USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 23
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There is no richer land on earth. Even those steep bluffs are rich soil and will endure drought as well as the bottom lands, and they are well adapted to raising fruit and especially grapes.
Some thirty years ago the river took a notion to make a change in its course, and proceeded to remove two or three farms to help fill the Gulf of Mexico, and in doing so unwittingly created a beautiful lake four miles south of Councill Bluffs. This did not receive much notice for quite a number of years, when it was discovered that on the south side there was a sandy beach
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that for bathing purposes could not be excelled short of the sea shore. Mr. E. H. Odel was one, if not the first to make this discovery, and steps were immediately taken to utilize it. Home-made boats were first constructed and temporary bath houses sprung up like mushrooms.
At first people flocked down in buggies, buses, carryalls and horsebaek. The next season a large pavilion was built on the north side and a track built and dummy trains put on, trees set out and steam launches put on the lake to take passengers to and from the beach. Each season the business increased until at this writing it has become one of the most popular pleasure resorts away from the sea coasts. Elegant electric cars run every five minutes, a town has been built, boat, base ball and golf clubs formed, and, in fact, it has become a baby Coney Island, and on a pleasant Sunday ten thousand is no unusual attendance.
This township is named in honor of three Lewis brothers that settled here in an early day.
The St. Joseph Railroad passes through this township going south, and the Wabash going southeast, leaving it on section 25, and passing the south- western corner of Keg Creek township, enters Mills county. Although it is generally thought Lewis has but two railroads, it has in fact five, as the Rock Island, Milwaukee and Great Western in making the curve to enter the city pass through a few rods of it, but only enough to swear by.
The township officers are: F. G. Knowles, F. W. Beck and HI. C. Jen- kins, trustees; Peter Rief and Wm. Steele, justices of the peace; H. A. Eller- beck, assessor; G. C. Plumer, clerk and Julius Schultz, constables. There are two churches, St. Paul's Evangelical on the southeast corner of section 26, and another at Dumfries station on the Wabash.
According to the state census of 1905 there were four hundred and seven- teen of school age in the township, with ample school room. The pay of teachers is, for first grade, $40, second grade, $35 per month. The board of education is as follows: II. A. Ellerbeck, president; W. C. Vanpelt, seere- tary and Joseph Nansel, treasurer.
Although Lake Manawa has become a very popular resort, it has exacted a pretty heavy toll in human life. In 1892 three young men were drowned by being swamped while crossing in a storm, and later the same year, a young man went down the toboggan slide into deep water and drowned before he could be reseued. Three men were drowned in April, 1904, a young woman in 1905 and six in 1906 by the breaking down of a wharf on the south side during a rush.
The close proximity to the city naturally brings all the trade of the town- ship to that center. The most prominent feature of this township is the state school for the deaf, of which more will be said later on.
LAYTON TOWNSHIP AND WALNUT.
Previous to 1873 the territory embraced in Layton township was a part of Knox, but in that year on June 7 the petition of W. B. Cuppy, Thomas Ledwiek, G. N. Robinson and forty other citizens of Knox township, was
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presented to the county board of supervisors, asking that honorable body to divide that township, and on the matter coming up, the following resolu- tion granting their petition was adopted:
"Be it ordered that Township 76, Range 38 and Township 77, Range 38 be and is hereby organized into a civil township to be known as the Township of Layton."
The first election was held in the town of Walnut on October 14, 1873. Layton township was the last in the county to attract the land agent and settler. The reason probably was owing to the distance from market. With the construction of the railroad the conditions were changed and speedily brought this great body of land into notice.
As now constituted it covers a full congressional township of thirty-six sections of as good land as can be found outdoors, and capable of supporting a population of five thousand people.
It is bounded on the north by Shelby county, on the east by Cass, south by Lincoln township and west by Knox. It has but one stream of any importance, that of Walnut creek, running from its source in Shelby county nearly south until it finally empties into the Botna.
The first settlers were E. B. Hinckley and family, Oscar Lodge, Leander Lodge and Henry Orcutt.
With the advent of the Rock Island Railroad, Mr. Hinckley became the agent for its lands, opened an office and did a very successful business. The settlers flocking in from all directions the settlement grew rapidly, wagon roads began to be in evidence.
The original plat of the city of Walnut was surveyed and platted by what was known as the Allen company. Several additions have been made until it takes in the half of section 9.
The first settlers in the town were Dr. Plinny, D. Holcomb, D. Hison and E. R. Hinckley.
The first store was opened by Leander Lodge, and the first postmaster was E. R. Hinckley.
In 1877 Walnut received her charter as a city, and the first election resulted in placing the city government in the hands of the following officers : Mayor, W. H. Linfor; recorder, J. B. Johnson; marshal, Robert Gilbreath; city council, J. H. Henry, O. M. Bruce, Charles Lebeck, I. T. Spangler, Wmn. Hill and J. B. Johnson.
The population and business increased rapidly in the city as well as in the country and by 1800 there were in the city four dry goods stores, five groceries, seven saloons, three drug stores, one jewelry store, one furniture store, two millinery stores, one bank, three elevators, three agricultural imple- ment stores, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, two carriage shops, two hotels, one barber shop, three lumber yards, two shoe shops, two lawyers. three doctors, and one flouring mill. This was built in 1872 by Moses Thuns and Co. It had a run of four buhrs and a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day.
The Walnut News was established in 1878 by A. O. Cramer. and edited
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by Dan Cramer, brother of proprietor. At this time (1880) there were two churches, one Presbyterian and one Catholic. The first Sabbath school was in the depot building of the railroad in 1873, under the auspices of the Campbellites.
In 1875 there was erected, at a cost of $5,000, a handsome two-story pub- lic school building. At the opening there were twenty-five pupils under the charge of Miss Kate Williams. It was opened as a distriet school but in the fall of same year was changed to a graded school with a principal and two assistants. There were in 1881 two hundred and thirty pupils. The super- intendent was Professor William Hubbard with three assistants.
The statistics for the year 1881 show the following in regard to the township; Number of subdistricts, eight; number of ungraded, eight; num- ber of months taught, nine; teachers employed, male, two, female, thirteen ; number of pupils, males, one hundred and two, females, ninety.
There were three secret societies, Walnut lodge No. 122, Legion of Honor. was the first to organize. The first officers were: W. H. Linfor, president ; W. H. Bowman, vice-president; J. C. Spangler, recording secretary; J. H. Henry, foreman; W. F. Moreshell, financier; J. B. Case, chaplain and W. Gardiner, doorkeeper.
The second secret society organized was Moriah lodge No. 327, 1. O. O. F .. on September 25, 1875.
The charter members were: J. W. Snyder, C. W. Merrill, G. C. Hunt. O. M. Bruce, W. H. Brundridge, J. M. Turner and G. T. Mix. The first officers were: Noble grand, J. W. Snyder; vice grand, G. T. Mix; recording secretary, W. E. Turner; permanent secretary, James Ledwick and treasurer, F. H. Green.
The third society to organize a lodge in Walnut was the A. O. U. W. Walnut lodge, No. 194, A. O. U. W., was organized by charter granted June 25, 1879. This lodge in 1882 had a membership of forty-two and the officers were: W. L. Williams, master workman; Wmn. Woodring, foreman; A. S. Amey, receiver; Wmn. Gardiner, financier; Henry Ott, overseer; W. O. Hub- bard, past master workman : Robert Boat, guide; W. R. Spencer, inside watch- man ; J. C. Spangler, outside watchman and H. A. Cummings, secretary.
Although history is constantly being made, we at times neglect to record it, being too busy, but it is proper that at least each generation should leave data by which those that succeed us can keep advised as to whether we are advancing or retrograding. It has recently been claimed that in many coun- ties of Iowa the last census shows a decrease in population. This seems unnat- ural for so young a state as Iowa and one so highly endowed by nature. It is possible that the high price of land here may have driven young men to where it is cheaper, faster than its excellent quality has attracted strangers to it, or again, for years there has been a great strife to show rapid gains in population that in many instances resulted in padding the returns as appeared in the case of our neighboring city, where the census of 1890 showed forty thousand more than that of 1900. Be this as it may, we are not prepared to believe that this township or Pottawattamie county has retrograded.
The town of Walnut at this time contains the following list of institu-
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tions: Three banks, four general stores, two exclusive grocery stores, two drug stores, four restaurants, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two photo- graph galleries, two elevators, two livery stables, one flouring mill, three implement stores. one cement bloek factory, two lumber yards, two hardware stores, three physicians, one meat market, one harness shop, one tailoring establishment, three barber shops, one steam laundry, one millinery store, one dentist, one newspaper, two real estate offices, four hotels, two billiard halls, four saloons, one exelusive shoe store, one clothing store.
The religious organizations are represented by Catholic, Methodist, Pres- byterian and Lutheran churches. The Masons, Odd Fellows, A. O. U. W., M. W. A., W. O. W., Knights of Pythias, G. A. R., Homesteaders and Ger- man Verein each have organizations.
The city also has its waterworks and electric light plant and fire company. Citizens claim a population of one thousand five hundred and for their banks $1,000,000. The city has a graded school with superintendent and seven teachers.
The city government is constituted as follows: Mayor, E. C. Thompson : clerk, C. S. Spangler; city council, J. B. Johannasen, Dr. Morris Moore, Orris Mosher, Jr., J. C. Vollsted. W. S. Sankey and N. II. Lewis.
The township officers are as follows: Trustees, G. W. Craney. Wm. H. Jurgenson and Frank Hanna; clerk. F. C. Hector; assessor, John Schmidt; justices, E. C. Thompson and J. B. Johannsen.
School board, I. F. Sievers, president; John Schmidt, secretary; J. W. Craig, treasurer.
According to census of 1905 there were in Layton township, exclusive of Walnut, two hundred of school age, of which one hundred and eight were males and ninety-two females. In Walnut town there were three hundred and four, of which one hundred and fifty-four were males and one hundred and fifty were females.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
In traveling over Pottawattamie county one naturally wonders why the great railroad lines crossing the state from east to west have avoided the best tier of counties in the whole state. This applies more particularly to the western part, where in going from Madison, Adair, Cass or eastern Pottawat- tamie to Council Bluffs or Omaha a person must pass through Shelby or Mills. However, Pottawattamie has managed to survive and grow in wealth and popu- lation, and a person now passing where the roads were mere trails, following the divides over miles of treeless prairies and now finds excellent roads running on seetion lines and each farm with an artificial grove, he feels impressed with the amount of progress that one generation has made. and although Lincoln. like several of her sister townships, has no railroad or town of her own, it is but a short drive to one in any direction. In fact a person can't get ten miles from a railroad in Pottawattamie county. Farming, including stock raising and fruit growing, must always be the business of the people and as such, prosperity is certain to follow the aetive and prudent worker.
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The present township officers are as follows: Trustees, Jacob Carbuhn, Carl Rothwisch and Geo. Hardenburg; elerk, M. E. Reimer; justices of the peace, Thos. Peterson and John Goetsch; assessor, H. P. Jacobson. No one qualified as constable.
George Eichhorn, 1. E. Young, B. Geiss and Fred Swengle are among its prominent citizens.
According to state census of 1904, there were two hundred and thirty- eight persons of school age, of which one hundred and twenty were males and one hundred and eighteen were females.
The first election in Lincoln was on the same day of 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.
This is a full congressional township of most excellent land, but desti- tute of native timber except along the streams. Among the first settlers were: W'm. H. Painter, Patrick Howard, H. B. Jack, W. A. Clapp, Samuel I. Pope, John A. Frank, Elias Yeoman, Christ Dramyer, John A. Chipman, Wm. Linkletter, Geo. Woods, Charles Mamfer, Geo. Roberts and R. M. Allen. By the year 1882 great progress had been made.
In the year 1872, when Mr. Painter came, there were neither church, schoolhouse or store nor bridge, but so active were the people that by 1882 there were nine schoolhouses of uniform dimensions and costing $800 each.
There were also six bridges, built at cost of the county and cost from $1,600 to $1,700 eaeli. Three of these were over Big Walnut creek, two over Little Walnut and over Graybill creeks.
MACEDONIA TOWNSHIP.
It will be remembered that on the 12th day of February, 1853, steps were taken to divide Pottawattamie county into three townships. This was done at a special session of the county court, which was constituted of the county judge, T. Burdiek, who held the office at that date and made necessary order, and S. T. Corg was the clerk of the court and made up the record of the transaction. The record so made states in substance that the former division of the county into election precincts be discontinued. and the county of Pot- tawattamie divided into three townships, viz .. Macedonia, bounded on the north by the north line of the county, east by the east county line, south by the south county line and west by the meridian or range line running north and south across the county between range 40 and 41. It will be seen that this created Macedonia township with the same territory that now constitutes the twelve easterly townships or fully two-fifths of the county, and the history of the present Macedonia properly begins at that date, although some incidents date previous to this.
The first settler was Thomas Jefferson Ring. He was born in Massa- chusetts May 24, 1804. Came west and reached Louisiana, Missouri, in 1848, and came overland from there, and arrived at old Macedonia May 1, 1848, in time to raise a crop of corn that year.
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In 1850, when the emigration to Salt Lake was at its height, the Botna was out of its banks for three months and caused great delay and suffering to those who were on their way west. Mr. Ring had secured a lot of flour from Council Bluffs before the river rose and this he divided with those on the east side, and when this supply failed they were compelled to resort to pounded corn.
The next settler after Mr. Ring was one by the name of Jacob Myers, from Ohio, who built a saw mill and then a grist mill in connection with one Haws at the old town of Macedonia. This mill was built in 1848 but was washed out in the great flood that followed its construction, and after this Mr. Myers went to Michigan, and was lost sight of. Previous to this, however, J. B. Stutsman, one of the first merchants of Council Bluffs, had bought a half interest in the mill and Wm. Martin the other half, and in 1851 they erected a saw mill and in 1853 a grist mill, which was managed by Z. Losh, an experienced miller, for a year and by others until another flood in 1861 which took the second mill out and the site was abandoned. But for a long time before and after the place was called Macedonia it was called Stutsman's Mill.
And it might be pleasant to the Macedonians to know that this same old time, generous, enterprising gentleman is at this time living at Harlan and that he carries his ninety years as lightly as most men of seventy. Hle also opened the first store.
Another old timer that arrived about this time was a Mr. Tuttle who afterward went on to Utah.
In 1852 a Mr. Hanshalder bought the stock of Stutsman and conducted the business in the same building. The first school in the township was taught by Joseph Lyman, when but a boy of sixteen or seventeen, of which we shall hear more, as he was one of the boys you can't lose. This school was taught in a rented building, there being no way to have one built by the public. A blacksmith named Henry Adams started a shop in 1852 and conducted it for two years and sold out to John MeDermott.
The first postmaster was Calvin A. Beebe, who lived on the Tompkins farm and it was kept here; and here the first election after the organization of the township was ordered to be held. Fink and Walker had the contract to carry the mail between Des Moines and Council Bluffs, and there was a weekly service each way. As soon as events justified it, the Western Stage Co. put daily coaches on the route by way of Big Grove and continued until the Rock Island Railroad was built in 1869.
The first schoolhouse built at public expense was erected a little east of the old town, A. M. Denton being the contractor. The finishing lumber was brought from Boonville by wagon. J. Z. Losh came in as before stated and conducted Stutsman's mill a year, but in 1856 he discovered a good mill site a few miles above and there he erected what was known for many years as Losh's mill. With the advent of the C. B. & Q. branch railroad, the new town of Carson sprang into existence, which will be noted under another head. That company commenced building a branch from Hastings on their main line, and had it completed and trains running to a point three-quarters
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of a mile east of the old town at the river on the Fourth of July, 1SS0. Here a new town was laid out and also called Macedonia. This company con- sisted of Hon. B. F. Clayton and R. H. Woodmaney of Macedonia, T. J. Evans of Council Bluffs and T. J. Pattee. general manager of the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
The first store erected in the new town was by R. II. Woodmancy, the first carpenter shop by J. T. Bird, and the blacksmith shop by Henry Keeler and Co., and a new schoolhouse was built the following season. The Cumber- land Presbyterian church organized a society as early as 1871, under the auspices of the Rev. J. W. Carter. From the date of its organization until 1880, services were held in the schoolhouse in old Macedonia, but in the fall of the latter year they erected a neat edifice in the new town at a cost of $2,000 without incurring any debt.
The Methodist society that was organized under the direction of Rev. Thomas H. Smith was reorganized in 1873 under the supervision of Rev. Henry De Long. When the new town was established they sold their house and built a church costing $3,000.
The first child born in the new town was in September, 1880, to Mr. and Mrs. William Dye, and the first death was that of Mrs. Emma Mitchell in the same month. The first marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. J. W. Carter in the marriage of Mr. Charles Beesley and Miss Ora Lowe in August, 1881.
An Odd Fellows lodge was established on the fourth of February, 1881, with W. Dye, E. L. Cook, A. M. Cole. E. A. Vanvranken, 1. S. Staggers and J. S. Rainbow as charter members, and the officers installed at the organi- zation were: W. Dye, N. G .; A. M. Cole, V. G .; E. L. Cook, secretary and E. A. Vanvranken, treasurer.
The first hotel was the Macedonia House and was opened by Geo. H. Kaler.
The postoffice was removed from old to new Macedonia and Ohio Knox was made postmaster and through his efforts it was declared a money order office. In 1880 Meckelivert & Young erected a steam elevator, and during the first season managed two hundred and fifty thousand bushels and in 1881 over five hundred carloads of grain.
A new Howe truss bridge was erected across the Botna at the old town in 1881.
A joint stock company was organized in 1880 to conduct a banking business under the laws of Iowa, and known as the Macedonia bank, the shareholders being George Meckelivert, Richard Meckelivert, D. L. Hin- shimer, of Glenwood, and William Dye, of Macedonia.
The Masonic fraternity established themselves in the town shortly after it was laid out. Ruba lodge being organized in the winter of 1881, with a membership of seventeen. John Craig was made the first worshipful mas- ter: J. M. Kelley, the first senior warden; D. L. Bulla, the first junior warden ; Ohio Knox, secretary: B. F. Clayton, treasurer; S. A. Jones, senior deacon : D. W. Bomff, junior deacon: J. W. Carter, chaplain, and A. B. Rayburn, tyler.
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The most notable event in the early days was the great fire, which, in March, 1882, destroyed the main portion of the town, but the buildings de- stroyed were rapidly replaced.
The terrible cyclone that wrought destruction in Grove township, passed near old Macedonia, and was plainly seen from there as it passed on towards Wheeler's Grove.
Long before this an occurrence happened that should not be omitted. It appears that in 1859, at a shooting match, into which whiskey entered pretty largely, a young man named Alf. Pierce lost his life. At the time a man, named Batchelor, kept a store where the old town still stands and with his family lived in rooms in the rear of the store. The merchant sold whiskey to the crowd during the match, but towards evening the boys, get- ting boisterous, the merchant closed the store and retired to the back rooms with his little family. After a while some of the young men wanted more whis- key, and, the front being closed, they went around to the rear and entered, at the same time demanding more liquor, and. on being refused, became . abusive, whereupon Batchelor took down his gun and shot one of them named Alf. Pierce, dead. It caused great excitement, and during the trial that followed, nearly the entire population of the township were present. Mr. Batchelor was defended by Judge A. V. Larimer and D. W. Price. The latter in the closing argument made the effort of his life and for nearly a half century it has had no equal at the Pottawattamie county bar. and the verdiet was not guilty.
During the nearly half century that has intervened great changes have occurred here as well as elsewhere. The railroad has invaded this quiet nook -a young city as a natural result has sprung into existence, supplanting the old village, while the almost boundless prairies have been transformed into as fine farms as can be found anywhere.
So far the events related applied to the township, which has been re- duced to twenty-four sections, by cutting off twelve in forming the township of Carson.
The town of Macedonia was incorporated in 1892 with the following officers: Mayor, J. M. Kelley : recorder, S. H. Hopkins; marshal and street commissioner, Wm. Marshall; treasurer, T. I. Clark; council, E. E. Smith, W. Dye, T. J. Young. E. H. Sempel, E. B. Lane and A. I. Mitchell, M. D.
At this writing it has one bank, one hotel, two general stores, one res- taurant, one hardware and furniture store, two drug stores, one elevator, one implement house, one livery stable, one lumber yard, one brick vard, one meat market, two blacksmith shops.
The Methodists and Presbyterians each have churches. It has a graded school with principal and four assistants. The fraternal orders are repre- sented by one Masonic lodge, one of Odd Fellows, one of Modern Wood- men and Royal Neighbors. It has also a neat opera house and a news- paper, the Botna Valley News. one milliner and dressmaking establish- ment and two barber shops.
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