USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I > Part 42
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The Christian denomination also has a few adherents in Essex and for a time during the year 1891 held regular services in the Baptist church.
The Free Methodist denomination has a small society and hold meet- ings occasionally. The general moral tone of the people of Essex is ex- cellent.
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
Essex has its societies and fraternal orders and has kept pace with the other developments of this city in that regard and nowhere will you find a more hospitable and brotherly class of people. When one of the brothers is in need or distress, and it becomes known, he is soon relieved by the fraternity. The members remember their vows and obligations and are always ready to discharge their duties toward one another.
MASONIC.
Mountain Lodge, No. 360, A. F. & A. M. was organized in 1876 and is in a flourishing condition. New members are constantly knocking for admit- tance but only the better class is admitted.
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ODD FELLOWS.
Essex Lodge, No. 320, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1875.
A. O. U. W.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen was at one time a strong or- ganization of Essex.
Essex also has a lodge of Woodmen and also of the Royal Neighbors.
SCHOOLS.
The crowning glory of Essex is its public schools. Its first school build- ing stood upon a high elevation in the southeast part of the city and was considered a beautiful structure at the time it was built. In 1906 a high school building was erected, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars, and in its architectural beauty it would be an ornament to any city.
AMITY TOWNSHIP.
This township is the second from the east line of the county and is bounded on the south by the Iowa and Missouri state line ; on the west by Colfax township; on the north by Harlan township; and on the east by Buchanan township. It is congressional township 68, range 37 west. It is a most excellent section of the county and is finely developed, and has a population chiefly of Americans, and which takes great interest in educational and religious matters. Amity College at College Springs is located in Amity township and is known far and near as one of great value. Its native and artificial groves, together with its vast amount of beautiful evergreen and ornamental trees, lends a charm indeed seldom found.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement was made in Amity township in 1854 by Daniel Sev- ers. in the grove south of College Springs, and at the same time by his brother and brother-in-law, Mr. Wade. No others came in until the college lands were surveyed in 1856. The work began in May of that year and was com- pleted in July. At that date J. P. Donaldson stopped in a little log cabin, southeast of the village of College Springs. He boarded many of the sur- veying party. The papers, plats and field notes were turned over by Mr. Wanzer and Elijah Miller to the committee, Mark Morse, W. J. Woods and Joseph Cornforth, in a board shanty near Cornforth's residence, some two miles northeast of Braddyville, on July 4, 1856. The following autumn the schoolhouse was built and prior to that a public well was dug. Two sets of hands were employed in the survey. Among the number may be mentioned Frederick Nelson, Messrs. Forry, Pierce and Woods. Frank M. Moore and Frederick Nelson were sworn chainmen. Moore did not continue long but
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Nelson had more genuine pluck and continued the business of wading through the tall grass until the last stake was stuck. Mr. Nelson followed the role of "stick, stuck, stick, stuck!" as a faithful chainman, who had just come to this country and who came to be among Page county's wealthiest farmers.
Joseph A. Reid came in the fall of 1856, selected lands and moved in the next year, landing April 9, 1857. He settled on section 19. Among those who settled prior to the breaking out of the rebellion and about all who were in Amity township at that time were : Allen Searcy, Joseph Cornforth, Elijah Gibbs and his sons, Daniel, George and Benjamin, William McLaughlin, John Russell, James Laughlin, J. W. McKinley, Ami Smith, W. J. Woods, A. Carver, Charles Green, Linton Cornforth, E. Noe, John Snodderly, Thomas Snodderly and their father, Joseph Kempton and father, Johnson, father of Meed Johnson, George Babcock, J. P. Donaldson, Jacob McIntosh, George Mccullough, Mr. Armstrong, Allen Austin, Peter Austin, M. S. Morrow, Charles Moody, William Russell, James Short, B. McCord, Morris McCord, David McCord, Andrew Lumery, John Laughlin, W. C. Dow, Fred Nelson and Jabez Fickling.
At the general election in 1860, seventy-one votes were polled, in present Amity township. Lincoln received all but two votes. In 1864 there were fully three-fifths of the voters away in the Union army and sixty-eight votes were cast.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth was Ida Donaldson who became the wife of J. C. Leslie, who was born in 1858 or 1859.
The first death was a young man named Dow, who passed away in July, 1857
The first school was taught in the fall of 1857.
The first religious services were held in Amity, now College Springs, early in 1857. It was a union service.
The first church edifice was the United Presbyterian, built during the war, the lumber being obtained at St. Joe.
At first Amity township embraced all that territory now contained in Amity, Colfax, and Washington townships.
SCHOOLS.
Perhaps no one township in all Iowa has paid more attention to the education of the young, in a secular and religious way, than Amity has. The very first settlers at once erected a school and church building.
COLLEGE SPRINGS.
Much concerning this place will be found in the history of Amity College. They are about one and the same. However, it may be stated that Amity,
FSEE
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BUSINESS ROW AT COLLEGE SPRINGS
Before fires of 1900, 1902 and 1904 destroyed the entire block. Photo taken in 1855.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
later changed to College Springs, after the discovery of a large, never fail- ing spring on the plat, was platted in June, 1856, on sections 7, 8, 17 and 18 of Amity township. It is beautifully environed by a charming rural dis- trict and is purely a country town, having no railroad, and it depends largely on the college for its support.
The first to engage in mercantile business at this point was A. Oppen- heimer in 1858.
Dr. R. H. Lymer was the pioneer physician.
In 1857 N. C. Storrs & Company built a steam sawmill on the town site and in 1859-60 it was blown to atoms, killing one man and badly in- jurying others.
The postoffice was established at an early day and has been in many different hands. In July, 1875, it became a money order office. The first order issued was sent by J. B. Laughlin to Smith & White, of Ham- burg. The amount was twenty-five dollars.
Amity township and College Springs are famous for schools. The pub- lic school building was erected in 1877, a two-story frame house, to which was added the east wing in 1887.
CHURCHES.
There are five religious denominations in College Springs-the Meth- odist, Wesleyan Methodist, Free Methodist, Congregational and United Presbyterian. At one time there was a Baptist, also an old school Presby- terian society.
The Methodist Episcopal church at College Springs was organized in 1870 by twenty members. In 1873 a frame edifice was erected at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars.
The United Presbyterian church at Amity was formed in the month of June, 1857. The original members were J. S. Maughlin, Thomas Maugh- lin, Mr. and Mrs. John McKissick, Mr. and Mrs. John Latta, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Monzingo, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McLean and P. M. Hoag, eleven in all. Ten years after organization the society built a frame edifice, the origi- nal cost of which was twenty-five hundred dollars. It was subsequently en- larged at a cost of one thousand dollars.
Wesleyan Methodist church at College Springs was organized in 1860, with twenty charter members. Rev. O. F. Page was the organizer. A church was built in 1870, twenty-six by thirty-two feet, at a cost of one thousand dollars. Rev. Ami Smith, a charter member of this church, was one of the founders of College Springs, and figured conspicuously in the establishment of Amity college, which was founded as a Wesleyan Methodist school and afterward chartered as an undenominational college.
The Free Methodist church was formed about 1883. The first meet- ings were held in tents but in 1885 a frame structure was built at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars.
The Congregational church was organized December 17, 1865, by twenty- seven members. A church building was erected in 1868-9, costing twenty-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
five hundred dollars. It was first used May 15, 1869, but was completed and dedicated October 13, 1870. The first regularly employed pastor was Rev. C. C. Humphrey, who served from February 8, 1868, to February 13, 1869.
AMITY COLLEGE.
This successful institution of learning is located at College Springs and in Amity township, Page county, Iowa. A colony was first contem- plated in the early part of 1853, by the Rev. B. F. Haskins, who succeeded in interesting various other influential persons in the enterprise. The original idea was the establishment of a colony of Christian families on a plan that should insure a "permanent fund for an institution of learning of a refor- matory character." To bring about this end a circular was issued, headed "A Plan for a Colony of Reformers." Among other arguments set forth in this circular were the subjoined :
"The state of Iowa and territory of Minnesota present to the Christian's view a large field of promising usefulness. Here are large tracts of land as yet almost without an occupant, which will soon be occupied and thickly in- habited, and this appears to be the spring time preparatory for sowing the seeds of truth, with the prospect of an abundant harvest ; thus the infancy of those parts which are yet to receive character ; and now, by timely effort with the guidance and blessing of God, a character will be given that will promise security and permanence to the cause of Christ; and to do this, as far as may be, it is proposed that a colony be formed for religious and edu- cational purposes. Individuals who may feel like engaging in the undertak- ing, are to become shareholders. One hundred dollars shall constitute a share. When seven thousand dollars have been subscribed. a committee shall be chosen by the shareholders. The business of such committee shall be to explore the unoccupied parts of Iowa or Missouri, or both, as may be thought necessary, for the suitable location of the proposed colony. The land purchased shall be government land and in the most suitable por- tion of such tract shall be laid out a town. The remainder to be platted into ten, twenty and forty acre lots. So much of the land as shall be necessary to pay off the shareholders shall be appraised at five dollars per acre and every shareholder may receive, in land at valuation price, to the amount of his share. To each share there shall be attached a scholarship of five years' gratuitous instruction in the institution of learning that may be es- tablished from the fund raised as proposed, which may be used, rented, or sold at the pleasure of the shareholder. The institution shall be of such character as to give both sexes the opportunity to obtain a liberal educa- tion. The manual labor system shall be encouraged and entered into as far as practicable."
This circular succeeded in arousing an intelligent interest in the enter- prise and the friends of the movement held several meetings. In the latter part of March. 1854. a committee. consisting of W. J. Woods. James Mc- Quinn and B. F. Haskins, was appointed to explore those portions of Iowa deemed most desirable for the location of such a colony. This exploring
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
tour began April 12, 1854, and extended over Black Hawk, Washington, Keokuk, Iowa, Benton, Linn, Buchanan, Clark, Tama, Marshall, Jasper, Poik and Warren counties. In Black Hawk county they met Aaron Dow, who agreed to put in one thousand dollars if they would change the stipu- lated appraisement of lands from five dollars to two dollars and a half per acre, which was done at their next meeting.
In February, 1855. the capital of the company was increased from seven thousand to thirty thousand dollars and the name changed to the Western Industrial and Scientific Association. At that meeting were elected officers : president, Rev. J. Cross ; corresponding secretary, George Davis ; treasurer, W. J. Woods.
Two months later B. F. Haskins, W. R. Powers and J. E. Branscom were appointed to explore Kansas, northern Missouri and southern Iowa. They reported in favor of the latter section, and a new committee located lands and filed articles of incorporation and then made the name Amity Col- lege. The first trustees were J. T. Atkinson, Benjamin F. Haskins, John Cross, William R. Powers, Aaron Dow, Mark Morse and W. J. Woods. In January, 1856, the names of Silas Thomas, C. Adams, Andrew Turney and W. A. Bates were added. Silas Thomas was chosen president ; B. F. Has- kins, secretary ; and Mark Morse, treasurer of the board.
W. J. Woods, Mark Morse and Joseph Cornforth attended to the survey of the lands and town site, called Amity, now College Springs.
For the purpose of forever preventing the manufacture and sale of in- toxicating liquors, the shareholders instructed the board to insert in every deed of land and town lot a provision effectually prohibiting the same, and no liquors have ever been handled on these lands.
In 1859 the college owned nearly seven thousand acres of land. In Page county it had one thousand, six hundred and sixty-five acres ; in Cass county, six hundred and eighty acres : in Missouri, four thousand, six hun- dred acres. The only building owned at that date was a frame structure twenty-two by thirty-eight feet, one story high. During that year, how- ever, a brick structure forty by fifty feet, two stories high, was commenced.
The first class in the academic department was organized in 1857, by Professor George P. Kimball, of Wheaton, Illinois. The number of stu- dents was thirty, three-fourths being males. At the close of the year Pro- fessor Kimball was forced to resign on account of his health. He was succeeded by Professor Armour, a New York man and an excellent educator, and built up a lively interest, but unfortunately the trustees dismissed him at the end of a year and engaged Professor William Nelson to fill the vacancy. Professor Armour at once organized a "select school." and soon drew many pupils from the college. This folly soon ended and Professor Armour, together with his wife, was reengaged in the college in 1860. He remained two years and failing health caused him to return to New York state. With this the academic character of the college ceased. From 1862 to 1864 the college was obsorbed in the public schools. Nothing was accom- plished in 1865 but the year following a new plan was adopted and the property leased for five years by a company of men, who assumed all finan-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
cial responsibility. These men engaged Professor Armour and wife to conduct the school, hoping it would prove a success, but such was not true and at the end of the third year Professor Armour took the school for what he could realize from it.
In 1871 the school was again organized under the control of the trus- tees, with Hamilton White as president. Another change was made in the winter. Rev. Marion Morrison took charge of affairs, continuing until the end of the year.
The time had come when some decisive act must be taken. The college had spent fifteen years' history and had made no great mark in the educa- tional world. Again the trustees stepped to the front, determined this time to make the correct move. The Rev. A. T. McDill, A. M. was selected for the controlling light and proved very successful. He was a graduate of Monmouth ( Illinois) College, a man of high character and scholarly at- tainments. He became president in the autumn of 1872, and at once or- ganized on a collegiate basis. Scholars came in rapidly and the school demanded the services of Professor Grimes, of Iowa College. In 1876 more building room was needed and the north and south wings were added. They were twenty-three by thirty feet. In 1876-77 the attendance was one hundred and six. At the close of 1877, after five years' toil, President Mc- Dill resigned, when Rev. S. C. Marshall took his mantle. He graduated at Muskingum College, Ohio, in 1856, also at the Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1860.
In the spring of 1883 Rev. S. C. Marshall resigned the presidency of Amity College. In August of the same year the board elected the Rev. T. J. Kennedy, D. D., president, who took charge September I, of that year.
Dr. Kennedy was born in Pennsylvania, in 1832, was graduated at Franklin College, Ohio, in 1852, at the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio, in 1858. He served in the pastorate at Jamestown, Fredericksburg, Ohio, Steubenville, Ohio, and Des Moines, Iowa. His ex- perience teaching, first in the common schools, and afterward in academies and a ladies' seminary, which he conducted successfully, and finally at Amity College, altogether extended over eighteen years. From his alma mater he received the title of A. M. in 1856, from Westminster College the title of D. D., in 1877, and in 1888 was chosen fellow of the Society of Science, Let- ters and Art, of London.
Under his administration Amity College made progress and widened her influence every year. The course of study was revised in 1883 and enlarged. The discipline of the college. which seemed very lax. was brought up to the required grade of efficiency and in 1885 the commercial department was instituted. In 1888 a financial agent. the Rev. W. A. Campbell, was ap- pointed, and he immediately went to work to increase the endowment fund. Under his agency the endowment had been raised to about forty thousand dollars.
New college buildings were erected in 1883, not large, but very hand- some, commodious and comfortable. They are neatly finished and furnished, heated throughout by stean. Meantime large additions have been made
BUSINESS ROW AT COLLEGE SPRINGS AFTER FIRES
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
to the museum and to the college library. The apparatus, too, since 1883, has received valuable additions and the general appearance of the college grounds or campus, has been greatly improved.
In 1884 the literary societies, by recommendation of the president, were disbanded and new societies under new constitutions were organized, which still continue in a prosperous condition.
The faculty is selected with the greatest care and each professor and teacher is a specialist in his own department. It is the purpose of the man- agement to keep up the high standard and reputation of the college for the best government, the best scholarship, the best teaching and training as well as the best development and culture, all of the best moral character.
The college was chartered under the laws of the state in 1871, with uni- versity powers, and has authority to confer all academic degrees and honors.
TARKIO TOWNSHIP.
Tarkio is the second from the west, as well as second from the north line of the county. It is now described as congressional township No. 69, range 38, but formerly took in nearly the west half of the county. Every- thing considered, in the light of agriculture, horticulture and stock-raising, this is looked upon as one of the finest portions of Page county. Its domain, fertile and rolling and watered by the East, Middle and West Tarkio rivers. Along the two former named there is considerable native timber. As one passes through this goodly land and views its fine farms, with large, well painted farm houses and outbuildings, he is at once struck with the thrift and success attained by the early settlers who, with but a few exceptions, come to the country poor men.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
As early as the autumn of 1852 Isaac Miller settled on a claim on which Tarkio City was afterward platted. B. Harrill came at about the same time and settled on section 25. He died a few years ago in Missouri.
Prior to these was a man named Jefferson Phillips, who came to Tarkio in 1850, settling on section 22. He soon sold and went to Kansas, where he died.
Samuel Peters settled in 1850-51 on section 35 but remained only a short time.
P. A. Griffy came from Platte county, Missouri, April 7, 1852, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 26.
In 1852 came Isaac Miller. William Miller also came and settled on section 20, on West Tarkio river, Elijah Miller, who also came, after- ward became county surveyor and school superintendent. He also platted Tarkio City.
The following came to the township prior to the Civil war-1861 : W. Jefferson Phillips, Samuel Peters, P. A. Griffy, Isaac Miller. William Miller, E. Miller, George Miller, Dan Cheshire, David Smith, David Loy, B.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Harrill, Thomas Weaver, N. Snodderly, Henry Snodderly, John Stewart, the McDonald family, William Floyd, Stephen Reasoner, C. C. McDonald, Isaac Loy and H. N. McElfish.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first death now recalled by old settlers was that of Matt. Branham in 1853-54.
The first birth was William Griffy, born in December, 1852.
The first marriage was that of Elijah Miller to Miss Aletha Loy, in 1852.
The first school was the one held at Tarkio village. It was taught by D. Miller in a log house built in 1856.
The first religious services were held at the log schoolhouse at Tarkio village by Rev. Samuel Farlow, the pioneer Methodist minister.
The first frame house erected in the township was that built in 1859 by Peter A. Griffy. It was of hard native lumber, sawed at a mill on the Tarkio.
The first postoffice was at Tarkio, kept by Isaac Miller. Mail came over the route from Hawleyville to Sidney. "Jim" Hawley was among the favorite and young mail carriers.
SCHOOLS.
As before mentioned, the first school was held at Tarkio in a log cabin, with D. Miller as instructor. As the township settled and developed, great attention was paid to school matters and there is now a high standard of public schools in nine districts.
VILLAGE OF NORWICH.
Norwich was platted in November, 1852, on section 29. It is a station on the Humeston & Shenandoah Railway. The first to embark in trade at this point was J. H. Neeley in the fall of 1882. He had been similarly en- gaged at Tarkio and at once moved his frame store building to the plat and added thereto.
In the spring of 1888 came C. P. Hale, who opened a small stock of groceries.
The postoffice was established at Norwich in 1882, removed from Tar- kio and renamed. J. L. Maxwell held the office at Tarkio and also at first at Norwich. In 1885 J. H. Neeley succeeded him under President Cleve- land's administration but when that ended so did Postmaster Neeley's duties as postmaster. In 1889 C. P. Hale was commissioned postmaster.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The Presbyterian society was organized in 1882 with fourteen members by Rev. William McKee. The church edifice was built at a cost of twenty-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
one hundred dollars. Reed & Taylor, contractors at Shenandoah, built it. It is thirty-two by forty-four feet and seats two hundred and twenty-five people.
The Methodist Episcopal church was formed at Tarkio village away back in the '50s. A church was built by the society in 1888, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. It stands in a commanding place at Norwich.
TARKIO VILLAGE (DEFUNCT).
According to the county plat books a village was platted by Robert Mil- ler on sections 34 and 35, August 26, 1859. The name appears on the first plat as Tarkio City. It was located eight miles west and one mile south of Clarinda. In July, 1860, it contained five buildings, one schoolhouse, one church and three dwellings. The plat was laid out with two squares, one for business purposes and the other for a church square. Notwithstanding the fine farm section environing this place, it did not bloom into anywhere near the airy hopes of its projectors and when the real object for which it was started had failed, the location of the county seat, it fell into a dream- less sleep and is now only known in the record book and in the memory of a few pioneers. It has gone back to the native elements, or, as has been said by another, "It has quit !"
FREMONT TOWNSHIP.
Fremont comprises congressional township 70, range 38 west, and be- longs to the northern tier of civil subdivisions of Page county. It is bounded on the north by Montgomery county, east by Douglas township, south by Tarkio township, and west by Pierce township. Topographically speaking, Fremont is gently rolling, well watered and extremely fertile. Section 10 of this township reaches the highest altitude from sea level of any portion of the county. Its population consists very largely of foreigners and the greater portion of this element is of the Scandinavian order.
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