USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 39
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"Perry and Catherine Campbell Oxley, of Montgomery county, Indiana, first located in Linn township, but in the fall of 1838 came here and took up a claim on the southwest quarter of section 22 and built their cabin in the grove near the east line. Mr. Oxley was the first constable elected in the county in 1839, and was bailiff of the grand jury of the county. He was the best shot in the county. He died September 30, 1886, universally mourned.
"Norris and Ann Cone, of Connectient, came in February. 1839, and settled on section 21. Mr. Cone later removed to Marion. George Cone, their son, claims the honor of being the first child born in the township in 1839.
",James and Elizabeth Leabo and Israel Mitehell, natives of Kentucky, in 1838 left the mining regions near Dubuque and settled on elaims in this township on the north side of the river. Mrs. Leabo died September, 1852, and James Leaho removed to Oregon, where he died.
"Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of a Kentucky college and celebrated the first 4th of July at Westport in 1838, Judge Mitehell being the orator.
"The first and only election of the county that year was held there, thirty-two votes being cast. The first store opened in the county was at Westport, by Albert Henry in the fall of 1838.
"James and Mary Scott, of Indiana, eame in 1838 or 1839. Mr. Scott was an enterprising farmer. Ile purchased a saw mill on Big ereck and early built a large flouring mill during the fifties. On account of the failure of erops the mill was not a success. lle died in 1894 in Marion township.
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"Elias Doty, of Ohio, came in 1838 or '39, and in 1840 commenced the build- ing of a saw mill on Big creek, but was accidentally killed at its raising. The mill property later passed into the hands of James R. Briney.
"James Hunter, a native of Ireland, came in 1838 and took a claim; he died May 14, 1888, at the age of sixty-nine.
"Everett Oxley, a native of Kentucky, born in 1812, at the age of fifteen re- moved to Indiana where he married Catherine Milner, also a native of Kentucky. coming to Linn county in 1840. Mr. Oxley died in 1887. Several of the Oxley family emigrated to Linn county.
"Jeremiah Daniels arrived in the spring of 1844 with a stock of dry goods, trading for wheat in the fall, shipping same by flat-boat to St. Louis. In the fall of 1847-8 he built a saw mill on Indian creek and a few years later located a flour mill on Big ereek. Mr. Daniels died in 1882."
Mr. Daniels further states that some of the early settlers were the following :
"Michael and Peter McRoberts, Peter D. Harman, Ben and John Dewitt, John, Joseph, and Nancy Gourly, Andrew and Thomas Dill, Isaac, Lawrence, Elijah, and Joseph Waln, Louis Lafore, Perry and Ann Knapp, Ada J. James, Steve, Charles, Daniel, George, Theresa, and Ann Rose, Sylvester Lyons, Thomas Rose, James and Thomas Piner, James M. and Susan Doty, Abraham Darr, John Arford, Hiram and Mary Leabo-Deem, Sam and Rachel Stambaugh, Jon- athan and Doreas Paul, John Bromwell, Michael Cox, Louis Kramer, Dr. Grove, Dave Stambaugh, James Briney, Leonard Speckelmeyer, James Berry, James Anderson, Caleb Dyer, Joseph Caraway, John and Mary Scott, and Samuel Durham."
Some of the Bertram justices have been William S. Darr, Frank Allen, W. B. Plummer, E. Doty, J. C. Anderson.
Bertram township has been the location of a number of squatter towns. William Stone first staked out a squatter town and called it Westport. He sold out his right to Albert Henry and then staked out Columbus where Cedar Rapids is now located. Henry, it is stated, erected two of the first frame buildings in this town, and in fact in this part of the county. The only sawed lumber in the entire buildings were the window frames and the casings. The siding was what was known as shaved lumber. These buildings were torn down in 1861 by Elias and Daniel Doty. One of these buildings was used by James Doty for his pottery shop up to the time of his death. Perry Oxley bought Albert Henry's squatter claim and he later sold his right, title, and interest in the town as well as in about 117 acres of land at $2.50 an acre. Now for the first time James Doty thought he would comply with the law, and on November 12, 1844, filed a plat in accord- ance with the law and called the town Newark, from Newark, New Jersey, his birthplace. Ivanhoe was never platted, but was only a squatter town founded by Cowles. Colonel Merritt kept the first store at Ivanhoe for parties in Rock Island. This town had better prospects of becoming a great city than any other town in the county. It had a good river frontage, a rich country around it, plenty of timber and good water, and had the government road besides. For some unknown eause the place seems to have been ignored when Marion and Cedar Rapids began to flourish. This is true, that Ivanhoe and Westport were laid out expecting the river to be the means of communicating with the outside world. The railroads, mills, dams and other things changed conditions, and the Indian trading villages came to naught.
FAIRFAX TOWNSHIP
Fairfax township lies in the extreme southwest portion of Linn county. Prairie creek, at times an unruly stream, drains this part of the county. In the
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early day this portion of Linn county had more or less timber, especially in what is known as Scotch Grove, northeast of the town of Fairfax. This timber has, for the most part, been cut off.
The first settlers, as far as is known, who came to this part of the county were Robert and Jane Ure with their family of grown children, in the spring of 1841. The children were John, Margaret, James, William, Robert, Walter, and David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and gone west, lo- cating in Ohio for a short time, removing to Iowa territory in search of land. They located in the northwestern part of the township in the grove which has sinee been called "Scotch Grove." The Ures wrote back to Scotland to their friends, and for many years emigrants came who located in and around Seoteh Grove in Linn and Benton counties. Later eame the MeDowell family, the Lis- tebargers, the MeKinnons, the Mitchells, Giddings, Knickerbockers, Flahertys, Ferriters, Henrys, Cahills, Hines, MeFarlands, and many others.
A cemetery was established in Scotch Grove where a number of the early settlers are buried. The cemetery near Fairfax is now the one in use, and also the Catholie cemetery southwest of Fairfax.
One of the first sehool teachers in the township was Mrs. Keziah MeDowell, who taught in a private house. The first sehool building was erected in 1855 on the place where the Elm Grove sehool now stands. The first teacher who taught in a school building was a Mr. Eckerman, who boarded around. The families who had children attending school at that time were the MeKinnons, the Listebargers, and the IIodges.
The first reaping machine in this part of the county was purchased by Wil- liam Ure at Chicago in the summer of 1847, and was a hand-raking machine. Mr. Ure drove with an ox team to Chicago and returned with a machine in time for cutting the grain that summer. After he got started all the neighbors helped and the machine was run night and day until the season was over and the grain harvested.
The Scotel families were United Presbyterians, and for many years attended church in Cedar Rapids. In May, 1858, the Presbyterian church was organized and established in Seotch Grove. The fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of this church was celebrated in 1908, and the paper read by Miss Jennie G. Mitchell, daughter of James Mitchell, now residing in Cedar Rapids, gives a full history of the church and of many of the old settlers of this county, and is herewith inserted in full :
"THE ORIGIN OF FAIRFAX U. P. CHURCH
"The first settlers in this part of Linn county, Iowa, were Robert and Jane Ure, who, with a family of grown children, eame here in the spring or summer of 1841. The children were John, Margaret, James William, Jane, Robert. Walter, and David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and spent the intervening years near Springfield, Ohio. But land was high in the old set- tlements and they came 'west' where they could enter government land. settling, or at first camping, on the same ground where this church is built. Log houses were soon erected and some land entered and a few years later a brick house was built, the first in this part of the country. The brick was made by the boys and the entire honse erected without the assistance of any expert, the lime being hauled all the way from Muscatine. The Ure family did not leave their religion in the Auld Kirk in the Homeland. but during all their travels, whether they tarried or camped for only the night, the morning and evening sacrifice of family prayer was offered: and on Sabbath at noon the family were gathered and God's word read, followed by praise and prayer. Thus they kept God's holy day and worshiped in their own home until preaching could be obtained.
...
THE "OLD SCHOOL" COGGON
SOUTH SIDE MAIN STREET, COGGON
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and by searching the records of the First United Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we find that on the 9th day of September, 1850, a meeting was held and a petition forwarded to the Associate Presbytery of Iowa, asking for a supply of preaching, and in 1851 the congregation in Cedar Rapids was organized, the Ure family uniting with them.
"The cheap land and plenty of timber attracted others, and in the early fifties the Mckinnon family came from Scotland and settled in Linn county near Scotch Grove. In 1852 Samuel and Sarah Hall, with their large family, settled at Sisley's Grove, and in 1854 James Cleghorn, Sr., with his two children and John and Agnes Anderson. James Cleghorn and Agnes Anderson were brother and sister. James Cleghorn, Jr., is still living near where they located and built their first home. Robert Brownlice and family now reside where the Anderson home was built. This same year (1854) Joseph and Margaret Hum- phrey and family came and settled south of Prairie Creek, and in the spring of 1855, James and John Mitchell with their wives and families, and later Walter Mitchell and John and Jane MeGregor with their families of sons and daughters, and a few years later Moses Mitchell, all finding homes in and around Scotch Grove.
"The Ure family, thus re-inforeed, soon after began an effort to seeure preaching at Scotch Grove. But who first proposed asking for preaching, or where the meeting was held, is not on record and ean not be reealled, but a. minute on the records of the Cedar Rapids church, dated May 25, 1856, reads thus: 'The people of Scotch Grove presented a petition and were granted one- fourth of the pastor's time.' But hy whom this petition was presented is not recorded. Another record reads: At a meeting of the United Presbyterian church of Kingston, held on Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock, July 6, 1858, the following paper was adopted : Aetion of the United Presbyterian congregation of Kingston in relation to the organization of a chureh at Seoteh Grove, Linn County, Iowa. Resolved : that we approve of the organization with the understanding that they continue in connection with us as the same pastoral charge until otherwise ordered by the Presbytery.' But the name of the Pres- bytery is not mentioned. It is supposed that Joseph Humphrey carried the petition to Presbytery. The organization was granted and on the 12th day of August, 1858, a meeting was held in the home of James and Mary Ure, a sermon preached and the congregation organized by Rev. Hugh Sturgeon. There were fifteen charter members, and the name given the congregation was 'Fairfax.' The names of all present can not be recalled, but we remember that John Beatty, who later with his family came to the neighborhood, brought Mr. Sturgeon and was present at this meeting. Three elders were elected, Joseph Humphrey, Alexander Johnson and James Mitehell. James Mitchell did not accept the office and at a later meeting James Ure was elected and with the other two, or- dained and installed. Thus organized and equipped they began the work with high hopes and willing hands, if not much ready money. There being no public building which could be used for religions meetings, they were held in homes, most of the time in the home of Miss Margaret Ure. Rev. Sturgeon did not long remain and others came, Revs. Douthett, A. J. Allen, Sawhill, Fulton, and others. Doctor Roberts of the Covenanter faith preached a few times. One occasion is remembered when he was to preach in the home of Mr. Wadsworth, where Mr. and Mrs. William Russell now live. Heavy rains had fallen during the week and Prairie ercek was over its banks, with the bridge either washed away or overflowed. Several families lived on the other side who must attend the service on the Sabbath, no thought of the high water being an exeuse for staying at home. They wished to attend and were needed to assist with the singing. The names of three families are remembered: Dixon, Junk, and Humphrey. Among other plans some one suggested building a raft, whom we do not remember,
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but superintended by Andrew Mitchell the work was begun, and finished Satur- day afternoon. Sabbath afternoon the families came in their wagons as far as the ereek, where they were met by neighbors on this side, ferried across by An- drew Mitchell, and conveyed to the home of Mr. Wadsworth. After the service they were brought baek to the place of erossing and again ferried over, all in a quiet way becoming the day and occasion. Thus obstacles were met and over- come with the persistent determination of people who retained some of the spirit of their invineible John Knox. But a school house was erected in the early sixties, known as the James Ure school house, and religious meetings were held here. If possible, preaching, if not, Sabbath school and prayer meeting until their first pastor, Rev. J. T. Torrence, eame among them.
"Shall we ask: Did the work prosper? How well, vines transplanted from the Seoteli Grove church in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho and far-off California will testify.
"Is it possible to over-estimate the courage and perseverance of our fathers and mothers, who began the work in this new country under the great difficulties and privations, and whose faith, as well as strength of arm, has made possible the privileges we, their children, enjoy? We trust we shall not forget, but to succeeding generations tell the heroism of the daily strife and the earnestness and value of the twice daily prayer, 'All honor to the builders of this Church.'
'The world may sound no trumpets - ring no bells,
The book of life the shining record tells.'
"THE CHARTER MEMBERS
"Fifty years is a longer time than the memory of most of those living runs. The span of life is not always, in fact not usually, lengthened to inelnde events so wide apart in space of time.
"Fifty years ago, the great Civil war had not been fought, and it was the hopes of those who held the welfare of their country nearest to their hearts that such a calamity might be averted. Fifty years ago, the memory of those two great national characters, Webster and Clay, whose eloquence and zeal post- poned that great contest a decade, was fresh to the little band that bound them- selves together here at Scotch Grove that they might have the privileges of a ehureh home.
"In May of 1858, the United Presbyterian church was formed by the union of the Associate Presbyterians and Associate Reform Presbyterian churches. In the fall of that same year, fifteen devoted Christian citizens organized the new congregation and called it the United Presbyterian Church of Fairfax, Iowa.
"It is interesting to note that while these fifteen early pioneers were planning for the organization, Abraham Lincoln was debating with Douglas the merits of the Dred Seott decision.
"These fifteen charter members were:
"Samuel Hall and wife, Sarah Ilall.
"Joseph Humphrey and wife, Margaret Humphrey.
"Alexander Johnson and wife, Janet Mckinnon Johnson.
"James Mitchell and wife, Margaret McArthur Mitchell.
"John Mitchell and wife, Margaret Mitchell.
"William McKinnon and wife, Janet MeKinnon.
"James Ure and wife, Mary Ure, and
"Miss Margaret Ure.
"Associated with these fifteen charter members in word and work were John MeGregor and wife, Jane Robertson MeGregor, who later became members of the new organization.
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"Of these persons, there are three still living -Mr. and Mrs. James Ure, who live at Denver, Colorado, and Mr. James Mitehell, who lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. [Mr. and Mrs. Ure are now deceased, 1910].
"James and Margaret Ure were among the very earliest settlers in this com- munity. They, with their parents, had come to Iowa in 1841, five years before the territory was admitted to statehood. Both were born in Scotland and came to America in 1838, settling near Springfield, Ohio, where they lived till they came west. In 1857 James Ure was married to Mary Kerr. She was born in March, 1835, in Mereer, Pennsylvania, where she spent her early childhood, later removing with her parents to Dubuque, Iowa. They began housekeeping on their farm just east of the grove, where they lived till April, 1892, when they moved to Denver, Colorado.
"In September, 1879, Mr. Ure asked for his certificate of admission, which was granted. He was one of the ruling elders elected at the time of the organ- ization.
"Margaret Ure was born in Scotland in 1821. After coming to Scotch Grove she resided on the Ure homestead, now owned by Jas. Rogers. She was a woman of great abilities and was always liberal in giving of her time and means to the work of the church. The church building was not erected for some years after the organization of the congregation and her home was always open for the holding of services during this time. The pulpit furniture now in use was a gift of hers. She removed to Cedar Rapids in 1884, where she died. She was buried in the Fairfax cemetery.
"James Mitchell, one of the three surviving charter members, and who now resides at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was born March 3, 1821, in Buchlyvie, Stirling- shire, Scotland. He came to America in 1851 and settled in New York state. July 8, 1853, he was married to Margaret MeArthur and in July, 1855, came to Linn county, Iowa. Mrs. Mitchell was born June 8, 1823, and died June 20, 1904, at the age of 81 years and 12 days.
"At the time Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell came west, in 1855, the railroad ran no farther west than to Rock Island. At this point they, in company with Margaret and William Ure, were compelled to cross the Mississippi river on the ice. It was here that they received their first initiation into the life of hardship and peril that fell to the life of the early pioneer. While crossing the river, the wheels of their dray began to cut through the ice. There was danger of the ice giving way and all being drowned, but by means of levers and props they were able to reach the Iowa shore in safety.
"When Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell reached Scotch Grove, they took for their home a small log house some five or six rods southwest from the present church building, and with the munificent sum of ten dollars with which to furnish their home, started to carve out their career in the new country. With Mrs. Mitchell there was little thought of what her spring hat would be like, or what she should serve when it came her turn to give a Kensington to the ladies of the community. It would probably be some days before any money would find its way into the family purse, and those ten dollars must be guarded with jealous care. True, potatoes could be had, and Mr. Ure and his family had proven that the potato could be used as the sole article of diet for at least three months.
"In 1898 they removed to Cedar Rapids, where four years ago Mrs. Mitchell died. She was buried at Fairfax cemetery. Mr. Mitchell is now eighty-seven years of age. He was elected to the office of ruling elder in December, 1879, which he filled till the time he removed to Cedar Rapids. July 8, 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell celebrated their golden wedding.
"John Mitehell came to America in 1853. Margaret McGregor Mitchell was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, September 8, 1831. In 1852 she came to America with her parents, settling in New York state. The following year she
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was married to Mr. John Mitchell and in 1855 came to Scotch Grove. Here they settled in a small log house near the present church lot. Robert Ure, father of James and Margaret Ure, had, during the time of the gold exeitement in Cal- ifornia, built three of these houses, the first being erected without the use of a nail.
"Mr. Mitchell entered forty acres of land west of where the Conley school house now stands. After the school house was built, preaching services and Sab- bath sehool were held there, and Mr. Mitchell was one of the most active in lending help and maintaining the services. He died January 17, 1896, at Norway; she February 3, 1892. Both were buried in the Fairfax cemetery.
" Alexander Johnson was born in Pennsylvania, his father eoming to America from Ireland. On coming to Iowa he lived at Cedar Rapids for a time, where he teamed. Here he lost his first wife and was later married to Janet Mckinnon, who was born in Bo'ness, Seotland, and came to America in 1845.
"Mrs. Johnson owned some land at Que's Grove, now known as Qnam's Grove. This she bought from the government. Mr. Johnson had money with which to build a house and they thus moved on the land, where they lived till the time of his death.
"Mr. Johnson was elected to the office of ruling elder when the congregation was organized, and was at all times an active and persistent worker in the church. He had become attached to his early church home and was reluctant to leave. It may seem strange, but yet it is true, that the place where a person spends the best years of his life, where he has toiled and labored to make a home, becomes in old age, after he is compelled to lay down his labors, the spot that is dearest to him. He had seen the community grow and develop, and as it had grown, his hopes had opened.
"Some time prior to his death, the members of his family wanted to remove to Washington, Iowa. He could not entertain the thought of leaving his old home community, whose growth and development had meant so much to him, and in a conversation with a member of the congregation remarked that he had said, 'If they take me away from here, it will be in my coffin, but now I have given my consent to go.'
"He was not permitted to make the change. During the latter part of his life he was confined to his bed. He died at Norway, having reached the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Johnson died three years ago at Washington, Iowa.
"Joseph Humphrey was born in New York state. January 19, 1816, and when quite young his parents removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania. In 1836 he was married to Margaret Gill. She was born May 30, 1818, in Butler county, Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa May 5, 1855, and settled near Norway.
"In the church he ocenpied the highest office to which a private member can be called by the voice of the congregation, that of ruling elder, being ehosen elder at the organization of the congregation. He had a high sense of the responsi- bility of his office, viewing it as one of divine anthority. It was his study, as a steward of God, to fulfill its duties and maintain its authority. He was punetual and regular in attendance at all the meetings of the congregation and gave largely of his means and time in forwarding its interests. He believed that the minister was worthy of his hire, and rather than neglect this duty he would let his boys go barefooted to church. He died December 5, 1871. at the age of fifty-six years. Mrs. Humphrey died May 22, 1900, eight days before her eighty- second birthday. Both were buried in Fairfax cemetery.
"Samuel Hall was born March 29, 1806, in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. Ilis wife, Sarah Jobe Hall, was born October 8. 1808, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In April of 1851 they came to Cedar Rapids, lowa, und entered land just west of that place, where they lived till their removal to Cedar Rapids in 1883. Mrs. Hall died March 10. 1886. and Mr. Hall on the 13th, three
SCENE ON THE CEDAR AT CEDAR RAPIDS
TRANSFER CO
BIRDSEYE VIEW LOOKING EAST, CEDAR RAPIDS
CEDAR RIVER DAM, CEDAR RAPIDS
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days later. Both were buried in the same grave in Sisley Grove cemetery. They were one of the four couples mentioned here, who celebrated their golden wedding.
"Mr. and Mrs. William MeKinnon were born in Scotland and were married before coming to America. They came to Scotch Grove at an early date, about 1852. For a time they lived with David MeKinnon, east of the grove, and later moving to their new home north of Norway. Moved to the western part of the state and there died.
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