USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 100
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ORGANIC.
The first election held in this township after it had assumed its present boundaries was upon the 5th day of April, 1858, at which time the following officers were elected: George W. Bradley, Clerk; John Stoakes, Norman Rice and Horace Harts- horn, Trustees; IIenry C. Stoakes, Road Supervisor.
HISTORICAL ITEMS.
Marion Young, aged 13, daughter of Samuel and Janet Young, and Sarah Kling- aman, daughter of Stephen and Anna Klingaman, were drowned in Wolf creek in July, 1862. They were bathing and waded into a hole that was quite deep. Miss Mary Klingaman, an aunt of Sarah, who was resting on the bank, rushed to the rescue and was nearly drowned. It
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IIISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
was on the northwest quarter of seetion 10, and occurred abont 10 o'clock at night. Other children were near the stream at the time and speedily gave the alarm to the neighborhood, but it was too late to save the girls.
The Bunker boys were hanged in Jan- uary, 1859. This matter is treated in the chapter upon Events of Interest.
Orlando Crampton and wife were frozen to death in December, 1856. They were living at this time with his parents on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 23. They went to a neighbors who lived on the southeast corner of sec- tion 15, a distance of half a mile. They started home at 4 o'clock in the after- noon, it was snowing and the wind was blowing hard. They proceeded about half the distance in the right direction, when it appears they became confused, got lost and went in the wrong direction. The family supposed they had stopped all night at the neighbors, but as they did not come in the morning they went over to see about it, and learned that they had started home the night previous.
It having been a bad blizzard, they were alarmed. The neighborhood was called out, and the search began. Her dead body was found nearly eight miles from home, that same day, and his body was found near Salt creek, in what is now Oneida township. It is thought he must have traveled about twenty-five miles It seems that she had died first, as she was laid out with her hands across her breast; he had taken her shawl and wrapped around his . head, and had stamped a hole through the crust of snow, sat down and died in a sit- ting posture. He was a native of York
State and twenty-three years old. Ilis wife was the daughter of Henry and Lydia (Yale) Beatty, and was born in York State, December 26, 1835.
The first school in the township was kept in a log house on section 3, in 1854, and was taught by Miss Rachel Wood.
The first school house was built in 1856, in the town plat of Buckingham, Jane Noble taught the first school in this building.
The first birth in the township was America, a daughter to William D., ยท nd Mary (Wood) Hitchner, December 1, 1852. She died December 10, 1856,
The first death was that of Joseph Con- nell which occurred in September, 1854.
The first marriage in this township oe- curred October 16, 1853, at which time Martha Taylor was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to a man by the name of Knott, who was living at that time in Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa. Soon after the happy event they moved to Mount Ver_ non, Linn county, Iowa, where he kept a store a number of years, and then removed to southeastern Kansas, where she died about 1875, leaving a son and two daugh- ters now grown. A grown son and daughter and two half-grown sons of Ira Taylor died of typhoid fever in November, 1854, at their home where Traer now is, all of them within two weeks. The following spring Mr. Taylor moved to Toledo, where his wife died, and he again married. His second wife died in 1880. He still lives at Toledo with his daughter, the wife of Rev. S. W. Ingham.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school house in the township was built in 1856, and was dedicated by a
,
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IHISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
dance on the 4th of July of that year. Miss Jane Nobles had the honor of first teach- ing in this building, although as else- where stated a school had been taught in a log building previous to this time. In district No. 1 a school house was built at West Union in 1859, and a term of school that had been commenced in Dexter Higgins' house by Cyrena Ingham in the fall of that year, was completed in this building. It was a frame building and was remodeled and repaired in 1881. In district No. 2 the first school building was erected in 1875 and is located on the northeast corner of section 1. Olive MI. Keckley was the first teacher in this dis- triet. In distriet No. 3 the first school was taught by Dudley Loop in Henry Beatty's house, on section 23, during the winter of 1857-58. The school house was built in 1859, and the first school in this building was presided over by Miss Rachel Felter, during the summer of that year. The building was located on the southwest quarter of section 24, where it now stands. In district No. 4 the first school house was built in 1857 and was located on the southwest quarter of section 29. Annen Morton was the first teacher in the dis- trict. The building was moved to the northeast quarter of section 31 in 1866, and was used until 1873, when the present house was built, which is located on the northeast quarter of section 31. Rebecca Stoner was the first teacher in this house, completing a term commenced in the old building. In district No. 5 the first school house was built in 1871, and vas located on the southwest quarter of section 22. Mr. Shephard was the first teacher. It is a good frame building and well furnished.
Charles Shephard was the first teacher. In district No. 6 the first house was built in 1872, and located on the southwest quarter of section 25. The first term of the school was taught by Isabel Stewart in the fall of 1872. This is called Stormy Point district. The house in district No. 7 was built in 1866, and the first school was taught by Miss Jane Wilson in the winter of 1860-61. This house was located on the northeast quarter of section 17, and was used until 1877, when it was sold and the present building erected that same year on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 17. Miss Ida Loop was the first teacher in the new building.
The first house in district No. 8 was built in 1875 on the northeast quarter of section 1. Miss Olive M. Keckley was the first teacher here. Most all of these build- ings are in good condition, and as a rule competent teachers have been employed, and the advantages of an education are freely offered to all who will avail them- selves of the opportunity.
RELIGIOUS.
Methodism was introduced into north- ern Tama in 1853. Rey. S. W. Ingham preached the first discourse at the house of Norman L. Osborn, on the northwest corner of the present site of the town of Traer, on the 4th of June, 1853. A Class was organized at the time, consisting of Ira Taylor and family, and Norman L. Osborn and family, with Ira Taylor as Class Leader. Appointments were made by Mr. Ingham for services every four weeks until the meeting of the Confer- ence in November. The class continued to meet at the house of Mr. Osborn, or that of Mr. Taylor, until a school house
G
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
was erected across the line in Bucking- ham township. Services were held in this school house until 1868, when a church edifice was erected in the village of Buek- ingham.
Solomon West Ingham, was born in the town of Dryden, Cayuga county, N. Y., February 9, 1812. Ilis father, Solomon Ingham, was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, Deborah (West) Ing- ham, of Massachusetts. His father died when he was but seven years of age. At this time the family were living in what is now Fayette county, Indiana, where they had removed the previous year. On their arrival in this then frontier country, they found only three white fam- ilies living in the county, while there were between 3,000 and 4,000 Indians, who at the time had just received their annuity, and were having a drunken frolic previous to their removal to a new reservation a little farther in the direction of the setting sun. Before leaving his eastern home, young Ingham had the privilege of attending school, his first term being when but three years of age. On his removal to Indiana, he could not enjoy that privilege for a time, there be- ing no schools at any convenient point. From his sixth to his fifteenth year the total time of attendance at school would not exceed three months. When fifteen years of age he was apprentieed to a hatter for five years, but purchased the last year of his time. He continued to work at his trade three years longer, when he concluded to abandon it. After leaving this business he attended school five weeks. Realizing how little he knew, for two years, after his day's work was done,
he studied by firelight until a late hour of night, by which time he was qualified to teach the various branches usually taught in the schools of that day. From that time until 1840, he taught school in the winter months, and worked as a carpenter in sum. mer. When nineteen years of age, he was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and about one year after was made a Class Leader. In 1836 he was united in marriage with Lydia Ann Gadd, Shelby county, Indiana. Five children blessed this union, four of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, one of whom has for many years been an influential minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church-Rev. S. W. Ingham, jr. In 1837, the subject of this sketch was licensed as a local preacher, and for three years la- bored in Indiana, while at the same time teaching, and working at the carpenter's trade. In 1840, with his family, he came to Iowa, and united with the Conference, and was assigned to the Marion circuit in in Linn county, where he remained two years, and was then transferred to Cedar county, where he also spent two years. Ilis next appointment was to the Pleasant Valley circuit, where he remained but six months, and was then compelled to cease preaching, his voice having failed him. For three years afterwards he was an in- valid. Recovering his health, in a measure, he traveled with a team, selling goods on the frontier and to the Indians. In 1847, his wife died, and in 1848 he married Re- becca Husband, in Washington county lowa. In 1852, having recovered his health and voice, he was again assigned to duty in the ministry, being appointed to the the northern Iowa circuit, embracing eleven
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
counties, reaching from Vinton and whatis now Traer to the northwestern boundary of the State. Ile made his home in Bremer county. Here Mrs. Ingham died, in the same year of their removal here. In June, 1853, Mr. Ingham visited the north part of this county, where he met Cynthia Taylor, daughter of Ira Taylor, with whom he united in marriage, Jan- mary, 1854. Four children have been born unto them, three of whom are now living. After serving the circuit two years, he ceased from labor one year, and was then assigned to the Waterloo station, where he remained one year. Mr. Ingham now moved to Toledo, where he has since continned to reside. For five years he was engaged in merchandising and for the same length of time, acted as agent for the American Bible Society, traveling in its interests in Tama and other counties. For several years he has been engaged in other secular business, but has never wholly abandoned the ministry, serving now and then as a supply to pastors, and on funeral occasions. The incidents of his life as a pioneer preacher would fill a volume, and be of absorbing interest. No man in Tama county is more extensively known, and none more highly respected.
The United Brethren organized a society, Rev. J. II. Vandever officiating, in 1867, at the school house on section 23, with fourteen members as follows : Anson Loop and wife, Charles Loop and wife, Warren Rogers and wife, Sydney A. Beatty, Henry O. Beatty, Harriet D. Beatty, Adella Beatty, William Worden and wife, Mrs. Emily Scranton and Alonzo Rogers. They held meetings once every two weeks. Rev. Vandever was succeeded by II. B. Potter,
then came Andrew Noy, S. W. Kerthe", then Vandever again, followed by Theo- dore Brashear, G. W. Stewart, L. B. Hicks, John Smith, then Hicks again, afterward George Benson and Rev. Laughlin the pres. ent pastor. There are now about twenty members, and meetings are regularly held at the school house on section 25. A. B. Harmon is the Class Leader.
A class of United Brethren was organ- ized by Solomon Kern, at the school house in Buckingham village, in 1862, with the following members .: Alfred Shiner and wife, John Kingery and wife, T. R. Shinn and wife, Adin Antrim and wife and Mrs. Alfred Shinn. Rev. Kern was succeeded by Rev. Hastings, and in turn by Craw- ford, then Rev. Pattie. The members of this church have all moved away and the organization has been discontinued.
The Protestant Methodists organized a Class at the school house on seetion 29, in 1858, by Rev. Roberdes, with L. B. Col- lins as Class Leader and the following mem- bership : A. S. Famler and wife, Lyman Cody and wife, L. B. Collins, wife and two daughters, Dennis Patch and wife, Andrew Collins and wife. The following named have preached here since : Burt, Dunton, Richards, Baker, Spry, Hollen- beek, Snyder, Bailey, Holland,and Thomas, The organization has been discontinued.
A Methodist Episcopal Class was organ- ized in the school house in district num- ber three, about the year 1872, by Rev. Wilkerson, with the following member- ship : Charles Loop and wife, Mrs. Lydia Beatty, Mrs. May Glasser and Mrs. Sallie Webster. This society eontinned in exist- ence about two years, when it was merged into a similar organization at Traer.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
CEMETERIES.
A burial place called Baker's Grove Cemetery was laid out in 1860, on the north- east quarter of section 31. The land was donated by Andrew Collins. It contains one acre. An infant son of John Collins was the first to receive burial here. It is platted in lots eight by sixteen feet each, and controlled by a board of trustees elect- ed by owners of lots. There are two others, Buckingham Cemetery, near Traer, on section 3 and West Union Cemetery. WOLF CREEK POSTOFFICE.
This office was established in 1858, with Stephen Klingaman as postmaster, and the office at his house on section 10, south of the creek. Charles Loop was depnty. The office was next moved to West Union and Dexter Higgins appointed postmaster. Then came Doctor Smith, Widow Perkins, Levi S. Cope, Robert W. Huff, Samuel Everett and J. L. Moore. Then the office was removed to Traer and the name changed.
WEST UNION VILLAGE.
This place was surveyed and platted in 1856, by W. A. Daniel, County Surveyor, for Christopher Hester, and was located on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 11. There was at the time of the survey one dwelling house and a store building within its limits. Robert Ies- ter started the building of a hotel in 1856, but before completion sold to Robert Huff, who finished it and opened the same for the accommodation of the traveling pub- lic and called it the Huff House. IIe continued to run it until 1867, when he sold out to Samuel Everett and he in turn sold to H. F. Gaston, who again disposed
of the property, and it was moved away. It is now owned by George Townsend and is used for a barn.
Robert Hester opened a store here as early as 1855, and sold out the next year to Ashley Lucas, who continued the busi- ness a few months and closed up. George Free opened a store soon afterwards in the same building and continued the trade about one year, when he moved his stock to Monticello and was succeeded in the business at this point by a man by the name of Brown, who remained nine months and moved his goods to what he considered a better market. J. L. Moore was the next man to embark in a like en- terprise, here in the same building, and continued until the town of Traer was started, when he moved thither. Henry Palmer and Charles Loop came from Penn- sylvania in November, 1855, and started a blacksmith shop, but did not remain long.
Notwithstanding these disappointments, the new town seemed to flourish for a short time and it was thought it would sometime make a place of some impor- tance. Among other things, churches were organized, a school taught, people bought lots, paid good prices, and built houses, but it did not seem to pay and they soon commenced moving themselves and houses to the country and engaging in the more lucrative employment of farming, and West Union as a town is defunct.
MILL.
In 1853, Jonas P. Wood, W. D. Hitch- ner and John Connell started the building of a saw mill on the northwest quarter of section 10. A brush and dirt dam was thrown across the creek and the building was pushed forward as fast as possible
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
under the circumstances. It was not in running order, however, until in 1854. They secured a six-foot fall for water power and put in an "up-and-down" saw. Stephen Klingaman bought the property and built a grist mill in connection, the same year, with one run of stone. Ile manufactured flour, ground feed, etc. The mill went out of use a short time after- ward, and finally part of the machinery was used in the Traer mills.
BUCKINGHAM VILLAGE.
This was an old town, situated in Perry township, and was one of the first settle- ments in the county. Among the early settlers at this point were James and J. P. Wood, Dr. Daniel, Col. John Connell and brother Daniel, William Hitehner, David Dean and N. L. Osborn.
The town was laid off by Messrs. Wood, Connell and others, and called after the well-known ex-Governor of Connecticut, who took quite an interest in the town. It was pleasantly located and surrounded by an excellent farming country, contained a population of 400, mostly New Englanders and Scotch. At one time it contained one hotel; three general stores, owned by David Connell, Barrett & Thomas and Mr. Morehouse: one hardware store, by L. B. Collins; one harness shop; one black- smith shop; one physician, Dr. Daniel. It had a large and commodious public school building; two church organizations, Congregational and Methodist; a large and flourishing Sabbath school with a good library. The 1. O. of G. T. had a Lodge in the town.
Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, always took a lively interest in the town, and it was mainly through his liberality
that the town possessed a handsome church edifice and Sabbath school library, and in all else for the public good in this vicinity, he always proved a ready and cheerful helper.
CITY OF TRAER.
Traer, the metropolis of northern Tama, is situated in the northern part of Perry township, in the forks of Wolf and Coon creeks, on the line of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railway. It lies upon a beautiful prairie, and is sur- rounded by some of the finest and most productive agricultural and stock-raising lands in the State, which is a guarantee of permanent and ever increasing trade. The whole country for miles about is dotted with some of the finest and best improved farms to be seen in the west.
There are many fine and substantial brick and stone blocks to be seen upon the business thoroughfares, and a stroll through the city diseloses many fine and costly dwellings. There are a number of fine church edifices and elegant buildings for educational purposes. An abundance of shade trees adorn the streets, which in summer add greatly to the beauty of the place. The location is exceedingly healthy. The inhabitants are possessed of intelligence, and the society is of the most refined and desirable character. All taken into consideration, Traer is among the best business towns in the country.
ITS DEVELOPMENT.
When the B. C. R. & N. railroad began pushing its line from Vinton toward the northwest, and before the road had reached Tama county, John Traer, of Cedar Rapids, instigated the platting of a
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
1
town upon section 10, Perry township, upon land owned by Giles Taylor and J. L. Bull. The town was named after Mr. Traer. The surveyor was Charles G. Johnson. On the 27th of July, 1878, the iron-horse first made its appearance in Traer, and almost at once all was activity; business houses sprung up as if by magie, and almost half the growth of Traer was accomplished within one year. For four years this place was the terminus of the railroad, and grew accordingly. The growth from the first was so rapid that it is almost impossible to trace with any degree of accuracy the first business move- ments.
Early in the spring of 1873, J. R. Smith came from Tama City and opened a lumber yard. He erected one of the first buildings upon the town plat.
In May, Clark Newcomber, opened the first store in Traer. He brought his stoek, consisting of tobacco, cigars and a little of everything, from Tama City, and opened in a little frame building, 18x30 feet. Ile remained here for some time, opening a harness shop, but finally sold and went to Waverly.
The first substantial store was opened by B. Best, early in June, 1873. Hle came from Tama City, bringing his stoek of goods from that place. He occupied the store building which was erected by J. R. Smith. It has since burned down. Best then put up the building which he sold to Nicholas, in 1877. He also erected part of the building now ocenpied by the Best House, in 1873. In 1877, he retailed ont his business, and now devotes his at- tention to running the Best House.
About the next business established was that of Fisk & Moore. The former was from Buckingham, the latter from West Union. They moved an 18x24 foot building from some farm, upon a lot near where the old Brooks & Moore bank stands, and opened a stock of grocries and provisions, general merchandise and beer. They ran it for six or eight months, when it was purchased , by James Morrison, who now handles groceries.
As trade increased and the business of Traer began to assume city proportions, the general merchandising began to separate and the various stores handled one line ex- clusively. The different branches will now be treated of, showing the first and present dealers, interwoven with personal sketches of as many of the representative business men as can be given, withont in- fringing too much upon space.
The first grocery store was started by B. Best; soon after followed by Fisk & Moore. For some years this line was handled in connection with the general merchandise stores. M. G. Nichols started about the first store to handle groceries ex- clusively. Heput up a building near Good- enough's hardware store which is now vacant, and remained in the business for about one year. He is now farming in Tama county. The present representa- tives of the grocery line are the following named: James Morrison, who also handled boots, shoes and crockery. Ile sneceeded Fisk & Moore. Best & Canfield com- menced business, under this name, in 1879, handling nothing but groceries. Goodsell & Hadsell succeeded Mitchell & lloy, who commenced business in the fall of 1873. Thomas Gallogly commenced business in
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
the grocery line, in 1878, in the old bank building; he has purchased the bank build- ing and is still in the business. The firm of Gillespie & Shroeder succeeded Mr. Gillespie in 1882, and now do a good busi- ness. Christian Wetzel commenced trade in the grocery business several years ago, and still handles this line of goods.
Thomas Gallogly, grocer of Traer, is a native of Ohio, born in 1844, and while young removed with his parents to Mani- towoc, Wisconsin. He was brought up on a farm, and July 21, 1862, enlisted in Com- pany D, 27th Regiment, Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry. Ile was honorably dis- charged August 29, 1865, having served a little more than three years. He partici- pated in many important battles and cam- paigns; was at the seige of Vicksburg, the taking of Little Rock, at Mobile, Fort Blakely, and was with General Banks in his Red River campaign, participating in more than twenty battles. After the war he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in
school teaching, which ocenpation he fol- lowed for many years, teaching the school at Centerville, Manitowoc county, for a period of nine successive years. His wife was Miss Caroline Fehrenbach, born in Switzerland. They have four children- Mary V., Thomas M., Lizzie C. and Michael J.
As to general merchandise, almost all of the first stores started might be classed un- der this head. In July, 1873, Daniel Con- nell, who had been in business at Bucking- ham, opened a general merchandise store here in the building now occupied by James Morrison. He kept a large stock and remained until a few years ago, when
he removed to Gladbrook, where he is now postmaster. Ile moved from Buckingham the building which is now occupied by the Coffee and Reading Room. C. C. Collins started the next general merchandise store, commeneing business September 1, 1873. He erected the building now occupied by Boettcher & Hart as a furniture store. Mr. Collins purchased the building he now occupies of James Aitchison, and is still in trade, carrying a $7,000 stock of dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes and notions, and does an annual business of about $20,- 000. The next general merchandise store after Collins was started in the fall of 1873 by Q. D. Ilartshorn, he was succeeded in 1875 by Seaver & McClary, the present bankers, who in turn were succeeded by S. P. Smith, who is yet in the business. Porterfield Brothers commenced business in 1873, in a building which they erected, and are still in the trade. In December, 1875, Smith & Edwards began business. A few years ago S. P. Smith bought out Edwards, and later bought out Seaver & McClary. He is still in trade. Ed- wards is farming near Waterloo. About the same time Galley and Newcomer es- tablished business in a building erected by Mr. Humiston. They continued under the original firm name until the spring of 1883, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Galley still continuing the business. HI. C. Pierce opened a dry goods and mil- linery establishment in 1875. Guynn, Thomas and Co., began business here in April, 1882. Isaac Rosenberg began busi- ness in this line in 1880. This leaves the business, which it will be noticed has giad- ually turned more exclusively to dry goods, in the hands of C. C. Collins, Mr. Galley,
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