USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 26
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For Clerk: Monroe Scott, three; Albert Higby, thirty-nine; John Stone, one
For Assessor: John Scott, thirty-two; Horace Downer, twelve; J. B. Scott, three; Thomas J. Peak, seven.
Justices : Thomas S. Hubbard, twenty-seven; Frederick Beardsley, thirty- five ; Horace Downer, four ; John Scott, twenty-five; J. B. Scott, one.
Constables : A. G. Beardsley, forty-one; James M. Scott, forty-one; Thomas Healy, one.
Supervisors of Highways: Thomas S. Hubbard, thirty-three; William Ains- worth. thirty-three ; M. Scott, five; J. Scott and P. Mitchell, one each.
For the prohibitory law : For, nineteen ; against, thirty-two.
For the hog law : For, thirty-nine; against, ten.
For the sheep law : For. thirty; against, sixteen.
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1855-Trustees : John Scott, Horace Downer, Thomas J. Peak; clerk, Albert Higby ; assessor, John Scott ; justices : Thomas S. Hubbard, Frederick Beardsley; constables : A. G. Beardsley, James M. Scott.
1856-Trustees : Thomas J. Peak, Horace Downer, Philip Mitchell; clerk, George Higby ; assessor, Thomas J. Peak; justices : Thomas S. Hubbard, F. F. Beardsley ; constables : Alexander G. Beardsley, Nelson W. Tracy; road super- visors : Thomas S. Hubbard, John McConnon, S. M. Stewart.
1857-Trustees : Horace Gill, Philip Mitchell, Horace Downer ; clerk, George Higby ; assessor, Thomas J. Peak; constables: N. W. Tracy, Norman Water- house ; supervisors : David Morse, F. F. Beardsley, Robert Wilson.
1858-Trustees : Philip Mitchell, Horace W. Gill, J. C. Cooper ; clerk, George Higby ; justices : Thomas S. Hubbard, Thomas J. Peak; constables : Nelson W. Tracy, John A. Field; supervisors: Nathan Crouch, John Ingram, Samuel Clark.
1859-Trustees : Horace W. Gill, Philip Mitchell, Robert Wilson; clerk, J. C. Cooper ; assessor, Thomas J. Peak; justices : Thomas J. Peak, Horace Gill; con- stables : Rosolvo Rice, N. W. Tracy ; supervisors : E. Troy, George Gates, Gideon Slade, Lewis Ainsworth, Jonathan Drew, Daniel Deischer, Hume Twamley.
1860-Trustees : John McConnon, Philip Mitchell, John McLees; clerk, J. C. Cooper; assessor, Henry Henderson; justice, Timothy Caswell; constables: George A. Gill, John Delay ; supervisors : T. Caswell, G. M. Gates, J. Neal, John McConnon, Joshua R. Lathrop, George A. Gill, Henry Heisey.
1861-Trustees : John McConnon, John McLees, J. S. Lathrop; clerk, Levi Lindsey ; assessor, Henry Henderson ; justices : William M. Starr, J. M. Wilson; constables : Simeon Freeman, George A. Gill ; supervisors : S. M. Stewart, Michael Hogan, George Ketcham, James Campbell, Horace W. Gill, Daniel Deischer.
1862-Trustees : Robert Henderson, N. F. Higby, B. A. Shepard; clerk, H. Henderson ; assessor, John Galligan ; supervisors. S. M. Stewart, Dennis McCor- mack, L. F. Scott, G. Farnham, Joshua S. Lathrop, George A. Gill, Jonathan Motter.
1863-Trustees : S. M. Stewart, H. Gill, J. S. Lathrop; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, Henry Henderson ; justices : C. J. Stephenson, D. M. Hogan; constables : George Butterfield, David Dexter ; county supervisor, Leman Palmer ; road supervisors : John McLees, P. Mullady, Simeon Kehoe, L. F. Scott, P. Mit- chell, David Morse, William Titus, A. H. Dow.
1864-Trustees : S. M. Stewart, H. W. Gill, Joshua Lathrop; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, Henry Henderson.
1865-Trustees : Horace M. Downer, Daniel S. Hosford, Joshua S. Lathrop; assessor, Henry Henderson.
1866-Trustees : D. S. Hosford, E. D. Eberhart, H. M. Downer ; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, Henry Henderson ; constables: H. Stewart, Robert Den- nison ; supervisors : S. M. Stewart; Simeon Kehoe, J. McLees, George Butter- field, David Morse, Abram Geht, Henry Heisey, John Delay, Thomas Haley.
1867-Trustees : S. J. Tucker, William Starr, J. P. Shreck; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, Henry Henderson ; justices : Thomas S. Hubbard, Bradley Stewart ; constables : Henry Stewart, David Sumnerville.
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1868-Trustees: J. S. Lathrop, S. J. Tucker, J. P. Shreck; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, John Wilson; constables : P. Hopkins, George Church. 1869-Trustees : Daniel Deischer, John Wilson, J. S. Lathrop; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, S. J. Tucker; collector, S. J. Tucker; justices: Thomas S. Hubbard, J. P. Shreck.
1870-Trustees : H. M. Downer, H. Heisey, D. Sumnerville; clerk, Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, S. J. Tucker ; county supervisor, Joshua S. Lathrop; con- stables : William White, H. Rastede; supervisors: E. Troy, William Kehoe, Henry Henderson, H. M. Downer, S. J. Tucker, A. Geht, H. Heisey, John Delay, J. Neil.
1871-Trustees : David Morse, Henry Heisey, H. M. Downer; clerk Thomas S. Hubbard; assessor, S. J. Tucker ; justices : T. S. Hubbard, Henry Henderson ; road supervisors : Levi Berlin, S. H. Smith, John Mclaughlin, Lucius Allen, Robert Howie, John Delay, L. Ainsworth, William Starr, A. Harvey.
1872-Trustees : John Delay, John McLees, John Cramer; clerk, Dennis M. Hogan; assessor, M. Mclaughlin; collector, John Mclaughlin; road super- visors : H. B. Hubbard, P. Waddick, H. Henderson, George Springer, David Morse. Isaac Orcutt, A. V. Scott, John Delay, E. Krueger, A. Harmes.
1873-Trustees: John Galligan, John Cramer, J. B. Scott; clerk, D. M. Hogan; assessor, James Riley ; collector, George Kennedy; justices: Nicholas Kehoe, John Fields.
1874-Trustees : H. M. Downer, S. H. Smith, John Mclaughlin; clerk Mich- ael Mclaughlin; assessor, William Wilson; collector, Thomas A. King.
1875-Trustees : John Galligan, S. H. Smith, H. M. Downer; clerk, Henry Henderson; assessor, T. A. King; justices : J. A. Fields, N. Kehoe ; constables : E. F. Hubbard, E. Moore; road supervisors : E. Long, P. A. Kehoe, L. Ainsworth, A. Cramer, D. Morse, M. Mclaughlin, A. Scott, P. A. Hogan, Sol Merriman, A. Danks, Thomas Haley.
1876-Trustees : A. Ommer, Henry Henderson, John Galligan; clerk, D. M. Hogan; assessor, John Cramer; collector, James Riley.
1877-Trustees : John Galligan, John Delay, D. E. Hogan; clerk, D. M. Hogan ; assessor, John A. Cramer; collector, L. F. Scott; constables, Dennis Delay, D. M. Hogan ; justices, Thomas Cunningham, N. Kehoe.
1878-Trustees : H. B. Eberhart, J. H. Cramer, M. Mclaughlin ; clerk, H. M. Downer; assessor, R. A. Standish; justices, Thomas S. Hubbard, James Riley, constables, James Lane, Alfred Kepperd.
1879-Trustees : H. B. Eberhart, George A. Gill, M. Mclaughlin ; clerk, H. M. Downer; assessor, J. H. Cramer; justices: T. S. Hubbard, J. H. Riley; con- stables : C. F. Hubbard, Ed Moore.
1880-Trustees : George A. Gill, M. Mclaughlin, H. B. Eberhart; clerk, H. M. Downer; assessor. J. H. Cramer ; collector, N. B. Scott ; road supervisors : R. Eberhart, James London, Thomas Kennedy, J. H. Cramer, Ed Mundock, Michael Berlin, Henry Heisey, John Delay, Thomas Rearick, W. M. Starr, Allison Danks.
1881-Trustees : James F. Laude, M. Mclaughlin, George A. Gill; clerk, H. M. Downer; assessor, J. H. Cramer; collector, John Stadtmueller; justices : M. Mclaughlin, John Wint; constables : E. M. Moore, F. Kromminga.
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1882-Trustees : Henry Henderson, M. Mclaughlin, George A. Gill; clerk, Moses Campbell; assessor, F. A. Scott; justices: H. M. Downer, George A. Gill; collector, John Stadtmueller.
1883-Trustees : John Galligan, Bentley Clark, James F. Laude; clerk, Moses Campbell; justices : D. M. Hogan, Joseph King; assessor, George Kennedy.
1884-Trustees: William Kehoe, John Galligan, John Stadtmueller; clerk, Moses Campbell ; justices : Archie W. Cramer, Moses Waddick; constables : Frank McDonald, William A. Hogan.
1885-Trustees: John Stadtmueller, John Galligan, William Kehoe; clerk, Moses Campbell ; assessor, J. B. Clark; justices, Moses Waddick, Henry Hender- son : road supervisors : James Delay, Moses Waddick, Patrick Church, J. A. McLaughlin, Calvin Berlin, Robert Howie, Henry Henderson, John Delay, Charles Curtis, J. G. Rickels, F. Kromminga.
1886-Trustees : A. W. Cramer, John Stadtmueller, William Kehoe; clerk, Moses Campbell; assessor, Moses Campbell; justice, L. F. Scott ;. constables : James Howie, David Lundon.
1887-Trustees : William Kehoe, James Howie, A. W. Cramer; clerk, Wil- liam A. Hogan; assessor, William G. Wales; justices: M. A. Waddick, John Stadtmueller ; constables, David Church, M. Kennedy.
1888 -- Trustees : William Kehoe, James Howie, A. W. Cramer; clerk, J. C. McLees.
1889 -- Trustees : James Howie, A. W. Cramer, W. F. Kehoe; clerk, J. C. McLees; assessor, W. G. Wales; justices, M. A. Waddick, N. Gadmer; con- stables : John Haley, W. C. Kehoe.
1890-Trustees : James Howie, Nicholas Kehoe, A. W. Cramer; clerk, J. C. McLees; justice, Frank McAleer; supervisors: Levi Berlin, M. A. Waddick, William Krueger, Elmer Noble, John Fahrni.
1891 -- Trustees : James Howie, Nicholas Kehoe, Joseph King; clerk, J. C. McLees : assessor, William G. Wales; constables, W. C. Kehoe. John Haley.
1892-Trustees : Matt Miller, Joseph King, Nicholas Kehoe; clerk, James McLees ; assessor, A. W. Cramer ; justices, George McLees, Paul Black.
1893 -- Trustees : H. Rickels. J. M. King, A. W. Cramer ; clerk, J. C. McLees ; assessor. W. F. Kehoe; supervisors : Fred Youssee, W. C. Kehoe, John Lange, A. W. Cramer, Grant Gill, John Burrack, Harm Rickels, Ed Harms.
1894-Trustees : J. M. King, N. Kehoe, A. W. Cramer ; clerk, J. C. McLees ; constable. M. Kennedy ; assessor, W. F. Kehoe.
1895-Trustees : J. A. Howie, N. Kehoe, A. W. Cramer ; clerk, J. C. McLees ; assessor. F. D. Mclaughlin ; supervisors : Fred Jossie, P. A. Kehoe, O. F. Hos- ford, E. M. Moore, Ed. Clark, Frank Howie, Albert Heiken, John Burrack, J. D. Poppe, J. D. Cunningham, Ed Harms.
1896-Trustees : A. W. Cramer, J. H. Howie, Nicholas Kehoe; clerk, J. C. McLees ; assessor, F. D. Mclaughlin; justice, P. E. Black; constables : L. P. Waddick, George Miller.
1897 -- Trustees : J. A. Howie, A. W. Cramer, N. Kehoe ; clerk, J. C. McLees.
1898-Trustees: M. A. Waddick, A. W. Cramer, N. Kehoe; clerk, J. C. McLees ; justices, John Stadtmueller, W. F. Smith; constables : D. Cunningham. A. McDonald.
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1899-Trustees : A. W. Cramer, Folkert Hedden, Matt Miller ; clerk, J. C. McLees ; assessor, Harm Rickels; constables : Frank Welch, Frank Miller.
1900-Trustees : James Hogan, A. W. Cramer, Frank Hedden; clerk, J. C. McLees ; assessor, M. A. Waddick; justice, E. C. Orcutt ; constables : John Brown, W. A. Krueger; supervisors; Arthur Fairbanks, John Lubben, Albert Heiken, Jr., John Burrack, A. V. Scott, F. D. Mclaughlin, Chris Schatz, Peter J. Kehoe, J. C. McLees.
1901-Trustees : James Hogan, J. A. Howie, J. C. McLees : clerk, A. W. Cramer; assessor, S. M. Hosford; justices Ed. Clark, Samuel Pfeil; constables; John Brown, M. F. Byrne.
1902-Trustees : A. L. Fairbanks, John Burrack, James Hogan; clerk, A. W. Cramer ; assessor, S. M. Hosford ; supervisors : D. J. Hogan, W. C. Kehoe, S. M. Hosford, G. Neiderhauser, John H. Lubben, Frank Howie, Will LeClere, John Delay, Albert Heiken, Austin Stadtmueller.
1903-Trustees: James Hogan, Arthur Fairbanks, John Burrack; clerk, W. A. Hogan; assessor, M. A. Waddick; justices : H. C. Bohlken, J. H. Lubben; constables : M. Haley, Lowell Black.
1904-Trustees : Arthur Fairbanks, James Hogan, John Burrack; clerk, J. B. Clark.
1905-Trustees : James Hogan, John Burrack, Arthur Fairbanks; clerk, J. B. Clark.
1906-Trustees : John Burrack, W. T. Kehoe, Arthur Fairbanks ; clerk, Ford Clark; superintendents of road districts: Charles Howie, N. E .; E. F. Eiben, S. E .; M. J. Hogan. N. W .; J. A. Heiken, S. W.
1907-Trustees : John Burrack, W. T. Kehoe, Arthur Fairbanks : clerk, Ford Clark; assessor, Fred Cramer; justices, William Waddick, Henry Bohlken.
1908-Trustees : Arthur Fairbanks, W. T. Kehoe, John Burrack; clerk, Ford Clark; assessor, Fred Cramer.
1909-Trustees : E. F. Eiben, James McLees, M. A. Waddick; clerk, James F. Hogan ; assessor. Fred Cramer.
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
AN HONORED RESIDENT AND PIONEER.
A history of Clay township without more than a passing reference to her first citizen, Hon. John Russell, would be lacking in one of its distinguishing features. It has been alloted to few men during their life-time, to be entrusted with the political confidences of the people to a greater degree than that accorded to this honored citizen of the county and late resident of Clay township. He was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, October 8, 1821, and was a son of Robert and Mary Williams Russell. He came to America in May, 1842, and immediately proceeded to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained about a year working at his trade, that of stone mason, on the new city waterworks then being built. In 1843. he entered the commercial business in Columbiana county, Ohio, and
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remained in this occupation until 1852. On November 29, 1849, John Russell was married to Miss Margaret Feehan. In 1852, he came west and located on the farm in Clay township, Jones county, which remained his home until his death, which occurred October 10, 1908.
John Russell was the first clerk of Clay township. He was later elected a member of the general assembly of Iowa, and as representative from Jones county. served five consecutive terms, the longest continuous service in the history of the county. In 1868, he was elected speaker of the house. In 1870, he was elected state auditor, and in 1872, was reelected to the same office by a flattering majority. In October, 1879, he was elected state senator from Jones and Cedar counties, and served four years in this capacity. He then retired to private life on his farm in Clay township.
As a public man, Mr. Russell's strength did not lie in oratory or in literary display. His strength and popularity was founded on the simplicity of his life, his devotedness to the cause of the people, and his practical common sense. Per- sonally plain but affable, unassuming but trustworthy, gentle in manner, kind and hospitable by nature, he has been crowned with the laurels of honor, and has enjoyed the proud title of "Honest John."
On October 10, 1908, after a continuous residence of fifty-six years in Clay township, Hon. John Russell was called to his eternal home, and his body laid to rest in the Wyoming cemetery. Honored in life, his memory is revered in death. He brought honor to Jones county and distinction to Clay township, and the sacred spot where his ashes lie buried, will be surrounded by hallowed mem- ories and cherished by an appreciative people.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND HISTORY.
Clay township compares favorably with other townships in Jones county. The inhabitants are industrious, thrifty and intelligent. The land is rather more hilly than Wayne township, for example, but is less so than Washington or Richland. The east and north sides of the township has more or less timber land, but this is rapidly being cut off and the land being cultivated. The southwestern part of the township contains more level prairie land.
The first permanent settlers of Clay township were David Killam, John E. Holmes, Benjamin Collins, Truman Brown and Madison Brown. These, it is said, were here before 1838. John E. Lovejoy, later of Scotch Grove, came in 1839; P. D. Turner and Horace Turner came the same year, and in the following spring. Lyman Turner. their father, made this township his home. From 1840 to 1850, a few settlers came in, but in the latter year, the tide of emigrants which came pouring west, reached that place, and Clay township was rapidly settled from that time on. In 1860 the population of the township was six hundred and thirty-three. The population according to the 1905 census was six hundred and twenty-six.
Numbered among the early settlers of the township, in addition to those named were: John French, Thomas Moran, Henry Carter, John Dennison, Wil- liam Eckler, M. C. Walters, Tommy Hanna, George Delong, Joseph Tomlinson, Silas Conklin, Thuel and Aaron French, - Richardson, Christopher Lawless,
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John Russell, Bead Johnston, Patrick Flannigan, Malachi Kelly, Patrick Donahue, Michael (or Soldier) Kelly, Thomas Culligan, Peter DeWitt, Isaac DeWitt, John Ormsby, Japeth Ingraham, Alex Delong, Jesse Davis, Samuel C. Reid, William Reade, Enoch Reade, Louis Reade, John Jenkins, Sloan Hamilton, John Barclay, James Kirkpatrick, Samuel B. Reid, Andrew Duncanson, Andrew Scroggie, Patrick O'Brien, James L .. Hall. There were also "Timber" Dan Barnhill and "Prairie" Don Barnhill, being named from the location of their residence; "Grey" John Supple and "Black" John Supple, the one driving a team of grey horses, the other a team of black horses.
Of all the names here given, William Eckler is the only one now living in Clay township. John Dennison lives near Onslow. John Russell died in Octo- ber, 1908. Samuel B. Reid died in October, 1909. James Kirkpatrick lives in Onslow as also does Joseph Tomlinson. M. C. Walters died in the spring of 1909.
William Eckler came to Jones county first in 1851, but returned to New York state and in the year following, in company with his family and M. C. Walters and family, came to Jones county and made the frontier land their permanent home. Mr. Eckler has resided in the township continuously ever since.
CLAY MILLS.
This once .busy center, began its existence about 1852. In that year, the spot in section 10 which afterward became a village, was inhabited, but it was not until the year 1853 or 1854 that William Eckler and James Hall erected the dam on the Maquoketa river and built the sawmill. This was run by water power. About 1863 or 1864, William Eckler and M. C. Walters built a steam mill which was then used for a sawmill, the old water mill about that time being fitted up for a grist mill. Both of these mills were familiar places to the older settlers of Clay township. It was these mills that made Clay Mills a place on the map and gave the spot the name of village. The village went by the name of Farm Creek as well as Clay Mills. M. C. Walters kept the first store, and in fact the only store. James Hall and William Eckler built the first houses. On May 30, 1867, the plat of the village was filed for record.
CLAY MILLS POSTOFFICE.
On November 7, 1863, the postoffice was established at Clay Mills, with Myron C. Walters as postmaster. Mr. Walters was reappointed November 19, 1888, and on December 24, 1900, upon the removal of Mr. Walters from the village, William N. Tippett, was commissioned postmaster. The office was dis- continued February 28, 1902. At this time the rural route from Onslow was established. The mail to the Clay Mills postoffice was carried on the mail route from Onslow to Cascade.
OTHER MILL HISTORY.
Mineral Creek which runs in an easterly direction through the southern part of Clay township, also claims some honors in the erection of saw and grist- mills in the early history of the township.
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At the bottom of what is familiarly known as Vassar Hill once stood a mill of some prominence. In the summer of 1852, Joel B. Taylor built a sawmill on Mineral Creek on the south side of the creek and on the west side of the road. It was a one and a half story building and was fully equipped with a Mulay saw, the only saw in the mill. The lumber in the old Madison Center schoolhouse in Madison township was sawed at this mill. J. F. Parks ran the mill in the winter of 1853 and the spring of 1854. In 1855 or 1856 John Vassar purchased the mill, and it was from his operation of this mill that the hill to the south of it received its name. About 1860, the mill was abandoned for mill purposes and the building torn down.
The Hubbard sawmill was built on Mineral Creek about 1854. This stood on land now owned by Stephen Walsworth, either in or near section 35. This mill was built by Hubbard. It only ran for a few years and was then torn down.
The Diamond Mill was built on Mineral Creek further east. It was erected about 1850 or 1851 by Bert Diamond, and was always owned and operated by the builder. It was torn down in the latter part of the '60s.
Bodenhofer's Mill is better known to more of the later residents of the town- ship. It stood on the banks of Mineral Creek on the Lime Kiln Hollow road, in the southwestern part of section 28. This was built about 1852' and was a sawmill and also a gristmill. It was the only gristmill on Mineral Creek and was liberally patronized. Jacob Bodenhofer was the proprietor. The mill was torn down some time in the 80's.
THE CREAMERIES.
THE JAMES HALL CREAMERY.
The first creamery erected in Clay township was built by James L. Hall in section 17. in the summer of 1873. The creamery building was not a preten- tious affair. It stood on the east side of the road and about forty rods south of the location of the old Carpenter creamery building. About the year 1876, the pioneer creamery building was moved north to a location on the east side of the road almost opposite the old creamery building. In the organization of this first creamery. the farmers in the adjacent community were rather skeptical of the advisability of such a movement. The idea of raising calves on skim milk from a creamery was a new one, in the minds of some of the farmers, and the idea spelled ruin to their prosperity. The creamery was started however. Henry Haddock was connected with certain parts of the creamery business. James L. Hall was the pioneer butter maker in the township. The venture proved successful beyond the dreams of the most hopeful, and so much so that the former skeptics were now the most eager to keep a good thing when they saw they had one.
THE CARPENTER CREAMERY.
After running the creamery a few years, Mr. Hall leased the building to Carpenter Brothers who ran it a short time, and then built the creamery on the
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west side of the road, this building being the one known in the modern age as the Carpenter Creamery. After operating the creamery for a few years, the busi- ness passed into the hands of G. L. Lovell of Monticello who leased the building to Charles Gilbert. Some of the farmers had not received one hundred cents on the dollar from Carpenter Brothers, and when a short time later in their dealings with Gilbert, this experience was repeated, it is no wonder the faith of the dairy- men in the maintenance of the creamery business began to be shaken. A short time after the financial downfall of Gilbert. J. I .. Bader of Cascade, purchased the creamery and conducted the business in a straightforward manner for a year or two and then closed the building. This building is now used for a barn, and stands on its original foundation on the premises of James Keating on section 18.
THE BADER CREAMERY.
The Bader Creamery was erected by J. L. Bader in the spring of 1882 and was conducted by its proprietor and founder for a number of years. The institu tion did a flourishing business, and profited by the development of the dairy business under the old Carpenter Creamery. Nothing is left of the building now except a few boards standing at random, the remnant of an age that is past. This building on the north west corner of the crossroad, north of S. B. Reids resi- dence in section 17.
THE CLAY COOPERATIVE CREAMERY.
The Clay Cooperative Creamery was organized in the spring of 1896, the stockholders being composed of many of the most prominent and responsible farmers in the community. The officers were : president, G. B. Hall; vice-presi- dent, Henry Null; secretary, C. L. Butler; treasurer, J. Z. Mackrill; directors : John Dennison. D. W. Russell, T. L. Green and Chris Bramer. A. F. Carrier was butter maker. There were seven milk haulers, viz: James A. Scroggie, John Dew, John Stahlberg, Ed Sutton, Tom Hood, Albert Young and David Kennison. For about eleven years the business grew and flourished. A mod- ern building equipped with modern machinery had been erected on the east side of the highway on the premises of J. Z. Mackrill in the northwest corner of sec- tion 29. The natural evolution of the dairy business, the introduction of the hand separators, the increasing expense of operation, the costly method of hauling the milk, soon began to influence the profits in competition with other creameries. These institutions became narrowed to churning stations, where no cream was separated. The hauling of cream simplified the dairy industry. Consequently the Cooperative Creamery was dissolved in the summer of 1907, and the cream- ery building and machinery sold. The stockholders realized less than fifty cents on the dollar of their stock. The creamery brought in many thousands of dol- lars to the farmers of the community during its existence.
At the present time, there is no creamery in operation in Clay township. In fact there are only three creameries in operation in the eastern half of Jones county, one at Oxford Junction, one at Center Junction and one at Scotch Grove.
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