elder of that district. He went from there to Provi- dence, Wis., to Lancaster and Patch Grove, in Grant county. In 1861, feeling impelled to aid in the suppression of the rebellion that menaced the life of the Nation, he took temporary leave of the pulpit and hastened to enroll himself as a defender of the flag of a united people. HIe raised a company of the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry which he commanded in the field during two year's service, after which he resigned. In 1864 he raised company A. 53d Wisconsin Volunteere Infantry, and was its leader until the end of the war. He then engaged in mercantile business at La Crosse, and a year later resumed the ministry as a vocation, joining the West Wisconsin Conference and receiving the appointment of Leon circuit. His next charge was that of Black River Falls, where he continued one year. In 1869 he came to Iowa and was stationed at Frank- ville one year, after which he went to
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