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 37
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Farmers' clubs had their origin hereabouts through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob T. Stern. This okl patriarch and his good wife, of Quaker origin. hailed from Pennsylvania. They were pioneers in Harris Grove in 1857. and they brought some of the good customs followed in the state from which they emigrated. It was in the sunny autumntime of 1864, when many of the men from this county were on fields of battle in the far away Southland, that Mr. Stern called a few of his neighbors together for the purpose of obtaining valuable seeds through the United States patent office. At the time these were received Mr. Stern, William Elliott, F. T. Hill and David Rogers, who were of the first organization, called the farmers to- gether, and distributed to each, pro rata, anticipating that all would give the same good culture, and, when matured. in the following autumn they were to meet and compare notes on methods of sowing and tending. Before the season rolled around there had arisen some jealousy and the gentlemen who had parceled out the seeds from Washington were voted out of office and those put in the society in their place allowed the club to run down.
March 5, 1866, however, a few neighbors having called and dined with Mr. and Mrs. Jacob T. Stern, the "Harris Grove Farmers' Club" was re- organized, being composed of the following members: Mr. and Mrs. Jacob T. Stern, Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Milliman, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Vanderhoof Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Milliman, Mr. and Mrs. David R. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hull and Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Vanderhoof.
A constitution and by-laws were perfected, setting the last Saturday in each month as a meeting time for the club.
The organization was confined exclusively to those residing in La
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Grange township, and the membership was to be kept at twelve perpetually, and no more allowed. The result was great good accomplished, for, by in- terchange of thought, much was learned that would not have come to light otherwise. Also the ambition of each member was aroused to improve the farin fences, outbuildings, etc. Also to grow better fruits and vegetables and all pertaining to the good of home and fireside. This club should ever stand out boldly as a monument to the good sense of Father and Mother Stern, both of whom have long since gone to their reward. Indeed, this worthy couple "builded better than they knew."
HARRIS GROVE POSTOFFICE.
This was established during the days of the Civil War. It was first kept in section 14, with Harry Coburn as its first postmaster. It was moved to various parts of the township until 1867, when it was discontinued.
BEEBEETOWN POSTOFFICE.
Beebeetown is situated in section 26, and was established in 1880, with Frederick F. Beebee as postmaster. It was his wife who was instrumental in getting the office established. A. D. Fitch started a store at this point in 1881, on land donated by Mr. Beebee. Six months later James Haner started the second store of the "burg." At about that time Mr. Beebee purchased the store formerly put in by Fitch, and turned it into a dwelling. Haner conducted a country store for a while, then sold to F. A. Merritt, who con- tinued until the autumn of 1888 and sold to J. P. Yarrington. As a general rule, when the store changed hands the postoffice did, too.
James L. Beebee built a blacksmith shop in 1881 and rented to Charles Wilkins, who was succeeded by Mr. Whipple, and he by J. Van Cleaver, James Keller, Showwalter & Pinfrock and then Peter Cromer. The black- smiths named all came before 1890. Since then various others have wielded the sledge at a Beebeetown forge and anvil.
At the present date the business of the place is in the hands of the following persons: F. H. Beebee, general dealer; J. O. McElroy, black- smith.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
LITTLE SIOUX TOWNSHIP.
The northwest corner township in Harrison county is known as Little Sioux, deriving its name from the river bearing this name, and originally from the Sioux Indian tribe. The Missouri river washes to the western borders, Monona county is directly north, Jackson township to the east and Morgan township to the south. It is seven and a half miles along the northern line, and five on the southern line, while it reaches seven miles from north to south. It was organized in 1854, and now comprises parts of ranges 41 and 45, in townships So and SI. In round numbers it has thirty- five sections of land. The records do not mention the prefix "Little." but formerly recorded it simply as Sioux township. On account of the presence of Little Sioux river, however, custom has for many years designated it as "Little Sioux." The Little Sioux river, the only stream of much importance in the township, enters the township at the northeast and meanders down through the same, forming a junction with the Missouri river, in section 27, township 81, range 45. When first settled there were three good-sized lakes in the southern portion of this township. One is called Smith's lake. Timber skirts the Missouri river, and the banks of the Little Sioux have consider- able native timber. At an early day the saw-mills cut immense quantities of native lumber. In 1890 it was estimated that the township contained about two thousand acres of timber.
The population of Little Sioux township in 1885 was placed at one thou- sand and thirty-six; in 1890 it was one thousand, one hundred and fifty, and in the United States reports of the census of 1910 it is listed as having one thousand, four hundred and forty-eight, including the town of Little Sioux, which was placed separately at three hundred and ninety population.
This township has two town plattings within its borders, Little Sioux and River Sioux, the latter being the railroad station on the Sioux City & Pacific railroad. This road enters the township from the south in section I, in the lower tier of sections, and leaves it from section 3 in the northern part of the township.
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TIIE PIONEER SETTLEMENT.
The foundation for the present prosperity and progress of this part of Harrison county is due. in a large measure, to the hard work and good judgment of the sturdy pioneer band who first set their settlement stakes in the township, away back in the days before the Civil War. To that noble character, Silas W. Condit, must be given the honor of first penetrating the wilds of the township. He came in among the great body of Mormons who came west as far as Council Bluffs, with Brigham Young, and, on account of the teachings of that strong, intelligent, but misleading and misguided leader, Mr. Condit left the Mormons, and in 1848 became the first settler in Little Sioux township, as well as on the stream named the same. It was he who later laid out the town of Little Sioux, in company with T. B. Neeley. He first lived in a rude cabin covered with bark from the forest near by. This pioneer passed from earth in 1878.
Nathaniel Neeley was second in the van of settlement here. He went to land in section 18 in 1852. He died in 1875. He was the father of Hon. T. B. Neeley.
Seth Palmer claimed a part of section 36. in 1852, and moved there the year following. He later owned a half section of valuable land in the township.
John L. Perkins, then a young man, came to the township in 1853.
Moses German effected his settlement in 1855, erecting the first house in the village of Little Sioux. He was deputy sheriff of Harrison county.
Elijah Ellis came in from Ohio in 1851, but soon returned to that state. The Ellis family, usually spoken of as being early in the township, was from Ohio, coming in May, 1855, and were renters for one year. They came by way of steamboat to St. Joseph. Missouri, and staged it the remainder of the way. Sons in the family were. Sylvanus, John IL., A. M. and Clark Ellis. In 1856 they moved to section 36, township 81, range 44, where they continued to reside from 1858 to 1875. In the spring of 1891 the mother died at the age of eighty-six. Sylvanus taught school in the winter of 1855- 56, one of the earliest schools, if not the first ever taught in Magnolia. It was he who formed a partnership with George Brainard, in the publishing of the Harrison County Republican. He died in 1859.
Gabriel. Cotton settled in the township in the fifties, sold his claim to Mr. McCauley in 1856 and left this country.
Jerry Quinn and brother settled in section 19 about 1854, possibly & year or so earlier. T. B. Terry bought them out and they moved away.
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In 1855 came Mir. McCauley from Wisconsin. The first year he lived in Jackson township, then took land in section 30, township 81, range 44. He met his death by being kicked by a horse in 1863.
Linus Bassett of New York state came in the middle fifties, settling in section 31, township 81, range 44. After seventeen years he sold his place to A. H. Gleason, and retired to the village of Little Sioux. After the close of the war his son, L. H. Bassett. came to take up his residence here.
Hiram M. Huff, a .Kentuckian, came in as a single man, in 1855 and was married the next year. He was employed on the Jerry Martin farm, and, in 1857, claimed land in section 2, township 80, range 44. In 1891 he still held his lands, but resided in Missouri Valley city.
In 1854 came Jack and Wash Conyer, as they were always styled. They were from the south. The first named settled in section 25, township SI. range 44, but at the close of the war moved over into Monona county. "Wash" settled in the same section and died there about 1885.
In 1856 Daniel Shearer came from Texas, locating in section 25.
M. Murray, in the fifties, came from Scotland and selected lands in the northeast portion of this township.
An Indianian, named John Bagby, came here in 1854, and was employ- ed by Charles La Ponteur, a Frenchman. Later, he married and purchased land in the southeast quarter of section 18, township 81, range 44.
In this connection should be mentioned that odd, pioneer character, so much quoted by old-timers in Harrison county fifty years ago, Charles La Ponteur, who made his advent into this section of the county in 1853. He was a Frenchman and an Indian trader. He took to himself a full blood Indian squaw for his wife and by her reared a family. He first settled on a claim squatted on by Amos S. Chase, in the northeast of section 18, town- ship 81, range 44. He remained there until some time during the Civil War, when he went northwest among the Indians. Subsequently, he returned to lowa and settled in Monona county where he died. He laid off a village known as Fountainbleau, a "paper town" mentioned in the miscellaneous chapter of this work.
Jesse Wetzel was a settler in the fifties. He located in the northwest of section 5, township 81, range 44; later he moved to Monona county.
Solomon J. Smith also came early, probably in 1854, settling in section 36, of the last named township and range, where he died in the eighties. He owned "Smith's lake" and vicinity.
In 1856 Henry Herring came in from Pennsylvania. He was a single (27)
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man and started a wood yard at the month of the Little Sioux river. He furnished wood to the steamboats of the Missouri river traffic. He also burned charcoal in pits. Ile was doing business in Little Sioux village in the nineties.
Charles MeEvers came from Illinois in 1853, settling in section 26, township St, range 44.
Samuel Ellis came to Harrison county in 1854, and to his land in this township in 1857, locating in section I.
Joseph A. Morrill came here in 1857 and later moved to the village of Little Sioux.
John Pratt came in 1856, claiming land in section 6, where he owned a thousand acres of land in 1891. He was an extensive stock raiser and ship- per of stock.
Jasper W. Bonney arrived in Harrison county in 1856 with a party consisting of thirteen teams. He started from Buchanan county, Iowa, and fell in with an emigrant party which really had no objective point in view. so they kept traveling on toward the setting sun. They struck the Little Sioux river at Cherokee, following it to its mouth, hence their settlement here. Among this party of home-seekers and land-lookers were J. W. Bonney, A. Gleason and family, Arthur Knight and wife and child, Hiram Phillips, three sons and one daughter; Thomas Guinter and family, James Gilen, then a single man, and a few others. During that never-to-be-for- gotten winter of 1856-57 this whole party remained in a large log house in the village of Little Sioux. Nearly all became permanent settlers in this vicinity.
In the spring of 1857 James Smith came in from Missouri, settling in Little Sioux village. He conducted a hotel there until about 1860, when he went on further west.
Another settler in the village was William Booth in 1857. He married, settled down and died there a few years later.
Addison Cochran was identified with the township from 1854. He was a large land owner. He resided at Council Bluffs until 1883, then made his permanent home in this township. He built a large mansion and also a bridge over the Little Sioux, the latter at his own expense. He located in section 7. township Ss, range 44. His home was many years a noted resort for both town and country admirers. He was a bachelor and was mayor of Council Bluffs at one time, , He was known far and near as "Colonel Cochran." He was of good old Scotch ancestry and very much of a scholar and genuine gentleman. He died a number of years since,
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respected by all. His home farm in this township had over five thousand acres in it.
Augustus 11. Gleason effected a settlement here in 1856. He then went to Pike's Peak and in 1864 purchased land in section 25. where he owned, in all, in 1891. about five hundred acres.
.Abel P. Leach came to the county in 1867, purchased land two years later in section 26.
At about the close of the Civil War. O. Seymour came into the township and took land in section 31, township 81, range 41. Later. he settled in the town of Little Sioux.
James, John and Cornelius Hendrickson were also numbered as among rather early settlers in the township. The two former settled in section 3 and went west after the war closed. Cornelius was a member of Company C, Twenty-ninth Jowa Infantry Regiment, and died while in the service of his country. The father and mother died while occupying section 34, iv township SI, range 45. where the family settled.
James Murray came in 1862, when a mere boy, accompanied by his parents, who came as emigrants from Scotland. When old enough, the son bought land in section 18. remained there ten years and moved over info Monona county.
Dr. Landon, of the Botanical Medical School. came in 1856, settling in section 35. township 81. range 44. The date of his settlement may possibly have been a year or two earlier than 1856.
Other settlers included William H. Earnest, 1855; George W. Noyese 1874; William H. Butler. 18;3; Henry Deywalt, 1862; J. W. Stocker in 1857. Stocker worked in a saw-mill and at carpentering until the war broke out, then enlisted. After the war. he settled in Logan and was a leading business and political factor there. He died a number of years ago and whoever knew "Cap. Stocker" knew a man of great worth and high order of manhood.
H. Bonney came to the township in 1865, followed in 1877 by Watson C. Atwell.
Alexander T. Crane came in June, 1857, to this county and that follow- ing winter taught school in Little Sioux village, taking as part pay for his services, bacon and potatoes.
Among the pioneers of 1855 was Andrew M. Ellis. He was a Union soldier from 1861 to 186.1. when he was discharged for disability. His brother. Samuel Ellis, located in 1854 in Jackson township, but in 1857 moved to section 1. of Little Sioux township.
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Clark Ellis came with his mother and eight other sons and daughters by boat from Brown county, Ohio, via St. Joseph, Missouri. They located in 1855 in Jackson township, but later Clark Ellis became a druggist in the town of Little Sioux.
Thomas J. Lanyon came in 1858. He was along with the corps of surveyors who ran the preliminary line for the Sioux City & Pacific rail- road. In iSgi he was a merchant in Little Sioux town and still resides there.
William 11. Wilsey located in Monona county in 1855 and in time be- came the town site proprietor of Mapleton, Monona county. In 1876 he moved to this township.
OTHER HISTORIC ITEMS.
The schools, churches, lodges and banking interests of this township are found in detail in separate chapters under their respective headings.
The first settler in the township was Silas Condit.
The first religious services were held by the Methodists in a log school house at the village of Little Sioux, about 1856.
The first minister was Reverend Rand, of whom it is said that when he was asked by a brother to give in his "experience," said : "I am a day older and two days worse, it seems to me."
The first postoffice in the township was that established at the village of Little Sioux in 1857. Mail went via this point on the Council Bluffs and Sioux City route once a week.
A fatal and horrible accident occurred to James Phelps in a saw-mill in 1862, when a splinter caught in the rapidly revolving circular saw, resulting in sawing his body in two parts, from the head down. It was at the old Condit & Chase saw-mill.
The first saw-mill in the township was erected by Schofield & Son, on the Little Sioux river, at the village, in 1857. A coarse grinding attachment was soon added by which meal and feed were ground. The mill originally was propelled by steam, but later a dam was thrown across the waters of the Little Sioux and that gave the power needed. The dam was washed away in the high tide of floods and the mill was then abandoned.
During Civil War times Condit & Chase placed in running order a saw- mill on section 26. Later it was removed to Morgan township and passed into other hands.
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Conyer & Sons built a saw-mill in section 26 after the war ended. It finally burned.
In 1888 T. M. C. Logan built a one-hundred-barrel-capacity "roller" mill at the village of Little Sioux. It also had a grain elevator. Neither of these exist today.
Early steamboating here in Little Sioux may sound strange to the peo- ple of this generation; nevertheless the following appeared in the files of the Magnolia Republican, on June 4, 1859. the very wet season in all Iowa : "'The Mink,' a government steamboat, was at the landing at Little Sioux on yesterday, loading corn purchased of George S. Bacon of this place. This landing is at the city of Little Sioux, two miles up stream from where it empties into the Missouri. Two very large boats have visited this point, which seems to be the best landing in this section of the country."
The same newspaper said in January, 1859. concerning the Pike's Peak gold excitement : "Off For the Gold Mines !- A party of gold hunters left this village for the gold mines a few days ago. 'Brigadier-General' Wyatt in command. They take through a steam saw-mill and other machinery. An- other section of the same train starts next week under 'Lieut.' John W. Cooper."
TOWN OF LITTLE SIOUX.
Little Sioux is beautifully situated on the east bank of the Little Sioux river, in section 24, township 81, range 44, and was platted October 1, 1855, by Silas W. Condit and T. B. Neeley.
The first attempt at going into business here was early in the summer of 1856, when David M. Gamet commenced. Here the stage station was located and with it a hotel. This general merchandising store constituted the business of the embryo village of Little Sioux. During the Civil War days this hotel was sold to Silas Ellis, who operated the hotel some time and sold it to Amos S. Chase, who, after one year, sold to Joseph Fox. It was afterwards used for dwelling purposes, at last converted into a saloon, and was burned in the spring of 1890.
After selling to Ellis, Mr. Gamet built a new store, into which he moved his goods, continuing to operate until 1885, when he died.
The third to operate here was Benjamin Tabor who engaged in trade in 1866. He had a large general store. Three years later he sold to J. J. Peck and he, in turn, to "Mike" Murray.
In 1870 B. F. Croasdale opened a store, the first name being styled Croasdale & Scott.
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Early in the seventies George T. and W. H. Hope made up a firm, operating in a frame building that was burned in 1890. Then William Hope erected a brick store in which he ran a drug store.
In 1875 T. J. Lanyon embarked in trade. The same year Clark Ellis put in a drug stock.
Cobb & Ellis started their hardware and implement house in 1875. They continued until 1885. when Mr. Cobb died and the store was sold to Jones Brothers.
The first lumber was handled here by C. E. Cobb.
The hotel business went from the hands of David Gamet to Benjamin Bonney & Sons. This business was sold in 1891 to J. J. Reynolds.
The pioneer blacksmith here was a Mormon preacher, named George Montague, who came about 1856.
The first wagon shop was conducted by G. W. Bays and the first livery by Il. T. Bonney.
In 1878 W. L. Woodward established an exclusive farm implement house. After running five years he sold to O. Walker and he, in turn, to A. M. Jones. Jones sold in 1889 to A. M. Silsby.
The business interests of the town during 1914 were in the hands of the following persons :
Agricultural Implements-H. L. Pierce, Glasser Brothers.
Banks-Little Sioux Savings Bank, Peyton Bank.
Barbers-C. F. Champney. C. D. Peasley.
Blacksmiths-McColley Bros., D. MeLaughlin.
Cement Worker -- L. H. Davis.
Drugs-Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Hope.
Dray Line --- W. W. Breeding.
Confectionery-T. J. Lanyon, Bonney & Everitt.
Furniture -- D. Breeling.
Garage -- Robison & Ward.
General Dealers -- F. W. Terry & Son, Croasdale & Smith, Murray & Bonney.
Grain Dealer-Terry & Sons.
Hotel-"Bonney House," by W. McEwen.
Hardware -- H. L. Pierce, O. Duncan.
Harness-John Ross.
Jeweler-W. H. Eyer.
Lumber-Quinn Lumber Company. Livery-Glasser Brothers.
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Meat Market-Doc Bassett.
Moving Pictures-II. W. Kerr, Gleason & South.
Millinery-Murry & Bonney.
Newspaper-The Hustler. H. W. Kerr. Physicians-J. J. Bock, R. H. Cutler.
Pool Hall-II. Miller.
Photographs-S. B. Terry.
Restaurants-L. J. Said.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
The postoffice here was established in IS57, with Silas Condit as post- master. The department at Washington sent the author the subjoined list of postinasters to date:
Silas W. Condit, appointed July 6, 1857; M. L. Neitzsch, May 2, 1862; William Rockwell, June 6, 1866; J. B. Tabor, August 1.4. 1866; B. F. Croas- dale, December 10, 1868; John A. Forgens, December 6, 1869; Thomas J. Lanyon, June 21. 1870; A. W. Mintun, November 16, 1885; R. C. West, April 19. 1889: H. A. Driggs, June 16, 1893; A. M. Ellis, July 1, 1897; Levi L. Reynolds, June 13, 1901. Mr. Reynolds is still holding the office and is a credit to the service. This is now a fourth-class postoffice, with two rural routes. The gross business in the last year was one thousand, seven hundred and eighteen dollars and fifteen cents.
An opera house was provided for the town, by the going out of date of the roller-skating craze, when Whiting & Hope purchased the old rink building erected in 1884, by Everett & Whiting.
The churches, lodges, schools and newspapers are menttioned in special, general chapters on these topics.
INCORPORATION ITEMS.
Little Sioux became an incorporated town under the state laws in 1883, by a vote of sixty-three to two. The following have served as mayors of the incorporation ever since that date:
1883. G. W. Bays; 1884. H. B. Bonney; 1885, E. A. Baldwin; 1886, G. M. Scott; 1887, F. M. Lanyon; 1888, J. G. Miles; 1889. J. G. Miles; 1890, G. L. Scott; 1891, J. G. Miles; 1892, 1894-5. S. B. Frost; 1895-7, A. M. Ellis; 1897-1900, J. G. Miles; L. H. Bassett. 1900; L. J. Reynolds, 1902, 1904 to 1912; L. H. Bassett, 1912; D. Mclaughlin, 1914. The officers are
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now: Mayor, D. MeLaughlin: Levi J. Reynokls, clerk; G. H. Gibson, treasurer. The council is: C. C. Booth, H. C. Lytle, D. E. Hope, B. M. . Terry, C. B. Smith. The town has no water or lighting system, but has a brick jail and a frame town building. The town being on the bank of the pretty and good-sized stream, the Little Sioux river, it has boating, bathing and parking places better than most of the towns within Harrison county. It is also the home of the celebrated "Terry's Uncle Tom's Cabin" show troupe, which was organized here in February, 1890, by F. E. Terry, who sold to O. Q. Setchell, who later retired and sold to W. E. Dickey. He sold a half interest to F. E. Terry, the founder. Soon after Mr. Terry died (1912), and E. D. Terry bought the interest he had held. This show makes Little Sioux its winter quarters.
VILLAGE OF RIVER SIOUX.
,Besides Little Sioux, there is another village within Little Sioux town- ship-River Sioux. This place was platted at the time the Sioux City & Pacific railroad was put through Harrison county in 1866-67. The com- pany desired to run their road through Little Sioux, but, as the route would cost them more than others, they asked a donation from the taxpayers of the vicinity. These requests were denied the company, when, as is so fre- quently the history, the railroad company surveyed a line to the west of the town, on the west side of the Little Sioux river, which they named "River Sioux." The company provided depot and side tracks, but for a time no one could be induced to engage in trade at that station. About that date, possibly a few months later, there was a second village platted on the east side of the river, by Samuel Dewell and a Mr. Crabb. This place was called Malta, but without a depot ; business was a failure there, also. Finally after much figuring for self-interests, the company and town site people compromised in such a manner that the company had a half interest in the town site, cast of the river, and they at once moved the depot to that point. It was bad policy that any other than the original old Little Sioux should ever have sprung into existence, for neither place can ever hope to become what one good united incorporation would have been. The old town had by far more superior building site for a handsome town.
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