USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 19
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ing of navigation the following spring he returned on the boat of the American Fur Company, to whom he had soll the wood, and Cook and Sum- ner. in performance of their part of the contract, delivered the forty cords. This boat was sent up the Missouri River every spring with supplies for the French and Indian employes of that great cor- poration, and to bring back to St. Louis, the furs. the result of their winter's work. These latter were usually brought down in a Mackinaw boat, a craft 30x10 feet in size built of planks, that was dismantled on arrival at its destination. The wood eut by Cook and Sumner could always be disposed of to these traders, and a short time afterward other boats ran up the river to Sergeants Bluffs, and later to Sioux City, and these, also, became custom- ers for wood. The partnership between the two men, Cook and Sumner, existed for two years, dur- ing which, in addition to the wood business, they brought up herds of cattle to winter here, the care of which devolved upon the boy, James Cook, as well as much of the hard work, his father not be- ing a very robust man. In the summer of 1852, the families of Cook and Sumner removed to two hewn log cabins which they had built about half a mile further south.
In 1853 Mr. Sumner removed to the vicinity of Smithland, Woodbury County, but after remain- ing there for about a year, returned to Franklin Township, Monona County, and settled about a nile west of the present site of Onawa, and opened a farm. There he resided until his death. In the summer of 1853, Mr. Cook lived so close to the river that three different times he was compelled to move his house to keep it from being engulfed in the Missouri, that then, as now, kept eating away the banks, and which took all of his little elearing of ten acres and the erops therein. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Cook moved to what is now known as the "Sears' place", on section 17, which he sold to Leonard Sears the following year, when he re- moved to Sherman Township, to a place that he had opened in 1854, and there he died, Jan. 1, 1856. James Cook, his son, is a resident of the county still, the oldest living settler.
At the time they came here, all this Territory was claimed by the Yanktonais Sioux Indians, who,
by threats, tried to intimidate all white people from settling on the bottom. These threats they never carried out, their only depredations being confined to stealing horses, which the first settlers obviated by only using cattle.
The next to make a settlement, was John Brook- field Gard, who came here with his family in Feb- ruary, 1853. He located on section 20, in what is now Franklin Township, where he afterward en- tered a large tract of land. He had with him his wife and eight children, and erected a log cabin on his place, in which he installed his family. Here he remained until 1858, when be removed to On- awa, having erected the dwelling in which J. E. Selleck now lives, but the next year returned to his farm. In 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, and is now a resident of the State of Colorado.
With him came John Dingman, who helped put up his house, and who remained here until the fol- lowing April. He returned to this county in 1857, and is a resident of Onawa.
Francis C. Case, Sr., came to Monona County in 1853, and settled in Franklin Township on section 5, where he lived until his death in April, 1858. Ile was one of the prominent citizens of those early times, and was elected to fill the office of Sheriff, but died previous to qualification for that position.
Robert Jamison made a settlement in this town in the fall of 1854, and made his home on a claim until about 1862, when, his wife having died several years before, he removed to somewhere in this State between this and Des Moines.
On the 1st of November, 1851, Mrs. Catherine (Iloak) Folck, a native of Switzerland, came to Monona County, and located on forty acres of land which is now included in the town site of Onawa, and which she sold in 1857 to the Monona Land Company. Her house, a small log cabin, was stand- ing on the ground when the town was laid out. For several years thereafter she made her home in the little village, but spent the last days of her life with her daughter, Mrs. R. Jewell, in this township. dy- ing July 23, 1884. She was a widow at the time of coming here, with a family of children. A sketch of her life appears in the biographical department of this work further on.
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George Erb, with his family came to this county during this same year, and settled in what is now Franklin Township, cast of the city of Onawa. Ilere the head of the family made his houe until Sept. 13, 1865, when he died. Two sons, Philip and George, are still residents of the county, the former living near Onawa, and the latter at the vil- lage of Moorhead.
William Jewell, a native of the " Empire State," settled in Monona County in the summer of 1855, locating on section 28. this town, where he died Dec. 2. 1880. His son, Rockwell JJewell, a boy of fifteen when he came here with his parents, is still a resident of the township. With the Jewell family came Frank Richardson, who for several years made his home on the Davis place. Ile is still a resident of the county.
Isaac and Mahlon Davis and their sister Esther, were the next to make a settlement in this locality, coming from Lee County, this State, in April, 1855. Isaac purchased a piece of government land. on section 34, Franklin Township, where he is still living. His sister Esther, now the widow of Hon. Stephen Tillson, is a resident also, living near Onawa. Mahlon located on section 33, now owned by U. U. Comfort. upon which he made improve- ments, and there resided until 1859, when, during the excitement at that time prevalent, he removed to Pike's Peak.
Leonard Sears came to the county in 1855, and entered some 1,300 acres of land, building his house on section 8, of this township. Ilere he made his home until called hence by death, Feb. 2, 1859. Ile held several important positions in politieal eireles, among others that of County Judge.
Stephen Tillson, afterward one of the prominent political leaders of the county, made a settlement on section 5, in February, 1856. He died in this county, one of its most prominent citizens.
Another of the settlers of this year was Thomas Gwinn. In 1859 he started for Pike's Peak, but died on the way thither.
Lewis Partridge settled on section 25, in the year 1856. The following year le sold out to Franklin Oliver, and after two or three years more residence in the county returned to his former home in Geneva, Kane Co., III.
About the same time the farm now known as the Butcher place was taken up by Frank Mosier, who remained in this town until the spring of 1859. when, during the Pike's Peak excitement, he moved to that new Eldorado, with others from this locality.
John Philip Kratz, one of the early pioneers of the county, came to this town in 1856, and made a settlement on seetion 20, where he made his home until the Angel of Death earried him over the dark river, an event that took place in January, 1866.
Harry E. Colby marle his appearance here on the 1st of June, 1856, and settled on a farm on section 24, this town. About eighteen months later he re- moved to Onawa, but in 1861 returned to a farm on section 16 where he resided until 1888. IIe now lives in Onawa. With him came George P. Butlington, who was so identified with the early history of the county, and who also settled on a farm in this town.
James and David McWilliams came to this county in the spring of 1857, and settled, the first just east of the young village of Onawa, the latter on the southwest quarter of section 31. James is still a resident of the county, but David makes his home in Dennison.
George W. Oliver, who had been living in Ash- ton and Onawa, since July, 1857, moved on his farm in section 25, this township in April, 1858, where he has since made his home.
Timothy Murphy, and his son, John R., came here in October, 1857, and settled on a farm on section 20; from there he removed to section 12, where the elder Mr. Murphy died in 1879. John R. is a prominent resident of Ashton Township at the present writing.
A. R. Wright came to this county during this same year and taught the first school in Onawa, living on what is now the Miller farm. Five or six years later he removed to Sergeant's Bluff, Wood- bury County, where he is still living.
Parker J. Kimball came to Monana County in April, 1858, and remained until the following spring, when he started for Pike's Peak. On the road he changed his mind and went to California. In the spring of 1861, after serving in the army, he returned to this county and settled on a farm on section 16, where he now lives.
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MONONA COUNTY.
Moses Adams was another pioneer of the year 1858, coming here in April of that year. Later on he settled on a farm on seetion 16, in this town, upon which he made his home until 1882, at which date he retired to Onawa, and there is taking his rest after an active and useful life.
Uriah U. Comfort, one of the leading citizens of the town at the present time came to this town from Steuben County, N. Y., in the year 1859, and located upon a piece of land on section 32. 1Te has materially added to his farm but still makes his home on the old homestead. This was not his first experience as a pioneer, he having resided for some four years in Michigan previous to coming here.
Neal McNeill, one of the largest landowners and most extensive farmers of the county, settled on the southwest quarter of section 16, in the summer of 1859, having come to the county about June 1, of the previous year. On his place he put up, the same year, the first brick residence in the county, as shown elsewhere.
D. W. Sampson came to this town in 1860, and settled down to farm life during the year 1860. Ilere he continued to live until about 1884, when he removed to the city of Onawa. where he now re- sides.
Frank G. Oliver, a carpenter who had been work- ing at his trade at Onawa, and a settler of the ycar 1857, removed to his farm on section 25, in July, 1861, and is still residing on the same.
John Dingman and A. Z. Mosher, came to Frank- lin Township in 1862 for the second time and set- tled on some two hundred acres of the "Gard Farm," and have remained in the county ever since.
Larkin Paekwood. now of Lake Township, settled here in 1862, working a part of the J. B. Gard farm. Two years later he settled on section 17, but in 1867 removed to his present location in the north part of the county.
Jonathan E. Morrison located on his farm on section 16, this township, in the year 1864, having been engaged in hotel-keeping in Ashton and Onawa, previously, and remained on it until 1871, when he retired to Onawa.
Charles Gantz came to this town in the spring of 1864, from Powesheik County, lowa, and rented a
farm. The next year he purchased a place on sec- tion 11, where he lived until killed by a team run- ning away, Dec. 21, 1879. ITis son, William, lives on the old homestead in township 83, range 16.
Louis Schwardfaher located here about the same period and took up his home upon a farm. Three or four years ago he rented his place and removed to Onawa, where he now lives.
S. D. Hinsdale, who has a fine farin on seetion 2.1. settled in the county in 1865, purchasing his place the same year. He made his home in Onawa until 1867, working his land in the meantime, and then removed to his farm, where he has since lived.
William Gentz. a prominent German citizen of this township, settled here in 1865.
Alfred Hanscom came here from Lake Township this same year and made his home until 1877, dur- ing which time he removed to the town of Sioux.
Edmund Butcher and his young wife came to Monona County, February 17, 1865, and settled on a farm in section 32. Ile is still a resident of Franklin.
W. B. Bailey came to Monona County in Febru- ary, 1866, and went to work in the Watts & Van- Dorn sawmill. Ile is now one of the prosperous farmers of this township, living on 'section 11.
John Donner, one of the prominent German cit- izens of this township, located here in the fall of 1866.
John Butler settled in this part of the county Dec. 28, 1867, on section 29, where he died July 29, 1870. Ilis two sons, Richard J. and John M., came with their parents and now carry on the old homestead.
HIenry W. Cunningham, now of Onawa, moved on his farm on section 14, in 1868, where he made his home for many years.
Thomas Cody, one of the leading farmers of Franklin Township, living on section 21, made a settlement there in 1868.
William Kraft, now residing on his farm on sec- tion 14, came to the county the same year, al- though he did not take up farming until 1876.
John C. Moorhead located upon his farm with his brother, Hardy, in the fall of 1869. coming from Onawa, where they had been engaged in bus-
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MONONA COENTY.
iness since the spring of the previous year. They still reside on section 29, where they first settled.
Robert Scholes the same year made a settlement upon section 28, where he still makes his home.
John Kelsey, also, settled on the farm on section 35, where he now lives, in the spring of 1869.
John Gray came to Monona County, from the environs of London, Canada, May 13, 1871, and located on a farm on sections 12 and 13, in what is known as the "Blue Lake Circle," in this township, and is still a resident.
R. W. Cooper settled on his farm in this town- ship in 1871. He came here first in 1867 and re- mained about eight months.
Christian Gantz settled in Franklin Township in the summer of 1872, working for three years there- after in the sawmill. In 1882 he located where he now lives on section 13, town 83, range 46.
Ernest Gantz located here the same year. Ile, too, went to work in a sawmill and followed that business for a livelihood for two years and then devoted himself to farming. Ile is still a resident of the township.
Almon L. Adams, one of the settlers of this year, is still a resident of the town, living on section 28.
Harvey M. Chapman, living on section 35, set- tled in this township the same year.
The same year Charles Otto, now residing on sec- tion 15, came to this township, where he has since made his home.
Ernest Strautz also settled here the same time.
Robert G. Fairchild, one of the earliest settlers in the county, located on his farm on section 17 in the spring of 1873. Ile hal been in the county since 1856, settling first at Ashton, in the history of which will be found an account of his business transactions at the old county-seat.
W. F. Rice now living on section 12, first settled on section 14, this township, on the 4th of Decem- ber, 1875.
William Ilatt, now living on section 14, settled here in April, 1877. Ilis father, Frederick IIatt, came to the township in the fall following, and here still makes his home.
Christian Wilkens settled in this township in the spring of 1878, coming here from the state of New York. and still makes this his home.
Edward Monk, an enterprising farmer, living on section 32, came here the same year, and for several years earned his living by working for others.
Perry Allen settled on section 21, in 1879 and has since then made it his home. Ile came to the county in March, 1870, and settled in Kennebec; from there went to Onawa, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1874 he returned to IHli- nois, but came back to the county as above stated.
Francis Dungan came to the township the same year and found a home on section 29, the old Cook farin, where he has lived ever since.
With the latter came Francis M. Barnett, his step-son, who has made this town his home from that date. 1le is now a resident of section 20.
The same year saw the settlement of William Miller, now living on section 14.
Lawrence Jacobson, a native of Norway, settled in this part of the county in September, 1881, and is still a resident.
In April, 1885, Horace A. Hanscom. the first white child born in Onawa. came to this township from that village and settled on a farm on section 35, where he now lives.
Wentworth Barnum, was one of the settlers of . the year 1886.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first birth in what is now Franklin township was that of David C., the son of Aaron W. and Nancy Cook, who was born November 1, 1853, and was the second event of that character in the county.
The first death was that of a man by the name of Carr, who was burned to death early in the spring of 1856.
The first marriage was that of Robert Jamison and Emily Folck, which took place in the office of the county judge, November 13, 1855.
The first school district in the township, outside of Onawa, known as District No. 1, was organized in March, 1862, the first meeting being held in the residence of U. I'. Comfort. At that time, owing to the paucity of settlers in the townships outside of the county seat, school facilities were but poor and the prospect of bettering them but faint. Many of the people living here determined to re-
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MONOOA COUNTY.
turn East that their children might have the ad- vantages of education, but Messrs. Comfort, William Jewell, and others interviewed the inhab- itants of Onawa, and that community donated to the newly formed district the school house then standing at Ashton, which they had purchased. The building was accepted and removed to the south- west corner of the southeast quarter of the south- west quarter of section 28, where the first term of school was taught by Mrs. Martha Pearce, the wife of Darius Pearce, of Onawa. This building was used for school purposes for many years, until replaced by the present structure, and then turned into a dwelling house.
The first religious services held in the southern part of the township were conducted by the Mor- mons, Elder Jehial Savage. presiding. They were held in the school house mentioned above, in June, 1862, and continued for some time, preaching being had every alternate Sunday.
The first school in the Oliver neighborhood was taught by Mrs. Hannah Sampson at the residence of her husband, D. W. Sampson, on section 25. in the summer of 1865. The school house was erected the next year in which Miss Susan Smith taught some eight scholars. Henry W. Cunningham taught the first term in the present building in 1875.
ORGANIC.
On the 1st of February, 1856, in response to a petition signed by Francis C. Case and others,
which was presented to the court, County Indge John Craig issued the warrant for the organization of a new elvil township to be known then as Franklin. It was to embrace all the territory com- prised in Congressional Townships 82 and 83, range 15, and a fractional part of township 83, range 46. The first election was held at the house of John Brookfield Gard, in April of that year. The officers elected were : . I. B. Gard, Assessor.
At the time of the first reorganization of the various townships, ordered October 5. 1857, the town of Franklin was made to consist of townships 82 and 83, ranges 15 and 46, and sections 5. 6. 7. 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31. 32 and 33 of township 83, range 44, and sections 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30 and 31. of township 82, range 44. No change was made in its boundaries until at the second reorganization of the precincts by the Board of Supervisors, April 3, 1866, when the following was marked out as the territory under its jurisdiction: All of Congressional Town- ship 83, range 45; sections 5, 6, 7. 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. and the west half of sec. tions 4 and 9, in town 83, range 44; and sections 1. 2, 11, 12, 13. 14. 23, 24. 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36. of township 83, range 46. At this last time Fred W. Snow was designated to act as judge of the first election and Delos Dimmick as clerk. The west half of section 4, township 83, range 44, was cut off from Franklin, June 5, 1867 ; section 5, 83, 14, September 4, 1864; the other parts of the township and range, later.
ASHTON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER VIII.
6 HE civil town of Ashton, lying in the western part of the county, embraces all of Congressional Township 84, range 45, and the eastern tier of sections in town 84, range 46, comprising some 26,880 acres. The surface, it lying entirely in the bottoms of the Missouri and Little Sioux Rivers, is perfectly level, and throughout its whole extent is covered to a great depth with the rich, warm, dark, sandy loani. filled with finely comminuted organic matter that is so condueive to fertility and produetiveness. For the raising of corn and for pasturing it has no superior in the world. The little Sionx River and its principal affluent, Wolf Creek, in the eastern part of the township, afford ample drainage, and a fine supply of pure running water for all stock purposes.
The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad crosses the township in a northwesterly direetion, and one of the principal stations upon that road, Whiting, is located on section 1, town 81, range 46, in this civil sub-division of the county. The population in 1885 was set down at 606, of whom 531 were of native birth, a number which has largely increased since then.
The honor of being the first settler within the limits of what is now Ashton Township belongs to Isaac Ashton. Dec. 31, 1851, he came to this lo- cality with a Frenchman, Charles Rulo ,carrying a load of provisions to Sergeant's Bluff, and on his arrival at the grove on section 32. that now bears
his name, he thought it the loveliest spot he had ever seen, although it was in the depth of winter, and determined that here he would make a claim. Ilis companion went on, but the next day, Jan. 1. 1852, Mr. Ashton cut four logs and with them laid the foundation for a cabin. He then went back to Harrison County, where he had been living, but in the latter part of the same month returned here with his brother-in-law, Levando White, and with his assistance erected a comfortable log cabin, which was finished the same month. Here he brought his family about the middle of February, his brother-in-law returning to Harrison County. This house stood on the northeast quarter of seetion 32. Mr. Ashton broke up some ten acres of land, which he planted with corn the following spring. fenced the place in with rails and set out the first orehard in the county.
Lorenzo D. Driggs settled four miles north of Onawa, near Silver Lake, in 1854, and there made a home until 1861, during which year he removed to llarrison County. In 1869 he returned to Monona County, locating at the county seat, where for a year he lived. Ile then removed to Spring Valley Town- ship, and later to Sioux, and while a resident of the latter paid the debt of nature, Jan. 27, 1880. llis son, Lorenzo, who accompanied his father on his first settlement in the county, and in Sioux Township, is still a resident of the latter. When Mr. Driggs first came here he built a sod or dirt house that has become historical, being the first
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MONONA COUNTY.
home of his family, those of C. E. Whiting, Ed- ward Clark, Alfred Hanscom and others, in this county. The building was made of some kind of cheap lumber, and covered with sod from the sur- rounding prairie.
James Roberts, an Englishman, settled at the county scat about the same time and made his home, following carpentering for some three or four years, when he went West. He is now a pros- perous farmer of Harrison County.
William Burton came to Monona County in 1855, arriving here on the 5th of October. He located at the then county seat, Ashton, entering at the same time some 480 acres of land. In 1858 he removed to the new seat of justice of the county, Onawa, where he now makes his home.
James Armstrong and James 1I. Sharon came to Monona County in the fall of 1855 and put up a sawmill south of Ashton Grove, one of the first in the county. He is now engaged in business in Onawa.
Tobias Fegenbush, now living in Lake Town- ship, came to this county in November, 1855, on a prospecting tour and remained about three weeks, returning to Tama County, this State.
In April, 1856, he brought his family here, and settled in the dirt house on the shore of Silver Lake. In the fall of 1857 he removed to Lake Township.
Charles Cleghorn and his two sons, John and Johnston, appeared in Ashton Township in Octo- ber, 1856, and took up land on section 30. There the father died in 1871, his wife following him some three years after. John is now a resident of Onawa. Johnston Cleghorn died at Whiting in 1885.
John Hagur came to Monona County in May, 1861, and settled on a part of section 25, where he still makes his home.
The same year John T. Smith and James Will- iams came here. The former settled on section 12, where he still lives. The latter, soon growing dis- couraged, left the county, going back to Dubuque.
Patrick G. Dundon came to the county in 1861, locating in Fairview Township, and two years later settled on section 6, this township, where he still lives.
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James McWilliams, now a resident of this town- ship, settled in the town of Franklin in 1857. whence he came here in 1867, and settled on sec. tion 19, where he now lives.
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