USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 39
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AN EARLY MILL.
The gurgling waters of the Wapsie was the power which operated another mill in Jackson in an early day. Tom Goudy had established a mill on the Wapsie south of where J. W. Byerly now lives. This mill changed hands frequently. Foust, Stamburgh and Reynard were successive proprietors. During a flood about 1860, the dam was washed away and the mill was then abandoned.
CEMETERIES.
The first cemetery in the township was laid out south of the Newport school- house in 1846. During the early history of the township, this was the leading burying ground. Very few burials are now made on this God's acre. The An- tioch burial ground was laid out in the early '6os. The first burial in this hal- lowed ground was Mrs. Fred Ambrose in October, 1866.
A LATE SPRING.
Some long and severe winters are recorded in the memory of the early in- habitants of Jackson township. On April 10, 1842, logs were hauled down the Wapsie on ice by oxen. Snow fell October 20, 1846, and remained until the lat- ter part of the March following. During either 1863 or 1864 there was frost every month of the year.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
Michael Byerly was the first of the early settlers to break away from the timber settlement and locate on the prairie land. The story is told of him, and also illustrating some of the difficulties of the pioneer life, that the fire in his hearth had gone out, and being without matches, he was obliged to go to his nearest neighbor a few miles distant to secure some live coals. In the meantime his wife, who was an adept in such emergencies, had placed some powder in a skillet, put in a piece of tow, struck the powder with a steel file, made a fire and had breakfast ready when her husband returned.
There have been creameries in Jackson township, but there are none at the present time. The evolution of the dairy industry is felt in this township as well as elsewhere, and cream routes are now established and the cream is gathered from every part of the township.
THE ANTIOCH CHURCH.
The Antioch church, located northwest of the central part of the township, is the oldest church in the neighborhood. It is a neat brick edifice, and has had its influence in establishing and maintaining the high standard of morality in the township. The church was erected by the Christian denomination in the winter of 1864-5. Rev. J. H. Johnson was the minister in charge when the building was started. Rev. Nathan Potter was the officiating minister at the completion and dedication of the building. Rev. W. C. Smith was later the minister who looked after the spiritual wants of the church. The Christian denomination has held no regular services in the church for several years. Rev. Beaver of the Congrega- tional church at Anamosa now preaches every second Sunday. Lem Streeter and Mrs. Mary Waggoner are the present trustees of the Christian denomination.
RIVERSIDE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
This is possibly the youngest religious organization in the county. This neat little country church is located in a beautiful oak grove on the north bank of the Wapsie river, in Jackson township, about five miles north of Olin, and its ex- istence is a part of the fruits and labors of Rev. E. Ackley, a former pastor of the United Brethren church of Olin.
In the fall of 1908, F. M. Glenn and Raleigh Houstman, farmers in that vicinity, invited Rev. Ackley to organize a Sunday school in the Pleasant Hill schoolhouse, and also to preach every alternate Sunday. Rev. Mr. Ackley seeing the needs of this community which was apparently ripe for religious effort, complied with the request, and as a result a large Sunday school was soon a fixture in the community.
Mr. Ackley began revival meetings in the schoolhouse about December I, 1908, and at once the dormant spirit of religious activity was aroused, and a commendable interest was taken in the meetings. About thirty-five were re- claimed and received a new vision of the higher mission of life. A class was organized, and by act of the quarterly conference at Olin in February, 1909, this charge was made a part of the Olin circuit.
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At once a movement was started to build a church edifice, and during the early spring of 1909, the sum of eight hundred dollars in subscription was se- cured for this purpose. The work of construction was begun as soon as spring opened, and at the time of the annual conference, March 17th, the building was well under way.
Rev. D. C. Violet succeeded to the pastorate of this church in May, 1909, and took up with enthusiasm the work that had been so well begun. The build- ing was completed and on June 27, 1909, the edifice was dedicated by Rev. I. A. Holbrook, superintendent of Iowa conference.
The supporters of this church are a worthy people, and have given largely and liberally of their means for its erection and maintenance. The furniture for this little church and beautiful shady nook on which it stands, was the gift of Joseph Glenn and wife of Olin. J. M. Glenn, F. M. Glenn, Jed Brickley, Frank Porter, Thomas Crane and others have likewise contributed cheerfully and liberally.
Mrs. F. M. Glenn is superintendent of the Sunday school, and is doing a good work in that capacity. The school is well attended. The new church organization promises to be a strong and permanent company of Christian workers.
The trustees of Riverside United Brethren church are: president, Joseph Glenn ; secretary, D. D. Byers; treasurer, F. M. Glenn ; J. H. Brickley, and Frank Porter.
OFFICIAL ROSTER, JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
The early records of Jackson township cannot be found. The earliest record begins with the year 1870, and this is incomplete, the minutes being very meager and rather disconnected. So far as the clerk's minutes are concerned, there has never been an election of officers in Jackson township.
1870-Clerk, D. B. Bills ; road supervisors : A. Hayden, H. Kramer, J. Stivers, H. H. Monroe, Wm. Byers, E. M. Denison, A. Waggoner, J. W. Meek.
1871-Clerk, A. W. Hay; supervisors: A. Hayden, Wm. Alspaugh, Robert Nunn, D. B. Bills, John Blahney, E. M. Denison, Anthony Waggoner, J. W. Meek, L. B. Smith, M. Neville, Jacob Weiss.
1872-Trustees : Isaac Hay, M. Neville, V. Slife; clerk, A. W. Hay.
1873-Trustees : Michael Neville, Isaac Hay, Valentine Slife; clerk, A. W. Hay; supervisors : D. W. Grafft, Isaac Hay, Jas. Stivers, Matthew Porter, John Blahney, J. N. Merrill, Jacob Waggoner, J. M. Streeter, L. B. Smith, M. Neville, John Bennett.
1874-Trustees : Anthony Waggoner, Jas. Stivers, Nathan Potter ; clerk, J. A. Tarbox; justice, A. W. Hay.
1875-Trustees : Geo. Stivers, Anthony Waggoner, S. D. Hale; clerk, Milton Byerly ; assessor, Jas. Stivers ; supervisors : Wm. Hollingsworth, Isaac Hay, Philip McNally, S. D. Hale, John Blahney, I. H. Meek, Anthony Waggoner, J. W. Brick- ley, Edward Smith, M. Neville, John Bradley.
1876-Trustees : Geo. Stivers, Anthony Waggoner, S. D. Hale; clerk, Milton Byerly ; assessor, Jas. Stivers.
1877-Trustees : Manville Tarbox, A. Waggoner, S. D. Hale; clerk, Nathan Potter ; assessor, M. D. Corcoran.
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1878 Trustees : J. W. Brickley, M. Neville, Manville Tarbox ; clerk, W. A. Hay ; assessor, Milton Byerly.
1879 -- Trustees : M. Neville, J. A. Hopkins, Wm. Strickell ; clerk, W. A. Hay ; assessor, Milton Byerly.
1880-Trustees : Matthew Porter, J. A. Hopkins, M. Neville; clerk, Geo. W. Byerly ; assessor, Milton Byerly ; constables : Jas. Benadom, R. W. Johnson; su- pervisors : Wm. Byerly, J. I. Hay, Jas. Stivers, M. C. Porter. D. W. Grafft, Walter James, O. Drinville, R. W. Johnson, Emory Mowery, M. Neville, Jas. Bradley, L. E. Brownell, John Ford.
1881-Trustees : M. Neville, J. A. Hopkins, M. Porter ; clerk, Jas. W. Beam ; assessor, Milton Byerly; justice, S. D. Hale; constables: J. W. Brickley, Jas. Benadom.
1882-Trustees : M. Neville, J. B. Johnson, M. Porter; clerk, J. W. Beam ; assessor, Milton Byerly ; justice, D. B. Bills; constable, Allison Hopkins.
1883 -- Trustees : J. W. Meek, M. Neville, J. B. Johnson ; clerk, J. W. Beam; assessor, J. A. Hopkins.
1884-Trustees : J. B. Johnson, Matthew Porter, M. Neville; clerk, J. W. Beam; assessor, J. A. Hopkins.
1885-Trustees : John Blahney, M. Neville, Nathan Potter ; clerk, A. D. Cor- coran ; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly; supervisors : J. S. Benadom, Isaac Hay, M. Tarbox, Nathan Potter, Geo. Blahney, F. P. Ireland, Milton Byerly, J. M. Streeter, John E. Snyder, M. Neville, Thos. Flaherty, Jos. Baldwin.
1886-Trustees : A. W. Hay, John Blahney, J. I. Hay ; clerk, A. D. Corcoran ; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly.
1887-Trustees : Milton Byerly, John Blahney, A. W. Hay ; clerk, A. D. Cor- coran ; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly.
1888-Trustees : T. O. Hines, John Blahney, A. W. Hay ; clerk, A. D. Cor- coran ; assessor, W. M. Byerly.
1889-Trustees : M. C. Porter, T. O. Hines, John Blahney ; clerk, W Hopkins; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly.
1890-Trustees : S. P. Slife, M. C. Porter, T. O. Hines ; clerk, A. W. Hopkins; assessor, W. M. Byerly ; supervisors : J. W. Byerly, Adam Kramer, M. Tarbox, Jas. Carter, G. W. Blahney, Isaac Merrill, J. W. Hines, J. W. Brickley, D. M. Strawman, J. W. Beam, Thos. Flaherty, Lewis Leek.
1891-Trustees : John Morrisey, S. P. Slife, M. C. Porter ; clerk, G. W. John- son ; assessor, A. D. Corcoran.
1892-Trustees : S. P. Slife, John Morrisey, D. L. Beam; clerk, Geo. W. Johnson ; assessor, A. D. Corcoran.
1893-Trustees : J. L. Streeter, John Morrisey, C. C. Hopkins; clerk, Geo. W. Johnson ; assessor, Milton Byerly.
1894-Trustees : J. L. Streeter, C. C. Hopkins, John Morrisey ; clerk, G. W. Johnson; assessor, Milton Byerly.
1895-Trustees : James Carter, J. L. Streeter, John Morrisey ; clerk, G. W. Johnson; assessor, Milton Byerly ; supervisors: C. D. Stivers, Frank Wright. T. Brickley, J. Waggoner, Frank Reside, T. Platner, Walter Steckel, F. M. Glenn D. M. Strawman, R. B. Johnson, John Bailey, Frank Bailey.
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FIRST FRAME BARN ERECTE D IN JONES COUNTY
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
1896-Trustees : John Morrisey, James Carter, I. H. Meek; clerk, G. W. Johnson; assessor, Milton Byerly.
1897-Trustees : Frank Wright, Jas. Carter, I. H. Meek; clerk, F. M. Glenn; assessor, John Landis.
1898-Trustees : N. A. Sohrt, Frank Wright, I. H. Meek; clerk, F. M. Glenn ; assessor, John Landis; justice, Chas. Stivers.
1899-Trustees : Stacy Miller, N. A. Sohrt, Frank Wright; clerk, Walter Johnson ; assessor, J. M. Byerly.
1900-Trustees : C. D. Stivers, M. J. McNeilly, Stacy Miller; clerk, Walter Johnson; assessor, J. M. Byerly ; supervisors: C. D. Stivers, C. C. Hopkins, A. Neilson, Nathan Carter, G. H. Blahney, I. H. Meek, Milton Byerly, J. L. Streeter, D. M. Strawman, Frank Steckel, John Bradley, P. Bailey.
1901-Trustees : M. J. McNeilly, Chas. Stiver, Stacy Miller; clerk, O. W. Hay ; assessor, G. James.
1902-Trustees: Stacy Miller, M. J. McNeilly, Chas. Stivers; clerk, O. W. Hay ; assessor, G. D. James.
1903-Trustees : R. B. Johnson, M. J. McNeilly, Stacy Miller; clerk, O. W. Hay ; assessor, T. L. Power.
1904-Trustees : M. J. McNeilly. Stacy Miller, R. B. Johnson; clerk, O. W. Hay ; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly.
1905-Trustees : R. B. Johnson, Stacy Miller, M. J. McNeilly ; clerk, O. W. Hay; assessor, Wm. M. Byerly.
1906-Trustees : Frank Porter, M. J. McNeilly, R. B. Johnson ; clerk, O. W. Hay ; assessor, W. M. Byerly.
1907-Trustees: John Landis, Nathan Carter, Frank Porter; clerk, W. G. Ristine ; assessor, A. B. White.
1908-Trustees: Nathan Carter, John Landis, Frank Porter; clerk, W. G. Ristine; assessor, A. B. White.
1909-Trustees : John Landis, Frank Porter, John Robertson; clerk. W. G Ristine ; assessor, A. B. White.
LOVELL TOWNSHIP.
The history of Lovell township begins with the year 1898, at which time the township formerly called Monticello township, was divided, that part within the incorporate limits of the town of Monticello was continued by the name of Mon- ticello township, and that part of the former territory of Monticello township out- side of the incorporate limits of the town, was called Lovell township. The his- tory of Lovell township, being the history of Monticello township, will be treated under the history of that township.
The official roster herewith given, is properly the roster of Monticello town- ship down to the year 1898, after which the roster of Lovell township proper begins.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
LOVELL TOWNSHIP ROSTER.
( ALSO MONTICELLO ROSTER.)
The first records of the township are not available, because of being misplaced or destroyed, and consequently we are unable to present a roster of officials prior to 1872. This is to be regretted, as the roster of the early officials make inter- esting and valuable historical data.
1872-Trustees : S. R. Howard, A. H. Hanken, T. J. Peak; clerk, D. E. Pond; road supervisors : A. Rice, W. B. Hanken, D. R. Lee, Z. Farwell, John P. Dodge, James Skelley, S. Calkins. John Herrick, Rank Eilers, Thomas L. Wil- liams, James Fuller.
1873-Trustees: S. R. Howard, A. H. Hanken, M. R. Gurney ; clerk, J. R. Stillman ; assessor, Robert Wilson ; collector, D. E. Pond; justices : M. M. Moul- ton, M. W. Herrick, C. W. Gurney ; constables : B. B. Ryan, A. S. Cummings, D. F. Magee.
1874-Trustees : H. J. Averill, G. W. Miller, F. J. Tyron ; clerk, J. R. Still- man; assessor, David A. White; constables: Nicholas Maurice, P. J. Wright, Louis Hauessler ; road supervisors-No. I, J. B. Ross; 8. R. M. Hicks; 3, H. Sandhouse : 4. T. L. Williams; 5, John Dodge; 6, David Ralston; 7, Norman Starks ; 8, Robert Blake; 9, J. Sloan; 10, H. D. Smith; 11, John Herrick; 12, Rank Eilers; 13, D. M. Hall.
1875 -- Trustees : H. J. Averill, G. S. Eastman, A. D. Kline; clerk, W. W. Calkins; assessor, Fletcher Burnight ; collector, Geo. H. Jacobs ; justices, Bradley Stuart, T. J. Peak, M. W. Herrick ; constables : P. J. Wright, F. A. Whittemore, A. S. Cummings.
1876-Trustees: John McConnon, John White, S. R. Howard; clerk, J. A. Chandler ; collector, Wesley Calkins ; assessor, Alexander Lewis.
1877-Trustees : Thos. A. King, John Skelley, H. H. Starks; clerk, J. A. Chandler ; assessor, Alexander Lewis ; collector, W. W. Calkins; justices: J. R. Stillman, M. W. Herrick, G. W. Birdsall ; constables, A. S. Cummings, A. C. Ches- terfield, Mark eKnyon ; road supervisors-No. I, J. A. Miller ; 2, C. F. Crane ; 3, Wm. Cline; 4, Wm. Adams ; 5, John Dodge; 6, R. Ralston ; 7, J. C. French ; 8, Robert Blake; 9, James George; 10, H. D. Smith; 1I, A. D. Kline; 12, Rank Eilers; 13, D. M. Hall.
1878-Trustees : H. H. Starks, J. W. Skelley, W. W. Calkins; clerk, J. A. Chandler ; collector, Isaac Rigby ; assessor, Frank Dawson.
1879-Trustees : W. W. Calkins, G. H. Jacobs, P. A. Miller; clerk, J. H. Bacher ; collector, T. J. Peak; assessor, Alexander Lewis ; justices, A. J. Monroe, Bradley Stuart ; constables : D. F. Magee, Joseph Campbell, A. S. Cummings.
1880-Trustees : S. F. Bentley, W. W. Calkins, A. L. Miller ; clerk, J. H. Ba- cher ; assessor, Alex Stephenson ; road supervisors : No. 1, W. B. Cowan; 2, Rob- ert Hicks ; 3, H. Wernimont ; 4, Wm. Woods ; 5, J. Voorhees ; 6, G. W. Fisher; 7, D. Ralston, Jr. ; 8, James George ; 9. J. Fry ; 10, Louis Reiger ; II, A. D. Kline; 12, R. Eiler ; 13, G. Eiler.
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1881-Trustees : H. H. Starks, D. M. Hall, L. A. Miller ; clerk, J. H. Bacher; assessor, Frank Dawson; collector, R. P. Smith; justices: J. W. Doxsee, J. R. Stillman, I. H. Dawson; constables : Isaac Rigby, James Black, D. F. Magee.
1882-Trustees : F. M. Hicks, D. M. Hall, H. H. Starks ; clerk, J. H. Bacher ; collector, Bradley Stuart.
1883-Trustees : G. W. Curtis, F. M. Hicks, D. M. Hall; clerk, J. H. Bacher ; assessor, Cecil Hosford; collector, T. J. Peak; justices : J. W. Doxsee, Benjamin White, Bradley Stuart.
1884-Trustees : C. E. Little, F. M. Hicks, G. W. Curtis ; clerk, J. H. Bacher; justices : A. J. Monroe, Geo. E. Wood.
1885 -- Trustees : S. R. Howard, C. E. Little, S. R. Howard; clerk, J. H. Ba- cher; assessor, Cecil Hosford; justices : A. S. Cummings, George E. Wood, Da- vid Gardiner; constables. D. Magee, A. Rodman, Chas. Dorrity; road super- visors : No. 1, Wm. Brazelton ; 2, Wm. Cline; 3, John Frye; 4,, Peter Dress ; 5, John L. Clark.
1886-Trustees : Henry Hanken, C. E. Little, S. R. Howard; clerk, J. H. Bacher.
1887 -- Trustees : Henry Hanken, Wm. Cline, J. H. Bacher ; clerk, J. B. Smith; assessor, H. Wernimont; justices, D. T. Gardner, M. Bell, F. J. Tyron; con- stables : D. F. Magee, A. Rohn, Jr., Jas. Graves.
1888-Trustees : J. H. Bacher, Wm. Cline, A. H. Hanken ; clerk, J. B. Smith. 1889-Trustees : J. H. Bacher, Geo. Rettig, Wm. Cline; clerk, J. B. Smith.
1890-Trustees: Anton Matthiesen, Wm. Cline, Geo. Rettig; clerk, J. B. Smith.
1801-Trustees : C. M. Brown, Anton Matthiesen, A. P. Jennings ; clerk, C. A. King ; assessor, Henry Wernimont ; justices, G. W. Condon, O. R. Ricker, C. E. Little ; constables : D. F. Magee, W. H. Samels, F. Stockwell.
1892-Trustees: A. P. Jennings, C. M. Brown, A. Matthiesen; clerk, C. A. King; constables, J. D. Graves, J. Arduser.
1893-Trustees : Chas. Brown, A. P. Jennings, H. H. Hanken; clerk, J. G. Suter; justices, C. E. Little, W. W. Weir, G. W. Condon; constables, W. W. Young, A. Mueller, J. Arduser ; assessor, H. G. Wernimont.
1894-Trustees : W. A. Overing. A. P. Jennings, H. H. Hanken; clerk, J. G. Suter ; justices, D. E. Pond, John C. Rueger.
1895-Trustees : A. Matthiesen, A. H. Hanken, W. A. Overing; clerk, J. G. Suter ; assessor, A. Calkins; justices, D. E. Pond, O. R. Ricker, C. M. Brown; constables : D. F. Magee, Isaac Rigby, Mart Rodman.
1896-Trustees : W. A. Overing, A. Matthiesen, N. Rice; clerk, J. G. Suter. 1897-Trustees: W. A. Overing, A. Matthiesen, N. A. Rice; clerk. A. B. Tucker ; assessor, C. M. Brown ; justices : D. E. Pond, O. R. Ricker ; constables : H. S. Lee, Isaac Rigby.
1898-The trustees at the election in the fall of 1897 were elected to fill va- cancies caused by the division of Monticello township, and the officers elected at this election were the first officers of Lovell township proper. Trustees : J. M. Hofacre, C. A. Schatz, H. A. Hanken ; clerk, F. N. Voorhees ; assessor, J. L. Ar- duser ; justices : G. Eilers, J. M. Stephenson ; constables : Frank Hass, G. Null; road supervisors : No. 1, Henry Freese; 2, J. M. Hofacre; 3, J. M. Hall; 4,
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Peter Dress ; 5, A. Gudenkauf ; 6, Ed Rice ; 7, P. M. Like; 8, Gerd Kammerman ; 9, C. D. Hosford; 10, John Eden.
1899-Trustees : H. A. Hanken, J. M. Hofacre, Carl Schatz; clerk, F. N. Voorhees ; assessor, J. L. Arduser ; justices : A. Hanken, H. K. Fuller ; constables : Frank Hass, August Rohn; road supervisors: Henry Freese, J. M. Hofacre, F. E. Hall, Peter Dress, Henry Wernimont, N. A. Rice, P. M. Like, John Eden, Alonzo Hosford.
1900-Trustees : John H. Bacher, H. A. Hanken, J. M. Hofacre; clerk, H. Wernimont; assessor, J. L. Arduser ; justice, J. L. Graves; constables: P. M. Like, Bert Hubbard ; road supervisors : Henry Freese, J. M. Hofacre, Peter Mat- thiesen, Peter Dress, H. Wernimont, N. A. Rice, P. M. Like, J. H. Eden, Alonzo Hosford.
1901-Trustees : Douglas H. Smith, John Bacher, H. A. Hanken; clerk, Louis Lang ; assessor, N. A. Rice ; justices : P. M. Like, C. A. Thomas ; constables : E. G. Brazelton, E. B. Hubbard.
1902-Trustees : Carl Schatz, D. H. Smith, J. H. Bacher; clerk, H. Werni- mont ; assessor, N. A. Rice; justices : J. H. Bacher, J. M. Hofacre; constables : Fred Kellogg. W. R. French; road supervisors : Henry Freese, W. S. Sandhouse, Peter Matthiesen, Peter Drips, H. Wernimont, Ahab DeWitt, P. M. Like, J. H. Eden, Alonzo Hosford.
1903-Trustees : J. L. Arduser, C. A. Schatz, D. H. Smith; clerk, F. N. Voorhees ; assessor, H. Wernimont ; justices : J. M. Hofacre, Henry Eilers; con- stables : Reuben Drips, Gerhard Eilers, Jr.
1904-Trustees : J. L. Arduser, C. A. Schatz, W. H. Hanken; clerk, F. N. Voorhees; assessor, H. Wernimont.
1905-Trustees : Peter Matthiesen, C. A. Schatz, W. H. Hanken ; clerk, F. N. Voorhees ; assessor, Henry Wernimont ; justices: J. L. Graves, H. J. Lang, Sr .; constables : Alva Like, Fred Starks.
1906-Trustees : Peter Matthiesen, W. H. Hanken, C. A. Schatz; clerk, F. N. Voorhees; assessor, Henry Wernimont.
1907-Trustees : C. A. Schatz, Peter Matthiesen, W. H. Hanken; clerk, Her- man Harms; assessor, H. Wernimont; justices: W. S. Sandhouse; constables: Merle Matthiesen, Reuben Dress.
1908-Trustees: C. A. Schatz, Peter Matthiesen, W. H. Hanken; clerk. Herman Harms; assessor, Henry Wernimont.
1909-Trustees : Henry Filer, W. H. Hanken, C. A. Schatz; clerk, Herman Harms; assessor, Henry Wernimont; justices : Reuben Dress, J. M. Hofacre; constables : J. J. Bailey, Merle Matthiesen.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Madison township was organized from the southwest portion of Clay town- ship, January 1, 1855, and was formerly included in what are now Clay, Scotch Grove, Madison and Wyoming townships.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
The first actual settlement in Madison township of which we have any rec- ord, was made by Harrison Brown, who commenced improvements in Section 26 about the first of June, 1852. The first prairie was broken by John Bender, June 2, 1852, on the property owned by Harrison Brown on the southeast quar- ter of section 26. Mr. Bender now resides in Wyoming, a retired and highly respected man. He and his good wife celebrated their golden wedding anniver- sary on July 21, 1909. The property on which the first sod was turned, is now owned by J. M. French.
About two years afterward, in 1854, Jacob and Thomas Bender, Horace Fay and John Lockard entered the township and settled in the central part. The first residents of the northern part of the township were Daniel and Leaveritt Brown, C. C. Himebaugh, John G. Krouse, Barnett Lewis, L. C. Minard, James McCorkle, Amos Gilbert, Alex Clark, D. Scriven and M. O. Felton. Among the early settlers in other parts of the township were, Enoch Worthington, Seth Tozier, John Niles, Gould Dietz, Seyborn Moore, John Wasson, H. Barto, John McDonald, Andrew McDonald, William McDonald, Abner Kimball, A. W. Pratt, Elijah Day, William Hawley, Henry Cross, Riley Calkins, Jacob Parks, John Anderson, Nathan Arnold, Robert McCalmant, Isaac Bissell, Daniel Bissell, Joshua Crawford, Griswold Hay, David Kling, T. M. Burch, Sol Smith, R. B. Hanna, J. A. LeMaster, David Lyon, Chas. B. Gridley, William H. Alden, John Conmey, James Tuttle, Philo Norton, Daniel Colby, Farnum Colby, M. H. Hoge- boom, M. B. Corcoran, Henry Dockstader, James Stephenson and J. A. Blakely.
But we find it recorded that there are other things as important as the cultiva- tion of land in Madison, i. e. marriages and births.
FIRST MARRIAGE.
The first bride led to the hymeneal altar in Madison was Miss Anna M. Krouse, and the bashful bridegroom was M. O. Felton, the master of ceremonies was the gallant and honorable, John E. Lovejoy. The groom of this occasion is yet the same bashful fellow that he was on that eventful August 29th, 1854, and enjoys relating the events of that period. He is a hale and hearty optimistic resident of Center Junction at the advanced age of eighty-two years. The bride and companion of his joys is also one of the substantial women of her day and generation.
FIRST BIRTH.
The first promising youth ushered into the life of Madison was Orlando E. Countryman, son of Nicholas and Katherine Countryman. This happy event occurred May 21, 1853, in a log cabin on what is now the Buckholtz farm just west of the Bender schoolhouse. Mr. Countryman now lives at Canova, South Dakota and bears his honors lightly.
The first girl born in the township was born in the same log cabin as was the first boy, the girl was Miss Kate Hawn, daughter of Jacob and Lana Hawn. This birth is dated July 16, 1853. This blushing maiden now lives in Wyoming and is the wife of Jeff Close. It is a peculiar coincidence that the two first births
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
in the township, being from different families, should have been in the same cabin. This was in section 27.
THE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED.
Madison township as it now is, was organized at the January session of the Jones county court, 1855. Those early liberty-loving friends were not long in assuming the power given them, and on April 2, 1855, held the first election. A. W. Pratt and Henry Cross were elected to fill the office of justices of the peace. The trustees were Thomas Bender, Horace A. Fay and James Tuttle. The first clerk was John Lockard and the first assessor, C. C. Himebaugh.
The importance of education was not forgotten, and notwithstanding the many demands upon their time and money, a schoolhouse was erected on the farm of C. C. Himebaugh, the ground being donated for that purpose. The first school in south Madison was located about one hundred rods east of the present residence of Fred Storm in section 27. This was in 1854.
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