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 104

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898

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 104

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).

The first store building was moved from Bicknell's farm and was a small edifice, being only 12x32 feet in size. In this, in 1870, J. C. Helms opened the first stock

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of general merchandise. This gentleman came here from the town of Humboldt, with but a small stock of goods, invoicing not much over $300. He continued in business here for about six months when he gave it up. He afterward removed to Dexter, Dallas Co., Iowa, where he died.

The village was now without a store until 1871, when a company of gentlemen, from Humboldt, trading under the name and style of the Rutland Mercantile & Manufacturing Company, opened a gen- eral merchandise store. This corporation was composed of E. A. Wilder, Dr. Ira L. Welch and E. K. Lord. Shortly after the initiation of the store, D. F. Simmons was admitted as a partner in the prospective gains. Under this administration the store was operated for about two years, when it was purchased by E. A. Wilder, who kept it here about one year longer, and then removed the goods to Humboldt.

After a short time, C. N. King, of Avery township, essayed his hand at keeping a "country store" at this place, and kept it up for two years, when he re- moved the stock to Brad gate.

While Mr. King was revolving the pro- ject of removal, A. W. Creed, of Rolfe, Pocahontas county, removed his stock of goods from that place, to Rutland and opened a store in the same general line. This he ran for about three years, when he removed to Whittemore, Kossuth county.

In 1879, George Welch, seeing the field for the enterprise entirely unoccupied, put in a bright new stock and opened a store in the same old building. After about a year he disposed of his stock and business to John A. Koob, of Dubuque, who oper

ated it two years, when he in turn closed out and removed to Dakota City, where he now lives. Before, however, the store was entirely done away with, E. A. Wild- er, Jr., had started a new one, still in the general merchandise line. After about six months he admitted as partner in the business, Frank Britten, and the firm of Wilder & Britten have a monopoly of the trade of that section, being the only store in the village. The store building now occupied by them, was built in 1881-2. by J. C. Willey, and was first occupied by O. D. Legg, who came here from Michigan, and opened up a hardware and grocery store. This he operated for about six months when he removed the stock to Gilmore. Messrs. Wilder & Britten, then took the building, and are doing a good business, in all the various lines that go to make up the "general store." Mr. Wilder was raised in Humboldt county and is a good specimen of its citizens, while Mr. Britten came from Grant Co., Wis.

'The pioneer blacksmith of the village was O F. Shaw, who came to Rutland from Fort Dodge and established his smithy in 1871. He remained here about two years, when he abandoned the field and moved to Nebraska. Shortly after he left, however, as this community cannot be without its smith, D. C. Sandbo came from Fort Dodge and rekindled the forge, and the sound of bammer on anvil was again heard in the village. Eight years he remained, but in 1881 he removed to Bode, where he is engaged in the avoca- tion of his craft.

In the meantime, in 1877, James Oxbor- row, of Walnut, Ill., had put up the shop

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that he at present ocenpies, and where all day long the sparks fly from his anvil. Ile is at present the only man of his call- ing in the community, and is pressed by work in consequence.

The flour and grist mill, now idle, was erected in 1871, by the Rutland Mercan- tile & Manufacturing Company, and con- tained three run of buhrs. This mill, which has as good water power as any in this portion of our beautiful State, was run until 1880, when, on account of the high water carrying out the dam, it was allowed to come to a stand-still, and the clatter of its wheel to be hushed. Stand- ing as it does in some of the finest agri- cultural territory of the county, it is ouly a question of time when it will again be the scene of its former activity and pros- perity.

The hotel was established by Charles Sherman, who came here from Avery township in 1870.

The regular Baptist Church has a soci- ety that held its first meetings for the cel- ebration of divine service in Angust, 1873, in the school houses in the township under the ministrations of John and Wil- liam Sheridan. The Church was organ- ized on the 18th of December, 1875, by Rev. George W. Freeman, of Fort Dodge, with a membership of nine. As the years have rolled on this has increased, until the infant Church can boast of twenty mem- bers upon its rolls, after fourteen being dis- missed to form Bradgate Church. The first pastor that ministered to the spiritual wants of the little flock, was Rev. R. Per- sons, who took charge in January, 1880,and officiated in that capacity for three years. Hle was succeeded by Rev. E. G. O. Groat,

of Dakota, in April, 1883. The first offi- cers were the following named: John Maloney and Patrick Sheridan, deacons; Patrick Sheridan, clerk; J. F. Leedom, J. Maloney and Eli Pavey, trustees. The officers at present consist of the follow- ing: Patrick Sheridan, deacon and clerk; W. J. Barton, R. N. Entwhistle and John M. Ferris, trustees. The Church owns two town lots.

Rev. Reuben Persons is a native of Cortland Co., N. Y., and was born April 21, 1818. In his youth he attended Cortland Academy, at Homer, after which he pursued his studies at Madison University, a literary and theological school, at Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y. He was ordained in August, 1848, at Georgetown, Madison county, where he had charge of a Baptist Church four years, then went to Victor, Caynga county, and preached two years, then at Hender- son, Jefferson county, three years. He then removed to DeKalb Co., Ill., and preached seven years at Johnson's Grove, and for seven years was pastor of a Church at Clinton Center, now Waterman, in the same county. He next went to Shabbona Grove and preached four years, and in December, 1879, came to Humboldt coun- ty and located, preaching at Manson, Cal- houn Co., Iowa, and at Rutland and differ- ent points in Humboldt county. In No- vember, 1882, he organized a Church at Bradgate, with sixteen members. Hle also preaches at Gilmore City every alter- nate week. Mr. Persons was married Ang. 14, 1845, to Abigail Mack, danghter of Benjamin and Martha C.(Smith) Mack, of Cayuga Co., N. Y. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living-

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Judaon M., Ellen M., R. Newell, Martha M., Amelia, Engene, Morton and Hattie S. Charles Edward died Sept. 19, 1863, aged five months and two days. All of the family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Persons resides in Rutland village, where he has residence property.

The Free Baptist Church was estab- lished in Rutland village on the Ist of October, 1881, hy J. H. Moxom, assisted by S. Summerland, of the Home Mission Board. At the date of its organization, it had some twelve members, which have in- creased, in the interim, to twenty. Meet- ings were held in the school house, but in July, 1883, the society commenced the erection of the church edifice. This is 30x40 feet, with a vestibule 8x12 feet, and cost in the neighborhood of $1,400. A cupola or spire, pointing the road all would go, towers above it reaching a point some sixty feet from the ground. The first officers, which hold their positions at present, were : Eli Pavey, Sr., deacon; W. HI. Locke, clerk; R. A. Pavey, Daniel DeGroote and Eli Pavey, Jr., trustees.

The depot of the station of Rutland was erected in 1881, and opened for busi- ness on the 2d of January, 1882. At that time J. J. Auld was appointed station agent, and continues to hold the position to the present moment.

The iron bridge at Rutland was built in the spring 1874. In September, 1880, Fred. Needimyer, of Corinth township, was crossing the bridge with a steam engine of a threshing machine. He passed the main span safely, though cracking the tim- bers that held up the road bed, but in crossing the approach he broke through. The engine fell on top of Neekimyer and

it took some time to extricate him. He died in a few hours.

The first Sunday school was organized at Rutland in July, 1969. It was then union, and is so still. W. F. Pike was superintendent; B. F. Barkley, assistant; W. H. Sherman, secretary ; P. Sheridan, treasurer; R. Entwhistle, librarian.

W. O. Atkinson was born in Marshall Co., Ill., March 4, 1842. ITis parents were Charles and Mary W. Atkinson. The former was a Methodist preacher, and re- moved frequently from one place to an- other. In 1859 Mr. Atkinson, the subject of this sketch, taught school. In 1860, he tanght iu Carthage, Hancock Co., Ill., after which he went to Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill., and clerked in the store of E. & P. Hamer, five years. He then came to Iowa, located in Humboldt county, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 36, of Rutland township, also eighty acres in Pocahontas county. In 1868 he built a nice house on his farm in this county. In 1871, he returned to Fulton Co., III., and taught school one winter, then went into Hlamer's store, and clerked one year. The next year, he clerked for H. Mershon & Son, and for the next seven years, was eu- gaged in the same capacity, in the hard- ware store of E. & E. Dilworth. In the fall of 1880 he came back to his farm in Humboldt connty, which has since been his home. He was married April 3, 1873, to Annie M. Haines, of West Grove, Ches- ter Co., Penn., daughter of William E. and Maria Haines. Mr. Atkinson was the first clerk of Rutland township, which was in 1867. His father, Charles Atkinson, was born in county Sligo, Ireland, in 1815. His mother was a native of Ohio. Mrs.

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Atkinson's parents are both dead, and buried in Pennsylvania.

James M. McKitrick, son of John and Jane MeKitrick, was born near Dromore, county Down, Ireland, Aug. 18, 1826. He followed farming until eighteen years of age, when he came to America, locating in Philadelphia, Penn., where he remained abont eight months, then went to Seneca Co., Ohio, where he engaged in farming until 1868, thence came to Humboldt comty, and located on section 2, Spring- vale township, or what is now called Corinth township. In 1878 he sold his stock of household goods, etc., and went back to Seneca Co., Ohio. He only re- mained there six months, when he came Humboldt county. This time he par- chased 160 acres of land on section 24, Rutland township. Hle purchased this land while back to Ohio. He has erected a large and commodious two-story frame house, and has one of the nicest lawns of any farmer in the township. He was married May 8, 1851, to Miss M. J. Kelley, danghter of Thomas and Elizabeth Kelley, of Seneca Co., Ohio. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living-Eliza J., Anna M., Mary J., James W., Ella M., Frances I. and Archie A. One of their sons, William J., died April 28, 1881, aged twenty-four years. He was a school teacher, but at the time of his death was engaged in keeping books for a firm in Humboldt. His loss was mourned by a large number of friends and acquaint- ances. He was a bright and promising young man. All of Mr. McKitrick's chil- dren are teachers except two. Mrs. Mc- Kitrick was born in county Armangh, Ire- land. Mr. McKitrick is a republican, and

has held the offices of road supervisor, school director, etc

Orville J. Hack was born in Brandon, Rutland Co., Vt., Nov. 1, 1834. He re- mained in the home of his childhood un- til twenty-one years old, then engaged in railroading. In 1858 he went to Nash- ville, T'enn., and worked at the same ocen- pation. In the spring of 1861 he returned to Vermont, remaining until fall, then went to Lonisville, Ky. In 1862 he re- turned to Nashville and again went to work on the railroad, this time employed by the government. He worked in Ten- nessee, Alabama and Georgia, and in 1867 went back to Vermont, lived one year, and then went to Owatonna, Minn., where he remained two years, engaged in the manufacture of agrienltural implements. From Owatonna he came to Humboldt county, and purchased 330 acres of land in Grove township. He erected a steam saw and grist mill upon his farm, which he operated for three years, then moved it to Algona, Kossuth county. In 1877 he sold it to J J. Wilson, and went to Illinois, where he again engaged in rail- roading, working through Illinois, Ken- tucky, Indiana and Tennessee. In 1882 he returned to Humboldt county and set- tled npon his farm in Rutland township, which he had traded for, some years be- fore. It contains 160 acres. Mr. Hack was married Feb. 27, 1866, to Maggie E. Dashiell, daughter of John S. and Bar- bara (Graham) Dashiell, of Nashville, Tenn. They are the parents of four chil- dren, three of whom are living-Leon D)., Daisy M. and Zadie May. There is a stone quarry upon Mr. Hack's farm, which is likely to prove one of the finest in

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northwestern Iowa, making the best of white lime, and will take a polish equal to any marble.

C. W. Prettyman is the owner of one of the best farms in the county, consisting of 160 acres, on section 24, of Rutland township. He was born in Lewes, Sussex Co., Del., Feb. 13, 1839, where he lived until 1873. He then moved to Bushnell, MeDonongh Co., Ill., and followed farm- ing near that place until 1882, when he came to Humboldt county and settled upon his farm. He was married Dec. 6, 1871, to Zella Haines, of Chester Co., Penn. They have one child-Etta Marie. Mr. Prettyman's mother died in March, 1866, and his father May 30, 1881. They are buried in the home burying ground, near Lewes, Del. Mrs. Prettyman's moth- er died Aug. 7, 1873, and her father April 7, 1881. They are resting side by side in Kimbleville Cemetery, Chester Co., Penn. In 1861 Mr. Prettyman enlisted in company H, of the 3d Delaware Vol- unteer Infantry, in which he served as orderly sergeant. He participated in the battle of Harper's Ferry, seven days fight under Pope on the Potomac, Bull's Run, Antietam, and many other engagements of minor note. Ile was discharged in 1863, on account of disability, and re-

turned home. In 1864 he helped organize the 5th Delaware Infantry and was com- missioned as Ist lieutenant, served a few months and resigned on account of ill health, in consequence of which he was unable to work for two years after his re- turn from the army.

Heury Marso was born in Luxemburg, Germany, June 23, 1843. He lived there until twenty-eight years of age, when he came to America. While in Luxemburg he followed farming; also worked in a mill for three years. After coming to America he lived near Chicago, III., for six months Then he went to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he followed farming for about two years. In 1874 he came to Humboldt county. In 1877 he purchased eighty aeres of land on section 4, town- ship 92, range 20, Rutland township, where he now lives. In 1880 he bought another eighty acres on the same section. In 1875 he was married to Catharine Ren- land, born in Luxemburg, Germany. They have had seven children, six of whom are living-Henry N., Anna, Mag- gie, Mary, Joe and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Marso are members of the Catholic Church. His parents are dead. Her mother lives in Luxemburg. Her father died in 1883.

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CHAPTER XXX.

VERNON TOWNSHIP.

Vernon is one of the northern tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Kossuth county, on the east by Wright county, on the south by Lake township, and on the west by Humboldt. It em- braces all of congressional township 93, range 27. The land is of a generally ex- cellent character, and fitted for agricul- tural pursuits, except that in the center it is inclined to be wet and low, but this portion of the township, on account of the rich native grasses that seek a humid soil, has its value as a grazing ground for the cattle, whose sleek hides and fine con- dition show the nourishment derived from this source. The only stream in the town- ship is Prairie creek, which runs across sections 3, 4, 10. 11, 13, 14 and 24, and passes into Wright county, where it emp- ties into the Boone.

The Toledo branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway crosses the entire township, from southeast to northwest, on which road are located the two villages of Renwick and Vernon. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway trav- erses a small portion of the township in the southwest corner, there being only about a mile of the road therein. The extreme northwestern corner is also crossed by a small section of the Minne- apolis & St. Louis Railroad.

The earliest steps leading to the found- ing and subsequent development of this now well settled and thriving township was made in the fall of 1862, when Ed- ward Flaherty and Daniel Zimmerman turned their steps thither.

James Edward Flaherty, for that ap- pears to be his real name, although usu- ally known by that of Edward, located upon the southeast quarter of section 34, where he lived until about the spring of 1672, when he emigrated to Washington Territory, where he now resides.

Daniel Zimmerman settled upon the south west quarter of section 35, where he opened up a farm and dwelt until, in the spring of 1877, he removed to Olmsted Co., Minn., where he was living when last heard from.

Soon after these two had settled, in the spring of 1863, John A. Foley came in, and locating a claim upon the southwest quarter of section 34, proceeded to make him a home in the then wilderness, where he resides to this day.

Job Ohlin, one of the prominent resi- dents of the township at present, was the next to settle, coming here with, or im- mediately after Mr. Foley, with whom he is connected by marriage.

Among those who settled in Vernon during the year 1863 were: Alexander

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Usher, D. C. Starr, John Hughes and Thomas Hoy.

Alexander Usher located a claim under the homestead act on section 36, and put- ting up a honse dwelt therein until 1869, when he, not feeling satisfied, removed to Missouri. After living there a short time he moved back to Iowa, locating in Tama county, where he is still a resi- dent.

D. C. Starr, and his two sons, took up homesteads on section 26, where they still live. It is said that when the township was first organized Daniel Starr, and Ray and Lyman, his sons, were the only people in the same to pay taxes on personal property; being the only ones in possession of chattels of that descrip- tion.

John Hughes, after a stay of some years, proved also a bird of passage, moving to Nebraska, where he has since died.

Thomas Hoy opened up a farm, but not being able to live in peace with the part- ner of his life, in 1875 he made a snitable provision for the lady and separated from her, and went back to his native Ireland, where he is now enjoying the sound of

"The bells of Shandon That sound an grand, on The banks of the river Lee."

In 1864 more emigrants poured into this territory, among whom were: John Bar- tholomew, Gabriel Zimmerman, John Iless and many others.

John Bartholomew remained some time, when he removed to Lake. He is still a resident in the county, living at present in Grove township

Gabriel Zimmerman lived in the town- ship until his removal to Washington Territory, in 1874.

Oliver Hess died on his homestead in 1872.

Rev. W. L. Lyons was the first to settle in the northeastern part of the township, all the other settlements having been made in the southern portion. He came here in the fall of 1864 and picked out his land but did not settle. In the following year be came with his family, on the 5th of August, and took up a homestead of 160 acres, on section 14, where he has opened up a fine farm, and where he continues to reside. He came here from Franklin Grove, Lee Co., Ill. In 1865 he broke about ten acres of ground and planted it with sod corn, and had a good crop in the fall, as a result. He built the first frame house in the township. Some of the lum- ber for which, he hauled from Goldfield, in Wright county, but doors, sash and finishing lumber, he was compelled to get by train, from Nevada, Story county, the nearest railroad station, abont seventy- five miles distant. His nearest neighbors were Messrs. Brink and Meyers, who set- tled the same year south of him. The nearest on the west was ten miles away. The nearest mill was at Webster City, a distance of abont thirty mriles, a long weary road to have a little grist ground. Mr. Lyons was the pioneer Presbyterian clergyman in the county, and organized the first Church in Sumner, now Liver- more, on the 9th of November, 1867, and one at Springvale, now Humboldt, on the 11th of September, 1870, and several oth- ers throughout this and adjacent counties. Before there were any church edifices he was wont to speak in the school houses, and in the cabins of the settlers. He had charge of the various Churches he had la-

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bored to establish, for some time, but of late he has been compelled to give up preaching, owing to his loss of voice.

Rev. W. L. Lyons, the subject of this sketch, was born in the State of Ohio, April 21, 1820, and is the son of Thomas and Minnie Lyons. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but of Scotch- Irish origin, and had removed to Ohio at an early day, and engaged in farming, first in Tuscarawas, and afterward in Harrison county. They raised a family of ten chil- dren, six sons and four daughters, two other daughters having died young. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm with his parents, until about seventeen years of age, when, with an older brother and sister, he entered the New Hagerstown Academy, where he remained two years. He then engaged in teaching his first school during the winter of 1839, in which he was quite successful, as the warm greeting he received at its close from his patrons abundantly showed. In the spring of 1840 he became a student in Western Reserve College, Ohio, but returned home at the close of the first termu, sick. After being some weeks under the doctor's care, withont seeming to receive much benefit, he resolved to investigate the cause of his sickness and the remedies to be used. Ac- cordingly he procured such medical works as were necessary and commenced the in- vestigation. He found, however, that when the agne has taken a firm hold on a man, it is not easily shaken off, especially if the surroundings are in its favor; yet by careful attention to the liver, diet, ex- ercise and bathing, he was soon on his feet again. At this time Mr. Lyons was a little over twenty years old, and besides

the common English branches, had studied natural philosophy, chemistry, algebra, the first six books of geometry, and was able to read the New Testament, both in Latin and Greek. Many of his young class mates, of like attainments, were en. tering upon the study of law or medicine, and as they had chosen him as their ora- tor on one occasion, and as their public debator on another, might he not hope to be as successful as any of thein, in public life. Being fully persnaded, however, that God had called him to a higher and nobler work, that of preaching the Gospel, he re- solved that nothing but death should turn him aside from the attainment of this object. To attain the necessary qualifica- tions in the Presbyterian Church, would require yet six or seven years study, three or four in college and three in the study of theology. Added to this, all, or nearly all the money for the necessary expenses, must be earned by his own efforts. About four years were spent in the attainment of this object, and then, in 1844, he entered mpon the regular four year's course of study, in Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. Seldom sick or absent, for any canse, from recitation, these four years passed pleas- antly and rapidly away, with great ad- vantage to himself and credit to the in- stitution, and at their close, he with fifty- five others, received their diplomas of graduation. Having exhausted his means, and not feeling that the state of his health would warrant him in entering npon a three year's course in theology, without Some relaxation, he resolved to try what benefit a milder climate and travel would have upon his health. Accordingly he spent two years in the south, teaching and

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traveling, and at the end of that time re- turned north, improved in health, and en- tered upon the study of his profession, and after four years more study and teach- ing was licensed to preach the Gospel. Mr. Lyons was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, Penn., and had placed himself under the care of the Presbytery of Pittsburg, where he passed the most of his examinations and completed his studies preparatory to licen- sure. But having came west to visit friends in Illinois and Iowa, in 1854, he was persuaded to remain,and having taken his dismission from the Presbytery of Pittsburg, to that of Schuyler, Ill., he was licensed to preach the gospel at Quincy, Ill., Oct. 7, 1854. By request he spent the winter in supplying vacant Churches in the bounds of that Presbytery. In the xpring he received a cordial invitation to take charge of the Vinton Presbyterian Church (O. S.) and immediately entered npon this, his first regular charge. Dur- ing the year he was ordained and installed over that Church as its first pastor, in a church edifice he had been instrumental in erecting and completing; it being the first church edifice ever erected in Vinton. He had also built a house for himself, and on the 7th of July, 1856, was married to Elizabeth M. Hollister, of Salisbury, Conn., but at that time teaching in the Female Seminary of Fairfield, Iowa. Mr. Lyons gave one half of his time to Vinton and Big Grove, and the other half to such settlements as he might find in reach. As a result of his first two years' labor, three new Churches were gathered and organ- ized, at three of his points of preaching, of eleven, fifteen and seventeen members

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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 104

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company Number of Pages: 898

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898