USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 19
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Perhaps the only settler in this township in the fifties, who still resides there is J. C. Meehan, familiarly known as "Uncle John." He came to the county in 1851, and endured the hardships and privations incident to the settling of a new country, far removed from railroad and navigable streams. Mr. Meehan taught school for many years and no doubt many men of today have much to thank Uncle John, for, in the way of education and the example of an honest upright life. Mr. Meehan met with a severe accident on New Year's night, 1878, which narrowly missed being fatal. Having to come to town in the evening, he was walking home on the railroad track, facing a storm of wind and snow, which prevented his hearing the north bound train which struck him and threw him several feet from the track. He was picked up by the train crew and taken on to Conway, and returned to his home next day. His head and face were badly mutilated and for a time recovery was considered impossible, but his rugged con- stitution pulled him through and he is today as hale and hearty as could be ex- pected of a man seventy-nine years old.
Mr. Meehan at one time served as county clerk and for many years was as- sessor of Clayton township.
One of the few tragedies of Taylor county occurred in Clayton township in 1869. In the north part of the township, Daniel and David Griffith had settled. Adjoining them lived a neighbor, named Knouse. The Griffiths' hogs had been breaking into Knouses' field, and one day Knouse went after them with a re- peating rifle killing some of them. The Griffiths hearing the fusilade started over to where Knouse was shooting, and a quarrel ensued in which Knouse shot Daniel Griffith dead and severely wounded David. He was arrested and when the grand jury met he was indicted for murder. Hon. L. T. McCoun, defended him, and secured a change of venue to Ringgold county, where he was tried before Judge James G. Day, later of the supreme bench. He was found guilty of murder in the second degree and Judge Day sentenced him to the penitentiary for life. An appeal was made to the supreme court and the action of the lower court was reversed. At another trial in Ringgold county, Knouse was found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced by Judge James W. McDill to five years in the penitentiary. He served three months and was pardoned out by Samuel Merrill, then governor of the state. C. C. Mohler has long been a resident of the township and resides on one of the best improved farms in the
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
county. He has a beautiful modern residence, substantial barns, fine orchards and a deer park, filled with some fine specimens of the game of pioneer days. George W. Keiffer, Simeon Wright, the Bealls, C. M. Stub, the Bowers, and many others of the early settlers who helped develop the township are dead or moved away.
Among the prominent farmers and stock raisers of the township at present are the following: William Belmont, S. N. Bristow, Caleb Gordon, W. D. Griffith, R. C. Griffith, E. J. Howe, S. Hartzler, F. P. Healey, who is noted as an authority on short horn cattle, and who has a fine herd, Ernest Lewis, J. I. and G. W. Larrison, George S. Mohler, John Mohler, C. C. Mohler, Howard Payton, J. H. Snyder, Joseph Skinner, Paul Hunter, the Watermans, C. B. Wysong, the Welch's and J. G. Virtue.
It may be of interest to show the increase in wealth in the township. From a value of a few hundred dollars in the '50s, the township has grown in wealth until at the last assessment the actual value of property is given at nine hundred and eleven thousand, five hundred and sixty-four dollars.
When the writer taught his first term of school it was at what was known as the Bowers' school, on the state road. The schoolhouse stood on what is now Howard Paton's farm. There were then five schoolhouses in the township. The township has since been redistricted and now has nine comfortable buildings valued at three thousand dollars. The past year they had eight and one-half months school. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one is one hundred and eighty-four; the total enrollment one hundred and sixteen. They paid teachers last year two thousand, five hundred and forty-three dollars. They have a library of three hundred and fifty-five volumes.
The present township officers are: clerk, J. L. Larrison; trustees: S. N. Bristow, William Osborne and I. W. Lawler; assessor, J. D. Douglas. There is a vacancy in the offices of justice and constable.
DALLAS TOWNSHIP.
ยท Near the old town Memory, in Dallas township, there was a small set- tlement as early as 1846, but the names of the settlers there passed from the memory of those now living. Alexander Duncan came to the township in 1849 and settled on section 30, where he still resides. He and his estimable wife not long since celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary at which time they were the recipients of congratulations of many friends throughout the township and county. Samuel Scarlett, Eli Pangburn, Daniel McAlpin and Mr. Prickett, set- tled in the township about the time Mr. Duncan did. D. A. Thompson came in 1856, and located on section 19. Pat Smith a genial son of Erin, came about this time. Other settlers about this time were Eli Pangburn, on the northwest quarter of section 20; Jose Philpott, southwest of 18; Daniel McAlpin, northwest of 30; John McLain, southwest of 20; Esquire Dunn, section 26; Jonathan Adams, section 25; Luke Rawlings, section 7; Job Turner, section 14; Mr. Pointer on section 31 ; and John Krout, on section 31 ; William Glassgow, came in 1857 and located on section 10; Michael and James Judge, Mr. Code and
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Mr. McBride, settled in the township in 1856; David Hawkins and Nathan Helmick, settled in the township about this time.
The first religious services in the township were held by the Cumberland Presbyterians. The Rev. J. M. Stockton, a resident of the township had the honor of being the first man to enunciate God's truths to the pioneers of the township.
The first Methodist service in the township was held at the home of Mr. Helmick, by the Rev. Isaac Kelley, who was well known in all southwest lowa . in the early days. In 1852, Rev. Samuel Farlow held meetings in the township. These early meetings were all held at the homes of settlers, it being before the time of schoolhouses and country churches. In the latter part of the fifties, the Methodists organized in Memory and in 1879, erected a very creditable building, which in 1882, was removed to New Market. Rev. Blagrow, a local preacher, was the first pastor of the congregation.
The Rev. James M. Smith, a Baptist missionary, held meetings in the town- ship in 1856 or 1857, but the denomination was without organization, until 1880, when they organized at Memory. The Cumberland Presbyterian had an organ- ization for many years at the center schoolhouse and in 1880, built a nice church. This denomination also had an organization at the old town of Memory. The Christian organization dates from 1860. The original members were: Thomas Pricket. Isaac Prickett, Hannah Prickett, Melinda Ray, Catherine Prickett, Hannah Ray and James Ray. Different pastors have been Rev. Hobbs, Dr. Baker. Elder Peregrine, Elder Cook, Elder January, Elder Warren, Elder Dunlavey and Elder William Cobb. Services were held at the Prairie Gum schoolhouse until the advent of the H. & S. railroad. They now have a credit- able building and a large congregation at New Market. For a long time, the Free Methodists had two organizations in the township; one at the Glasgow schoolhouse and another at the Valley schoolhouse.
On connection with the mention of the Cumberland Presbyterians, it should be stated that their first permanent organization was made in 1871. Among the first members were: S. R. Jamison and wife; J. S. Taylor and wife; J. W. White and wife; I. W. Abbott and wife; William Taylor and H. A. Riggle. The different pastors have been : Rev. J. M. Stockton, Rev. A. Rippstor, Rev. W. C. Means and Rev. H. W. Zentz and Rev. J. D. M. Buckner. Later the services have been conducted by pastors from the organization in other towns, mention of which is made elsewhere. The Memory congregation was organized in 1878, with Rev. H. W. Zentz as pastor. Among the original members were: H. W Zentz. and wife; Mary Zentz; J. J. Croft; Elmira Croft; J. D. Nelson; Jessie Hughes; John Weaver and wife; Mrs. Davis; Laura Liggett; William Burlin- game and wife and Mrs. Lamphoot. The Dallas Center M. E. church was organ- ized in 1873, with John C. Taylor, Jonas Williams and wife, L. A. McDonald and wife and James Bramble and wife as initial members. Different early pas- tors were: Rev. Farlow, Rev. Lovejoy, Rev. Everly and Rev. Bishop and Rev. J. P. Evans.
Some time in the '8os, this congregation built a neat church building where for many years they grew in numbers and carried on the various departments of church work.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The first election in the township was held in 1857, at the residence of Michael Judge. There were twelve votes cast, just enough to fill the various offices, but as some declined to serve, two positions \were thrust upon some of the citizens. D. A. Thompson was obliged to serve as justice of the peace and township clerk. His docket is said to have consisted of a few sheets of fools- cap paper, but if tradition is correct, he needed nothing more, for the litigants met at the squire's home, swapped stories and ate a bountiful dinner before the case was called. After this, it seemed the litigants melted toward each other and could see no sense in lawing and would compromise and go home. The squire was therefore noted as a peacemaker. It is told of the squire that he had a law suit of his own at one time over a very fine hog he had shipped from Cincinnati, Ohio. He had employed the Hon. N. B. Moore, who was then a citizen of Bedford to prosecute his claim. The trial was actually begun but the squire became possessed of the notion that he would be beaten, so he dropped the suit and paid the costs. This he did against the protects of his attorney. Mr. Moore however, persuaded him to reopen the case which he did and obtained judgment for seventy-five dollars. This established Mr. Moore's reputation as an attorney in this part of the state.
In the fall of 1851, Erastus Thompson and Jane Farrens were married, this being the first marriage in the township. In 1855, John Townsend and a daugh- ter of Matthew L. Davis were married. In 1858, William Coker and a sister of Alexander Duncan, were married.
The first deaths in the township were the two children of John Paris, and a Mr. Thomas, who committed suicide:
The winter of 1856-57, was very severe and it brought much suffering to the settlers of Dallas township. The wheat crop had been light and the corn had been ruined by an early frost. Many cattle died and those that were saved were kept alive by cutting elm trees and allowing the cattle to subsist on the bark. Provisions were short, money was scare and teams were so weak from hunger, that a long trip was almost an impossibility. But the settlers went down into Missouri and obtained supplies, paying one dollar and twenty-five cents for corn and seven dollars per hundred for flour, traveling seventy miles to get it.
The first wheat raised was threshed out in the primitive way, by tramping it out, and they had it cracked at a little mill at Hawleyville, operated by Thomas East. The nearest flouring mill was nine miles southeast of Maryville and there the grain had to be taken. Later, a flouring mill was built at Hawleyville, which saved the settlers many laborious trips.
Amanda Duncan, daughter of Alexander Duncan, the first girl baby born in the township, was born May, 1850. Joseph Pointer, born 1852, was the first boy born in the township.
The value of the property of Dallas township at the last assessment, was eight hundred and forty-eight thousand, two hundred and ninety-six dollars.
From the last annual report of the county superintendent of schools, we note that Dallas has eight school districts with buildings valued at five thousand dollars. They had eight months school last year. There are two hundred and fifty persons between the ages of five and twenty-one, with an enrollment in
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
the schools of one hundred and ninety-five. The total amount paid teachers was two thousand, five hundred and twenty-one dollars. The school libraries contain all told, two hundred and seventy-two volumes.
It should have been stated sooner that the first schoolhouse in the township was built in 1857, and the men who had the honor of building it were D. A. Thompson, Alexander Duncan, Eli Pangburn, Jose Philpott, Daniel McAlpin and Pat Smith. It took planning, much work and considerable sacrifice to accomplish the task but it was done. The building was eighteen by twenty- four feet, and was built at a cost of two hundred and seventy dollars, a large sum for those days. A small portion of Dallas township is annexed to the Hawleyville district and usually twelve to fifteen pupils are enumerated in that district which cuts down the number properly belonging to Dallas.
As has been elsewhere stated, Alexander Duncan is still a resident of the township and John Noble, but recently left it, to live awhile in Ames, for the school advantages there. Others who have for years been identified with the township are the Glasgows, the Hicks, John Harris, John LeFever, the Lathrops, James and F. L. Marsh, W. E. McAlpin, Frank P. Oxley, George Shum, and others. Dallas ranks high as an agricultural township, which in addition to the coal mines, make it one of the greatest wealth producing townships in the county. The mining interests are treated more fully in history of New Market.
ROSS TOWNSHIP.
Ross township, as will be seen in the chapter on township organization, was made into a municipal township and election precinct in February, 1858.
It was named for James Ross, who was a citizen of the township as early as 1845. He was the father of Jacob Ross, who surveyed the town site of Bedford.
Ross township enjoys the distinction of being the first seat of justice in Taylor county of which there is any record. It is true that at the time of holding this first session of court, Ross was not a township, Jackson, Benton and Polk townships then comprising the whole county.
Jacob Ross at this time lived on section 5 in a log cabin fourteen by four- teen feet, and here was held the first district court of Taylor county.
In a smail book, such as a grocer would now use for his delivery book, which may be seen at the county clerk's office, is found an account of the pro- ceedings. It is a matter of curiosity and we give it entire. It is in the hand- writing of Judge Sloan, who is elsewhere mentioned. It is as follows :
At a district court of the sixth judicial district of the state of Iowa, begun and held on the third Monday, the 15th day of September, A. D. 1851, at the house of Jacob Ross, Taylor county, in the state of Iowa (being the courthouse protem for said county), pursuant to an act of the general assembly of the state of Iowa, entitled, an act to attach certain counties to the fifth judicial dis- trict and fixing the terms in the courts of the fifth and sixth judicial districts. Present :
The Hon. James Sloan, district judge; James B. Campbell, sheriff of said county and John Hayden, clerk of the district court for said county.
In the records and proceedings of said court, were the following :
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The Hon. James Sloan took his seat. James B. Campbell produced evidence of his certificate of election, and oath and bond being duly filed as sheriff of said county. John Hayden also produced evidence of his certificate of election, oath of office and bond as clerk of the district court of said county. George P. Stiles, A. C. Ford and Jacob Dawson, Esquires, councellors and attorneys at law, at- tended at court, having been hertofore admitted to practice in the district court in this district.
The court then appointed Jacob Dawson, Esq., prosecuting attorney for this term of the court and he took the oath of office required by law.
The grand jury were called and sworn and entered upon their duties. The court adjourned at six o'clock p. m., until nine o'clock a. m., tomorrow.
September 16, 1851-Court opened at nine o'clock a. m., pursuant to ad- journment.
The grand jury returned a bill of indictment found against Isaac Dowis, and Edward S. Godsey for an assault and battery, with intent to commit a bodily injury, upon one John Hayden.
The grand jurors and petit jurors names were called and the time of their attendance regulated and they were discharged. The court was adjourned until the first Monday in April, next.
JAMES SLOAN, Judge.
JOHN HAYDEN, Clerk District Court :
From the above, it appears that the next term of the district court was set for the first Monday in April, 1852, but there is no record to be found of it, if court was held on that date.
In the meantime, Judge Sloan had resigned and the governor appointed the Hon. A. A. Bradford, district judge to fill the vacancy. The record shows that Judge Bradford was appointed May 4, 1852, and that a term of court was held at the residence of Jacob Ross, commencing July 9, 1852, and lasting two days.
Benjamin Rector of Fremont county was admitted to the bar and was appointed prosecuting attorney protem. At this term Benjamin Rector, L. Ling- enfelter, C. P. Brown and J. M. Dawes, were enrolled as attorneys of this court. James Gartside of Jackson township was made a citizen of the United States at this term.
Dowis and Godsey were acquitted of a charge to commit a bodily injury upon John Hayden, and in a civil action brought against them by Hayden, they were successful, Hayden having the costs to pay, at least so the record indicates, but we have been told by William Hindman, at one time clerk of the county, that when Hayden was called on to pay the costs, he looked for the records of the case, but they could not be found. He stated that he always kept the records in a certain chink in the logs of his cabin and they had probably been carried off by mice. As no records of the costs could be found, he did not pay them. Court adjourned to the third Monday in March, 1853.
This was the last term held in Ross township. The next was held at the residence of Judge Lowe, section 28, Benton township, on what is now the A. N. Dougherty farm.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Ross is one of the border townships, lying along the Missouri line; it was one of the earliest settled, with the exception of Clayton and Jackson. Jacob Miller was an early settler of Ross township. He built and operated the first mill in the township, somewhere along in the forties. It was not such a mill as would give the Washburn-Crosby people much concern were it in competi- tion with their Minneapolis mills, yet no doubt it was considered a great affair by the early settlers. It was located southwest of Bedford about four miles, near where Benjamin Burke lives at present.
It could not grind wheat, corn alone being the only thing it could handle. It was in fact a "corn cracker," so often mentioned by old settlers. Its capacity was quite limited. If a farmer brought ten bushels of corn, he had to wait twenty-four hours for his grist. But this was enjoyed by the pioneers. They lived long distances apart and the mill was a favorite meeting place where they could visit while waiting.
Settlers were few. In 1845, there were but twelve families in the county. There were a few in Ringgold and a few over the line in Missouri, so they occasionally met at Miller's mill, swapped yarns, became acquainted, got inter- ested in each other, and formed friendships that were never broken in life.
Another old settler was Brice Somers, but information concerning him is rather vague. Enoch Beauchamp, father of former Auditor J. W. Beauchamp and J. C., both of whom were until recently citizens of the county. Mr. Beauchamp settled on section 29 in 1858, grew up with the country and prospered as the country prospered. He died some years ago at a ripe old age, honored by all who knew him.
D. M. Greeson was another pioneer, who prospered. He came to the county in 1856. and was a citizen until a few years ago, when he went in search of new fields.
A little later came H. C. Beard, E. M. McCormick, J. P. Reighter, James McMonigal, John Swain, Andrew Spencer, the Rogers, Henry Hamilton, Howard Hinsley. Walker and Simeon Butts, D. Bailie, the Daltons, R. G. Moon, and Teachner. Nearly all are dead or moved away. Howard Hensley, Andrew Spencer and E. McCormick, have retired from active work and reside in Bed- ford. D. Bailie removed to Shenandoah a few months ago. R. G. Moon, for many years has resided in Bedford. J. W. Butts still lives on his farm in the township.
The Methodist brotherhood had the first church organization of which we have any record. They organized in 1859 and after the districting of the town- ship, held services in the Patch schoolhouse. The original members were: D. Martin and wife, J. Hatfield and wife, William Townsend and wife, William Simmons and wife. R. Simmons, Wesley, Lemuel, Alexander, Albert and Horace Underwood, and C. F. Dresher and wife. They held regular services for many years and built up a large membership. Their first pastor was the Rev. Peterson, who later edited a temperance journal in Des Moines.
The Disciples, organized in 1875 and held their services for several years at the Patch schoolhouse, where they had a membership of eighty. In 1893, they built a neat chapel near Ross Center, and it is called the Berea church with membership of about one hundred and fifty. They have regular services, Sun-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
day-school and all of the various departments of church work. They have had several pastors, but Elder William Cobb has rendered longer and harder service in their behalf, than all of the others. In 1905, a number of Disciples in. the southeast corner of the township with others over the line in Missouri, built a church near the Eagle schoolhouse, where they have a small but growing congregation.
As early as 1859, the Baptists held services, with Elder Otis as pastor, in the Hazel Dell neighborhood and later held their meetings in the schoolhouse. In 1897, they built a neat church of their own, where they have regular services. They have a substantial membership and are doing active work. The Creston branch of the Burlington follows the East One Hundred and Two river, through Ross. Just below the line, has grown up the thrifty town of Hopkins, where many Ross and Polk township citizens trade and market the products of their farms.
Ross is divided into nine school districts. In 1901, the citizens of the town- ship voted to organize into independent districts, preferring this to the township plan.
Following from the county superintendent's annual report, will show by dis- tricts, the standing of the township, educationally.
NUMBER I-UNION.
Value of building $625.00
Value of apparatus $ 25.00
Number Volumes in library 77
Number enrolled in school 20
Average daily attendance 18
Paid teachers since last report
$295.00
NUMBER 2.
Value of building $650.00
Value of apparatus $ 15.00
Volumes in library 25
Number enrolled in the school 16
Average daily attendance 14
Paid teachers since last report $306.00
NUMBER 3-EUREKA.
Value of building $500.00
Value of apparatus $ 40.00
Volumes in library 61
Number enrolled in the school 24
Average daily attendance I7
Paid teachers since last report $360.00
NUMBER 4.
Value of buildings $500.00
Value of apparatus $ 20.00
Volumes in library 20
Number enrolled in the school 22
Average daily attendance I6
Paid teachers since last report $320.00
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
NUMBER 5.
Value of buildings
$600.00
Value of apparatus $ 15.00
Volumes in library 40
Number enrolled in the school I6
Average daily attendance II
Paid teachers since last report $257.50
NUMBER 6-BANNER.
Value of buildings $800.00
Value of apparatus
$ 60.00
Volumes in library
62
Number enrolled in the school 21
Average daily attendance I6
Paid teachers since last report .$300.00
NUMBER 7-EAGLE.
Value of buildings L. . $500.00
Value of apparatus $100.00
Volumes in library
20
Number enrolled in the school 34
Average daily attendance 2I
Paid teachers since last report $305.00
NUMBER 8.
Value of buildings $400.00
Value of apparatus $ 20.00
Volumes in library 26
Number enrolled in the school 21
Average daily attendance I6
Paid teachers since last report
$365.00
NUMBER 9-HAZEL DELL.
Value of buildings $600.00
Value of apparatus $ 37.00
Volumes in library I2
Number enrolled in the school
IO
Average daily attendance
7
Paid teachers since last report $200.00
Ross is one of the finest agricultural townships in the county. Many of her citizens raise stock on a large scale, consequently in material wealth she ranks with the highest. The assessed valuation of her property being eight hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and eighty-four dollars. The present township officers are: Clerk, Fred Marley ; trustees, R. B. Jared, George Reece and T. H. Hensley; assessor, W. L. Dorr.
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