USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
There were at that time five teachers employed in the district. During the summer of 1859, school was kept in what was known as the "Brick Schoolhouse" and the United Brethren church-two teachers in each. The schools were kept in session forty-four weeks out of fifty-two, and the school year was divided into a summer and winter term of twenty-two weeks each.
The old schoolhouse, in what was known as the Belknap district, was at once sold by the new board to Adam Snyder for one hundred and thirty dollars. In the winter of 1859-60, the M. E. church was rented for school purposes. In the summer of 1861, St. Marks' Episcopal and the Congregational churches were rented by the district. In these buildings and other rented rooms the public schools were kept until the erection of the present school building. The site of this structure, which is commonly called the graded school, was purchased in the spring of 1861 of Burton Peet, being two and a half acres of the northeast corner of section 10, in Fairview township. In April, 1861, bids were received for the erection of a building in accordance with the specification and plans already prepared. Two bids were presented only-E. C. Holt, four thousand. six hundred dollars, and Alonzo Spaulding, four thousand, four hundred and seventy-five dol- lars. The latter was awarded the contract, and in June a tax of five mills was levied toward meeting the wants of the building fund. The house was not com- pleted until the winter of 1862-63, and. when plastered and furnished cost almost double the original bid.
An addition was made to the building in 1872, to defray the expenses of which bonds of the district were voted to the amount of five thousand dollars, being five one thousand dollar bonds due in one, two, three, four and five years. The addition was not built by single contract.
To accommodate pupils in that portion of the district, a schoolhouse was erected in the summer of 1867. in the direction of the stone quarry. This was burned in 1871 by a fire originating from a locomotive, and sweeping through the timber in which the schoolhouse was located. A new building was immediately erected at a cost of one thousand dollars.
Digitized by Google
365
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
In April, 1877, that portion of the Independent district south of the Wap- sipinicon was set off to the Fairview district, the river being declared a legal obstruction, preventing the attendance of children from opposite side.
April 8. 1872, the Independent District of Strawberry Hill was separated from the Independent School District of Anamosa by a vote of the electors of the former corporation. The vote stood twenty-three to two in favor of a dis- trict organization.
A course of study was formally adopted in 1874, arranging for a high school department of three years. At that time, there was an indebtedness of six thousand, five hundred dollars hanging over the district, which has all been since removed.
In 1885. by vote of the people the Independent School District of Anamosa built on an addition to the graded school which was called the high school, which added materially to the looks of the building, and enlarged the room, which was made necessary by the increased attendance. Mr. E. C. Holt had the contract. There was some strife at the time of the election as to whether it should be built on the north side of the town or an addition to the graded school.
The school at Stone City is under the supervision of the Independent School District of Anamosa. They have a very nice stone school house consisting of two rooms. This school house was built from the stone obtained in the stone quar- ries at Stone City. It is an up to date school in every particular. The school district owns the old brick schoolhouse and grounds situated on Strawberry Hill. but the school building has not been used for two years. It is valuable property and may be of use in the future.
The Anamosa High School has an enrollment of ninety-nine pupils, some of whom are from the country and pay tuition. The teachers in the high school are : superintendent, M. O. Roark; principal, E. F. Churchill; Blanche I. Drees, Alice J. White, Caroline Hillman and Gertrude Ilgen Fritz. The grammar school has an enrollment of four hundred and eighteen in the Anamosa school and forty- three in the Stone City school, making a total of five hundred and sixty-one.
The teachers are Elizabeth Lyon, eighth grade, thirty-four pupils; Adella Bevans, seventh grade, thirty-five pupils; Nellie Morey, sixth grade, forty-one pupils ; Grace Tathwell, fifth grade, forty-three pupils; Lena Miller, fourth grade. fifty-four pupils ; Julia Gavin, third grade, forty-six pupils ; assistants, Mary Rigby, Ida Osborn, first grade, sixty-three; Leta Gade, kindergarten, fifty-one; volunteer assistant, Bess Soper.
Stone City : principal, Grace Balch; grammar department, twenty-two; Kate Walsh, primary department, twenty-one.
The list of superintendents are as follows: C. T. Lampson, Wm. Gage. Mr. Hammond, Mr. Coon, I. C. Lusk. C. D. Morey, J. E Kelsey, Amos Hyatt, John Davidson, Park Hill, Aaron Palmer, J. C. Macomber, C. E. Buckley. F. C. Popham. M. O. Roark. Prof. Park Hill and A. A. Palmer were superintendents for a great many years and are particularly beloved by all those who graduated under them. Prof. Hill died some years ago and Prof. Palmer is now superin- tendent of the schools in the city of Marshalltown, which is one of the best schools in the state of Iowa.
The Anamosa High School has a good many graduates. Three hundred and fifty-six have graduated from Anamosa High School, the first class in 1871, and
Digitized.by Google
366
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
they are found in all walks of life and in all states of the Union. Many graduates have attended and graduated from college after graduating from the high school. Graduates of our high school are holding many prominent and important posi- tions throughout the country.
The school board consists of the following : president, Dr. B. F. Erb; Clifford B. Paul, G. H. Monroe, Frank Dearborn, Ed. Osborn and secretary, E. F. Miller.
MYSTIC WORKERS OF THE WORLD, ANAMOSA LODGE NO. 171.
The Mystic Workers of the World were organized August 30, 1898 and their charter was issued on the first day of September, 1898.
Anamosa Lodge has the honor of having a supreme officer for a period of ten years. W. A. Cunningham was elected director in September 1898 and reelected 1900 and 1902 and in June 1904, was elected supreme master with a salary of two thousand, five hundred dollars a year and all expenses which office he held until June, 1908. In June 1904, at the request of the board of directors the degree staff of Anamosa was invited with expenses paid to put on the work at the supreme lodge to be held at Janesville, Wisconsin, in June 1904. They put on the work in magnificent shape and received many compliments. The degree staff consisted of the following members: Dr. W. B. Pearson; prefect, Bell Boswell; monitor, Fannie Pearson; secretary, Ida McQuown; banker, Ada Harper; marshall, Jean Atkinson; queen, Gertrude Cunningham; love, Ada McIntyre; truth, Jennie Oeffinger; hope, Clara Meek, . -, Ida Wilkinson; warden, Olive Kramar; sentinel, Nellie Brady.
Anamosa Lodge has paid up to September 30, 1909, sixteen thousand, one hundred and ninety-eight dollars and thirty-five cents, and its beneficiary has received eight thousand, six hundred and fifty dollars. There are two hundred and forty-five members in good standing.
The present officers are: prefect, Flora Simmons ; secretary, J. L. Oeffinger ; monitor, Gertrude Cunningham; marshall, Eva Bunce; warden, W. A. Cunning- ham; sentinel, Leslie Wells; banker, C. H. Oeffinger.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Anamosa Camp No. 167 was organized March 2, 1886, with forty-four charter members as follows: Lyman J. Adair, C. H. Anderson, C. P. Atwood, E. S. Atkinson, D. F. Barnard, C. M. Brown, J. F. Brown, F. E. Brush, A. J. Bedford, Geo. W. Byerly. W. A. Cunningham, M. Chaplin, J. J. Dickson, W. H. DeFord, F. F. Frost, F. J. Fuller, J. H. Graham, J. C. Griffith, L. Greenbaum, M. Gavin, E. M. Harvey, C. H. Harvey, J. H. Holcomb, D. M. Hakes, T. L. Haggaro, Geo. H. Hitchock, J. W. Jamison, H. Lehmkull, Jacob Laurence, W. M. Osborne, A. L. Pollard, J. P. Scroggs, E. F. Smith, John Stewart, L. E. Tucker, T. E. Watters, A. G. Williams, H. Wicher, F. B. Warzenbacher, G. S. Hickox, Leo Kaufmann. L. W. Norton, R. A. Washburn, C. H. Monger.
The following were its first officers: venerable counsel, W. A. Cunningham; clerk, E. M. Harvey ; banker, T. E. Watters.
Digitized by Google
---
367
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
This camp paid into the society's benefit fund to September 20, 1907, at which time Camp No. 6,467 consolidated therewith, a total of twenty-five thousand, four hundred and twenty-five dollars and thirty cents, and to the general fund, a total of two thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three dollars and forty-five cents.
It has paid out by the society to beneficiaries of members of Camp No. 167. thirty-six thousand dollars, or ten thousand, five hundred and seventy-four dol- lars and seventy cents more than the members contributed to the beneficiary fund. There were in all twenty-one death claims.
CAMP NO. 6,467.
Camp No. 6,467 was organized at Stone City, Iowa, May 5, 1899, with twenty- two charter members as follows : M. Marshall, F. Betz, E. Anderson, A. Bruck, Wm. Finnegan, Wm. Pickering, F. Holcomb, A. Larson, J. Finnegan, Gus. Fin- negan, R. Juno, John Bruck, J. Patnode, E. Hughes, J. Graham, J. Wernimont, C. Bruce, Ben Tapper, M. Matson, O. Cleve, A. Patnode, A. Larson.
On September 20, 1907, this camp having only twenty-three members con- solidated with Anamosa Camp No. 167. Prior to the consolidation the camp paid into the benefit fund three thousand, five hundred and sixty-five dollars and ten cents and into the general fund four hundred and fifty-nine dollars. The society paid three death claims in this camp, amounting to seven thousand dollars, or three thousand, four hundred and thirty-four dollars and ninety cents more than the members contributed to the benefit fund. Altogether the two camps and their consolidated membership paid to the society benefit fund thirty-two thou- sand, four hundred and fifty-one dollars and thirty-five cents, and to the general fund three thousand, seven hundred and four dollars and eighty-five cents, dis- bursed to the beneficiaries of twenty-four members dying, forty-three thousand dollars, or ten thousand, five hundred and forty-eight dollars and sixty-five cents more than was received from the members in the benefit fund.
The present membership of Camp No. 167, is three hundred and twenty-two beneficiary members in good standing.
The present officers are: venerable counsels, A. McDaniel, E. L. Harvey; clerk, H. H. Soper; banker, J. E. Remley.
Mr. A. McDaniel has held the office of venerable counsel for seven consecutive years and H. H. Soper has held his office for eight years. The present success of Camp No. 167 is largely due to the energy and faithfulness of these two officers.
This camp owns its hall and fixtures in the third floor of Shaw's block and is in a prosperous and flourishing condition.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Sumner Lodge No. 92 was organized on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1883, by the following charter members : T. T. Parsons, H. S. Fraine, O. L. Per- fect, W. L. Wassonaum, J. Z. Lull, B. L. Bedell, H. W. Westveer, C. G. Stivers. J. S. Van Antererp, H. J. Banghart, A. Felton, C. H. Monger.
Digitized by
368
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
The following is a list of the chancellor commanders: T. T. Parsons, 1883; O. L. Perfect, 1884; J. Z. Lull, 1885; H. W. Westveer, 1886; J. D. Van Antererp, 1887; Chas. R. Howard, 1888; B. H. Hickox, 1889; J. Frank Barns, 1890; W. E. Dutton, 1891 ; E. R. Moore, 1891 ; F. M. Rhodes, 1891 ; James Robertson, 1892; Wm. McGuire, 1893; W. D. Sheean, 1894; W. H. Prentice, 1895; W E Dutton, 1896; W. A. Cunningham, 1897; T. C. Mollett, 1898; D. M. Griffith, 1899; Geo. W. Byerly, 1901 ; B. H. Miller, 1902; B. E. Rhinehart, 1903; H. D. Chadwick, 1904; D. M. Griffith, 1905; S. Wm. Walton, 1905; H. E. Beam, 1906; J. E. King, 1907; J. B. Niles, 1908; J. E. Remley, 1909.
The following is the present list of officers: J. E. Remley, J. F. Brown, J. B. Niles, A. A. Clarke, F. B. Beam, Harry Clarke, T. E. Watters, J. W. Wilson, A. McQuown, M. M. Miller, S. Wm. Walton.
The Sumner Lodge No. 92, was incorporated under the laws of the state of lowa, on the eleventh day of November, A. D. 1886, by the following named persons : T. R. Ercanbrack, T. T. Parsons, W. A. Cunningham, O. L. Perfect, James Robertson, B. H. Hickox, E. R. Perfect, J. H. Chapman, Jno. Z. Lull. Alex Felton, Chas. Weigel, Chas. Howard.
Sumner lodge owns its own lodge room, dance hall and parlors connected therewith and is one of the best lodge halls in eastern Iowa, and is a very valuable and desirable piece of property.
HISTORY OF STONE CITY. IOWA, FURNISHED BY HON. J. A GREEN.
Stone City Quarries were so named after the establishment of a postoffice here in September 1873. Previous to that time they were known as the Anamosa Quarries, as they are still called in some sections by people not knowing the location. The nearest quarry to Anamosa on the Wapsipinicon is three miles ; while those on the Buffalo River are one and seven-eighths miles.
THE POSTOFFICE.
The first postmaster appointed to Stone City, was H. Dearborn, who held the office from June 23, 1874, to September 2, 1885. Michael Gavin was next appointed and held the office until ill health forced him to resign in 1887. Jas. F. Kane's appointment dates from February 26th of that year, until the following August. when he resigned and moved away. Michael J. Campbell took the office August 3. 1887, and served for ten years, when the present incumbent. John Ronen. was appointed. December 9. 1897. giving good service and satisfaction to all.
RELIGIOUS WELFARE.
In the religious field the spiritual wants of the Catholics were attended to by Rev. Father T. McCormick, Father Robert Powers, Father P. J. Leddy. Father John Garland and the present pastor Rev. T. J. Norris.
Digitized by Google
1
STONE QUARRY OF J. A. GREEN AT STONE CITY
Digitized by
Digitized by
369
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
The Presbyterians had no resident minister, but Sunday-school service was held regularly for a time in the Columbia opera house, but this died out through lack of interest.
The Episcopalians had service and Sunday school under the direction of Rev. Felix Pickworth, of Anamosa, for a time but this did not prove a success, so here ended the efforts of ministers not personally interested in and living among the people.
THE STONE QUARRIES.
The first stone used from these hills was by the army in territorial times, in the construction of bridges on the highways, which stand as monuments to the perfection of the stone, it being as perfect as the day it was taken from its natural bed, wearing as well as granite possibly could.
The first stone shipped abroad was to Dubuque and Cedar Falls, by rail in 1860, by David Graham, who opened the first quarry here, on the center of section 5-84-4, which is still in operation. This quarry was successively owned and operated by D. Graham, Haines & Lewis, M. Hisey and John Ronen, the present operator. From this quarry were shipped thirty-seven thousand, four hundred and one cars from the beginning to the present date.
About 1852, Mr. Haggard quarried from the top of the hill on the extreme west end of the Stratified Stone Basin, stone which was hauled by wagon to Cornell College, at Mt. Vernon, which was then building. All the trimming of that building, which is perfect today, was hauled over the then un-inhabited prairies, there being no railroads here in those days. This speaks well for this stone as stone was then found in abundance at the foot of the hills where Mt. Vernon now stands. The hill from which this stone was taken was afterward sold to Dr. S. G. Matson, and called Mt. Hope. It was managed for a time by Dr. Matson, then by James & Ross, and later still, by James & Ronen, who shipped five thousand carloads of stone. This quarry has not been worked for many years and is, at this writing, dormant.
Next to enter the field were Crouse, Shaw & Weaver, who opened a quarry adjacent to the first one opened. They commenced operation in 1866 and con- tinued until 1872, when they sold to the state of Iowa. It was then worked by the convicts from Anamosa, the Penitentiary having just been established there. Crouse, Shaw & Weaver shipped from their quarry in the years 1866 to 1872, inclusive, about four thousand cars.
The state shipped for its own use, and that of the public, as it sold stone for two years, from 1872 until the time they abandoned it in 1878, about five thousand cars. The legislature passed a resolution at this time preventing the state from entering into the market against free labor. This quarry was afterward sold to J. A. Green, who in 1884 operated it on a small scale to fill the deficiency of Champion. Quarry No. I. He shipped from here about five thousand cars.
In 1866, the same year which Crouse, Shaw & Weaver opened their quarry, which is in the extreme east of the Stratified Stone Basin, Parsons & Webb opened what they called Crow Creek Quarry, it being in the center of section 6, on the Jones and Linn county line, and in the same hill as Mt. Hope Quarry. They continued to do business under the above name for two years, when J. B. Webb
Digitized by
370
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
bought out Parsons and ran it in his own name until 1877, since which time it has not been worked. There being no data at hand, the shipments from this quarry are estimated at about four thousand cars.
In the spring of 1869, H. Dearborn commenced business on the N. E. one- fourth of section 6-84-4, on the north bank of the Wapsipinicon. This quarry is still being worked under the name of H. Dearborn & Sons.
Mr. Dearborn has gone to the great beyond. The stone has proved to be good in quality and successful in all its details, forty-six thousand, seven hundred and eleven cars of stone having been shipped.
In 1869, J. A. Green opened the Champion Quarry No. I, on the south side of the Wapsipinicon River, and about the center of the Stratified Stone Basin, which has proved to be exceedingly good. From here and the other two quarries, Champion Quarry No. 2, purchased from the state of Iowa, and Johnel- len he has shipped seventy-seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four carloads of stone.
In addition to the Champion Quarries, J. A. Green opened a quarry in 1887 on the Buffalo River, one and seven-eights miles from Anamosa on the Chicago, Northwestern Railway, from which he has shipped some seven thousand carloads of stone. This quarry, called Johnellen, bids fair to turn out millions of car- loads of stone, it being the highest face in this stratification, and embracing several hundred acres.
The next quarry to be opened at Stone City, is the one known as Gold Hill, which was opened in 1883 by Dawson & Hess. The property was afterward bought by F. S. Brown and F. Erickson, who commenced business July 7, 1887, under the firm name of F. S. Brown & Co. In 1896, the business was taken over by F. Erickson. The business has since been carried on under the name of F. Erickson Company. From the time of opening to the present time, something like twenty-six thousand, and sixty-six carloads of stone have been shipped from this property.
In 1884, the state of Iowa abandoned its quarry on the Wapsipinicon and pur- chased one on the Buffalo River near Anamosa, which it still operates, and from which it has erected its own buildings, and supplied the state institutions. From 1884 until the present time, some fifteen thousand carloads of stone have been shipped.
In the spring of 1893, James Lawrence opened a quarry on the Buffalo River, adjoining the state quarry. He has shipped about six thousand carloads of stone.
These are all the quarries opened for railroad transportation, and we find the total number of cars shipped to be about two hundred and twenty-three thousand, worth approximately four billion, four hundred and sixty-six million dollars, and still but a small part of the quarries have disappeared. It is safe to say that they will last for time immemorial, and that this is one of the richest spots in the state of Iowa.
This stone has been shipped into eight states, namely: Iowa, Illinois, Wis- consin, Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. It is in the finest bridges and buildings in these states, namely: the Boston block, a seven story building, fifty by one hundred and twenty feet, all stone; Washburn building; Sidel building; Congregational church; Great Arch Double Track Viaduct across
Digitized by Google
---
1
1
!
STONE QUARRY OF H. DEARBORN, STONE CITY
Digitized by
-
.
Digitized by
373
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
the Mississippi River, below the Falls of St. Anthony all the above in Minne- apolis. Besides this there are in Iowa, the Sabula, Keethsburg and Ft. Madison Railroad bridges ; the Lyons, Clinton and Muscatine highway bridges, all spanning the Mississippi; in Wisconsin and Minnesota the Chicago and Great Western Railroad bridges on the entire line; and those of the Illinois Central Railroad in Iowa and northern Illinois. The entire system of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, the Chicago and Northwestern, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, virtually all the railroads of the northwest have used this stone to their entire satisfaction. The Iowa Hospital for the Insane at Independence, is built of this stone, and it was used for the columns supporting the dome of the capitol at Des Moines. There are very few towns in Iowa that have not used this stone wherever stone was used, and it can safely be said that no more durable stone, except granite, exists.
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Greenfield township is located in the southwest corner of Jones county, and is one of the most fertile and productive of all of the townships of the county. In the value of its lands it stands second, being exceeded in value only by Wayne township. In 1895, Greenfield stood at the head of the list in the value of its soil according to the township assessor's valuations. It is doubtful if any town- ship in the county has better crop prospects than Greenfield at this time (August, 1909).
The people are industrious and thrifty. The rural homes are silent monu- ments of the prosperity of the tillers of the soil. The people are largely Ameri- cans by birth, and are intelligent and hospitable. There are also some Germans who are good citizens and prosperous.
The first settlement in the township was around Cherry Grove, in the south- east part. One of the lone sentinels to the early days of the township who is yet in touch with the affairs of earth is Ambrose Bowers. Though now eighty-five years of age, he has a clear memory of the early struggles of the pioneers. He became a part of the township in 1853. Though he was not the first settler in the township, what he knows about hauling wheat to Davenport overland with oxen, defending himself and his fellowmen against the horse thief and the coun- terfeiter as a member of the early vigilance committee, and other features of pioneer life, would fill a small book and be interesting reading.
Other names which might be mentioned as being pioneers in this rich agri- cultural center are: Jonathan Porter, Gideon Peet, John Armstrong, Ira Breed, David Mann, Robert Murfield, Isaac Warren, Valentine Newman, A. Peet, A. S. Miller, John Baird, E. Peet, T. O. Bishop, Jonathan Raver, Amos Kohl, John Kohl, Michael McCann, R. D. Stephens, James Curtis, I. Curtis, Jonathan Goudy, Conrad Mohn, John Arnold and others.
What is now the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, crosses the northern part of the township. This road was built about 1872, and it is safe to say the township and the railroad are of mutual benefit. The town
Digitized by Google
374
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
of Martelle is located in the northwest corner of the township on the line of the railroad.
The township has been well supplied with schools and churches. The United Brethren church in section 34, and the Evangelical church in section 22, aside from the churches in Martelle, have had an important bearing on the training of the younger generations in the paths of morality and rectitude. The district schools have been placed where they would be of the greatest advantage to the greatest number and the patrons in the several districts have taken pride in se- curing the best teachers.
The early records of the township seem to have passed beyond the discovery of the present township officers. The earliest record to be found begins with the year 1876.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.