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 83

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 83

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

HARDIN TOWNSHIP.

The township of Hardin comprises Con- gressional township 89, range 20, and the east half of township 89, range 21 west of the 5th principal meridian. It is bounded on the north by Franklin county, on the east by Etna township, on the south by the townships of Ellis and Jackson, and on the west by Alden. In area, it consists of a township and a half, being

nine miles from east to west and six miles from north to south. The surface is what is called by surveyors "second rate prai- rie." The soil is a black, rich loam. The subsoil is composed of a mixture of gravel and clay. Numerous boulders are scattered over the township, and small lakes or ponds are quite numerous, generally arising from springs, affording an abundant water supply.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The Iowa river enters the township in the southern part of section 15. It winds in an easterly course to Iowa Falls, a dis- tance of three miles, then flows in a south- east direction, leaving the township from section 35, flowing a distance of about ten miles through the township.

Elk Run, the second stream in size, is in the northwest part of the township, and flows into the Iowa river west of the vil- lage of Iowa Falls.

The main branch of School creek rises on section 11, and flows into the Iowa river from section 29.

Rock Run, a short stream fed by springs, rises on section 12, and flows through the eastern part of the village, into the Iowa river. The latter is fed mostly by mineral springs, chief among which are Courtney's, Kelly's and Chapman's springs. Rock Run affords the finest scenery found any- where in Hardin county. Its towering bluffs of limestone rock, which are sur- mounted by forest trees of a century's growth, afford beauty and sublimity of scenery seldom equalled.

The beauty of its scenery, the number of mineral springs, of a highly medicinal character, by which it is fed, render Rock Run one of the most remarkable streams in the State of Iowa. Timber is found in abundance along the streams in this town- ship; the timber sections vary in width from one-half mile to six or seven miles. The timber is of various kinds, including the different kinds of oak, elm, linden or basswood, black walnut, butternut, hard and soft maple, aud hickory.

The principal groves or tracts of timber ? are three in number, the most extensive of

which lies west of the village of Iowa Falls, on both sides of the Iowa river; the second is on School creek, and the third on what is known as Dry Run.

On the northeast part of section 29 is a sulphur spring, which differs from the other mineral springs of this township, in being very highly impregnated with sul- phur. The water of this spring is uncom- monly cold. This spring is on the farm of John Gardner. The largest of the ponds before mentioned is found on section 36, township 89, range 21.

The Illinois Central Railroad enters the township on section 12, and the B., C. & N. Railroad on section 13.

The Illinois Central Railroad was com- pleted to Iowa Falls in April, 1866. It was up to this time, known as the "Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad." The company which had built the road thus far, were expected to complete it to Sioux City; but, failing to fulfill their agreement, John I. Blair and others took the land grant, and under the company name of " Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company," com- pleted the road. In 1870, both divisions were leased to the Illinois Central Rail- road Company for twenty years.

The B., C. & N. Railroad was completed to Iowa Falls October 20, 1880. These roads enter the township from the east, a little more than five miles from the Iowa Falls station, and for a distance of about three miles before reaching the Falls, they lie nearly parallel, and but about 100 feet apart. At the station they diverge. the Illinois Central leaving the township from section 22, and the B., C. & N. from sec- tion 2.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS.

Benjamin I. Talbott, Nathan Townsend and John Caldwell were the first settlers in the township. In the fall of 1851 these three came and selected their claims and erected their cabins, Mr. Talbott locating on section 18, Mr. Townsend on section 17, and Mr. Caldwell on section 20. After building their cabins, Mr. Townsend and Mr. Caldwell returned to Jefferson county, Iowa, where their families were stopping, leaving Mr. Talbott and son, sole monarchs of the whoie neighboring country.

Mr. Talbott was from Michigan, and at the time of his removal here was a wid- ower. With his son, he lived alone during the winter of 1851-2, but early in the spring he arrived at the wise conclusion that "it was not good for man to live alone," and sought out and married Martha Dobbins, of Honey Creek, in this county. After making a visit to Jefferson county, the couple returned to their new home, and Mrs. Talbott, therefore, became the first white woman in the township. Mr. Tal- bott was a Friend of the strictest - persua- sion, and held conversation in the plain language of that people with those he met. He was an excellent citizen, enterprising and earnest in all he undertook, either for himself or the public. He left the town- ship, with his family, in 1868, and now re- sides in Linn county. 1

Mr. Townsend and Mr. Caldwell re- turned with their families early in the spring of 1852. They are both yet citi- zens of the township, and reside on the claims they first entered, in 1851. Mr. Townsend lived not far from Plum Grove. His little son one day heard a terrible noise in the dense part of the wood; going

near, he discovered a pack of wolves snarl- ing over the carcasses of a pair of bucks, who had locked horns in a fair up and down fight, and becoming exhausted from the struggle and hunger, had both dropped dead upon the field. The wolves were dis- persed by the boy, and the trophies of the fight, the horns of the combating deer, were hung over the cabin door of the pioneer.

John Caldwell's farm was located about two miles and a half southeast from the present town of Iowa Falls. Here his cabin was built, in which he lived with his family, during the winter of 1852-3. He had cut out the logs for a fire-place, intend. ing to build a stick chimney, but coming down to his bed with the ague, the family were obliged to hang a quilt up in the aperture through the winter, and Austin Caldwell, being only a boy of twelve years of age, was obliged to cut the wood for the family's use-the result was, a cold house and shivering children. The snow was two feet deep this winter, the chickens freezing to death, which Mr. Caldwell brought with him. The room was chinked up some, but the bedsteads were made of pegs driven into the logs, then boards laid 'on like a canal boat berth. Mr. Caldwell had raised a little buckwheat through the fall, which the good housewife ground in the coffee mill, sifting the precious grist through a cloth. Mr. Townsend killed five buffalo during the winter of 1852-3, so that the settlement had good eating with their coarse cakes and wild plums. Bears and wild cats were killed occasionally, while the deep snow lasted. Mrs. Tal- bott and Miss Caldwell were alone in Mr. Talbott's cabin one night, when a wild

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

cat came within a few yards of the door, and cried its peculiar, mournful howl all night. The cry is very like the wail of a lost child, and had a fearful pathos to the lone women, who feared that the animal might dash in upon them at almost any hour .. Mr. Caldwell was the first Justice of the Peace in Hardin township, and often walked eight and nine miles to marry couples, the old price being two dollars 1

anywhere in the county.

Among other early settlers were, Dr. J. F. Simonds, Capt. Samuel White, John Race, George P. Griffith, James R. Larkin, J. L. Estes, Hosmer Stevens, Peter Collins, Samuel Parkinson, Benj. Holding, Thomas B. Knapp, J. S. Smith, J. F. Brown, M. C. Woodruff, Charles McQuesten, Dr. J. H. Foster, Robert Murphy, Joseph Wells and family, Henry Macy, Allen Thompson, J. T. Lane, Peter Gray, J. J. Cobb, Jacob George and family, Henry Fidler, Na- than and James and Samuel Adamson, Mrs. Sarah Hains and family, Chancey Pond, James McWhirter, W. H. Foote, Lindly M. Hoag, J. L. Hoag, L. F. Wis- ner, Daniel Lane, Edwin Terrell, Orren Foster, David Mitchell, William Jones, Wales E. Fisher, John Barrett, John Mann, Albert Button, W. E. Taylor, Frank Tay- lor, S. Bowman and H. J. Skiff.

Adam F. Kidwiler resides on section 25. He is the son of Jacob and Mary Kidwiler, who were among the very earliest settlers of Hardin county. A sketch of his father will be found elsewhere. Mr. Kidwiler was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., May 18, 1847. He has lived in this county since the fall of 1850, except two years, which he spent in Missouri. He bought his present farm of Richard Jones. Mr.

Kidwiler was joined in marriage to Miss Mary A. Keller, who was born in Stephen- son county, Ill. They have three children, Joseph, Nettie May and Myrtie R. His farm contains 120 acres.

Adam Crim, an uncle of Jacob Kidwiler, settled in Jackson township, in the fall of 1850. He never married. He afterward settled in the town of Hardin, and finally removed to Missouri, where he died in 1873.

John Caldwell came here with Nathan Townsend May 31, 1852, and settled on section 20, where he now lives. He was born in Beaver county, Pa., in 1812. His present wife is his second wife; his first being Sarah McConnell, also born in Bea- ver county. Mr. Caldwell removed to Pittsburg from Beaver county, where he worked for a company at the business of turning various implements, His trade was that of a wagon maker, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. He came to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1851, and came here, as before stated, in 1852. He settled on 80 acres of government land, which he afterwards increased to 160 acres. His first wife died February 25, 1867. Mr. Caldwell has seven children-E. J., now Mrs. J. R. Haworth, living in Cali- fornia; Mary Ann, wife of Solomon N. Jones; Austin, Emeline, wife of A. Palmer; Charles and Edmond and Alvin, twins. They lost two children. Mrs Caldwell belonged to a family of Friends. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Methodist Church. His present wife was Mrs Adam- son, widow of Samuel Adamson.

Nathan Townsend, one of the early settlers, not only of the township of Har- din, but also of Hardin county, resides on

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

section 17. He was born in Beaver county, Pa., of Quaker parentage, in 1807. He was brought up in Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Mercer, who was born in Columbia, county, Ohio, in 1809. They lived a number of years in Pennsylvania after their marriage, and then removed to Ohio; came to Jefferson county, Iowa in 1843. They came to Hardin county in the spring of 1852, and settled on the farm where Mr. Towsend now lives, which he entered as government land. His wife died July 14, 1882. They had lived together for the very long period of more than fifty-two years. They had ten children, seven of whom are living-Lydia A., now Mrs. Daniel Dillion; Thomas A. David W., Cyrus M., Nathan, who resides in California; Sarah, now Mrs. Ellsworth M. Fisk (Mr. Fisk died in May, 1877), and Oliver. The names of the children deceased, were Annetta, and Allena, wife of Recellus Horr. Cyrus was a member of the 37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Pleasant Hill, and remained as such at Tyler, Texas, for fourteen months. Nathan also served three months during the rebellion. Mr. Townsend being one of the earliest settlers of the county, endured all the privations incident to a pioneer life. He possesses an excellent memory, and has a vivid remembrance of the early events in the pioneer history of Hardin county. He and his faithful wife were life long mem- bers of the Society of Friends. He has out- lived her with whom he had journeyed for more than half a century, and is patiently waiting for the summons to join her in that land where there will be no more separation.

Ralph Surles is a son of Samuel and Ruth Surles, and was born in Cass county, Mich., May 26, 1850, but when only two years of age, he was brought by his parents to Hardin county. June 16, 1875, he married Miss Lurette Schrack, and they have had three children, two of whom are now living-Wesley and Ralph.

P. S. Gray is a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., where he was born December 22, 1812. His parents, Abraham and Ann (Starr) Gray, were both natives of Dan- bury, Conn. In 1825 the family removed to Huron county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch received a common school education, and subsequently made farming a business. In January, 1835, he married Miss Lucy B. Stiles. She died, however, in less than six weeks after marriage. In May, 1837, he married Miss Alice Knapp, daughter of Thomas Knapp, of Danbury, Conn. In 1854, accompanied by T. B. Knapp, concluded to seek a location in the West. They therefore took the rail- road to Henry, Ill., and from there con- tinued the trip with teams, to Hardin county. Mr. Gray purchased 140 acres on the north side of the Iowa river, on section 35, Hardin township, which was then unimproved prairie, He then built a cabin near where Mr. Cross now lives, which was about one mile from his land. The reason he built here was because there was timber in that locality; besides, T. B. Knapp, E. S. Hamlin and J. S. Cobb had already located at that place. Mr. Gray then returned for his family, which, in the meantime, had removed to Illinois, and in September, 1855, settled in the new home, and here they passed some of the happiest days of their lives. A few years subse-

I.L. Estes, Lace

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

quently Mr. Gray erected a dwelling on his own farm, and there resided until April, 1866, when he purchased his present farm of 80 acres, located on section 24, and now has a pleasant home. His wife died March 9, 1879, leaving two children -- Lucy B. and Abram. Abram Gray, the only son of P. S. Gray, was born in Huron county, Onio, March 4, 1842. He came to Iowa with the family, and has since re- sided with the same. He has had charge of his father's farm since 1873, and he also owns 40 acres. Mr. Gray, in June, 1870, married Miss Wealthy Alvoid, daughter of David J. Alvoid.

Jacob George, a native of Maryland, was born in the year 1800. He removed to Richland county, Ohio, and in 1821 mar- ried Miss Martha Cantwell, and in 1853 started for the Western frontier. He brought his family as far as Washington county, Iowa, then came alone to Hardin county, and in February, 1854, entered 240 acres of land on section 29, and 160 on section 19, of Hardin township. He then returned to Washington county, and brought part of his family to their new home, but the entire family did not get to Hardin county until the following August. Mr. George settled on section 29, and there spent the remainder of his life. His death took place in November, 1869, and his wife died February 27, 1879. They had eleven children, six of whom are now living.

William George, oldest son of Jacob and Martha (Cantwell) George, was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 19, 1833. He came with the family to Iowa, and on his twenty-first birthday arrived in Hardin county. In 1857 he went to Kansas, and remained six months. In 1862 he enlisted

in Company F, of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, and served about two years, when he was discharged on account of disability, caused by a gunshot wound received at Cape Girardeau, Mo. He then returned to Har- din county, and has since made farming a business. He now owns -170 acres of well improved land. September 13, 1862, at Sterling, Ill., he married Miss Lucretia Shepard, a native of New York, and they now have seven children living-Laura June, Ada Rose, Sherman S., Clara Belle and Carrie Adell (twins); Thomas Ray and Jennie Angela.

Edward Mark resides on section 2; was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., in 1837. His parents were John and Laura Mark. They removed to Kane county, III., in 1839, where his father died; his mother still lives there. Mr. Mark is an early set- tler of Iowa Falls, having come there in 1855. He settled on this place in 1865; bought his farm of Benjamin Holden. His wife was Sally Lane, sister of J. T. Lane. They have six children-Laura, Charles, Nellie, Clara, Mary and Walter. They lost one son-Willie. Mr. Mark's farm contains 160 acres.

J. T. Lane settled in Iowa Falls in June, 1855. Mr. Lane was born in the State of New York, but was brought up in Illinois, where his parents emigrated when he was nine years of age. He came to Hardin county from Illinois. His wife was Phæbe J. Ackley, born in the State of New York. They have one daughter. Mr. Lane has generally been engaged in farming. He owns a farm on section 1; also owns a house and lot in Iowa Falls. He was, for quite a number of years, engaged in putting in wells. Mr. Lane's father died in Illinois.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

His mother came to Hardin county with her son Charles in 1856; the latter is now in Minn. A sister of Mr. Lane, Mrs. Jackson, of Iowa Falls, came at the same time. Per- haps no one has lived longer on the town plat of Iowa Falls than Mr. Lane.

Daniel T. Lane, an uncle of J. T. Lane, came to Hardin county in August, 1855, and settled at Iowa Falls. His wife died in the spring of 1856, and was the first person buried in the Iowa Falls cemetery. He returned to Illinois in 1857, where he now resides.

John McWhirter, who resides on section 11, was born in Ayreshire county, Scot- land, April 16, 1834. He came to the United States with his parents in 1851. They lived several years in Tioga county, N. Y., and came to Hardin county in April, 1855. . His father was James Mc Whirter. He settled on his farm where his son now lives. The parents of Mr. Mc Whirter had nine children, five of whom came to this country. The others died in Scotland. The names of the children who came here with their parents were: Janette, now in Dakota; Elizabeth, now in Henry county, Ill., and John. The others, Mary and James, are deceased. James McWhirter, Sr., died bere March 4, 1874. His wife died of cholera in Rock Island, July 24, 1857. John, who owns the homestead farm, married Bridget McCarty, born in County Galway, Ireland, October 4, 1833, and came to this country in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. McWhirter have five children- Fanny, Ella, Hugh, Albert and George- all of whom were born in this township.

Daniel P. Griffith, resides on section 7. He bought his farm in 1855 of Alpheus Palmer, but Mr. Griffith is the first settler

on the place. He was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1821, where he lived till he arrived to manhood. When a young man he engaged as clerk for several years, was also engaged in teaching, both in his native county, and in Baltimore county, Md. He was married to Sarah L. Hough, born in Fayette county, Pa. Mr. Griffith engaged in mercantile business for one year in Washington county, Pa., and went thence to Bridgeport, where he was en- gaged in merchandizing for eight years. He came to Hardin county, May 16, 1856. His family came the following year. He was of the company who built and operated the first saw-mill at Rocksylvania. After a residence of eight years in Hardin county, he went to Albion, Marshall county, where he was engaged as clerk for eight years. He returned to Hardin county, and was engaged for a time in the bank at Iowa Falls. He then built his present house and began improving his farm which con- tains 120 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have three children-Jonathan B., Anna M. and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are members of the Orthodox Church of the Society of Friends. Politically, Mr. Griffith is a Republican. His brother George P. Griffith came here in the spring of 1856. He was engaged in teaching for several years; was married here, and was a resident of the county until 1868, when he died at Iowa Falls.

Samuel L. Wilson resides on section 24. He was born in Clinton county, Penn., in 1833. His parents were James and Eliza- beth Wilson. His father removed with his family to Stephenson county, Ill., in June, 1850. Samuel L. Wilson came to Hardin county in 1855. He worked the

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

following season with Janes A. Cutler, who was one of the earliest settlers of Etna township. . His trade was that of a carpenter. In the spring of 1856 he bought his first 40 acres of land in Etna township. He was married December 17, 1856, to Mary J. Stotser, a daughter of John Stot- ser, who came from Illinois in 1856 and settled in Etna township. Mr. Wilson's first permanent settlement was on section 19, Etna township, on 80 acres of land, where he lived for fifteen years. H bought his present farm of George Hatha- way. It was first owned by Levi Liven- good, in 1854. Mr. Wilson has 160 acres of land. He made all the improvements on his place, has good buildings and his farm possesses other evidences of thrift and enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children-Winthrop D. Isabel, Etta and Byron. His father, James Wil- son, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1801, and removed to Illinois, as before stated. He came here with his wife, Elizabeth Wilson, in 1863. Mr. Wilson's mother died in September, 1870. His father still lives, at the age of 81 years. He has seven children living-Jane, now Mrs. Wm. Shaner; Samuel L., Thomas H., Geo. W. and Margaret (twins), born March 1, 1841; Robert P., and Sarah E., wife of Joseph Reynolds. They lost four chil- dren.

Elijah Odell is a native of. Westchester county, N. Y .; born November 28, 1807. He early learned the blacksmith trade, and followed the same in New York City, in his native State, until 1837. During this time, in 1828, he married Miss Eliza Ann Davis. He then removed to Indiana county, Pa. Here his daughter, Elizabeth,

married John Martin, and after two child- ren were born, Mr. Martin concluded to migrate to the Western frontier, and ac- cordingly purchased property at Iowa Falls. The two children spoken of were very dear to their grandmother (Mrs.Odell), and she therefore desired to go with them to the Western wilds. Mr. Odell there- fore came to Iowa, located at Iowa Falls in 1857, and two years subsequently sold his property in the East and brought his family to their new home in the West. Mr. Odell continued his trade at Iowa Falls, and did the iron work on the first cutter built in that place. He also sharpened the first caststeel plow in the place. His place of residence now is on section 23, where he located in 1865, and here pursued his trade, more or less, until 1880. His wife died in 1875, leaving two children-Elizabeth, of whom we have al- ready spoken, and Phœbe J., now the wife of David S. Martin, who is a pioneer of 1856. He is a native of Ireland; born in 1834. He came to the United States in 1856, and first lived in Pennsylvania. He was married in February, 1882.

James Smith resides on section 25. He was born in Beaver county, Pa., in 1818, where he lived until thirty-one years of age, when he removed to Ohio, where he lived several years; thence to Stephen- son county, Ill. He came to Hardin county in 1856, and settled in Clay township, at what was then Hazel Greene. He settled on his present farm in 1865. He was mar- ried in Ohio, to Mary Blair, who was born in Belmont county, in that State, in 1830. Her parents were Israel and Huldah Blair. Her father died in Ohio, when she was but six years of age. Her mother,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

who has been blind for twenty-six years, lives with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Mr. Smith's parents were John and Catherine Smith. His father died in Ohio, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have nine children, six sons and three daughters-Belinda, Joseph, George W., James M., Huldah C., Mary J., Wil- liam, Lewis and Charles H. Mr. Smith's farm contains 120 acres.

Joshua A. Collins is a native of Madi- son county, N. Y., where he was born in 1828. He removed to Chenango county, in that State, when about fifteen years of age. His father was Joshua Collins, Sr. The family are of Quaker origin, formerly from Rhode Island. The entire family of Joshua Collins, Sr., consisting of himself, wife and three sons, the latter all married, came to Hardin county March 1, 1856. Mr. Collins, Sr., had bought the farm where his son J. A, now lives, the previous year. His sons were, Joshua A., Nelson and Joseph. Nelson was a member of the 12th Regiment Iowa Infantry, in the war of the rebellion. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing, and is supposed to have died in St. Louis. Joseph now lives in Michigan. The father died here in 1863. Joshua A. was married in the State of New York, and his wife died here. His present wife was Belle Couenhoven. They have had born to them two daughters-Annabel, born March 11, 1871, and Edna P., born Janu- ary 18, 1873. Mr. Collins resides on sec- tion 11. His farm contains 275 acres. .

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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 83

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