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 32
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
ders through the township from north to south and has two stations-Prole and Wick. The C. R. I. & P. passes through the township from east to west and has on it the stations of Bevington and Lothrop; the latter of late has been abandoned and used only as a flag station. At the point where the C. R. I. & P. crosses the C. B. & Q. all trains stop. The waiting room is maintained but there is no station agent. No better railroad facilities could be desired than Jefferson township now enjoys.
The first settlers in Jefferson township were Ulysses Berger and family and John Wallace and family, arriving in 1846. William Ball was the first physician in the township, coming in 1848. The first steam saw-mill was owned by William Wallace, and located on the Clanton creek in 1857. The first child born in the township was Henry Johnson, June 20, 1847. The next was Jane Berger, August 16, 1847.
WICK.
Wiek was located in 1883, about two years after the railroad was built. The present station agent is R. J. Bell. Gibson and Brothers keep the post- office and a general store. One rural free delivery route goes out from this office, and was established in 1907. George Conrad keeps a general store; T. G. Lewis blacksmith shop and implements.
The first preaching services were held in the homes of the people. The first M. E. class was organized in 1848. The Revs. Worley, Pring, Anderson, Lawback and Garbison were among the first preachers. The members of the first class were John Wallace, Julia Ann Wallace, Elizabeth Berger, Margaret Berger and Darius Berger.
The Wesley M. E. church of Wiek was erected in 1871, during the pastorate of Michael Sheets, at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars, and dedicated by Rev. J. W. Todd. John Wallace was the first class leader. The present trustees of the church are G. W. Day, C. W. Dunn, L. S. Maine, O. O. Trucher and J. F. Grissom. Class leader, L. S. Maine. This church was re-built in 1896 at a cost of one thousand dollars. J. H. Senseney preaching the re-opening sermon. William Mercer is the present pastor. The membership of this society is ninety. There is a flourishing Epworth League.
LODGE.
The M. W. A. Lodge was organized September 15, 1901, with twenty-two charter members. It now has a membership of sixty-three. Present officers : Carl Martens, counsel ; L. S. Maine, V. C .; J. H. Hall, Banker ; L. E. Day, Clerk.
Wiek is on the Des Moines and Osceola branch of the C. B. & Q. Railroad system.
CONGER.
Conger is a station on the Chicago Great Western Railway. and was estab- lished in 1888. John F. Grissom erected the first store building in the same year. The present station agent is James Mullen. J .- G. Blair, hotel keeper; JJ. G. Adams, general store. J. W. Nugum, postmaster.
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BEVINGTON.
Bevington is located on the C. R. I. & P. Railway, on the county line, part of the village being in Madison and part in Warren county. It was laid out by Williamson and Bevington, in 1873. The present business in Warren county is a general store kept by J. H McManus. E. P. Cody keeps a general store and meat market.
CHURCHVILLE.
Churchville was laid out by Michael Churchman, in 1854. The first build- ing was erected for a hotel by Mr. Shoemaker, in 1856. R. E Northup, station agent. Frank Hall, P. M. Kirby & Burke, general store.
CHURCHES.
The Catholic church was built in 1890 by Father Dunyan, at a cost of $4,500. Father Condon is the present pastor. There are ninety families in the parish. A parochial school is carried on in connection with the church, which was built in 1903, at a cost of $3,000. This school employs three sisters as teach- ers. The total value of church property, including the parochial school, is $12,000.
The German Lutheran church was built in 1903 by the Rev. Jackson, at a cost of $2,400. The present pastor is Rev. Smith. There are forty members. The trustees are Carl Martin and William Huss, with Guss Gearing as bondsman.
There is a new blacksmith shop just erected, and a new bank hnilding to be erected during this year, by Lu Clem, proprietor.
PROLE.
Prole was located by Mrs. Harrison Keller, in 1884. J. E. Stiffler erected the first store building. W. J. Slinker, general store, hardware and implements. J. W. Wheeler, barber. C. W. Wheeler, livery barn, William Keller, contractor and builder. Charles Haner, blacksmith. Wesley Burkhead, stock buyer and shipper. J. W. Butler, station agent. W. J. Slinker, P. M. . One rural route goes out from this office, established in 1905.
The Christian church was organized by W. S. Lemon, in 1903. The church building was erected and dedicated in 1904, at a. cost of $2,200. The first trus- tees were Fred Naubaner, J. H. Huss and J. W. Wheeler. The present membership is fifty-five. There is a Ladies' Aid Society in this church. William Keller is Sunday school superintendent. The last year this church paid for pastoral support $312, for evangelist, $60; incidental expenses, $50; Sunday school expenses, $32; missions and benevolences, $50.
The Linn Grove M. E. church. This class was organized in 1853, with Whitney Allen as class leader. Samuel Crow and wife, William Allen and wife, and Sarah Allen were the constituent members. The first churel building was erected in 1867, during the pastorate of D. B. Clary, and was rebuilt in 1892, during the pastorate of H. C. Preston, at a cost of $500, and rebuilt again in 1903, during the pastorate of C. W. Proctor, at a cost of $2,500. Rev. M. R. Harned is the present pastor. The present membership is ninety. The Sunday
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
school enrollment is one hundred and twenty. A. Beerbower, Sunday school superintendent ; W. V. Elliott is president of the Epworth League, and class leader. Miss Lydia Essex is president of the Ladies' Aid Society. $400 is being expended now on the church property. This society paid last year for pastoral support, $150; for missions and benevolences, $60; for incidental expenses, $100; for Sunday school expenses, $50.
The first postoffice in Jefferson township was near the present site of Prole. and was called Linn. L. S. Spencer was appointed postmaster in 1855, and held the office for eighteen years. When the C. R. I. & P. railway was built, this post- office was discontinued. At first the mail was carried on horseback, the route being from Des Moines to Winterset. Later, a daily bus line was established, and gave the people of that vicinity good postal facilities.
Mr. Spencer, the above named postmaster, says of the pioneer days : "Religious services were held at private houses, if houses you might call them. The good, old-fashioned sermon was preached that men might become better, and love their neighbors as themselves. Those good old-fashioned tunes were sung: Old Hundred and Windham. The congregation seated themselves on slab benches instead of cushioned seats. After service, each one took his road across the prairie to his place of abode. These were the days of the pioneer, and days of enjoyment they were. The sick were looked after much more than at present. Men thought much more of their home and their word than at present. The first Sabbath school was organized in May, 1856. This organiza- tion has been kept up until the present."
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Liberty township is the same as township 74, north of range 23, west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justices of the Peace: George Matson, Indianola ; W. II. Funk, Lacona.
Township Trustees: E. R. Christman, Liberty Center; E. E. Frank. Lib- erty Center; S. Chipps, Liberty Center.
Constable : S. MeKinney, Liberty Center.
Township Clerk : S. JJ. Shape, Liberty Center.
Township Assessor: D. G. Kennedy.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund, none.
Trustees Road Report :
Cash on hand January 1, 1907 $ 6.95
Received from County Treasurer
1,067.61
Received from L. Puderbangh 3,00
$1,077.56
Paid for Labor and Material
$ 788.98
Balance on Hand
288.58
$1,077.56
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The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the publie schools for Liberty township, for the year ending July 1, 1907.
Liberty township has eight independent rural school districts with a school- house in each district, total value, $4,920. During the year there were employed four male teachers at an average salary of $32.59 per month; and seven females at an average compensation of $33.82 per month. There are in the independent districts a total of two hundred and eighty-five persons of school age. The average attendance was one hundred and fifty-three. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month was $1.85.
LIBERTY CENTER GRADED SCHOOL.
Liberty Center has one school building of two rooms, valued at $1,000. It maintains eight months school during the year. One male teacher was employed at $50.00 per month; and one female teacher at $30.00 per month. There are thirty-seven persons of school age in Liberty Center. The average attendance was thirty ; and the average cost of tuition per pupil per month was $2.13.
Liberty is in the south tier of townships, and lies on the Lucas county line. It is a township of excellent farming land. There are no coal mines in this township; much of the land lays well, and all of it is adapted to stock raising. There is no railroad in the township. It was not settled as early as some of the other townships in the county. Samuel James was probably the first settler, and came in the fall of 1850; soon after, Mark Williams came; Asa Mosher, J. P. Mosher and Robert Kester came in 1853. W. A. Story, James Coles, Joseph Hall and James Hall came in the early fifties.
Liberty Center postoffice was established in 1867, eight years before the town was laid out. Jeremiah Boston was the original proprietor of the town. The first schoolhouse in Liberty township was a log building, and stood near the south cemetery, not far from the present site of the Christian church. This schoolhouse was also used for church purposes. Susan B. Mosher taught the first term of school, in 1854. C. E. Ferguson is the postmaster. Stokesbury & Meeker have a general store. S. J. Shupe, hardware and groceries.
CHURCHES.
In the fall of 1856, Rev. J. W. Todd, John and George Conrad, conducted revival services which continued at intervals far into the summer of 1857. A Methodist church was organized with the following members: Enoch and Polly Matson, John and Rachel Matson. Benj. and Julianna Matson. William and Mahala Berry, Sarah Coles, Mary and Sarah Berry. Polly and Ellen Coles were the first probationers; Joseph Michael, the first class leader; and Jacob Garbison, the first local preacher. When the period for probation for new members had expired, the membership was increased to eighty, and it was de- cided to secure a building. Accordingly, in 1860, the original part of the building now occupied by S. J. Shupe's store was leased, and afterward purchased of Nathan Mosher, for a church. In 1870. during the pastorate of Rev. J. A. Smith,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
the original part of the present church was erected at a cost of $2,300, and dedicated in 1871 by Dr. Burns, president of Simpson college. In 1906, the present structure was erected at a cost of $2,300, and all paid for, and dedicated October 21, 1906, by Rev. John F. St. Clair. The membership now numbers sixty.
FRIENDS CHURCH.
The Friends church was built in the fall of 1907, at a cost of $3,000. There is no permanent organization as yet, but preaching and Sunday school are held in this church every Sunday. The people who erected this church made a re- markable record, in that every bill in connection with the enterprise was paid and money left in the treasury before the time of dedication.
There is a Christian church a mile and a half south, and a half a mile west of Liberty Center, from which no data has been received.
LODGES.
Sena Lodge, No. 344, A. F. & A. M., was organized September 24, 1874, with fifteen charter members. The present membership is twenty-nine. The lodge owns a house and lot in Liberty Center, valued at $1,000. Meetings are held on Thursday night on or before the full moon. Present officers are: W. M., C. C. Edgerton; S. W., G. E. Wilson ; J. W., H. A. Bryan; Treasurer, S. Chips; S. D., W. W. Burrus; J. D., T. Williams; S. S., II. C. Bradford; J. S., E. R. Chrisman ; Tyler, A. M. Flesher.
I. O. O. F.
Warren Lodge, 287, I. O. O. F., was instituted October 7, 1874, with five charter members. The present membership is fifty-three. The lodge owns a new two-story building, hall above, and a store room below, which cost about $3,000, and is one of the best lodge rooms in the county outside of Indianola. They also own a cemetery of three aeres, about a half mile west of Liberty Center. The meetings are held every Saturday night. Present officers: Ray Bassett, N. G .; John A. Murphy, V. G .; HI. A. Bryan, Recording Secretary ; J. A. Jacobs, Financial Secretary ; G. E. Wilson, Treasurer. This is one of the most active I. O. O. F. lodges in this part of the state.
M. W. A.
Granes Camp. No. 7940. M. W .A., was organized April 13, 1900, with twenty-nine charter members. The present membership is twenty-eight. This lodge meets the last Wednesday in each month. Present officers are: H. E. Meeker. Council; S. MeKinney. Adviser ; J. A. Murphy. Banker; S. J. Shupe, Clerk ; Roy Bassett, Escort; F. G. Reese. Watchman ; S. Gilliland, Sentry.
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IIISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
BROTHERHOOD AMERICAN YOEMEN.
Liberty Center Homestead. No. 177, Brotherhood American Yoemen. was organized April 4. 1900, with thirteen members. Present membership is forty-two. Present officers: J. N. Coles, Foreman; E. R. Blattenburg. Corres- pondent. This lodge meets the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month in the Odd Fellows' hall.
VERBENA REBEKAH LODGE, NO. 503.
Verbena Rebekah Lodge, No. 503, was organized April 26, 1906, with twenty- seven charter members. At present there are sixty-two members. Meets the first and third Tuesday in each month. The present officers are: Mrs. Linnie Thompson, N. G .; Mrs. Hettie Marsh, V. G .; Miss Katherine Tussing, Recording Secretary ; Miss Ollie Peebler-Perm, Secretary; Mrs. Nellie Murphy, Treasurer; Miss. Cora McLean, Chaplain; Miss Carrie Brebner, Warden.
Green Plain M. E. church has already been mentioned in connection with the Milo charge.
Liberty Center has but one physician, Dr. Ira Curtis Taylor, a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
HISTORICAL AND PIONEER SKETCH OF LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
The first white people to visit Liberty township were trappers and traders who came from 1843 to 1846, to trade with the Indians and become acquainted with the New Purchase, as the country was known, which had been purchased of the Indians, and which they were to occupy for three years, or until 1846.
These people made no permanent settlements until one Adam Sees, built a cabin and located with his family near a spring just south of Lawrenceburg, in 1847. Sees seems to have been a man who was "anything for the coon," for in 1848. JJames Bales came in and bought the cabin and right of location of. Sees. and soon occupied the site as the second settler of Liberty township. Mr. Sees and his daughter, Eva, then went to Fairfield, where he entered the same piece of land in the name of his daughter, paying for the same with the purchase money obtained from Bales. Upon returning, he soon after dispossessed Bales without compensation, and while Bales was looking for a new location, stole and removed all the provisions Bales had in stock, consisting of "jerk" or dried venison. and the breasts of many prairie chickens, which were cured in the same manner. The trouble between Bales and Sees continued until it led to a personal encounter, for which they were arrested by P. P. Henderson, who was then sheriff, and taken before Squire Haworth. Both men plead guilty to assault and battery, and were fined one dollar each. Bales soon after located in Otter township. He was first to introduce hogs and sheep in Liberty township.
J. P. Mosher relates that he once went to purchase some sheep of Bales, and observed that each sheep had a stick tied to its tail. He asked Bales the purpose of the device, when he was told that it was to keep them from jumping over the fence. Mosher seemed to think the precaution was taken at the wrong end of the sheep, when Bales replied that: "Any fool ought to know that a sheep
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
always takes a few paces backward before he can jump a fence." The stiek was to prevent the backward movement on the part of the sheep.
Mark Williams was the third settler and located north of the Sees place. The first recorded entry of land in Liberty township was that of John Williams, June 29, 1849, entry made after the land office was established at Chariton. Samuel James. Robert Kester and James Coles made settlements further south on Otter creek, and Asa Mosher settled near Liberty Center in 1853, being the seventh family to locate permanently in the township. Other early comers were James and Joseph Hall, Joseph Michael. Henry Shaver, James Williams and others. The township was organized and named Liberty, because many of the early settlers were abolitionists, and some had left their eastern homes because of the contention over the rights of the slave. James Coles, who named the township, was known to be very much opposed to the fugitive slave law and assisted more than one slave to escape into Canada. The sincerity of these people was demonstrated a few years later, when they gave up their sons to die for the Union.
The first death was Mary Am Kester, wife of Robert Kester. She was the first to be buried in the south cemetery near the Christian church. John N. Coles taught the first school, and JJ. P. Mosher marked out the first public high- way with a breaking plow and ox team ; this was the old Chariton and Indianola state road. Josiah HIall was the first road supervisor. The roads at first were mere trails across the prairie. Joseph Michael was the first mechanic, having opened up a blacksmith shop near the present site of Green Plain schoolhouse.
The carly settlers were patrons of the Parmelee mill, near Carlisle, and when corn was scarce, they were supplied by William Pierson, of Palmyra township, a kind old Quaker, who had known most of them in Ohio, and now opened his eribs to them in time of need, without compensation. During one period of high waters cansed by the excessive spring rains. the settlers on Otter creek were without meal for six weeks, and lived mainly on "hominy" or boiled corn. Of course there was plenty of wild game. A mill was soon after con- trived by James and Benjamin Coles, which proved to be a great convenience for the settlers.
Corn was first raised by "axing" it in the sod. As the prairie was turned over by the plow. it lay in long parallel furrows, and the planter followed every second or third furrow, splitting in with an ax and dropping from three to five grains of corn in hills about three feet apart. The corn was then con- sidered planted and usually received no further attention until gathered.
The first mail was brought from Red Rock by private carriers and dis- tributed among the settlers. The first merchandise was brought in by peddlers seeking to trade for furs and the skins of animals. Clothing was often made at home of flax or wool, as the home became the mannfactory of every necessary article.
The first religions meeting was held in the cabin of Samuel James while some Friends or Quakers were visiting the family from the more easterly set- tlements.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
The first church organization was the Methodist, organized by Reverends Todd and Conrad, at the log school house which stood near the present site of the Christian church. The third was the New Light, or Christian church, or- ganized by Rev. J. Lamb of Carlisle, who built the present church, near the south cemetery.
Camp meetings were frequently held in groves and attended by people who came many miles and remained until the meetings closed. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Michael, James Hall and Mrs. Lyda Coles, who were great shonters, and who were zealous in church work, helped to give enthusiasm and fervency to these gatherings. They are remembered by many of the younger people. Mrs. Michael in particular, is remembered for her great vigor in dealing with sinners. On one occasion she found Mr. Alex. Benge quietly leaning against a sapling in the rear of the camp, while others were at the "mourners' bench." After pounding him on the back to remind him that the judgment day is coming, she seized him by the shoulders and exclaimed: "Mr. Benge, I am looking for sinners." Without the least concern, and in the most composed manner, pointing to a man across the camp, Benge replied: "Well, Mrs. Michael, there is Goosic by that tree, he is the worst sinner I know anything about."
When the war for the preservation of the Union came on, Liberty township did her full duty in sending men to the front. Nearly every family was rep- resented by enlistments for their country's service. The following are those who were either killed in battle or died in the service during the war: Joshua Coles. David Coles, Benjamin Coles. Barton Coles, Robert Blythe, William Clapp, Riley Hall, Silas Hall, George Hall, Isaac Wright, Bennett Gunsawles, A. J. Ruble. Abel Edwards, David Michael, Henry Michael, Barak Morris. Ruphus Massey. Thomas Rogers and George Shaver.
Besides this roll of the honored dead, many others enlisted and were hon- orably discharged. Some had received wounds in battle and otherwise displayed their valor upon the firing line in many a desperate battle. As the war pro- gressed, a company of home gnards consisting of most of the men and larger boys remaining at home. were organized with Henry Shaver, captain ; S. K. Hall, first lieutenant ; and J. P. Mosher, second lieutenant. This company drew their arms and were ordered to be ready to move at a moment's notice, but fortunately they were never called out.
Liberty township has been peculiarly free from bad men and desperate deeds of violence. But one murder case of any notoriety has occurred in the township. GEORGE L. MATSON.
Joseph Michael referred to in the above article, lived to be nearly one hun- dred and two years old. His friends arranged an all day religious service on his one hundredth birthday anniversary, which was held in the park in Milo, August 19, 1905. John Goode preached from the text: "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." W. C. Martin preached from the text: "How old art thou." The congregation was large and attentive. Mr. Michael ocenpied a seat on the platform, and at the elose of the last sermon, arose and made some very appropriate remarks, which thrilled the audience. Perhaps not one present had ever heard a centenarian speak in publie before. It really seemed as a voice from the spirit-world.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Lincoln township contains about seventy-two square miles, nearly in the center of the county.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justices of the Peace: W. W. Marshall, Summerset; A. C. Hiatt, Ack- worth.
Township Trustees: O. T. Smith, Ackworth; W. C. Pitman, Indianola ; J. W. Hickman, Indianola.
Constable: Frank Laverty, Summerset.
Township Clerk : Ed. Conant, Indianola.
Township Assessor: C. E. Deets.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund :
Food and Clothing
$ 51.00
Hlouse Rent and Fuel
60.00
Medical Aid 3.00
$114.00
Trustees Road Report :
Cash on Hand Jannary 1, 1907
84.08
Received From County Treasurer
2,875.07
.
$2,959.15
Paid for Labor and Material
$2,885.80
Balance on Hand 73.35
$2,959.15
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the publie schools for Lincoln township for the year ending July 1, 1907.
Lincoln township has fourteen independent rural school districts with a schoolhouse in each, total value, $7,550. One male teacher employed at a salary of $30.33 per month, and twenty-five female teachers employed at an average sal- ary of $34.98 per month. There are four hundred and seventy-five persons of school age in the fourteen districts. The average attendance is two hundred and forty-six. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month is $2.24.
Arkworth. Aekworth has one school building valued at $600, and employs one male teacher at a salary of $40.00 per month, for eight months in the year. It has forty persons of school age, and an average attendance of thirty. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month is $1.33.
Summerset. Summerset has one schoolhouse valued at $800. and maintains a school nine months in the year. One male teacher employed at a salary of $40.00 per month, and one female employed at a salary of $43.00 per month.
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