USA > Iowa > Marshall County > History of Marshall county, Iowa > Part 9
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Mr. Bradbury, also one of the pioneers and an Englishman from the vicinity of Rochdale, the home of John Bright, lived here, and after opening up a new home in the West and beginning fully to appre- ciate the greatness of American institutions, fell a vic- tim to disease and crossed to the unknown shore, leaving his family comparatively strangers in the New World. There is a rude grave-yard at Wolf Creek where he was buried, with scarcely a spot of beauty but the grand old trees.
We protest against the fashion, we Western people have, of doing everything for the comfort of the living and leaving our burial places without a flower to mark our affection, or sometimes a respectable fence. We place the marble there, perhaps, but we oughtto cultivate flowers, visit them often, and not be so afraid of the dear spot that enshrines the remains of the loved and lost.
Near this rude cemetery lives an English gentleman by the name of Jones. He is a very successful farmer, showing what superior skill can do with our
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rich Iowa soil to aid the agriculturist. His wife is a very pleasant hostess and the family is highly respected in the vicinity.
Mr. Beeman lives near here also-a good man, having a beautiful farm.
With this little digression, we return to the Brad- bury family. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Bradbury met with many difficulties, but managed her business in an admirable manner. Her daughter coming from England, was married quite early in life to a Mr. Bowen from New York. This was the largest wedding ever held in Vienna township, but after the hilarities were over, a careless boy on the farm set a straw stack on fire, which caught the barn and burned it with other valuables. It was a great loss, but the neighbors were very kind and helped the family in every possible way.
There is a very thickly settled neighborhood on Wolf creek nearly on the line of Vienna, which holds meetings in the school-house. They have a post office just over the line in Grundy, called Wandaloup, the Latin for wolf, so the schoolmaster said. They are obliged to go twenty miles for a physician or lawyer. If some persons practicing these professions were to settle here, it would save a good deal of travel for Wandaloup.
Mr. Samuel Richey, one of the Board of Supervisors and a very excellent citizen, lives in the southern part of Vienna.
There have been revival meetings held in the school- house near here, under the superintendence of Rev. J. S. Edwards of Marshalltown, and a large class formed of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Among the prominent citizens of this township we have only space to mention a very few. Mr. Cun- ningham, Mr. Monlux, Mr. Glass, an old, yet pleasant gentleman, Mr. Walters, and others. We close with a leaf from the tablet of Vienna soldiers.
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Mr. David Swartwout left a little family and rallied to his country's call in the Twenty-Third Regiment, but while home on furlough in March, 1864, died there. This was a dreadful stroke to his wife and children, and their son Augustus passed over to the " other shore " from the hospital at New Orleans the next year.
Joseph Vincent, of the rank and file, who carried the old flag at Pea Ridge and was killed on the field, Hiram V. Willey, who laid down his young hopes at Shiloh, and the Hunsden boys who died in hospital, make up the list of the heroic dead. Vienna sent as many men to the army as she cast votes at the pre- vious election-the banner township !
BANGOR TOWNSHIP
Lies in the great highway from Eldora to Marshall- town. Its hills rise from the drowsy Iowa, and the wild bees drone on Honey Creek. One listens to the sweet voices of Quaker girls, and the tinkle of bells in the sheep folds; anon, a hawk circles up from the prairies, and the mists rise from the lowlands, showing the little village of
BANGOR,
With its unpretending churches, its rows of shade trees and cultivated gardens, old fashioned hollyhocks and sunflowers swinging under the windows; doves and darting swallows; the whole picture so sugges- tive of real comfort, no wonder the poor darkeys when they came from Missouri, exclaimed, " Oh ! dis is de happy land of Canaan." At one time there were a good many fugitives about the township, but they have mostly returned to a warmer climate. We have seen a broad-brimmed Ethiopian, of the family of Hagar and Onesimus, occasionally in the streets of Marshall- town, who it seems is a disciple of the rare principles of George Fox.
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There were a good many ladies here who were iden- tified with the Soldiers' Aid Society and with the Or- phans' Home Fair, who wrought faithfully and well, for they raised over a hundred dollars in this township for the Home.
Among those who were on the Underground Rail- road, and a conductor on the same, was Mr. James Owens, now living at lowa Falls; and Mr. Lounsbury, of Hardin, sometimes gave help. The route was from College Farm, in Jasper county, to Marietta ; then taking a team and driving the load onward to Bangor, among some of the good Friends, if not to Mr. Owen's. There were sharp tricks played off upon prying people, and queer disguises used to keep the poor creatures from being taken. How the world has moved in seven years !
Mr. Owens went as a missionary among the freed- men through the war, and accomplished a great deal of good among them as well as among the sick soldiers of Iowa regiments.
But yet there is even among the Quakers, a long continued inherent prejudice in favor of the superior- ity of the Anglo-Saxon. In the Sunday School at Bangor, one of the colored brethren was made a teacher over white children. In spite of the teach- ings of a hundred years some of the parents remon- strated. Sister Bush, the mother of the teacher, as black as the ace of spades, rose to her feet in the congregation, and forthwith gave the brethren and sisters a severe castigation, as the spirit gave her utter- ance. She is now in Missouri.
Mr. Lancaster Bell and Mr. N. Lounsbury, also Mr. Owen Albright, are old and time-honored citizens in this region. All have splendidly cultivated farms, and Mr. Albright has the finest fruit in Marshall county. His nursery is in excellent condition ; the young trees being thoroughly acclimated, are worth ten times more than importations from the East. We
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have seen cherries of a delicious flavor and very large size from his garden, that would make the same family of May Dukes blush a deeper red in Ohio. Currants, raspberries, complexioned like Dido, strawberries, and in fact, he raises all the small fruits in great perfection. He was very prominent in building the church at Bangor, and is a good citizen in every capacity. They have a small library and debating club in the village.
Mr. W. W. Weatherly, now land agent in Marshall- town, having been sheriff of the county and a captain in the Marietta war, was, with Dr. Bush, one of the earliest settlers on the Upper Iowa river. His cabin was built not far from Mormon Ridge in the fall of 1850. He relates a melancholy incident connected with a funeral of old Mr. Dean in Marshall township a few months after, in 1851. They had not enough pine lumber to make him a coffin, and were obliged to saw up the sideboards of Mr. Weatherly's wagon to piece out the lid. They were not very poor, but the high water prevented the getting of lumber. It was a time of great trial to Mrs. Dean, but she bravely bore up under all her difficulties.
Civilization, in its irresistible march westward, sometimes seems like a Juggernaut that crushes its victims with less conscience than the Hindoo idol, and the homesick women who pine in emigrant homes are not the least to be pitied.
Mormon Ridge in this township takes its name from the fact that in 1849 a good many of the saints, on their westward march to Salt Lake, were detained here. They dug holes in the hillside for homes, and enlarged their apartments by wagon covers and old quilts. They must have suffered severely from cold, for there are quite a number of graves to be counted in the vicinity.
Coal is seen along the edge of the river not far
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from here, and all it needs is a steam pump to remove the water from the shaft, and this valuable mineral could be worked for market.
Mr. Jacob Kinzer has lived in Bangor some years, and is well known as a good citizen and an excellent farmer. There are a number of Carolina Quakers set- tling in his neighborhood.
The village of Bangor has a pleasant location. There is a store owned by Mr. J. C. Smith of Eldora, formerly of Marshalltown, a blacksmith shop, post- office, etc. Should the railroad ever be built from Eldora to Marshall, Bangor will become an important point, as it is one of the best farming regions of the West. The Methodists and Friends are about equally divided in numbers and influence ; the Sabbath Schools are in a flourishing condition.
The first Justice was Mr. Sneldon Wyatt, and his few neighbors at the time, were Mr. Jessup, John Cockett, Silas H. Bentley, and his brothers. Mr. Isaac Miller, who once resided in Marietta, lives here on a good farm, and is a prominent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Also a Mr. Cox lives in this vicinity, and Mr. Angus McKinnon, with his brother Lathland -good citizens.
MINERVA.
This township is near the Story line, and tucks its green prairies under it, with here a grove, there a farm house, presenting charming landscapes in the beauty of midsummer. We always fancied this township was named after some good woman, who dispensed her hospitalities upon some intelligent wayfarer-hence the name, for it has creeks of Little and Big Minerva -an improvement on the endless repetition of Washington, Jefferson, etc., to the plague of letter writers and postmasters in the country. Mr. Elder has the honor of being the first settler in this place,
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having entered his land in 1851. He owned the grove that bears his name, and opened up a good farm at a very early day. He afterwards went to Liberty, and is held in high estimation in this section. Mr. Daniel Stevens, near "Liberty line," was also a pioneer the same year, and Mr. Weatherly, our busy real estate agent now, broke the green sward for his garden and cornfield soon after his arrival. Mr. Weatherly was one of his nearest neighbors, living in Bangor, twelve miles distant.
Mr. Patterson-of military presence, both in Mexico and at Marietta-was one of the old settlers. Heiden- tified himself with the new township by naming a pretty grove, "Patterson." He is now living in Davenport, and is quite wealthy.
Mr. John Anselme, a Frenchman, was also a pioneer, and soon after there came quite a number of la belle countrymen and settled at the little groves and in the best portions of the township. Entering their land, and being careful and industrious, they have become as wealthy farmers as there are in the county. At the time of the Marietta war, French Grove was a good deal excited in favor of the existing capital, and hearing that Dr. Taylor, of Marshalltown, had been connected with the Know Nothing movement, he came very near being lynched by the wrathful citizens as he came into town on business.
There are a few Germans also, who are quite intelli- gent, and have taken great pains to obtain good school teachers for the past few years.
Mr. Patterson, in 1864, sold his farm and beautiful home to Mr. S. Burkholder, who was an efficient member of the board of supervisors. His house was a great summer resort for the elite of Marshalltown, having pic-nics on his grounds-all being pleasantly entertained by the agreeable hostess and her sister.
The Protestant Methodists have a little church here, which is attended by the community generally.
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Among the wealthy farmers, are Mr. George Wantz and Oscar Elliott. But we have not space for a further notice of this township, with the exception of
CLEMENS' CORNERS,
Near the Liberty line, a point well known since 1856, where the first store was built west of Marietta for a good many miles. Mr. Clemens entered the grove which bears his name, and kept a good hotel, whose gleaming fires welcomed the half frozen traveler in the dreadful winter of 1856-7. The mercury fell on the 18th of December, to thirty-six degrees below zero. There is no store now at the " Corners," we believe. The ladies shop in Bangor, Eldora, and in Marshall- town, or around a peddler's wagon.
MARION TOWNSHIP,
Famous in the county war for her defective poll- books, has a very intelligent people, being settled early by Vermont Yankees. There is rich alluvial soil on the bottoms of the Iowa river, also uplands that grow immense corn, so that there is a great variety of land to select from, with plenty of water, timber, etc.
Near the Marshall line lives the family of Mr. Hol- comb who came in 1856 from the Reserve, in Ohio. They had no meat-house or cellar to the cabin, so hanging their smoked shoulders and hams to the eaves, they had a dangling cornice very tantalizing to the wolves, who used to jump upon their hind feet- circus fashion-trying to pull down the meat. Mrs. Holcomb is noted for her splendid dairy.
In the vicinity of Green Mountain lives Mr. Brock, a gentlemanly farmer ; also Mr. Heacocks, and Spen- cer Day, Esq., who is known in this section for his fine cattle. Mr. G. W. Voorhees was an early settler, and lived near Mr. Holcomb. He had a farm in an
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early day, and was a relative of the family at Le Grand. He remembers of sending a watermelon as a present to Mr. Holcomb's family by "Jeff," the first year of their pioneer life, which the rascal devoured with the help of a young comrade ;- a standing joke upon the aforesaid "Jeff" to this day.
GREEN MOUNTAIN
Was laid out by James Harvey, Esq., one of our most capable business men, and once partner with Dr. Whealen of the Quaker City store. Himself a Ver- monter, and his neighbors being mostly from New England, the village soon gave signs of Yankee energy, and there is no doubt that it would have been an important point, had it not been for the financial crash of 1857, which killed the Fulton Air Line Rail- road, whose track lay near Green Mountain.
This road received a land grant from Congress of 800,000 acres, and had seventy miles graded, yet it is never heard of now. The grant was transferred to the Cedar Rapids road, and the result was, this village was left out in the cold. Religiously speaking, Green Mountain is Congregational. They have fine school houses in this vicinity, and the country is noted for its beauty, "the prettiest the sun e'er shone on," so an enthusiastic visitor said one summer evening. But we will not pause in this lovely spot, but hurry southward to
FREDONIA,
Another quiet village, that first set its business corners on the track of the Fulton road by the direction of A. J. Cooper, Esq. It found a place upon the maps of Marshall county the same year with its unique, thrifty neighbor, Green Mountain.
Near here is a beautiful church of quite large di- mensions, nearly finished, and built of the splendid
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stone found in the bed of Rock creek. It presents a fine appearance and is in every way creditable to that most singular of all people, the Dunkards. In the basement they have a cook-house where they roast a whole ox, and at the feast representing the Lord's Supper, they have a great variety of dishes prepared in this apartment. They wash each other's feet in token of the Master's humility, the priests shave their crowns but wear the back hair rather long, generally greeting the disciples with a holy kiss; are a very devoted people to their peculiar faith. If one of he church is found guilty of over-reaching in a bargain- that most wide-spread of all modern sins-he is disci- plined most rigorously ; and if differing from all other sects in creed, they certainly are a very moral and quiet people, and set an example for even some of our orthodox citizens to follow in life-practice. They have a membership of about one hundred, and are constantly increasing in numbers. The most of those in Fredonia came from Ohio, and Rev. Mr. Murray is their pastor.
In this vicinity, and very well known as a gentle- manly successful farmer, is Mr. John Hughes. He has excellent buildings for a new country, and every- thing has a neat business look, as if farming was an earnest, intelligent occupation.
Mr. James Reed also lives near here, a brother-in- law of Mr. Joel Brock-very pleasant people, and whose interest in our county fairs never flags, or in any other enterprise to develop the resources of Iowa. Near Fredonia, eastward, lives Dr. Haynes, quite a successful physician ; also in that vicinity, Rev. Mr. Benn, who ministers in sacred things to a small church in the village, and at Orford. He is a very useful man. Mr. Downs, once a citizen of Marshalltown, who did a heavy business in forwarding, lives not far from Fredonia
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An Englishman, by the name of Stubbs, lives in this vicinity who is quite wealthy-made it all by his industry and foresight. He has sometimes fifty head of stock for sale on his beautifully cultivated farm. Mr. Samuel Gilkinson, a good citizen and one of the early settlers, lived near here, but has lately moved to Nebraska.
Mr. Cooper had the first store in Fredonia and did a good business for some time, but Marshalltown filling up so rapidly, he sold out to a Mr. Zearing, and is now our Recorder-a very faithful officer and a worthy man.
But farther back, in the "age of wolves," as an old pioneer facetiously terms it, lived Mr. Alexander Bowles, who came about 1849. They were at one time without game even, being out of ammunition, and were obliged to make soup of deer hides, without a mouthful of anything else. They parched corn and wheat, and ground it in a common coffee-mill for bread, sometimes boiling the grain whole in the kernel. As near as can be ascertained, this family suffered as much as any in the Iowa valley. Mr. Bowles has al- ways been a great hunter, a perfect Nimrod among the wolves and prairie chicks, and partly sustained his family in this manner for many years. Of course they lived in a cabin, hunted, fished, and raised what they could, till the era of sulky-plows and corn- planters. Mr. Samuel Deter's home may be seen not far from Mr. Bowles', and he is a very reliable, honest man. His sons follow in his footsteps, and are culti- vating good farms in this section.
Broom corn, sorghum, potatoes, and everything that grows out of doors in Iowa, wave in the sun- light of Marion township.
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GREENCASTLE.
Greencastle township is situated in the southeastern part of the county, the Marshalltown and Grinnell road passing through it. It is finely watered by tributaries of Timber creek and North Skunk, and has excellent farming land, with a good deal of timber in the northern portion. There are many sheep and very fair stock owned in Greencastle, and it is in every way a desirable portion of the Hawkeye heritage to emigrants, with the single exception of church privi- leges, as they have preaching only fortnightly in this township, this being mainly due to the exertions of the Christian Church. Judge Smith is now a resi- dent here, and preaches occasionally. With the help of co-laborers, much good has been done; the Metho- dists also have a fair representation.
Elias Hilsabeck is the oldest settler here, having come from Illinois in 1852 and entered his land. He is a very worthy farmer and a good citizen. Mr. Lantis, who formerly lived in Timber Creek township, is now a resident of Greencastle. His son, a very brave young man, died in the Union army. Mr. L. tried living in Missouri, but came back to Iowa per- fectly contented with the magnificent land of the Musquaquas. The water is so much superior to that State, that this feature of our county will always make it an object to settlers.
Mr. Hoes, formerly of Marshalltown, with "his sheep and cattle upon a thousand hills," lives in Greencastle ; also Mr. Dwight of the same place, is now tilling land instead of broom making ; he was the first to furnish these useful articles to the citizens of Mar- shalltown.
Captain Haskins of the "Old Thirteenth " is a citizen of this township, and in his bachelor home sur- rounded by luxuries, has no desire to return to the battle-field.
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In looking over the map, we find the site of Green- castle village, which once had the aspiration to be another New York, and if it could buy up some of the votes in this portion of the Hawkeye State, might be a county seat, in case Marietta and Marshalltown should eat each other up, like the giants in the fable. Mr. Blakely Brush was the chief Rajah of this town, and built a large two-story house without wings, which always bore the name of "the Castle." A few years since, Mr. Akers bought the dilapidated fortress, filled the loop holes with glass instead of old coats, and righted up the chimney tops and fence, and it now makes a very respectable appearance. .
It was at Justice S. Haskins, just over the line of Le Grand, that Attorney Hepburn and Hon. T. Brown had their little prize-ring exercise. Some years ago, a ditty ran thus, the only thing on record which commemorates the event :
Ah! Peter, Peter! Pumpkin eater! How could you thus strike down, Or pull the hair And scratch the eyes Of Honorable Timothy Brown ?
But these gentlemen have risen to such high positions in life they may have forgotten this episode of the law.
One cool day in October, 1854, Mr. Jonathan Reed, of Ohio, left his wife and family in the wagon, out on the sea of brown grass, about three miles from any neighbor, sewing a tent cover, while he started to Oskaloosa for flour. After a good deal of stitching and the tent pins being drove into the ground, it was found that by no manner of means would the cover fit upon them, managed by unskillful hands. The boys thought they could build a turf house, but night came on before the abode was but a little way above
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the foundations. Finally, after a night in the wagon on a lonely prairie, and becoming discouraged with the turf, it was concluded to go back to Mr. Hilsabeck's smoke-house and live in that until Mr. Reed should return and a house could be built. Mr. R. came back in about a week, and a small house was erected that fall, after three or four weeks sojourn in the smoke- house. Mr. Reed has been prominent in the county, filling offices of trust, and is a man of unflinching principle and integrity. He has fine taste in horses, and owns some excellent animals. We have tested the hospitality of this family, after Mr. Reed sold, and went to Le Grand, and know that it was a charming place to spend an hour.
Mr. Clogston, and Mr. John H. Seiger, have made Greencastle their home, and we believe there is no better township in the county. About sixty families live here.
EDEN
Is situated in the extreme southwestern portion of the county. Perhaps, there is not a better township of land in Iowa than Eden, often called by its happy soubriquet, " Paradise." Watered by Clear creek and its tributaries, also by the head springs of North Skunk, with large groves of the best timber for many miles, and noted truthfully for the beautiful "lay of the land"- like a picture. This soil is of unusual depth and fer- tility ; one particular field owned by Greene Allen has been farmed for eighteen seasons without any percep. tible diminution of the crop when properly cultivated. Protected by the groves, wild and tame fruits reach great perfection ; the fences are of the most substantial character, barns and out-houses likewise, everything cosy and thrifty about the farms, denoting wealth and prosperity.
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EDENVILLE.
This village is contemporaneous with Fredonia and Green Mountain, having been laid out by C. B. Rhodes, Esq., in 1856, and now contains two hotels, a store, two blacksmith shops, a large flouring mill, cabinet shop, and a large school-house used for church pur- poses. There is an organization of Disciples, but the Methodists are the most numerous-have a par- sonage neatly fitted up for Rev. Mr. Bolton, and it is hoped they will carry out the project of building a church edifice the present season. The earliest settler in the vicinity was Greene Allen, who came upon his claim of six hundred acres in 1849. No fear of Indians, prairie fires, wolves, bears, etc., deterred him from his improvements; when the troubles arose on Timber creek he would not go into the fort but kept the even tenor of his way. He has lately returned from a sojourn of six years in Oregon.
A man by the name of Maggard lived in a cabin near Clear creek, and made a little improvement, but taking a fever from exposure, died before there were a half-dozen families within twenty miles to mourn for the pioneer.
Among the earliest settlers was Rev. Thomas Men- denhall, a Protestant clergyman, still living in Eden- ville ; and Rev. Simon Woolston, who labored faith- fully in the church, for temperance, and also for Masonry, and is still carrying on these good works in Missouri. He had a large family of sons and daugh- ters who settled here, comprising some of the most influential citizens in the township.
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