History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 94

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 94

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BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

in a new country. He went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1857 he came to Buffalo, Ia., and opened a shop. He was married here to Katharine Heckle, Oct. 23, 1861; she was born in Baden, Germany, and is a daughter of Theo. and Mary A. (Meyer) Heekle. Some four years after his marriage Mr. Springmier bought his present farm of 92 acres in Buffalo. He also owns three lots on Fifth street, 40 acres north of Buffalo, and 80 acres in Fulton Township, Muscatine County. Most all of his lands are under cultivation and well stocked. Ile is one of the representative farmers of this county, and has held various local offices in his township. Mr. and Mrs. Springmier have had eight children, viz. : Theo. H., Mary B. L., Bertha, Theresa S., Mary A., Agues C., Chas. E. and Otelia V. Mr. Springmier is a member of the German Lutheran church in Daven- port; his wife of the Catholic church.

Christian Steinle was born near Waibligan, Wurtemberg, Ger- many. Jan. 13, 1818. His parents were Jacob F. and Magdalena (Rochling) Steinle, natives of Germany, where they both died. Christian Steinle came alone to the United States when 18 years of age. He landed in New York City without a cent of money. Ile learned the baker's trade and resided there 20 years. During this time he was married to Amelia Gray. March 19. 1851. She was a daughter of James and Elizabeth Gray, of New York, where she was also born. Mr. and Mrs. Steinle had two children, both now deceased. Mrs. Steinle died in February, 1855. Mr. Steinle remained in New York until 1856. when he went to Rock Island, Ill., and established a baker shop. He was married then to Walburga Rapp, Nov. 3. 1861. She was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, and was a daughter of John and Agnes Rapp, nee Schultheis, of Germany. Mr. and Mrs Steinle had two children, both of whom have passed away. Mr. Steinle moved on to his farm in section 13, Buffalo Township. in June, 1877. The farm consists of 10) acres of finely cultivated land, which is well stocked.

George F. Stickelberger is a native of the village of HIaltingan, Baden, Germany, born JJune 2, 1832, son of John J. and Eliza- beth (Gampp) Stickelberger, natives of Germany, where they died. The subject of this memoir came to the United States when 21 years of age, landing in New York City Nov. 5. 1853. From New York he went to Buffalo, thence to Cincinnati. In October, 1854, he came to Scott County and worked on a farm in Buffalo Township until his marriage to Geneva Gold, Jan. 28, 1856. She was born in Beron, Germany, and was a daughter of Michael and Anna (Gruse) Gold who came to Scott County, Sept. 29, 1840. After his marriage Mr. Stickelberger moved on to the farm where he now resides, in section 15, Buffalo Township. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stickelberger has been blessed with 13 children, eight living-Lucy M., now Mrs. Max Hoffbaner; J. Frederic, William R., Dora, Nellie, Nancy and Louis II. Mr. Stickelberger

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

owns 120 acres of highly improved land and is one of the represen- tative farmers of Scott County. He is a member of A. O. U. W., Buffalo Lodge, No. 161; is one of the charter members.

Geo. H. Strampe was born near the village of Oetzen, Hanover, Germany, Jan. 6, 1847, son of Henry and Mary Strampe. The former died when George was quite small, and she was again married, to William Schmidt. They reside in Germany. The subject of this record became self-supporting at the age of 14. By working for the farmers in his native country, lie saved money enough to pay his passage to America in 1866. He borrowed money in New York to come to Scott County, and located in Cleona Township, where he remained three years; subsequently moved to Buffalo Township where he now resides. He was married here Ang. S. 1872, to Mrs. Horace Miller, whose maiden name was Rosana Brumbangh. She was born in Portage Co., Ohio, and was a daugh- ter of Samuel and Magdalena Brumbaugh; the former was a native of Pennsylvania, and died Jan. 27, 1880. Mrs. Brumbaugh resides with Mr. and Mrs. Strampe. Mrs. Strampe had three chil- dren by her first husband-Charles L., Mysis G. and Samuel B. Miller. Her marriage with Mr. Strampe has been blessed with three children-John W., Mary E. and Rosa A. Mr. Strampe owns 80 acres of land, all under good cultivation, and valued at $50 an acre.

James Truitt, dairyman, was born near Bedford, Ind., April 21, 1841. He was a son of Jesse Truitt and Anna Kirby, natives of Kentnekv. He died in March, 1876; she died Jan. 21, 1859. When James Truitt was about five years old his parents moved to Muscatine County, and settled in Sweetland Township; from there they went to Davis Co., Mo., where his mother died. James Truitt was married Jan. 21, 1869, to Sallie Umphress, born in Indiana; her father, James Umphress, died in April, 1879. In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Truitt came to Seott County and bought a place of six acres just outside the limits of Buffalo. He has the only dairy in Buffalo. They have one adopted child, Horace C. Mr. T. is a member of the Baptist church, his wife of the Methodist church. In polities he is a Demoerat.

William Webster, Principal of the Buffalo public schools, was born near Waterloo, Canada, June 15, 1849. Ile remained here attending and teaching school until 20 years of age when, taking Horace Greely's advice, he came West. He located in Muscatine County, and taught school in the Montpelier Township. He was united in marriage Dec. 8, 1870, with Mary E. Wright, a native of Muscatine County, born Feb. 15, 1853. IIer father, William P. Wright, was a native of Kentucky ; he married Nancy Daniels, born in North Carolina. They had a family of seven children. Mr. Webster was engaged in the sewing-machine business in Mo- line, Ill., until 1873, He then returned to Muscatine County and taught school in Fairport one term. Since 1878 he has taught school in Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have had three children

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BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

viz .: William A., Roderic B. and Cary M. Mrs. Webster is a

member of the M. E. church at Blue Grass. The parents of onr subject were Alexander and Helen Webster, nee Manney. They were natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. He died July 12, 1854; she is living on the old homestead near Waterloo. Canada.

George R. Wells, M. D., a descendant of English and German ancestry, was a son of George R. Wells. Sr., and Cornelia (Steele) Wells, natives of New York. He died in California ; she resides in Kansas. Our subject was born near Utica, N. Y., July 28, 1840. He attended the Buffalo, N. Y., High School, from which he graduated, then took a course of medicine at Buffalo College and at the Georgetown University, at Washington, D. C. Sept. 22, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K. Sth Ill. Cavalry, as a private. Soon after he was appointed hospital steward, then lieutenant of the company, also acted as assistant-surgeon. He remained in the service until the elose of the war. Was with the army of the Potomae in all their principal engagements. He was mustered ont at Chicago, Ill. Upon retiring from the service he located at Chatsworth, Ill. and formed a partnership with Dr. Nelson. Three years later he went to Polo. Ill. In 1870 he was employed by the Union Mutual Life Insurance Co., as general agent. In 1876 he went to Louisville, Ky., and attended the Medical Col- lege there one term, after which he practiced in Streator. Ill., two years, then came to Davenport, where he remained some 12 months, from there to Buffalo his present place of residence. He has met with great success here as a practitioner, and is one of the prominent men of the city. Ile was married June 7, 1866, to Liz zic Snook, of Chatsworth, Ill., by whom he had two children- Mary G. and Maude. Ile lost his wife in 1874 and he was again married to Henrietta Croswell, June 27, 1877. She was born in Illinois, and was a daughter of Thomas and Martha (Martin) Cros- well. Dr. Wells and wife have been blessed with two children- Helen JJ. and Susan C. Ilc is a member of Buffalo Lodge, No. 72, A. O. C. W.

Peter Willi, farmer, section 15. Buffalo Township, was born in Chavana, Italy, Feb. 14, 1827. Ile was a son of John A. Willi, and Maria (Pernisa) Willi. He was a native of Switzerland, and a wagon-maker by trade. She was born in Como, Italy. When Peter was fonr years of age, his parents took him to canton of Grison. Switzerland, and located in the village of Enis, on the River Rhine. He attended school and worked in the glass factory, and making rafts until 18 years of age, when he came with his parents to America, landing Nov. 1, 1845. They started to Wis- consin, but the river freezing over they landed at Hampton, Ill .; then went to Wendroff Island, near Milan, Ill., and remained un- til spring; then farmed at Premption, Mercer Co., Ill., until spring of 1847, when they came to Davenport, Iowa. Peter worked here at gardening, where the George Davenport Square now is, for the Le Claire Hotel, and followed farming until his marriage

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

to Miss Anna Gold, June 4, 1849. She was born at Neustadt on the River Main, Bavaria, Germany, and she was a daughter of Michael and Anna (Gruse) Gold, of Germany, who settled in Scott County, fall of 1840. They had six children, five living. After Mr. and Mrs. Willi were married they lived in Davenport, Iowa, until the fall of 1854, when he bought a farm of 40 acres in section 15, Buffalo Township, where he now resides. He and wife are members of the Catholic church, and have 10 children, viz .: Jolin; Geneva, now Mrs. Jacob Grob; Mary E., now Mrs. Phe- lix Hirehl; Mary F., now Mrs. William Phillips; Anna R., now Mrs. Adolph Herman: Joseph A. resides on the farm with his father, engaged in farming; Agues M., now Mrs. Michael Wenzel; Margaret M., Katy E., and Clementina M., reside with their parents. Mr. Willi is one of the enterprising grain and stock- raising farmers of Seott County, and has a farm of 70 acres. under good cultivation. In politics is a Greenback - Democrat.

Robert Williams, Cross Roads, section 11, Buffalo Township, was born near New Port, Wales, May 20, 1825. His parents were John and Mary (Long) Williams, natives of Wales. They were members of the English Lutheran Church, and had eight children. Robert mined in the coal and iron mines until 16 years of age, when he came alone to the United States, and landed in New York City. Ile mined in the coal mines at Pottsville, Pa., seven years, then mined coal in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia, until 1850; then mined at East St. Louis, Ill., until 1864, when he came to Scott Co., Iowa, and bought the farm in Buffalo Township, where he and family still reside, and where he has mined and tarmed. He married Miss Mary Hanlan, Ang. 25. 1856, who was born in Ireland, and was a daughter of James Hanlan. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had three children, two living-James and Mary Williams. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Catholic church. . Mr. Williams owns a fine farm of 70 aeres, all under good cultivation and well stocked. and is one of the enterprising farmers of Scott County. He has been identified with it since 1864.

Franklin H. Williamson, carpenter, miller and farmer. Buffalo, Iowa, was born on a farm eight miles west of Liberty, the county seat of Bedford Co., Va., Nov. 14, 1830, where he worked in his father's grist and saw mill until 21 years of age, when he struck out for himself and went to Bedford, Me., and worked in a cotton-mill some eight months when he returned to Virginia and took a con- tract of building two dams on the Kanwgha Canal, on the James River, built one dam at Irvin's Ferry and one at Well's Gap; re- mained there two years, then was superintendent of grading the Tennessee Railroad between Linchburg and Liberty in Campbell County, on the old Poplar Forrest farm now owned by Thos. Jef- ferson. During this time he boarded with John B. Good, Sr., whose son, John B., Jr., was afterward congressman from this State; remained there one year, then the winter of 1852 started with

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BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

five other young men to California; when they arrived at Spring- field, Ill .. he was taken siek. He sold out his interest in teams, cattle etc., and the party went on without him. Ile remained in Springfield four months, sick with typhoid fever. He then went to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., for his health a short time, then went to Chicago, Ill .. and began to work as bridge carpenter on the Rock Island R. R., now the C., R. I. & P. R. R. Worked on this road six months, then worked in a mill and shook with the "ager" at Hampton, Ill., six months; then took charge of a mill at Port Byron, Ill., four or five months; then went to Lake Pipin and assisted Captain Barber to raise the Steamers, "Arcola," "Fall City." and "Register." that had been sunk by the ice. Returned to PortB yron one year, when he came to Seott Co., Iowa, arriving here March 12, 1860. Ile farmed for Jacob Shoe two years in Buffalo Township, when he married Miss Catherine Wyman, June 10, 1862. She was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and was a danghter of Valentine Wyman and Barbara Wyman, natives of Ger- many. who came to the United States in 1840, and settled in Scott County in 1845. They had six children, five living. Aiter Mr. and Mrs. Williamson were married, he worked in partnership on a farm in Buffalo Township one year; then worked on a farm in Davenport Township two years, when he returned to Buffalo and followed carpentering, farming and milling, until 1881. Since that time he has followed bridge carpentering on the C., R. I. & P. R. R. He and wife are members of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, and have had three children, two living, viz .: Eudora F. and Evelyn M .; Lucy died Jan. 17, 1869. The parents of F. II Williamson were Henry P. Williamson and Lney Brooks. He was born in Yorkshire. England, and she in Scotland. IIe was a farmer, and died in 1850. She was killed by lightning in 1846. They were members of the M. E. church. and had eight children, four living. The subject of this sketch. F. H. Williamson, has been justice of the peace six years, member of city council, town elerk, in his township. Is a member of I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 87, at Naples, Ill .. and Buffalo, Iowa, Lodge, No. 72. A. O. U. W. In politics a Prohibitionist and cast his first vote for Buchan- nan.

Jacob II. Whistler, pastor of the Church of Christ, Buffalo, was born near Harrisonburg, Rockingham Co .. Va., July 9. 1831, son of IIenry and Susan (Hedricks) Whisler; father a native of Virginia and mother of Maryland. The subject of this memoir worked on his father's farm and attended the Pleasant Valley Insti- tnte until he was 18 years old. then engaged in school-teaching. He taught the first school in the loop of the New River, near the great Kanawha Falls. In the spring of 1852 he came to Jowa and located in Cedar County, where he remained until the winter of that year. then went to Bellevne, Iowa. In April, 1853, he went to Magnoketa and worked on farms in that vicinity, and attended the academy there some months: afterward taught school near

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Maquoketa two years. He was married Sept. 28, 1856, to Ada Cook, a native of Petersburg, Canada. Her parents were Robert and Ruth Cook, of Canada; the former died in 1868; she is living with her son Wesley, on the old homestead near Magnoketa. In 1864 Mr. Whisler was drafted for the army, but bought a sub- stitute. He was appointed a minister and evangelist of the Church of Christ, Ang. 27, 1866. He held protracted meetings in Iowa and Illinois until April, 1869, when he located in Buffalo, in charge of his present pastorate. This church was organized by Mr. Whis- ler on the third Sunday of December, 1868, with W. D. Vermillion, elder; and Chas. Sowers and Levi Moore, deacons, with a member- ship of 35, which afterward increased to 102; now numbers 32. This was the first Christian church organized in Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Whisler have one child, Mary M. Mr. W. has ever been an earnest temperance worker, and for the past five years a strong prohibitionist. He was nominated by this party for the Legislature twice. He owns a nice residence and five lots in the eastern part of Buffalo, where he resides.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

Butler Township comprises 36 seetions in the northeast part of Seott County, bounded on the east by Princeton Township, on the south by Lincoln, on the west by Winfield and on the north by the Wapsipinecon River. It was first named Ben Butler, but by aet of the Board of Supervisors in 1866, the prefix " Ben " was dropped.

The first entry of land in the township was in 1836, when Henry Harvey Pease, in partnership with John D. Grafford, entered 500 acres of land on section 19, in what is known as Walnut Grove. Alphonso Warren had previously " blazed " the trees on this tract, and Messrs. Pease and Grafford paid him $100 to relinquish the interest thus acquired in the land.

FIRST SETTLERS.

Mr. Pease built the first cabin in the township in 1838; lived two years in Dubuque after entering his elaim. He still lives on the spot where this cabin was erected. The original structure is still standing, and forms a part of his present residence. Mr. Pease was born Oct. 29, 1794, at Middlefield, Hampshire Co., Mass. He removed in an early day to New York, thence to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and to Dubuque, Ja., in 1832, where he served as deputy sheriff, constable, ete., besides being engaged in merean - tile pursuits.

Alphonso Warren built the next cabin, in the fall of 1838, on section 20, a little below the present residence of Mr. Thos. Glynn. Mr. Warren came from New York, and opened and operated thie celebrated grindstone quarry in this township. He left this connty some 35 years since. Last summer he visited the "old stamping ground." and talked over the incidents of early life here with the few remaining old settlers, returning to Kansas, his present home.

George Daly, a native of Ohio, came from Moline, Ill .. in 1839, and built a saw and flour mill on section 17, on what was then named Daly's Creek. Much of the lumber of Mr. Pease's first barn was here sawed. Mr. Daly afterward moved to Canton, Jackson Co., and subsequently died in Plymouth County.

Aaron B. Norris was also an early settler, and moved to Mis- sonri.

FIRST THINGS.

The first birth in the township occurred Scpt. 1, 1839-Clinton W. Pease, son of II. HI. Pease.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

The first marriage was between George Daly and Rebecca Arble, in the spring of 1839. Miss Arble had recently arrived from Pen n- sylvania, in company with Mr. Cooper, father of Michael Cooper.

The first death was that of Delos Warren, brother of Alphonso Warren.

The first school was taught in the sonth end of an old double log house in Walnut Grove, near the site of the present school-house, in 1846, by Miss Alice Alvord, daughter of Whiten Alvord and niece of Mrs. A. M. Fish.

The first religious services were held in 1838, at the residence of Mr. Pease, and were conducted by James and Alexander Brownlic. Presbyterians. A Methodist circuit rider named Brace was wont to stop at the same place, the only one within 50 miles where corn was to be had for his horse. Another, Father Stimpson, allured by former experiences, would ride 15 miles through storm and slcet to procure here a cup of tea. The good father had a refined taste, and on occasions like this not only preached the word and advocated resignation, humility, etc., but ofttimes indulged in lengthy discussions on the question of " corn coffee vs. 'boughten ' tea."

Geo. Daly built the first saw and flour mill in 1839. It had one run of stone, and was situated on section 17.

Col. Breckenridge, from Pennsylvania, in an early day entered about 7,000 acres of wild land in the northeastern part of this township, and enclosed the entire tract with one fence. It is re- lated that in breaking, his teams would start from a point where J. C. M. Causland now lives, and plow a continuous furrow to the Wapsie, a distance of three miles, two round trips a day being considered good work.

The first school-house was a log structure and was built in 1850 on section 18.

An amusing incident, illustrating the trials and disappointments of carly life herc, is related by Mr. Morris, which we give in his own words. Speaking of the marriage of Mr. Daly and Miss Arble in 1839 he says: "This feat was accomplished after many trials and tribulations had been undergone, arising mainly from the inappropriativeness of poor Lo, the wandering red man. Pease, Daly, et al. had oftentimes had occasion to congratulate themselves and each other upon the honesty, probity and other old-time characteristics of their neighbors, and had laughed them- selves into paroxysms of glec over the thought that locks and bars and. all such were for those who needed them; when lo! a change came over the spirit of their dream. When the poor Indian, of un- tutored mind, had been incantiously left without the realms of their reckoning, he, or they (for there was a brace of them), had felt the slight to such a degree as to so cautionsly appear upon the scene, so quietly operate, and silently disappear as to prove, even in these pioneer days, that " the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft a'glec." "Pease's Guinea gold watch was gone, his riding

J. W. ON ausland)

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BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

bridle, and enongh else to vex his son]. And Daly-his wed- ding beaver hat was gone; his wedding snit was gone; and, alas! too, was gone the money he had saved for a license fee for the min- ister who was to tie the Gordian knot, and for part payment for sewing upon these same wedding garments, justly due to Miss Lydia Pinneo, a sister of Madison Pinneo, who had in her kind, womanly heart so efficiently aided him in his so landable and haz- ardons undertaking. And with these were gone, too, the good motherly hens, brooding upon nests so soon to reward their ma- ternal care. His spoons were gone; his knives ditto, and truly our hero, for he was a hero, had fallen upon troublous times. Think of it, ye young men and maidens; sympathize with this heart- broken young man while your historian leaves him prostrate in the ashes of his dead hopes and hastens after the gaunt authors of his woe. In impartial mood our Indians wended their devious way to the house of Pease, and in the quiet, restful hours of slumber, awaked his household in their ill-timed efforts to kindle a blaze upon his hearth. " Ugh! me welly cold," and he bade them bring in some logs and warm their beauteous anatomies. "Ugh! me welly hungry." and he fed them upon the viands then and there in plenteons vogue. " Ugh! me welly sleepy," and he bade them roll their glorious frames, bedecked in all their gorgeous panoply of blanket, paint, buekskin, feathers, beads, ete., at length before the hearth and sleep the sleep of the just. And the Pease house- hold accepted the advice of its head, and slumbered as do the just and upright; and it happening to be on a Sabbath morn they indulged then as we of later day ofttimes do-in too much of slumber of the just and upright. This fanlt, if such, cannot be laid upon their visitors, the Indians, who, in praise be it said, were up betimes or perhaps a little previous, and fearing to awake their host, had silently stolen away a Guinea gold watch, a riding bridle, and such else as to vex the household of Pease. And then there was a wild hurrying to and fro. Norris rode to the raging Wapsie where Bowen's Ferry did its roaring tide bespan, and earnestly be- sought its Charon of tidings of the truant twain. Dals-but we left him prostrate, ete., and our veracions informant saith not further of him; and Pease, he rode to the hamlet of Davenport, thence to Long Grove, Allen's Grove and Little Walnut Grove, where he heard of our Indians, one of whom was bedecked in wed- ding raiment. betopped with wedding beaver hat, and bejeweled with Guinea gold watch, all of which finery he hastened to barter to a man named Woods, for divers quantities of calico goods, but- tons, trinkets, etc., to the value of $9. And Pease overtook the Indians, and after some parley betook unto himself the riding bridle, the spoons and the knives, and was of course properly rejoiced thereat. Upon our man Woods he found the beaver wedding hat, plowing corn with its new-found owner, and to him he was also in- debted for restoration of the wedding suit upon the just considera- tion of $7 lawful money. And Daly, hero and Phoenix that he

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

was, straightway arose from the ashes aforesaid, donned his mar- riage raiment, his wedding beaver hat-both tried and not found wanting-and joyfully led to the Hymen's altar his blushing bride, the fair Becky Arble.

RELIGIOUS.

There are two church buildings and societies in the township, that of the Mt. Joy M. E. church and the Presbyterian church. The M. E. church building was ereeted in 1861, and is about 32 x 42 feet, located on seetion 30. Its pastor was S. II. Harmer. At present it is supplied by Rev. Mr. Holland, who preaches every two weeks. A Sunday-school is conducted during the summer months. The present trustees are Geo. Banghman, T. W. MeCausland, John Snyder, Wm. Arnold and Morgan Orrendorf. The Presbyterian church is located on seetion 35, and was built in 1868, about 32 x 40 feet in size. It is known as Mount Union Church. Mr. Me Bride was first pastor; at present Rev. Mr. Hayes supplies the pulpit every two weeks.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 94

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280