USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 63
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David Cook, Monticello; died at Youngs Point.
Henry Cross, Jones county ; wounded at Pea Ridge.
William H. Dean, Scotch Grove; drowned at Marietta, Georgia, and is buried in the National cemetery at Marietta.
Thomas C. Dixon, Monticello; died at Cassville, Missouri, and is buried in the National cemetery at Springfield, Missouri.
William H. Dixon, Wyoming; wounded at Vicksburg.
Charles B. Dockstader. Wyoming; wounded at Pea Ridge.
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Abraham Drake, Monticello; wounded in the breast at Pea Ridge, and died the next day from his wounds; buried in the National cemetery, at Springfield, Missouri.
John A. Dreibilbis, Scotch Grove; wounded at Pea Ridge and died at Helena, Arkansas, and buried in the National cemetery, at Memphis, Tennessee. Robert J. Espy, Scotch Grove; wounded severely near Atlanta.
Robert T. Filson, Scotch Grove; died at Atlanta, buried in the National cemetery, at Marietta, Georgia.
William Fuller, Scotch Grove; wounded severely in the breast at Pea Ridge, at the age of eighteen.
H. H. Gibson, Monticello; wounded at Pea Ridge.
Amos D. Gilbert, Wyoming; taken prisoner at Claysville, Alabama and died a few months later; lies buried in the National cemetery, at Annapolis, Maryland.
Fred D. Gilbert, Wyoming; killed in battle at the assault upon Vicksburg, May 22, 1863.
William C. Glenn, Scotch Grove; wounded at Pea Ridge, and died at Helena, Arkansas.
Joseph E. Green, Monticello; died of measles at St. Louis, and buried in the National cemetery at St. Louis.
Alfred C. Hines, Monticello; died of wounds received at Pea Ridge; buried in the National cemetery at Fayetteville, Arkansas.
George Howard, Scotch Grove; wounded at Pea Ridge; died three days later of his wounds and lies buried in the National cemetery at that place.
Thomas Irwin, Monticello; wounded at Pea Ridge; died at Helena, Arkansas. George Karst, Monticello; wounded at Pea Ridge.
Orlanda McDaniels, Monticello; severely wounded at Pea Ridge.
Charles Marcellus, Anamosa; wounded at Pea Ridge, and died of other wounds at Millikens Bend.
Byron W. Merwin, Monticello; severely wounded in the breast at Pea Ridge.
Isaac A. Miller, Monticello; wounded in the breast at Pea Ridge.
James J. Miller, Monticello; wounded severely at Vicksburg.
John B. Miller, Monticello; wounded at Vicksburg, and again wounded severely at Atlanta.
John J. Moore, Jones county ; wounded at Pea Ridge.
Zadoc Moore, Scotch Grove; wounded at Atlanta, Georgia.
William L. Murphy, Monticello; wounded in the left lung at Pea Ridge, and died three days later.
John C. Nichols, Wyoming; wounded at Vicksburg.
Henry Overley, Monticello; wounded at Pea Ridge, died of lung fever, at Cassville, Missouri, and buried in the National cemetery, at Springfield, Missouri. James F. Overley, Scotch Grove; died of pneumonia at Pacific City, Missouri. Leroy Palmer, Anamosa ; died of dropsy in Andersonville prison; buried in the National cemetery, at Andersonville, Georgia.
Thomas Radden, Jones county; wounded at Kingston, North Carolina, and died of his wounds, and buried in the old cemetery at Newbern, North Carolina.
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Michael Sanders, Wyoming; wounded severely at Chickasaw Bayou.
James B. Schull, Jones county; killed at the battle of Pea Ridge, and buried in the cemetery at Pea Ridge.
Emory A. Smith, Monticello; killed in the battle of Pea Ridge, at the age of eighteen; buried in the National cemetery, at Fayetteville, Arkansas.
James H. Smith, Monticello; died at St. Louis, Missouri, April 25, 1863, and buried in the National cemetery in Jefferson Barracks.
William H. Standish, Wyoming; died on the march in Missouri. February 25, 1862.
Donald Sutherland, Scotch Grove; wounded severely at Pea Ridge, March 9, 1862; died of his wounds on March 15th.
John Sutherland, Scotch Grove; wounded in the face at Pea Ridge, March 7, 1862; wounded again severely in the shoulder in the assault upon Vicks- burg, May 22, 1863.
Morrison Sutherland, Scotch Grove; wounded severely in the shoulder at Pea Ridge, March 7, 1862, and died of his wounds at Cairo, Illinois, August 28, 1862, at the age of twenty years.
Thomas W. Sweesy; wounded severely at Pea Ridge, and died of his wounds two weeks later, at Cassville, Missouri.
Amos S. Tompkins, Monticello; died January 31, 1863, at Jefferson Bar- racks, Missouri, and is buried in the National cemetery at that place.
Leroy A. Van Sant, Monticello; died July 14, 1862, at Helena, Arkansas.
Joseph L. White, Monticello; wounded at Pea Ridge, at the age of eighteen, and died of his wounds on Bowen's Prairie, six weeks later.
Amos Winslow, Monticello; died of typhoid fever, October 12, 1862, at St. Louis, and buried in the National cemetery at Jefferson Barracks.
James C. Wright, Wyoming; wounded in the arm at Pea Ridge.
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
The soldier boys of Scotch Grove were the first in Jones county to erect a monument in memory of the gallant boys of the Civil War. At various times proposals looking toward the erection of a soldiers' monument in the Scotch Grove Presbyterian cemetery, have been made, but nothing was accomplished till the matter was stirred up afresh in 1907, by comrade J. G. Krouse, and a soldiers' committee were appointed with the following members: William Suth- erland, chairman; David A. Sutherland, secretary ; J. G. Krouse, A. P. Moats, James Young and M. Sweesy. The matter was pushed with energy and the necessary funds were raised, the people responding nobly to the solicitation of the committee for funds.
The monument was erected in the Scotch Grove Presbyterian cemetery, and formally dedicated May 28, 1908, the dedicatory address being given by Major S. S. Farwell of Monticello, and the monument unveiled by Miss Maggie Suther- land, a descendant of John Sutherland. The cost was approximately seven hundred and fifty dollars. The monument is of enduring granite and is a handsome memorial. On the monument the words are inscribed: "In memory of the soldiers of Scotch Grove and adjoining townships. In memory of the unknown comrades. Erected by comrades and friends. In memory of those buried here." At the present time there are eighteen soldiers of the Civil War,
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and two soldiers of the War of 1812, buried in this cemetery, their names being given on another page.
SCOTCH GROVE VILLAGE.
EARLY VILLAGE HISTORY.
This business center was first known as Applegate's Crossing. As a result of certain right of way agreements, a depot was built at the crossing, and a town laid out in October, 1872, by James and Charles Applegate, with the name of Scotch Grove. In the same year, a Doctor Ostrander and a Mr. Blazer put up a store building on the corner of Main and Market streets, now occupied by E. L. Himebaugh. This firm put in a stock of dry goods, groceries and drugs. In 1874, H. D. Hanna began store keeping in a small way in the front room of the house now owned by Mrs. Rickles. The next year he bought the lots just across the alley and erected a combined store and dwelling, selling his first house to Dr. Alex Mckean, the resident physician. About this time Felix Bassinger who had worked in the incipient steel plow factory at Cascade, and had a shop on the west side of M. H. Hutton's farm, moved to Scotch Grove, and with William Tomlinson, started the first blacksmith shop. Bassinger & Tomlinson were followed by Lombard who put in some additional tools. Dave McPike was the next man at the forge and he later surrendered the right to make anvil music to A. P. Moats, who in the spring of 1908, relin- quished the business to John Lang, Jr.
THE ELEVATOR.
About 1877, Dr. Alex Mckean built a small elevator, and bought and shipped considerable corn and grain. Other shippers wishing to engage in the business, induced the railroad company to build a regular elevator fitted with machinery for shelling corn and cleaning grain. A few years later, the rail- road elevator caught fire from the boiler stack and with the McKean elevator, was burned to the ground, and neither were ever rebuilt.
THE STORE.
The H. D. Hanna store was later purchased by Ira Webb, who in turn was succeeded by George Davis. Then Sandy Shoemaker became proprietor and some six years later sold the store to Sinclair Brothers, and went into the bank- ing business in Fontanelle, Iowa. After keeping the store about twelve years, Sinclair Brothers, sold out to E. L. Himebaugh the present owner.
THE POSTOFFICE.
The first postmaster in Scotch Grove was John E. Lovejoy, who was com- missioned August 4, 1851. This was before Scotch Grove village had become a part of the community. On June 23, 1856, David Holmes was appointed post-
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master, and on the 20th of July of the following year, John E. Lovejoy again took up the reins of office, but only continued in office about a month, when on the 24th of August, 1857, Robert Espy became postmaster. The record does not indicate any change until December 16, 1872, when James S. Applegate be- came postmaster. On May 6, 1873, Milton T. Blazer was appointed, and on December 9, 1874, Henry D. Hanna assumed the duties of the local Nasby. Ira Webb, on November 16, 1881, was appointed, and George A. Davis on September 24, 1885, was commissioned. July 5, 1887, Sandy Shoemaker suc- ceeded to the office, and his successor was Donold O. Sinclair on June 3, 1893. No change was made again until November 21, 1903, when Ernest L. Hime- baugh, the present incumbent was duly authorized to represent Uncle Sam in receiving and sending the mails.
THE CREAMERY.
The creamery was first erected in 1879 by H. D. Hanna, a practical dairy- man. The deep water system was used for cooling the milk and raising the cream for several years, the pumping and churning being done by horse power, but later a steam engine was installed. A modern cream separator was later in- troduced.
Besides this creamery, Mr. Hanna had a creamery on the Harrison Corbett farm, known as the Rose Creamery, located two miles and a quarter northeast of Center Junction, and also a skimmery a mile south of the Presbyterian church.
H. D. Hanna died in 1881 as a result of a street car accident in Chicago, and his son, C. M. Hanna continued the business.
Some business differences among the patrons, and the vigorous work of a creamery promoter, resulted in the organization of a cooperative creamery and the erection of the present brick creamery building about the year 1900. The farmers gave their notes for stock in the new organization. The present officers of the Cooperative Creamery Company are: president, Renny Ahnken; secre- tary, Rudolph Jacobs; directors: Fred Otten, George Oltman, Bert Leesekamp, Herman Ricklefs, Deitrick Kimmerman. A good business is transacted and the company is apparently in a prosperous condition.
BUSINESS ROSTER, 1909-SCOTCH GROVE VILLAGE.
Herman Shipley, contractor, hardware and lumber.
Ernest Himebaugh, general merchandise, agricultural implements, postmaster. John Lang, Jr., blacksmith.
Andrew Lewis, boarding and lodging.
Frank Pelkey, depot agent.
THE SCOTCH GROVE NURSERY.
There may be other nurseries in the state about which more is read, and about which more is heard than the Scotch Grove Nursery, but in the real merit of a nursery, and in all that is good in the nursery line, the institution in
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Scotch Grove affords the best, and does so with undue modesty. The history of this flourishing institution is an interesting narrative, and from the record may be deduced the fact that real merit will always find its proper reward.
Hoyt's Nursery, as it is locally called, had its origin in the spring of 1872, when Edward Hoyt, the senior member of the present firm of Hoyt Brothers, planted a few seeds of different varieties of evergreens after realizing the need of shelter in the open country, especially during an old-fashioned Iowa blizzard. The next few years he enlarged his planting of various trees and fruit stock to meet the. prospective demand.
After eight or ten years of labor along this line, the fact became apparent to the proprietor, that the public was not inclined to seek earnestly for such nursery stock as it needed, but was more inclined to await the visit of the capable and glib-tongued tree agent with his well oiled story of the merits of the particu- lar stock of trees and plants that he alone could supply.
Therefore after a thankless struggle for eight or ten years, and in view of a small accumulation of most excellent stock that was just what the people needed, yet because Edward Hoyt was not schooled in the arts of the success- ful salesman, he was obliged to sell his entire nursery stock at a sacrifice for the nominal sum of about three hundred and fifty dollars to a partnership formed by C. W. Gurney of Monticello and John Porter of Delhi. From this time until about 1885, there was but little stock sold or grown on the grounds known at present as Hoyt's Nursery. Notwithstanding the many reverses which Ed- ward Hoyt encountered in his efforts to develop a nursery, he persisted in the idea that there was a sure reward for rugged honesty and earnest endeavor. He persisted in growing trees (mostly evergreens) and studied diligently the works of the most able writers on the subject until be became not only one of the most capable growers and handlers of evergreens, but perhaps the best in- formed man on the subject in the state of Iowa.
About the year 1890, the demand adjusted itself to the quality of the out- put of the Hoyt Nursery, and the growth of the business became sufficient to warrant the assistance of B. L. Hoyt, the present junior member and manager of the firm.
The nursery had not been on a self sustaining basis from a financial stand- point previous to 1890, and reliance for existence was had on the proceeds of the small home farm on which the nursery was located, and which was owned by the aged mother of the Hoyt brothers.
The rapid increase in the business prosperity of the Hoyt brothers, started about the time B. L. Hoyt became a member of the firm and became manager. This statement standing alone would naturally give rise to the inference that the new lease of life which came to the business, could be attributed to his efforts. But this is not the whole truth. The business prosperity was rather the fruition and reward of the years of toil of the original proprietor which had lain dormant for years and had now been appreciated. The foundation had been laid according to the best knowledge and ability of Edward Hoyt, and when B. L. Hoyt became a member of the firm in 1890, the business saga- city of the junior member combined with the unquestioned quality of the nursery
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stock, were active factors in the appreciation of the nursery on the part of the public.
Hoyt's trees needed no recommendation at this time to effect a sale. All that was necessary was to maintain the established quality of the stock and inform the public of the fact. The business of the Hoyt Brothers grew steadily along conservative lines until at present their annual capacity is the planting of about two hundred and fifty thousand seedling evergreen trees and the tending of about ninety acres of ground in nursery and Christmas trees. The firm sells from ten to twenty carloads of Christmas trees annually, from five to ten tons of berries, from three to five thousand dollars worth of small evergreens.
The holdings of Edward and B. L. Hoyt amount to about four hundred acres of land, they having bought near Scotch Grove station, and for the last few years Edward Hoyt has been deeply interested in lands in Texas and Florida.
Passengers going along on the cars have often been impressed with the magnitude and beauty of the nursery grounds. The grounds come right into the village and close to the depot. The nursery gives a favorable impression on first appearance, and this impression is strengthened and deepened after a drive through the grounds. The business affairs of the nursery are now in a prosperous condition and its success is a source of satisfaction and pleasure, as well as profit, to its founder, Edward Hoyt, and to its manager, B. L. Hoyt. Hoyt Brothers are pleasant men to deal with and the patrons of the nursery are always assured of a "square deal."
THE VILLAGE OF JOHNSON.
The' "Limner Letters" given below give a comprehensive record of the achievements of this once flourishing burg, and but little further need be added.
THE JOHNSON POSTOFFICE.
The: Johnson postoffice was established November 16, 1853, with Edward K. Johnson as postmaster. He was succeeded in this position, by the following postmasters : John Filson, June 27, 1855; Ichabod P. West, February 16, 1857; Richard Durgan, February 17, 1858; James C. Stone, March 4, 1859; Frederick W. Houser, August 17, 1860; James Dockstader, July 11, 1861; Justus C. Houser, July 14, 1862; Isaac H. Phillips, November 9, 1870; Justus C. Houser, April 7, 1871 ; office discontinued April 15, 1872; reestablished and Bethuel B. Henderson appointed July 6, 1874; office finally discontinued April 26, 1880.
THE JOHNSON CREAMERY.
The Johnson Creamery was started about 1880 by Carpenter Brothers. This firm operated it a few years, when it passed into the hands of S. L. and Charles Gilbert. Then J. J. Fagan became proprietor and he sold it to Henry Null. A cooperative organization succeeded Mr. Null, and the burning of the building about fifteen years ago ended the career of the creamery business at
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this place. H. V. Haddock for a number of years was the butter maker in this creamery. Mr. Haddock now lives in Wyoming, Iowa.
THE "LIMNER" LETTERS OF 1874.
(The following very interesting and valuable narrative of one of the early towns of Jones county, was taken from the historical letters written for and published in The Anamosa Eureka in the year 1874, under the nom de plume of "Limner." There were a series of fifteen historical letters written at intervals of from two to three weeks. Credit for the authorship of these historical letters has been given to R. Hedges, a son of Rev. Hedges, one of the early ministers in the Methodist church. We omit some portions which do not deal with the historical phase of the place. From these letters, it will be found that this town of Johnson, or as it is now referred to, "Johnstown," was a place of some importance in the world of trade and commerce. It is well that these letters be preserved, for even the present generation know not the place other than the four corners with two residences, not on the corners, but in the vicinity. This spot, at the four corners south of the intersection of sections 23, 24, 25 and 26 in Scotch Grove township, was the site of the town of Johnson-Editor.)
"In October, 1851, a band of Indianans and Kentuckians came to settle on those green slopes, William Overley on the northwest, Isaac Overley beneath the shades of the cottonwood due north, while the Barnhill brothers, William and Samuel, settled on the outskirts east.
"In the spring of 1852, Dr. Johnson arrived and employed one of Erin's sons, Cochran by name, who with two yoke of calves, turned over the first soil in the hamlet limits. Cochran was blessed with an unusually large mouth suited for any emergency, for the surrounding hill reechoed his vociferous blat- ting to the aforesaid calves. Immediately after, the doctor put up a shed-like structure, sixteen by twenty feet. A postoffice was established and tradition has it, that the mail was carried by a large mastiff.
"The initiatory steps toward merchandising were begun, a town plat laid out, and the intersection of the State and Mineral Creek roads became an at- tractive point for trade.
"In April the same year, John C. Overley came with hook and line (as he termed it) and settled in the vicinity and began to make preparations for reap- ing the reward of the husbandman. In 1853, the emigrant wagons could be seen dotting the surrounding limits like white-winged skiffs on the water's bosom.
"At this period, where Monticello is now located, the lone cabin of Daniel Varvel stood, its curling smoke insuring a warm reception; while the tide of immigration had not cast its shadow on the timber clad slope where Wyoming now rears its head. Canton, of Maple Sugar renown, was a busy hive on the sand girdled beach of Maquoketa's south fork. Canton Mill started as early as 1846.
"Alexander Sutherland came originally from Selkirk in the Red River coun- try in the north. He first made an entry in 1848 to the northeast of J. C.
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Overley's, but the first tidings of gold at Sutter's Mill hurried him to the Cali- fornia shore. Mr. Sutherland began to dig for the treasure on Feather River for eight dollars a day and finally purchased a claim. In 1854, he came back and settled on a piece of land a few rods northeast of Mckean's. Not contented with a small enclosure, he soon built him a large and commodious mansion.
"In July of the same year, John Filson made a flying trip to the hamlet and bought out Dr. Johnson with four hundred dollars earnest money. The doctor reserved two acres on which to build a stone building. In September, Mr. Filson came from the sucker state to make this his permanent home. In digging a well on his place, after they had gone down to the depth of twenty feet, huge logs were found crossing each other in a fairly good state of preservation.
"S. D. Titus had come into the vicinity of the hamlet in February, 1851. This gentleman was later one of the influential men of the community.
"In October, 1853, R. M. Cornell came from Yankeedom. Being a carpen- ter by trade, it was soon noised abroad, and with his pack of goods he trudged his way on foot to accommodate the prairieites. Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Cornell came into possession of land in Clay township not far distant from Johnson and built a home thirteen by fourteen and one-half, just what the available hewed timber and slabs would admit of.
"'Doc' Johnson (the P. V. N. of the corners), was the original founder of the hamlet. By profession he was a dispenser of medicines, and while in active attendance in that line, he had but few equals. In stature, he was of medium size, robust constitution, sandy complexion, and a pleasing counte- nance, at the sight of which all symptoms of the 'blues' would vanish from the cronies around him like the morning dew before the early sun. In connection with his practice, he acted as county surveyor, notary public and squire; while in the performance of these duties, he would often unstring his jokes to the amusement and jollification of his hearers. But the excitement was usually at its highest pitch when he would be half seas over, engulfed in the 'Oh be Joyful.' In which mood, to the various questions propounded, the hamlet would re-echo his nasal strains of the Arkansas Traveler, with introductions like the following:
"How far is it to the forks of the road?"
"I have been living here some time, and no road aint forked yet."
"Well, where does the road go to?"
"It aint moved a step since I have been here."
"And by way of an interlude, he would ring in a common by-word, 'Pop goes the weasel.' "
"At the east end of the reserved ground mentioned, the doctor laid out a 'shady enclosure' in which he had two pet deer who scampered about hither and thither, while from the net work of foliage above, the feathered songsters would warble their melodious strains. and the squirrels would hilariously hop from bought to bough,' making it indeed a paradisiacal spot for a summer even- ing's resort. A short time after the doctor had sold out to Mr. Filson, he moved to Canton where he stayed but a short time, and again made his home in the hamlet. Finally, the cold hand of sickness came over him, and through impru-
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dence and want of care of self, he gained the last station of the inebriate's journey. His foot slipped from the brakes, and he reaped the reward of intem- perance at the early age of thirty-seven.
"Jesse Tomlinson came from the Hoosier ridges in 1849, and began village life at Canton. The two brothers, John J. and Joe were in and about the hive at the same time, and the trio shuffled together their means to have Canton appear in its Sunday best, but shortly after the ball was set in motion, sharp John J. gleaned the last pittance from Jesse's treasury and left him penniless. His helpmate (Aunt Lize), came to the rescue. The machinery was greased anew for the occasion; ten pounds of feathers from the twain's bed supplied the power, and the car of prosperity once more moved steadily on amid the glitter of gold and silver. Ten dollars, the amount realized on the feathers, procured a barrel of whisky, and the pittance received for the same from the timberites and town's people, soon added a supply of groceries. Finally Uncle Jess became landlord of the Black Tavern and at the end of three years, he pro- cured oxen and made his exit from Canton to break prairies for the settlers.
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