History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 84

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 84

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).

The first real schoolhouse erected in the county was the one near the Schenck home, built in 1860. W. F. Hofius, who was the director for many years, was as much respected as any settler the township ever possessed. The old building was moved to the Fletcher Hofius premises in later years, and is in use now as a hen house.

The first school was not taught in that building. but in a crude dug-out on the hillside, not far from the Black Cat on section 24. in the latter '50s. This cave was roofed over with slabs, boards and brush, and was made to answer the pur- pose very well for what it was intended. Jonathan Callender was the initial

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teacher at this "Gopher College" and Martha Clark and Mrs. Cornish two suc- ceeding ones. A few terms were later taught in a lean-to on Mr. Reibhoff's house. One of the teachers who did service there was Martha Mathews. After 1860, when the new schoolhouse was built, no further use of these primitive struc- tures was made for schoolhouse purposes.

An account of the destruction caused by the terrible cyclone that passed through the county on the night of September 21, 1894, has been presented in another chapter. Three lives in Union were lost as the result of that storm. Mrs. George W. Boevers and child, and Horace Schenck were the victims. The houses on both places were demolished and blown away. The storm seemed to be at its fury when it reached that vicinity.

The Good Hope M. E. church is the only house of worship in the township. The organization was incorporated in December, 1897, and E. R. Cook, Ed Dono- van, Elijah Hulburt, John Madden and Mrs. A. B. Frink were the first trustees.

The management of the township affairs is intrusted to W. C. Nelson, clerk ; G. W. Boevers, M. P. Dau and G. A. Salisbury, trustees ; and L. F. Jenkinson, assessor. The officers and directors of the school board are M. Schenck, presi- dent; W. F. Jenkinson, secretary ; G. W. Boevers, treasurer; Grant Salisbury, William Brace, W. Donovan, W. C. Nelson, John Reid and Jacob Winkel.

A memorable event in the early history of the township was the burning of the Horace Schenck home on the afternoon of March 14, 1868. The lives of two children were lost in the fire, which devoured the building and contents. Dry- ing some flax by the stove was the cause of the destruction.

The Mothers' and Daughters' Club, organized several years ago, is the most valuable ladies' club in the county. Its meetings are full of interest and are always attended by a large crowd. Subjects pertaining to the welfare of the home, and especially to the education of the youth, have a prominent place on the programs.

LOTTS CREEK TOWNSHIP

The township of Lotts Creek takes its name from the creek that passes entirely through it by entering on section 5 and passing out on section 33. The creek was named after Henry Lott, the desperate outlaw who murdered the old chief, Si- dominadotah, and nearly all of his family in the winter of 1853-4 in Humboldt county. The township embraces the territory in 96-30 and is six miles square, the same as are most of the other townships at the present time. This territory formerly belonged to Algona township, and did until the supervisors carved it out to create Lotts Creek. When the board set it off in January, 1873, it extended one mile and a half farther south than it does now, and it included the village of Whittemore. The organization election was held at the Sod Town schoolhouse February 3, 1873, when the following officers were elected: H. L. Goodrich, clerk ; A. A. Brunson, justice; Peter J. Walker and S. L. Scott, trustees; and Joe DeGraw, constable. The township remained that size until the board in April, 1885, cut off the south mile and a half and gave it to the township of Whittemore when it was created, thus leaving Lotts Creek its present size and form.

The township officers at present are John Markgraf, clerk; Peter Elbert, Henry Meyer and William Radig, trustees; and H. W. Legenhausen, assessor ; and the school officers are Peter Elbert, president; William Radig, secretary ;

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A. Kressine, George Yeager, A. Lauk, Fred Hackbarth, John Lane, J. Crawford and P. Kollasch.

The first settlements began to form in May, 1866, in two different locations at about the same time. About the 20th of the month the families of Charles Wilkins, Perry Wilkins and James Cronan came into the township, and one week later, May 28th, Mrs. Taylor and her sons, Joel and Nyram, arrived, and all formed the beginning of Sod Town on the prairie. Charles Wilkins homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 27, but the others took theirs on 22. Cronan located on the west half of the southeast, Joel Taylor on the west half of the northwest, Perry Wilkins on the eighty just east of hini and Nyram Taylor on the east half of the northeast quarter. A little later in that same fall of 1866, Adam Baker came and located his family on the southeast corner of the same section. These were all that came in that vicinity that year.

While this colony was getting settled, the other colony referred to above was doing the same, a couple of miles to the southwest. In May, 1866, there located on section 32 the families of H. P. Hatch, Mason Leech and Ben Peaslee. Hatch was a son-in-law of Leech's and a brother-in-law of Peaslee's. With these set- tlers there also came Mr. Hatch's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Hatch, the family of Simon B. Hatch and E. Fisher. The latter was a brother-in-law of Mrs. H. P. Hatch's and Simon and H. P. Hatch were brothers. Fisher, and Elijah and Simon B. Hatch, however, located too far south to become residents of what is now Lotts Creek township but in Whittemore.

H. P. Hatch and Mr. Leech secured control of the whole of section 32, which was college land, and kept on until they had the lease title to two full sections. These settlers erected cabins, formed an interesting community, and soon induced others to locate in the vicinity. Stephen Booth located also in the fall of 1866 on the northwest quarter of section 29, and about the same time Thomas Dawson settled on the southwest quarter of section 20. In a few years H. P. Hatch dis- posed of much of his land to other settlers. The west half of the southwest quar- ter he sold to S. L. Scott, whose home became a stopping place for travelers and land seekers, and the north half of that section he sold to C. N. Oliver. About the same time he disposed of the southeast quarter of section 29 to A. Hinton, and the quarter adjoining on the west to Martin Wicks.

In the meantime the colony in the vicinity of section 22 received new set- tlers. During the year 1867 there settled on that section the families of James McMahon on the southwest corner, and Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin on the eighty ad- joining on the east. The Sod Town sod schoolhouse was soon built and numerous children attended the school. One of the earliest teachers at that primitive school was A. A. Brunson. Another family that came in 1867 was Robert Stephenson's, that settled on the southeast quarter of section 27. While living there he lost his life in the historic cyclone that demolished his house and other buildings in 1894.

A prominent settlement of estimable citizens was formed in the northwest corner of the township during the year 1869. On the south line of section 6, going west, there located in order the families of N. B. Benham, A. A. Brunson and A. Sawvell, while C. W. Goddard settled upon the south half of the north- west quarter. The eighty just north of his was a little later the home of J. De- Graw and family. Among the other settlers of 1869 the family of Peter J. Walker

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came and located on the east half of section 23. Prior to November, 1867, there located on section 8, the Colwell and Smith families. Colwell had been in the army and had lost both of his eyes on account of a rifle ball's going entirely through his head just back of his eyes. Smith was his son-in-law and was a near neighbor. It was his son Clarence who was frozen to death in the furious blizzard of January 16, 1870, while attempting to reach home from the Colwell place, where he had been spending the day.

Ferdinand Tietz and Frank Pompe located on their well known farms in 1873 and William Dau in 1875, but the latter had come to the county in 1869 and had lived for several years in Fenton. George E. Boyle owned the south- west quarter of section 8 and lived on it from 1877 until he moved to Whittemore. In 1878 August Markgraf located, and in 1884 William Radig came and has kept his neighbors in good humor ever since. Nelson Crawford, Silas Roupe and B. B. Clarke came about that time to become identified with the growth of the town- ship. About five years later Mike McDonell, Mike Liddy, A. H. Bixby, Mr. Matson, J. O. Rawson, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Hayes and O'Brien made an inter- esting settlement in the southwestern part of the township, respectively on loca- tions that are well known. Among others who came early was John Schellin, who founded a home on section 1. Anthony and Henry Durant took up land in the latter sixties, the former in section 24 and the latter in 25. In the southeast corner of the township there lived for several years S. H. Pettibone, one of the most scientific farmers in that region.

Reference has been made to the freezing of Clarence Smith. The deaths of two other citizens occurred from the same cause. That was Thomas Dawson and his step-son, James Baldwin. The story of how these two were overtaken by a blizzard, January 24, 1867, and perished as the result near Algona, has been told in a preceding chapter.

The first marriage occurred in October, 1869, when H. L. Goodrich and Maria Wilkins were joined in matrimony. She was the daughter of Perry Wilkins. Ellen, the daughter of Charles Wilkins, was later married to her neighbor, Joel Taylor.

During the year 1870 S. L. Scott was appointed postmaster, and he had the office in his house. He had it named Hatch in honor of his near neighbor friend. After about three years he gave up the position and Mrs. H. P. Hatch was appointed, and she moved the office to her house. This caused her considerable trouble and only a few dollars recompense for the labor. In a few years she re- signed and the office was abandoned.

The little country village of Lotts Creek began on the southwest corner of section 2, but it has slipped southward about one hundred rods and is on both sides of the section line, so far as the houses appear.

During the year 1887 F. W. Mittag settled at that point and put in a general store, as the community was one of prosperous farmers. That business he con- ducted with success until in 1904, when his son Ferdinand O. became the owner and proprietor. He is a registered pharmacist and keeps a good line of drugs in connection with his other lines.

There is one hardware store and that is owned by the pioneer merchant, F. W. Mittag, and has been established for about five years.

The other general store, that had been established for about eighteen years,

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burned completely January 31, 1913. Charles Kressin was the owner for sixteen years and then his wife conducted it for about two more before selling the stock to F. W. Schmidt, who was the owner when it burned. The building at the time belonged to F. Schunkle.

Mike Baer is the only blacksmith and has things his own way.

The Co-operative Creamery Company is officered by R. C. Schendel as presi- dent; John Markgraf, secretary; D. J. Buss, treasurer ; and Will and August Meyer, directors. The company was organized in 1891 and had its charter renewed in June, 1911. Those re-organizing the company were John Markgraf, R. O. Dreyer, A. D. Kadig, H. B. Randath, H. F. Mittag, A. A. Dreyer and R. C. Schendel.

Frank Pompe was the first postmaster and kept the office until F. W. Mit- tag built his store, then the latter had it for nearly twenty years before the office was discontinued.

The German Lutheran church edifice was built in 1898 by Rev. Maahs, the first pastor. That building was blown down and another was erected which later met the same fate. The present edifice is, therefore, the third one, and stands on the spot of the original building. Rev. M. Fuerstenau is the present pastor, and has been at the head of the church for about twenty-four years.

The Lutheran school is taught by Prof. William Schmidt, who has been the instructor for seventeen or eighteen years. The building put up for the school, the next year after he came, blew down with the church and was immediately re- built. About forty-five children are in attendance, though at times there are about sixty.

The first victim of death caused by the cyclone in the county was Robert Ste- phenson. It was on the night of September 21, 1894, that the storm passed through, brushing away houses and barns and sweeping from earth thousands of dollars worth of other improvements. The death of Mr. Stephenson, from the demolishing of his house, was the only one in this township.

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CHAPTER XXXII TOWNSHIP NINETY-SEVEN

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP AND TITONKA

The territory now comprising the township of Buffalo, 97-27, had been a part of Algona township for many years previous to June 5, 1871. On that date the board of supervisors made it the north six miles of Wesley township; but in Sep- tember, 1884, the board set off this territory and the southeast quarter of 98-27 to constitute Buffalo. When German was set off in September, 1887, it left Buffalo in its present shape and size.

Although during the early settlement years of the county no inhabitants located on the soil of what is now Buffalo township, yet on that territory occurred an im- portant historic event which caused the township to become linked in connection with the narration of the early history of the county. It was on that soil where the first buffalo was ever killed in the county by white men, and possibly the only one that was killed after the first settlers arrived and located. Since the full story of the killing of this buffalo has been told under an appropriate heading in Chapter XVI, only a brief outline of the event, consequently, is presented in this chapter.

During the month of July, 1855, three of the party staying at the Ingham cabin, near the mouth of the Black Cat on section 24 (Union), were W. H. Ingham, A. L. Seeley and Thos. C. Covel. These three some time that month chased seven buf- faloes over a wide range of territory, 97-27 being a portion of that territory. While the riders were not far from where Titonka is now located the herd disap- peared from view unharmed.

A couple of weeks after this chase the same party went out again with the avowed purpose of not returning to the cabin until they had downed at least one buffalo after a merry chase. It was August 2d when they started to locate the big game, but seeing none that day they camped over night at Buffalo Grove where they had first discovered the herd two weeks before. The next day they had the pleasure of chasing a herd of forty or fifty buffaloes over the prairies that are now included in Buffalo township. After a spirited chase the herd plunged into the creek (Buffalo Fork) just above a beaver dam where the water was deep and the north side too muddy to enable them to emerge speedily. The three hunters fired seventeen shots into the struggling buffalo mass, but the animals all crossed over. The party after swimming their horses over gave chase again and wounded several of the big game. While Ingham and Seeley were looking for the spur which the latter had lost, Covel shot one of the wounded buffaloes eight times but his game

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did not fall. Seeley coming to his aid, fired the bullet that caused the animal to fall.

August 2, 1855, is the date when this buffalo was killed near the present site of Titonka. While it was Seeley's bullet that brought the animal down it had no doubt been hit several times by bullets from the guns or revolvers of the other two hunters. The lost spur was plowed up by R. L. Lamoreux, near the creek on sec- tion I on his farm, during the summer of 1887, thirty-two years after the chase.

The name Buffalo Fork was given to the stream by these hunters on account of this event, a name it still retains. The township also received its name for the same reason.

It was fourteen years after Capt. W. H. Ingham and his two hunting companions engaged in these buffalo chases before any family located in the township. Sev- eral homesteads were taken during the year 1869, but only one family located. June 10th of that year the E. W. Palmer family came and located upon the north half of the northeast quarter of 8, and were the first to settle in the township. At the same time Jesse J. Palmer homesteaded the south half of the northeast quar- ter of 18, but went away and did not return to locate until in March, 1871.

Cornelius Breen homesteaded the north half of the southeast quarter of 30 in June, 1869, but left and did not return with his family until in May, 1870.

June 6, 1870, four settlers came with their families and located, Joseph Cun- ningham on the south half of the southeast quarter of 6; J. P. Gray on the south half of the southwest quarter of 4; Sarah Hartshorn on the north half of the southeast quarter of 6; and O. D. Wilson on the south half of the southwest quar- ter of 6. Gray jumped a claim that had been taken by another party the year before, and Cunningham jumped the one that Fairfield had taken also in 1869.

About the time these families came, section 6 received other settlers, George Allen on the east half of the northwest quarter; Joe Miles on the northeast quar- ter; and Abner Coleman on the north half of the southwest quarter. John Carns also had a claim on the Coleman tract.

J. W. Hopkins in March, 1871, settled upon the south half of the northeast quarter of 10, and in June of that year F. M. Butts located upon the south half of the southwest quarter of 24. Cory Currie soon after settled upon the eighty west of the Hopkins place, and John Elwell upon the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of 14.

During the next few years several substantial families came and settled. Fred- erick Reibsamen came in 1875 and soon procured two sections for himself and sons. Charles now owns 230 acres of it on section 23. William Brand arrived in 1884 and now is proprietor of the north half of 3, which he calls the Maple Grove stock farm. That same year Edgar L. Tuttle came and after working for Robert Lane for awhile settled upon the northeast quarter of 28. Lane had settled near the Breen place in the southwest corner of the township. Herman Franzen also came in 1884 and after becoming possessed of several farms has retired and is liv- ing at Titonka. Claus Heesch came a year later and now has for his farm the north fourth of section 10. Among others a little later came R. L. Lamoreux and brother and the Isenbergers.

The early settlement days of the township by this time were considered closed. The resident of Buffalo who has spent more days in Kossuth than any other

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A FAMILIAR SCENE AT SEXTON

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS STREET, BURT

MAIN STREET, TITONKA, BEFORE THE FIRE

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is, no doubt, Frank Ringsdorf, on section 13, who came with his parents to Port- land in 1867 or the year following.

Buffalo is a township of most excellent land, and the farmers living upon it are gaining in wealth very rapidly. Several have acquired large bodies of this land and have magnificent homes. These farmers are of an energetic class and are possessed of good judgment to make farming yield bountiful returns.

The township officers are E. L. Tuttle, clerk ; S. I .. Lamoreux, assessor ; A. H. Rakow, Geo. Schutzer and Geo. Hansen, trustees. The school officers are A. Schram, president ; John Schram, secretary; H. C. Armstrong, treasurer ; G. G. Kruger, Lee O. Wolfe, John Zwiefel, William Doege, C. Reibsmen, C. Fritz, Albert J. Bleich and Geo. Larsen.

The 1894 cyclone, that passed through the county, crossed the corner of Buf- falo on its way towards the northeast, and made things happen lively before it entered Hancock county. It cost several of the farmers the price of their crops raised for a couple of years.

The coming of the branch road of the B. C. R. & N. into Buffalo township in the fall of 1898 gave rise to the town of Titonka. This branch leaves the main line in Concord township, Hancock county, and was designated as the Cedar Rapids, Garner and Northwestern; but on account of the ties being loosely laid in the hurry to pass the trains over the new road, the line was better known as the Bed Slat and Gum Weed road or the Lath & Northwestern and Klondike. A five per cent tax had been voted by the citizens of Buffalo to induce the road to come, provided the cars should pass over the new line by January 1, 1899. The site was chosen on a tract of the north half of section 9, which George Dieckman had sold to T. A. Way in October, 1898.

Surveyor C. B. Hutchins began laying off the site on the 27th day of October and as soon as he had run the center line, and the west lots were designated, prep- arations for building began. On the second day of the survey, Al Falkenhainer commenced the erection of his drug store building, the first of any kind to appear on the site. The corner posts were raised and held in place by D. A. Haggard Joseph Cunningham and Robert Lane.

The next building put up was a little shack for an eating place for the car- penters. Then appeared J. J. Budlong's lumber office, the Farmers Savings Bank, Ed Kunz's general store, W. T. Hall's hardware store, Heal & Specht's drug store, The Peoples Bank and the Bank of Titonka. In the meantime residences were going up and busy scenes were observed in many places. In forty days forty buildings made their appearance. The first train reached the town site December 25, 1898.

By the last of January, 1899, there were in business, besides those already indicated above, Durstan Brothers, furniture; the North Iowa, the Budlong & Johnston, and the Queal lumber companies; J. Bowder, general merchandise; the Iowa Grain Co .. and C. P. Jessen and M. O'Neil, each also dealing in grain ; Ward & Breen, meat ; R. S. Gallagher, Harry Cook and Daum & Russel, draymen; J. Russell, blacksmith, and others not remembered, besides a host of carpenters and other workmen. Dr. V. G. Treat was there at that time representing the learned professions.

In the spring of 1899 the building boom was continued with enthusiasm. W. F. Callies was one who erected a store and is the only one of the merchants above

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named who is living there and still at the same business. J. J. Budlong is still in the lumber trade and is one of the pioneer residents.

J. R. Rector about that time put up the building which Robert Lane used for a restaurant, and the hotel and other buildings on the east side of the main street made their appearance as did also S. E. Grove's livery barn.

The block where the first business buildings were erected was destroyed by fire January 20, 1902; but the several buildings have been replaced by those of brick, and they present a fine appearance. Budlong's lumber yard, the buildings of the Northern Lumber Company and the livery barn went up in smoke in December, 1903, causing a loss of several thousand dollars.

The movement to have the town called Ripley had to be abandoned by order of the postal authorities. Then at the suggestion of Capt. W. H. Ingham it was named Titonka in remembrance of the buffalo chasing in its vicinity in 1855, and to be in harmony with the name of the township. In the language of the Sioux, tonka means big and ti, black, and hence Titonka signifies the big black (buffalo).

The town plat of sixteen blocks was filed on record January 4, 1889, by Thos. A. Way; and the plat of Way's addition March 24, 1899; and of Hill & Hall's addition, October 24, 1899.

The first to be commissioned to handle the mail at the Titonka office was Ella Graham, who began her service in December, 1898, when the town was starting. About that time John Falk, who had been the postmaster at Buffalo Fork, slipped his building over to the village where he dealt out the mail to the patrons of his office. Lee O. Wolfe was deputy for Miss Graham from October, 1800, to April 1. 1900. During that period Falk was ordered to discontinue his office, and it went out of existence. Mr. Wolfe became the postmaster April 1, 1900, and has held the position since that time. The first rural route established in the county was the one now leading from that office. James D. Breen is the driver on this pioneer route which was established April 15, 1904.

The school district has never been made independent, but remains a subdis- trict of the township, Lee O. Wolfe being the present director. A suitable build- ing was erected in 1901 at a cost of $3,000 where the schools are now conducted. The teaching force consists of Mae E. Romans, principal ; Ethel Romans, gram- mar department ; Ruth Simpson, intermediate; and Rae Buel, primary.

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History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 84

Author: Reed, Benjamin F Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 879

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879