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 29
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William M. Roberts (father of B. F. Roberts, above mentioned) came from Connecticut in the spring of 1860 and located on section 23. Botlı he and his
wife died in Harrison Township. Their family married and settled in this county.
W. H. H. Wright settled on section 29, in 1860 and is still a resident.
During war times there were several families who came in from Missouri. They were "Border-State" ruffians who would not go into either army. They left at the close of the war-lamented by none! Just at the close of the war William Weed came in as a settler. In 1864 Gid. Fran- cis settled.
Other early settlers in this part of the county were. Henry Canfield, who came about 1860. He is deceased. William Johnson settled on section 22, in 1858. Sanford Hayes came in 1858, settling on the northeast of section 1; he remained three years and then moved to Nebraska. John T. Davie located on section 1, in 1860; he bought Hayes out and died on the place some years afterward, "Thedo- dore" Groves came in 1866, as did C. O. Hatch. Both of these men finally removed from the township.
W. T. Preston and family came from New England in 1868 and settled where they now reside, near , Dunlap. Their farm is among the finest in all Harrison County. See sketch.
George F. Riggs effected a settlement on section 2, in 1860. His brother, Will- iam, came at the same time. In a year or so George sold out and moved to Boyer Township, but subsequently settled on section 31, of Harrison.
Elisha Mahoney came to the county with his parents in 1867. He was a cooper by trade. At first they lived in Lincoln Township, but finally settled on section 29, of Harrison.
David C. Miers came to this part of the county in 1871, locating on section 10, near Dunlap. He remained twelve years
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and then moved to Dunlap, where he now leads a retired life.
John Weed, who was a Union soldier from Illinois, came to the township in 1867. He was a carpenter by trade and followed it until 1874, when he purchased land on section 11, remained four years and moved into Dunlap.
The above made up the principal early settlers of Harrison Township. Personal sketches, in the biographical department of this book, will give more in detail, con- cering all that they passed through in de- veloping a wild prairie township, into what has come to be one of the banner sub- divisions of the county. The reminisence written by Mrs. W. T. Preston, also throws much light upon the subject.
One of the pioneers of the county was A. B. Vining, who located early in the '50s ; by referring to his personal sketch, it will be seen how easily he ran down a wolf when in his running regalia.
Salem Town has been a resident since 1866.
Harry H. Prior came to Iowa in 1867 and to Harrison County in 1869.
Jacob Probasco became a resident in 1878.
Edward B. Mead located in Harrison Township in 1880, coming from La Salle County, Ill.
William Moore, who operates a farm in company with his brother, A. P., became a permanent resident of Harrison Town- ship in 1884.
Barney McElroy, who has had a great deal of experience with the world as can be seen by referring his personal history, came to the county, July 3, 1869.
Mathew L. Jennings, son of Levi, came to the county in 1881. His brother, Henry Jennings, who served in the Rebellion in
the Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, came to the county also in 1881.
Sylvester L. Hickox came to the county in 1868. He is a native of Connecticut.
B. S. Greene is also a native of Connect- icut and was a member of company D, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He came to Harrison County with his family in 1870.
Elida Barrett located on his present farm in July, 1883.
Marion Arnold dates his settlement in the county from 1868.
Thomas A. Burling, who ran the first engine over the Chicago & North-West- ern Railroad into Council Bluffs, located in the county in 1881.
Giles L. Chapman came and made a settlement here in 1868, and has become an influential farmer.
Archille Chevalier is a native of Switzer- land and came to Harrison County in 1878.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first settlers were James Welch, Ethel P. Brown, and Henry Olmstead, who came in 1856.
The first child born, was Lula Way, in 1856.
The first death in the township was that of Frederick W. Warren, who died, Aug- ust 19, 1861. Henry Olmstead was the next-he died in December.
The first marriage was that of of A. N. Warren to Anna Eliza Stowe, in 1858- the ceremony being performed Janu- ary 22.
The first house erected was a log build- ing, 16x20 feet, put up by Ethel P. Brown, in 1855, on section 13.
The first frame house was built by Henry Olmstead, on section 22, in 1856.
The first brick burned, was from Lorenzo Kellogg's kiln, in 1857. He also built
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the first brick house. It was built on sec- tion 27, and was used by him as a residence.
The first breaking was the work of James Welch, on section 33, in 1856.
At the call for volunteers to put down the Rebellion over one half of the able bodied men of the township enlisted. One reason given for so great a proportion en- listing, is that the first settlers were nearly all New England men and consequently born liberty-loving, loyal and patriotic.
The first post-office was established in 1858, at the home of Henry Olmstead. T. P. Kellogg then held the office as the second postmaster. He served until Dunlap was established, when "Olmstead Post-Office" was discontinued. This pioneer office was on the mail route from Adel to Mag- nolia. At first mail came once a week; later on twice each week.
The first grist mill was built by A. K. Grow, on section 31. It was completed in 1868. It had two run of burrs and was propelled by the waters of the Boyer River. It is related that "two kernels were ground into one"!
SCHOOLS.
Being a highly intelligent people, in this part of Harrison County, schools have been kept fully up to the standard, from the earliest settlement of the township. The first term of school was held in the winter of 1859-60, at a brick schoolhouse, on section 27; taught by Joe P. Day. The full enumeration of the township at that time was seventeen males and eleven females. The brick building referred to was on the northwest quarter of section 27, and was finally removed.
Among the early schools was the one in Vineland District. The building in which this school was taught was "fear- fully and wonderfully made." It was built
by A. B. Vining and J. E. Emerson and it was composed of four posts set into the ground. To these posts were spiked boards-leaving one doorway and two windows. There was no floor, save the hard earth, until cold weather came on, when a rough floor was added. This was built in 1868 and the first to teach was Mary Crommie. In this shanty-school- house they held some "huge old spelling schools" and it is quite evident that hearts were there welded by love's influence, as is shown by the county marriage records.
Of the first School Board, Ethel P. Brown was president; Henry Olmstead, secretary. They were duly elected, Nov- ember 27, 1856, at an election where four votes-two of their own, were cast. Aug- ust, 1857, the offices were found vacant and the county school commissioners ap- pointed Henry Olmstead, president ; James L. Roberts, secretary and Lorenzo Kel- logg, treasurer.
With the settling up of the township, schoolhouses were provided until now there are six frame school-buildings out- side of those found at Dunlap. In Octo- ber, 1890, there were ninety-eight pupils enrolled in the township.
A primitive school-house was built in 1869, near where now stands the "Vine- land School House." It was erected by A. B. Vining and J. E. Emerson. The size of the house was 12x16. The frame of the building consisted of six posts being set three feet in the ground. Those on the one side were cut six feet high and on the opposite they were eight feet high- this gave the roof a proper slant." The building was weather-boarded with rough lumber and battened with two inch strips. One window, in the south side, had a few 8x10 lights provided. A bat- ten door in the east hung on wooden
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hinges. The furniture consisted of one chair, without a back, for the teacher. A board planed on one side was fastened up to the south side for a desk. Seats were constructed by driving stakes in the ground, cut the desirable heighth, with boards securely nailed to them. Mother earth furnished the floor. A stove stood in the center, with a pipe through the roof. The district allowed the builders $3 per month rent, during school months. Mary Crommie (now Mrs. Canfield, of Woodbine) was the first teacher in this building, so "fearfully and wonderfully made"!
OLMSTEAD (DEFUNCT).
What was recorded as the village of Olmstead, was platted, December 3, 1857. It was on section 27-township 81, range 41. It was laid out into lots by Henry Olmstead, one of the earliest settlers in the township. This was on table-land three miles to the south of Dunlap. The place never advanced and only for the pages of history, the reader, or later resi- dent of the county, would never be in- formed of its existence, for all that marks the spot is the brick house erected by L. Kellogg and now owned by Mathew Jen- nings.
"'THE FARMERS' WIVES SOCIETY."
This thriving society -- a fixture of Har- rison Township, was founded in the sum- mer of 1872, by a few ladies on Mill creek. The object of the society is to create a friendly feeling, between the families of this part of the county ; to discuss, inform- ally, those things that come within the province of farmers' wives, in order to break the endless monotony of such a life. Simplicity and a kind of "every dayness" has marked its form and detail, but it has filled a useful sphere, and has grown in strength, interest and numbers.
At first, it was confined to Mill Creek farmers' wives, but has now extended be- yond the Boyer on the west and the Pica- yune on the south Over one hundred ladies' names have been enrolled upon its books. August 12, 1891, they held their nineteenth annual picnic. It was held at B. F. Roberts' grove, with an attendance of about two hundred. Such viands, none but farmers' wives can possibly spread. At first, they met every two weeks, but now only once a month. The following were charter members: Mrs. William Roberts, Mrs. James Roberts, Mrs. Frank Roberts, Mrs. Althea Brown, Mrs. Charles Hatch, Mrs. Lorenzo Kellogg, Mrs. The- odore Graves and Mrs. B. S. Green.
This novel styled society is governed by a code of eight rules :
First, Relates to name, time of meeting and object of the organization.
Second, "The officers of said society . shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Any farmer's wife may become a member by signing the constitution. All moneys to be raised by subscription."
Third, "That this society may not be- come a burden to any one person, every lady shall bring from her store of eat- ables, whatever she deems proper. The lady of the house, at which the society meets shall provide tea, butter, biscuits and condiments."
Fourth, "That the society may not say bad, while it aims to do good, a fine shall be imposed upon any lady, who speaks dis- paragingly of another."
Fifth, "At every meeting, some subject shall be presented for consideration at the next meeting, and it may relate to any thing that pertains to the happiness and comfort of farmers' wives."
Sixth, "Lest we forget the object of our
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society and make it an advertisement of the latest styles in fashionable attire, every lady is requested to wear a plain home-dress."
Seventh, "Every lady shall bring her own work, unless some case of destitution shall be presented by the society, or some member, through sickness or other dome- stic affliction needs assistance."
Eighth, "While this society is designed for the farmers' wives, none are excluded and all are assured of a cordial welcome."
[SIGNED]
MRS. ROBERTS, President. MRS. KELLOGG, Vice-President. MRS. OLMSTEAD, Treasurer. MRS. NAY, Secetary.
MILL CREEK FARMERS' CLUB.
This society was organized, February 9, 1887, at a meeting held at the house of B. S. Green, in Harrison Township, with B. F. Roberts in the chair. The charter members were: B. F. Roberts and wife, D. R. Rogers and wife, E. B. Meade and wife, P. Campbell and wife, B. S. Green, Isaac Jackson and wife. At a meeting called February 11, 1887, by-laws were adopted and the following officers were elected : D. R. Rogers, president; B. F. Roberts, vice-president; G. W. Green, secretary and Mrs. B. S. Green, treasurer.
Among the articles of their constitution are the following :
Article 1: "This association shall be known as the "Mill Creek Farmers' Club." The object of the club shall be to improve
ourselves socially and mentally; also to extend our knowledge of agriculture."
Article 2: "Any farmer duly elected may become a member by signing the constitution."
Article 3: "This club shall consist of twelve male members and their wives. If any time this club desires to increase its membership, it shall require a two-thirds vote of the club."
Article 4: "The meetings of the club shall occur at the residence of the different members."
The total membership, in August, 1891, was twenty-four. This club has been the means of doing much good in eastern Harrison County and other localities would do well to pattern after them.
MISCELLANEOUS.
H. C. Moore was instantly killed by the lightning, while standing in the door-way of an unfinished house. This was just after the war.
In 1867, a cyclone passed through Har- rison Township from the southeast to the northwest. It was only about three rods in width, but very violent and destroyed all fences and light buildings along its track.
In 1875, a violent wind storm wrecked the unfinished Roman Catholic Church, at Dunlap and the big barn, belonging to W. T. Preston. No very serious, devas- tating storms have ever swept over this part of the county since the first settle- ment.
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DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
OUGLAS is the name of the sec- ond civil township from the north- ern line of Harrison County, and is bounded on the east by Shelby County, on the south by Cass Township, on the west by Boyer Township, and com- prises township 80, range 41. It has an area of twenty-three thousand and forty acres. Its organization dates from 1868. It was named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas. In 1885 it had a population of five hundred and twenty-six, but the United States census of 1890 places it at seven hundred and twenty-six. There are no towns, villages or post-offices within this township. The populace trade mostly at Woodbine and Dunlap. This is a most excellent farming portion of the county, and to-day is the home of many a prosper- ous farmer.
Picayune Creek and its many small feeders constitute the streams. It is a prairie township, except a thousand acres found in small groves, including a portion of "Twelve Mile" grove. Picayune Creek was named on Sunday, by a band of land seekers, one of whom said, "I would not give a Picayune for this country!" He would now though !
EARLY PIONEERS.
Every county must have its first band of pioneers and its first settler. Here we find that the first to build a cabin and raise a crop was a Mormon, whose name was Pierce. He came in 1851 or 1852, and sold his claim of a quarter section to Thomas Binnell, and he to Mathew Hall in 1853. It was on section 30, and at Twelve Mile Grove. Mr. Hall improved the land and remained there until 1881, when he retired at Woodbine. See personal sketch.
In 1851 Thomas Wild entered forty acres of timber land, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, which he sold to D. M. Hall. He then bought other land and finally removed. This date is fixed by the marks which Wild cut on an elm tree, at the time of his entry. The tree was cut down in 1888.
William G. Mefferd came to Harrison County in July, 1850, and settled at Elk Grove, where he remained until 1853, then bought on section 29, of Douglas Town- ship, where he now resides. In the fall of 1853 the township only polled four votes on the election.
Two other Mormon claims were taken
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in 1852, on section 18, by Samuel Farns- worth and his son, James H. As soon as land came into market they bought. See personal sketch.
About 1854 Daniel Howarth settled on the southwest quarter of section 18. He lived in Crawford County for some time, but died in Douglas Township about 1881. His son Edward owns the land, but now resides at Woodbine.
In 1856 a good number came in for set- tlement, including George W. Pugsley, of section 28, now owned by Robert Hall. Pugsley came from Olio. He moved to Jefferson Township and then to Woodbine, where he traded for a hotel. He now lives in Florida.
Nicholas Francis came from Athens County, Ohio, in 1856, and settled on sec- tion 16. He was a mason by trade. His daughter married F. J. Porter.
Mathew Hall settled in Douglas Town- ship, on section 30, during the month of April, 1853, where he bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which was a rude log cabin. He cleared four acres that year, upon which he raised enough to subsist the following winter. He soon became a prosperous farmer, and now lives a retired life in Woodbine, where he removed in the spring of 1881.
James Braden settled, in 1857, on section 33, and died in Cass Township about 1886.
Dr. David M. Hall became a resident of section 22, in 1856. He died in about 1887. His son, John Hall, is in business at Woodbine.
William Evans came to Douglas Town- ship in 1863. He came to the county in July, 1855, settling at Twelve Mile Grove. He served as a Union soldier in the Fif- teenth Iowa Infantry. His wife died in the autumn of 1863, and he went to Penn-
sylvania, remained two years and then settled on section 18, his present home. See sketclı.
James Collins was another of the 1856 settlers. He entered land on sections 7 and 18, where he still remains.
John S. Hall came to Douglas Town- ship in 1859, and located on section 36. He now lives in Woodbine.
Section 26, was first settled by Joseph Cokeley and family. In 1876 they moved to Nebraska. He was an invalid.
John Springer and family located, at the close of the Rebellion, on the north- east of section 22. He sold in 1880, and is now railroading.
Samuel De Cou came from Winneshiek County in the fall of 1864, and in June, 1865, went to section 7. He remained there until 1885, and moved to Woodbine. See his personal sketch.
John B. Lowry came to the county in the fall of 1866 and settled at what was platted at an early day as "Olmstead." He was a Congregational minister and on account of failing health bought land on section 5, and there remained until the autumn of 1879, when he traded for a part of section 9. He now owns land in sec- tions 9 and 16. See sketch.
Daniel Rock settled in Cass Township, on the Pigeon, in 1869, and three years later on section 16, of Douglas.
Theodore P. Kellogg first settled in April, 1858, on sections 10 and 11, of Har- rison Township. He pre-empted land and later bought land on section 21, near Olmstead village plat. He lived there five years and bought on section 3, of Douglas, his present home. See sketch.
"Mark" D. Crow settled on the north- east of section 16, about 1871. He re- mained seven or eight years and moved to Mills County and later to Minnesota.
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HARRISON COUNTY.
L. E. Eckleston came from Connecticut in 1871 and settled on the southeast of section 5. In 1880, he sold, moved to an- other part of the county and in 1885, to section 10. He now resides at Dunlap.
G. L. Chapman settled on wild land on section 5, in 1871. He remained until 1880 and soon moved to section 8, of Har- rison Township.
S. W. Morton located on wild land, on sections 2 and 3, in 1879. He came from Jasper County, Iowa.
In 1872, Karl Mickish, a Bohemian, settled on the northwest of section 19, and is still here.
E. Dougal bought a partly improved farm on section 13, in 1873.
Isaac De Cou came at the close of war and settled where he now lives, on the northwest of section 5. His father is Samuel De Cou, a Canadian.
John Frink settled on the northwest of section 8, in 1872. He came from Con- necticut and bought land on section 13, where he lived awhile and finally sold to William Sullivan and returned to Con- necticut.
In 1878, Aaron D. Hoyer located on section 8, where he still resides.
J. N. Chapman settled on the north- west of section 5, about 1870. He bought Bumert out and remained until in the early '80s and then moved to Dunlap.
James H. Tuttle came to section 17, in the spring of 1879.
Lewis L. Deuel came from New York in March, 1872 and settled on wild land, on section 8. See his sketch.
George E. Reiff came from Pennylvania in 1878 and took land on section 8. He came with four families: A. D. Hoyer, W. S. Ermold and H. J. Reiff. They all exchanged city property in Reading, Penn. for land here.
In 1871, Alexander J. Pitts, of Orange County, N. Y., settled on section 11, where he still resides.
John Shields, of section 26, came in 1879. He came from Ireland, when ten years of age.
Thomas F. Jordan came in July, 1870 and in 1871 bought forty acres of wild land on section 3. He now owns a thousand acres of land. He is a thorough-going man.
John M. Peters, of section 2, came in March, 1877. He had land here prior to that date. He is still a resident.
John Griffin, an Irishman by birth, came from New York in 1874. He rented three years and then purchased land on section 23, where he is now a well-to-do farmer.
Libbieus D. Harris came in the spring of 1878 to section 32, where he still farms. See sketch.
John M. Tracy settled in the spring of 1874 on section 17.
Martin Kinnie settled on section 11, in 1870. He bought land of M. Bumert.
In 1870, another settler was William H. De Cou who finally settled on section 7. See sketch.
Joseph Esycheek came to Harrison County in 1871. He was a railroad hand two years and then bought forty acres of wild land on section 16. In 1883, he bought on section 27.
Harrison Yount, of section 5, Douglas Township, came to the county in 1869, William R. Kirkham, in 1876 and Peter Croghan, in 1873.
William H. Burkholder dates his settle- ment from February 7, 1862.
Samuel Mefferd ranks among the van- gard of pioneers, who came in 1850 and was at that time but seven years of age, coming with his parents. He also came
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that year and now resides on section 30. They first located in Jefferson Township, where they remained until 1853.
FIRST THINGS.
The first settler in Donglas Township was a Mormon named Pierce. Then came the Mefferds and Mathew Hall.
The first school was taught on the sub- scription plan at George Mefferd's home, in the winter of 1855-56. The teacher was Nathaniel Mefferd.
The first schoolhouse was built of brick, on section 30, in the fall of 1866.
The first religious meetings of the town- ship were held at George Mefferd's, seve- ral years after they came to the county. Rev. J. A. McIntosh presided.
Mathew Hall and the Mefferds did the first breaking of land in the township.
SCHOOLS.
Though away from railroads and towns,
this portion of Harrison County has not neglected her common-school system. The foundation for good public schools was well laid away back in the '50s, when in about. 1856, a school was taught at George Mefferd's residence, by Nathaniel Mefferd. Owing to the township being thinly settled, no building was erected until about the close of the Civil War, whenone was reared of brick, on section 30.
The second school-house was built by J. B. Franklin and W. H. Burkholder in 1867. It was a log house on section 16. The first school there was taught by Carrie M. Burkholder; she had eight pupils.
From time to time school-houses have been added as there seemed to be a de- mand for them, until to-day they have the Iowa "regulation" number nine-one each two miles. There are over two hundred pupils enrolled and the value of school property is estimated at $4,200.
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 1
CHAPTER XXXIV.
W ASHINGTON, constituted in 1872, was so called in honor of the "Father of his country." It com- prises Congressional Township 78, range 41 and is the southeast corner township of the county. On its north we find Cass Township and Shelby County ; on the east, Shelby County; on the south, Pottawat- tamie County and on the west, Union Township.
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Mosquito, Spring and Keg Creeks, to- gether with their various branches and feeders provide excellent drainage, and a supply of pure living water, for both domestic and stock purposes.
About the only native timber in the township is that on the south line, known as Walker's Grove.
The population of Washington Town- ship, including villages, in 1885, was 593. The federal census compiled in 1890, gives it 1,222, including Persia and Yorkshire.
The people of this portion of the county have been fortunate, within the past few years, in the securing of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which traverses the township from north to south, with station villages-one in the
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