USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt 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 100
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The other settlers in Humboldt town- ship during the year 1855 were: Abel and Reuben Bond, Henry McLean, William Hamilton, Patrick Burns, Martin G. Wil- liams, George Ellis, George and Thomas Steward and Oliver Russell.
Abel Bond was a native of North Car- olina, and was a member of the Society of Friends. He located upon a part of sec- tion 19, which he continued to cultivate until 1859, when he sold out. He then purchased a place on section 30, but later removed from the county.
Reuben Bond, believed to be a cousin of Abel, was also a native of North Carolina, and located on section 18. He remained until 1860, when he emigrated to Har- din county, where he had relatives, and where he still resides.
John Williams and Oliver Russell lived in a cave in the bluff on Lott's creek dur- ing the winter of 1855-6. As there were few, if any, settlers in their vicinity, and a fantine in their camp, they had nothing but game to eat, and that grew scarcer day by day. One morning, hungry and faint for want of nourishing food, they managed to stagger to their feet, and seiz- ing their guns, sallied forth to shoot a brace of geese that they knew of. John Williams was not able to get a shot at the bird, as it flew away too quick, but Rus- sell was more fortunate, and returning quickly to their den they broke their lengthened fast.
Henry McLean made his settlement in the spring of 1855. He was a native of Indiana, but came here from Hardin coun- ty, this State. Shortly after his arrival his wife died, and he buried her on what is known as the Asa Smith farm, in Hum- boldt township. After her death this country had no charms for him, so gather- ing up his movables he went back to Hardin, and has been lost sight of. This death of Mrs. McLean was not only the first in the township, but the first occur- ring among the settlers in the county.
William Hamilton came from Indiana, and in the spring of 1855 staked out a claim upon section 5, where he broke up the sod and made him a farm.
Patrick Burns was another of the pio- neers of 1855, who located on section 17, in this township. He was a native of the "Emerald Isle," born in 1829. He came to the United States in 1843, and after a stay of about a year in the State of Ver- mont, removed to Indiana, where he mar- ried Jane Basham. He came to Iowa in
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1853, and located in Hardin county; re- moved to Humboldt and lived here for about three years, when he returned to Hardin county. He afterwards enlisted in company A, of the 32d Iowa Infantry, and served three years. He is now one of the well-to-do farmers of Hardin county.
Martin G. Williams took a claim on sec- tion 6 in the spring of 1855, but remained but a few months, when he left, going to Sioux City.
George Ellis, who was a native of the State of Maine, in July, 1855, bought ont the claim of Mr. McCormick, who wanted to go elsewhere, and settled down as a pio- neer farmer. Ile remained here until some time during the war, when he re- moved to Salt Lake City, Utahi.
Oliver Russell made a farm upon sec- tion 19 in the same year, but remained only two years, when he left the county.
George and Thomas Steward came to Humboldt township in November, 1855, and settled upon section 18. These par- ties were of Irish nativity, and hardy, ro- bust men. George afterwards removed to California, where he died. Thomas lives on a farm in Grove township.
These are believed to be all of the ar- rivals of 1855. In the following year the township, however, received large acces- sions to its population, among whom were William Tucker, H. A. Knowles, James A. Hunt, George and John Hart, Phocion Weeks, Samuel and Eber Stone, Herman Munson, William Hill, John Hewitt, Dearman Williams and others.
William Tucker, a native of New York State, located a claim on a part of section 8, in the spring of 1856. Ile remained upon this farm until the summer of 1870,
when he removed to Stafford Co., Kan., where he is still living.
Henry A. Knowles was also a settler of the same year, locating on section 20. He is now a resident of the town of Hum- boldt. He is a native of Rhode Island, and an enterprising, energetic man.
James A. Hunt was the next to settle, locating on section 9 in 1856. He is liv- ing at present on his farm in Delana township.
George and John Hart came to this vi- cinity in the latter part of July, 1856, and pre-empted 160 acres each on section 4. These were cousins, and came originally from New York State. George is still a resident of this farm which he thus ac- quired.
In the month of July, 1856, Phocion Weeks came into Humboldt township, taking up, under the pre-emption laws, a claim to a quarter on section 8 He lived ou this place until 1880, when he moved into the rising town of Livermore, where he still resides.
Phocion Weeks, one of the oldest set- tlers in Humboldt county, was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, June 21, 1815. In his youth he learned the cooper's trade, and was engaged in that business with John W. McKee four years at Columbus, Ohio. He was in the same business three years in Delaware county. In 1843 he moved to Cumberland Co., Ill., where he purchased eighty acres of land and en- gaged in farming. He came to Hnni- boldt county in July, 1856, and pre- empted 160 acres of land on section 8, Humboldt township. In 1862 he bought 126 acres on sections 17 and 18. Abont one year afterwards he traded this land
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for 160 acres in another place. He has since given eighty acres to each of his sons, and sold eighty acres. Mr. Weeks owns valuable property in Livermore. In 1880 he removed to that place and com- menced keeping hotel, the Weeks' House; but during the past year has given it up on account of being too old to have so much care upon his shoulders. He was married March 12, 1840, to Margaret E. Rees, of Delaware Co., Ohio. They have six children-Johnson F., Joseph B., Mary E., Annette E., Ione U. and Emma J. Ione U. was married to Rufus Page, Sept. 14, 1873; Johnson F. to Kate Roy, in June, 1873; Mary E. to William Bat- terson, in September, 1876; Annette E. was married to Alexander Calder, Nov. 2, 1870; Emma J. was married to J. R. Rose, in September, 1876. Mrs. Weeks is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr Weeks has held the office of township trustee ever since the town was organized, and has been librarian ever since the library was organized in Liv- ermore in 1880.
Samnel Stone, and his son Eber, came to Humboldt township and purchased the farm of the Johnson brothers, on section 16, containing 320 acres, and became per- manent settlers thereon. Mr. Stone, Sr., was a native of New York, and has been dead many years. Eber Stone came into the county in 1854 and entered some land in what is now Grove township, but did not move on it until the spring of the fol- lowing year. On the advent of his father he sold out this claim and came with the latter to Humboldt township. He lived upon this farm until 1878, when he died.
A native of the Empire State, Herman Munson, by name, bronght his family to this portion of the county in 1856, and settled upon a part of section 6, where they lived until 1860, when they removed to California.
William Hill and his family, in 1856, also located upon section 8, but moved away in 1860, and have been lost sight of.
In August, the same year, John Hewitt, a native of New York, arrived and located just over the line in Delana township, and partially in this. He is a resident of Liv- ermore at the present time.
Dearman Williams and his family, among whom were his sons, John, Benja- min, James and Edwin, made their advent from Marshall Co., Iowa, where they had been making a short stay, all being natives of the State of Ohio. Mr. Williams, Sr., was the first physician in the county, and a sketch of him in that connection is given in the chapter under the heading of "Medical Profession of the County." The boys took up a farm on sectiona 18 and 19, which they cultivated while their father practiced medicine. Dr. Williams died in 1867, and since then all the boys have drifted away from the county. James is said to be a Methodist preacher, although brought up in the Society of Friends, and is now located in the Black Hills. John is in Indian Territory, acting as agent for the government; Benjamin owna a large cattle ranche in Texas, and has acquired a com- petency; Edwin, who resides in Philadel- phia, is the inventor of the safety screw mine lift, which has brought him wealth and fortune.
Humboldt township, which then com- prised what now is known as Vernon and
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Delana, in addition to its present territory, was organized as a part of Kossuth county in 1856, but the record of the first election and officers has not survived the lapse of years, and cannot be given in this connec- tion.
The present officers are: J. A. Hunt, Phocion Weeks and George Hart, trustees; A. H. Knowles, clerk; H. M. Burnham, assessor; W. D. Weed and William Ed- son, justices.
One of the early settlers of this town- ship, thus writes, of those pioneer days: "During the early part of the year 1856, the stock of provisions among the settlers along Lott's creek ran very low, and though teams were dispatched to the older settlements upon the Iowa and Cedar riv- ers,as soon as possible, for the necessaries of life,some at least were reduced to living entirely upon fish caught with little hand- made dip nets, in the creek, the family of Abel Bond, in particular, having no other food for several days."
FIRST THINGS.
The first child born in Humboldt town- ship was Ila, a daughter of John and Amelia Williams. She was born on a farm one-half a mile south of Livermore, in July, 1857.
The next child was a son of William and Sarah Deens, born in February, 1858.
Emma J., the daughter of Phocion and Margaret E. Weeks, first saw the light on the 17th of February, 1858. She mar- ried R. J. Rose, and resides in Palo Alto county.
The first death was that of Mrs. Henry McLean, in 1855, which was also the first in the county.
The second death in the township was that of Hugh Johnson, who died in Octo- ber, 1856. He was buried on the farm owned by his son, Frank, on section 16, but in 1861, the remains were exhumed and re-buried in Sumner Cemetery.
The pioneer marriage was, also, the first in the county, and was that of M. D. Col- lins to Kate Williams, in September, 1858, They married themselves, according to the rules of the Society of Friends, of which they were members.
The first school in the township was held in a small log cabin built by Patrick Burns, on his land. This was the winter of 1857-8, and the school, which contained some sixteen scholars, was tanght by Eliza D. Knowles. This house is still standing on the farm recently owned by Henry A. Knowles, but now in possession of Mr. Ford.
The first school house was built by pri- vate subscription, in 1860, in which T. E. Collins taught the first school.
The Von school honse was built in 1865, and Cyrus Aiken was the first to teach therein, Sylvia Hunt is the present pre- ceptress.
Michael and Frank Johnson, in the spring of 1855, sowed the first wheat in the township. They as well as Harlow Miner, also, planted some corn the same season.
The first log house was built by Henry Lott, on section 16, in 1852. This build- ing was afterward burned down.
The first frame honse erected in Hum- boldt township was put up by Dr. Dear- man Williams, in the fall of 1856, on sec- tion 18. This was afterwards burned
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down, but the stable is standing yet, a memento of pioneer days.
The first religious meetings were held hy the Friends or Quakers in July, 1856. The Methodists held services for the first time in 1857. The Friends also initiated the pioneer First-day school, as they call Sabbath schools, the same year. Dr. Dearman Williams was the superintend- ent; Eliza D. Knowles and T. Ellwood Collins, teachers.
The first election was held in Novem- ber, 1856, while this part of the county was part of Kossuth. The voting place was held at Johnson & Basham's mill. At that time the township gave a majority for the democratic candidates.
The first mill was built in the township, in the summer of 1856, by Johnson & Basham, as detailed elsewhere. The second mill was also a saw mill, and was erected by John Russell in 1867. Mr. Russell was a native of New York State, and operated this inill, after its comple- tion, for one season, when he disposed of it to George McCauley, who put in the corn-cracker he had in the old mill. Mr. MeCauley ran the establishment for abont three years, when the dam was washed out and the mill stopped. It having never been restored, the building, which was 20x60 feet, and one story high, went to decay.
The first postoffice was established in the fall of 1857, and was then known as the Lott's Creek office Mr. McKee wax appointed the first postmaster. He was succeeded by George W. Hanchett, Sam- nel Church, Theodore Smith and John Hewitt. While in the hands of the latter, Delana township was set off, and the post-
office was found to be in that sub-division, where it remained until December, 1880, - when it was removed to Livermore. The present postmaster is W. D. Weed.
TOWN OF LIVERMORE.
This town was laid ont in the fall of 1879, and was platted and filed for record on the 24th of Jannary, 1880, by G. W. Bassett, A. MeBaue and W. M. Grant, all of Fort Dodge. George C. MeCanley and George Tillson also laid out an ad- dition to the town a little later. It is lo- cated upon section 17, at the junction of the Minneapolis & St. Louis, and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Rail- roads, and close to the west bank of the DesMoines river. It is a beautiful loca- tion.
Five buildings were started here about the same time in December, 1879. The first to commence is generally conceded to be William Davis, but the others be- gan within a few days after he had started operations. James Goddard took the Davis building and had it finished first. This is now occupied by C. Hamilton as a furniture store. John Geodes finished his saloon building next. James God- dard finished the third which was sold to John Walbillig, who started a general merchandise store therein. J. Meagher got his store building in running order a few days later. Since that time many buildings have been erected and Livermore bids fair to be a fine town, judging from the enterprise and acumen of its inhabitants.
HISTORIC CRUMBS.
The first birth in Livermore was that of John, the son of John and Kate Wal- billig, horn in January, 1880. This child died when but a few weeks old.
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The first marriage was that in which Charles Weed and Gertie Tyler were the contracting parties. This was solemnized on the 11th of September, 1881. The parties are now residents of Villisca, Montgomery county, in the south part of this State.
G. C. McCanley bought the first wheat in the town in the spring of 1880.
James Goddard purchased the first corn, which was bronght to this market, in De- cember, 1879. In that and the following month he handled some 25,000 bushels of this great product. He also bought the first live stock about the same date.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad was finished to Livermore in the fall of 1879, and on its coming the town sprang into being. The first agent that had charge of this important station was W. J. Taft, who had his office in a car for about six weeks, and was succeeded by C. W. Huston, and who was succeeded in turn by Eugene King. After him several par- ties held the place for a few weeks or months at a time, until September, 1883, when L. B. Tannyhill, the incumbent took charge. He is also agent for the American Express, the only one that reaches this point. The depot, which is a good one, was erected during the sum- mer of 1880.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & North- ern Railroad was finished to this place in the fall of 1881, the first accommodation train arriving at 10 A. M., October 14. The depot is a neat and tasty edifice, said to be the finest on this line west of C'edar Rapids. The first station agent was S. S. McDaniels, who after about eight months was succeeded by C. W. Huston, who
maintained the position until October, 1883, when the present agent, W. A. Bates, was appointed.
It is needless to speak of the strides made by Livermore toward prominence. Suffice it to say that it ontgrew its village clothes and was duly incorporated in April, 1882, under the laws of the State. The first election was held at the old school house at that time, and the follow- ing officers were elected : George Tilison, mayor; C. W. Huston, recorder ; E. L. Frank, treasurer ; Perry 'Tuttle, marshal ; J. M. Meagher, Frank Allen, John Zentz, John Hewitt, John Walbillig and C. M. Hamilton, councilmen. Mr. Tillson re- signing shortly after his election, Samuel Slemmons was appointed in his stead. The present officers are as follows : W. M. Brackett, mayor ; C. M. Hamilton, re- corder ; E. L. Frank, treasurer ; J. M. Meagher, J. W. Hewitt, John Merrill, F. E. Allen, J. B. Griffiths and George Till- son, members of the couneil.
'The school house was erected in 1882, at a cost of $2,000, and is a good sub- stantial structure, two stories high. Mrs. V. Wadkins and Olive Buck were the first teachers, and Maggie Davis and Alice Fowler the present ones.
In 1882 S. Marriage, of Monroe county, came to Livermore, and on the citizens of the enterprising, live town making up a bonus, proceeded to build the Humboldt county flouring mill, one of the best in this region. The building is 24x36 feet in dimensions, three stories high, and las, in addition, an engine room 12x34 feet. The mill has four run of stones, and turns out a high grade of family and baker's flour. Mr. Marriage ran it until
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May, 1883, when it passed into the hands of the present owners, Randall & Knowl- ton.
The first hotel was run by George Till- son, on the first inception of the town, in 1879. This he continued for abont six months.
The Union Hotel, of which J. J. O'Brien is the proprietor, was built in the fall of 1879, by F. F. French, now the clerk of courts, and one of the merchants of Hnm- boldt. It was built at first in the old town, but in February, 1883, it was re- moved to the lots adjoining the B., C .- R. & N. R. R., where it now stands. Mr. French, its first landlord, ran it until the fall of 1880, when it was purchased by Mr. O'Brien. The building is 24x32 feet, with an L 14x20 feet, all two-stories high, and is a good, roomy structure, and well kept.
In March, 1880, Peter Hutton came here from his farm on section 4, of this town- ship, and put np a two-story frame build- ing, 24x32 feet on 3d avenue, which he opened as the Hutton House, which he is operating at the present time.
The St. James Hotel was built in the spring of 1881 by Dr. D. P. Russell, of Humboldt, who ran it for several months, when he disposed of it to John Zentz. This gentleman continued "mine host" until his death, March 20, 1883, since which time his wife, Maria Zentz, has had charge of it, and with the assistance of her son, II. F. Zentz, has succeeded in making the house quite popular. The house is 60x80 feet, two stories high, and is thoroughly fitted up in first-class style.
James B. Holloway, son of James and Mary Holloway, was born in Somerville,
Tenn., Aug. 5, 1856. His early life was spent in the school room, and his educa- tion was completed by two years' attend- ance at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. In 1879 he went to the Indian Territory and engaged in mercantile business, remaining one year, then went to Eureka Springs, Ark., and from there to Newton, Co., Ark., where he taught school three months. He next went to St. Louis, remained a short time, and then returned to Tennessee. Six months later he went to Montana and en- gaged in the insurance business. Soon after he went to Dakota, where he was in the same business, and from whence he came to Livermore, where he is at pres- ent clerk in the St. James Hotel, also in- terested in the insurance business. He was married Jan. 3, 1877, to Lulu Dyer, of Somerville, T'enn., who died December 3, of the same year, leaving one child, Inln, who lives with Mrs. Holloway's mother in Somerville, Tenn.
The roller skating rink was established in this town in the fall of 1883, by George McCauley, its present owner. The build- ing is 20x80 feet in size, and 14 feet high, a neat, roomy structure. It receives a most excellent patronage, and while all enjoy themselves, in this most healthful pastime, the best of order is insisted upon and maintained.
The first to enter into the mercantile trade at this point was J. M. Meagher, who opened a store on the Ist of January, 1880 Hle keeps a large stock of dry goods, gents' furnishing good, groceries, queensware, boots, shoes, etc., and does an extensive business, drawing trade from a large scope of surrounding territory.
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He was burned out in the fire of 1882, and was one of the heaviest losers by that calamity, but with the true spirit of an enterprising man went to work to retrieve his loss, and the building which had been devoured by the fire-fiend rose, phenix- like, from its ashes, and Mr. Meagher is again engaged in this business.
John M. Meagher was born near Mon- treal, Canada, March 5, 1853. He is the son of Lawrence and Julia (Mullin) Meagher. In the fall of 1864 he came with his parents (his father and step- mother, his own mother having died shortly after he was born) to Iowa, locat- ing on section 17, in Delana township, Humboldt county. His father died in October, 1865, and was buried at Fort Dodge. He and his brother carried on the farm until 1880, when he came to Livermore and engaged in general mer- cantile trade, being the first man who en. gaged in that business in this place.
In February, 1880, John A. Walbillig opened a general merchandise store, which he operated until in June of that year, when he sold ont to George C. MeCanley, who ran it until March, 1883, when it was closed ont. Mr. Walbillig is now a resident of Montana Territory, whither he moved after disposing of his interests here.
Abram Turner established a store for the sale of groceries, exclusively, in the fall of 1881. He came here from Grundy Center, Grundy county, and continued business for about a year, when he sold out to Robert S. Cooper, a native of Rochester, N. Y., who is still engaged in that business.
W. J. Davison, who came to this place from Independence, Buchanan county, established a general merchandise store on the 1st of August, 1883. He carries a good stock of dry goods, clothing, gro- ceries, etc., and is doing a good business. He also handles grain, having built a warehouse for that purpose near the track of the B. C. R. & N. R. R.
The first furniture store was opened by C. M. Hamilton in April, 1880, who is undertaker, npholsterer, cabinet-maker, etc. He is a native of Maryland, but came here from Storm Lake, Buena Vista county, on the inception of this town. He carries quite a large stock of every- thing in his line, and does a fine busi- ness.
T. T. Rogers established the pioneer hardware establishment in the early part of 1880, but in February, 1881, he dis- posed of the stock and business to Stem. mons & Merrill, who came here from l'rairie City, Jasper Co., Iowa. They keep a full stock of general hardware, cutlery and notions, and run a tinners' shop in connection.
In all climes and countries people will be sick and need drugs and medicine, and appreciating this fact, in May, 1880, C. D. Severe put in a stock of drugs and opened his establishment for their sale. In August of the same year, the business not proving remunerative enough, he sold out to a company, by whom E. S. Frank was installed as manager. In February, 1881, Mr. Frank became sole owner by purchase, and continues to operate it. He carries a stock of the usual goods kept in such stores, and is doing a fair busi- ness.
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The first lumber yard was started in December, 1879, by James Goddard. A second one was opened by Isaac Lennion, of Minneapolis, in the spring of 1880, but it only ran a few months when it was purchased by Mr. Goddard. The business is at present represented by E. B. Hay- ward, & Co. and J. B. Griffiths. The former is a firm of Davenport, Iowa, which is under the management of G. A. Stone. This was established in April, 1883, and already does a large business. J. B. Griffiths in August, 1882, bought out the stocks of George C. McCauley and James Goddard and started a yard where he has all kinds of building material. He came to this place from Hampton, Frank- lin county.
In June, 1883, C. C. Phillips came to Livermore, from Algona, and opened a store for the disposal of groceries, queens- ware, boots and shoes, tobacco, etc., and has succeeded in building up considerable trade.
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