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 21
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The present township officers are: G. R. Joslin, J. M. Jividen, and N. Benjamin, Trustees; T. H. Peabody, Clerk and Treasurer; E. D. Ingham, As- sessor ; W. D. Grow, Justice: and Clark Robbins, Constable. Mr. Peabody has held the office of Town Clerk conseentively since 1878.
JORDAN TOWNSHIP
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CHAPTER X.
ORDAN TOWNSHIP, which takes its name from a creek of the same name that takes its rise within its limits, embraces all of Con- gressional Township 83, range 43, and con- tains the usual 23,040 acres of land. The surface is generally of a rolling character, sometimes rising into hills and bluffs, although there is but a smaller part of it that is not susceptible of cultivation. It is excellently well drained, and has an abundance of natural running water. Battle, Jordan and Beaver creeks, with their numerous affluents and branches, extending over the most of its territory. There is at present no railroad or village within the limits of this subdivision of the county, but it has excellent facilities for market and trade within easy reach of most of its inhabitants in the neigh- boring villages. According to the census of 1885, the latest we have, it seems that Jordan had then a population of 442, of whom some 396 were of American birth, the greater part of the balance be- ing Scandinavians. Most of the land is under cul- tivation or in meadows, stock-raising forming a. considerable portion of the business of its people. Along the streams are beautiful fringes of native timber, which lend additional beauty to the land- scape and furnish a constant source of the supply of fuel to its inhabitants.
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Owing to many causes the settlement in Jordan Township was later than in most of the others, much of the land being more fitted for stock-rais-
ing than for purely agricultural purposes, and that was one of the many reasons that this beautiful part of the county was seemingly neglected so long.
The first settler within the boundaries of this precinct was William Jordan. after whom the ereek and township was named. In 1855 he located on the banks of the stream, and opened up a farm, where he made his home for several years, about 1859 removing to the valley of the Boyer.
Adam Miers was one of the earliest settlers of this portion of the county, locating here in the fall of 1856, on section 19, where he made his home for many years. A short time ago, after an absence from the county, Mr. Miers returned to this town, and has again taken up his residence herein. Ile is a native of the " Buckeye State," and a son of one of the brave soldiers of the Revolutionary army.
In 1859 or '60 John. Sidney and Frank Rudd settled here and engaged in farming. JJohn moved over into the Boyer Valley, and is believed to be dead ; the other brothers are in Dow City. About the same time eame the Woodfork family, who re- inained for several years.
Mr. Burbank and his son Amos made a settle- ment here in 1867. The former died while living on his farm here, about 1885. Amos Burbank, who was about fifteen on coming to this town. is still a resident.
Daniel Rickman and his sons, Thomas, Samuel,
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MONONA COUNTY.
Cornelius and John, came here in 1867, and took up their residence shortly after the above men- tioned. The father died here about 1871; Jolin is living in Harrison County; Samuel and Cor- nelius are residents of Nebraska, and Thomas is still a citizen of this county.
Hans Severson and Sever Julson, two well-known residents of the town at the present time, settled here at the time of the location of the Norwegian colony, in 1868, and have founded homes here.
James Ballantyne, a native of Scotland, came to Monona County in the spring of 1869, and located in this township, with whose development he has been identified ever since, and is one of its leading citizens. In the spring of 1861 he came to Iowa, and settled at Gallon's Grove, Shelby County, where he remained one year. From there he removed to Crawford County. In the spring of 1869, having purchased some land bere, he brought his widowed sister, Mrs. Margaret Wight, here, who lived on his place one year, afterwards removing to Spring Valley, where she died.
Thomas Ilenderson came here in the spring of 1869, also, and settled ou what is now the Hlattery place, buying it of J. W. Clark, a non-resident land- owner. Two or three years later he sold out to Mr. Hattery, and removed to Moorhead, but in a short time left the county.
Martin Clemon, a leading citizen, made his settle- ment in this town in July, 1872, and has resided here ever since. Ile is a native of Norway, and came to the United States in 1868.
Levi Wilson and James Meeker settled in this township in the year 1872. The former in about a year after sold out his land to G. R. Outhouse and removed to Belvidere Township. He is now residing in the village of Turin, The latter dis- posed of his property and removed to Lincoln Township. lle is a son-in-law of Adam Miers, of this town, and lived for some years on the Clinsing place.
The same year George Montague came here and settled on land now owned by J. M. Ballantyne. He is now living on the McDonald property on the Jordan Creek.
Thomas Hutchison about 1872 located upon the west half of the northeast quarter of section 22,
where he resided until taken from this world by death, which event took place in 1882. Ilis sons, Andrew, William and John are still living.
George R. Outhouse, one of the original pioneers of the vilage of Preparation, came to Jordan Town- ship, in 1873, from Belvidere, whither he had re- moved on seeeding from Elder Thompson's floek in 1855. He has been a resident of the county since 1854.
J. T. Adair, who married a daughter of T. Rick- man, came to this township about the same time, and lived here for some years, but, concluiding that this country was not good for his health, left.
Henry and William II. H. Ashe, the latter known chiefly by his nickname of "Tip" for Tippecanoe, located on farms in this township in the year 1872. With them came their cousin, Jason Ashe. Henry resided here until about 1886, when he removed to Mapleton, where he now lives. "Tip" moved to Missouri and there died, and Jason, after an ab- sence from the county, is now back in this town.
Charles Fessenden also located here the same year, but a few years later returned to Kossuth County, this State, from which he came.
Charles Strubel dates his residence bere from May, 1871, when he located where he now lives on section 17.
James Hattery, still a resident of the township, came here and settled in 1874.
Among others who located in the town the same year was John Rae, who made his first appearance in July, and is still living here.
David W. McDonald came to Jordan Township in 1876, and on a piece of land, a part of the Wil- son farm, settled down to farm life. In 1883 he removed to Moorhead, in Spring Valley Township, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, He is now a resident of Soldier Township.
James McDonald made a settlement on seetion 18 in the year 1877, and has continued a resident of the township ever since. fle is a native of Ire- land, who came to the United States in 1844, when about fifteen years of age.
Eric K. Lee came to Monona County the same year, from Webster County, where he had been living, and located on section 25, where he is now residing. Ile is a native of Norway, who was
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brought to this country by his parents at the age | however, did not sever its connection with Belvi- of five years.
William Craik settled here in 1878, and is still a citizen.
W. W. Knauss came to this county in 1882, and located in Jordan Township on section 35, where lie now lives.
John Spaulding also settled here the same year, and makes this his home yet.
Thomas Means, who had made a settlement in St. Clair Township in 1875, came to Jordan Town- ship from Oregon, whither he had gone, and made a settlement on section 2, where he now lives.
About the same time John O. Johnson and his father, Ole E. Johnson, located in this part of the county.
Thomas L. Denton was among the most promi nent who founded a home in this part of Monona County in 1884, coming here in February, and has since resided on section 2.
Frank M. Holden made a settlement, in 1885, in Jordan, having been a resident of the county since 1873.
ORGANIC.
At a meeting of the board of supervisors, held September 3, 1867, township 83, range 43, which had hitherto formed a part of Belvidere, was au- thorized to organize as a separate civil sub-divi- sion of the county under the name of Jordan Township, and the warrant for holding the elee- tion, was placed in the hands of Adam Miers. The election took place on October 8, 1867, and J. K. Myers was chosen to represent the new township on the county board, which then con- sisted of one delegate from each town. The town,
dere until much later. It seems that the county board for some reason or other, re-attached the town to Belvidere on the 9th of January, 1868, and it so remained. Nov. 12, 1872, the board au- thorized the organization of the town, the election for officers being deferred until next election, a year hence, which was finally done, the primary election taking place Oct. 11, 1873.
In 1873 the district township was formed with the following officers: George Montague, Presi- dent; J. T. Adair, Clerk; Samuel Rickman and Thomas Rickman, Directors; and J. M. Ballantyne, Treasurer. The latter gentleman has held that office continuously ever since, and is the present incumbent.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first marriage in the town of Jordan, was that of Daniel Butler, sometimes known as Daniel Riekman, and Miss Eunice Allen.
The first school was taught in the Miers' neigh- borhood in 1869. This was before the district was organized, and was taught by S. M. Condit.
After the organization of the township, a school was taught in the spring of 1874, by Nathan Lind- sey, which was the first in the same.
The first school on the Jordan Creek was in what is now District No. 4, on the land now owned by G. R. Outhouse. The building used was a small log cabin loaned for the purpose by Mr. Outhouse, and in it the school was taught by Leonard Con- dit, in the summer of 1874. A frame building was put up the previous spring, but before it was used, it was destroyed by fire, and the above log cabin used for the purpose.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XI.
B OUNDED on the north by the county of Woodbury, on the east by Lake Township on the south by that of Lincoln, and on the west by the State of Nebraska, from which it is separated by the Missouri River, in the extreme northwestern corner of the county is the township of Fairview. It embraces all of frac- tional Congressional Township 85, range 47, and contains abont twenty-two sections of land. The surface is level and quite low, and somewhat marshy in places, and is liable to overflow by the waters of the unstable Missouri. The soil, the rich silt or river deposit, is excellently adapted for all kinds of grass and for the pasturage of cattle, although a large part of it is under a high state of cultivation and yields an abundant harvest of all kinds of grain. By the census of 1885 it appears that at that time there were within its limits a population of 605 inhabitants, 413 of whom were of American birth, and the majority of the balance of the Scandinavian nationalities.
The first settlers in this township were Jacob Van Order, J. D. Torrey, and a man by the name of Detry, who founded homes here in the year 1861. The former of these is now a resident of the new State of Washington; Torrey, of Minne- sota, but the whereabouts of the last named is not known.
John H. Davis was the next to make a settle- ment here, coming on the 10th of November, 1863, with his mother and child. In 1864 he home-
steaded his present farm, and has lived here ever since.
Victor Dubois, one of the leading citizens of Fairview Township, came here in May, 1864, and took up a homestead which forms a part of his pres- ent farm.
1. Bridget was also one of the earliest settlers and still makes his home in this town.
William H. Stanley, now living on his farm on section 9, came to this county in the fall of 1865, and settled in this town. Here he remained until 1872, when he removed to O'Brien County, this State, but returned here in July, 1882.
George Hunter, still a resident of the town, set- tled here on the 15th of December, 1865.
The pioneers of the Scandinavians were: Even HI. Bakke and Ole Delrud, who came here on a tour of investigation in the year 1865, from La Crosse County, Wis. Returning to their homes, they made preparations, and the following spring came to Monona County, and made settlement here.
llans Bakke and his son, Isaac H., made their appearance here in the spring of 1867. The elder Mr. Bakke died a resident of this town, July, 1882; his son is still a citizen.
John Amunson, now living on section 10, came to this town from Dane County, Wis., in July, 1867.
Hans Olson, a resident of section 3, located here with his family in June, 1867.
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MONONA COUNTY.
Andrew Linksfiler about the same time settled in this township. Some time later he removed to Woodbury County, where he died.
O. C. Olson, another of the early settlers, lived here until about 1882, when he went to Dakota, and took up a homestead. After living there for five years he returned to this county and is again a resident of Fairview Township. He was town clerk for ten or twelve years here.
N. B. Olson came to the county in April, 1867, and purchased, in company with L. L. Strand, some 300 acres of land, and settled on his portion the following April, where he now lives.
George Gullickson, eame to Fairview Township the summer of 1868, a boy of fifteen years, with his father, Knud Gullickson, and has made his bome here ever since with the exception of two years spent in Dakota.
Jonas Johnson with his family settled here in June, 1868, and lived in their covered wagons until they could get their cabin built. Olaf F., one of the sons, lives on section 0, at the present. Jonas Johnson moved from here to Climbing Hill, Woodbury County, where he is now living.
Martin Olson came to Monona County in the sum- mer of 1868, and purchased some land in Fairview. In June, 1869, his brother, John P. Olson, now one of the leading citizens of that part of the county, came here and in a short time purchased the farm of his brother, on section 8, whereupon Martin re- moved to Polk County, Wis., where he now resides. John P. made his home on the land. where he first settled until 1875, when he removed to his present residence, where be has some of the finest improve- ments in that section of the county.
Christian Christiansen, made a settlement, also, in 1869, and is still a resident of the township.
Eric Hennum located in this town on seetion 16, in the spring of 1870, and has lived in Fairview ever since. He has his present home on section 9, his former place having been devoured by the waters of the untrustworthy, shifting Missouri River.
Peter Olson located in this part of the county in 1871, and has lived here ever since, making his home, where he first settled on section 15.
Dr. Samuel Polly, a practicing physician, located
in Fairview on the 4th of June, 1872. on a farm ou section 25, and carried it on in connection with his practice. He is still living here, having moved to section 26, in 1881.
William J. Hudget, a prominent citizen. settled here in the spring of the same year.
Curtis C. Polly came to this county Sept. 9. 1872, and settled on section 26. He remained a citizen of the town until July. 1882, when he moved into the village of Whiting.
Ilalvor HI. Strand, a descendant of the warrior vikings of Norway, came to this county in the fall of 1873, and settled on section 10 in this town. He remained a citizen here until the spring of 1889. when he leased his land and returned to La Crosse County, Wis.
Sven Nelson located here in 1874, coming from Sioux City, and remains a resident upon his farm on sections 15 and 16.
George J. Myers settled in the county in March, 1874, and is now living on section 29, this town- ship.
L. E. Christie, now of Whiting, came here in July, 1876. and settled on section 36. Three years later he removed to Omaha, Neb.
John Peterson, led by Cupid, came to this county in 1878, and a short time after was married and settled down to farm life. He is now living on section 16.
Anton Sollen dates his settlement in the county from the 23d of July, 1878, he having arrived in this town upon that date, and is one of the pros- perous farmers of to-day.
Edward Collison now a resident of Lincoln Township came bere in 1879, and remained about two years.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first birth in the township, among the Nor- wegian settlers, was that of Lawrence. the son of N. B. Olson, born in 1868.
The first marriage was that of Miss Emily Dubois and Ilans Solberg, which took place in February, 1869.
The first school was taught in a small log cabin in the Davis district, in the winter of 1865-6. The first school near Gullickson's was taught in 1868.
The first frame houses were put up by Knud
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MONONA COUNTY.
Gullickson and N. B. Olson, in the summer of 1868, the first named commencing a few days the earlier. The first barns were put up by Mr. Gul- lickson and Victor Dubois, Sr.
ORGANIC.
This township was ordered to separate from that of Lake and to be organized as a civil township by the board of supervisors of the county at their meeting held on the 1st of January, 1868, and the residence of J. H. Davis designated as the place of holding the election.
ALBATON.
The post village of Albaton, is a little hamlet of about twenty-five inhabitants.
It has two stores, kept respectively by Jonathan Polly and P. M. Dubois. The other business men of the place are: Victor Dubois, live stock dealer and Postmaster; Samuel Polly, physician; Nels Sollen, blacksmith; Nels Brenden, carpenter; W. M. Stanley and C: A. Weinder, Justices of the Peace ; and A. 1]. Strand, Notary Public.
Johnathan Polly, engaged in the general mer- chandise trade in the little hamlet, first came to the county in the fall of 1871, but did not make any extended stay, going on West. In December, 1873, he returned here and engaged in farming, In October, 1881, he embarked in his present
business in a small building near the one he now occupies, and was the pioneer merchant of the place.
P. M. Dubois, dealer in general merchandise at Albaton, this township, made his first settlement in the county in West Fork Town in 1864, where he was engaged in farming. lle came to this sub- division of the county in June, 1877, and carried on agricultural pursuits until February 11, 1889 . when he embarked in his present business. IIe is a veteran of the late war.
The Lutheran Church at Albaton was organized in the fall of 1868, with the following among its members: John P. Olson, Knud Gulliekson, E. H. Bakke, Isaac Bakke, C. Christiansen, C. L. Olson. O. Anderson, .I. Amundson, Amund Amundson, and others. For years they held services in the school house, but in the summer of 1885, the con- gregation erected the neat and handsome church edifice which they own, located on section 11, in the little hamlet of Albaton.
The Fairview Lutheran Congregation was or- ganized in 1875 with the following among its members: II. Strand, N. B. Olson, L. L. Strand, P. Olson, F. Sadig. Nels Brown, and others. The society was organized under the auspices of Rev. L. Lund, of Cottonwood County, Minn. This congregation hold services in the school house.
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WEST FORK TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XII.
HE town of West Fork comprises all of Con- gressional Township 85, range 45, and sec- tions 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, 36, and the east half of 10 and 14 of township 85, range 46. It is bounded on the north by Woodbury County, on the east by the township of Grant, on the south by Ashton, and on the west by Lake. Some of the finest land in the county is comprised within its limits. The surface is comparatively level, all of it lying on the well known Missouri River bottom, and the soil is a deep, rich, warm alluvial loam, so boundless in its fertility. The township is watered by the West Fork of the Little Sioux River that traverses its entire length from north to sonth, and in the southeast portion by Wolf Creek. Much of the territory is still unsettled, owing to the large farms and traets of grass lands held by parties, the Whiting family owning over 6,000 acres, and the American Emigrant Company a large amount. The population, as given by the eensus of 1885, was 200, of whom only nineteen were of foreign birth.
The first settler within the limits of what now constitutes the town of West Fork was Charles E. Whiting, who came here in August, 1855, and for himself and brothers, and others in the family, en- tered some 13,000 acres of land. From that date Judge Whiting has been fully and closely identified with the growth, development and political life of the county and State. He has filled many posi- tions of honor and trust, county judge, supervisor, members of both houses of the Legislature, and
was the candidate of the Democratic party for Governor of Iowa. and was defeated by but a small majority.
Three young men, C. and W. Randall and Loomis, came here from Ohio in 1856, and pre- empted claims. They did not engage in agricul- ture on their own account, but worked in the saw- mill and hotel at Ashton. After proving up on their elaims they left here.
In the latter part of July, 1856, three brothers of Judge Whiting came here and made settlement. These were William B., Myrick E. and Baxter. William located on a piece of land on section 24, on which he made his home for a year, and then removed to Franklin Township to take charge of the sawmill belonging to his brothers, Charles E. and Newell A. Two years later he returned to West Fork, which continued his residenee until the fall of 1886, when he removed to the village of Whiting, where he now is living. Myrick E. Whiting was engaged in agriculture here until re- moved "to the cold realms of King Death," in the spring of 1869. Baxter Whiting, after making his home here for a time, removed to Onawa, whe e he ran the gristmill for awhile. Moving to Mapleton, he there engaged in the hardware trade, and a little later established the bank. He died in the latter city in March, 1885.
James Mc Williams came to the county in June, 1857, and settled in what is now the township of
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MONONA COUNTY.
West Fork. Three years later he removed to Franklin, but is now a resident of Ashton.
The Snancial crisis of 1857 that broke over our country stopped the tide of emigration, and owing to subsequent Indian troubles and the terrible civil war, when everything seemed paralyzed, there was an almost absolute cessation of settlement in this part of the State until after the close of the war, and there are none that came to West Fork for several years.
The first of these was George W. Pixler, now of the town of Lake, who settled here Feb. 22, 1866, but two years later removed to his present residence.
On the 23d of August, 1867, F. M. Norwood, who had purchased a farm on seetion 25, 85, 46, the previous spring, settled in the county, and has resided on that piece of land ever since.
E. M. and Charles Cassady settled here in Feb- ruary, 1868, loeating on section 26. There Charles has remained ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was engaged in the saddlery and harness business at Whiting. E. M. Cassady soon took up his residence on seetion 35, where he made his home most of the time until 1880, when he re- moved to Whiting and is engaged in the mercan- tile trade.
Jacob R. Folwell settled on section 25, 85, 45, West Fork, in the spring of 1870, but two years later moved to section 31, where he now lives. Ile came to the county in 1868.
William Payne, a native of " white-cliffed Al- bion," came to Monona County in the spring of 1870, and settled on section 3, 85, 46, where he is still living.
Lewis A. Morley, one of the business men of Whiting, eamne to Monona County in the fall of 1870, and made a settlement on a farm in this township, and remained a citizen here until 1880, when he removed to the village.
Benjamin N. Danforth came to this town in 1872 and made a settlement on section 2, township 85, range 46, where he has his home still.
Lewis Pike came here from Onawa in March, 1874, and settled on section 24, town 85, range 46, carrying on the stock business of Pike & Co., one of the largest and best ranches in the county, containing over 2,000 acres.
Patrick Dunn, still a resident of the township, settled on section 1. township 85, range 46 in May, 1875.
Gust. Peterson came to the county in the fall of 1877, but did not locate in the township until 1881.
Prior to 1881 there were no settlers on the West Fork of the Little Sioux River. the land being considered of too wet a nature for agriculture, but in that year Joshua Bishop took a claim on sec- tion 16, where he still lives. Ile was the first to locate in that vicinity.
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