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 79

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 79
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 79
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 79

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ART. IV. Any person may become a member of this society by the payment of $1 annually, or $10 for a life membership.

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 635

The privilege secured by membership shall continne as long as the provisions of these articles are complied with.

ART. III. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, a vice-presi- dent, secretary and treasurer and thirteen directors. They shall be called the Board of Directors, and five of their number shall constitute a quorum. They shall be chosen annually and hold their offices for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The president, vice-president and secretary shall consti- tute an executive committee, and shall have all power to do all the acts necessary for the prosperity of the society in the intervals of the meetings of the board. The executive committee shall appoint persons to fill vacancies in the awarding committees at the time of the fair.

ART. V. The duties of the president shall be to preside at all meetings of the Board and Society, to call special meet- ings of the Board, to attend the January meeting of the State Society if practica- ble, and his expenses for attending such meeting shall be borne by the Society. In the absence of the president the duties appertaining to the office shall be per- formed by the vice-president.

ART. VI. The duties of the secretary shall be to keep carefully all records of the Society and all papers relating there- to; respond promptly to all letters and circulars from the State Society; to make annually, before the first day of Decem- ber, a report to the secretary of the State Society which shall embrace such items, statistics and facts concerning the Society as may be desired by the State Board, and perform all other duties under the direc-

tion of the Board that may be necessary for the welfare of the Society, for which service he shall receive annually a com- pensation to be fixed by the Board.

ART. VII. The duties of the treasurer shall be to receive all monies due to the Society, and pay them out on the order of the president, countersigned by the secre- tary. He shall collect the dues of de- linquent members by law whenever three yearly payments remain nupaid, and he may collect at any time if he sees fit so to do; where nothing can be collected he shall report the same to the secretary, and the name of such delinquent member shall be struck from the roll of members. He shall report at each annual meeting the condition of the treasury of the Society. His compensation to be fixed by the Board.

ART. VIII. The annual meeting of the Society shall be hell at Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa, on the last Monday in Novem- ber in each year, at 1 o'clock P. M. After the reports of the officers for the past year are examined, the officers for the en- sning year shall be elected, who shall im- mediately enter upon the duties of their offices.

ART. IX. The Board of Directors shall meet at Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa, within thirty days after the annual meet- ing, and shall prepare and publish a list of premiums to be awarded at the next fair. They shall determine the number of days the fair shall be held, and see that suitable preparations are made for the same, and shall appoint committees of three or more persons each to award said preminms. They shall also make all needful rules and regulations for govern-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

ing said exhibitions, and fill all vacancies among their own number.

ART. X. The annual fair of this So- ciety shall be held in Britt township, Ilan- cock Co., Iowa, in each year at such time as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. None but members in good and regular standing shall be allowed to compete for any of the premiums offered ny this Society unless expressly ordered by the executive committee.

ART. XI. This constitution may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of all the life members present and vot- ing at any annual meeting.

ART. XII. The fair grounds of this Society shall be permanently located at or near Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa.

ART. XIII. This Society assumes the right to itself to buy and sell real estate necessary for the use or benefit of the Society, and have also the rights, powers and privileges and immunities which are now or which may during the existence thereof be conferred by laws upon socie- ties of a similar character, ete. The private property of the members shall be exempt from all liability for the debts of the Society.

ART. XIV. This constitution shall not be amended after the last Monday of Novem- ber, A. D. 1881, except notice be first given of such proposed amendment in the county newspapers for at least thirty days previous to such meeting acting thereon.

ART. XV. The place of holding the county fairs and the principal place of business of this Society cannot be changed except two-thirds of all the life members of this Society concur therein at the

regular annual meeting on the last Mon- day in November.

ART. XVI. The officers of this So- ciety and incorporate body from the or- ganization thereof until the last Monday of November, A. D. 1881, and until their sneeessors are duly elected and qualified, are: George Stubbins, president; Lucien Tuttle, vice-president; F. B. Rogers, sec- retary; Thomas Daylor, treasurer; who are also directors, with the full power and rights to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors, and to do all acts necessary to be done until the same are appointed.

Witness our hands this 13th day of August, A. D. 1881.

LUCIEN TUTTLE, THOMAS DAYLOR,

R. B. POPE, F. B. ROGERS,

JOHN J. CLEMENS, MAT JOHNSON,

GEORGE STUBBINS, II. E. R. Inı,

T. H. TREGANZA, J. G. STRONG,

J. A. TREGANZA, K. K. LIQUIN,

J. F. BULLIS,

C. ILILD,

WILLIAM H. BREESE, D. W. FARRAR, HI. F. FORT.

The first fair, held under the anspices of this association was upon the 11th, 12th and 13th of October, 1881, and was a success in every way. The following was the programme adopted, and which was fully carried out in all particulars:

FIRST DAY-TUESDAY, OCTOBER. 11.

Devoted to making entries, arranging articles of exhibition. Superintendents of all the different divisions will attend, and oversee the arranging of articles in their respective divisions.

SECOND DAY -- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12.

Entries may be made until 11 o'clock A. M. Division superintendents will at- tend at the secretary's office at 12 M., and

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HISTORY OF HIANCOCK COUNTY.

receive the books of the respective classes under their charge.

2:30, P. M .- Roadsters and carriage horses tested on track.

3:30 P. M .- Farm horses exhibited.

4:30 P. M .- Running race.

THIRD DAY-THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13. 10 A. M .- Exhibition of mares and colts. 11:30 A M .- Exhibition of stallions.

12 M .- Committees will report at the secretary's office.

2 P. M .- Trot.

3 P. M .- Exhibition of premium stock under direction of superintendents of de- partments.

Announcement of awards.

In 1882 and 1883, fairs were held at Britt, that were also successes in the full- est extent of the word, and the society bids fair to rival the kindred associations of older and more thickly populated counties. The agricultural class, as a whole, take hold and the exhibitions ard more than ereditable. The present offi- cers are: J. M. Elder, president; Thomas Hymer, vice-president; F. B. Rogers, secretary; Joseph Osborne, treasurer; di- rectors, Charles Barber of Bingham; H. Magor, Magor; II. C. Potter, Orthel; J. D. Bailey, Twin Lakes; D. Chase, Crys- tal; J. Hejlik, Garfield; C. M. Church, Avery; G. R. Maben, Ellington; W. F. Greenup, Madison; J. Finch, German; J. Burnside, Concord; J. B. Sanders, Boone.

The society occupies some very excel- lent grounds, which contain some twenty acres. This is located about half a mile west of the business part of the city, join- ing the city limits on that side. A good half-mile race track is contained within its boundaries. The whole ground is kept

up by the county fund, but is under the control of the society.

The following sketch of Hancock county was published in the Hancock In- dependent, of May 12, 1880, and is here preserved as the valuable contribution to historical annals by an on-looker, a by-stander, who was, at least, an old resident, if not an early settler. The ar- ticle is entitled:

COUNTY SKETCHES.

Years ago the public lands embraced by the present limits of Hancock county were thrown into the market and sold, the pur- chasers being generally men of extensive means who obtained the lands in large tracts for speculative purposes. Conse- quently since the organization of the county it has had no publie lands, if we except the 16th sections for school purposes, and the swamp-land grant, which the unwise, per- haps, mercenary action of the board of supervisors placed into the hands of the same class of speculators thathad acquired the other portion at Decorah and Fort Dodge. This fact had a strong tendency to discourage the settlement of the county, for the land though rarely held at exorbi- tant rates was high enough to place it out of competition with government lands, and when the tide of emigration from the Old World and the Eastern States turned westward, allured by the healthful climate, fertile soil and natural advantages of the far away West, it flowed past and beyond us to the homestead lands of counties less favored by nature, but more favored by circumstances. Other counties organized long after, soon boasted double the popu- lation. Year after year the early settlers watched and waited, hoping almost against

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

hope for something to turn up, to people our prairies and develop their agricultural wealth, but the good times would not come. Fifteen years after the first set- tlement of the county its population num- bered less than 500 souls. There was not a store within its limits and the nearest market for the surplus produce was thirty- five or forty miles distant, and reached by roads that had never known the advan- tages to be derived from a bridge fund, or been marred by the spade of the path master. The actual settlers were confined to a strip along timbered borders of Lime ereek in the extreme north, and around the groves on the banks of the Iowa in the extreme south, while between the two solitary settlements stretched twenty miles of prairie, without a house, tree, bridge, or scareely a wagon track. The county seat was alternately at Upper Grove or Ellington, as either section succeeded in obtaining the necessary odd vote and was conveyed back and forth in a wagon, being in reality the half dozen or more volumes known as the county records, and the successful candidates.

The last change of this kind was made in the autumn of 1864 from the latter to the former place, by a vote of thirty- eight to thirty-seven. This was the entire voting population, and would indicate that the county at that time contained about 350 inhabitants, which is probably not far from correet. About this time the question of a permanently located, centrally situated county seat began to be agitated, and as a result, the present site of Concord was determined upon, land purchased, a town plat surveyed, a couple of cheap frame houses erected to be used

as dwellings and offices by the treasurer and county clerk (whose duties at that time combined those of the elerk and an- ditor now), and a contract was let for the building of a brick court house at a cost of $10,000. The location of the county seat xix miles east of the geographical center-when the center afforded an ex- cellent natural site for a town-was severely criticised at that time; and at this day, considering the aet impartially and dispassionately, we are still unable to discern any evidences of business fore- sight or political wisdom in it, and we charitably assume that our local legislators did what they deemed was for the best at that time. In due time the court house was completed-a fine, roomy structure, far in advance of the improvemunt of the country then.

And here, we might add, our county began to reap advantages from its foreign land owners. Had the bulk of the lands been subject to homestead entry, and of course not liable to taxation until the ex- piration of the time necessary to complete a title, the erection of such a building-not mentioning the thousand other public im- provements sinee projected and completed by means of funds obtained almost en- tirely from "speculators"-would have been an impossibility. Our county, with the exception of a couple of brief periods, has always been out of debt, warrants at par, and with a cash surplus sufficient for any ordinary emergency; and it must be admitted that the paths of many of the early settlers were made smoother in con- sequence of the annual contributions of the much maligned non-residents.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

With the completion of the court house began the real settlement of the county, not confined as beretofore to the two be- fore mentioned localities, but more gen- eral in its character. Houses began to dot the prairie here and there. Concord became a lively, bustling little town, and

the sales of land to parties intending to improve it became more frequent. Then along came the C., M. & St. P. Railroad, with its life inspiring energy and golden promises for the future, and established stations at Garner and Britt, soon to be busy centers of populous districts.

CHAPTER XIV.

AMSTERDAM TOWNSHIP.

Amsterdam township, like all the others in Hancock county, is just six miles square, consisting of congressional township 94 north, range 25 west. It is bounded on the north by Erin township, on the east by Twin Lake, on the west by Magor, and on the south by Wright county. While the surface is of a beautiful rolling ' character, and the land of almost une- qualled fertility, the number of inhabitants is quite small. This is due in a large measure to the land being in the hands of speculators, while the tide of emigra- tion drifts westward and takes up with much poorer territory, because it can be had at a less price. Short-sighted policy as this is, on their part, for the value of the land for farming purposes, counter- balances the difference in price, the country beyond is settling up faster than is the really fine land in Amsterdam township. But this will soon be at an end. Already the eyes of a number are turned to the fertile acres, and the rich, succu- lent, native grasses that cover them, and

before many years this locality will be thickly dotted over with the cottages of a numerous population, and with the herds of cattle, the great staple of these north- ern counties.

The first settler to locate within the limits of what is now Amsterdam town- ship, was a Mr. Langfelt, who as early as 1865, settled on the southeast quarter of section 12. Of him nothing definite could be learned, as he has left this vicinity years ago.

J. B. Leavitt, made a settlement on sec- tion 27, during the year 1868, but stayed only a year, when thinking to better his financial condition ne removed to Kansas. The building which he erected has been moved away, and no signs of any habita- tation can be seen.

The next settler in this township is sup- posed to be George Hooker, who located on seetion 14 during the year 1871. Of Mr. Hooker but little can be gathered, as he sold out and left some years ago. The place he opened is now the property of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

W. H. Pritchard, who came to this vi- cinity in 1876, and purchased the place he now resides on. Mr. Pritchard is the oldest settler in the township now resi- dent therein, and to him the historian is indebted to for most of the facts herein mentioned.

William H. Pritchard is a native of Wales, born Feb. 28, 1830. When four- teen years of age he emigrated to Amer- ica, locating in Dodge Co., Wis., when that State was yet a territory. Ile there resided eight years; then removed to Columbia Co., Wis., there residing two years. From there be removed to Dane Co., Wis., and in 1856 removed to Worth Co., Iowa, where he was an early settler. Ile was a resident there until November, 1876. Ile then came to Hancock county, locating where he now lives. He has 160 acres of good land, on section 13. He was married April 27, 1858, to Mary Smith, a native of Scotland. They have four children-Albert M., Laura J., Ed- mund L. and Henry A. They are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He has held the office of school director for two years.

The first marriage in the township oc- curred on the 22d day of September, 1880. This united William R. Smith and Ada M. Payne in wedlock.

The Pritchard school house, is the old- est in the township, and was organized in the fall of 1879, with W. A. Wright, as

teacher. The school honse was erect- ed at this time on section 11. Minerva Chandler is the present preceptress.

The Chambers school house was built during the spring of 1880, and Emma G. Aldrich, installed as the first teacher. This building is located on section 9, and is at present, presided over by Mrs. L. S. Passmore.

The brick school house on section 17 was erected in the spring of 1880, and Effie M. Ilawkins was the first to preside over its destinies. The present teacher is Emma Skinner.

The Chandler or Thomas school house was built during the spring of 1881, on section 5. This was first taught by Emma Lincoln, and when in October, 1883, the new edifice was erected, at a cost of $600, William Wright was installed as teacher.

The first school held in the township was taught in the house where W. H. Pritchard now lives. This was taught by Clara Clark, in 1876. The lady has since. died.

The present board of directors of the district township of Amsterdam are : C. M. Chapman, president ; S. L. Pass- more, secretary ; R. Thomas and W. H. Pritchard, directors. This is the original board as the district was only organized in its present limits during the summer of 1883.

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

641

CHAPTER XV.

AVERY TOWNSHIP.

All of that territory embraced in what is known as congressional township 94 north, range 23 west, is called Avery township. This is one of the most bean- tiful as well as most productive sub-divis- ions of the county. It lies in the ex- treme southeastern corner of Hancock county, and is bounded on the north by Ell township, and on the west by Twin Lake township. Wright county on the south and Cerro Gordo county on the east finish out the boundaries. The surface is of a gently rolling nature, and in some places decidedly what the settlers call "knobby," that is, in little knolls or round hillocks, instead of the long, sweeping, billow-like swell of the true rolling prairie. The soil, of a rich black loam, possesses to a wonderful degree that extraordinary fertility that has made our State so famous throughout the world. It is also well watered, the East Fork of the Iowa river entering the township on the northwest quarter of section 6, and flowing in a gen- eral southerly, although tortuous course, makes its exit on the line between see- tions 31 and 32. This stream and its sev- eral affluents enrich the soil, supplying the needed moisture that makes them so fer- tile. Groves of timber adorn and bean- tify the banks of the pellneid stream, and make this really the most beautiful

spot in the county. Some very large trees have been noticed in the classic shades of Upper Grove, that lies in the southwest part of the township. In this beautiful spot, where river, wood and prairie combine to form an almost earthly paradise, was made the earliest settlement in the county. Here, on the 9th day of September, 1854, Anson Avery, the first white man to enter the county with the intention of settling, located. The win- ter previous, C. D. Philo and George Nel- son had come up in this direction on a hunting and trapping expedition, and had encamped at this place all winter, while they pursued their avocation. The great beauty of the surroundings and the fer- tility of the soil attracted their attention, and Nelson determined to come back and take up a claim. In the meantime Mr. Avery came into this county, and thus enjoys the honor of being the pioneer of this noble young county. Many inter- esting stories of those early days can be gathered from Mr. Avery, stories of trials and hardships endured, stories of hunting and trapping, and stories of horror and death. He tells how, in the fall of 1854, a party of five men from Cedar Falls came up into Hancock county, hunting, and while in the northwest part, near Buffalo Grove, they came upon a herd of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

twenty buffaloes, feeding. After a little manœuvering they succeeded in killing four full grown ones and capturing a calf. On their way back some of them got away from their companions and lost all track of their proper direction. In this situation night overtook them, and alone, on an apparently boundless prairie, they were compelled to pass the night without any tent. In the morning they found the right trail, and soon joined their friends. That day the party stopped at Mr. Avery's and got their dinner, and divided the buf- falo meat with their host. Also, how men in those pioneer days were caught in blizzards and lost their lives. One man, an Englishman, by the name of Arnett, started from the neighborhood of Twin Lake to go to Belmond, in Wright county, and was overtaken by the terrible storm of wind, sleet and snow that is well- known in this northern part of Iowa as a "blizzard." After battling for some time with it, at last, overcome by fatigue and cold, he sank beneath the strife with the elements, and died, the snow covering him as with a winding sheet. Mr. Avery, George Nelson, and Oriek and Reuben Church found his horse, and ten days af- terwards Thomas Magill found his body, and the few settlers buried him. Many other stories could Mr. Avery tell, but space forbids their relation here. Mr. Avery broke the first land and put in the first erop that ever was known in Han- cock county. This was in the spring of 1855. In October, 1854, George Nelson, the trapper mentioned before, came back to Hancock county with his family, and locating upon section 21, in Avery town- ship, became the second settler in the

county. These two men, Avery and Nel- son, in the fall of 1855, with a yoke of oxen apiece, started out and made the journey to Dubuque for the purpose of laying in a stock of salt, sugar, coffee and clothing, for their years supply. This trip took them twenty-two days to make. The most remarkable incident that oc- eurred on their way back was their meet- ing a herd of about 500 or more elk, in the northwest corner of Franklin county.

These two families were the sum total of this county during the winter of 1854-5, and stories are told how in the depth of winter, flour and meal giving out, corn was ground in a common coffee-mill, to support the family.

Mr. Nelson, after some years residence in this township, went back to Indiana from whence he came, and his present whereabouts are unknown.

In the spring of 1855, the little settle- ment received an addition in the per- sons of Malcolm Magill, Thomas Magill, Sr., and Benoni Haskins, who all took np land, the Magills on section 29, and set- tled down to the life of pioneers.

Orick and Reuben Church came to this place in June, 1855, and settled on section 32. Immigrants now began to pour into this part of the county, and it began to look like an old, settled locality. Among those who were among these argonauts of 1856, 1857 and 1858 were: M. P. Rose- erans, afterwards county judge, and a prominent attorney of the county; Thomas Wheelock, David Hunt, Robert Irwin, George Louppe, the first elerk of the court, C. D. Pritchard, William Gilpin, Charles Church and others.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Among the first items in this township were those that have been already men- tioned in the chapter on "Early Settlement of the County" as the first to occur there- in. They are briefly mentioned again here as it seems proper to do so.

The first settler in the township and county was Anson Avery, who located Sept. 9, 1854. His wife, Lovina Avery, was the first woman who trod the soil of the county.

Anson Avery, farmer, is a native of New York State, born Oct. 2, 1823. When thirteen years of age he went to Cass Co., Mich., and in the fall of 1854 came to what is now Avery township, Hancock Co., Iowa, settling on section 29, on the banks of the Iowa river. He also entered eighty acres on section 28. He hauled his goods and effects to this county with six yoke of oxen. He eut sufficient grass with a common hand scythe to build a hay shed, after which he cut enough logs to build a small house, 16x18 feet, in which to winter. He covered it with clapboards and split some bass-wood logs to make a puncheon floor, the door and window casings being also made of puncheon. This house is still standing on section 28, Avery township. In 1856 he went to Decorah to enter 240 acres more land, and while there bought 160 acres. He has sold and given away, however, until he now has only 300 acres. In 1862 Mr. Avery built his present neat residence, to which he has since put an addition, making a good comfortable house, where many a weary traveler has received a hearty welcome, it being the only house to be seen for miles around. Mr. Avery was married Sept. 9, 1847, to Lovina Philo,

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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 79

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