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 93
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The first blacksmith shop at Montour was opened by Allen Voils, who contin- ued to ply the hammer here until 1881. The second shop was opened by O. P. Mil- lard, in 1868. The present blacksmiths are O. P. Millard, R. B. Montgomery and H. Ishbell.
O. P. Millard, who opened the second blacksmith shop in Montour and is the oldest blacksmith in the place, is a son of I. P. and Catherine (Collins) Millard. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, May 11, 1848. At the age of fifteen years he en- listed in Company I, 23d Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry and served until the close of the war. He then went to Janes- ville, Wisconsin, where he learned the blacksmith trade. In 1868, he came to Montour and has since been a resident of that place. lle has, however, made five different trips to the Rocky Mountains, and while there worked at his trade. On April 4, 1868, he was married to Miss Di- ana Swift, daughter of A. B. and Mary Ann Swift. Two children have been born to them: Frank B. and Jessie Belle. Mr.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Millard is a straight Republican and is a member of the Q. L. of HI. and the O. A. S. fraternities.
The first furniture business was estab- lished here, in 1866, by William Calkins, who still remains in the trade. Mr. Calk- ins came here in June, 1856, and is there- fore one of the pioneers of Indian Village township. L. White established a furni- ture store here which he sold to A. B. Swift.
The Orford Lime Company is an insti- tution which is among the most promi- nent features of Montour. The stone quarry just west of Montour was opened more than twenty years ago for the pur- pose of burning lime. A. J. Blodgett was the first man to engage in this business at this point. In 1869, T. P. Smith & Bro. purchased a fourth interest in the concern, and, in 1878, they leased the remainder. They now manufacture over 25,000 bar- rels of lime annually.
POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice was established here in 1865, and was known as Orford, but as this name, when not plainly written, bore such a close resemblance to Oxford and various other names, mail was frequently delayed by being mis-sent. Thus, at the request of many citizens, in 1873, the name was changed to Montour. Dr. John Doe was the first postmaster. He was suc- ceeded in turn by John Niman, Luther Bingham and J. B. Moffatt, the present ineumbent. The office was made a money- order department in July, 1875, and the first order was drawn on the 5th of July by Luther Bingham in favor of Ehle & Coyler, Marshalltown, for nine dollars. During the first six months there were
thirty-one orders drawn, amounting to $974.53. During the year 1882, there were 414 orders issued, amounting to 82,390.49 and the amount paid out was about $4,500. Total number of orders issued to January 1, 1883, is 2,746. Pres- ent income of office is about $500 annu- ally.
John B. Moffatt, the present postmaster at Montour, settled at Indiantown in May, 1856, and worked at his trade-that of a mason-for two years; then clerked for E. Ruggles two years. In 1860, he set- tled on a farm which he had previously purchased, and tilled the same until 1873. At that time his only surviving child was married, and as his wife was in poor health, he sold his farm and moved into the village of Montour, where his time was mostly occupied in caring for his invalid wife, until her death in 1881, sinee which time he has held the position of postmas- ter at that place. Mr. Moffatt was born in Delaware county, New York, March 13, 1822. His father, David W. Moffatt, was a native of Orange county, New York, and his mother, Patty (Moore) Moffatt, of Connecticut. In about 1824, the family removed to Chemung county, New York, and there engaged in farming until 1836. They then concluded to go west, and started across the country with teams. After meeting the many ups and downs incident to such a trip, they finally reached Olean. Here they waited nine weeks for the river to break up, when David W. Moffatt, Nathaniel Dennison and Robert Miller purchased a raft con- taining 110,000 feet of Inmber and taking their families or board, started for Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where they sold the
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
811
lumber and took passage on a steamer for St. Louis. David W. Moffatt had intend- ed to settle near Alton, Illinois, but he found much of the land wet and the country unhealthy. Not being satisfied, he started out in search of a better loca- tion and soon chose Aurora, where he settled with his family and again resumed farming. Here J. B. helped his father till the soil until reaching his majority, when he went to Ogle county, learned his trade and followed the same until 1851. He then engaged in general merchandise busi- ness, and continued at this until he came to Iowa in 1856. Mr. Moffatt has been twice married. His first wife, Miss Ellen N. Warner, to whom he was married in 1848, was a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. She died in May, 1881. Mrs. Moffatt had three children, one of whom is now living-Mary E., wife of E. J. Wilcox In October, 1882, Mr Moffatt was married to Miss Cornelia White, a native of New York. Mr. Moffatt has been a Republican in politics since the or- ganization of that party, and previous to that time was an Abolitionist. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1880. took the census of his town- ship. He is a charter member of Polar Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and served as its master for eight years. He is a mem- ber of the Congregational Church.
GAGE HOUSE.
In 1867, Nathan Bartlett purchased the store building owned and occupied by John Doe, which he rented to Jacob Rogers, who converted it into a hotel. In 1874, Mr. Bartlett enlarged the same by erecting what is now the main part of the Gage House,-three stories in height,
30x40 feet in size. In 1875. A. B. Gage purchased the property, and acted as land- lord until 1881, when it was leased. In March, 1883, H. S. Swift became proprie- tor, refurnished the same, and the hotel now has the reputation of being one of the best on the C. & N. W. railroad line.
H. S. Swift came to Montour, 1869, and since the spring of 1870, with the excep- tion of two years, which he spent on 'he Pacific slope, has been engaged in the manufacture of wagons. Mr. Swift was born in Vermont in 1848, his parents being A. B. and Mary (Eastman) Swift, both natives of said State, and now residents of Montour, Iowa. IIe left Vermont with his family, in 1856, and went to Wiscon- sin, from thence he came to this county, in 1869. There were ten children in the family, eight of whom are now liv- ing-Charles, Bessie, E. C., H. S., Diana May, Lydia and Azro. H. S. Swift was married in 1871, to Miss Ella Millard, and they now have two children-Charles and Dean. Mr. and Mrs. Swift are members of the M. E. Church. March 1, 1883, Mr. Swift became proprietor of the Gage llouse. He refurnished the house, and is now pre- pared to feed the hungry and rest the weary in good style.
William Franks represents a number of substantial insurance companies. Ile is a son of Charles and Mary Franks, both na- tives of England, was born May 12, 1840, and is a native of Polo, Ogle county, Illi- nois. Ile is the fifth of nine children. Mr. Franks spent his younger days on a farm, but was given good educational ad- vantages and received an academic educa- tion. lle remained in his native State until 1866, when he came west to lowa,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
and first located at Indiantown. He is at present engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Franks is a National in politics, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace. lle is a member of the V. A. S. and the Q. L. of HI. In 1863, he married Miss Hannah Hart, a native of Canada, and they now have seven children :- Howard, John E., George Lee, Estelle, Clyde, Lydia May and Charles Robert.
The painting trade is represented in Montour by A. F. Colebaugh, who is a son of George and Mary (Lundry) Cole- baugh, and was born in Illinois, December 2, 1855. In about 1858, his parents re- moved to Ohio, but in 1860 returned to Illinois. Here A. F. received a common school education and remained until 1867, when the family emigrated to Iowa and set- tled in Marshall county. In 1870, Mr.Cole- baugh came to Tama county and resided with his grandfather, N. Lundry. He after- wards taught school about three years, since which time he has worked at paint- ing. March 17, 1878, he was married to Miss Cecelia Dixon, daughter of Rev. H. S. Dixon, and they now have two children: Arthur and Elmer. Mr. Colebaugh is a Republican, and is a member of the Ma- sonic Fraternity.
ORGANIC.
In 1869, a petition was presented to the Circuit Court asking that the town of Or- ford be incorporated. The territory to be incorporated was described as commene- ing at the centre of the north line of sec- tion 28; thenee 80 rods south; thence 160 rods east, to the east line of said section; thence north on the line 240 rods, to the section line of 21; thence west on the line 200 rods; thence south to the south
line of section 21; thenee east to the place of beginning,-township 83, range 16.
The petition was signed by J. Stevens, R. W. Dayton, J. W. Niman, A. A. Voiles, H. A. Burch. B. C. Johnson, R. B. Mont- gomery, J. O. Harrison, S. M. Bartlett, G. S. Rogers, W. W. Reed, J. E. Bell, C. J. Stevens, W. Martin, C. S. Bartlett, A. J. Blodgett, E. Warner, G. A. Bell, L. White, II. G. Southwiek, Phineas Helm, M Pur- cell, A. T. Wooster, C. C. Gibson, L. G. Beale, D. R. Way, L. Matthews, W. M. Patrick, Amos Rouse, R. Oldham, H. D. Williams, II. C. Hutson, O. P. Millard, Thos. Smith, A. J. Dexter, M. M. Avery, T. C. Shelley, A. W. Bowers, Dennis Beale, Jeremiah Smith.
The Court consequently, on the 21st of October, 1870, ordered that Dennis Beale, C. J. Stevens, J. Brice, sr., H. G Wal- lace and John W. Niman be appointed commissioners to hold an election upon the question of incorporating said terri- tory.
At an annual election held March 3, 1873, the name of the town of Orford was changed to Montour.
The following is a complete roster of officers, as copied from the records:
1870 .- Mayor, J. W. Niman; Recorder, J. R. Oldham; Councilmen, H. R. Win- ehell, J. II. Stevens, S. Ellis, and S. White.
1871 .- Mayor, J. W. Niman; Recorder, J. R. Oldham; Couneilmen, J. W. Beale, S. Ellis, E. Toplin, J. II. Stephens and H. R. Winchell.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
1872 .- Mayor, T. P. Smith; Recorder, J. W. Beale; Councilmen, J. D. Heywood, J. H. Stevens, H. D. Williams, J. L. Wag- genor and H. R. Winchell.
1873 .- Mayor, Truman Pierce; Re- corder, C. J. Stevens; Couneilmen, H. R. Winchell, G. T. Ward, Jacob Yeager, J. Smith and J. W. Niman.
1874 .- Mayor, C. J. Stevens; Re- corder, J. L. Waggenor; Councilmen, 11. D. Williams, S. Ellis, R. E. Tewksbury, G. T. Ward and P. Long.
1875 .- Mayor, W. B. Mumbrue; Re- corder, I. L. Waggenor; Councilmen, P. Long, R. E. Tewksbury, H. R. Winchell, Thomas and Rouse.
1876 .- Mayor, H. C. Hudson; Recorder, J. W. Beale; Councilmen, H. G. Wallace, R. M. Tenny, T. S. Winchell, T. P. Smith and R. E. Tewksbury.
1877. - Mayor, H. J. Stevens; Recorder, J. L. Waggenor, A. B. Toplin, R. E. Tewksbury, Hiram Avery and II. C. Hud- SON.
1878 .- Mayor, H. J. Stevens; Recorder, .I. T. Moore; Councilmen, J O. Harrison, A B Gage, J. H. Stevens, L. F. Kellogg and R. M. Tenny.
1879 .- Mayor, H. J. Stevens; Recorder, W. C. Burgess; Councilmen, T. P. Smith, II. C. Burgess, R E. Tewksbury, A. B Gage, R. M. Tenny and J. L. Waggoner.
1880 .- Mayor, L. Bingham; Recorder, J. O. Clifford; Councilmen, R. E. Tewks- bury, A. B. Gage, R. M. Tenny, I. L. Waggenor, A. B. Toplin and J H. Stev- ens.
1881 -Mayor, A. W. Berryman; Re- corder, F. A. Hlotehkin; Councilmen, J.
II Stevens, A. B Toplin, H. G. Wallace, I. C. Millard, R. M. Tenny and J. L. Wag- genor
1882 .- Mayor, Edward Helm; Recorder, R. E Everett; Councilmen, A. B. Toplin, J. H Stevens, I. C. Millard, P II. Butler, II. G. Wallace and Charles Tenny.
1883 .- Mayor, O. P. Millard; Council- men, A. B. Swift, J Smith, I. C. Millard, P. H. Butler, HI. G. Wallace and Charles Tenny; Clerk, John Harvey.
FIRES.
The first time the people of Montour were ronsed by the cry of "tire," was at the time the store of Jesse Dailey was laid in ashes. The property was insured for $6,000. 84,000 was paid by the company carrying the risk, that being the esti- mated loss. The cause of the fire was sup- posed to have been incendiary.
The second and largest fire occurred on the 8th of June, 1870, at which time four store buildings were destroyed and a loss of $12,000 sustained. This confla- gration was caused by lightning striking the building occupied by Jacob Wag- genor, grocer, and igniting a tank of oil, thus cansing the flames to spread imme- diately beyond control.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious service held in In- dian Village township, as elsewhere stated, was in 1852, and it was probably the first in the county. In that year, Rev. Solo- mon Dunton, of Iowa City, established a Methodist Episcopal Mission at the house of Washington Abbott, with the follow- ing named persons as members: E. W. Dailey and wife, Ilampton Voorhies and wife, William Taylor and wife, Mrs.
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Murty and a young lady whose name can- not be remembered. Washington Abbott and wife were formerly members of the Baptist Church. E. W. Dailey served as first Class Leader. He was succeeded in 1853, by Allen Dingee, who served for a number of years. Rev. Solomon Dunton had charge of the Mission until the fall of 1853, when he was succeeded by Rev. Stewart. In the fall of 1854, Rev. Wil- liam Armstrong took charge for one year. Then in 1855, came Rev. Allen Shinn, who was in turn succeeded by Rev. Sol- omon Dunton, the founder of the church, who remained one year. In 1857, came Rev. Babcock; in 1858, Rev. I. Haymond; in 1859, Rev. James Hawkins, and in 1860, Rev. D. C. Wartz, who was the first reg- ular pastor, and remained two years. In 1864, Rev. I. Haymond returned; in the fall of 1865, Rev. C. A. Hawn took charge and supplied for two years. He was then succeeded by Rev. L. Winsett; he in turn, in 1868, by Rev. A. N. See; then in 1870, came Rev. I. Holland; in 1871, Rev. G. M. Hall; in 1872, Rev. O. Scott; in 1873, Rev. A. C. Rickey; in 1875, Rev. L. Winsett; in 1877, Rev. S. N. Howard, who supplied the pulpit for about eighteen months, when he departed for Kansas, and Rev. Francis Norton filled the vacancy. He was succeeded in 1879, by Rev. T. M. Nichols, and Nichols, in 1880, by Rev. Allen Brean, who died May 30, 1881. At that time Rev. Joseph Woolley, from Ohio, was at Montour on a visit, and was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy, but he also died before the year was ended. In the fall of 1881, Rev. Thomas Simmons took charge, and is now serving his second year as pastor of the society.
In 1854, the place of worship was changed from Mr. Abbott's house to the residence of E. W. Dailey, Indiantown; thence, in 1856, to the school house at that place, where it remained until the Mon- tour elass, which was organized about 1867, absorbed the members, and then Montour was chosen as the place to ereet a church building, which was completed in 1873. It is a wooden structure, 32x50, and cost about 82,500. The society now numbers sixty-five members, and in con- nection has a good Sabbath school, which was organized in 1853, E.W. Dailey being the first Superintendent.
The Congregational Church Society, was organized at Butlerville, June 10, 1855, with the following officers and mem- bers: Rev. T. M. Skinner, Pastor; John Moore and John E. Cunningham, Deacons; John E. Cunningham, Clerk; James M. Bradley, Lucy Bradley, Oliver Cunning- ham, Caroline, Helen and Mrs. Abbott. Rev. T. M. Skinner had charge but a few months, when he was succeeded by Rev. G. II. Woodward, who supplied the pulpit for two years, in connection with the charge at Toledo. Rev. M. N. Crane was the next pastor. Ile served until his death, which occurred in 1859. Rev. J. J. Hill then served one year. The next six years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Robert Stewart, in connection with Green Mountain, Marshall county. Rev. Fayette Hurd then had charge for about eight years, and since June, 1876, Rev. C. (. Adams has been its pastor. In 1866, the place of worship was changed from Butlerville to Montour, then Orford, and in '1867, the society erected its present church edifice, a wooden structure, 35x50
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
feet valned at $3,500. The society has been quite prosperous and now has a mem- bership of sixty-six. Its total member- ship since organization is 112. The pres- ent officers of the society are: Rev. C. C. Adams, Pastor; James M. Bradley and George Blake, Deacons; R. M. Tenny, John B. Moffatt and Edward Ruggles, Trustees; S. A. Smith, Treasurer; and Rev. C. C. Adams, Clerk. The Sunday school was organized soon after the church, and now has a membership of about 100, with an average attendance of eighty. Its officers are: Mrs. J. II. Stevens, Superintendent; Mrs. B. M. Tenny, As- sistant Superintendent; and J. R. Avery, Secretary.
SOCIETIES.
A history of the Masonic Order of Montour is presented in connection with the history of Indiantown, where the so- ciety was first organized.
Montour Lodge, No. 34, I. L. of II. was organized on the 5th of August, 1879, with the following officers and charter members : 1. Bingham, President ; J. II. Stevens, Vice-President ; J. F. Moore, Recording Secretary ; S. Ellis, Financial Secretary ; II. G. Wallace, Treasurer ; J. Smith, Chaplain ; II. C. Burgess, Usher ; G. T. Ward, Door Keeper; William Franks, Sentinel ; A. N. Poyneer, E. M. Griffith and J. Stevens, Trustees; O. P. Millard, C. H. Houghkirk, William Haines, E. M. Poyneer, J. L. Waggenor, F. A. Ilotchkiss, B. W. Fellows, A. Rouse, Joseph Gass and G. W. DeLong.
The Lodge holds its meetings on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month, and now has a membership of thirty. The total membership of the order,
January 1, 1883, was 5,141, and during the year of 1882, there were only eight assessments. Montour Lodge has lost but one of its members by death-Rev. A. S. Bean, pastor of the M. E. Church. The $2000 benefit was promptly paid to his father. The officers for 1888 are-G. T. Ward, President; T. P. Smith, Vice- President ; Wm. Franks, Recording Sec- retary ; S. Ellis, Financial Secretary ; J. H. Stevens, Treasurer ; J. Smith, Chap- lain ; A. Rouse, Usher ; O. P. Millard, Door Keeper ; J. G. Cronk, Sentinel.
THE V. A. S. FRATERNITY.
This is a beneficiary order, the chief objects of which are to establish and extend a brotherhood for the promotion of frater- nal relations, mutnal advancement socially, morally, and intellectually, upon a catholic platform on which all patriotic and good citizens of any sect, ereed or nationality ean substantially agree, and to afford aid and benefit to the widows, orphans, heirs, assigns or devisees of deceased members of the fraternity.
On the death of each member this Order pays $2,000, as a benefit to the family of the deceased member.
This Order was founded by the follow- ing named gentlemen, who met at Grin- nell, Iowa, September 16, 1879, and con- sidered the constitution, by laws, ritual of the secret work presented by S. W. Maltbie, of Montour, and adopted the same and elected the first chief officers, viz : George F. II. Stevens of Grinnell, Chief Rector ; J. P. Clement, Grinnell, Vice-Chief Reetor; W. B. Mumbine, Montour, Chief Scribe; J. II. Pierson, Grinnell, Chief Treasurer; J. T. Sherman, Grinnell, Chief Guard; D. S. Maltbie, Des
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Moines, Senior Deputy Chief Rector; S. W. Maltbie, Montour, Junior Deputy Chief Reetor.
The above named also organized Alpha Collegium No. 1, at Grinnell. Since that date the Order has made a steady and healthy growth and has aver- aged one hundred new members, per month. It is now established in one hun- dred and twenty-five of the principal cities of Iowa, and confines its work entirely to this State.
Present chief officers : J. C. Root, Lyons, Chief Rector ; D. S. Maltbie, Des Moines, Deputy Chief Rector; O. Il. Henderson, Cedar Rapids, Jr. Deputy Chief Rector ; S. I .. Waide, Muscatine, Vice- Chief Rector; Wm. Toman, Independence, Chief Treasurer; S. W. Maltbie, Montour, Chief Scribe ; Rev. S. R. lloyt, Waverly, Chief Chaplain ; Edwin I. Cameron, Davenport, Chief Usher: T. J. Palmer, What Cheer, Chief Guard ; J. Ilensley, M. D., Chief Medical Examiner.
Collegium No. 73, V. A. S. Fraternity of Montour, Iowa, was instituted August 11, 1881, by D. S. Maltbie, Deputy Chief Rector of the V. A. D. Charter mem- bers : David Corbet, William Cronk, J. G. Cronk, William Franks, J. D. lIeywood, J. P. Hendricks, William P. Kellogg, S. W. Maltbie, ( joined by card from Call No. 1, Grinnell, lowa ), Alfred N. Poyneer, Charles A. Stevens, C. J. Stevens, Henry G. Wallace, J. S. Waggenor.
The first officers were : S. W. Maltbie Rector; Alfred N. Poyneer, Vice Rector; William Franks, Scribe; Charles A. Ste- vens, Treasurer ; William P. Kellogg, Usher ; J. D. Heywood, Guard.
The first members added after date of institution of the Collegium, were :
Samuel A. Strain; O. H. Henderson, D. C. R .; Charles S. Paul, M. D., Isaac Smith, O. P. Millard, Henry S. Swift, Barnett Dippo, Daniel S. Maltbie, D. C. R., Wm. McBride, W M. Shumaker.
The present officers are: S. W. Maltbie, Rector; C. J. Stevens, Vice Rector; A. N. Poyneer, Chaplain; O. P. Millard, Scribe ; Charles. A. Stevens, Treasurer ; William Franks, Usher; Barnett Dippo, Guard.
C. J. STEVENS, Curators. { 11. G. WALLACE, J. G. CRONK.
The Collegium has suffered no loss of its membership by death. In 1883, the membership in good standing was twenty- three. The Collegium has been in good condition owing to a careful selection of its membership, and has since its organi- zation maintained good standing with the Chief Collegium by prompt payment of all its dues and death assessments.
S. W. Maltbie, Chief Scribe of the V. A. S. Fraternity, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 19, 1840. His father, Daniel Maltbie, was a native of Connecti- cut ; his mother, Esther Gilbert, of Long Island, New York. S. W. attended Ober- lin College until 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, 87th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, served four months and was mus- tered out of service as Orderly Sergeant. He returned home and at once re-enlisted in Company E, 4th U. S. Colored Troops, receiving a commission as Captain, serv- ing fourteen months. At the expiration of that time he resigned and entered Am- herst College, Massachusetts, from which institution he graduated in 1867. August
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY. 817
15, 1867, Mr. Maltbie was married to Miss R. S. Boltwood, a native of Amherst and a daughter of W. Boltwood. After grad- uating, Mr. Maltbie served one year as disciplinarian at the Military Academy of Cheshire, Connecticut ; then one year as principal of the schools at Princeton, Bu- reau county, Illinois, " hich position he resigned to accept the more lucrative po- sition of principal of the High School and Superintendent of the public schools of Geneseo, Illinois. He held this position for four years, during which time he graded the schools and graduated two classes. In 1874, he took charge of the High School at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and remained in that position for two years, when on account of poor health he gave up teaching and traveled for a few years, during which time his family located at Montour, Iowa. In 1879, he assisted in organizing the V. A. S. Fraternity, of which he served as Deputy Chief Rector one year, and since that time has been its Chief Scribe. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Maltbie was chosen principal of the public schools of Montour. He graded the schools and after teaching two terms, resigned his position to attend to his duties as Chief ยท Scribe of the V. A. S. Fraternity, which required his entire attention. Mr. and Mrs. Maltbie have been blessed with five children, three of whom are living : Ralph Waldo, Edith Brayton and Wil- dred Noble. Ralph Waldo, the eldest, was born July 1, 1868, and on the 13th of July, 1871, the class which graduated at Amherst College in 1867, presented him with a silver cup, valued at $40, he being the first born unto said class. Mr. Malt- bie is a Republican in politics, is a mem-
ber of the Masonic Fraternity, and of the I. O. O. F. Ile is prompt in the fultill- ment of his obligations, is courteous, and is respected by all who know him.
EDUCATIONAL.
With reference to the educational facili- ties and their public schools, the people of Montour justly take especial pride. The schools here are equal to the best in the county, and in some respects, superior. Everything relating to educational matters has always been promptly and carefully at- tended to, and the present efficiency of Montour's schools is indeed a credit to the city.
On the 30th day of January, 1872, there was a meeting of the Sub-Directors of the District township of Indian Village, held at Montour, at which there was a petition of twenty-seven of the legal voters of the town of Montour, then Orford, presented, requesting that said town and the territory contiguous thereto be formed into an in- dependent district. At an election held on the 10th day of February, 1872, the question was decided and the independent district was accordingly formed. Accord- ing to previous notice the electors of the independent district assembled on the 11th day of March, 1872. A. B. Toplin was chosen Chairman and C. J. Stevens, Secre- tary. On motion of J. M. Mills, it was voted to proceed to ballot for six directors. J. M. Mills, Dennis Beale and T. P. Smith were appointed Judges of Election. At the election A. B. Toplin, H. G. Wallace, Dennis Beale, R. M. Tenny, H. R. Win- chell and J. M. Mills were chosen Direc- tors; C. J. Stevens, Secretary and T. P. Smith, Treasurer; and they served as the first officers. The officers for 1883, were
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