History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc, Part 58

Author: Iowa Historical Company
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Iowa Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 835

USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 58

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The lodge has stood by its brethren in distress, with both social and financial aid in a manner well worthy of the noble cause it represents. From the widows and orphan's fund there have been paid out, during the year 1880, $140, and from the lodge treasury, for benefits, about $50.

A Rebeckah Lodge was formerly held at Clarinda, but ceased working after a period of varied success extending over ten years.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

The officers of the lodge are as follows :

N. G., T. E. Clark ; V. G., C. E. Kile ; P. G., David Herron ; R. S., Joseph Berny ; P. S., Albert Peterson ; treasurer, Henry Hiatt ; Rep. H. M. Cramer.

Lodge meets weekly, on Saturdays.

Nodaway Encampment, No. 29, was instituted in May, 1868, by D. D. G. P., Robert McCormick, with the following charter members :

Cyrus Creal, J. S. Cathcart, Jacob Butler, R. F. Connor, J. Simonton, J. W. Clark, S. G. Beam.

The Encampmant meets on the first and third Tuesday nights of each month. It at psesent numbers twenty-five members. The financial con- dition is excellent, the last report showing a general fund of $250. It is a matter af congratulation to the Clarinda #Odd Fellows that their finan- ces are in such good condition and that among them the utmost harmony prevails, and all are intelligently working for the dissemination of the grand principles of the order among men.

MASONIC.

This order is particularly strong in Clarinda, and numbers among its members some of the oldest settlers and residents of that portion of Page county. Nodaway Lodge A. F. & A. M. was organized U. D. Septem- ber 10, 1858. There were just enough original members to properly offi- cer the lodge as follows: Jacob Simonton, W. M .; A. H. East, S. W .; C. Winkler, J. W .; J. H. Powers, Treasurer; C. W. Hendricks, Secretary; C. Creel, S. D .; D. C. Ribble, J. D .; John Perkins, Tyler, J. H. Conine, Steward.

The present officers of the Blue Lodge are D. D. Chamberlain, W. M .; T. J. Bracken, S. W .; C. P. Osgood, J. W .; C. Linderman, Treas- urer; W. C. Stillians, Secretary; C. Pfander, S. D .; H. Bidwell, J. D. J. H. Abbott, S. S .; J. T. Castellow, J. S .; T. Evans, Tyler.

PILGRIM COMMANDERY NO. 20, K. T.

was organized U. D., September 7, 1870. The dispensation was granted to Sir Knights Samuel Stillians, N. B. Moore, T. J. Emerick, J. Butler, A. Bradfield, T. J. Bracken, G. H. Powers, William Butler, and O. A. Kimball. The first officers of the lodge were Sir Knight Jacob Butler, E. C .; Sir Knight N. B. Moore, Generalissimo; Sir Knight T. J, Bracken, C. G. The appointed officers were Sir Knights T. J. Emerick, Prelate; Wm. Butler, S. W .; O. A. Kimball, J. W .; J. H. Powers, Treasurer; Abraham Bradfield, Recorder; and Samuel Stillians, Sentinel.

The whole number of members, Sept. 2, 1880, 31. Present officers elective, Jacob Butler, E. C .; D. C. Chamberlain, Genl .; C. P. Osgood, N

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Capt. Genl .; N. B. Moore, Prelate; J. H. Powers, Treasurer; T. Evans, Recorder; O. A. Kimball, S. W .; and O. A. Rogers, J. W. The lodge has had but two recorders since its organization, A. Bradfield and Mr. Evans, elected its recorders.

Clarinda Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M., was chartered June 4, 1866, with the following appointed officers: E. L. Grubb, H. P .; Thomas Wallace, K .; W. R. Harrell, "S." The petitioners and original members of the lodge were E. L. Grubb, T. Wallace, W. R. Harrell, J. H. Powers, J. S. McIntire, J. J. Round, Wm. McH. Cain, J. A. Butler, and John Bixby. Their first meeting was held on the 13th of June, 1865. The officers ap- pointed by the H. P. were J. J. Round, C. H .; Wm. McH. Cain, P. S .; T. H. Powers, Treasurer; J. S. McIntire, Secretary; John Bixby, R. A. C., pro tem; J. Simonton, visiting companion, Sentinel, pro tem.

The present (1880) officers of the lodge are W. M. Alexander, H. P .; C. P. Osgood, K .; John Beam, Scribe; J. H. Powers, Treasurer; and T. Evans, Secretary. The lodge now numbers 47 members. It has added since its organization 114 names to its roll. Prosperous and successful masonry rests on a solid basis in Clarinda.

ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN.

Union Lodge A. O. U. W. No. 38 was instituted on the 3d day of De- cember, 1875, by J. M. Chrissinger, D. G. M. W., of Dubuque.

The charter members were: S. M. Crooks, W. E. Webster, T. Evans, J. P. Burrows, W. P. Hepburn, Eli Yetter, W. F. Thummel, W. M. Alexander, W. C. Stillians, J. N. Miller, V. Graff, J. H. Dunlap, T. B. Chamberlain, E. Stoney, J: Loy, Henry Loranz, J. E. Hill, F. Parrish, J. L. Brown, Wm. Butler and P. W. Lewellen.

The following became the first officers of the lodge:

S. M. Crooks, P. M. W .; W. E. Webster, M. W .; J. P. Burrows, foreman; Eli Yetter, overseer; W. C. Stillians, recorder; J. N. Miller, re- ceiver; V. Graff, financier; J. H. Dunlap, I. W .; T. B. Chamberlain, O. W .; J. Loy, guide.

The present standing of the lodge, as may be judged from the names of its members, is most excellent. The meetings are held in Odd Fel- lows' hall, on the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month. There has been one death since the organization of the lodge, and all the risks hitherto taken are good. The members are not only careful of their own morals, but refuse admittance to such as are grossly immoral, and dismiss such as become unworthy members by reason of their immor- ality.

The present officers of the lodge are:

J. P. Brown, P. M. W .; J. Tidball, M. W .; W. F. Thummel, foreman;

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

J. Cramer, overseer; E. C. Weidner, guide; W. C. Stillians, recorder; O. A. Rogers, financier; W. E. Webster, receiver; W. S. Caldwell, O. W .; . A. Damewood, I. W .; Thomas Evans, janitor; W. P. Lewellen, medical examiner.

The present D. D. G. M. W. is Dr. W. C. Stillians, who has held the office for some time, and has instituted four other lodges in this judicial district-the third.

The objects of the association are largely protective, but look also to the morals of a community, since it insists upon the strictest morality among its members. This lodge is both flourishing and influential, and is well deserving of the success with which it meets.

THE CHURCHES OF CLARINDA.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian church of Clarinda was organized August 25, 1855, by the Rev. L. G. Bell, of Des Moines Presbytery, and missionary of the board of domestic missions, with the following members: B. B. Hut- ton, Mrs. F. A. Hutton, Miss Mary I. Hutton, John McLain and Mrs. Me- lissa J. McLain. B B. Hutton and John McLain were chosen elders. The Rev. D. A. Murdock preached to the church during the fall and win- ter of 1855 and 1856. The church was without regular preaching from the spring of 1856 to 1860, when the Rev. W. M. Stryker was chosen to supply the church. During this year a frame building was erected, size 36 feet by 40 feet, at a cost of about $1,800. It was dedicated in the month of February, 1861. In 1864 the Rev. H. H. White was chosen to supply the pulpit. He was succeeded in two years by the Rev. J. W. Clark whose ministry lasted until the spring of 1869 when he resigned and moved away ; he afterwards became disabled so that he could preach no longer. He returned and in the spring of 1879 he was called home by the Great Master above. The church prospered greatly during his ministra- tions. In the year 1869 the Rev. Rob't R. Westcott commenced his la- bors with this church. His pastorate continued until the spring of 1879, when not being able to preach longer and with the purpose of ceasing to preach he asked to be relieved. During his ministry the church became self-sustaining.

The Rev. J. E. Williamson was called to supply the pulpit for six months from September 1, 1879.

March 31, 1880, the congregation made a unanimous call for the pas-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

toral services of the Rev. J. H. Malcom, which was accepted and he is now ministering to the church. The officers of the church are :

Elders-B. B. Hutton, S. C. Johnson, W. D. Stitt, V. Graff, J. T. Por- ter, T. E. Clark.

Deacons -A. Loranz, T. Evans, J, A. Woods, W. M. Alexander.

Trustees-Adam Maxwell, A. J. Hartford, J. D. Hawley.

The total number of members received into the church is 330, of whom the greater number have been dismissed by removals, leaving the present membership at 130.

The Sabbath school in connection with this church was organized as a Union Sabbath school in the spring of 1855. Mr. B. B. Hutton was its first superintendent and continued to act as superintendent until the spring of 1859 when A. Loranz became its superintendent. Its first ses- sions were held in the old log school house, afterward in the old court house until the completion of the church building in 1860. A. Loranz was followed as superintendent by J. A. Woods in 1863, who was suc- ceeded by W. M. Alexander in 1871, and he was followed by T. E. Clark and J. A. Woods. It is proper to remark in this connection that not only were the first sessions of the Sabbath school held in the old log school house but the regular church services as well. The history of the Pres- byterian church is sufficiently illustrative of what may result from con- secrated effort. Its members saw in the world around them abundant need for effort and addressed themselves to the task the Savior left to their keep- ing when he had ascended to take his place at the "right hand of the Father."

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

This church was organized February 22, 1864, its original members be- ing : John R. Knox, James J. Knox, Mary Knox, William Alexander, Elizabeth Alexander, Samuel Alexander, Sarah E. Alexander, Samuel Murphy, E. A. Murphy, Mary A. Duncan, Jane Lawrence and Sarah Gray. They bought their present church edifice in 1868, at a cost of $1,300, and it was dedicated to the worship of God July 8th, of the same year. The church has had but one pastor, Rev. D. C. Wilson. Mr. Wil- son is a man of much ability, and one who has the confidence of the secu- lar as well as the religious portion of the community. The present mem- bership of the society is seventy five.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The First Universalist church of Clarinda, was organized on the 28th of January, 1859, with twelve members, as follows : Job Loy, A. Loy, Sally Pfander, Charles Pfander, Sarah Pfander, Catherine Loy, Sr.,

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Albert Heald, Jacob Loy, Henry Loy, William Loy, Rachael Loy, and Catherine Loy, Jr. The church was exceedingly pros- perous in its earlier days, and would be equally so to-day were it not that the abandonment of the old dogmas of faith by the majority of orthodox churches renders their mission almost a thing of the past. The very grounds of the Universalist faith, with the single exception of the univer- sal mediation of Christ, have become the principal tenets of faith in most orthodox congregations.

In 1864 the society erected a church edifice, a frame building, at a cost of nearly $6,000. The building was completed, and dedicated in the year 1865, by T. C. Eaton and W. W. Merritt. Since the organization of the society the congregation has enjoyed the pastorate of the following rever- end gentlemen : T. C. Eaton, J. R. Baker, W. W. Merritt, James P. San- ford, A. Vedder, J. Bishop and occasional preaching by others.

The church numbers at present twenty-five souls ; there having been a number of deaths and removals since the time of organization.

BAPTIST AND M. E. CHURCHES.

The former hold no services. The records of the latter are in so im- perfect a condition as to be valueless, besides access to them is by no means ready.

Besides the churches of Clarinda, there is, in the western portion of Nodaway township an organization known as St. Emanuel's Evangelical Lutheran church, founded in 1869. The number of original members was eight, but when their church edifice was burned all the original church papers perished with it. In 1877 they erected their present edifice, dedi- cated by the Rev. C. F. Schole, October 22, 1877. Since the organiza- tion was founded it has enjoyed the pastorate of the Revs. L. Hannawalt, A. Lohr, and C. F. W. Brandt. The present membership is twenty- three. The society sustains, for three days in each week, a German school, of almost inestimable value to the residents of this township.

C., B. & Q. BAND.

A number of years ago the Clarinda Silver Cornet Band was organized, and under the tutelage of Profs. Brothers and Duncan soon reached a de- gree of proficiency that gave it an enviable reputation among the bands of southwestern Iowa.

A few years later another band was organized under the name of Kel- ler's Cornet Band. It was composed of some of the best business men of

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Clarinda who bought an elegant set of instruments and immediately en- tered upon a course of instruction and practice that soon brought them into prominence. Not content with their reputation they secured the services of Prof. F. J. Keller, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Prof. Keller has had for years a well-earned reputation as a band instructor and as a writer of band music, being the author of a number of military band books, and has the satisfaction of knowing that his music is played by the best bands in the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Prof. Keller has been a resident of Clarinda for three years, and in addition to his work as a musical composer, he is under a salary from the band as their leader.

In 1879 the two bands consolidated under the name of the Excelsior band. Since that time the history of the band has been a constant record of success, and they have secured for themselves the reputation of being one of the best bands in the country. At Des Moines, at Chariton during the Blaine meeting last year, and at the Grant reception at Burlington and Chicago the band's services were sought after, and they achieved a suc- cess as musicians that is an honor to themselves and to the town of Cla- rinda. Recently the name has been changed to C., B. & Q. They have just purchased an elegant uniform the material of which is a fine blue cas- tor beaver with regulation buttons, and shako caps, that cost the organiza- tion about $600. In addition to this expense they have upwards of $1,500 invested in their instruments and about $580 in their band wagon, making a total of nearly $2,700 for their present equipment. Much of their finan- cial prosperity and success as a band is due to the untiring efforts of their business manager, Frank P. Parish, who is ever alert to their interests. The citizens of Clarinda take a just pride in their band, and it is indeed right that they should, for such a musical organization would be an honor to any town of 2,500 inhabitants.

The Hamburg News of September 25, 1880, contained the following good natured complimentary notice of the band: " The C. B. & Q. Band of Clarinda, furnished the music for the fair. They came to our city as strangers, except to a few, but by their gentlemanly deportment, upright and honorable dealings with all with whom they came in contact won for them the lasting friendship and good will of the entire community. It is useless for us to speak of their skill as musicians; their fame is not con- fined to Iowa alone, but in many a hard contested field have given their competitors reason to "forget them never." Their playing was highly . complimented by the officers and the public, and if Hamburg ever needs a good band again and there is strong probability that she will, no other band need shy their castor in the ring against the C., B. & Q. They have the hearts of our public and can get their " spondulix." Mr. F. P. Par- ish, their business manager, is a gentleman and a business man, "a hail fel- low well met," jovial and genial and may his shadow never grow less.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Prof. Keller, the leader, is the well known composer, and as a musician he stands second to none in America. His music is used more by pro- fessional and amateur bands than those of any other composer in the United States. The C. B. & Q. Band play only his compositions. It · would be impossible for us to give the personel of the entire band as we desire, but Willis McGuire will long be remembered as the jolliest; Geo. Smith as the slickest mar -hush !; Fred Tomlinson as the handsomest; J. L. Brown as the most dignified; George Lepert as the possessor of the cream colored mustache and Charlie Beam, none at all; Jim Henderson, reference-eighteen Hamburg girls positively on his string; C. E. Hinch- man, with black mustach and goatee, and Hooper, too, "but nature didn't do all this for me;" Shoemaker is the homeliest of the lot, except Fra- zier, and she says " he's kind o' nice," while Herb Tomlinson is a general favorite. Others we cannot call to mind but suffice to say, all in all they were a courteous band of gentlemen, worthy of the esteem in which they are held at their homes, and the perfect ovation with which they are re- ceived wherever they go."

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The fire department of Clarinda consists at present of one company, having in charge two chemical engines, with a capacity of two hundred and forty gallons of water. The engine and other apparatus was pur- chased by the town council in the early spring of 1875. In May of the same year the company was organized, and named "Champion Fire Company No. 1." The constitution and by-laws of the company were adopted May 27, and the first officers of the company were J. P. Burrows, foreman; S. M. Crooks, first assistant; Dr. P. W. Lewellen, president; J. M. Briggs, secretary. The company is well uniformed, equipped, disci- plined and drilled, and on every occasion where its services have been called into requisition has demonstrated its efficiency. It holds regular meetings for business and drills monthly. The services of its members are given without pay and without any remuneration, and the company defrays its own expenses. The members are excused by the state law

from labor on the highways and from service as jurors. The following are the present officers of the company: J. E. Hill, president; J. D. Jones, vice-president; R. I. Holcombe; secretary; D. C. Chamberlain, foreman; Chas. Lyman, first assistant; Thos. Malone, second assistant. Total number of members 30.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

RAILWAYS.

No town in southern Iowa has better facilites than Clarinda. Both the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Wabash roads are represented by branches. The former having been built in 1872 and the latter opened out for business on the first of January, 1880.

During the month of June, 1879, the C., B. Q. road shipped from this point the following number of cars of Page county products:

Cattle 58

Hogs

Corn 73

Wheat

Rye. .

Brick.

At times since the road was opened for business as many as forty car loads of stock have been shipped from Clarinda station in one day.

The shipment of corn by the Wabash road since it was opened, has been very great, as during the month of March, 1880, no less than 220 car loads were forwarded from this point. In May there were forty cars of hogs and cattle shipped by this line. From the first of February to the latter part of September there were shipped from the Wabash station no less than 900 car loads of grain and stock.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

The settlement of Lincoln township dates back to 1846, when S. F. Snider and William Lavering came to the township and began the form- ing of a house. Four years intervened before another settler came to the township, and then the men named were joined by Litzenburg, Loy and Akin. In the year following came Samuel Phifer and Samuel Peters. From this time the growth of Lincoln was equal to that of the other southwestern townships. Until 1858 it formed a part of Tarkio township, but in that year it was separately organized under its present name. In the matter of schools Lincoln is not only independent, but pro- gressingly so. She has six more than ordinarily good houses devoted to educational purposes, and is wide awake to their present and ultimate im- portance.

Lincoln has one town-the new one of Coin.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

M. E. CHURCH.

Union Grove M. E. church was organized in 1874. The official mem- bers were: D. A. Peck, Jesse Bartley, George H. Ferris, John Mon- tague, Thomas Reichart, William Thrapp, George Mccullough and S. R. Frank. The society built a church in 1880, at Coin, at a cost of $2,- 300.00, which was dedicated September 5, 1880, by the Rev. L. H. Wood- worth. The present pastor is J. M. Conrad. Since the organization of the church the following pastors have served the charge: C. E. Lynn, J. D. DeTar and Samuel Farlow. The present membership is two hundred and eleven.

MORTON TOWNSHIP.

Morton township includes congressional township 68 north, range 39 west. Up to 1858 Morton was included in Tarkio township, as was also the case with Grant and Lincoln. In 1853 Calvin Fletcher made the first settlement, who was shortly followed by Samuel Markham from Ken- tucky. The growth of the township has been steady, but slow. There are no towns or cities within its limits, and it is solely agricultural in its business. Education has not been neglected, as may be inferred from the six pleasantly situated school houses within its limits. Pleasant as would be the task of recording the earlier marriages and other like data of the township, it has been utterly impossible to obtain a single fact that bares the mark of authenticity.

There is, however, an object of more than passing interest to the most casual observer, in section 15, near the Lone Rock school house. It is the presence there of an immense boulder, which for centuries has reared its frowning self to brave the fury of ten thousand storms. Whence did it come? From the far North of the rocks of which it once formed a part. But how? It is a rock of many tons weight. Some mighty agency must have operated to bring it here, and such an agency did operate, and that agency was ice. Could we but hear its story, how its record of pre-his- toric events would fill us with wonder! These events would form import- ant chapters in the book of time. Lone Rock has witnessed wonderful mutations of the face of Nature, mutations which group the centuries of the past into eras; mutations which stretch away down the vista of time . until lost in eternity. It has witnessed great changes in climate, from a tropical summer to an artic winter, many burials beneath the ocean, fol- lowed by as many upliftings. From its home in the far north, it is stationed here, a silent, perhaps unwilling, witness of the great themes that gave

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

birth to continents, or wrenched them again to old Ocean's dominion. Look at Lone Rock, and pause, for it comes from those most ancient rocks which formed the floor of the primitive world. Like the marks of age on the face of the old, does this ancient landmark declare the newness of the soil on which it rests -- the great difference between age and youth.

COLFAX TOWNSHIP.

Colfax township includes congressional township 67 north, range 38 west. It was originally included in Washington township. In 1850 M. A. Montgomery made the first settlement in the township, and after him came John Gillihan,-both from Kentucky. John Iker came about the same period. These three men were the original settlers of Colfax. They were the men who gave tone and direction to its earliest affairs. They seemed to imbue with their own energy and enterprise every man who made a settlement in the county. Soon sprang up church organizations, schools, pleasant homes, model barns, and all the plain, unmistakable marks of progress and refinement. Ministers and school teachers came, and the business of marrying the living and burying the dead, instructing the mind and correcting faults commenced and went on, hand in hand.

The first minister is unknown, though supposed to belong to the pioneer church-the Methodist Episcopal. The first teacher-and perhaps of more importance than the clergy-was Joseph Kempton, who taught in the first school house-a log structure, erected by J. Gillihan, at a point now one mile southeast of Coin. Mr. Kempton assumed control as teacher of twelve scholars, and the educational interests of Colfax may be said to have begun an existence.

· To Mrs. Montgomery-wife of the first settler-belongs a double honor, that of weaving the first cloth, and giving birth to the first female child in the township, the daughter receiving the name of Onie.

BLANCHARD.

This is the newest town in the county, and is situated on the state line, in Colfax township, on sections 32 and 33. It is on the line of the St. Louis & Council Bluffs railway, and was laid out in September, 1879. Early in October the last spike was driven on the railroad, thus completing a direct line of rail from St. Louis to Council Bluffs-a consummation

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

long wished by the people of this county. On the 13th day of October a public sale of lots took place. Within its borders nearly every impor- tant business is represented. With contiguous territory it has been organ- ized into an independent school district. With the same and more contig- uous territory it has been organized into an incorporated town. Its busi- ness men are generally wide-awake and stirring. The town is surrounded by a broad expanse of country that is unsurpassed in the west for general agricultural and stock-raising purposes. To Shenandoah, northwest, it is eighteen miles; to Clarinda, northeast, it is twenty miles; to Hamburg, west, it is twenty-five miles; to Rockport, southwest, it is twenty-five miles; to Maryville, southeast, it is twenty-eight miles.

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Author: Iowa Historical Company Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Des Moines : Iowa Historical Co. Number of Pages: 835

Author: Iowa Historical Company
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Iowa Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 835