USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 20
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GAY TOWNSHIP.
As stated elsewhere in the chapter on township organization, this township formed a part of Jefferson until the September term of the board of 'supervisors,
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
1869. At this session, Captain John Flick, representing Jefferson township as supervisor, had it set off and given the name of "Gay."
The first settlers of Gay township were William King, J. C. Smalley, and H. H. Wintermute. The first schoolhouse built in the township was on Platte Branch, just south of the state road, and for many years it was known as the "Gay Street Schoolhouse," and here elections and all public gatherings were held, but as population increased it was necessary to redistrict the township and the old schoolhouse was removed and its exact location is known only to the old timers. Hon. L. W. Hillyer, was an old settler of the township, coming there long before its organization as a township. In 1863 Mr. Hillyer was elected to the state senate from this district, which then comprised the counties of Taylor, Page, Montgomery. Adams, Ringgold, Clark and Union. It is said that his record in the upper house of the general assembly was satisfactory to his constituents. Among other men who figured prominently in the early history of the township were W. D. Blakemore, who served his township as a member of the board of supervisors and later served his county with credit in the state legislature. John Hunter was another who deserves mention as a promoter of the public interests of his township and county. Paul Hunter, ex-county clerk and at present a member of the board of supervisors, is his son. John Hartley, now a citizen of Naloy, figured prominently in township and county affairs, and was leader of the demo- cratic organization of the township. Daniel Propst came to the township in 1856. S. B. Hickenlooper located on section 33 in 1858, and lived there until he retired from farming and moved to Blockton.
Gay township is one of the best, from an agricultural standpoint, in the county. It lies well. has a splendid soil and produces abundant crops, which naturally makes it the home of fine-stock raisers. Among the successful farmers and stock raisers of the township at present are : the Avey brothers, who farm the home place since their father's retirement and removal to Blockton, Lloyd Payton, J. G. Boling. David R. Dowlin, William Ewart, W. S. Franklin, G. F. Fluharty, 1. N. Hughes, Joe Harvey, William Hughes, Charles Hunter, R. Livingston, Wil- liam Mullen. Alex Scroggie, Lewis Swearingen, W. G. Sharp, J. F. Walkup, J. H. Wintermute, William Wildman, A. L. Wintermute, H. G. Wintermute.
The Methodists had an organization at the old Gay Street schoolhouse, at an early day and the preaching was supplied by pastors of Blockton and Bed- ford. Rev. T. P. Newland, a resident of Bedford in the latter part of the '70s. was their pastor for a while. At present, the organization is at Gay Cen- ter schoolhouse, where they hold regular preaching service and have a flourish- ing Sunday-school and contribute their share to general church work.
Illustrating the present prosperity of this township, is the report of the last assessment, which gives the valuation at eight hundred and ninety-seven thous- and, five hundred and four dollars. The citizens of Gay township have always given careful attention to educational matters as the last report shows. They have eight subdistricts with buildings valued at four thousand dollars. The number of school age is one hundred and fifty-nine, with one hundred and forty- six actually enrolled in the schools. Last year, they paid two thousand, three hundred and sixty dollars to teachers and they have one hundred and fifty volumes in the various school libraries.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The present township officers are: clerk, W. R. Wildman; trustees, C. M. King, G. F. Warren and J. F. Walkup; assessor, Charles Hunter. The township seldom needs the services of justice or constable, the citizens being peaceful and law abiding ; hence there is a vacancy in those offices at present.
NODAWAY TOWNSHIP.
At a session of the county court in 1858, a petition was received from the citizens of township 70, range 35. asking for the organization of their township. The board granted the petition and ordered an election held at the house of James R. Foster on the first Monday in April, for the election of township officers. Nodaway is the eleventh township in the list to be organized.
Among the first settlers were John B. Henshaw, John B. West, Mr. Dodson, Washington Kendrick, James R. Foster, E. J. Spalding, Fletcher Brown and Peter Guerney. The first school taught in the township is said to have been at the home of Isaac B. West on section 7 and James Foster was the teacher. For many years there were three church organizations in the township, two Metho- dist and one Second Adventist.
One of the Methodist organizations met at the schoolhouse in district No. 6 and among the original members were: Mrs. Fletcher Brown, Mrs. James Gale, Mrs. R. V. Kelley, and H. B. Hales and wife. It has numbered among its pastors such well known preachers as Rev. Eberly, Rev. W. P. Bishop, Rev. Samuel Farlow, Rev. Kern and Rev. J. P. Evans.
The other Methodist organization was at the schoolhouse in district No. 8, and it also flourished for years, but after the location of the postoffice Guss and the establishing of a store there and blacksmith, the Methodist people along in the 80's built a neat and substantial church, where they have a large member- ship, with regular services. A flourishing Sunday-school and other of the regular organizations are maintained in connection. The Second Adventists organized in district number 9, in 1873. D. Q. Kent was pastor for many years.
Nodaway township has the east branch of the Nodaway river along its entire west side. . The stream is well wooded. Along the east border of the town- ship is the West One Hundred and Two river. The greater part of the farm land is on the wide ridge between these two streams and here are found some of the best kept farms in the county. The entire community is thrifty and contented. Educational and moral questions receive careful attention as is evidenced by their large church organization and their well kept schoolhouses. In addition to the agricultural interests of the township, considerable coal has been mined on the west side of the township the neighborhood of the postoffice of Hanshaw. where a store was put in to accommodate the miners. These mines have nearly all given out, and the only ones in active operation now are near the Lambley place in district No .. 9. There are two mines here. one operated by C. E. Ankeny and the other by Nathan Wilcox. While the output of these mines is not great, it furnishes employment to quite a number of men.
The citizens of this township take great pride in their schools.
Following is the report of the schools of the township, taken from the annual report of the county superintendent :
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Number of schoolhouses 9
Value of buildings $4,800.00
Value of apparatus 142.00
Number of volumes in libraries 368
Number of pupils enrolled in the schools 242
Average daily attendance I37
Paid teachers last year $3,060
The assessed valuation of property in Nodaway township is $987,264.
The township officers for the years 1908-1909, are : Justices, W. E. Brown and J. W. Irwin; constable, I. C. Eastman ; clerk, C. B. Kimpton; trustees, W. H. Swan, C. R. Andrew and William Bell; assessor, C. N. Rogers.
A few of the present well known citizens of the township, are: W. E. Brown, one time sheriff of the county; E. S. Bowman; W. H. Cochran, Joseph, J. P., and Frank Clement; G. W. Dennis and sons; W. H. and G. H. C. E. Eastman ; H. C. Freuck; N. R. Fuller; Joseph Groff; L. O. Hess; the Johnsons, P. V., C. E., C. W. and George W .; C. P. Kimpton; R. V. Kelley; Harvey Moats ; S. D. Maxcord; P. H. and C. W. Peterson; Lewis and William Rock; J. M. Sturgeon ; W. H. Swan; C. W. Walker ; A. Wallahan; William Weller.
GROVE TOWNSHIP.
This township enjoys the distinction of being the last congressional township organized. In 1870 at the September session of the board of supervisors, a petition was presented by citizens, asking for separate organization. The peti- tion was granted and in April, 1871, the township was organized with Edwin Houck as clerk ; Van R. Strong, T. V. Williams and Samuel Johnston, trustees.
Grove township is one of the most fertile in the county, nearly all of it being susceptible of cultivation. It is famous as a corn-producing township and vast numbers of hogs and cattle are raised and fatted every year.
The Colgroves, Carters and Gordons are among the well-known names that figure in the early history of the township. Grove outranks many of her sisters in material wealth, her valuation at the last assessment being one million, nine thousand, six hundred and seventy-six dollars. Grove ranks among the first in educational matters. There are nine subdistricts, and the buildings are valued at two thousand, five hundred and fifty dollars. They had eight and one-fourth months school last year. The children of school age number two hundred and twenty-seven, with an enrollment in the schools of two hundred and twenty-one. The teachers of the township last year were paid two thousand, five hundred and ninety-seven dollars and there are one hundred and ninety-four volumes in the school libraries.
The first teacher of the township, after organization, was Miss Eva McCloud, who now resides in Bedford, and who taught continuously in the Bedford schools for more than twenty years, resigning only a year ago.
The first marriage in the township was that of J. W. Johnson and Miss Evaline Allen. Mr. and Mrs. David Bacon were the parents of the first girl
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
baby, whom they named Jennie. There is a difference of opinion as to whom the honor belongs of being the first boy born in the township. It is claimed by some that James T. Johnson was the first and still other authorities are equally positive that the first boy born was a son of Van R. Strong.
For a time there were no church organizations in the township, the people wor- shipped at Lenox, Hayden Grove, and at Bethel in Platte township. Now the Christian people have a good church building at Blue Grove and have a large membership, keep a regular pastor, have a good Sunday-school and Endeavor Society and rank in regular church work with any church in the county. The Methodist and Presbyterian Brethren worship at Sharpsburg or Lenox, where each denomination is well represented.
The present township officers are : clerk, D. L. Carter ; trustees, W. J. Kilby, C. J. Trost and S. J. Key ; assessor, Bert Hill.
Among present prominent farmers of the township now are: L. C. Bolting- house, George H. Beach, I. H. Cade, the Carters and Gordons, Dan Clarey, G. S. Hunter, John Hill, J. M. Heaton, Frank Heath, W. I. Knobb, J. W. Maloney, S. A. Matthews, John Nagle, C. F. Paymal, John Shoenhair, Simeon Sapp, and Charles Winslow.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Washington township was organized in 1855, being the fifth in the list. It was only a year later than Ross. It will be seen in the chapter on Township or- ganization that the boundaries of Washington at this time were much more ex- tensive then than now. It then included with its present territory, all of what now constitutes Dallas, Grove, Holt, and Nodaway.
The earliest settlers were Greenville Abbott, John Rutledge, D. W. Ham- blin, Albert Churchill, W. D. Burge, Jacob Kerslin and Rev. E. Otis, who will be remembered as one of the pioneer preachers for the Baptists in this part of the state. With Elder J. M. Smith, he labored for years among the early settlers and he is still remembered kindly by many of the citizens of the county.
D. W. Hamblin was a man who enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors to the fullest extent, representing them for many years on the board of supervisors.
Elder Perigine is said to be the first to proclaim the gospel in the township.
On section 4, near the Abe McCracken farm, was built the first schoolhouse, but the first teacher seems to have been forgotten. At one time there was a post- office on section 20, bearing the name of Gravity. It was discontinued in 1878.
In 1876 the Disciples of the township organized a church at No. 2 school- house, better known as the Cottage Grove school. This organization had a mem- bership of forty or fifty, and grew and flourished until the location of the town of Gravity. Elder Parkhurst, of Missouri, was for several years their pastor.
Dr. Luther Bent, of Bedford, ministered to the physical ailments of these people for many years. Later Dr. McColun, was the practitioner over this section until his death.
Settlers a little later than those mentioned were: James Moneyhan, J. W. Paul, B. F. Chandler, John Rutledge and T. O. Wilson.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Among the present thrifty farming population of Washington township are the Akers brothers, Judson Beemer, C. T. Barkley, Harlan Burge, James Cham- bers, W. L. Chandler, C. R. Chamberlain, Thomas Cole, A. E. Churchill, Thomas Dugan. James Elliott, Archie Fleming, Fred Fisher, Frank Greely, E. M. Humph- rey. J. W. Humphrey. A. A. Hamblin, C. N. Hargardin, Jesse Lovett, William Martin. L. F. Phillips, Thomas Preston, J. W. Pfander, William H. Price, L. Rogers, Don Ray, C. R. Steeves, R. J. Wallace.
Last year's school report is as follows: Number of schoolhouses, 9; value of buildings. $6.275; value of apparatus, 98; number of volumes in library, 92; number enrolled in the schools, 208; average daily attendance, 134; amount paid teachers last year, $2.828.75.
The present township officers are: Elmer Brown and H. N. Ray, justices ; A. D. Neville, constable ; J. S. Nevins, clerk; L. E. Morley, Riley Lee and George Brand, trustees ; R. H. Akers, assessor.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
At the February session of the county court, 1858, the court ordered that town- ships 67 and 68, north range 32 west, should be a municipal township and should be called Jefferson, in honor of Thomas Jefferson. Several settlers were there before the organization, however, chief among them being Jesse Guyll, Frank Hindman, William P. Meddles, Andrew Baker, James Melser, James Martin, S. R. Martin, Price Thacker `and A. and Thomas Heaton, who lo- cated in the vicinity of Platteville. Over on the Platte river in the neighbor- hood of where old Mormontown was later laid out, were Jonathan Cooksey, M. B. and P. J. Wisdom. Awhile later came Isaac King, John King, Jacob Reed. Dr. J. R. Standley, Captain John Flick, C. Swift, David Sleeth and Dr. Grover. We are told that the first marriage in the township was that of Vance J. Wilson and Eliza Thompson. Catherine Sweet had the honor of being the first girl baby born in the township. She was the daughter of Cyrus and Rebecca Sweet. A Mrs. Moore was the first to die. Dr. J. R. Standley and Dr. Grover were the first physicians and they were both located at Platteville.
Dr. Grover later went to Illinois, while Dr. Standley, many years ago, gave up the practice of medicine and devoted himself to farming and stock raising. The doctor was a shrewd business man and finally owned nearly two thousand acres of land with cattle and sheep on a thousand hills. But five or six years ago, the doctor, feeling the infirmities of age creeping upon him, retired from farming and spent the time in Bedford until his death last year.
Dr. Bellus was a physician of the township in the old Mormontown days, and enjoyed a large practice. Rev. J. M. Smith was the first Baptist clergyman. He preached at Morris on Platte branch, and a church was organized which flourished for a long time. Rev. J. P. Evans, who afterward located in Hawley- ville was the first Methodist preacher in the township. Rev. Bott was the or- ganizer of the Methodist church at Mormontown. The Methodist people built a two thousand dollar church in 1873, and for many years had a large member, ship. Rev. J. W. Botts, Rev. Lovejoy, Rev. DeTar and Rev. Newland are among the various pastors of the church. In the southeast corner of the township the
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Disciples had an organization as long ago as 1874. From an original member- ship of seven it grew to nearly two hundred. They built a neat chapel known as the Pleasant Ridge church. Rev. William Cobb was for several years their pastor. .
In giving the history of Jefferson township it would not be complete, in fact, it could hardly be written without including Platteville. The earliest settlements being about Platteville. Its history is closely interwoven with that of the town- ship, in fact, the makers of the township lived about this, the oldest town in the county, whose plat is still a matter of record. Platteville is located on what should be a part of Gay township, but for school purposes a portion of Gay was, many years ago, annexed to Jefferson. The town has, since long before the war, been a trading point. It has always had one and sometimes two stores, a church, school, a blacksmith shop and postoffice. Until Dr. Grover came to Bedford they have always had a resident physician. Later than Dr. Grover and Dr. Standley, previously mentioned, were Dr. I. K. King, who afterward practiced in Bedford, and still later Dr. V. R. King, who also came to Bedford where he practiced for several years, then removed to Hopkins, practicing there until he received an appointment from the government as superintendent of the national cemetery at Seven Pines, Virginia, near Richmond. Last year his death oc- curred and he was buried in the cemetery there. Jacob Reed, who lived many years about two and a half miles southeast of Platteville, owned fifteen hundred acres of land and was esteemed by all his neighbors as a man of high character. His death occurred several years ago, and his sons still live in the vicinity. Cap- tain John Flick, one of the Taylor county boys that distinguished himself in the service of his country from 1861 to 1865, lived a half mile south of Platteville and served his township as a member of the board of supervisors and various township offices. He was a natural lawyer and had he entered the profession in his younger days, he no doubt would have achieved success. In cases before a justice of the township the captain was often retained as counsel by one of the litigants. Frequently "Squire" Thomas Patter was the attorney on the other side, which insured a crowd of spectators.
The first school in the township was taught at Platteville, where the first schoolhouse was built. The first school building was quite a pretentious affair, costing six hundred dollars, which was raised by taxation. The house was built by J. A. Evans. Thomas King was the first teacher and received the princely salary of twenty dollars per month. D. C. King taught the first school at Mor- montown about the same time and was paid thirty dollars per month.
Mrs. Frank Hindman and Mrs. Spencer are said to have the honor of weav- ing the first cloth in the township.
In 1857 and 1858, all of the provisions brought into the township were pur- chased in St. Joseph, Missouri, and there being no corn in the county the people went to Platte county, Missouri, for it, and they traveled over a county having no roads, and the streams no bridges. Captain John Flick and S. A. Fulton sold the first grain that went out of the township. It was wheat and they hauled it to Savannah.
July 5, 1855, the settlers of the township became alarmed at the action of the Indians and feared a general massacre. It proved to be a scare, however, but
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
the settlers had hastened to "Fort Parker," which has been mentioned in the chapter on Clayton township. It was where Stephen H. Parker then lived, just east of Honey creek on the Platteville road. The farm is now owned by E. N. Jarvis.
For school purposes Jefferson is divided into independent districts of which there are four, besides Platteville, independent. Following is the superinten- dent's report by districts :
BIG SPRINGS.
Value of buildings $350
Value of apparatus 50
Number of volumes in library 43
Number of pupils enrolled 20
Average daily attendance I2
Paid teachers last year
250
HOPE.
Value of buildings $500
Value of apparatus
40
Number of volumes in library
Number of pupils enrolled
I4
Average daily attendance II
Paid teachers last year
207
PLATTE RIVER.
Value of buildings
$1100
Value of apparatus 100
Number of volumes in library 22
Number of pupils enrolled 26
Average daily attendance 14
Paid teachers last year
295
WORKS.
Value of buildings $800
Value of apparatus 50
Number of volumes in library 38
Number of pupils enrolled
43
Average daily attendance 22
Paid teachers last year
288
PLATTEVILLE, INDEPENDENT.
Value of buildings $400
Value of apparatus IO
Number of volumes in library 18
Number of pupils enrolled
25
Average daily attendance I2
Paid teachers last year 260
The assessed valuation of Jefferson township property is six hundred and fifty-two thousand five hundred and forty-four. The present township officers are : justice, B. F. Kauble ; constable, David Woods ; clerk, I. V. Wright ; trustees, John Fordyce, Asa Terrill and C. M. Fluke ; assessor, J. S. Kennedy.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Jefferson is a small township but the above school reports, and the assessed value shows that it is not least in importance. While nearly all of the men are dead who shaped its early destiny, it has had able men to take their places. W. D. Blakemore, who lived for years in the township, and still has a large farm there, took an active part in all public questions. He was, at one time, member of the board of supervisors and has represented his county in the state legislature. A. B. Fordyce, now a resident of Blockton, still owns a fine farm near Platteville. Asa Terrill, now in business in Blockton, operated his farm for several years and made a success of it. Others, now residents of the township, are: J. W. and J. M. Adams ; M. F. Baity, who has been secretary of the school board in Works district so long that "the mind of man runneth not to the contrary ;" Jerry, Nathan and Irwin Cordell; Enoch Campbell; John Fordyce; M. E. Ford; C. M. Fluke ; L. P. Jenkins ; J. S. Kennedy ; J. P. Keenan ; C. M. Jenks ; B. F. Kauble ; W. E. and P. E. King; J. W. Large ; A. A. Morgan ; Sol. Merriman ; S A. McCalla ; Owen Ostrander; J. W., M. A. and George B. Reed; J. E. and F. H. Roper ; W. S. Severns ; Elmer and H. W. Sickles, and W. R. Watson.
NEW MARKET.
The old town of Memory was one of the first postoffices in the county. Long before the Civil war was thought of, there was a considerable settlement in the vicinity. These settlers are mentioned in the chapter on Dallas township. When the H. & S. road was built through the county in 1881, it missed Memory by nearly a mile, so there was nothing to do for the citizens of Memory, but to move their town to the railroad, which they proceeded to do. The site was selected for its natural advantages, which are ideal.
The town grew rapidly and now numbers about eight hundred people. New Market has some advantages over other towns in the county in being adjacent to a fine agricultural region, also to the most important coal mining section of the county.
All lines of business are well represented and the town is an excellent trad- ing point. There are four general stores. Mason Brothers, Morrell & Hanshaw, F. A. Swan and E. T. Ross. There are two meat markets : one run by Johnson and Swope, the other by D. L. Hankins. There are two good hardware stocks. One is handled by Rogers Bros. the other by John Pointer. The two racket stores are conducted by Otto Hicks and Pace Brothers. Mrs. Tando and Mrs. Pointer each have a good millinery store. Three restaurants feed the hungry. One owned by John Tando, another by E. Corbin, and the third by F. P. Bemis. F. M. Wiley has a large furniture stock and has an undertaking department in connection. There are two harness shops, one owned by Forbes & Landon, the other by Seth Alvord.
Rose & Moore have the only lumber yard. They carry a big stock and compete with neighboring towns. J. B. Archer, is the stock and grain dealer. The agricultural implements are handled by J. S. Harris. There are two black- smith shops. One operated by Heaten and Young and the other by Arthur Littlewood.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The town boasts of three livery barns, one still run by the old veteran in the business, Dick Morgan, another by G. Stewart, and the third by Dr. McColm and Dr. Kitchen, who are the physicians of New Market and both have all the work they can attend to.
The first bank was put in by Butler and Foster of Clarinda, about 1882. Senator Frank Arthand was cashier at one time. He was followed by H. E. Tomlinson, who is still with the bank.
In 1905, it was reorganized and made a savings bank, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. From the statement published in May, 1909, the deposits are shown to be one hundred and eleven thousand, seven hundred and forty-eight dollars and sixty-five cents. J. S. Harris is vice-president and H. E. Tomlinson, cashier, J. W. Denney, assistant cashier.
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