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 46
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359
WAVELAND TOWNSHIP.
struck it, the house was in ten thousand pieces. Mr. Osler states that the first thing he realized he was hanging to the limb of a tree some rods distant from the house, with a young neighbor boy, who was visiting at his house, in his arms. The limb broke and they fell, but Mr. Osler manfully clung to the boy and by catching upon the limbs as they fell, he so broke the fall that he and the boy were but li tlo hurt. Mrs. Osler was found north- west of the house about six rods, thrown down an embankment, probably twenty feet, helpless and senseless. The child, a babe born in February, was found abont four rods distant from the house, almost entirely cov- ered with dirt and mud, mutilated almost be- vond recognition. A threshing machine, which stood in the yard. was entirely blown away and no trace of it is yet found. About
forty rods farther up on the Jordan, the storm struck the residence of Mr. Lewis Starts. Mr. Starts and family saw the storm coming, and went into the cellar, or rather an outside cave, aud were saved. The house was torn into a thousand pieces, and carried away, with all the furniture. The storm sped on up the Jordan, killing horses and cattle, some of which it is stated were carried three-quarters of a mile. It passed on its course into Cass County, wrecking the residence of Mr. Spur- geon, killing his team and smashing his wag- ons. The residence of Mrs. Thomas Paist was next in its path. Mrs. Paist and a young son, thirteen years old, were instantly killed. The storm seemed to have spent its fury a short distance from this point, and but little further damage was done by it."
CHAPTER LVII .*
WAVELAND TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-STREAMS-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS -A TRAGIC AFFAIR.
T THIS township was originally called Wal- nut Creek, and was organized in 1856. The petition for its organization by a mis- take was made to include what is now Grove and Center Townships to the west of it. This gave offense to the voters in these last town- ships. and at the election in 1856 they came in a mass to the polls, and at that time the boundaries were rectified in a proper applica- tion, and duly approved by the county author- ities. In 1873, Wright and Waveland Town- ships were formed of Walnut. Waveland is in the extreme southeast of the county, and adjoins Cass County on the one hand and Montgomery County on the other. The first birth in the township was William Black, born on the 4th of July, 1854. The first
death was Zolphes Williams, in September, 1854. He was buried on the banks of the Nishnabotna River early in the morning. He and a child were the only ones interred in the burial ground in Section 14, Township 74. The first election was held in 1855. at which time the following persons were chosen to the township offices: Ed. Dean, John Wil- son and William Mewhirter, Trustees; Fred- erick Mewhirter, Justice of the Peace; Frank Hostetter, Constable, and William McCart- ney, Assessor.
The present officers are: Clarkson Godfrey, D. K. Parker and C. M. Potter, Trustees; Robert Wilson. Clerk; G. L. Mundorf and W. L. Cocklin, Justices; William Gray, Con- stable, and William Mewhirter, Assessor. The first marriage was that of Levi
*By Col. John H. Keatley.
)
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360
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Smith and Miss Sara Wilson, in the fall of 1859.
The first mill of any kind built in the township was a saw-mill, constructed on the east side of the East Nishnabotna River in 1857 by a man named Davenport. who after- ward moved it off. The second saw-mill was built by Isaac Bobb on the west bank of the same stream, on Section 13, in 1867. There are seven principal bridges in the township, two over the east Nishnabotna, and five over Walnut Creek, on the Walnut Creek and Wheeler's Grove road. There are two church organizations-the Methodist Episco- pal and the Christian-but neither of them have edifices of their own, and the services are held in the public schoolhouses. The first school was taught by a Mrs. Warren in her own house, on Section 13. in 1857, and the second by Mary Ann Hackin, in an old log house in the same section, in 1859. The first public schoolhouse was erected in 1861. There are now eight excellent school build- ings in the township. A post office was es- tablished at the Mewhirter bridge across the Nishnabotna River. Levi Persons was its second Postmaster, but the office has been discontinued. The first ten settlers in Wave- land. and who came in 1854, 1855 and 1857, were Granville Pierson, who came from Mon- roe County in 1854; Joseph Pierson, who came at the same time and from the same county; W. P. Black came in the same year; Johnson Brandon arrived from Missouri in 1854; William and Frederick Mewhirter, brothers, from Ohio in the same year: George Boyer, from Pennsylvania, and Peter Cocklin and John Wilson from the same State in 1855. and John Flint from Illinois in 1857. All these settlers traveled the old Mormon trail, and built log cabins with turf roofs until they could provide better habitations. They were compelled to go to mill at Ironston. in Cass
County. or to Stutsman's Mill, near Macedo- nia. The name of the township was made to correspond with that of the post office then existing for the accommodation of the settlers.
There are two principal streams in the township, the East Nishnabotna, and Walnut Creek. There are about fifteen hundred acres of young timber and 1,000 acres of old timber in the township. The first bridge built was over Walnut Creek. on the Walnut Creek and Wheeler's Grove road. The first road laid out was the one leading from Lewis, in Cass County. to Sidney. in Fremont County.
Granville Pierson is a native of Kentucky, and was born July 14, 1827. His father, Robert Pierson, was a Virginian by birth. and died in 1843. Granville Pierson's mother was Nancy Rendler, of Boone County, Ky., and died in 1839. Both his parents died after removing to Indiana. Mr. Pier- son was married in Kenton County. Ky, No- vember, 1850. to Elizabeth Fray, who was born in Boone County, Ky., December 3, 1830. Her father, John Fray, was a Virgin- ian. Pierson moved to Indiana, and from there to Polk County, Iowa, and to Wave- land Township in 1854, where he has ever since resided, following the pursuit of a farm- er. He was a soldier in Company I, of the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, having enlisted in 1862, and was at the battles of Port Gib- son, Jackson. Champion Hills, Black River Bridge and Milliken's Bend and the siege of Vicksburg. He was also at the attack upon Fort Esperanda, in Texas, and Spanish Fort. Mobile, and was mustered out of the service June 16, 1865. He is the father of ten children, namely, May Jane, George, Milton, Tabitha, Ida, now dead; Sophronia and Henry, twins; John, James and Emeline. In politics, he is an Independent.
A very distressing and tragic affair occurred in Waveland Township in Angust, 1876.
361
WAVELAND TOWNSHIP.
resulting in the death of Dr. J. H. Hatton, a physician residing a few miles from Wave- land Post Office, in Cass County. Dr. Hat- ton practiced in Waveland Township, and about a year before that was the family phy- sician of Frederick Mewhirter, one of the oldest settler and the largest land-owner in the township. Hatton attended Mrs. Mewhirter in childbirth, and it was alleged by Mr. Me- whirter that Dr. Hatton in the treatment of his wife was guilty of malpractice, which re- sulted in permanent injury to the lady. A suit was brought for this alleged misconduct on the part of the physician in the courts of Cass County, and on some preliminary ques- tion the decision of the court was against Dr. Hatton. An appeal was taken to the Su- preme Court. During the pendency of these proceedings, it was claimed that the treat- ment of the lady by the physician so preved upon the mind of Mr. Mewhirter that his mental faculties became impaired to the ex- tent of limiting his responsibility for acts that would otherwise be criminal. Dr. Hat- ton and his father. an'old man seventy years of age, went to the post office at the Mewhir- ter bridge to visit a patient on Sunday after- noon, and after completing their errand they started to return with two horses and an open buggy. When on the road opposite Mr. Mewhirter's residence, the latter came through the fence armed with a Henry rifle. Nothing was said as he took the track in front of the horses and fired at Dr. Hatton, striking him so that the ball passed through the liver and
the kidneys. He fell forward on the knees of his father. Help was soon obtained, and he was taken home, where he lingered until the second Sunday, a week, and died. Mr. Mewhirter came to Council Bluffs and sur- rendered himself to Sheriff Doughty, and ad- mitted to bail. When death ensued, he was taken into custody, a hearing had before Judge Reed, and committed to prison to await trial on the charge of murder in the first degree. This came on in the December term of the District Court at Council Bluffs. The Grand Jury indicted him for the highest grade of homicide, and he was put on his trial. District Attorney McJunkin and C. E. Richards, of Red Oak, and John H. Keatley appeared and conducted the prosecution, and Montgomery & Scott conducted the defense. The burden of the latter was the insanity of the prisoner, growing out of the conduct of the deceased toward the prisoner's wife, the claim being made that he was a monomaniac, made so by brooding over the subject. After a long, tedious and well-conducted trial, the defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree. The highest penalty for the offense at that date was imprisonment in the penitentiary for life, and Judge Reed accord- ingly gave that sentence. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of the State, but the judgment of the court below was affirmed and the sentence executed. A civil action was also brought for the wrongful killing, and a verdict and judgment obtained in the sum of $5,500.
362
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER LVIII.
APPENDIX-SCHOOL STATISTICS OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1882.
T HE following statistics of the public schools of Pottawattamie County have been furnished from official sources, and we give them in a separate chapter, rather than to incorporate them with the township chap- ters:
Rockford Distriet-Number of subdistricts, 7. Schools-ungraded schools, 7; average number of months taught, 8. Teachers em- ployed-males, 3; females, 5; average com- pensation per month-males, $33.93; females, $33.93. Pupils-Number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, male, 159; females, 164; number enrolled in dis- trict, 242; total average 'attendance in the whole district, 118; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.03. School- houses-Lumber of frame, 7; value, $3,700; value of apparatus, $3.85.
Pleasant District-Number of subdistricts, 8. Schools-number of ungraded schools. 8; average number of months taught, 8. Teachers-number employed, males, 4; fe- males, 20; average compensation per month -males, $32.50: females, $27.19. Pupils -number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 109; females, 99: number enrolled in district, 170; total average attendance in the whole district, 95; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.56. Schoolhouses- number of frame, 8; value, $4,400. Apparatus -value of apparatus, $2.56.
Lincoln District-Number of subdistricts, ; 9. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 8;
average months taught, 74. Teachers-num ber employed, males, 1; females, 23; average compensation per month-males, $30; fe- males. $26.80. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 119; females, 111; number en- rolled in the district, 405; total average at- tendance in the whole district, 84; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2 .- 93. Schoolhouses-frame, 9; value, $5,200. Apparatus-value of apparatus, $12.45.
Lewis District-Number of subdistricts, 7. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 7: average number of months taught, 74. Teachers-number employed, males, 4; fe- males, 6; average compensation-males, $31,- 67; females, $32.29. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty- one years, males, 113; females, 104; total average attendance in the whole district, 87: number enrolled in district, 179; aver- age cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.74. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 4; brick, 3; stone, 1; value, $3,500. Appara- tus-value of apparatus, $150.
Knox District-Number of subdistricts, S. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 8; average number of months taught, 73. Teachers-number employed, males, 6; fe- males, 15; average compensation per month -males, 833: females, $30. Pupils-num- ber of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 154; females, 152; total average attendance in the whole district, 117: number enrolled in each distriet, 157;
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $3.50. Schoolhouses-frame, 8; value, $2,900. Apparatus -- value of apparatus, $78.
Keg Creek District-Number of subdis- tricts. 7. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 7; average number of months taught, 7. Teachers-number employed, males, 5; females, 9; average compensation per month -males, $30.83; females, $31.75. Pupils- number of persons between the ages of, five and twenty-one years, males. 136; females, 115; total average attendance in the whole district, 81}; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $3.15. Schoolhouses -number of frame, 7; value, $3,275. Ap- paratus-value of apparatus, $2. Library- books in library, 63.
James District-Number of subdistricts, 9. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 9; average number of months taught, 73. Teach- ers-number employed. males, 4; females, 14; average compensation per month-males, $29.96; females, $29.70. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males. 118; females, 100; number enrolled in district, 218; total average attendance in the whole district, 82; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $3.23. Schoolhouses - number of frame, 9; value, $1,500.
Hazel Dell District-Number of subdis- tricts, 9. Schools-number of ungraded schools. 9; average number of months taught, 63. Teachers-number employed, males, 4; females, 14; average compensation per month, males, $29.16; females, $26.87. Pupils- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty one years, males, 184; females, 196; number enrolled in district, 376; total average attendance in the whole district, 240: average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.28. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 8; value, $4.075.
Center District-Number of subdistricts, 12. Schools-number of ungraded schools, 10; average number of months taught, 73. Teachers-number employed, males, 11; fe- males, 16; average compensation per month - males, $31.22; females. $30.84. Pupils- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 220; females, 257; number of pupils enrolled in dis- trict, 344; total average attendance in the whole district, 181; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.31. School- houses-number of frame, 5; value, $4,700. Apparatus-value of apparatus, $25.
Belknap District-Number of subdistricts, 6. Schools -- number of ungraded schools. 5; average number of months taught, 9. Teachers-number employed, males. 3; fe- males, 9; average compensation per month -males, $35; females, $30.97. Pupils -- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 88; females, 75; number enrolled in each district, 138; total average attendance in the whole district. 71; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.11. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 5; value, $2,250.
Boomer District-Number of subdistricts, 9. Schools -- number of ungraded schools in each district. 9: average number of months taught, 6g. Teachers-number of teach- ers employed, males, 3; females, 12; average compensation paid teachers per month- males, $32.44; females, $26.83. Pupils- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males. 199; females, 186; number of pupils enrolled in each dis- trict, 335; total average attendance in the whole district, 1343; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $1.89. School- houses-number of frame, 8; brick, 1; value, $4,690. Apparatus -- value of apparatus, 1 $295.
.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Silver Creek Distriet-Number of subdis- triets, 6. Schools-number of ungraded schools in district, 5; average number of months taught, S3. Teachers-number em- ployed. males, 3: females, 12; average compensation per month -males, $30.22; fe- males, $29.25. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 110: females. 77; number en- rolled in district, 130; total average attend- ance in the whole district, 623; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $2.51. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 5: value, $1.900.
Valley District-Number of subdistricts, 9. Schools-number of ungraded schools in district, 9; average number of months taught, 8. Teachers-number employed, males, 13; females. 14; average compensation per month -- males. $33.50: females. $32.50. Pupils -- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 159; females, 161; number enrolled in district, 254; total average attendance in the whole district, 1274; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.58. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 9; value, 84.050. Apparatus- value of apparatus, $300.
Washington District-Number of subdis- tricts. 8. Schools-number of ungraded schools in district. S: average number of months taught, 6g. Teachers-number em- ployed, males, 3; females, 8; average com- pensation per month-males, $30: females,
$27.86. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males, 132; females, 92; number enrolled in dis- trict, 185; total average attendance in the whole district, SO3; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $3.07. School- houses-number of frame, 7; value, $2,700. Apparatus-value of apparatus, $85.
Wright District-Number of subdistricts, 9. Schools-number of ungraded schools in district, 9; average number of months taught, 83. Teachers-number employed, males, 4; females, 11: average compensation per month -males, $27.78; females, $27.34. Pupils- number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years of age, males, 108; fe- males, 117; number enrolled in district, 250; total average attendance in the whole dis- triet, 134. average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $2.50. Schoolhouses-num- ber of frame. 8: value. $5.100.
Waveland District-Number of subdis- triets. S. Schools-number of ungraded schools in district, 8; average number of months taught, 63. Teachers-number em- ployed, males, 5; females, 12; average com- pensation per month-males, $30.80; fe- males, $28.12. Pupils-number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, males. 133; females, 145; number en- rolled in the district, 267; total average at- tendance in the whole district, 1212; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $2. - 12. Schoolhouses-number of frame, 8; value, $3,250.
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COUNCIL BLUFFS.
E. E. AYLESWORTH, Judge of Superior Court of eity, came to Council Bluffs in Octo- ber, 1866; opened a law office the same year; formed partnership with W. S. Williams in fall of 1867, and continued in that firm until the spring of 1872; he then formed partnership with James & Mynster, that being the time of the organization of the firm of James, Ayles- worth & Mynster. Mr. Mynster withdrawing from the firm in 1879, James & Aylesworth con- tinued in business together until the spring of 1882, when Mr. Aylesworth was elected Judge of Superior Court of Council Bluff's for a term of four years. He was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in IS38; was educated in Hartwick Semi- nary, New York, and Delaware Literary Insti- tute, Delaware County, N. Y., and commenced the study of law in January, 1861, in Portland- ville. N. Y., with R. M. Townsend. He was ad- mitted to the bar at Binghampton, N. Y., May 12. 1863; commenced the practice of law the same year, at Portlandville, N. Y., and con- tinued there until 1866. He ran for Judge of Circuit Court on the Democratic ticket against C. F. Loofhourow (present incumbent) Republi- can, and was defeated by a small majority, run- ning, however, 2,800 allead of party ticket. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is of English and Scotch descent.
EDWIN J. ABBOTT, Justice of the Peace, Council Bluffs, was born in London, Eng., May 27. 1841, and came to this country with his parents, who located at Cleveland, Ohio. He received his education in the preparatory schools of London, Eng., and the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio. In his early days he followed railroading in Ohio and the South. He was married, in Ely- ria, Ohio, in 1861, to Sarah A. Packer, sister of Mrs. John Hammer, and by this union they have been blessed with four children, two of whom are deceased. During the late war, he served as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and, after the close of the war, became a member of the Cleve- land police force, and, while serving in that ca- pacity, received a wound which produced lock- jaw. He arrived in Council Bluffs April 7, 1870, where he was elected Constable, and was after- ward Deputy Recorder of this county for three years. He then became book-keeper and man- ager for John Hammer, contractor and builder. which position he held six years, and, during that time, was three times elected Township Clerk of Kane Township, on the Republican ticket. After leaving Mr. Hammer, he was ap- pointed Census Ennmerator of the First Ward Council Bluffs in 1880, and in the fall of that year. was elected Justice of the Peace on the
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BIOGRAPHICAL:
Republican ticket, and still holds that office. During the years 1880 and 1881, he was City Finance Clerk. He is the only charter member now belonging to the order of the original lodge of Knights of Pythias for a number of years; he was a member of the grand lodge of Knights of Pythias. He became a member of the I. O. O. F. at twenty-one years of age.
W. S. AMENT, attorner, Council Bluffs, has been a resident of Council Bluffs since August 13, 1877. On the 15th of the same month, he became the junior member of the firm of Sapp. Lyman & Ament. He remained a member of this firm for three and a half years, when he formed a new partnership under the firm name of Ament & Sims, which still exist. Mr. Ament is a native of Princeton, Bureau Co., Ill. He graduated from the high school of his native town, and then went to Lincoln, Ill .; he had spent about two years there as a salesman, when he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, and held that position but three months, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk, and discharged the duties of that position for about two years; he then began the study of law with Mr. D. H. Harts, of Lincoln, with whom he re- mained two years, and then attended, and sub- sequently, graduated from the Albany law school of Albany, N. Y. Since becoming a resident of Council Bluff's, he has devoted his time exclusively to the practice of law, and has met with good success.
CHARLES ATKINS, Railroad Pool Commis- sioner, Council Bluffs, was born in Maine in 1831; was educated in his native State, and, when twenty years of age, went to California, where he re- mained four years. In 1856, he came to Iowa, and settled in Onawa, where he engaged in merchandising. In 1873, he left Onawa, and began railroading on the Union Pacific Rail- road. and, in 1875, was tendered the position of General Agent of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad. In the spring of 1880, he went to Colorado as President of the Colorado Mining.
Smelting & Investment Company, which posi- tion he still holds. In Onawa, Iowa, in 1860, he married Miss Mary Sears, of that place, and they have one child, Carrie, aged twenty years. Mrs. Atkins' father kept the Pacific House in Council Bluff's in 1854. Mr. Atkins is at pres- ent Pool Commissioner for the Iowa lines at the Transfer Yards of Council Bluff's.
JOHN E. AHLES, blacksmith, Council Bluffs, came to this city in 1856, and was employed on the Utah expedition against the Mormons, and shortly afterward was engaged by the Western Stage Co. to con- duct their blacksmith shops located here. In 1860, he started in business for himself, and carried it on with great success. In 1859, he went to California, but returned the following year. While absent, he was engaged in an Indian fight, and he still carries a ball in his body as a token of remembrance of that occasion. When Abraham Lincoln was here in 1858, he (subject) was instructed by N. S. Bates, city agent of the Western Stage Co., and also an old neighbor of Mr. Lincoln's to show him all possible courtesy, and to take him down on the bottom and show him his large farm, which mission Mr. Ables fulfilled, and on their return the party stopped at a saloon, near where Lentzinger's bakery now stands, and all with the exception of Mr. Lin- coln took a glass of beer, he remarking that he " would take a drink if he felt like it." Iu Basil, Switzerland, is the seat of the largest German and Swiss institution for missionary purposes. In 1857, they sent out two mission- aries and four colonists among the Crow and Blackfeet Indians that were roaming about the Black Hills. They stayed among them two years, when, through the influence of Canadian missionaries, their huts were burned and four killed, the remaining two returning to Council Bluffs. These latter were very positive of the existence of gold in the Black Hills, which fact our subject published in the Allentown
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