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 31
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J. H. Olmstead dates his settlement from the spring of 1872, settling in Clay Township. He afterward left the county, but soon returned and in the spring of 1888 purchased the farm he now occu- pies.
J. S. McDonald first located in Clay Township in 1875 and worked at a saw- mill. In 1887 he purchased part of his present farm.
Daniel P. Mintun has been a resident of
Harrison County since January, 1874. He purchased the land he now occupies in 1881.
James B. Kelley, physician, surgeon and druggist, at Modale, came to the county in 1888.
Samuel R. Harvey, a blacksmith, at Mo- dale, came to Harrison county in 1880.
Fine maps and charts were produced and several men from the East, came on to sell their newly purchased town lots, in the "charming village of Melrose," but alas they found them not! It was repre- sented by the maps that the place was a steamboat landing and had already several hundred people. It was the case where one "Yankee" was trying and in some cases succeeded in swindling a brother Yankee. The land where the supposed village stood is now within the A. Morrow estate.
EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS.
About 1859 the first school-house was erected. It stood on section 2, at what was the (supposed) village plat of Melrose. The next school building was erected on section 31. Much care has been the rule in keeping up the school system in Taylor Township. As the country has been set- tled up, new buildings have been erected here and there. At this time there are four school-houses outside of village schools. The enrollment is about 125.
The above school-house, on section 31, stood on Job Ross' land and the first teacher was Miss Hillis, who afterward was sent as a missionary to Ceylon, where she died in about 1889.
Church services were held at the house of Job Ross, prior to the building of the cottonwood schoolhouse and afterward this was used as a meeting house. The pioneer preacher was Rev. Mr. Tarking-
18
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ton-then came Rev. Mr. Coon, a Baptist clergyman, who was then a Salt Lake Mormon. He afterward took his wife and family to Utah and subsequently married another wife and reared a family by her.
FLOUR MILL.
In 1867, William Wakefield built a flour mill on the Soldier River, on what is now Theodore Mahoney's farm. It was pro- pelled by the waters of the Soldier River. It was 30x40 feet, three stories high and had three run of burrs, which ground out an excellent quatity of flour. It was pat- ronized from far and near. Even settlers as far north as Woodbury County came here to mill.
In 1872, Theodore Mahoney bought the plant and operated it until 1887, when it was sold and closed. It was bought-(i. e. the water-power site) by farmers, who owned land near by, on account of the water from the mill-pond overflowing their lands.
MODALE.
This is now an incorporated town. It is located on section 30-79-44 and is a sta- tion on the line of the Sioux City & Paci- fic Railway, in the southwestern part of Taylor Township.
In 1870, Benjamin Martin platted a vil- lage at this point known as "Martinsville," but in March, 1874, Alonzo Beebee and Hannah Beebee platted land adjoining it and named it from a post-office which had been established a decade or more previ- ous to that date, known as Modale. The old post-office had been kept at the house of Stephen Hester. Its name came through an accident. In sending to the department a petition for the office, the petitioners desired it to be named Missouri Dale, but as they abreviated it thus "Mo.
Dale," and the clerks at Washington, took it to mean Modale-hence the name.
POST-OFFICE.
In 1857, a post-office was established through the efforts of Thomas A. Dennis and others, the same being called Modale. The first postmaster was Stephen Hester, who lived on section 22, of Clay Township. He was succeeded by John Sharpnack and he in turn by Job Ross, of section 25, of Clay Township. B. F. Martin was next to hold the office; then J.J. Anderson, C. J. Cutler, William Sharpnack, and the present incumbent, W. W. Morton.
It was first kept at what is now the vil- lage of Modale by J. J. Anderson and was made a money order office, August 1, 1882. The first order issued was August 7, 1882 to F. H. Ludwig, for 75 cents payable to E. L. Marrihew, Los Angeles, Cal. The first order paid was to Mrs. Elizabeth Cutler for $3. The number of money or- ders issued to November 1, 1891 was 5,283; number of postal notes to the same date, 3,948. F. H. Ludwig also purchased the first postal note at Modale.
INCORPORATION.
Modale became an incorporated town, in April; 1881, by a vote of twenty-six to sixteen. The following have served as Mayors and Recorders :
1881-Job Ross, Mayor; - ------ , Re- corder.
1882-W. A. Sharpnack, Mayor; - , Recorder.
1883-W. M. Sharpnack, Mayor; L. V. Bowmen, Recorder.
1884 -- C. J. Cutler, Mayor; L. V. Bow- men, Recorder.
1885-Benjamin Morrow, Mayor; L. V. Bowmen, Recorder.
1886-C. J. Cutler, Mayor; L. V. Bow-
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men, Recorder.
1887-W. H. McQueen, Mayor; J. W. Drew, Recorder.
1888-A. W. Brown, Mayor; J. W. Martin, Recorder.
1889-D. W. Wolf, Mayor; C. J. Cut- ler, Recorder.
1890-D. W. Wolf, Mayor; C. J. Cut- ler, Recorder.
1891-M. C. Schroder, Mayor; C. L. Beebee, Recorder.
The present council is J. S. Lightell, A. Beebee, J. Oliver, A. D. Servows, S. R. Harvey and Job Ross.
RELIGIOUS.
About 1867, a Methodist Episcopal class was formed which held services at the Penrod schoolhouse. The first leader was W. W. Morton. In 1875, this class was transferred to Modale and services were held at the school building, until what is known as the Union church building was erected, about 1876, after which they wor- shiped in that until 1890, during which year a frame church edifice was built at a cost of $1,400; it is 30x50 feet ; the lot was given by Job Ross.
The present membership of this church is thirty-five. The average of Sunday- school attendance is ninety. Hannah Beebee is present Superintendent. The present class leader is John Penrod.
A Union church building was erected in 1875. It is a frame structure 26×40 feet and cost $1,200. It was built by the citizens, through donation, and the lot was donated by A. Beebee. The associa- tion is styled the "Modale Church As- sociation."
A Roman Catholic church was formed at Modale in the '70s and in 1883, a neat frame church was built at a cost of $1,000. The society has no resident pastor but
has quite regular services. The church numbers about fifty souls.
A Christian (or "Campbellite") church was formed in the autumn of 1860 by Rev. William A. Denton from Nebraska, in Clay Township, at the house of Josiah Tuffley, on section 24. During the Civil War, the society went down.
Among the original members were Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Tuffley and Jesse Wills and wife.
In 1863, the society was re-organized by Rev. John Snyder; the members tlius forming the re-organized body were : Aaron Thompson and wife; J. Tuffley and wife; Jacob Frederick and wife; George Murphy and wife. Meetings were soon held in the Ross schoolhouse and later on, in the Bush schoolhouse. The society then removed its place of worship to Modale and there occupied a school building until 1875, when the Union church building was erected. The pastors have been from abroad except John Sny- der and Joel Palmer. The present mem- bership is sixty-three.
The officers of the church, at this writ- ing are : T. B. Boswell, Elder ; F. Ritchi- son and M. Hammer, Deacons; J. Olm- stead, Clerk; Rev. John Plumer now divides his pastoral duties as follows : one half of his time at Logan, where he resides ; one quarter at Modale and one quarter at Mondamin.
SCHOOLS.
At first, a small frame building was erected for school purposes at Modale. This served until 1880, when the present fine, two-story and two-room building was erected. Its cost was $1,600. The lot upon which it stands, was donated by pio- neer Benjamin Martin, proprietor of the town site of "Martinsville" (Modale).
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The Modale schools have always been a credit to the place. The present School Board is as follows: Job Ross, president ; Peter Hauger, W. M. Sharpnack, C. J. Cutler, secretary, and A. W. Brown, treasurer.
SOCIETIES,
Boyd Post, No. 397, G. A. R., at Modale, was organized July 21, 1885, by the follow- ing charter members: W. S. Richards, Levi Crouch, W. W. Morton, (Com- mander) Allen Robertson, S. J. Robinson. Peter Haugher, Sidney Palen, John Hod- son, J. S, Lightell, J. B. Hiddleston, R. G. Boyd, Charles Cutler, J. S. Graves, D. C. Scirly, S. J. Boyd, J. M. Epper- son, James McManimie, Jacob Rosen- berger, John Arbaugh, Josiah Ragen, W. S. Kinney, Jesse Bowmen, Charles Saeve.
The present officers of the Post are C. J. Cutler, Commander, F. W. Myers, S. V .; Peter Hauger, J. V. ; James McMani- mie, Q. M .; David Bracken, Chaplain. This post meets with the Sons of Veter- ans and is in possession of a handsome flag presented them by the Woman's Re- lief Corps. The following is a roster of the present membership :
Peter Haugher, Company A, Twentieth Iowa Infantry.
Sidney Palen, Company A, Twelfth New York Cavalry.
Levi Crouch, Company A, Fourth Iowa Infantry.
John Hodgsen, Company F, Fifth Cali- fornia Infantry.
W. W. Morton, Company F, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry.
J. S. Lightell, Company C, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry.
Allen Robertson, Twentieth Indiana Battery.
J. B. Hiddleston, Company D, Ninety- second Ohio Infantry.
R. G. Boyd, Company H, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry.
Jesse Bowmen, Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry.
Josialı Ragans, Company I, Eighteenth Illinois Infantry.
S. J. Boyd, Company E, Twenty-Third Iowa Infantry.
C. J. Cutler, Company H, Second Ne- braska Cavalry.
James McManimie, Company H, Fif- teenth Iowa Infantry.
H. H. Shacklett, Company C, Forty- third Indiana Infantry.
A. B. Harding, Company B, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry.
W. H. Bourn, Company C, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry.
W. P. Smith, Company D, Tenth Illi- nois Infantry.
David Clever, Company K, Twelfth Il- linois Infantry.
H. O. Beebe, Company C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
John Pritchard, Company A, One Hun- dred and eighty-eighth Ohio Infantry.
Richard Davis, "Nebraska Indian Scouts."
David Bracken, Company B, Second Missouri Cavalry.
F. W. Myers, Company A. Two Hun- dred and ninth Pennsylvania Infantry.
William E. Yager, Company M, First Missouri Cavalry.
J. S. Spraule. Company C, Seventh Iowa Infantry.
Modale Camp, No. 186. of the S. of V., was mustered by James S. McGannis, of Onawa, July 15, 1889, with the following charter members and officers: John G. Bourn, Captain ; Mark Cutler, First Lieu- tenant; Silas Boyd, Second Lieutenant ;
-
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C. L. Beebe, Q. M .; H. M. Silsby, First Sergeant; C. L. Beebe, H. M. Silsby, Lewis Boyd, Mark Cutler, James Hold- son, John Bourne, J. M. Boyd, W. H. Boyd, Silas Boyd, John Pritchard, Charles Pritchard, Henry Hauger, George Miller, Robert Miller, Niles Kinney, Otto Hiddleston, C. I. Hiddleston, George H. Beebe. 6
In October, 1890, this camp purchased the old roller skating rink for $275, con- verting the same into headquarters for the camp, and gave the Grand Army of the Republic and the Woman's Relief Corps the privilege of using it in company with them. The present officers of the camp, which now has a membership of of forty-two, are C. L. Beebe, Captain, Mark Cutler, First Lieutenant; H. H. Boyd, Second Lieutenant; Lewis Boyd, Q. M .; H. M. Silsby, First Sergeant.
Boyd Corps, No. 125, of the W. R. C., was organized in August, 1887, by twenty- one charter members. The first officers were Mrs. Mary Pritchard, Mrs. Mary Robertson, S. V .; Emily Harding, Secre- tary ; Nancy Richards, Treasurer; Maud Morton, Conductor; Minta Boyd, Guard; Matilda Harding, Chaplain.
The corps now numbers twenty mem- bers. The officers are Mary Robertson, President; Linda Morton, S. V .; Lena Beebe, Secretary; Catherine Sampson, Chaplain; Susan Cutler, Treasurer ; Maud Morton, Conductor; Minta Boyd, Guard.
This auxilliary to the Grand Army of the Republic has accomplished much good and is a strong society, wherein the spirit of patriotism is kept alive in the community.
With the proceeds of their numerous entertainments, several costly and beauti- ful flags-the sacred old "Stars and Stripes "-have been presented to other
societies and to the public schools. One was given the " Ross School," one to the "McManimie School" and one to the Sons of Veterans Camp at Modale as well as one to the Grand Army of the Repub- lic at Mondanin.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The first to engage in business at this point was F. H. Ludwig, who, in 1874, opened a warehouse on the east side of the track. The same fall, 1874, McAllister & Martin put in a general stock of mer- chandise on the west side of the track. The first to engage in the handling of grain, lumber and agricultural goods was F. H. Ludwig.
The pioneer hotel man was J. J. Ander- son, who really kept a boarding house. The "Ogden" was the first building erected for hotel purposes.
The first to deal in drugs were Morton & West.
The first to engage in livery business was Samuel Brownrigg. George Stebbins was first in the harness business, and as blacksmith, H. B. Broughton.
About 1884 two grain elevators were built at Modale-one by W. A. Sharpnack & Co., and one by Ludwig & Sharpnack. The former was burned in a few years. The present elevator had a feed mill in connection with it until the present year. It has been changed into a "roller pro- cess" flouring mill. It is the property of F. H. Ludwig and its capacity is fifty bar- rels per day.
BUSINESS OF 1891.
General dealers-F. H. Ludwig, F. W. McQueen, John Oliver.
Hardware-Schroder & Martin.
Drugs-Kelley & Co. and C. J. Cut- ler.
Harness shop-Schroder & Martin.
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Blacksmith-S. R. Harvey, W. L. Earl.
Grain dealers-F. H. Ludwig, Sharp- nack & Co.
Lumber-F. H. Ludwig.
Jewelry-William Long.
Stock dealer-Sharpnack Grain and Lumber Company.
Barbers-H. H. Boyd, William Long. | Boyd.
Physicians-J. B. Kelley, Dr. R. H. Rhoden.
Livery-O. D. Wilson.
Hotel-Allen Robertson.
Agricultural implements-Sharpnack & Co., Schroder & Martin.
Meat markets-John Hodson, William
BIOGRAPHICAL.
"Biography is the only true history."-Emerson.
0
Stephen King
7
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ON. STEPHEN KING of Logan, was among the earliest settlers of Harrison County, and dates his settlement from May, 1852 , bring- ing his wife and two children with him. Whenever a new country is opened to settle- ment, with such attractions of soil and climate, such future prospects of growth and busi- ness developments as to make it a promising field for the en- ergies of young men scores, and even hundreds, flock thither to take their chances in the great, untried race of life. At the start all seem to be on an equal footing, but if the reader would pass that way in a quarter, or a third of a century, he would find only a few of those who started out in the vigor of their young manhood together. In this connection we do not, of course, refer to those who fell by the way-side and perished, but to those living and active, who have re- mained from the day of small things. The majority of such settlers do not tarry; a few return to their old homes, while many press forward to other promised lands, or' perchance fail of business success. But from out the great mass one will always find that a very small proportion have
stayed where they first landed and set their stakes, exhibiting the utmost manly energy and determination to win in the great conflict of life. Each will most likely have earned and saved a handsome competency, besides obtaining an enviable personal record and good social position in the community. Such seem to be the results in nearly every country, and the history of one is, for the most part, an epitome of the history of all. About such a proportion win the position and mneed of praise due to substantial citizens, while the greater number are seldom heard of among men. Among the vanguard of early settlers in Harrison County, few have borne a more conspicuous, useful and honorable part than Stephen King, of whom we now write.
Mr. King is a native of the Empire State, having been born April 27, 1821, in Saratoga County, New York. His father was Ezekiel King, a farmer, and died May 30, 1831, when our subject was ten years of age. There was a family of ten chil- dren, seven sons and three daughters, Stephen being the seventh child. His mother was Mary (Squires) King, who . passed from this life October 25, 1851. Our subject remained at home until the death of his mother, and then bought out the other heirs, and in the winter of 1851-52 sold the old homestead to his
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brother, Joseph A., and Stephen then came to Harrison County, Iowa. He came by rail to Buffalo, N. Y., and from there to Chicago by the Great Lakes, and from there to La Salle by canal, and from that point to St. Louis by steamboat, and so on up to Kanesville (now Council Bluffs) .. He first located on section 18, township 79, range 41, and in what is now Cass township, where lie entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, which at the time was not in the market, but which he bought in 1853. The claim re- ferred to he bought from an old pioneer, who had been on the place since 1849. It had three log cabins upon it, two of which Mr. King used for a house and one for a barn. There had been forty acres of land broken here, which Mr. King at once set about to cultivate, walking to Council Bluffs, where he purchased a horse-team, wagon and harness, for which he paid one hundred and sixty-five dollars, which was an extremely low price, considering the price of horses at that time, but he bought them at a sacrifice of an emigrant who was headed for California, but who had become discouraged, and offered to sell very cheap, wishing to return to Ohio. Our subject did not attempt to break any more ground the first year, but farmed the land already under the plow, raising more corn that year than he had ever raised in all his life before. Here Mr. King and family remained for two years, and located on section 9, township 79, range 42, Jefferson, where he entered forty acres, to which he kept adding until . he had four hundred acres. It was all wild land at the time he purchased it, but year by year this industrious worker sub- dued the native sod, erected buildings and made general improvements, until
this place came to be looked upon as second to none in Harrison County.
In the winter of 1886 Mr. King moved into the village of Logan, to retire from the long years of hard labor, but retained his farm until March, 1888, at which time he sold it.
Mr. King was united in marriage in Saratoga County, N. Y., December 8th, 1847, to Frances L. Marsh, a native of that county, born November 25th, 1831. By this marriage union there were born six children-Samuel I., born September 8, 1848; Alva, born April 22, 1850, died April 29, 1883; Reuben, born November 14, 1852; Clara M., born April 22, 1855; Minnie, born November 4, 1860; Willie, born August 1, 1865, deceased September 12, 1874.
For his second wife Mr. King married Mrs. Hannah Adams, December 29, 1886.
Politically, our subject has always been identified with the Republican party, and was elected as the first County Judge of Harrison County, and has held numerous official positions from that day to this, in- cluding the office of Superintendent of Schools, to which office he was elected in 1863. In 1855 he was elected County Treasurer, which then included the office of Recorder as well. At the general elec- tion of 1863 he was the successful candi- date on the Republican ticket for the office of State Representative, serving with credit to himself and his constitu- ents.
In his religious convictions our subject is a believer in the orthodox faith, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Logan. He belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, being a member of Chrysolite Lodge, number 420, of A. F. & A. M., and
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HARRISON COUNTY.
"Woodbine" Lodge, number 405, of the I. O. O. F. at Woodbine.
He has been closely identified with every interest known to Harrison County's prosperity and welfare, from a date prior to its organization down to the present time, having been connected with the early agricultural societies ; a teacher in one of the pioneer schools; instru- mental in trying to secure early railroads ; the upbuilding of church organizations; organizing the first Sabbath School of the county, at Six-Mile Grove, in Cass town- ship, of which he was made superin- tendent. It was our subject who deliv- ered the first Fourth of July oration in the county, ever exhibiting a patriotic, public spirit during his thirty-nine years residence in this county.
His son, S. I. King, who was a boy of but four summers when his parents emi- grated to this county, is now a prominent attorney-at-law at Logan.
A man's character and standing in a community is best learned by the opinion of those with whom he has been associated for a long term of years, and in this case one has to but converse with any of the old settlers of this county, or attend the old settlers' reunion meetings, with which he has always been connected, in order to gain the correct standing of this man, upon whom all place a high estimate, by reason of his noble traits of character and general manliness.
10
OHN SHAW, a resident of St. John's Township, came to Harrison County in October, 1875, and purchased land on section 35, of Calhoun Township. He bought eighty-seven acres of partly 1
improved land, upon which he lived eight years, then sold and removed to La Grange Township, and settled on section 14, where he purchased one hundred and ninety-five acres of improved land. On this he remained until November, 1889, when he exchanged it for his present farm, on sections 1 and 2, being eighty acres in St. John's Township. Fifty acres. of this is under the plow, three acres of timber, and the balance in pasture land.
Mr. Shaw was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 30, 1836. He is a son of Hamilton and Abigail (Turner) Shaw, both natives of the Buckeye State. The mother died in Ohio, October 20, 1885. The father is now living in Hardin County, Ohio. Our subject was the third of a family of three sons and two daugh- ters. He remained at home until twenty years of age, receiving a common school education.
January 10, 1855, he was united in mar- riage to Eliza Hedges, the daughter of William and Harriett (Franklin) Hedges, and was the eldest of a family of six chil- dren. Immediately after their marriage they removed to Allen County, Ohio, rented land one year, and then moved to Hancock County, of the same State, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in the timber. He commenced clearing this tract of land up, built a hewed log house, 16x28 feet, in which their oldest child, Clara Bell, was born. He suc- ceeded in clearing away the timber on fourteen acres of this tract, and after three years sold the place and returned to Allen County, where he bought fifty-eight acres of timber land, on which he erected a hewed log house, which was the birth- place of two of their children. Here he remained until coming to Harrison County. Of the seventy-six acres of his last Ohio
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farm, he cleared up sixty acres, and sold the tract for forty-three dollars per acre.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children, born as follows: Clara Bell, May 17, 1857; Hiram F., January 14, 1859; Alpheus E., January 27, 1862; William H., March 9, 1865.
William H. is married and living in Ar- kansas County, Arkansas, while the other three children are residents of Harrison County.
Coming to Western Ohio at quite an early day, our subject saw that country as it had been left by the hand of nature, with slight traces of pioneer life found throughout the great forests, with a trail blazed here, and a rude cabin erected there, the whole section being known as the "Far West." Jonathan Shaw, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and married Sarah Woolam, and reared a family of eight children. He died in Hancock County, Ohio, in May, 1865, aged eighty years. His wife, the grandmother of our subject, ceased from the labors of this life in the same county in February of the same year, at the age of seventy-six years.
ENNIS FITZGIBBON, of section 24, Calhoun Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1882. He first rented the Daniel Brown farm of his brother for one year, but the next year rented a farm of William McDonald, which place he bought after McDonald's death. It consists of two hundred acres, and has been brought under a high state of cultivation, and has one of the finest small orchards in Harri- son County.
Our subject was born in the county of Limerick, Ireland, about the year 1844, and his mother died when he was twelve years old, and the father a year later. Like most of the people of the Emerald Isle, his parents were very poor, and he was compelled to work out, receiving as low as ten dollars per year, but by being a trustworthy lad, when he became of age lie was placed at the front gate of the premises of a man of nobility, by the name of Edward Marooney. This was quite a promotion for our subject, and was con- sidered a place of no small distinction, for a laboring man, as he had charge of the farm, purchased goods at the market place, etc. He remained in this position for five years, receiving a shilling a day for his services, amounting in all to about $400. After leaving this place, he fol- lowed farm life, until he came to this country in 1873. Mr. Fitzgibbon says that in Ireland the laboring man, as a rule, is about as much of a slave as the negroe was here before the war.
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