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 77

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 77
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 77
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 77

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C. D. Pritchard was Mr. Louppe's suc- cessor, assuming the duties of the office in

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

January, 1861, and serving for two years. Mr. Pritchard was one of the early mem- bers of the Hancock county bar, under which heading a more extended sketch of him may be found.

In January, 1863, Charles C. Doolittle took upon himself the responsibilities of this office, having been elected thereto the previous election. Ile served the county in this capacity for two years, and then gave way to a successor.

James M. Elder was next elected elerk of the courts, serving four years, from January, 1865.

L. B. Bailey, the present recorder, was elected elerk of the courts in November, 1868, and served his county in that office a term of two years.

In October, 1870, C. C. Doolittle was again elected to this office, and has made so good an officer that the people of the county have continued him in it. He has been elected his own successor when- ever his term had expired, and is the present incumbent.

C. C. Doolittle, elerk of the eireuit and distriet courts of Hancock county, was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 18th day of December, 1833. ITis parents were Dr. John B. and Sophronia (Blakesley) Doolittle, natives of New York State. His father was of the old Thompsonian school, and followed the practice of medi- cine for many years. He was an ardent supporter of the old whig party, taking an active interest in all Presidential cam- paigns. When the subject of our sketch was eight years old his mother died, and his father married Maria Yurk. In 1866 he came to Mason City, Iowa, where he died two years later. The subject of this

sketch, when fifteen years old, entered a printing office. On Jan. 8, 1859, he was married to Malissa Coon, by whom he had six children-larry II., Ilattie A., Eddie E .. Lois S., Luke C. and Lydia S. In 1870 he was elected to the office of elerk of the courts, which office he has held since. Mr. Doolittle is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and also a member of the Chapter at Mason City.

SHERIFF.

The first sheriff of Hancock county was Benoni Haskins, who was elected in June, 1858, entering upon the duties of the office immediately. Ile served about eighteen months. Mr. Ilaskins has re- moved from the county and is a resident of Oregon.

At the October election of 1861, C. M. Church was elected sheriff, and qualified for the office on the Ist of January follow- ing. Mr. Church is a resident of Avery township, this county, at the present time.

B. A. ITill was next elected to the office, but held it for but a short time, he resign- ing and moving away from the county.

In October, 1862, John Maben, one of the pioneers of the county, was elected to the office of sheriff, to fill the vacancy. Ile made so good an officer that he was re-elected in 1863 for a full term, which he served so well that he was bidden to "go up higher." A sketch of Mr. Maben may be found under the head of county treasurer, a position he held so long and performed so well.

A. Yarrington was the next sheriff of Hancock county, entering upon the duties of that office in the first of 1866, and served some two years. He is now resid- ing in the southern part of Iowa.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

J. II. Beadle succeeded Yarrington and served two terms, or four years, from January, 1868, to January, 1872.

J. H. Beadle was born Sept. 18, 1837, in Vermont. In May, 1857, he came to Worth Co., Iowa, settling at Bristol, where he lived until 1858, then removed to Forest City, Winnebago county. He moulded and burnt the first brick ever made in Winnebago county, also assisted in making the bricks for the court house and Clark Hotel at Forest City. When Abraham Lincoln was first elected he was south, at Vicksburg, Miss., but came home to Iowa in December, 1861. He enlisted in company C, 12th United States Infan- try, and served till April 27, 1865, being discharged at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, An- tietam and Fredericksburg, also at the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and every principal engagements in the east. was with Grant forty days in the Wilder ness, then was taken prisoner at the battle of Weldon Railroad, in front of Peters burg, Aug. 18, 1864, remaining in prison till February, 1865. Ile was confined in Libby, Belle Isle and Salzburg prisons. After being discharged he returned to Iowa, where he has since resided, in El- lington township, Hancock county: He has 320 aeres of good land, well improved, making stock raising a specialty, raising grain only for fattening purposes. In 1867 he was elected sheriff of Hancock county, serving till 1871. Jan. 1, 1866, he married Lucy C. Streator, born in July, 1840, in Illinois. There are eight chil- dren- Ernest J., Lottie L., Laura A.,

Thomas Z., Lillie L., Percy V., Arehie and Harry. Mr. Beadle is a republican. John Veits, the next sheriff, was elected in October, 1871, and served four years, also, from January, 1872, to January, 1876. He is still a resident of the county.

H. M. Bradstreet was the next sheriff of the county, having been elected in Oc- tober, 1875. After serving two years in that capacity, he was snceeeded by a new offieer and has since removed to Nebraska.

W. C. Moak, the present sheriff, was elected first at the October election of 1877, and has been re-elected his own suc- cessor ever since. Having served six years, the people of the county, feeling that they had in him a good, faithful officer, at the October election, elected him for another term of office.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.

The various gentlemen who have offi- ciated in this capacity, are treated of at length, in the chapter upon educational matters, to which the reader is referred. COUNTY SURVEYOR.

The first surveyor of this county was Charles R. Wright, who entered into the office July 1, 1858. He held the position until September, 1859, when he died. Ile was a man of most excellent education, in fact one of the best scholars that have ever settled in this locality. Endowed with great natural abilities, and careful training, it was no wonder he made a first- class officer, and his work is still the ad- miration of all, and the basis of all other surveys, made since.

Bernard Bolsinger, one of the pioneers of Hancock county, was the next surveyor, being elected in October, 1859, and re- elected in 1861. A straight-forward man,

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

of limited accomplishments he managed to transact the little business of that period. He, some years ago, emigrated to Oregon, where he has since died.

James Crow was called on to take the compass and chain, which he did for the first time, on the Ist of January, 1864. He was re-elected in 1865 and 1867, serving in this office for six years. Mr. Crow was one of the best known men in the community, was surveyor, lawyer, land agent and what not, and did everything in a handy manner. Ile also has left Hancock county and is living at Brule City, Dakota.

Eugene Marshall was Mr. Crow's suc- cessor in this office, assuming the duties thereof, Jannary, 1870, and served for two years.

W. C. Moak, was surveyor from the Ist of January, 1872, until January, + 1878.

C. C. Way was next elected to fill the office of surveyor. Ile was duly qualified and entered upon that office, January, 1878.

Chandler C. Way, banker and land agent, was born Oct. 22, 1837, in Chester Co., Penn. His parents, Isaac and Eliza (Hall) Way, were also natives of Chester county. Chandler was reared in his native county, and there received his education. In 1855 he engaged for two years with an engineering corps on the Philadelphia & Baltimore Central Rail- road. In 1857 he came west, locating in MeDonough Co., Ill., where he taught school for three years. He then became engaged in the stock business, in which he continued until 1865, when, in April of that year, he came to Hancock Co., lowa, locating at Ellington. The follow-

ing fall he was elected county superin- tendent of schools, serving two years. Mr. Way then became engaged in the real estate business, with which he was identified until 1870. He then removed to Portland, Oregon, but after a residence of two years there he returned to Elling- ton, Iowa. In 1876 Mr. Way accepted a position as traveling agent with the Sioux City & St. Paul Land Department, with whom he remained one year. He then removed to Concord, Towa, being engaged in the real estate business until 1879, after which he came to Britt and engaged in the banking and real estate business here. Mr. Way is a member of the county board of supervisors, and from 1877 to 1882, was county surveyor. Ile is also a member of the board of alder- men of Britt. Mr. Way was united in marriage Oet. 5, 1859, with Georgiana Robinson, a native of New York. They have five children-Thomas A., Edsel, Byard, Stilyel and Clara W.

J. M. Elder was elected in October, 1882, to this office and is the present incumbent. J. M. Elder, a pioneer settler of Con- cord township, was born in Center Co., Penn., Sept. 11, 1832. His parents were James and Margaret (Walters) Elder. His father was a farmer and an earnest supporter of the democratic party. Mr. Elder was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the common schools and Cherrytree Academy. In 1855 he left his native State and came west, settling in Belmond, Wright Co., Iowa. He pro- cured employment on a farm, receiving a salary of $13 per month. In December, 1860, he was married to Mary E. Rogers, daughter of James Rogers, formerly of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Stephenson Co., Ill., now deceased. Three children blessed this union, two of whom are living-Mand R. and Jennie E. In 1861 Mr. Elder came to Hancock county and settled at Upper Grove, where he was engaged in teaching school. In 1865 be was elected to the office of county clerk, and soon after removed to Concord, where some small buildings had been erected for county offices. In 1866 he was re-elected to the same office. He has also held sev- eral local offices of trust. Mrs. Elder died Ang. 7, 1880. Mr. Elder came to this county in limited circumstances, but by fair dealing and judicious manage- ment, he has accumulated a comfortable property, and is now one of the prosper- ons men of the county.

CORONER.

At the time of the first election, in 1858, for some reason, no coroner was elected, nor was it until in October, 1859, that it was thought necessary to elect one Charles Church was then chosen to fill the station, which, while not considered a very exalted one, yet it is a very im- portant part of the machinery of county government. Mr. Church assumed the functions of the station, the beginning of the year 1860, and held it for three years.

Benoni Haskins was the immediate suc- cessor of Mr. Church, going into office, January, 1863, and served two years, until the beginning of the year 1865.

S. Whitcombe came next as coroner, being first inducted into office in January, 1866. Ile was re-elected twice-once in 1867 and again in 1869, serving a contin- nous term of six years. Mr. Whitcombe is still a resident of the county.

Dr. J. Muncey was elected coroner and entered upon the duties of that office the fore part of the year 1872. He did not stay in this part of the State long enough to fulfill the duties of the office any length of time. He was a physician who had made a temporary location in the western part of the county.

After Dr. Muncey had left, J. H. Beadle was elected to fill the vacancy, assuming the office at the beginning of 1873, and holding it for one year.

R. W. Noble was elected to fill this office at the October election, 1973 Serv- ing for two years, he then gave way to his successor. Mr. Noble is still a resi- dent of Garner.

Dr. Z. C.Green succeeded Mr. Noble on the 1st of January, 1876, and being re- elected, served the county in this capac- ity four years. He left the county some time since and now lives in Wright county.

Dr. Hartley Hesket was chosen to per- form the functions of coroner, and en- tered upon the duties of the office Janu- ary 1, 1880, and served two years. Dr. Hesket is at present a resident of the town of Corwith, in this county.

In 1881, Dr. II. W. Smith was elected to the office of county coroner, but failed to qualify, hence there is no officer of the kind in the county.

DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS.

James C. Bonar, one of the prominent figures in the foreground of our pioneer picture, was at the first election, June 28, 1858, elected to fill this office. He served but about eighteen months, which was the term for which he was elected. Mr.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Bonar has left the county, and is living at present in the State of Minnesota.

Jannary, 1860, II .. II. Rice was invested with the dignity of this office, and served one year. Ile has long since left the county for parts unknown.

Benoni Haskins, also, served one year in the office of drainage commissioner, from Jan. 1, 1861.

Jacob Ward, too, was the incumbent of this office one year commencing with Jan. 1,1862.

C. D. Pritchard, was another who held this position. He occupied it from Jan. 1, 1863, one year.

Charles Bice was the next incumbent, who, taking the office, Jan. 1, 1864, served three years. Mr. Bice, years ago, de- parted from the precincts of Hancock county, and now lives at Brule City, Dak.

John Christie, Sr., also filled the office four years, commencing January, 1868.

Wesley llayes occupied this office one year, that of 1872. Ile is still a resident of the county.

Luke Nichols was the last drainage commissioner, the office being abolished during his term of office. He was elected at the October election of 1872.

CHAPTER XI.

EDUCATIONAL.

Although a new and, as yet, a sparsely settled county, it is in respect to its edu- cational facilities, not far in the rear of many older districts, and is fully up with the average of Towa's counties. The present mode of government of the pub- lie schools differs much from early days, and is a great improvement, and must be considered as filling all the requirements of the .present, although by no means en- tirely perfect. There are,as yet, some weak points in the educational system which prove in many cases, very inconvenient, if not exasperating. The law provides for the organization of what is termed dis-

trict townships, which are divided by the local board into sub-districts. The district township, as the name implies, is a town- ship organized for educational purposes. All of the sub-districts are a part of the whole, and the finances and all business matters of one and all are managed by the board of directors, made up of one from each sub-district. Thus one district cannot make up their minds to vote a tax and build a school house which may be sadly needed, unless the whole township agrees that the tax can be levied; a school teacher cannot be engaged by the sul .- district where he or she is to teach, but

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

the whole township has a voice in it, and thins one teacher with a hard school to teach, and fifty scholars, must receive the same compensation as the teacher with an easy school and five pupils. To partly rectify this opening for injustice, the law provides for the organization of the sub- districts into independent districts, or in other words, gives them power to choose their own board of directors and officers in whom is vested all the powers held by officers of the district township. It also provides for the erection of school houses by the independent districts, but modifies this by the declaration that there must be fifteen scholars of school age in the dis- trict before this can be done. Sometimes, much injustice grows out of these com- plications, but human laws are almost always faulty, and the school laws of the State of Iowa, are among the best in the world, or are at least so regarded.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

This office was created by act of Assem- bly during the spring of 1858, and was to supercede the old office of school fund commissioner. The first to fill this re- sponsible position was Grove R. Maben, whose term of office commenced with his election in July, 1858, at the date of the organization of the county. At this same time the district townships, which had concurrent boundaries with the civil town- ships of Madison and Avery, were organ- ized. In the following fall, Madison voted a tax of five mills, and Avery a tax of ten mills, on the dollar, of taxable property, for the purpose of building school houses. Mr. Maben is entitled to the credit for the arduous task he was called upon to per- form in perfecting the organization of the

educational matters of the county. Hle held the office until the Ist of January, 1880, when he retired to make room for his successor.

Charles Gillespie was Mr. Maben's suc- cessor, and entered upon the duties of the office with the year 1860. This he held for one year, when he, in turn, gave place to another.

Charles Church was the next county superintendent, entering that office Jan. 1, 1861, and served one year.

James M. Elder was elected at the fall election of 1861, but failed to qualify and James Crow was appointed by the board of supervisors, to fill the vacancy. He held the office until relieved by his suc- cessor at the beginning of the year 1863, having served one year, to the satisfac- tion and credit of himself and friends.

James M. Elder was again elected, by the suffrages of his fellow electors of the county, in October, 1862, and entered upon his official functions, upon the 1st day of 1863, and served in this capacity, in an able manner, for two years. A sketch of Mr. Elder may be found under the head of clerk of the courts, a position he held at a later date.

M. L. Fuller was Mr. Elder's immedi- ate successor, and who took up the duties pertaining to the office, at the beginning of the year 1864. A good faithful officer, he did much good to the cause of educa- tion during his term of only two years.

The next superintendent of schools was C. C. Way, who served in this official ca- pacity, from January, 1866, until the ex- piration of his term, the last of Decem- ber, 1867.

624

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

C. Boughton was elected to the office of superintendent of schools, by a unani- mous vote, at the election of October, 1867, and assumed the official baton, the first of the following year, and served but a por- tion of his term.

Jan. 1, 1867, the office of superintend ent being vacant, the board of supervi- sors of Hancock county appointed that able and capable officer, Lambert B. Bailey, to fill the vacaney. He served until the year was out for which he was appointed, and then gave way to his sue- cessor. Mr. Bailey for many years filled the position of county recorder.

A. R. Barnes was Mr. Bailey's succes- sor. His term of office commencing Jan- uary, 1870, and lasted two years. An able educator, the good effects of his adminis- tration are traceable to this day in the educational interests of this, his adopted county.

B. F. Scott was the next to don the offi- cial toga, which he did at the beginning of 1872, serving the people in this capaei- ty for two years.

A. R. Barnes was again elected to the office, and again served in this capacity for two years, from January, 1876.

A. R. Barnes, cashier of the Hancock County Bank, was born in Carroll Co., Ind., July 22, 1846. llis mother died when he was but six years old, and the home being thereby broken up, his father soon moved to Iowa. He located in Washington, and was one of the leading business men of that place for some four- teen years. Ile was one of the founders of Washington College, which flourished for a few years and was finally blown

down by a tornado, in 1864. Its finan- cial condition was such that it was never rebuilt. Mr. Barnes received his education in it, and in 1864 en- listed in company B, 45th Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. In 1866 he was married to Helen N. Mitchell, with whom he emi- grated to Hancock Co., Iowa, in March, 1868. Four children blessed this union- Mary II., Winnifred E., Anna M. and Helen N. In 1869 he was elected to the office of superintendent of public schools for Hancock county, for the term of two years. To this position he was again elected in 1872. Mr. Barnes was success- fully engaged in the mercantile business in Garner for a period of nine years, end- ing in 1880, in the fall of which year Mrs. Barnes died. She was a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in full hope of a glori- ous immortality beyond the grave. Mr. Barnes was one of the founders of the B. & B. creamery, which did much toward developing the stock interests of the county. He was married, in the fall of 1881, to Olivia M. Sturgeon, of Keota, Washington Co., Iowa. He was twice elected to the office of mayor, town of Garner. Mr. Barnes was continuously identified with the Sabbath school inter- ests of his town and county, and his con- tinned enthusiasm and zeal in this part of the Master's work did much to mould the character of the society of that section.

M. L. Fuller was again called on by his fellow citizens to occupy the position of head of the schoolastie interests of the county. Entering upon the duties of the office at the beginning of 1878, he dis-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

charged them with fidelity for two years more.

A C. Ripley, one of the legal fraternity of Hancock county, assumed this office with the opening of 1880 and gave infinite satisfaction to all by his intelligent man- agement of the affairs pertaining thereun- to. An extended sketch of this gentleman may be found in the chapter devoted to the bar of Hancock county, where he properly belongs.

Samuel Sturgeon, the present superin- tendent of county schools, was elected at the regular fall election of 1881, and en- tered upon the function of that office the following January. After serving one term of two years, he was re-elected in October, 1883, for another term.

S. Sturgeon, superintendent of public schools of Hancock county, was born in Keokuk Co., Iowa, April 15, 1850. His father, William J. Sturgeon, is a native of New Brunswick. He emigrated to Keokuk Co., Iowa, in 1845, where he mar- ried Mrs. Mary Burnside, widow of James Burnside. He purchased land and eu- gaged in farming, in Washington county, where he still lives. S. Sturgeon was reared on his father's farm, receiving an academical education. lle was married March 20, 1873, to Flora II. Doty, dangh- ter of Roswell and Esther Doty, of New England. Her parents emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and in 1854 removed to to Clinton Co., Iowa, and in a few years to Keokuk county, where Mr. Doty still resides. Mr. Sturgeon came to Hancock county in 1878, where himself and wife were engaged in teaching. In the fall of 1881 he was elected superintendent and in 1883 re-elected. Mr. and Mrs. Stur- Į

geon are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have one child-John R.

DEVELOPMENT.

From the time of the organization of the county, the number of school districts has gradually increased, and educational facilities have become more and more efficient. A marked contrast may be found to exist between the time of the first schools and the present, and a slight sketch of the growth of the schools of the county would not be improper in this connection.

As a starting point, the report of the first county superintendent of schools, G. R. Maben, is here inserted. This report was filed with the county judge, M. P. Rosecrans, upon the 27th of November, 1858, and is as follows:

First annual report of the county super- intendent for 1858:

Number of districts in county.

Number scholars between five and twenty-

one years of age. 47

Number of schools taught the past year. 0

Number of volumes in libraries of schools .. 0 Amount of money expended. 0 Number of male scholars in Avery district .. . 17 Number of female scholars in Avery district. 12 Number of male scholars in Madison district 8 Number of female scholars in Madison district 10 1 hereby certify that the foregoing statement is correct.

G. R. MABEN, County Superintendent. In the fall of 1858, as has been stated, the two district townships had voted a tax toward raising a fund with which to erect suitable school buildings. In addi- tion to this the State apportionment was received early in 1859, and amounted to the sum of $371.18. This was divided by the county judge, who was, ex-officio, the

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

head of government, as follows: To Avery district the sum of $228.95; to Madison, $142.11.

In 1860 there were in the county of Hancock, between the ages of five and twenty-one years, thirty-one males and thirty-three females. In 1862 five dis- tricts are reported to have been organized, having the following number of a legal school age in each:

Avery; twenty-eight; Madison, twelve; Amsterdam, fifteen; Ellington, two sub- districts, thirty-one; all making a total of eighty-six scholars.

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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 77

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