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 105
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respectively, and the Vinton Church had increased from fourteen to over forty in membership. During the next two years of his ministry, we find him settled at Winterset, supplying a new Church there of eleven members, and also one at In- dianola of three members. The Church at Winterset had increased to forty-five and had built a church. Indianola increased to twenty-three members and had a snb- scription of $1,600 for building a church. At this time the subject of our narative was prostrated by a severe attack of diph- theria, which threatened his life for sev- eral weeks, and from which he did not re- cover so as to be able to preach for nine months. Hle then received an invitation to the two Churches in Illinois he had supplied for a few months after he was licensed, which were now vacant. This he accepted, and remained in that State for about six years, successfully preaching the Gospel. One of these Churches had not yet built a house of worship, but used a hired hall for that purpose. Being noti- fied one Sabbath, after service, that this hall could not be had longer, Mr. Lyons requested the male members of his con- gregation to meet at his house on Mon- day morning to consider the propriety of building a house of worship for them- selves. They met, resolved to build, and in six weeks had the house completed and dedicated, free of debt; thns confirm- ing the old adage, that "where there is a will there is a way." Some time after this, Mr. Lyons was compelled to desist from public speaking on account of throat trouble, as he never had fully recovered from the effects of the diphtheria. Being thus 'prevented from deriving a support
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from his profession, he returned to Iowa and took a homestead of 160 acres, and removed his family on to it in 1865, where he now lives. He now owns one of the best stock farms of Humboldt Co., Iowa, of 400 acres in one body, with a nice stream of water running through the middle of it. He has about 200 acres in cultivation, and stocked with sixty head of cattle, eleven of horses and colts, and about forty head of swine. His family consists of himself, wife and seven chil. dren-four sons and three daughters -all republicans and strong prohibitionists. Healthy out-door exercise on the farm improved Mr. Lyon's health, and espe- cially his throat, so that in a few months, he was able to resume public speaking, becoming the pioneer preacher for this and parts of adjoining counties, in which he has gathered several Churches, so that his field at one time was so large, that it required him to travel more than 100 miles to fill his appointments. At first, preaching in private houses, sod school houses, or in groves beside streams, but always to attentive and respectful listen- ers. This is his thirtieth year in the min- istry, more than twenty of which have been spent under commission from the Board of Home Missions of the Presby- terian Church, in the State of Iowa. That indomitable energy and perseverance that characterized him in his preparatory studies, did not forsake him when he had entered upon his life work. Perhaps it is not too much to say, that few ministers in the west have been more successful in gathering and organizing Churches and Sabbath schools and in erecting church edifices than he. And fewer still, that
have labored as many hours, traveled as many miles by private conveyance in fill- ing their appointments, and faced as many furious storms on the open prairie, as he. His salary has not averaged over $500 a year, yet he has not neglected the educa- tion of his children. His oldest daughter has been three years in college and his three older sons two years each, and the younger ones he hopes to have enter col -. lege in a short time, to all of whom he expects to give a first-class education.
Among the settlers of 1865 were John Lockwood and Lasley Barton.
Mrs. Nancy A. Lockwood was born in Fayette Co., Ind., Nov. 19, 1840, and is the daughter of Samnel and Martha Stan- ley, natives of Fayette county. She re- mained with her parents nutil her mar- riage, in 1860, to John Lockwood, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Lock wood, natives of New York. He was born April 18, 1836. They were married in Jones Co., Iowa, where they resided until 1865. They then came to Humboldt county and took a homestead ou section 27, township 93, range 27, in Vernon township, where Mr. Lockwood died Jan. 23, 1875. After the death of her linsband, Mrs. Lockwood sold this property and purchased 160 acres on section 29, where she resided until 4883, at which time she removed with her family to the place where she lives at present, on section 26, near the village of Renwick. Upon this farm is a good new two story frame house, and other improvements. Mrs. Lockwood has seven children, all of whom reside with her-George H .; Katie N., Harry J., Frank Eugene, Mary J., Agnes E. and Eva A. Albert S. and Allie May are de-
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ceased. Katie N. is a teacher in one of the schools of Vernon township.
Lasley Barton, one of the early settlers of Vernon township, is the son of Nathan- iel and Rachel Barton, natives of Mary- land, and now residents of Missouri. He was born May 1, 1842, in Hocking Co., Ohio, and remained with his parents until nineteen years of age. He enlisted Aug. 5, 1861, in company I, of the 27th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, organized at Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill. The regiment first moved to Cairo, thence to Belmont, Mo., where he participated in his first battle. He was afterwards engaged in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Resaca, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was honor- ably discharged at Springfield, Ill., Sept. 20, 1864. At that time he held the rank of corporal in his company. He then went to Henry Co., Ill., and engaged in farming until the fall of 1865, when he removed with his parents and brothers to Humboldt Co., Iowa, and took a home- stead on section 5, township 93, range 27, where he now lives, and owns 500 acres of land, 200 of which are under cultiva- tion. He lias good improvements, and is engaged in raising grain and stock. He was married Sept. 13, 1868, to Elizabeth J. Hughs, daughter of George and Har- riett Hughs. The former is a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Maine. Mrs. Barton was born Sept. 14, 1850, in New- castle, Penn. They have had four chil- dren, three of whom are living-Elva M., Franklin S. and Merton L. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are members of the M. E. Church. He is a member of the G. A. R., Albert
Rowley Post, a republican and a strong prohibitionist.
In 1866 L. HI. Brink, Sr., Samuel Stan- ley, Jolin H. Steward and William James came into the township and located.
L. H. Brink, Sr., one of the early set- tlers, and for the past fifteen years justice of the peace of Vernon township, was born in Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 10, 1822. He is the son of Simon and Phæbe (Winfield) Brink, natives of Del- aware Co., N. J. He lived with his par- ents until his nineteenth year, when he went to McHeury Co., Ill., and there fol- lowed farming until 1856. He then re- moved with his family to Bluffton, Win- nesliek Co., Iowa, remaining there upon a farm until 1866, when he came to Hum- boldt county, and took a homestead of 160 acres on section 24, township 93, range 27, Vernon township, where he now re- sides. He has about sixty-five acres under cultivation, a good house and other im- provements. He was married July 10, 1842, to Harriet Goff, who was born July 10, 1820, in Springwater, Livingston Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of David and Sarah Goff, natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Brink have had five children, four of whom are living-Harvey W., Cordelia M., Byron and L. H., Jr. Mary E., wife of Sidney D. Wilcox, died Sept. 10, 1883. Mr. Brink is a member of the dem- ocratic party and has held the office of township trustee and school director for a number of years.
Samuel Stanley, an early settler, and prominent farmer of Vernon township, is the son of George and Elizabeth Stanley, who were natives of South Carolina, and among the first settlers in Indiana in 1813.
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The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 6, 1815, in Fayette Co., Ind. He remained with his parents until 1835. He then commenced teaching school, which he continued nine years. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and settled in Jones county, where he farmed in the summer and taught school during the winter until 1866. Ile then moved with his family to Humboldt county and purchased 160 acres of land on section 33, township 93, range 27, Ver- non township, where he now resides. Ile has good improvements and about ninety acres under cultivation. Mr. Stanley has been twice married. His first wife was formerly Martha Kerr, who,at her decease, left two children-Nancy Ann and Martha. His second wife was Melinda Cullius, daughter of Joshua and Jane Cullins, na- tives of South Carolina. By the last union there are six children-Sarah, George, William E., Oliver, John and James M., who died in 1849 at the age of four years. Mr. Stanley votes the democratic ticket and has held the office of township clerk.
Mrs. Martha J. Downs is the daughter of John and Arvilla (Dewey) Hopkins. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New York. She was born June 19, 1828, in New York, and remained with her parents until Jan. 15, 1855, when she was married to John H. Steward, and removed to Columbia Co., Wis. Here they lived upon a farm until the fall of 1866. They then came to Humboldt county, and purchased a quarter section of government land, on section 3, town- ship 93, range 27, Vernou township, where Mrs. Downs now resides. Her hus- band, John H. Steward, died June 26,1874.
They had one son-Frank, who was born Oct. 27,1857, in Columbia Co., Wis. He was seventeen years old when his father's death occurred, and he then, with his mother's assistance, assumed the manage- ment of the farm, to which he has since added eighty acres. He now owus two- thirds of the farmn, and his mother the other third. He was married Oct. 24, 1883, to Hannah M. Scott, daughter of John and Sarah Scott. She was born April 6, 1857, in Cedar Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Steward are members of the M. E Church, aud he belongs to the repub- lican party. Mrs. Downs was married to her present husband, Isaac B. Downs, Nov. 22, 1877. He is a native of Mass- achusetts. His grandfather was a native of England, and emigrated to Derby, ('onn. On June 16, 1755, he was married to Elizabeth Holbrook. The result of this union was eight children. Mrs. Dowus having died, he was again married between 1770 and 1773. This union was blessed with seven children. Jabez Downs, father of the subject of this sketch, being born Dec. 24, 1775, at Derby, Conn. On Feb. 18, 1804, he was married to Ludia Walker. They had seven children, Isaac B. being the youngest. He was born Aug. 12, 1818, in Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass. In November, 1846, he went to Allegany Co., N. Y., and in December, 1847, was married to Belinda S. Penfield. They had one child-Cora Alice, born in September, 1854. He remained in New York until the spring of 1861, when he moved back to Massachusetts. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 49th Massachu- setts regiment. He was wounded at Port Hudsou, La., being shot through the left
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shoulder. He was taken to Baton Rouge and remained in the hospital some months; then he was put on a transport boat and taken to Cairo, thence by rail to his home in Massachusetts. In November, 1867, his wife died, and is buried at Sandisfield, Mass. In the spring of 1969 he removed to Columbia Co., Wis., and in July, 1870, was married to Mrs. J. C. Johnson, a na- tive of New York. In May, 1876, Mrs. Downs died. In November, 1877, he came to Humboldt Co., Iowa, and was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha J. Steward, as before stated. Mr. and Mrs. Downs reside upon the farm with her son Frank. They are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Downs is a republican, politically. He is unable to do hard labor on account of the wound he received during the war.
Mrs. Spraxa James is a native of Ched- der, England, born April 14, 1821. She remained with her parents until her marriage, April 28, 1841, to William James, a native of England, born in 1817. They came to America in 1846, settling at that time, near Burlington, Green, Co., Wis. In 1849 they came to Cascade, Du- buque Co., Iowa, where they purchased forty acres of land, which they sold in 1866, and came to Humboldt county. They took a homestead of 160 acres in Vernon township, on section 34, township 93,range 27,on which Mrs. James now lives. She has 100 acres under cultivation, a good two-story frame dwelling and other improvements. Her husband, William James, was murdered, Dec. 16, 1867, by a man named McCormick, who was riding with him from Fort Dodge, where Mr. James had been on business. He had pur- chased a new bedstead, and one of the
slats was the weapon which the murderer used, to beat him to death. After killing him he rifled his pockets of the money and valuables which they contained, proceeded to his uncle's near Dakota, and went to bed, but was arrested the same night. After two trials, he was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, and is now at Fort Madison. Since the death of her hus- band, Mrs. James has, with the assistance of her children, carried on the farm. She has seven children - George, Christina, Hannah, Frank, Alfred, Louise and Isa- belle. George, Christina and Alfred are married, and reside in this county. Mrs. James is a member of the M. E. Church.
The first birth in the township occurred in August, 1863, and was that of William, a son of Daniel Zimmerman.
'The second birth was Ellen Flaherty, in April, 1864, and that of Stewart B. Foley, in August, the same year, was the next.
The first death that took place was that of the infant Ellen Flaherty, who died in the latter part of April, 1864, aged but a few weeks.
The first marriage was that of Wash- ington Barrett, and Lillie Pierce. The rite was solemnized by Rev. Mr. Snyder, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
School district No. 1, in the northeast- ern part of the 'township, consists of sec- tions 1, 2, 11 and 12. The school house was built in 1869, by Edward Hartwell, contractor, at a cost of $750. The first teacher in this house was Lydia Martin, the present one is Adelia Sprain. L. H. Brink was the first sub-director, and A. Urion is the present incumbent of the same office.
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District No. 2 comprises sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, and the east half of sections 5, 8 and 17. The school house was also built by Edward Hartwell, in 1869, at a cost of 8750, and Levi Leland was the first to wield the teacher's ferule. The sub-di- rector at that time was L. H. Trask. The present teacher is Walter B. Ferguson, and director, H. A. Adams.
District No. 3 comprises all of sections 6, 7 and 18, and the west half of 5, 8 and 17. The honse is erected on section 6, and is a neat frame, 18x26, feet built by J. S. Fletcher, in 1883, at a cost of 8465. Lillie A. Eells was the first, and is the present teacher, in this building, and II. A. Ad- ams, the director.
District No. 4 has a frame school house on section 14, put up by Edward Hart- well, in 1869, and cost $750. It is 18x26 feet in size and the first teacher was Lydia Martin. L. H. Brink was director.
District No.5, comprising sections 25,26, 35 and 36, has a school house on section 26, which is a frame edifice, 18x26, feet, erected by J. S. Fletcher, in 1883, at a cost of 8482. Kate Lockwood was and is the teacher therein and W. F. Drennen, the director.
District No. 7, containing all of sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, has a house located on the northeast corner of section 32, which was built by Edward Hartwell, in 1869, at a cost of $750. The first preceptress was Mrs. Schofield, and the first director M. J. Flemming. Peter Garnahan is the present teacher.
District No. 6 has a school house on section 33, which Edward Hartwell built in 1869, and cost $750. Charles Brooks was the pioneer teacher in this building,
and Minnie Butler the last. The present director is Jacob Bram.
Viona postoffice was established on the 25th of May, 1868, and John HI. Foley was appointed postmaster. Mr. Foley held the position, having the office at his dwelling ever since, but in 1382, the office, under the charge of Mr. Foley still, was removed to Hardy, in Lake township, where it now is.
There are two cemeteries in Ver- non township. The first of these was laid ont in 1867 on the southeast quarter of section 34, long known as the Flaherty farm, now owned by George Hartwell. This contains about five acres, and is a beautifully kept burial plat. The first to be buried herein was Ellen Flaherty.
There is also a German "Gott's Acre," or burial place, on section 21, which was donated by Nicholas Stauffacher, and con- tains two acres. It was laid out in 1868, and the first interment therein was the wife of the donor, and the second that of the wife of John Stauffacher.
An artesian well was bored on the farm of O. E. French, on section 24, in July, 1883, which throws a stream into the air at the rate of two barrels per minute. One of the singular freaks of this well is that the water is so warm that even in the coldest weather it does not freeze in the trongh for watering stock, through which its waters are carried.
THE VILLAGE OF RENWICK
is located npon the center of section 36, and was surveyed and platted by the Western Town Lot Company, and the plat filed for record upon the 24th of Jan- uary, 1882. Already there has sprung up quite a thriving business center, and it
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bids fair for the future. It is on the Toledo branch of the Chicago & North- western Railway, which crosses this por- tion of the township. The first building erected on the present town site was built in the spring of 1882 by Henry Metcalf, and which was used as a dwelling by F. J. Stoddard. Shortly afterwards resi- dences were put up by Ellis Martin, W. S. Drenner and F. J. Stoddard.
The first hotel was built during the summer of 1882, by Ellis Martin. This, which is now under the control of Mr. Martin, is a frame building 16x24 feet, and an addition of 16×20 feet, one and a half stories high, and is a well furnished, well conducted hostelry. Itis commonly known as the Martin House.
Ellis Martin was born in Franklin Co., N. Y., Feb. 28, 1818, and is the son of Andrew and Hannah (Fuller) Martin. The former is a native of Vermont; the latter of Rhode Island. He lived with his parents until the death of his mother, which occurred in 1837. He then left home, and in 1854 went to Fayette Co., Iowa, near Clermont, where lie farmed and teamed until 1865, when he moved with his family to Humboldt county and took a homestead on section 15, towil- ship 93, range 27, of 160 acres, and farmed until 1873. He then went to Algona, Kossuth county, and in 1877 went to Wright county and remained until 1881, then came to the village of Renwick and built what is now known as the Martin Hotel and boarding house, of which he is proprietor. He was married June 2, 1842, to Mary Lorenda Irish, daughter of Jesse and Clarissa (Flint) Irish, natives of Vermont. She
was born June 2, 1824, in New York. They have had seven children-Hannah Maria, Mary Lida, Ernesta, Leonard, Eudora, Alice and Edwin Jesse. Leonard and Eudora are dead. Mr. Martin was a member of the I. O. O. F. in New York, and votes the democratic ticket.
Stoddard Bros. were the pioneer busi- ness firm of the village, having embarked in the grocery line in the spring of 1882, having just finished erecting the first store building in the place. This build- ing is of frame, two stories high, and 20x40 feet in dimensions.
Renwick can boast of but one church edifice, the Baptist, which was erected in the fall of 1883. This is a frame build- ing, 26x28 feet, and was put up by Eggart Brothers, who had entered into a con- tract to do so for the sum of $1,500. Two hundred dollars in addition, was spent in the furnishing, and it was dedicated on the 28th of December, 1883. The minister who has charge of the spiritual welfare of this little flock, at present, is the Rev. Mr. Plumly, of Goldfield, Wright county. There is a total membership of about twenty-five, and O. E. French is the clerk. Considerable interest is betrayed in the Church by all connected with it, and by the community in general.
Dr. A. P. Anderson was the first to es- tablish a store for the exclusive sale of drugs and medicines. In October, 1883, he rented a part of the building of Stod- dard Brothers, in which he keeps a good stock of the above mentioned articles. He is a practicing physician, and has consid- erable patronage in the surrounding country.
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W. F. Drennen, instituted the first and only establishment exclusively devoted to the hardware business, and its usual branches. In June, 1882, he first opened his doors and is working up a lucrative business.
Mrs. Barbara Klasse is engaged in the business of selling dry goods and gro- ceries. This she commenced in July, 1882, the building having been erected the previous May. In the fall of the same year, her husband built on an addition, which he occupies as a meat market.
The depot of the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railroad was erected in the summer of 1882, about a year after the road had reached this point. The first shipment from it was made by B. Strobehn on the 19th of April, 1882. The first agent was Samuel S. Doak, who was succeeded by the present one, Henry E. Martin.
James Murphy was the first black- smith, and is still the only worthy son of Vulcan in the village.
The creamery was built in the spring of 1883, by its present proprietor, F. C. Needham. It has a capacity of turning out about 500 pounds of butter per day, and is run by horsepower. This es- tablishment, which is one much needed in this locality, uses the milk of about 700 cows.
The postoffice was established in March, 1882, and F. J. Stoddard appointed post- master, who is the present incumbent, and the office is held in the store of Stoddard Brothers, of which firm he is a member.
During the summer of 1883, J. and S. A. Lum, built the Renwick mill. This edifice is a fine three story building and contains one set of roller machinery for
grinding wheat, and three sets of buhrs, one for corn, one for middlings, while the third is used for feed only. A fine forty horse power engine furnishes the motive power. All the machinery is kept run- ning continually to keep up with the cus- tom work offered, and soon additions to the mill will have to be erected.
D. Hoyt, the pioneer lumber and coal dealer of Renwick, commenced operations in March, 1882, and is building up a re- munerative business. A straight forward business man, he will succeed in any place that destiny allots to him. He received the first freight brought to this town, March 1, 1882, which was a car load of lumber.
David Hoyt was born June 29, 1833, in ('attaraugus Co., N. Y. He is a son of D. J. B. and Eunice Hoyt, natives of New York. When fifteen years of age, he learned the trades of carriage trimmer and saddler, which occupation he followed in the town of Medina for two and a half years. Ile then went to school at Lima for about two years, then entered the uni- versity at Rochester for a term of four years, after which he clerked in Roclies- ter for one year, then went to New York city and was book-keeper in the dry goods establishment of A. T. Stewart, until 1855, when he removed to Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., Ill., where he remained one year, thence to Peoria, Ill., where he was engaged in business with his uncle. In 1858 he re- turned to Tiskilwa, and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business until 1865, when he went to Masonville, Delaware Co., Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile and grain business. In 1866 he went to New York; then for the next nine months
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traveled over the southern and western States and Territories. In the spring of 1868 he went to Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa, remaining there until 1870, when he went to Johnson Co., Neb., where he handled stock and grain until the fall of 1879, when he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and traveled for a coal company until the spring of 1882, when he came to Hum- boldt county. He located in the town of Renwick, and engaged in the lumber and coal trade, which business he follows at present. He was married Oct. 12, 1858, in Sheffield, Bureau Co., Ill., to Emily P Martin, daughter of A. K. and Julia Mar- tin, natives of New York. She was born in Tiskilwa, Ill., Oct. 9, 1838. This nnion has been blessed with nine children, only three of whom are living-Mary. Benja- min and Henry D. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a republican.
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