USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa : its people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 27
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In 1868 the mill was sold to James McCoid, who lated sold to A. Longman, who a few years later sold it back to McCoid. In 1889 he built what was known as the "Rock Bottom Mills," just below the site of the old mill. In the nineties the old mill stood as a monument of the fifties, while the new mill was of the "roller process" style and produced an excel- lent grade of patent flour. It was operated as an exchange, or merchant, mill. This was operated until it burned down March 12, 1907, at which time it was owned by A. Edgecomb & Sons. It was one of Jowa's best roller mills and sold car lots of flour in Minneapolis, in competition with
1
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the great mills of that city, notwithstanding the freight rates were against them. The loss of this mill was a great misfortune to Logan. -
THE LOGAN POSTOFFICE.
Henry Reel, proprietor of the town, secured the establishment of a postoffice in December, 1867, with C. C. Cole (of the firm of Cole & Fish) . as postmaster. It became a money-order office in 1877. The office and its contents were destroyed on August 7. 1884. Up to June, 1891, there had been issued fifteen thousand four hundred and five money orders and ten thousand one hundred and two postal notes, the latter being a small de- nomination money order then in use. The following have served as post- masters at Logan since the establishment of the office: John A. Reel. ap- pointed April 23. 1867: Cyrus C. Cole. June 22, 1868; William Giddings, May 12, 1875: A. K. Grow, March 3, 1883; Thomas A. Massic, August 12, 1886; John W. Stocker, December 11, 1890; John F. Wood, December II, 1893; F. H. McCabe, January 10. 1898; James H. Johnson, January 30, 1906; Thomas A. Massie, March 11, 1914.
The record of this postoffice for May. 1911, shows they handled the following mail matter during that month : First class matter, 52,230 pieces; newspapers, 32,006; books and printed matter. 16,676; magazines, 1,612; packages of merchandise, 1,594: free matter, 1.209: registered matter, 165; total number of packages handled, 109.707. Rural carriers handled 46,873 in the same month on routes out from Logan.
The Logan office was made an international money-order station, Sep- tember, 1901, going to fifty-one foreign countries.
The first rural free delivery in Harrison county was established at Logan in 1900 on the Reeder's Mill route. The first carrier was Prof. J. D. Hornby, of school fame in the county, who was then too old to teach. Charles Ilyde was his substitute driver. The first report, that of mail car- ried the first month by Prof. Hornby, was as follows: 118 letters; 188 cards; 3.162 newspapers; circulars, 97; packages, 133; registered letters and parcels, 7; total, 4.056 pieces of mail matter. This was inatter taken ont from the office at Logan, and almost the same amounts were collected and brought in by the carrier.
LOGAN MADE A MAGNETIC STATION.
The United States Coast Survey, at Washington, D. C., made Logan a magnetic station in September, 1900. A scientific expert was sent here
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and pitched his tents in the cemetery. He made careful observations for a number of days, to determine the declination of the magnetic needle at this point in Iowa. It was for the purpose of determining the "variation of the surveyor's compass in land surveys." He also established a few more such stations in Iowa.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
In 1877 Logan thought it was high time to become an incorporated place, and therefore prepared the proper means by voting on the proposi- tion which carried by a good majority and the town was duly incorporated. The following have served as mayors, from the first to the present date : John V. Evans, 1877; John V. Evans, IS;8; John W. Barnhart, 1879; H. H. Roadifer, 1880; W. C. Cadwell, 1882; H. H. Roadifer, 1883; Du Ren Stearns, 1884; Du Ren Stearns, 1885; Almor Stearns, 1886; A. L. Harvey, 1887; L. J. Paul, 1888; C. R. Bolter, 18Sg; C. L. Bolter, 1890; C. R. Bolter, 1891; C. F. Luce, 1892-93; J. A. Berry. 1894-5-6-7; L. W. Fallon. 1898-99; J. C. Milliman, 1900-1-2; Dr. I. C. Wood, 1903-4-5; W. N. Johnson, 1906- 7-8-9; C. A. Bolter, 1910-11; J. C. Milliman, 1912-13-14, and has another year to serve.
The present town officials are Capt. J. C. Milliman, mayor ; C. L. Hyde, clerk; C. L. Isbell, treasurer ; Gus Johnson. marshal; Dr. H. Hansen, health officer; W. R. Adams, J. M. Albertson, J. T. Case, T. S. Parker, F. D. Stearns, councilmen; L. W. Fallon, city attorney.
In 1884, the town put in a system of direct pressure waterworks, costing seven thousand five hundred dollars. The water was pumped to a reser- voir on the hill to the west of town. It holds one hundred thousand bar- rels, by means of a steam engine and a windmill, the former forcing water from never-failing springs and the latter from a well in the public square, through one and a quarter miles of piping. At present the waterworks system was secured through bonding the city for twenty thousand dollars, August 5, 1912, the vote standing: Votes by men, 196 for bonds; men, against bonds, 73; women for bonds, 125; women against bonds, 41. Sep- tember, 1912, a contract was let to the Des Moines Bridge Company, to con- struct the works at seventeen thousand one hundred. It consists of a fifty- thousand-gallon storage tank at the foot of the hill, where water from a thou- sand-foot well is pumped into pipes leading to the stand-pipe on the hill. The tank is sixty feet high. The well affords from four to five hundred gallons per minute and was struck in May, 1911. There are two wells of
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the "flowing" type, one about one thousand and the other about eight hun- dred feet deep.
The town is lighted by an electric light plant owned at Missouri Val- ley, and transmission is made to Logan. The earlier electric plant of Logan was a privately-owned plant which ran successfully for many years, but finally went down.
PUBLIC PARKS.
The public square, around which the chief business of the place is lo- cated, occupies a full block and is heavily shaded by large trees which make the place a delightful resort. Here many of the outdoor public meetings are held.
Milliman Park, on the heights, was donated by Captain J. C. Milliman in 1909-a gift royal. It contains five and six-tenths acres and will be im- proved in the near future.
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF 1914.
As the years roll by it will doubtless be interesting to know whose hands the commercial interests of Logan were in at this date. Therefore it is here given in directory form :
Attorneys -- Roadifer & Roadifer, C. A. Bolter, Cochran & Barrett, L. W. Fallon. H. L. Robertson, J. A. Murray.
Auctioneers-Tupper & Son.
Agricultural Implements-Seabury-Carson Co., Farmers Mercantile Co. Bakeries-Seabury & Sons, Dean Morgan.
Barber Shops-Coffey Bros., Alpha Riggs, Ross Hall, John Teigeler.
Blacksmith Shops-Jake Smith, Tim Shields, Will Frazier.
Banks-The First National, the State Savings and Freeman's Private Bank.
Cement Workers-Sprinkle Bros., J. E. Sprinkle.
Cream Stations- Fairmont Creamery Co.
Druggists-I. C. Wood & Co., Joe Canty & Co., Department Store Co.
Dentists-M. A. Humphrey, R. P. Booher, C. R. Huber.
Dray Lines-Stephens & Sons.
Furniture-Department Store Co., Minshall Furniture Co.
Feed Stores-Seabury-Carson Co., Farmers Mercantile Co.
Grocers (exclusive )-Adams Co., C. A. Cadwell, W. L. Latta. (20)
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General Stores -- Harvey Bros. Co., J. A. Hetcrick. Department Store Co.
Garages-Scabury-Carson Co., Kennedy Bros., Will Haskins.
Hardware -- Department Store Co., J. T. Case, Minshall Hardware Co.
Ilarness Shops-Joe Crouch. O. A. Cook Department Store Co.
Hotels-The Lusk.
Jewelers-S. M. Joliffe, J. J. Ring.
Lumber-Quinn Lumber Co .; Logan Lumber Co.
Livery-Will Brown, Tope Jackson.
Millinery-Vita Van Camp. Essie Thompson.
Meat Markets-S. G. Downey, W. E. Mason.
Marble Works-James Kay.
Newspapers-The Observer ( Rep.), the Gazette ( Dem. ).
Physicians-Dr. C. S. Kennedy, Dr. I. C. Wood, Dr. Hans Hansen,
Dr. R. J. Stearns, Dr. D. Williams.
Photographers-L. L. Culbertson.
Restaurants-Scabury & Sons, Dean Morgan.
Real Estate Dealers -- Almor Stern, W. E. Hills. Farlow & Hills, Frank Hill.
Stock Buyers-Farmers Mercantile Co., S. F. Morris. Tailor-L. P. Duvall.
Veterinary Surgeons-F. B. Copeland, W. A. Shields.
Wagon Repair Shop -- Tim Shields.
MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE.
Fire insurance rates, in the early development of Harrison county as in all other counties, were high. Of course, the fire hazard was greater and a larger per cent of the risks burned then than now. Then the buildings were rudely constructed and prairie fires were common, so that the stock companies established high rates for insurance, and as late as 1887 many farmers were paying as high as eight dollars to secure one thousand dollar fire insurance for one year. Then, when a loss came, many times the in- sured was denied payment because he had inadvertently violated some of the conditions contained in the fine print of the policy.
Fire insurance agents, like lightning-rod agents, came along as the pio- neer settlers began to accumulate wealth, their sole object being to relieve these people of as much of this wealth as their oily tongues could induce the innocent farmer to part with.
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Insurance rates were so high and adjustments, in case of loss, so un- satisfactory, that leaders in the community began to look for a remedy.
The oppression of stock company insurance was general over the en- tire state of Iowa, and this cause led to the organization of county mutuals.
As early as 1878 the farmers of Pottawattamie county organized a mu- tual fire insurance company and many of the farmers of Harrison county insured there. E. W. Milliman, then farming in Jefferson township, was elected as director of the Pottawattamie mutual and he, together with J. A. Danielson, of Calhoun township, wrote a number of Harrison county farm- ers in the Pottawattamie company.
The farmers found this insurance very satisfactory, so much so that they decided to organize a company in Harrison county. The officers of the Pottawattamie company were friendly to the movement and D. B. Clark, then secretary of the Pottawattamie mutual. came to Harrison county and aided in preliminary steps of organizing.
E. W. Milliman visited Harrison county policy holders of the Potta- wattamie company and secured promises from them to transfer in case the new company was started.
After due consideration, William H. DeCou, J. H. Rice, J. D. DeTar, E. W. Milliman, H. C. Harshbarker, J. A. Danielson and L. D. Harris met at Woodbine, lowa. May 25, 1887, and organized the Harrison County Farmers Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Association with. William H. DeCou, president : J. II. Rice, vice-president; J. D. DeTar, secretary, and E. W. Milliman, treasurer, and H. C. Harshbarker, J. A. Danielson and L. D. Harris, directors.
Mr. Milliman held the office of treasurer of the association for twelve years, or until 1899; when he was succeeded by C. F. Johnson. Following Mr. Johnson, came L. J. Paul, who served from 1902 until 1906. W. H. Johnson was appointed by the board of directors in March, 1906, to fili the vacancy caused by the death of Mir. Paul, and served till 1914, when C. L. Isbell was elected in January, 1914.
The presidents of the association were William H. DeCou, 1887 to 1892; Dr. J. H. Rice, 1892 to 1893; F. F. Beebee, 1893-1907; C. N. Cad- well, 1907-1908; F. F. Beebee. 1908 to 1909. Thomas Chatburn was elected in December, 1908, and assumed the duties of president of the association January 1, 1900.
The secretaries were J. D. DeTar, 1887 to September 15, 1891; F. H. DeCou, September 15; 1891, to January 1, 1892; C. N. Cadwell, 1892-1894; John L. Cox, 1894-1895: C. N. Cadwell, 1895-1905. At the annual meeting
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on December 8, 1904, O. L. Case was elected secretary to succeed Mr. Cad- well. Mr. Case qualified on December 20, 1904, but resigned January 3, 1905, before the records of the office had been turned over to him and C. W. Hunt was appointed by the board of directors, then in session.
Up to the time of the expiration of the first articles of incorporation the Harrison county mutual wrote only farm business; that is, farm dwell- ings and out-buildings and personal property, also country churches and schoolhouses. But many of the older farmers later moved to town and expressed a desire to carry their town property in the Farmers Mutual.
To satisfy this demand, together with the fact that experience had proven that iown dwellings were good risks, the association in February, 1910, when articles of reincorporation were adopted, added town dwellings and out-buildings to the class of risks.
The Harrison County Mutual, with the passing of the twenty-seven years since organization, has paid in losses over one hundred thousand dol- lars and by its competition with stock companies has saved the farmers of the county more than this som in the reduction of insurance rates.
The Harrison County Farmers Mutual did not spring into existence and grow without some struggle ..
No sooner was its influence felt in the insurance world than the stock companies adopted tactics intended to sap away the life of the newly-born association.
Competition became keen, rates were lowered and stock company agents used every argument, even to misrepresentation, to stop the growth of the Mutual.
The carly officers and directors spent much of their valuable time fight- ing for the success of their infant organization. While they made some mistakes, they profited by the experience gained until, today, we have an as- sociation with four million six hundred thousand dollars at risk.
The Mutual today, so far as the management can tell, is giving entire satisfaction and furnishing insurance cheaper than any stock company, ad- justing losses promptly, and is destined to write a large per cent of the farm and town dwelling house insurance in future years.
CILAPTER XXII.
BOYER TOWNSHIP AND WOODBINE.
This township is the second from both the north and east line of the county, comprises all of township 80, range 42 and was organized as a separate civil township in 1857. It derives its name from the beautiful river, of like name, which meanders through its territory from the north- cast to the southwest, finally falling into the Missouri river, just to the north of Council Bluffs. Its original course has been materially changed, and the water channel greatly decreased in its length by the recent immense dredge surface ditch that has been constructed the entire length of the stream proper.
Boyer is south of Lincoln, east of Magnolia, west of Douglas and to the north of Jefferson township.
In 1885 it had a population of one. thousand two hundred and ninety- six, including the village of Woodbine. The census for 1890 gave it as one thousand four hundred and seventy population, while the same au- thority in 1910 gave it two thousand three hundred and ten, including Wood- bine, which at that date was placed at one thousand five hundred and eighty- eight. It is believed now, from the school census, that Woodbine has reached not far from one thousand eight hundred.
The largest stream is the Boyer, which enters the township in section I, and flows on in its crooks and turns, to the southwest, leaving the town- ship at section 33. Willow Creek touches the extreme northwestern corner of the township. Other smaller water courses are found here and there, but their waters have partly dried up with the settlement of the country.
Portions of Bigler's Grove and Twelve Mile Grove, constitute the largest bodies of natural timber, in all amounting to something over four hundred acres, at this date. "Twelve" and "Six Mile" Groves were so called by the early Mormon settlers of this county, who counted the dis- tances from Harris Grove, where they first located. Elk Grove was so called because of the elk seen roaming about the locality in an early day.
The railroads of Boyer township are now the Chicago & Northwestern and the Illinois Central, both of which follow .down the Boyer river from
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Denison, direct to Council Bluffs. These lines both pass through Wood- bine, the only town within the township.
This is one of the finest portions of Harrison county. Its farms are now all real garden spots, and command high figures. The Boyer valley lands are unexcelled in the state. The fine farm buildings and numerous bearing orchards and vineyards bespeak of good men behind the plow and good women in the farm-house. Many are the modern houses, erected in the last dozen years, most all of which compare favorably with those of towns and cities, having as they do all modern conveniences, including elec- tric or gas lighting systems, waterworks and automobile garages, while. good fences and well-planned barns and silos are to be seen on every high- way as one rides through the township. The apple orchard of D. W. Lotspeich, near Woodbine, is classed among the best in this section of Iowa, while the modern farm residences of Messrs. George Pugsley. Charles Mincy and others in the innmediate vicinity of Woodbine, together with their beau- tiful grounds, driveways, fonces and evergreen trees, certainly compare with any in the county. The Mincy property is a part of the old homestead owned so many years by the late David Selleck, while Doctor Cole, the elder, a pioneer physician, owned a portion of the Pugsley farm, now so attractive. The farm between the two named, where A. E. Selleck lived and made such good improvements, keeping at it until his death in Decem- ber, 1913, with scores more like places in this township, show that they were held by men who loved farm life and built substantially and well.
PIONEERS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Charles Smith who settled in section 29, either in 1849 or 1850, ap- pears to have been the first settler in what is now known as Boyer town- ship. His aged father resided with him. They were of the Mormon faith and practice. Charles died in 1869.
In I851 came Richard Musgrave and his son, George, who became a well-known newspaper man of this county. This family settled in section 25, at Twelve Mile Grove.
John Jeffrey came to the township in 1851, purchasing a Mormon claim in section 18. He was Scotch and passed through many trying experiences.
Another immigrant of 1851 was Lorenzo D. Butler, deceased many years ago, was a Mormon who came from Kanesville (Council Bluffs) and located at Twelve Mile Grove, purchasing a claim there in section 12. He kept the land until the spring following and then sold it for three hundred
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dollars, and bought a ciaim in section 13, where he erected one of the earliest mills in the county. He there opened a general store in a few years. A part of his life was spem as a Mormon missionary to England. He died in 188.4, and his widow survived until 1914, dying at Woodbine, which town she had the distinction of naming, at the advanced age of ninety years.
In 1852 came Thomas Thompson, who settled in section 18, at Bigler's Grove. He lived in a log cabin until 1856, when he erected a better residence.
In 1853 came Amon Fry, accompanied by his parents. In 1855 he pur- chased land in section 8, remained until 1866 and then bought his father's farm near by. During that year also came John Mclntire and family and John Holeton and family. MeIntire moved to Monona county and Fry and Holeton died many years ago. Luke Jefferson also made his advent here in 1853, settling in section 31, at Twelve Mile Grove. He claimed his land previous to the government survey. In 1856 he moved to section 26, then changed to section 31, moving a Mormon cabin to the latter location.
During 1854 the settlement was greatly increased and the pioneers in- cluded B. Abrams, who located at Bigler's Grove, in section 19, where he died in 1878. Josiah Coe, now of the First National Bank, Woodbine, came in April, 1854. He first took a claim in Crawford county, which in 1856 he exchanged for sixty acres of improved land at Twelve Mile Grove. He was unmarried at that date and made his home at Matthew Halls. In I856 he pre-empted a quarter section, a part of his present fine farn.
David Barnum, deceased, settled on the northwest quarter of section 23, in November, 1854. He pre-empted land in January, 1855, and lived in the basement of an unfinished house during that never-to-be-forgotten winter of 1856-57. He died in 1890. James M. Adams and family came to the township in July, 1854, from Wisconsin. They purchased a claim of Richard Abrams, in section 31. In this family were three men, grown sons, A. M., B. C. and Logan Adams, while Joseph and "Rube" lived up in Monona county.
Coming down to the year 1855 it may be said that the settlers in- cluded such well-known characters as David and James Selleck, from Illi- nois. David Selleck arrived in the month of March, entering a full section of land in the beautiful Boyer valley, near where Woodbine now stands, a mile to the north. This tract is situated in sections 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12. For a short time he lived in a rude dug-out, but soon built a comfortable house, still standing and used as a barn. His brother, James, and family came the same year, claiming land in section 2, remained three years and moved to the Willow creek country, farther to the west. Later the family
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removed to Kansas, where he was murdered for money supposed to be in his house, The sons still reside in Kansas, well-to-do farmers.
Frank J. Porter was another settler in 1855. He first located at old Jeddo, remained until 1858, then moved to section 3, Jefferson township. In 1869 he moved to section 19. Boyer, and in IS91 to Woodbine, where he is connected with a banking institution and leads a retired life, honored by all.
A colony came in from Indiana in 1855 and they had among them Henry Hushaw, John Johnson, Elijah Hedgecock, Hiram Moore, Dr. John S. Cole and several others, numbering in all, thirty, all being emigrants from Indiana. Hedgecock settled in section 35. Moore settled on Mud ercek, remained until 1866, moved to Dunlap, and was killed by lightning while in an unfinished house. The family later moved to Oregon. The Hushaw family settled north of Woodbine, in section 36, of Lincoln township, but in the nineties was living in Woodbine, where several of the children still reside. John Johnson settled in Lincoln township, but in 1866 moved again, and later settled in Omaha.
W. H. McHenry came with his parents to Harrison county in 1853 and lived at Bigler's Grove. Later in life he located a few miles north of Woodbine, where he owned considerable land at one time.
John R. White settled at Twelve Mile Grove a few years after the Civil War had closed. Later he retired to Woodbine, where he died in 1896. He was the father of L. W. White, former editor of the Woodbine Chron- icle. The family came from New York state.
About 1866 David Bostwick, of New York, settled in section 28, im- proved a small farin and died there in the seventies. His son, Paul Bost- wick, still resides on the old homestead.
Dr. J. S. Cole came from Indiana in 1855, lived at Bigler's Grove the first winter, and the next spring settled in section II, just to the north of present Woodbine, where he spent the remainder of his days in the suc- cessful practice of medicine, dying about 1880. He built the red brick house that still stands on the beautiful eminence overlooking. the Boyer Valley, and next south of the Selleck farms, entered by David Selleck in 1855. George Pugsley now owns the old Dr. Cole place. Mrs. Cole (now Mrs. Snyder) still resides in Woodbine at an advanced age, and is beloved by all who know of her many womanly and Christian graces.
At about the date of 1855 there came to the county a German family, named Forberg, the head of the family being Charles. A German named Hugo Holdoegle accompanied this family here. They settled in section 2.
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Forberg died, and "Hugo", as all called him, married his widow. For many years they lived in Dunlap.
Jerman Brown, came in 1855, settling in section 15. His father, Eras- tus Brown, also took land in section 15, and died in Clay township about 1873. Lewis Vining came in 1854, with David Barnum. Hle settled in section 2, and died there about ISSo.
In May, 1856, came Eli P. Mendenhall, settling on sections 21 and 22. In 1879 he moved to Woodbine, where he engaged in the real estate busi- ness. His father, Charles Mendenhall, came at the same time and located in section 22. Later, he moved to Woodbine where he became the pioner landlord.
"Clay" (H. C.) Harshbarger and his father, John Harshbarger, ar- rived in 1856, settling in section 33, which land later became the county poor farm, the one formerly owned by the county, between Logan and Woodbine. Young Harshbarger was the first soldier to enlist from Harrison county in the Civil War. He was subsequently county judge, county auditor and re- corder. About 1901 he moved to Idaho, where he died in January, 1912.
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