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 32
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THE FIRSTLINGS.
The first marriage of a resident was that of Samuel Heisler and Miss Mary Merrill, which took place Nov. 18, 1860.
The first birth in what is now Cooper Township was that of Frank A .. the son of William and Rachel Berry, who was born April 6, 1861. The
second was that of George F., the son of Samuel and Mary Heisler, born November 1, 1861.
The first burial within the limits of what is now Cooper Township, took place March 4, 1870, when the body of William Henry, the son of Henry Helsler, was committed to the earth. This was, probably, the first death in the township. The sceond burial was that of Lewis Castle, on the 6th of October, 1870.
ORGANIZATION.
Cooper Township; owing to the sparseness of its population, was one of the last in the county to be organized as a political subdivision of the county. It had been a portion of the township of Maple for many years, but June 3, 1879, at a meeting of the board of supervisors, that body decreed that all of town 85, range 42, except sections 35 and 36, be authorized to organize as a separate civil township, which was, accordingly, done at the following gen- eral eleetion. The two sections mentioned above, then forming a part of St. Clair, were taken from the latter and restored to Cooper by a resolution of the board, JJannary I, 1881.
ONAWA.
CHAPTER XXVI.
HE lovely and enterprising city that bears the above euphonious name, the seat of the county government, is the largest as well as one of the oldest in Monona County. In the thirty years of its existence the changes from the primitive condition of the land to that of a developed state have been constant and pro- gressive. While there may have been noth- ing really remarkable in the growth in the past or peculiarly striking in the present, still there is much that cannot fail to be of interest to those who have been closely connected and identified with the interests of the city in all the various changes that have marked its progress. To those who have watched its development from its inception, when Monona County was a compara- tively unsettled wilderness, until the present time, the accomplishment of so much in so short a time would seem marvelous, but it is the result of an advanced state of civilization and a higher degree of culture than ordinary that was the lot of the pioneers of this favored region. Endowed with many natural advantages, both of soil and location. and aided by the strong arm of enterprising hus- bandry, Monona County has assumed a prominent place in the glorious sisterhood of wealthy counties that make up our noble young State, and Onawa, the leading town within its limits, with its many enterprising citizens, has kept pace with its im- provements and development.
Onawa is situated on sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, of
township 83 north, range 45 west, in the northwest- ern part of the civil township of Franklin, and is about three miles from the Missouri River at its nearest point, and is surrounded by the rich farm- ing land of the far-famed Missouri bottom. Three railroads connect it with the markets of the world: the Sioux City & Pacific division of the Chicago & Northwestern which passes through it north and south; the Carroll & Onawa branch of the same corporation and the Cherokee & Dakota division of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was laid out with great judgment and foresight by its founders, with beautiful wide streets, and the inhabitants have lined its highways with a large number of trees and it presents to the beholder a lovely view as it appears deeply embosomed in its summer elothing of magnificent verdure. The main streets, some hundred and twenty feet in width, possess an attrac- tion for the stranger and add materially to the health of the community.
The city was laid out in the summer of 1857 by the Monona Land Company, C. II. and B. D. Hol- brook being the surveyors, with all the streets some eighty feet wide, with the exception of East, West and Central Broadway and Iowa Avenue, which are each one hundred and fifty feet wide. The plat Wis filed for reeord October 19, 1858.
The Monona Land Company was organized about this time for the purpose, to quote from their pros- pectus, "of promoting the growth of Onawa, Mo- nona County, Iowa, and establishing a ferry on the
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Missonri River." The articles under which this company was incorporated were as follows:
ARTICLE 1. This company is known as the Mo- nona Land Company, and the principal place of doing the business of said company shall be at the town of Onawa.
ARTICLE 2. The minimum capital stock of this corporation is one hundred and twenty-five thous- and dollars (all paid in) which may be increased to double that amount by a majority vote of the stockholders.
ARTICLE 3. Said capital stock is divided into two hundred and fifty shares of $500 each.
ARTICLE 4. The indebtedness of this corpora- tion shall not at any one time exceed two and a half per cent. on the capital stock.
ARTICLE 5. The business of this corporation shall be conducted by a board of directors, nine in number, five of whom shall be residents of Monona Connty. who are elected by ballot, annually on the second Monday in October; but said board shall continue in office until a new board is elected and qualified. In the election of officers each stock- holder shall be entitled to one vote for every share by him owned: Provided, that no stockholder shall cast at any one election more than one-tenth of the whole number of the votes of the corporation. The secretary shall give thirty days' notice in at least one newspaper published in the county, of the an- nnal election of said board. In case of a vacancy occurring in said board, the members shall proceed to fill it by the appointment of another stockholder as director. All officers shall be shareholders. Sharehollers may vote by proxy: Provided, such proxy be made in writing to the president of the company.
ARTICLE 6. Within ten days after the election of a board of directors, the members shall assemble and elect a president, secretary and treasurer. The secretary and treasurer shall not be members of the board of directors.
ARTICLE 7 The president and seeretary shall sign all conveyances, assignments and all bills of sale. They shall sign, and the treasurer counter- sign, all issues of stock. No issue, sale, conveyance or assignment of stock is binding upon the eorpor- ation, nor recognized as such, unless due record is
made by the secretary in a book kept for that pur- pose. It shall be the duty of the president, or, in his absence, the secretary, at the request of ten stockholders, made in writing, to eall a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation.
ARTICLE 8. The secretary shall keep a minute of all meetings of the board of directors and of the stockholders and perform all other duties usually pertaining to said oflice.
ARTICLE 9. The treasurer shall disburse moneys only upon written orders of the president, signed by the secretary. He shall keep a full account of the finances and report the same to the board of directors annually and as often as by them re- quested. Ile shall give a bond, with good security, in such sum as the directors may from time to time deem necessary.
ARTICLE 10. By a vote of two-thirds of the stockholders present, there may be assessed upon each share a tax of two per cent. upon its issued value; but if such assessment is made at a special meeting, the notice calling such meeting shall state the object of the call.
ARTICLE 11. All deeds, bonds and other writ- ings conveying a title to land belonging to the company shall be held by the president in trust for the company.
ARTICLE 12. Every shareholder shall build a house or store with not less than three windows and a shingle roof. No house or building to be built of poles or logs.
One share, not less than 14x16 and not less than right-foot posts.
Two shares, not less than 14x18 and not less than nine-foot posts.
Three shares, not less than 15x20 and not less than ten-foot posts.
Four shares. not less than 15x22 and not less than twelve-foot posts.
Five shares, not less than 16x24 and not less than twelve-foot posts.
Six shares, not less than 18x26 and not less than sixteen foot, two stories.
Seven shares, not less than 18x28 and not less than sixteen foot. two stories.
Eight shares, not less than 20x30 and not less than seventeen foot, two stories.
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Nine shares, not less than 22x32 and not less than seventeen foot, two stories.
Ten shares, not less than 21x31 and not less than eighteen foot, two stories.
Ilalf of the above improvements to be done before the Ist of December next, and all completed be- fore the Ist of July, 1858, or the share or shares shall be forfeited. All forfeited shares go to the company.
ARTICLE 13. On the first Monday of July, A. D. 1868. this corporation shall cease to exist. Do- nations of lots will be made by the directors as they deem it advisable for the best interests of the company.
The first officers of the company were as follows: Charles E. Whiting, president; Leonard Sears, treasurer ; Samuel S. Pearse, secretary, C. E. Whit- ing, JJ. S. Merrill, J. E. Morrison, M. F. Moore, Timothy Elliott, William Burton. T. H. Benton, Gouvenor Morris and E. D. V. Mason, directors.
At the time of the survey there stood upon what is now lot. 11, of block 65, a small log cabin, the pioneer building of Onawa, owned and occu- pied by the family of Mrs. Catherine Folck. On the 2nd of July. 1857, S. S. Pearse, the secretary of the Land Company. raised the framework of his dwelling house on lot 6, block 49; and two days later, upon the 4th, JJ. E. Morrison commenced the erection of the Onawa llouse, the pioneer hotel of the town. This structure forms a part of the pres- ent edifice. lately moved by the Improvement Company to make room for the new hotel.
S. S. Pearse commenced the erection of the first residence July 2, 1857, and soon had the building finished. He was the first Recorder of the village, one of its earliest merchants and Postmasters, and remained a resident here until about the summer of 1862, when he returned to Maine and later re- moved to Florida, where he died.
With him came his brothers. Darius and Thomas Pearse. The former made his home here until 1864, when he removed away; the latter returned to Maine in a short time after settling here.
Jonathan E. Morrison removed to the new vil- lage in the summer of 1857, from Ashton, and put up the first hotel in the place, the old Onawa House, and was prominently identified, as these
pages will show, with the development of the county-seat. He remained here until 1864, when he moved to his farm on section 16, Franklin Township. In 1874 he returned to Onawa and made that place his home until the fall of 1887, when he went to California where he is now living. His two children. Herbert E .. one of the prominent citizens of Onawa. and Mollie E., the wife of George E. Warner. are still residents of the county seat.
Joseph Robinson, now a resident of Lake Town- ship, came to the new village this same summer and worked at the carpenter's trade, beginning on the Onawa Ilouse. He remained here until 1862, when he removed to his present abode.
George W. and Franklin Oliver. both carpenters by trade, came here from Ashton in September, 1857, having built a house here. G. W. Oliver moved on his farm the same fall, and Franklin remained in the village until 1861, when he, too. went on the farm they still own in Franklin Town - ship.
Timothy Elliott came to Monona County, in 1855, on a tour of investigation and liking the country, returned here in October, 1856, with his family, and located at Ashton. In the following spring he assisted in the organization of the Mon- ona Land Company, which laid out the town of Onawa, and to that village removed the same year. He has since that period been a resident of the village. With him came quite a colony to the county.
James Armstrong, also, erected a small frame house on lot I, block 77, during the summer of 1857, which he shortly after disposed of to Mrs. Louisa Dimmick. Mr. Armstrong, then erected another residence and has remained a citizen of the village ever since.
The other settlers that came in at once com- menced the erection of dwelling-houses, and the noise of the saw, hammer and plane was the pre- vailing sound in the little village that had sprung up as if by magic.
Of the other pioneers that came to the new vil- lage the following is as near a complete record as the memories of the oldest inhabitants can call to mind :
C. II. and B. D. Holbrook located at Onawa in
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the spring of 1857, helping to organize the Monona Land Company, and were awarded the contract for the surveying of the village and platting the same. They have been identified with its growth since that time, and are among its leading citizens, as shown further on in these pages.
Alfred llanscom settled in the young village in 1857. He had been in the county the previous year, but returned to Illinois, to again come back as noted. Ile remained here two years, and then removed to Lake Township, and died a resident of the county.
The other settlers of the year 1857 were the fol- lowing named: A. R. Wright, who taught the first school; Walter Stark, still a resident of the village; James Roberts, who left here in 1859 for Pike's Peak, but now resides in Harrison County ; George. James and Charles Atkins; Fred W. Snow, now of Omaha; C. G. Stutzman, who after living here until the spring of 1859 went to California, and from there to his home in Pennsylvania; Addison Dimmick, who removed back to Pennsylvania in 1861, and after serving a year in the army returned and settled near Belvidere; E. R. Pierce, a carpen- ter now living in Warren, Pa .; Thomas Cross, a carpenter; E. W. Holbrook, who came in October and is now living in Onawa; A. G. Hurst, who had settled in Ashton in 1556; George T. Cox, a carpenter; W. C. Dickey, one of the original pro- prietors of the town site; P. C. Latimer, the first merchant of the village; William Springer, who put up one of the first houses, the one in which John Oliver now resides; C. E. Whiting, who put up what was afterward converted into a part of the "O. K. Ilotel;" Rev. Mr. Warren and his son, Henry C .; Francis C. Brooks, who moved away the next year; George Harris and Samuel Bowen. The latter two put up a part of the building in which Judge Oliver now resides.
and he to Timothy Elliott. It has since been torn down, and used in the construction of another building.
Il. E. Colby, who had been engaged in farming on section 16, Franklin Township, moved into the incipient village in 1858, and there made his home until 1861, when he returned to agricultural pur- suits. In 1888 he again moved into the city, and is a resident now.
Almon S. Dunham made his first appearance in this place on the 5th of May. 1858, and is still a citizen of Onawa.
Addison Oliver came to Monona County in 1858 and located at the infant village of Onawa, and has made his home here ever since. He has been one of the leaders in all movements that go to the upbuilding of the county, and has been honored with several high offices.
In April of the same year Richard Stebbins, M. D., located in the new town. Ile remained engaged in the practice of bis profession and in the drug business until 1885, when he removed to Omaha, where he is now living.
John Brookfield Gard, a well-known citizen of the county, erected a dwelling-house in the village in 1858, but did not take up his residence there.
Among the other prominent settlers of the year 1858 were the following named gentlemen, who assisted in building up the little village: Moses Adams. John Southers, R. G. Fairchild, one of the first merchants; Homer Fairchild, also one of the pioneer merchants; C. B. Thompson and D. W. Butts, the editors of the first newspaper; Guy C. Barnum, Stephen Tillson, Elijah Walker; J. S. Merrill; G. R. Buffington, an early merchant; II. W. Cole, T. R. Chapman. one of the prominent men of his day; James H. Sharon, II. J. Hawley, Newell A. Whiting, now one of the city's leading merchants; D). W. Sampson, W. L. Phillips, Almon S. Dunham. Moses Sessions. E. L. Eaton, J. H. Overacker. Gilbert B. Weeks, a carpenter; and Seneca Morgan. Rev. George C. Rice, a Congre- gational minister. located here the same year and made this his residence for about a year.
Among the first settlers in the new village was William Burton, who came in the spring of 1858. Hle had built, at Ashton, the first frame house that was lathed and plastered in the county, in fact the first on the bottom above Council Bluffs. This he removed to this town on coming here. The old house served as his home for some years, when it John Elwell came to the little hamlet and en- was sold to James Sharon, he to Seneca Morgar. | gaged in mercantile pursuits in the fall of 1859.
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MONONA COUNTY.
He died here in 1883, having been connected with its business circles for some years.
Dr. John C. Hazlett, County Judge and prac- ticing physician, settled in the village in 1859. He remained here until 1861.
With the financial crisis of 1857 the tide of West- ern emigration came to a standstill, and upon the heels of it came the Civil War and the Indian scare at the time of the Minnesota massacre, and instead of the village growing it rather diminished in population throughout these years. On the close of the war, however, home-seekers again sought out the West, and from that time on Onawa has been progressing and increasing in population and wealth.
Charles G. Perkins settled in Monona County on a farm in the fall of 1865, but four years later removed to Onawa, where he has since remained.
Joseph S. Mauglin also located in the city the same year of 1865, and has been an important fac- tor in its business and social life, and still resides there.
Charles II. Aldridge, for many years editor of the Gazette, settled in the town in October. 1865.
Jolin Youngquist, about the first of the Seandi- navian citizens to locate in this county, made his | appearance in Onawa in the same year.
Jolin K. MeCaskey came to Onawa in 1866, and since that time has been a resident of the city, and largely connected with its mercantile life and with the official affairs of the county.
The same year Dr. JJames Butts, still a resident practitioner, located in the little city.
Henry W. Cunningham, the present marshal of the place, has made his home there since his first coming in this year.
Elijah Peake made his appearance in the city of Onawa in 1866.
Rev. George T. Woodhull, a Congregationalist minister. located in Onawa in 1866, and carried on his labors in this part of the Lord's vineyard until the summons eame for him to
"Join that innumerable caravan that moves To the pale realms of the shades of death,"
and who passed away to his reward October 1, 1870.
George A. Douglas came to Monona County in
1867, and entered its business circles as one of the mercantile firm of Fairchild & Douglas, and since that time has been a resident of the village. lle is the present County Auditor.
George E. Warner came to Onawa in this same year, and has been one of its leading merchants ever since, unti! a short time ago. when he retired. He is the County Treasurer.
M. A. Freeland came the same time, and is one of the leading business inen of the present.
Others that located here this same year were: Severt Bakke, Amos J. Heitman.
Levi D). Kittle, the Sheriff of Monona County, dates his citizenship of the beautiful city of Onawa from this same year.
Albert T. Fessenden was another of the promi- nent arrivals of the year 1867, and is still one of the active business men of the "(em City."
Fred MeCausland located in Monona County on the 11th of March, 1867, settling in Onawa, where for a time he was engaged in the general merchan- dise trade in company with Charles Atkins, and afterward in the butchering business. In 1869 he sold out to George P. Buffington, and moved to Ashton Township.
W. A. Greene, the editor of the Sentinel, at Onawa, dates his settlement at that place from the year 1868, and has for most of the time since been engaged in journalism.
.Iolin C. Moorhead came to the city this same year, and engaged in the liquor business, but in the following year moved to his farm in Franklin Township. With him came his brother Hardy.
Edward E. Bakke, one of the leading shoe dealers of the city, came here in July, 1868, and has been a resident ever sinee.
Among those who settled in the county in 1869, was II. C. Mosher, now of Sherman Township, who landed in Onawa about the Ist of October, and engaged in the stock business.
Samuel B. Martin eame to the city of Onawa in 1869. and for several years was at the head of the excellent school of that place. He is still a resi- dent.
Edward A. Chapman located in this place in 1869, and remained here, actively engaged in busi-
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ness, until August, 1875, when he returned to Connecticut, where he is now living.
Others who came to Onawa the same year were . Ole B. Carlson, now in the blacksmith business ; John Henry, a resident of Lake Township; and T. C. Walton, long identified with the hotel interests of the city.
In 1870 George Underhill came to Onawa and has been engaged in business there ever since. He is the present Postmaster.
W. L. Holmes removed to Onawa this same ycar, having settled in the county in 1867. Ile is still there, engaged in mercantile pursuits.
G. W. MeMillan, one of the resident lawyers of farm the place, also dates his settlement this year. With him eame also J. Evans, an attorney.
James C. Pike came here in September, 1870, and has been in the butchering business in the place ever since.
William C. Marr settled in Onawa in July, 1870, and has been an active business man of the city from that date.
George R. Norton also came to the county the same year.
William G. Wood located here in 187t, and has since that time been identified with the business history of Onawa.
Malden B. Pullen, a carpenter and undertaker, settled at Onawa in this year, coming from Omaha, Neb.
In 1871 Rev. Charles N. Lyman came to Onawa, and has remained pastor of the Congregational Church to this date.
Benjamin F. Ross, the present Superintendent of County Schools, located in this city in March, 1871.
John Cleghorn, one of the pioneers of the county, came here from Ashton, the same year, and entered into business. Ile is still a resident of the city.
In 1872 Dudley B. Kenyon eame here and lo- cated, entering the business eireles of the place, and made this his home until his death, which occurred October 5, 1889. The same year wit- nessed the arrival of J. H. Marr, who has plied at the forge there ever since.
Perry Allen. a carpenter, worked at his trade in
the village for two years. coming here the same year.
Frank Hawkins east in his lot with the citizens of Onawa in October. 1874, and has remained there ever since.
William J. Eva, a present dweller in Onawa. made his appearance there in December, 1876.
James R. Thurston also located in Onawa the centennial year of our country, removing thither from Sherman Township.
J. C. Depue settled here the same year, and made this eity his home until 1881, when he re- moved to Ashton Township.
Among those who came to the city in 1877 was the thriving merchant, Henry W. Cady, who still resides there.
Stillman F. Sears, then a boy of fourteen years. came to Monona County with his parents in 1856. Ile remained engaged in farming until 1878, when he moved into town, since which time he has there been engaged in business.
Among those who made settlements in the city in 1879, and are now still residents therein, are: Seth A. Howard, John Brandin, G. M. Chick and John E. Harris.
Among those who located in Onawa in 1882, were L. D. Bearee and others.
Dr. Il. A. Wheeler came to Onawa in 1883. although he had been in the county previously. and engaged in the practice of medicine. Here he has remained ever since.
Pendleton Hubbard came to Onawa in 1884, and engaged in the practice of law, which he still follows.
William F. Moore located in this his future home in July, 1885, and is engaged in blacksmith- ing.
Isaac Freeland located in the city in 1886, com- ing here from Sherman Township, where he had been engaged in farming.
A. W. Mann, one of' the druggists of Onawa, first located here in March, 1886.
Charles E. Underhill, the present County Attor- ney, located in Onawa in 1887.
Others that located here during the year 1887, were George W. Cook and Eugene E. Egli.
Dr. S. D. Angle came to Onawa and settled in
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1888, having lived for a short time previously at Blencoe.
Rev. Ira B. Kilbourn eame to the place in Octo- ber, 1888, and has had charge of the Methodist Church there since.
Amony those who located in the city this same year, may be mentioned : Charles W. Cope, D.D.S .; Charles II. Huntington.
COUNTY SEAT.
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