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 73

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 73

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New York. His present wife was Ellen K. Shaw, a native of Maine. He has seven children by his first wife, and one daugh- ter-Mary Frances-by his present wife.

Henry F. Fol'ett is a native of New England, born in 1824. When twenty- eight years of age, he removed to Wiscon- sin, and settled in Waushara county. Mrs. Follett was formerly Miss Cordelia Minor, born in Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Fol- lett have two children-Almeda, wife of Mr. H. Hall, and one son, Hobart. Mr. Follett is not one of the early settlers of Hardin county. He came here in 1876, and purchased the farm of Morris Hughes, who was the original owner of the farm. Mr. Follett is an intelligent gentleman, and a thorough and successful farmer. He has about five hundred acres of land. . His residence is on section 15.

TOWN OF XENIA.

The town of Xenia was platted, June 1, 1857, by Robert Allison, Deputy County Surveyor, on land owned by John Parham. It is situated on the southwest quarter of section 28, township 87, north of range 19, west of the 5th principal meridian. Its proximity to Eldora, the county seat, has always operated against the town, though at one time it was quite a flourishing little village, with a general store, blacksmith and wagon shop, a fine mill, and some fifteen or twenty dwelling houses. The mill yet stands, owned and run by S. W. Tash, one of the large land owners of Hardin county.

The Xenia school has always been pro- bounced one of the best in the county. For seven years it was presided over by Howard G. Fuller, the present efficient

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

County Superintendent of Public Schools. Mr. Fuller put a little of the same energy into this school, he now exercises in the discharge of the duties of his present office. A large number of teachers have been turned out of his school.

Xenia to-day has only the mill, and half dozen or a dozen houses to mark the site of the village. The Postoffice Department discontinued the mail service to this point some years ago, so that now it is dependent on Eldora for its mail facilities.

BUNKER HILL CITY.

The Bunker family were quite noted in the early history of Hardin county. They were acknowledged hard cases, and much of the crime committed during the first decade of the county's existence was laid at their doors. The family consisted of a mother and five sons and four daughters. Notwithstanding the ill-repute in which they were held, like better men, they had their dreams of untold wealth derived from the sale of town lots; and therefore, in the fall of 1856, they had surveyed and platted a town, to which they gave the name of Bunker Hill City, not to com- memorate the glorious deeds of our Revo- lutionary fathers, who, on historic ground in old Massachusetts, from Bunker Hill, peppered the British who proposed to chastise them, but to commemorate their own name.

The location of the town is described in the plat as being on the south half of the northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 13, town- ship 87, range 19. The plat was beautiful, but the town did not materialize. Settlers were not attracted to it. The site of the

town is now owned by Gardner Spencer and A. Tucker, and has long since been vacated.

FLOURING MILL.

The Eldora Flouring Mills, now owned by Messrs. S. G. Copp & D. G. Meader, have four run of burrs. The size of the mill is 36 by 40 feet, and the capacity 250 bushels of wheat per day of 24 hours. The mill was built by Brown & Temple, in 1867. Mr. E. K. Brown, the builder of the mill, owned and operated it till 1875, when he sold to Mr. Copp.

Mr. Copp is a native of Maine. He set- tled early in Grundy county, locating at what is now Grundy Center, in 1855. He 1 purchased this mill in 1875.

Mr. D. G. Meader, who owns one-half interest in the mill, was born in the town of Ellsworth, Hancock county, Maine, in 1836. He learned the trade of a cabinet- maker, and followed that business for many years. He came to Eldora in Feb- ruary, 1864, and was engaged in the cabi- net-making business for three years. He has been connected with the mill for sev- eral years, and purchased one-half interest in the same in the spring- of 1864. He married Miss Aggie C. Copp, a daughter of Mr. T. G. Copp. Mrs. Meader was born in Boston, Mass. They have four children, viz: George Willoughby, Harry, Thomas and Jessie May. They lost two daughters-Hattie and Maggie.

TOWN OF ELDORA.

Eldora, the shire town of Hardin county, was laid ont in 1853. In June, 1853, John Hockett, of Marshall county, and Mr. Mc- Daniels, of Story county, were appointed

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

by Judge Cassiday, of this Judicial Dis- trict, commissioners to locate the county seat of this county. In the discharge of their duties, they came to the county, and after visiting various portions, and taking into consideration the fact that it was centrally located as to population, they selected the present site of the town and called upon Mrs. S. R. Edgington to give it a name. Having just read a story in a religious magazine, and being deeply im- pressed with it, in which the heroine was named Eldora, she suggested that name. It was accepted by the commissioners, and the shire town of Hardin county was thus named Eldora-a beautiful name, indeed, the only town so named in all this broad land. With many it was thought the name was suggested by the term Eldorado, which was at that time often quoted in referring to the gold regions of California-the El- dorado of the West. But Mrs. Edgington says that the thought that Eldora was a contraction of that word never entered her mind, but was suggested in the manner stated.

At the time the location was chosen, the east half of the town site was owned by James H. Drain, then a resident of McLean county, Ill. After the county seat was lo- cated, the west half of the town site was en- tered by S. L. Higenbotham and R. G. King, who deeded the same to the county on receiving the amount paid by them for the land.

Eldora was surveyed and platted by John Shepherd, County Surveyor, in July, 1853. On the 25th day of that month, the first · public sale of town lots was held,

The first lot offered for sale was the cor- ner lot on which J. H. Smith's brick block

now stands, on the northwest corner of the square, and was sold to George Atwater, for $22.50. The second lot was sold to S. R. Edgington, and was on the southwest corner, the one on which the Edgington House now stands. It brought the sum of $40.25.

In August, 1853, the Edgington Broth- ers contracted with James H. Tucker, to build them a frame store building. Mr. Tucker immediately began the erection of the same, but was delayed in getting lum- ber, but completed the building December 1, 1853. This was the first frame building erected in Hardin county, and was all from lumber sawed in the county, the greater part being from Rice & Williamson's mill, above the present town of Steamboat Rock, and the remainder from White & Talbott's mill, at the present site of Iowa Falls. The first story of this building was occupied as a store by the Edgington Brothers, and the upper story as a resi- dence by Jonathan Edgington.

In October, 1853, Mr. Hulbert built a hewed log house, and occupied it as a resi- dence and tin shop. This was the first building completed and occupied in the town.

The third building was erected by James D. Putman, the first Clerk of the District Court for Hardin county. It was a log house, and completed some time dur- ing the latter part of December, 1853.

POSTOFFICES.

The mail facilities of the pioneers of Hardin county were not very satisfactory, the nearest postoffice being Mormon Ridge, in Marshall county, about 20 miles from Eldora, though the greater number of the

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

inhabitants patronized the Marietta, Mar- shall county, postoffice, though the distance was five miles further. In January, 1854, the Postoffice Department at Washington was influenced to establish an office at Eldora, the newly located county seat of Hardin county. John Ellsworth was the first postmaster, receiving his appointment rom President Pierce. The office was established on condition that the General Government should not be put to the expense of a mail route, until the popula- tion increased to such a number as would warrant the expense. The Edgington Brothers, who had just established them- selves in business in the place, agreed to carry the mail for a small sum pledged by the citizens, but a small portion of which was ever paid, however, but the people re- ceived their mail, what little there was of. it. Mr. Ellsworth, who was then living about a mile south of the village, made the Edgington Brothers his deputies, and they discharged the duties of the office for some time.

The first mail was carried to the office from Marietta in a pocket handkerchief, In a short time the mail matter increased to such an extent that a flour sack was used, and, finally, the Government provided a regular mail pouch. The Eldoraites felt a little proud when the necessities of the office required such an outlay on the part of the General Government.

John Ellsworth, the first postmaster of Eldora, was a native of Pennsylvania, but settled in Ohio at an early day, from which State he came to Iowa, and to Hardin county in 1853. He was a good old man, with but a very limited education. He erected the first hotel in Hardin county, or

rather, made the first public announcement that he was prepared to entertain travelers, Previous to this time every settler's cabin was a hotel, and all were welcome to par-" take of the hospitalities of the pioneers, even if no bed could be provided. Some of the best men in the land have enjoyed a good night's rest on the puncheon floor of those whose " latch strings always hung out." Mr. Ellsworth has long since been "gathered to his fathers "

Mr. Ellsworth subsequently resigned, and was succeeded by Alexander Smith, and he by D. F. Ellsworth-Freeman Ells- worth, as he is known by every old settler in the county. For many years he "kept hotel" in Eldora, and has royally enter- tained thousands of travelers. He was the first attorney admitted to the Bar in Har- din county, but never gave special atten- tion to the duties of the profession. He was, and is to-day, a Democrat of the old school, and swears by Jackson and all the other great apostles of Democracy. He has, on more than one occasion, led the "forlorn hope" in county and State. On the incoming of the administration of Abraham Lincoln, he had to "step down and out" of the postoffice.

J. D. Hunter succeeded Freeman Ells- worth. Mr. Hunter is well known to all the early settlers of the county, and was for some years editor of the Hardin County Sentinel, the first paper published in the county. He now resides in Webster City, and is one of the proprietors of the Ham- ilton County Freeman.

W. C. Brown was the next appointee, and was in turn succeeded by Clarence Burling. ·

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Joseph Edgington, the present post- master, was the successor of Mr. Burling.

From a small beginning, the office has grown to be one of some importance. Instead of one mail semi-occasionally, brought to the office in a pocket-handker- chief, four daily, several weekly and semi- weekly mails are received.

On the 9th day of September, 1867, a money-order department was established at this office. On that day the first order was drawn by Rev. P. H. Crider, for the sum of $10, in favor of G. H. Campbell, Lincoln, Ill. During the first year there were 790 orders issued, amounting to $19,- 776.95.

HOTELS.

The American people are a nation of travelers. They are continually coming and going, traveling for health, on busi- ness, or seeking a new location where the "almighty dollar" might be coined just a little faster. Public houses have to be provided for all such.

John Ellsworth is the pioneer inn-keeper of Hardin county. In the summer of 1853, at his cabin, about one mile south of the present town of Eldora, he swung to the breeze a bran new sign, informing the public that he was prepared to give "en- tertainment to man or beast." At this time every man's cabin was a public house, and every honest traveler was duly wel- comed and given the best in the house. No style was observed in these cabins; the food on the table was placed there to be eaten, and it was the guest's fault if he left the table hungry. There was no great variety, but it was generally of a whole- some character and easily digestible to

those living an out-door life, and who were possessed of a clear conscience. Har- din county now possessed a hotel, and the poor settler began to congratulate himself that it was no longer necessary to send his children out to sleep in the hay-mow, in order to give a traveling stranger the soft side of a puncheon floor on which to rest comfortably after a day's hard journey. This hotel was well patronized, as during the year there were a great many visiting the county in search of a location, and some to search for the gold supposed to be hidden along the Iowa river.

But the town of Eldora, the county seat of Hardin county, was to be built, and Mr. Ellsworth, fearing that, like Othello, his occupation would soon be gone if he remained in that locality, concluded that he would erect a better house in the flour- ishing city that was to be. In the sum- mer of 1854, he erected a two-story frame building where the Ellsworth House now stands. In this, Mr. Ellsworth was quite unfortunate, for scarcely had he occupied it when it was burned to the ground. This was the first fire in Eldora.

After being burned out, Mr. Ellsworth sold the ground to D. F. Ellsworth, who re- built on the same site during the summer of 1855, and opened a hotel under the name of the Eastern House. After running the house several years, he sold out to W. A. Fuller, who continued it until the fall of 1866, when it was purchased by B. E. Deyo, who remained in charge four years, and then sold the house to S. G. Winchester, who yet is the owner. Mr. Winchester never undertook to run the house himself, but has leased it to various parties, among whom were D. F. Ellsworth,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

A. C. Harris, John Cheny, Mr. Cooly and Nelson Gibbs. The latter gentleman changed the name to the Gibbs House. After running it a short time, Mr. Gibbs retired, and D. F. Ellsworth again leased it. This was in 1876. He changed the name to the Ellsworth House, which name it yet retains. B. E. Deyeo subsequently leased the house, and is yet the accom- modating landlord. The table of this house is praised by all its guests, and everything is done by Mr. Deyeo and his assistants to render it pleasant to his patrons.

In 1856, John Ellsworth, notwithstand- ing his unfortunate experience, concluded again to embark in the hotel business, and therefore erected the present city hotel building, to which he gave the name of Eldora Hotel. He ran the house about two years, and was succeeded by James B. Sanford as lessee. The Edgington Brothers bought the property and Jonathan Edgington became the landlord. The house has since been run by George Per- kins, Philip Shintaffer, Dan. V. Ellsworth, D. F. Ellsworth, Charles Tucker and W. A. Fuller, the last named subsequently pur- chasing the house. Mr. Fuller changed the name from Eldorato City Hotel, by which it is now known. During the summer of 1882, Mr. Fuller made extensive improve- ments in the house.

In 1875 the Commercial House was started by C. W. Tucker and S. R. Edging- ton. The house was run under this name about three months, when Mr. Tucker retired, S. R. Edgington becoming sole pro- prietor. The name of the house was now changed to Edgington House, by which name it is yet known. In 1876, Mr.

Edgington admitted his son, M. L. Edging- ton, into partnership, the firm named being S. R. Edgington & Son. In the summer of 1882, S. R. Edgington, Jr. was admitted, the firm name now being S. R. Edgington & Sons. The main part of the hotel build- ing was erected in 1857, by the Edgington Brothers, and for eighteen years was used by them for mercantile business. This is the largest house in the town, with good rooms and it is a pleasant place to stop.

Willis A. Fuller, proprietor of the City Hotel, was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1814. He removed when a lad to Genesee county with his parents. His father, Emmons Fuller, was a native of the State of Massachusetts. The family removed from Western New York to Cuy- ahoga county, Ohio, when Willis A. was about nineteen years of age. Mr. Fuller lived in Cleveland, Ohio for many years, and came to Hardin county in the summer of 1856, and has been a resident of Eldora since that time. In August, 1856, he began keeping the hotel known as the Eastern House, which was a part of what is now the Ellsworth House; he increased that house to its present dimensions, and built the barn in 1857. He owned and kept this house for twelve years, when he sold it to D. F. Ellsworth, from whom it derived its present name. Soon after he sold the Ellsworth House, he came into possession of his present hotel, then known as the Eldora House, which he kept for three years. He then built the residence now owned by Mr. James Reynolds, which occupies one of the finest locations in the village of Eldora, where he lived for several years. In the fall of 1875, he bought what is now known as the Metro-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

politan Bakery, Confectionery and Res- taurant, which he kept for three years. He then again came into possession of his present hotel. He married Eliza Sanders, born in Virginia, but living in Cleveland, Ohio, where they were married. They have five children-Ida May, Frank P., Willis K., Minnie May and Edwin S.

B. E. Deyeo, proprietor of the Ells- worth House, is a native of Orange county, N. Y., where he was born January 1, 1837. He removed with his parents to Dixon, Ill., when but five years of age, where his father, Solomon Deyeo, resided till his death, in 1862. Mr. Deyeo went to Cali- fornia, where he remained about two years. He came back in the fall of 1866, and bought the Ellsworth House of D. F. Ellsworth, which, after four years, he sold to Mr. Winchester, but still owns the livery and stables in connection with the house. Mrs. Deyeo was formerly Miss Josephine Simpson, born in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Deyeo are the parents of three children.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services held in the town were at the private residences of citizens. Rev. J. R. Lowrance doubtless preached the first discourse, though Rev. E. C. Crippin and Rev. J. W. Stewart were here about the same time.

A class was formed in Eldora, of mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1854, by Rev. J. W. Stewart. For many years the society worshipped in the school house and in the court room of the court house. In 1866 it was resolved to erect a church building, and for the pur- pose of furnishing it when completed, the

ladies of the church organized under the name of the Eldora Ladies' Methodist Episcopal Church Aid Society, with Mrs. E. R. Edgington as President. During the year 1867, but little was done to fur- ther the enterprise, save by the ladies, who, with nimble fingers, kept at work making and selling such articles as would be of ready sale, until in the spring of 1868, they had a fund of $600. This sum was invested in lumber bought in Du- buque, and the work commenced. On the 4th of July, they held a festival, in which they cleared $130, which was also added to the general fund. Some means was raised by subscription among the male members of the Church, and the work was pushed as rapidly as possible. The build- ing was completed in 1869, and duly dedi- cated to the service of Almighty God. In 1870, the present parsonage was built, and it was felt that Methodism had a perma- nent home in Eldora.

The following named have served the Society as pastors since its organization: Rev. J. W. Stewart, two years; Bethune Holcomb, two years; Asa Critchfield, one year; J. F. Westwood, one year; E. Ken- dall, one year; C. F. McLean, one year; D. N. Mallory, two years; E. Kendall, re- turned, one year; W. H. McKeany, one year; Rev. Cressman, one year; Mr. Kem- ball, F. M. Robertson, one year; E. L. Sherman, one year; J. B. Taylor, two years; E. H. Spurling, one year; E. W. Jeffries, two years; C. A. Hawn, two years; J. F. Baker, two years; B. C. Barnes, two years. In 1881, Rev. J. K. Shiffer, the present pastor, was appointed. The present officers of the Church are as follows: Stewards- C. B. Doughty, L. N. Sayre, John Peters,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

L. Teats. Trustees-John Peters, L. N. Sayre, L. Teats, E. C. Doughty. Sunday School Superintendent-L. N. Sayre.

Rev. J. K. Shiffer, the present Pastor of the Church, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was educated in, and graduated from Dickinson College, in 1873. In 1879 he came to Iowa, and was first stationed at Charlotte, Clinton county, where he re- mained one year. He was then sent to Oxford Mills, and from there to Eldora in 1881.

The Christian Church of Eldora was organized on the 20th day of May, 1855. Peter Mason was elected Elder, and Jona- than Conger and Reuben King, Deacons. In 1857, W. A. Faddis, William Blair and R. L. Parker were added to the Eldership, and L. Clinkenbeard, William Robinson, A. Park, J. H. Majors, Deacons. For a short time the Church prospered fairly, and then the members began to grow negligent of their duties, until their meetings upon the Lord's Day were very irregular. On the 2d day of July, 1865, a re-organization was effected, and the members yet remain- ing made a mutual covenant to be more faithful in the discharge of their religious duties. Elder David Miller was the first Pastor on its re-organization, followed by Elders N. A. McConnell, W. M. Roe, James Encell, Peter Vogel, A. B. Cornell, D. R. Dungan, Henry Shadle, and C. A. Stephens, an array of talent worthy of the Church. For thirteen years after its organ- ization the congregation had no house of worship, holding its meetings in school houses, private dwellings and the court ·house. In 1868 their present house of worship was erected at a cost of about $3,000, with a seating capacity for about

300. J. C. Moorman and S. B. Moran are the present Elders; R. Holt, H. D. Web- ster, W. V. Willcox and S. W. Van Voor- hees, Deacons; W. V. Willcox, Clerk. A Sunday School was organized at an early day. Its present officers are: S. W. Van- Voorhees, Superintendent; J. C. Moorman, Assistant Superintendent; Ruth Elbert, Secretary and Treasurer; Minnie Willcox, Assistant Secretary. The average attend- ance of the school is now about 60. Since its organization the Church has enrolled 494 members, with a present membership of 140.

The First Baptist Church, of E'dora, was organized April 18, 1868. The constituent membership were G. W. Sturgis, Emily H. Sturgis, Augustus Stowe, Sarah Stowe, Henry Tolman, Harriet M. Tolman, Levina Robb, Julia Graves. The church was recognized July 12, 1868, by Rev. John Atchinson and Rev. G. A. Childs. H. Tol- man was the first deacon of the church, and Augustus Stowe the second. The first meetings were held in the old school house. After organization, Rev. E. P. ·Barker was called to the pastorate, and served one year. He was succeeded by Elder Root, who labored six months for the Church. Elder Barker then preached occasionally, and Rev. Albert Graves held a union meeting in 1876. George Hough- ton, a young colored minister from Chi- cago, settled here in 1873, and served the Church. During this year a plain and un- pretending church edifice was erected, at a cost of $1,500; in size, 60x42. Since its organization, 107 persons have been con- nected with the Church, of whom 59 yet remain. The Church is in good working condition, and was incorporated in 1879.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The following named constitute the officers of the Church: Pastor, Elder Carpenter; Trustees, William Walker, E. P. Barker and James Brock; Deacon and Treasurer, H. Tolman; Clerk, George H. Tolman. A Sabbath School is conducted by E. P. Bar- ker, Superintendent, and Harry Woodson, Assistant. There are 55 scholars in at- tendance. A Ladies' Mite Society was organized by the ladies of the Church, in 1873, which has done a good work. From the "mites" which they have collected, $130 has been paid on the church lot, an organ purchased, and the church partially furnished. In the summer of 1882, a Ladies' Foreign Missionary Circle was or- ganized.

The Congregational Church, of Eldora, was organized in 1868. From a historical address, delivered by Rev. C. F. Boynton, at the close of his pastorate, in 1873, the following extracts are taken:

"Seven years ago the question of organ- izing a Congregational Church in Eldora received public attention. About that time Rev. D. Blakely, a brother honored and beloved, visited the place to see as to the prospects of organizing a Presbyterian Church. Our Congregational brethren ex- pressed a hearty approval of the plan, and signified a cordial desire to unite in such an organization, provided a pastor could be secured. For a year and a half, Mr. Blakely used every exertion to secure the services of a Presbyterian minister, but without avail. When his efforts had failed, he advised that all should unite in the or- ganization of a Congregational Church, provided a minister of that denomination could be secured.

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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 73

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