USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 30
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Receipts
$141.45
Expenditures
43.40
Balance in treasury .$ 98.05
1858
"The election this year resulted as follows :
President A. J. Adkinson
Recording Secretary. . Elias Stafford
Corresponding Secretary W. W. McKnight
Treasurer B. F. Roberts
"Vice Presidents or Directors-D. F. Arnold, H. J. B. Cummings, N. W. Gar- retson, C. Wilson, Otho Davis, A. Parker, E. S. McCarty, William Payton, J. C. Johnston, W. Hardy and F. Bosworth.
"At this meeting initiatory steps were taken to secure a permanent place and fixtures for holding our fairs. After much debate this movement resulted in leasing ten acres of ground half a mile from Winterset. (This ground was south of the M. Schroeder brewery, in the northeast quarter of Section 31, Union Town- ship, now owned by Mrs. S. D. Alexander). It is beautifully located on high, dry prairie, and we have succeeded in enclosing six acres of it with a good close fence, seven feet high, gates and other accommodations, so as to make it what it
246
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
should be for the purpose for which it was designed. The third exhibition was held on the new grounds on October 7th and 8th, and notwithstanding all our preparations, it was a comparative failure. We do not attribute this to a want of interest on the part of the farmers, but to the universal failure of crops and scarcity of money. in connection with the fact that a violent and cold storm pre- vailed during the fair and two days previous, rendering it very unpleasant for out of door employments.
Receipts for membership. $80.00
Receipts from other sources. 33.00
Total .ŞII3.00
Paid out for fence. $80.10
Balance in treasury $32.90
"We have not paid any money for premiums, giving diplomas only. The fencing and other fixtures on our grounds have cost $625.00 on which we have paid $386.00 leaving us in debt $280.00."
Fairs were held here annually until 1866, except the years 1861, 1862 and 1863. when there were no exhibitions. No reasons were assigned but all know that that was during the Civil war, when the people were busily engaged in defending their homes, and their minds were occupied with news from the front. The writer has not had any definite information relative to when the first fair was held at the grounds, west of Winterset. In the report for 1865 the secretary states that "The Board of Supervisors have appropriated $300.00 for purchasing new grounds, and $200.00 was raised by individual subscriptions." In the report for 1866 he says that "the fair was held at the grounds near Winterset. The Society have purchased the old fair grounds and are some in debt. However, a deed was not made to the Society until Sept. 2, 1867." Fairs were hell here an- nually, except in 1894. A premium list was published that year, but that being the "dry" year. no crops were raised, the cattle and hogs were all sold, or were not in condition to be put on exhibition, and the farmers having the "blues," no fair was held.
The Society had its "ups" and "downs." Some years there was rain and mud to contend with. In others there were poor exhibits, or the times were hard. In 1882 a cyclone in July tore down the fences and buildings of the association. Ever since its organization in 1856, officers were elected every year at the annual meet- ing in January. A complete list of the presidents and secretaries is as follows :
Year President
Secretary
1856. Elias Stafford
W. W. McKnight
1857 W'm. Jones
Elias Stafford
1858 A. J. Adkison
Elias Stafford
1859 David Stanton
J. I. Denman
1860 W. J. Patterson
J. I. Denman
1861 P. M. Boyles
J. J. Davies
1862 P. M. Boyles
J. J. Davies
247
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Year President
Secretary
1863 A. J. Adkison
C. S. Wilson
1864 A. J. Adkison
C. S. Wilson
I 865 A. J. Adkison
J. J. Davies
1866 A. J. Adkison
Martin Houston
1867 A. J. Adkison
Martin Houston
1868 C. B. Lothrop
D. E. Cooper
1869 MI. Glazebrook
E. G. Perkins
1870 Theodore Cox
D. E. Cooper
1871 W'm. L. Leonard
A. H. Adkison
1872 N. W. Munger
A. H. Adkison
1873 N. W. Guiberson
1. 11. Adkison
1874 N. W. Guiberson
Ilerman Kinsman
1875 Win. F. Hadley
D. E. Cooper
1 876 Wm. F. Hadley
A. W. Wilkinson
1877 C. B. Lothrop
W. S. Whedon
1878 C. B. Lothrop
W. S. Whedon
1879 Wm. Hedge
W. S. Whedon
1880 F. H. Roper
J. A. Sanford
1881 C. F. Koehler
J. A. Sanford
1882 John S. Taylor
J. H. Wray
1883 John S. Taylor
J. Il. Wray
1884 Henry Comp
E. R. Zeller
1885 J. P. Steele
W. P. Rhyno
1886 J. J. Gaston
W. P. Rhyno
1887 J. K. Barcroft
WV. E. Ratliff
1 888 J. H. Wintrode
E. L. Vance
1889 Ham Lee
C. F. Perkins
1800 llam Lee
J. H. Wintrode
1891 Ham Lee
J. H. Wintrode Charles Brock
1893 Ham Lee
1894 Robert Niblo
Robert Niblo 1895
1 896 L. C. Houk
1897 W. E. Mack-resigned T. J. Hudson-chosen
1898 T. J. Hudson 1899 C. F. Allgeyer
1900 George Johnson
1901 Ben Minturn-resigned W. H. Doak-appointed 1902 J. W. Breeding 1903 D. T. Miles
1904
D. T. Miles
1905.
J. H. Dow
1906
A. D. Guye
Charles Lee
Charles Lee T. J. Hudson Charles Lee
T. J. Hudson
T. J. Hudson
T. J. Hudson
T. J. Hudson
T. J. Hudson J. H. Dow-resigned A. L. Foster-appointed
1802 C. F. Perkins
C. F. Perkins S. A. Hays
H. S. Thomson llam Lee
248
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Year
President
Secretary
Elmer Orris-
W. Il. Vance-assistant
John Duff
1908. .A. D. Guye
1900 Elmer E. Orris
1910. Elmer E. Orris
Elmer E. Orris
A. L. Foster
S. A. Hays
1912.
1. D. Guye
1913. J. D. Ross
S. A. Hays-resigned April, 1913
Eugene Wilson-chosen
1914 .
Same officers held over
However, the Society continued its exhibitions with more or less success, until the year 1913, when it closed its books, sold the property, turned the balance of money on hand to the treasurer of Madison County and went out of existence in 1914.
LEGEND
The first County Fair of Madison County was held about thirty-five rods east of the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29, in Union Township. This property was then owned by James James and the fair ground was a little distance east of the stone house that has stood these fifty years or more and in the large open barn yard and pasture combined that remains to this day. At the time the highway ran north and south along the west line of this James' farm, but an open driveway extended easterly from the highway close south of the stone house and as far east as the barn yard and adjoining pasture. This open driveway was about forty feet wide. By evening during the fair the driveway was closely packed with wagons and great difficulty occurred in clearing the blockade.
POPULATION OF MADISON COUNTY 1849-1914
1849 .. 701 1850 .. 1.179 1851. . 1,492 1852. . 1,832
1854. . 3.112
1856. . 5.508 1859. . 7,071 1860 .. 7.339 1863. . 7.934
1865. . 8,214
1867 .. 9.764 1869. . 11,817
1870. . 13,884 1873. . 14,698
1875 . . 16.030
1880. . 17,224
1890. . 15.977
1900. . 17.710 1910. . 15,621
POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS FROM 1890-1910 :
1910
1900
1 890
Center Township coextensive with Winterset City. . . . 2,818
3,039
2,281
Winterset City:
Ward I.
1,516
.
Ward 2 ..
. 1,302
Crawford Township, including Patterson Town.
707
830
830
Patterson Town
1.47
163
133
Douglas Township
736
899
801
1907 A. D. Guye
W. E. Grismer
.A. L. Foster
249
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Grand River Township, including Macksburg Town. Macksburg Town
763
900
937
197
235
186
Jackson Township
615
766
749
Jefferson Township
648
863
804
Lee Township
497
606
593
Lincoln Township
699
798
SII
Madison Township, including Earlham Town.
1,459
1.424
1,061
Earlham Town
749
630
. 302
Monroe Township
649
737
771
Ohio Township, including Truro Town Truro Town
940
958
866
Penn Township
698
765
773
Scott Township
781
960
974
South Township, including St. Charles Town.
1,194
1,445
1,196
St. Charles Town
399
412
387
Union Township
595
770
794
Walnut Township, including East Peru Town East Pern Town
1,135
1,113
886
371
252
..
Webster Township
687
837
760
310
CHAPTER XXXI SOUTH TOWNSHIP
One of the three subdivisions of the county created was that of South Town- ship, which became identified as such at the February term of the court in the year 1849, and the place selected for the first election was the house of Nathan Viney. Before court had adjourned the boundary lines as first drawn were materially changed, and at the July term a further transformation in its lines was effected.
As now organized and laid out, South Township is bounded on the east by Warren County, on the west by Scott Township, on the north by Crawford Town- ship and on the south by Ohio Township. For agricultural purposes and stock- raising, this community has many superior advantages. Clanton Creek runs through it near the center from the southwest to the northeast and along its borders was found by the settlers a heavy grove of timber, which at the time was scarcely surpassed in the state. There are also numerous smaller streams, which furnish excellent water and drainage. Stone abounds on Clanton Creek and good veins of coal have been found on Buchanan Creek. There are two lines of rail- roads entering South Township. The Chicago Great Western cuts across this domain from the southwest corner to the northeast corner and a branch of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy, formerly the Keokuk & Western, enters on section 34, and running northward passes through St. Charles by a diagonal course. Hanley is a station on the Great Western. Its religious society is the Methodist Episcopal.
A large part of South Township's history relating to its early settlement has already been told in this volume, so that it would be repetitious and rather irk- some to go over the details in this chapter. However, the reader by this time is acquainted with the fact that the members of the Clanton colony were the first white persons to stake out claims and become settlers in this locality. It should also be remembered that Caleb Clark, whose wife was a Clanton, was one of the band of immigrants known as the Clanton colony.
David Bishop was among those who settled in South Township in 1847, com- ing that year from Shelby County, Indiana. He established a home on section 7. and at the time his family was the eleventh to set up a residence here. David Bishop was one of the first county commissioners and in 1857 was elected treasurer and recorder of the county.
The Fifes-Amos, David and Samuel-were natives of Columbiana County, Ohio, and settled in the township in December, 1849, the details of which will be found in an article written by Samuel Fife, hereinto incorporated, together with quite a comprehensive survey of other pioneers, who settled here and the essential facts relating thereto. Mr. Fife mentions the names of many of the hardy men and women who took part in opening the land here to cultivation and giving the township its start on its great road to progress and prosperity, so that their names
250
DAVID BISHOP
Came to Madison County in 1847. Was elected a justice of the peace at first election held in Black Oak Grove precinct, Angust. 1847. One of the first county commissioners chosen Jannary 1, IS49. Was elected recorder and treasurer of Madison County in 1857 and was defeated for representative in 1859. One of the commissioners appointed in 1851 to locate the county seat of Guthrie County. Father of Rev. J. G. Bishop of Dayton, Ohio, and of the late A. H. Bishop of South Township
1
251
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
will not be repeated, but their histories, as they relate to that of South Town- ship, will be left to Samuel Fife to portray. There are many others, however, who deserve a place in this history not mentioned in the Fife reminiscences, and still others, the details of whose immigration to this county are not available. So far as possible, therefore, what is known of the settlers following those mien- tioned will be here indicated.
M. C. Debord, a Virginian by birth, immigrated from Shelby County, Indiana, with his family to Illinois to 1843, from which state he came to Iowa, and in September, 1849, located on section 7, in this township, where he lived for many years and enjoyed the fruits of a frugal and industrious life. He at one time served on the board of supervisors. Among his children born here was E. C. Debord, who married Miss Joan Hicks in 1873 and for many years lived on section 7.
J. C. Johnston and Madeline, his wife, left the State of Indiana in the spring of 1850 and arrived in Madison County, where they located, choosing for their home South Township. Jehu M. Johnston, a son, came the' same year and located on section 32. The journey from the Hoosier State was made in a wagon and required about two months. Mr. Jehu M. Johnston later moved to section 26.
T. J. Rhyno also moved into the county in 1850. He was a Virginian by birth but lived for many years in the State of Ohio, where he married Sarah Draper in 1848. Mr. Rhyno located on section 32. He entered 500 acres of land. It is said that when he left his home in Virginia he walked the whole distance to Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1850 walked from Keokuk to South Township.
James A. Rhyno, also of Virginia, became a journeyman printer and worked at the trade for some time in Ohio and several of the southern states. Ile served in the Mexican war and during the winter of 1851 arrived in South Township, where he entered 160 acres of land on section 28.
The Runkles, Thomas and son, J. M., were settlers in this township in 1851. Thomas located on section 7, and in 1850 married Catherine Guilliams. J. M. Runkle located on section I.
Nicholas Shaver was one of the first comers to the township. He was a native of Virginia, settled in Ohio, from which state he came by wagon to Madison County in 1851 and located on section 4 in 1853. George Hartman, came in 1851 and N. S. Allcock in 1847.
David Downs was born in Monroe County, Indiana, in 1824. He was mar- ried in 1848 and in 1850 settled in Warren County, where he remained until the spring of 1851. He then came to Madison County and located in this township. Mr. Downs built the first sawmill in the township and with his partner, and father-in-law. George Hartman, was engaged in the lumber business about three years, when he removed to his home on section 24.
James Phipps located on section 35 in this township in 1851. He was a native of Grayson County, Virginia. When thirteen years of age his parents removed to Tennessee and from there to Missouri, from whence he came to Iowa, first locating in Warren County in 1846.
C. W. Thompson, who was long a justice of the peace, was an Ohioan by birth and came from his native state to this township with his parents in 1852.
252
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Abraham Black was born in the Old Dominion in 1803 and with his family removed to Indiana in 1840, from whence he came to Madison County in 1852 and located on section 22, where Hanley now stands.
John Hartman came with his parents, George and Mary Hartman, from Hen- dricks County, Indiana, to lowa, in 1850, and to this county in the spring of 1851, when they located on section 14. in South Township. The father died in 1873.
Hogan Queen was born in Wayne County, Indiana, in 1821, and married Martha A. Runkle in 1846. With his family he came to Madison County by wagon in 1853, spending sixteen days on the road and upon his arrival here, located on section 7, where he improved one of the finest farms in the county. Mr. Queen became a large landowner and one of the important men of the county.
J. M. Browne, a native of Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio when a young man and in the spring of 1855 came to Madison County and settled at St. Charles. In addition to being one of the pioneer merchants of the town he was also a farmer and stock-raiser and accumulated considerable land. In August, 1862, he organized Company F, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry and was elected its captain. .After being wounded at the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, he resigned his commission and in the winter of 1865-6 represented this county in the Eleventh General Assembly. Captain Browne died in October, 1913.
N. P. Pomeroy was one of the worthy settlers who came to Madison County from Holmes County, Ohio. in 1855, and settled in this township. For many years his home was on section 17. He married Sarah J. Collins in 1860. She was also of Holmes County.
Jefferson Wheat arrived in South Township early in the '50s. His father bought a claim on section 26 and there the family took up their residence.
Thomas W. Stiles was one of the sturdy and worthy Hoosier farmers, who left his native state in 1858 and first settled in Warren County. Two years later he located on section 3. South Township. Stiles enlisted in Company F. Thirty- ninth Iowa Infantry in 1862 as second lieutenant and on the resignation of Capt. James M. Browne he was promoted to fill the vacancy.
1. S. Taylor, a Pennsylvanian by birth, moved with his parents to New York and eventually found his way to Indiana, from which state he immigrated to lowa in 1858. Ile chose Madison County for his home and located on section 7, South Township.
James Young was born in Pennsylvania in 1831 and lived there until the spring of 1856, when he located on section 1. this township. He was a veteran of the Civil war, being a member of Company F. Thirty-ninth lowa Infantry.
R. M. Young came in 1856. Located on section 12. He was a member of Company I, Thirty-ninth Infantry.
Caleb Clark, after two or three removals, finally made his residence at Winter- set. lle was a mason, as were a number of his sons and it is doubtful if any one has done more hard work and more permanent work than the members of this pioneer family. The Clanton settlement was a stopping place for stock drovers and teamsters when the nearest market was at Keokuk and Eddyville. The All- cocks and Allens also stopped here and left their mark in the organization of Elm Grove Church. This was one of the first religious organizations formed in the county and it has been permanent and progressive. The old house of worship was
DOUBLE LOG HOUSE OF ISAAC CLANTON
Built in 1853 on section 23 South Township near St. Charles. The lumber used was sawed by the Hartman and Downs up and down sawmill on Clanton Creek. This was a palace in its day and was used as a resi- denee until the '90s when it was converted into a barn and so used until about 1912 when it was torn down by James Fulton.
253
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
recently removed and a beautiful new one erected in its place, with all modern conveniences.
Other early settlers are Nathan Viney who came about 1848 settling on the west part section 18. Here the first election, January 1, 1849, was held in South Township. About 1850 Mr. Viney sold his farm and moved to section 26, South, owning the farm west of the Viney Schoolhouse, named after him, also the ceme- tery to the west of the home, later known as the Summerville farm.
James Wheat came in 1851 and bought the claim of Charles Clanton on section 26 later owned by Albert King.
Isaac Knotts came in 1850 and settled on section 35, on land now owned by S. A. Bradshaw.
George Smith settled in 1847 on section 10 on the east side of Clanton Creek. He was the father of Mrs. Amos Fife, still living in St. Charles.
Isaac Smith settled in 1847, at the foot of the hill on section II, where Mr. AAmos Fife lived for many years.
Pleasant Rollins settled on Clanton Creek on section 28, in 1847. His son, Caleb, lived in that vicinity for many years. He was a soldier of the Civil war, dying a few years ago.
David Simmerman came in 1848, settling on the west part of section 15, south of the present home of W. A. Carter.
Hiram Clough and family came in 1852 settling where S. T. Johnston lives, section 25. and Oliver Morgan, in 1853, settled just east of them on the same section on land that is now owned by S. T. Johnston and J. P. Small.
In 1849 Jesse Young bought the claim of Caleb Clark on section 14 and in 1851 sold to George Hartman. Mr. Hartman and Jesse Young in 1852 laid out the town of St. Charles.
Bud Whited came in 1847 with his brother-in-law, David Bishop, and settled in the northwest part of South Township near the present site of Union Chapel. This later became known as the M. C. Debord farm on section 7.
David Worley was a Methodist Episcopal preacher and in a very early day settled in section 3. Captain Stiles for many years owned the land.
W'm. Steigerwalt bought the first claim of Caleb Clark on section 10 and in 1853 sold to Mr. Steel, the father of Stephen Steel.
In 1855 William Bradshaw settled in section 36 on the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Robert Phipps.
George Black came in 1852 and lived on section 36 for many years until his removal to St. Charles where he died about 1900.
Norval S. Allcock came in 1847 and bought the claim of Gifford Lee, now the present site of Hanley. His cabin was situated in the south part of the present site of Hanley near Mrs. Bishop's barn. He sold his claim to Abraham Black and bought the claim of Hiram Hurst on section 29 and moved there in the fall of 1851. Mr. Allcock was a county commissioner in 1850. It was at his home that the early circuit rider stopped and held church occasionally. Meetings were held at his home and later in the school houses, from which developed the present Elm Grove Church.
This by the time of the Civil war, South Township was pretty well settled and contributed many men for the various regiments, especially the 39th.
The first schoolhouse, which was a log cabin, stood about a fourth of a mile
north of J. M. Clanton's residence and was built about 1850. The building answered its purposes until about 1858, when it became a storeroom in St. Charles. Another schoolhouse took its place which, when discarded by the authorities, was converted into a harness shop, and is still used as a store.
Log raising and fitting them snugly and securely at the corners required a certain amount of expertness and among the settlers there were some who were adepts at the business, and when a cabin was to be raised their services were always in demand. Among the principal ones better known as "corner men" around St. Charles about the year 1849 were Joel Clanton, Samuel Fife, George Black, and David Downs. Samuel Fife helped raise cabins and fit the corners along South River and Clanton to Middle River. Mr. Fife says very little whis- key was used at these raisings and that he never happened to be at a raising where whiskey was present. However, he says that when Sheckels' house was raised in St. Charles in 1854, one Clerly, while sitting in the shade, met his death by a log falling on him. It is said that if the man had been sober he could have easily saved himself from harm. At the time Clerly lived on David Lathrum's place west of St. Charles.
Before the Civil war, any person so inclined and possessing the material and experience, could manufacture whiskey without let or hindrance from the Govern- ment. About 1860 Tom Young had a distillery on his place in St. Charles, which he sold to Jacob Kimer, who moved it to his farm, west of Hanley, now owned by Sanford Johns, where he put up a special building near a big spring and close to the main road. There he continued to make "fire water" until two years after the war, when the still was forced out of business thereafter by the mandates of the law.
REMINISCENT
The writer of the lines following was a daughter of Caleb Clark, a son-in-law of Mrs. Clanton, and a member of the Clanton colony. She was the first white female born in Madison County, January 9. 1847, and, according to local historians, she is credited with being ahead of all others in this respect, male or female. This little bud grew into a choice prairie flower, which was plucked by Andrew Tusha for his own. A few years ago. Mrs. Tusha was called upon by the Madisonian to relate some of her early recollections and this is what she said : "According to our old family Bible, I was born January 9. 1847, in Madison County, Jowa, about one mile from St. Charles on what is known as the okl Hartman farm. From there father moved to the old Asa Evans farm in 1840. and from there to another place a little nearer Winterset. About that time was the California emigration and father traded a cow for a stove. That was the first stove I ever saw. About that time father bought the first clock I ever saw. Brother Frank Clark has the clock yet. I went to my first school while we lived there. They had home-made stools, without any backs. From that place father moved to Winterset when I was seven or eight years okl. There I went to school in the first schoolhouse built in Winterset. It stood about the same place as where the South Ward school is now. We lived in Winterset until I was married to Andrew Tusha in 1866. Then Mr. Tusha and I moved to a farm on North Branch, sold out there and moved to the Middle River bottom, close to what is
MRS. MARY TUSHA
First white child born in Madison County. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Clark. Date of birth, January 9, 1847.
.
255
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
known as the Tusha Schoolhouse. Mr. Tusha helped organize the district and build the schoolhouse. We lived there about sixteen years and then moved to Hoosier I'rairie, and from there to St. Charles, and from St. Charles we came to Elida, New Mexico, in 1905. Our son and son-in-law also came to Elida and filed on claims. There are schoolhouses all over the country and we have an eight room schoolhouse in Elida."
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