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 106
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IRVING.
The village of Irving was surveyed and platted in June, 1856, by N. C. Wieting for Levi Marsh and others. It contained thirty-eight lots. Levi Marsh opened the first store, in 1853, in a small building put up for that purpose. Mr. Marsh has continued in the business ever since, with the exception of two years, and has now the only store in the place. This was, with one exception, the first store in the county, and in early days, customers came a distance of twenty-five miles. Mr. Marsh bought his goods in Chicago, and hauled them from that place by teams. lle kept a general stock of goods, consist- ing of everything from a hair pin up to a barrel of Orleans molasses.
The first blacksmith shop was opened in 1856, by James Collister. Mr. Collister remained till 1860, then removed to Belle Plaine, where he now lives.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
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The first wagon shop was opened the same year by llenry Collister, who con- tinued his business until 1861. He is now in Belle P'laine.
William MeIntosh opened the first harness shop, in 1865.
The business of Irving was, at one time, represented by three general stores-two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one harness shop and a saw-mill; but the most of these have been removed to other towns.
The postoffice was established in 1855, and Andrew Hale, an early settler of this township, was appointed postmaster, with the office at his house. Mail was received from Iowa City, Vinton and Waterloo. Mr. HIale was succeeded by Levi Marsh, who remained in office some time, and was succeeded by O. T. Brainerd, Martin Smith, Dr. Benn and Miss Flora Weymer, who is the present postmistress, with the office at her house.
Andrew Hale, first postmaster at Irving, came to Tama county and settled in Salt Creek township, in 1855. Ile lived in Irving until 1863, then went to Belle Plaine, where he engaged in the grain trade, and later in the mercantile business. He was a native of Ohio, and has made Belle Plaine, Iowa, his home since 1863.
The first hotel was built by Willis Van Dorin, in 1855, and was run by him about one year, when it was sold to Henry Travis. The latter kept the hotel as long as the business would pay him, and then sold out. The hotel has been kept by several different parties, but it is at present unoccupied.
In 1855, or 1856, George S. Williams made an addition of thirty-six lots to the village.
The medical profession was first re- presented here by K. D. Shugart, who settled in Irving, in 1855. Ile is now a resident of Riverside, California.
CHELSEA.
The village of Chelsea was surveyed and platted by Charles Irish for Seneca (. Breese, in the spring of 1863, on the northwest quarter of section 17. A few years later, James IIunter platted an addi- tion of nine acres on section 7, and in 1870, the Iowa Railroad land Company, platted an addition of the same number of aeres on section 18.
At the time that the village was platted there was a log house standing on the northeast corner of section 18, and also a warehouse on the northwest corner of sec- tion 17. The latter building was erected by J. R. Graham, in 1862.
The first frame building on the plat was moved there by E. E. Vickery to be used as a blacksmith shop. It has since been destroyed by fire. The next was a dwell- ing moved into the village from Otter Creek, by E. A. Southard.
The first store was opened by W. H. - Graham in 1863. He kept a general stock, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and also sundries, the latter for medicinal purposes. Before this, how- ever, there had been a store started by Peter Bodfish, but this was previous to the platting of the village. In 1861, the railroad was completed to the northwest quarter of section 17, where several build- ings were put up, and the little collection of houses were called Otter Creek. This
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
remained the terminus of the road about one year, and, when the railroad moved on, the little village went also.
The first hotel in Chelsea, was opened in 1863, by Mrs. Thompson, who kept the honse about three years, the latter part of the time in the house now occupied by Samuel Spense. The hotel business is now represented by Samuel Spense.
E. A. Southard opened the first cabinet. shop in 1864. He continued in the busi- ness for two years.
The postoffice was established in 1865, and W. II. Graham was appointed post- master, with the office at his store. IIe was sneceeded by Martin Smith, who held the office until his death. Smith was suc- ceed by Fred Roach who was ap; ointed in January, 1883. The office is now at his store.
The first drug store was opened by Campbell & Son, in 1866.
In 1867, the first shoe maker's shop was opened by Antone Kooshy, who pegged away until his death.
There are at present, four general stores, one grocery store, one drug store, one millinery store, one harness shop, two warehouses, one wagon shop, one black- sınith shop, one shoemaker's shop, one hotel and one lumber yard.
L. A. McChesney was the first station agent, followed by VanDusen, Shaler, Walraven and Davis, the present incum- bent.
In 1878, the town was incorporated one mile square. The following are the names of the first councilmen : II. E. Covell, Mayor ; J. W. Shaler, Recorder; J. Sitler, II. Cory, Fred Roach, J. S. Ormiston and J. II. Mercer. Stephen Smith was elected
Treasurer. The Councilmen for 1883, are : A. J. Rawson, Mayor; J. II. Mercer, W. W. Kenner, F. Roach, E. A. Southard, J. B. Musel, G. R. Hershey and Joseph Stephanek, Recorder ; F. R. Smith, Treasurer.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school was held in a car ir 1864, and was taught by Miss Anna Gra- ham. The second school was taught by Miss Sears, in E. A. Southard's cabinet shop.
The first school house was built in 1865. The present house was built in 1881. It is a large two story building well furnished, and is a credit to the town.
RELIGIOUS.
The M. E. Church was organized in 1880, by Rev. Horace Foote, of LeGrand, with the following members: W. H. Graham and wife, Mrs. J. F Kenner, Mrs. IV. C. Gotthold, Dr. J. S. Ormiston and wife and Mrs. F. R. Smith. Mrs. J. T. Kenner was the first Class Leader. The church had been built in the winter of 1879-80. It was built by the citizens, and was donated to the society. Rev. Foote was the first pastor, followed by J. G. Wilkinson, who preached for one and a half years, and then removed to his farm in Kansas. Rev. Mr. Stuntz is the present pastor.
A Baptist society was organized at the school house in Chelsea in 1868, by Rev. J. B. Messer, with the following mem- bers: William Roberts and wife, (. E. Covell and wife, Ilenry Covell, Mrs. Fred- erick Roach and several others. C. E. Covell was elected deacon, and William Roberts clerk. After Mr. Messer, Rev. Cyrus Coltron served one year. The so-
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
ciety held together for three or four years, and were served by different pastors.
The Catholic church was built in 1881, and Father Francis Mekota was the first priest. Mass was first said by him, and he has been in charge ever since.
Soon after the village was started, a Union Sunday school was organized by W. II. Graham, who was the first super- intendent. The school is still being con- tinued, with an average attendance of forty scholars. Henry Cory is the present superintendent. Mr. Cory was born in Cornwall, England, August 24, 1833. At twelve years of age, he went to work in the mines and continued in that employment until sixteen, when, in company with his mother, brothers and sisters, he embarked on a sailing vessel for America, to meet his father, who had preceded them. After being on the water two weeks, he was allowed to go before the mast and work his passage. The family arrived in New York on the 29th of August, 1849, after being eight weekson the way. The father met them, and they all went to Ohio, and settled in Jefferson county. The subject of this sketch was there married in March, 1854, to Miss Rachel Yates, a native of Belmont county. Mr. Cory rented a farm in that county, where he lived until 1864,
then took a team and with his family started for Iowa. After traveling thirty days they arrived in Tama county. The family spent the first winter with Mr. Cory's brother-in-law, and in the spring rented a farm, which he worked for three years. Mr. Cory then purchased wild land in the same township. IHis wife, born in November, 1831, died in April, 1870. Mr and Mrs. Cory had been blessed with five children : Lydia A., Mary J., George E., Charles E. and Alice, of whom George E. is the only child living. Mr. Cory was again married in 1873, to Catherine Smith, widow of Andrew Scott. She has one daughter by her first husband, named Ara- bella Geneva. Mr. Cory improved his farm, and lived there until 1873, when he removed to Richland township. and there followed farming until 1875, when he moved to Chelsea, where he engaged in the mercantile business in company with with J HI. Mercer. This partnership was continued for one year when Mr. Cory sold to his partner, and a short time after bought the store of George Free. He is still engaged in the business, and carries a large stock of goods. Mr. Cory has held the various offices of trust in township and village, and is the superintendent of. the Union Sunday school.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Spring Creek comprises township 85 north, range 16 west. It is bounded on the north by Lincoln, on the west by Marshall county, on the south by Carlton township and on the east by Crystal. The northern part is watered by Wolf creek and its tributaries. The main stream enters on section 6 and flows toward the southeast a short distance, when it forms the mill pond, which extends about three fourths of a mile in a southerly direction, on section' 5. Then the stream is again resumed, and near the southern corner of the sec- tion makes confluence with another branch, which enters or section 7, and flows to- ward the northeast, passing through sec- tion 8, to that point. Then as one stream it flows toward the southeast, through sec- tions 9, 10 and 14, touching the southeast corner of section 11 and the southwest corner of 12, makes exit from 13, toward the east. The southern part is watered by Deer creek and its tributaries. The main stream enters on section 30, flows first toward the northeast nearly through 19, when it turns toward the south, passing through the northeast corner of 30, then through 29, the northeast corner of 32, and leaves from 33, toward the south. Other small creeks, which finally join Deer creek, have source in the southeastern
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part of the township, and flow toward the south. So the township is abundantly watered and drained.
The soil is invariably a dark loam, un- derlaid with a yellow clay, which, in cer- tain localities, is good for brick making purposes. Along Deer creek on sections 29, 30 and 32, the surface is broken some- what; but the balance of the township is made up of a rolling prairie. There is, however, a little natural timber located on sections 32 and 13; the former is called Union grove; the latter is on Wolf creek and is called Hull's grove.
The inhabitants of the township are mostly American, although there are many Germans, and a few English and Scotch people. Generally the settlers are well fixed and thrifty, and there are many fine farms.
SETTLEMENT.
The carly settlement of this township was made under difficulties, and its early pioneers were men of pluck, courage and perseverance. The nearest mill was about sixty miles distant, and to make this journey with ox teams was no small un- dertaking, particularly in the winter, when the dim trail would often be covered with snow, and a driving storm add to the dif- ficulty in keeping the right direction.
4
6
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IIISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
These trips were among the hardships of the pioneer life.
The first settlement in this township was effected in the spring of 1863, by W. C. Bywater and L. S. Frederick, both from Maquoketa, Jackson county. They made the journey on foot, and selected land on section 32, after which they journeyed on to Dubuque for the purpose of entering the land. Then they returned to Maquo- keta. In the fall they sent S. S. Chap- man from that place for the purpose of building a home on their claim. Ile oc- cupied the house when completed until the spring of 1854. On April 4, the owners of the claim moved out, and took up their abode in the cabin, built for them, and proceeded at once to improve their land.
W. C. Bywater was born in Maryland, his ancestors being English. Ilis wife was Amanda Lowman, whose father served in the war of 1812, losing an arm at the battle of Fort Mcllenry, and who was Mayor of Baltimore for some time. Shortly after their marriage, W. C. By- water moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where he worked at the cooper and tinner's trade. Three years later he moved to New Albany, Indiana, and worked upon a boat on the lower Mississippi as watch- man, and aftorwards as mate. In 1849, he moved to Iowa, and farmed in Cedar and Jackson counties until 1853, when he came to Spring Creek township, and entered land on section 32, which he improved and moved his family to in the spring of 1854. They have had four children, all of whom are living: A. Bywater, N. By- water, Elizabeth Jane, wife of G. T. Ward, and Viola, wife A. T. King. In
December, 1859, W. C. Bywater removed to Kansas, where he was killed in a saw mill. His widow now resides with her son, A. Bywater, in Gladbrook.
A. Bywater, son of W. C. Bywater, re- ceived his education in the public schools of Jaekson and Tama counties, and was brought up on a farm. He has always, although in different places, devoted his attention to farming. He now resides in Gladbrook. November 2, 1865, he was married to Miss Alma A. Conway, daughter of James and Alvina (Fulk) Conway, and they have five children: Alberta Iowa, Ralph D., Nellie G., Corwin N. and a child.
In May, 1854, E. L. Kuns arrived and purchased of W. C. Bywater eighty acres of land, on section 33, which he at once improved, building a log cabin and break- ing some prairie.
During the same month W. L. Conant came into the township from Three Rivers, Michigan, and after making selection of land, walked to Dubuque, in company with L. S. Frederick, to make his entry.
This same season David Bowen came here from Maquoketa.
During the summer of the same season C. C. Canoles arrived and made selection on section 32.
Oscar Hill came from Maquoketa, ar- riving here in June, 1854, with his family and stopped for a short time with Fred- ericks and Bywater. In the fall he re- turned eastward.
This was all the arrivals in 1854.
The winter following is remem- bered as a very mild one. There was no snow on the ground during December and January. In the following
Shwah Strait Mann.
-
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
spring, a little snow fell. The whole winter, however, was made up of weather resembling Indian summer.
About the first actual settler to come during the year 1855, was Stephen King, accompanied by his son, William B., and their families. They came from Erie county, New York, and landed in the township in October, settling at Union Grove, purchasing land of W. C. Bywater. Joshua G. Hull eame this year, and is still a resident of the township.
Mr. Fay, formerly from New York, but directly from Jones county, came to this township in the fall of 1855, bringing fifty head of cattle with him. He took land, remained a number of years, and after- wards died in Carlton township.
About the same time Charles Smith and sons, Wesley and William, from Ohio, eame liere and located on seetion 34. They erected a cabin and soon had things com- fortable. About 1870 they returned to Ohio. The old gentleman, Charles Smith, died in Nebraska, William moved to Storm Lake, and Wesley also moved to some point in the western part of Iowa.
Mr. Harvey, from Davenport, settled on seetion 31 in the fall of 1855. He re- mained one year when he returned to his former home.
James Roakes and Charles Knapp, with families, eame to Spring Creek township at about the same time, both settling at Union Grove. Knapp bought eighty acres of L. S. Frederick on seetion 33, and Roakes purchased land in Carlton township.
In the fall of 1855, Orpheus King, brother of W. B. King, came to this county, living with his brother during that winter. Four families lived with W. B. | having voted with that party sinee 1876.
King that winter, James Roakes, Orpheus King, Mr. Patchen and a German who was then a hired man. Orpheus King located on seetion 6, where he remained ten or twelve years and removed to Marshall and sinee to Dallas county, Iowa. Patehen put up a blacksmith shop, which he run for seventeen years, after which he returned to his native State-Mieligan.
In 1856, R. I. Jackson eame from New York and settled on section 31. G. M. Fineh came the same year, settling on see- tion 27, where he remained seventeen years. In 1879 he removed to Phillips county, Kansas.
In July, 1856, William Merrill and family made their arrival and located at the headwaters of Deer creek, where he still lives. William Merrill is a native of Nottinghamshire, England, born in 1820, a son of George and Elizabeth (Wright) Merrill. He came to the United States in 1854, and settled in Will county, Illinois, where he remained for two years, and then eame to Spring Creek township, Tama county, arriving in July, 1856. He entered 160 acres of land, which he has improved and added to, now owning 640 acres in the township. In 1843 he was married to Miss Mary Cook, daughter of John and Mary (Arrison) Cook, of England By this union they have had seven children : Henry, Mary, now wife of John Allard; Anna, now wife of C. Geiseninger; Nelson, Susan, wife of II. T. Willard; Rosa and Irvin. One son, George, died when twenty-three years of age. Mr. Merrill is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and a member of the Marshall county grange. lle is a Greenbaeker,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
John B. Sharp came from Vermont in 1856, locating on section 25. Ile was a son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Sharp, born in Scotland, in 1826. His par- ents came to America the same year, loca- ting in Orleans county, Vermont, and re- sided there until 1869, when they came to lowa locating in Spring Creek, where they lived till 1871, when the mother died. The subject of this sketch lived in Ver- mont untill 1856, then spent two years in traveling through the country, and finally came to Tama county, settling in Spring Creek township. He has added to his farm since then, and now owns 320 acres of land where he lives. Mr. Sharp was married in March, 1860, to Miss Ann Warden, a daughter of Nathaniel and Col- lista (Stacy) Warden, of New York State. They have six children living : Lilly A., born December 25, 1860; Alda M., January 14, 1864; John Tra, September 13, 1866; Margaret, March 24, 1868; Mark, February 3, 1875; and Gerald, born February 28, 1880. Mr. Sharp is a staunch Republican, and has always voted with that party. Hle is a man of thorough integrity and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neigh- bors and fellow townsmen.
For about ten years, there was but little settlement; during this time, however, William and Stephen Baker located on section 21, where they still lived in 1883.
1I. F. Willard came from New York, and settled on section 8, where he resided in 1883. He was born in Cuba, Allegany county, New York, in 1837, his parents being, Ambrose P., and Mary O. (Wilcox) Willard. The father died when H. F. was but three years old, and he was reared by his grandparents, in Massachusetts,
where he received most of his education, and remained until sixteen years of age, when he returned to New York. Ile was employed for some time as news agent on the New York & Erie railroad, and afterwards engaged in the livery business, also lumbering, then "taught school in Pennsylvania and New York for some time before the war of the rebellion com- meneed. He enlisted July 28, 1861, in Company C, 27th New York Infantry, but was discharged after serving only a little over two months, on account of sickness. In November, 1861, he came to Tama county, and engaged in teaching in Crys- tal township. In the spring of 1862, he en- tered a farm, under the Homestead Act, ou section 8, of Spring Creek township, where he has since resided, now owning a fine farm of 200 acres, llis occupation has mainly been farming, though he has been teaching some in his own and surrounding districts. Mr. Willard has been a mem- ber of the Board of Supervisors, and has held school and township offices, always trying to prove himself an efficient officer. Ile is a member, in good standing, of the Congregational Church, of Gladbrook. Mr. Willard now votes with the Green- back party, but his first vote for President was cast for Stephen A. Douglas. He afterward supported Republicanism, until the organization of the Greenback Labor Party. He was married in the spring of 1863, to Miss Theresa P. Swartout, daugh- ter of David and Mary Swartout, of Marshall county, this State. This union was blessed with four children, three of whom are now living: Hattie M., wife of G. Gillespy; Nellie O. and Nelson. Mr. Willard was divorced from his first wife
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
in 1872, and was again married, to Miss Susan Merrill, daughter of William and Mary (Cook) Merrill, in August, 1879. They have two children: Eva and Virgil. Mrs. Willard was born in this township, April 12, 1857, and was therefore among the first births. The first election in the township at which Mr. Willard voted, was in the fall of 1863, only seven votes were polled, of which, five were east by the Judges and Clerks. Only two fami- lies lived in the north part of the township at the time. The nearest railway markets were Ceder Rapids and Waterloo. The Union Grove school was the only one heid in the township. Mr. Willard has lived to see all these changes wrought.
During this decade, Lynch Ilorn, of New York, located on section 11, where he still owned a farm in 1883. Among others who came about that date, were Mr. Mussy from Illinois, who settled on section 28, remained two years, and sold to Mason Hess and returned to Illinois; the Hess Brothers, Mason L., G. W. Jr .; P. G. Clark, Daniel Clark and their father came from Ohio, locating on section 28. In 1883, G. W. Hess, Jr., was the only one among their number, who was a resident of the township. His brother Mason was killed in the railroad riot. David Mayfield came from Ohio, and settling on section 34, remained two years and returned to that State. The Bartholomews: Alfred and his father, came from Benton county, Iowa, and settled on section 32, where they built a store, remained three years and removed - Alfred going to Kansas, his father returning to Benton county.
In the spring of 1865, Barzilla Smith lo- cated on section 15 in Spring Creek town-
ship. He was born October 12, 1837, at Granger, Ohio; is a son of J. HI. and Polly (Porter) Smith, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. His father was an ordained minister of the Baptist Church, and lived on a farm in Medina county, Ohio, where he died in February, 1865. In the spring of 1880, the mother died, leaving seven children: Sa- rah Ann, wife of George Miller; Lewis D., Elvira L., formerly wife of Chester Baird, now widow of Jonathan Vallan; Arvilla, now Mrs. A. A. Giffen; Barzilla, Emily U., now wife of W. Cogswell, and Harvey J. Barzilla, the subject of this sketch, remained with his parents until reaching his majority, when he went to Trempelean county, Wisconsin, and shortly afterwards to Tazewell county, Illi- nois. In the winter of 1860-61, he went to Ohio, and in the spring he started for the west, but before reaching his destination enlisted in the three months' service, af- terwards in Company B, Seventeenth Illi- nois Infantry, for three years. He par- ticipated in the battles of Frederickstown, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Vicksburg. At the latter place, on the 15th of July, he was discharged from the service, and in the fall of that year he moved to the Winnebago Reservation, Minnesota. In the spring of 1865, he came to Tama county, bought 160 acres of land as above stated, and now owns a fine farm of 300 acres which he rents, his residence being in Gladbrook. On the 17th day of August, 1864, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Jennie Dickson, a daughter of Wil- liam and Annie (Beckwith) Dickson, of Tazewell county, Illinois. By this union there are three children living-Ella A.,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
born June 25, 1868; Adda V., January 28, 1873; and Leaman D., September 11, 1874. Lewis D., a twin brother of Leaman D., died December 4, 1875.
Mr. Smith is a member of the present board of Supervisors of Tama county. Ile is a Republican in polities, and cast his first vote for President for Abraham Lin- coln in 1860.
In 1866, Robert Yeomans and his fam- ily came from Green Lake county, Wis- consin, and settled on section 14, and re- mained there until the town of Gladbrook was started, when he moved to that place and built a house. A sketch of his life appears in connection with the history of Gladbrook.
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