USA > Iowa > Warren County > History of Warren County, Iowa : from its earliest settlement to 1908; with biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 31
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MILO MOTOR.
The following items concerning the Motor and the early business of the town were furnished by J. C. Cook. The Milo Motor was established May 11, 1883, by R. T. Elson as editor and publisher, who conducted the paper for several years and then sold to Clint L. Price, who in time sold to J. D. Haworth. In 1902. W. Wangh became the editor and proprietor. He sold to W. E. Lucas, who sold to J. A. Bacon, who sold to G. L. Minkler & Son. 1907.
March, 1908, George Stafford, the present editor and publisher, bought the entire plant from Minkler & Son. Mr. Stafford is an experienced newspaper man ; has not only made some important changes and increased the capacity of the plant, but. has put into the publication a new life, a snap and vigor which makes it one of the leading papers of the county. Mr. Stafford has been con- nected with the publishing business nearly all his life and is not only thoroughly experienced in newspaper work, but has a skillful knowledge of job work, and is fast building up a trade in that line that bids fair to tax the capacity of the plant.
From Volume 1, No. 2 of the Milo Motor, 1883, we take the following names of men doing business in Milo at that time.
General Merchandise : Burgess & Ficht. P. Smith & Co., Goode & Highee, S. J. Spaulding.
Undertakers and Hardware: Squires & Son.
Blacksmith : Henry Giles.
Meat Market: W. R. Dennis.
Livery and Feed: J. F. Irwin.
Carpenter and Builder: HI. F. Schrader, Henry Russell.
Wagon Maker: C. B. Hull, F. C. French.
Harness Maker: J. McConnell.
Barber and JJeweler: Isaac Bingley.
Plasterer: John Pennington.
Shoemaker: M. Tussing.
Physicians: W. D. Kelley. S. A. Cooper. T. McNaughton.
Bankers: Nathan Schee & Co.
Farm Implements: Valentine Warner.
There were doubtless other men in business in Milo at that time, but they were of the kind that did not advertise, so it is difficult to know much about them ; and besides. the world is not much interested in persons who lack the enterprise
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or disposition to help sustain, by their patronage, a home newspaper, and it is generally found that such persons do not add materially to the prosperity, development and growth of a town or community.
COUNTRY CHURCHES IN BELMONT TOWNSHIP.
Motor church was organized in 1869 with about twenty constitutent mem- bers. The following pastors have served this church: Mary Trueblood, Anna Trueblood, Catherine Smith, Nathan Armstrong, Joseph Blackledge, Benjamin Neval, Benjamin Hiatt, Edgar Requa, Levi Marshall, James Picard, Florence Baker, William Figgie, and T. C. Perishu. The church building was erected in 1870. at a cost of about $1200. This church answered the purposes for which it was erected for a full generation. The second church building was erected in 1907, at a cost of $2500. The society owns a neat parsonage, with one and a half aeres of ground worth about $1800. This church has an excellent Sabbath school, a Missionary Society and a Christian Endeavor Society. The amount raised last year for incidental expenses, $100; for benevolences, $60. At present there are one hundred and fifty members.
PLAINVILLE CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH.
Plainville Christian Union Church. This society was organized in 1863. The following have served as pastors: Eli Oliver, J. V. B. Flack, Theo. Stone, Joshua Wilson. K. D. Wolf. Benjamin M. Hutchins, C. A. Fair, N. D. Gordon and F. Dowell. O. B. Walcott is superintendent of the Sunday school. There are forty scholars enrolled. Board of Trustees: J. E. Hollingsworth, J. N. Goode, and Roy Town. The church building was erected in 1867, at a cost of $1500. The enrrent expenses last year were $200.
BELMONT ZION CHURCH.
Belmont Zion (Christian Union). This society was organized in 1889. The following have served as pastors: K. D. Wolf. B. M. Hutchins, C. S. Fair, A. F. Dorrell and N. D. Gordon. The Sunday-school superintendent, B. S Reynolds. Sunday school enrollment sixty-five. President of the Board of Trustees. JJohn Long. Current expenses last year, two hundred dollars.
ROSEMOUNT CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Rosemount Catholic church has for many years been one of the most prosper- ons Catholic churches in the county. The organization was effected about thirty-seven years ago. The church building was erected in 1872, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. Later a school building was erected and a parish school has been maintained for several years. There are about forty families in the parish.
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GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.
.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justice of the Peace: E. J. Yount, Spring Hill.
Township Trustees: J. C. Higens, Spring Hill; W. R. Dickson, Norwalk ; W. R. Hall, Indianola
Township Clerk : B. P. Schooler. Norwalk R. F. D. No. 2.
Township Assessor: W. H. Boyd.
Warrants drawn on the poor fund: Food and clothing $ 14.83
Medical aid
37.50
Received for old road grader
5.00
$ 52.33
Trustees' Road Report
Cash on hand January 1, 1907
$ 158.26
Received from County Treasurer
1720.87
Received from old road grader
5.00
$1884.13
Paid for labor and material
$ 1525.25
Balance on hand
358.88
$ 1884.13
The following is condensed from the county superintendent's report of the public schools for Greenfield township for the year ending July 1, 1907.
SPRING HILL GRADED SCHOOL.
Spring Hill has one schoolhouse of two rooms, valued at one thousand dollars. They are now building a honse, which will cost over three thousand dollars. They employ one male teacher, at a salary of sixty dollars per month ; and one female teacher. at a salary of thirty-five dollars per month. The school year consists of nine months. Spring Hill has ninety-three persons of school age. The average attendance is forty-five. The cost of tuition per pupil per month, two dollars and eleven cents.
Greenfield township has, outside of Spring Hill, eight sub-districts, with a schoolhouse in each, valned at five hundred and sixty-three dollars each. There was an average of eight months of school during the year. Sixteen female teachers were employed. at an average salary of thirty-five dollars and eighteen cents per month. There are two hundred and eighty-three persons of school age in the eight districts. The average attendance is one hundred and forty three. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month, two dollars and six cents. Greenfield township is a part of the "Strip." lying between Polk county
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and Middle river, although a small portion of the township lies south of Middle river. It is drained by North and Middle rivers. It is an excellent township, and has furnished some of the largest stock dealers in the county. The people of the township. from the early days of its history, have taken great interest in stock. The land generally lays well. is of good average fertility. There are large coal mining interests in this township, which have not been developed. In the early days. it contained much excellent timber, and this attracted settlers, because in those days, settlements had to be made in or near the timber. When farms had to be fenced with rails, timber was a greater object than it was after railroads came and shipped lumber into the country, and wire fences were in- troduced. Settlements began in Greenfield township as early as 1845. The elderly people take pleasure yet in recounting the fact that Jno Rufe and Noah Reeves were among the first settlers ; that L. F. Bedwell and others came in 1846. The records show also that the first marriage was Daniel Howard to Miss Johns- ton ; Samuel Crow solemnizing the same. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1851, and a sawmill about the same time on North river, operated by water power. Greenfield township contains. perhaps more bottom land than any other township in the county a great part of which overflows in time of high water. Its proximity to the city of Des Moines makes it a desirable place for farming and increases the value of the land. Fort Des Moines being located just across the county line from Greenfield township, furnishes an excellent market for the surplus raised by the farmers in this township. The Rock Island Railroad passes through the township from east to west, giving the people excellent rail- road facilities. C. B. Jones. of Greenfield township, represented Warren county in the Sixth General Assembly. The patriotie spirit ran high in the time of the Civil War in this township, as will be seen by T. T. Anderson's article on, "Greenfield Township in the Civil War."
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP IN THE CIVIL WAR.
This division of Warren county is located along the middle north side of the county ; the north line being within a few miles of the city of Des Moines. This township, like the others. did its whole duty in the Civil War, being represented in several regiments and giving its full quota. The wave of patriotism that swept over the north in 1861, struck Greenfield with full force for it was but a few miles from Des Moines and the enthusiasm from that city influeneed the people for miles around.
The village of Greenbush, then a prominent center, was from that April day when Fort Sumter was fired on. until the elose of the conflict a center at which the people of that community gathered to discuss the war and the exciting issnes then pending. This village had a resident by the name of Peter Cherry. who was an expert at blowing the fife and it was not long until he had a martial band organized and ready for duty. Rev. Townsend, a Baptist preacher, who had served in the Mexican war drilled all the boys who desired to be instructed in military taeties, and that meant every boy and man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. During the spring and summer of 1861. all was ex- 'citement, business was almost suspended and the young men were rushing to the
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front. Every boy in Greenfield township old enough to enlist was fearful lest the war would close before he could assist. It was not a question of men but a question of finding a company not yet filled. Some went to Des Moines, some to Indianola, both of which were war centers. It is somewhat difficult to give the names of those who enlisted from this part of Warren county, but I give the following ns at least a partial list without name of regiments: Sanmel F. Anderson, 3rd Infantry, killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862; J. T. Hoffman, Wm. II. Swan, William Wright, Milton Cherry, John Clingersmith, David Howery, John Barlam, John Delbridge, T. T. Anderson, Johnson Barker, Badoe Perkins. Stephen B. Stark, Neil Perkins, David Cherry, Sylvester Campbell. Wm. Ash. Peter Cherry, Peter Hill, Hugh White. Findley Palmer. Jacob Cart. Alfred Francis, Jas. Howery, Jas. Little, Chaney M. Blaksly. Amos Biggs, Marion Ellis, Thos. Cartwright, Jas. MeMurdo, Baxter. E. J. Franklin, Jonathan Reeves. Andrew Faust, Henry Hoover, Samuel Ferrel, Ferrel, John Ruggles. Geo. Ruggles, John Pilmer. David Cummins, Jasper Ashworth, Enoch Young. Wmn. Ash, Jesse Black. David Lockridge, Jesse Surber. Rastes Surber. Joseph Lockridge. Abe Beltz. Joseph Higgins. L. K. Bishop, Hiram Bishop, .Jacob Balabangh, Tip Kirk, Jas. Utsler. Ingh B. Allison. Frank Cherry. Bnrr Biggs. Shade Herron. Osear Swain, John Stevens. Peter Ash, Thos. Stodgill, Hebron Tilton, John Patterson, Wall Yount.
The foregoing list represents sixty-four soldiers, gathered from memory. and it will be a surprise if some have not been forgotten. The township was at that time very sparsely settled, and this number proves that the war spirit ran high. About one-fourth of the total number never returned indicating that Greenfield did its whole duty in preserving the Union. Some of those who returned are still living in the old township. but most of them have either crossed the silent river or live elsewhere.
T. T. ANDERSON.
Although Greenfield township is one of the large townships of the county and has had much to do with its development. yet it has but one village. Spring ITill. which was laid ont in 1872 by Dr. Bevington and William Ashworth. When the railroads were built they played havoe with many villages by missing them. In this case the railroad missed Greenbush. a nice little village located on a beautiful site. Many of the first business honses in Spring Hill were moved there from Greenbush.
SPRING HILL BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Postmaster: D. D. Hughes.
Railway Station Agent : D. M. Calahan. General Store: R. Alexander, D. D. Hughes.
Blacksmiths: Geo. Hall. Elijah Pitcock.
Barber: Geo. Hoover.
Harness Maker: Edd. Parkins.
Physician : Lyman R. Hall.
Hotel : D. D. Hughes.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
CHURCHES.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The following is the list of charter members: Jacob Lockridge and wite, B. Davidson and wife, Dr. Flinn and wife. John Foust and wife, G. H. Walter and wife, John Waymon and family. Joseph Lockridge, Aaron Lockridge and wife. George Dillard and wife, David Lockridge and wife, J. Wood and wife. The following pastors have served this church : F. E. Butterfield, Edgar Brandenburg. W. S. Johnston, Rev. Lemon, H. L. Ford, Leslie Wolf, D. B. Clark, W. T. Stevenson. This church was organized in 1899. The first church building was erected in 1899 at a cost of three thousand dollars. Current expenses three hundred dollars. Present membership eighty. G. II. Walter, clerk.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Spring Hill Baptist church was organized in 1872, and the first build- ing was erected in 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. Funk. The constitutent members of this church were as follows: P. P. Bishop and wife, Morris and Rachael Stogsdill, Mrs. Mary Stogsdill, Mrs. Hanah Peverley, Robert Comer and wife. James Lloyd and wife, and Mrs. Niey Kipley the only one now living. The Baptist owned a two-fifth interest in the Protestant Methodist church, and purchased the remaining three-fifths about twenty years ago, since which time there has been no organization of the Protestant Methodist in Spring Hill. The present membership is twenty-five. The last pastor of this church was N. Ledson. Mrs. Edna Perkins is clerk. George C. Brand superintends the Sunday school. Mrs. Kate Garrett is the president and treasurer of the Ladies Aid Society. The Aid Society expects during this summer to pay the entire indebtedness of the church and to call a pastor. The church building was remodeled in 1899 at a cost of two thousand dollars.
METHODIST CHURCH OF SPRING HILL.
The charter members of this church were: A. C. Tigner, Mrs. A. C. Tigner, J. F. Lough, Mrs. J. F. Lough, Alice Caves, Mrs. L. Childs, Emma Barker. Martha Barker. Alice Barker, Mrs. Richard Barker, and Mrs. Asa Perley. This church was made the head of the circuit in 1891 and A. J. Barton was appointed pastor, in 1892 HI. C. Preston, in 1894 A. C. Heckathorn, in 1895 .J. I. Farley, in 1897 J. D. DeTarr, in 1900 C. W. Proetor, in 1903 W. R. Suman. in 1905 W. C. Smith, in 1907 B. R. VanDyke. The following are some of the early pastors who served this charge when it belonged to other circuits: E. Kendall, W. J. Beck, A. J. Barton, C. C. Maybee, M. R. Harned. W. Patterson, T. P. Newland and W. H. H. Smith. The first church building was erected in 1874 at a cost of two thousand two hundred and forty dollars. A new building was erected in 1900 at a cost of twenty-four hundred dollars. The society contributed
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
last year for pastoral support four hundred dollars. Incidental expenses two hundred dollars. Grant JJoy superintends the Sunday school. Number of scholars enrolled one hundred twenty. Current expenses of school sisty dollars. Forrest Perkins is president of the Epworth League, which has a membership of fifty-six. Mrs. William Cochrane is president of the Ladies Aid Society to which all the ladies of the church belong. This society collected for all pur- poses last year two hundred dollars. Mrs. Van Dyke is president of the W. F. M. S., which has a membership of seventeen, and contributed eighty-six dollars to missions. The present membership of the church is one hundred thirty-nine.
LODGES, I. O. O. F.
Spring Hill Lodge, No. 435, I. O. O. F. was organized November 29, 1881. with twenty charter members. Present officers: T. W. Sheriff, N. G .; Nelson Bedwell. V. G .; J. M. Wood. Secretary; I. L. Surber, Treasurer. This lodge meets each Saturday night. and owns property to the value of two thousand dollars.
A. F. & A. M.
Champion Lodge, No. 233, A. F. & A. M., was organized by dispensation from Grand Lodge of Iowa, March 9, 1868, at Ft. Plain, (now Greenbush) Iowa, with nine members, and received their charter under date of June 2, 1869. Present officers: G. W. Dillard, W. M .; J. C. Hligens, S. W .; J. R. Lundy, J. W .; F. L. Adamson. Secretary; C. B. Davidson, Treasurer; E. V. Perkins, S. D .; Albert Beltz, J. D .; John Kime, Tyler. This lodge has twenty- two members, owns property to the value of one thousand dollars. and meets Wednesday night of each month on or before full moon.
BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YEOMEN.
Spring Hill Brotherhood of American Yeomen, was organized July 28, 1899, with thirteen charter members. The present membership is sixty. This lodge meets the first Monday night of each month. Present officers; M. M. Anbert. Foreman ; D. D. Hughes, Correspondent.
Spring Hill was incorporated in 1903. . Present officers: D. D. Hughes. Mayor; F. L. Adamson, Clerk; E. Pitcock, Treasurer; Conneilmen, A. Holland. James Lockridge, G. N. Lockwood and J. F. MeGlothin.
COUNTRY CHURCH.
The North River Christian Church was organized in 1849 and therefore was one of the first religious organizations in Warren county. The records show that there were sixteen constitutent members. The organization was effected by Thomas Cason and William P. Cogar. the latter of which was the first pastor
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IIISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and served three years. The church then called Thomas Cason who served for a number of years. The following pastors have ministered to this church: A. C. Stores, Elder Stull, S. O. Calvin, David Matson, Elder Lamb, J. O. Elwell, Albert Godley, O. E. Brown, J. R. Reed, Elder Black, Elder Fitzgerald and John H. Stover. The society worshiped in private homes and schoolhouses for eighteen years. The. Board of Trustees then consisted of J. J. Bishop, Lazarus Whited, Adam Surber. In 1867 a church building was erected which cost about one thousand dollars. Since 1901 there have been no services held in this church. This is further evidence that the country church is passing away.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justice of the Peace: C. W. Faust, St. Charles.
Township Trustees : Carl Heilike, St. Charles; A. W. Johnston, St. Charles; David Shutt, St. Marys.
Constables : Geo. W. Nuzum, St. Marys; William Kimer, St. Charles.
Township Clerk : Mark Gillispie, St. Marys.
Township Assessor: W. J. McClavy.
No warrants drawn on the Poor Fund.
Trustees Road Report :
Cash on hand January 1, 1907.
$ 193.65
Received from County Treasurer
1219.25
Received from A. W. Johnston
2.25
Received from W. II. Shannon
4.69
$1419.84
Paid for labor and material
$1261.90
Balance on hand
157.94
$1419.84
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the Public Schools for Jackson township for the year ending July 1, 1907.
Jackson township has nine sub-distriets, with a schoolhouse in each, total value $7,200. This township maintains schools seven months in the year. Four male teachers were employed, at an average salary of $35.47 per month; and fifteen females were employed as teachers, at an average salary of $33.94 per month. There are in this township three hundred and four persons of school age. The average attendance was one hundred and forty-four. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month, $2.15.
Jackson township is the same as township 75 north. range 25 west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
Jackson township is one of the western tier of townships. The land is generally rough and broken. There was but little native timber in this township.
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Perhaps there was less inducement for the early pioneers to locate in this township than in any other in the county. But today it is as well improved as the average township, and the inhabitants are as prosperous as any in the county. They are mostly German and Irish, but are noted for their industry and economy. The Irish people have been an important factor in the development of this nation. Alexander Stewart, the greatest mercantile man in the world during the last century, was a native of Ireland, came to New York, went into business and prospered beyond other merchants in the city, until at his death he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States. Three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Irishmen, to-wit, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton and James Smith. The Irish have entered into every department of activity, from the great dry goods merchant down to the man who uses the shovel and the spade. The Germans also have taken an important part in the affairs of the American Republic. Carl Sehurz was a born leader, a man of fine presence and possessed a strong well cultivated intellect. In the Civil war he joined the Union army and reached the rank of Major-General. In politics he made his way to the United States senate. Theodore Thomas, the great musical director, might have been one of the leading statesmen of this country if he had turned his attention in that direction. But why speak of the leaders of either the Irish or the German people? It is the sturdy farmer, the mechanic, the day laborer who has contributed so largely to the growth of the country. Whether Ameri- cans eould or would have gone into Jackson township and brought it up to its present standard, is an unanswerable question. But it is certain that the Irish and Germans in Jackson township have prospered as well as the inhabitants of any other township in the county. They are therefore entitled to the com- mendation of all good citizens.
ST. MARYS.
St. Marys is the only village in this township. It was laid ont by G. M. Durschell in 1868. The Catholic church was erected in 1870 during the pastor- ate of Father A. N. Sassel, at a cost of $1,000. He was succeeded by Father J. Knapple in 1876. Subsequently Fathers J. B. Fendrack, John Stritzelberger, George Schumacker and Peter Stahl served this church. The present church building was erected during Father Stahl's administration, at a cost of $6,560. Father Cook is the present pastor. There are forty-five families in the parish. A parochial school was inaugurated in 1885, and employed three sisters of charity as teachers, but at present is not in operation as many families have moved away and there are not enough children in the parish to justify continu- ing the school. Mark Gillespie was the first merchant, opening a store in 1871. Frank Hennis is the railway station agent, and deals in grain, coal, implements, flour, feed and salt. Theodore Lippold condnets a general store and is post- master. Mark Gillespie is the proprietor of a grocery store. The Des Moines and Osceola branch of the C. B. & Q. system enters this township about the center of the north line, running south to near the center of the township. then west to the middle of the west line of the township. where it enters Madison county. St. Marys is the only station in the township.
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson township is the same as township 76 north of range 25 west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justice of the Peace: A. II. Perkins, Prole.
Township Trustees : Aaron Lockridge, Spring Hill; F. P. Hanmond,
Indianola; A. F. Newell, Conger.
Constable: M. L. Forbs, Prole.
Township Clerk : Martin Deheck, Prole.
Township Assessor: J. M. Archer.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund:
Food and clothing
$ 261.90
House rent and fuel
74.12
$336.02
Trustees Road Report.
Cash on hand Jannary 1, 1907
$ 3.77
Received from County Treasurer 1645.81
$1649.58
Paid for labor and material
$ 1518.79
Balance on hand
130.79
$1649.58
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the public schools for Jefferson township for the year ending July, 1907.
Jefferson township has nine independent rural school districts with a school- house in each, the total value of which is six thousand one hundred and twenty- five dollars. The districts maintain an average of seven and a half months school per year. They employ eighteen females, at an average compensation of $33.90 per month. There are three hundred and forty-eight persons of school age in the township. The average attendance is one hundred and ninety-seven. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month is $1.72.
Jefferson township is in the western tier of townships and the second sonth of the Polk county line. For agrienltural purposes it averages fairly well. Middle river passing through the center from east to west renders some of the land rough and broken. There is no coal in this township but considerable more timber than in some other portions of the county. There are many excellent stock farms in Jefferson township. It has more miles of railroad than any other township in the county. The Chicago Great Western passes through the township from north to sonth and on it are the stations of Churchville and Conger. The Des Moines and Osceola branch of the C. B. & Q. System mean-
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