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 61
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But now a new movement began, and in another state, that was destined to influence to a very great extent the destiny of the county. In the spring of 1871, at the house of P. Heglund, near New Windsor, Henry county, Illinois, a meeting of the Swedish settlers of that vicinity was held for the purpose of discussing the propriety of removal from Illinois. It was finally resolved to come to southwestern Iowa. A committee, con- sisting of C. A. Johnson, P. Heglund and C. J. Bjorkgren, was appointed to negotiate for terms of transportation. As a result of their labor thirty- three cars were chartered, in which three hundred persons, with their stock and implements, embarked for their " New Eldorado." They came to Fremont township-the greater part of them-and to-day the popula- tion of that township is mostly of people of that nationality. There are now nearly 950 Swedes in the township, and 2,000 in the county. Almost
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without an exception they came here poor, but by reason of the indus- try and frugality which characterizes this nation, have earned for them- selves good homes, and are on the road to permanent prosperity. They are a people, the elements of whose character are worthy of all imitation. They are conservative, honest, industrious, grave, religious and law- abiding. Coming as they do from the poorer classes in Sweden, they have received comparatively few of the advantages that make men famous; their education, by their very necessities, has been confined to the rudiments, and they have been denied those opportunities that are granted to more fortunate peoples. In spite of this, no people are more jealous of their good name, or more favorably disposed to a higher edu- cation. Two of the county's officers are of Swedish birth-C. A. John- son, supervisor, and J. A. Carlson, now serving his second term as county surveyor.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1870, with the following members, among others: N. P. Larson and wife, C. A. Falk and wife and J. P. Nilson and wife, and B. M. Hallard of Stanton, Iowa, as first pastor, who was succeeded by the late Rev. A. G. Skipp- stedt, when the present pastor, Rev. N. G. Dahlstedt, assumed the pas- torate.
In 1871 the congregation erected a frame building, which soon proved to be too small for the rapidly increasing attendance. In 1876 another, and more imposing structure was erected, capable of seating six hundred per- sons. The last edifice is 44x88; the tower 99 feet in height. The cost of the building was $8,000. The congregation numbers upwards of 670 per- sons, of whom 350 are communicants.
The earliest physician to care for the sick and sore-distressed was a Dr. Brackner, from Essex. The first resident phyician was Dr. Ludgren, coming from Chicago, and subsequently removing from Fremont to Des Moines. It is said that the latter attended upon the birth of the first male and female child born in the township-Emil, son of John and Louisa An- derson, born October 12, 1870; and Ella S., daughter of Isaac and Fred- rika Johnson, born October 10, 1870.
BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP.
Buchanan township comprises congressional township No. 67 north, and 36 west. The first settlement of the township was made in 1841, by Z. U. Farrens. The growth of the township was excessively slow until 1856, when its growth really began. Dr. Farrens was the first regular phys- ician to practice in the township. The first man in the township to marry P
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also bore the same name-George Farrens, who married Miss Martha Holland, November 12, 1844. The ceremony was performed by Charles Gostings, J. P.
The clergy early found its way into the township, being represented by the Rev. Johnson, of the M. E. Church, who held the first religious ser- vice in the house of Ephraim Johnson. Previous to this time, the school teacher had made his way into the township, for some time in 1843 or 1844 the first log school house was built by the people on section 26. From that early beginning the school interests of the township have so prospered that its school population is upward of five hundred, and the number of school houses, eight.
The only town in Buchanan township is Braddyville, situated in the ex- treme southwestern part of the township on the Nodaway river. It en- joys the advantages of railroad facilities.
CHURCHES.
The Three Forks Nodaway Baptist church was organized May 16, 1848, and is therefore one of the oldest churches in the county. The or- ganizing pastor was the Rev. S. J. Lowe. The original membership con- sisted of W. P. Dougherty, I. E. Stout, Willis Alembaugh, E. Dougherty, Nancy Stout, Ann Miller, and Elizabeth Alembaugh. They have no building but worship in the school house, always open to the people of God in frontier sections. They have listened to the preaching of S. J. Lowe, John Lambert, Benj. Cobb, James Bullock, and R. M. Simmons, the present pastor. The membership to-day (1880) is 42. The society is active in support of all measures of reform.
VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in Valley was one Alexander Dyke, who came in the early part of 1850. When the township was organized it was named for its first settler, and called Dyke township. In 1858 the name was changed to Valley township by the county court, and made to include congres- sional township 70 north and 36 west. The next person known to have settled in Valley was S. F. Snider, who came in 1851. Valley township presents many of the surface features to be seen in Nebraska township, but is a somewhat better farming country, being rather less rough, though its main features are of a corresponding nature.
The first school was taught by Mirian Quimby, in 1853, in a log school house on section 27. The number of scholars reached twenty-five, all of
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whom-from those in the alphabet to those in the higher branches-were taught for a salary of twenty dollars a month. School teaching in those days was neither a pastime nor a joke-then the latter, as a plural noun- was the common lot of the early teacher. There always have been, and always will be urchins to bend a pin or grease a blackboard; stuff the key-hole with paper, or the chimney with leaves, to the detriment of teaching in quiet. And-speak it lightly under the stars-such things are told of those who are to-day the staunch men of Valley-men who, when trouble came and the dark image of war cast a deep shadow over the land, forgot the sports of their youth and their books alike, to enter the hard and stern duties of war. Some of them returned to care for the material interests of the country; others, alas, sleep the sleep that knows no waking. They went forth in the full pride of power and young man- hood, but return they did not. Peace to their ashes, and glory to their names-which are legion.
There is one townin Valley-the new town of Hepburn, on the C., B. & Q. railroad. It is a young town, but numbers among its residents men of enterprise and energy. What its future may be none can tell. Hep- burn has one church, the
HEPBURN U. P. MISSION CHURCH,
which was organized as a missionary field March 16, 1879, under the pas- toral care of the Rev. D. Dodds. The original membership numbered nine, as follows: James Pollock, James Milford, J. A. Waldron, J. S. Wil- liams, Wm. Wolfe, C. C. Wright, Robert Johnston, John A. Logan and Brice Black. In 1878 a church building-brick basement, frame super- structure-was erected at a cost of $1,500. The building was dedicated to the worship of God on March 16, 1879, by the Revs. Wm. Johnston, D. C. Wilson, Jones, and D. Dodds. The last named gentleman is still its pastor, and is a worthy, genial, christian gentleman. Besides this church, there is in Valley the
NORTH GROVE CHURCH,
organized in 1859. The original members were William and Elizabeth Orme, J. A. Busey and wife, Henry Beaver and wife, Jacob Beaver and wife, A. Beaver and wife, C. Kennett and wife, O. F. Henshaw and wife, and Mrs. Caroline Osborn. The services were originally held in the school house. In the fall of 1877 the society built a frame church building at a cost of nearly $2,000, which was dedicated in December, 1877, by Rev. B. F. Crozier. Since the society was organized the following pastors have served the people in official capacity: Revs. Farlow, Martin, Smith, Reed, Thorn, Lovejoy, Kern, Gibson, Brand, Everly and Bishop. The
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Rev. Farlow has twice served the church as pastor. The membership s at present about seventy.
UNITED BRETHREN.
Rose Hill church of the United Brethren, was organized in 1868 with a membership of nine: George Hagley and wife, S. Markel and wife, Wil- liam Sullivan, Maria and Sarah Shepherd, L. Markel and Samuel Wolf. The present neat frame place of worship was built in 1873, at a cost of $600, and dedicated in 1878 by the Rev. George Miller. The present membership is twenty-four. At about the same time the A. M. E. church was organized; but after an indifferent existence of nearly two years, the class disbanded. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained in the neigh- borhood, and the citizens look carefully after their spiritual as well as ma- terial interests.
NEBRASKA TOWNSHIP.
This township was first settled by the brothers Buckingham, John Daily and a Mr. Vise, in 1845. In this township occurred the first death by accident in the history of the county-that of Lieutenant Buchanan, who was drowned in the East Nodaway, just above Hawleyville. The township was organized at an early day, and is the smallest in the county in extent of area. It includes the east half of congressional township 69 north, range 36 west, with some irregularities on its western boundary. The township presents an excellent diverse surface, due to the Nodaways, one of which flows in a direction west of south throughout its entire ex- tent. It contains one town-Hawleyville -- the oldest place in the county, named from its first merchant. Among its earliest settlers was Dr. Rum- baugh, the first physician, and in practice to-day. Dr. Rumbaugh's por- trait shows him to be a man of energy and character, and to him, as much as any man, is due the existence of the town. It is a quaint old place, and partakes to-day of the frontier appearance so common in villages and towns twenty-five years ago
The town is situated in Nebraska township, on the east bank of the East Nodaway, seven miles northeast of Clarinda, and elevated sufficiently to be entirely free from inundation. It was laid out in 1853 by Henry McAlpin, now deceased, and named for J. M. Hawley, one of its original settlers and the first merchant of the place, if not, indeed, the first merchant of the county. The streets of the town are uniform and the lots contain half an acre each. In 1859 the town contained three
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
stores, one watch and jewelry shop, one gun-smith, one hotel, one furni- ture shop and one carriage factory. The town, in early days, was quite a trading point, and Mr. Hawley informs us that in 1853-54 he had custom- ers who came as far as forty miles to trade with him. There was also a saw and grist mill located at Hawleyville at an early day, though the latter was upon a rather small scale. In June, 1859, East & Curtis com- menced the erection of a flouring mill at this point on a more extended scale than the one first built.
The business interests are not large, owing to the nearness to much larger places and its want of railroad facilities.
There is a M. E. Church in Hawleyville, which numbers among its members some of the first and most active citizens in the township. Among its beneficiary societies may be mentioned the I. O. O. F., Or- phan's Hope, No. 254. The lodge meets Saturdays and numbers fifty-five members.
TARKIO TOWNSHIP.
This was originally a most extensive township, including the present townships of Lincoln, Morton, Grant and Tarkio proper. The townships mentioned were separated as they now exist in 1858, so that Tarkio in- cludes congressional township No. 69 north, range 38 west. As early as the fall of 1852, Isaac Miller settled on the claim on which Tarkee City was subsequently laid out, and B. Harrill on the place where he yet lives. In 1854 George Miller settled on the place known as Miller's Station. Soon after, in 1855, D. Cheshire, Esq., settled on the farm where he now lives. Soon a postoffice was established and a school started. Other set- tlements were made in the township. Nicholas Snodderly came in 1853; H. N. McElfish in 1854, and several others soon after. The first regular physician to practice in this township was Dr. Farrens, who had this honor in the care of other townships-as has been seen. The first school house was built in 1854, having been made from logs, prepared for the service they were to perform by hewing. The early settlers did not leave their interest in educational matters behind them when they came to this western country, but they made education their almost first care. From this first log house until the township is dotted here and there with neat comfortable buildings erected for school purposes to the number of eight, may be traced an ever increasing interest in and appreciation of the com- mon school. The township is mostly fine prairie land, and has within its limits many choice farms.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
TARKEE CITY.
This town, situated in Tarkio township, eight miles west, and one mile south of Clarinda, was laid out in 1860, by Robert Miller. In July, 1860, it contained five houses-one school house, one church, and three dwell- ing houses. The town was laid out with two squares, one for a business square, and one for a church square. The first business house built in the town was in August, 1860. Notwithstanding the fact of its location in the midst of a number one farming country, the town did not improve as rap- idly as its admirers had hoped, and when the object, which mainly called it into existence had vanished-the removal of the county seat-it ceased to improve.
AMITY TOWNSHIP.
The history of this township simply repeats itself in the history of Am- ity College, and a passing notice merely can be given to the township proper.
The first settler in this township was Daniel Seevers, who came in 1854, finding a home in the grove south of College Springs. He remained the sole settler until the time of surveying the Amity College lands and lay- ing out the town of College Springs, at which time the real history of the township, as an independent existence, begins.
AMITY COLLEGE.
This, the only institution of the kind in the county, is situated at Col- lege Springs, in Amity township. The colony was first contemplated in the early part of 1853, by the Rev. B. F. Haskins, who succeeded in in- teresting various other influential persons in the enterprise. The original idea was the establishment of a colony of christian families on a plan that should insure a "permanent fund for an institution of learning of a reform- atory character." To secure funds and further the desired object, the fol- lowing circular was issued ยท
A PLAN FOR A COLONY OF REFORMERS.
All christians are called to active efforts in the vineyard of the Lord.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
That there are continual opportunities for doing good, none can fail to see; and it is no less discernable that there are times when, by judicious and persevering effort, great results may be realized from comparatively small means. Such an opportunity, in the providence of God, is, to all appear- ance, now presented.
The state of Iowa and the territory of Minnesota present to the chris- tian's view a large field of promising usefulness. Here are large tracts of land as yet, almost without an occupant, which will soon be occupied and thickly inhabited; and this appears to be the spring-time, preparatory for sowing the seeds of truth, with the prospect of an abundant harvest- thus the infancy of those parts which are yet to receive character; and now, by timely effort, with the guidance and blessing of God, a character will be given that will promise security and permanence to the cause of Christ; and to do this as far as may be, it is proposed that a colony be formed for religious and educational purposes. The following is the plan proposed for forming a colony, and for creating a fund for an institution of learning, which shall be religous and strictly anti-slavery in its character:
Individuals who may feel like engaging in the undertaking, are to be- come shareholders. One hundred dollars shall constitute a share. (Note 1.)
When seven thousand dollars (Note 2,) have been secured by shares or otherwise, a committee shall be chosen by the shareholders. (Note 3.) The business of said committee shall be to explore the unoccupied parts of either Iowa or Missouri, or both, as far as may be thought necessary for the suitable location of the colony. (Note 5.)
The land purchased shall be government land. In the most suitable portion of the purchase a town is to be laid out. The remainder of the land is to be laid off into ten, twenty, and forty acre lots, (Note 4,) and this land, or so much of it as may be necessary to pay off the sharehold- ers, shall be appraised at $5 an acre on an average ; and every shareholder may receive in land at the valuation price, to the amount of his share, or shares, as the case may be. To each share there shall be attached a scholarship of five years gratuitous instruction in the institution of learn- ing that may be established from the fund raised as proposed, which may be used, rented, or sold, at the pleasure of the shareholder.
All that may be realized from the sale of town lots, and from the sale of other lands after the shareholders have received theirs, shall go into a fund to be called the educational fund, of which fund one-fourth shall be used for the erection of such buildings for the institution of learning as the board of trustees shall judge necessary. (Note 6.) Of the remaining portion of the fund, (three-fourths,) the interest only shall be used. One- half of the interest shall go toward maintaining teachers in the various departments of the institution ; the other half of the interest, together
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
with what is obtained from paying scholars, to be used in purchasing a library, chemical and philosophical apparatus, and to be used in other nec- essary and incidental expenses connected with the general good of the in- stitution.
The institution shall be of such character as to give both sexes the op- portunity to obtain a liberal education. The manual labor system shall be encouraged and entered into as far as practicable.
Additions or amendments that may be considered necessary may be made by a vote of two-thirds of the trustees at their regular meetings ; provided the proposed changes are of such a character as not to defeat the general design of the plan as laid down.
The plan proposed, if properly guarded and successful, will bring to- gether lovers of truth and right, who value the blessings of the gospel above every worldly consideration; and the friends of humanity, who heartily sympathize with the crushed millions of our own as well as other lands, so that not only choice society and religious opportunities may be secured, but also a respectable fund for the commencement and permanent establishment of an institution of learning, which may be so conducted as to send out a wholesome and highly religious influence to check the fear- ful progress of wickedness, and bless with religion and a religious educa- tion hundreds and thousands of the rising generation. (Note 7).
NOTE 1 .- One or more shares may be taken.
NOTE 2 .- The money secured by shares to be laid out in the purchase of land.
NOTE 3 .- A majority of the shareholders shall constitute a quorum for transacting business.
NOTE 4 .- One hundred acres of the land not included in the town plat, to be reserved for the benefit of the institution for the purpose of manua labor.
NOTE 5 .- In the location of the colony among other considerations, healthiness of situation, fertility, water power, and proper proportions of timber and prairie land, as far as possible shall be guarded.
NOTE 6 .- Let those of the shareholders who propose to settle in the vicinity of the colony, meet and elect a board of trustees, who shall have charge of the funds, the appointment of officers, and perform other duties usually belonging to trustees of literary institutions.
NOTE 7 .- The institutions of learning and religion as seen at Oberlin, Ohio, and Galesburg, Illinois, may be regarded as worthy of imitation, and at the same time giving encouragement as to final success.
This circular succeeded in arousing an intelligent interest in the enter- prise, and the friends of the movement held several meetings for consul- tation and outlining a plan of work. In the latter part of March, 1854, a committee consisting of W. J. Woods, James McQuinn, and B. F. Hask-
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ins, was appointed to explore those portions of Iowa deemed most desir- able for the location of such a colony. While on their exploring trip, which began on the 12th day of April, 1854, in Black Hawk county they met Mr. Aaron Dow, who proposed to contribute $1000 on the condition that the plan should be so changed as that the average valuation of lands should be $2.50 per acre instead of $5. This change was made at the next meeting of the stockholders. During this trip they had passed through the counties of Washington, Keokuk, Iowa, Benton, Linn, Buch- anan, Black Hawk, Clark, Tama, Marshall, Jasper, Polk, and Warren. No action was taken on the report made by this committee, since nothing had been observed favorable to the enterprise. That care and wise fore- sight which has throughout characterized the business interests of the colony was thus early developed. The men engaged in the enterprise were accustomed to depend upon their own resources, and while they were thus self-reliant it was no part of their plan to risk their all in foolish moves or impossible schemes. Soon after this the Kansas excitement led many minds in that direction, and it became evident that Kansas stood an equal chance with Iowa in the favor of the colony with a tair prospect that she would be eventually selected.
In the early part of February, 1855, a proposition was made, and favor- ably entertained, to increase the capital of the company from seven thou- sand dollars to thirty thousand dollars. At the same meeting the name of the organization was changed to that of "The Western Industrial and Scientific Association," though it does not appear that the "scientific" plan of the association ever assumed any definite shapes to further perfect the organization of the colony. There were elected, at the same meeting, the following officers: President, Rev. J. Cross; Corresponding Secretary, George Davis; and Treasurer, W. J. Woods.
Two months after, at a subsequent meeting, the following named gentle- men, B. F. Haskins, W. R. Powers and J. E. Branscom, were appointed a committee to explore Kansas, northern Missouri and southern Iowa. This commission visited the localities named, and reported favorably for southern Iowa. A new committee was ordered, and instructed to perma- nently locate the lands for the association. In November, the committee having finished their work, reported that they had located in Page county, Iowa, and had there recorded the articles of incorporation, thereby consti- tuting the association a body corporate in law, and changing the name to that of Amity College. After hearing their report, the stockholders pro- ceeded at once to the election of trustees, as set forth in the articles of in- corporation. The following named persons were elected: J. T. Atkin- son, Benj. F. Haskins, John Cross, William R. Powers, Aaron Dow, Mark Morse, and W. J. Woods. This list was further completed on the 14th of January, 1856, by the election of Silas Thomas, C. Adams, Andrew
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Turney and W. A. Bates. The trustees met on the following day, and organized for business by electing Silas Thomas, President ; B. F. Haskins, Secretary; and Mark Morse, Treasurer of the board.
The committee who had located the lands in Page county had neither appraised the lands nor surveyed them. It now became necessary that this should be done at once, and the following were appointed a committee to so do, and finished their work in about two months: W. J. Woods, Mark Morse and Joseph Cornforth.
It should be borne in mind that the objects of the association were relig- ious and moral, and not alone entered upon from a purely business point of view. Hence, active measures were at once taken to start right, and a heavy blow was struck at the very beginning. For the purpose of forever preventing the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks, thereby guard- ing the morals of the community, and making the town a desirable place for the education of youth. The trustees were instructed, by a vote of the stockholders, to insert in every deed of land or town lot a provision effect- ually prohibiting the manufacture and sale of all alcoholic drinks, which instruction the trustees have carried out to the letter.
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