History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 22

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 22

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Amos Griffeth, Private, Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-second Penn- sylvania Infantry.

S. J. Peasley, Private, Company K, One Hundredth Ohio Infantry.

Lewis Woodward, Private, Company E, Eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry.

Wm. La Seur, Private, Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Infantry.

John Henry, Private, Company E, Tenth Michigan Infantry.

VILLAGE OF RIVER SIOUX.

At the time the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad was constructed, in 1866-67, the company wanted to run their line through

the village of Little Sionx; but as the route would cost more than others, they asked aid from the tax payers in that vic- inity, but these offers were rejected and the same old railroad story must be told- the company made a survey, which left the town a mile or more to the northeast, and then located a station on the west side of the Little Sioux River, which they named River Sioux. The company built its depot and side track, but, in some way, they failed to draw men in who would en - gage in business. About the same time or a little later on, a village was platted on the east side of the river-the present village of River Sioux-by Samuel Dewell and a man named Crab-one place was called Malta and the other River Sioux ; but without a depot, business was a failure here, too; so a compromise was made, by which the railroad company got a half in- terest in the town site, east of the river and then they at once removed depot and side track to their new possessions. It may be added that it was unfortunate that any other than the old pioneer village of Little Sioux ever came into existence ; for it is a natural building spot and would have been one, if not the best point, on the entire line of road.

The first to commence business here was Frank Lehman, which stand is now owned by Henry Herring. It was a gen- eral store building, on the east side of the track.

Martin Hathaway was the first to en- gage in the grain trade ; Woodard & Her- ring came in second. The depot agent, Reuben Newton, put in a stock of lumber, and later on sold to Mr. Herring, who soon added hardware to his business.

G. W. Chase operated the first hotel of the place.

The first school house was built two

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years after the town was platted; it served until 1882, when the present house was erected. It is a two-story frame structure of four rooms. Its cost was over $3.000. The first to teach in it was E. A. Baldwin, as principal.

The old school building was then con- verted into Union Church Building, owned by Henry Herring.

Soon after the village was started, a post-office was established. The following is a -list of postmasters, given in their regular order :

Stephen Demmon, Chas. Demun, James Bowie, Charles Demun, Samuel Dewell and G. W. Chase, who took the office in February, 1883.

A Methodist Episcopal Class was formed and services are now held at Union Hall- the Herring Building. The last Con- ference sent Rev. L. W. Gray as pastor of this church.

During the skating rink days every hamlet had to have a rink for roller skat- ing, so River Sioux had one. It is now used by its owner, Henry Herring, for a warehouse.

The business of River Sioux in Novem- ber, 1891, was as follows :

General Dealers - Henry Herring, Walker & Co., and C. W. Calef. .

Drugs-Lewis E. St. John.

Agricultural Implements - T. M. C. Logan, Walker & Co. Physician-Dr. St. John.

Lumber-H. Herring, Walker & Co.

Grain-T. M. C. Logan.

Blacksmith-N. B. Morgan. Wagon-shop-P. E. Wikel.

Notions and Medicines-G. W. Chase, who is also Postmaster.

Roller Mills-T. M. C. Logan.

HARRISON COUNTY.

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XX.

ACKSON is in the northern tier of townships of Harrison County and comprises a portion of Congressional township 81, range 44, as well three sections of the northwest corner of town- ship 80, range 44. There are thirty-one sections in all, or equal to 19,200 acres. This township dates its organization from 1856 and its re-organization from 1860. It takes its name from the Soldier-States- man old Andrew Jackson. Its chief stream in the Soldier River, which is skirted with quite an amount of excellent timber, in all amounting to over one thousand acres. The Soldier flows front section 1 to section 34.

Geographically Jackson is bounded by Monona County on the north; Allen Township on the east; Raglan on the south and Little Sioux on the west. In 1885, its population was 479, largely of American birth. The 1890 census gives it 525.

It is without towns or railroad facilities but is well improved.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

For convenience the settlement of this township will be divided off into decades -commencing with the "fifties," coming down over a period of thirty years, giving

the most prominent settlers and not aim- ing to omit any of the early ones. Should the names of any be missing it will be readily understood that it is no easy task to go back over the long ago years and bring to record things long lost sight of by the memory of the pioneers themselves.

Among those in the vanguard was Eli- jah Cobb, a Mormon, who settled on sec- tion 12, on the east side of the Soldier River in 1856. The place is now owned by S. C. Bartholomew. His brother, Elisha Cobb, settled the same year and is still a resident of section 12.

In 1855, came Alfred and Isaac Whit- ney; the former settled on section 9, and the latter, on section 16. They were mere boys and came with their mother, who was an English lady. They still reside in the township.

William B. Mc Williams settled on sec- tion 35, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in the spring of 1856, paying $4 per acre for the same. He is still an honored resident. See sketch of the family.

Thomas B. Mc Williams, son of William above referred to, accompanied his parents to the township and remained with them until twenty-three years of age when he bought land on section 26. The tract was

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a half section for which he paid $5 per acre. He now has a well-improved farm and is reaping the reward of early frugal- ity. See personal sketch.

Among the earliest to come to Jackson Township should be named Ephraim Ellis of section 27. The land is now owned by William Arthur. Mr. Ellis went back to Ohio, entered the Union army and was finally killed.

J. A. Morrill came in the fall of 1857 to. section 26, and later bought on section 5- 80-44. He moved to the village of Little Sioux.

Lewis E. Tolle, of section 22, bought two hundred and seventy-four acres of wild land in 1857. He served as a soldier in time of the Civil War.

John Johnson came to the township in 1859. He was a weaver by trade. He finally settled on section 23, where he died about 1883. See sketch.

George Harriet and wife, Leah, and three children settled in the south part of the township in 1857, but returned to Ohio in 1863.

Harrison C. Smith, of section 35, came to the township in the spring of 1857 and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land at $1.25 per acre; but by using a land warrant it only cost him $1 per acre. 1 of 1857. He soon went to Colorado, where he re- mained six years and then returned to improve his land, upon which he still lives.

In February, 1865, James Roberts came from Colorado and purchased a section of land-the same being section 4. See sketch.

In the spring of 1865, Albert M. Jones, Sr. (now deceased) bought land and set- tled on section 23. He was a large land owner. He died in about 1867.

William Shaw and family settled on sec-

tion 3-80-44 in 1865. He deserted the wife he had sworn to shield and protect and went to Idaho, about 1875, taking an- other woman with him. Benjamin Shaw, a brother of the above, came the same time but soon left.

Allen Stuart came to this vicinity in 1866, first located in Lincoln Township, rented land ten years and then moved to Jackson, on section 9, and is still there.

Orson P. Edwards came to section 5, in 1867.

Edward A. Jones came to Morgan Township in 1867 and bought an interest with Amos Chase in the steam saw mill business. Six years later he bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild land. He still lives on the same tract.

William Arthur and family came from St. John's Township in the autumn of 1867, remained a short time with his father-in-law, William Mc Williams and tlen in 1869 located on the land once owned by pioneer Ephraim Ellis, on sec- tions 26 and 27, where he is now a pros- perons farmer and highly respected citi- zen. See sketch.

Some time prior to his coming, Joseph Miles settled on section 14, where he still lives. He came from Vermont in the fall

William Ross located on section 28, but now resides on section 21.

A. M. Silsby came in July, 1868, to sec- tion 34. The Soldier River meanders through and makes beautiful his farm. He came from Essex County, N. Y., and is farming and also doing business at Little Sioux.

Robert H. Everett came with his par- ents in 1867 and in 1868 bought forty acres of land on section 26, which was partly improved at the time. He still re- sides there and farms.

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Henry L. Sweet, of section 10, came to the county in 1858, located in Union Township, coming to his present farm in 1869. He now owns two hundred and forty acres.

F. W. Brooks settled on section 4-81-44 about 1870 and remained about ten years and left.

Amos S. Chase, who had been a pioneer of pioneers-coming to this county in 1848, became a resident of Jackson Township in 1870. The reader will find Mr. Chase's personal sketch well worth reading.

Marshall Oviatt, of section 35, came to the county in 1865 and to Jackson Town- ship in 1871. He died in September, 1891.

William G. Fisher came in 1870 and rented land of William Arthur and finally bought land on section 3.

William H. Vredenburgh came to Little Sioux in 1862, rented land ten years and then bought on section 11, of Jackson, where he still resides.

Joseph W. Reilly (deceased) came to the county in 1865 and located at Mis souri Valley and about 1875 bought on section 3, of Jackson Township. He died about 1888, The family still remain on the place.

Frank W. Cottrell came in the spring of 1878 and purchased two hundred and eighty acres of wild land on section 12, where he still resides.

Archer Rose, of section 4, came to the county in the fall of 1876, remained in the vicinity of Missouri Valley until 1880, when he bought a partly improved farm on section 4, of Jackson Township.

Charles Vredenburgh, a resident of sec- tion 21, came to the county in the spring of 1863, driving four hundred and fifty miles with four horses.

George W. Connyers located in Little Sioux Township in 1868 and ran a saw

mill. He afterward removed to Jackson and located on section 2, where he died May 1, 1885.

J. A. Coffman, of section 33, accom- panied his parents to the county in 1866.

Albert M. Wall, of section 13, first lo- cated in Magnolia Township in the autumn of 1870.

Benjamin S. Miles, of section 14, came to the county in the autumn of 1866 and located on the farm which he now oc- cupies.

C. R. Connyers accompanied his par- ents to the county in 1868.

J. O. Alton came to the county in 1874 and for six years rented land after which he purchased his presnt place. In March, 1885, he came near having a fatal acci- dent by the falling of a tree. See personal sketch.

In 1874, Ned M. Athey became a resi- dent of Harrison County and being a poor man worked out and rented land for some time in St. John's Township, finally bought land in that township, sold at a good price and purchased a home in Jackson.

T. J. Bryason, of section 22, has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1873. He is a native of England, sailed for America as soon as he had reached his majority and has had quite an eventful life, which can be seen by referring to his personal sketch.

In 1883, Frederick C. Bean located in Jackson Township, on the farm which he now occupies.

Charles C. Champney dates his settle- ment in Jackson Township from 1884. He came to the county in 1867, first locating in Cincinnati Township.

In the spring of 1884, Charles C. Erich- son located in Taylor Township, where he rented land for six years after which he

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came to Jackson Township. He is a pros- perous farmer.

Joseph Foreman is a native of Pottawat- tamie County, was born in 1856 and when twenty years old, located in Harrison County.

In 1860, Joseph Fox came to the county and commenced driving stage between Council Bluffs and Sioux City, which he followed for six years. He ran the hotel at Little Sioux for a time, also farmed in that township but seven years ago located on his present farm. A personal sketch of him appears in this work.

Samuel E. Hedges, an enterprising farmer of Jackson Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1881, first locating in Little Sioux Township.

In the spring of 1865, Albert M. Jones located on his present farm of seven hun- dred and eighty acres. He is a native of Hancock County, Ill.

O. P. Edmonds, of Jackson Township, met with a terrible accident, and was bereft of his eight-year old daughter, by a team running away, in September, 1886. He had started home from River Sioux, going by the way of Little Sioux, but by some means lost control of his team. They continued to run up along the levee. After going a quarter a mile the tongue to the wagon dropped down and run into the ground, which threw the wagon and its occupants high into the air. This took place near the residence of Mr. Henry, from which several ladies witnessed the sight and at once hastened to render as- sistance, when to all appearance, the lifeless forms of the father and daughter lay be- fore them. Examination by them proved that the little girl's neck had been broken, so that death must have been instanta- neous. The father was finally restored,

after several days of anxious waiting and medical care.

POST-OFFICES.

No postal facilities were had in Jackson Township until 1872. During that year two offices were established-one at the house of A. M. Silsby, who kept the office eleven years, when he resigned in favor of Mrs. Amos S. Chase, who had charge until the office was discontinued in 1885. The name of this post office was "Soldier Valley."

The same year, the department estab- lished an office known as Mt. Pisgah. E. C. Cobb was made the first postmaster and kept the office at his farm home on section 12. From him the office went to J. G. Miles on section 14 and from that point to Peyton's Mill, on the same sec- tion. George Peyton was commissioned postmaster and is still serving as such. This office is on the route from Little Sioux to Moorhead and mail is had three times each week, each way.

MILLS.

The saw and grist mill are almost the first evidences of civilized life in a new country. Here in Jackson Township, early in the '50s, a saw mill with a "corn- cracker" in connection was constructed on section 4-80-44, propelled by the waters of the Soldier River. It was built by "Bill" Martin and was of much service to the earliest settlers in the locality.

What is known as the " Gravel Bank Mills" on the Soldier and on section 14, was built in 1872, by M. Clapper and Jane Wakefield. It was a combined saw and grist mill. It was finally purchased by L Peyton, who still operates it.

SCHOOLS.

Early in the history of settlement in

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this part of Harrison County, mucli inter- est was taken in trying to establish well the foundations for a good school system.

A log-school building was erected by the little band of pioneers, who had chil- dren to send to school. It was located on the northwest of the northeast quarter of section 34 and was built in 1858. Sophro- nia Niles was the first instructor em- ployed. Cynthia Scofield, now Mrs. Gus Gleason, and Alice Main were among the early teachers.

The next school house was built in 1867 on section 26; it is known as the "Red School House," as it was a frame building painted red. There are now four neat school buildings in Jackson Township and the enrollment of scholars in 1890 was 154.

RELIGIOUS.

In the early autumn of 1856, a Methodist Episcopal class was formed, as a part of the Magnolia Circuit. The first members of this pioneer class were: Polly Ann Mc Williams and her daughter (who is now the wife of William Arthur) and Ephraim Ellis. During the early years services were usually held at private

houses and a little later on in school houses: In September, 1890, a neat frame church was built on the southwest of the northwest of section 26. Its cost was $2,000. It was dedicated, September 14, 1890, by Rev. W. T. Smith.

The following pastors have served this people since 1868: Rev. W. F. Laidley, Rev. A. J. Andrus, Rev. Rude Daily, Rev. J. W. Adair, Rev. T. P. Newland, Rev. J. W. Martin, Rev. Ezra Cary, Rev. Prince, Rev. J. A. Stevens, Rev. S. W. Millagin, Rev. John Branston, Rev. H. J. Smith, Rev. Charles Brown, Rev. J. S. Morrow, Rev. A. A. Walburn, Rev. Wil- bur Fisk, Rev. W. A. Welker and Rev. Daniel Pruitt.

This class is now known as the Soldier Valley class in connection with the Little Sioux circuit. The present membership is eighty-one. Average in Sabbath school is sixty. The 1891 Superintendent is Charles G. Odorne. H. C. Smithi has been Class Leader since 1870. The Trustees are : S. C. Bartholomew, James Roberts, William Arthur, H. C. Smith, C. G. Odorne, William Fisher, H. Oviatt and L. Peyton.

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MORGAN TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XXI.

HAT part of township 80, range 45, east of the Missouri River, in Har- rison County, is known as Morgan Civil Township, except four sections from off the north line which belongs to Little Sioux. In addition to the territory di- vided Morgan also takes in five sections from off the west line of range 44, town- ship 80. The Missouri River makes a great bend to the east, giving Morgan Township an uneven line for its western border. North of Morgan is Little Sioux Township; east is Raglan; south is Clay and a part of Taylor Township; and west is the Missouri River, dividing Iowa from Nebraska.

Morgan was organized in 1867. It was named from Morgan County, Ohio, from which locality Capt. John Noyes, one of the early settlers in Harrison County came. Mr. Noyes settled in this township, hence it was named for his old county in Ohio. In 1890 the population was seven hundred and fifty-one.

The western half of this township has a rough surface. Heavy native timber is found along the Missouri River. There are no streams of any considerable size. There are a few lakes, the largest of which

is Round Lake, a little north of the center of the township.

The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad passes through the eastern part of the township, from north to south, entering on section 12 and leaving from section 31. The only town within the territory known as Morgan, is Mondamin, on section 30. Mondamin is Indian for corn.

EARL, SETTLEMENT.

Prior to 1857 the principal settlers were as follows: A man and his sons, named Orinder, settled about 1854, remained a short time and moved to Kansas. A big settlement came in from Ohio in 1856, among them were: Capt. John Noyes and family, who located on the southwest of section 20; John Hendrickson, of sec- tion 10, remained till the '60s; Eli Coon, of the northwest of section 26; Solomon and David Gamet, of section 35; Richard Morgareidge and his son Jolin and family, settled on section 25, where they still re- side.

E. J. Hagerman and family made their settlement on the southwest of section 25; the father and mother both died in 1891.

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HARRISON COUNTY.

Samuel Morgareidge was a young man who came with his parents, in 1856, from Ohio, and after his marriage located on the northeast of section 26. At the close of the war he moved to the Pacific Coast.

Jacob Kennison came with Capt. John Noyes from Ohio, in 1856, remained one season and returned to the Buckeye State.

Alexander McCoy also accompanied Capt. Noyes to the county, and went with him to Texas, sawing ties for the railroad company.

David Gamet settled near Magnolia in 1853, and in 1857 came to section 35, Mor- gan; he now owns eight hundred and five acres of land in the county, and in 1886 embarked in trade at Mondamin. See per- sonal sketch.

Henry McNeeley came in from Ohio in 1857, and settled on the northeast of sec- tion 13, where he died in the '60s.

David Work came in the spring of 1857, and located in Calhoun, but finally settled in Morgan, and still resides in the north part of the township.

Clark Ruffcorn canie from Ohio in 1856, and in 1853 began to improve land on sec- tion 24, where he now owns three hun- dred and eighty acres.

William Clinkenbeard came from In- diana, in 1864, and located on section 35.

John H. Noyes, of section 33, came in 1862, and is still a resident. He was a soldier in the Twenty-ninth Iowa In- fantry.

James O. Pugsley came in 1866, located on section 26, where he now owns four hundred acres. See his personal sketch.

Andrew J. Burcham came to Harrison County in the spring of 1853, and is now a resident of Morgan Township. George H. Burcham was a pioneer of 1853. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1807.

He died here August 3, 1870, and was buried in Magnolia Township.

One of the 1885 settlers was Dr. John W. Drew, who is now a resident of Mon- damin.

H. D: Lewis came to the county in 1881.

The druggist at Mondamin, Thomas Macfarlane, is a native of Ohio. He be- came a resident of Harrison County in 1878.

Peter Noyes, deceased, of whom a sketch appears in this work, became a resident of the county in 1867. He was born in 1816, and died February 22, 1887. His son, Winfield S., came to the county with him. Lafayette H. Noyes also dates his settlement from 1867. In 1877 he became a grain dealer in Mondamin.

Z. T. Noyes, the leading merchant of Mondamin, came to the county with his parents in 1856, and has been identified with the business interests most of the tinie since that date. He is considered one of the most thorough business men in the county.

John J. C. Weldon, who was in the late war, has been a resident of the county since 1868.

Maj. H. P. Kidder settled on section 25, in 1875. He is a prosperous farmer of the township to-day. The reader will find his personal sketch of interest.

John J. Thomas, a native of Ohio, came to the county in the '70s. He now has a fine farm home on section 26. See sketch.

MILL HISTORY.

Capt. John Noyes brought a steam saw- mill to the county from Ohio, and placed it in operation a mile and one-half west from where Mondamin now stands, about 1858, and continued to run it until after the war period, when his sons purchased

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it, and after a few years they disposed of it and it was taken to Nebraska.

Others who have from time to time been engaged in the sawmill business within the township, may be named David Gam- et, David Fletcher, Isaac Gamet, Will- iam Collerick. J. O. Johnson, now opera- ting a portable sawmill, is the only one within the township.

SCHOOLS.

The first schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of section 26, in 1859; it was a rude frame building. From time to time, as the township developed school- honses were provided, until to-day there are eight, including Mondamin. The total enrollment of pupils in 1890 was two hun- dred and eight. Much pride has ever been manifested in the selection of good instructors and general maintenance of schools.

THE VILLAGE OF MONDAMIN.

Mondamin, which is the Indian name for corn, was thus named on account of its being situated within the greatest corn belt of all Western Iowa. It was platted, as a station on the Sioux City & Pacific Railway, in September, 1868, on sections 25 and 30, by John I. Blair, for the rail- road company.

The first to deal at this point was D. W. Fletcher, who ran a general store.

The early hotel was conducted by E. M. Harvey; the building is now used for a residence.

E. W. Oakly embarked in the hardware business, and shortly sold to Spooner & Garrison. The business is now conducted by P. C. Spooner.

The pioneer blacksmith was James Haner.

eral store, and also bonght grain and sold Inmber.

The pioneer furniture dealer at this point was C. S. Stowell, who was snc- ceeded by the present dealer, L. S. Hager- man.

The earliest live-stock men were John Noyes & Co., and J. D. Garrison. Mr. Garrison first came to Mondamin, and en- gaged in buying pork and grain, but later engaged in the agricultural implement business.

POST-OFFICE.

An office was established at Mondamin in the winter of 1867-68. D. W. Fletcher was postmaster; he was followed by E. J. Hagerman; then came J. D. Stuart, who after two years resigned in favor of his brother William. He held the office three years, and was succeeded in April, 1890, by Mrs. Laura B. Walters, the present | efficient postmistress.

It became a money order office in Au- gust, 1886. The first order was issued to Stuart & Jensen, for the sum of $15, payable to Perregoy & Moore, cigar deal- ers, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The total number of money orders issned from the Mondamin office, up to Novem- ber 12, 1891 was 2,644. Full number of postal notes, 1,504.

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History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 22

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1150

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150