USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 17
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B. B. Hoover came to the county about the same time and settled on section 21, in Jackson township. He acquired several hundred acres of valuable land, and
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was noted as a breeder of fine cattle and horses. He retired from the farm a few years ago, and spent a couple of years in California. He then returned to Bedford where he lived until his death which occurred in 1907. His widow and two daughters, Zelda and Ella, still reside in North Bedford.
Elisha Parker, uncle to Stephen Parker, an early settler of Clayton township, for a time resided in Jackson township, back in the '40s.
Along about war times and shortly after came a number of settlers, whose names have been associated with Jackson township ever since. Among these were the Kemerys, Straights. Harville Bailie, whose son, W. W. Bailie, is still a citizen of the township, was among this latter number. A little later came the Russells, William and George. The Hays family was among the earlier ones also. None of the earlier families are represented in the township yet except the Hoovers. Edgar Hoover, son of Daniel, still lives in the township, and Melissa, a daughter of B. B. Hoover, lives on her farm near the old homestead. The Kemerys, Straights, Hays and Russells are still numerously represented.
Jackson township is drained on the east border by Platte Branch and on the west by Honey Creek. The ridge between the two streams comprises some of the best farm land in the county.
W. W. Bailie, Jesse Grace, E. McCormick, E. S. Rowe, the Straight brothers, and the Snyders, are large landholders in the township at the present time.
For many years the township had no church building, religious services being held at the various schoolhouses.
At one time the Methodists had quite a strong organization at the Straight schoolhouse, which is now known as Liberty, but growing towns nearby have drawn off the membership until there are but few who are not identified with some church outside the township. The Baptists, however, have maintained an organization and a few years ago built a church at Forest Grove, where they have regular services every two weeks, have Sunday-school and carry on all of the regular departments of church work.
Jackson is now one of the smallest townships in area, notwithstanding that at one time it comprised the whole county, and although of limited area it ranks among the big ones in material wealth, the assessed valuation being six hun- dred and fifty-two thousand, five hundred and forty-four dollars.
The present township officers are : clerk, William Bailie ; trustees, J. T. Weir, E. A. Kemery, John Stewart; assessor, J. W. Walker.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
Benton township was organized in February, 1851. Its history is so inter- woven with that of Bedford, that it is difficult to give it separately. Among the first settlers of the township, are the following :
John Dougherty, who entered the land where his son, Jonathan Dougherty now lives, John Daily, Robert Dougherty, Hannibal Dougherty and Abner N. Dougherty, John and Amos Lowe, Thomas and John Cobb, Samuel P. Bristow, J. F. Johnson, W. A. Wysong, L. Wood, R. J. Salem, Charles Taylor and E. B. Lorrison. Mr. Wysong deserves especial mention as one of the stanch friends of the County Agricultural Society, for more than twenty years. James Ross
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settled in the township more than fifty years ago, and acquired a large area of land. His son Lem, is still a resident of the township. The Cobbs, Doughertys and Rosses, all had large families, and many of their children and grandchildren are still citizens of the township and other sections of the county.
In 1879, O. M. Dunning, James Ross, J. H. Fitch and others, concluded that township organization separate from Bedford, would be desirable and succeeded in getting set apart, after presenting to the board, signed by a majority of the voters, praying that Bedford be stripped from Benton township. This the board did at the September session, 1880. The first township officers under this sep- arate existence were :
Justices of the peace, A .J. McMurtry and B. J. Beal; trustees, Milton Dun- ning. John Hamilton and L. M. Dugan; clerk, B. J. Beal; assessor, Sidney Putnam; constables, Robert Salen and R. Hardenbrook.
O. M. Dunning, who came to the county in 1869, owned a section of land and was one of the progressive men of the county. L. W. Fairbanks, for many years a resident of the township, had nearly a section of land and for several years, was prominent in the affairs of the township and the county agricultural society. J. H. Fitch is still a resident of the township and may very properly be called an old settler, having a residence of over forty years. A. B. Wakeman, A. J. McMurtry and James McCracken, were many years ago large landholders, and accumulated much property in farming. Mr. Wakeman and his son, F. E., are at present residents of the township and are extensive farmers and stock raisers. Sen Campbell, Edward Thompson, Frank Titus and son Ellis, William Merkle, Sanford McCorkle, James Dougherty, a son of Gideon Dougherty, who settled in Page county about the time his brothers, Abner N. and John, settled here, O. M. Healey, Jason Putnam, Andrew Thompson, Isaac Bishop, Fred Patton, William Dowlin, William Fitch, Sam Harley, William Payton, Herriott brothers, are other citizens of the township at present and have found farming profitable.
The Methodists have long had an organization in the township and in 1879, built a place of worship near the northwest corner of the township and it is known as Gilead church. It has always enjoyed a large membership and a Sunday-school is maintained in connection.
Benton is one of the small townships, and with Bedford township cut off the southeast corner, it leaves a limited area. However, the valuation at last assess- ment was seven hundred and fifty-two thousand, nine hundred and seventy- six dollars.
Benton has but five school districts, with buildings valued at one thousand, three hundred dollars. Children of school age number one hundred and eighty- four with an enrollment of eighty. The teachers last year were paid one thou- sand, three hundred and thirty dollars; number of books in libraries two hundred and sixty.
The present township officers are: clerk, Frank Herriott; trustees, W. E. Fitch, J. N. Weatherly and I. L. Bishop ; assessor, J. M. Fairbanks.
POLK TOWNSHIP.
This was one of the first townships to be organized as may be seen in the chapter on township organization, being a township as early as 1851, though much larger than now. It gets its name from President James K. Polk, one of
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the democratic party's presidents. Polk township at that time being strongly democratic as it has been most of the time since. The town of Buchanan still a trading point for the people of the township goes further by its name to illus- trate the political tendencies of the pioneers. In the elections of 1876 and 1877, the township was carried by the Greenbackers and according to the author- ity of George H. Powers, at one time editor of the Bedford Argus, Polk and Mason townships were the only townships in the United States giving Peter Cooper, greenback candidate for president in 1876, a majority vote. Like Mason township, Polk is crossed almost centrally from north to south by the West One Hundred and Two river, the largest stream in the county with the exception of East Nodaway, which crosses Nodaway township and the northwest corner of Dallas.
The river is bordered with excellent timber, the valley is wide and very pro- ductive, except for an occasional year, when crops are destroyed by an overflow.
This is one of the earliest settled townships of the county. The first actual settler is said to be a Mr. Thompson, who came in 1844, but died soon after locating.
Following him, came Elias Bridgewater in 1852, who settled on section 6, where he lived until his death occurred a few years ago. In 1877, Mr. Bridge- water lost his aged wife, who in a condition of mental abberration induced by sickness, drowned herself in a well on the premises.
William Ferguson and Peter Chrisman moved into the township from An- drew county, Missouri, in 1852, Ferguson settling on section 5 and Chrisman on section 7. In 1853, Russell Barnes and James B. Campbell moved into the township from Buchanan county, Missouri.
Lynord Reagor, Thomas Dakin, Joseph Snodgross and Thomas Wade, were other arrivals in 1853, Reagor from Missouri and the others from Indiana. Barnes settled on section 18, Campbell on section 8, Reagor on section 17, Dakin and Snodgross on section 7, and Wade on section 25. James B. Campbell was the first sheriff of the county and is frequently mentioned elsewhere in this work. In 1854, Joseph Smith came to the township from Platte county, Mis- souri, and located on section 9, where he remained until his death. Edward Smith for many years proprietor of the general merchandise store in Buchanan, is one of his sons. In 1855, or 1856, Jacob Taylor, Cyrus Wolverton, William Hatfield, William Bradbury, Daniel Thompson, Milton Blake and Benjamin Ball, came to the township, and a little later came J. Ward, J. and S. Taylor, E. Cook, D. Clayton, James and Jesse Harris, Martin McKee, Washington and Harrison Clayton. In 1858, Charles Dresher settled on the farm he resided on until he retired from farming and came to Bedford a few years ago, where he still lives in the enjoyment of good health for a man of his age. In 1860, his daughter Louisa was born and she now resides near her birth-place, and is the wife of Frank M. Hamilton, son of Captain D. H. Hamilton, who settled in Ross township in 1870.
Mr. Dresher is authority for the statement that the first marriage occurring in the township was that of T. Cole and Harriet Hobert, which was solemnized in 1859 or 1860. As far as can be remembered by old settlers of the township. the first boy baby born was Daniel Harris, son of James and Harriet Harris.
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As nearly as can be ascertained, the first death in the township was in the family of Joseph Smith. His daughter died and soon after, his wife Jane, followed.
The town of Buchanan, known to the postoffice department as Siam, was located some time in the early 50's, and as it never got a railroad, it did not grow to the size anticipated by its founders, but notwithstanding this, it for many years was a good trading point and was a great convenience to the settlers of the town- ship, and also many living in Page county, and over the line in Missouri. A postoffice was located there in a very early day, and remained until the rural delivery system was employed by the government.
A. Dakin, was the first to keep a stock of goods in the town we are informed, and he was followed by Al. Dyke, who conducted a general store for many years and amassed considerable money. He afterward removed to Shenandoah, where he was killed by a horse several years ago. George Russell succeeded Dyke in the mercantile business in Buchanan, and he was followed by Edward Smith, who was in business there until a few years ago a fire destroyed the business portion of the town. He was out of business for awhile, but for some time now he has been in business at the same old stand. Doc Hawkins started a second store a few years ago, but soon sold out to William Scrivner, who after conducting it for a time, sold to Ora Scrivner, who was in business when a second fire wiped out the business of the town again. Joseph Bowles was a Buchanan merchant for awhile, Aaron Beck is at present conducting one of the stores, having gone there in 1908, from Ladoga. A blacksmith shop has long been one of the institutions of the place that has been a great convenience to surrounding farmers.
Dr. Luther Bent of Bedford, was the first physician to minister to the ills of the citizens of Polk and Buchanan. Since then, several doctors have been located there. Dr. Stone who afterward moved to California, was the first resident physician. Dr. Will came later and is said to have been a practitioner of skill and ability. Dr. Snow, was for years a resident of Siam and had an extensive practice. Dr. Milo Dunning followed him and remained until last year, when he concluded to locate in Bedford.
The first schoolhouse in the township was built in Buchanan, in 1858. It had originally been built for a residence by a Mr. Lambert, but was purchased by public spirited citizens and donated for school purposes. As population increased and the demands for more school room became urgent, a larger and better appointed building was built, which in turn gave place to a modern two-room frame building. Two teachers are now regularly employed and the schools are graded as well as circumstances will permit. The district is independent and embraces as much territory as two of the ordinary school districts.
Buchanan has long had two civic societies, the Masonic and Odd Fellows. Both are in thrifty condition.
As nearly as can be ascertained, the first religious services held held in the township, were at Warmsley's Grove on section 6, about the year 1854. The preacher was likely the Rev. J. M. Stockton, an old citizen of the county, who is frequently mentioned elsewhere in this work.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
In 1859, the Methodists of the township attended services in Ross township, at the cabin of D. Martin, which was located on section II, with Rev. Peterson as minister. Later the Methodists held services at the fine schoolhouse south- west of Siam, where Rev. Hildebrand preached. Services were held here until the erection of a building in Buchanan, where they have regular services, a Sunday-school and all other regular departments of church work.
Members of the Disciples church organized in the township as early as 1860, and have been a strong church since that time. They have a good church build- ing in Buchanan and have regular services. Elder W. L. Dunlavey is serving as pastor for the second time and he has a large congregation. A good working Bible school, Endeavor society and other various societies.
For many years, Sunday-school was held at the High Prairie schoolhouse, and C. F. Dresher labored with them as superintendent.
There is a difference of opinion among the old settlers of the township as to who taught the first school. A Mr. Buchanan is given by some people as the first teacher, others are equally sure the honor belongs to Sarah McFarland. George Hatfield taught as early as 1859, the others in 1856 and 1857. This was all before schools were properly organized and the teachers were paid by subscription.
Mrs. Thompson. widow of the township's first settler, is accorded the honor of weaving the first cloth. Later, the honor was divided among Mrs. Reagor, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Dyke. This may seem a trivial matter to some of our readers who have been born long since the pioneer days and not deserving of mention, but when it is known that "store clothes" and "store goods" were un- known to the pioneers, the work of those estimable women, who so courageously aided their husbands in building homes in a frontier state, deserves more than passing mention.
In the times of which we write, the nearest postoffice to the settlers of Polk township, was at Maryville, Missouri; so it will be seen that letters were but rarely exchanged with friends left behind. In 1856, the nearest railroad to Taylor county had not yet crossed the Mississippi river. In 1852, the nearest railroad point was Peru, Illinois, which was at that time the terminus of what is now the Great Rock Island System. Whenever a letter or a newspaper came, it had likely been weeks and often months enroute, owing to the slowness of the car- riers of mail at that time. Heavy stages, lumbering coaches, worn out ponies and carriers, had to answer the purpose then, and if they seem as lifeless relics of a dead past, it is because we are now accustomed to the regular mail train that rushes through our state at sixty miles an hour, discharging and taking on mail at the various stations without slacking speed.
Then it took months and the encountering of much danger and many hard- ships, to go from Iowa to the Pacific coast. Now the trip is made in less than three days, and the traveller enjoys all the comforts of home enroute.
At the time of the first settlement of Polk township, the nearest mill was Russell's, down the Nodaway, twenty-five miles and it was only a "corn cracker." But in 1856, a Mr. Stone erected a "corn cracker" on the West One Hundred and Two, east and a little north of Buchanan.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Such game as deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken and pheasants, were abund- ant in Polk township in the early day and furnished the settler much of his living. Hunting and fishing was the popular pastime, especially on Sunday, according to the old settlers reports. They would turn out in the morning to hear Rev. Stockton, who drove in with his ox team. After services, they devoted the remainder of the day as above stated.
Shooting matches for turkeys, or a beef, were common and at one of these, as long ago as 1858, Abner Majors, son of one of the commissioners, who located in the county seat, was so injured by the explosion of a gun that the amputa- tion of his left hand was necessary. Mr. Majors afterward moved to Page county, where he lived for a number of years, then he located in Bedford, where he resided until his death which occurred about six years ago.
Since writing the above, we have been told that Mr. Majors was injured while assisting in serenading a newly married couple. Both reports are from old settlers, but one must be wrong.
Peter Fine came to the township in 1857 and settled on section 19. John M. Fine come in 1867 also, as did Jesse Lasurel. Abijah Wilder came in 1852 and settled on section 29.
Some of the present well known citizens of the township now are: Alfred Bordner, Sid Bradley, the Clayton brothers, William Damewood, J. D. Duncan, William and James Melvin, William Eggers, the Fines, H. S. Goodrich, Frank M. Hamilton, W. D. McMaster, Marr Brothers, Isaac Hutchinson, Abraham Jeffers, Silas Landon, Manleys, the Scrivners, Edward Smith, the Sticklemans, Silas Sheeley, Levi Taylor, William Ward.
On speaking of the church services and Sunday school formerly held at the High Prairie schoolhouse by the Methodist people, we should have added that several years ago the congregation built a neat chapel, which they named High Prairie church. Benjamin Remmington, now a resident of Bedford, was among the active promoters of this enterprise.
Polk, being one of the small townships and also giving up enough territory to Buchanan for two districts, has only four school districts, with buildings valued at one thousand, six hundred dollars, and apparatus valued at sixty dollars, and one hundred and forty-five volumes in the school libraries. Last year they paid teachers one thousand, one hundred and seventy-one dollars and twenty-five cents.
They have one hundred and four pupils enrolled in the schools, with an average attendance of sixty-six.
The report of the Buchanan schools properly belongs with that of Polk town- ship, so it is here given.
They have a two room building, valued at one thousand dollars, with apparatus valued at seventy-five dollars. They have seventy-five volumes in their library.
Eighty-nine pupils are enrolled in the schools with an average attendance of sixty-nine.
Last year they paid teachers seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. The as- sessed valuation of Buchanan district is two hundred and ninety-eight thousand, two hundred and twenty-four, and that of Polk township, six hundred and eighty- five thousand, eight hundred and sixteen dollars.
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The present township officials are : Justices James E. Melvin and W. T. Allen ; clerk, C. A. Clayton ; trustees, A. D. Taylor, M. C. Owens and Silas Landon ; as- sessor, J. H. Osborn.
HOLT TOWNSHIP.
Levi and John Hayden are credited with being the first settlers of Holt town- ship. They came in 1850. The next year they were joined in their new home by their widowed sisters, Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Tabor. They were from Kentucky, and later removed from Taylor county to Kansas. C. N. Scott came in 1852, and settled on section 35, where he still lives. John Laird settled on section 32, in 1854; E. W. Meredith on section 27 in 1858; S. L. Meredith on section 33, 1856; R. H. Dunkin, in 1859; T. J. Davis section 28, in 1858; Thomas Laird, section 33, in 1854 and Daniel Leonard, section 10, 1854.
The first marriage in the township was that of John Anno and Mrs. M. Hudson
The first birth in the township was that of John Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Scott. This occurred in 1853.
A Mr. Hudson was the first settler of the township to die and he was buried on his farm.
Dr. Bent of Bedford and Dr. Grover of Hawleyville were physicians who min- istered to the ailments of the early settlers. Later Dr. J. T. McCohm resided in the township where he practiced until the locating of Gravity to which point he moved where he practiced until his death, some years since.
Rev. Isaac Kelly, a pioneer Methodist minister of southwest Iowa, was the first to preach the gospel in the township. The first services were held at Hay- den's grove, in 1856.
Rev. J. M. Smith of the Baptist church held a revival in the township in 1857, which resulted in an organization. Elder William Cobb was also among the early ministers to preach to the people of Holt.
The first schoolhouse was built on section 33, in 1855, and was donated by Mr. G. C. Abbitt and Mr. John Lewis. It was of logs, the seats were slabs, the floor "puncheon" and the chimney was made of sod.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Churchill, later a resident of Washington township.
These early settlers of Holt were happy and contented. They were carving out homes for their families in a section of the county, where the soil is rich, and the lay of the country such that the landscape presents a view that is inspiring. Small wonder that so many of the first settlers or their descendants still remain in the township. These people suffered inconveniences and endured hardships that would be the despair of the young people of the present day.
Imagine, for instance, Uncle Dan Leonard's sons, who reside in the township, confronted suddenly by the conditions their father had to face back in the "50s."
When Uncle Dan, late in the fall of 1854 before his house was completed, broke his ax, he was compelled to make a trip to Bedford, on foot to buy a new one before he could go on with his work.
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The product of the farm, stock, etc., which the settler had to sell to supply him with clothing and other articles not produced at home, had to be marketed at Ottumwa or St. Joseph, Missouri. -
The nearest mill was eighty miles distant, until the establishment of the little "corn cracker"" at Hawleyville.
What is now Holt, Washington and Nodaway townships, were all in one vot- ing precinct in the early days. It is said that the first election was held at the home of L. Rogers, and the ballot box was a teapot. There were fourteen votes cast and every one who desired it got an office, regardless of politics.
Holt is one of the townships that does not perpetuate the name of a president or other national character. It is said to have been named Holt in honor of its first clerk.
Early in the history of the township two postoffices were established. "Dan," so named for Uncle Dan Leonard flourished until 1878 when it was discontinued and Holt located on section 33, which was discontinued in the early "Sos" after the, building of the H. and S. railroad and the locating of the town of Gravity. Later there was a store and postoffice on section 21 and still later one on section 2, but the rural free delivery rendered them unnecessary and they have gone the way of their predecessors.
Holt is one of the finest agricultural townships in the county. Consequently it has some of the wealthiest farmers and stock raisers in the county. Daniel Leonard and sons have for some time been breeders of fine sheep on an extensive scale.
Henry Coulthard and sons, H. H. Johnson, the Cotters, Ed. Meredith, Frank Houchin, J. J. O'Connell and sons and many others are extensive raisers of fine horses and cattle.
Holt is divided into independent school districts, and has the full quota of nine districts. The citizens take pride in the schools, pay fair wages, keep their school property in good repair, and in consequence have excellent schools.
Following is the report of the schools, taken from the county superintendent's annual report.
ANTIOCH.
Value of school building $500.00
Value of apparatus 200
Number of pupils enrolled 24
Average daily attendance 2I
Number of volumes in library
14
Paid teachers since last report
293.25
CHENOWETH GROVE.
Value of school building $450.00
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