USA > Iowa > Lucas County > History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc > Part 65
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Councilman Copeland, having two burdocks and a mullen stalk growing handsomely near each other, aaked that they might be spared the sweeping order, promising to build a neat iron fence around them, and the city fathers should have the choice of names, council grove, bonny clabber park, etc., some
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name which this council would ever cherish; but he, pleaded in vain. Alder man Gibbon, with folded hands and sympathetic voice, said his heart went out to brother Copeland. Jealousy had no lodgment in his herrt, but no other councilman had a grove, and why should Copeland's stand?
His honor generously offered to show his "great concern," but the members had not the heart to look at it.
The fiat went forth!
Stockhouse, cut em down ! !
Hastily the council adjourned, and that cheerful idiot, Copeland, went and sold out his business, shook the dust of the city from off his feet and his fist at the city fathers, saying: "Go up thou -? Not a bit of it, but down, down to h -- and say I sent thee." And I, like Stephen Gray:
" Will to the west for fur and other skin,
And be cru-el-y mur-der-ed by a bloody in-ge-in!
where in peace I can have my burdock and mullens.
At the next meeting of the council Mr. Stackhouse presented a bill for $10.50 for cutting down burdocks.
Mr. Copeland resigned on the 21st day of August, 1871, and on the 18th day of September, Mr. Samuel Stackhouse was elected to fill the vacancy ..
On the 9th day of January, 1872, Harry Lewis presented his resigna- tion as city marshal, which was accepted, and James Tout was appointed by the council to fill the vacancy.
On the 29th day of January, 1872, Mr. Jesse Lewis resigned the office of assessor, and Mr. Smith Crabb was appointed by the council in his stead.
The city election in 1872, was held on March 4th, and resulted in the election of the following named persons: Mayor, E. E. Edwards; coun- cilmen, I). M. Thompson, J. D. Lewis, Elijah Lewis, W. H. Gibbon and G. J. Stewart; recorder, A. D. Gray; treasurer, N. B. Gardner; assessor, Smith Crabb.
This council, at its first meeting, March 11, 1872, elected John Reed as city marshal, and on July 13th J. H. Leeman was appointed deputy mar- shal, but failing to qualify, on the 12th day of August G. W. Catterlin was appointed to the position. On the 21st day of October, Marshal Reed resigned his office, and J. H. Leeman was appointed to fill the vacancy.
On the 16th day of December, J. O. Coles was appointed deputy mar- shal in the place of Catterlin.
On the 10th day of February, 1873, the appointment of J. H. Leeman as marshal, was revoked, and James H. Tout appointed in his stead. On March 3, 1873, city officers were elected as follows: Mayor, D. M. Baker; council, E. Lewis, G. J. Stewart, D. M. Thompsom, C. F. Temple and
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George Rea; recorder, J. B. Smith. On the 29th day of March the councilmen elected Wm. Reed as city marshal. On the 2d day of March, 1874, the following named persons were elected as officers of the city: Mayor, E. B. Woodward; recorder, J. B. Smith; treasurer, W. E. Lewis; assessor, C. W. Christian; trustees, Eli Manning, Elijah Lewis, J. F. Soper, G. J. Stewart and D. M. Thompson. Wm. Reed was continued by the council as marshal.
On the 16th day of December, 1874, the town of Chariton became a city of the second class under the following proclamation:
STATE OF IOWA, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, -
DES MOINES, December 16, 1874. 5
The governor, the auditor and the secretary of state, having upon examina- tion of the returns this day filed in the office of the secretary of state of a census of the town of Chariton, in the county of Lucas, taken by order of the town council of Chariton, as provided by chapter 52, of the public laws of the fifteenth general assembly, ascertaining that said town has a population exceeding two thousand, and is entitled to become a city of the second class.
Now, therefore the governor of the state of Iowa has caused this statement thereof to be prepared and made public.
In testimony whereof, witness my hand the date first above written.
JOSIAH T. YOUNG, Secretary of State.
I certify that the above statement was published in the Des Moines Register and the Chariton Leader. J. B. SMITH, Recorder.
On the 15th day of February, 1874, the city was divided into two wards; Harrison street, running north and south on the west side of the public square, being the dividing line.
On the first day of March, 1875, the election for city officers was held, and resulted as follows: Mayor, J. N. McClanahan; treasurer, W. E. Lewis; assessor, J. Lee Brown; city solicitor, Warren S. Dungan; council- men, first ward, Elijah Lewis and J. F. Soper; second ward; L. F. Maple and D. M. Baker. The council elected J. B. Smith city clerk, and Wm. Reed city marshal.
On the 26th day of April the council elected Harry Lewis, street com- missioner.
J. Lee Brown having failed to qualify as city assessor, on the 29th day of January, 1876, the council declared the office vacant and appointed G. B. Routt to fill the vacancy.
At the city election in March, 1876, J. N. McClanahan was re-elected mayor; Jesse Lewis was elected treasurer; W. B. Wiley was elected city solicitor, and Eli Manning and H. S. Glenn were elected members of the council. Elijah Lewis and L. F. Maple held over for another year as members of the council.
The council re-elected Wm. Reed as marshal, and elected J. H. Hines, street commissioner, and John Garland was chosen deputy marshal.
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City solicitor Wiley presented his resignation on the 3d day of Novem- ber, 1876, which was accepted.
On the 29th day of January, 1877, a proposition was submitted to the electors of 'the city to vote a tax of five per cent to aid in the construc- tion of the Chariton, Des Moines & Southern railroad and was carried by a vote of 373 in favor of it to 82 against it. This tax was, however, after- ward cancelled because the railroad company failed to comply with the conditions under which it was voted.
The city election held on the first Monday in March, 1877, resulted in the election of the following persons:
For mayor, N. B. Gardner; for treasurer, Jesse Lewis; for assessor, G. B. Routt; for city attorney, E. E. Edwards; for trustees: first ward, Elijah Lewis, second ward, D. M. Thompson. The council re-elected J. B. Smith, as city clerk, and William Reed as city marshal, and appointed John Garland, deputy marshal, and J. H. Hines, street commissioner.
In 1878, the city election was held on the sixth day of March. The following are the officers elected: Mayor, D. M. Baker; treasurer, Joseph Braden; assessor, G. B. Routt; councilmen, first ward, M. E. Thorpe, second ward, J. C. Mitchell. The council re-elected Wm. Reed as city marshal, and also elected W. F. Hatcher as street commissioner.
On the 13th day of November 1878, Wm. Reed presented his resigna- tion as marshal, which was accepted.
The city election for 1879, was held on the 3d day of March. The fol- lowing were the officers elected: For mayor, E. B. Woodward; for treasurer, Joseph Braden; for assessor, G. B. Routt; for city solicitor, Dell Stuart; for councilmen, first ward, G. W. Larimer, second ward, D. D. Waynick. The council re-elected J. D. Hull city clerk, and elected J. G. Hatcher as street commissioner; John O. Coles, marshal and John A. Wood, deputy marshal.
On the first day of December, 1879, the council relieved Mr. Coles and Mr. Wood from further duty in their respective offices, and elected Thomas Martin as marshal, and John H. Coles as deputy marshal. Mr. Martin declined the office and J. H. Coles was then elected marshal and W. V. Dawson, deputy marshal.
During this year an additional ward was created, called the Third ward. It comprised all the territory of the city lying north of North street and north of the Osceola road. The other two wards were not changed.
The city election for 1880, was held on the first day of March, and resulted in the election of the following officers: mayor, C. F. Temple; treasurer, Joseph Braden; assessor, G. B. Routt; councilmen, Frst ward, Jacob Yengel; Second ward, W. E. Lewis and A. Reasch; Third ward, J. L. McKloeen.
The new division into wards had left the hold-over councilman of the
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Second ward, in the Third ward, and consequently the Second ward elected two.
The council elected C. H. Davis, city clerk; J. H. Cole, marshal; W. N. Dawson, deputy marshal, and Harry Lewis, street commissioner.
The city election for 1881, was held on the 7th day of March, and resulted as follows: for mayor. C. F. Temple; for treasurer, J. B. Custer ; for assessor, G. B. Routt; for city solicitor, Dell Stuart; for councilmen, First ward, David Beem; Second ward, J. A. Penick; Third ward, D. Wormley.
The council elected the following officers: marshal, J. H. Cole; deputy marshal, W. N. Dawson; street commissioner, Harry Lewis; city clerk, C. H. Davis.
This completes the list of city officers to the present time, those last named being the present incumbents.
The United States census of 1870 showed the population of Chariton to be 1,728. Iu October, of the same year, D. M. Baker took the census of the town and reported it to be 1,772.
The state census of 1873, showed 1,963 persons, But in August, of the same year, Wm. Reed counted noses again, and claims to have found 2,272 persons. In October, 1874, Wm. Reed again took the census, and this time found but 2,222 persons. The state census of 1875, however, showed but 2,174 persons.
The last national census of 1880, shows the population in June of that year to have been 2,977, and considering the large number of dwelling houses erected in the last year, and the fact that all tenement houses are full, it is safe to calculate that the population at the present time, July, 1881, is not less than 3,500.
THE SCHOOLS.
The first school in Chariton was taught by Crawford Sellers, in the winter of 1852-'53. Who his pupils were, or how many, cannot be ascer- tained.
The next winter, Frank Savacool taught, in a small log building, which was a little south of where Gasser's brick block now stands, on the east side of lot three, in block fourteen.
Many of the pupils who attended that school are still living in Chari- ton, and among them are N. B. Branner, P. P. Sheller, R. J. Coles, W. W. Coles, and Mrs. B. F. Murphy, who was then " Merk " Waynick. Mac Waynick, who is now a member of the Des Moines M. E. Confer- ence, was also a pupil.
In 1855, the school district built the first school-house, on lot two, block seventeen. It was a frame building, about twenty-four by forty feet, and still stands about a block south of the public square, and is now used as a broom factory.
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In 1859, the district was reorganized and made into an independent town district, separate from the balance of the township, by a vete of the people, at an election held February 19, 1859.
On the 14th day of March, of that year, the first election was held for officers of this district, and resulted in the election of the following per- sons: For president, E. T. Edgington; for vice-president, David Dicken- son; for secretary, Isaac Kneeland; for treasurer, W. S. Stonebraker; for directors, Robert Coles, B. B. Siggins, and Warren S. Dungan.
In July, 1865, the school district purchased from the trustees of the M. E. Church the old church building and lot six, block three, on which it was situated, for four hundred dollars.
In 1867, the district built a large three-story brick building, on out-lot thirteen. The contract was let to T. W. Fawcett & Bro., and cost fifteen thousand and seven hundred dollars. This building was destroyed by fire on the night of the 29th day of October, 1877. Although it was discov- ered soon after it took fire, all efforts to extinguish it were in vain.
It was insured for the sum of ten thousand dollars, but the district only realized about eight thousand, which, however, was a gool deal better than nothing.
In the summer of 1877, the district purchased of S. H. Mallory lots six, seven, and ten, in Coolbaugh and Brooks' Addition, for one thousand dol- lars, these lots being situated on the corner of Locust and Harrison streets, and built thereon a nice two-story building, containing four rooms, at a cost of about five thousand dollars.
To replace the large school building destroyed by fire, the splendid building now in use, containing six rooms, was built in the summer of 1878. The contract was let to Fulton, Chilton and Kendall, at thirteen thousand, five hundredand fifty dollars.
During the summer of 1881, the board purchased the northeast quarter of out-lot six, at the corner of East and Washington streets, and are now making arrangements for building a two-story brick building, to contain four rooms. When the new building is completed the services of fifteen teachers will be required, being quite a change in the thirty years since Crawford Sellers began the work of teaching. Mr. Sellers had probably a dozen pupils, and now there are fully a thousand in the district who ought to attend school, and probably most of them do.
Various persons have, at different times, conducted private schools. Of these, the best known are Professor J. W. Perry, who began about 1865; Professor J. P. Simson, who began a few years later, and Mrs. S. F. Stewart, who began about two years since, and still continues, the others having discontinued some years ago.
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THE CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, the first in Chariton, was organized by Reverend E. L. Briggs, about the year 1851. It was partly under the direction of the Home Missionary Society of that church.
There were but three or four members to begin with, and the meetings were held, as all public meetings at that time were, in the new log court house, on the east side of the public square. The society prospered from the start, so that in 1854, they felt themselves able to erect a house of wor- ship. The building erected was a substantial frame, twenty-four by . thirty-six feet, on the west side of block three, and cost about a thousand dollars. The building was afterward used by the school district for a school house, and, in 1869, it was converted, by Henry Whiting, into a machine shop. Shortly afterward it had a second story put on it, and was made into a woolen mill. It still stands on its original site, and is used for a warehouse.
The Methodist society used this building some seven or eight years, until 1861, when they built a substantial brick church on the southwest corner of block two. This building was forty by sixty feet, and, it is said, cost thirty-five thousand dollars.
After using this church for about nineteen years, they, in 1880, con- cluded to rebuild it, using part of the old walls and foundations, and the result was the present handsome structure, being at the present time much the largest and best church building in the city. The expense of remod- eling it was about seven thousand dollars.
About the year 1868, the society built a comfortable parsonage on part of the lot occupied by the church, and is used as a residence for the pastor in charge. A couple of coats of paint would cause it to present a very neat appearance.
The early records of the church were not as carefully kept as they should have been, hence matters of interest concerning the society have to be obtained through the recollection of the old residents. According to their recollection, the pastors who have had charge of the society since its organization are as follows; Reverends E. L. Briggs, Mr. Bussey, Mr. Smith, John Darrah, C. C. Maybee, Joseph Knotts, Mr. Reed, H. B. Heacock, P. F. Bresee, Mr. Goolman, C. R. Pomeroy, S. Guyer, H. H. O'Neal, T. McK. Stuart, W. D. Bennett, and W. F. Burke, the last named being pastor at the present time. The membership numbers about two hundred.
A Sabbath-school has been conducted in connection with the church for many years. Doctor M. M. Perry is the present superintendent. The average attendance is about one hundred and eighty.
The Presbyterian Church of Chariton was organized July 5, 1856. 18
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The original members were Joseph Best, Robert Robe, Jacob Best, War- ren S. Dungan, J. C. Best, James McDowell, M. G. Burkholder, S. E. Blair, Mrs. H. W. Best, Mrs. Catherine McDowell, and Miss Elizabeth Best. In the years 1867-8, the society built a substantial brick church, with basement, costing about eight thousand dollars, which was dedicated September 6, 1868, at a session of the Des Moines presbytery, Reverend C. C. Beaty, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. Reverend W. C. Hollyday was supply of the church from 1864 to 1867, but was never regularly installed as pastor. Their pastors have been Reverends J. Anderson, D. S. Tappan, and J. Stuart Reed, who is pastor at the pres- ent time. About two hundred and ninety members have been connected with it since its organization, the present number being about one hun- dred and twenty. Of the original members at its organization but three remain: Warren S. Dungan, J. C. Best, and Mrs. H. W. Best. A Sab- bath-school has been regularly conducted for many years in connection with the church.
The United Presbyterian Church was organized in September, 1858. The original members were Elias Hunter, Catherine Hunter, Uriah Mor- ris and wife, William Morris and wife, David Donaldson and wife, Robt. McElroy, John Alexander, James Hunter, Elizabeth Hunter, and 'Mrs. Boyle.
In 1874, the society built a handsome frame church, at a cost of $2,400, which was dedicated in October of that year, by Reverend Joseph Boyd. The membership numbers sixty-three.
The only regularly installed pastor was Reverend J. K. Black, but others have filled the pulpit as stated supplies as follows: Reverends L. F. Clark, A. McCartney, and J. P. Raitt. Reverend R. B. Stewart is the present supply.
The First Baptist Church of Chariton was organized in December, 1853. The original members were Wm. Anderson, Wm. Wilson, Wm. Peck, L. D. Martin, S. J. Marttn, Margaret Anderson, Lucy Wilson, Lucinda Peck, and Helen Peck. Their church, a frame, was built in 1867, and cost about twenty-five hundred dollars. The church was dedi- cated in 1868, by Reverend Morgan Edwards. The names of their differ- ent pastors are as follows: Reverends J. M. Seay, James Frey, Mr. Warren, Mr. Hildreth, J. L. Cole, S. P. Whitman, L. Casler, Wm. Hick- man, L. S. Livermore, Wm. Sturgeon, A. W. Sutton, and B. F. Mace. They have nearly sixty members, and in connection conduct Sabbath- school regularly.
The Christian Church has had a society for many years, and about 1870, erected a commodious church building at a cost of about three thousand dollars. They have quite a large membership in the city, and many more who reside in the country. Reverend Robert Reed is one of the leading
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spirits of the organization, and preaches both at this church and to vari- ous societies throughout the county. A Sabbath-school is regularly con- ducted by the members of the church.
St. Mary's Catholic Church was organized in 1869, by Father McMan- amy. Among the members who interested themselves in the organiza- tion were the following: John Welch, N. Leinen, James Supple, James Gallagher, James Sullivan, Patrick Carey, Timothy Lyons, James and William Crosby, Patrick Kinney, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Mullen, and Mr. Maniette. The erection of a church-building was begun the same year, and at its completion, cost about fifteen hundred dollars.
The priests, since its organization, are as follows: Fathers McManamy, Cannon, Harrison, Bowman, Henry, Wieland, and Hayes. The member- ship now numbers between three and four hundred.
During the short time that Father Hayes has been in charge of the parish, he has shown a remarkable devotion, energy, and tact in con- ducting the work and looking after his charge. He has purchased for the church four acres of land, in the extreme northeast corner of the city, just within the city limits, for a cemetery, at a cost of three hundred dol- lars. He also collected and sent one thousand dollars to the poor in Ire- jand.
In March, of the present year, he bought for the church the dwelling of D. M. Thompson, and three lots, at a cost of nineteen hundred dollars. The dwelling will be used as a pastoral residence, and on the other lots, as soon as circumstances will permit, will be erected a church and an academy. Father Hayes appreciating the generosity of the people of Chariton and vicinity, for the contributions through which he has been able to purchase this property, and takes pleasure in recommending the place to persons deserving homes in Iowa, or the West, and will gladly furnish any information personally to those desiring it.
In November, 1869, a society of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized. The names of the original members are as fol- lows: A. Anderson, O. Olson, John Nelson, L. J. Holmberg, J. F. Ekfelt, C. Larson, A. Erlandson and G. Lager.
The services of the society were for a considerable time held in the court house, but in 1875, they erected a commodious church building on the southwest corner of out-lot one. The foundation and basement are of stone, and the main building frame. It cost something over three thousand dollars. It was dedicated in 1880, by Rev. O. J. Siljestrom.
The following are the names of the different pastors: Reverends N. Nordgren, P. J. Sandeen and M. Frykman.
The pulpit is now occupied by Mr. Christer Osterholm, a student from Augustana College and Seminary at Rock Island, Illinois. The member- ship numbers about one hundred and fifty.
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The society is now engaged in the erection of a parsonage near the church.
St. Andrews Episcopal Church was organized in 1866, S. H. Mallory and wife, Joseph W. Wilkerson and wife, Colonel C. W. Kittredge and wife, Miss Maggie McCormick and E. B. Woodward and wife, being the original members.
In 1867, they built a neat little church east of the public square, at an expense of about two thousand dollars, which was dedicated in 1881, by Bishop Perry, of lowa.
Their pastors, since organizing, have been as follows: Reverends Dr. Labagh, William M. Colegrove, Mr. Canfield, Mr. Portmers, Dr. Tre- wartha, Mr. Russell and Mr. Strong. They have no pastor at the pres- ent time. The society embraces about forty members.
It will be seen that there are eight churches in Chariton, having a capacity to seat at least twenty-five hundred to three thousand people, and all seem to be doing faithful christian work.
ORDERS AND SOCIETIES.
Chariton Lodge, number 63, of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted by Grand Master A. R. Cotton, of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Its charter bears date June 6, 1855. Its first or charter members were as follows: S. P. Yeoman, James Baker, T. G. Goss, J. E. McClurg, . G. W. Glenn, W. W. Baker, Joseph Mitchell and James Glenn.
The first officers were as follows: Worshipful master, S. P. Yeoman; senior warden, James Baker; junior warden, P. G. Goss; treasurer, Joseph Mitchell; secretary, W. W. Baker.
The officers at the present time (May, 1881,) are as follows: W. M., E. M. Thorpe; S. W., J. T. Guylee; J. W., Charles H. Davis; treasurer, N. B. Gardner; secretary, H. Kubitshek.
J. N. McClanahan, a member of this lodge, is Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
The membership at the present time numbers ninety-eight.
Many years ago this lodge, in connection with the old Odd Fellows lodge, purchased a half lot, forty-two feet front, on the northwest corner of the square. After owning it in partnership for a number of years, it was divided, the Odd Fellows taking the south half of it, and the Masons the north half. At the present time these two organizations, in connection with G. W. Larimer, who owns the next twenty feet north of it, have begun the erection of a splendid brick block, the upper story of which will be arranged for lodge rooms, and when completed they will probably be as well situated as any such organizations in the state.
The cost of its construction has not been fully ascertained, but the whole block will not fall much short of fifteen thousand dollars.
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Chariton Chapter, No. 22, of Royal Arch Masons, was instituted by G. W. Eastman, grand high priest, in 1858. The charter, dated, June 29, 1858, contains the names of the following persons, who were the orig- inal officers: D. N. Smith, H. P .; W. E. Sargent, king; Chas. Ander- son, scribe; A. C. Cameron, C. H .; L. E. Sargent, P. S .; James Brown, R. A. C .; W. W. Baker, and Thompson. The present officers are A. Reusch, H. P .; R. Coles, king; R. M. Moore, scribe; N. B. Gardner, treasurer; M. A. Hatcher, secretary; L. E. Mayr, C. H .; M. E. Thorpe, P. S .; T. P. Stanton, R. A. C .; A. M. Rosenberg, David Beem, and J. Yenzel, M. of V., and S. Stackhouse, guard. The membership numbers forty-four. The organization is splendidly equipped with furniture and regalia. They have an interest in the construction of the hall at the north-west corner of the square. A. Reush is an officer of the grand lodge of Iowa.
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