History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 62

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 62

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C. C. Gilman, of Eldora, was elected President of the new company, and great

credit is due him for the work accom- plished. By his energy and tact, com- bined with indomitable perseverance, ob- stacles were overcome that would have appalled men of less nerve. Under his administration the road was constructed north to Northwood, within six miles of the Minnesota line, and south to Albia, in Monroe county, thirty-six miles from the Missouri line.

The road not proving as profitable as anticipated, whether from want of good management or other causes is left for others to determine, it was placed in the hands of a receiver in 1874. D. N. Pick- ering, Esq., was appointed to the position, which he satisfactorily filled for some time. Subsequently resigning, Hon. J. B. Grinnell was appointed, and continued in the discharge of the duties of the office until the formation of a new company, which succeeded to all the rights and priv- ileges of the old.

On the 20th of May, 1879, articles of incorporation were filed in the office of the Secretary or State by Russell Sage and Charles Alexander, of the Central Iowa Railway Company, successors to the Cen- tral Railroad Company of Iowa. The ob- jects of the new company, as set forth in article 2, were to " acquire, construct, equip, maintain and operate a railway from the north to the south line. of the State of Iowa, embracing the present road and property, both real and personal, of the Central Railroad Company of Iowa, subject to the first mortgage, and to $3,700,000 of the first mortgage bonds ex- isting and now outstanding on thataprop- erty, which first mortgage bonds this com- pany assumes to pay, both principal and

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interest, in the manner hereinafter pro- vided, together with the legal debts of the receiver."

Isaac M. Cate was elected President of the new company; D. N. Pickering, Super- intendent; C. A. Jewett, General Passen- ger and Ticket Agent.

The Central Iowa Railway enters Har- din county on the north, on section 2, Etna Township, in the town of Ackley, and passes through in a southerly direction the townships of Etna, Clay, Eldora and Union, leaving the county from section 36, in the latter townships. By verging to the west, and returning east, it makes the number of miles traversed in the county, twenty-nine.

There are also six stations in the county -- Ackley, Abbott, Steamboat Rock, Eldora, Gifford and Union.

Conspicuous among Iowa men who have aided in developing the agricultural, mineral and other resources of the State through the agency of railroads, is Charles C. Gilman, projector and builder of the Central Railroad of Iowa, and its President and General Superintendent during its construction and operation, from 1867 to 1872 inclusive.

Charles Carroll Gilman was born on the 22d of February, 1833, in the town of Brooks, Waldo county, Maine, and was named by his parents Charles Carroll, after Charles Carroll, of Carrolton, the latest survivor of the signers of the Declar- ation of Independence, and who had died a few months before this son was born. The father of Charles, au eminent physi- cian, was a native of New Hampshire, and known as belonging to the Newmarket branch of the family. The mother, Lois

P. Gilman, nee Webb, was of the Pollard family from Kennebec county, Maine.

C. C. Gilman received an academic edu- cation in Frankfort, New Winterport, Maine, where he resided ten years; and fitted himself at home for the Sophomore Class at Waterville College, now Calby University, and at the same time con- pleted two years of study in a medical course with his father, who was a gradu- ate of Bowdoin. His health failed, Charles went to work at lumbering, and in two years gave up study entirely, and entered on what has proved to be, thus far, a very active business life.

In 1853 he started westward, halting three years in Michigan, conducting a saw mill in the summer and devoting the winter to exploring and locating pine lands owned by the Government; in 1857 he pushed further westward to Dubuque, Iowa, engaging in the wholesale lumber trade in that city; he established retail yards in 1858, and 1859 at Earlville, Dyers- ville, Independence, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Sand Springs, Anamasa, Monticello and Marion, towns on the Dubuque and Sioux City and Dubuque South western Railroads. In 1861 he devoted a short time to the enlisting of soldiers; raising four companies of infantry for the brigade of General F. J. Herron, his Dubuque neighbor and friend.

While the subject of this sketch has ever since his residence in Iowa, main- tained a large private business in conjunc- tion with partners, his chief labors have been expended on what he is pleased to call outside operations.

In 1858, the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad coming to a halt on the prairie,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

thirty-eight miles west of Dubuque, he started the town of Earlville, by building twenty-eight stores and dwelling houses in that year and the following. In 1860 and 1861 he built grain elevators at Monticello, Marion and Cedar Falls, and opened a large farm in Delaware county About this time he purchased a water privilege on the Maquoketa river, north of Cascade, erected a flouring mill and saw mill, and founded a town called Hillsdale. In 1864, by a series of able articles in the Dubuque and St. Louis daily papers, he called the atten- tion of the public to the necessity of unim- peded navigation of the Mississippi river as a competing outlet to the products of the Mississippi valley, which resulted, after great personal effort on the part of Mr. Gilman, in conventions being held at Du- buque and St. Louis, and finally in appro- priations by Congress, which have removed the rapids near Davenport and Keokuk.

General William Vandever, B. B. Rich- ards, Patrick Robb, and others, were his faithful coadjutors in the great work.

In 1865, in conjunction with other active business men of Dubuque, he secured the incorporation of the Dubuque Produce Exchange, an institution which will .long be remembered by the citizens of that place as inaugurating a new era in Du- buque's relations to the surrounding country tributary to it, the good effects of which are felt to this day.

In 1866 Mr. Gilman made the first sound- ings of the Mississippi at Dubuque, with the view of erecting a bridge, and the next year was appointed chairman of a conven- tion by the Produce Exchange, whose duties were to call a public meeting for the purpose of incorporating a company to

build it. This was done; and, although not built by the company thus formed, the result was the immediate organization of the Dubuque and Dunleith Bridge Com- pany, which erected the beautiful structure which now spans the river at that point.

In this effort Mr. Gilman was ably sec- onded by Hon. Platt Smith, Hon. William B. Allison and Henry L. Stout.

In 1868 he bought out all the parties identified with the Eldora Railroad and Coal Company, went to New York and formed a new company, and engaged the services of W. B. Shattuck as financial agent (the man who had previously sold the 10-40 government bonds, as well as the bonds of the Union Pacific Railroad).

The bonds of the Iowa road were promptly sold, and the road as promptly built, 132 miles of the 208 miles. The peculiar feature of this transaction was the fact that no land grant or subsidy was attached to the project, and for the first time in the history of western railroad en- terprises, 200 miles of railroad were built on the merits which a surrounding country alone offered for business.

The Central Railroad of Iowa, extending from Albia, Monroe county, to North- wood, in Worth county, was the first north and south road built in the State, and bid fair to be the most important. In 1870, when this line, which was built in sections, was united in Mahaska county, at North Skunk river bridge, with loaded freight. trains from the north and south waiting to pass, President Gilman happily remarked, as he drove the last spike, "To Southern Iowa we have brought the lum- ber of Minnesota; to Northern Iowa and Minnesota we introduce the cheap fuel,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

the magnificent coal of Mahaska county." Mr. Gilman resigned the Presidency of this railroad in 1873, and immediately commenced mining coal in Mahaska county, in connection with his old Secre- tary, H. W. McNeill, forming a company for the purpose under the name of the Consolidation Company. These works increased from a delivery of 110 cars in 1871 to 12,780 in 1875. In this year he sold his interest to Hon. Ezekiel Clark, of Iowa City, and immediately began to de- velope the resources about his new home in Eldora, to which place he had removed from Dubuque in 1867. This he did by organizing a company for the manufacture of sewer-pipe, drain-tile and terra cotta from the superior fire-clay which abounds in this region.

The company is known as the "Gilman Terra Cotta and Fire Clay Company," and bids fair to become one of the most im- portant manufactories in Iowa. Of this company he is President and chief owner, as well, also, of the telegraph company whose headquarters are at Eldora. In August, 1858, he married Miss Abbie Williams, of Saginaw, Michigan. Mr. Gilman is a man of indomitable energy, and great force, both of character and intellect. He is a solid thinker on practi- cal subjects, a ready writer, a splendid organizer of physical forces, and uses his hands as well as his brains in carrying for- ward a great enterprise to completion. To just such men the present age owes the glory of its progress.

Chicago and Northwestern.

The Toledo Branch of the Chicago and . Northwestern Railroad, was originally

known as the Toledo and Northwestern Railroad, and was only three miles long. It was built in 1870, from Tama to Toledo, in Tama county, Iowa. In the summer of 1880, it was purchased by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and during that season was extended to Hubbard, in Har- din county, and in 1881 was extended still farther west.

The road strikes Hardin county at the town of Whitten, running almost west through the townships of Union, Pleasant, Tipton and Sherman, with 24.81 miles of road. It has five stations in the county- Whitten, Giffort, Lawn Hill, Hubbard and Radcliff, the towns built up around each, excepting Gifford, being originally owned by the railroad company.

Burlington 'and Cedar Rapids.

The Pacific Division of the Burlington and Cedar Rapids Railroad was built through Hardin county in 1881. It enters the county on section 1, Clay township, and crossing the Central Iowa Railway about a mile north of Abbott, runs through Iowa Falls, leaving the county from sec- tion 3, township 89, range 21, west of the 5th principal meridian. The road oper- ates three stations in the county-Cleves, Robertson and Iowa Falls-and has eighteen miles of line.

Projected Railroad.

The Minnessota, Iowa and South western Railway Company was incorporated May 20, 1881, for the purpose of building and operating a railroad from La Crescent, Minn., opposite La Crosse, Wis., to some point on the Missouri river. The road designs striking Ackley and running south- west through Hardin county. Dr. J. S. Kelso and John Rath, of Ackley, are among the incorporators and directors.

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY. 515

CHAPTER XX.

ALDEN TOWNSHIP.

The township of Alden was so named in honor of Henry Alden, one of its first settlers. It is located in the northwest part of Hardin county, and comprises all of Congressional township 89, range 22, and the west half of township 89, range 21 It is bounded on the north by Franklin county, on the south by Buckeye and Ellis townships, on the east by Hardin town- ship, and on the west by Hamilton county.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the township was made by Dr. John Crawford, who came here in 1851, and located on section 1, township 89, range 22, where he remained for some time, and subsequently moved to Nebraska, where he now resides.

Pleasant Jones came here from the southern part of the county in the fall of 1852, and located on section 12, on land now owned by U. D. Palmer, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Guthrie county.

Thomas M. Bailey came here from Indi- ana in the fall of 1852, and located on the northwest .quarter of section 12, on land now owned by Mr. Holts, where he re- mained until 1865, when he removed to Guthrie county, and subsequently to Mis- souri, where he now resides.

J. L. Hitt came here from Indiana in the spring of 1853, and located on section 18, township 89, range 21, on land now owned by Joseph Furry, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to Nebraska, where he now resides.

Asher Bolden came here from Indiana during the fall of 1852, and located on section 20, township 89, range 21, where he died, in October, 1857, of lung fever. His body was interred on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 12.

William Myers also came from Indiana, arriving here in the spring of 1853, and locating on section 1, township 89, range 22, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1863. His body was interred in the old cemetery. His widow, Mrs. Julia A. Myers, is the oldest living settler in the township.

Philemon Plummer came from Indiana in the spring of 1853, and located on sec- tion 13, township 89, range 22, on land now owned by L. H. Utley, where he lived until 1857, when he moved to Guthrie county. From Guthrie county he moved to Missouri at a subsequent date, and from thence to Oregon, where he now resides.

Sumner Kemp came here from Massa- chusetts, in company with Henry Alden.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

They arrived here in 1854. Mr. Kemp soon after took up a claim on section 13, township 89, range 22, where he still re- sides. Mr. Alden located on section 18, township 89, range 21, where he died in 1877.

OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.

Wm. Myers was born in Virginia, Octo- ber 15, 1816. His early life was spent in Indiana, where he was married to Julia A. Deere, December 9, 1841. She was born at Anderson, Ky., August 22, 1826. In 1853 they came west, driving through to Alden with ox teams, taking them six weeks to make the trip. Here they settled on section 1, where Mrs. Myers died April 3, 1863. Mr. Myers is the oldest living settler in the township. Their children are: Jennie, now the wife of J. M. White, of Furness county, Neb; Julia A., wife of W. A. Caraway, of Ellis township; Flora and Charles.

John Barrett, a son of Levi and Lydia (Page) Barrett, was born in Windom county, Vermont, February 4,, 1828. In 1832 his parents moved to New York State, where he was engaged in farming until 1854, when he came to Hardin county and located on section 16, buying a farm of 160 acres, but did not make any im- provements for some time. Mr. Barrett has been one of the township trustees for the past six years. He was married in 1861 to Mary A. Livengood, who came with her parents to this county in 1853. Four children were born to them-Har- riet E, Francis E., Thomas E. and Arthur E. His wife died in 1872. He was mar- ried to Martha A. Holden, a native of Mis- souri, in 1873. Two children have blessed

this union-Clarence Levi and Homer George.

Sumner Kemp is a son of Lawrence and Mary (Steward) Kemp, and was born in Shelbourne, Franklin county, Mass., Feb- ruary 6, 1833. He was reared on a farm, and received a good common school educa- tion at the district schools of that day. In June, 1854, he came west, meeting Henry Alden at Naperville, Illinois, where they bought an ox team and wagon and started westward, crossing the Mississippi river at Dubuque, and coming thence west to the Cedar river, which they struck at Jones- ville, their intention being to locate a mill site. After wandering about for some time, they finally found Thomas Bailey, and oth- ers, on a hunting expedition up the Iowa river; from them they learned of a location on the Iowa; descending that stream, they came to the present location of the village of Alden, and pitched their tents. Soon after Mr. Kemp started for Fort Des Moines to enter land for himself and Mr. Alden, which he did. He, in company with Ira Plummer, made the entire journey on foot, wading swamps and rivers, which at that season of the year were overflowing. The trip lasted seven days. While there he entered 80 acres for himself and 120 for Alden. They soon after began to build a mill, but he soon after sold his interest to Alden, and, in 1856, began to improve his farm, and succeeded in planting eigh- teen acres to sod corn the first year. Dur- ing this summer he had built his house. December 25, 1856, he was married, in Henry county, Iowa, to Miss Hannah E. Button, daughter of Albert and Mary (Col- lins) Button. Mr. Kemp has held the office of township trustee several times.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

He enlisted in September, 1861, in Com- pany `A, Twelfth Iowa Infantry, under Captain S. R. Edgington. During the battle of Shiloh he was Orderly for Gen- eral Tuttle. His own regiment being taken prisoners at that battle, he was put on detached service, and afterward served as clerk in the Provost Marshal's office at Cairo, Illinois, and afterward at Vicksburg. He was on the expedition up the Red river, with General Banks.

Five children have been born to them Four are now living: Eva, now the wife of Charles Rummel, living at Ellsworth; Cora, now the wife of Frank Joslin, of Alden; Mary and Charles Sumner.

Joseph Furry is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in that State in 1814. His parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio when Joseph was quite young, and from thence to Rush county, Indiana, in 1822. In this county he grew to manhood, receiving a limited common school educa- tion, and doing his share of work upon the farm of his parents. In 1836, he mar- ried Rosanna Logan, in Rush county. Five children were born unto them-three living: Mary R., now Mrs. J. Q. Patterson, of El- dora; A. R., in business in Alden; Arvilla, now Mrs. Augustus Patterson, residing in Missouri. After his marriage, Mr. Furry removed with his family to Marshall county, in the same State, where they resided for some years. Mrs. Furry died in 1848. In 1850 Mr. Furry married Sarah R. Stancliff, of Elkhart county, Indiana, a native of New York, born in 1822, and who came to that county in 1836. They have had four children, three of whom are yet living-Charlie L., Frank E., Mark J. In 1854, the family moved to Iowa, arriving

at Eldora the 12th day of January. As there was no place to stop in Eldora, they were compelled to go to Isaac Lesh's, in Clay township, where they spent a few days, then to Steamboat Rock; Mr. Furry in the meantime erecting a two story frame building in Eldora, the first story designed as a store-room, and the upper for a dwell- ing. Into this they moved in the spring, Mr. Furry opening a stock of general merchandise in the room designed for that purpose. In 1862, this building was burned, and another at once erected, Mr. Furry continuing in the business until 1864, when he sold out and removed to Alden, where he purchased a farm. For the first year after his arrival in Alden, he continued the mercantile business. Sub- sequently he engaged in the grain and stock business in connection with farming, in which he continued two years. He then disposed of his interest in that busi- ness, and embarked in the mercantile trade, establishing the business now conducted by his son, A. R. Furry. While still retaining his residence in Alden, he has for the past two years been engaged in stock mining in Colorado.

Henry Alden, the founder of the village of Alden, and from whom the village de- rives its name, was born at Ashfield, Mass., in 1801. While there he was engaged in farming, and in 1841 he came West to Du- Page county, Ill., remaining a short time, and then returned to Massachusetts. In 1854 he returned to Naperville, Ill., and in June, 1864, he, in company with Sum- ner Kemp, came to Iowa and located at Alden. He entered the land where Alden now stands, and began the erection of a inill and laid out the town. From the time

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

of his arrival he entered into the building up of his town with great zeal, and spared neither time or money to make it all his fancy pictured. He did all in his power to induce a settlement of the place. He was a very public-spirited citizen, and gave a great deal of the money he accumulated, that others might be benefited thereby. His favorite quotation was, “An honest man is the noblest work of God," and his great aim in life was to prove himself one of the noblest. He departed this life in September, 1877. He was married to Miss Anna Richmond, a native of Ashfield, Massachusetts. She bore him seven chil- dren, four of whom are now living: Phi- lena, now the wife of Frank Mason, of Alden; Sophia, now the wife of Martin Pritchard, the present Mayor of Alden; Eliza, wife of Wm. H. Connell, of Dela- ware county; Henry, now living at Alden. His wife died in February, 1877.

W. H. Foote, a son of Jonathan and Eleanor (Simpson) Foote, was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., Jan- uary 10, 1824, where he remained until 1834, when he removed with friends to Preble county, Ohio, and afterward to Sus- quehanna county, Pennsylvania. In 1845 he came west to Madison, Wisconsin, where he established an express line, known as Foote's Express, between Madison and Milwaukee, which he ran for ten years.

In 1855 Mr. Foote came to Hardin county, and April 1, of that year, located on section 16 of Alden township, where he has since resided. He was married in 1847 to Miss Emily A. Rouse, daughter of Gilbert Rouse, of Williamsville, N. Y. They have one daughter living-Emma

M., now the wife of J. D. Mckay, of Iowa Falls.

J. C. Sperry is a son of Lewis and Maria (Hotchkiss) Sperry, and was born in Woodbridge, New Haven county, Connec- ticut, May 20, 1834. In 1840 his parents moved to Litchfield county; here he re- ceived a good common school education. In 1855, in company with his brother S. H., Joshua Smith and Joseph Loveland, he came to Davenport, Iowa, and thence on foot to Fort Dodge, where he remained until December of that year; then, in com- pany with S. H., J. Allen Spencer and Mr. Chaffee, he came to Alden. In 1856 he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1857 he returned to Connecticut, and in 1860 he went to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining five years. In 1865 he returned to Alden, and the next year went to Den- ver, driving a team through from Omaha, Nebraska, and returned the same year.

Mr. Sperry has held the office of town clerk, and is at present a member of the village council. He was married in 1867 to Miss Mattie Lovejoy, a native of Ver- mont. Their children are Willis W. and Burton L.

Jesse Rogers, one of Alden's most esteemed citizens, and one of the pioneers, was born in Broome county, New York, March 10, 1809. He is a son of Nathaniel and Lucy (Fuller) Rogers. His early life was spent on a farm. His educational advantages were the district schools of those days, but he made the best use of his time, and soon arose to the position of teacher. In 1831 he made a profession of religion, and his name was enrolled as one of the members of the Congregational church of Triangle, New York. Mr.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Rogers has never regretted this important event in his life, and wherever his lot has been cast he has always been in the fore- most ranks, fighting for the right. In 1840 he went to Marathon, Courtland county, New York, and was engaged in the produce trade, between there and New York City, until 1856, when he came West and located on a farm near the village of Alden, on which he lived until 1870. It was mainly through his efforts that the Congregational church was organized at this place, and it is largely owing to his untiring zeal that it is now in its flourish- ing condition.

He was married in 1829 to Miss Han- nah Saxton, a native of Long Island. Nine children were born to them, tive of whom are now living: Fanny E., now the wife of L. H. Uttley, of Alden; Fidelia, wife of J. Allen Spencer; Helen M., wife of Peter Taylor; De Witt C., a resident of New York City; Rorillus Rollin, a graduate of Oberlin, and now principal of the James- town Academy, Jamestown, N. Y. His wife died in July, 1852. He was married in 1853 to Mrs. Lucy B. Todd, widow of John Todd, of Lisle, N. Y. Three daughters were born to them. Alice E., who died at 14 years of age; Eva, wife of O. S. Cleve- land, of Alden; Jennie J., wife of Marion George, of Williams. His second wife died in October, 1865. He was married in 1866 to Mrs. C. M. Smith, of Homer, New York, his present wife.

At the organization of the Hardin County Agricultural Society he was made Vice- President, which office he held one year, he then was President two years. In pol- itics he is a staunch Republican, and has

always been an ardent worker in the tem- perance cause.

Mr. Rogers is a man who is very highly respected and beloved by all who know him.

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History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 62

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002