USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1 > Part 30
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MALCOM
METHODIST CHURCH, MALCOM
T DEN URK LIBRARY
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In connection with the work of the pastor at the Lutheran church he con- ducts a school for religious instruction during the winter months. This school is for the young people and is mostly in the German language. The membership of this organization is nearly two hundred.
The burial ground adjoining the Lutheran church was laid out in 1868 at the time the church was built. Jacob J. Schultz donated five acres of land to the church at that time, which is occupied by the church, the cemetery, and .a small pasture field. Some costly and beautiful monuments adorn the burial ground.
In 1892 A Lisker erected a mausoleum in the cemetery, which adds to the beauty of the grounds.
WATERWORKS.
The citizens had long felt the need of a system of waterworks, both for domestic use and as a protection from loss in case of fire. Hence, in 1895, when the question was placed before them of issuing $4,600 in bonds to meet the cost of a waterworks plant, there was but little opposition manifested to the project. The plant was built, at an expense of about $5,000, and for some time past has been self-sustaining and giving satisfaction generally. It consists of three shallow wells of excellent water, which is forced to a height of seventy feet, into a tank set upon a derrick which stands in the public park. The pumps are run by a gasolene engine and develop sufficient pressure for emergency purposes. There are from twelve to fourteen fire plugs, to which the volunteer fire company attaches hose. when occasion. demands it. The fire company is supplied with hose carts, a hook and ladder wagon and about 1,000 feet of serviceable hose.
GAS WORKS.
The Malcom gas woks were established in the fall of 1905. The company was incorporated by A. P. Meigs, B. P. Meigs, James Cummings, Samuel Nowak, H. E. Boyd, C. O. Bowers, W. J. Johnson, J. F. Eisele, W. F. Vogel, V. S. Wil- cox, F. S. Bernard and the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias lodges. The present officials are: President, H. F. Boyd ; vice president, B. S. Wilcox ; secretary-manager, W. F. Vogel; treasurer, James Cummings. The capital stock is $5,000. The plant is in the basement of the opera house. The gas is made from gasolene by the cold process. The mains cover two miles of territory.
THE AUDITORIUM.
Malcom has attained no little fame in these parts by the attainments of her women. Among these may be mentioned particularly their faculty for doing things of a quasi-public nature, and doing them well and in a business-like manner.
At one time there was-a public hall in the town, but when the big fire of 1877 got the building within its reach, the end of that utility was soon reached and the need of a building for meetings and entertainments became all the more
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intense. As the men of the town were seemingly too slow, or indifferent to the "crying want," the women took the matter out of the hands of the sterner sex, if it ever had been there, and, forming an association in 1899, got enough money together, or the promise of it, to build one of the neatest and most convenient little auditoriums to be seen anywhere. As a matter of fact, where will you find another building like it in a town not 400 strong? And, although the build- ing is but one story in height, it is 40 x 80 feet on the ground and has a modern stage 20 x 38 feet, with drop curtains and other accessories found in halls of like character, but of more pretensions.
The ladies of the association have the mystic corporate name of the W. O. B. A. Association, but there has been no mystery or uncertainty anent their splendid manner of engineering this important and valuable movement.
The building in its architectural design is quite modest, but as attractive as beautiful red pressed brick and Bedford stone trimmings can make it. The seating capacity is 450. The audience room is lighted by gas and heated by furnace and this statement should also be applied to the comfortable dressing rooms. W. F. Vogel is the manager, which means that the enterprise is a pay- ing one to its promoters. The officers of the association are: Mrs. L. G. Helm, president; Mrs. V. S. Wilcox, vice president; Mrs. H. E. Boyd, secretary ; Mrs. W. J. Johnson, treasurer. Trustees, Mrs. F. S. Bernard, Mrs. R. L. Martin and Mrs. W. F. Vogel.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
It is a far cry from the primitive log schoolhouse to the present handsome structure now known as the Malcom high school building, which was erected in 1903 and cost the people of the community $11,000. That seems to be a lot of money, but it is not considered so very much by those who spent it. They knew for what purpose the funds were needed and responded to the call upon their resources cheerfully.
This building is modern in construction and all its appointments. Its height is two stories and the plan gives it five spacious rooms, heated by steam and a laboratory in the basement.
MALCOM SAVINGS BANK.
This bank was established as a private financial concern in 1875, by P. P. Raymond and son, E. P. Raymond, who conducted the business under the firm name of P. P. Raymond & Son until 1893, when W. J. Johnson became the owner and had with him as associate owners O. F. Dorrance and O. H. Leonard, of Brooklyn. These gentlemen constituted the Malcom bank, which run as such until 1895, when Mr. Johnson acquired the interests of his partners in the bank and was its sole owner until 1905, when, in the month of August in that year, a charter was secured for the Malcom Savings Bank, of which Mr. Johnson is a director.
The capital stock of this bank at the time of issuing of the charter was $25,000; this was increased to $50,000 in 1910. In 1902 the bank building, a
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two-story brick, was erected by W. J. Johnson. In its last report the bank showed a capital of $50,000, surplus and undivided profits, $9,000, and deposits of $195,000. The officers are: President, J. F. Eisele; vice president, V. S. Wilcox; cashier, C. O. Bowers; assistant cashier, A. R. Meigs.
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
Lily Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 254, was organized October 23, 1868. The charter members were: George S. Taber, E. L. Cardell, C. A. Harrah, James E. Johnson, C. A. Uhl, George Gibbs, A. S. Meigs, Thomas Cady, F. E. Bodine and N. H. Blanchard. First officers: E. L. Cardell, W. M .; James E. Johnson, S. W .; Thomas Cady, J. W .; George Gibbs, secretary ; C. A Uhl, treasurer ; George S. Taber, S. D .; N. H. Blanchard, J. D .; A. S. Meigs, tyler
In 1877, after the fire, the members of this lodge erected a two-story brick building at a cost of $3,000 and in 1911 remodeled the lodge in the upper story, the ground floor being devoted to business purposes. During its existence 131 members have been initiated and now there are thirty-nine active members, who are presided over by F. S. Bernard, W. M .; W. F. Vogel, S. W .; L. E. Max- field, J. W .; V. S. Wilcox, treasurer ; W. J. Johnson, secretary; James Nowak, S. D .; William McClure, J. D .; Henry Wichman, F. S .; G. F. Emil, J. S .; R. W. Boyd, tyler.
At one time this lodge had a commandery, the charter of which was for- feited But Hyssop Chapter, No. 50, is good and strong. It was organized September 20, 1869, and has the following officers: C. C. Hunt, E. H. P .; Jas. Nowak, king; W. F. Vogel. S .; V. S. Wilcox, treas .; W. J. Johnson, sec .; F. S. Bernard, C. of H .; William McClure, P S .; A. P. Meigs. R. A. C .; C. H. Parsons, sentinel.
MAL.COM LODGE, NO. 369, I. O. O. F.
The above lodge was instituted by the grand lodge of Iowa, I. O. O. F., August 1, 1877. S. G. Funk, Smith Scovill, Fred T. Schultz, Fred Kessler and T. M. Akers were the charter members.
From the date of organization until the summer of 1897 the lodge held its meetings on the second floor of the Delahoyde block, on the east side of Main street, between First and Second streets. In July, 1897, the lodge moved and held their meetings in the Masonic Hall, on the corner of Main and Third streets. In the spring of 1890 the lodge purchased the two-story brick build- ing on Main street, just south from the Masonic Hall, from James Nowak. The entire building was remodeled, the first floor being fitted up for mercantile pur- poses and rented, and the second floor was fitted up for lodge rooms, into which the lodge moved in the early fall of 1897 and has occupied them ever since. The building was still further improved in 1906.
In October, 1910, the membership was nearly one hundred. During the thirty-three years of its existence, the lodge has paid out thousands of dollars in sick and funeral benefits to its members.
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CENTRAL ENCAMPMENT, NO. 203, I. O. O. F.
The above encampment was organized and instituted June 9, 1904. The charter members were William Dosdall, Joseph Kloos, James Nowak, John Eichhorn, George Duffur, E. E. Lamb and A. E. Bailey.
The encampment holds its meetings in the I. O. O. F. Hall. In October. 1910, the encampment had a membership of fifty. The encampment pays sick and funeral benefits to its members.
ST. PYTHIAS LODGE, NO. 97, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
was chartered October 24, 1883, with twenty-one initial members. Its present officers are: Ch. Com., E. A. King; V. Ch., J. A. Maxwell; prelate, W. A. Rutherford; K. R. & S., William McClure; M. F., A. L. Falkinburg; M. Ex., W. T. Vogel; M. W., John B. Zirbel; M. A., Cecil Hoover; In. G., Henry Hoover; Out. G., Mart. Crawford.
MRS. JOSEPHINE MEIGS' RECOLLECTIONS OF MALCOM.
BEAUTIES OF THE PRAIRIES.
As a child of eight years, my most vivid recollection of life on the prairie was our arrival. It was a cold day in October. The house was bare and un- inviting. We ate our meals on boards supported by nail kegs, and slept on beds made on the floor, while my family went to Iowa City to purchase furniture. My most pleasing remembrance was the beauty of the prairies when carpeted with green and covered with prairie flowers. My fears were of prairie fires, and of wolves which could often be heard howling in the distance.
OLD FASHIONED STAGE COACH.
The most novel sight was the old fashioned stage coach, drawn by four horses, which carried the mail daily over the state road. It was a different life from that of today. Yet few will be found who will not say they were happy days. Genuine hospitality and friendliness prevailed and the remembrance of those days linger long in the memory.
A history of the pioneers of Malcom township would be incomplete without some mention of the life and labors of Rev. Abner D. Chapman, who organized the first church, and whose spotless life and faithful ministration left a lasting impress on the hearts of all who knew him. In the spring of 1859, while travel- ing through the west, he visited the town of Brooklyn and was solicited to become pastor there. He also visited the New England settlement, on the state road, commonly called the "Yankee" settlement, and his heart was drawn toward them as they expressed their strong desire for him to cast his lot with them. A compromise was made, by the holding of services in Malcom and Brooklyn on alternate Sundays, but he made his home in Malcom, on the prairie south of the state road and adjoining the present town of Malcom. All the surround- ing country was at that time a boundless prairie, dotted only here and there with
AUDITORIUM AT MALCOM
1 FL TO LOSEWAY
CATIONS.
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the habitations of those who had left their old homes in the east and had "pitched their tent" on those beautiful savannas, believing that by cultivation they would in time afford them a competence in return for their labors, but in the mean- time many privations were endured. The minister was content to share their privations. He was of the stuff that goes to make the pioneer, like his father, Abner Chapman, who blazed the way for future generations in Ohio, having moved to that state from Vermont in an early day.
The winter services at Malcom were first held in the house of Church Meigs, an upper room having been fitted up as a schoolroom. In the spring a school- house was built, to the great joy of the community. It was of good size and build for the double purpose of church and school. An elevated bench was designed for the singers. The choir was then, as now, an important part of the services. Evening services and prayer meetings were held at early candle light- ing, candles being used in a wonderfully constructed chandelier, made by "home talent." A Sunday school was organized and maintained with great interest, but was suspended during the winter months on account of the severity of the weather and the distance the children had to go.
The railroad was built and the town of Malcom was laid out. It was then thought best to form a separate church organization, which was known as the First Presbyterian church of Malcom. Mr. Chapman raised the funds for a church building, which he lived to see completed. He also assisted in the dedication of the Presbyterian church at Montezuma in 1877.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS.
HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS THAT OF THE COUNTY-IMPROVED FARMS AND PROS- PEROUS CITIZENS-SEARSBORO-DEEP RIVER-EWART-"HUMBUG CITY."
SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township is in the southwest corner of the county. William English, James McDowell and Conrad Swaney came here in 1846 from Ohio, and earlier they resided in Pennsylvania. Some writers have said that Poweshiek resided here, but this is a mistake. He and his friends often came to this point to hunt and to fish, the Skunk river and the groves in this vicinity furnishing the most tempting places for a few weeks' stay, but the Iowa river and its borders won their hearts for a home. The name Poweshiek was given to the county, not because he resided here, but because he pleased the first settlers. They saw him often and they found him thoroughly honorable.
These first settlers were not crowded by neighbors at once. Mr. Swaney settled on section 21, township 78, range 16, English on section 23 and McDowell on 26. The township was organized July 3, 1848, and only twenty votes were cast in what is now Sugar Creek, Washington, Grinnell and Chester, and on a strip two miles wide from the west side of the present Union, Pleasant, Malcom and Sheridan, i. e., one vote on about ten square miles, at the first election, April 2, 1849. It was held at the house of Alfred Reynolds. James McDowell, R. F. Steele and Nathaniel Lattimer served as judges: Charles B. Rigdon as township clerk; James McDowell, Thomas Rigdon and Richard Cheeseman were chosen trustees; Richard B. Ogden, treasurer; and E. J. Williams, township clerk. It will be noticed that some of these lived in what is now Union town- ship. Richard B. Ogden was one of these.
The first mill in the county was built on the Skunk river in this township by James McDowell. The nearest mill to this county was erected in 1842, in the southeast part of Keokuk county, a little over the line on Indian lands, but so little that it was permitted to stand the few months before the Indians would vacate the region. A little later Union Mills in Mahaska county had a mill, still nearer this county, and Spark's mill was built at Lynnville, in Jasper county, somewhat later.
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McDowell first built a sawmill in Sugar Creek and had it in operation in 1849, and set about putting up a grist mill. Misfortune delayed its completion till 1852, when McDowell sold it to John McIntyre, who improved it and did a heavy business for a large territory until wheat was less cultivated, and then it ground supplies for stock rather than men. It passed through several hands, and survived exactly half a century.
The early schools of Sugar Creek are memorable. The first schoolhouse was built in 1851. It was 16 x 18 feet, and built by volunteer effort and in the fashion of the time for country schoolhouses. Those who were most active in this enterprise seem to have been William English and John McDowell, lead- ers in all the enterprises of the early day. They taught the first school of four weeks, two each, without pay. Thus William English was the first teacher in the township, as well as the first sheriff in the county. The names of the fifteen pupils in that school deserve mention here. They were five Englishes, three McDowells and seven Stanleys, as follows: John, Jerome, Nancy, Free- love and Jane English; Levi, Francis and Elizabeth McDowell; and Martha, Julia, May, John, James, Granville and Lawson Stanley.
In 1853 a Mr. Bridges entered the site of the schoolhouse, and was per- mitted to make it a dwelling house. (That was very nearly a case for the "Protection Society.")
A. F. Page taught the school in the winter of 1855-6-a very active and efficient young man and prominent in the later history of the township. W. A. Taylor is remembered as another teacher worthy of mention, although we can- not name all of them.
THE FIRST SETTLER.
The first man to be called a settler in what is now Sugar Creek township, was John Cox. Little was known of him, for he did not long remain in the county. The date of his coming here is not known, but it was in 1844, or 1845. He had a wife and several children. Among the sons were John, Donaldson, and Josiah. When the first permanent settlers came to the township he was living on the south side of the river, near the county line, and had near neigh- bors in Mahaska county. Mrs. Cox died in 1846. The family left the county about 1850, going to Story county. To John Cox doubtless belongs the honor of making the first settlement in the southwest part of the county.
In February, 1846, James McDowell built a log cabin on the banks of the Skunk river in Sugar Creek township, and about the time that he had the cabin completed the family of William English came and resided with Mr. McDowell until English could erect a cabin and move into it. The same sum- mer came Conrad Swaney. This was the settlement along the Skunk river for the year 1846.
The next year Richard Rivers, Robert Steele, John McDowell, Joseph Rob- ertson, and possibly others arrived and swelled the community.
The government survey of the land in this part of Iowa was not completed until the latter part of 1847, so that all the settlers mentioned thus far located upon the land before receiving a deed for it. Therefore, when the land was
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sold by the government and each settler entered what he had improved, it fre- quently happened that he found his farm lying in two or more sections.
The first land entry in Sugar Creek township was the second land entry in Poweshiek county. The first entry here was made by Walter Turner, Jr., and was lot four, in section 6; the date of entry November 18, 1847. The first entry in the county was in Warren township on August 27, 1847.
On July 5, 1848, the following persons entered land in township No. 78, and range No. 16: Conrad Swaney, forty acres on section 21 ; John McDowell, forty acres on section 22, eighty acres in section 27, and forty acres in section 28. On July 6, 1848, William English entered forty acres in section 22, and one hundred and twenty acres in section 26. On October 27, 1848, Joseph Rob- ertson entered forty acres in section 25, forty acres in section 35, and the south- east quarter of section 36. On November 16, 1848, Benjamin Snow entered forty acres in section 36. On June 12, 1849, David Orcutt entered one hundred and sixty acres in section 33. On July 30, 1849, John C. Dog entered one hun- dred and sixty acres in section 33. These constitute the entries for the first two years.
The wealthiest man in Sugar Creek township at that time was William Eng- lish. His tax in 1849 was $6.48. The second in point of wealth was John McDowell, with a tax of $6.44. The third was Joseph Robertson, whose tax was $5.01.
Sugar Creek township, from its first settlement has been prominent in county affairs and has furnished some of its most influential men. Richard B. Ogden, one of the first county commissioners, was a resident of Sugar Creek township at one time. William English was the first sheriff of the county. Conrad Swaney was the first prosecuting attorney. After the establishing of the county judge system in 1851, Richard B. Ogden, then a resident of Sugar Creek town- ship, was chosen the first county judge, which office he held for six years.
From the organization of Sugar Creek township in 1849 it constituted about the west one-third of the county for four years. At the organization of Wash- ington township in 1852, Sugar Creek township's boundaries on the north were confined to township No. 78. At the organization of Union township in 1858 this township was constructed from territory taken from Sugar Creek and Jackson townships, and at that date Sugar Creek's boundaries were reduced to correspond to congressional township No. 78 west, and range No. 16 north.
From the beginning of the settlements in 1845 only a few families came the first few years, but by 1849 a great tide of immigration had set in. The Indiara and Ohio people who had settled here sent back to their native states glowing accounts of the new west, and the pioneers were soon joined by many of their old neighbors from the east. The gold excitement period of 1848 to 1850 brought a few settlers. This increase of population continued without abatement until 1860. During the war period not so many settlers came in.
The nearest postoffice to the first settlers in the township was Oskaloosa, and later an office was established at Lynn Grove, two miles west of Lynn- ville, in Jasper county. Here the mail came once a week from Iowa City, and one of the first papers taken in the community was the Cincinnati Commercial.
Vol. I-18
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When the county judge system ceased in 1861, and was superseded by a board of supervisors, with one member from each township, A. F. Page, was the first member of the board from this township. The development of the township has been steady and the advancement rapid. Many of the early set- tlers made this their permanent home. Many of them remained here through life, died here, and left their families to enjoy the homes which they had built up, and to continue the work which they had begun.
THE FIRST WEDDING.
The first wedding to occur within the present boundaries of Poweshiek county was in Sugar Creek township as organized in 1848. This wedding was that of Henry McVey and Abbie Moon, and was performed by Richard B. Ogden, then a justice of the peace, in and for Mahaska county. It was in the year 1846. Soon after this the Schrader-Newson wedding was solemnized by Rev. William H. Barnes, a local minister who had settled in the community. The first wedding after the organization of the county and the first one to appear on the county records was that of John Moore and Amelia P. Woodward. John Moore became a well known man of the county, and the Woodward family had come to the county in 1845.
The first marriage within the present limits of Sugar Creek township was that of Andrew Haffin and Elizabeth Bird, Joseph Robertson, justice of the peace, performing the ceremony, October 3, 1851. On December 30, 1851, Esquire Robertson united in marriage Charles Russell, and Mrs. Mary Casteel. This wedding is worthy of mention. The groom, Charles Russell, was a young man of twenty-six years, and the bride, Mrs. Casteel, was a lady of forty-eight years. Mr. Robertson, who had but lately been elected a justice of the peace, was called upon to officiate. This was his second effort in performing a mar- riage ceremony. The young man, accompanied by a lady of sufficient age to be his mother, was somewhat a novel couple to the newly elected justice. He did not have the regulation marriage ceremony committed to memory, and became confused. Justice Robertson often spoke of this wedding in after years and that during the rude and uncultured ceremony he managed to say, "I pronounce you husband and wife," and thought this was all-sufficient to the interested parties.
The third wedding at which Esquire Robertson officiated was that of Wil- liam H. Moore, and Eliza Ann Wright, on July 11, 1852.
THE SKUNK RIVER.
This stream of water crosses Sugar Creek township from the northwest to the southeast, entering the township on the west side of section 18, and leaving at the southeast corner.
The name of the river is taken from the Indian word, Chicauqua. This word is said to be the Indian name for the little animal which the people of Iowa call the "skunk." Just why the translated name should have been adopted instead of retaining the original word, Chicanqua, is not known. It is the north branch
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of the Chicauqua, or Skunk river, which runs through this township, and unites with the south branch of the river in the southeast part of Keokuk county.
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