USA > Iowa > Lucas County > History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc > Part 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
Dlg zedby Google
615
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
provide a library and reading-room in connection with the society, and ventured the prediction that if they would keep the soul-debasing saloons from their midst, and would provine a good reading-room and library, a man would be elected to congress from their midst before ten years.
I was permitted, by the kindness of Mr. Haven, the general manager of the works, to copy the output for the past ten months. The following is the tonnage and pay roll from April, 1880, to January, 1881, inclusive:
1880.
April
Tonnage. 9,069
Pay Roll. $11,531.07
May
10,430
13,165.96
June
9,702
13,591.86
July
10,055
13,085.82
August
10,650
15,458.84
September
12,064
17,056.75
October
14,253
19,435.65
November
16,428
21,518.87
December
16,667
23,310.23
January, 1881
.12,377
J9,556.46
The above includes labor in sinking new shaft, as well as labor in mining coal. During the month of Janury there was a stoppage of several days caused by an accident to the machinery of the mine.
The new shaft, B, will be ready for shipping in April, and next winter the company expect to mine and ship one hundred cars daily of twelve thousand tons of coal. Success to our friends in Iowa. In addition to all this, the legis- lature a year ago created the offie of state inspector of mines, but I found considerable dissatisfaction . existing among the miners in regard to the mine inspector not being a competent, practical miner. The Pennsylvania plan, which provides for a board of examiners to test the qualifications of all appli- cants to the office of inspector of mines, is the best plan in use, and all the states should adopt this method."
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 1,154. Lincoln township embraces all of congres- sional township seventy-two, north of range twenty-one west, except the part which, six years since, was covered by the town of Chariton, which is now Chariton township. Since the division of what was formerly Chariton township into Lincoln and Chariton townships, the city has been extended, until now more than half its territory is in Lincoln. Outside of . the city, Lincoln township has, according to the tax books of 1880, 21,477 acres of land. Of this amount about 17,000 acres are under fence and mostly in cultivation.
The stream known as North Fork of Chariton river runs across the southwest corner of the township from northwest to southeast, leaving about two sections on the south side of the river. This stream, although called a river, is quite small, and should properly be called a creek. Lit- tle Whitebreast creek rises near the southeast part of the township, and, flowing through it in a northwest direction, divides it into two nearly
Dlg ed by Google
616
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
equal parts. Along this stream are many small coal banks, which in the aggregate produce a large amount of bituminous coal, most of which finds a market in Chariton.
At a point on the creek, about three miles northeast of Chariton, has lately been found what the owner thinks is a very fine article of sand- stone. He intends to expend this year some considerable money in ascer- taining the extent and quality of it.
There are some very fine apple orchards in this township, most of which are comparatively young, and only beginning to bear fruit. Of the older ones Richard Reed, Esq., the present county recorder, has one of about three acres. The value of the fruit on these three acres, during the last two years, has been fully one-third of the entire produce of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres. T. M. Stuart, Esq., has a fine orchard southwest of town. Hon. S. H. Mallory has the largest orchard in the county, and one of the largest in the state. It is near his new residence, just north of Chariton. There are about six thousand trees, which were planted for him some years ago by Mr. A. J. Phenix, who has entire charge of it. They are pruned and cultivated in the best possible man- ner. A visit to it will well repay any one for his trouble, and fruit-grow- ers can learn by observation just how a tree should be tended. Mr. Mallory never made a better investment than when he employed Mr. Phenix to "build" his orchard.
The township is divided into six independent school districts, one of which has two schools, and each of the others one. There are seven excellent school-houses.
There is but one church in the township, built by the Methodists about eight years since, in Oxford school district, and called Pleasant Plains. They have a good membership, and Reverend S. Guyer is the present pastor. Religious services are also held in some of the school-houses, and quite a number are members of churches in Chariton.
This township is so closely connected with Chariton, that it cannot be separated, and the principal facts of its early settlements and settlers will be found under the head of Chariton city.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 865. Liberty township by its congressional num- . bers, is township seventy-three, north, of range twenty-two, west of the fifth principal meridian.
Whitebreast creek flows into the township from the south, and running in a general northeast direction passes into Warren county about two miles west of Newbern. Tributary to it on the east side, are Little Whitebreast creek and Brown's branch. And on the west side are Stony, Barker, and Indian creeks.
The surface of the township is quite broken in many parts, and there
Dlg ed by Google
617
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
are many fine farms of the most beautiful land. Along the streams, are large bodies of what was formerly very excellent timber, a large part of which has been cut and used, but there still remains to those who have taken special pains to preserve it, some of the best timber in the county.
The tax-books of 1880, show 23,167 acres of land, of which something over one half has been cultivated, but there still remains unfenced consid- erable bodies of good grazing land, furnishing what is termed range, for stock running out.
Coal is mined from surface veins in different parts of the township, and although wood is sufficiently abundant, a large number of citizens prefer to use the coal for heating purposes in the winter time. A good article of limestone is quarried and used for building purposes.
The first settler in Liberty township, was George W. Ruble, who located in the north part in the spring of 1850. In August, 1850, Milton Thomason came to the same neighborhood. A little later in the fall came Matthew Halferty and settled near the center of the township.
These three gentlemen, the oldest pioneers in that part of the county, are all living there yet, they all own fine farms, which they cultivate, fine homes in which they live, and their childen have grown up around them, and likewise their children's children. They all seem to enjoy good health, with all the comforts and conveniences of life, in close proximity to rail- road stations, with stores, blacksmith shops, and mills conveniently accessi- ble, it must, be difficult for them to realize that thirty years ago they were compelled to go all the way to Oskaloosa to have their corn converted into meal; and the summer of 1852, when the high water for nearly two months prevented them from going any where, and they lived on hominy, must seem like a troubled dream.
Soon after, came P. N. Barker, who built the first house in section eleven. Others followed along, among them Thomas Arnold, Joseph Howard, Joseph Webb, Daniel Baum, J. B. Custer, Pleasant Williams, James Atkinson and John Malone. Many others came about the same time, and it is somewhat difficult to determine which arrived first.
On the 26th day of February, 1853, came Philip Cumpston, and settled on section eleven. He was a thrifty and industrious young man, with few cares, heart whole and fancy free. On the fiftieth day after his arrival, he was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony, to Miss Cynthia Malone. It seems to have been a case of love at first sight. The courtship was not unneccessarily long, and on the 17th day of April, 1853, James B. Custer, Esq., then a justice of the peace, performed the ceremony which . made the twain one. And this was the first marriage in the township.
The couple still live near where they first "set up " housekeeping. They have raised a large family, and seem to be doing well in the world.
Digweed by Google
618
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
The first birth in the township occurred on the 26th day of February, 1851. The parents names were Milton and Sara Thomason.
The young man who had just arrived in the world was called' William H. Thomason. He grew up on the farm, where he worked until he was nearly of age. Then he went to Fremont county, and attended school at Tabor a couple of years. He then went to the Burlington Business Col- lege a couple of years; then back to Fremont county; then to Glenwood, where he clerked in a store five years. In 1880, he went to Sidney, and opened a restaurant; then to Malvern. In the meantime he went up to Keokuk county and married a wife, and early in 1881, he concluded there was no better place than Lucas county, after all, and came to Chariton, where he conducts a first class restaurant and bakery.
James Halferty, a son of Matthew Halferty, seems to have been the first person born in the township. He is still living there and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The authorities do not agree as to whose was the first death in the township. From one source it is stated that Mrs. Atkinson died there in 1850, which if correct, is certainly the first. A daughter of Thomas and Julia Arnold, named Sara, died in 1853, and a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Atkinson, in 1854.
The first regular physician who practiced the healing art in the town- ship, was Dr. Charles Fitch, who lived and still lives in Chariton.
The first religious services held in the township were by Reverend Abner Corban, at the residence of Milton Thomason, in the year 1853. Services were also held at a very early date, by Reverend Mr. Deason, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in a log building sometimes used for school purposes, in section eleven. In 1859, a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed, consisting at first of a very few persons, among them S. D. Wheeler and his wife, and Robert Ramsey and his wife. Other members were soon added, and the society still exists in a prosperous condition. In 1880, they constructed a church building at Oakley, which, however, is not entirely finished. The cost of its erection has been, so far, about one thousand dollars. It has not yet been dedica- ted. Their pastors, since its organization, have been as follows: Rever- ends M. Sheets, Clalfey, Wood, Reed, Thornburg, B. B. Kennedy, D. O. Stuart, Robison, A. Brown, Methena, Bourne, Hover, and last, the pres- ent incumbent, Rev. S. Guyer. The present membership numbers about thirty. A Sabbath school has been conducted for many years, partly under the auspices of the society, but perhaps more properly as a union school.
,
In 1867, at the school house in section fifteen, was organized a society of the Primitive Baptist Church. Among the original members were Rev- erend W. S. Hughes, Richard and Elizabeth Welsh, Isaac Renfro, Thomas
Dighed by Google
. 619
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
Stone, Melvina Davis, Elizabeth Davis, and Elizabeth Callon. In 1880, they built themselves a place of worship at an expense of about five hun- dred and fifty dollars. Mr. D. E. Musselman, Wm. James and Wm. Skidmore seemed to take the lead in its construction. Their pastors have been Reverends W. S. Hughes and Andrew Goforth. They have now nearly fifty members and the society is prospering. The following are the present officers of the church: Cornelius Corwin, church clerk and trustee; D. E. Musselman, steward and trustee; Wm. Humphrey, trustee.
The first school house in the township was constructed in 1854, of logs. The work and material were the volunteer contributions of the citizens. It was daubed with mud to keep out the cold. The house was situated near the southwest corner of section eleven. In this building John W. McCaffrey taught the first school, receiving as his compensation the sum of ten dollars per month. Mr. McCaffrey resided in the neighborhood for many years. He bought a farm in the edge of the next township west, got into debt, speculated to his disadvantage in patent rights, and finally left his family and his creditors, and has not been heard from since. The moral to all of which is, if you want to keep a teacher honest, you must pay him more than ten dollars per month.
There are more schools there now. The township is divided into six sub-districts, with a school house in each, and has the reputation of getting the most school for the least money of any township in the county. It may be that the teachers get all they earn, but it is safer to say they.earn all they get.
The first saw and grist mill built in the county, was in this township. It was begun in 1851. It was situated on White Breast creek, near where Rob't Ramsey, Esq., lives at the present time. The builders were Pleasant Williams and Isaac C. Cain. A dam was constructed across the creek, and the water thus utilized for motive power. The mill was a small structure rudely put together. The burrs were made of boulders, com- monly called " nigger heads." One of them was very irregular in shape, and when in motion, seemed all the time as though it would jump out of the frame.
The dam is now washed away. The frame of the mill was utilized by Mr. Ramsey in building his barn.
Mr. Cain is still living in the county, a couple of miles south of Newbern.
In 1877, the citizens voted a tax of five per cent. to aid in constructing the Chariton, Des Moines & Southern Railroad. There was an under- standing that the road was to be built and operated independent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, with the view of hav- ing a competing line. Nevertheless the C. B. & Q., did build the road, and many citizens objected to paying the tax. The matter was taken into the courts, but was compromised with an understanding that resident tax-
Dighed by Google
620
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
payers should be released on payment of one half the tax. But persons owning land in the township and not residing there, were thus compelled to pay the full amount. A little over six miles of the road are located in the township with a station called Oakley, in section twenty-seven.
Mr. S. H. Mallory laid out the town of Oakley. It is a great conven- ience to the citizens to have the store, post office, express office and black- mith shop, which were established in 1879, and to be able to ship grain and stock from that point, but as yet, the town is not very extensively built up.
OTTER CREER TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 767. Otter Creek township is in the northwest corner of Lucas county. By the congressional survey, it is designated as township seventy-three, north, of range twenty-three west of the fifth principal meridian. The township received its name from a stream called Otter Creek; which, entering from the south side, runs in a generally northern direction, and out of the township and county on the north side into Warren county, and, in its passage, cutting the township into two parts, leaving a somewhat larger portion 'on the east side of the creek.
ยท Indian creek, flowing toward the northeast, cuts off a little more than a section of the southeast corner. These streams with the head of Stony creek in the northeast of the township, suffice to carry off the surplus water.
The taxable land in the township, as shown by the tax books of 1880, is 23,063 acres. Of this more than half is under cultivation. While some of the land in the immediate vicinity of the streams, is quite broken and rough, yet some of the most beautifully situated and best improved farms in the county, are found there. Along the Otter creek is a splendid body of timber, and as the convenience of the citizens require, portable saw mills are located at different points, which convert the logs into lumber suitable for building and fencing purposes.
The first settler seems to have been J.S. Gray, who came to that part of the county in 1850. Many others came soon after, among them Nelson Case, Henry Ruble, John Roberts, Wm. Moore, Wm. Manley, Alex. Lamb, Wm. D. Pennington, Joel Carter, James Tilford, Blankly, Edwards, and Cackler. They all worked hard to get a start in the world. A man's ability was usually estimated by the number of rails he could make in a day. When they met, usually on Sunday, they compared notes on the rail business. The one who had made the largest number during the week, or on a cer- tain day, was the hero. It always happened that the last one to make his statement, had the biggest number to report, but to even up, the next time they met, he was required to report first, and thus give somebody else a chance.
In those days the settlers were compelled to go to Oskaloosa to mill.
Dlg zedby Google
621
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
The road was by no means a good one. Streams had to be forded, and it usually took about a week to make the trip. On one occasion a party of four, among whom was one who, then as now, answered to the name of " Bill," with a team of oxen, managed, by the aid of a large amount of "tan- glefoot," to break the tongue out of their wagon, in the middle of a swollen stream. The water was very cold, but the tongue had to be spliced before they could pull through. They all got thoroughly bap- tized, and were pretty well sobered by this time, besides being chilled through, but fortunately found a cabin, the owner of which was away from home, and dried themselves, while they ate up his potatoes and squashes. They can testify, contrary to the usual traditions, that whisky was as demoralizing in those day, as now.
In March, 1853, if there had been a newspaper published in the town- ship, there would have appeared the following notice:
" Married, at the residence of the bride's parents, by James B. Custer, Esq., of Liberty township, Mr. William Manley to Miss Sara E. Roberts. No cards. The bride and groom were faultlessly attired in the very latest fashion, and received the congratulations of their many friends. The printers were remem- bered by the sending of a large piece of the bride's cake, but no one but the ' devil ' being in the office at the time of its arrival, it very suddenly and mysteriously disappeared."
This was the first marriage in the township. The principals are still living in the neighborhood, and are now just over the line in Clarke county, but their fine farm includes land in both counties.
The first birth known to have occured in the township, was a son to Zebulon and Elizabeth.Gray, in 1850. The child, a boy, was called George W.
The first death occurred in the same family in the spring of 1850, being a little daughter of the same parents. In the winter of 1852, was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Tilford, a girl baby, who died when quite young; and in 1853, was born to Jerry and Mary Long a daughter, who died when about a month old. A daughter of Thomas and Mary Roberts, named Millie, died in the winter of 1852, and a little son of Mary Blakely died about the same time.
The first regular physician who "doctored " the people, was Dr. Charles Fitch, of Chariton. He seemed to have had a circuit of several counties, which he traveled somewhat irregularly. Dr. W. W. Waynick was the next one; to appear in the field. He also resided in Chariton. The first one who lived in the township, was Dr. Baker, who afterwards went west to grow up with the country.
The first justice of the peace, was a man named Miller. He could neither read nor write, but such little drawbacks seemed no disqualifica- tion in those days. If a person wanted a record made of his stock,
Dighed by Google
622
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
"mark," or " brand," he entered it up himself on the record. If he could not write, he told the justice what it was, and they remembered it-as long as they could. If a party obtained a judgment before the 'squire against some other party, he entered up the judgment himself, and if he didn't do it right, it was his own fault. If the acting justice didn't suit a party, he got the county judge to appoint one that would suit him, as was noticeably the fact in a certain criminal suit brought against some fifteen or twenty of the leading men in the township, for riot, a full account of which is given elsewhere in the chapter entitled "Criminal History."
The first school house in the township was built of poles and covered with clapboards. It was located on section eleven. It could not be kept warm in the winter, consequently school was only "kept" in the summer time. In this building the first school was taught by Mrs. Bussell, with about a dozen pupils. Her compensation was ten dollars per month. About the same time, Mrs. Mary Warford taught a school in the south- west part of the township.
At the present time, the township is divided into seven school districts, in each of which is a good school house, and for six months in each year, the schools are kept running, so that he who wishes, may receive a fair education to aid him in life's battle.
The first religious services known to have been held in the township, were by Rev. Corban, a minister of the United Brethren Church, at the home of a Mr. Cunningham. But about the same time, though in a dif- ferent part of the township, Rev. Darrah, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held service in a shanty owned by Mr. Bussell, and in June, 1853, Rev. Joseph Howard, a Presbyterian minister, held service at John Moore's residence.
In the autumn of 1853, a society of the United Brethren Church was organized, the original members being Alex. Lamb and his wife, Henry Ruble, Thomas Arnold, and Isaac Mills. The society prospered, and in the year 1874, they built for themselves a church edifice at a cost of about two thousand dollars, which was dedicated on the 25th day of July, 1875, by Bishop Glossburner. Since the organization of this society they have had the following named pastors: Revs. Abner Corban, John Sleeper, John Bonine, J. Scheuler, Hiram and Phebe Benton, Jas. Hamilton, Mrs. Kingery, J. Kenison, McFadden, J. E. Hamm, Deburk, Miller, Jacobs, Surfice, Eads, Tolbert, Price, Frazier, and Rev. A. E. Jenks, who is pas- tor at the present time. The membership now numbers about sixty, among the best known of whom are T. D. Wallace, M. H. Curtis, Jona- than Curtis, John Lipe, C. P. Ferguson, John Crawford, and Alex Lamb, who is the only living one of the original members. A Sabbath school is conducted, except when the severe weather of winter prevents.
In the winter of 1855, a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Dlg zed by Google
623
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
was organized by William W. Bussell, Elizabeth Bussell, Jane S. and Sara Bussell and Emma Wilson.
In 1869, they began the construction of a church, which was completed at an expense of about twelve hundred dollars, and in July, 1871, was dedicated by Elder Conrad.
The present membership numbers about fifty. Rev. J. G. Bourne is the present minister.
There is neither railroad nor town, in the township. The postoffice called Norwood is located one mile east of the centre of the township, at which point is also a general store. They are great conveniences to the citizens. A physician, Dr. Molesworth, can also be found close there, ready to relieve the physical sufferings of humanity.
In the year 1877, the citizens of the township voted a tax of five per cent, to aid in constructing the Chariton, Des Moines & Southern railroad, but as the railroad did not run through the township, they didn't have to pay the tax. Within the present year, 1881, a proposition to aid in con- structing the Wabash road was voted on, but the people having con- cluded that they didn't want a railroad, defeated the tax at the polls.
While the larger part of the citizens receive their mail at Norwood, a considerable number patronize the offices at Woodburn, Lucas, Cleveland and Liberty Center. Grain and stock are shipped from Milo, Oakley and Lucas.
An object of interest in this township, is a large boulder, situated near the northwest corner of section fifteen. It is irregular in form, and some twelve or fifteen feet in height, by about sixty feet around it. Somebody evidently tried to utilize a part of it by blasting it to pieces, but it proved too tough to yield to their purposes.
Tradition tells us of a fair maiden who lost her engagement ring in a deep cleft in this rock; but, as she secured the principal object, the man who had just presented it to her, it is fair to presume that she survived its loss. However, should the rock ever be broken to pieces, she would like to have the ring restored to her again.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 895. Pleasant township is in the northeast corner of Lucas county. By the congressional survey it is designated as town- ship number seventy-three, north of range twenty, west of the fifth prin- cipal meridian.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.