USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 54
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF OXFORD JUNCTION.
All the town records were destroyed in the fire of Feb. 5, 1889, consequently the records previous to that date are not in existence.
1889-Mayor: A. Araah; clerk, Sam P. Miles; treasurer, Daniel Poppe; as- sessor, Frank Nowacheck; trustees : John Johnson, A. J. Wasoba, S. S. Zigler, Mac Stewart, S. W. Sley, H. A. Jackson.
1890-Mayor: A. Araah ; clerk, Sam P. Miles; treasurer, D. T. Poppe; as- sessor, Frank Nowacheck; trustees: George F. Crouch, S. S. Zigler, A. J. Wa- soba, Mac Stewart, H. A. Jackson, John Johnson.
1891-Mayor : H. P. Johnson ; clerk, O. J. Felton; treas., D. Poppe; assessor, Frank Nowacheck; council: A. Stratilek, B. C. Kimball, H. A. Jackson, A. J. Wasoba, George Crouch, S. S. Zigler.
1892-Mayor : L. F. Zeller ; clerk, O. J. Felton; treasurer, D. Poppe; asses- sor, Frank Nowacheck; council : Fred Emerson, H. W. Kettlesen, B. C. Kimball, S. S. Zigler, H. A. Jackson, A. Stratilek.
1893-Mayor: M. J. Kulhave; clerk, C. A. Seaton; treasurer, L. F. Zeller; assessor, F. Nowacheck; council : H. A. Jackson, Henry Klahn, B. H. Kimball, H. W. Kettlesen, A. Stratilek, Fred Emerson.
1894-Mayor: O. J. Felton ; clerk, C. A. Seaton; treasurer, J. J. Berner ; as- sessor, J. K. Bloom; council : M. J. Kulhave, Henry Orris, L. F. Zeller, H. A. Jackson, Henry Kettlesen, Henry Klahn.
1895-Mayor: D. D. Rorick; clerk, C. A. Seaton; treasurer, J. J. Berner; assessor, J. K. Bloom; council : A. J. Wasoba, L. K. Bobo, M. J. Kulhave, H. A. Jackson, Henry Orris, Henry Klahn.
1896-Mayor : M. J. Kulhave; clerk, C. A. Seaton; treasurer, Edgar Ham- mond; assessor, Martin Podolok; council: A. Stratilek, Jos. Dlouhy, Henry Or- ris, L. K. Bobo, J. J. Mulvihill, Aug. Greenburg.
1897-Mayor : M. J. Kulhave; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. Nowacheck; assessor, M. Podolok; council: C. D. Tucker, Aug. Greenburg, D. D. Rorick, L. K. Bobo, A. Stratilek, Jos. Dlouhy.
1898-Mayor : D. Poppe; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, Frank Nowachek; assessor, M. Podolok; council: J. Mulvihill, Henry Klahn, S. S. Zigler, Jos. Dlouhy, Aug. Greenburg, A. Stratilek.
1899-Mayor: D. Poppe; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, Frank Nowachek; assessor, M. Podolok; council: A. F. Deniston, J. A. Bracha, Aug. Greenburg, Henry Klahn, J. Mulvihill, S. S. Zigler.
1900-Mayor: M. J. Kulhave; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. Nowachek; assessor, M. Podolok; council: John Fritz, Thos. Kula, Frank Williams, J. E. Johnson, J. A. Bracha, A. F. Deniston.
1901-Mayor : M. J. Kulhave; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. Nowacheck; assessor, Martin Podolok ; council : Frank Williams, L. W. Sley, John Fritz, J. A. Bracha, Thos. Kula, A. F. Deniston.
1902-Mayor: A. J. Wasoba; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treas., F. Nowachek; as- sessor, M. Podolok; council: Henry Klahn, John Buresh, John Fritz, Frank Wil- liams. L. W. Sley, Thos. Kula.
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1903-Mayor: A. J. Wasoba; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treas., F. Nowachek; as- sessor, M. Podolok; council: V. E. Sobotka, Edgar Hammond, John Buresh, Henry Klahn, L. W. Sley, Frank Williams.
1904-Mayor : John Stout; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. H. Shimanek; assessor, M. Podolok; council: F. Nowachek, F. E. Williams, F. Kenney, John Buresh, V. E. Sobotka, Henry Klahn.
1905-Mayor : John Stout; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. H. Shimanek ; assessor, M. Podolok; council: Henry Klahn, John Buresh, Frank Kenney, F. Nowacheck, V. E. Sobotka, F. E. Williams.
1906-Mayor : J. A. Bracha; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treasurer, F. H. Shimanek; assessor, Martin Podolok; council: V. E. Sobotka, E. A. Grimwood, John Bu- resh, Henry Klahn, Frank Kenney, F. W. Williams.
1907-Mayor: J. A. Bracha; clerk, J. K. Bloom; treas., J. J. Berner; asses- sor, M. Podolok; council: E. A. Grimwood, V. E. Sobotka, John Buresh, Frank Kenney, H. E. Tech, F. E. Williams.
1908-Mayor: J. A. Bracha; clerk, Lester Van Sickle; treasurer, F. H. Shi- manek; assessor, Martin Podolok; council: John Buresh, H. E. Tech, Frank Kenney, F. E. Williams, V. E. Sobotka, E. A. Grimwood.
1909-Mayor : Wm. Thorn; clerk, Lester Van Sickle; treasurer, F. H. Shi- manek; assessor, M. Podolok; council: Samuel Harms, E. A. Grimwood, Frank Kenney, John Buresh, H. E. Tech, V. E. Sobotka.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Richland township claims the distinction of being the first township settled in Jones county. This settlement dates back to the year 1836 or 37, and the man who is reputed to have been the first white man to make the place his habitation was Hugh Bowen.
Hugh Bowen first located on the south east quarter of section 8 in Richland township and built a log cabin. A few years afterwards, he built a house on the north east quarter of the same section. The barn which he built on this section yet stands as a relic of the industry of this pioneer. This farm later passed into the hands of Isaac Willard and is now owned by John Balster.
Hugh Bowen also took the first census of Jones county in the winter of 1839-40. In politics he was a Whig, but afterwards became affiliated with the democratic party. He later moved to Colorado where he died about 1869.
THE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED.
Richland township was organized as a political township, July 5, 1842, and included what is now Wayne, Cass, Castle Grove, Lovell and Monticello town- ships, and was known as the Bowen Prairie Precinct. In June, 1847, Monticello
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township was organized and included all south of the Maquoketa River of the Bowen Prairie Precinct.
There is so much of the early history of Richland township given by Bar- rett Whittemore in his historical sketch in the history of 1879, and which we take pleasure in incorporating in this history because of its valuable data, that we hes- itate about trying to add to the narrative.
AN EARLY MISSIONARY.
Among the early circuit riders of the Methodist denomination in this district, was Rev. Briar. He was one of those fatherly unselfish men whose presence alone added to the strength of his cause. It was in 1847 that he started for Cali- fornia. With his wife and three sons, and three yoke of oxen he started over- land for his destination. During the trip privations seemed to follow each other as though he was being tried and tempted to the limit. All of his oxen died ex- cept one. His health failed, and foot sore and weary, with courage he pressed forward. He rode the lone ox, but the feet of this lone ox were sore, and to remedy this the tender feet were tied up with blankets. His wife and children were barefoot, their shoes having been worn out in the pilgrimage. For two weeks or more, they were obliged to live on acorns. They arrived at their des- tination at last and found themselves among friends.
Mr. Whittemore, in his historical sketch, refers to the sorrowful death of little Alfred Denson who had wandered from home and perished. This lad's mother now lives in California at the age of ninety years, and her heart yet bleeds in anguish as she recalls the death of her little son.
AN INCIDENT WITH WOLVES.
Another incident is told of a conflict with wolves. A son of Thomas Dixon's had his arm broken and it was necessary to take him to Dubuque, the nearest point, to a physician. The ox team was hitched up and the start made. During the trip several attacks were made by the large timber wolves, the dogs which ac- companied the company, were worried and killed. It was on the eve of the fol- lowing night that the company returned after a number of narrow escapes. The sister who had remained at home, did not sleep a wink because of the howling of the furious beasts, and because of her anxiety for the welfare of the party exposed.
A PIONEER STORY.
Mrs. T. A. King, the wife of the present steward of the county home and a daughter of William Moore, one of the pioneers of Richland township, tells the story of a Scotchman by birth whose name was Micklejohns, who came to this county in 1838 and settled in Richland township. He lived in the township until about 1844. He was an odd genius and eccentric to the limit. About the year 1844, he conceived the idea that if he could get to California with a swarm of bees he could make his fortune. Consequently he made a make-shift of a wheel- barrow, and loaded on his hive of bees and all the necessary articles for a trip
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across the plains to California. He started out with his wheel-barrow and left the neighborhood. Whether this man ever reached his destination, this history cannot record, for nothing was ever heard from him afterward. It was sup- posed he starved to death. on the plains, as a man answering his description was afterward found.
Mrs. King also relates having seen twenty-five deer jump over the fence near their home, one after the other. This was in an early day. It would be a rare curiosity in the year 1909, if even one deer was seen jumping over the fence in any back yard in Jones county.
THE INFANT PIONEER.
It seems to have been generally conceded among the early settlers that Mar- tha Ann Dixon was the first white child born in Richland township. This was in the year 1839. Mrs. T. A. King, the wife of the present steward of the county home, and whose maiden name was Mary E. Moore, was generally conceded to have been the second white child born in the township. The date of her entrance upon the scene of early activities was April 12, 1840. Mention has been made of the birth of twins in the family of Richard South in the year 1839 in Rich- land township, but we have not been able to secure sufficient proof of this statement.
BOWEN'S PRAIRIE.
The casual visitor in the northern part of Richland township, in passing along the old military road, would pass an abandoned church building on the north side of the road when near the Lovell township line, and would also pass several houses which bear the ear marks of age. That the visitor was passing through what in the early days of Jones county history, was a prosperous little village, would require him to use his imagination and the perusal of this history to demonstrate that such was a fact.
VILLAGE PLATTED.
The first plat of Bowen's prairie was dated July 2, 1853, and was executed by Otis Whittemore and Harriet Whittemore his wife, and land platted into town lots and called Bowen's Prairie being located on the south end of the west one half of the south east quarter, and in the south east corner of the south east quarter of the south west quarter, all in section 6, township 86 north, range 2 west of the 5th P. M. Another plat was filed July 21, 1856, by Otis Whittemore and wife and Daniel Forrestall.
On April 17, 1856, Jonathan Ross filed a plat of town lots called Richland in the south west quarter of section 5 in Richland township. This must have been a suburb of Bowen's Prairie. A plat of Bowen's Prairie filed in June, 1856, was quite extensive and comprised over a hundred lots.
THE POSTOFFICE.
The Bowen's Prairie postoffice was established in 1849, and on the 24th of March of that year Ebenezer Little was commissioned by Uncle Sam as post-
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master. Mr. Little continued to act in this capacity .until August 2, 1853, when Lincoln C. Eaton was empowered to act in this capacity. He was followed by Francis M. Hicks, July 23, 1857. Then came William Brazelton, October 24, 1857. On December 27, 1858, Francis M. Hicks was again placed in charge of the postoffice. He was succeeded by Moses Perley, May 31, 1861. This ap- pointment seemed to meet with favor from people and politicians alike, for no change was made for over thirteen years, when on December 9th, 1874, Nathan C. Rowley was appointed. On April 17, 1882, Rev. Harvey Adams was given the reins of office; but official authority did not agree with him, for on the 30th of April, the year following Edmund S. Blodgett relieved him as postmaster. May 5th, 1886, Susie R. Flint was appointed, and on December 28, 1894, Susie R. Flint Rafferty was commissioned. This was the last appointment. On Novem- ber 29, 1902, Bowen's Prairie postoffice was discontinued, the mail being di- rected to Monticello.
THE CHURCHES.
There have been two churches in the village of Bowen's Prairie. The first church organized was the Congregational. The people of the neighborhood were largely from the New England states and brought with them their religious traditions.
THE BOWEN'S PRAIRIE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized March 23, 1853; Rev. E. Wright of Anamosa preached on the occasion. The following persons were admitted to membership at the time of organization : Lucian Rice and wife, John White and wife, Barret Whittemore and wife, Otis Whittemore and wife, Edmund Blodgett and wife, and Fanny S. Flint. On April 2, 1853, the church met and agreed to adopt the rules and articles of faith of the Dubuque Congregational church. In May following, four members were added to the church by letter. Some of the ministers have been : Revs. T. H. Canfield, S. C. Cady, J. Searles, I. Russell, W. Apthorp, C. S. Thompson, N. Closson, Harvey Adams.
The First Congregational Society was formed September, 1853, to cooperate with the church in erecting a house of worship. The foundation was laid early in October, and in the June following the building was completed and dedicated. The cost of the structure was one thousand, three hundred dollars, of which sum three hundred dollars was donated from the church building fund. A fine bell was hung in the belfry, the cost of which was partly donated by Asa Bowen, Otis Whittemore and others; one hundred dollars was raised by means of a bell festival. Otis Whittemore donated the ground upon which the church was built, and also donated the ground for the parsonage and half an acre of land for cem- etery purposes, near the church. The communion service was the gift of Mrs. James Bowen.
For many years the church had one of the largest and best trained choirs in this part of the state. At one time there were sixty members in the company of singers. Otis Whittemore has been given credit for the training and the efficiency of the choir.
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There have been no regular services in the Congregational church for over twenty years. Many of the members have united with the Monticello church. There have been funeral services held in the church occasionally, but during the past ten years the building has been wholly abandoned. It now stands as a silent monument of pioneer activity along religious lines. In 1893 the church building was transferred to the Congregational church building society, to repay the three hundred dollars given when the church was built.
THE METHODIST CHURCH. This church was built about the year 1858. Rev. Briar was among the early circuit riders in this neighborhood. He rode on horseback and carried the old familiar saddle bag or still more antiquated carpet bag. He would stop at a house, and soon the word was passed around among the people and in the cabin the service of prayer, praise and exhortation would be held.
The record of this historic church society has been obliterated by time, and it is presumed most of the members have passed on to their eternal home. More than twenty years ago the Methodist church building was moved onto the R. M. Hicks' farm on the Delaware county line, and it is now incorporated in a barn on the premises.
GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. This is the only living church in Richland township at the present time. The church had its beginning in the year 1868, and during all of its history it has been a German church, though not always a Presbyterian church. In the beginning of its history, it was a German Reformed church. The first elders were Thomas Guyan and J. P. Allen. George Rettig, pastor.
In October, 1873, it was reorganized as a German Presbyterian church, the pastor being Rev. F. W. Bruechert and the Elders, Martin Buol, Melchior Moore; deacons, John Schweitzer and Adam Hein. In 1874 the organization was in- corporated as the German Presbyterian church at Richland Center. The pas- tors have been : Revs. Geo. Rettig, F. W. Bruechert, and the present pastor, B. T. Balcar. The present church edifice was built in 1878 at a cost of one thousand, four hundred and fifty-four dollars and sixty-two cents.
The present officers are: Elders, Christ Balsinger, William Moore; trustees, George Hein and Godfrey Egger. The present membership is about sixty-six. The pastor enjoys music thoroughly and takes pleasure in preparing musical con- certs with the assistance of local musicians. These concerts have pronounced musical excellence, the selections being executed with rare skill and height of tone. It is seldom that a country church is gifted with the musical ability and talent possessed by this healthy and wide-awake church at Richland Center.
THE ROSS CHEESE FACTORY.
It seems without question that the first cheese factory in Jones county was located at Bowen's Prairie. We are fortunate in recovering some record of this early institution and placing it before our readers.
The following item in regard to the Ross Cheese Factory of Bowen's Prai- rie, we take from the Monticello Express, of the date of August 8, 1867:
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"On Friday last, we visited the Bowen's Prairie Cheese Factory and found it a much larger establishment than we had supposed it to be. Mr. Ross, the gentlemanly proprietor, conducted us through the building and cheerfully gave us all the desired information, pertaining to the manner in which they manufacture cheese. The building is twenty-six by one hundred feet, two stories high, and is substantially built. The lower story con- tains two rooms, beside the engine room and office, which are additions to the main building. The second story will be used exclusively for a curing room.
"The factory is pleasantly located, about seventy-five yards from the main road, near the residence of F. M. Hicks, and presents both inside and out an appearance as neat and tidy as an old maid's band box. The establishment is furnished with the best and most approved machinery, and the operators are practical men who understand their business thoroughly. They are now using the milk from one hundred and fifty cows, and turn out nearly four hundred pounds of cheese per day."
Some of the early patrons of the Ross Cheese factory were: S. M. Yoran, N. Hicks, R. A. Rynerson, L. Eggleson, J. B. Ross, C. Penniman, S. Whittemore, William Whittemore, I. Markham, F. M. Hicks, S. A. Palmer, M. Perley, L. Rice, H. O. Failing, C. C. Perley, B. W. Newton, J. R. Stillman. Of these, S. M. Yoran and F. M. Hicks furnished about one half of all the milk. This was as early as July 4, 1867.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF BOWEN'S PRAIRIE.
: By Barrett Whittemore.
(The following historical sketch from the able and fluent pen of "The Old Schoolmaster of Bowen's Prairie," and taken from the history of 1879, contains matters of history of value and importance. Some of these matters are also referred to in other parts of the history, but those who knew Mr. Whittemore best will be glad to have this history from his ready pen. This sketch from the pen of Mr. Whittemore will be better understood if read with reference to the viewpoint of the author about thirty or more years ago .- Editor.)
"Bowen's Prairie originally included all that prairie region west of Cascade, which lies between the Maquoketa River, and east of Plum Creek, and includes a part of the counties of Dubuque, Jones and Delaware, comprising two town- ships of land, more or less. It derives its name from Hugh Bowen, who, in company with John Flinn, in the year 1836, first visited this locality; and, being charmed by its beautiful scenery, fertile soils, salubrious springs, and other desirable attractions, they selected adjoining claims. That of the former being well known as the 'Bowen Farm,' and the latter lying immediately west of it. and now owned by Ebenezer Little and Barrett Whittemore.
"The favorable reports which these adventurers gave of the country stimu- lated others to visit this section, and the same year, Moses Collins and Joshua Johnston came and staked off claims north of the two just named, and now owned by William Beatty and Robert Bunting's widow. Alfred Weatherford
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also arrived the same season, and in the absence of Mr. Flinn, took possession of his claim, and, by intimidation, succeeded in holding it. About this time, Thomas S. Denson, Gillespie Laughlin, Charles Johnston, and Franklin Dalby came and selected claims in the same neighborhood, all now or lately owned respectively by Joseph Hickman, William Brazelton, Philip Cline and Franklin Dalby. In the same year, the Delong family, consisting of father and mother with their five sons, William, Parley, Perry, John and Jacob, and a daughter, Susan, took possession of the falls and the vicinity known as Cascade. They put up two cabins on the premises, one being situated about four rods west of the falls, and the other near the present site of G. G. Banghart's store. As there seemed, however, to be a prospect that their claim would be contested, they sold the water-power and the land lying east of the river, with a narrow belt two hundred feet wide lying west of the river, to John Sherman, who afterward disposed of one-half of his interest to Hugh Bowen. Near this time, Daniel Varvel and William Clark took possession of the present site of Monticello, where they built a commodious log house, and opened adjoining farms. About the Ist of January, 1837, Thomas Dickson, with his wife and two children, Elizabeth and William, moved to the prairie, laying claim to the premises now occupied by the Yousse family. After living on and improving the same several years, he sold his claim to Benedict Yousse, who has been a resident on the same some thirty-three years. In the same year, William Moore, Sr., with his three sons, William, Thomas and John, came and took up claims south of the Yousse farm just mentioned. Two of the sons, William and John, have lately died and Thomas is still living on the original claim. The father, Wil- liam Moore, a hale and hearty old gentleman, after leaving Bowen's Prairie, bought the Beardsley farm, some seven miles west of Monticello, where he lived until two years ago, when he died. I will illustrate some of the inconveniences of the good olden time, even extending to the important act of getting married by relating the following incident: Mr. Moore, being a widower, and deeming it not good for man to be alone, sought a helpmate, and succeeding in finding one who was willing to accommodate him, providing the necessary preliminaries could be complied with. But here was the dilemma, ministers and justices of the peace were not as plentiful as at present, and to obtain the services of either would be attended with delay, expense and trouble. A justice, however, was found, in the person of Jacob Hamilton, then living at Whitewater, in Dubuque county ; and being sent for he came, but on his arrival, found himself in a dif- ferent county, and therefore, out of his jurisdiction. Here, then, was another difficulty to be surmounted. But necessity is truly the mother of invention.
"The parties could all walk over the line into Dubuque county, and then all would be right. So, shortly after having made the necessary arrangements for a foot tramp of some three or four miles, a party of five, including the im- portant personage of justice, with Thomas Dickson and wife as witnesses, set out on foot, and in due time reached the desired locality, just within the pre- cinct of Dubuque county. And here, under the blue canopy of heaven, sur- rounded by forest oaks. the knot was tied, the blessing pronounced, and the parties dispersed : and this is the history of the first wedding on Bowen's Prairie, just forty years ago.
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"The United States surveys of the public lands in this vicinity were made in the years 1836-1837. As many claims were taken and improvements made previous to these surveys, some of the claimants were much annoyed by the government lines passing through their improvements, thus frequently, essen- tially interfering with private boundaries established by the claimants them- selves. A small enclosure was liable, in certain contingencies, to fall on four different sections, frequently placing the building on one section and the im- proved land on another. To the married man this was comparatively of minor importance, as he would have the ability to purchase whatever he wanted. But these contingencies often made sad havoc with the poor settler's anticipa- tions, whose means were frequently limited to the purchase of forty, or at most, eighty acres. A compromise in such cases was frequently made by accommodat- ing neighbors, but selfishness, then as now, was not an uncommon element in the human heart.
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