USA > Iowa > Lucas County > History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc > Part 70
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
· A child of Charles Gartin died in 1853, and was buried near Edward's daughter.
Dighed by Google
633
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
The first death in the north part of the township did not occur until April, 1857, when James D. Plymate died, and was buried in section five, now known as the Plymate graveyard.
The first regular physician who practiced in the township, was Dr. W. W. Waynick, but Dr. C. Fitch soon came and had a share of it. Both lived in Chariton, and are there yet.
The first religious services by a Christian minister, seem to have been held by Rev. Mr. Parr, a minister of the Christian Church, at the house of Allen Edwards, in section twenty-five, near where Freedom now is, in 1852, but in the same year, Rev. William Demoss, of the United Brethren Church, preached in Jacob Critzer's house, and soon after Rev. Mr. Par- ker, also of the United Brethren Church, held services at the house of Jacob Taylor, in the northwest part of the township. In 1864, a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, a part of the mem- bers of which lived in Benton township. Among the original members were Thomas McKnight and his wife, Rezin Hedges and his wife, M. B. S. Hall and his wife, Thomas Vanderbur and his wife, Jonathan Pulley and his wife, and John Payne and his wife.
The membership now numbers about fifty. The services of the society are held in the Union school house, in section thirteen. A well organ- ized Sabbath school is also conducted with Wesley Walton, as superin- tendent. Since its organization, the following named have been pastors: Revs. W. W. Granville, D. O. Stuart, Robison, B. B. Kennedy, Martin, W. Welsh, R. Daily, A. H. Murphy, S. Guyer and R. J. Tennant. The last named being pastor at the present time.
The first school in the township was taught by a Mr. Gray, in section eleven. He had about fifteen pupils, and received twenty-two and one- half dollars per month, for his services. About the same time, Harvey Riggs taught a school in a log house in the west part of the township, at the rate of twenty dollars per month. He afterward returned to his old home in Indiana.
The first regular school house in the township was built in 1858, by James T. and Benoni Plymate, for which they received four hundred dol- lars.
The township is now divided into nine school districts, with a good school house in each, and wages are about what they were twenty-five years ago, while the teachers are very much better.
There were formerly two post-offices in the township, one called " Hen- derson" was located near the west line, but moved over to Derby, in Union township. The other was at Freedom, and was discontinued a few years ago, because no one would accept the position of postmaster, with all its duties and responsibilities, to say nothing of the salary which was
Dlg zed by Google
634
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
not so burdensome. The citizens generally receive their mail at Chariton, but quite a large number find it more convenient to go to Derby.
In 1871-2, the Chariton branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was constructed through the township, for a distance of some- thing over six miles, from northeast to southwest, but there is no station located in the township, the nearest being Derby, in Union township. At some time in the future there will probably be a station established at a point about midway between Chariton and Derby, the distance eleven miles, certainly being great enough to warrant it.
The town of Freedom was laid our by Allen Edwards, the first pro- bate judge of the county, in June, 1856. on the southeast quarter of sec- tion twenty-five. It consisted of four blocks of eight lots each. A store was established about 1860, by the Barnett Brothers, and they are said to have made a large amount of money in business. They kept the post- office for a number of years, but it and the store were both discontinued some years ago, and recently they have sold their land, and their interest in the town, to Mr. Noah Tuttle.
A saw and grist mill, for grinding corn, was established something like twenty-five years ago. The saw mill was removed some years ago over into Benton township, but the corn burrs are still used occasionally, and make a first rate article of corn meal.
It was found, some years ago, that Freedom was too large a place to be supported properly by the surrounding country and accordingly one half of the the town plat was vacated and turned into farm land again.
There is a grocery and blacksmith shop there now, and the total assessed valuation of real estate, for 1880, was seven hundred and ninety- five dollars.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 1,181. Washington township is in the southeast corner of Lucas county. Monroe county being on the east, and Wayne county on the south of it. Chariton river enters the township on the west, and flowing in a southeast direction, passes out into Wayne county near the southeast corner; and Cedar creek cuts off a small part of the northeast corner.
These, with their tributaries, suffice to carry off the surplus water. Along the Chariton river is considerable timber, and the land is somewhat broken and irregular, but the larger part of the township is of the finest land. It is well settled, being third in population in the county, only Chariton and Jackson having more people.
The tax books of 1880, show 23,034 acres of land outside of the town of Russell. Of this amount, something over three-fourths is fenced, and otherwise improved. The majority of the farms are in a splendid state of
Dlg zed by Google
-
635
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
cultivation, and the farm buildings, barns and general surroundings, are far above the average of the county.
The first settler in the township was Mr. Xury E. West. He was born in South Carolina, in the year 1796, and was taken to Kentucky while young, and after he reached man's estate, moved to Putnam county, Indi- ana, where he lived until the spring of 1848, when he came west with his family, and located in section thirteen in what is now Washington town- ship. In the fall of the same year, Samuel Mckinley and his family came and located in section twenty-four, near Mr. West.
The record of the county commissioners show that on the 12th day of September, 1849, Mr. West received one dollar from the county for ser- vices as judge of the first election held in the county on August 6, 1849, at the house of Wm. McDermit, at "Ireland." Mr. West, during the thirty years of his residence in the county, was one of its foremost citizens. He died a little over a year ago, 1880, being upwards of eighty years of age.
Mr. Mckinley'was the first treasurer of Lucas county. The records of the time are very meagre, but they show that at a meeting of the county commissioners in July, 1850, he made a report showing that he had col- lected eleven dollars, and was allowed one dollar and forty cents for col- lecting the same, and was also allowed twenty cents for postage. His report showed also " two dollars due," but whether due from the county, or from the treasurer, or from the tax payers, is not quite clear. It is very evident that the office did not pay as well then as now.
The first marriage ceremony in the township was performed by Rev. Mr. Wallace, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, at the house of Abner Mckinley, in June, 1851 .. The parties united were Joseph McReynolds to Julia Ann Craddick.
The first birth was to Michael and Thena Ann Galloway, a daughter, in April, 1850, whom they called Mary.
The first male child was Isaac Newton, son of James and Mary Ann Peck, born in December, 1850.
The first death was that of Nancy, wife of Samuel Payne, in August, 1849. She was buried in what is now the Greenville cemetery.
Dr. W. W. Waynick, of Chariton, was the first regular physician who practiced in the township.
The first religious services in the township were held at the house of Xury E. West, in the fall of 1848, by Reverend Mr. Pierce, a Methodist minister. A society of that church was organized some time after, and existed for a while, and, after partially dying out, was reorganized, prob- ably several times. They have no church building, but have held their meetings in the school house.
A society of the same church was organized in Liberty school district,
Dig zed by Google
636
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
in the winter of 1880, which seems to be in a very prosperous condition.
The first school-house in the township was built by the citizens, on the southwest quarter of section thirteen. It was a cabin of logs, and was built early in 1853. Miss Ann Miles was the first teacher, and received fifteen dollars per month, for teaching about twenty pupils. She now resides in Corydon, Wayne county, Iowa. The township is now divided into eight school districts, with a good school building in each.
On the first day of March, 1852, the county court, Jonas Wescoatt, judge, ordered that township seventy-one, of range twenty, be an election precinct, to be called Washington township, and township seventy-one, of range twenty-one, now Benton township, be attached to the same for election purposes; in accordance with which an election was held on the fifth day of April, 1852, at the house of Francis Chaney, for school fund commissioner. Fourteen votes were cast by the following named per- sons: Wm. A. West, Aaron Scott, Daniel Ragsdale, Francis Chaney, Annanias D. Mckinley, Samuel Mckinley, Wm. Mckinley, Amos Rags- dale, Isaac Chapman.Elijah L. Kendall, Samuel D. Houston, X. E. West, James H. West, and Isaac H. West. The return shows that Samuel D. Houston received twelve votes, and James Jenkins, two votes. The return olso shows that W.m. Mckinley, Amos Ragsdale, and Robert A. Evans were the judges of election; but just why Mr. Evans failed to vote at the election where he was one of the judges, does not appear.
Of these gentlemen who participated in that first election, Aaron Scott, Daniel Ragsdale and S. D. Houston, are living near together in Benton township. A. D. Mckinley lives in Lincoln township, and James and Isaac West and E. L. Kendall still live in Washington township.
On the second day of November of the same year, the election for pres- ident was held in the same place. Nineteen votes were cast, of which the electors for Franklin Pierce had ten votes, and those for Winfield Scott had nine votes.
At the presidential election in 1880, there were two hundred and sev- enty-seven votes cast, and among the township officers elected was E. L. Kendall, who voted at the first election, to the office of justice of the peace.
At the time the first settlers located in this township, Albia, in Monroe county, was the nearest postoffice, and they had to go there for supplies of all kinds, and for blacksmith work;'while the nearest mill was at Eddy- ville, thirty miles away, and the snow in the winter of 1848-9 being three feet deep, made it very hard on them.
In 1866 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad was constructed across the township. It is located near the north line. In fact, so close to the line that for a couple of miles it gets over into Cedar township, and then back into Washington again.
Dig zed by Google
637
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
There are two postoffices, one of which is at the village of Russell, and the other is Zero, four miles east of Russell. Both are on the railroad, and both, being so near the north line of the township, are as extensively patronized by the citizens of Cedar as of Washington township. Some of the citizens on the east side of Washington township receive their mail at Melrose, a short distance over in Monroe county.
A proposition, submitted to the citizens of the township, early in 1881, to vote a five per cent tax, to aid in constructing a railroad from Chariton, by way of Russell, to a point on the Wabash Railroad, in Wayne or Appanoose county, was defeated at two successive elections, at first by a tie vote, and next by a small majority.
RUSSELL.
Population in 1880, 345. Russell is a neat and flourishing little town, situated on part of sections five and six, in Washington township. The original town was platted by Mr. H. S. Russell, trustee for the owners of the land, on the 8th day of October, 1867, and contained two hundred and nine lots. It is somewhat irregularly laid out in order to conform to the direction of the railroad through it. It covers a part of the north half of the northeast quarter of secton six. On March 3, 1869, the same gentle- man platted part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- tion six, and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section five, into various sized lots-nineteen in all; averaging about three acres each, and this he called Smith's addition to Russell.
On the 9th day of May, 1877, Colonel Warren S. Dungan, of Chariton, being owner of the land lying west and south of Russell, surveyed and platted it into lots, and called it Dungan's addition. It is located on part of the west half of the northeast quarter of section six, and contains seventy-eight lots, a number of which are two and a half and five acre tracts.
The people of this town are intelligent and enterprising, as well as social and moral. The Presbyterian Church society was organized on the fifth day of September, 1869, with . the following membership: Thomas Plotts, Frances Plotts, George Crawford, Harriett S. Crawford, H. M. McGee, and Sarah McGee.
A church building was begun in the same year, and was used by the congregation before being entirely completed. About one thousand dollars was expended in all upon it. Reverend W. C. Hollyday was the first minister, and organized the church. Reverend S. W. Elliott suc- ceeded him, and remained for several years. Reverend James P. Schell · succeeded him as stated supply. He was succeeded in May, 1875, by the present incumbent, Reverend Jonathan Osmond, who has since been formally installed as pastor. The present membership numbers ninety-
Dlg zed by Google
638
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
two. They are now engaged in erecting a more commodious and suita- ble house of worship. Connected with the church is a flourishing Sab- bath-school, and a Woman's Missionary Society.
There is also a society of the Methodist Episcopal church, which was organized a number of years since. They have a neat little frame church, in which they hold services and Sabbath-school. Reverend A. Thorn- brue has been their pastor for two years.
In the southeast part of town stands a good two-story school building, belonging to the school district. The first school in the town was taught by Mr. James May, in the Presbyterian Church. The present school building was erected in 1872, by R. R. Fogg, and cost two thousand dollars. They now have two departments, and employ two teachers.
The postoffice was established at Russell, in 1867, with N. B. Douglas as postmaster. In 1870, he was succeeded by Mr. Alfred Goodwin, who held the office but about three months, when James E. Plymate took his place. In December, 1871, Mr. H. W. Elliott was appointed, and held the office nearly seven years, when he resigned, and Mr. J. H. Cook suc- ceeded to the vacancy. In 1881, Mr. Alfred Goodwin was appointed for a second time, and is the present incumbent. It was made a money order office in the fall of 1878, which was and is a great convenience to the citizens.
Russell Lodge, No. 337, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized on the 20th day of January, 1876, by D. D. G. M. J. B. Smith, of Chariton, with seven charter members. The first officers were as follows: B. F. Boggess, N. G .; John C. Cook, V. G .; J. F. Sprague, secretary; J. F. Wilcoxen, treasurer, and Elijah Allen, warden. The membership now numbers thirty-four, and the lodge is in fine condition, and out of debt. Mr. Sprague has been secretary for three terms, and has twice represented his lodge at the meetings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
In the year 1872, the Russell Union Agricultural Society was organ- ized, of which Mr. Elijah Allen was president. A large part of Lucas, Monroe and Wayne counties were represented. For two years, meetings were held at Russell, and were considered a great success, a large amount of money being distributed in premiums. Except to one item of fast horses, it quite eclipsed the county fair. A good flouring mill has been in operation there for many years.
Boggs & Plotts do an extensive business in buying and shipping grain. There are five dry goods stores, all of which keep general stocks of gro- ceries, and two establishments which keep groceries alone. Two drug stores supply the people with their medicines. Doctors Powell and Pal- mer attend in a skillful manner to the wants of the sick. R. H. Wood, M. D., allopathic, located in Russell in the spring of 1878. He gets a full : share of the practice. Mr. H. W. Elliot, former postmaster, and one of the
Dighed by Google
639
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
oldest business men in the place, is engaged in buying and shipping stock. There is also a wagon shop and two blacksmith shops, in one of which Mr. B. F. Litzenburg manufactures a plow attachment of his own inven- tion. Messrs. Hixon, Boggs & Plotts, are engaged in manufacturing the " Boss " pruning knife, an invention of Mr. Ezra Hixson's, which is destined to success. Their machinery is operated by a fine upright steam boiler. A good hotel, livery stable, boot and shoe shop, meat market, two millinery shops, a harness shop, a jewelry store, and two carpenter shops are among the other business establishments of the town. Russell is located on the north line of Washington township, about eight miles east of Chariton, on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, which was then known as the Burlington & Missouri River rail- road.
WHITEBREAST TOWNSHIP.
Population in 1880, 739. The congressional division designated as township seventy-two, north of range twenty-two, west of the fifth prin- cipal meridian, when it came to be organized into a civil township, which was done by Jonas Wescott, county judge, on the first day of March, 1852, it was named Whitebreast township, after the stream of that name, which enters it on the west side, and, flowing in a northeast direction, passes into Liberty township on the north side. In its passage through the township, the stream cuts off between three and four sections of the northwest corner. Chariton river, flowing northeast, cuts off nearly two sections of the southeast corner. A good-sized creek, usually called Wolf hollow, collects the water in the south and southwest parts of the town- ship, and flows north into Whitebreast creek. Along the streams named are fine bodies of good timber, and a number of saw-mills have, at differ- ent times, been located at various points, for converting the logs into lum- ber. There are 22,821 acres of taxable land in the township, as shown by the tax books of 1880, but this does not include the land occupied by the railroad tracks, nor does it include a half section in the southwest part of the township, which is owned by the State University, and for that reason is not taxed. About 15,000 acres of the township are under fence and otherwise improved. The middle and east parts consists of beauti- fully situated land, and is almost all under cultivation. The west and northwest parts, especially along the streams, are more broken, but all is good for grazing, and' there is but a very small part that cannot be easily placed under cultivation. In the north part is a splendid quarry of lime- stone, which has been very extensively used in building, for cellars and foundations generally. A better article for the purpose cannot be found anywhere. The mines of the Whitebreast Coal and Mining Company at Cleveland, in Jackson township, extend under the west part of this town- ship, and lately a new shaft has been sunk by the same company, in the
Dlg zed by Google
-
640
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
township, something like a half mile from the principal works at Cleve- land.
In 1866, the Burlington and Missouri River railroad company built its line of road across the township. In 1871, the Chariton branch of the same road was constructed for nearly three miles across the southeast corner, and in 1878, the Chariton, Des Moines and Southern railroad was built for over four miles across the northeast part of it. It is somewhat remarkable that this township, with over thirteen miles of railroad, being more than any other township in the county, has neither railroad station, town, vaillage, postoffice, church, or blacksmith shop. Nearly all the citizens receive their mail at Chariton; but, a few living on the west side of the township, patronize the office at Cleveland. Probably the first set- tler to locate in the township was J. K. Mansfield. This was in 1849. About the same time Peter and Jacob Phillips arrived and located a claim in the north center part of the township. Other early settlers were Foun- tain Devore, Michael Yeaman, James Mitchell, J. W. Shepperd, Elisha Sanderson, Luther Holbrook, Alfred McFarland, Caleb and Curtis James, Daniel Musselman, Thomas Douglass and Anthony Mauk. Yeaman was a Mormon, and considered himself a preacher. When he came to Chari- ton, he usually got too much whisky aboard, and then feeling himself inspired would mount a box or barrel and loudly expound his peculiar belief to the amusement of some of his auditors, and the disgust of others. Mr. H. L. Mauk came in 1854, and in the spring of . 1855, was elected township clerk, to which position he has been continuously elected for twenty-five successive years, which is a proof that his neighbors do not believe much in the doctrine of " rotation" in office.
The first marriage in the township was that cf Mr. W. A. Mandra to a Miss Mowers.
The first deaths were two children of Jacob Phillips in the year 1853; they were buried on what is now known as the Julian farm. .
The first school house was built of logs, and was located about sixty rods northeast of the present residence of David M. Funk. The C. D. & M. railroad track now runs over, or very near its site. It was built in 1852, and was then called the Avery school house. In it, Miss Nancy Mitchell taught the first school during the same year. The next school house was built in 1855, about a quarter of a mile west of where Thomas Douglass' house now stands. In this building, which was a frame, Mr. H. L. Mauk taught the first school. The building is now used by Mr. Granville Whisenand for a stable.
It is said that in 1857, or 1858, the first religious services were held by Reverend Mr. Briggs, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1859, a society of that church was organized by Reverend Mr. Williams, a son-in-law of Robert Coles, of Chariton. The society is still in exis-
Dig zed by Google
641
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
tence and have held their meetings at different school houses. It now numbers about twenty-five members. At the present time they use the Hazel Dell school house near the residence of D. F. White for the pur- pose of holding their meetings. A Sabbath school, of which John R. Preston is superintendent, is held at the Cory school house.
The township, which is one school district, is divided into nine sub- districts, with a good school house in each. Owing to the large amount of taxes paid by the railroad company, the citizens have a much less than average school tax to pay, and road taxes are reduced through the same agency.
The county poor house is located in this township, and a full history of the same will be found under the head of "County Institutions."
Thus closes the history of the townships and towns, included in Lucas county, as complete as the record and traditional material existing, enabled us to make it. Much relating to the early settlers is found in this chapter, which should have been contained in that on "The Pioneers: Their Set- tlements and Careers," had the material been obtained earlier in the pro- gress of the work. The history of the founding and growth of the towns is given in its order of events in connection with the township in which they exist; and, upon the whole, presents a creditable record in the way of general development and prosperity during the brief years of their existence. The same is also true of the townships.
CONCLUSION.
This chapter will mainly be devoted to facts and traditional incidents which should have followed at page 388, in the chapter entitled "The Pioneers-Their Settlements and Careers," and in the chapter on "County Organization," but which were not satisfactorily at hand when those chap- ters went to press.
At the time of the preparation of the chapter on " County Organiza- tion," we were not able to procure the original, nor a copy of the order for, and notice of the first election held in the county, August 6, 1849, nor the name of the organizing sheriff, farther than that of James Roland named in the organizing act of 1849, as shown at page 395. However, a copy of such order and notice has been obtained, from which it appears that James Roland did not serve as such organizing sheriff; wherefore that duty developed upon the sheriff of Monroe county, to which Lucas county was attached for election, judicial, and revenue purposes, Ezra P. Cone, through his deputy, H. B. Notson. On the 16th day of July, 1849, notices of such election were posted up, as shown in, and in pursuance of the following order:
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.