History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 69

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 69
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 69
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 69

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).

Episcopal Church. Mr. Gallagher is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the I. O. G. T., of Wesley.

Wesley, lying as it does in one of the best portions of the grass land of the State, has always been noted for being one the great markets for hay. George W. Eddy, quick to see the advantages to arise from such an enterprise, in 1883 erected a hay press. The building is 16x24 feet with an additional wing of 14x16 feet. In this he has a perpetual circle reversible press, and turns out daily a car load of hay baled for market, which is Chicago.

George W. Eddy, son of Peleg and Arvilla Eddy, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 16, 1841. He received a good common school education and worked on a farm. In September, 1861, he enlisted in company I, 35th New York Volunteer Infantry. He served two years, after which he was discharged at Washington. lle re-enlisted Jan. 4, 1864, in company F, 18th New York Volunteer Cavalry, serving until May, 1866. lle then re- turned to his home in Jefferson county. In 1871 he moved to Orleans Co., N. Y., where he remained two years, traveling for a photograph firmn. In the spring of 1873 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, set- tling on a homestead of eighty aeres in Irvington township. He afterwards home- steaded a soldiers' additional eighty aeres, but soon disposed of it. In 1875 Mr. Eddy purchased a farm in Hancock county, on which he lived two years, then sold it and moved to Wesley village. He en- gaged in the livery business in Wesley, and also handled flour and feed and farm implements to a small extent. In Janu- ary, 1883, he purchased a hay press, and commeneed buying, pressing and shipping hay. He owns considerable residence property in Wesley, in addition to his hay buildings. In the winter of 1884 he purchased an eighty acre farm in Wesley township. Mr. Eddy was married July 25, 187t, to Florence E., daughter of Asa and Levonia Sprague, of Orleans Co., N. Y. They have had two children, a boy and girl; the boy, G. W. Eddy, Jr., is liv-

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HISTORY OF KOSSUTHI COUNTY.

ing. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Eddy is a re- publican in politics. He has held the of- lice of constable seven years in Hancock and Kossuth counties, and is now town- ship trustee and has been since 1875. Mr. Eddy's father died in 1879. His mother lives in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Mrs. Eddy's father died in 1849. Her mother lives in Sauk Co., Wis,, removing there one Year ago from Buffalo, N. Y., where she had resided for twenty years.

Edward Kune established a hay press at Wesley, in the summer of 1882, which he continues to operate at the present. lle is doing a good business in this line.

The blacksmith shop is conducted by Gustin Tyler, a good and accommodating mechanic, who came here from Algona in the fall of 1883, and opened a shop for that business.

A blacksmithy was established in Janu- ary, 1878, by E. Perry, who continued to operate it until 1881, when he sold out, and it was run by a man in the employ of G. W. Eddy, who had purchased it. The following year Perry returned, bought back his old forge, and started anew, only to sell out to Mr. Eddy again in the fall of 1883.

The livery business is in the hands of George W. Eddy, who originated this line of business here, in 1875. He has a stable full of good rigs and his charges are reasonable.

In September, 1872, some religions ser- vices were held at this village, but not until the following year was there any- thing like a Church society instituted. The first meetings were held in the granary of Taylor & Ormsby, which was but 12x16 feet, without windows, although it could boast of two doors. After a short time here, services were instituted at the depot, where they were continued until the fall of 1874. At that time Elder A. S. R. Groome, of the Irvington cirenit, came to Wesley and preached to this little flock, in the new school house which had been just built. He was succeeded in March, 1876, by Elder Freeman Frank-

lin, who re-organized the class, and re- mained two years. The first protracted meetings were held during the adminis- tration of Elder Groome, in 1874, when five converts united with the Church. In October, 1877, Elder F. E. Drake, was ap- pointed on this circuit and served until 1850, when, in September of that year, he was succeeded by John M. Woolery. On the 7th of October, 1883, he in turn gave place to his successor, the present shepherd of the flock, Rev. A. L. Tryon. This gentleman came to Wesley, from Comanche, Clinton county, and gives evi- dence of his peculiar fitness for the work. A man of culture and a fair speaker, he will do good work in most any field. The parsonage of this Church stands upon the east half of block 27, and cost some $400 to build, and is a nice cosey little home. The present officers of the Church are as follows:

A. L. Tryon, pastor; E. E. Thomas, G. J. Baker, Frederick Anderson, J. W. Hop- kins and J S. Gallagher, trustees; F. Anderson, district steward; J. S. Gal- lagher, recording steward; J. W. Hop- kins, G. J. Baker and Mrs. G. B. Hall, stewards; G. N. H. Ransom, chorister. The Wesley class numbers about twenty- five members in good standing and bids fair to do good work in the community. J. H. Merrill, the proprietor of the town site, has donated the north half of block 31 to the society for a place on which to erect a church edifice, which they will probably build next year. In connection with the society is a fine Sabbath school which has a membership of about fifty under the superintendeney of J. S. Gal- lagher. This is in excellent condition and great interest is taken in it by all.

Rev. A. L. Tryon was born in Signory of Nyon, Rouville Co., Lower Canada, July 25, 1825. His early education was with the French language. When twenty years of age he moved to the States, lo- cating in Westport, Essex Co., N. Y. He resided there six years, during which time he worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade. lle then removed to Iowa, loeat-

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HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

ing at Le Claire. While there he worked at his trade, and for three years was fore- man of a gang in the ship-carpenter yard. In 1871 he removed to Comanche, Clinton Co., Iowa, where he worked at his trade. In September, 1881, he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, purchasing eighty acres of land on sections 24 and 25, Wes- ley township, where he now lives. When eighteen years of age Mr. Tryon was licensed to exhort by the Wesleyan Church. He preached at different times, and is now in charge of the Wesley cirenit in Kossuth county. During the late war Mr. Tryon enlisted three times, was twice rejected and the third time was appointed chaplain of the 22d Iowa, but was not called into service. Mr. Tryon was married, in 1849, to Hnlda A. Slaugh- ter, of Essex Co., N. Y. They have had eight children, six of whom are living- Almeda, Inlda I., Albert E., Zenas A., Bas- com B. and Ralph E. Mrs. Tryon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Meridian Lodge, Independent Order of of Good Templars, was organized on the 7th of August, 1878, by J. M. Comstock, of Algona, district deputy. The first offi- cers were: George W. Eddy, W. C. T .; F. E. Eddy, W. V. T .; O. J. Emmons, W. Chap .; A. Daggett, W.S .; Mary L Leggett, W. A. S .; O. Robinson, W. F. S .; Mrs. G. J. Baker, W. T .; F. D. Robinson, W. M .; Julia Robinson, W. I. G .; B. Daggett, WV. O. G .; Sarah Ritchie, W. D. M .; M. Taylor. lodge deputy; G J. Baker, P. W. C. T. The lodge is at present in a good condition, but, like all bodies of like na- ture, it has had its ups and downs. One year ago it had a membership of only nineteen, but now has about fifty-five. The present officers are: H C. Hollenbeck, W. C. T .; Mrs. Coasant, W. V. T .; C. E. Oleson, W. S .; M. C. Waite, W. A. S .; IFarry Waite, W. F. S .; John Thompson, W. T .; G. N. H. Ransom, W. Chap .; John Woodcock, W. M .; Ida Dinger, W. D. M .; J. S. Gallagher, P. W. C. T .; Etta Daniels, W. I. G .; Oza Artz, W. O. G.

Success Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Wesley, was organized March 16, 1883, by deputy grand master, Joseph Nicoulin, of Algona, with the following six charter members: Thomas Presnell, F. M. Butts, Fred An- derson, Joseph Laws, J. M. Ortheland Wil- liam Orthel. At this organization eight new members joined and the lodge thus started with a membership of fourteen. The first officers were the following named : Thomas Presnell, N. G .; F. M. Butts, V. G .; Fred Anderson, secretary. The lodge, which now has a membership of nineteen, meets every Saturday evening in their hall, which is a fine room, 20x38 feet, with an ante-room 8x20 feet. Although a new lodge, yet by a determined effort it has been brought into most excellent working order, and is a credit to the order to which it belongs.

Wesley cemetery was laid out in 1878. The first interment was that of the body of Charles Hardin, of Irvington township, who was killed by lightning as related else- where. He was buried at first on the open pairie, in 1875, north of the railroad track, but on the institution of this graveyard, his body was exhumed and reburied therein.

J. W. Hopkins, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hopkins, was born in Burslem, England, May 31, 1844. When three years of age he emigrated with his par- ents to America. His father purchased a farm in Columbia Co., Wis., where Mr. Ilop- kins lived until October, 1868, then came to Iowa, locating near Charles City, Floyd county. He remained there one year, then removed to Nora Springs, where he re- sided until March, 1871, when he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of eighty acres on seetion 10, Wesley town- ship. Hle resided on his farm until 1880, when, on account of his wife's health, he removed to Wesley village, where he now has good residence property. Mr. Hop- kins was married Oct. 20, 1867, to Mary A. Church, of Dekorra, Wis. They have five children-Richard B., Minnie A., Li- ona M., Myrtle E. and Ruth E. In poli- tics Mr. Ilopkins is a republican. He is

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HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY.

connected with the Phoenix & Farmers Insurance Company, of Cedar Rapids, lowa. He commenced traveling for the Decorah marble works in 1883. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Wesley.

George Dickman a native of Germany, was born in Holstein, Mareh 4, 1845. He emigrated to America, locating in Chi- cago, where he lived eleven years. For six years of that time he was engaged in the milk business. He then came to Kos- suth county and located on the northeast jnarter of seetion 9, and erected a house 24x26 feet. Ile was married on the 22d of March, 1866, to Margaret E: Gruhl, a native of Germany. They have four children-Henry, John, Christina and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Dickman and family are members of the Lutheran Church. His parents are buried in Germany. He keeps one of the neatest looking farms in the county. He is energetic, enterprising and a useful citizen. Mrs. Dickman's fa- ther is buried in Germany; but her mother is living.

Joseph A Cunningham is a native of Virginia, born in Monongalia county, Oct. 2, 1831. When he was two years of age his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Walker) Cunningham, removed to Ohio. Hle lived in Ohio thirty-two years, then removed to Olmsted Co., Minn. He re- mained in that county three years, when he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of eighty acres in Wesley township, on section 16. He immediately put up a sod house, and in two years erected a log house, which he lived in until 1882, when he built the neat frame house he now occupies. He was united in marriage, Feb. 3, 1854, with Matilda Price, of Washington Co., Ohio. Her parents are dead. This union has been blessed with six children-Mansel S., Price, Margaret C., Joshua, Joseph P. and Ellie. Politiedly he is a republican. Ile has held the office of township trustee for several years.

James P. Gray was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Sept. 22, 1837. When nine- teen years of age he went to Olmsted Co., Minn., working two years in Jesse H. Hawthorn's saw mill at that place. He then went to Dubuque Co., lowa, where he worked for eighteen months on a farm. He then went to Wright Co., Iowa, work- ing there on a farm for two years. He then spent seven years on a farm and in a saw mill in Fayette county. Mr. Gray enlisted March 29, 1864, in company (, 6th Iowa Cavalry, being mustered in at Davenport. He was in the battles of Bad Lands, Totolooke hills. He was a corporal, and had charge of the ropes which they tied horses with. After the close of the war Mr. Gray returned to Rochester, Minn., remaining there two years. In 1870 he removed to Kossuth county, settling on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 97, range 27. He now owns forty acres adjoining. He was married Nov. 10, 1869, to Emma J. Hoffman, of Rochester, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have seven children-William R., Henry M., Naney J., Frederick R., Charles, James and George. Mr. Gray is a democrat in poli- tics. He has been justice of the peace for three years, and school director four years.

George F. Holloway was born in Columbia Co., Wis., June 30, 1854. When six years of age he went with his parents, James and Ann (O'Dwyer) Hol- loway, to Dane county. In 1876 he came to Kossuth county, remaining three years, then going to Kansas, where he resided eighteen months, thon returned to this county. He now resides on section 20, township 97, range 27, Wesley township. He is employed in threshing in proper seasons. Mr. Holloway also owns eighty aeres of land in Portland township. He was married Jan. 8, 1878, to Mary Gur- ren, of Wesley township. She is a daughter of Patrick and Bridget Gurren. Mr. Holloway is a democrat in polities. Ile is a member of the Catholic Church. lle is also engaged in the dairy business, keeping eleven cows.

HISTORY

HANCOCK COUNTY,

IOWA.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

O NE of the most useful, as well as inter- esting studies to the youthful mind, as well as to the advanced thinker, is that of general and local history. Especially is this true when the historian treats of a country as it existed in its primitive state; tells how it was peopled, and enters largely into detail into the manner and life of the pioneers. There is a peculiar fascina- tion about the rude life of the early set- tlers of a new country. The freedom of action, the unconstrained manner with which he receives one and all, and the generous hospitality, is and ever has been proverbial. Less that three decades ago, that part of the State of Iowa, now comprising the county of Hancock, was an

unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by the wild beasts of the plain, and birds of the air, and their scarcely less wild con- querors, the red men, who roamed at will over the broad prairies, fishing in its streams, or hunting the game that every- where abounded, seemingly caring nothing for the morrow, and only living in the ever present. The thought of the "pale faces" penetrating this beautiful country had not yet disturbed their dreams, and so they continued on in their daily life of hunting and fishing, with occasionally a short war between tribes to relieve the monotony of their existence. But the time was soon to come when they would surrender up the lands and move on to-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

ward the setting sun. The time was soon to come when all nature must be changed, when the fair prairies, with their beauti- ful flowers, painted by a divine hand, must be broken up by the husbandman, and grain fit for the use of civilized man sown therein.

As has been said, thirty years ago the land was all a wilderness, the soil had been nnvexed by the plough, and the cabin of the settler, with its smoke enrl- ing heavenward, with an air inviting the weary traveler to come and rest, was not to be seen, nor even the faintest trace of civilization, but instead, boundless emer- ald seas and luxuriant grasses.

"These, the gardens of the desert-these, The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, And fresh as the young earth ere man had sinned, Lo! they stretch.

In airy undulations, far away As though the ocean, in the gentlest swell, Stood still, with all its rounded billows fixed, And motionless forever."

The prairies were indeed a grand sight, in the summer, clothed in verdure bright, in the fall, robed in the many-hued garh that tells of the departing year. If a grand sight to see the prairies as the tall grass waved to and fro, it was a magnifi- cent sight in the fall of the year, to see the annual prairie fire as it swept over all. A correspondent of an eastern paper in an early day, in traveling in this west- ern country, witnessed one of these fires, and thus describes it in a communication to his paper:

"Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her mantle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the skies, when suddenly the

scene was lighted by a blaze of light, illu- minating every objectaround. It was the prairie on fire. Language eannot convey, words cannot express to you the faintest idea of the grandcur and splendor of that mighty contlagration. Methought that the pale Queen of night disclaiming to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched 10,000 messengers to light their torches at the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagra- tion, my thoughts recurred to you, im- mured in the walls of the city, and I ex- claimed in the fullness of my heart.

'O fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze, As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze; The world cannot boast so romantic a sight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light."'

Behold, now, how changed the scene! Where the rude wigwam of the red man once stood, the neat, substantial, and oftimes elegant farm house now is seen; where once these sons of the plain and forest gathered together for the worship of "Gitche Manitou," the good spirit, the stately church edifice now rears its spire, and therein worship another race, praying to the God of their fathers. Change is written upon every hand. llow this change was wrought, the various steps by which the wilderness has been trans- formed into habitations for civilized men, is the duty of the historian to show; and in the following pages attempt is made, with the hope that his efforts will be ap- preciated, and that the facts contained therein may be of interest, and the lessons of the past may be instructive to each I and every reader.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

CHAPTER II.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

To the readers of local history, the chapter pertaining to the carly settlement of a country is of more than general in- terest. Especially is this true with the pioneers themselves, those who have wit- nessed the changes that have been made, who have seen this trackless wilderness made to blossom as the rose, and filled with an industrious, happy people. He here reads, slowly and critically, ev- ery word recalling memories of the past, which for a generation have lai buried among a host of recollections which now rise before him like a dream. His old associations, the deeds, the trials and battles against hunger and cold, while the settlers were few and far between. and wolves howled about the little cabin. sending a chill to his heart, and the wind driving the sifting snow through the crevices-all now arise vividly before him. Often it is with pleasure he can re- call these recollections, viewing with satisfaction the thought that he has lived to see a thrifty and happy land, dotted with school houses and churches, villages and towns, where first he planted his stakes and built his humble home.

But, perchance it may be that it is with sadness that herecalls these reminiscences of the past, for as the thoughts well mp in his heart he sees the dark and pain-

ful side of the pioneer days. How a wife, whose virtues, bravery and simplicity will always be remembered, or a child prat- tling in innocence being called from earth to the eternal home, laid away under the cruel sod, in solemn quietude, by the rough but tender hands of hardy pioneers. 'Time has partially allayed the sting, but the wound is now uncovered by the allu- sion to days gone by, and the cases are not a few where a tear of bitter sadness will course down the cheek in honor of the memory of those who have departed.

Notwithstanding the many disadvan- tages, and even sorrows, attendant upon the first steps of civilization, the adversi- ties to be encountered, the pioneers led a happy life. The absence of the aristo- cratic and domineering power of wealth and position must have been a source of comfort and satisfaction. Merit alone in- sured equality, and this could not be sup- pressed by traditions. The brotherhood of man was illustrated in a sincere and practical way, and hospitality was not considered so much a Christian trait as a duty to humanity.

Prior to 1853 the territory now com- prising the county of Hancock was a vast and apparently interminable expanse of prairie, with a small amount of timber on the banks of the streams, and was unin-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

habited save by wild animals and roving bands of Indians. At that time but little civilization had crossed the Mississippi, and the few who had pushed westward from the banks of that great river had not journeyed far inland, and except a nar- row belt of settlers along its shores, this State, in the northern part at least, was an unknown land. A journey through the territory west was a tedious and often a dangerous task.

This county, lying as it does at the headwaters of the Towa, Boone and Des Moines rivers, and traversed by numerous creeks, had no doubt been visited by white men, for these fertile prairies had long been the haunts of trappers and hunters before actual settlers made their appearance. Hancock county, at the time of the pioneers, was a part of the neutral ground that the policy of the government had stretched, some forty or fifty miles wide, between the Sioux on the north and the Winnebagoes on the south. Here they could hunt and fish to their heart's content, hut could not stay and raise their villages, nor indulge in savage war. Sav- age bodies of Indians would leave their reservations lying south of this and jour- ney north into Hancock and the adjoining counties, where they would hunt and fish all summer, and return to their villages in the winter.

These Indians did not cultivate land, plant corn, or raise vegetables, but lived a life of indolence. Three tribes, or at least portions of them, intermixed, lived in harmony together. They were Winne- bagoes, Musquakees and Pottawattomies. Their most notable chiefs were: Womano- kaker (often spelled Wanoaker), Four

Eyes, Pukatnek, Winnesheik, Hanaheta- ker and Beg Way. Womanokaker was the great war chief; and the tradition is handed down that he got his name from the fact that he had at one time stolen the woman of a white man-thus the name, "Womanokaker."

Before there were any settlers in this county, however, all these tribes on the south had been removed. Complaints of their thievishness having been made in 1848, the government had them placed on reservations further west, and but a few straggling "redskins" were seen in these parts.

The first attempt at settlement within the limits of what is now Hancock county, was made by Anson Avery, who, with his wife, came here and located at Upper Grove, in the township since named after him. This was upon the 9th day of Sep- tember, 1854. Mr. Avery built a cabin, to shelter him and his from the elements and commenced to open up a farm. Ile broke the first land and sowed the first grain in the county, on this new breaking, and set- tled down to pass the winter. Mr. Avery is still a resident of the county, and al- though his hair is silvered with age, still he retains much of the fire of youth, and bids fair to outlast many of the less rug- ged younger generation.

In October, 1854, George Nelson, with his family, came to Upper Grove, and set- tled in the neighborhood of Mr. Avery. It is said, on excellent authority, that Mr. Nelson and C. D. Philo, had hunted and trapped over this territory and spent the winter of 1853-4 at Upper Grove. The beauty of the surroundings induced Mr. Nelson to return and take up his home

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

amid the scenes of his former hunting grounds.

These two families were all the inhabi- tants that passed the long and dreary winter of 1854-5, in Hancock county. But with the coming of spring, others sought homes in this new country. Among those who located in the southeast part of the county, at Upper Grove, were Malcolm Magill, Thomas Magill, Sr., Orick and Reuben Church and Benoni Haskins.

Thomas Magill, Sr., a sturdy scot, a veteran of the Mexican War, settled upon a part of section 24, and raising a cabin, opened up a farm, whereon he lived until the day of his death, in the fall of 1883.

Malcolm Magill, also remained upon the portion of section 24, where he first settled, until he two was called to cross the dark river, and pass the portals of death.

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History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 69

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950