USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 2
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.555
Official Roster of Olin
557
The First Physician
559
K. T. Lamb, Merchant
559
The Olin School
560
Olin and the Press
563 564
Banking
565
Water Works
566
Electric Lights
567
Organizations
567
The Olin Volunteer Fire Company
. 567
The Olin Cornet Band
567
The Olin Commercial Club
56S
Poultry Fanciers' Association
.568 .568
The Olin-Morley Telephone Company
569
The Olin Creamery
569
The Olin Tile and Brick Company
569
Don A. Carpenter Post, G. A. R ..
.569
The Olin College
570
The Olin Cemetery
.572
The Ladies' Cemetery Association
573 573
The Churches
Olin United Brethen Church
.573
German Lutheran St. John's Church.
574
The Advent Church
.575
The Christian Church
575
The Methodist Church
575
Societies
.576
A. F. & A. M
576
I. O. O. F.
577
Olin Temperance League
577
A. O. T. W.
.577
Rebeccas
.577
Mystic Workers
577
Knights of Pythias
577
I'niform Rank, K. of P.
578
M. W. A.
.578
O. E. S.
578
Pythian Sisters
579
R. N. A.
579
Business Roster, 1909
579
The Village of Morley
580
The Postoffice
581
The Methodist Church
581
The School
581
Morley Mutual Telephone Company 582 582
M. W. A.
582
R. N. A.
.582
Business Roster, 1909
5.82
Official Roster, Rome Township
583
SCOTCH GROVE TOWNSHIP.
General Conditions 584
The Promised Land Explored 584
Survivors of the First Pioneers .584
Other Pioneers 584
The First Death
586
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The Olin Fires
553
554
The People
Societies
The 20th Century Club
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Other Immigrants
586
The Mills
.586
Scotch Grove Water Supply
John E. Lovejoy .588
.588
The Schools
.589
Scotch Grove in the Civil War
.590
An Enlistment Incident
.591
Names of Soldiers Who Enlisted from Scotch Grove.
.591
Names of Soldiers Buried in Scotch Grove Cemetery .592
.592
The Soldier's Monument
.594
Scotch Grove Village
.595
Early Village History
.595
The Elevator
.595
The Store
.595
The Postoffice
595
The Creamery
.596
Business Roster, 1909
.596
The Scotch Grove Nursery
596
The Village of Johnson
598
The Johnson Postoffice
.598
The Johnson Creamery
.598
The "Limner Letters" of 1874
599
The Great Bear Hunt of 1859.
.604
The Harvest Home Picnic Society
.608
An Early Celebration, July 4, 1867
.608
Sorghum and Hops
.608
Scotch Grove Church History .609
The Presbyterian Church 609
The Methodist Church
611
The Christian Church 611
Official Roster, Scotch Grove Township.
612
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Location and General Conditions
.616
The People
. 616
Some Early Settlers
. 616
Temple Hill
.619
Temple Hill Catholic Church
.619
Official Roster, Washington Township
619
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
General Conditions
.621
The Township Organized
.621
The Growth of the Township
.622
The First Child Born
.622
The First School
.622
Early Settlers
622
Edinburgh-The County Seat
. 623
The First Postoffice
624
The Village of Langworthy
624
The Crescent Creamery
. 624
An Early Cheese Factory
625
The Langworthy Co-Operative Creamery Company.
. 625
Langworthy Postoffice
. 626
Langworthy M. E. Church
. 626
Business Roster, 1909
. 626
The Woodmen 627
.627
A Serious Conflagration .627
Business Roster, 1909
627
The M. E. Church . 627
Woodmen Lodge
628
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Members of Co. D. Killed or Wounded in Service.
PAGE
The Village of Amber
The First Settler . 622
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Mystic Workers
628
The German Reformed Church
. 628
The Co-operative Creamery Co.
. 628 The Amber Postoffice . 629 Wayne German Mutual Insurance Co. . 629
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. . 630
Zion German Lutheran Church .633
Wayne Presbyterian Church . 634
The I'nited Presbyterian Church
.634
The Jones County Home . . 635
Official Roster, Wayne Township
635
WYOMING TOWNSHIP.
Dr. M. H. Calkins-A Tribute.
640
Early Reminiscences of Wyoming
The First Death
646
The First Preaching Service
647
The First Marriage
649
The First Sod Plowed
. 649
The First School House
650
The First Store
650
The Township Organized .650
651
The Beginning of Wyoming Village. . 652
The Schools
. 655
The Methodist Church
. 657
The Presbyterian Church
658
The United Presbyterian Church
. 660
The Baptist Church
. 661
Some Organizations
.661 . 667
The Presbyterian Church
. 671
The German Lutheran Church
. 673 .674
Steam Mill Corners
.674 . 675
The Town of Wyoming Incorporated Its Growth
The Mayor
. 677
The Indebtedness
. 678
The Opera House
. 678
The Town Platted
. 678
Some First Things in Wyoming
. 678
The Postoffice
. 679
The Public Schools . 680
Course of Study 684
684
The Alumni Association
.686
The Depot
.687
History of Banks in Wyoming.
. 687
First Memorial Day in Wyoming
. 688
History of Dairy Interests . 689
690
Wyoming Cemetery Association
. 691
The Soldiers' Monument
.692 . 692
Ben Paul Post, W. R. C.
.693
Fire Department .694 Wyoming Telephone Company .695
Bear Creek Valley Telephone Company. . 696
Destruction by Fires
. 696
Water Works . 697
Wyoming Electric Lights
. 698
Bay View Historical Club
. 699
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United Presbyterian Church
The Methodist Church . 670
South Mineral M. E. Church
A Curiosity . 674
Official Roster, Wyoming Township
. 677
. 677
Graduates
Co-operative Creamery Association
Ben Paul Post, G. A. R.
PAGE
.641
The First Township Officers
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
PAGE
Hawthorne Club
. 699
The Wyoming Cornet Band
.701
Wyoming Civic League .702
The Fiftieth Anniversary of Settlement.
702
Wyoming and the Press
708
. The Historic Oak
710
A Reminiscence
713
Roll of Co. K.
.714
Pioneer Women
715
Miss Julia McClure-A Tribute
718
Some Wyoming Doings of 1874
718 719
Hartson Buckle Attachment Co.
.720
Fraternal Orders
720
A. F. & A. M.
.720 721
Mystic Workers
721
A. O. U. W.
721
O. E. S.
.721
R. N. A.
. 722 722 722
Highland Nobles
.723
I. L. of H.
.723
K. & L. of G. P.
.723
Business Roster, 1909
.723
Official Roster, Wyoming
The Town of Onslow
728
Onslow in 1872
.729
The Onslow Visitor
.729
The Fire Record
730
The Village Incorporated
731
Business Roster, 1909
.731
The Postoffice
.732
The Onslow Cheese Factory
.732
The Onslow Savings Bank
733
The Depot
.733
The Onslow School
.734
Onslow Presbyterian Church
.736
The Catholic Church
.737
The Methodist Church
738
Onslow Mutual Telephone Company
738
The Priscilla Club
.739
Fraternal Orders
.739
I. O. O. F.
.739
Rebeccas
.739
R. N. A.
740
Mystic Workers
740
Am. Patriots
740
I. L. of H.
.740
Good Templars
740
Musical Organizations
740
Official Roster, Onslow
:
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Potter Canning Company
I. O. O. F.
M. W. A.
C. C. C.
.725
.737
M. W. A.
739
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white settler in Jones county was Hugh Bowen who settled in Richland township in the year 1836. As "all roads lead to Rome," so all roads to the spot where the first white man called home, will lead to a locality south and east of Bowen's Prairie. A short sketch of the life of this historic man would be appropriate in these pages, but the records are unkind, and will reveal but little of the career of Hugh Bowen. R. J. Cleaveland in his "Reminiscences of Rome." given on another page of this volume, states something in regard to the character and personality of the man.
Tradition also states that Jones county is entitled to the distinction of includ- ing the territory in which the Black Hawk war ended in 1833. The "Annals of Iowa," however, add no light on the subject. As handed down to the present generation, the story goes that the Black Hawk Indians were pursued by the American army, of which Lieutenant Jefferson Davis of the regular army, and Abraham Lincoln, an officer in the service of the Illinois militia, were in com- mand. The Indians were chased to the banks of the Maquoketa river, at a point on the southern border of Richland township, called Dale's Ford. Here the Indians took their stand. The river was high and the current swift. While one- half of the Indian warriors took their stand in defence, the other half crossed the raging torrent on improvised canoes, and these in turn, maintained a defence while the others crossed the stream. When all had crossed the river, they turned and fled through the brush and timber. The American army, not caring to plunge their horses into the swift, flowing and turbulent waters, and believing the Indians were too exhausted to continue their depredations, turned back; and the Indians were not heard from again. This military strategy on the part of the Indians, as given by tradition is worthy of praise and of being written in
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
story and in song. We are unable to find any authentic record of this traditional fact of history.
Much has been written of the heroism of the pioneers of Jones county, and of the wealth of character, and richness of possessions that has descended to posterity. To all this glory, the pioneer who has blazed the way to the civiliza- tion, settlement and enrichment of Jones county, is fully entitled. The men and women of the early day, from the viewpoint of this age, were institutions of greatness. Through them the hidden resources of the county have been de- veloped, the character of the people moulded, and life and living made to shine with a bright reality.
Jones county will compare with her sister counties very favorably. In the moral tone and industrial prosperity of its inhabitants, it will stand second to none in the state. Its prosperous homes and improved farms, speak of the fer- tility of its soil and proclaim the culture of its people; its numerous schools and churches tell in glowing terms of the attention given to the development of mind, and the strength of manhood and Christian character.
THE INFANT PIONEERS.
The first white child to begin life in Jones county, was Miss Rebecca Merritt, who was born about two miles west of the present site of Olin, January 5, 1839. This promising maiden thrived and prospered on the milk and honey which flowed in the promised land of her birth, and at the age of fifteen, she became the bride of Joseph Merritt, her cousin. This matrimonial event is shown by the records of this county to have taken place in March, 1853. Mrs. Rebecca Merritt is now living at Sturgis, South Dakota.
The second child to begin life in Jones county, was a boy, James McLaughlin, a son of James and Mary McLaughlin. This historic youth was born on what is now known as the Lovell farm, in section 2 of Wayne township, on May 31, 1839. Mr. Mclaughlin is yet numbered among the inhabitants of earth, and resides at Russellville, Kentucky.
Miss Mary Moore, the first child of William and Alvira Neal Moore, stands third in the baby roll of honor in the county. Her birth dates from April 10, 1840. Richland township claims the honor of her birth. On January 15, 1861, she took unto herself a husband in the person of Thomas A. King. Mr. and Mrs. King reside in Jones county, and have the oversight of the welfare of the county's unfortunate poor in the county home.
Child number four was Miss Lucretia Bowen, a niece of Hugh Bowen. She was born April 22, 1840. Her life was short, and when about two years of age, she was carried on angel's wings to the mansions in the babyland of heaven.
Infant number five in the pioneer roll, was John D. Sullivan, a son of John and Margaret Sullivan, who was born in Richland township, October 29, 1840. This baby boy grew to manhood in time to offer his services in behalf of his native country, and entering the army in 1864, became a member of Company C, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Sullivan is now one of the highly respected residents of Cascade.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
There is some information available to the effect that Martha Ann Dickson is entitled to have her name enrolled among the pioneer infants of Jones county as having begun her life work in Richland township in the year 1839 or early in the year 1840. We have been unable to substantiate this information.
In the early history of Monticello, given elsewhere in this volume from the pen of M. M. Moulton, reference is made to the birth of twins in the family of Mr. Richard South in Richland township in 1839. This statement is not in har- mony with our investigations. F. M. South, now living in Dubuque, states that he was the boy end of the twin relation, and that his twin sister's name was Margaret, and that they were born January 3, 1842. The twin sister, Margaret, died when about two years of age. Benjamin South, a brother, now living at Oelwein, was of later birth. F. M. South enlisted in the Union army when quite young and served three years in the Civil war.
SOME FIRST THINGS IN JONES COUNTY.
The first pipe organ in the county was at the German Reformed church in Monticello, in 1890.
The first cheese factory was the Ross Cheese Factory at Bowen's Prairie in 1867.
The first creamery was established by H. D. Sherman at Monticello in 1875. A creamery was also started by James L. Hall in Clay township about the same time.
The first permanent settler was Hugh Bowen at Bowen's Prairie in 1836.
The first political caucus in the county was held at the house of Clement Russell for the purpose of nominating territorial county officers. This was on July 24, 1839.
The first sheriff was Hugh Bowen.
The first court was at Edinburg, March 22, 1841.
The first clerk of the court was William Hutton, 1841.
The first recorder, Clark Joslin, 1841.
The first treasurer, W. Cronkhite, 1866.
The first auditor, Charles Kline, 1870.
The first superintendent of schools, B. F. Shaw, 1860.
The first county attorney, F. O. Ellison, January, 1887.
The first tile factory was by John Gibson, Monticello, April, 1879.
First lodge, was I. O. O. F., No. 40, Anamosa, July 6, 1852.
First bank, I. L. Simington, Monticello, 1867.
First flag raised at Olin. July 4, 1840; made by Mrs. N. Seeley.
First postoffice at Edinburg, January, 1840.
First district school. Sugar Grove, 1840, taught by T. Stivers.
First child born was Mrs. Rebecca Merritt, daughter of Joseph Merritt, about two miles west of Olin, January 5, 1839. Now living at Sturgis, S. Dakota. First attorney was C. C. Rockwell, Newport, 1846.
First physician, Dr. Clark Joslin, 1838.
First license for grocery and tavern, Clement Russell, Fairview.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
First license for selling goods to Reuben Bunce, Fairview, 1841.
First saw and grist mill in 1838, by George Walworth.
First newspaper, The Anamosa News, 1852.
Oldest merchant continuously in business, Frank Hoffman, grocery, Martelle; since 1872.
Teacher with longest continuous service, Miss Grace Maple, Onslow, twenty years.
First general election at house of Barrett Whittemore, September 11, 1838 Eleven votes cast for delegate to legislative assembly.
First delegate to territorial legislature, Barrett Whittemore, in 1838.
First representative to territorial legislature, George H. Walworth, August, 1839.
First Catholic Mission, at Anamosa, 1857.
First church organized, Scotch Grove Presbyterian, at Edinburg, 1841.
Oldest blacksmith continuously in business at the same stand, John Cole, Onslow, since July 5, 1871.
The first town to incorporate was Anamosa, 1856.
The first marriage, T. J. Peak and Rebecca Beardsley, December, 1839.
HISTORIC SETTING OF JONES COUNTY.
Jones county is in the heart of what was popularly known as "The Black Hawk Purchase." Following the Black Hawk war a treaty was made on the 2Ist of September, 1832, with the Sac and Fox Indians, by the terms of which there was ceded to the United States Government a strip of territory extending fifty miles westward from the Mississippi river. This territory was vacated by the Indians and thrown open to settlement, June Ist, 1833. There was at that time no organized government, but by an act of congress approved June 28, 1834, the area of the state of Iowa as it then existed for the purpose of tempor- ary government, was attached to and made a part of the territory of Michigan.
The legislative council of Michigan passed an act which was approved Sep- tember 6, 1834, laying off and organizing the counties west of the Mississippi river. This act, which took effect October 1, 1834, had reference to the terri- tory of the Black Hawk Purchase, and it divided that territory into two coun- ties, Dubuque and Demoine.
About that time Michigan was admitted into the Union as a state and by an act of congress approved April 20, 1836, the area of the present state of Iowa, and its two organized counties, was included in the jurisdiction of the new territory of Wisconsin.
At the second annual session of the legislature of Wisconsin, which was held at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines, a law was passed November 6, 1837, which provided for the sub-division of Dubuque county into new counties. The new counties were fourteen in number, and covered not only the territory of the Black Hawk Purchase, but they even reached further west and embraced Indian land that had not yet been ceded to the United States.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
The fourteen counties created by this act in the order in which they were named in the title of the legislative act were, Dubuque, Clayton, Jackson, Benton, Linn, Jones, Clinton, Johnson, Scott, Delaware, Buchanan, Cedar, Fayette and Keokuk. Since its organization there has been no change in the boundary of Jones county. It remains today so far as its boundary lines are concerned, the same as it was when organized by the act of November 6, 1837.
This act gave Jones county its historic setting from a geographical stand- point. This is the Jones county about which the following pages are written.
Jones county was named in honor of General George W. Jones, of Dubuque, who at the time Dubuque county was sub-divided, represented the territory of Wisconsin in Congress.
Only a part of these counties were organized at that time. Jackson county was equipped with an organizing sheriff in the person of William A. Warren, of Bellevue. He was also in a limited sense, made the sheriff of Jones county and Linn county. For matters of court jurisdiction, Bellevue was, during 1838 and a part of 1839, the capital of Jones and Linn counties. An election precinct was designated in each of these and the report of votes sent to Bellevue.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
The first territorial legislature, after the separation of Iowa from Wisconsin, met in Burlington, November 12, 1838. During this session, the county of Jones was organized, or at least an act was passed with this end in view.
The act passed by this legislature to organize the county was as follows :
Section 1. Be it enacted by the council and house of representatives of the territory of Iowa, That the county of Jones be, and the same is hereby, organ- ized from and after the first day of June next, and the inhabitants of the said county be entitled to all the rights and privileges to which, by law, the inhabi- tants of other organized counties of this territory are entitled; and the said county shall be a part of the third judicial district, and the district court shall be held at the seat of justice in said county, or such other place as may be pro- vided until the seat of justice is established.
Section 2. That Simeon Gardner of Clinton county; Israel Mitchell of Linn county. and William H. Whitesides of Dubuque county, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice in said county, and shall meet at the house of Thomas Denson on the second Monday of March next. in said county, and shall proceed forthwith to examine and locate a suitable place for the seat of justice of said county, having particular reference to the convenience of the county and healthfulness of the location.
Section 3. The commissioners, or a majority of them, shall within ten days after their meeting at the aforesaid place, make out and certify to the governor of this territory, under their hands and seals, a certificate containing a particular description of the location selected for the aforesaid county seat ;
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
and, on receipt of such certificate, the governor shall issue his proclamation affirming and declaring the said location to be the seat of justice of said county of Jones. * *
* * *
Section 6. The commissioners aforesaid shall receive, upon making out their certificate of the location of the seat of justice of said county, each three dollars per day, and also three dollars for every twenty miles going to and returning from their respective homes.
Section 7. Upon the presentation of the certificate aforesaid to the treas- urer of Jones county, the treasurer is hereby authorized and required to pay the respective sums allowed by this act out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved January 24, 1839.
It seems that these men failed to carry out the provisions of this act, and we find the county seat not to have been located until the following year, or 1840. In the legislature of 1839-40, three other commissioners were appointed, as follows : Thomas M. Isett, of Muscatine county ; John G. McDonald of Jackson county, and B. F. Moffitt of Delaware county.
These commissioners performed the duties enjoined upon them by the terri- torial legislature, the following report of their action being now on file in the clerk's office at Anamosa :
COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONERS.
Jones County, Iowa, April 22, 1840.
We, the undersigned, being appointed commissioners to locate the county seat of Jones county by an act of the legislative assembly of the territory of Iowa, passed at their second session, met in pursuance of said act, and after being sworn according to law, we proceeded to discharge the duties of our office agree- able to law, and after viewing the situation of the county, we came to the con- clusion that the northeast quarter of section thirty-six, township 85 north, range 3 west of the fifth principal meridian, was the best location that could be made in Jones county, and we called it by the name of Edinburgh.
JNO. G. MCDONALD, T. M. ISETT,
B. F. MOFFITT, Commissioners.
The record does not show what compensation B. F. Moffit received for this work. John G. McDonald received thirty-six dollars and T. M. Isett received fifty-one dollars. Colonel Thomas Cox of Bellevue was the surveyor.
FIRST ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
The first election of county officers took place in the fall of 1839. Of the county commissioners elected on this occasion, only two appeared at the recorded meetings of the Board, Thomas Denson and Charles P. Hutton. From sources
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
outside of the record, it has been determined that the third commissioner was H. G. Seeley.
William Hutton was the first clerk of the commissioners' court. Hugh Bowen was the first sheriff of Jones county. Clark Joslin was the first recorder.
There were three polling places at the election of 1839, and there were three election precincts-Bowen's Prairie, Walnut Fork and Farm Creek. The judges of the election of 1839 were Orville Cronkhite, Eli Brown, I. H. Simpson, Wil- liam Clark, James Hutton, and J. C. Raffety. The clerks were Thomas S. Denson, George H. Brown and D. G. Morgan.
It will be remembered that an election had been held in September, 1838, or one year previous, for the purpose of electing representatives to the Iowa Legis- lature. This election was in the cabin of Barrett Whittemore. Only eleven votes were cast, and a representative, R. G. Roberts was elected from Cedar, Jones, Johnson and Linn counties.
SOME EARLY COMMISSIONER'S RECORDS.
The first recorded meeting of the commissioner's court was held February 3, 1840. The first act of the commissioners was to appoint Hugh Bowen, assessor, in the place of Daniel Chaplin, who declined to serve.
In the further proceedings, we find that George Mefford presented a petition for a county road. It was also ordered that the regular meetings of the board should be held thereafter . at the house of Donald Sutherland until further ordered.
It was at this meeting also that the county commissioners who had been appointed by act of the legislature to locate the county seat made their report which is set out above, locating the place and calling it Edinburgh.
An act of congress provided that, as each new county was organized, the United States government would grant to the county commissioners a quarter section of land on which the county seat should be located. Accordingly, we find from the book of Original Entries, that on June 20, 1840, Thomas S. Denson and Charles P. Hutton, as commissioners of Jones county, claimed the quarter section above mentioned, being the northeast quarter of section 36, township 85 north, range 3 west of the fifth principal meridian. This was within half a mile of the geographical center of Jones county and its central location was the argu- ment which secured for it the honor of being the first seat of county government. When the county seat was moved from Edinburg to Newport, no change was made in this grant of land, and the county commissioners retained this quarter section, and later upon this land the county poor farm was established. This same land has remained the property of the county and is now a part of the pres- ent county farm.
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