USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa. Its cities, towns and villages, with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 7
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Dysart, of which we speak in another chapter, is located in this township.
The following we gather from the records.
Justices :- II. Frank, HI. Colderwood, J. W. Crissman, S. F. Everett, S. Hanlin, B. F. Thomas, H. Shaffer, D. Torrence, T. S. Talmage, S. L. Cochran, P. P. Wench, S. R. Hunt, J. A. Parmenter.
Clerks :-- G. W. Bradley, D. Torrence, T. S. Talmage, O. M. Haney.
Trustees :- J. Moss, C. Unger, G. W. Wiseman, T. S. Tal- mage, S. R. Hunt, D. Torrence, G. W. Bradley, N. Miller, P. P. Wench, T. L. Cochran, E. Converse, S. F. Everett, J. Enderton, II. Colderwood, M. D. Bonney, B. F. Thomas, J. Dysart, D. Puckett, S. R. Yeoman, L. L. Wheeler, J. T. Con- verse, A. Sewall.
90
HISTORY OF TÁMA COUNTY
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. ÓNEIDA. i 1
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This township was organized October 9th, 1860, and lies in 84 north and 13 west. with Clark township on the north, Benton County on the east, York township on the sonth, and Carroll on the west. It contains some very fine prairie land and abund- ance of timber. -
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Oneida is watered by four tributaries to Salt Creek. .. No town- ship in the County is any better supplied with water .. It has four streams flowing entirely through the township into Salt Creek which passes on through York and , Salt Creek townships and empties into the Iowa River. ar
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The farming portions are rich and prodnstive, and extensive farming is a , predominant feature of industry in the township while stock raising is not neglected in the least.
A. Fowler, was the first white settler in the township, coming here and settling on section 20, in the year 1852. Also among the carly settlers were W Kruthers, J. M. Hull, J. Harden, W. Fowler, D. C. Twogood and G. O. Mason, all opening farms in various parts of the township.
The first marriage was Mr. II. Hull, to Miss . E., J. Kerns, in 1857, J. C. Vermilya, County Judge, officiating.
The first school was taught by, Miss Hannah Thompson.
Below will be found a list of township officers from its organiza- tion excepting 1867, of which there is no record. ...
Justices :- G. G. Mason, B. Terpening, F. K. Morgan, J. II. Rushton, M. . B. , Sapp, C. J. Wiles, A. Anthony, W. Mowry.
Clerks :- D. C., Twogood. J. Thomas, J. K. Bull, W. Mowry, W. W. Wiles.
Trustees :- B. Dickerson, R. Terpening, J. B. F. Hill, J. Ilardin, J. M. Hill, A. Heath, .F. K. Mowry,. W. W. Moss,.N. IInff, J. C. Wiles, F. K. Morgan, J. H. Burris, W. D. Dean, W. Fowler, A. Cady, M. Sapp, I. E. Babcock, O. A. Turpening.
91
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
HISTORY OF' TAMA COUNTY. 91
‹ 1,
LINCOLNu . p. ich wer of the
Lincoln township pecupies the. extreme north-west corner of the County. ; It,is, bounded on the north and west by Grundy 1 County, on the south by Spring Creek, on the east by Grant town- \ ship. It has various small streams, the Little Wolf, being, the I largest. all running in a south-eastern direction, and, empties into 1. Wolf Creek, in Spring Greek township, near the Badger Hill . Flouring mill. Fifteen Mile Grove lies in Lincoln,, about three fourths. of a mile south of the north-west corner, and covers an area of some fifty acres with as nice timber as can be found in Iowa.
On the 5th, day of June 1861, a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors of Tama County, signed by voters of town- , ship 86, Range 16, praying for a division of Spring Creek, town- ship and the organization of a new township to be known as Lin- , coln township; petition granted, and, first election ordered to be held on the second Tuesday in October, 1861, at the house of Joseph Prescott, when and where township officers were to be - i chosen.
1 Lockhart Wilber was the first white settler within the limits of the present township. After him came J. and G. Prescott, and families, from Black Hawk County, in 1855. Not having either , house or permanent shelter of any kind to move into, the settlers were forced to make their wagons and tents suffice for domiciles - until a log shanty could be erected. . While the labors of house building were progressing, night after night were these pioneers listeners to the howling of ravenous wolves, until sleep came to deaden the unwelcome sounds upon their sense
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Their homes were finally roared beneath unbrageons trees in the still, beautiful Fifteen Mile Grove. Greenwood Prescott still remains a citizen of the township. S. V. R. Kelley, and family the Henrys and the Lewises are also old settlers.
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Lincoln township remained comparatively unsettled until about the year 1870, when a German colony began settling within its borders, and to-day it is thickly populated by a good class of German citizens.
92
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
The first school house built was on land in Fifteen Mile Grove donated by G. Prescott, and the first school was taught by a daughter of W. B. King.
Early settlers used to claim that this grove was fifteen miles from no where. It has been the scene of various misdeeds, and upon one occasion the corpse of a man was found in the grove, having marks of violence which indicated foul play.
In the year 1876 Stephen and Henry Wilson erected a store and are now carrying a line of groceries ete. successfully.
A blacksmith shop has been in operation here for a number of years. There is an excellent stone quarry in the grove.
The following is the list of the township officers as shown from the clerks' books.
Justices-S. C. Henry, S. V. R. Kelley, J. and G. Prescott, A. C. Brockway, R. Dick, S. H. Baldwin, A. W. Stover, J. F. G. Cold. A. E. Stewart.
Clerks-JJ. Prescott, S. V. R. Kelley, A. C. Brockway, J. F. G. Cold, C. H. Baldwin.
Trustees-S. C. Henry, S. V. R. Kelley, G. and J. Prescott, F. C. Kelley, HI. J. J. Jentzen, D. M. Wane, J. W. Henry, G. C. Henry, W. C. Thomas, J. Linn, A. Stoner, J. Rodman. K. Cowan, J. Dick, A, Eldridge, R. Way, C. 11. Baldwin, D. B. Hammersley, A. C. Brockway, D. H. Lambury, R. Dick, G. M. Baldwin, C."Sick. A. E. Seward, S. Robinson, M. H. Rch- der, F. E. Kook, J. Dangliesh.
HIGHLAND.
Highland township is one among the finest in the County for agricultural and pastoral purposes and lies in township 82 north, range 16 west and the extreme southwest corner of the County.
J. B. Merritt has the honor of settling first in the township. who came here in the year 1853, from Livingston County. Now York, and entered land on section 16, where he still resides.
The next settlers of this township were Samuel Clark, Jacob and John Korns, David Babb, Arthur and Quincy Mansfield, all
93
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
of whom settled upon their new prairie farms and soon made comfortable homes for themselves and families, and may now be found on their old homesteads reaping the results of their early frontier labors, except David Babb who died in 1878.
The first birth was that of James Hull. second, Willie Merritt.
First marriage was Mary Babb to H. J. Reed, at the residence of David Babb.
The first death in Highland was that of Willie Merritt.
The first school in the township was taught by Miss Lucy Clark of Grinnell, in the fall of 1861 in Central school house.
The first religious meeting in the township was held in the dwelling house of Jacob Korns by Bishop Long, of Pensylvania.
This township was organized October 9th, 1860, and the first election was held at the house of James Adair, on November 5th 1860, for the purpose of choosing township officers.
The officers since its organization as shown by the clerks books were as follows.
Justices :- S. J. Aldin. A. Mansfield, C. W. Moffitt, A. N. Poyneer, E. Phillips, F. M. Clark, D. Babb, B. Crofutt, J. B. Merritt, W. Stewart, E. L. Fish, C. A. Wilson, H. J. Vosberg.
Clerks :- R. Johnson, E. M. Poyneer F. B. Sanborn, A. II. Cowles, D. E. Wing.
Trustees :- J. Korns, A. Mansfield, D. Babb, J. B. Merritt, L. T. Leach, J. G. Cronk, JJ. Roberts, C. W. Moffitt, F. M. Clark, E. B. Moffitt, L. Snyder, HI. I. Reed, J. Ramsey, R. Johnston, J. HJ. Smith, H. Winders, O. Vandyke, HI. J. Vos- burg, V. and E. L. Fish, D. E. Wing, V. Smith.
GRANT.
Grant township was organized in the year 1868, and named in honor of ex-President Grant. The township lies in 86 north range 15 west.
The first record we have of its settlement was in the year 1857, when Conklin, and Cornelius Gay, came and built their cabin on section 25. Soon after Evander Murdock built on sec- tion 23.
94
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
The township is prairie with timber along the streams which intersect it at different parts. It is well watered by Twelve Mile and Four Mile Creeks and their tributaries, which afford advantages to the township as a stock raising section.
The beautiful little grove known as Five Mile Grove in this township, was the scene of the horrible murder of the boy Stopp, at the hands of one Olislangher, of which we make mention else- where.
We give the following list of township officers.
Justices :- W. Kline, T. Weir, C. Fleming, W. C. Seeley, J. R. Davis, J. Stanley, J. McCreath, A. Mitchell.
Clerks :- J. C. Fleming, W. Evans, R. H. Dodd, W. Mitchell. Trustees :- W. Kline, J. II. Scott, J. Stanley, A. Mitchell, J. Young, L. P. Dinsdale, E. S. Bennett. J. Leonard, R. Whannel, J. Wilson, J. Nichols, G. Maron.
CHAPTER X.
RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY.
We propose in this chapter to give a short summary of such matters as will show clearly the business and resources of Tama County. To the thoughtful and intelligent reader these items will be invaluable and we commend them to the capitalist as showing truthfully the situation at present. By a careful obser- vation will be seen; first, the extent of our territory; second, the availiable proportion; third, the variety of its productions; fourth, its value as a stock County; fifth, extent of manufactories; sixth, openings for capitalists.
The reader will notice that we date our calculations in the year 1875, from the fact that then the last census was taken, from which, only, we were able to obtain the facts in regard to land productions etc., though during the progress of this chapter we will give a table, showing the assessment of Tama County of this year, 1879, and which will give a portion at a late date.
EXTENT OF TERRITORY .- Tama County is 24 miles wide and 30 long, having within its boundaries twenty full Congres- sional townships of thirty-six square miles each, making a total of 720 square miles or 455, 182 acres.
IMPROVED LANDS .- These are such as are cultivated, or enclosed in fence and used for meadows or pastures as well as plow lands.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY
According to the census of 1875 there were 255, 182 acres under cultivation.
UNIMPROVED LANDS :- The unimproved land as shown by the census of 1875, is 90,222 acres. The greater portion of this has been brought under cultivation since then and is considered as valuable as any in the County.
WHEAT :- Wheat is most extensively raised in the County. The average yield per acre compares favorably with any County of the State. In her earlier days the wheat crop far exceded that of now; the quality was of an excellent grade and gave full weight. The acreage of 1875 was 97,013 and the yield, 1,437,907 bushels. Of late years the farmers are turning their attention more to stock raising and as a natural consequence corn is being more largely raised and wheat less.
CORN :- Among the products of Tama County as well as gen- erally in the United States. corn is a profitable cereal being the needed article for stock. There were during the year 1875, 72,251 acres of corn tilled in this County, with a yield of 2, 842, 859 bushels. This amount was mostly consumed within the County.
OATS :- This needful and essential cereal is undoubtedly one of the farmer's most useful productions. The soil and climate of Tama County is especially adapted to this plant and it grows with thrift and hardiness. The yield is large, the price fair, making it a profitable production for the producer. According to the last census, 1875, there were 13,574 acres sown to oats and a yield of 384,469 bushels reaped therefrom. The crops since 1875 have been good and of excellent quality.
BARLEY :- This cereal is not so extensively cultivated as those previously mentioned, although among the Germans of the County it is raised to a considerable extent. The yield is large and the growth is hardy and thrifty. The price is good although not profitable enough for the farmers to give it a special at- tention.
RYE :-- This article is not cultivated in large quantities owing to the low market price, though the soil and climate of Tama
97
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
County is suitable for its growth. Large quantities could be raised within the County and marketed, did the prices compen- sate for the labor.
BUCKWHEAT :- Large quantities of buckwheat are raised in this County by some of our farmers, but not sufficient attention is given to its culture to make it a leading production.
POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES :- The productions of the garden are not to be over looked. Among these are the differ- ent varieties of vegetables so needful to the cellar, such as the potato, cabbage, turnip, bean, pea, radish and other minor arti- cles all of which are peculiarly adapted to Tama County soil and grow with thrift and hardiness. The potato is cultivated to a remarkable extent throughout the County. The Early Rose, Peachblow, Red and White Nechannock all grow thrivingly and produce large quantities. Many of our farmers are making this a speciality and find it a very profitable business. The demand is constantly large, and prices good, both 'at home and abroad. Another favorable feature of the potato raising in Tama County is that the growth is so hardy and healthful, and the climate so especially adapted to them that they keep with full assurance and safety. The Peachblow especially possess this feature; being equally as good in the spring after keeping all winter as in the fall when first taken from the earth. It is not particularly so with the other varieties although they keep well through win- ter though do not retain that freshness which they possess in the fall. Cabbage is another vegetable that is raised to a large extent but only for home consumption. The other articles which we have enumerated are grown in every part of the County with profit.
MEADOWS :- The culture of tame grass has become a prominent feature with our farmers. The various tame grasses grow in Tama soil as if by magic. There is but little labor needed in raising it and the remuneration is good. The demand is large, as large quantities are needed to winter the vast number of cattle throughout the County. The last census give 15,123 acres as- signed to the cultivation of this article, producing 10,169 tons.
98
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY
In different parts of the County, wild grass is harvested to quite an extent. In the year 1875, as shown by the last census, 27,- . 667 tons were harvested. The natural or wild grass is very nu- tritions and gives that nourishment needed by animals.
TIMBER LAND :- Tama County has within her boundaries some as fine timber as there is in the State. The natural growth covers 18,282 acres, and the planted timber 1,589 acres, making a total of 19,871; all of which is in a growing condition and af- fords the advantages needed to a prosperous population in the way of fuel and other necessities.
HORSES :- According to the census of the year 1875, the last taken, there were 10,419 horses in the County. The character of the horse has been greatly improved in the past few years. Some have been imported from England, France and other countries at a large expense. Previous to this, all breeding horses were of common stock, and the venture to secure a better breed was a new era in horse raising in the County. Colts by these im- portations were sold as high as one hundred dollars each, and we have known yearlings to, sell from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars each. There is an increasing demand for import- ed horses and the breeding of this better class is becoming a source of revenue to the County. All our best far mers are mani- festing an interest in the business and we believe the time will soon come when Tama County will rank first among the principal counties in this and other States where the raising of fine horses has been made a specialty for years, and where a greater revenue is derived than from other stock. The ques- tion, will it pay to raise the best class of horses? has been fully and satisfactorily answered in the affirmative. It costs no more to raise a good horse than a poor one, and the remuneration is more than double. Many car loads are shipped from this Coun- ty each year.
CATTLE :- In cattle culture Tama County is fast taking a lead- ing position. The thousands of acres of excellent pasture land well watered, and the immense quantities of corn and fodder raised afford the farmer such advantages that cattle can be raised and
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
marketed at a good profit. For some years past Hon. James Wil- son, his brother Peter, West Wilson, L. P. Dinsdale, L. Car- michael and Andrew JJackson have been devoting their time to the improvement of this class of stock and are among Tama Coun- ty's heaviest stock dealers. All these gentlemen have herds that are a credit to the County, and are constantly adding to the number, variety and quality of their stock. They have some that cost them hundreds of dollars each, and which are of pure blood and undoubted pedigree. We can say in regard to cattle what we remarked in relation to horses, it costs no more to raise the best class than it does the poorest, and the profit is muchgreater. According to the last census there were 28, 589 head in the County. Many of this number, of course, were milch cows.
MULES AND ASSES: - Notwithstanding these animals will do more with the same amount of care, they do not appear to be a favorite with our farming community, there being only 579 head. The average value, at which they are assessed, is $50 each.
SHEEP :-- There has been a heavy decrease in the number of sheep in Tama County during the past few years, caused by the low price of wool in the general markets. During the war, wool growing, was a most profitable business and largely en- gaged in by our farmers, but the price of woollen goods has decreased greatly and the profit realized so small, that other business is now much more remunerative. In 1875 we had in this County only 4,851 head of sheep.
SWINE :- This class of stock has received more attention from our farmers than any other, and has generally been the most prof. itable. The American nation seems "hoggishly inclined," and the price ruling the markets has been such as to tempt our farmers to invest extensively. None seem to abandon the busi- ness of raising swine. The quality of hogs has been great- ly improved within the past few years by the introduction of the English Berkshire, Chester White, and Poland China. From these and other varieties crosses have been obtained which have proven even more profitable to fatten than the thorough breds. J. T. Ames, A. J. Willey, and others have done much to im-
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
prove this class of stock and, deserve the credit of the whole County.
The large yield of corn, the readiness with which the hog fattens, and the market price affords abundant compensation to the farm- er or stock raiser. During the past years there have been thous- ands of hogs shipped from this County and according to the as_ sessors' books of 1875, there were 32,984 hogs. It must be borne in mind that the assessments are made from the first of January, when there are a less assessable number than any other month of the year. The assessment figures will never, therefore, show the exact number, for many pigs that are not assessed before the next. yearly assessment, are shipped to the markets.
ORCHARDS :- As a County grows older, the more extensive her orchards and abundant her fruit erop. Tama County now ranks among the foremost fruit growing Counties of the state, -both in regard to the quantity and quality of the fruit growing. In 1875 we had 32,239 trees bearing in the County. This includes ap- ples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, etc., of which we realized 9,555 bushels of fruit. There were besides this 153, 635 trees not in bearing.
APPLE :- The greater part of the land devoted to the cultivation of fruit is used for raising this variety, the principal kinds grown being Jeannette, Winesap, Rambo, Bellflower, Ben Davis, Jona- than, Red Astrachan, Red Streaks, Red June and Early Harvest. These are now considered standard. At present there are thous- ands of bushels raised in this County each year, and the amount is constantly increasing, the greater mumber of trees hardly yet reaching maturity, while additions are made each year. During the fall of 1876 there were shipped form the County hundreds of bushels. The apple crop is generally sure each year, the growth is thrifty and healthful. A good price is generally realized from this fruit, and it is found to be of profitable culture. As the orchards become older, the average will be greater.
PEACHES, PEARS AND PLUMS :- There has been some little dif- ficulty in growing these fruits owing to the severe cold, but as the County becomes older, with close attention given the different
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
fruits they are grown to a considerable extent and with a good profit. Plums are especally grown with thriftness and the quali- ty is comparatively good.
CHERRIES .- The principal varieties of this excellent fruit are the English Morella, Early Richmond, and May Duke, the two former being superior to the latter and raised with less difficulty. The yield is usually large and of a superior quality.
GRAPES. - This fruit is becoming one of the staple products of the County. The yield, generally being very heavy where the proper care and attention is given. The market is good and at prices that make its culture profitable. The varieties mostly cultivated are the Concord, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Isa- bella and Clinton. The manufacture of wine from the grape is found quite remunerative and is being entered into quite exten- sively by fruit growers.
SMALL FRUIT :- The small fruits cultivated in this County are the currant, gooseberry, blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry, all of which yield well and are found quite profitable. The quali- ty of each is good and are grown in abundance. The eli- mate and soil seems to be specially adapted to them. There are some who give their especial attenion to the culture of small fruit and find it a remunerative business.
ASSESSMENT OF TA-
The following table shows the Assessment of the County by Townships the purpose of the tax levy the Board of Supervisors ordered that the as- The table is a very interesting one if carefully studied.
Number of Acres
Value per Acre
Value of Laud
Value of Town
Property
Neat Cattle
Value
Horses
Value
Value
Sheep
Geneseo
23.005; 8 01.
165,963.
4,529 1.341: 14.108
572
16.850
9
350
40
Cla .k ..
22.497:
8 82
185.418
31,305
025 10,226
500
15,125
14.424
10
1,517
14
York.
23.183'
8 87
201.349
200.446:
4.4.10
1.321
15.035
15.380
498
15.380
13
430
Perry.
22.158:
8 96
18.76)}
1.2.3
1.674
15.075
489
1-4,340:
23
710
28
Carroll .
22.974
8 39
183.303
8322
7.948'
445
11,730
20
690
Otter Creek
22.723
8 92
202.221;
191.729
2,195
1.143
10.458
531
14.833. 31
1,170
Giraut.
22 733
6
7 57:
158.8411
1.510
16.836
530
13.183
38.
1.370
58
Howard .
23,157
8 55
188.510
1.310
1.364
13.461
651
19,103
9
307
1:3.₺
Tama ..
6.254
12 34
77.210
·1,310
336
4.735
192
3,570
10
475
101
Columbia
22.718;
( 65'
172.975
1.282
13.114
467
16.359
15
695
Lincoln.
22.439
9 37
207.301;
1,36-1
962
5.838
610
10,018
56 975
215
Carlton
23.334'
7 63
174.217:
1.027
9 500
5918
14.938;
21 560
120
Indian Village
22.452:
7 35
16.95.
4,906
1,458
13.888
5,82
15.238
9.
267
13 515
Chelsea
581, 13 84:
8.087
15.918
103
1.268
59
1,920
Traer ...
475. 32 09
15.243;
66.790
111:
1,538
191
6,095
215
Toledo City.
126, 65 57!
8.203'
115,600
121.
1 353
1-16
3.613
6
60
Tama City.
732 20 06'
14.686:
164.033
233
2.476
177
4.361
55
12
Montour
218 28 33'
6.176
32,054
189
1.538
109'
2.785
7
Totaly
455.992 8 26 3.753.094 455.627 25.240 254. 850 11.469 318,895 542 18,360 1,193
18.880,
27:
750
1
Richland
23,098:
8 36
145, 2 15
980, 10.529
1-11
1,580
46.
1.360
10
Toledo.
14.589
11
26
163.651:
816.
9.046
393
121;
13 152
2.5444
11
Spring Creek
22, 133
8 1.4
165.798.
2.255
1.201 14.214
593
19.543
1.040
39
Salt Creek
23,217
8 67:
9 11
189.018:
405
1,505
Buckingham.
22.360
9 37.
193.480
1,200
12.212
489
544 17,740
15
595
Crystal
22.785
380
230
Highland.
22.456
8 15
181.805
1.223'
10.199
195;
12.691
Mul s & Asses
1,040
Oneida
22.502.
1,389. 14.044
10.248
741:
11.424
MA COUNTY FOR
1879.
and Towns as made by the Assessors thereof. In equalizing it for sessment be reduced five per cent on Toledo and Lincoln Townships.
Value
Swine
Value
Vehicles
Value
Value of Merchandise
Capital Employd in Manufactures
Moneys and .
Taxable House-
hold Property
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