USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Taylor County, Constitution of the United States, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 65
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Average number of months taught.
8
Salary per month-female.
$
27.00
No. of children of school age.
50
No. of children enrolled in school.
46
Average daily attendance.
25
Average cost of tuition per scholar
$
1.02
No. of school-houses (frame) 1
Amount paid teachers during the year.
$216.00
Amount expended for coutingent purposes. 164.66
Value of school-houses 400.00
WORKS.
No. of rooms in ungraded school. 1
No. of teachers employed.
2
Average number of months taught.
6
Salary per month-male
$ 35.00
Salary per month-female
20.00
No. of children of school age.
88
No. of children enrolled in school.
90
Average daily attendance.
59
No. of school-houses (frame)
1
Value of school.houses ..
$ 802.00
Amount paid teachers during the year
165.00
Amount expended for contingent purposes. 69.98
The first gentlemen to settle in Jefferson township were Jesse Guyll, Frank Hindman, William P. Meddles, Andrew Baker, James Melser, James Martin, S. R. Martin, Price Thacker, and A. and Thomas Heaton, who located in the vicinity of Platteville. The first settlers in the neigh- borhood of Mormontown were Jonathan Cooksey, M. B. and P. J. Wisdom. Later settlers in the township were Isaac King, John King, Jacob Reed, Dr. J. R. Standley, John Flick, C. Swett, David Sleeth and Dr. Grover.
The first marriage in the township was that of Vance J. Wilson and Eliza Thompson. C. and Rebecca Swett were the parents who first rejoiced
Average cost of tuition per scholar.
$
.80
597
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
over a girl baby, whom they called Catharine. The first death was a Mrs. Moore, who was buried in Missouri. Dr. J. R. Standley and Dr. Grover were the first physicians located at Platteville. Dr. Grover went to Illinois. Dr. Standley still resides at Platteville. He has not practiced his profes- sion for several years; his time is chiefly devoted to extensive farming, stock-raising, and speculations of various kinds, in which he has been quite successful. The first physician at Mormontown was Dr. A. White, who came from Delaware. Dr. G. W. Bellus, who is now located at Mormon- town, came afterward.
Rev. J. M. Smith was the first Baptist clergyman. He preached at Morris's on Platte Branch, and a church was organized which did well for a time.
The Rev. J. P. Evans, who is now located at Hawleyville, came to Jeffer- son township in the interest of Methodism, and was the first preacher there of that denomination.
Rev. J. W. Bott was the first preacher at Mormontown.
At present there are but two religious denominations in the township, a Methodist at Platteville, and one at Mormontown. Until recently the Bap- tists had an organization at Platteville, and they are now without regular services.
The Platteville Methodists have a church edifice which was erected in 1873, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The church has had for its pastors Rev. J. W. Botts, Rev. Lovejoy, Rev. DeTar, and Rev. T. P. New- land, who is the present pastor, and has been for two years past. The membership is sixty.
In 1865, about the time the Mormons left, the Methodists commenced having regular preaching, and an organization was effected at Mormontown. L. B. Hickenlooper and W. H. Norris were the starting members. It was under the Bedford charge until 1870. The different pastors have been Revs. Bott, Elliott, Himebaugh, Kern, Lovejoy, Randolph, DeTar and Rev. Burleigh. The membership is not large, only ten.
The Odd Fellows have a flourishing lodge at Mormontown, which D. D. G. M. Schram pronounces one of the most prosperous in southwestern Iowa. It is the Pleasant Valley Lodge No. 273, and was organized in 1874 by Sheriff Hugh White, of Ringgold county. The charter members were M. K. Norton, J. K. Parshall, J. H. Allyn, S. B. Hickenlooper, J. J. Ste- venson, A. F. Stevens, C. G. Evans, Ambrose Dixon and J. R. Stevenson. The first officers were J. K. Parshall, N. G .; J. J. Stevenson, V. G .; J. H. Allyn, secretary; S. B. Hickenlooper, treasurer; S. E. Knox, R. S. N. G .; J. R. Stevenson, L. S. N. G .; C. G. Evans, W .; A. F. Severns, conductor;
598
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
Park Skinner, R. S. S .; M. Wilson, L. S. S .; M. K. Norton, O. G .; A. White, I. G .; J. Stevenson, R. S. V. G, and Benjamin Burrell, L. S. V. G.
The present officers are G. R. Newton, N. G .; D. C. Stevenson, V. G .; G. W. Bellus, secretary; A. F. Severns, permanent secretary ; J. J. Steven- son, treasurer; J. A. Stevenson, R. S. N. G .; Jesse Minor, L. S. N. G .; F. M. Wisdom, W .; W. P. Glendening, conductor; J. H. Beeson, R. S. S .; Vinson Reed, L. S. S .; John Stevenson, O. G .; M. J. Proctor, I. N. G .; James Gray, R. S. V. G., and C. G. Wilson, L. S. V. G. The present membership of the lodge is forty. It owns no hall, but has a very beautiful one fitted up over P. J. Wisdom's store.
Ciela Lodge No. 216, I. O. O. F., at Platteville, was organized by Hugh White, March 23, 1871. The charter members were as follows: D. H. Brown, T. J. Sutton, J. K. Parshall, J. I. Newton and J. M. Urie, with P. C. King, C. H. Finn, H. C. Hornback, Thomas Potter and J. G. Kinker the first initiates.
The first officers were J. I. Newton, N. G .; L. G. Parker, V. G .; J. M. Urie, secretary, and J. K. Parshall, treasurer.
The present officers are J. R. Standley, N. G .; H. A. Williams, V. G .; V. K. King, secretary, and Jacob Reed, treasurer.
The hall is a two story building owned in common with the Masons, and was built in 1878 at a cost of $1,000. The lower part is used for a store- room. The present membership of Ciela Lodge is about twenty-five.
Bethany Lodge No. 320, A. F. & A. M., is located at Platteville, and has a membership of thirty. It was instituted by R. O. Starling, of Bedford, in October, 1872. The charter members were: Daniel Propst, S. D. Hornback, Samuel White, Jacob Reed, F. L. Blakemore, John King, Jr., and William Large.
The first officers were: Daniel Propst, W. M .; S. D. Hornback, S. W .; Samuel White, J. W., and John King, Jr., secretary.
The present officers are: D. Propst, W. M .; J. C. Smalley, S. W .; M. Propst, J. W., and B. C. Anderson, secretary.
The lodge owns a hall in connection with the Odd Fellows, and is in a prosperous shape.
It will not do to omit a certain item of church history, and it will be proper to place it here before passing further into Jefferson township his- tory: The Christians have an organization in the southeast corner of the township. The membership, however, is chiefly from Missouri. It was organized in 1874 with seven original members, and it now numbers one hundred and sixty-five. They have a neat chapel, worth $1,500. Elder
599
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
William Cobb, of Bedford, has been the pastor from the date of its begin- ning. It is known as the Pleasant Ridge church.
Mormontown, the largest place in the township, is located on section 12, on Platte River. It was founded by about a dozen families of Mormons, who came from Fisher's Grove, Fremont county, in 1861. They remained there until 1865, and then removed to Fisher's Grove. They chose a lovely location in their selection of a site for a town. Than Mormontown, we know of no place in Iowa that strikes the fancy more pleasingly, and it is in as fine an agricultural district, that has the charm of beauty and pic- turesqueness, as can be found in the world. Irving and Goldsmith would have embalmed it in everlasting letters had they lived here. The Mormons built two mills while living in this place. One was a water-mill and the other a steam-mill. Neither are now standing, unless it be the ruins of one of them. Mormontown now has several excellent stores. It is, also, blessed with a fine flouring-mill, the property of Thomas King. It is located on the banks of Platte River, which furnishes it with power. P. J. Wisdom is the Nasby, and his office supplies a large country with its mails. Sid. Schram, of Mormontown, late county clerk and at present deputy sheriff, owns a large and valuable farm near town. In 1877, Mormontown had a newspaper, called The Motor, and published by M. A. Farr.
Platteville is located on what properly should be section 32 of Gay town- ship. It is on the extreme south line, and for certain purposes it was long ago conceded to Jefferson township. It is a pleasant place, and is quite a trading-point. Dr. Standley is the leading genius of the place, owning over one thousand acres of finely improved land adjoining it. Jacob Reed, who lives two miles and a half southeast, is the possessor of about 1,500 acres of superior land. Captain John Flick, who was the hardest fighter the county sent to Dixie, has a valuable and large farm. There are many others, but this will suffice. The first school in the township was taught at Platteville; and, also, it was there the first school-building was put up. It was done by taxation, cost six hundred dollars, and was built by J. A. Evans. Thomas King was the first schoolmaster, at $20 per month. He had sixteen pupils. About the same time, or soon afterward, his brother, P. C. King, was teaching the first school at Mormontown. His wages were $30 per month, and his number of pupils about fifty-five. Mrs. Frank Hindman and Mrs. Spencer have the honor of being the first weavers.
In the very early days, in 1857 and 1858, provisions were procured at St. Joseph, and as there was no corn in the county, people were obliged to go to Platte county, Missouri, for it. This they were compelled to do over a country that had not the faintest symptom of a road. Captain John Flick
600
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
and S. A. Fulton hauled the first loads of grain that went out of the town- hip. They were of wheat, and were drawn to Savannah, Missouri.
July 4, 1855, the few people there were in the township became alarmed at the actions of the Indians, and anticipated a general massacre. It ended in the scare only. With two or three exceptions, they hastened to "Fort Parker," which was where Stephen H. Parker then resided. It is located in Clayton township, and now belongs to B. F. Martin.
MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.
In 1857 there were not to exceed three families in Marshall township. In 1855 people commenced flowing to Taylor county from the eastern part of the State and an impetus was given to business. About this time, or per- haps a little before it, W. H. Allison and J. Majors laid off some town lots in the southwest corner of Marshall township, and called them Lexington. For a time it presented strong opposition to Bedford, claiming that as it was the nearest the geographical center of the county, the seat of justice should be removed from Bedford to Lexington. Considerable business was done at Lexington for several years, but as the settlements were principally south, Lexington gradually died out and the erection of the court-house at Bed- ford in 1864, extinguished its last hope. It is now the property of Rev. C. B. Pershin, of Bedford. The county-poor house and farm are near it. It is not far from the home of John S. Boyd, who came to the township in 1851, and taught the first school within it.
The first Presbyterian Church in Taylor county was organized at Lexing- ton, Clayton township, June 27, 1857, Rev. L. G. Bell, a missionary of the Board of Domestic Missions, being president. The society was placed un- der the care of the Council Bluffs Presbytery, and called the Hundred and Two River Church. This name was changed, or rather the society was merged in that of the Bedford Presbyterian Church, at a meeting of the Presbytery in Afton, Union county, in September, 1860. The original mem- bers of the church at Lexington, were James Mitchell, Mary J. Aiken, J. C. McCandless, Sinah McCandless, J. Gavin and Eliza Gavin. The Rev. Mr. Stryker was the first regular pastor.
Among other early settlers of Marshall township were P. H. Nelson, who came in 1858; Simeon Wright, in 1857; G. W. Wallace, in 1856; Wil- liam Schwemley, in 1856; N. P. Nelson, in 1858 and Josiah Litteer, in 1854. These gentlemen are now living, and all of them have succeeded in amass- ing considerable fortunes.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built through the township in 1871. The Humeston & Shenandoah line is now being con-
601
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
structed through the township, and crosses the C., B. & Q. about three and one half miles above Conway. It is not the intention of the Humeston company to locate a town in the township, but will be content with a " Y " at the crossing.
The soil of Marshall township is of a superior quality, and grows prolif- ically all kinds of grains and vegetables. An industry that would pay in this, and other townships, is fruit and vegetable canning. In other places in the State less favored as to physical advantages and opportunities for shipment, this business is being prosecuted to the financial advantage of all interested. The soil of this county is as good, if not better, for vegeta- bles, while for fruit it is vastly superior, and the climate far more favor- able than counties farther east and north. The railroad advantages are good to-day and will be really superior when the Humeston & Shenandoah shall have been completed to this county. Capitalists seeking an opening in this direction cannot find a county in Iowa that presents better advan- tages.
Flax is an important product of Marshall and other townships of Taylor county. It could be made more profitable to the producer if there were factories in the county, which there no doubt will be at a day not far dis- tant. For the manufacturing of flax straw into tow, a factory with the ca- pacity of one and one-half to two and one-half tons per day can be estab- lished for from eight to ten thousand dollars. The yield of straw will be from one and one-half to two and one-half tons per acre. Three and one- half to five tons of straw, according to quality, will make a ton of tow, which will be worth from $30 to $50. The farmers of this county would hail with delight the establishment of a tow factory, and would support it handsomely. The fact that the straw is a total loss deters the farmers gen- erally from raising flax. When we remember that St. Louis is the best tow market in the world, Taylor county must be considered favorably located for the prosecution of this industry.
Marshall township has good schools; some of the best teachers in the county have been tutored in its rural districts. John S. Boyd, who taught the first school, is a man of fine attainments. N. P. Nelson, who quit the school-room for the business of banking, had few equals in the county as a teacher. The superintendent gives the township the following report for the year 1880:
No. of subdistrict. 8
No. of teachers employed
16
Salary per month-male .. $ 28.00
602
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
Salary per month-female $ 29.12
No. of school months. 8
No of children of school age
267
No. of children enrolled in school. 628
Average daily attendance. 125
Average cost of tuition per scholar $ 1.95
No. of school-houses (frame) 8
Value of school-houses.
$2,700.00
Amount paid teachers during the year 1,764.97
Amount expended for contingent purposes 340.72
CONWAY.
The town of Conway, like that of Lenox, was laid out in 1872 by the B. & M. Road, and is situated on the Creston branch of the C. B. & Q. Road, eight miles northeast of Bedford. It did not begin to do much business, however, until 1876. Since that time the growth has been quite rapid. By looking at the census report it will be seen that the growth of this part of the county has been very marked during the past five years. Conway is constantly growing and has as bright prospects as any town within our knowledge. Improvements are going on all the time. New store buildings going up and old ones being enlarged and remodeled. Conway is situated on elevated ground, a sort of side hill, so to speak, thus securing to its in- habitants excellent drainage and an abundance of health-giving breezes. No more salubrious spot is known in this section of country. Too much cannot be said of the society of this growing place, and as to enterprise and patriotism, there is not a better set of men in any town of western Iowa. It has an excellent trade with. the surrounding country. Large quantities of live stock and grain are annually shipped to Chicago and other markets by the enterprising dealers of town, who are always ready to pay the high- est prices which Eastern quotations will bear, thus furnishing an excellent outlet, at remunerative rates, for the surplus products of the surrounding country.
Conway has four church organizations: The Methodist, the Presbyterian, the Christian and the Baptist, all of which are in prosperous conditions, and afford an excellent evidence of the moral status of the place. The Methodist pastor is Rev. G. P. Bennett, for several years presiding elder of the Corning district. The Baptist Church is presided over by Rev. William Golding, an old and efficient minister in his denomination. The Christian Church was organized in 1878, by Elder William Cobb, of Bedford. The present membership is fifty-two. They have a neat house of worship which
603
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
cost two thousand dollars. It was erected in 1880. Elder Cobb continues as pastor and the church could not find a truer man, or one that could fill the place so well as he.
Conway has a good graded school in charge of competent teachers. The school-house cost $1,800, and is insufficient for the present wants of the town. The educational facilities are of a superior character and the in- crease in attendance has necessitated the hiring of an extra building. An- other building will be erected in 1882. The teachers who have been in charge of the school at Conway have invariably been superior scholars and practical workers. The superintendent's report for 1880 of the Indepen- dent district of Conway contains the following:
No. of rooms in graded school. 2
Average number of months taught
9
No. of teachers employed 2
Salary per month-male
$ 35.00
Salary per month-female. 33.00
No. of children of school age 173
No. of children enrolled in school
96
Average daily attendance
75
Average cost of tuition per scholar
$ .90
No. of school-houses (frame). 1
Value of school-houses .
$1,550.00
Amount paid teachers during the year
595.47
Amount expended for contingent purposes. 196.14
The pride of Conway was its flouring-mill, which burned down early in the present summer. Just how the catastrophe occurred no one can say. It was discovered to be on fire about four o'clock in the morning. It has been charged to a stroke of lightning, to spontaneous combustion and in- cendiarism. More than likely the first cause assigned is the correct one. The mill is being rebuilt and the generous, enterprising citizens of Conway are contributing liberally to the unfortunate gentlemen who were the losers. It will be constructed on the plan of the old mill. The following is a full description of the one that burned down.
HISTORY OF THE CONWAY MILL.
This mill is owned by a joint stock company, incorporated under the laws of Iowa, the principal stock being owned by the McDonald Brothers. There are, however, other parties interested-Goodsil Brothers, Anderson & Company and D. M. Hanerly.
This is an enterprising company of gentlemen and the people of Conway have just reason to be proud of this very important branch of the business of this growing and enterprising
604
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
city. The McDonald Brothers bought into this mill in the fall of 1880, since which time the entire mill has undergone a change, two stories being added and the entire machinery changed, the old taken out and the new put in place. Their machinery is all new and of the latest modern improvements. The boiler is sixteen feet in length, with thirty-two flues. The engine is new, of sixty horse-power, manufactured at Leavenworth, Kansas. They have all the modern machinery for cleaning and separating and they are prepared to make and are making the best grades of flour.
They have a capacity for handling about 250 bushels of wheat daily; have three run of burrs for wheat and one for corn. Have one receiving separator, one Bernard and Lee's sep- arators; one Victor smutter, manufactured by the same parties; one California smutter, one Smith purifier, one close double purifier, the first mentioned having twenty-four feet of cloth and the other sixty-one feet, making eighty-five feet in all, and more purifying cloth than any mill of similar size in the State. They have four double belts and one dusting roll. All the machinery in this mill is new and first-class in every respect.
In connection with the mill they have a dump for corn, with four dumps, with a capacity of one thousand bushels in each, and have room for ten thousand bushels of shelled corn. They also have a sheller in connection, with a capacity of one thousand bushels per hour, run from the same engine which runs the mill.
They are now controlling the home market in flour and expect to do a large shipping busi- ness. They are running two sets of burrs to grind wheat, which furnish middlings for the third set. The wheat burrs are three and a half feet in diameter and the middling burrs three feet.
While the mill is not the largest, it is one of the first mills of the State in point of superi- ority, the building being twenty-five by thirty-five feet and four stories in height, and crowded with excellent machinery from the basement to the garret. The engine-room is thirty-five by thirty-eight feet and one story in heighth.
D. M. Brown has started a creamery, but with what success remains to be seen. We only know that his success ought to be certain and assured. As stated in the history of Grant township, Iowa, as a matter of fact, has no equal for the dairy. At the World's Exposition, in Philadelphia, this State was given the gold and silver award on butter; and again, at the International Dairy Fair, New York, in December, 1879. From a recent article in the Chicago Times, headed "Dairying in the Far West," we ex- tract the following:
"Only a few years ago it was declared by professional experts that first- class butter and cheese could not be produced farther west than the State of New York. * *
* Finally, though under the protest of the older dairy States, like New York and Vermont, Iowa and Minnesota were allowed to be classed as at least very promising dairy re- gions. Since the awards of the recent international dairy fairs they have taken the place to which they were by right entitled. Iowa creamery but- ter has now a reputation in most portions of the commercial world that re- flects credit on the State."
This county, with its thousands of acres of grass lands, pure water and
605
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
other conditions for this class of industry, presents inducements that long since should have been taked up. As a matter of fact, no county in Iowa surpasses this one in grasses, pure water, and other advantages that would make the establishment of ten or twelve creameries a decided success from the start, and the history of less favorable localities which have profited from similar investments should be a sufficient incentive for men to grasp the situation and reap the benefits arising therefrom. Creamery butter is in good demand in all the markets, and especially just at this time. The commission merchants and grocery men of this county would handle every pound manufactured within its borders. We hope that Mr. Brown will have flattering success, and that others will follow in his footsteps, and that speedily.
Conway was incorporated in 1878. The first mayor was O. J. Eoff. The present city officers are as follows:
Mayor-O. J. Eoff. Marshal-Alex. Pitman.
Recorder-A. C. Shoemaker.
Trustees-J. S. Butts, Tom Daniels, A. A. DeLong, J. G. Bowen, J. H. Jolly.
School-directors-A. A. DeLong, J. W. Moser, J. A. Carr, J. H. Jolly, J. M. Dick.
President school-board-O. J. Eoff.
Secretary school-board-J. H. Jolly.
Treasurer school-board-N. P. Nelson.
The Masons have a flourishing lodge at Conway-Right-Angle Lodge No. 344, A. F. & A. M. It was instituted in 1875 by Simeon Wright. The charter was dated June 7, 1876. The charter members were Simeon Wright, Josiah Litteer, H. M. Wilson, J. P. Wright, H. B. Liggett, H. Shoemaker, Samuel Yeatman, Sidney Severns, Seth Robinson and William Harriott.
The first officers were Simeon Wright, W. M .; Josiah Litteer, S. W .; H. M. Wilson, J. W .; H. B. Liggett, secretary; J. P. Wright, treasurer; H. Shoemaker, S. D .; Samuel Yeatman, J. D .; Sidney Severns, tyler; Seth Robinson, S. S., and William Harriott, J. S.
The present officers are as follows: N. P. Nelson, W. M .; T. W. Dan- iels, S. W .; O. J. Eoff, J. W .; M. C. Litteer, secretary; J. H. Jolly, treas- urer; C. J. Trowbridge, S. D .; J. P. Rumble, J. D .; O. J. Hyde, tyler; A. C. Shoemaker, S. S., and A. A. DeLong, J. S.
This lodge now has a membership of fifty-seven, which is indeed a re-
606
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
markable growth. It has a fine frame hall which was built in 1876, at a cost of $1,000. It is the only Masonic lodge in the county that owns a hall. It is paid for, which is better still.
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