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 38
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Having discovered how it happened that River Sioux came into exis- tence, the reader is now asked to trace out the development and present commercial interests of the little hamlet, the railroad town.
The first to begin business here was Frank Lahman, whose stand was
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now : Mayor, D. MeLaughlin; Levi J. Reynolds, 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.
Having discovered how it happened that River Sioux came into exis- tence, the reader is now asked to trace out the development and present commercial interests of the little hamlet, the railroad town.
The first to begin business here was Frank Lahman, whose stand was
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VIEWS NEAR LITTLE SIOUX.
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later transferred to Henry Herring. This was a store of general merchan- dise, on the east side of the railroad tracks.
The grain trade was first started by Martin Hathaway, Woodaed & Herring coming in second in that branch of business. Mr. Herring also added a stock of hardware.
The first hotel was operated by G. W. Chase. The first school house was erected two years after the platting of the town. It served until 1882, when a two-story frame structure was built at a cost of three thousand dollars. E. A. Baldwin was the first to teach in this building. Not long after the depot was built a postoffice was established. The postmasters have been: Stephen Demmon, Charles Demun, James Bowie, Charles De- mun, Samuel Dewell, G. W. Chase, who took the office in February, 1882; A. W. Hathaway, May 17, 1893; Harry Z. Hathaway. April 30, 1897; Augustus McWilliams, May 18, 1900; Harry Z. Hathaway, March 23, 1901 ; Ozias Walker, March 14, 1911 ; Maggie L. Hathaway, May 21, 191I.
From 1880 on for a decade, the roller-skating fad was at its height, and, of course, River Sioux had to invest in such a luxury, too. The build- ing formerly used as the rink, was later bought and used by Mr. Herring as a warehouse.
The present business interests of the hamlet are in the hands of: H. Z. Hathaway, a general store and hardware; A. M. Hathaway, a general store. and the post office is kept by Mrs. Maggie Hathaway, wife of A. M. Hatha- way. The grain business is in the hands of the Updike Grain Company. The village is supplied with meats by J. Philips.
From recent records dug up at Washington, D. C., it is found that when Lewis and Clark went up the Missouri to the far west in 1804, on a survey for the government, they described the channel of the Missouri river as then being at the exact spot where now stands the station of River Sioux, whereas today the stream is almost two miles distant.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
On the west line of Harrison county and the second township from the north line, is Morgan civil township, in which subdivision is situated the sprightly town of Mondamin. It embraces all of that portion of congres- sional township 80, range 45, which lies to the cast of the Missouri river. ex- cept four sections from the north line, which are attached to Little Sioux township. Morgan also takes in five sections from the west line of range 44, township 80. The great bend in the Missouri river makes this a very irregular township. North of Morgan is Little Sioux township, east is Raglan, south is Clay and a portion of Taylor township, and on the west is the Missouri river and Nebraska state line.
Morgan was organized in 1867, and derived its name from Morgan county, Ohio, from which locality came Capt. John Noyes, an early pioneer of Harrison county. He located in this township, hence it was named for his old county in the Buckeye state. In 1890 the population was seven hun- dred and fifty-one; in 1910 it was given as eight hundred and sixty-one, in- cluding the town of Mondamin, which then had a population of four hun- dred and twenty.
As to the topography of this township, it should be stated that, generally speaking, it is flat, and made up of the richest soil to be found in the great Missouri basin. Originally, along the Missouri river, there was an immense growth of native timber, which afforded a good revenue to the owners and to the saw-mill operators. At one time there were hundreds of Indians aid- ing about these mills. There were nearly a thousand Omaha and other friendly Indians camped in the bottoms on the lowa side of the river. in and near this township.
The only stream of much importance within what is known now as Morgan township, is a branch of the Soldier river. Several lakes once had their existence here, in the northern portion is Round lake, Elm creek lake and Ellis lake. Round lake was once much sought out for its fish and was used as a resort for sportsmen and tourists generally. But, with the passing of the decades, drainage, which had to come to make profitable thousands
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of acres of land within the township, has caused once famous Soldier river to be almost a stream of the past. The Soklier ditch (drainage canal), and the Soldier "cut-off" ditch, of the same system, have taken the waters from the stream and carried them directly to the Missouri river, thus making the stream, once noted for its fast-flowing waters, but a small streamlet, with water running here and there in its former bed. In many places the farmer now plows and cultivates where once the stream rushed madly on in its crooked course through this and adjoining townships. So. really, the once familiar saying. "over on the Soldier," does not apply with the force that it did twenty-five and fifty years ago.
For a more detailed account of the great drainage system of this county, including that portion found in Morgan township, the reader is respectfully referred to the chapter on this topic.
The railroad of this township is the Sioux City & Pacific, now a division of the great Chicago & Northwestern system. This road traverses the cast- ern portion of the territory.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
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The earliest settlers in this township, as near as can now be learned, were Mr. Orinder and his sons, who settled about 1854, remained a short time and went on to Kansas. A large colony came in from Ohio in 1856 and among the number were Capt. John Noyes and family, who located in the southwest quarter of section 20; John Hendrickson, of section 10 who re- mained until some time during the Civil War period; Eli Coon, of the northwest of section 26; Solomon and David Gamet, in section 35; Rich- ard Morgareidge and his son, John, and family, settled in section 25.
E. J. Hagerman and family made their settlement in the southwest of section 25. The father and mother both died in 1891.
Samuel Morgareidge was a young man who came with his parents from Ohio, and. after his marriage, located in the northeast of section 26. At the close of the Civil War he moved to the Pacific coast.
Jacob Kennison came with Capt. John Noyes from Ohio in 1856, re- mained one season and returned to the Buckeye state.
Alexander McCoy also accompanied Captain Noyes and went with him, to Texas, sawing ties for the railroad company.
David Gamet settled near Magnolia in 1853, and in 1857 went to sec- tion 35 of Morgan township. He owned, at one time, eight hundred and
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five acres in Harrison county. In 1886 he engaged in mercantile business at Mondamin.
Another early comer was Henry McNeeley from Ohio. He came in 1857, settling in the northeast of section 13, where he died in the sixties.
David Work came in the spring of 1857, located in old Calhoun, but later went to Morgan township.
Clark Ruffcorn came from Ohio in 1856, and in 1858 began to improve land in section 24, where he owned over three hundred acres in 1890.
William Clinkenbeard came in from Indiana in 1864 and located in section 35.
John H. Noyes, of section 33, came in 1862. He had been a soldier in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
James O. Pugsley came in 1866, located in section 26, where in 1890 he owned four hundred acres.
Andrew J. Burcham came to this county in the spring of 1853, and later became a resident of Morgan township. George H. Burcham was a pioneer of 1853. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1807. He died in August, 1870, and was buried in Magnolia township.
Dr. John W. Drew became a settler in 1885 and lived at Mondamin in 1891.
Peter Noyes became a resident of the county in 1867. He was born in 1816 and died, February, 1887. His son, Winfield S., came to the county with him. Lafayette H. Noyes also dates his settlement from 1867. In 1877 he became a grain dealer in Mondamin. .
Z. T. Noyes, who became a leader in trade at Mondamin, came with his parents in 1856.
Major H. P. Kidder settled in section 25, in 1875.
John J. Thomas, a native of Ohio, came to this county in the seventies. Later he built a fine farm house in section 26.
Of the schools, churches, lodges, societies, etc., other chapters in this volume will treat under separate headings. (See index. )
Of the milling in this township it should be said that Capt. John Noyes brought a steam saw-mill to the county when he came from Ohio and placed it in operation a mile and a half from Mondamin's present site. This was about 1858, and he continued to run it until after the war period, when his sons purchased it. After a few years they disposed of it and it was taken over into Nebraska. Other mill owners of an early day were David Gamet, David Fletcher, Isaac Gamet, William Collerick, J. O. Johnson.
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TOWN OF MONDAMIN.
In the Indian dialect, Mondamin signifies "Indian corn," and from this was named this town, as it is situated in the heart of the great corn belt of the Missouri slope, in Iowa. Longfellow immortalized this farm product in his wonderfully beautiful poem, "Hiawatha," in which are found these lines :
" Till at length a small green feather From the earth shot slowly upward, Then another and another, And before the summer ended
Stood the maize in all its beauty,
With its shining robes about it, And its long, soft yellow tresses ; And in rapture Hiawatha Cried aloud, 'It is Mondamin!' .
"Then he called to old Nokomis And lagoo, the great boaster, Showed them where the maize was growing,
Told them of his wondrous vision, Of his wrestling and his triumph, Of this new gift to the nations, Which should be their food forever.
"And still later, when the autumn Changed the long green leaves to yellow,
And the soft and juicy kernels Grew, like wampum, hard and yellow, Then the ripened ears he gathered, Stripped the withered leaves from off them,
As he once had stripped the wrestler, Gave the first feast of Mondamin, And made known unto the people This new gift of the Great Spirit."
The town of Mondamin was platted as a station point on the Sioux City and Pacific railroad in September, 1868, in sections 25 and 30. by
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John I. Blair. for the railroad company. The first to engage in trade here was D. W. Fletcher, who had a general store.
E. M. Harvey conducted the first hotel of Mondamin. Later. the hotel served as a dwelling house.
E. W. Oakly started a hardware store, soon selling to Spooner & Gar- rison.
James Haner was the first blacksmith in town. It was in 1868 that Capt. John Noyes put in a general store, and also bought grain and sold luniber.
Furniture was first handled at Mondamin by C. S. Stowell, who was followed by L. S. Hagerman. John Noyes & Co., and J. D. Garrison were first in handling live stock.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
The government established a postoffice at Mondamin in the winter of 1867-68. It was made a money order office in 1886. The first order was issued to Stuart & Jensen for the sum of fifteen dollars, payable to Perregoy & Moore, cigar dealers at Council Bluffs. The following list of postmasters has been kindly furnished the author by the first assistant postmaster-general at Washington: David W. Fletcher (appointed), April 1, 1868; E. J. Hagerman. January 17, 1869; James O. Stuart (not commissioned ), Janu- ary 27, 1886; J. D. Stuart, February 9, 1886; William Stuart, March 7, 1887; Laura B. Walters, February 7, IS90: John P. Brawley, February 5. 1892; William Stuart, April 10, 1893; W. B. Keith, May 18, 1897; Gertrude G. Pitts, May 5, 1914.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Mondamin became an incorporated town in July of 1882. The follow- ing have served as mayors, as shown by the record:
1882, E. J. Hagerman; 1883, C. H. Burrows; 1884, C. H. Burrows; 1885, R. S. Walker: 1886, James Mickel; 1887, James Mickel; 1888, C. W. Irish; 1889. A. W. Garrison: 1890, L. Manhart; 1891. L. Manhart; 1892, Charles Burrows, 1894-5: Cy Cross, 1896-7; A. Spooner, 1898-9: Charles Stewart, 1900-01: A. Spooner, 1992-3-4-5; B. 1. Finn, 1906: Hugh Moi- row, part of 1906: M. T. MeEvoy, 1907-8-9-10-11; J. E. Klutts, 1912-13; Oscar G. Wonder, 1914.
The town officers in 1914 were: Mayor, O. G. Wonder; clerk, W. A.
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Price; treasurer, H. D. Silsby; health officer, Dr. W. G. Finley; marshal, Peter Job; councilmen. A. D. Gilmore. J. W. Mann, M. D. MeEvoy, R. B. Noyes, W. H. Remington.
The town is provided with a full block for park purposes, donated by the town-site company. This has been planted to trees, which now tower heavenward, affording a cooling shade in mid-summer and a wind protec- tion during the long cold wintry months, a living, growing monument to the hands of the hardy poineers who planted them, when they were mere saplings.
Mondamin had the first "consolidated" school in the county.
So far the town has neglected to provide itself with ample fire-fighting apparatus and has no system of water works, but works with a hand chemical engine and gets its water for fires at common wells. It paid dearly for this in the month of March, 1914, when it had an early morning fire that swept away its harness shop and leading drug store. The fire originated in the Klutts opera house, from an unknown cause. The stocks were mostly re- moved. and insurance was fortunately carried. The loss was upwards of twelve thousand dollars. The harness stock was owned by Charles Russell and the drug stock by Doctor Finley. Thomas Wallis owned both of the buildings. Besides the losses named. there was the moving picture show of Oscar Wonder and the opera house, owned by Mr. Klutts.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF 1914.
Agricultural-J. C. Messing & Co., Seabury, Carson & Co. Bank-Mondamin Savings Bank.
Barbers .- J. I. Noyes, G. W. Grim.
Blacksmith-J. H. Kahler.
Cream Station-The Hanford Produce Company, of Sioux City. Drugs-The Finley Drug Company.
Dray Line-J. E. Harrington.
Elevators-Trans-Mississippi and the Updike Companies.
Furniture-L. S. Hagerman.
General Dealers-J. W. Mann, Gilmore Brothers. Garages-Seabury, Carson Company.
Hardware-A. Spooner.
Harness-Charles W. Russell.
Hotel --- "Commercial," Joseph Greer. Jeweler-H. E. Clark.
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Lumber --. A. Spooner & Son.
Livery-Fred Ritchison, R. L. Girton.
Millivery-Mrs. W. J. Blair.
Meat Market -- W. J. Blair.
Newspaper -- The Enterprise, F. H. Kelley, owner.
Physicians -- Drs. Thomas McFarlane, W. G. Finley.
Restaurants-R. L. Macfarlane, George Erway.
Stock Dealers -- George W. Coffman.
Veterinary Surgeon-Dr. J. R. Bailey. A ten-thousand-dollar school house was erected here in 1911.
CHAPTER XXXV.
TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.
That portion of Harrison county known as Taylor civil township, is all of congressional township 79, range 44, except sections 24. 25 and 36. It was organized in 1861, and was named for that illustrious old patriot, so well known in American history as "Zach" Taylor. It lies south of Raglan and Morgan townships, west of Magnolia and Calhoun townships, north of St. Johns and Cincinnati townships, with Clay township on its western bor- der. Its area is equal to twenty-one thousand, one hundred and twenty acres, the largest part of which was originally prairie land. The Soldier river runs through sections 5. 7 and 8. At an early day there were two large swamps or marshes in the northern portion of this township. Brown's grove is in the eastern portion of this township. The Sioux City division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs north and south through the western sections of the township, with a station point in section 30, known as Modale.
The population of the township, including the village of Modale, in 1885. was seven hundred and eighty-six; in 1890 it was placed at seven hundred and nineteen, and in 1910 (last census) it is given as eight hundred and thirty, and this included the town of Modale with its three hundred and eighty-seven inhabitants.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Sixty-one years ago, 1853, the first white settler, Robert Hall, effected his settlement in this township, the location being in section 1. The follow- ing season came J. C. Wills and S. J. Oaks. Mr. Wills used to relate to his friends, who came in at a much later date, how he had counted forty-five deer at one time, and wild turkeys in a number too large to be counted.
When organized into a separate township in 1861, the first township officers were: J. W. McIntosh, supervisor; James Mathews, justice of the peace, and James S. Kelley, township clerk. Up to about 1885 the farmers in this township claimed a larger yield of wheat and oats than did their neighbors on the uplands of the county. In 1866 the average yield of wheat
(28)
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was from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels per acre. Oats ran from ninety to one hundred bushels.
Only one incident showing difficulty with the roaming bands of half- friendly Indians ever occurred in this township, and that was with the Omahas, who became troublesome and stole small things altogether too fre- quently to suit the white settlers. After parleying with them for some time, one Indian was shot and they concluded to leave the white people alone, but the white settlers being proud of the victory they had won over the red men, followed on after them. After decoying them for ten or more miles from their homes, the Indians turned on the settlers, which caused the whites to beat a lively retreat homeward.
The earliest pioncers to effect settlement in Taylor township were, be- sides those already named above, Isaac K. Teeter, in section 2, in the fall of 1855, when he bought forty acres from a mulatto named Charles Van. He also purchased some swamp land in section II. He moved in from Jeffer- son county, Iowa, in the spring of 1856, and lived in his wagon a month, until he had time to build him a house.
Richmond Quinn came to the township in 1857, taking land in section 2. He also pre-empted a quarter section where he made his home. His father, John Quinn, came at the same date and died here several years later.
J. Willis settled in section 8 in 1854. Ile had a large family and was an emigrant from Illinois. He was a soldier in the Civil War and died in 1884.
David Penrod came in at abont war time from Indiana. He located in section 17. About that date Daniel Penrod came from Ohio and took land in section 8.
Daniel Bryan was a settler from Ohio after the close of the war. He settled in section 8.
John Thompson. another Hoosier emigrant, came in 1853 and settled in Magnolia township. He was absent from this county from 1855 to 1861, at which time he located in section 13. Ile was a Union soldier in Civil War days.
Among the carliest in this township was Ed. Burk. About 1880 he re- . moved to Missouri Valley. His farm home was in section S.
From all that can be discovered, it is likely that Isaac Perjue was the second man to locate in Taylor township. He came early in 1853.
James Bird, an Irishman, came in before the Civil War, settling in section 11. He was a soldier and, when he returned from the war, married Elizabeth Karnes.
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David D. Lockling made his settlement in Harrison county in IS57, lo- cated in section 16. Taylor township, in 1859. Later he made his home in Missouri, while his son Sherman conducted the farm.
Fred Schwertly was a settler before the war and bought land in section 10, and later removed to Calhoun township.
Benjamin Martin and son, B. F. Martin, came in the spring of 1857, settling in section 30. In 1876 the father was run over by a Sioux City & Pacific train and killed. It was this gentleman who platted Martinsville, now known as Modale. The two sons afterwards became merchants in Modale.
In the spring of 1860 J. S. Lightell came from over in Pottawattamie county to Taylor township. He first settled in section 31, but subsequently removed to Modale.
H. O. Beebee came in 1859 and rented in Magnolia, but in 1861 com- menced improving his Taylor township place. He served in the Union ranks in Civil War times. Ile lived in 1884 in a log house which he hauled from Cincinnati township.
Of the settlers who came in after the close of the war may be named W. H. McQueen, of section 9, in the spring of 1865. He bought two hun- dred acres of bottom land. In 1885 he engaged in business in Modale.
Alva W. Brown settled in section 29, in the spring of 1866. For a time he conducted a hotel at Modale.
John MeCrillis settled at the village of Calhoun in 1869, and in 1871 purchased land in section 28 of Taylor township, where he owned at one time a half-section.
Fred Demon settled in a part of section 9 in 1867.
In 1870 came Amos Morrow, who died in the eighties, his widow marrying Joseph Depew.
F. W. Myers, of section 13, came here first in 1859, went to the Black hills and, in the spring of 1871, bought land in this township.
Asa Cole made his settlement in the township in section 16, in 1867.
Elihu Phillips came about 1870 to section 12. At his death, about 1880, he owned many hundreds of acres of land in this county.
Fred Scott came to section 17 in 1870. Ile died about ten years later. In 1865 L. "G. Riley located in section 17. He sold and moved to Missouri Valley.
Mathias Rager located in section 18 in 1862. He sold to A. E. Ocker- son and moved to Atlantic, Jowa, where he died.
S. G. Spacklen, in section 19, came in 1866.
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Patrick Kirlin came in about war times to section 20. Later he retired to Modale.
Josiah Tuffey came to Clay township in 1858. and ten years later moved to section 20, Taylor township. Later he settled in Modale.
Another 1866 settler was H. B. Broughton of section 20.
Michael Haley came in the carly seventies and, after having made a success at farming. finally, in the eighties, retired in Missouri Valley.
Jacob Hammer came in at the close of the war, purchasing land in section 30.
Alonzo Beebee, located in section 31, about 1868 and became a thrifty farmer and large land owner.
Alexander Hillis came to section I just after the war. Later he resided at Magnolia.
John G. Nelson was a settler in section 4, coming in 1865.
Portions of section 8 were settled by Charles Wright in 1865. He was a native of Sweden.
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