USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 39
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utaries arising near and flowing through Eight-Mile Grove, in a northwest direction, and both entering the main stream in Sec- tion 19. Another small tributary rises in Section 20, and flows in an irregular, north- west direction, entering the main stream in Section 18. The tributary next in size to Coon Tail Creek rises in Section 2, and flows almost directly southwest through Sections 3, 9 and 8, enters the main stream in Section S. There are also some small streams enter- ing this tributary from the southeast, from Sections 9, 16 and 17. Middle Silver Creek enters the township at the northeast corner of Section 1. It flows in an irregular south- west direction through Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 23, 26, 35 and 34. It is increased by but one small tributary in this township. In Section 23, a small stream rises and flows almost directly south, entering the main stream near the south side of Section 26. These are the only streams in the township, except where the main stream of Silver Creek crosses Section 36, in a south westerly direc- tion.
The original timber growth of York Town- ship is found in groves along the streams, and consists of the following varieties: Linn, walnut, wild cherry, hickory, hack- berry, ash, red elm, white elm, white hickory and box elder. Lombardy poplar, maple, willow and some other varieties have been largely cultivated, until there is hardly an improved farm in the township which has not a fine grove surrounding the farm buildings. A view of the country from any elevated point in the township will hardly bring to the eye of the observer a single building, but, dotted here and there over the prairie, may be seen fine groves of timber, which have been culti- vated. In the center of these, upon closer inspection, the traveler will find the neat and comfortable homes of the farmers, where it
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
seems he might realize the dream of the poet when he says:
" My next desire is, void of care of strife, To lead a soft, secure, inglorious life ;
A country cottage near a crystal flood, A winding valley and a lofty wood."
The greater portion of Eight-Mile Grove is found in this township. It lies principally on the east side of Keg Creek, and is about two miles in length by three-quarters or one mile in width at its widest point. It received its name from the early settlers, during the time the Council Bluffs & Lewis Stage Road was in the height of its glory, from the fact of its being situated eight miles distant from Hardin Station, on the old stage route. There is one other small grove in the town- ship, known as Linn Grove, on account of the timber forming the grove being linn trees. This grove is located exactly in the southeast corner of the township.
The first settlers of York Township were Elam Meekham, N. Holman, William Cham- plain, Alex Clough, Henry Rishton, Sr., D. T. Jones, Lewis Beard, Ratford Dewey, Joel German, John Ingram and West Ingram. These gentlemen settled in the township be- tween and including the years 1848 and 1857. Elam Meekham, N. Holman, William Cham- plain and Alex Clough came from Nauvoo, Ill., about 1848; Henry Rishton, from Fall River, Mass., in 1850: R. Dewey and Joel German, in 1857-the former from Indiana and the latter from Tennessee; D. T. Jones came from Wales about 1850, and Lewis Beard from Baltimore, Md, in 1857.
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Many changes have taken place, and but few of the first settlers of the township re- main to tell the tale of their struggles. R. Dewey still resides on the place of his orig- inal settlement; John Ingram went to Cali- fornia, and West Ingram, becoming tired of Western life and its privations, sold out and
returned to the East. N. Holman and Elam Meekham went to Utah, both selling their property to Lewis Beard. William Cham- plain's old place is now a part of the farms of R. Dewey and Henry Rishton. Mr. Cham- plain is now a resident of Walker's Grove, Pottawattamie County. A few of the early settlers of York Township were as enterprising as the new-comers to any part of the county. They were without mills of any description, and the long distance they were obliged to travel to get their grain made into flour spurred them on to improvements that otherwise would in all probability not have been under- taken. They were also sadly in need of lum- ber with which to build more comfortable houses, to repair those in which they lived, and for the construction of outbuildings. With this urgent demand for lumber in the vicinity, Mr. Lewis Beard and Charles Allen in 1858 built a saw-mill on the left bank of Keg Creek, on the farm of Mr. Beard. About one year later, they added a run of buln's for grinding corn. This mill was operated till worn out, and was soon in ruins. Other mills with better facilities soon sprung up in different parts of the county. Much praise is due these gentlemen for their enterprise at a time when the rudest improvements were made at great labor and expense. In later years, no manufacturing has been done in York Township. Though it is one of the best agricultural townships in the county, it pos- sesses no shipping facilities, Neola and Min- den, on the line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, being the principal markets and nearest points of shipment.
The first public road opened in York Town- ship was known as the Ballard State road. The petition praying for the opening of this road was signed by the majority of the set- tlers, and the line located by D. Tostevin, County Surveyor. The main roads in the
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YORK TOWNSHIP.
township are opened north and south, as the principal outlet to market is by roads center- ing at Neola, which lies about two miles due north of the northwest corner of York Town- ship. One of the first things to mark the enterprise of the pioneers in different parts of the county was the opening up of a school, and in this project the citizens of York Township worked in unison and with a will and determination to succeed. The first schoolhouse erected in the township and at the expense of the settlers was a little log cabin, 12x14 feet, with two windows. The roof of this building was rather novel as well as substantial, though it must be ad- mitted there was nothing ornamental about it. The rafters were good strong poles and covered with layers of fine brush so close and thick as to admit of a covering of earth about one foot in depth. The floor was made of puncheons, and the desks and seats were made by putting legs in a good strong plank. This building stood on the farm of Mr. Lewis Beard, and was used as a schoolhouse for four or five years. The first term of school taught in the township was in this building in the winter of 1858-59, and the teacher was Miss Harriet Perry, now Mrs. Harvey Thomas, of Hardin Township. The second term was taught during the summer and fall of 1859 by Miss Adelaide Clongh, now Mrs. Henry Rishton, of York Township. Miss Clough received $12 per month for her service, which was considered at that time a high salary to pay a teacher. Good wives seemed to have been in demand as well as good teachers, and these ladies were the first brides in the township. Miss Perry was mar- ried in the spring of 1859 and Miss Clough on March 1, 1860. The school system of the township has been gradually improved, and her citizens in this respect have kept pace in
public spirit and enterprise with any part of the county possessing the same advantages. The statistics for the year 1881 in regard to the schools of York Township show their standing to be as follows: Number of subdis- tricts, 7. Schools-Number of nngraded schools, 7; average number of months taught, 8. Teachers -- Number employed: males, 1; females, 17; total, 18. Average compensa- tion per month-Males, $30; females, $27. Pupils-Number of persons between the age of five and twenty-one years-males, 136; fe- males 124; number enrolled in district. 234; total average attendance in whole district, 993; average coat of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.11. Schoolhouses-frame, 8; valne $4,800.
By the above it will be seen that the citi- zens of York Township are fully aware of the great importance of establishing good schools. The citizens of this township are principally American and German and usually wherever the natives of these two countries predomi- nate in the settlement of a new country, they are the friends of every movement the object of which is to establish a thoroughly organ- ized school system.
No church buildings have been erected in York Township, though the friends and pro- fessors of religion hold church in the several schoolhouses.
There is a small cemetery on the northern line of Section 20. We have been unable to ascertain when the first interment was made. Joseph Champlain was the first white child born in the township.
Corn is the staple crop raised in the town- ship, though wheat, rye, barley and oats are grown is considerable quantities. Stock- raising is not carried on so extensively as in other parts of the county, as the lands are mostly devoted to agricultural purposes.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLIII.“
JAMES TOWNSHIP-BOUNDARIES-SOIL-TIMBER-EARLY SETTLERS-RELIGIOUS, ETC
J AMES TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Pleasant Township, on the south by Belknap, on the west by York and on the east by Valley. The soil of the town- ship is a fine rolling prairie, sloping both to the east and to the west, and the township is watered by Silver Creek and the West Nish- nabotna River. Silver Creek enters the town- ship about the middle of the north line, and flowing southwestwardly, leaves it near the southwest corner. The West Nishnabotna traverses only about two sections of land in that township. The soil is limestone land. mixed with sand. and has never failed, ac- cording to the memory of the oldest settler, to produce a crop. The soil, however, is best suited to corn-raising. Timber has never abounded, and the groves which exist are mainly the result of cultivation, great atten- tion to which has been paid ever since the first settlement of the township.
Stephen James, a brother of Hon. W. C. James. of Council Bluffs, is one of the oldest settlers in the township, and has raised one of the finest pieces of timber in the West. It consists mainly of cottonwood, maple and ash, and is now fit for use as timber. The original road in the township was the stage road. lo- cated by Dr. Ballard, close to his lands, in the northern part of the township, so as to increase their value. This road proceeded along the section lines.
In regard to the religious matters of the township. it may be said that the class of the German Methodist Church was organized about 1873. The first members were mainly from Illinois-John Mischle, Bernhard Eich- enberger. Father Busse. Angust Busse. Franz Busse, Albert Busse and Henry Lee. The first report shows a Sunday school of sixty pupils. They have also erected a parsonage at a cost of $3,500.
CHAPTER XLIT .*
VALLEY TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZATION-FIRST ELECTION-OLD SETTLERS-RELIGIOUS MATTERS- SOCIETIES-HANCOCK-ITS BUSINESS INTERESTS, CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
THE petition for the organization of this township was signed by W. F. Traver and one hundred and sixty other legal voters. A remonstrance was presented by Thomas Dulin. After a full hearing, it was ordered that the township should comprise Congres- sional Township 76. Range 39. It is situated south of Avoca, and is traversed by the Car-
son Branch of the Rock Island Railroad, and was called by its present name because of its location, mainly in the Nishnabotna Val- ley, one of the most beautiful and fertile farming regions in the world. The first election was held at what is known as the Acker Schoolhouse, on the Sth day of Octo- ber. 1878. One hundred and twenty-six votes were then cast. The election officers
*By Col. John Il. Keatley.
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VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
were: Judges, W. C. Barton, James Living- ston and H. C. Hough; and Clerks, A. M. Battelle and W. H. Benjamin. The Board of Supervisors appointed R. M. White to superintend the organization of the town- ship, call an election and provide for the election officers. The Trustees chosen were: W. C. Barton, S. Armstrong and S. D. Acker; Township Clerk, R. M. White; and Assessor, R. D. Ballard. The present officers are: Trustees, W. C. Barton, C. O. King and Jo- seph Moore; Township Clerk, R. M. White; Justices of the Peace, W. H. Patterson and Charles Roberts; and Assessor, R. D. Ballard. There are about two hundred and fifty-five legal voters in the township. In the organi- zation of the township, four tiers of sections were taken off Knox and from off Center Township. The sub-school districts were made to consist of four sections each, and were numbered from the northeast to the left and back toward the beginning, as the sec- tions themselves are numbered, making in all nine subdistricts for school purposes. No. 10 has been organized for the town of Han- cock, which is a flourishing station on the Carson Branch of the Rock Island, and one of the best grain shipping points, in the State. A schoolhouse has been arranged for in Hancock. All the other subdistricts have comfortable and well-built frame edifices. When the first three schoolhouses were built -Pleasant, Layton, Lincoln and two-thirds of Valley Township were included within the limits of Knox Township. E. L. Shugart, of Council Bluffs, at the date of organization, was a member of the Board of County Super- visors, and suggested the name "Valley " for the new snbdivision of the county.
Among the oldest settlers is A. M. Battelle. He is now holding the position of Depnty United States Marshal. with his office at Council Bluffs. but still retains his home and
farm in Valley Township, where he settled in 1855. To reach this point, at that date, be crossed the State with a wagon from Keo- kuk, taking two weeks to make the trip. His household goods, etc., were shipped by the river, from Wheeling, W. Va., passing around by the way of St. Louis to Council Bluffs. The road from Keokuk led through Ottumwa, Eddyville and Afton, and the trip is now made by rail in about twelve hours that occupied, by good driving then, two weeks, and sometimes more. Afton. the county seat of Union County, at that date had just been located, but not a house had yet been built. He found three almost im- passable sloughs ten miles south of Lewis, and persuaded a man breaking prairie to un- yoke his oxen and help him over. Mr. Battelle was compelled to carry his wife and children across, as all the oxen could do was to pass with the wagon and the baggage, and then the box plowed up the mud, sinking so deep in the muck. The nearest point for provisions was Council Bluffs. Winter set in carly, and snow fell to a great depth be- fore they were prepared for it, and for many weeks many of the settlers were obliged to subsist on hominy alone, made in the cabins and at home. Venison was their only meat, but this was plenty, and deer could be killed any time, they were so exceedingly abundant and easy to capture, owing to the deep snow. At last, an old trader in the settlement vent- ured out, with two yoke of oxen, and went to Council Bluffs for food for the settlement. He was a week in making the trip. He stuck in a snow drift when within two miles of his destination, on the return, but the settlers lent a helping hand, and he got in in safety. No mail could be had nearer than Council Bluffs, and the trader sold flour to the set- tlers at $6 per 100 pounds.
Joseph Headley, another old settler, was
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
born in Pennsylvania in 1826; came to Iowa in 1841, and settled within the present lim- its of Valley Township in IS52. He came in a wagon with his wife, and made a log cabin his first home. His nearest milling point at that time was Glenwood, in Mills County, forty miles away. The first season or two was a severe one. Wages were only 50 cents a day, and corn about $3 a bushel. The set- tlers, the few of them that were, lived mostly on corn bread and game. When they did raise wheat, and marketed it, after a drive of forty miles, they were compelled to sell it for 30 and 40 cents a bushel.
Thomas Dulin came to the township from Scott County, in 1866, having served a full term in the Union army during the war of the rebellion. He brought his family over- land in wagons, and camping on the prairie in the journey. He had a tent with him. In his party were emigrants for Colorado and Pike's Peak. When they got into the Nish- nabotna Valley, he concluded to remain here. The others desired the tent, and upon his declining to part with it, they went on. The next morning, they came back and insisted upon having it, and finally got it. He had with him a wife and three children. He at once went to work to cut logs to build a cab- in, and, with the assistance of Mr. Griffith and Mr. Riley, distant neighbors, he soon had a home. He bought the land for his farm at $3 per acre, and his was the only residence for many miles on the west side of the river at that time.
W. H. Benjamin is a native of New York. He came from Nashville, Tenn., where he had been employed by the Government. He ar- rived by the way of the Mississippi and the Missouri to Council Bluffs to explore the country, but when abont to make a perma- nent settlement, he came across the country by the way of Grinnell. His teaming from
that point, the then terminus of the Rock Is- land road, cost him $72, having had to pay teamsters 86 a day for hauling. He occupied a house belonging to T. F. Davis, the first summer and the following winter, and for whom he erected a grist-mill. During that winter, he cut logs for a house, and at inter- vals he built this and made himself a perma- nent home. It was sided with black walnut and roofed with the same material.
Jacob Rust, mentioned in the history of Knox, was a Kentuckian, and came in 1852. Mahlon Griffith arrived in the county in IS55. and settled in the township in 1860, on Section 4. He now lives in Harrison County. About 1855, a man by the name of Pierce owned a cabin on the present site of Han- cock.
R. M. White came in 1860, and was the fifth settler within the present limits of Valley Township, coming from Illinois. An- drew Carrier, Joseph Layton, Samuel John- son, now in Nebraska, and Mr. Bails, now in Missouri, were pioneers. R. M. White has always been a moving spirit in public affairs connected with the township, both before and since its organization. He took especial interest in educational matters, and has al- ways been foremost in these. He is a native of Pennsylvania and an energetic business man. His home is on the south line of the township. The prosperity of the township is also due to the energy of such men as Will- iam Convers, W. C. Barton, C. O. King, Robert Motherall and William Clark.
The religious matters of the township have been liberally provided for. The Knox Pres- byterian Church was organized October 23, 1873, by the Rev. N. C. Robinson, with eight original members, consisting of Robert Mar- tin and wife, Thomas Dool and wife, James Service and wife, Mary Ray and Sarah A. Birney. The present pastor is the Rev. F.
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VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
X. Miron. The first pastor was the Rev. Andrew Herron, of Atlantic, and was suc- ceeded by S. G. Fisher, Mr. Lodge, Mr. Hedges and Mr. Miron. Services have been held ever alternate Sunday in the Acker Schoolhouse, and the present membership is twenty-three persons. New Hope Baptist Church was constituted in 1875 by the Rev. E. Burch, who was the first pastor. He was succeeded by tho Rev. Mr. Arnold, and the latter was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Burch in turn. There were thirteen original mem- bers. This increased to twenty-seven. The services were held at the Fairview School- house. Many of the members having moved out of the township, the church organization was abandoned in 1879. The United Breth- ren Church was established by the Rev. Mr. Adams in 1875. The services have always been held in the Fairview Schoolhouse. Succeeding Mr. Adams as minister were Ja- cobs, Fisher, Curtis, Roberts and Jenks, the latter being the present incumbent. Services are held once in two weeks. A number of the members having removed, they are now reduced to about fifteen communicants. The M. P. Church of Valley Township was or- ganized in 1879 by the Rev. B. F. Peerman. He has been the minister ever since that date. There were sixteen original members, which number has increased to twenty. They have no church edifice.
The society or order of A. H. T. A. is rep- resented by Lodge No. 95, constituted in the spring of 1879, with thirteen charter mem- bers. H. Cook was the first Worthy Presi- dent; John Warner, Vice President; Emer- son Smith, Secretary, and Joseph Moore, Treasurer. The members have been called out once, to assist in the capture of thieves, and succeeded in securing the lost property and in bringing the guilty to deserved pun- ishment.
HANCOCK.
The Carson Branch of the Rock Island Railroad was completed and put into opera- tion in the summer of 1880. The same sum- mer, F. H. Hancock, of Davenport, who owned the land now constituting the town site, laid out the town. Samuel Armstrong built the first house, beginning it in October, 1880. C. W. Newman opened a coal yard about the same date, and near that time C. W. Newman established a blacksmith shop. The first store was erected by B. F. Steven- son in the grocery business, but it was soon transferred to E. Kinney & Co. F. H. Han- cock began buying grain at that point, the first load being purchased in December, 1880, Hancock being represented by G. G. Harris. Since that date to July, 1882, he, alone, has bought and shipped at that point 325,000 bushels of corn, other buyers, also, shipping
great quantities of the same cereal. Mr. Hancock's grain elevator was finished in June, 1882, with a capacity of 25,000 bushels. The first lumber sold was by Seiffert & Weise, to W. H. Benjamin, on the 26th of June, 1881. They opened out a lumber yard at that date. Their business at Hancock is un- der the superintendence of A. L. Field, who is also an insurance agent and Notary Public. W. H. Benjamin opened a general store in January, 1881. G. Diedrich, Mayor of Avoca, started a general store in October, 1881. Battelle & Bavern entered upon the saloon business and also engaged in buying hogs. Whisnand & Archer followed with a general store, the firm having been originally Gordon & Whisnand. The Anderson Bros. opened a saloon and restaurant, and A. Anderson went into the meat market trade. Dr. C. W. Hard- man & Bro. have engaged in the sale of drugs. Samuel Armstrong, the first settler, opened a hotel. Among the others who have estab- lished themselves in the town are: W. H.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Patterson, attorney at law; W. S. Williams, the Postmaster; John Knierieman, Deputy Postmaster; L. C. Drury, stationer; I. G. Carter, who is Constable; Henry Carter, dray- man; J. Reed, carpenter and builder; Paul Reed and Ira Cook, plasterers, and B. Ramsey, dealer in imported horses. The town has now a population of over one hundred persons, and being situated in an exceedingly rich agricultural region, will continue to grow and prosper.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Han- cock was organized in 1874, but it was then known as the Valley Church. Its first pastor was the Rev. William Armstrong, a pioneer Methodist preacher. It had seven original members: I. G. Carter and wife, W. H. Clements and wife, Mrs. Martha Reed, Mrs. Ira Cook and Mrs. Andrew Carrier. A church was built in Hancock and completed in the fall of 1881, at a cost of $1,500. The min- isters who have succeeded Mr. Armstrong are:
Burke. Wood, Bunker, Linn, Wright and Adams. The present membership is seventy- one persons They have also a prosperous Sunday school attached to the church, of which W. W. Whipple is Superintendent.
Valley Lodge, No. 439, I. O. O. F., was instituted December 19, 1881. The charter members were Samuel Bell, William Con- vers, W. W. Griffith, L. D. Seward, Fairfield Thayer, W. S. Williams, Charles Warner. B. F. Stevenson, J. W. Warner and A. H. Whit- taker. The first officers were: Samuel Bell, N. G .; A. H. Whittaker, V. G .; W. S. Will- iams, Permanent Secretary; Fairfield Thayer, Recording Secretary; and Treasurer, William Convers. Thayer resigned his position, and W. H. Patterson was chosen in his stead. The present officers are: A. H. Whittaker, N. G .; W. H. Patterson, V. G .; Dr. C. W. Hardman, Recording Secretary, and Joseph Moore, Treasurer. The membership num- bers forty-two.
CHAPTER XLV .*
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP-FIRST ELECTION-SCHOOLS-EARLY SETTLERS.
THE first election held in Lincoln Town- ship was held on the same date as the general election, in November, 1876; W. A. . Clapp was chosen Township Clerk; H. B. Jack, Samuel I. Pope and Andrew McCormick, Trustees, and Joseph Battersley, Justice of the Peace. The present township officers are: W. A. Clapp, Township Clerk; George Woods, John A. Frank and Andrew McCor- mick, Trustees; W. E. Bartley and A. J. Chase, Justices of the Peace; and Charles Morehead and William Burkhather, Con- stables.
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