USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1912, Volume I > Part 36
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
C. Woodford was pastor with 222 members; in 1852 J. T. Coleman was pastor with 183 members. W. R. Blake was pastor in 1853, E. Lathrop in 1854 and J. T. Manderville in 1855.
MORNING SUN
was laid out by Cicero Hamilton, September 13, 1851, on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west.
Brown's addition to Morning Sun, laid out by William P. Brown, surveyed by John R. Sisson, April 17, 1855, situated on the southeast corner of the south- cast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25. township 73 north, range 4 west.
Wilson Griffin's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by John R. Sisson, De- cember 19, 1855, and laid out on the northwest quarter of section 30, township 73 north, range 3 west.
Brown's second addition to Morning Sun laid out by William P. Brown, sur- veyed by W. S. Kremer, March 27, 1859, laid out in the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25. 73-4.
Cicero Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun laid out on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west. This is a small addition, containing four blocks and it seems that the original plat was lost. In the dedication Mr. Hamilton states that "Having heretofore on certain lots laid out a town described and known as Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun, the records having been lost, the same having been surveyed by J. R. Sisson, at that time county surveyor of Louisa county, and state of Iowa, and filed for record by him and to my knowledge was recorded and I hereby certify that the plat hereto attached is a complete copy for all practical purposes and is substantially the same as heretofore laid out for me and for my benefit. The lots all hav- ing been sold and deeded by me in good faith, I therefore make this second plat with my full consent that the same can be put on the county records, etc."
April 30, 1870, Josiah Vertrees laid out what is commonly called Vertrees' addition to Morning Sun, but the plat does not purport to be anything more than a subdivision, and was laid out on the south side of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, township 73 north, range 3 west, and sur- veyed by Thomas W. Bailey, county surveyor.
Marshall's addition to Morning Sun laid out by Elias Marshall, April 21. 1873, and surveyed by W. S. Kremer, surveyor, situated in the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.
Marshall's second addition to Morning Sun laid out by Elias Marshall, Febru- ary 22, 1875, in southeast corner of northwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 30-73-3.
Harriet Nixon's addition to Morning Sun laid out on the east half of the east half of the west half of section 30, 73-3.
Morning Sun station laid out by James Sterrett on the west half of the south- east quarter of section 30, 73-3. August 24, 1870, surveyed by Peter Houtz. deputy county surveyor.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
East Morning Sun laid out by Josiah Nicol on September 4, 1870, beginning at the southwest corner of the west half of the northeast quarter of section 30, 73-3.
Samuel Reid's addition to Morning Sun, consisting of four lots, surveyed by Peter Houtz, county surveyor, March 13, 1873, and appears to be situated in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, 73-4.
Samuel Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, September, 1873. and laid out on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.
Wilmering's addition to Morning Sun, laid out by Herman Wilmering, better known as "Dutch Jake," in April. 1874, surveyed by Peter Houtz, county sur- veyor, and laid out on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.
There are a number of subdivisions of lots and out lots which cannot be properly classed as additions but are found on the plat book. There is also a plat of the railway depot grounds at Morning Sun.
W. T. Vertrees' addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, April 22, 1895, and situated on the northwest part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.
Nancy Wilson's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, April 23, 1892, and situated on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3 and adjoins Gifford's addition on the east.
Hayes' addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, for A. D. Hayes, August 15, 1899, and laid out on the east six acres of lot I in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.
In the records of the county court is found the account of the filing of a peti- tion of 11. C. Blake and twenty others asking Judge Derbin to order an election to be held in the village of Morning Sun to decide on the question "Shall the addition to Morning Sun laid off by Wilson Giffin, and generally known as Giffin's addition to Morning Sun, be added to and become a part of said vil- lage"? This election appears to have been ordered, and held on Nov. 7, 1857, resulting in a majority in favor of the proposition.
The first settlement in the vicinity of the present town of Morning Sun is thought to have been made by Jonathan Harkeman, from Ohio. He came in 1836. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was the inventor and maker of the first diamond plow. The first school in this vicinity was probably taught by T. P. Brown, a little north of the town.
The first postmaster in Morning Sun was W. P. Brown, but the first post- office in Morning Sun township was at "Virginia Grove," and the office was called by that name. Mr. Brown had the postoffice before the town was laid out, and it is believed that he gave Morning Sun its name. H. C. Blake was the second postmaster at Morning Sun.
W. P. Brown also built the first house in the present limits of Morning Sun, and his son, J. C. Brown, opened the first store in this building. Other early merchants were Wright, Blake, Hurd. Stormont and Jamison.
Cicero Hamilton had a saw mill in the early days of the town. The town of Morning Sun was incorporated in 1867: on June 3rd of that year Henry Mcclurkin. J. C. Brown and Henry C. Blake presented to County Judge Wm.
MORNING SUN PUBLIC SCHIOOL
٢
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
G. Allen the petition of 44 residents, asking for incorporation, and on same day the order was made for the organization of the town. J. C. Brown was the first mayor, and was elected in August, 1867.
In September, 1874. W. E. Smith, M. M. Carson, James Higbee, Elliot Frazer, J. W. Cavan and others petitioned the circuit court for an election upon the question of annexing the additions known as Wilmering's addition, Morning Sun Station, East Morning Sun and eight acres adjoining East Morning Sun. The court appointed M. M. Carson, James Higbee, W .. E. Smith, J. C. Shirk and J. WV. Cavan commissioners to hold an election in the territory proposed to be annexed, and they held an election on Oct. 31, 1874, at which a majority of the people voting were favorable to the proposition; and on Nov. 12, 1874, the council, by resolution approved the annexation.
Present officers are: P. A. Yohe, mayor; W. B. Garvin, clerk; J. W. Smith, treasurer. Councilmen : J. F. Holiday, W. R. Smyth, J. L. Vertrees, E. L. Mc- Clurkin and T. E. Skinner.
Morning Sun has always given good support to its schools.
In 1867 it built the finest schoolhouse in the county at that time. A few years ago the building was destroyed by fire, and Morning Sun immediately replaced it with a modern edifice which is also the best in the county.
The population of Morning Sun at the various census enumerations has been as follows : 1869-279; 1870-314; 1873-445; 1875-785; 1880-812; 1885- 880 : 1890-881 : 1895-987 : 1900-948: 1905-981 : 1910-897.
Morning Sun is a thriving, up-to-date place, with two railroads, two good banks, a newspaper which has one of the best job-printing offices in this part of the state, and a number of good stores and strong church organizations. One of the churches was the Associate Reform congregation of Virginia Grove, and is said to have been organized by Rev. Samuel Finley in 1840. It is now known as the United Presbyterian church of Morning Sun. John Wilson, John Hamilton, Henry M. Ochiltree and Wilson Giffin were elders, and Rev. Jackson Duff pastor in its early years. Rev. William M. Graham, Rev. Thomas Samson, and Rev. T. C. McKilday have been pastors, Rev. Fred Elliott is the pastor at this time.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
No authentic record of the earliest Methodist services in the vicinity of what is now Morning Sun can be found. It is believed that the pioneer itinerants . preached in various residences and neighboring schoolhouses as early as the forties. It is well known that Methodist preachers by the names of Wilson. Prather and Wayman held revival meetings near Morning Sun before the Civil war. The first regularly organized class in Morning Sun was formed by a Rev. Mr. Paschal of Columbus City, soon after the war, and the charter members were Samuel Hamilton and wife. R. Delzell and wife, M. Jarvis and wife, Dr. O. Reynolds and wife and Mrs. Cramer. We find that this class was supplied with preaching by local preachers by the names of Pell and Bird, and pastors of neighboring charges. The services were first held in the home of William P. Brown, afterwards in the Presbyterian church and still later in Schenk's hall.
Morning Sun was officially organized as a charge of the Iowa Conference in 1871 and Bishop Ames appointed as its first pastor Rev. Morris Bamford. Con-
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
cord. Otter Creek and Virginia Grove were parts of the Morning Sun circuit until 1890 when these appointments were discontinued and in place of Virginia Grove a class was organized at Marsh. The Marsh appointment belonged to Morning Sun until 1901 when it was made a part of the Mt. Union circuit and Morning Sun became a station. The first Methodist church building was erected in Morning Sun in 1873; this was improved and enlarged in 1884. The beauti- ful church building as it now stands was constructed in 1896 during the pastor- ates of W. J. Henness and A. S. Loveall. It was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. B. I. Ives, Dec. 20. 1896. It now represents a value approximately of $10,000.
The Methodist Episcopal communion and community of Morning Sun has enjoyed a wholesome and quite regular growth during the thirty-nine years of its history. From the small beginnings herein mentioned, the membership has increased until it now numbers approximately three hundred. The present out- look for Methodism in Morning Sun is very encouraging. Following is a list of pastors, men of strength and character.
Early itinerants and supplies : Joseph Paschal, Rev. Mr. Bell, Rev. Mr. Bird, Rev. Mr. Prather, Rev. Mr. Wilson, Rev. Mr. Wayman.
Regular pastors: Morris Banford. J. R. Noble, G. M. Tuttle, J. E. Corley. S. S. Martin, Geo. Nulton, J. W. Lewis, J. H. Armacost. P. J. Henness ( two terms ). J. M. Hoober. A. S. Loveall. A. E. Buriff, D. C. Bevan, J. A. Boatman, F. W. Adams, C. R. Zimmerman, George Blagg.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The First Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun, Iowa, was organized by order of the Presbytery of Iowa, May 28, 1849, as a result of the pioneer missionary labors of Rev. Launcelot Graham Bell. "Father Bell," as he was commonly called, was at this time pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Fairfield. Iowa. There were eighteen charter members, namely: John N. Baldrige, Mrs. Eliza Baldrige, Mrs. Margaret E. Benton, Mrs. Ally Brown, Hamilton Brown, Mrs. Sarah Brown, Thomas P. Brown, James Coulter, Mrs. Jane Coulter, Hamilton Hewitt, Mrs. Priscilla Hewitt, W. J. Hewitt, Mrs. Eliza Joy, Anna Nichols, Mrs. Ellen Nichols. Mrs. Rebecca Nichols, J. M. Swan, and Mrs. Nancy Swan.
After a sermon by Father Bell the church was formally organized in the Asso- ciate Reformed Church, under the name of "The Presbyterian Church of Vir- ginia Grove," and as such the infant organization was reported to the Presbytery of lowa, and the church continued to be known by this name until the early six- ties, when the name was changed to "The First Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun, Iowa."
On the date of organization the following elders were duly elected: Hamil- ton Brown, James Coulter and J. McConnell Swan. The first session meeting was held September 2, 1849. and was moderated by Rev. Salmon Cowles. Hamil- ton Brown was elected clerk of session, which office he retained until June. 1860.
In 1849 a call was extended to Rev. Salmon Cowles, which he accepted, and he was duly installed September 30, 1850, and continued as pastor until September. 1853. The names and dates of those succeeding to the pastorate of the church are as follows: Rev. F. B. Dinsmore, 1854-1860; temporary supplies, Rev. J. B. McBride and Mr. B. Wall in 1861 ; Rev. D. T. Campbell. 1861-1877: Rev. A. W.
LOOKING WEST ON DIVISION STREET, MORNING SUN
1
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Colver, nine months, 1878; Rev. J. E. Karnes, 1879-1886; Rev. M. M. Cooper, 1887-1889; Rev. H. C. Keeley, six months; Rev. J. K. Alexander, 1891-1899: Rev. S. H. Parvin, 1899-1903 : Rev. William Mackay, 1903-1909; Rev. A. F. Cameron, 1909 -.
The succession of elders is as follows: James Coulter, 1849-1857; James M. Swan, 1849-1867; Hamilton Brown, 1849-1873; Joseph Benton, 1855-1857; J. W. Taylor, 1857-1862; Adam Hill, 1857-1898; Joseph Swan, 1860-1900; R. H. Stewart, 1866-1877; William MeClure, 1866-1872; W. J. Hewitt, 1874-1894; William Shirk, 1874-1882; Columbus Delong, 1878-1897 ; D. H. Morrison, 1878- 1908: J. B. Wright, 1879-1897; J. A. Swan, 1896-1899; J. M. Morrison, 1896- 1910; E. M. Swan, 1896 -; C. F. Hewitt, 1900 ; T. J. Achiltree, 1901-1904; J. C. E. Yolie, 1901 -.
The first building owned by the congregation stood just east of Elmwood cemetery. The present beautiful edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. J. K. Alexander, and was dedicated to the worship of God, November 19, 1893. The old church building and site were sold to the trustees of the Christian Church of Morning Sun.
The church is at present ( 1911) in a flourishing condition along all lines. The present membership is 230. Rev. A. E. Cameron, pastor. Elders: Henry Beck, C. F. Hewitt, E. M. Swan, W. C. Swan, W. A. Thompson, and J. C. E. Yohe. Trustees : J. E. Boltz, Oren S. Gibbs, John Green, J. A. Hull, Levi Wolf, P. A. Yohe.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. .
The Reformed Presbyterian-commonly called Covenanter-congregation of Morning Sun was organized July 9, 1873, with forty-six members. At that time A. W. Cavin and James McCaughan were chosen ruling elders, and James Mont- gomery, W. J. Cubit and W. F. Cook, deacons.
The congregation took steps immediately to erect a house of worship. A sub- stantial frame building, 46x32 feet. with a vestibule 18x10, was ready for occu- pancy by the end of the year. Early the following year the Rev. C. D. Trum- bull, at that time serving a congregation in Des Moines county, was called to the pastorate. The call was accepted and he was installed in the office early in April and still ministers to the people. Four hundred and thirty-five names have been · added to the roll of members since the organization. Many of the members have died or have removed from the bounds. The report this year shows the present membership to be one hundred and fifty-of whom only three, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cavan and W. J. Cubit, were charter members. The register shows sixty- six marriages and two hundred and thirty-five baptisms, mostly infants, in the congregation.
In 1895 the church building was remodeled, additions built, refrescoed, re- furnished and generally improved. Extensive repairs have been ordered and are already in progress this year.
The present officers are C. D. Trumbull, pastor ; R. Elliott, S. E. McElhinney, J. W. Cavan. Thos. McClement and W. J. Marshall, ruling elders, and W. J. Cubit. J. T. Hensleigh and J. D. Boal, deacons.
314
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
LETTSVILLE.
ONONWA
was laid out by Joseph A. Green, October 6, 1855, in sections 5 and 6, township 75 north, range 3 west.
Denegre's addition to Ononwa seems to have been laid out immediately east of the original town on December 2. 1857, by James D. Denegre.
Linn's addition to the town of Letts, formerly the town of Ononwa, was laid out by O. H. P. Linn, January 18, 1893.
The greater part of the history of Lettsville embraces a period which is within the memory of most of those now living there, and which it has not been our intention to include in this work, except in a very general way. It was laid out about the time of the advent of the Mississippi and Missouri River Railroad Company. now the Rock Island, and has ever since been a place of considerable local importance, and a shipping point for a number of the leading cattle raisers and cattle feeders of the county. The name of the town originally was, as shown by the plat, Ononwa. In April, 1868, S. C. Curtis presented to the board of supervisors a numerously signed petition asking that the name be changed from Ononwa to Lettsville because its similarity to Onawa in the western part of the state caused a large per cent of its mail to be missent, and often caused delays in freight and express matter. The board of supervisors ordered the necessary steps to be taken to change the name, and on April 23. John Hale, clerk of the board of supervisors, issued a notice stating that such a petition had been pre- sented, and that the matter would be heard at the June session of the board; at that session the petition was granted and the name changed to Lettsville, although the postoffice was given, and still retains the name of Letts.
The railroad was finished as far as Lettsville some time in 1856. Among the first hotelkeepers was Seth C. Curtis. The first doctor in Lettsville was A. L. Bayard.
W. K. Trabue was the first railroad agent, and also the first postmaster.
The following communication by the then Ononwa correspondent to the Muscatine Journal will be interesting to the people of Lettsville. It was written May 10, 1859. and will give some idea of the conditions existing then: "As news is not very plenty in this goodly city of Ononwa, I will make known the wants of the people through your valiable paper. Wanted, in Ononwa school district, one or more school teachers, who can come well recommended-one who is willing to furnish a schoolhouse, and whose influence will pay his board, as he will have to board around. There is also a good opening for a saloon, as there are only two in the place, and nary church. Any person wishing a good situation will find steady employment and good wages. Pay after the next crop.
"P. S .- It is expected that whoever gets the job will attend some one of the churches in Ononwa. Application made in person to the director."
Lettsville now has good schools, good churches, and is a thrifty and law-abid- ing community, with a good bank, a good opera house. and a live newspaper. It also has a good button factory.
It was incorporated in by the Circuit Court in 1877. A petition for that pur- pose was filed May 26, 1877. stating that there were 226 persons then residing
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
there. Watters & Goble, a law firm of Columbus Junction, represented the peti- tioners, and W. H. Moles, A. Megrew, Dr. N. W. Mountain, T. M. Curtis and J. L. Small were appointed commissioners. An election was held on July 28th, 1877, and the vote was forty-five for incorporation to seventeen against. Isaac Shellabarger was the first mayor.
In this same year ( 1867) James N. Schofield built a large flouring mill, cost- ing about $10,000, and the Methodists built a church.
The present town officers are: Mayor, V. G. Shellabarger; recorder, C. C. Snyder ; councilmen, Hon. A. M. Garrett, Ulric Garrett, H. M. Rasley, W. K. Ross, Bert Coder.
The Masons have a good lodge-Triangular Lodge No. 245-which was chartered in 1867. Its present officers are: J. H. Collins, W. M .; M. J. Mc- Cormick, J. W .; L. U. Gipple, S. W. ; Ulric Garrett, secretary ; E. R. McCormick, treasurer.
The statistics of population of Lettsville are as follows: 1870, 88; 1880, 300; 1885, 307 ; 1890, 325 : 1895, 348; 1900, 387 ; 1905, 410; 1910, 433.
COLUMBUS JUNCTION.
laid out by J. W. Garner, March 1, 1870, on the east half of the southeast quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 19, 75-4; afterward in 1876, Mr. Garner laid out on the same plat Garner's addition to Columbus Junction, being a part next the railroad which had not been laid out in lots before that.
"The addition to Columbus Junction" laid out by B. W. Magee, Henry C. Wortham and Simeon W. True, July 17, 1872, on the west half of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 19, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 30, 75-4.
H. C. Wortham & Company's second addition to Columbus Junction laid out by Henry C. Wortham, Simeon W. True, B. W. Magee, Alfred Cosgrove and Benjamin Britt, May 1, 1874, in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, 75-4.
True's addition to Columbus Junction laid out by Wortham, True & Magee, August 10, 1877. This addition is situated chiefly in the south half of the north half of the southwest quarter of section 19.
Crim's addition to Columbus Junction laid out by Charles M. Crim, October 19, 1892, situated on lots 1, 5 and 6, and the east 63 feet of lot 2 of F. J. Moore's subdivision of the south half of the southwest quarter of section 19, 75-4.
Todd & Baker's addition to Columbus Junction laid out by William Todd and WV. L. Baker, January 31, 1871, situated in the southwest corner of the north- west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 19, 75-4.
Wilcox & Carpenter's addition to Columbus Junction, laid out by O. P. Wil. cox and C. A. Carpenter, May 18. 1899, situated on the south and west parts of the south half of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 19, 75-4.
Pence's addition, laid out by J. W. Pence. October 21st, 1897, on the southi- west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 19, 75-4.
Britt's addition to Columbus Junction, surveyed by Peter Houtz, in December, 1876, and laid out by B. F. Britt, Harriet J. Darrow and A. Darrow on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 30, 75-4.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
McGee's addition to Columbus Junction, surveyed by Peter Houtz, April 13, 1878. laid out by B. W. McGee, Henry C. Wortham, Herman Wilmering and Francis Springer, on the southeast part of the west half of the northwest quar- ter, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 75-4.
Columbus Junction was originally known as the Sand Bank. The first train of cars on the Mississippi & Missouri River railroad ran to this town on Novem- ber 17, 1857, and this was the end of the road for nearly a year. Some time prior to this the people of Wapello held meetings to organize a company to build a road from Wapello to the Sand Bank, but this project fell through. Some time in 1858 the station at the Sand Bank was discontinued and a station was established at Clifton ; but before the Clifton station was established there was considerable business done at Sand Bank. Grain and stock were bought there and the people of the north part of the county west of the lowa river got the most of their goods at that point. After the Clifton station was established there was nothing doing at the Sand Bank until the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota railroad was located. It crossed the M. & M., now the Rock Island, at this point, and it was then that Mr. J. W. Garner, the owner of the land, determined to establish the new town of Columbus Junction. The first lot was sold to George Jamison, of Wapello, and Mr. Garner made other sales occasionally until, in 1871, he sold ninety-six lots, and five acres adjoining them to H. C. Wortham & Company, of Mattoon, Illinois. The company of this firm consisted of S. W. True and B. W. Magee. On February 7th the first train of cars on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota railroad came to Columbus Junction, and it is said that on that day Colonel W. W. Garner bought the first ticket sold there.
One of the first men to engage in business in Columbus Junction was August Gilbert, who came from Muscatine. He had a house framed, loaded upon the cars of the M. & M. railroad, and shipped to Clifton Station, and from there had it transported to the Sand Bank and put up, and in February. 1870, commenced business, running a restaurant and keeping boarders. When Wortham & Com- pany purchased the town site from Mr. Garner they intended to push the town. In 1872 they built the Wortham House, which was opened to the traveling public in October of that year. It covered four lots beginning with the one where Carr's clothing store.now is, and including the three lots south of it, and these were used as business houses, and the hotel part was upstairs.
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