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 56

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 56

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 attempt at a settlement in Cresco was made by William Hill and Levi Maxwell, in the fall of 1854. The former of these parties was a decidedly hard character and always had around him a tough crowd, and as the settlers gathered into the county he was crowded out, Charles Osgood buying his claim. He drifted away, no one knows where. Levi Maxwell did not remain very long either, but removed to some other locality in the State.

Christian Hackman and Daniel Hill lo- cated in this township in the latter part of the year 1854. Daniel Hill sold out his claim to Alexander Brown in the May following and left the county. Christian Hackman is still a resident on the origi- nal claim he made, and is one of the county's most influential men.

Alexander Brown, Sr., and his son of the same name, were the next settlers in Cresco township, coming in May, 1855, and locating on section 14. Both are still residents of the county.

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Alexander Brown, Jr., was born June 19, 1838, in the north part of Ireland, near the coast of Scotland. When four years of age he came with his parents to America, landing at St. Johns, New Bruns- wick. After living there three years they went to Massachusetts, making it their home eleven years. He then came to Kossuth county and staid one year, after which he went to Massachusetts and worked for the government as a nia- chinist. All through the war, and before the war broke out, he worked in the navy yards, or anywhere the government saw fit to send him, being at different times in Springfield, Mass .; Trenton, N. J .; New- ark; Fort Warren; Boston Harbor; Port- land, Maine, and other points. In 1865 he came back to Kossuth county, and has worked since on his farm on section 14, township 95, range 29, engaging exten- sively in stock raising, of which he keeps good blooded Durham "thoroughbreds." He also owns a quarter section on sections 22 and 23. He was married March 25, 1868, to Margaret Burt, of Algona. His father, who is eighty-seven years of age, lives with him. Mr. Brown is one of the successful farmers of Kossuth county, and a good neighbor and citizen. He and his family belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a republican.

Robert Brown and Barney Holland both came to Kossuth county in May, 1875, and were a portion of a colony from Whitinsville, Mass. Some located in what is now Algona township; these two settled, however, in Cresco, on sec- tion 24. Mr. Holland made but a short stay, when, not liking the idea of pioneer- ing, he departed the country, going back

to Massachusetts. Robert Brown remained some two or three years, and he, too, re- turned to the "Old Bay State," where he now resides.

In June, 1855, Dr. Robert Cogley made his appearance and bought the claim of Levi Maxwell, on section 13, now known as the Huntley place. He was the pio- neer physician of the county.

Stephen Millen was also a pioneer of 1855, and is yet a resident of the town- ship.

Stephen W. Millen was born in Nor- wich, Windham Co., Conn., Oct. 4, 1818. He remained there until 1833, then went to Massachusetts, being employed for ten years in the woolen factory. In 1837 he went to Grafton, Vt., and engaged in farming. In 1845 he returned to Massa- chusetts and worked in the mills. In 1855 he came to Kossuth county and pur- chased land on section 16, township 95, range 29, having 120 acres, fifty of which are under cultivation. He has good build- ings and a fine orchard on his place, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1858 he went to Albion, Marshall Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Millen went across the country to Denver, Col., and California, returning the following fall. Mr. Millen was mar- ried Oct. 7, 1836, to Irene Ainsden, dangh- ter of Jonas and Hannalı Amsden, of Grafton, Vt. Mrs. Millen died Aug. 14, 1871, leaving five children-George W .; Mary, wife of S. S. Rist, county treasurer of Kossuth county; William H., married to Lucinda Sawyer, living on section 16, township 95, range 29; Loan'ha, wife of George Humlong, of Marshalltown, Iowa;

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and Louis, married to Carrie Higley. Mr. Millen is a republican

John Hutchinson was among the early settlers of the year 1855. He endeavored to jump the claim of Dr. Cogley's, but was foiled, and after drifting around for a few months, moved up into Algona township and made a claim. He lived there until 1882, when he died.

Henry Kellogg arrived in this township in 1856 and settled on sections 34 and 36, township 95, range 29. He lived on this place until the day of his death, in 1859 or 1860.

Grishington Jones, with his family, came in the spring of 1856. . Mr. Jones was a Virginian of high family preten- sions and well educated-but somewhat cynical in manner. He left the county some years ago, but came back every little while to renew old friendships. Ile died about two years ago.

W. D. Eaton settled on the northeast quarter of section 34, in 1856. Mr. Eaton was subsequently married to Nettie Kel- logg, daughter of Henry Kellogg. He is now running a paper in the southern part of the State.

George W. Blottenberger, Howard, Mrs. Betsy Norton and Benjamin Clark, came during the summer of 1856.

Among other prominent settlers of 1856, may be mentioned Barnet and John De- vine, who made their first settlement in the bend of the river, on section 24. They are both among the most prominent and influential citizens of the county.

Barnet Devine was born July 11, 1823, in Ireland. At the age of thirteen or fonr- teen he emigrated to Quebec, in a sail- ing vessel, being three months on the

passage, on account of storms. He lived three years at Three Rivers, then went to Chicago and lived five years. From there he went to California, and stayed six years, working in the gold mines three years, digging gold. Returning to Illi- nois, he soon moved to where he now lives, on section 24, township 94, range 29, where he lived in a wagon-bed three months, building his first house twenty- seven years ago. He now owns 2,300 acres of land, all joining, sixty acres of which is in timber. The Upper Des Moines river bounds him on the west. He was married in April, 1856, to Abigail Batterson. They have nine children- Mary, Sarah, Ellen, De ia, Clara, George, Charles, William and Nellie. Mr. Devine is the most extensive dealer in stock in the county. He is a member of the Catho- lic Church, and has been school director. In politics, he is a democrat.

Addison Fisber was also a settler in what is now Cresco township in 1856.

Addison Fisher was born Sept. 21, 1821, in Denham, Norfolk Co., Mass. When he was seventeen years of age, he re- moved to Medfield, Mass., and remained over ten years, learning the cabinet makers' trade with Mr. Robins. After working at this trade two years, he went to Newton, and stayed two years, work- ing at wagon making. He then went to Framingham and worked at his trade, and from there to Natick, where he still followed the wagon business, and also en . gaged in the express business. In 1855 Mr. Fisher went to Delhi, Iowa, and lived there one year, when he moved to Har- din county, opened a farm and sold it, then moved, in 1856, where he now lives

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on lots 4, 5 and 6, which contains 140 acres. He now owns 700 acres in one body, and 180 acres adjacent. Being a heavy dealer in stock, his grade of Short horns is of considerable note, besides he has 180 acres under cultivation. He was married at Framingham to Martha Mol- ton. They had seven children, four of whom are living-George A., who mar- ried Fredonia Rickle; Mary, wife of Joseph Raney, of Irvington; Cora, wife of Walter Raney, and Martha. Mrs. Fisher died in 1869. Mr. Fisher after- wards married Caroline Meeker, of De Kalb Co., Ill In politics he is a republi- can, and belongs to the Order of Free Masons, of the Chapter Lodge.

Jesse, Charles H. and John Magoon, were also among the pioneers that located in the county in 1856. Jesse, after look- ing aronud some little time, went to Al- gona, where he engaged in the blacksmith- ing business, but gave it up after a few month's trial and drifted back to the New England States, from which he had come.

Charles took up a claim but never "proved up" on it, and after a stay of a year or so, went to Massachusetts, where he is engaged in the practice of dentistry and writes himself Dr. Charles H. Ma- goon.

John took up a claim on section 21, on which he lived for several years, but he, too, left the county, and is now a resident of Ilonalulu, on the Sandwich Islands.

The first building erected in the county was the log cabin put up by Ambrose A. Call and W. T. Smith, on section 14, in August, 1854. This building stood on the Chubb place, in township 95, range 29.

The first child born was Lizzie Hutch- inson, daughter of John Hutchinson, the date of whose birth was Feb. 4, 1856.

The first marriage was that which united the destinies of W. D. Eaton and Miss N. H. Kellogg. on the 20th of Decem- ber, 1857. Rev. Chauncey Taylor per- formed the ceremony.

The first death that occurred in Cresco township was that of a party by the name of Mahuren, a Christian preacher, who died at the cabin of Ambrose Call, on section 14, in the fall of 1854. Malachi Clark, of Irvington, made a coffin for the corpse out of puncheons split from bass- wood logs, with his ax.

The first wheat was raised by Alexan- der Brown in the summer of 1855.

The first school taught in the township was presided over by Mrs. Hale, now Mrs. Steele, in the summer of 1857. This was held at the house of G. S. Jones, on sec- tion 10.

The township of Cresco was ordered to organize March, 1857, by order of the county court, and at that time comprised "all that part of the county lying west of the middle of the channel of the East Fork of the Des Moines river, and south of the south line of Algona township." But for some reason the township failed to comply with the requirements of the law, and the organization was deferred.

On the 18th of March, 1858, L. II. Smith, then county judge, issued a new order that Cresco organize itself into a civil township, and to hold their first elec- tion for township officers on the first Mon- day in April, 1858. This was accordingly done, the election being held at the house of Robert Brown.

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The first officers chosen were the fol- lowing named: James Robertson, Henry Kellogg and Levi Maxwell, trustees; W. D. Eaton, clerk, and Benjamin Clark, assessor.

The school house in snb-district No. 1 was built abont 1858, and cost about $500. In this building M. Collins taught the first term.

The settlers of Cresco, like many other portions of our fair land, suffered many pri- vations during the years of 1857 and 1858. conseqnent upon the financial crisis that swept the country, and partially on account of the newness of the settlement aronnd them. When they had to go to mill fifty, sixty, or more miles, across the country, to have a little flour or meal ground, life could not be a bed of roses to them. Happy was he that had the grist to grind, for all were not so fortunate as to raise a crop the first season, as the labor of opening up a new farm was considera- ble,and necessitated an early start. When the hard times struck this portion of the county, many grew discouraged and packing up their few traps left for other quarters. As many as sixteen families are said to have left in one day. But now the township is settling up fast.

In the western part of Cresco, settle- ments were not made until quite late, com- pared with the eastern portion. The Dorweiler settlement was about the first to spring up in that part of the township. The pioneers of this were: Philip, Henry and Paul Dorweiler, who located here in 1865. In the following year they were followed by H. Buttgenbach and M. Bonnstetter. 1867 saw the arrival of Wil- liam and John Andrig. Within a few

years others joined the colony, prominent among whom are the following named: J. Bonwort, H. Rhinhart and F. Minger.

Philip Dorweiler, oldest son of J. J., and Margaret (Seiler) Dorweiler, was born Nov. 2, 1831, in Lommersum, near Co- logne in Rhenish Prussia. In April, 1852, he came with his parents to America and settled in Clayton Co., Iowa. His father is dead, but his mother, at the advanced age of eighty years, is living with her youngest son, Henry, near Philip's home. He was married Feb. 2, 1861, to Anna Kann, a daughter of Geoffrey and Cath- arine (Jones) Kann, of Clayton Co., Iowa. Ilis wife died Ang. 25, 1882, leaving seven children-Joseph, Alexander, Mar- garet, Catharine, Charles, Mary and Jose- phine. Cilly Kann, his niece, also makes ber home at Mr. Dorweiler's. Mrs. Dor- weiler was buried in the Dorweiler ceme- tery, near her old home. In 1866, Mr. Dorweiler in company with his father and brothers Henry and Paul, came to Kossuth county, and settled in township 94, range 30, being the first settlers in the township. He located on the north half of section 6, and also owns 560 acres of other land near by. He has eight acres of as fine grove as can be found in the county, ash, cottonwood and maple trees, also a fine bearing orchard of one acre. Two hnu- dred acres of his land is under cultiva- tion, where he raises an abundance of grain, and keeps fine stock, having twenty cows, eight horses, and nice wells of water twenty feet deep. His buildings are all neat and substantial, sheltered from all directions. Mr. Dorweiler is one of the most prominent men in this township is a well educated man, having received his

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education in Rhenish Prussia, and since coming to this country, has continued to to study the English language, so that he is quite proficient. In 1874 he was elected to justice of the peace, served four years. In 1875 was elected supervisor, and served six years. He is now school director of district No. 5. He and his family are Catholics. In politics, Mr. Dorweiler is an independent, and is one of the direc- tors of the Bank of Algona.

Henry Dorweiler, youngest son of J. J. and Margaret (Seiler) Dorweiler, was born in Rhenish Prussia, Nov. 22, 1846. When six years of age he came with his parents to this country, settling on a farm five miles west of Guttenberg, Clayton Co., Iowa. Henry worked on the farm for fourteen years, receiving a good education in the country schools. When twenty years of age he came to Kossuth county and settled on the northwest quarter of section 4, township 94," range 30, Cresco township. He now owns 240 acres of college lands in addition to his original farm, two and a half acres of which is in a fine grove. He has 100 acres under cul- tivation, and is engaged in general farm and stock business. He has fifty head of stock. Mr. Dorweiler was married Oct. 31, 1876, to Mary Marnach, a native of Dubuque county. Her parents are now living in St. Joseph, Cresco township. They have two children-Margaret S. and Philip H. Mr. Dorweiler's mother, now eighty years of age, resides with him. She is still quite active and is beloved by the children. He is a republican, and has been assessor three terms and town- ship trustee two terms. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

Paul Dorweiler, second son of J. J. and Margaret Dorweiler, was born in Lom- mersum, Rhenish Prussia, Oct. 28, 1838. When twelve years of age he came with his parents to this country, settling in Clayton Co., Iowa, where he resided until 1861. In October of that year he enlisted in company K, 17th Missouri Infantry Vol- unteers. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, second attack on Jack- son, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, where his brother, Christian, was killed, and Sherman's march to the sea. Ile was sent back and mustered out at St. Louis, Dec. 16, 1864. He returned to Clayton county and worked on his father's farm one year, then removed to the southwest quarter of section 4, township 94, range 30, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he now resides. He has two and a half acres planted in grove, a half acre in orchard, and the rest is devo- ted to general farming. He has good buildings on his place. Mr. Dorweiler was married Sept. 25, 1873, to Mary Jus- tine Barth, of Guttenberg, Iowa. Her parents are living in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Dorweiler have five children-Mar- garet J., Catharine L., Lonis, Paul and Henry J. Mr. Dorweiler is independent in politics, and has been township trustee for three terms. He has taught school eighteen terms in America.

Michael Bonnstetter was born June 29, 1826, in Baden. In 1848 he came to America, landing in New Orleans and go- ing from there to St. Louis, where he worked in a distillery for four years. From there he went to Downville, Sierra Co., Cal., where he worked in the mines six years. In 1858 he went to Gutten- berg, Clayton Co., Iowa, and bought a

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farm. In 1865 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he bought 720 acres of land. He has 250 acres under cultivation, and raises stock and grain extensively. He has from sixty-five to seventy head of stock ; also from ten to twelve head of horses. His farm buildings and barns are in good order. He also has a large num- ber of fruit trees and a nice grove. Mr. Bonnstetter was united in marriage Sept. 14, 1858, to Catharine Dorweiler. The result of this union is ten children-Mar- garetha, Martin, Paul, Josephine, Chris- tian, Helena, Pauline, Justine, Henry, and Joseph. All are members of the Catholic Church. In politics he is a democrat.

Martin Bonnstetter was born Feb. 11, 1832, in Baden. In 1852 he came to America, landing at New Orleans, and going from there to St. Louis, where he worked for two years at his trade, that of shoemaker, then moved to Waterloo, Mon- roe Co., Ill., where he still carried on his shoe-making ten years. He next went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and worked at his trade eight years. In 1874 he came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 22, taking as a homestead, eighty acres, and afterwards buying forty acres. He was married in December, 1873, to Elizabeth Schaller, of Kossuth county, by birth an Austrian. They have no children, but Mary Faulkner lives with them. In poli- tics he is a democrat, and is a member of the Catholic Church.

Frederick Minger was born Aug 15, 1833, in canton Bern, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States, with his parents, John and Mary (Hoffer) Minger, in 1846. He went directly to Ohio, where he lived three years, then steamboated on

the Ohio and Mississippi rivers until 1854, at which time he returned to Ohio, where he lived one year. In 1855 he removed to Guttenburg, Clayton Co., Iowa, and kept a wood-yard until 1860, then moved to Elkader, where he purchased a farm. He enlisted, in 1862, in company H, 38th Iowa Volunteers, being mustered in at Dubuque, and serving three years and two months. He was disabled at Vicksburg, and was mustered out at Houston, Texas. He then returned to Elkader, and engaged in farming. In 1869 Mr. Minger came to Kossuth county, purchasing the west half of the southwest quarter, and the north- east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 94, range 30. Also, the northwest of the northeast quarter of the same section. He has 140 acres un- der cultivation, fifty acres in grove and one and a half acres planted in orchard. He has 200 grape vines, and intends to make grape culture a specialty. He has good buildings on his place, also a house for renters. Mr. Minger was married Nov. 28, 1856, to Mary Beer. Mr. and Mrs. Minger have five children living- Franklin A., Adolph P., Amelia S., Mary A. and Alfred. They lost four children, in 1880, within eight days of each other, with diphtheria. Mr. Minger is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a republican.

The Upper Des Moines, in speaking of this settlement, as early as 1871, says: " This portion of Cresco township is set- tled chiefly by men from Guttenburg, in Clayton county, the pioneers being Philip, Henry and Paul Dorweiler. They now number abont twenty or thirty families, all in a prosperous condition. All have

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large farms opened and in a fine state of cultivation. On inquiry as to the yield of grain this season, we were informed that the yield of wheat would average fifteen or sixteen bushels, barley about forty, oats sixty and corn was beyond computation. These men attend to their own business and in a few years will stand at the head of the list in point of wealth and intelligence. They have good schools, and as large a number of papers, both German and English, are taken and read, as in any other place of the same number of persons, within our acquaint- ance. l'his colony is located along the rich bottom lands on Lott's creek, about ten miles south west from Algona."

A congregation, calling themselves the Apostolic Church, have an organization in Cresco township. Like the Dunkards in many points, they mix but very little with the world's people and have nothing to say about themselves as they practice humility. When the society was organ- ized, who were the officers, or what were the peculiar features of their belief, could not be found out. A plain, unpretending church, 20x32 feet, is erected on section 7, township 94, range 30, where they hold services. This was built in 1882. John Anliker was the first as he is their pres- ent pastor or elder.

On section 35, in township 94, range 29, is located the thriving little village of St. Joseph, or "St. Joe" as it is familiarly called. This was formerly known as Hale's post office, sometimes Hale, in honor of Oscar IIale, of Algona, who was a land owner in the vicinity. The town never was laid ont, as far as the records show, but grew by evolution.

The first building was erected in 1865, by Hiram Howard, but it stood alone for some time. This was used as a hotel or general stopping place.

In 1870, George Hollenbeck, from Wis- consin, came here and started a general store, which he run for about five years, and then rented the building, having closed out the stock to George Soevensky, of Milwaukee, who put in a new stock of goods, and "kept store" for two years. George Hollenbeck again took charge of the business and continued in this line until 1879, when he placed it under the charge of John Waldbillig, of Dubuque, and who managed it for two years longer. Joseph Schreiber came from Dubuque about this time and Mr. Hollenbeck dis- posed of the whole business to him. Schreiber ran it and a saloon in connec- tion with it for about a year when he sold ont to Michael Smith, the present owner, who does not run the saloon part, how- ever.

Caspar Waldbillig came to the neigh- borhood of "St. Joe," from Dubuque in 1870, and located on a farm, but in 1878, he came into the village and started a store for the sale of general merchandise. In deference to the custom among his fel- low countrymen, he has opened a beer hall in connection therewith, and is doing a good business.

The hotel is now kept by Hollenbeck & Waldbillig, who are prospering as such good men must.

O. F. Hale, now the county surveyor, was the first postmaster at this place, but was succceded by G. Hollenbeck. Cas- par Waldbillig is the present incumbent, and has the office in his store.

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The Roman Catholic Church, at this village, grew out of a series of meetings held by Rev. Father Butler, in 1869 and 1870, at the houses of John Mahahe and John Devine. The Church, however, was not organized until 1871, when Rev. Father Lenihan came here from Fort Dodge, as the successor af Father Butler, and at once set about the erection of a church edifice. He obtained the ground and got the subscription under way, and work was commenced on the church. He only stayed with this congregation one year, but in that time was happy in seeing his labors crowned by the comple- tion of the building. He was succeeded by Rev. Father J. J. Smith, of Emmets- burg, who was the spiritual director of the little flock until 1876. Father Theodore Weyman was the next incumbent, but held it for only thirteen months, when he gave place to the present pastor, the Rev. Father James B. Zigrang, late of St. Don- atus, Jackson Co., Iowa. The church is a beautiful building, 24x60 feet, with a belfry 10x10 and forty-six feet high and cost about 81,800. A fine, large, comfort- able parsonage was also built in 1876 at a a cost of about $1,400. The first mem- bers of this Church were: George Hollen- beck, John Devine, Nicholas Brass, Jolin Goedes, Peter Forman, John, Peter and Mi- chael Expelding, Nicholas and Peter Thil- ges, Barney Crowan, Michael Dunfrey, Mi- chael Melaven, Patrick, Michael and John O'Neill and John Murphy. There are now about fifty or sixty families in the Church, including both nationalities, Irish and German. In 1882 the greater part of the Irish portion of the Church seceded and erected a church of their own at Liver-

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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 56

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