USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa, including a condensed history of the state, the early settlement of the county together with sketches of its pioneers > Part 33
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420
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
tunity for a good time, and at the close of the institute find but little benefit except in the fun furnished by the numerous escap- ades had and garnered during the occasion.
During the first twenty years of the present school system some little difficulty was experienced in the manner in which the different funds were kept by the different District Township Treasurers. Some of these, though honest to the core, had not sufficient knowledge of business to keep the accounts separate and correct. Others had a disposition to entangle the accounts so that they could not be straightened by the Board of Direct- ors or themselves, and hence had method in their madness. Others reported that their houses in which they kept the school money had been burglarized or burned and thus the school funds were lost without any dishonesty on their part, and therefore the different districts should lose the fund and not the Treasurers. The question of the burglarizing of the home was brought to the attention of the court in the case of The District Township of Taylor vs. W. W. Morton, the Treasurer of that township. In this case the township brought action against the defendant for some $600 or $800 which the said Morton had drawn from the County Treasurer and which he kept in his house, and when the day of settlement came he stated to the Board that his house had been burglarized and this money stolen. In the courts he pleaded that he had used reasonable care and diligence in the keeping of said funds; that the same was stolen from him with- out any fault or negligence on his part, and that, if he was to be held accountable, the plaintiff should have furnished him a fire and burglar-proof safe, etc. This occurred in 1871, and the case being heard in the District Court in 1872, was, by the defend- ant, appealed to the Supreme Court of the State and a decision rendered thereon in 1873. (See 37 Iowa, page 553.)
As stated in the opinion of this Court, this rule is laid down: " At this day, when public funds in such vast amounts are com- mitted to the custody of such an immense number of officials,
421
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
he who is to hold the money of the district, will not be relieved of any liability by reason of real or fancied losses. He and his bondsmen must make good the amount, regardless of accident or loss, otherwise occasioned."
Again, in the case of Jed. W. Smith, of Union township, the township brought action against him, he being a former Treas- urer, and when he set up the defense that his house was burned without any fault or carelessness on his part, and that in the burning of his house the money belonging to the school funds of the township were consumed at the same time, the case going to the Supreme Court, as found in 39 Iowa, pp. 9-14, the court affirmed the doctrine established in Taylor Township vs. Morton. Since that time no effort has been made, either by burglars or fire, to take away the funds raised by taxation for the education of the children of school age in the county. In nearly all the townships of the county there are now Treasurers who are com- petent and honest, but I am sorry to say that in some of the townships some of these officials have not kept their accounts in such a manner as to be intelligible to themselves or others.
CHAPTER IX. CHURCHES, CHURCH BUILDINGS AND PARSONAGES.
METHODISTS.
There is some difficulty in determining what locality in this county had the first church organization, but when all facts and statements are heard and determined, the conclusion is reached that Harris Grove organized the first church. The first place where preaching was had was at the residence of Mr. Kirtland Card, at which place in the spring of 1853 a class was organized with the following members: Mr. Thomas Reeder and wife, Mr. William Howard and wife; however preceding this a certain individual who was styled by the people of the neighborhood as "Crazy Higgins," attempted to preach to the settlers of this neighborhood, but in the effort did not accomplish anything in consequence of the rattled condition of his intellect. This church organization was effected under the superintendence of Rev. H. A. Tarkington, who in a few weeks thereafter organized a class at the county seat, Magnolia, composed of the following named persons, viz .: Josiah Crom and wife, Mrs. David Young, Mr. Peter Barnet and wife and Miss Sylvia Harris. This last was soon suffered to break into fragments, or rather lapse back into former conditions, occasioned by some malfeasance in morals, practiced or attempted to be perpetrated by the minister, Mr. Tarkington. These classes last spoken of were under the guidance of the M. E. Church, and were not suffered to remain in this shepherdless condition longer than the first conference, for in the fall of the year of 1855, Rev. William Scott, a M. E. min-
(422)
423
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
ister, took up the work as it was left by the former slandered, misguided or injured pastor, and immediately reorganized the class at the place last named by the ingathering of the follow- ing persons in addition to those last named, viz .: Mrs. D. E. Brainard, Mr. Jacob Fulton and wife, Mrs. Isaac Bedsaul, et al.
In 1857, a M. E. minister by the name of Rusk took up the labor as left by Rev. Scott and continued until in 1858, when he was relieved by the Rev. Jas. S. Rand.
In the month of May, 1857, occurred the organization of the first Methodist class in the neighborhood of Woodbine, where the meetings were held in the school house, then located near the residence of Dr. Cole. The first class consisted of the following named persons, viz .: Dr. J. S. Cole and wife, (now Mrs. Snyder) Mr. Henry Hushaw and wife, Mr. E. P. Mendenhall and wife, and Mrs. Johnson and Hiram Moore and wife.
Mr. Hiram Moore was at this time possessor of a certificate by which he was licensed to preach, and became the local minister of the place under the superintendence of Messrs. Rusk, Rand, Farlow, Conrad and following ministers.
In 1858, a class was organized near Little Sioux of the follow- ing persons: Solomon J. Smith and wife, George Main and wife and some three or more persons.
This was the beginning of Methodism in Harrison county and well do the history and statistics of the present warrant the hope indulged in by these old fathers and mothers of the early days. The entire M. E. Church was furnished spiritual food by only one minister, and the entire county could not furnish him with a reasonable support, for in the records of the church it is divulged that Rev. Scott received $175 per year, Rev. Rusk $100 Rev. James S. Rand $75 per year, as appropriations from the mission fund for mission labor in this county.
In 1858, the Harris Grove class was divided, part thereof still retaining the name and being reinforced by Mr. William Tucker and wife, Mr. H. V. Armstrong and wife, Mr. James Henderson
424
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
and wife, Mr. William Dakan and wife and Mr. Ed Ervin and wife, became one of the strongest classes in the county, the other fraction going to a place then called Buena Vista, subse- quently called Whitesboro, and now the remains of former greatness, where a class was composed of Mr. S. King and his (then) wife, Mr. George White and wife, and the family known by the name of the Littles, Mr. J. Z. Hunt and wife, Kirtland Card and wife and Shadrack Card and wife.
A class was organized on the south line of the county near St. John, and was composed of Mr. Berry and wife, Mr. Jacob Fulton and wife, Father Colver and Mother Colver, Mr. Joseph Colver, and numerous other persons whose names are now gone from memory.
The early Methodists will well remember the following Pre- siding Elders, who have labored in this county, viz .: Rev. S. Guylee, in 1858; Rev. Arthur Bradley, in 1860; Rev. Bennett Mitchell, in 1862, 1863 and 1864; Rev. E. M. H. Flemming, in 1865, 1866, 1867 and 1868; Rev. Joseph Knotts, in 1869, 1870 and 1871; Rev. Benj. Shinn, 1873-1875; B. F. W. Crozier, 1876; J. Hestwood and Thos. Barnhart, 1879; Rev. W. S. Hooker, until 1883, and the Rev. W. T. Smith until the present. The itinerant ministers were usually men of great zeal, full of vital piety, and practiced the given precept, viz .: " Ask abundantly that ye may receive."
On the ending of the year of 1858, the church became self- sustaining, and has grown with a growth far surpassing the hopes of the most sanguine.
In 1867 the first M. E. Church building in the county was completed at Magnolia, and though digressing a little from the subject, the Methodist people of the county felt greatly elated at having a church building of their own in which to worship. This was not alone built by the people of Magnolia, but was the joint effort of all those of this distinct persuasion in the county.
The itinerant has been present with the formation of every settlement, to give the people the Gospel, and thus lay the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
foundations which constitute the prosperity and greatness of county or commonwealth. Oh, the strides of the last quarter of a century! but the church has kept her position with them all.
Some few of the present age exultingly tell us of the purity, greatness and power of the former days, and lament the degen- eracy of the present. Such only are capable of measuring the past in its infantile condition, and do not take the time to prop- erly measure that which exists at the present; but with all this distrust and want of thought, the world is getting better, and the church is marching on with rapid strides. To fasten the above thought, the following official figures are given, viz .:
For the pastorate year of 1886 and 1887, for the county of Harrison, the herein named M. E. charges in the county con- tributed the following amounts to the Missionary fund, viz .:
Logan, $100; Woodbine, $120; Persia, $62; Magnolia, $70; Beebetown, $114; Dunlap, $60; Missouri Valley, $104; Little Sioux, $85. Total, $715.
And instead of the entire county being one charge, now it is divided into eight, each supporting a minister, and contributing in turn to the mission fund as above stated.
The following table shows the condition of this church at present in the county:
Pastors in Charge in 1887.
Place.
Memb'rsh'p
Value of
Church
Property.
Parsonages
Value of
Parsonages
No. of Sab- bath-School
Scholars.
Rev. A. Thornbrue.
Logan
215| 1|
1,200| 1|$
1,200
318
Rev. H. H. Barton
Dunlap. ...
110
1
5,000
1
600
160
Rev. D. M. Helmick.
Beebetown ..
141
2
1,400
1
1,000
187
Rev. Wilber Fisk
Little Sioux.
133
1 1,200
1
800
143
Rev. W. A. Wilker
Magnolia .
116
1,500
1
500
200
Rev. J. Hestwood.
Mo. Valley.
124
1
2,500
1
1,000
130
Rev. F. H. Harvey
Persia ..
120
2 3,000
75
Rev. M. A. Wright
Woodbine .
156
1
1,000
1
1,000
100
Rev. C. Hover.
Valley City.
42
50
Nine Mininsters.
1,157 10 $ 16,600
7 $ 5,900
1,263
1
.
This, then, represents the whole of Methodism in this county at present.
426
HSITORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
The first organization of the above named Christian denomina- tion, in this county, was perfected in the month of April, A. D., 1855, at Magnolia. There were only three persons constituting the same whose names are as follows, viz .: Dr. J. H. Rice, John Danielson and Rev. W. W. Luddon. Mr. Luddon was a man of ripe education, of excellent character, though not fluent of speech. In the early spring of 1856 this church received addi- tions to their strength by the following persons uniting there- with, viz .: Mr. Silas Rice and wife, Mr. S. E. Hillis and wife, Miss Julia Hopkins, and Mrs. Irish, a sister of Mr. Silas Rice. In the early fall of this same year, Mr. Luddon resigned his place in the pulpit, and the Rev. H. D. King, of Trumbull county, Ohio, asumed charge of this part of the moral vineyard. Here this branch of the church hopefully and earnestly labored for the good of the Master, worshiping in such houses as could be had, which, at the present day would appear very primitive, but their hearts and souls were in the work, as well as a determina- tion to succeed, the foundation of their every thought. Mr. King and his estimable wife were a very God-send to many of the people of that place, for it is not the eloquent manner in which words are spoken that always reaches the conscience and works a change of heart, because, more frequently, the kind act, the word fitly spoken, the kindly advice, the unassuming, real bona fide interest in the moral welfare of others, works a deeper conviction than all the flowery, high-gauged eloquence, studied and dealt out for an especial occasion. So it was with Mr. and Mrs. King; they practiced none of the subtleties of the hypo- crite, but out of the real happiness they possessed and antici- pated, wished, and prayed, and acted so that others might enjoy, possess and have a hope for a like measure. Though one-third of a century has passed since the arrival of these persons, the minister and his good wife, at Magnolia, and though twenty-five years have elapsed since their return to their native State, how
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
very many of those who formed their acquaintence while in the little village of Magnolia, can call up, in imagination, the forms and kind acts of this most godly pair? In 1859 Mrs. Caroline Cutler, Mrs. Joe. H. Smith, Mr. William Cutler, Mrs. Geo. G. Downs, Mr. John G. Downs, and Miss Hattie Lawrence, since Mrs. John G. Downs, and Miss Mary Downs, Harris Day and Mrs. Harriet Day, and many others united with this church; and during the same year there was completed the first church building in Harrison county at the village of Magnolia. This church was dedicated in the fall of 1859 by Rev. John Todd, of Tabor, Iowa, preaching the dedication sermon, and real well can the author of these hastily written thoughts remember the great satisfaction experienced by very many on this occasion, by reason of the fact that they were now so circumstanced that they had a house in which they and their children could comfortably worship.
After the resignation of Mr. King, which was occasioned by the loss of health, one W. S. Black became the shepherd of this flock, and so remained until he was caught in an act which was thought of such disreputable character that warranted the Asso- ciation in silencing him, which was accordingly done.
Rev. Mr. Morley was chosen in place of the latter, when he resigned, the Rev. Mr. Hayward filled the pulpit and from that on to the present, the same has been at times possessing the utmost prosperity, then some hitch in the machinery would occur and despondency would for a time be experienced, yet out of the most severe trials the good of the church has risen triumphant over all and at the present is one of the strongest branches in the county.
In 1876, a new church edifice was built, costing $3,500 when completed. It is handsomely located and very comfortably fur- nished. The minister now in charge is Rev. C. P. Boardman, who divides his time between this place and Soldier River. This church at Magnolia has a membership of 83, and a Sabbath- school the glory and pride of a community.
428
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT DUNLAP
First had its origin at what was formerly the village of Olmsted, in the year 1858, at which time the following named persons organized a branch of this church, viz .: Mr. T. P. Kellogg and wife, Mr. James L. Roberts and wife, Mr. H. B. Lyman and wife, Mr. P. D. Kellogg, Miss Mary G. Roberts and Miss Jane M. Lyman, being nine persons, which organization was under the superintendence of the Rev. H. D. King, spoken of in con- nection with the Magnolia charge. At this place this organiza- tion was well sustained. Scarcely in the history of a new set- tlement was there greater effort to maintain a church organiza- tion, and in no place in the west has there been better results. Here in a little cluster of settlers, quite isolated from settle- ments, the first business of the people is to build up, and have the advantages of church and schools, and though at the time of the said organization, there was no expectation that the Boyer Valley would become the foundation of one of the greatest arteries of National Commerce, these determined few never felt but that great good would grow out of their united efforts. In October, 1866, the place of worship was changed to the,town of Dunlap, and in 1867 a house for worship was erected, at which place at the present, this branch has one of the neatest as well as the most commodious and costly church buildings in the county, costing when built, the sum of $6,000. From 1858 to 1866, Rev. H. D. King, Rev. W. S. Black and Rev. Hitchcock supplied the pulpit; then Rev. J. B. Lowry to 1867; Rev. Free- man the last half of 1867; Rev. C. N. Lyman, 1868 to 1870; Rev. McDermot, to 1874; Rev. Copeland, to 1877; Rev. Mills, to 1883; Rev. Rogers, to 1887, and the person at present occupy- ing the pulpit is Rev. J. M. Cummings. At present, there are 125 members, paying their minister the sum of $900 per year, and parsonage free, which, by the way, is a great change from that of the last thirty years. Since the time of the crystaliza- tion of the above named handful of earnest Christians, of those
429
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
who subsequent to that time have become members thereof, the following have peacefully and triumphantly passed to the better world, viz .: Mrs. Julia Olmstead, Mrs. Hattie Hatch, Mrs. Mary Ettinger, Mr. Henry W. Gleason, Mrs. Sarah M. Hyde, Mrs. Eliza Johnson, Mrs. Helen E. Liscomb, Mrs. Mattie M. Mitchell, Mrs. Eleanor Herd, Mrs. Ella Moore, Mrs. Estella M. Richardson, Mrs. Marcia Roberts, Mr. William Roberts, Mrs. Edith Sherman and Mrs. Phoebe Smith.
MONDAMIN.
Mondamin in 1877 organized a class and during the same year erected a church building, costing $1,200. This building, while not very large, is neat and commodious, and at the time of build- ing, perhaps drew quite largely on the purses of those at whose expense the same was constructed. The following are a portion of the names of those constituting the first membership: P. C. Spooner and wife, Alfonso Spooner, Mr. Nat. Shepard and wife, and Mrs. Dr. Jamison. The minister in charge of this place at the present, is Rev. C. N. Lyman of Onawa, and the membership numbers 23. In connection with this church is a very interest- ing, well conducted Sabbath-school.
SOLDIER RIVER.
Soldier River Charge was organized in 1885 and a church building erected the same year. The persons who constituted the organizing class were: Charles S. Brown and wife, Frank Land and wife, E. H. Mosier and wife, J. B. Warren and wife, et al. This charge has at the present some 20 members and have for their minister Rev. C. P. Boardman of Magnolia. The church building cost $1,200 and is a neat, handsome structure, fully supplying the present wants of the neighborhood. The mem- bership of this denomination, in the county, at the present, num- bers 251 and have places of worship costing $11,600.
430
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT LOGAN.
The first organization of the Presbyterian Church at this place was completed on the 28th day of August, 1869, by Rev. Geo. H. Carroll, and consisted of the following named persons, viz .: Mr. Andrew Barr, Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Cadwell, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Rugg, at which time the fol- lowing named Elders were elected: Mr. C. N. Cadwell and Mr. E. L. Rugg. Immediately following the organization, this branch of the church acted with considerable zeal, kept their organization in a healthy, lively status, which soon resulted in bringing many persons into the fold, among whom were the fol- lowing, viz .: Mr. and Mrs. William Riddle, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Vanderhoof, Mrs. Dorcas Vanderhoof, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Latta, etc. Rev. Thornton K. Hedges, who located in this county in 1870 and died at Logan in 1881, was the first resi- dent pastor of this people; and very acceptably served this branch of the church for five years. During the year 1876 a large, handsome, commodious church building was completed in Logan, and when furnished had cost the church and those con- tributing, the sum of $3,000. Following the ministry of Rev. T. K. Hedges, the pulpit was filled by the Rev. J. B. Welty, and when he resigned, by Rev. Geo. R. Carroll, and Mr. Carroll by Rev. H. C. Gillingham, and Mr. Gillingham by Rev. O. A. Elliott, the present incumbent. Rev. Thornton K. Hedges was a good, true man, earnest, zealous, learned and eloquent, but by reason of disease contracted by him while acting as Chaplain in a Federal'regiment, during the late Rebellion, an active, useful life was materially shortened, a wife widowed and children made fatherless. The eldership of this church at the present are as follows: Mr. J. M. Latta, William Riddle, J. D. Rogers, T. F. Vanderhoof and A. W. Ford. The membership is 60 and the church has an excellent Sabbath-school numbering 125 pupils. The yearly salary of the pastor is, at the present time, $800.
431
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
WOODBINE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
On the 28th day of March, 1880, the following named persons, viz .: Mr. C. M. Gilky, Mrs. S. M. Gilky, Mr. W. H. DeCou and Mrs. Georgia DeCou, Mr. L. D. Willett and Mrs. Frances E. Willett, Mrs. Nettie Pugsley, Mr. John Manu, Sr., Mr. John Mann, Jr., Mrs. Sarah Mann, Mr. Thomas Thompson and Mrs. Agnes Thompson, Miss Eva Thompson, Mrs. Laura Donaldson, Mrs. James S. Bostwick, Mrs. Marea Chaffee, Mr. A. Donaldson and Mrs. Sarah Sharp; 18 in all, organized a Presbyterian Church at the above named place, under the auspices of the Rev. J. B. Welty. At this place Mr. Welty acted as pastor for this organization until about the 23d of April, 1881, at which time and from that date until about the 1st of January, 1884, the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. George R. Carroll, the same minister spoken of in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Logan. Rev. R. M. Coulter was the first installed pastor of this church, and in an able and satisfactory manner per- formed the duties of this position until the 1st of October, 1887, when the present pastor in charge, viz .: Rev. D. W. Cassett removed to Woodbine and was installed on the 28th day of said month of October 1887. From the date of organization this branch of the church has increased with a steady, healthy, nat- ural growth, as shown by the records of the church, which desig- nates a membership of 60, and, at the present, worship in a very tasty, neat commodious church building, costing at the time of completion the sum of $2,000, to which might be added the sum of $500 in the way of furnishing the same.^ It might be truth- fully said that there is scarcely a locality in Harrison county, which has been as successful in the selection, ability, piety and general good qualities of her ministers as Woodbine. Mr. Welty was a man learned, eloquent and zealous. Mr. Carroll, the em- bodiment of goodness and gentleness, recommended his cause quite as much by good example as while in the pulpit. Mr. Coulter, learned, logical, fearless for the right, and generous;
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
and the present, Rev. Mr. Cassett, with the recommendations by him presented, his unassuming manners, his experience in the ministry and his undoubted ability, learning and real goodness can not fail to maintain the good record of the three who pre- ceded him at this place. The elders of this church at the present time are as follows: Mr. L. D. Willett, Mr. A. A. Williamson, Mr. Charles E. Baldwin and Mr. J. B. Lowry. A Sunday-school is maintained by this church and has upon the rolls thereof 117 scholars. Pastor in charge, Rev. D. W. Cassett. No. of mem- bers 60. Sunday-school scholars 117.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MISSOURI VALLEY.
This church was organized on the 13th day of February, 1869, and had for its organizing membership the following persons: J. S. Wattles, Jane M. Wattles, Dr. Geo. W. Coit, Anna A. Coit, Caroline M. Carroll, Mollie A. Ellis, Carrie Du Boies, L. A. Simons and Hattie C. Justice. Following this organ- ization, they struggled along as best they could, when in the summer of 1870 a neat, cosy and comfortable church was erected at a cost of $1,200. In the summer of 1887 a parsonage was added to the church property, costing $1,100. The same per- sons who were elected as Elders at the time of the organization, nineteen years ago, still serve this church in that capacity, viz .: J. S. Wattles and Dr. Geo. W. Coit. The membership at the present, numbers forty-one, and though not so great in numbers as many other branches of religious denominations, still, they exert a good influence in the community, which cannot be meas- ured at the present. A healthy, well organized Sabbath-school is had in connection with the church, the scholars attending the same numbering not less than eighty. The ministers who have occupied the pulpit are as follows:
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