USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1912, Volume I > Part 34
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C. H. Fisk was the first permanent preacher located here, but the noted circuit rider of the Methodist church, Peter Cartwright, is believed to have preached here at a very early day. At one time the Rev. G. N. Power, a brother of Judge J. C. Power of Burlington was the regular Methodist minister sta- tioned at Toolesboro, and spent a winter there.
For a description of the "Old Fort" at Toolesboro, see the chapter on the "Mound Builders."
Ezra F. Dennison who was perhaps the leading merchant of Toolesboro in his time, and also a pork packer, is said to have had the biggest wedding ever "pulled off" in this part of the country. It took place on July 12th, 1842, under a big oak tree, at the foot of the bluff almost on the line between Louisa and Des
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Moines counties. The bride was Miss Mary L. Staige, daughter of Richard Staige, a prominent settler and land owner in what is now Eliot township. He owned the Edwards farm. The marriage ceremony was performed by Justice Bras, while the bride, groom, and about 100 guests were all on horseback. After the ceremony the entire company went to the home of the groom at Toolesboro. The ferry boat and a dozen or more skiffs put them across the lowa river in time for a big dinner, at which there were something like 500 guests. John Hale built the big oven, in which the pigs, turkeys, chickens and ducks were roasted.
Geo. H. Mosier was for a long time the merchant of Toolesboro, and ranked among the best merchants, and among the leading public men of the county.
John Dennison about 1846 made crocks in Toolesboro for several months.
At one time Toolesboro had an incorporated manufacturing concern. In February, 1844, the Legislature incorporated the "Toolesboro Manufacturing Company" with William Shepherd, Daniel West, H. D. Smith, Ezra F. Dennison, Jonathan Parsons and William L. Toole as incorporators. The capital stock was limited to $40,000.00 in shares of $100.00 each, and the company was author- ized to take from the Towa river sufficient water for their purposes at a point on said river nearly opposite Iowa Town, and convey the same over or through any suitable grounds by means of a canal. race or water-way to a point at or near Toolesboro.
HARRISON.
There is no record of the original plan or plat of the town. The earliest record we have is in the old plat book and this appears to have been a re-survey. We quote from the record as follows: "Plat or plan of the town of Harrison. This town re-surveyed and laid out by William Kennedy is situate on the east side or left bank of the Iowa river in the county of Louisa. The lots are 60 feet front by 142 back, with the exception of those fronting said river which are 50 feet front by 132 back. Main street is 84 feet wide, all others 66. The alleys are 15 feet wide. The bearings of the street are north 40 degrees east, by south 50 degrees east, etc." This re-survey is certified to by John Gilliland, county surveyor, on May II, 1841, and was acknowledged by William Kennedy before J. J. Rinearson, justice of the peace, July 2, 1841.
Harrison was laid out by William Kennedy with the intention and expectation of making it the county seat. It was at one time quite a lively place for that early day.
J. R. Rockafellar had a license to sell merchandise there in 1839: we are not certain whether or not he was the first merchant there. There was a mill, a schoolhouse, and a number of other stores.
Harrison was a candidate for the county seat at the election in 1839 along with Fredonia and Wapello, but the returns of that election cannot be found.
The town of Harrison was started as early as 1837, for we find in the records of the first Board of Supervisors an account of holding a meeting at Harrison during that year.
One of the first doctors in the county was Reuben S. Searl, who lived at Har- rison, and later, about 1840, Dr. Harris Howey resided there.
For a number of years there was a ferry across the Iowa near Harrison.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
In addition to Harrison, four other towns have been platted in Port Louisa township, as follows: Port Washington in 1848, Port Louisa in 1849, Port Louisa again in 1854. and Odessa in 1861.
The earliest place in Port Louisa of any business importance was called Wall- ing's Landing, which, as we understand it, was about the same place as was platted for the town of Port Louisa as afterward laid out by John C. Lockwood in 1854. This was the shipping point for a large part of the county prior to the advent of the railroads, and at one time there was a great deal of business done there.
There was, as noted above, a Port Louisa laid out by Henry Rockafellar in 1849, considerably west of the place we understand to have been Wallings Land- ing.
No postoffice seems to have been established at any of these Port Louisa towns except Harrison.
We notice from the early road records that Walling's Landing was a well recognized point as early as 1842-43 and continued to be so probably until 1849, as notices were circulated for public meetings there as late as 1847.
In 1851 Lockwood & Fleming advertised in the Louisa County Times as hav- ing a store at Port Louisa. This was probably at the town platted by Henry Rockafellar. In February of the same year there was an advertisement contain- ing a notice of the proposed incorporation of the Port Louisa, Wapello & Vir- ginia Grove Plank Road & Bridge Company, of which J. W. Isett was president ; J. C. Lockwood, secretary, and H. Rockafellar, treasurer. A little later in the year this company advertised for sealed proposals for throwing up and grading about 2,000 feet of the road between the bluff and the town of Port Louisa.
In the Wapello Intelligencer of May 24, 1853, there is a lengthy communica- tion from J. C. Lockwood, concerning the affairs of the Port Louisa, Wapello and Virginia Grove plank road. in which, among other things, he states that the original stock subscribed west of the Iowa river was $840, and east of the Towa river was $1,620, on which there had been collected up to date $1,095, and the company had paid for bridge timbers, etc., $577.70, and had paid Henry Thomp- son on contract for building the embankment, $517.92, and that there yet re- mained to be done work between the highlands and Muscatine slough amounting to about $1,600.
In the Intelligencer of March 6, 1854, is the first notice of the sale of town lots in Port Louisa :
"HERE'S A CHANCE FOR BUSINESS MEN.
We will offer at public auction on Tuesday, the 2d day of May, 1854, the following Real Estate :
75 Building Lots (being the first sale) In the Town of Port Louisa, Iowa.
Embracing the most desirable sites for Stores, Warehouses, Shops and Dwell-
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
ings-on a part of which such buildings are already erected and if desired will be sold with the Lots. Also a
NEW STEAM SAW MILL.
With rotary and Lath Saws attached, now doing a good business. Also a
STEAM FLOURING MILL,
in the vicinity in good running order, with a good run of Country Custom.
Sale to be made on the premises commencing at 12 o'clock m., when terms will be made known. For particulars apply to the subscribers on the premises. or by mail through this office.
LOCKWOOD & WILLIAMSON."
The Port Louisa plank road from Port Louisa to the bluff west of that village was finished late in the winter of 1853-4. The stockholders of the company had a meeting at Port Louisa, on Saturday, February 11, 1854, for the purpose of establishing the rates of toll. These rates were established as follows: For a wagon with two horses, mules or oxen, 15 cents per trip; for wagon with one horse, mule, or ox, 10 cents; for wagon once passing, 10 cents ; for every addi- tional horse, etc., in a team, 5 cents ; for horseman on horseback, 10 cents; for footman, 5 cents ; for loose cattle, 2 cents ; hogs, I cent ; sheep, I and 2 cents ; persons going to and from church and funerals, and children going to and from school, free.
At this time Port Louisa was thought to be destined to be quite an important place. It had the only good landing on the Mississippi river in this county. It also had a most complete sawing establishment ; and there was a good steam grist mill but a short distance from there. There was usually a large amount of pine lumber on hand at the sawmill, being brought down by rafts on the Missis- sippi.
In the Wapello Intelligencer of March 4, 1856, George Hutchinson, "for- warding and general merchant" at Port Louisa, gives the "exports" from that point during the previous year as follows: 22,052 sacks of wheat, 9,690 sacks of oats, 1,231 sacks of rye, 13,660 sacks of corn, 205 sacks of potatoes, 144 sacks of flaxseed, 26 sacks of mustard, 326 pounds of pork, 8,022 pcs. bulk meat, 85 sacks of hams, 956 bbls. of lard. (A sack is about two bushels.)
The paper claims that there was more than that shipped from Wapello & Toole's Landing and via Burlington & Muscatine.
In the Wapello Republican of January 3rd, 1861, Hutchinson & Berner of Port Louisa have a large advertisement of their dry goods, clothing, grocery and notions store and state that they have "unsurpassed facilities for storing grain," and "pay the highest prices for wheat, corn and pork" and "press and bale hay on short notice." Notwithstanding the fact that Port Louisa township has been, most of the time, without any town, its citizenship has always ranked with the very best in the county. In the early days, as well as later, a strong religious sentiment prevailed there, and there have been a great many United Presbyterian families among its settlers. For the names of the prominent early settlers the reader is referred to the chapter on townships. The following are the particu- lars as to the laying out of the four towns referred to, as shown on the town plat book in the Recorder's office :
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
PORT WASHINGTON,
laid out by William Hardin and William Johnson on lot No. 2. section 8, town- ship 74 north, range 2 west, on the bank of the Mississippi river. This would be in the northeast quarter of section 8, surveyed by A. D. Hurley, county sur- veyor, September 26, 1848.
PORT LOUISA,
laid out by Henry Rockafellar, proprietor, October 20, 1849. on the north end of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 7 and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 74 north, range 2 west, surveyed by A. D. Hurley, county surveyor. This was west of Port Louisa and sometimes called West Port Louisa.
PORT LOUISA.
laid out by John C. Lockwood, surveyed by Jolin R. Sisson, county surveyor, March 20, 1854, and acknowledged by John C. Lockwood, April 4, 1854. It was laid out on the bank of the Mississippi river, immediately south of what is known as the cut-off of Muscatine slough on lot No. 4, in section 5, township 74 north, range 2 west.
ODESSA,
laid out by M. P. Vanloon, May 15, 1861. on lots 1 and 2 in section 18, township 74 north, range 2. The east end of block I extends to the main channel of the lake. The west edge of the alley passes through the quarter section corner, being sections 7 and 18.
FREDONIA
was laid out by Alvin Clark in July, 1840, and the plat is surveyed by John Gilli- land, county surveyor, under date February 12, 1846. The town was situate on the east bank of the Iowa river, immediately below the junction of the Iowa and Cedar rivers in section 20, township 75 north, range 4 west.
ALIMED.A.
a part of Fredonia, was laid out by James Waterbury, July 28, 1859, in the south- west corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, 75-4.
It is often said that Fredonia came near being the capital of Iowa; that it only lost it by one vote. Sometimes the number of votes lacking is given at three, etc. There is really no foundation for the story, in the way in which it is usually told. Neither Fredonia, nor any other place in this county, ever had any chance to be the capital. It is true, however, that Fredonia, Black Hawk, Wapello and many other places were proposed and voted for in the House of Representa- tives, while there was a contest going on between Mt. Pleasant and Iowa City, and that they only lacked from one to three votes of a majority in the House. This was in the winter of 1838-9; but there was never any serious intention of
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
locating the capital here, and the name of Fredonia was never even voted upon in the Council.
Enoch K. Maxson was the first doctor in Fredonia ; he had a "grocer's license" in 1840, as did also Mrs. Lucinda Bliven, who afterward married William Todd.
In July, 1839, Marvel Wheelock was licensed to keep a tavern at Fredonia, and also to run a ferry across the Iowa river "below the forks."
Lotrip Darling, an early settler in Concord township, or rather, Fredonia township, as it was first called, was the first blacksmith in Fredonia.
The railroad reached Fredonia in 1857, and ran its first train east from there on July 4th of that year. George Haywood was the first agent.
John Bryson sold lumber there after the railroad came, then went to Colum- bus City, and later to Clifton. Fredonia was something of a "seaport" in the days of traffic on the Iowa river, but what little we have learned about that is to be found in the chapter on transportation.
A series of meetings were held at Fredonia in 1842 by Rev. James L. Scott, who made a missionary tour from Rhode Island to the great west that year, and published a journal which contains some interesting items about Fredonia, Hills- boro and that vicinity. Mr. Scott's journal says that he traveled from Burling- ton to Fredonia May 25, 1842, and gives the distance as forty-four miles. Aside from a few newly commenced settlements and an occasional grove he found the scene along the way practically the same, being "an unbounded sea of prairie." At twilight he reached the Iowa river, his patience being sorely taxed by the indolence of the lads who tended the ferryboat at Clark's ferry.
He describes Fredonia as "A small village, situated on the bank of the Iowa river, just at the junction of the Iowa and north fork of the Cedar rivers. I have often thought while here that they had as commodious a location for a large town as I ever saw in the interior of a country." He noted the fine timber all around, which seemed to him to be much taller than that in Illinois, and noted also that they were then erecting a steam sawmill opposite Fredonia.
Referring to Hillsboro, which is better known now by the name of Toddtown he says : "Hillsboro is conveniently located for a harbor and town, and had already begun to erect its edifices. It lies on the opposite side of the river from Fredonia, and about one mile above on the Iowa branch. Through it a terri- torial road passes from Burlington to Iowa City. Here Captain Wheelock keeps a commodious ferryboat." He also refers to several "neat buildings" that had just been commenced.
He has this to say of Columbus City, although he gets the name slightly wrong. "About three miles back on the route to Burlington is Columbia City, a small village, but I cannot now see what will keep it alive, as it is situated on a dry prairie. It has, however, a very pleasant location."
In the latter part of May, Rev. Scott began a series of meetings at Fredonia. Of the first one he says: "At eleven o'clock the people began to flock to Fre- donia and we listened to a discourse from a Methodist brother. At two p. m. I addressed the congregation and commenced a series of meetings which were kept up as much as consistent until my health completely failed, and I was obliged to leave a weeping and anxious people. . . Four o'clock p. m. I addressed a congregation of anxious hearers. Many came from distance. Had a meeting again in the evening. Sinners began to inquire the way to heaven."
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Under date of May 27th is the following report in his journal: "Took a circuitous route back of Fredonia (probably east) through the prairies, inter- spersed with groves. We traveled on a ridge of land which led us through one plantation where was about 800 acres under cultivation. On either side of the road were large fields of wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. We kept the ridge for some distance and were able to survey much of the surrounding country, which for picturesque scenery and agricultural conveniences surpasses every- thing I ever saw before, or expect to see again."
On the 28th, which was Sabbath, the reverend gentleman held services and then went to Osceola, or Hillsboro, and spent the night. On the next day he passed down the river from Hillsboro to Fredonia in a canoe in company with Captain Wheelock and lady. On this day the people gathered from far and near and the good man was almost persuaded to settle down in Fredonia.
From that time Sabbath meetings continued until the 8th of June, when he was obliged by ill health to close in the middle of a sermon. He was pained at heart to leave this field and expressed the fervent wish that "Zion did but know the deep wretchedness and anxieties of many of the people scattered through the great western valley," and the belief that, if so, they would "fly to their relief and help exterminate the heresies, infidelity, popery and Mormonism."
One of the most interesting things in Mr. Scott's little book is what he says about Osceola. This is the name given by Mr. Scott to the high hill or bluff at Toddtown on the bank of the lowa river. just west of the Rock Island track. He says: "West of the territorial road at Hillsboro is the rising bank of Osceola, or the mound upon which the Indians came to trade, as this was the converging point of the nations general resort. We ascended to its conical head. This is about 100 feet above the river, which flows directly beneath, and about one mile from Fredonia. A prospect from the summit must present a still more tempting scene than that from the towering mound which overhung the beloved city in the eastern world. Just before us between the two rivers was Port Island."
He, of course, meant Port Allen. Farther on he says: "Northwest of us we saw a tree which from its distance resembled an umbrella. I was informed that it was a large oak eighteen miles distant and stood on the great territorial road which leads from Burlington to Iowa City. About two miles south of us was Columbus City. Thus in every direction we could survey the garden of the west.'
"I thought while standing there that this mound might yet sustain an acad- emy, and from it the student might survey the geographic features of both river and sky."
Further on he says of this general locality: "The Iowa river is one of the largest tributaries of the Mississippi, affording steamboat navigation the principal part of the year to Fredonia and Hillsboro. From thence to Iowa City it is susceptible of keelboat navigation. With this view of the subject it is readily inferred that the towns at the confluence of the Iowa and Cedar rivers will eventually take the lead in commerce, notwithstanding the capital is above them in point of location, and its population far superior." Concerning the wild fruits and wild animals in the Iowa country he says: "Wild plums almost of unnum- bered varieties grow in profusion, and the deep recesses of the forests abound
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
in wild grapes," etc. He mentions also crab apples and various kinds of berries, and foxes, raccoons, opossum, gophers, porcupines, squirrels, otter and deer, and says that the rivers, lakes and creeks abound in speckled trout, white perch, black and rock bass, catfish, shad, eels, sturgeon and buffalo.
He describes with much feeling his departure from Fredonia and the "bursts of sorrow" with which the people received the intelligence that he was about to leave them. In conclusion he says that a church was constituted and founded in Fredonia in which Dr. Enoch Maxson was clerk. He refers to Fredonia as a very convenient location for a large town, being on the bank of the Iowa river "up and down which the proud steamer frequently plays, laden with almost every- thing necessary for domestic use in this newly settled country."
As noted elsewhere, when the townships were first established, what is now Concord was a part of Fredonia township, which embraced all, or practically all, of the present townships of Oakland and Concord. In those days Fredonia was a place of considerable importance. It was incorporated in 1874, the vote on the question being taken on May 30th, and resulting 23 for incorporation and none against. The population is given as follows: 1870-150: 1875 -- 123: 1880-157: the population of Fredonia seems to have been included with that of the township, and not given separately, in the subsequent enumerations. Cram's Atlas for 1911 gives the population for 1910 at 250, but this may be only an estimate.
LAFAYETTE AND HILLSBORO. LAFAYETTE
was laid out by Jacob Schmeltzer, Elizabeth Wheelock, William Edwards, James M. Edwards and Augustus Dubreuil, and surveyed by John R. Sisson, county surveyor, May 14, 1856, and acknowledged by the various proprietors before Wesley W. Garner, notary public, August 1, 1856. It appears to have been laid out just south of the town of Hillsborough and the greater part of it was in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 19, although the east part of it was about 142 feet extended over into the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 19. This plat was also about 600 feet wide east and west and about 1,200 or 1,300 feet long north and south.
HILLSBOROUGH
was laid out by William Todd on the south bank of the Iowa river immediately adjoining the ferry landing, known as Todd's ferry. It was surveyed by John Gilliland, county surveyor, April 28, 1842, and acknowledged by William Todd before J. S. Rinearson, notary public, June 17, 1842. The part laid out seems to have been about 60 feet wide east and west by about 1,500 fect north and south.
The place where these two towns were is now included in the limits of Columbus Junction. Hillsboro, as it has usually been called, was once quite a business point for shipping on the Iowa river. For a few years, about 1858 to 1861, there was a postoffice here, called Altoona. The census of 1860 gives the population of Hillsboro at 63, while that of 1870 places it at 46.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Fitch & Luckett packed pork at Hillsboro and Marvel Wheelock and Allan Pease had stores there. Philander Bouton had a store at Lafayette.
CLIFTON
is described on the plat book as the second station west of Muscatine on the Mississippi & Missouri railroad, situated on the southwest quarter of the north- east quarter and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 75 north, range 5 west, and was laid out by Joseph A. Green and George C. Stone, October 16, 1858. The railroad extends east and west with a bend to the north through the south half of the plat. the greater part of the town as platted being on the north side of the railroad.
Haywood's addition to Clifton was laid out by George Haywood, September 4. 1865. The location is described as follows on the plat book: "Such addition is laid upon the east side and will not vary far from 580 feet wide of the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23 of township 75 north, of range 5 west, and adjoins the original town plat of Clifton on the north and is an extension north the entire length of said northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23."
Clifton is now but a memory, and yet the census of 1860 gives it 46 people and that of 1870 gives it 200. In 1867 the Methodists and Catholics each built churches there. It had two lumber yards, two hotels and several stores. Geo. Ilaywood was the first agent there. as he had been at Fredonia; he was also the first postmaster. Wm. Klotz kept hotel there, and Geo. W. Merrill. J. L. & P. H. Collins, and Russell & Gallup had stores. Clifton was at one time the shipping point for Columbus City, Union and part of Wapello townships.
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP AND ITS TOWNS.
The first official name given to the territory comprising Oakland township after it became a part of Louisa county, which was not until January, 1839. was Catteese. The designation of this district was intended both for a road (listriet and a voting precinct, and it was provided that the voting place should be at Flugh Coland's. This name is given at other times as "Calin" or "Callan." Whatever the proper spelling was, it is quite certain he was an early settler in Oakland township, and probably lived near the bank of the lowa river almost dute west from Levi Blake's residence.
Among the other early settlers were Joseph Blake. Peter Blake, Curtis Knight and Absalom Dollarhide. William Blake, M. Seydell, and John Brown.
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