USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 49
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News came to Webster City in July, 1884, that Judge Granville Burkley had died at his home in Boulder, Colorado. He was injured by a fall from a horse and this resulted in his death. He was one of the first settlers at llomer and had lived in the county until after the close of the war.
Wesley Cary died at Webster City, August 20, 1884. Ile was for many years a prominent business man. Wesley Carey was born September 8, 1824, at Boston, Erie county, New York. He married Hannah M. Ross in 1863 at Freeport, Illinois. He came to Webster City in 1873 and engaged in the lumber business.
D. S. Jewett died at his home in Cass township on August 27, 1884, in his fifty-fourth year. He was one of the earliest of Hamilton county's pioneers. The following sketch by Charles Aldrich gives a very good word picture of this good man :
THE LATE LIEUTENANT JEWETT
"I understand that a life-long friend of D. S. Jewett will write a notice of the deceased; but I also wish to say a word concerning him. I first met him at 'Camp Franklin,' near Dubuque, in 1862, where we were mustered into the Thirty-second Iowa infantry volunteers. I remember Lieutenant Jewett, as a private at first, but afterwards a non-commissioned officer. He was then a rosy-checked, stalwart, handsome young man, resolute and determined, always ready for duty and always ready to do his duty to the utmost. Of the nearly one thousand men who were in that regiment, it is difficult to remember many individuals after this lapse of time, but my recollection of him seems very distinct. lle was a good soldier, who shrank from no duty. however laborious or dangerous. In private life, while always outspoken and independent in his expressions, he always commanded the sincere respect of his associates, and died as he had lived, surrounded by friends. He was always a student and thinker, and was one of the best informed men in our county. He was singularly quiet, retiring and reserved in his general deportment. though warm and abiding
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in his friendships. You could always tell just where to find him, and if you counted him as a friend you could confide in him and depend upon him under all circumstances. He led so quiet and unobtrusive a life that, aside from those who knew him intimately, he scarcely passed for his true worth. But a large concourse of people followed his remains to the grave and expressions of the deepest and kindliest sympathy for the man and his bereaved family were heard on every hand. In all the relations of life he acted the part of a true man and an exemplary citizen. High consideration was his honest due for in addi- tion to noble qualities of head and heart, he went out to fight for his country, and if need be to die that the nation might live."
Joseph M. Bone, Jr., died in Washington territory, November 3, 1884. He was but twenty-seven years old. He had been raised in Hamilton county and had married Miss Minnie Tremaine, daughter of Hon. Ira H. Tremaine. He had moved to Washington territory in hope of improving his health.
John W. Lee died at his home in Cass township, March 4, 1884. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 12, 1835. He was the eldest son of Daniel and Maria Lee and a brother of F. Q. Lee. He came to Hamilton county in 1858. He was married to Harriet E. Brewer in November, 1859, and at once settled in Cass township. In early life he was a school teacher and was county superintendent of schools from 1861 to 1865. He was a member of the board of supervisors that built the courthouse in 1876. By occupation he was a farmer and in his business transactions was successful.
On September 5 occurred the death of O. B. Vincent. He was a native of Pennsylvania and came to llamilton county in 1869. He was a prominent man in politics and in lodge work, being an active member of the Odd Fellows.
November 13, 1886, occurred the death of Albert Hoffman. He was born in Germany in 1835 and settled in Webster City in 1857. He was for some years a member of the hardware firm of Fairchild & Hoffman and in later years was city marshal and constable. He was well known and highly respected.
H. H. Johnson died December 9. 1887. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1847. During the war he was a member of Company A, 25th Fowa Infantry. After the war, he was admitted to the bar, but never practiced his profession. He was elected county superintendent of Hamilton county in 1877 and reelected in 1879 at the same time doing newspaper work. In 1882 he went to South Dakota and engaged in newspaper work, but two years later returned to Hamilton county too broken in health to follow any vocation. He left a wife and two children to mourn his death.
Otto W. Story died at his home in Cass township March 7. 1888. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, May 24, 1824. Was married to Phoebe Carver August 5, 1847. and came to Hamilton county in 1854, where he lived until the time of his death. He owned a farm about two miles from Webster City in Cass township. He left a wife, four sons and one daughter. The sons were "Park," Norman, Byron, Emery, the daughter's name was Ella. O. W. Story was a quiet, peaceable, honorable citizen.
Michael Sweeney died very suddenly and unexpectedly May 11, 1888. He had gone out for a walk after breakfast intending to visit some land a short dis- tance north of Webster City. About nine o'clock his lifeless body was discov- Vol. 1-27
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ered by 1 .. N. Maxon, lying in the road near the Maxon farm. Ile had evidently suffered from a stroke of apoplexy.
Michael Sweeney was born in Ireland in 1828 and moved to Hamilton county in 1855. He was a member of the Spirit Lake relief expedition in 1857. He was elected sheriff in 1861 and held the office four years and was afterwards appointed clerk of courts and held that position for eight years. He was un- married and his only heirs were distant relatives. He was a prominent figure in Hamilton county affairs from the day of his arrival to the day of his death.
Capt. Lewis Crary died June 4. 1888. He was born at Avon Springs, New York, on January 27. 1836, and came to Webster City in 1869, since which time he has been engaged in the hardware business. He had been mayor of Webster City from 1883 to 1887.
John W. Funk died on the morning of the 22d of September. Ile was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1827 and came to Hamilton county in 1858. For thirty years he was a familiar figure in Webster City, being usually employed as a bookkeeper in some of the banks.
F. J. McConnell died at his home in Independence township. December 14. 1889. He came to Hamilton county in 1856 and had been prominent in local affairs ever since. He was a native of Ireland, but in early boyhood moved to New York. While living in New York he was married to Armilla Cook. In his youth he was a molder by trade, but after coming West engaged in farming, which business he followed with good success.
Ulis Briggs died August 20, 1800, at sixty-nine years of age. He came to Hamilton county in 1857 and had resided here ever since.
Dewey S. Doolittle died at his home in Cass township January 9, 1891, aged sixty-one years. He was born in Vermont November 11. 1829. Moved to New York in 1843. He was married to Carolina Hays in 1851. Moved to Wisconsin in 1855 and to Hamilton county. Iowa, in 1865. Ile left two sons and five daugh- ters. lle was a farmer, well known and highly respected.
Chas. F. Fenton died at Webster City February 1. 1891. He was born in Salsbury, Herkemer county. New York, August 9, 1826, and came to Webster City in 1856. He was one of the owners of the pioneer steam sawmill. He en- gaged in real estate business for a while and later in life. in stock business. He established the Pioneer Lumber yard and shipped to Webster City the first lum- ber stock that came west of the lowa river to this region. Ile was one of the original incorporators of the First National Bank and was connected with that institution until the time of his death. He was a member of the board of super- visors in 1870 and again in 1885. He was married to Lyda A. Moore January 22, 1867 .. His wife and four daughters survived him.
John Meeks died at Webster City February 1. 1891. He was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, in 1828, and came to Webster City in 1856. He with Chas. Fenton who died the same day, hauled the printing outfit for the Hamilton Free- man from Dyersville with an ox team in 1857. Ile left a wife and two dangh- ters and one son surviving him.
"Lottie" Young Ilunter died May 11. 1891. She was a daughter of F. D. Young and wife of W. F. Hunter of the Freeman. She was about twenty-five years of age and a woman of unusual promise. She was born in Maine in 1865. Moved to Hamilton county with her parents in 1874. Graduated from the Web-
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ster City high school in 1884 and attended Cornell college at Mt. Vernon, Iowa. She was married to W. F. Hunter December 22, 1887.
Bayard Detlor, for twenty years a merchant in Webster City, died May 23, 1891: B. Detlor was born in Ontario in 1846 and came to Webster City in 1871 and immediately engaged in business. About four months prior to the time of his death, he began to shown signs of insanity and it was at last found necessary to send him to the hospital at Independence. On May 23 he escaped from the hospital and when found he was dead, having drowned in a small stream near the hospital.
December. 26, 1891. occurred the death of W. L. Church at Port Angeles, Washington, and as a tribute to his memory is reproduced an article appearing in the Port Angeles Democrat at the time :
"Capt. Wm. L. Church was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1862. 1n 1846 he enlisted in the Third Ohio Infantry and served in the Mexican war. In 1847 he returned from the war and was married to Louisa Jane Swanger. In 1851 he moved to Dekalb county. Indiana, and in 1853 was appointed lieutenant in Company G, Indiana State Militia. In 1855 he came to Hamilton county and a year later, moved to Springfield where his family was at the time of the Spirit Lake massacre. In the fall of 1857 he enlisted in the lowa Frontier Guards and became a lieutenant in one of the companies. At the breaking out of the Civil war. he enlisted in Company F, Second Iowa Cavalry, and was made lieutenant, but resigned about three months later. In Hamilton county he followed the business of farmer and auctioneer, and was very popular."
Henry Biernatzki died March 18, 1893. aged thirty-five years. lle was a son of Charles Biernatzki, Sr., and had lived in the county practically all his life. He was a good business man, well known and universally respected.
Benjamin Beach died in Webster City April 14, 1893. He was born in New Jersey, in 1829. He came to Hamilton county in 1854. Was married to Alvina Dulin in 1865. "Uncle Bennie" was an important factor in the pioneer history of Webster City.
Chas. Wickware died May 4. 1893. The following account of his life ap- peared in the "Annals of lowa:"
Lieut. Charles Wickware, who recently died at Webster City, was a heroic soldier of the army of the Potomac. He enlisted as a private, in the Sixth Ver- mont Infantry, near the beginning of the war. He was shot through the body at the battle of Savage Station. and lay all night on the battlefield, falling into the hands of the enemy. He was taken to Libby prison, but soon after exchanged, and under skilful treatment at the hospital in Philadelphia finally recovered so far as to be able to rejoin his regiment in the field. In the terrible battles in the Wilderness he lost an arm. He was promoted to lieutenant in a colored regiment and served gallantly to the close of the war. He settled at Webster City in 1868, and held many important offices in the city, county and district, serving with the utmost fidelity. He was an active and honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic from the time of its organization to the day of his death."
J. D. Sells died February 6. 1892. He was born in Ohio in 1818 and came to Hamilton county in 1857. Ile purchased land in both Hamilton and Wright counties and added to it until he owned about eleven hundred acres at the time
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of his death. Mr. Sells was the father of thirteen children-six by his first wife and seven by his second. He was one of the strong men of this part of the state.
Horace Segar died February 3, 1892. Ile was born in New York in 1816. Moved to Hamilton county in 1855. He located in Cass township and continued to reside there until his death. He left a wife and five children.
John R. Clark died in Hankinson, South Dakota, March 22, 1892, at the age of sixty-six. He was born in New York in 1816 and moved to Hamilton county in 1857 and settled on a farm in Cass township and lived there until 1881. He was the father of Will L. Clark, at one time editor of the Argus.
O. C. Donaldson, a pioneer shoe dealer, died April 3. 1892, aged sixty-two. Ile was born in Maryland in 1830, and came to Hamilton county in 1878. He was the father of Oscar F. Donaldson. He was a man of rare intelligence and unflinching integrity.
John Rhodes died in June, 1802. He came to Hamilton county in 1851, and built the first brick store building in Webster City. Ele moved to Indiana in 1867 and finally settled at Anamosa, where he died.
Allen Brock died at his home in Webster township December 23. 1893. Hle was born in Indiana in 1813. Moved to Hamilton county in 1855, settled on a farm near Saratoga and resided there until his death.
A. Ilaswell died in Webster City February 13. 1895. He was born in Ohio in 1832, moved to Hamilton county in 1856. His first wife was Julia A. Cun- ning who died in 1861. His second wife was Maggie Sinclare who survived him. Hle enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Towa Infantry August 12. 1862. was captured by the confederates in 1864 and was confined in Tyler prison in Texas for about fourteen months. He was honorably discharged from the Union army July 7. 1865. He was a man of good education, religiously inclined and often filled the pulpit of his home church. He was also a graphic writer.
Albert Cook died in February, 1895. He was born in Vermont in 1808. Came to Iowa in 1855 and moved to Hamilton county in 1865. He was a constant resi- dent of Webster City until the time of his death.
Mrs. Willson Brewer died Friday March 26, 1896. She came to where Web- ster City is now located in 1850 and was one of the first white women to live in Hamilton county. Her husband died in 1857. She survived him almost forty years and was eighty years old at the time of her death. She was born in Vir- ginia in 1816.
B. F. Miller died May 31. 1896. Hle was born in Virginia February 11, 1833 and he came to Webster City in 1867 and established the first bank in Webster City. what is now the Hamilton County State Bank. He later established the Farm- er's National Bank. He was a man of great force of character.
J. D. Stitzer died at his home near Homer July 4, 1896. He was born in Penn- sylvania in 1820, moved to Hamilton county in 1868.
John G. Bonner died at his home in Lakins Grove August 9. 1806. He was born in Maryland in 1800, was married to Mary Sedel in 1834 and came to Hamil- ton county in 1859.
Charles Biernatzki, Sr., died in Webster City August 14. 1896. He was born in Poland in 1819. where he served in the ranks of the rebellion in 1846. He came to Hamilton county in 1858 and located in Independence township.
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H. G. Culp died November 7. 1896. He was born in Marshall county, Iowa, in 1864. Came to llamilton county in 1892. Soon became engaged in the real estate business as a member of the firm of Culp and Lee. During his short life here he did probably more than any other man to advertise and boom Hamil- ton county land. His frequent trips to Illinois always resulted in scores of land seekers, who seeing our natural advantages, were only too eager to buy our land.
Lars Henryson died at his home in Randall November 14, 1896. He was born in Norway in March, 1822, and came to Hamilton county in 1858, being one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Randall. He was always a prominent figure in his portion of the county.
l'eter Lyon died at Webster City February 20, 1897. lie was born in Indiana in 1811. He moved to Hamilton county in 1852 and in 1868 moved to Kansas, but returned to Hamilton county in 1889. He was a typical pioneer.
A. J. Allen, a familiar figure, died May 26, 1897. He was born in New York in June. 1821. came to Webster City and engaged in harness business in 1871.
J. P. Allington died August 7, 1897. He was born in New York in 1820, came to lowa in 1856 and to Hamilton county in 1874.
Michael Foster died at his home in Cass township .August 28, 1897. Ile was born in France in 1819. came to the United States in 1840 and to Hamilton county in 1856. He had lived until his death in Cass township.
L. B. Hill died at the Hamilton County Poor House February 19, 1898. He was born in 1818 and was therefore eighty years of age. Ile came to Ilamilton county in 1854, engaged in farming and at one time was one of the wealthiest men in the county. He had for many years owned a fine farm within sight of the poor house, where he died, a county charge.
Geo. Shipp died November 18, 1897. The Freeman gives the following ac- count of his life :
"George Shipp was born in Center county, Pennsylvania. July 12. 1815. a son of James and Catherine ( Helman ) Shipp. His father was a native of Penn- sylvania and his mother of Maryland. When he was seven years old his par- ents moved to Wayne county. Ohio, where they were early settlers and where they lived the remainder of their lives. In 1833 George Shipp went to Millers- burg, Ohio, where he was employed as clerk in a mercantile house four years. He then returned to Wayne county and engaged in business for himself several years. In the spring of 1852, in company with a hundred men, he started over- land for California, taking with him two hundred head of cattle and a number of horses. They were five months on the road. After his arrival in California he engaged in stock raising, and remained two years, when he returned to Ohio and lived until 1856, when he came to Hamilton county, first locating on the farm which is now a part of Webster City. A few years later he embarked in the mercantile business and became an important factor in the growth and improvement of the town, and never withheld generous support from any good work. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers National Bank and was its vice president from the start. In the earlier history of the town Mr. Shipp was treasurer and recorder of Hamilton county two years."
Wm. Tatham, resident of Fremont township, died December 12, 1898. 1Ie was born in Ohio February 13. 1833. and came to Hamilton county in 1804.
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.After living here four years, he went back to Ohio, but in 1882 returned to Ilamilton county, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life.
C. H. Brockschink died February 7, 1899. He was born in Germany Feb- ruary 2, 1828. He came to America in 1852 and after living in Ohio a short time located in Webster county, Iowa, in 1857. He came to Hamilton county in 1864 and located in Freedom township. He was a successful farmer and a respected and honored citizen.
Mrs. J. W. Young died February 2, 1899. Margaret Young was born in Maine in 1844. She was married to J. W. Young in 1866 and came to Hamil- ton county in 1882. She had never enjoyed the best of health and the patience and fortitude with which she bore her suffering excited the admiration and sympathy of all who knew her.
R. N. Woodworth, for years a familiar figure in Webster City, died in Texas February 14. 1899. He came to Webster City about the year 1869 and engaged in real estate and abstract business. He enjoyed the confidence and respect of the people of Hamilton county.
Isaac Rothrock died at his home in Liberty township. February 8. 1890. He was born in Pennsylvania July 25. 1825. Came to Iowa in 1856 and to llamil- ton county in 1882. Hle was a farmer and lived for many years near Blairs- burg.
Jotham M. Lyon died March 21. 1899. He was the son of Peter Lyon and came to Hamilton county in 1852. He was born in Indiana August 1. 1837, and was married to Mary Willis in 1865. MIr. Lyon left the house to attend to some cattle and a short time later was discovered by Mrs. Lyon lying on the ground by the kitchen door unconscious. He never recovered.
T. A. Conklin was found dead in his buggy near his home in Webster City November 20. 1899. The coroner's jury pronounced his death due to heart failure. On the same day the family received a telegram announcing the death of Mr. Conklin's son Dudley at Great Falls, Montana.
Mr. Conklin came to Ilamilton county in the sixties. When he came here he purchased a fine farm in the suburbs of Webster City, where he lived for more than thirty years. He was a man of good education and took great interest in public matters.
O. W. Flicks, formerly editor of the Graphic Herald, died at the insane asylum Monday, October 9, 1899. He was a man of about thirty-six years of age, unusually bright and active and was a man of great promise. About four months prior to the time of his death he lost his reason and never recovered it.
Reuben S. Bennett. a pioneer bachelor, passed away in October. 1898. He left an estate valued at about $25,000. A woman from Montana by the name of Ruby J. Britt appeared and claimed that she was a daughter of Bennett's and heir to his estate. After a long trial, she won her case in court and was adjudged to be Bennett's sole heir. Reuben Bennett was a peculiar character and lived the life of a rechise. Ile was a man of strict honesty, and one who was moved by many generous impulses.
CHAPTER XXVIII THE MILLS OF THE COUNTY
By Effic Mckinlay Kantor
BRUCE MILL-BELL'S MILL-GROSECLOSE MILL-BONE'S MILL-TUNNEL MILL- CHASE MILL-TURBINE MILL-HARRIS MILL- THE STEAM MILL-THE MODEL MILLS-THE TEN EYCK MILLS.
A roof to shelter and a loaf of bread were the first needs of the pioneer home. The trapper or hunter could bake his corn cake over the hot ashes of a camp fire and find the sky's blue, and the thick leafy boughs of the woods enough for a shelter. But the settler needed a home; and a home meant a woman, children, four walls, a roof, and bread. So it was that the first activities were sawmills, then grist mills.
Water power was abundant, costing nothing but time and time had not then found its wings. With great labor the necessary machinery was carted with oxen from the eastern boundaries of the state and the production of boards and shingles was begun. As fast as money was forthcoming the sawmills added to them grist mills with two burrs if possible ; one for wheat and one for corn, and white bread was no longer a luxury. The early loaf was a far different production than our present one, for in the many processes of bolting and sift- ing, properties once found in wheat flour are eliminated and white bread has lost in flavor and nutrition. The dark nutty wholesome loaf has disappeared and in its place is one much whiter but with less flavor. Bread earned by the sweat of the brow always has more flavor, and no pioneer bread was forth- coming without hard labor.
In this narrative, particular care has been taken to go wherever possible to the mill-wright, the miller, and the man with the grist. They each have their story and their great part in making this one-time wilderness to blossom. Those who were here in the early fifties have but a few more years among ns, and indeed from many, it is too late to hear the story. Mill history gathers to itself poetry and sentiment as naturally as the early stone fences gathered to them- selves delicate vines and wild roses.
The locations of the mills were in the most picturesque spots, surrounded by deep woods, by the side of running water. by day the ring of the wood- cutter's ax, the hunt of turning mill wheels, the buzz of busy saw ; by night the soft voices of the wind from wood and water. Romance thrives on just such fare.
THE BRUCE MILL
The first mill of any kind in Hamilton county was three miles north of the mouth of Boone river near Stratford. This was built in 1851 or '52 by Bruce,
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a millwright and a miller. This was a grist mill with "nigger-head" burrs made of Iowa rock resembling granite. Later the name of Huffman seems to have been associated with this mill, but nothing more has been ascertained.
BELL'S MILL.
The second mill was built by David Eckerson, a Methodist preacher with some means. This was built in about 1853 near the site of Bell's mill. It was a grist mill and at first had corn burrs which also ground buckwheat. Later, having more means than the average settler, he installed wheat burrs. He had a flourishing business. This mill was run, as probably was the Bruce mill, with a wooden overshot water-wheel. It was widely patronized by settlers. for at the time of its building there was no other grist mill nearer than Story City on the east, northern Wright county on the north, or the Bruce mill on the south. But misfortune, like ill health always makes its appearance once in a lifetime, and one day it called upon David Eckerson forcing him to give up the mill. In 1867 it was bought, rebuilt and operated by Joseph Bone. A. A. Wicks of this city and MI. E. Pringle were among the carpenters on the mill. In 1869 Alan- son Bryan, father-in-law of Joseph Bone, came from Powesheik county to Hamilton county, buying a half interest in the mill. At this time James _1. Snodgrass, a Virginian, now of Vancouver, Washington, was the miller. Busi- ness was very prosperous with the mill, running day and night during the busy season in common with all busy mills. French burrs were imported and used in all flour mills of any pretensions. The valley between the beautiful hills was often dotted with teams in waiting. Joseph Bone built a new home for him- self on the brow of the hill above the mill. in addition to the old log one. 1Ie was regarded as not only a fine miller, but a man foremost in promoting good in the community ; an uplifting force in church or school affairs, patriotic to the core -an ideal frontiersman.
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