USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 44
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Washington is the southwestern corner township of Page county. It is east of Fremont county, south of Morton township, west of Colfax and north of the Missouri state line. It is, strictly speaking, congressional town- ship 67, range 39 west. The West Tarkio river is the only stream of any consequence. The soil of this section of Page county is rich of the richest and from it is produced all kinds of grain, grasses, vegetables and fruits common to this climate. In 1858 the records of this township show that this township embraced all of congressional township 67, range 39 west, and a part of range 38, but subsequently it was cut down to the six-mile-square rule.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlement was made in 1856 by B. C. Freeman, of Missouri, J. B. Van Sandt, of Philadelphia, and Alexander Van Sandt. Shortly af- terward came Messrs. Mawhinney, J. S. Johnson, the Webb family, Charles Wilkinson, Mullen and a few others who "staked out" claims and at once began to build homes for themselves.
In 1862, when David Peck came into the township and effected settle- ment on section 21, he found living in the township: B. C. Freeman, on section 32; Father Clauser, section 32; John and Alexander Van Sandt, sec- tion 28; Harvey, Edgar and Leonard Webb, A. J. Mawhinney, section 26; Dr. James Hull. section 26; and a man named Ridgeway, on section 20. During the next four or five years there came Richard Dupray, Thomas Peter, P. S. Hunter, Sylvester Johnson, Isaiah Martin, Jack Dugan. S. Scram, E. W. Comfort, Jack and Henry Wiar. John Lee, J. M. Darbee and T. J. Gibson.
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OLD MILL AT BRADDYVILLE
Bullt in 1855 by Willlam and James Braddy, founders of the village. Still In opera- tion, being owned by Mrs. Mary J. Thompson.
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From the time the railroad was built through Essex and Shenandoah in 1870, settlement was made very rapidly.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first schoolhouse erected in Washington township was the one at Union Grove in 1861.
Miss Emeline Dupray taught the first school.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. Stephen Blanchard about 1862. The first person to weave cloth in the township was Mrs. B. C. Freeman.
The first marriage was that of J. M. Kine to Miss Kate Hull, July 5, 1860.
The first male child born was to Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Freeman, in Septem- ber, 1856.
The first female child was Mary, daughter of Alexander and Susan Van Sandt, born in 1857.
The first cemetery was platted on section 21. It contained three acres and was on Mr. Peck's land.
The first persons buried there were : George Peck, in 1865; Ida M. Peck and Clara Peck, in 1866.
RELIGIOUS.
However great the temptations of the early settlers might have been to forget their early training in sacred things, they did not yield, for we find that among the first enterprises they undertook was the providing of schools and church societies, the latter of which held services at private homes and at schoolhouses. The first sermon was preached in Washington township by Rev. Stephen Blanchard, Wesleyan Methodist, in 1861 or 1862, at the Union Grove schoolhouse.
The Methodist people gained early footing in these parts as well as in nearly all western sections. What was known as Union Grove charge, was for years a stronghold of Methodism. Another point where this sect were in early days was at West Point, near the county line.
The Christian church was formed in 1887 with twenty-three members. They held services in the Union Grove schoolhouse two miles west of the village of Northboro. The first pastor was Rev. W. W. Hallem, and the first deacons were D. W. Flickinger and Isaac Speakman, while the elder was H. H. Whitney.
A Baptist church was formed in January. 1876, with C. P. Green and wife, G. E. Morrill and wife, R. F. Freeman and wife and Charles Cox. They worshipped at schoolhouses but when Northboro village started, the church was changed to that point.
SCHOOLS.
The pioncer schoolhouse of Washington township was erected in 1861 and has since been known as Union Grove. Miss Dupray taught the first term of school here. As the years have passed and the country has de- veloped, the people have kept fully up to the standard of Page county's school system and is now provided with several excellent buildings.
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POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice within the township is located at Northboro, on the rail- road.
VILLAGE OF NORTH BORO.
This is a small station on the Denver Short Line railroad, on section 23 of Washington township. It was platted by the town lot company, Sep- tember, 1881. It is finely located on a hill and overlooks a magnificent rural district, where all is thrift and prosperity.
The first attempt at business at this point was in the autumn of 1881, as soon as the railway was built through. R. J. Mason put in a stock of gro- ceries as the first store. Hill & Scott Brothers soon opened up a general merchandise stock. The following located here in the fall and early winter of 1881 : Henderson & Bunting, hardware; Blanchard & Peck, groceries and queensware : A. D. Kerr, groceries ; R. J. Mason, blacksmith shop ; ho- tel by McPherson, who soon sold to Mrs. McGinness ; real estate, J. R. Mon- tague ; lumber yard, George Palmer & Company.
The first to deal in grain at Northboro was G. E. Morrill; first in the livery business, E. Benedict ; first in the harness business, W. L. Dunmire ; first in boot and shoe repair shop, S. Fields ; first in millinery goods, C. M. Dupray ; first to deal in drugs, J. H. Word : first agricultural goods, Fergu- son Brothers & Wood.
RELIGIOUS.
The denominations represented at Northboro are the Methodist Epis- copal and Baptist and each have church edifices.
The Methodist society was the first to worship. Prior to 1882 there was a class at Union Grove schoolhouse, but upon the platting of North- boro, a church was formed. S. D. Blanchard, J. S. Wolf and H. A. Max- well were the committee to arrange for building. They raised funds and had a frame edifice nearly completed when the terrible cyclone,-wind and hail storm-of July 13, 1883, demolished it. The following year, 1884. they built on the same foundation, a structure thirty-two by fifty feet, at a cost of two thousand dollars. A parsonage was soon after bought in the country and removed to the church lots. .
The Baptist church was formed by fifteen members in the winter of 1886-87. They built a new frame church, twenty-eight by forty-four fect. with an alcove and vestibule, at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. This was dedicated on the 23d of February, 1890.
Gettysburg Post, No. 241, G. A. R., was organized in Northboro, in the fall of 1882, by sixteen members. The first commander was George E. Mor- rill. They own their own hall.
Sons of Veterans, Shiloh Camp, No. 119, was organized July 1. 1887. by seventeen charter members. The first captain was W. W. Creal; first lieutenant, F. M. Jump ; second lieutenant, O. W. Holcomb.
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COLFAX TOWNSHIP.
Colfax, named in honor of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, former vice president of the United States, is in the southern tier of townships of Page county. It is east of Washington, south of Lincoln, west of Amity township and bounded on the south by the state line beween Iowa and Missouri. It com- prises congressional township 67, range 38 west, hence is six miles square, except what it lacks of full sections along the state line. At an early day all the southern portion of Page county was claimed by and paid revenue to the state of Missouri. Colfax was at one time a part of Washington township. The Tarkio courses its way through this township from section 5 on the north line to section 31 on the south. Along this beautiful stream one finds considerable valuable timber land, in which the first settlers lived.
EARI.Y SETTLEMENT.
In 1850 Alexander Montgomery made the first actual settlement in what is now styled Colfax township. He settled on section 5 and died in 1882.
Next came John Gillihan to section 8. He and Montgomery came here from Kentucky. John Iker came about the same period, locating on section 16. To these three pioneers should go the credit of effecting the first set- tlement in this now goodly locality. It was these three men who set the stakes and gave tone and caste to the early affairs of the township. Soon sprang up good schools, good churches, pleasant homes, model farms and all that goes toward making a county desirable.
Other very early settlers were Mr. Birdsall, Alfred Snodderly, Lewis Lowns, Jefferson Tibbitts, the Lynn boys, J. W. Calvert, Mr. Michael, James Bullock, David McCord, James Turner, Ed. Monzingo and James Hammel.
Frank Hitchcock came from Grundy county, Illinois, in 1869. Charles Hipp came about the same time. E. Cadwell, J. G. Johnson, J. Gamble, J. Hensleigh, A. Hill, E. Apley, J. M. Ferguson, O. Wetmore, J. H. Palmer and G. W. Bowman were all settlers prior to 1875.
THE FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth in the township was James M., son of Alexander Mont- gomery, born May 4, 1851.
The first marriage was Oscar McCord to Miss Iker in 1865.
The first school teacher was Joseph Kempton, who taught in a log school. house, built by James Hayner, on section 5, in 1856.
The first frame schoolhouse was erected in 1861.
The first religious services were held in 1856, at the cabin of John Gilli- han, by James McVey, who was a Christian minister.
The first female child born within the township was Onie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Montgomery.
Mrs. Montgomery also wove the first cloth in the township.
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BLANCHARD.
Blanchard is a flourishing town of about four hundred and fifty popula- tion, on the Omaha & St. Louis Railway, on sections 32 and 33, Colfax township, and also a small portion extends over the state line into Missouri. It was platted in September, 1879, and lots were sold in October. It is well located and is surrounded by one of the most fertile and paying agricultural districts in Page county. Its population consists mostly of intelligent Amer- icans, who sustain the best of all modern improvements and build up edu- cational and religious societies very rapidly.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
An office was established in the autumn of 1879, with J. D. Parrott as postmaster. He was succeeded by B. Thurman, R. Pruitt and O. Wetmore. It soon became a money order office.
INCORPORATION.
Blanchard became an incorporated town in 1880. The first council were: T. F. Willis, mayor; Samuel M. Zeluff, recorder; A. J. Colton, treasurer ; J. A. Funk, S. W. Bird, C. G. Anderson, M. G. Blair, C. C. Hayes and G. A. Gattlin, trustees.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first child born at Blanchard was Martha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Lincoln, born January 15, 1880.
The first school was taught by E. E. Benedict in 1880.
The first house on the plat was built by John Mann.
The first goods were sold by John Mann, grocer; Fossett & Bird- sall, hardware; N. G. Russell, A. A. Lincoln, Frank Gillmore, general deal- ers ; Bower & Comstock, groceries and meat; J. D. Parrott, drugs : Mr. Clement, furniture ; Anderson Bar, agricultural goods; J. Cole & Com- pany, grain dealers ; George Palmer & Company, lumber.
THE BANK.
Monk & Anderson Brothers established a banking house at Blanch- ard in 1881. They began on a six thousand dollar capital and conducted a general banking business.
THE CREAMERY.
Blanchard has one of the finest creameries in all this part of the state. A stock company was formed of the best business men in the community and in 1880 a good frame building was erected just north of the town and all the latest butter-making machinery installed. It started up November 6.
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1889, and is doing a good business at producing a very superior quality of butter from milk delivered within a radius of eight miles. The incorporated name of the concern is the Blanchard Butter & Cheese Company, with a capital stock of eight thousand five hundred dollars.
SCHOOLS.
From the first Blanchard has been noted for her excellent schools .. The first term was taught by F. E. Benedict, commencing September 20, 1880. This term was held in what was known as the "Milwaukee Beer Parlor," which building was erected for saloon purposes ; but the agitation of the pro- hibitory question and the high moral sentiment of the community would not long tolerate and support a beer saloon. Other buildings were leased for schools, but in 1881 a fine two-story brick structure was built, at a cost of nine thousand dollars. It was erected by Alexander Searcy and is forty by sixty feet, divided into three departments.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized here by a small class in 1881. A frame chapel was built the next season. It was thirty-eight by fifty feet and cost twenty-six hundred dollars. July 13, 1883, it was blown to pieces by a terrible cyclone, which swept over this part of Iowa. The church, however, was rebuilt on the same foundation and still serves the purpose. The last building cost twenty-two hundred dollars. In 1885 a parsonage was built at a cost of one thousand dollars.
The United Presbyterian church was organized at Blanchard in 1880 by twelve members. The same year a church edifice was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. It was built of frame, thirty by forty-eight feet, with a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty. The first edifice was wrecked by a severe storm and was rebuilt.
SECULAR SOCIETIES.
Emanuel Lodge, No. 405, (Blue Lodge) of the Masonic order, was in- stituted at Blanchard in 1880 by the following charter members and officials : J. A. Funk, W. M .; A. E. Pratt, S. W .; E. E. Phillips, J. W .; S. W. Bird, H. White, D. A. McDaniels and J. W. Dewey.
State Line Lodge, No. 429, I. O. O. F. was instituted at Blanchard in 1882, by nine members. The first officers were: J. A. Funk, N. G .; E. E. Phillips, V. G .; John Jeffords, secretary ; A. F. Fossett, treasurer. In 1882 they bought a hall which they finely furnished and equipped.
Blanchard Encampment, No. 167, was organized in the fall of 1888. There was only one charter member; the remainder were borrowed from neighboring towns.
Rising Star Lodge, No. 180, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was formed at College Springs in 1878 and afterward removed to Blanchard,
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about 1881. The charter members numbered twenty persons. When the division arose in the supreme lodge over the yellow fever trouble at the south, this lodge became dissatisfied and withdrew.
The Grand Army Post was organized January 11. 1886, by John Spence, with fifteen charter members. The first elective officers were: T. G. Baggs, P. C .; R. D. Perigo, adjutant; F. M. Stevens, S. V .; W. C. Ross, J. V .; John R. Pruitt, Q. M. ; J. N. George, surgeon ; P. S. Davidson, chaplain ; J. A. Funk, O. G.
HARLAN TOWNSHIP.
This civil township includes congressional township 68, north, range 37 west. When the independent district of Clarinda was formed, a small slice was taken out of the northeast corner. Harlan is situated with Nodaway township on its north; East River on the east; Amity on the south, and Lincoln on the west. Its territory is chiefly rolling prairie land. It rises gradually from the Nodaway river on the east and descends toward the Tarkio on the west. Sections 9, 16 and 21 are the water shed of the town- ship. The west branch of Mill creek rises on section 16, and running south- west passes College Springs on the west. The eastern branch rises on section 21 and runs nearly due south and passes College Springs on the east. "No Business" creek takes its rise on section 22, running in a southeasterly di- rection, emptying into the Nodaway river about a mile and a half north of the south line of the township. For fear coming generations may wonder at the origin of the above creek's name it may be stated that Will- iam McClelland, who lived near the stream, once attempted to cross it on horseback but got mired, and upon getting home his wife asked him what stream he meant, whereupon he said that it had no name and had no business here, and from that time on it naturally took the name of No Busi- ness creek.
Olive Branch heads on section 15 and runs northeast, emptying into the Nodaway river about a mile and a half south of the north line of the township.
Hutton's Branch rises on section 9 and runs first north of east and then south of east, entering the Nodaway river a little north of Olive branch. There are smaller streams emptying into the above named stream, furnish- ing plenty of water for domestic and stock purposes. Besides the Noda- way timber in the eastern portion of the township, there are groves of tim- ber in other parts. The largest is Lee Grove, on sections 10 and 11. also Pinkerton, on section 27. All of the streams have more or less timber along their borders. There is a vein of soft coal about two feet thick. Among the banks already opened may be named Aikin, Ribble, McLean and Pinkerton. Extensive prospecting has proved that no very paying strata of coal are to be found in Page county.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Harlan was settled in 1844 by Alexander Lee and by Alexander Tice. "Doc" Franklin Parker, Ezra Heady and Edward Chestnut, in 1850. Chest-
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nut was the pioneer who remarked that, if he could not get more than two dollars per hundred for his bacon, he would "sit up nights and eat it him- self."
In the summer of 1854 claims were taken by D. P. Robinson, Will- iam Whitehill, Robert Young, Thomas Toner, his son, Charles Toner, and John Stevenson. Of this number, Thomas Toner died March 20, 1884, and John Stevenson moved away many years ago.
Prior even to the coming of these gentlemen was a Mr. Redferin, who claimed land later owned by Mr. Annan.
Other early settlers were David and F. H. Muller, Lewis Conner, W. G. Moreland, John Brown, Robert Murphy, David Porter, Samuel Pink- erton and William McClelland. The last named came October 17, 1854, and located on section 25. John Griffith was among the pioneers. His son Isaac served in the Union army, was taken ill and got within a few miles of his home, when he died at the home of Abe Nixon.
Messrs. Toner, Whitehill, Wilson and McClelland were of the original membership of the Reformed Presbyterian church.
Elijah Scholes came in and settled on section 25 in 1855. "Nine" But- tler settled on section 36 at a very early day.
Robert Young came to Harlan township in 1854, also the same year came Archie Rodgers, who soon went west. William and Jacob Butler came in 1856. William Butler was the first to make a home on the prairie, four miles out from timber, on section 30. He thought he would go into stock growing and believed that he would be off by himself for many years, but it was not long until he was surrounded on every hand. From the close of the war settlement was effected very rapidly.
FIFST EVENTS.
The first death was that of Willie, son of William McClelland, who died in the fall of 1855.
Among the first marriages were those of Robert Young to Sarah White- hill, and James H. Wilson to Esther Toner.
The first to preach the gospel was Rev. Joseph McCracken, of the Re- formed Presbyterian faith.
The first schoolhouse was of logs, built in 1856.
William McLean, a pioneer, met with a fatal accident in 1889 He was at a near neighbor's, who was pulling stumps by a horse stump-puller, and Mr. McLean was standing just behind the sweep or lever to which the teams were attached. The horses were pulling every pound they could, when the clevis broke and the tension of the machine suddenly collapsed, the sweep coming with great violence against his legs, breaking both of them below the knee and throwing him with fearful force over on his chest, in- juring him about the lungs. Blood poison soon set in and he died.
SCHOOLS.
The people have ever manifested a marked degree of intelligence in this portion of the county and have been fully up to the standard in school mat-
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ters. The first schoolhouse was built of logs in 1856 in district No. I. Thomas Toner, Aaron Wilson and William Whitehill were the chief build- ers. These gentlemen were all from Lee county, Iowa. Many of the most substantial farmers in Harlan township caught the graduates of that old log schoolhouse and they have indeed made good wives. In 1867 the old log schoolhouse gave place to a frame building, and that becoming too small a more commodious building was erected in 1877, which at that time was the best schoolhouse in Page county for a country district.
Fairview schoolhouse was built in 1857. This district included what is now Nos. 5 and 6. The house was located on the northeast quarter of section 28, near William C. Brown's residence. In 1868 the district was divided and Mentor and Pleasant Ridge districts formed and good build- ings provided in each, which were twenty-two by twenty-six feet.
The McNutt schoolhouse was built in 1871, that district then embracing what is now Nos. 3 and 4 but is now No. 2.
RELIGIOUS.
The Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Clarinda, styled "Cove- nanters," is one of the religious denominations of Harlan township. This congregation was organized December 17, 1855, with thirty-four members and the first pastor was Rev. Joseph McCracken, who was ordained and in- stalled October 29, 1856.
For many years private dwellings and schoolhouses were employed as places for public worship. Soon after the first members settled they erected a log schoolhouse, which also served as a place of worship. In 1860 the congregation erected a frame building, which served until 1866, when it was found too small and a frame structure, forty by sixty feet was erected, this church being located four and a half miles southwest of Clarinda and about seven miles northeast of College Springs.
The doctrinal principles of this sect are the same as those held in common with other churches bearing the name Presbyterian. They hold the the Bible to be the supreme rule of faith and practice and also that the teachings of the same be summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith. They differ from the other denominations in the practical appli- cation of their principles to the civil institutons of the country. They be- lieve that civil government is an ordinance of God, ordained for man's good, placed under subjection to Christ and under obligation to take the moral law as taught by Christ ; that this nation in its constitution ought to acknow- ledge God as the primary source of all authority. They believe our fore- fathers when framing the constitution made two serious mistakes: First, in legalizing human slavery; second, it laid the foundation of government on men instead of God. While they believe in the main our national con- stitution might be right. they greatly regret that God is not more clearly acknowledged as the supreme ruler. By reason of many being the law- making power, this sect claims that the postal and interstate commerce laws are contrary to God's Sabbath laws. For this reason the members of
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ESTE HUAMBAUCHS
SHAMBAUGH MILL
SHAMBAUGH MILL First grist mill in Page County
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this sect cannot conscientiously vote for representatives who are to be sworn to uphold such laws. They claim to love their country more than others in that they deny themselves this right of suffrage, hoping the na- tion may see the error of their ways and incorporate God into its constitu- tion.
The history of this denomination would fail of being complete unless its war record be mentioned. Situated near the dividing line between sla- very and freedom, it early took part in the defense of the right side. No congregation of Page county, perhaps not in all Iowa, in proportion to its numbers, furnished as large a number of volunteers. When the word came on Sunday morning that Bedford was being threatened by invaders, the pastor announced the news from the pulpit and asked the men to go home, take their guns and proceed to that point at once. All save a few men too old and feeble, went and the good women at once formed themselves into a commissary department and sent a wagon load of provisions.
The years from 1861 to 1866 were full of anxious cares to the mothers and wives of this congregation. Some had their only son in the ranks, while others had two and some three sons in the Union army. These times of trial had a bright as well as a dark side. Harlan township seemed nearer to Clarinda than now, and when the women met to make garments for the Christian Commission, the men usually accompanied them and any gathering that had Antony Loranz and James D. Hawley in it was certain to be lively.
MENNONITES.
This peculiar sect are non-resistant and take no part in politics. They have similar belief to the Quaker-Baptist people. They make most excellent citizens and are a self sacrificing people in that their membership, when called upon to give up home or religious belief, choose the latter as the most val- uable to them.
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