USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
230
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
many of the best houses in the city of early times are of his workmanship, among which was the old courthouse.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized by an order made April 7, 1873, on the petition of L. G. Bennett, Hiram Stewart, S. T. Bender and forty-one others, asking that a new civil township be created out of congressional township 77, range 40. It is bounded on the north by Shelby county, on the east by Knox township, on the south by James township, and on the west by Minden town- ship. The soil is all that could be desired. The land slopes gently to the south and west. It was originally treeless, but the settlers have planted and cultivated groves of oak, walnut and maple, which have grown until the face of the country has been changed, not only that, but orchards have been planted and fruit is being successfully raised. Two streams run through the township from north to south, one called the Big Silver coursing through cen- trally and the Middle Silver through the western part. These are clear and fed by springs that never fail. There is not one per cent of worthless land in the township.
Among the first settlers were the following: Jacob and Franz Haas came from Sauk county, Wisconsin, July 12, 1872. Joseph Frum. from Mononga- hela county, West Virginia, and settled February 25, 1872: 1. M. Scott is an- other pioneer. Ile came and bought land and commenced a farm in 1869. He went into partnership with P. S. MeCandless in opening up the farm. When they married they dissolved, made a division, and each farmed his own land. T. Goodwalter came into the township in 1872. The first road was the Ballard State road. referred to in annals of other townships. Another was located in 1870 from north to south in the west part. called the A. C. Bennett road. and another was laid out from east to west named the Hiram Stewart.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1871. called the No. 2. and is known as the Frum school. The first school was taught by Alonzo Bartnett. No. 6 was the next one erected in 1874. No. 4 was also built in 1874, and John K. Cooper, afterwards county superintendent, was the first teacher. He was a resident of James township when first nominated on the democratie ticket in 1879 for county superintendent, and elected by a handsome majority, although the republicans carried the county by three hundred majority on their state tieket. In 1881 he was again elected by about seven hundred ma- jority. although the county went republican by over three hundred, his com- petitor being Miss Ingeletta. Smith, a sister of Hon. Walter I. Smith. member of congress.
Mr. Cooper is a native of Maryland and served in the Union army in Lockwood's brigade, Twelfth army corps, at the battle of Gettysburg.
No. 5 school house was built in 1877, and Miss Mary J. Trotter became the first teacher, and No. 7, the same year, with Miss Plumer the first teacher. and No. 8 in 1880, and Fremont Benjamin, now a lawyer in Council Bluffs. the teacher.
231
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
At the first election to organize the township, held October 14, 1873, there were fifty-four votes polled and the following officers elected: S. H. Buek- ley, C. H. Brown and T. T. Larkin, trustees; S. B. Frum, township clerk ; William Buckley and F. N. Keeney, justices of the peace; D. Gross and A. M. Seott, constables; William A. Clark, assessor, and Hiram Stewart, road super- visor.
On the evening of July 28, 1879, Jacob Maason was killed by Christian Pittman. Maason aeeused Pittman of tramping down his eorn by running his reaper over it, their lands joining where it happened. There were no wit- nesses to the tragedy, only Pittman was seen to run, with Maason in pursuit. Pittman was arrested and tried, but the jury disagreed. The case was taken to Mills county, but the indictment could not be found and the ease was dis- missed. The ease was again brought before the grand jury of Pottawattamie county and he was indieted, and again the ease taken to Mills county, where he was acquitted. In his defense Pittman claimed that Maason attacked him, threatening to kill him, and that he eut him in self-defense, but not intend- ing to kill him. The stab proved fatal, the knife having struek the heart. In the fall of '75 T. T. Larkin borrowed a gun of Claus Horst to kill a hawk. A report of the gun was heard and Larkin was found dead from a shot in the breast, most likely an accident. Another death was that of Peter Doll, by his team running away at Avoea.
On the 4th day of September, 1882, an unknown man was found dead from exposure and intemperance a mile east of the Frum schoolhouse.
The early settlers were largely Germans and the first ehureh organiza- tion was the German Evangelieal Association, organized and presided over by Rev. Aaron Bassart for two years, was sueeeeded by Wilhelm Jones, and he, in turn, by Flegler Aschenbrenner.
This township has no town within its borders, but is in easy communica- tion with Minden, Shelby or Avoca. It had no railroad until 1903, when the Great Western passed through the northwest eorner.
The township officers at this time (1907) are as follows: Trustees, George Haas, C. V. Roek and Henry Flemming; elerk, C. P. Wasser; justiees of the peace, Adolph Baustain and J. L. Buckley ; assessor, E. A. Bergman ; constable, W. W. Frum.
Of the present board C. V. Roek is president : E. A. Bergman, secretary, and D. Gross, treasurer. According to the state census of 1905 there were two hundred and sixty-six persons of school age, of which one hundred and twenty-nine were males and one hundred and thirty-seven females. Compen- sation of teachers is $40 and $35 per month for first and second elass re- spectively.
ROCKFORD TOWNSHIP.
The first white settlers of this township were Mormons that eame with the great exodus of those people from Nauvoo. A large detachment halted at Kanesville and filled the ravines surrounding that seetion, and, spreading northward, nestled among the timber along the bluffs, and, although their stay was to be but temporary, they built comfortable eabins and opened up
232
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
good farms. This was necessary, not only for themselves, but to maintain a halting place for the pilgrims to rest and make repairs while on their two- thousand-mile journey of untold hardship.
Joseph Hill was the first Gentile arrival in the township. He took pos- session of a tract of land in section 11 on the Missouri river, near what-is known as the old St. John landing, on which he made his permanent home. He came from the vicinity of St. Joseph, Mo., in 1850, and was fol- lowed the next year by Joseph Kirby and Arthur Mann.
Samuel Kirkland and Dr. Robert McGovern came the same year, and the former lived in this township until his death in 1880, and the latter set- tled just over the line in Harrison county and became one of its most re- spected citizens.
One of the oldest and most prominent settlers was Basil Fox. He was born in Putnam county, Indiana, came to this county in 1852. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, com- manded by Colonel Thomas H. Benton, and served until the expiration of his term, has always been a strong republican, was a member of the board of supervisors for two years. He finally moved to Missouri Valley.
Sherman Goss and his family arrived in 1851. Mr. Goss was shot dead in a claim fight at Old Fort Calhoun. Nebraska, in 1854, and his widow and children remained in the township many years. All three of his sons served in the Union army.
To give a list of all the early settlers would make this history too lengthy, so we must confine ourselves to those that became most prominent. without any disrespect towards other equally good citizens. Hiram Bostwick, with his family, came with the Mormons, located on a large body of land on the Missouri bottom near Honey Creek lake, and remained after exodus of that people, built a large house that was always open to the public. He and his good wife were noted for their hospitality. The upper part of his big house was all in one room and was a favorite place for the young folks to meet for miles around and have their dances. while the barns and sheds would be filled with teams of the guests, and a bountiful supper would be served. Sometimes things would get a little boisterous, which was owing to bottles of something found in some of the sleighs, but so goes the world. Later Mr. Bostwick became justice of the peace. and while in that office there was a shooting match at a sawmill near by and Nick Smith, a tough character that always carried a rifle, no matter where he was going. or what he was doing, was killed. It appeared that he had some words with a man named Fry. and knocked Fry down with the butt of his gun, and raised it to strike him again while down, but just them a heavy quart bottle struck Smith on the temple. He sat down on a log a few minutes and then started for home. Failing to reach there. a hunting party found him in a cornfield dead. The question arose, who threw the bottle. There were perhaps twenty in the crowd, and among them a brother of Fry's named Chris. He was arrested and brought before Squire Bostwick, who believed in prompt en- forcement of the law, and there being a great crowd attracted. he ordered the constable to summon a jury then and there to try the case.
.
233
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
The sheriff quietly whispered the court, and as many jurors as had been summoned were discharged and the court proceeded to confine itself to holding a preliminary examination.
The entire crowd was sworn as witnesses, but not one saw where the bot- tle came from. After hearing the evidence, the court remarked: "This looks a little dark, a man is killed in broad daylight with twenty men looking on and nobody saw it. The prisoner is discharged." And all the people said amen.
Although this township had some bad men, and a number of murders were committed in the early days, the great majority of the pioneers were sterling men, just such as open up the wilderness and break the ground for a higher civilization. It has furnished two county judges, Hardin Jones and Abraham Jackson. The latter was a demoerat after the manner of his old namesake, and when the war came he came out strongly for its prosecution, and became a power in the northwestern part of the county, where there was a large anti-war element, at that time called copperheads.
Fortunately there were cool heads on both sides enough to prevent vio- lent clashing. Perry Reel was a sample of this kind. Although his political sentiments were known by all men, he was elected sheriff two terms, then county treasurer, then sheriff again, even when the county was republican.
There is no record of schools previous to 1855, probably owing to the Mormons conducting what schools there were in the earlier times in their dwellings. On that year one was opened in an old Mormon cabin located on section 10 and Jacob Cox was the first teacher. From this start the inter- est increased until by 1880 there were seven comfortable school houses filled with pupils in full operation.
The first public bridge was built over Honey creek by Basil Fox, the first road supervisor. In 1859 Wiley B. Hateher built a small mill on Honey creek, the mill work being done by Basil Fox and a man named Popps, but the dam was washed away by flood in '70 and site abandoned.
In 1865-6 A. J. Bell and E. Loveland built a mill on the Boyer, where the town of Loveland now is, and by which the town gets its name. It aft- erwards passed into the hands of John Hanthorne & Co.
An interesting old settler was Mr. Edward W. Bennett. IIe was born in Nova Scotia in 1805. He was a democrat and the writer of these lines was a strong republican. He had admonished the writer to never pass his house without stopping and, after one experience of their hospitality, one would hardly disregard the admonition.
After the horse was stabled, fed and bedded and yourself served with an excellent supper, he would kindly say to his venerable wife: "Annie, please leave some water in the tea kettle on the stove," and we would adjourn to the 'best room, where a bright fire blazed in an old-fashioned fire place. On the side- board were a can of choice smoking tobacco and a couple of deeanters glitter- ing in the fire and lamplight. And he would say: "Now we can leave poli- ties out of doors and take comfort."
He had been all over the world as a sailor, had been captain of police in Buffalo and his conversation was as instruetive as interesting. In the mean-
234
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
time the quiet little wife would sit knitting, but they are gone, and we almost wonder why it must be so.
In the winter of '71, the people were shocked to hear that John S. Goss had shot and dangerously wounded his cousin, Sherman Brown. It appeared that they had had difficulty during the summer, which was continued until it culminated in tragedy. Brown lived about two weeks.
In the trial it appeared that Brown was the aggressor and the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.
Shortly after this an elderly man named Samuel Fickle was killed by being shot. It was in his house after dark. Hearing a noise outside, he went to the door and received a load of buckshot and was instantly killed. There never was sufficient proof to warrant a conviction by a jury, but public opinion pointed to a step-son, between whom there had been bad feeling for some time.
On the evening of the presidential election of 1872 at the store of Alfred Frazier, a man named James McMillan got into an altercation, which re- sulted in McMillan falling dead.
The first report was that Frazier, who was a powerful man, with one blow of the fist felled him to the floor. This was not proven at the trial, and he was acquitted. Mr. Frazier regretted it, some of his friends say, to the extent that it affected his whole lifo up to the time of his death in 1906.
In 1856 a Baptist church was organized where Loveland now is. The original membership was twelve persons, viz .: W. A. Reel and wife, John Deil and wife, Hardin Jones and wife, Mary A. Frazier, Cynthia Macc, Ed- ward Latham and Josiah Skelton. In 1880 they erected a church at a cost of $1,300, and the membership had grown to seventy-five at that time. Rev. John Case was the first pastor. It is claimed to be the oldest Baptist society west of the Des Moines river. From 1867, when the Chicago & North- Western Railroad entered, that was the only one in the township until the advent of the Illinois Central in 1899. This road established a station named Grable. There is but one store there as yet. Loveland is the largest village in the township. Population about two hundred and fifty; has two general stores, a lumber yard, elevator and feed mill.
Owing to the level condition of the Missouri bottoms, the streams com- ing down from the upland subjected the former to overflow, much to the damage of many of the residents. To remedy this an extensive system of ditching was inaugurated in 1903, part of which was by joint action with Harrison county. Considerable delay has occurred, but at the present writ- ing it is being pushed rapidly, and it is believed by the promoters that many thousands of aeres that are comparatively worthless will be redeemed.
The present township officers are: Ed. Wilson, J. A. Currie and W. J. Myers. trustees; D. H. Bailey and M. C. Brocious, justices of the peace; J. R. Hutchinson, constable ; Oscar E. Copeland. assessor, and Orel Jones, clerk.
Charles P. O'Neal, of Loveland. is president of the school board; Bruce W. Morehouse, secretary, and J. W. Frazier, treasurer.
According to the state census of 1905. there was a school population of
235
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
three hundred and twenty-five between the ages of five and twenty-one year's, and for which ten good schoolhouses are provided.
About two-thirds of this township is on the Missouri bottoms and the soil is inexhaustible.
In the extreme northwest corner of this township is a beautiful lake called Noble's lake, after a man of that name, who in early times had a saw- mill near it, and, although he has long since died, the pretty lake perpetuates his name, and is a favorite place for fishing parties.
SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township was first settled by Mormons who were a part of the great exodus from Nauvoo. They made claims and, after staying one year, nearly all sold out to Gentiles, who came after them, or abandoned them.
The first man to open a stage station between, Wheeler's Grove and Coun- cil Bluffs was a Mr. Gardner, and this was the only one between the two points. Ile soon sold out to a Mr. Moore and moved on with the Mormons to Salt, Lake. In 1854 John Bratton bought out Mr. Moore, and for three years longer there was a stage route through here, though a postoffice that had been kept here was discontinued when Mr. Moore removed from this point.
The first settler that came with the intention of staying was Pleasant Tayior, but when the stage route was changed, he followed it and established a station farther north on the same stream that has been known ever since as Taylor Station.
John Bratton was the second permanent settler, a native of Pennsylvania. but eame from Ohio here. He was an excellent citizen, was for a time a member of the first board of supervisors when that body superseded the county judge in county affairs. He finally went to Silver City in Mills county.
The first schoolhouse was at this station, it being a log cabin with a turf roof, and the first teacher was Miss Maggie Weirich, of Council Bluffs. This was in 1857. In 1861 a frame schoolhouse was erected, also a church. In 1860 a Protestant Methodist church was organized with seven members, but without any regular pastor. Jason Parker was the first justice of the peace. The first marriage was between George E. Smith and Mrs. Clarrissa Wheeling. The first child born in the township was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wells. Mrs. Bratton attended the birth of the child. She followed the profession of midwife for all that section of the country for years, and her husband that of a preacher. The first death of an adult was that of Mrs. Margaret Piles in August, 1857. An infant of hers died in July of the same year, and both were buried near the station.
During the Pike's Peak excitement the station was a lively point, from sixty to seventy teams would pass through daily. In 1856 five hundred Mor- mon emigrants passed through on the stage road with hand carts, not a single horse in the entire outfit. They seemed to feel happy and not to realize the terrible journey before them.
A terrible tragedy occurred in this township in the summer of 1875. Jordan Clark, a man nearly sixty years old, moved into the township some
236
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
years before and opened up a farm. From the same neighborhood in Illi- nois came a man named Joab Stoves and his wife. During the winter of '74 and spring of '75 a clandestine correspondence sprang up between Clark and Mrs. Stoves. Stoves intercepted an incriminating letter, and some effort was made for reconciliation, but without effect. Stoves shot Clark, killing him instantly. He was tried and acquitted on the plea of emotional insanity. After this, Stoves and his wife became reconciled and lived together and re- turned to Illinois.
The first schoolhouse was erected on section 32, near the residence of John Vankirk. In 1882 one was completed at a cost of $1,200.
The first road was the stage road already mentioned. This was changed to a line three miles further north. This mainly in the interest of the West- ern Stage Company. The first county road was what was called the Living Springs road, the bridge built mainly at private expense, the heavy timbers being donated by Macedonia citizens, who wished to have the use of it.
The religious interests were mainly in one church organization. In 1878 W. H. Hartman, of Glenwood. Mills county, organized a branch of the Chris- tian church at schoolhouse No. 3. what is known as the Pontius schoolhouse, but afterwards in 1881 it was changed to the Silver Center schoolhouse, as the greater number of the members lived nearer to this point.
The settlement of this township was not as rapid as those reached by railroad, still there was a constant influx of inhabitants, but not until 1905 did it have a town of its own, when the town of Treynor was incorporated. Situated in the extreme northwest corner, it commands a large part of the trade of not only Silver Creek. but also of Hardin, Keg Creek and Washing- ton townships.
Among its business institutions are the Treynor Savings Bank, two gen- eral stores, one furniture and implement house, one drug store, one livery barn and two saloons. It has a full set of city officers, to-wit: Mayor, Ferdi- nand Schoening; clerk, T. P. Carter: marshal, Fred Schrede, with six alder- men. It also has two churches (German Lutheran) and an independent public school, with an attendance of forty pupils.
The township organization is as follows: Trustees, Perry Kearney, Julius Strohbehn and J. G. Moss; clerk, F. W. Ouren ; justices of the peace, Jurgen Jensen and Henry Parker; constables, none; assessor, C. E. Springer.
The subdistrict school directors are as follows: Pleasant Valley-Presi- dent. F. M. Smith: secretary. Perry Kearney; treasurer. W. A. Allensworth. Sucksdorf-President, F. H. Schultz; secretary. P. N. Sucksdorf; treasurer, Jurgen Heesch. Silver Center-President. George A. Stevens; secretary, Her- man Schnepel; treasurer, August Dammrow. Lone Star-President, John Trede : secretary, John Clark; treasurer, G. W. Kanke. Valley-President, James T. Fox; secretary, I. H. Stevens: treasurer. J. G. Moss. Living Springs-President, A. T. Rains ; secretary, F. W. Ouren; treasurer. Henry Anderson.
The school population, according to the state census of 1905, exclusive of town of Treynor, was two hundred and fourteen, of which one hundred and sixteen were males and ninety-eight females.
237
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
VALLEY TOWNSHIP AND HANCOCK.
The petition for organizing this township was signed by W. F. Traver and one hundred and sixty other legal voters, and, after a full hearing, it was ordered that the township should comprise congressional township 76, range 39.
The first election was held at what is known as the Acker schoolhouse on the 8th of October, 1878, and one hundred and twenty-six votes were cast. The elected officers were: Judges, W. C. Barton, James Livingston and H. C. Hough ; clerks, A. M. Battelle and W. H. Benjamin.
The trustees chosen were: W. C. Barton, S. Armstrong and S. D. Acker; clerk, R. M. White; assessor, R. D. Ballard.
Among the oldest settlers was A. M. Battelle, who came in 1855, when he crossed the state from Keokuk with a wagon, taking two weeks to make the trip. His household goods were shipped by river from Wheeling, W. Va., around by St. Louis to Council Bluffs. The road from Keokuk led through Ottumwa, Eddyville and Afton. Afton had been located, but not a house had been built. He found three almost impassable sloughs about ten miles south of Lewis and persuaded a man who was breaking prairie to help him. He had to carry his wife and children across, as it was all the oxen could do to get the wagon through. Winter set in early and snow fell to a great depth and for weeks settlers were compelled to live on hominy and venison, of which latter there was plenty, as deer were easy to capture, owing to the deep snow.
At last an old trader went with two yoke of oxen to Council Bluffs for food for the settlement, and was two weeks on the trip. He got stalled in a drift within two miles of home, but settlers helped him out and he arrived safely, and sold his flour for $6 per hundred. No mail could be had nearer than the Bluffs.
Joseph Headley, another old settler, was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, came to Iowa in 1841, and settled within the present limits of Valley town- ship in 1852. He came in a wagon with his wife and made a log cabin his first home. His nearest milling point was Glenwood, Mills county, forty miles away.
The first winter or two were severe. Wages were but fifty cents per day and corn $3 per bushel, the few settlers lived mostly on corn bread and game, and when they did raise wheat and market it, after hauling it forty miles, they were compelled to sell it for fifty cents per bushel. The religious matters of the township have been liberally provided for. The Knox Pres- byterian church was organized March 23, 1873, by Rev. N. C. Robinson, with eight original members, consisting of Robinson and wife, Thomas Daal and wife, James Service and wife, Mary Ray and Sarah Birney. The first pastor was the Rev. Andrew Herron, of Atlantic. New Hope Baptist church was constituted in 1875 by the Rev. E. Birch, who was the first pastor. There were thirteen members. Many members having moved away, the church was abandoned in 1879.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.