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 107

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 107

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).

Many years ago, a town site was located upon the south half of section 18, and a considerable spread was made of it -on paper. This was laid out by one, Andrew Mills, who was killed during the late Civil War, and nothing ever came of this, the embryo metropolis of the county; and the farm of James Dean covers the spot where it was hoped that streets and avennes wonkl lie. But few facts could be gathered of this place, as hardly any

one now in the county was here at the time, and the most of the business was transacted in far away places.

Among the personal incidents that oc- curred in the early days of the settlement of Wacousta, an old settler says, that at the time of the Indian massacre, at New Ulu, Minn., in 1862, when all from that region were fleeing from the red fiends, a party of about thirty passed through the little settlement here, and infected many with their fears. In the howling of the winds, women and children heard the whoop of the savage, and a prairie fire was deemed to be the light of the blazing cabin of the far-off neighbor. Many left their houses, and fled for safety to more secure points, among them the wives and families of Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Nowlan. In fact the only person whose whole family remained in their home, was that of Al- exander Coffin.

For beauty of situation and of the land- scape, perhaps there is no part of the county, that excels Waconsta and this it owes principally to the fine natural tim- ber in the western portion along the val- ley of the river, and to the artificial groves that surround the residences of the old settlers.

Near the house of Mr. Struthers, and on the farm of that gentleman, is one of the finest natural groves of oak in the northwest. Tall trees rise in "columnar vistas grand," like pillars in some vast ca- thedral,and compel the thought that he was right who first wrote, that "the woods are the first temples of the Lord." On the place of Mr. Dean may also be seen another grove of this kind, while the dwellings of A. Coffin, S. G. Sharpe, A. Hoag, C. Em-

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erson, and others are surrounded by beau- tiful artificial growths of forest trees. One tree standing near Mr. Sharpe's, measures three feet in diameter, at the butt, and many of its neighbors are nearly as large.

J. J. Jolliffe became a resident of Hum- boldt county in 1872. He was born in the town of Stratton, Devonshire, England, Dec. 23, 1846. He came with his parents, James and Mary Ann (Blake) Jolliffe, to Ontario, Canada, in 1853, where he lived through all the phases of pioneer life in the woods, for sixteen years. His educa- tional advantages were very limited, never having attended a school but a few weeks, and at the age of twenty-one, was a thorough backwoodsman. llis father was a well read man, and he managed by his own exertion, and his father's instruc- tion, to obtain a fair education. After coming to Iowa, he continued educating himself, studying the higher branches, and became fitted for teaching, which he followed for thirteen winters. On March 11, 1877, he was married to Ella Sharpe. They have two children-Frances E., born Sept. 14, 1878, and Ethel L., born May 17, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Jolliffe are members of the M. E. Charch. He is a republican in politics.

John Nickson, son of William and Ann (Dugmore) Nickson, was born in Penk- ridge Staffordshire, England, Nov. 4, 1837. In 1853 he came to Canada with his par- ents, and engaged as errand boy, in a dry goods store, in Kingston,and afterward worked four years on the Grand Trunk Railway. He then moved to Hastings county, and lived upon a farm one year. In the fall of 1858, he went to Rockville,

Grant Co., Wis. In going thither, he walked from Galena, Ill., to Rockville, being out of money. He followed min- ing there, five years. He was married May 25, 1861, to Mrs. Margaret Stephens. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Cox, of Potisa township, Grant Co., Wis., and on the 17th of April, 1863, he with his family .started across the plains to Nevada, remaining there three years, prospecting and mining. Fifteen months of that time he was superintendent of a mine. He then went to California, where he worked in a gold mine on Feather river, in Nevada county. During this journey from Nevada to Califorma, he was stopped by highwaymen, who ordered him to give them his money. He had at the time about $3,000 stowed away in a box of irons, but gave them what money he had in his pockets, amounting to $30, after which they searched, but were unable to find any more, and permitted him to continue his journey. While in California, he and family were taken sick with fever and ague. In November, 1867, he returned to his home in Wisconsin with his family, with the intention of returning to Califor- nia the following summer, but on account of his family's health, failed to do so. In April, 1871, he rented the Bates Honse in Dunleith, Ill., now called East Dubuque, and was burned out in the the spring of 1872, when he moved to Platteville, Grant Co., Wis. In the fall of 1872, he bought an interest in a lead mine in Tima town- ship and also bonght a farm of 120 acres, where he resided until the spring of 1877, near Washburn. His wife died in Wash- burn, Grant Co., Wis., in April, 1877, leaving seven children, five of whom are

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living-William J., Thomas J., Charles D., Samuel S. and Harry E. The latter was nine months old when his mother died and was adopted by his uncle, Dr. E. D. Nickson. Mr Nickson was afterwards married to Mrs. J. Faucett, of Grant Co., Wis., on Dec. 11, 1879, who had two daughters by her former marriage-Lillie M., wife of David Watson, and Minnie L., wife of Charles Clayton, both residing in Palo Alto county. When Mr. Nick- son came to this county, he settled on Charles Emerson's place, where he lived three years, then purchased 160 acres on section 18, Wacousta township. He now owns 204 acres, with twenty acres of tim- ber and carries on stock raising. He is politically, a republican; is justice of the peace and belongs to the I .. O. O. F. He was formerly vice grand, of Washburn Lodge, No. 228, in Wisconsin, and is a member of the A. O. U. W., and the Farmers' Alliance. He is president of the

Joint Stock Farmers' Co-operative Cream- ery.

Andrew Anderson was born in Feb- ruary, 1830, near Bergen, Norway, and is the son of Andrew and Argata Anderson, both of whom died in Norway. He came to America in 1865, and worked for three years, on a farm, in Columbia county. He then removed to Kossuth county, and lived in Cresco township twelve years, then came to Humboldt county and set- tled on the southwest quarter of section 32, of Wacousta township, where he now lives. He has fifty acres of land under cultivation. He was married, June 30, 1858, to Martha Ellingson of Norway, and they have had seven children-Andrew, Edward, Anna, Severt, Lena and Albert, who are dead; and Louise. Mr. Ander- son is a member of the Lutheran Church, and casts his vote with the republican party.

CHAPTER XXXII.

WEAVER TOWNSHIP.

This sub-division of Humboldt county lies in the extreme southwestern corner, and is technically known as congressional township 91 north, range 30 west. It contains thirty-six full sections, or 23,040 acres of the best arable land in the county.

The surface is gently undulating, and the general slope is towards the southeast, as the water courses indicate.

Considerable of the township is under- laid with lime rock, being a strip about three miles wide and extending from a little beyond the southeast corner of the township in a northwesterly course into Pocahontas county. About two and a fourth miles northwest of Gilmore City, the Des Moines & Fort Dodge R. R. company have opened a quarry and built

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a lime-kiln. They are burning lime which is said to be of good quality, and shipping quite extensively both lime and rock. Weaver has the same kind of rock which could be worked equally as well.

On seetions 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 24 quarries have been opened and rock taken out for building purposes. Quarries on seetions 3, 9, and 11 have been worked the most, and a considerable quantity taken from them. More rock has been taken from section 11 than any other see- tion.

This roek makes good building material which finds sale at the quarries: building roek, $3 to $4 per eord and well roek, $2.25 to $3 per eord.

Another very important feature of this country should not be omitted in giv- ing the history of Weaver; it is nature's tile. It serves the same purpose here that other localities get by expending hundreds of dollars in laying tile to drain their lands. The oldest tilled farms produce the best crops. Where tame grasses have been tried the result is satis- factory.

On this land underlaid with roek it is necessary, in most cases, to drill wells into the roek to obtain lasting water. There are a number of wells quite deep in the township. The deeper the well, the better the supply of water generally, though not always. Two of the deepest wells in the township are, one on the south- east quarter of section 2, where I. M. Gillett lives and the other on the north west quar- ter of section 11, where C. E. Wilson lives. This well is 130 feet deep. In digging this well C. E. Wilson found, at different depths, streaks of blue elay varying from

two to six inches in thickness. At the depth of 130 feet a streak of soft, yellow elay seven feet thick was found, from which the main supply of water comes. The water stands in the well at a depth of eighty-five feet. Twenty-four thirsty horses have slaked their thirst at this well as quickly as the water could be drawn and not lowering the water pereeivably an inch. Dry weather has little or no effeet on these deep wells.

The streams of Weaver are small, Deer creek being the largest. It rises in Pocahontas county, enters Weaver on sec- tion 18, has a southeast eourse across the township,passing out at the southwest cor- ner of section 21, and the northeast corner of section 29, where a pile bridge was built by the county in the fall of 1882, being the ouly bridge of any kind in the town- ship built by the county. Indian creek is next in size. It has its source in the south- western part of Avery township, entering Weaver near the northeast corner of sec- tion 6, bearing west till it reaches the northern part of seetion 7, then southeast across sections 7 and 8, passing aeross the northeast corner of seetion 17, from mid- dle of section 16 to middle of section 15, easterly course, (near here is a spring) southeast across the northeast corner of seetion 22; bearing north erosses the south- east corner of seetion 14 and southwest corner of seetion 13, then south, east and northeast aeross seetion 24, then across Corinth to the Des Moines.

Another small stream has its source in Avery township, passing southeast across the eastern part of section 4, with a branch from the northern part of section 3, run- ning in a southwest course and eonneeting

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on the northeast quarter of section 4, then a southerly course, then a southeast course across section 3. About half way across section 3, the water disappears, when the ground is not frozen or covered with snow, in what are called sink holes. The creek basin continuing across the northeast corner of section 10, about the middle of section 11, southwest quarter of section 12 and eastern part of 13 to Bass lake.

Sink holes, or depressions in the earth with the rock often exposed, which has crevices, some times very large, running deep into the rock, serves a very impor- tant part in draining. They are frequently found on this rock-land.

Bass lake lies partially on sections 13 and 24, of Weaver, and 18 and 19 of Cor- inth.

The township of Weaver was organized in 1874, and at the general election of that year the following were elected officers: John Springer, Sr., John Strait and J. T. Campbell, trustees ; S. E. Rollins, clerk; D. L. Eversole, assessor ; J. B. Jackson, justice of the peace ; George Hornbeck, constable; E. H. Whitney and G. W. Blaisdell, road supervisors.

John Strait lived in Springvale township and could not qualify as trustee, so E. H. Whitney was appointed to fill the vacancy.

J. T. Campbell would not qualify and E. Ward was appointed to fill the vacancy.

E H. Whitney was made chairman of the board. On June 15, 1874, E. H. Whitney resigned and A. II. Reed was appointed to fill the vacancy.

On the same day H. S. Cadett was ap- pointed justice of the peace to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of J. B. Jackson.

The first school director was O. R. Wil- liams. The first teacher, Addie Jackson, and the first celebration was held on July 4, 1874. Oration by Judge Weaver. That day Mrs. Cadett proposed the name of Weaver for the township which was finally adopted with little opposition.

The present officers are as follows: C. E. Wilson, clerk; J. T. Campbell, G. W. Blaisdell,and W.Van Steenburg, trustees; H. S. Cadett, assessor; John Joffen, David Kee, Michael Henneberry and L. W. Morse, road supervisors; H. S. Cadett and W. D. Weir, justices; and F. I. Weir and C. F. Shafer, constables.

The initial steps toward a settlement in this part of the county, and the develop- ment of its agricultural riches was made in 1869, by D. L. Eversole, who located on the northeast quarter of section 2, where he still lives.

D. L. Eversole, son of Jacob and Har- riet Eversole, was born at Bedford, Law- rence Co., Ind., Dec., 2, 1840. In 1842 his parents removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where they lived seven years. They then returned to Indiana. D. L. Eversole was married in 1866 to Enrietta A. Hinkley, daughter of Seth and Teresa (Gray) Hinkley, at Flora, Ill., and in the spring of 1869, came to Humboldt county and selected his present location on the north half of section 2, where at that time there was not a house, tree, shrub or furrow in sight. He owns 191 acres of land, all tillable and having a rich soil. He has a fine grove of six acres set out, four acres of which are walnut and ash. In the summer of 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Eversole went to Indiana on a visit to their old home and friends, and returned well sat-

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isfied with their Iowa home, having no desire to return to their native State to remain permanently. Mr. Eversole was the first assessor in the township, and has held the office of justice of the peace two terms, township clerk three years, and has been a member of the county board three years. They have two children-Harriet E., born April 9, 1868, and Harry E., born Nov. 26, 1870. In 1861 Mr. Eversole en- listed in company G, 25th Indiana regi- ment, and was mustered in at Vincennes. Ile served three years; two years as Ist lieutenant. He participated in the en- gagements at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth and Hatchie River. He was not wounded, and was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn.

George Hornbeck came with his father from Wisconsin during the same year, 1869, and settled on section 14, George on the southeast quarter, and his father on the northeast. In 1871 they sold out, and the elder Hornbeck moved back to Wis- consin, where he died. After a time George moved to Nebraska, but is now living in Wisconsin again.

N. Fleak, a native of Iowa, in the same year purchased the northeast quarter of section 22, and commenced improvements.

S. Il. Brewer, now the cashier of the Humboldt County Bank, made a settle- ment here in the spring of 1870, on sec- tion 14, but subsequently sold out.

Among the settlers of the year 1870 were: H. S. Cadett, William and Alexan- der Gregg, W. J. Lang, Mr. Rice, Mr. Bushnell, J. T. Campbell, Enos Ward, A. Amidon, Charles Lindsay, John Springer, Sr., John Springer, Jr., G. W. Blaisdell, John Strait and C. W. Adams.

H. S. Cadett came to Humboldt county from the town of Brandon, Fond du Lac Co., Wis. He was born at St.Elizabeth, six- ty-nine miles northeast of Montreal, Dec. 31, 1830, and is the son of Franeis and Harriet (Stevens) Cadett, born in Ver- mont. His father was a Frenchman, and a lawyer by profession, practicing in the courts of Montreal and the surrounding country. Both his parents are now de- ceased and buried in Canada. At the age of eight years the subject of this sketch went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., to live with his aunt, Mrs. Batfield, sister of his mother, with whom he remained ten years, attend- ing school. He then went to DePeyster, N. Y., and worked on a farm for two years, after which he worked in a steam saw mill for three seasons. He next re- moved to Natick, Mass., and there learned the shoemakers' trade, at which he worked as journeyman five years, then went to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where he worked at his trade for fourteen years. He spent one season in Nebraska. He came from Wisconsin to this county in 1869, and opened a shop in Humboldt, in which he worked three years. Hle then sold out and removed to his farm in Weaver township, where he remained four years, returning to Humboldt, and was proprietor of the Humboldt House (since called the Wright House), for two and a half years. He then returned to his farm, where he now resides. It is lo- cated on the southwest quarter of seetion 11, Weaver township, and is all under cultivation. The buildings are surrounded by a fine grove. Mr. Cadett was married in 1854 to Panlina A. Briston, of DePeys- ter, N. Y. Two children were born to

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them, a son and daughter. The son died at the age of eight months. The daugh- ter still lives, and is the wife of S. E. Rollins, and resides in Keokuk, Iowa. Mrs. Cadett died at Brandon, Wis., in 1858. In 1860 Mr. Cadett married Sarah A. Blaisdell, of Brandon, Wis. The post- office of Unique is at his house, and Mrs. Cadett is postmistress. During his resi- denee in Wisconsin Mr. Cadett beld the office of constable for three years, and township collector for one year, always taking an active part in the temperance work in Brandon. He has also been prominent in public affairs in Weaver township, having held the office of town- ship assessor for two years, justice of the peace eight years, and recorder of Hum- buldt City. llis politics are republican. He has been a Mason for seventeen years.

John T. Campbell was born in Somer- set Co., Penn., Dec. 28, 1842. Ile is the son of John and Mary (Liston) Campbell, and came with them to Jackson Co., Iowa, when eleven years old. He enlisted Oct. 10, 1861, in company I, of the 12th Iowa Volunteers, and served until Jan. 20, 1866, being mustered in at Dubuque, and out at Memphis, Tenn. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloli. At the lat- ter place, he was taken prisoner and im- prisoned, first, at Mobile and afterwards at Tuscaloosa and Andersonville. After being exchanged, he participated in the campaigns of Vicksburg, Jackson, Tupelo, Blakely, Pinckney and a number of other battles. He was not once wounded, but at one time, narrowly escaped it, a ball grazing his side and leaving a black welt. He served as Ist corporal, and the last year, was wagon master in division train.

At the close of the war he returned to Jackson county, and remained three years, during which time he was married to Saralı A. Shinkle, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Owens) Shinkle, both of whom are dead and buried in Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had six chil- dren, but only two are living-Jolin A. and Mary N. Elnora and Elmer (twins), and Arthur, who was the first child that died in Weaver township, are buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Laura is buried in Jackson county, where Mr. Campbell's father is also buried. His mother still resides in that county. Mr. Campbell is a stauneli republican. IIe holds the office of township trustee, a position which he has occupied nine years. He is a member of the "Grand Army of the Republic." As a citizen, he is popular throughout the community, and is esteemed by all who. know him. He owns the southwest quar- ter of section 1, of Weaver township, where he lives in a beautiful grove of five acres of fruit and forest trees, which he has raised.

Enos Ward, son of Orange and Polly Ward, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., April 18, 1832. When twelve years old, he went on the lakes as sailor, which occupation he followed eight years. Dur- ing that time, he enjoyed the pleasures, and endured the hardships of a sailor's life. In 1867 he came to Dakota, Hum- boldt county, where he remained till 1872, then removed to his present home, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 1, Weaver township. His farm is under good cultivation, and has a fine grove npon it. He was married April 3, 1859, to Mary A. Shinkle, of Maquoketa,

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Jackson Co, Iowa, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Owen) Shinkle, both of whom are now dead, and buried in Jackson county. Mr. Ward's father is also deceased and buried in the same county. His mother resides in said county. Mr. Ward has been township trustee two terms.

John Strait, son of Joshua and Sarah (Tompkins) Strait, was born in Alle- gany Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1836. When he was five years old, his mother died and was buried in Hume township, in Alle gany county. His father is now a re- tired farmer, living in Somonauk, De Kalb Co., Ill. In his youth he worked in the shingle mills and on the farm. At the age of twenty-one, he removed with his parents to La Salle Co., Ill., and engaged in farming. In 1860 he returned to his native State, where he was married, May 20, to Orra M. Hall, daughter of Luther and Nancy (Randall) Hall, both of whom are now dead, and buried in Hallsport Cemetery, in Allegany Co., N. Y. Mr. Strait removed to Illinois in 1860, and re- sided in La Salle county until 1869, then removed to De Kalb county, where he re- mained until 1871. He came in that year, to Fort Dodge, Webster Co., Iowa, and during the year, removed to Humboldt county. He built a house on section 36, northeast quarter of Weaver township, where he has a good farm, in a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Strait have four children-Luther J., Edward F., George S. and John. Mr. Strait is the present school director of his district, and has served as justice of the peace two terms.

Charles W. Adams was born in Orange Co., Vt., May 14, 1847. He is the son of

Moses and Emeline (King) Adams, both of whom are now living near Bradgate, Humboldt county. When sixteen years old he left Vermont with his parents and came to this county and settled upon a farm in Avery township. On attaining his majority he went to work in a saw mill, in which he was employed one year, and during the time had his foot badly injured, losing one toe and nearly losing his life. He then worked three years in a grist mill, and afterwards at the carpenter's trade three seasons. He says the great event of his life occurred when he was married Sept. 27, 1874, to Lucy Bowen, daughter of Judson and Margaret (Pettitt) Bowen. The former is dead and buried in this county, the lat- ter is living in Bradgate, Avery township. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have three children -Ernest E., born June 11, 1876; Albertus M., born Aug. 15, 1878; and Harry J., born Jan. 3, 1882. Mr. Adams owns the northwest quarter of section 13, Weaver township, which is a nice farm and well located. He cultivates 160 acres and ix engaged in mixed farming. Ile has held various offices, having been president of Avery township school board, assessor of Avery township, assessor of Weaver town- ship, and is now secretary of the school board, which position he has held for three years.

Alexander Gregg, who came here from Scotland, died in 1880, and his remains are interred in the Rutland Cemetery.

Mr. Bushnell sold out to J. B. Jackson in 1871 and moved to California.

Jesse B. Jackson, son of Daniel and Pattie (Kellog) Jackson, is a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y .. born March 24, 1823,

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in which State his parents died. When twenty-five years of agehe removed to Ohio, where he engaged in farming for eight years, then went to Faribault, Rice Co., Minn., remaining about seven years, when he went to Hardin Co., Iowa, making that his home three years, then came to Humboldt county, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 11, Weaver township, where he now has an attractive place, well improved, and makes farming and stockraising a business. Being an energetic man of sound judgment, he has been successful, and the commodions and convenient buildings which adorn his highly cultivated farm, attest his good management. Well bred Durham cattle and Norman horses of good pedigree are found on his premises, and all the sur- roundings indicate thrift and enterprise. He was married Oct. 5, 1847, to Harriet N. Dudley, of Henrietta, Lorain Co., Ohio. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Bernard) Dudley. Mrs. Jackson's mother was a daughter of Lucy Wood, of the renowned Wood family. Mr. Jackson's great-great-grandfather was one of seven brothers who came to Shef- field, Mass., where they had received a grant of land from the British Crown. These brothers were true patriots, loyal to their adopted country, and enlisted in the army during the War for Independ- ence, in which cause they all, except Mr. Jackson's father, sacrificed their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had seven children, five of whom are now living - Prudence, born Feb. 20, 1850; Adelaide, born March 23, 1852; Carroll, born Dec. 10, 1853; Seymour, born April 29 1856; Angie, born Oct. 16, 1858; and two de-

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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 107

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