USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 42
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Villisca, over twenty miles away, and Essex holds the undisputed trade of a rich and prosperous farming district for twelve miles east.
EARLY HISTORY OF ESSEX.
The first dwelling house on the present site of Essex was erected in April, 1870, northwest of the present station of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, by R. B. Wood. The town site was surveyed in July of the same year by A. B. Smith, assisted by B. J. Austin, with J. C. Cummins as draughtsman and was platted by J. N. Dennison, September 15, 1870. The railroad was completed to Essex and the depot opened for business in April, 1871, with R. B. Wood as agent. B. S. Pendleton received the first freight billed to Essex, consisting of wire and sundries. A postoffice was established in the following August in the residence of R. B. Wood, with himself as postmaster. Four years later the town was incorporated and in March, 1876, the following named officers were elected: Mayor, H. T. Burdick ; councilmen. C. Nichols, W. C. Maxwell, James Martin, William Maloney and J. M. Page ; recorder, C. Cummins.
On the 15th of May of the same year the independent school district was organized, with W. D. Jones, B. M. Webster and J. D. DeLee as directors. Among the first business men to put their faith in the town were L. Brack- ney, M. A. Jones, C. J. Annis & Brother, dealers in general merchandise; Aldrich & Nye and Alden & Poe, dealers in lumber ; Day & Maloney and J. C. Jones, grain buyers. O. M. Burhans and L. Brackney were the first physicians. A. A. Borden opened the first blacksmith shop. G. W. Thomas was the first school-teacher, using the house on the lot occupied by Professor C. B. Lingo.
February 22, 1873, the American Methodist Episcopal church was or- ganized, the first place of worship being the railroad depot, its use being tendered for that purpose by the station agent. The pastor was J. W. Prince from Missouri.
Essex has never experienced what is called a boom, with its customary reaction. On the contrary, it has bad a steady, healthinl growth that has gradually added to its population, wealth and prosperity. The early resi- dents, many of whom reside in Essex, experienced the usual discomforts of a new town, but with happy, buoyant natures they pushed steadily for- ward, with an abundance of confidence in the future of their town, and many are now surrounded with the comforts and luxuries of life. It is related of one of the early merchants that he was dumbfounded when one day a customer entered and called for a half pound of tea. This was so much in excess of the usual sales that he concluded that a boom was on in the mercantile business.
The postmaster's salary when R. B. Wood served "Uncle Sam" some- times amounted to the munificient sum of one dollar per month.
Two men engaged in the saloon business in early days. They built a small house and ordered a keg of beer from Red Oak. They painted a sign
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with charcoal, inviting the thirsty to enter and refresh the inner man and then waited for customers to enrich them but, alas for human foresight, the customers did not materialize. The beer soured and they sent it back to Red Oak and gave up the business in disgust. The saloon stood on the ground occupied by Alden & Poe's lumberyard.
SURROUNDING COUNTRY AND PEOPLE.
The only natural timber within miles of Essex is at Franklin Grove in the north part of the township, where the first settlement was made about 1850, by A. C. Gilmore and others who, like nearly all the early settlers of lowa, sought the timber sections. To the west, across the Nishna river, the land is somewhat hilly and covered in places by small trees and bushes, but most of it proves to be excellent land both for pasture and cultivation. In every other direction extends the richest prairie. To the northeast and southwest, as far as the eye can reach, extends the Nishna Valley, with just enough slope to give excellent drainage, and to the eye, gazing over its many miles, apparently as level as a floor. East of the valley, in gentle un- dulations, is the richest of Iowa rolling prairie, that in the twenty years of its cultivation has never failed to produce excellent crops of grain, grass and fruits.
In this region settled the sturdy sons of Sweden, and applying to the virgin soil and mild climate of southwestern Iowa, their habits of industry and economy, learned by struggles with the elements of mountains and fierce winters in their native land, soon built for themselves splendid homes. Among the Swedes of Pierce and Fremont townships are some of the wealth- iest farmers of the county, with fine residences and splendidly equipped farms, with large barns and sheds, well kept orchards, the best of stock of all kinds and all the modern improvements in farm machinery. Many of the farm residences in this region are large two-story houses, of ten, twelve and fifteen rooms and will compare favorably with the best residences in towns and smaller cities. The country people, to the cast of Essex for many miles, are nearly all of Swedish descent, but they have become Americanized and are warm supporters of American institutions, public schools and newspapers, and are loyal, intelligent, progressive citizens. The youth have learned the English language and speak it as fluently as those of English descent. and they compete successfully with Americans of other descent in the schools, in bus- iness enterprises and in political and social organizations. To the northi, south and west of Essex, the native American and those of Irish descent predominate and. like the Swedish farmers east, they are mostly prosperous and have splendid homes, some of them luxurious. The excellent character of the majority of the citizens is shown by the officers elected to conduct the local affairs of the town. The population is nearly equally divided be- tween the two political parties and each side puts forth its best men for candidates. Its present mayor is Dr. C. L. Kinney. The town is well sup- plied with church organizations and a number of beautiful church edifices.
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AMERICAN METHODIST.
The Methodists were the first to organize a society in Essex and they held services in the depot for a time, the original membership being six. They have erected a church building which has been remodeled and improved from time to time. The church is now in a flourishing condition and has a large membership.
SWEDISH METHODIST
The Swedish Methodist society was organized in 1884 with eight mem- bers. They have an excellent church edifice which was erected in 1886. This society is also in a prosperous condition.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian church was organized in 1878 with twenty-three mem- bers.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
This society, probably the largest in Essex, was organized in 1876 with a few members. The church people purchased the old frame schoolhouse and remodeled it into a church building. J. E. Rehinstrom was the first pastor and served until 1884, when he was succeeded by C. G. Widen and after six years' hard and faithful labor he removed to Council Bluffs and was succeeded by A. F. Linquist. In 1892 the church erected a handsome new edifice, forty by sixty-four feet, with a school room twenty-six by thirty feet in addition. The church also has a parsonage building close by.
The Baptists erected the first church edifice in the town and kept up a prosperous organization for some years but as many of the members moved way and their places were taken by people of other societies, the organiza- tion declined.
The Christian denomination also has a few adherents in Essex and for a time during the year 1891 hekdl 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 Cornfortli, E. Noc, 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 Towa 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,
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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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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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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 lowa 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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tour began April 12, 1854, and extended over Black Hawk, Washington, Keokuk, Iowa, Benton, Linn, Buchanan, Clark, Tama, Marshall, Jasper, Polk 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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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 1, 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.
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