USA > Iowa > Fremont County > History of Fremont County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistic, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Fremont County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 61
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THE FARRAGUT MILL.
The milling industry of southwestern Iowa is ably illustrated by the operations of the Farragut mill, the operations of which are conducted by Replogle & Brown. The mill was started September 1, 1875, by the Replogle Brothers, who conducted its business until October, 1876, when Mr. Brown became a member of the firm. In 1879 the mill was sub- stantially reconstructed, all the old machinery being removed and entirely new apparatus substituted, by which they manufacture fifty-four thousand bushels of wheat into flour annually. All the machinery, of which there is an unusally large amount, is of the newest and best make. The same firm, so great has been its enterprise, purchased and entirely refitted the famous Vaughn mill on Walnut creek, and thus have aided the material development of their township. This is the sole manufacturing industry in Farragut, and as such is entitled to more than a passing notice.
548
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
There is no history to this township that has not been given either under the chapter devoted to early settlers and settlements, or under that of the city of Hamburg. The reader is therefore referred to those chap- ters for full information respecting early settlements. The township is one of the wealthiest and best in the county.
THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
The metropolis of Fremont county is the town of Hamburg. Its loca- tion is peculiar, being almost exactly in the southwestern corner of the state, on sections 21, 22, 27, 28. in township 67, north of range No. 42, west of the 5th principal meridian. In that vague and undefined period known as "long ago," there was a steamboat landing on the Missouri river a little below the site of the present town. This landing was called " the narrows," "Lewis' landing," and perhaps by other names. Very many of the settlers now living in the county remember that where the town now stands once grew rosin weeds and "cat-tails" thick and rank and tall as a man. Up the valley in which the town is situated and along where Main street now runs, the weeds were so large and thickly sown as to render passage almost impossible-equal to a cane-brake. To this uninviting locality first came Augustus Borchers in 1847. Mr. Borchers was fresh from Germany, and had come to the new world "to seek his fortune," as the phrase goes. Here, at the foot of "the bluff," near where the fine public school building now stands, he opened a store for the pur- pose of trade with the Indians and the pioneers. At last Mr. Borchers " builded a city." Late in the year 1858, the town was surveyed and laid off by Col. Wm. Dewey and A. F. Harvey. The original proprietors of the town were Aug. Borchers, Job Matthews, A. Travis, Henry Brum- bick, and Harvey & Rector. The town was christened Hamburg, by Mr. Borchers, in honor of his birth-place, the famed free city of the Fatherland. The first residence was that of Mr. Borchers, where he now lives. The first business house in the place was a two-story log building erected and occupied by Jacob McKissick in 1858. The new town grad- ually increased in importance. The landing known as "the, narrows," was now called Hamburg landing. To this point goods were shipped from the eastern markets destined for Frankfort, Clarinda, Bedford, Quincy, and other points in southwestern Iowa, and hauled to their destination in wagons. The town became quite a trading point, and was known far and wide. April 1, 1867, the town was incorporated, and in December of
549
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
the same year, the first railroad, the K. C., St. J. & C. B., was built to the place. February 9, 1876, it was declared to be a city of the second class. The town is divided into four wards. The first ward comprises all the territory within the city limits west of the center of Main street and north of Willow creek. The second ward comprises all that portion of the city east of the center of Main street, north of Willow creek and south of "G"street. The third ward is included in the territory within the city limits south of Willow creek. The fourth ward consists of the territory east of the center of Main street and north of "G" street. There have been added to the town since it was orginally laid out the following addi- tions: Nuckolls', Phelps' Railroad, and East Hamburg. Phelps addition was added November 11, 1874. The dates of the annexation of the others are not accessible.
TOWN OFFICERS.
The following is a list of the mayors of the town since its organization, with the dates of their election :
R. K. Crandal, April, 1867. C. W. Gould, March, 1873.
Thos. Farmer, March, 1868. J. M. Hood, March, 1874.
R. K. Crandal, March, 1869. W. A. Stow, March, 1875. W. J. Yowell, March, 1870. C. W. Gould, March, 1876.
Wm. Harris, March, 1871.
J. M. Alexander, March, 1877.
J. L. Morris, July 31, 1871 .*
W. A. Stow, March, 1878.
E. Small, March, 1872. A. H. Danforth, March, 1879.
W. R. Ellis, March, 1880.
The present town officers are : mayor, W. R. Ellis; clerk, J. P. Beach; solicitor, J. W. Dalbey; Treasurer, J. M. Alexander; assessor, John Gris- wold; marshal, R. F. Nix; councilmen, J. M. Hammond, Frank Gillman, H. C. Ritchie, M. Dinnebeck, W. T. Davis, Geo. Kendrick, E. B. Jones, and Wm. Kelley.
Owing to the failure of very many of the citizens of the place to con- tribute information and otherwise aid in the preparation of this history, no very full and accurate description of the town of Hamburg and its history can be given. The people have seemed too much engrossed with per- sonal matters and concerns to co-operate with the publishers in setting forth the character of their town as it should be, and have withheld cer- tain information obtainable from no one but themselves.
POSITION AND DESCRIPTION.
The town is situated immediately on the west side of the Nishnabotany
*To fill vacancy.
550
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
river, about three and a half miles above where that stream empties into the Missouri, and about three miles east of the eastern bank of the " Big Muddy." The streets run north northeast and south southwest, and nearly east and west. Protecting the northern portion of the town like a huge parapet or Chinese wall, rises on the west a bluff, from the top of which a clear view of portions of the states of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, may be seen on almost any day. Few, indeed, are those who visit Hamburg and do not ascend this huge promontory and "view the landscape o'er." Peru and Nebraska City, Nebraska, Watson, Mis- souri, Riverton and Eastport, Iowa, are all plainly visible from the emi- nence. The town itself is about a mile and a half in length by half a mile in width. Its business streets are well built with fine, substantial build- ings. The prominent buildings are those of Frank Gilman, the Hamburg House, Booton's Opera House block, the Post-office block, etc.
RAILROADS.
The first railroad built to the place was the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs R. R., which was completed in 1867. The Nebraska City branch of the Burlington & Missouri River R. R .- now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy-was built to the place in 1870, and here forms a junction with the K. C., St. J. & C. B., using the track of the latter in run- ning to Nebraska City.
CHURCHES.
The town contains six churches, viz: Presbyterian, Methodist Episco- pal church north, Methodist Episcopal church south, Baptist, Christian, and Roman Catholic.
M. E. Church North .- The M. E. church north-known as the first Hamburg M. E. church-was organized in 1869. The names of the orig- inal members cannot be ascertained. The first church building was a neat and tasty frame edifice, erected in 1869, at a cost of about $3,600. Its location was near where the school building is now situated. A few days after its completion, however, it was blown down by a violent tornado which visited the county. This was a heavy blow upon the society, but it soon rallied, and in 1871 a new and handsome brick church was built, at a cost of $4,000, and dedicated the same year by Bishop Andrews. In 1879 a commodious brick house, one door east of the church building, was purchased by the trustees for a parsonage, for $700. The payments have been promptly met, the present pastor states, as soon as due, and the house will soon have been paid for. Then the church will fulfill the Pau- line injunction and " owe no man anything." The pastors of this church to date have been: C. W. Blodgett, E. M. H. Fleming, C. H. Newell,
1
551
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
W. F. Laidley, W. A Wiseman, A. C. Smith, A. G. Parrish, and W. A. Wiseman.
First Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized January 16, 1870. The original members were W. P. Ferguson, J. A. Taylor, Mrs. O. S. Keeler, John Glenn, Mrs. Glenn, Mrs. A. M. Jacobs, Lucy C. Aus- tin, John B. Griffith, and Nathan Ellidge. The church building, a sub- stantial brick structure, was erected in 1871 at a cost of five thousand dol- lars, and dedicated in December of that year by Rev. T. H. Cleland, of Council Bluffs. The names of the pastors have been G. G. Furgason. Lewis McKune, J. C. Clark, Rev. Chamberlain, A. C. Alin. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. Jas. A. Gerhard. The officers are: Trustees, J. P. Beach, J. C. Shepherd; Deacons, H. B. Blood, W. L. Aten; Elders, E. S. McMasters, E. J. H. Beard, W. L. Aten, H. C. Coolbaugh. Present membership, 36.
First Baptist Church .- This church was organized October 21, 1868. The original members were Reuben Simons, Melissa Simons, Louvina Ellidge, Malinda Ellidge, Rosamond Borchers, Mary McCracken, T. H. Bragg, Samuel Glover, K. Glover, John Holley, Sarah Holley, and Isaac Catlet. The church building, a brick structure, was built in 1870, and dedicated May 27 of the same year by the church. Its cost was $2,650. In 1879 it was improved at a cost of $500. The names of the pastors to date are: M. T. Williams, P. M. McLeod, G. W. Robey, L. E. Martin, and F. Hill, the latter the present pastor. The present membership is 115, and the pastor writes: "Our church is highly respected by the citi- zens of Hamburg. As pastor and people we are happy in the bonds of Christian love. Our congregations are good. Our sabbath school is the subject of great encouragement; T. H. Bragg, M. D., has been superin- tendent for eleven years."
No data have been obtained from the M. E. church south, the Catholic church, and the Christian church.
SECRET ORDERS.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is represented in Hamburg by Hamburg Lodge No. 197 and Hamburg Encampment No. 52. Ham- burg Lodge was instituted in May, 1870. The charter members were Enoch Alberson, Samuel Jacobs, John M. Stauffer, Albert Loveland, Frank Gillman, John W. Smith, Robert Simonds. The number of mem- bers at last report, June 30, 1880, was 95. The officers are Gustave Roecker, N. G .; A. L. Brown, V. G .; E. Alberson, treasurer; W. L. Aten, secretary. Meetings are held on Monday evening of each week.
Hamburg Encampment No. 52 was instituted January 17, 1872. The charter members were Samuel Jacobs, J. M. Stauffer, E. Alberson, Frank Gillman, S. P. Rhodes, N. W. Davis, J. A. King, R. H. Dunn. The
552
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
number of members at last report was 52. The elective officers for 1880 are: J. M. Waterman, C. P .; Gustave Roecker, H. P .; A. L. Brown, S. W .; D. S. Taylor, J. W .; D. R. Thompson, treasurer; H. C. Coolbaugh, scribe. The times of meeting are on the first and third Fri- day evenings of each month.
Those having charge of the records of the other secret orders of the place have not seen proper to furnish information concerning their res- pective organizations.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Hamburg was taught by Miss Sena Nuckolls, in 1860, in a little frame building near the corner of Main and G streets. The building was only 14x16 feet in size, but it was ample for the pur- pose, as only about a dozen pupils were in average daily attendance.
An unfortunate destruction of the records of the independent district by fire forbids as perfect a history of the schools of Hamburg as is desir- able. It has been learned, however, that in 1868 the independent district of Hamburg was organized. Thos. Farmer was the first president of the board of education. E. J. H. Beard taught the first school after it ceased to be a sub-district. The average attendance at that time was less than one hundred pupils. The school was then ungraded and only one teacher was employed during the larger portion of the year. The build- ing used was the brick now occupied by Mr. Frank Gillman.
As the town increased in population two smaller houses were erected, one in the northern and the other in the southern part of the town. These, together with the "brick school house," as it was called, were occupied until 1876, and were known as the first, second and third ward schools. In 1869 to 1872 the school was under the management of Mr. Long, Mr. Robert Simons, and Mr. Ricke. In the autumn of 1872 E. J. H. Beard was re-employed, and has been superintendent of the city schools from that time to the present.
December 29, 1875, a resolution was adopted by the board to nego- tiate a loan of $15,000.00 for the purpose of erecting a new building. The proposition was submitted to the people at a special election held January 8, 1876. The ground on which the present building was erected was purchased of Mr. Aug. Borchers, December 22, 1875, being " all of block 1, of the town of Hamburg." It is situated on the low point of the bluff, which forms the divide between the Missouri and the Nishnabot- any rivers. The records of the district show that February 16, 1876, the contract for grading the lot was let to Fred. Teckmeyer and S. P. Beckstead, for the sum of $950; that February 25, the plans of the pres- ent building were agreed upon, the architect being C. F. Driscoll, of Omaha, that April 17, the contract for building was let to J. B. Randal, of
553
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Omaha, for $14,750, the contract including the erection of the building and the furnishing of six rooms; that the work was completed November 6, and that the school commenced in the new house on the second Monday of November, 1876.
The building is a brick structure, 70x78 feet of three stories, each fourteen feet in height, and has a basement story containing furnaces and storage room for fuel. The roof is a combination mansard, gable and deck, constructed of slate, shingles and tin. There are four school rooms, 25x30 feet, on each of the floors except the third, in which there are two rooms, each 25x30 feet in size, and a chapel 72×30 feet. Each of the school rooms has an average seating capacity of seventy pupils. There are also in the building a janitor's room, a directors' room, a principal's room, a wash room, with cloak rooms for each of the departments. The school rooms are furnished with slated blackboards extending entirely around the room. The wood-work of the interior is handsomely grained and the entire finish of the building is of the best workmanship. The furniture, seating and general arrangement of the house cannot well be improved. The heating and ventilation of the house are among its most important features. The building is heated by four Rutan furnaces,
which send warm air directly to each of the rooms. The ventilation is also the Rutan system, which provides an escape for the foul air at open- ings near the floor from which it passes under the floors to the ventilating shaft in in the center of the building. The entire cost of the structure, including its furnishing, is near $25,000.
From the time the first steps were taken to secure a new house, and until its completion, the following named gentlemen were members of the school board, and are entitled to credit for pushing to a successful comple- tion an enterprise which proved a turning point in the growth and pros- perity of the city of Hamburg, viz: Dr. R. W. Harris, W. L. Bogan, J. W. Dalbey, Phil. Neis, W. A. Stow, J. M. Alexander, C. A. Danforth and Samuel Jacobs.
In 1870 the district employed but two teachers; in 1873, four; in 1874, five; in 1876, six; in 1878, eight; and in 1880, nine. The school now has an average daily attendance of 440 pupils and an enrollment of more than 500. The course of study is thorough and complete, comprising all of the branches usually taught in the primary and grammar departments of graded schools, concluding with a high school course in which the study of the higher English branches, the mathematics, the sciences, etc., the classics, and music is completed. Provision has been made for granting diplomas to those of the students passing the required examination, and under the require- ments two pupils, Enoch Alexander and George Borchers, have received diplomas. Eight students will graduate in June, 1881. The school has been
554
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
under the supervision and principalship of Prof. E. J. H. Beard, to whose general efficiency the success attained has been largely due.
The following items respecting the independent district of Hamburg are taken from the last report of the county superintendent of common schools:
No. of teachers employed the past year 8
Salary per month paid to males $ 100
Salary. per month paid to females 40
No. of months of school. 10
No. of children of school age in district
693
No. of children enrolled in the district
577
Average attendance.
403
No. of school houses (brick).
1
Value of school property in the district
$ 20,000
Amount paid teachers past year . 3,796.00
Amount paid for contingent purposes 1,183.10
The population of Hamburg City in 1875, was 2058; in 1880 it was 2,072.
Besides the churches of Hamburg there are two others in Franklin township. The oldest of these and the oldest in the township is the
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL,
organized in the autumn of 1854, with the following original members: George and Catherine Uhlinger, Farena Miller, and John and Barbara Wildberger. They own no church, but conduct their worship in the brick school house. The pastors have been Philip Hehner, Henry Lange, Henry Dreher, G. Schatz, Henry Mullenbruck, P. Hehner, J. Wanner, H. H. Menger, H. Bruns, C. Herman, and F. Schumaker. The present membership is twenty-six.
THE VALLEY FARM SOUTHERN M. E. CHURCH,
was organized in the autumn of 1876. The original members were John Chap- man, Sr ., and wife; John Chapman, Jr., and wife; Alice, Edward and Nettie Chapman ; Alexander Gibson and wife ; Johnson Gibson and wife; W. Gibson and wife; Jamison Gibson, Martha K. Reeves, Mattie and Jessie Reeves; T. Mead and wife; Mrs. Nicenanger and Jane Mead. In the summer of 1876, Mr. M. U. Payne, a wealthy and public spirited citizen of the adjoining township of Benton, built for the society a frame building cost- ing eight hundred dollars. It was dedicated in the fall of that year by C. I. Vandeventer, presiding elder. The pastors have been J. W. Ellis, -
555
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Hurley, - Solomon Milam, J. W. Falconer, A. S. Doak, and G. W. Nich- ols. The present membership is sixteen, some of the original members having moved away.
The township has an excellent system of schools, of which the follow- ing are the
STATISTICS.
No. of sub districts . 9
No. of teachers employed the past year
22
Salary per month $25. Same to male and female.
No. months school.
7월
No. of children of school age in township
330
No. of children enrolled in the schools. 286
Average attendance in the township
155
No. of buildings frame
7
No. of buildings brick. 2
Value of school property $3600
Amount paid teachers. $1783 75
Amount paid for school houses $152 17
512 19
Amount paid for contingent purposes
LOCUST GROVE TOWNSHIP.
This is the only township in the county of which there is no official record of its organization. The date of its probable organization, and the reason therefor, are given on a preceding page. There seems to have been an unusually large percentage of the early settlers who moved away; consequently data relating to the earlier history of the township is both scanty and unreliable.
As nearly as can be ascertained the first settlers in this township were John Minor, John Smith and Abner Crocknor, who came from Washing- ton county, Iowa, in 1857. In 1858 came George Cheney and J. A. and G. W. Thayer, all settling on section 28. Charles Wilkinson came in the same year and settled on section 10, as shown by the date of his patent. His son Franklin, born in 1861, was the first male child born within its limits. The first female child born in this township was Viola, daughter of R. W. and Sarah A. Haywood. The date of this birth was February 9, 1861.
It is not a matter of surprise that the first-church services should have been held in a private house. In those days all places were esteemed
556
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
alike sacred-especially where the " two or three are gathered together," and so Mr. Haskins threw open his house to the Rev. David Edgerton, of the United Brethren, who preached the first sermon on section 17.
There is now but one church organization in the township-the Mis- sionary Baptist, organized in 1876, with Daniel Whetstone, Frank Rus- sell, R. Rice, Mr. Woods and Mr. Parkman, as original members. They own no church, but hold services at the Fair View school-house. The present membership is thirteen. The school interests are well cared for. The people are intelligent, and in the matter of school advantages gener- ous. They pay their teachers liberally, and take a more than ordinary interest in school enterprises. Following are the latest educational
STATISTICS:
No. of sub-districts.
6
No. of teachers employed the past year
8
Salary per month. $26 60
No. months school.
9
No. of children of school age.
223
No. of children enrolled in school.
178
Average attendance in the township 168
No. of frame buildings. 6
Value of school property. $6 000
Amount paid teachers .. $1 435
Amount expended for school-houses
Amount expended for contingent purposes . $ 635
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
Much of the history of this township belongs to an early day, and has , therefore been elsewhere written. The reader is referred to the chapter on incidents and accidents, and early settlers and settlements. It would prove neither interesting nor valuable to repeat, in substance, what is elsewhere given. Its experiences are those of other townships, and the laws in obedience to which it has developed are the same as obtained elsewhere. The interests of the community have been carefully cared for all these years past, and that care has shown itself in advancing the moral and educational standing of the township.
557
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
The oldest church in Madison is the
MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH,
which was organized January 12, 1845. The original members were Henry and Martha Iler, Henry and Nancy Watts, Isaac and Sarah Hun- saker, Nicholas and Lawrence Wilson, Charlotte R. Hunsaker and Margaret Everman. In 1878 the society built a brick church building at a cost of two thousand dollars, which was dedicated in February of 1879, by P. M. Best. Among the pastors were Elias Finley, M. F. Williams, C. L. Butts, L. Furginson, C. C. Brown, S. E. Baldwin, L. E. Martin, John Davies and P. M. Best. The membership is thirty-two. This, like other churches, asserts its claim as being the oldest, and the date of organization as compared with others will show the justness of its claim. The church was organized under the name of Nishnabotany church until 1879, when its present name was given it. The farmers' cemetery, one of the oldest in the county, comprising some five acres, forms the church- yard. Within the cemetery rests all that is mortal of Mrs. M. Freeman, who was here buried in the spring of 1845, being one of the first deaths in the limits of the county.
M'KISSICK GROVE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
was organized in January, 1867. The original members were Henry Forbian and wife, Samuel White and wife, Thomas Chandler, Elizabeth Williams, Almeda and Mary Woodard, Mary E. Fugitt, Eliza A. Fugitt, George Cox, Samuel Elder, and Mary A. Bartlett. In the winter and spring of 1874, a frame church was built costing three thousand dollars, which was dedicated by the Rev. J. B. Greene, of Nebraska City, on the first Sunday in April of the same year. The first elders of the church were Samuel Elder, Henry Forbian, and Thomas Chandler-the latter of whom was also clerk. The pastors have been W. C. Means, - Amack, T. K. Roach, J. C. Moore, and now the present pastor. There is in con- nection with the church a Sunday school in successful operation, and a woman's missionary society, the latter having been organized in August, 1879, and now numbers fifteen members. There is also a cemetery con- nected with the church, the first burial in which was that of Mrs. John Murray, in November, 1858.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
Madison township contains seven independent districts, viz: Eagle, Columbia, Hendricks, Highland, Liberty, Pomeroy and Sedgwick. No. of teachers employed the past year . 14
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