USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 45
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PAGE COUNTY MILLS.
This milling plant is situated on the west bank of the West Nodaway river, about six miles south of Clarinda, and on section 36 of Harlan town- ship, in the town of Shambaugh. Its early history is that in 1858-59, a man named Richardson erected a sawmill at this point which was propelled by the waters of the West Nodaway river. It passed through different men's hands and a man named String, in company with another man, sold the mill to James Shambaugh, who added a small grinding concern which he ran until 1883, when the mill was rebuilt and the patent process "roller system" was placed in operation, having a daily capacity of fifty barrels of flour, In 1888 steam power was added to the water power.
SHAMBAUGH.
This place is the first station south of Clarinda, on the line of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railway. It is located on the west bank of the
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West Nodaway river, on section 36, Harlan township. At about this point Nodaway Mills postoffice was established at quite an early day but no effort was made to start a town until about the time of the building of the rail- way. It was in October, 1881, that James Shambaugh and wife platted a part of section 36, and at once lots were offered for sale. The first day fifty town lots were sold. The advent of the iron horse gave all a new life and quite a little village sprang up at once.
The first to sell goods here was the firm of Bracken & McLean in 1878. They were in a store room near the mill, before the town was laid out. After three years the building was moved by the owner, James Shambaugh, to the newly platted town.
John Tabor, who operated Shambaugh's, then known as Nodaway mills, kept a stock of tobacco and other staples, which he sold to the customers of the mill, hence he sold the first goods in the place. The postoffice was also originally at the mill. William McLean, of Bracken & McLean, was the next postmaster. He was accidentally killed in 1889 while working a stump-puller upon his farm north of the village. D. Claytor was the next postmaster. He remained in office until October, 1889, when he was suc- ceeded by C. T. Cox. Mr. Cox bought an interest in the general store of W. L. McLean in 1883 and later became connected with the firm of D. Heidelbaugh.
The first hardware was sold by Ham & Potter about 1882.
The first to deal in drugs was Potter & Large, who built a store in 1888 and embarked in trade.
The grain men were all commission men, no elevators being built. One year there were eighty thousand bushels of corn bought at this point.
Among the blacksmiths who stood at the forge at this hamlet may be named Messrs. Rumsey, Jim Brown, C. H. Herryman, and J. F. Hay.
George Crabb operated a harness shop here about a year but left in the fall of 1889.
CHURCHES.
There are three religious denominations represented in the village, all of which possess good buildings. They are the Methodist, Church of God and the Brethren of Christ.
The Church of God was organized about 1870. They had no church edifice until 1884, when they erected a fine brick church, forty by fifty-six feet, at a cost of three thousand dollars. Later a parsonage was built but it was subsequently sold and the funds went toward the new church.
The Methodist Episcopal church was formed by a class of nine in 1883. W. M. Gray was the leader. At first they held services in other church buildings and in the town hall. December 9, 1889, work com- menced on a new frame edifice which was finished and ready for occupancy in a month from that date. The building is thirty by forty-four feet and cost eleven hundred dollars.
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PAGE CENTER.
This is near what was platted as Page City in 1858, with the hope of inducing the county seat to be removed there. Page Center was platted upon the building of the Denver Short Line Railroad in November, 1881. It is situated on the southeast quarter of section 7, township 68, range 37.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
Douglas, one of the best townships in Page county, is on the north line and the second tier from the east side. It comprises congressional township 70, range 37 west, and is bounded on the north by Montgomery county; on the east by Valley township ; on the south by Nodaway township; and on the west by Fremont township. It is the only township in the county but what has a line of railroad touching some part of its domain, or a village. This part of the county is the divide between the Nodaway and Tarkio riv- ers. It is noted for its most excellent farms and thrifty foreign farmers, who are among the best citizens in the county. Nearly all came here poor and are today wealthy. This single six-mile-square township contains more actual wealth than many whole counties in some states.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first to locate in Douglas township was Levi Reeves and Henry Otte in 1856. The latter came to the township in the fall of 1855 and took up land, to which he moved the following year. He located on section 34, and became one of Page county's best farmers. Reeves settled on section 12 in the spring of 1856. Hames Black also came in 1856.
Henry Sunderman settled on section 27 in 1855. He made his home at Henry Otte's seven years, during which time he improved his farm.
Hiram Ward located on section 9 in 1855. Mrs. Ward died the follow- ing August and this was the first death in the township.
George Newsome came in the autumn of 1857 and is still a resident of the southeast of section 12.
David Margeum located on the cast half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 2. He died in February, 1889.
Alexander Mains came in the fall of 1856 and settled on section 2. He sold out some years later and removed to Kansas, and finally died.
Thomas McNeal settled in 1862 on the southwest quarter of section II. John Strickland settled in 1862 on section 11.
Other pioneers in this township were Major Cramer, from Indiana ; a family named Dirum, N. C. Winter, George Robinson and James McIntosh. About 1870 the Swedes commenced coming in very rapidly and are now very numerous.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first settlers were Henry Otte and Levi Reeves in 1855-56.
The first death was Mrs. Hiram Ward, in August, 1856.
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The first male child born was William, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Reeves. in October 1857.
The first female child born was Lucinda Otte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Otte, born in 1856.
The first marriage in Douglas township was Cyrus Dinwiddie to Miss Hannah Ward in 1859.
The pioneer sermon was preached by Rev. Doughit, a United Presby- terian minister. It was in a log house, built on the site of James Black's farmhouse, on section 2.
The first school was taught by Miss Hester Sayres. This was about the close of the rebellion, perhaps 1864.
The first regular schoolhouse was of logs and put up by volunteer work upon the part of the pioneers. It stood on section 12 and was used for both school and church purposes.
The only three fatal accidents now recalled by the early settlers are as follows: In 1872 John Swanson, who at the time was caught in a fearful storm near Laports sawmill. while taking refuge beneath a large tree, was killed by a falling limb. He left a family. The other cases were a Swede boy who was drowned in the Nodaway river at the close of the war, and a man who was killed while loading a huge rock upon a wagon.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The United Presbyterian church was organized in 1872 by the following membership: James Black and wife, James Pollock and wife, C. C. Moore and wife, William Wolf and wife, Clara Wolf and Isaac Schofield. They met at the residence of Mr. Pollock on section 1. The name of this branch of the church is styled North Page. Rev. D. C. Wilson was the organizer, and the first eiders were James Pollock and William Wolf. The first services were held at the schoolhouse in district No. 1. A frame church was erected in 1874 on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 1, township 70, range 37. It was twenty-eight by thirty-six feet and cost about twelve hundred dollars. John Brown was the builder. It was dedicated by Rev. D. C. Wilson of Clarinda. At the time this church was built, the society numbered forty. At first the society was supplied with ministers from varions points but about 1878 Rev. David Dodds came from Pennsylvania and was made pastor of both the Hepburn mission and this church.
The Methodist Episcopal church dates from 1868, when a class was formed at the Cramer schoolhouse on section 5. The first members were George W. and Sarah Hogan, Major J. Cramer and wife, J. H. Cramer, D. W. Cramer and J. Lytle. In 1882 a Methodist church was erected on the northwest of section 9. It is a frame building twenty-eight by sixty fect. It seats about three hundred people and cost twenty-four hundred dollars.
The Christian church was formed in 1886, at the schoolhouse in district 2, by thirty-eight members. Rev. M. Hardman of Glenwood organized the church.
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The Swedish Evangelist Lutheran church was organized in December, 1870, with seven families. In 1877 a frame church was built, at a cost of four thousand dollars, inclusive of the parsonage. The church was dedi- cated December 31, 1877, by Rev. B. M. Halland. This society has been the means of much good among the Swedish population, who pay liberally and are devoted to their faith to a high degree. The influence of the church upon the masses is indeed wonderful.
SCHOOLS.
Educational matters have always held a high place in the minds of the population of Douglas township. The first school building built by a subscription of work among the first few settlers, was a log structure "raised" on section 12. As soon as the settlement increased and taxes could be levied, school buildings went up all over the township, as the necessity deman‹led.
BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP.
Buchanan, one of the earliest setttled parts of Page county, is now con- fined to congressional township 67, range 36 west, and contains about thirty-two sections of land, a portion of the lower tier of sections being cut by the Missouri state line, on account of variations in several boundary surveys. Buchanan is south of East River township, west of Taylor county, north of the Missouri state line, and east of Amity township. It derived its name from an army officer who was drowned near Hawleyville, about 1883, while trying to cross a stream in high water time. This officer's body was eventually taken to Washington city and interred in Arlington cemetery.
For many years subsequent to its organization the south half of its do- main was included in and paid tribute to the state of Missouri, until by act of congress the matter was finally settled and the present southern boundary line established. The township is watered and drained by the Nodaway rivers and Buchanan creek. The East and West Nodaway form a junction on section 7. There is considerable broken land in the township and a good amount of native forests, within which the first settlements were effected.
At first Buchanan embraced the south half of the county and Nodaway township the northern half but Buchanan assumed its present form and size in October, 1860, by order of County Judge Swinton, who cut it down to its present territory by making other civil townships.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
It is in this township, as now defined, that we find the first events of settlement in Page county. It was here that the white man ventured to make for himself a habitation even before the Indian wigwams had all disappeared.
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The honor, for such it is, of effecting the first settlement in the county, likewise Buchanan township, belongs to the Farrens family. D. M. Far- rens claims G. W. and H. D. Farrens, came to Buchanan township in 1842 and that he David Farrens came in 1843, but records in the hands of H. D. Farrens show that the settlement was made in 1842; hence, the settlement of the three Farrens must have been made in 1843. However, many still contend, and may be correct, that the first settlement dates from 1841. William Hardee, who came, he says, March 28, 1842, and settled on section 1, believes the first settlement should be 1841. The location of the first house was on section 27. Larkin Thompson moved into the town- ship about the same time that Hardee came.
In 1845 Pike Davidson, Jacob Botenfelt, John Snodgrass, Robert Snod- grass, Daniel and John Duncan, came about the same time.
John Griffey and Thomas Nixon came in 1850.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first person born of white parents in this township and county was Oliver Perry Hardee, generally known as Perry Hardee, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hardee, born September 16, 1842.
The first white woman in this township and the county was Miss Eliza- beth Farley, who married William Hardee. She was also the mother of the first child.
The first marriage was that of George Farren and Miss Martha Hol- land, November 12, 1844.
The first postoffice in Buchanan township was established in 1851, known as Center postoffice. G. W. Farrens was the first postmaster.
The first settler to go on the prairie to make a home was Samuel Nixon. The timbermen all told him he would freeze or starve to death. He planted the first vineyard in Page county.
The first trail ever broken by a white man was in 1843, when G. W. Farrens one wet season hitched four yoke of oxen to a treetop and dragged it over hill and dale to Maryville, Missouri.
Mr. Farrens was peculiarly situated, as he lived in two states, three counties and two townships and yet never removed. It came about on account of the Iowa-Missouri boundary line trouble and the reorganiza- tion of townships.
SCHOOLS.
Though not even fairly educated themselves, many unable to read and write, yet the first settlers saw the need of schools and in 1844 a log school- house was built on section 26, in which both school and occasional religious services were held. From that remote day to this the good people of Buchanan have always been foremost in promoting educational matters in Page county.
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RELIGIOUS.
The clergy found its way into the wilds of Buchanan township, at first being represented by Rev. Johnson, of the Methodist faith, who held the first religious service at the house of Ephraim Johnson.
The Three Forks Nodaway Baptist church was organized May 16, 1858, by Rev. S. J. Lowe. The original members were W. P. Dougherty, I. E. Stout, Willis Allenbaugh, E. Dougherty, Nancy Stout, Ann Miller and Elizabeth Allenbaugh.
BRADDYVILLE.
This is the important trading point in the township. A small plat was laid out at an early day by Mr. Braddy. The present plat was effected and made a matter of public record in June, 1878, the year in which the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railway was built through from Clarinda to Burlington Junction, Missouri. James Braddy made the plat. It is lo- cated on section 36, and on the bank of the Nodaway river, which af- fords a mill power at this point. It is now an incorporated place and is one of the oldest trading points in the county. Among the early dealers here were William Beach, who conducted a store in a log house some time in the late '50s. He was followed by T. B. Blackford, R. H. Dunn, R. C. Mason & Son. Jolin Hart & Company came in 1875.
RAILROAD ERA.
The coming of the railway marked a new era for Braddyville, and in 1870-80 Good & Gottbrecht were the general merchandise dealers.
In 1880 Dale & Collins opened a harware store. Butler Brothers and David Dows & Company bought grain. Hotelling & Crane handled lum- ber. A. H. Luddington was the first dealer in furniture. The first to deal in drugs was Raudabaugh & Lawrence. The pioneer hotel was run by J. W. Martin. John Gram had the first shoe shop; John Castle, harness maker ; Stuart Henderson, blacksmith; M. Reed, wagon shop; Mrs. Good and Casey Smith, milliners ; Dale & Carson, agriculture goods ; Blackford & Failyer, livery business.
POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established at an early day. William Krout was an early postmaster. The office was made a money order station, July 21, 1884. The first order was for seventeen dollars and twenty cents, sent by John M. King to Sol Gray, at Williamsburgh, Kansas.
Braddyville was incorporated in 1880.
The Braddyville News commenced its issue January 1, 1890. the proprie- tors being Miller & Grosvenor.
The Bank of Braddyville was opened in 1880 by Good & Webster, who in 1881 sold to Crain, Jefferson & Company, and in May, 1889, J. B.
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Crain bought the concern and carried on a banking and insurance busi- ness.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house was erected in 1873. a one-story twenty-four by thirty-four feet, of frame, which stood on the bank of the river. A school building was erected in 1884, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. It is forty-six by fifty-six feet and two stories high.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Methodism is an old institution hereabouts. Its carly history cannot be here noted but a few years after the railway was built. a neat frame edifice, thirty by fifty feet, was constructed at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
ODD FELLOWS.
College Springs Lodge, No. 228, was removed from College Springs in 1879. The Lodge owns their own hall.
MORSEMAN AND CROOKS.
These were platted towns on the lines of the Wabash Railway, which line was abandoned in 1800 and pulled up. Morseman's plat was on section 17, while Crooks' was on section 29.
EAST RIVER TOWNSHIP.
East River township is located in the eastern tier of the congressional subdivisions of Page county and is the second township from the southern boundary line. It is south of Nebraska township, west from the Taylor county line, north of Buchanan township and east of Harlan township. From north to south its territory is traversed by the sparkling waters of the East and West Nodaway rivers and derives its name from the first mentioned river. It is also watered along its castern boundary by Bu- chanan creek, and through its interior by smaller streams. The surface of the land in this township is beautifully undulating and the water courses are skirted by a fine growth of natural timber, embracing nearly all the kinds common to this climate and soil.
The soil is a dark rich loam, from two to three feet in depth, having a firm yellow clay for a subsoil, which prevents what is usually styled "wash- ing." All the grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables grown in this part of the country abound here in abundance and are ripened into maturity with almost a certainty. The climate is healthful and invigorating. The timber serves as an excellent protection in mid-winter, as well as to stop the force of the high winds of the summer months.
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CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BRADDYVILLE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BRADDYVILLE
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This part of Page county is embraced in what was once the disputed territory between Iowa and Missouri and for many years taxes were levied and collected by both states. This was settled, however, in 1851, in favor of Iowa. When the county was laid off into townships, that now embraced by East River was a part of what is now Buchanan township and so re- . mained until 1861, when the board of supervisors changed it and East River was struck off into a civil township by itself.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
By careful research it has been found that the first settlement in this township was made in 1843 by Jesse Majors, Robert Stafford, Lark and Moses Thompson and Charles Gaston. The following year came Jeremiah Teeters and Gideon Dougherty. These men, together with the families of themselves and those just mentioned, made up the pioneer band of East River township and had to be contented with and endure all the hardships coincident to those early days. Nearly all the goods consumed by these first settlers had of necessity to be freighted in by team from markets situated at a long distance, generally from St. Joseph or Marysville, Mis- souri. It should be remembered that this township was settled about sixteen years prior to the advent of a single mile of railroad within the state of Iowa.
The Pottawattomic and Musquankie Indians were encamped in consider- able numbers on both branches of the Nodaway river, as well as along the winding banks of Buchanan creek, as late as 1854, when they were removed to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. At that date there were five white fami- lies living in what was styled "the forks" in East River township and seven families additional in other parts of the township. Counting five persons to each family, it gave a population of sixty persons in 1854. Six years later, in 1861, when the township was organized under its present name, it contained a population of two hundred and sixty. Its population in 1876 was a few less than nine hundred.
SCHOOLS.
At the time East River became a township itself, the advantages for obtaining a good common-school education were by no means excellent but as times advanced so did her school advantages. In 1876 there were within this township three hundred and seventy persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years and the average daily attendance amounted to one hundred and seventy-six pupils. There were then eight schools. David Ribble taught the first school in East River in 1852.
RELIGIOUS.
It may in all candor be stated in this connection that in no one particular has this people made more rapid strides than in the matter pertaining to
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religious worship. In the early times the holy Sabbath was more frequently given over to carousing, hunting and fishing. The wild whoop of the Indians answered by their white brothers was then wont to break the stillness of the quiet Sabbath, instead of the voice of the man of God. Today nearly every denomination of Christians are in some manner repre- sented within the limits of the township, many of them having large socie- ties and regular preaching services. The Methodist Episcopal is thought to be the strongest sect, yet others are large and among them may be men- tioned the denomination of the Church of God. The first religious services held in the township was at Shambaugh's mills, where William Rector preached in the fall of 1851.
THE "BANNER" TOWNSHIP.
It should here be made a matter of imperishable record that no township in all lowa's broad domain shows a better war record than does East River. whose people won the silken banner for furnishing more supplies and relief to aid the wounded soldiers in the field and to sustain the families they had left at home. It must be remembered that the heroes of Shiloh and Donelson were many from East River township of Page county, Iowa. These men placed themselves between the awful storm of leaden hail and the American republic, which they had been sworn to protect. During those days of darkness and bereavement the Governor of Iowa offered a silk flag to the county that should furnish the most of material supplies and relief for soldiers, and Page county bore away her justly-won flag. and East River township carried off the banner as being the most forward of all the townships in the county in that loyal movement.
SHAMBAUGH'S MILLS.
This was the first mill site improved in the county. Mr. Stonebreaker erected a sawmill here in 1847. Some grinding machinery was also put in operation. In 1849 Mr. Stonebreaker died and the following year the mill passed into the hands of Captain Connor, who soon sold a hali to one Reinhart, who later sold to Philip Boulware, who also bought Connor out and run the mill until 1854. when Gordon & Shambaugh bought the prop- erty. In 1857 these gentlemen 'built a flouring mill proper. This mill is on the West Nodaway river, from which it derives its power. It is on section 7, East River township, and about two miles southeast of Clarinda. The river affords a seven-foot head of water. Steam was added in 1888. The sawmill part was not used after 1870. In 1885 the patent roller system was put in, with a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day. The mill is known in history as Stonebreaker's mill, Boulware's mill and Shambangh's mill.
NEBRASKA TOWNSHIP.
This subdivision of Page county is situated in the eastern tier of town- ships and is congressional township No. 69, and is part of range 36, being
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the smallest township of the county. It was among the first townships organized into a civil government. It presents an excellent diverse surface, due to the Nodaway streams, one of which flows southwest throughout the entire extent of the township. It is a rich, highly cultivated and thickly populated township and contains the oldest village in Page county-Haw- 'eyville.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The honor of making the first settlement in this township belongs to Joseph Buckingham, who together with John Buckingham, John Daily and Aaron Wise, came in about 1845. Joseph Buckingham died in the vicinity of Hawleyville in 1872.
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