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 90

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 90
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 90
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 90

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).

Alfred Dyke made a settlement within Orthel in 1878, on section 16. He re- mained sometime and then returned to Wisconsin.

726

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Frank Ileal, one of the prominent young men of the county, was another arrival of the year 1878.

Frank Heal is a young and promising farmer of Orthel township, and has been a resident here since the spring of 1879. He was born in Wiltshire, England, April 13, 1858. When eleven years of age his parents, John and Anna Ileal, came to America and settled at Vinton, Benton Co., Iowa, where the father was soon en- gaged in the contracting for and erection of business bloeks and dwellings. In 1871 Frank left home and went to Kansas, where he remained five years, and was employed as brakeman on a railroad, herding eatttle, ete. He also took a trip through Nebraska, and then returned to his home at Vinton, Iowa. In May, 1878, he came to Ilaneock county, and was first engaged in herding eattle on a piece of land that is now the site of the village of Britt. He then followed farming for a while, working one season for II. C. Pot- ter. In 1880 he rented the "Daggett farm" of 240 acres, and has cultivated it each year since, with the exception of eighty aeres during the season of 1883. Hle owns a large number of fine cattle and stock hogs, and in his financial trans- actions has shown excellent business quali- fications. Mr. Heal is a republican, has been elected constable, and is now serv- ing his second term as township elerk. On July 5, 1876, Mr. Heal's father had his baek broken by the fall of a scaffold, and survived only six weeks. He is buried at Vinton, where the mother and sister, Minnie, still reside. A married sis- ter is a resident of St. Louis, Mo.

Thus it will be seen that this part of the county was slow to settle up, in fact, up to 1880, but little advance was made toward anything like an inflow of immi- gration, but with that year a current of settlers streamed in, and although the stream was small, yet it gave some ap- pearance of growth to the youngest mem- ber of the county.

The first birth was that of Eliphalet Clark Daggett, son of John B. and C. D. Daggett, who was ushered into ex- istence June 13, 1873.

The first death was this same child that the Supreme Ruler, who had only lent him for one short year to his fond parents, re- called to a happier home in the skies, on the 10th of June, 1874.

Matrimony does not seem to run in the heads of the settlers of this township, either because those that did locate here were already provided with the necessary better-half, or there were no young ladies of a marriagable age, or perhaps for both reasons. Be that as it may, the first to enter into the bonds of holy matrimony in this precinet were August M. Moncelle and Elizabeth Orthel. This was in May, 1883, the license bearing date of the 24th of that month.

Orthel was set aside from Boone town- ship and the election for the first officers took place on the 7th of November, 1882. At that time J. J. Donahue, J. M. Orthel and Albert Dyke, were judges, and F. ITeal, clerk of the election. The follow- ing gentlemen were elected to fill the va- rions offices, necessary to manage the affairs of the town government: II. C. Potter, J. M. Orthel and Joseph Lans, trustees; Frank Ileal, town clerk; J. J.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Donahue, assessor; H. C. Potter and A. Dyke, justices of the peace; Fred Schwartz and Jacob Schmidt, constables; II. C. Pot- ter, road supervisor.

All these officers are occupying the same offices at the present, with the ex- ception that William Orthel is road super- visor.

The Daggett school house was built in the spring of 1873, the corner-stone being

laid sometime in April, with formal ceri- monies by Mr. Daggett, in the presence of all the district, numbering five persons. This building, which is 20x20 feet in di- mension, was finished in June, that same year, at a cost of about $600. School was held therein that summer and Mary L. Leggett was installed as the first teacher. Abbie M. Curley is the present precept- ress.

CHAPTER XXIX.

TWIN LAKE TOWNSHIP.

All of that portion of Hancock county that is comprised in congressional town- ship 94 north, range 24 west, is known as Twin Lake. The surface is generally of of a rolling nature, but in some parts the land is nearly flat. The soil is a rich, dark loam, with just enough sand enough in it to scour a plough. Two beautiful lakes, in the southern part of the town- ship, add beauty to the landscape and gave the name to the precinct. These lakes and the West Fork of the Iowa river, which is a considerable stream sup- ply a plentiful amount of water for the fertility of the soil and for stock pur- poses. This fork of the Iowa river enters the township on the north line between sections 5 and 6, and flows nearly south, traversing the whole township, making its exit on section 35.

Most of the first settlers in this town- ship were pre-emptors, many only locat-

ing for the sake of selling out their claim to others, but among them were some bona fide settlers. The first man to make a settlement was an Englishman by the name of William Ar .t, who, with his son and son-in-law, Thomas Sum- merill, took up claims in the year 1855. Here they built them a log cabin and con- tinned to reside. Mr. Arnett was subse- quently caught in a blizzard and frozen to death, an account of which is given else- where.

Henry Overacker and L. A. Loomis settled in this territory in 1856, and re- mained for several years.

In 1858 Abner Stamp, a native of Pennsylvania, essayed a settlement upon seetion 30. 1Ie located here in the spring of that year and managed to live through the following summer, fall and winter, but being quite an old man, sixty-five or seventy years of age, he concluded that

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

he was not fitted for this climate and the life of a pioneer, so he turned his back upon the west and journeyed back to his na- tive State, where he died some years ago.

John A. Bailey, wife and two sons, Lambert B. and Rolla E., together with E. C. Packard and wife, she being a daughter of Mr. Bailey's, were the next and first permanent settlers in Twin Lake. They all came here from Waupaca Co., Wis., and coming to this portion of Han- cock county, took up claims, locating themselves upon sections 6 and 7, during the year 1864. For three years these were all the settlers of the township, the settlement being very slow on account of the land being in the hands of speculators and the tide of emigration swept west- ward where government land could then be had at a cheaper rate. John A. Bailey and E. C. Packard both built log houses on their land and settled down to the hard life of western pioneers.

Lambert B. Bailey, his son, has been prominently identified with the political life of the county, and is the present re- corder, under which head, the reader may find a more detailed sketch of the gentle- man, in the chapter devoted to county representation.

Rolla E. Bailey, the youngest son of John A. Bailey, while binding on a har- vester, during the summer of 1876, was killed by lightning. He, in company with Eugene Garten, who was also binding, and Jennie Bailey, who was driving, were all prostrated by the same bolt. Jen- nie fell over the platform on to the sickle-bar, a most dangerous place, but the horses were felled by the same stroke and she arose from that resting place with all

the alacrity she was mistress of, and while engaged in putting out the fire which had canght in their clothing, the horses re- covered and being scared, ran away. Rolla, was found to be dead but the oth- ers recovered from the effects of the stroke and are both living. Garten is a resident of the township.

John A. Bailey was a native of Caledo- nia Co., Vt., born July 6, 1802. Ile was there reared, and when a young man went to Essex Co., N. Y., where he lived about fifteen years. Hle then removed to Madi- son Co., Ohio, where he resided eighteen months. Ile then went to Granville, Licking Co., Ohio, and in 1860, removed westward to Waupaca Co., Wis. In June, 1864, he came to Hancock Co., Iowa, lo- eating on section 7, now Ta in Lake town- ship, at the place which is so well known as Bailey's Grove, being one of the first settlers in that part of Hancock county. Ilo was married in 1821, to Nancy Wash- bond, a native of Vermont. They reared fourteen children. Mr. Bailey died Dec. 1, 1875. Ilis wife died April 25, 1881.

John D., son of John A. and Nancy (Washbond) Bailey, was born Dec. 27, 1822, in Essex Co., N. Y. He resided with his parents until June 18, 1848, when he married and located in Granville, Ohio. In 1854 he again removed, and where he purchased a farm in Waupaca Co., Wis., where he lived until called by the death of his father to Hancock Co., Iowa. In October, 1877, he located on his father's farin, and has since been a very success- ful and prominent farmer of the county. He has 290 acres of well improved land. Mr. Bailey was married June 18, 1848, to Martha A. Noyes, a native of Vermont.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

They have four children-Edwin N., Mary C., Fred H. and Jennie G. Mr. Bailey has held the offices of township trustee and township treasurer since re- siding here.

E. C. Packard remained on the original farm until the fall of 1883, when he re- moved to Belmond, Wright county, where he at present resides. Mr. Packard has not been unhonored in this county, hav- ing served in several official capacities, and at the time of his departure from the county, was a member of the board of supervisors.

The next settler to take up land in this township was Jonathan Butterfield, who located on section 14, in 1864. He died during the year 1880, and the land passed into other hands.

The first birth in the township of Twin Lake was that of Bertha M., daughter of E. C. and C. N. Packard, born May 28, 1866, now living with her parents at Bel- mond.

The first death was that of Mrs. Henry Langfelt, who died in October, 1869, and was buried in the cemetery at Belmond.

The first marriage was that of Lambert B. Bailey and F. A. O'Cain, in Novem- ber, 1864.

The first school was taught by Mrs. E. C. Packard, during the year 1867. This school was taught at the house of the teacher, on section 6.

The first school house erected in the township was the one now known as the Bailey school. This was built during the summer of 1868, and opened for the fall and winter term with Delia Yarrington as its first teacher.

The next was the Gartin school house, which was built in 1873, and of which Hattie Morse was the first teacher.

The Harmon school house was opened in the fall of 1882, with Mary Granfield as teacher. This building was the school house built in the Gartin district in 1873, as mentioned above, but when in 1882 that district built a new building, the old one was removed to this locality.

The Butterfield school house was origi- nally built on land now a part of Avery township, but in 1870 was removed to the northeast quarter of section 24, Twin Lake township, and in 1880 again moved to the northwest quarter of section 13, where it stands at present. . The first record of any teacher commences in 1880, on the date of its location on the latter section. Ella Cushman taught during the summer of 1880. She is now a resident of Behinond, Wright county. Richard Ruggles was the teache. . nring the fol- lowing fall and winter torm, followed by May Holtz in the summer of 1881. The winter term of this school was presided over by Alma Butte, now a resident of Cerro Gordo county. Ashley Boughton, now teaching in the vicinity of Garner, taught the summer term of 1882. Laura Christie was the last teacher during the year 1883.

The township of Twin Lake was set off during the summer of 1882, and was or- ganized at the general election of the 7th of October, of that year, when the follow ing officers were chosen: James Wilson, J. D. Bailey and Levi Gartin, trustees; Engene Gartin, clerk: E. C. Packard and J. D. Barnham, justices; S. D. Rathburn, assessor, and Joseph Brown, constable.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

These are the officers at the present writ- ing, their terin of office not having expired as yet, with the one exception of S. D. Rathburn, who fills the office of justice of the peace, made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Barnham.

The first marriage in the township after its organization was that of N. L. Har- mon to Mary Laughlin, who were united in matrimony on the Ist of March, 1883, by J. D. Barnham, justice of the peace.

The first death after the organization was that of a daughter of E. C. Packard, who died in November, 1882.

There is but one postoffice in the town- ship, called Bailey's. This was estab- lished in April, 1879, with E. C. Packard as postmaster. The office was located at the house of Mr. Packard, on section 6. He continued to manipulate the mail bags until the 13th of September, 1883, when N. D. Welch became his successor, and moved the office to his house, which stands upon the northwest quarter of the same section. 'There are four weekly mails received at this office, which is a great convenience to all the inhabitants of this township.

There is held at the Gartin school house, every alternate Sabbath, a Lutheran meet- ing, by the Scandinavian population of this and surrounding townships.

There are also, religious services held by a Congregational minister from Belmond, Wright county. This gentleman, whose name is J. D. Sands, has an appointment at the latter place, but comes up to this locality, on alternate Sundays, to preach the "way of eternal life" to this congrega- tion.

The present directors of the schools of the district township are: George Chris- tie, N. L. Harmon and N. D. Welch.

James Wilson, farmer, was born in Switzerland, Ind., April 8, 1840. When eight years of age, he went with his par- ents to Howard county. When twelve years of age, his parents moved to Cass

county, remaining two years then remov- ing to Knox Co., Mo. In 1861 he enlisted in company L, 3d Iowa Cavalry, serving four years. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ilaitsole and Little Rock, Ark. After the capture of Little Rock, Mr. Wilson veteranized, received a fur- lough and remained at home. Ile reported again at Keokuk, Iowa, taking a steamer to St. Louis, and from there to Memphis, Tenn. He took part in the battles of Guntown, Tupelo, Oldtown Creek, also participating in Wilson's raid from Gravel Spring to Macon, Ga. He was discharged in August, 1865, after which, he went to Wapello Co., Iowa, being there married, in January, 1866, to Nancy Hunt. She was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Feb. 22, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four children living-George, born Dec. 16, 1869; Leonard, born Sept. 20, 1873; James H , born Sept. 27, 1875; Daniel G., born Nov. 20, 1880. Mr. Wilson is a mem- ber of King Solomon Lodge, No. 210, A. F. & A. M., of Belmond, Wright county. Mr. Wilson has 160 acres of land in Twin Lake township. In politics, he is a republican.

George Christie, farmer, was born June 14, 1845, in Canada. In 1858 he went to Iowa Co., Wis., where he resided three years, after which he came to Ifancock Co., Iowa, residing until July 1, 1872, with his father, on section 19. He en- listed in company B, 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, but could not be mustered into service, on account of having lost his toes on both feet. In the winter of 1861-62, in going to Ilampton to mill, a distance of thirty miles, he was caught out in a blizzard, staying out all night, and losing all his toes. Mr. Christie was married Nov. 16, 1872, to Lima V. Thayer, born May 30, 1853, in Jefferson Co., N. Y. 'They have had four children, three of whom are living-Robert C., born June 4, 1873; Lucy L., born May 14, 1874; Hattie, born Sept. 16, 1883. Walter was born Sept. 4, 1878, and died July 20, 1880. Mr. Christie is one of the school directors. In politics, he is a republican.

HISTORY

WINNEBAGO COUNTY,

IOWA.

CHAPTER I.

TIIE CHANGE.

A 1 S the changes of less than half a cen- tury are contemplated, one can scarce- ly realize or comprehend that the wonder- ful results of times marvel-working hand are the achievements of a period so brief as to be within the remembrance-almost -of the present generation.

Let us turn for a moment from the busy scenes as they are at present and fix our attention on things as they were but a quarter of a century ago, when the ter- ritory now comprising Winnebago county was still a stranger to the foot of the white man, when the hum of industry's wheels did not disturb the wild deer from its haunt nor the bird from its wood- · land home. As the scene is pie-

tured before us, we view a land- scape of great beauty, the gently un- «ulating prairie stretching its green waves as far as the eye can reach. Here and there small groves of trees stand clearly defined against the horizon, and again, a miniature lake of pure sparkling water, its surface covered with silvery ripples, arrests our attention. This land of beauty, which nature had endowed with such a lavish hand, has never been disturbed save by the tread of the red man, the hoot of the night-owl, or the bark of the prairie wolf as it roams about in search of prey. These vast and rolling prairies were as green then as now; the prairie flowers bloomed as thickly and

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

diffused their fragrance as bountifully. But there was scarcely a trace of civiliza- tion. It was the home of the wild Indian and everything was as nature formed it, with its varigated hues of vegetation; in winter a dreary snow-mantled desert, in summer a perfect paradise of flowers. What a contrast! Now nearly all traces of the primitive are obliterated; in place of the tall prairie grass and tangled un- der-brush, one beholds the rich waving fields of golden grain. In place of the dusky warriors' rude cabins, are the sub- stantial and often elegant dwellings of the thrifty farmers; and the "iron horse," swifter than the nimble deer, treads the pathway so recently the trail of the red man. This soil, then annually devastated by the red sickle of fire, which cut away the wild herbage and drove to its death the stag, is now the home of the cereals and nourishes on its broad bosom thons- ands of tons of the staple products of the great Hawkeye State. Then the storm drove the were-wolf to his hiding place, now the blast drives the herds of the husbandman to comfortable shelter. These woodlands that once gave echo to the shrill warwhoop, now ring with songs of peace, and these valleys that were then the breeding places of Indian atrocities, are now filled with happy homes. The transformation is complete.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

The Legislature of the State of lowa, during the session of 1850-51, established and defined the boundaries of what is now Winnebago county. The county was named after the tribe of Winnebago Indians, who at one time ocenpied the neutral ground in northern Iowa. Prior

to 1851 Winnebago was a part of Fayette county, and at the session of the Legisla- ture, above referred to, it was attached to Polk county. Jan. 22, 1853, it was at- tached to the county of Boone, and re- mained a part of that county until July 1, 1855, when it was attached to Webster. Thus Winnebago was under the judicial control of Webster county until the fall of 1857, when an order was issued for an election to organize the county and elect county officers. The election was held in the fall of that year and the following were the officers elected: County judge, Robert Clark; treasurer and recorder, C. II. Day; clerk of courts, B. F. Denslow; sheriff, J. S. Blowers; superintendent of schools and surveyor, C. W. Scott; and drainage commissioner, Darius Bray. The county was located in October, 1858, by the following commissioners appointed by the Legislature: T. E. Brown, of Polk county; Dr. William Church, of Webster county; and Dr. William Farmer, of Boone county. The commissioners, after careful examination of the different localities proposed, finally decided that the seat of justice for Winnebago county should be located on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 35, township 98, range 24, where in March, 1856, Robert Clark had laid out the town of Forest City.

LOCATION, TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

Winnebago county is the middle one of the northern tier of counties in the State, and is bounded on the north by Minne- sota, on the east by Worth county, on the south by Hancock, and on the west by Kossuth county. It comprises the ter- ritory of townships 98 to 100 north, in-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

elusive, of ranges 23 to 26 west, inclusive, and contains a superficial area of about 400 square miles, equal to 256,000 acres.

The largest and most important stream of water flowing through the county is Lime creek, a tributary of the Shell Rock river. It rises in Minnesota, enters the north part of the county about four miles from the east line, and flows in a south- westerly direction through the entire length of the county. It is from sixty to 100 feet in width, of good depth, and in places affords good water power. There are several smaller streams in the county, but they are of no consequence in furnish- ing water power, being advantageous only as they serve to drain the country through which they flow. Several small but very pretty lakes are found in the county, and two of these, located near together, are called Twin lakes. Rice lake embraces an area of about one square mile. The water in these little lakes is always clear and pure, being fed by innumerable springs along their shores. Game during certain seasons of the year is found in great plenty about these lakes, and the hunter finds rare sport with his gun.

The greater portion of the county is undulating or rolling prairie, although the southeast part is somewhat broken. The west half is rolling prairie, with very lit- tle timber, but excellent soil. The soil consists mostly of a dark loam, with a mixture of sand, rendering it very pro- ductive, and suited to a rapid and vigor- ous growth of vegetation. It is from two to four feet deep, with a subsoil, below which gravel appears in some places, and in others yellow elay or hardpan. The soil throughout the entire county is, with-

out exception, exceedingly fertile, and adapted to the successful cultivation of all grains, grasses and fruits indigenous or acclimated to our northern latitude. The county contains considerable timber land, mostly in the eastern part, bordering on Lime creek. Near the center of the county there is a fine body of timber called "Coon Grove," a considerable por- tion of which is black walnut. A few years ago the timber in the county was quite heavy, and black walnut trees were found in almost every grove, but the ax of the woodman has been busy depleting the forest groves until vory little of the valuable timber is left.

The geological character of Winnebago county is composed of the drift deposit of the eretaceons age and the formation known as the Hamilton group of the De -. vonian system. Impure limestone of the Hamilton group appears south and east of this county in the beds of Lime ereek and Shell Roek river, but its depth increases to- wards the northwest. The drift deposit is derived from the rocks of Minnesota and northern Iowa, and rapidly increases in depth from southeast to northwest, as the country rises from the valley of the Shell Roek river, where the drift is shal- low, to the elevated platean along the south- ern Minnesota line, where it reaches an un- known depth. It is thought by some geologists, owing to the existence of con- siderable sand in the soil of this region, that the drift deposit is chiefly the result of the disintegration of the cretaceous formation known as Nishnabotany sand- stone. This is probably true, as in places there are found evidences of sandy shales, and also large sandstone boulders fit for

734

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

building purposes, adding proof to the above theory.

Extensive beds of peat exist in the county, and it is estimated that these beds occupy an area of at least 2,000 acres. The character of the peat named is equal to that of Ireland, and has an average depth of abont six feet. It is further es- timated that each acre of these beds will furnish 250 tons of dry fuel for each foot of depth. The beds are mostly situated in the parts of the county least favored with timber, and usually the dry rolling prairie comes up to the very borders of the peat marshes, so that they are in no way prejudicial to the health of the re- gion in which they are situated. At pres- ent, owing to the sparsenesss of the popu- lation, this peat is not utilized, but from the fact of its great distance from the coal fields, and the scarcity of timber, the time is coming when their value will be realized, and the truth demonstrated that nature has abundantly compensated the deficiency of other fuel.

RAILROADS.

Railroad facilities in Winnebago county have not yetreached the desired standard. There is but one railway in the county at present, but the citizens are hopeful that before long another road will be laid to Forest City, the county seat. There have been several projects started, by which it was hoped companies might be induced to lay their lines into the county, but all, with one exception, have proven failures. The first railroad to attract the attention and raise the hopes of the people, was the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota, in 1870 and 1871. In the fall of 1870, this company made a survey of their proposed

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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 90

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