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 88

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 88
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 88
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 88

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).

CHAPTER XXV.

GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

All of congressional township 95 north, range 24 west, is included in the civil township of German. Settled at a later date than most of the other townships, it shows, as yet, but little improvement from the state in which nature left it. The surface is a beautiful prairie sloping away to the rivers on each side, in easy swell- ing lines. Watered abundantly, as it is, by the Dast and West Forks of the lowa river, both considerable streams, with the rich grasses, indigenous to this latitude, would seem to proclaim this one of the finest parts of the county for stock pur- poses, and no doubt the time is not far distant when its plains will be covered with cattle and sheep. As German has been almost an exclusively agricultural township, it has but very little history to collect, but an effort has been made to gather all that was accessible.

The first settler in the township was Harvey R. Stull, who located upon section 32, in the year 1869, building the first

house in that locality. Mr. Stull went away from the county some years ago and died at Wadena, Minn., about two years ago.

Manser Dyer, an old settler in the county, moved into German township, in 1870, and erected the second house. Mr. Dyer is now in Kansas, to which State he emigrated several years ago.

The third settler was James Peck, who settled here about 1871, erecting a house and opening a farm. He remained here until the 6th of April, 1880, when he died.

Among the other settlers of the earlier days of this county, were the following, in abont the order of their location: Frank Wellmyer, M. Y. Moore, Henry Switzberg, John Mason and Fritz Griewe, the latter of these in 1875.

The township was organized in 1878, and the first election was held at the Linz school house, Oct. 8, 1878. The follow- ing officers were chosen: F. Ilartke, II. Terhufen and Henry Stille, trustees; G.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

P. Mertin, clerk; Il. Griewe, assessor; S. W. Mertin, justice; E. Steineke and H. Schwartzenberg, constables. This elee- tion passed off quietly and orderly. The judges of this election were: Henry Ter- hufen, E. Linz and G. P. Mertin; and S. W. Mertin and F. Linz acted as clerks. Only twenty-four votes were cast.

The present officers are as follows: August Law, J. C. Schuldt and John Gretznasber, trustees; Louis Sampson, clerk; S. W. Mertin and J. C. Linz, jus-

tices; August Law and 11. Schuldt, con- stables.

The first and only postoffice was estab- lished during the year 1882, and llenry Terhufen was commissioned as post- master. It had but a short life, however, being discontinued shortly afterwards, and there is now none in the township.

Nearly all the inhabitants of this town- ship are German, or German extraction, hence the name given to it.

CHAPTER XXVI.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

The civil township comprises the terri- tory known as congressional township 97, range 24 west, of the 5th principal meri- dian. It is located in the northern tier of townships, the second from the east line of the county. It is bounded on the north by Winnebago county, on the east by Ellington township, on the south by Garfield and west by Crystal. The sur- face is gently undulating prairie, inter- spersed with groves and woods, to a slight extent. Considerable of the land, in an early day, was thought to be too swampy for cultivation, but has improved in quality as the surrounding country was opened up into farms, as it is well known that the cultivation of any considerable portion of the country has a tendency to drain the surrounding land. The soil is of the same dark, alluvial character as the

balance of this region, fertile to an almost unlimited degree. The township is watered by Lime creek and a branch of the lowa river. The former takes its rise in a small lake or pond on the northwest quarter of section 5, and flowing in, first a southeasterly, then an easterly direction, passes into the township of Ellington, on section 12. This stream, and its affluents, amply waters the northern part of Madi- son township. The East Fork of the Iowa river rises on sections 21 and 26, the two small brooks coming together on the northwest quarter of section 35, from whence the stream flows in a southeasterly course out of the township. For many years, wheat was the main erop here, as it was everywhere in northern Iowa, but owing to the repeated failures in the erop ¡ of that cereal, the farmers are turning

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

their attention to stock, with most excel . lent success.

The first settlement in this township was affected in September, 1855, by John Maben. On the 27th of that month he located in the eastern edge of the present township, on sections 12 and 13, which place he has made his home almost ever since. Mr. Maben has, since his coming, been one of the most prominent and in- fuential citizens of the county and been honored by his fellow-citizens with many official positions of trust, and is the treas- urer eleet, of the county, at the present writing.

In the late fall of 1855 James J. Barker and Samnel Jefford made their appearance in this township and settled, the former upon section 2, and the latter on section 11. Mr. Jeffords died of consumption during the winter of 1859. Mr. Barker has also been dead for many years, dying while a resident of this county.

In 1856, Eli Moon, Charles R. Wright and George Stroskopf came into this town- ship and made a settlement. Eli Moon located upon a portion of section 1, where he remained for many years.

Charles R. Wright settled upon parts of sections 12 and 13, and proceeded to open np a farm. He was often called away to attend to surveying, as he had been elect- ed county surveyor. In one of these ex- cursions, laying ont roads, and defining boundaries of sections and sub-divisions, he contracted a cold, which instead of getting better, soon settled on his lungs, and in 1859, he died. He was one of the best educated of any of his compeers, and in his death, the county met with a great loss.

Later on, among the more prominent of the pioneers of Madison township were James Lackore, Harrison Wheelock, Ja- cob Seibert and others.

James Lackore was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1835. When sixteen years old he removed to Illinois and lo- cated within twelve miles of Chicago. He remained there five years and then re- moved to Iowa, locating in Forest City, Winnebago county. He soon after bought eighty acres of land in Madison town- ship, Hancock county, seetion 3. He lived in Forest City five years, erecting the first frame house built in that town. He then built a house on his farm and re- moved thereon in 1864. In 1868 he bought another eighty aeres in Madison township. He has twenty aeres of timber in Ellington township, this county, and ten acres of timber in Forest township, Winnebago connty. He has been mar- ried twice. His first marriage was in 1864, to Sophia Seibert, of Illinois. Re- sult of union, seven children, four of whom are living-William, Cora, Peter and Johnnie. Mrs. Sophia Lackore died Jan. 2, 1876, aged thirty-nine years, five months and twelve days. Ile was mar- ried the second time, Nov. 21, 1879; to Mrs. Elizabeth Schwichtenberg, of Ger- mantown, Hancock county. Result of union, two children-Arthur Pearl and Ervin Millard. Mrs. Lackore had three children by her first husband-Martha Mary, Alice Lida and Ida Hettie. Mrs. Laekore is a member of the Germantown M. E. Church. Mr. Lackore is a republi- can. In 1864, he enlisted in the 8th Iowa regiment, company F, and served under Gen. A. J. Smith until the elose of the

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

war, participating in the battle of Span- ish Fort and many skirmishes of minor note. His parents, William and Eliza- beth Lackore, live in Forest City. Mrs. Lackore's mother died seven years ago. Her father lives in Allamakee Co., Iowa.

The first school house was ereeted in 1858, and is what is known as the Barker school house. Here the first school was tanght by Hannah Johnson, a lady from Boston. After several years spent in this county, she returned to Massachu- setts where she is yet living, unmarried. The Barker school house is a neat frame structure, 18x30 feet in size, and cost in the neighborhood of $600 to build. The Skinner or Hartletz school building was erected in 1868, on section 15, where it stands, at a cost of about $600. This is also a frame building.

The Maben school house was built dur- ing the year 1869. This is a brick struct- ure, and cost about $900 to build. It stands on section 13. L. B. Phelps was the first teacher, and C. B. Maben, the second.

The Steiff or Lackore school house was erected in 1869, on section 3, and is a brick edifice, 20x36 feet in dimension, and cost $600. The first teacher here was a Mr. Walker.

The Greis school house was built in 1879, on section 6, and is 18x24 feet in size, and cost $500 to ereet. Sophia Con- ners was the first teacher in this building.

A cemetery was laid out as a public burial place in 1864, on section 11. The first interment was that of Charles R. Wright, who died in the year 1859, while county surveyor. Mr. Wright was the first citizen of the township to die, and

was buried at Forest City, but on the laying ont of this cemetery his remains were ex- humed by his friends and brought to this place and re-buried.

The first birth occurred in January, 1856, and was that of a son of Thomas Bearse.

The first marriage was that between James J. Barker and Harriet Dawson, which took place in 1860.

The township of Madison, then com- prising the north half of Hancock county, was organized in June, 1858. The first election was held at the dwelling of James C. Bonar. The judges of the election, at this time, were James C. Bonar, lacob Ward and F. N. Colburn. The records of the election are very incomplete, as are all the papers of pioneer days and full returns are totally inaccessible. The fol- lowing were, however, elected: G. R. Maben and Charles R. Wright, justices of the peace; John Jeffords and II. II. Rice, constables.

The returns of this election were sent to Winnebago county, where they were canvassed by Robert Clark, the county judge of that county, and C. D. Stockton and C. W. Scott, two justices of the same.

J. H. Hennenhofer was born in Prussia, Aug. 15, 1843. When he was three years old his parents emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, La. He soon moved to Coffeeton, Ky., thenee to Cincin- nati, Ohio, thence to Indiana. On account of sickness in the family of his parents he soon left there and came to Iowa, locating in Keokuk. After remaining there three years he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, thence to Davenport, Iowa, thence to Kirksville, Mo. For several years after-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

ward he moved around from place to place, finally bringing up in Savan- nah, Ill., where he remained fifteen years. In 1864 he went to California and remained there until 1866, when he went back to Illinois. In 1868 he came to Iowa, locating in Forest City, Winnebago county. Ile then bought 160 acres of land on sec- tion 4, Madison township, Hancock county. In 1876 he took a trip to California , Washington territory and Oregon, and was gone about a year. In 1881 he sold his farm on section 4, and purchased eighty acres on seetion 7. In 1882 he sold out and bought 160 acres on section 3, where he now lives. Mr. Hennenhofer was married on Christmas day, 1872, to Maria Smith, of Madison township. Re- sult of union, six children, four of whom are living-Peter, Daisy, Myrtle and Lil- lie. Mr. Hennenhofer belongs to the Catholic Church and his wife to the M. E. Church.

Silas R. Smith was born in Huron Co., Ohio, Aug. 15, 1829. When about one year old his parents removed to Kalama- zoo Co., Mich. The subject of this sketch lived in that place until about twenty- four years of age, then removed to Kane Co., Ill. He lived in Kane county un- til the spring of 1857, when he removed to Kansas, being one of the pioneers of that State. He left that State in 1860, because of the extreme drouth, and went back to Illinois, locating, this time, in DeKalb county. IIe remained there about two years, then he went to Michigan, where he purchased a farm. He lived on the farm for about two and a half years, then returned to Illinois, loeating in Ge- noa. Here, he formed a partnership with

his father-in-law and went into the hotel business. They run the hotel, Genoa Ex- change, for a year, when Mr. Smith sold out and went to farming again. In the spring of 1870 he came to Iowa, locating in Hancock county, near Forest City. He purchased eighty acres of land on see- tion 6, in Madison township. Has since purchased another eighty, making 160 acres in all. When he first moved on his farm he built a hay shed, and lived in it for about three months, until he could build a log cabin, which when finished was 18x22 feet in dimensions. Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Adeline Nichols, of Kane Co., Ill. The result of this union is five children-Maria E., Ebenezer M., Horatio N., Charles E. and Ernest T. Mr. Smith is a republican in politics. He is quite an extensive stock dealer, and keeps some nice graded stock.

Frederick Steiff is a native of New York, and was born at Waterloo, Seneca county, Jan. 27, 1855. Ile there resided until eleven years of age, and his parents then removed to Winneshiek Co., Io wa, where his father purchased a farm. Five years later, the father removed to Han- cock county, located in Madison town- ship, and purchased a farm on section 3. He there died Oct. 11, 1872. The son carried on the farm until 1878, and in 1882, bought his present farm of eighty acres on section 7. Mr. Steiff is a demo- erat of the "true. Jaeksonian stripe," and is a highly respected citizen. He was married, Nov. 26, 1877, to Caroline Sei- bert, of Madison township. Three chil- dren have been born to them-Frederick William, Lora Ellen and Joseph Austin. Both parents are members of the Method-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

ist Episcopal Church. Mr. Steiff's mother, Mrs. Catharine (Steiff) Filter, still re- sides in this township.

Henry A. Bates was born in Plymouth Co., Mass., Oct. 5, 1843. When thirteen years of age, his parents moved to Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., where he was reared and educated. In 1862 he enlisted in the 23d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, company H, and served three years. He participated in fifteen general engagements, among which may be men- tioned Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Port Gibson, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Arkansas Post and Mobile. At the expi- ration of his term of service, he returned to Wisconsin, where he followed farming for two years. In 1867 he removed to Iowa, and for five years traveled from one point to another, remaining for a short time in each of the following named places: Aigona, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls and Winthrop. He finally located in Ilaneock county, and with his brother, Adrian W., purchased 160 acres of land on section 24, Madison township. This land is all under cultivation. Mr. Bates and his brother, with four maiden sisters -Harriet A., Zalina A., Mary I. and Ella, live together. Their parents, Henry and Harriet Bates, died some years ago.

Joseph Wernet is a native of Germany, born March 19, 1826. He was there reared, attending the publie or parochial schools for the term of years designated by law, and served three years in the reg- ular army. He participated in the con- fliet immediately following the revolution of Baden (in 1847-8) and during the lat- ter year emigrated to America. He first located in Philadelphia, Penn., and soon

after embarked in the fresh and salt meat trade. A year later he went to St. Louis, Mo., and from that point commenced a series of wanderings which covered a period of seventeen years, and finally eul- ininated in his locating near Savannah, Ill., and engaging in agricultural pursuits. During the time above mentioned he visited,or engaged in business at Dubuque, La Claire, Byron, Lyons and Clinton, in Iowa, and Galena, Rock Island, Moline and Savannah in Illinois. Ile remained seven years at the latter place, alternately engaged in farming and the saloon and restaurant business. In 18:3 he disposed of his business interests and came to Iowa, loeating in this township. He now owns 335 acres of excellent farming land on sections 9 and 16, the greater portion of which is under cultivation. Mr. Wer- net was united in marriage Jan. 28, 1852, to Wilhemina Hennenhofer, of Dubuque, Iowa. Of the ten children born to them nine are living-Joseph, Henry, Peter, Laypolt, William, John, George, Frank and Wilhemina. Mr. and Mrs. Wernet are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and the former is connected by principles of patriotic belief with the re- publican party.

Nils Harraldson became a resident of Madison township in 1879. He was born among the cold, barren slopes of Norway, March 9, 1850. When nine years of age his parents removed to Wisconsin, locat- ing in Iowa county, where Nils resided until 1874. He then removed to Mitehell Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming, finally purchasing and locating on 160 aeres in the township of Britt, Hancock county. In 1879 he sold his land and

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HISTORY OF IIANCOCK COUNTY.

came to Madison township, renting of John Maben the farm on section 24, where he still resides. Mr. Harraldson is a true believer of republican principles, and votes for the candidates of that party. He was married in 1875 to Julia B. Wall, of Iowa Co., Wis. They are the parents of two children-Carrie Sophia and Henry Bennie.

Anton Gries was born in New York, May 15, 1850. When three years of age his parents removed to Polk Co., Wis., near Milwaukee. In 1857 they removed to Manitowoc Co., Wis., where they pur- chased a farm. From that place the sub-

ject of this sketch went to Michigan and located in Menomonee, where he remained twelve years, then he came to Iowa and located in Madison township, Hancock county. He bought 160 acres of land on section 6, all of which is under cultivation. On the 21st of June, 1876, Mr. Gries was married to Ida Kirk, of Madison town- ship. The result of this union has been three children, two of whom are living -- Ella and Joseph Garfield. Mr. Gries is a democrat. His parents, Peter and Mary Gries, live in Meeme, Wis. Mrs. Gries' parents, David and Lucy Kirk, make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Gries.

CHAPTER XXVII.

MAGOR TOWNSHIP.

In the extreme southwestern portion of Hancock county lies the congressional township 94, range 26, containing some of the finest land in the county. Rich, black loamy soil, in endless rolls, sweep across its entire length; and the almost complete absence of sloughy land, and the deep substratum of yellow clay, together with the streams and rivers that water its fertile meadows, all evidence the produc- tiveness of its territory. This precinct is Magor township, called so in honor of Ilenry Magor, one of its early settlers and prominent, representative men. The territory formerly was a component part of Amsterdam township, but in 1878, it

was set apart and made a separate civil township. The first election was held in the fall of that year and resulted in the choice of the following officers for the township government: James Crane and Alvah Packard, trustees; William Magor, clerk; Harrison Bailey, assessor; Thomas Magor, justice ; M. Lang, constable ; Henry Magor, road supervisor. The township is officered at present by the fol- lowing gentlemen : George W. Gray, Her- man Brummund and Ludwig Meissner, trustees; Ernest Brummund, clerk ; Wil- liam Brummund, assessor; Frank P. IIes- kett and W. H. Churchill, justices ; F. E. Shaw and Leander Smith, constables ;

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Henry Buntting, W. H. Churchill and Peter Kamitson, road supervisors. It is noted, that at the first election mentioned above, there were but ten voters in the township and a difficulty arose as to how to divide the offices, as there were more places than men.

The pioneer settler in Magor township was James Crane, a native of New York State, who located on section 21 in the year 1866. Here he continued to make it his residence, for years the only inhabit- ant of the dreary waste of grass and weeds, miles from his nearest neighbor. Here he reigned "monarch of all he sur- veyed" until June, 1880, when he was killed. It seems that a man by the name of Samuel Bisel, was herding cattle on the prairie near Mr. Crane's farin, and allowed some of his stock to wander off into the fields of the latter, to the great detriment and damage of the growing erops. This angered Mr. Crane, and seizing a club, he started ont to drive them off. This was the occasion of an altercation between the men and blows were exchanged, when the herder, in turn grown wrathy, raised a shot-gun which he had with him and struck Crane over the head with the butt of it. This staggered him, when the man gave another blow, the locks of the gun this time pene- trating the skull and injuring the brain, so that death did not long linger, but trod close upon the heels of the blow. The law took cognizance of the offence against the State, and Bisel was brought before a jury of his peers, which after a lengthy trial disagreed, and the case was carried, by change of venne, to Wright county,

where the man was finally acquitted and discharged.

The next settler in the township was Harrison Bailey, who located on section 16 during the year 1869. He did not re- main here long, however, but removed to the neighboring State of Minnesota.

A long time now elapsed before any more settlers came here, a time while nature reigned supreme in these solitudes. llowever, in the spring of 1878, Henry Magor came, and locating on section 25, opened up a farm. le came here from Wisconsin, although a native of England. Mr. Magor, who is still a resi- dent of the township, is one of its most influential and prominent men.

Henry Magor, son of Henry and Sarah Magor, was born in Cornwall, England, April, 11, 1823. ITe received a good com- mon school education. While living in England, he was interested in the tin mines. Ile eame to America in 1846, locating in Grant Co., Wis. He had upon his arrival in Wisconsin a wife and child and $40 in money. Being very successful in whatever he undertook to do, he made money rapidly. Ile soon formed a partnership known as Crawford, Mills & Co., being engaged in lead mining, and owning and running three blast furnaces. For thirty-five years he made his residence in Wisconsin ; in the meantime visiting California, where he remained two and a half years, and engaged in gold mining. He owned the Wisconsin claim on Wood's creek, near Sonora. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Ma- gor came to Iowa, locating on section 25, Amsterdam township, Hancock county. He, in partnership with J. E. Corwith,

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

of Galena, III., purchased about 1,700 acres of land. About 400 acres of this land is under plow, and the rest of the farm produces hay. Mr. Magor was mar- ried Jan. 11, 1844, to Jane, daughter of Richard and Jane Cornelius, of Cornwall, England. They have had nine children, four of whom are living-Richard, Thomas, William and John. Mr. and Mrs. Magor are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Magor is a republican. Three of Mr. Magor's sons-Richard, Thomas and Wil- liam-are married. Richard and William live in Wyoming territory, being engaged in the mercantile business in Rawlins, a station on the Union Pacific railroad. Thomas lives with his father on the farm. Messrs. Magor & Corwith are extensive stock dealers, raising, buying and selling cattle, horses and hogs. They have one barn 56x64 feet in size; another for cattle, hay and horses, 24x108 feet in size. They have a machine house 16x42 feet in size, for farming implements ; outbuildings, barns, etc., costing over $4,000. They employ four men on an average the year round. A wind mill on the farm draws water from a well 112 feet deep. Pipes are laid from the well to the house, stock yards, and piggery, which keep a good supply of fresh water on hand all the time. These pipes are laid about three feet under the surface of the ground. These men also raise a large amount of grain, raising in 1883 over 5 000 bushels of oats.

No other settlements were made in this township until the founding of the town of Corwith in 1880, a beautiful little place. Many parties owned land in the town- ship before this, but did not live there,

bence cannot be viewed in the light of settlers.

The first death in the township of Ma- gor was that of James Crane, in June, 1880, as already detailed.

The first birth was that of a danghter of Mr. Crane's, but the date of the event is inaccessible.

The first marriage was that of O. H. Stilson to Lida Olmsted, which occurred upon the 2d of October, 1881. The bride was at the time a resident of Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa.

The first school was taught in 1879, by Alice Crane, in a building on section 28, She had but three scholars, all her cousins, whose names were R. D., Prudie and Katie Crane.

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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 88

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