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 25
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Turman that it was highly essential for his health that he should get down and unhitch the horse that lie was driving which that gentleman, appreciating the force of the argument, immediately did. By the same logic, Mr. Turman was induced to take the key from the Sheriff and unlock the handcuffs, whereupon King leaped upon the horse and scoured away, and the last that was ever seen of him by the people of this section of country was as he was descending into the gulch that still bears his name.
ORGANIC.
At a meeting of the county board of supervisors held April 3, 1866, a re-division of the county into townships was made, and township 85, range 44 was ordered to organize under the name of Grant. The polling place for the first election was fixed at the Woodward schoolhouse, and J. D. Woodward and George Pinkney were appointed judges. L. Van Dorn and L. Lewis were the clerks. At this election the vote for supervisor was a tie between J. D. Woodward and A. N. Bullock, and on cast- ing lots the former won, thus being the first to fill that important position.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first birth in the township was that of Plinn IT. the son of J. D. Woodward, born February 10, 1858, now living in Wells County, Dak.
The first marriage was that of Gabriel Lang and Miss Hannah Isabel Van Dorn, which took place Nov vember 6, 1855. After their marriage the young couple moved to Cass County, this State. but now reside in California.
The first death was that of Miss Mary F. Van Dorn, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Van Dorn, which occurred June 18, 1861, and whose body was interred in Little Sioux Township, Wood- bury County.
The first house was erected in 1853. by Seth Smith but finished by Cornelius Van Dorn in 1855. This dwelling was 20x22 feet in size, built of hewn elm logs, with puncheon floors and roof, and was put up without the use of a nail except in the door, windows and crossings. It was used as a residence until 1867, and is the granary of Livingston Van Dorn, upon whose farm it now stands. This was on section 3, and in it was celebrated the first wedding.
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The first breaking was done by Seth Smith in 1853, on the site of the present village of Rodney.
The first school was taught on the second floor of the residence of J. D. Woodward, and Miss llelen Bullock, now Mrs. William McDonald, was the teacher.
The pioneer schoolhouse was erected near the residence of J. D). Woodward, and was known as the Woodward Schoolhouse.
The first post-office was that of Ticonie, which was established in the fall of 1868, with Gideon M. Wells as Postmaster. The second office was that at Grant Center which was established in 1871, with W. R. Phillips as Postmaster, The latter continued in charge until 1887, when he was succeeded by J. A. Norton, the present incumbent.
RODNEY,
The most thriving and promising village in the township was laid out and platted early in 1887 by the Milwaukee Land Company, on the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad through this township and the location of a station at that point. It lies on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 3, and the plat thereof was filed for record June 6, 1887.
The first building erected in the new village was built by James Mckinstry as a livery barn, in the autumn of 1887.
In the same fall Washington Van Dorn put up a building in the new village. This was two stories in height, 22x50 feet in size, the ground floor fitted up for mercantile purposes and the second story for a public hall, which is known throughout this locality as Van Dorn's Hall. In this building in the spring of 1888, W. Van Dorn and Son opened a general merchandise store which they still carry on, Arthur Van Dorn being the junior partner.
In the spring of 1888 William W. McDonald erected a store building in which, in company with his son, he opened with a stock of general merchan- dise, the younger partner being his son-Chester W. They still carry on the business.
In April, 1888, W. Il. Edgar erected a building in which he opened a stock of hardware, in eonnee- tion with F. D. and G. W. Edgar under the firm name of Edgar Bros. In February, 1889, by the
retirement of his brothers. W. II. Edgar became the proprietor, which he carries on under the firm name of W. H. Edgar & Co.
The lumber yard of W. G. Kennedy & Son was established by them in April, 1888, and has been carried on by them ever since.
A drug-store was established at this point during the summer of 1889 by C. H. Chandler and Dr. C. G. Lass. who still enrry on that business.
In the spring of 1887 Leonard Needham put up a neat store building and opened a stock of goods therein, In the following spring he was succeeded by 11. B. Martin, who only carried on the same un- til November following when he, in turn, was suc- ceeded by the present proprietor, E. Rumbaugh.
The first blacksmith in the village was David Hollister, who opened a forge in 1887. Ile was succeeded by John Mears. but in the fall of 1889, it was again purchased by Mr. Ilollister and is car- ried on by him now.
In 1887 a hotel building was put up by Levi Harrington. This was run for a time by James Ellsworth, and was finally bought by C. D. Barber and used as a dwelling.
The St. Paul House was erected in the spring of 1888 by E. R. Wellington, who ran it for a short time to be succeeded by Browning & Austin; Gilbert Browning, then E. R. Wellington took it again. The present proprietor is "Doc Henderson."
The meat markets were started in 1887, one by Browning & Austin, who were succeeded by Ers. kine & Austin, and they by the present firm. Leggett & Austin; the other originated by Shreckenganst & llenderson is now under the control of the senior partner.
William II. Edgar was appointed Postmaster of the new village June 1. 1889.
The handsome schoolhouse was erected by a stock company consisting of W. G. Kennedy. W. W. Mc- Donald, C. H. Chandler, and others. as a town hall, and on its completion was rented by the district for school purposes. Mrs. Kennedy taught the first term therein.
TICONIC.
In 1887 the Illinois Central Railroad built the Cherokee & Onawa branch of their road through
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this section and located a depot on the west half of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, and upon the same piece of land in October, the same year, F. K. Baldwin, a Sioux City engineer, surveyed and platted a town for the Cherokee and Western Town Lot Company. to which was given the name of Morton. This was filed in the office of the county recorder May 28. 1888, although the deed of dedication was executed February 8, preceding. The name was changed to Ticonie soon after, on account of the post-office which was removed here from the old hamlet of that name a short distance away.
The pioneer store building in the village was erected by W. M. Copeland in July, 1888, and in it that gentleman opened with a stock of hardware and groceries, lle continued to carry on the busi- ness alone until October of the same year, when forming a partnership with John Prichard, the firm name and style was changed to that of Prichard & Copeland.
The second building of that character was put up by B. J. Lindsey & Son during the same sum- mer, and in it that firm opened business about Sep- tember 15, with a stock of merchandise. They carried on their business for about two months, when, meeting with financial embarrassment, busi-
ness was discontinued, and the building is now used by them as a residence.
The third business builling was erected by Prichard Bros., William and John, who commenced business as general merchants some time in Septem- ber, 1888. October 23. the same year, William Prichard retired from the firm, and the two busi- ness houses of Messrs. Copeland and Prichard consolidated, removing all the stock to this last mentioned building, which was larger, and using the other as a store room.
The first dwelling house put up in the new vil- lage was erected by M. J. Henderson in October, 1888.
The post-office was located at this point Oct. 5, 1888, with John Prichard as Deputy Postmaster. That gentleman received the appointment as Post- master June 21, 1889, and is the present incumbent. GRANT CENTER.
A post-office was located on the northeast quarter of section 30, in 1871, to which was given the name of Grant Center. It never was anything of a vil- age nor was there any mercantile establishment in the place. In 1881, on a part of the southwest quar- ter of section 20 and of the southeast quarter of section 19, was laid out a little hamlet which is on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.
ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XIX.
6 OWNSHIP 84, north range 42 west, is organ- ized into a separate civil subdivision of the county, and is known as St. Clair. The greater part of it lies in the far famed Soldier Valley, the richest and best part of Western Iowa, and the most noted for its lovely landscapes. The rich bottom lands. the fertile rolling prairie, whose warm, dark, loamy soil has no superior for fecun- dity and productiveness. forms the entire township, which has less waste land than any in the county. The beautiful West Soldier River meanders like a ribbon of silver through its verdant meadows and cultivated fields, crossing in its devious way the entire town from north to south, while the main stream traverses sections 25. 36, 35, and 34, on its way to the mighty Missouri, to mingle its waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The Manilla branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad crosses the town in a general southeasterly direction and has one station within its limits, the village of Ute.
The township, which lies on the eastern line of the county, the second from its north line, is bounded on the north by Cooper Township; on the east by Crawford County ; on the south by the town of soldier; while on the west lies Center Township.
Owing to the slowness of its settlement, and the sparseness of its population, the town of St. Clair was not organized until a late date. April 3, 1872, however, the county board authorized Congres-
sional Township 84, range 42, to organize as a civil subdivision of the county under the name of St. Clair, which was accordingly done at the general election of that year.
The first to make a settlement within the bonn- daries of what is now St. Clair Township was Thomas Spillman, who located on a piece of land on section 36, in the month of August, 1865. He improved his place and made his home here for some eight years, and then entering into a contract to carry the mail between Charter Oak and Onawa, removed to the latter city. The farm is now owned by Stephen Depue.
Early in the fall of 1865 a little knot of emi- grants located at what is known as Ward's Grove, on section 22. This included Robert Patrick and his family, James, Warren, John F., Andrew J., William W. and Susan, then young single people, and his son George and his family. These were the second settlers. Robert Patrick died here Jan. 29, 1883. George, William and Andrew J. have be- come prosperous and influential men in the com- munity, and are the oldest resident settlers in the township. James and Warren are living in Boone County; John F., in Nebraska; Susan, now Mrs. Davis, is living in the village of Ute, as does Mrs. Patrick, the mother.
John and William F. Burke came to this lo- cality during the winter of 1867, and made settle- ments. John located on section 36, where he lived until about 1879, when he removed to Ilarlan.
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Shelby County, and engaged in the stock business which he still carries on. William Burke is now a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal denomina- tion. Their father, Smith Burke, came here in the spring of 1876, and made his home with his son John, with whom he removed to Harlan.
Isaac Cummins, another of the pioneers of St. Clair, came to this locality in the spring of 1868, in search of a home, and found it on section 22, and he still makes his home in this part of the county.
J. R. Sumner came here with Mr. Cummins, but made no extended stay at that time, returning to Appanoose County. In 1870, however, he came here and made a permanent settlement on section 22, moving to his present location on section 16 at a later date.
Edward Davis came here in November, 1868, and for a time made his home here. After spend . ing some time in Maple Township he returned to this town and made his home on the farm of Robert Patrick, whose son-in-law he was. In the spring of 1888 he removed to Danbury, Woodbury County, where he died July 23, 1888.
Ephraim A. Stapleton located in this township in July, 1869, settling on section 27, and built a dug- out, in which he lived some four years. working in the sawmills, etc., around the country. He is still a resident of the township on the old homestead where he first located.
With him came F. M. Dyson, who located on section 2. He there resided for some twelve or thirteen fyears, after which he removed to Pawnee County, Neb.
John Baker came to this locality and cast in his lot with the pioneers here in the spring of 1869. He made a settlement on section 22, and there has made his home ever since.
William Riley,'now living in the township, made a settlement here in April, 1870, at a time when there were but very few inhabitants within its limits.
During the same year John W. Reed, now a leading citizen, came here and made a settlement. Ile had come to Monona County in 1856, and had been in the employ of C. F. Buss, of Boyer Town- ship, then a part of this county, until his enlist-
ment, when he entered the 29th Jowa Infantry. After his discharge he returned to Mr. Buss', where he remained until the above year, since which time he has been a resident of St. Clair Township.
About the same time J. L. Smith came here and located upon a portion of section 27. He is still a resident of the town.
James R. Dorothy and Ephraim Vandover, brothers in-law, in the spring of 1871, took up their residence on section 2, where the latter named pur- chased a farm. The following year Mr. Dorothy bought a tract of land on section 14, where he now resides. In the spring of 1872 he put up a sod house, in which for about a year he kept bach- elor's hall. Mr. Vandover died here November 24, 1873, his wife, who after his death married C. H. Groom, dying Dec. 29, 1879. All of their children are still living, having been reared by their openhearted uncles, two in this county, one in Harrison County and one in Kansas.
In the fall of 1871, Joseph A. Caldwell, then a resident of Marion County, Iowa, came here on a tour of inspection and remained a short time. In the spring of 1872 he removed here by team, and building a dug-out on a piece of rented land, set up bachelor's hall, and finally purchased the land on section 10, where he now lives. Darius Amsberry came here at the same time, and remained here about a year. He removed to Nebraska and is the present Superintendent of Schools of Custer County, that State.
J. B. Brigham settled on a farm on section 34, in the spring of 1871, coming from New York, and brought his family here several years later, he cul- tivating his land here during the summer months. and returning home for the winters. He is cred- ited with putting up the third frame residence in the town. William Chedester, now living here, came the fall following.
R. E. Perkins and Rufus Brunton cast in their lot with the citizens of this town during the year 1872. The former, who first settled on the Bingham place, is now living on the edge of the village of Ute; the latter, who located upon section 27, finally sold out the following year to Columbus Coffman and moved back to Indiana.
Oliver B. Reynolds and Grayson Vandover came
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MONONA COUNTY.
to this section the same spring of 1872, and settled down to farm life. In the fall of the same year Gordon Reynolds and James A. Reynolds, the father and brother of Oliver, followed, and all, with the exception of the father, are still living here. Gordon Reynolds, about 1881, removed to the neighborhood of Castana where, two years later, he died.
Frank M. Holden, now of Jordan Township, made a settlement in this part of the county in 1873.
Columbus Coffman, still a resident of the town, settled in the spring of 1873, on his present farm on section 27. With him eame his father, Zach- ariah, and brother, Zachariah, Jr .; the father re- sided here until July 3, 1889, when he passed "Death's shining shore." Zachariah, Jr., is still living on seetion 3.
About the same time William and George Leach came to this locality, and have made this their home ever since.
In the spring of 1873, W. G. Dorothy, B. F. Bovher, Wesley Jones, Christopher Wilson and John Q. Dorothy left Wapello County, Iowa, and about June 6, arrived in St. Clair Township. W. G. Doroshy settled on seetion 10, where he now lives. Bovher, one of the leading farmers of the town, settled on section 2, where he now lives; Wesley Jones still lives upon section 1, and is well-to-do. Christopher Wilson and J. Q. Dorothy returned to Wapello County on the death of the former's wife, and still reside in that section of the State.
About the same time Edwin Perry Dorothy came to the county and located, and is now a resi- dent and business man of the village of Ute. Adel- bert Nathlich, still living on seetion 22, came about the same time.
John J. Miller, still a resident of the township, settled on section 34, during the year 1873. With him came .I. P. Wells, now living in Mapleton.
David Christman, one of the leading citizens of to-day, founded his home on section 36, the same year, and spent the following winter in a dug-out.
George E. Loyd dates his settlement in St. Clair from the year 1874, when he located on section 14. Ile still lives on the old homestead that he pur- chased at that time.
Emmet F. Dorothy, a prominent business man of l'te, settled in the township in 1>71, making his home for three years thereafter with his brother James.
During the same year of 1871, eame G. C. Loh- mann, who located on section 23, where he still makes his home.
Charles H. Groom, one of the prominent farmers of the present day, also made a settlement the same year, purchasing his farm in August, 1878, pre- vious to which he had been engaged in laboring for others.
In February, of the same year, Josiah Bovher made his appearance here, and for a short time made his home with his brother, B. F., but during the following summer his father, Peter Bovher, moved here, and with the latter he took up h's residence. In 1884 Peter Bovher moved to another farm on section 4, and Josiah still has his home on the old place on section 15.
William and Diedrich Bruns made their appear- ance here early in 1875, and made themselves nice farms. Ilere they resided until 1885, when they removed with their families to Kansas.
Joseph Turpin came here in 1876, and started a blacksmith-shop upon a part of section 27, as shown elsewhere.
Thomas Means settled in St. Clair Township in 1875, and lived here for three years, going from here to Oregon. Hle is now a resident of Jordan Township, this county, where be returned in 1882.
Hiram C. Vandover settled on the farm on see- tion 15. where he is at present a resident, in the fall 1877.
Mathew Kee, still living here, dates his settle- ment from the spring of 1877, when he located upon section 9, his present farm.
Arthur Halley purchased the land upon which the present village of Ute is laid out, on coming here. the same summer, and broke up a part of it. Ile afterward disposed of this farm to Blubaker and ('risman, who, in turn, sold to Stephen Depue.
Robert Briggs and Jules Jaques, both living here yet, came to this locality from Harrison County, also in 1877; Briggs settling on section | 26, and bis son-in-law Jaques, on section 25.
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MONONA COUNTY.
Henry Blubaker and George Crisman came here about the same time.
August Nathlich, now a resident of the town of Cooper, made a settlement here in 1878.
July, 1878, another settler in the person of John T. Loyd located on section 16, where he still has his home.
The same year witnessed the settlement of Henry Junk and Sehuyler C. Parker, who located on sec- tions 35 and 26, respectively. A few years later they both returned to Illinois.
B. R. Perkins came here about the same time, and settled on seetion 34. He opened the first store in the township, upon his farm, about the same time, and ran it about eighteen months. selling out to Smith W. Grooms, who came here about 1880. The latter in a short time disposed of the stock to Ilenry Blubaker, who finally closed it out.
In the fall of 1878 James H. Groom located on section 27, and is still a resident of the town, hav- ing his home on section 21.
Benjamin F. Riley came here in June, 1879, and for a time was engaged at farm labor for others. Ile is still a resident farmer of the town.
Stephen D. Depue came to Monona County in the spring of 1880, and settled on a portion of see- tion 36. St. Clair, and is one of the leading citizens and most progressive farmers of this locality.
Washington Maginnis located on the John Pat- rick farm on section 34, on coming to the county in 1881. Five years later he removed to Tekamah, Neb., where he died about a year later.
In 1881, William Rogers also made a settlement upon section 25. lle is now a prominent citizen of the village of Dunlap.
John R. Rhodes, now living on section 28, made his settlement in the town in 1881, although he had been in the neighborhood since 1878.
E. C. MeLaughilin was also a settler of the same year. lle made his home here until 1887, when he died.
February, 1882, early as it was, Charles P'. Norris came from Harrison County, and made a settlement on section 14, where he is still a resident.
Ferdinand Kessler, now living on section 21, came here in the fall of 1882.
Section 25 received another settler in 1882, in
the person of Edward Gooch, who still resides on that spot.
Carolus Riddle, still a citizen here, arrived here about the same time.
Martin Merton, coming to this town in 1882, settled upon section 12. Three years later he sold ont to George Schelm, and removed to Nebraska. August Stickelberg, now in Dakota, came here at the same time. Simon Reinbold, at present a resi- dent of Center Township, came about the same time.
John Kelley, now living on section 19, came here about 1883, as did Caleb and Ervin Cushing.
Mrs. Bray, a widow, settled upon section 5 about the same time, and is still a resident thereon.
George Schelm. at present one of the prosperous farmers of the township, came here and took up his home in the spring of 1885, on section 12.
John G. Smith, a leading citizen of the township, came here to locate in the spring of 1886, having purchased a farm on section 35, in the summer of 1881, when here on a visit. Later he sold a por- tion of his farm, some 120 acres, to the Milwaukee Land Company, upon which they laid out the village of Ute.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first child born within the limits of what is now St. Clair Township, was James, the son of John and Delia Patrick, born in November, 1866.
The first marriage was that of Edward Davis and Miss Susan A. Patrick, which occurred in Deeem- Ler, 1866.
The first death was that of a colored man by the name of King Betts, who died here, March 11, 1873. The second death was that of Mrs. Christopher Wilson, who died in November, 1873.
The first school house in the town was con- structed by George Patrick, in the fall of 1867. It was a "dug-out," and stood on section 35, on the site of the present village of Ute. The first term of school was taught by Mrs. Mary R. Craig, the sister of M. J. and 1. U. Riddle, of this county. This was used for about two years, when a better structure was erected across the road on section 26. In 1869 also, another schoolhouse was put up on section 15,
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MONONA COUNTY.
The first religious services were held by a Rev. Mr. Collins, a Methodist clergyman, at the resi- dence of Robert Patrick, in February, 1866.
The first Christian organization in the town of St. Clair, was the Missionary Baptist Society, or- ganized in 1870, at a meeting held at the residence of Robert Patrick. Services were held at the dwellings of various citizens until the building of the two school houses, after which the society wor- shiped in that one on section 26.
The first church edifice in the township was a Union one, and was erected on section 10, during the summer of 1884.
The pioneer post-office was established in the sminmer of 1875, on section 22, under the name of Ute, with Isaac Cummins as Postmaster. In 1885 it was moved to the southeast corner of section 27, and Emmet Dorothy appointed Postmaster, Mr. Cummins then resigning. After the establish- ment of the village of Ute. in 1887, the post-office was removed to that place.
The pioneer blacksmith shop of the township was erected and opened in 1874, by C. C. Stanley, on section 27. He ran it about a year, when he removed from here with his tools, selling the building. In 1876, Joseph Turpin came here, and purchasing the old stand, opened a forge.
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