USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 43
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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 steam. Meantime large additions have been made
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BUSINESS ROW AT COLLEGE SPRINGS AFTER FIRES
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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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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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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.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white man to invade the prairie wilds of this goodly section of Page county, was a man named John Pelham, who came from the south and located on section 18, in 1850. He sold his claim four years later to John Rodman and removed to Arkansas. The same year, 1850, John Hadden effected a settlement. John Stafford located about that date at what is known as Stafford's Grove. Pelham operated a horse mill and thus sup- plied the few pioneer families. Another early comer was Mr. Martindale, who improved a small farm near Hadden's Grove. Henry Binns came from Pennsylvania in 1854 and entered the east half of the northwest quarter of section 3. It was soon after that Aaron Stafford moved in from Mont- gomery county and claimed land on section 6. In 1855 came Jonathan and George Binns, John Hall and Benjamin Davis.
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It should be remembered that at this time Fremont township was on the wild frontier and iniested with wild beasts, against which the early set- tlers waged a successful warfare. In the single winter of 1855-56, William D. Chamberlain alone killed forty-six deer. The winter was a very severe one, the thermometer registering from twenty to thirty degrees below zero for fully six weeks.
The suffering among early settlers was indeed great. Clothing was scarce, the nearest store a long ways distant, the mill equally far, roads bad and consequently the store of provisions grew low. For many weeks the few pioneers had nothing upon which to subsist, save the corn which was ground in coffeemills. Men who could survive through such an ordeal are not the men who fail. What wonder then that the broad expanse of beau- tiful prairie lands have come to be so well developed and cultivated?
From 1870 the growth of the township was gradual but sure. It was during that year a new factor marked another era in this section of Page county, the advent of the Swedes. Aside from a small settlement in the south part of the county, there were no Swedes here. Among the first to settle in Fremont were P. J. Peterson, Isaac M. Johnson, C. J. Eckeroth, N. P. Larson, J. P. Nelson, John Anderson and C. A. Falk.
But now a new movement was set rolling. In the spring of 1871, at the house of P. Heglund, near New Windsor, Henry county, Illinois, a meet- ing of the Swedish settlers there was held and it was then determined to come to southwestern Iowa. A committee of C. A. Johnson, P. Heglund and C. J. Bjorkgren was appointed to obtain rates for transportation. As a re- sult of their labor thirty-three cars were chartered, in which three hundred persons with their effects were placed, when all embarked for the "Kingdom of Page." They nearly all became settlers of Fremont township. In 1880 there were over nine hundred Swedes in the township. With but a few ex- ceptions they were all poor people but by hard work and saving qualities most of them have come to be wealthy and all possess good comfortable homes, which are free of any mortgaged indebtedness.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first two settlers were John Pelham and John Hadden, who came in 1850. The first church was erected in 1871. The first physician to prac- tice was Dr. Prackner of Essex. The first male child born was Emil, son of John and Louisa Anderson, born October 12, 1870. The first female child born was Ella S., daughter of Isaac and Fredrika Johnson, born October 10, 1870.
RELIGIOUS.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was formed in 1870, by the following members: N. P. Larson and wife, C. A. Falk and wife, J. P. Nelson and wife. Rev. B. M. Halland was the first pastor. He was fol- lowed by Rev. A. G. Skeppstedt, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. N. G. Dahlstedt. In 1872 the congregation erected a frame church building.
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which soon proved too small for the rapidly growing attendance. In 1876 a more spacious and imposing structure was built, capable of seating six hundred people. The last structure is forty-four by eighty-eight feet, with a tower ninety-nine feet high. The cost of the building was eight thou- sand dollars. In 1880 there were about seven hundred members in the con- gregation. The church is one of the most prosperous in Page county and its influence is felt far and wide. The church property all told cost fourteen thousand, six hundred dollars. It consists of a frame edifice, provided with a pipe organ costing sixteen hundred dollars, a two-story parsonage, a resi- dence for the use of the organist and school teacher. The church supports two parochial schools, one by the church and one on section 17. The total attendance is one hundred and twenty.
A Methodist Episcopal society was formed many years ago in the north part of Fremont township, and a neat church built in the grove.
SCHOOLS.
Fremont township is populated for the most part at present by Scandi- navians, who have as finely improved farms and beautiful homes as almost any other part of Page county. The greater number are intelligent and take kindly to American institutions. The church of their choice seems preeminently the Lutheran and this detracts from the common public some- what. However, as a general rule these foreigners believe in educating in the English as well as their own tongue.
MORTON TOWNSHIP.
Morton township was originally included in Tarkio, then in Lincoln, but is now described as congressional township 68, range 39 west. It is bounded on the north by Grant township, on the east by Lincoln, on the south by Washington township and on the west by Fremont county. The only stream of any considerable note is the West Tarkio river. It is one of Page county's most excellent and highly cultivated agricultural sections, where corn is king and farmers are prosperous Americans, who believe in good schools and good roads and the obeying of all wholesome laws.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In tracing out the pioneers of a township or county one finds no easy task. Many have removed, many died and those yet remaining "this side the strand" have had their minds too full of life's realities to remember all those early happenings.
In 1853 Calvin Fletcher made the first settlement. He was shortly fol- lowed by Samuel Markham, from Kentucky. These both settled in the northwest corner of the township. The next settlement was made in 1867 on section 34, by H. A. Durbon.
In 1869 when S. R. Franks located in Morton township he gave the fol- lowing who were then residents or came during that year: Henry Pierce,
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section 35; H. A. Durbon, section 34; Jacob Ernst and son, A. L. Ernst, section 36: Cy Cleveland, and W. T. Jones, section 25; Evan Wilson, sec- tion 25; John M. Chambers, section 35; O. H. Frink, section 10, came in April, 1871 ; James Noble, section 9: Isaiah Beam, section 7; Henry Wagner, section 19; J. Roselie, who came in 1871, section 36. From that date on the township in common with all western Page county, settled very rapidly.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first settler was Calvin Fletcher in 1853.
The first child born was Fred W. Franks, son of S. R. Franks and wife. His birthday was April 13, 1870.
Probably Mrs. J. M. Chambers was the first person to die in Morton township.
The first marriage was J. M. Chambers to his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Goode.
The first schools were taught in a building erected for that purpose in 1871, in Pleasant Ridge, No. 6, and White Cloud, No. 3. Phebe Ellis taught in the winter of 1871-2 at the Pleasant Ridge schoolhouse.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. James Lytle in the spring of 1872, at Pleasant Ridge schoolhouse.
The Methodist Episcopal people organized the first Sunday school in Morton township.
The first justices of the peace were J. M. Chambers and Squire Beams.
RELIGIOUS.
The people of Morton township attend services at Coin or Bingham. However, in the early part of 1872 both the Methodist Episcopal and Wes- leyan Methodists formed each a class and held regular services at Pleasant Ridge schoolhouse on section 36. Each was determined, all in good spirit, to gain the first organization and if possible, the first footing. Upon a certain Sunday morning during the time above mentioned, Rev. James Lytle, the Wesleyan Methodist minister, called his class together and preached for them on Sunday morning. He was aware that the Methodist preacher, Rev. L. W. Archer, was to preach in the evening, so he, Lytle, gave notice as follows: "I hereby notify this people that this society will hold services each Sunday forenoon throughout the year at this schoolhouse," expecting to head his brother off, but Rev. Archer covered this appoint- ment by giving out notice that he would preach "afternoon and evening" during the year. Hence that pioneer schoolhouse, around which so many fond recollections still cluster, was well supplied with "regular" services.
SCHOOLS.
As previously stated, the first two schoolhouses in Morton were erected the same season, 1871. In 1876 she supported six schools, having an enroll- ment of one hundred and sixty-eight pupils.
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LONE ROCK.
Before the reader passes from Morton township he is first invited to read concerning an object of natural curiosity, known as "Lone Rock," sit- uated on section 15, about one hundred rods southeast of Lone Rock school- house. This monster rock is of the boulder family, is about twenty feet long, ten or twelve feet wide, and stands about eight feet above the ground. How far it is embedded in the ground no one knows. It was discovered by Rev. William Rector, a Methodist minister, in 1851, while journeying from Fremont county to the Tarkio's country, and perhaps was the first white man to gaze upon its surface and query concerning its formation and original history. Whence did it come, from the north on an iceberg? Some miglity agency must have brought its hundreds of tons weight to this spot. Could we but hear its flinty tongue tell of this prehistoric journey, it would sur- prise and fill us with wonder sublime. Like the marks on the face of the aged person does this ancient landmark declare the newness of the soil on which it now rests; the great difference between youth and old age is here illustrated.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Lincoln is congressional township 68, of range 38 west, and is the sec- ond civil township east of the western border of Page county, and also second from the south. Tarkio is directly north, Harlan east, Colfax south and Morton west. The principal water course is the Tarkio river, which flows through the central and western portion, entering the township at section 4 and leaving from section 32. Until 1858 this subdivision of the county be- longed to Tarkio township but in that year what is now known as Lincoln and Morgan townships were organized as Lincoln. No finer section of farm- ing country can be found anywhere than the one of which we now write and to give the reader an idea of what rapid development it has made it will be best to go back and learn something concerning
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Ex-County Judge S. F. Snider was the pioneer who first set his claim- stakes in what is now Lincoln township. That was in 1846 and the same year came William Lavering. Judge Suider finally sold out to Joshua Aikin and removed to Clarinda. He later removed to Colorado. Lavering first settled on land which was later known as the G. R. Davidson farm. No further settlement was effected until 1850, when John L. King came.
In 1851 came HI. H. Lutzenburg, who settled on the claim taken by Lav- cring. William Loy settled on part of the Snider claim and Joshna Aikin on the remainder. Samuel Phifer and Samuel Peters came in 1851 also, settling near the mouth of Snake creek, and were soon followed by Joshua Skinner. All of the above mentioned witnessed the government surveyors cut their portions of the unsurveyed territory.
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The next to come was James Haynes, who settled a half mile east, across the river, from Coin. From the early '50s on a goodly number came in and took up land, but no rapid growth was made until about 1870, when railways began to extend through this part of Iowa.
No positive data as to first events, including schools and religious ser- vices, can be procured. However, in 1880 the township had six more-than- ordinary schoolhouses, in which public schools were held, as well as the var- ious religious denominations which used them as places of worship.
In 1879 the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company built the Denver Short Line branch from Clarinda to Northboro, Iowa, and imme- diately a new era was begun.
COIN.
Coin, the only village in Lincoln township, is located on section 32, town- ship 68, range 38, and about twelve miles southwest of Clarinda. It is a sta- tion at which the Wabash line crosses the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy- Denver Short Line. It was platted November 25, 1879, by the Western Improvement Company of Iowa. At the first sale of town lots, sixty-four were sold to persons who at once erected dwellings and business houses. The earliest attempt at business was by the putting in of a general stock of goods by S. M. Crooks & Company, in the fall of 1879.
The first hardware sold exclusively was that kept by W. A. Wood- worth.
The first hotel was opened by J. A. Delk, who was the second man to engage in business in Coin.
Wallace Brothers sold the first lumber at this point in 1879. The pio- neer furniture firm was Godfrey & Dowell, who embarked in business in 1883.
The first to handle agricultural implements was Elliott & Son J. B. Dunmire was the first blacksmith and R. E. Switzer was the first harness and shoemaker of the village.
The first to enter the livery business was Samuel Clark & Son.
The first tinner was J. G. Burgett.
The butcher business was at first conducted by Rouse & Myers.
The pioneer druggist was Jacob Loy.
W. C. Chesney owned and operated the first wagon shop.
Mrs. A. E. Neeley opened the first stock of Millinery goods.
R. E. Switzer burned the first kiln of brick at Coin.
A banking house was opened by Webster Brothers & Company in 1880, later known as the Bank of Coin.
R. E. Martin was the first man to ship stock from Coin.
The Bank of Coin was opened in 1880 by W. E. Webster, who conducted it until his death in 1882. In June of that year L. Van Arsdol purchased the property.
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SOCIETIES.
Coin Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 455, was instituted in the winter of 1882 by about enough members to fill the elective offices, one having to be bor- rowed from another lodge.
Page Post, G. A. R., No. 65, was organized November 1, 1881, by eleven members. The first officers were : J. H. Palmer, Com. ; M. Neeley, S. V .; T. R. Shaw, J. V .; A. T. Rice, surgeon ; Daniel Polsley, Q. M.
SCHOOLS.
The wide-awake populace of Coin has from the first sustained good pub- lic schools. In 1880 a comfortable schoolhouse was erected at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. Later an addition was built, making it a two-story structure, divided into four departments.
INCORPORATION.
Coin becanie an incorporated town July 30, 1881, by a vote which stood sixty-seven to twenty-five. The first election was held August 29, 1881, when the following officers were elected: Mayor, T. H. Baldwin; recorder, Robert Wallace; assessor, A. P. Anderson ; treasurer, A. T. Rice; street commissioner, B. F. Whitney; councilmen, W. J. Clark, A. H. King, W. A. Woodworth, J. G. Spender and Daniel Polsley.
POSTOFFICE.
Snow Hill postoffice was established in Lincoln township on a "star route." in 1875. Mails were carried tri-weekly between Clarinda and this point, which is about a mile from where Coin now stands. Upon the com- pletion of the railway and the establishment of Coin, the office was trans- ferred to the new village and in the fall of 1879 A. G. Bacon was made post- master. He served until October, 1885, and was succeeded by C. E. Kile, who held it until he resigned in favor of his daughter, who continued as post- mistress until October, 1880), when Mr. Bacon was reappointed. It was made a money order office August 15, 1881. The first order was sent by J. F. Reid, to an insurance company ; amount, nine dollars.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Coin was formed at Snow Hill school- house about 1870 by Rev. W. J. Beck, and Chancy Carpenter classleader. A church was erected at Coin in 1880, at a cost of two thousand dollars. In 1889 a parsonage was erected at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
The United Presbyterian church was formed June 12, 1880. The first meetings were held two miles northeast of Coin at the Monzingo school-
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house, Rev. William Johnston officiating. It had a membership of twenty- eight. The first elders were John Monzingo and S. A. Godfrey, and the trustees were R. B. Wallace, T. M. Monzingo and J. M. McKee. The first pastor was Rev. R. M. Sherwood, who entered upon his work in November 1880, and continued until May. 1884. The society held meetings in the Methodist Episcopal church until 1881, when they erected a church thirty- four by fifty-four feet, at a cost of three thousand dollars.
SNOW HILL (DEFUNCT).
This was not a regularly platted village but it was a small collection of houses and a postoffice called Snow Hill. There was at one time, before Coin existed, a flouring mill on the Tarkio river ; a store operated by Crooks and Ausbach and a blacksmith shop. The location was about a mile north of where Coin now stands. A foundry was built in 1882 by Austin & Son.
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