USA > Iowa > Marshall County > History of Marshall county, Iowa > Part 5
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NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION
In the newly baptized city. Such havoc as was made among the little pigs and great turkeys ! the tables groaned with eatables ; and after everybody ate and drank all they could, there were still baskets full of fragments to be taken up. Nothing was done by
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halves, many of the citizens of Marietta came down, and were met with cordial greetings, the hatchet was buried, and peace was made between the two cities. But an old Dutchman going home that night, was heard to say, " I'se sho glad vat sall I do ? I musht vip sumpotty ! I vip mein frow if ze peeg has pen fed, if not, I vip her, ennyhow ; I musht vip sumpotty for thar ees no Mayette to vip eny more !"
Long before supper, cold and hot punch had been freely partaken of by some of the influential gentle- men, then whisky with water, whisky without water, sandwiched with good brandy, then water, wkisky and brandy again, till I am convinced from all ac- counts, that many faces wore the expression they did on the day when the blessed news came of the taking of Richmond. It was a perfect ovation to the people of Marietta. There was a large pyramid cake, with the words, "Let the hatchet be buried." Mr. Mercer said, "We'll not cut this cake, but leave the motto intact ;" and all through the evening every toast and sentiment expressed, was of a fraternal character. It was reported Dr. - eat pumpkin pie for an hour, it tasted so like his mother's "good mince pie." But
THE DEATH BLOW
Had been given to Marietta. Soon after, her wealthiest and most enterprising citizens sold out at a ruinous sacrifice, and went to Marshalltown to live, where they were heartily welcomed. The stores and shops soon followed, the brass band dispersed, the literary society was obscured, away sped the houses one after another down to the new city, which had become a vampire to suck its blood-the work of demolition went on, until now, Marietta, six miles from a railroad, dismantled and ruined, is left with scarcely a trace of her departed glory.
Most of the county officers were re-elected after the
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removal from Marietta, and have held the trust ever since, and nearly all who came to Marshalltown, are among the most esteemed and wealthiest of her citizens.
HON. D. L. ARNOLD,
Late revenue assessor of the sixth congressional district, is one of these, and made an excellent officer for the Government. Probably he would have the portfolio yet, had not Andy " swung the circle," and sent the voluminous papers to the care of another worthy officer, his successor, Gen. T. H. Benton. Mr. Arnold is wealthy, yet kind to the needy, and has an unspotted reputation as a Christian gentleman.
T. ABELL, ESQ.,
The pleasant banker, who still buys and sells exchange as he did in Marietta, and spent, with others, a large amount of money to make that village the perma- nent metropolis, is one of Marshalltown's most pros- perous and energetic men. Mr. Abell has been a great helper in the Presbyterian church, and was for- ward to give of his means to the Orphan's Fair.
Mr. Joseph Holmes, Doctor Waters, and Doctor Whealen, all came in due time to Marshalltown, also Mr. Thomas Mercer has a beautiful home there. He is a botanist of great scientific attainments and has unrivalled taste in flowers.
The old court house bought by Mr. Turner, left Marietta and settled itself on the south side of Main street, and holds up harness and saddles instead of papers and maps, and tells no tales of powder trains and the secret plottings of its former days. Mr. Crow's hotel where the Times office is located, feeds the brain of Marietta as it did the inner man. Mr. John Turner, whose untiring energy, with his part- ner, Mr. C. C. Stone, has built one of the heaviest hardware stores in the State, was a Marietta man, and
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did everything within mortal reach to make it a city. His worthy lady, a sister of the charming Mrs. Abell and the winsome "Minta," has done much in embel- lishments at our festivals and county fairs, and espe- cially at the Orphan's Home Fair. We shall always thank the few who wrought so faithfully in the floral department for that isle of beauty in the ocean of sand and dust elsewhere. Mr. J. L. Williams and H. D., his brother, familiarly called "Jake," are seen at the county clerk's desk, as chatty and genial as they were ten years ago at Marietta. In fact, these we have men- tioned, and many others, are among the very best citizens of Marshalltown. All bitter feeling has died away, and the past with its horrors and threatenings, only serves to excite a smile, for all are friends and united in every good work. We have only to men- tion that Boardman hobnobbed with Henderson in a week after coming here, went into a law partnership with him, and now sits around the green baize with T. Brown, Esq., who did as much to kill Marietta as any other man.
Marietta will again become a business point should the railroad be built now projected between Marshall- town and Eldora. The village has yet about two hundred inhabitants, a store, several shops, and an excellent school under the management of Mrs. Quincy Black, a lady of thorough scholarship and graceful manner. Her exhibitions always call out a crowded house. There is an M. E. Church under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Hayman ; and no town in the county is surrounded by farms under such a high state of cul- ture. The Catholic Church which was finished in 1861, was usually filled by an earnest audience from French Grove, and a large settlement on the Minerva, but it was made of poor material, and ยท blew down about three years since, to the great annoyance of the communicants and Father Emmons, of Iowa City, who officiated at the altar. The architect was Mr. S. Marshall, now of the St. James.
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This township is rapidly filling up with new settlers, has excellent public schools, and is every way a de- sirable point for farmers.
IOWA TOWNSHIP.
Iowa township is situated in the second tier from the Hardin line, contains some very good timber, while coal crops out along the banks of the Iowa river, and it also well watered by that stream and its tributaries. There are splendid farms in this town- ship, where locust and cottonwood groves have been cultivated, making a good protection for stock and fruit, besides giving rare beauty to the landscape. Iowa is quite thickly settled and for a long time polled more votes than any other in the county .. Among the earliest settlers, who came in the year 1849, was Messrs. Philip Ballard, William, his brother, and Jacob Hauser.
Mr. P. Ballard relates his experience in getting to the prairie home in this wise: It was early in the spring, and when coming to the Iowa river it was found necessary to cross on a piece of ice by laying boards from shore to the ice, the horses were induced to cross over, then the wagon was drawn over by hand (after the goods had been removed), then over went the furniture, and finally, the wife and little ones. It was a marvel to every one in the vicinity how they crossed and without danger. The bears troubled his pigs and carried off a few of them, and in revenge he stole bruin's honey from the bee-trees.
If we had only space to tell of the frontier experi- ences which the families "over the river " had through the Indian war, the cold winters in their miserable little cabins, their thankfulness when they could buy a pound of coffee, it might make some of us who grumble, more contented.
Mr. Hauser was county clerk in its first organization.
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Mr. Seymour was one of the earliest pioneers, but is now living in Kansas. But we will call the reader's attention to the most important place in the township, which is
ALBION.
It was laid out and surveyed in August, 1852, by George W. Voris and Thomas S. Brown, and given the name of Lafayette, which it continued to bear until 1858, when it was changed to Albion, there being another town named Lafayette on the Des Moines river. Albion is situated on the east side of the Iowa river, and has a splendid location, one of the finest in the State. Among the earliest settlers was Mr. Perrigo, now of Marshalltown, who had the first store here and helped build up Albion; Mr. Jotham Keyes, who did a large business on air foundations and then vanished from the board of trade. Attorney T. Brown, now law partner with Boardman, who is well known as one of the best criminal lawyers in the State; also, Professor Wilson, a talented editor and elocutionist. Mr. E. H. CHAPIN, whose witty, trenchant pen cuts evil and self- conceit right and left; Mr. Abram Stanley, a very successful business man, and Mr. Tripp, also a pioneer merchant, came about 1854, and all have been iden- tified with the growth of the town.
About the year 1857, in the strife among the in- fant towns for notoriety and to become the county seat, Albion did not wish to be made a cat's paw by Messrs. Rice, Anson and Woodbury without a bonus, so having a literary taste, her efforts were put forth to obtain a seminary of learning. Upon a hint in the Iowa Central, whereof Mr. Chapin was editor, sub- scriptions were at once asked of the rival towns claiming to be the county seat; intimating that the one which gave the highest amount, would get the most votes from Iowa township in the coming election. Both went to work, and on presenting the
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subscription to the board of trustees of the Marshall County High School in Albion, it was found that Marietta had given three thousand dollars; and Mar- shalltown, not to be outdone, raised hers to one thou- sand more.
This commenced the present College building, but the county voted the sales of all swamp lands for the finishing of the enterprise, releasing all these stock- holders from their engagements, excepting those from Albion. As many prominent men had given notes
as well as money, it was quite a relief. Under some defect in the school law, it was found that they could get no help from the State, so that when the offi- cers of an organization calling themselves the Iowa Lutheran College, offered to buy the high school building, it was sold to them, they representing that they had an endowment fund of sixteen thou- sand dollars. This was considered a fine stroke of diplomacy for Albion. Rev. E. Geiger was chosen president of the faculty, with several professors, etc. For some reason the endowment fund never reached the sum named above, and it has been struggling along to the best of its ability ever since. It has met a scathing ordeal of sectarian prejudice, also internal dis- sensions in the faculty ; the citizens have often given it a side wipe, and it has had quite enough to wither the life from any corporate body of learning. It has, how- ever, been very liberal to the soldiers, and had some faithful, self-denying teachers, but it needs an endow- ment fund of a hundred thousand dollars, and enough more in its purse to add a couple of wings to the old dilapidated structure, and refurnish it from turret to foundation with new furniture, apparatus, etc. We wish this institution of learning great prosperity, and hope that money will be raised for the above purpose.
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A BREWING TEMPEST.
After washing the feet of Albion, after kissing the faces of their dirty children, after exhausting stores of snuff and tobacco for her old women, and giving them all the swamp lands and other material aid, Albion, in February, 1860, (after a submission of two months to Marshalltown as the rightful sovereign,) circulated a petition through the county, praying that the county seat should be removed to that place. Fearing that there might be a successful hearing before the county judge, and there would be the expense and trouble of another canvas, a remonstrance was likewise circu- lated, and learning through a faithful detective, that there was about as many names on the petition as upon the remonstrance, one night a committee, self-appointed in Marshalltown, drew up about four hundred fictitious names that could be used in case of an emergency. Some of the names were those of persons in their graves, some were in the Eastern States, and occasion- ally the surname was transposed with the baptismal cognomen, until the " hodge-podge " was well calculated to deceive a Philadelphia lawyer, but only sixty were used. The case came up before Judge Battin and it was on trial nearly a week. As soon as it was found that there might be a possibility of a decision in favor of Albion, (Judge Battin being a citizen of that vil- lage) it was thought best by the watchful guardians of Marshalltown to arm themselves with an injunction from the district court against removing the records. So in the darkness of the night, Esquire Gregg and Doctor Statler started for Iowa City to obtain a hear- ing of Judge Thompson, as he was going there to attend court. When within a few miles of the city they overtook him, and he, fortunately granted the injunction.
They returned quite elated with their success, but the document never was used, for Judge Battin think-
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ing it was time the county seat insurrections should be crushed, decided against Albion, and threw the costs of the suit upon the plaintiffs, T. J. Wilson, Esq., Daniel Wheeler, Mr. Tripp and a Mr. Sweet. This was the last eruption of the county seat fever, which promised to be chronic for some time to come, as it was alleged that Marietta was at the bottom of the conspiracy.
As a specimen of the sharpness of some of the Marshalltown men, we mention the fact, that while Mr. William Howard, of Liberty, was producing the petition at the trial, and giving testimony as to the genuineness of some of the names attached to it, a sly rascal cut off about forty names from the paper with his pocket knife, in the twinkling of an eye, passed it to another of the same Beelzebub persuasion, and with the aid of a couple of wafers, persons were made to do duty on the other side of the house. Mr. Howard and the court, were so occupied that they never noticed the deception, and probably it is not known to many of the county to day.
At this trial, the downcast looks of the plaintiff's was considered a good offset for the unpleasantness that Albion had caused Doctor Glick and Mr. Wood- bury at their trial, for holding Judge Smith's nose to the grindstone.
PRIMITIVE LIVING.
Mrs. Perrigo mentions renting the first frame house built in Albion. Then they made preparations for a home, Mr. P. hiring a hand from Cedar Rapids to assist him in the project. The man got sick, so Mr. Perrigo built the house alone, raising the balloon frame by himself, mostly. Mrs. Perrigo remembers of moving into it when the roof was shingled only at one corner, and she could lie in bed and see the stars as they marched in solemn procession through the night. The shingle horse where they manufactured the
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shingles, stood next to the table, and pictures, tin skimmers, clothing and skillets were close neighbors on the unplastered walls.
Mrs. Perrigo once dressed in calico for an afternoon visit, wearing also a gingham sun-bonnet and cotton gloves. This costume was considered such an index to her pride, that it was made the subject of remark, especially the gloves, but Mrs. Arny, the hostess was glad to receive her, and she spent a pleasant after- noon with others of the company who would laugh at cotton gloves now-a-days, as well as Mrs. Perrigo, who is unrivaled in her taste for dress.
Mr. J. P. Allington came later, was an excellent mechanic, and at an early day, made wagons for the Iowa farmers. Mr. B. T. Phillips, a prominent man in this section, came in 1856, and has filled some of the first offices of the township with trust and ability. He is now an extensive stock and grain dealer. Mr. William Thrall, a good citizen, has been here some years.
Mr. Lucas built the first hotel in Albion, then sold to Mr. Hobart, and the location was long known as the Hobart House. Mr. Howell, of Ohio, bought it two years since, and in western parlance, he knows " how to keep hotel," or rather his wife does, for is not the landlady the central sun of the whole system in a tarvern ?
One of the early settlers was Mr. Beeson, whose son, Lieutenant Beeson, served with so much distinction in the Union army ; also Mr. Hunmalean, who set out a beautiful grove of cottonwoods and had fruit and stock in great plenty. He was a man of energy ; al- though wasted by long sickness he still would work. Some one asked him not long before his death, why he kept planting ornamental trees. He gave a beautiful reply, "Some weary body will love to sit under their pleasant shadows and think of me when I am gone." He placed in the solid earth a more splendid monu-
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ment than the costliest marble column, which will outlive his worthy act for generations to come.
The first newspaper published in Albion was edited by Prof. T. WILSON, now of Marshalltown, and called the Iowa Central Journal. This enterprise was com- menced in the month of November, 1855. It was the only newspaper published in a radius of one hundred miles ; and on looking over its files we find fine ability as a writer, and it certainly reflected great credit upon the Professor to place such a shining light in the darkness of the western border.
He afterward sold out to E. H. Chapin, Esq., who associated with him, R. H. Barnhart, a good local and a successful publisher, who has been in partnership with his brothers, publishing a line of democratic journals through the State. Mr. Barnhart at this time was a man of small means, his lady assisting him in setting type; and in the space of ten years has become wealthy. Iowa is the home for poor men. Afterward, Mr. Chapin sold to Doctor Taylor, a clear, pleasant writer, author of a former history of the county, and one of the earliest physicians in its limits. The office was moved to Marshalltown after the remo- val of the county seat, and was known as the Marshall County Times.
On the 4th of July, 1855, everybody and his wife were invited to a celebration of the natal day of the Republic, at the town of Lafayette. The multitude assembled on the Public Square; Mr. Sawyer now living in Marshalltown was chief marshal of the day, Doctor Hixon gave the oration and read the Declara- tion of Independence. William Ballard and a few others did the singing, and it was a good time. Doctor Whealan was to have taken the forum, but in passing a new building, a wicked shingle in its down- fall struck him on the head, so that he failed to per- form his role, and gain immortality as a speaker- he never attempted the like again, believing that Fate
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had other employment for the exercise of his talents. On another occasion, in 1857, Judge C. C. Cole gave the oration, and a Mr. Lloyd read the declaration, but spoiled all by attempting to explain the meaning of that sublime yet perfectly simple document in a long harangue. Mr. Ballard (who, by the way, has a beautiful voice), also gave "Hail Columbia " at this celebration. Some years after, when a company of soldiers were leaving for the field, he sang the " Old Liberty Tree," with fine effect upon the crowd.
In the year 1859 there was a Congregational Church formed in conjunction with Marietta, Rev. E. Boardman, pastor, who officiated alternately in that capacity once in two weeks. There was a member- ship of fourteen. Mr. P. Chapin, a man full of Christian graces, now living in Marshall, was chosen deacon, and another good man, Mr. M. Hastings, was their secretary. The Lutherans coming in 1861 in such numbers, it was thought best to disband, and, with a few scattering Presbyterians, sacrifice on the same altar with them. Mr. George Keyes, one of the mem- bers of this little church, was noted afterward for his bravery in the army. A Mr. Larrison was killed in building a bridge in this township, and his death was very much regretted at the time. Mr. David Randolph, a prominent gentleman, came in 1856 to Albion, with his son-in-law, Mr. Cowgell, the superintendent of the M. E. Sunday School in their pretty brick chapel. Mr. Swearingen, quite a wealthy gentleman, and one of the trustees of the college, has been here some years. Judge Hobbs is now a resident of this township, and Doctor Richey, a good physician ; also Mr. Hinman, who has a splendid stock farm. He has been associated in business sometime with David Wells, one of the most noted stock dealers in the State. Lieutenant Arny of this township died a few months since, and was much beloved for his patriotic and noble bearing in the army and at home.
HON.H. E.J.BOARDMAN, RESIDENCE
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North of Albion and further up the drowsy river, is a postoffice hamlet called Norris. It is of great convenience to the farmers in that thickly settled com- munity. Mr. S. Meyer, one of the Fort men, lives in this section ; he came from Tennessee originally, and settled here in 1853. He gave a brave boy's life for the old flag at Atlanta, who no doubt learned the lessons of freedom amid the mountain tops of the Cumberlands.
Judge Battin came to Albion sometime in 1856, and is favorably known in the county as an impartial, faithful officer, as well as an honest merchant. He has been thoroughly identified with the enterprises of the Iowa valley to develop its resources and make this section a desirable home for our people.
Mr. Cripps has decidedly one of the finest apiaries in the State. He sells hundred of pounds of honey yearly, that delicious epicurean dish, which is within reach of every dweller upon the prairie ; also, grapes rivalling those of Eshcol, Guinea pigs and hens, and other useful animals He certainly will reap a pecuniary harvest for his labors and enterprise in this direction.
Albion has two stores, a grocery, hotel, and all the shops necessary for the wants of its citizens. It con- tains about four hundred inhabitants, and the advan- tages of the Lutheran College make it an attractive point to settlers. They have several churches in or- ganization, and service is generally held in the college building. Rev. Dr. Sternberg lectures to crowded houses upon religious topics, which is of great benefit and enjoyment to the citizens. We bespeak for this beautiful little town and for its infant college an abundant prosperity.
MARSHALL
Township is a little east of the geographical center of the county, and is rolling prairie dotted with splendid groves, with Asher's Creek, Linn and the Iowa ot, 7
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water the surface, making it a natural garden supply- ing the market of Marshalltown.
The earliest settlers were two brothers, William Ralls and G. S. Ralls, also John Braddy and Mr. Crowder.
The first white child born in this township was Joseph Luther, a son of Mr. G. S. Ralls, and he is still living in Iowa township. William Ralls came from Wapello county in March, 1850, and lived in a cabin near Colonel Shurtz's present residence. Soon after their arrival their house was robbed and burned, leaving the family almost destitute. As many of the valua- bles was afterwards seen in a canoe, there was not much doubt as to the authors of the mischief. It was a cruel thing under the circumstances. They lived on a dirt floor in a cabin afterward, had a tough time through the Indian war; but in a few years made a good farm and now are wealthy. The first court and county election was held at their house, and there were just thirty votes in the ballot box.
" Jack " Braddy had a claim and cabin a little west of them. He cut poles about as large as a stove pipe and made his home, covered the roof with slough grass, and himself and family had a terrible contest with ague here. It often rained down in torrents on their shaking frames, and those who have had the ague can properly appreciate their situation.
Mr. Washington Asher, another pioneer on the northern edge of the township, had a claim near the creek that bears his name. It is a beautiful stream and is noted for its splendid ice in winter and purple grapes in autumn. After Mr. Asher's people came out of the fort, the gude man was away on business a part of the season. So afraid was Mrs. A. of the snakes, that on retiring she used to place the chairs in a row to walk upon in case she was obliged to light the candle in the night.
Mr. Thomas Brown, who went into the army and
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died in some far off hospital, is often mentioned as one of the earliest settlers in this neighborhood. The family lived on cracked corn and wild meat for a long time. He rendezvoused with the others north of the river at the time of the Musquaquan war in 1850, at P. Ballard's house. He was a brave, good man in every particular.
In the spring of 1854, there was another Indian scare called the Sioux war. Quite a large number of warriors assembled in Hardin county, and were often insolent in their demands, and the report spread over the prairies, that they were determined on driving the whites from the Iowa valley. The Indians certainly had an inextinguishable affection for Marshall country. Many of the settlers became very much alarmed and huddled together for protection for a day or two, at Mr. Brown's. But the Sioux soon changed their minds, and withdrew to the northwestern part of the State, where their smouldering hate flamed out in the massacre at Spirit Lake.
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