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 33
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
There are fifty-eight persons of school age in the district, and an average at- tendance of thirty-one. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month is $1.86.
Lincoln township is the big township of the county, containing about seventy- two sections of land. One of the first settlements of the county was made at Ackworth, in what is now Lincoln township. The people began to pitch their tents in that vicinity as early as 1846. The first settlers were Quakers, a class of people that would be a good acquisition in any community. This township surrounds Washington township, which now constitutes Indianola. It has a great variety of farming land, originally contained a large quantity of forest timber, and today, furnishes the best quality of coal being mined in the county. It is drained by South and Middle rivers. As a farming district, it averages well with other parts of the county. Lincoln township exerts a large influence in the affairs of the county, owing to its size and its contiguity to the county seat. The early history of Lincoln township is a large part of the early history of Warren county. When it began to settle, the land was rapidly taken up. It contains many large and valnable farms, many small and desirable homes; especially in the vicinity of Indianola. In the neighborhood of Indianola, there are many splendid openings for small fruit and vegetable farming. Lincoln, being outside of Indianola, has had its full share of county honors. James Barnett served in the senate in the Twenty-second and Twenty-third General Assemblies. George E. Griffith represented the county in the Eleventh General Assembly, and also was senator in the Twelfth and Thirteenth General Assem- blies. S. B. Lindsay represented the county in the Tenth General Assembly. James II. Millen represented the county in the Twentieth General Assembly. A. H. Swan represented the county in the Thirteenth General Assembly.
The first marriage in Lincoln township and in the county, was that of P. P. Henderson and Martha Haworth. on the 16th of December, 1847. He procured his license at Fort Des Moines. The first marriage license issued in this county was on the 30th of October. 1849. to Franklin Benge and Arena Bales. Miss Martha Haworth tanght the first school in Lincoln township.
SUMMERSET.
There was a mill and a store at this point in an early day, but the town was not laid out until 1872, after the Rock Island road was built. Coal was mined at this point as early as 1870. For many years the mill did a good business, but is now numbered with the things of the past.
DIRECTORY OF BUSINESS.
Postmaster: LeMar Adams.
Railway Station Agent : W. H. Neades.
General Store: J. T. Hemphill.
Contractor: A. H. Dye.
Blacksmith : R. S. Utterson.
Hotel : J. A. Cowey.
Stock Bnyer: W. A. Hanby.
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IHISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
The following coal mines have been operated in the vicinity of Summerset : Joseph Neades, John Davis, Eli Overton, Shackley & Lawrence.
CHURCHES.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist church of Summerset was organized November 16, 1878, with the following constituent members: JJ. B. Hicks, Ruth A. Hicks, Able Edwards. Eliza Edwards. James Loyd. Susan M. Loyd. John Loyd. LeMar Adams, Jennie E. Adams, Mary Welch, Angie Turnipsced, Phebe Holberry. The following pastors have served this charge: Thomas Miller, one year; F. R. Still, one year : W. A. Cain, five years ; T. S. Bovell, five years; F. M. Gaines, one year ; JJ. E. Trelvor, three years; F. M. Tull, three months ; W. A. Terry, two years; Henry Froning, three years; E. P. Bartlett, two years. The present pastor is C. T. Illsley. The first church building was erected in 1882, as a cost of $1,400. A Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society and a Baptist Young People's Union are maintained in this church. The current expenses were $300. Present member- ship, sixty.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
B. F. Wadsworth and wife. I. L. Surber and wife and Mrs. Peter Thompson were constitutent members of this society which was organized abont forty years ago. The present church building was erected in 1881. at a cost of $1.800. Since the erection of the church, students of Simpson college have supplied this ap- pointment with preaching. John M. Hillis is the present pastor and receives $150 per annum for his services. The present membership is forty-five. The Sunday school is superintended by Edgar Thompson, and has an enrollment of eighty-five. The Ladies' Aid Society has fifteen members ; Mrs. May Kennedy. president. The collection for benevolences last year was $60.
ACKWORTH.
Ackworth was laid out by J. M. and J. H. Hayworth in an early day. An academy building was erected in 1869. and opened in 1870. by the Friends church. The town was named in 1874, and incorporated June 1, 1881. The city officers are: J. W. Short, mayor: J. T. Vincent, treasurer; Elmer Ginder. clerk ; William Williams. Fred Sexton, Clarence Fowler, William Keller, Thomas Putnam and William Howe, councilmen.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Lumber and Grain : Hugh Williams & Son.
Postmaster: J. T. Vincent. General Store: J. T. Vincent. One rural route was established in June. 1903.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
CHURCHES.
The Free Methodist church was erected about fifteen years ago. The con- stituent members were: Frank Roberts. Unice Roberts, J. H. Farley, L. J. Farley, Milton Minor. Margaret Minor, and Nettie Farley. The present mem- bership is twenty-two. This church maintains a good Sunday School, Ladies Home and Foreign Missionary Society. The church building cost $1,100. The pastors who have served this church are: J. Q. and Ettie Murray, W. E. Bogar, W. C. Houts, William Van Horn, J. B. Newell. W. E. D. Harper, J. H. and Phoebe Grovier, Luke Scriptur, W. C. Karns. Albert Helsel.
ACKWORTH FRIENDS CHURCH.
This church was organized in June. 1852. and called South River, forming with Middle River. the "Three River Monthly Meeting." There were about forty members in the organization. In the early times they did not have regular pastors. D. B. Cook is the present pastor ; Rhodema Newlin was the first pastor ; between these about twenty others have ministered to the church. The first church building was erected during the early "fifties." The second was the academy building, erected in 1869. and cost $7,000; remodeled and refurnished for church purposes in 1908 at a cost of $2,800. The Bible School was organized soon after the meeting was established. The present enrollment, including Home Department and Cradle Roll, is one hundred and fifty. The church maintains a W. F. M. S .. also a Christian Endeavor Society. Amounts raised last year : Ministerial support, $225; incidentals. $80; Sunday school, $33; missionary $28. E. M. Heffley, Sunday school superintendent ; Eliza Hiatt, president of W. F. M. S .; Clay Clark, president of Christian Endeavor.
'As early as 1852 this church began to look after educational interests, which resulted in the establishment of the Ackworth academy. the influence of which has extended far beyond the community.
COUNTRY CHURCHES.
Farmers church is five miles northeast of Indianola. This society was organized almost forty years ago. It has been served by the pastors of the Carlisle cireuit. The present church building was erected in 1894, at a cost of $1.500. This church maintains an excellent Sunday school. The present pastor is W. B. Reed. The current expenses last year were $353. The present member- ship is ninety-three.
The Center Chapel M. E. church. four and one-half miles west of Indianola. was organized in 1894. during the pastorate of H. C. Preston, and erected a church building at a cost of $2.000. J. C. Morton is the Sunday school super- intendent ; present enrollment, sixty ; current expenses. $24. Mrs. MeAdoo is the president of the Ladies' Aid Society; this society collected from all sources last year, $150. The present membership of the church is forty-nine. This church is served by the pastors of the Spring Hill circuit. B. R. Van Dyke is the present pastor.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY LINN TOWNSHIP.
The boundaries of Linn township are the same as township 77, north of range 25, west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justices of the Peace: Perry Turner. Orillia ; Frank Snyder. Norwalk.
Township Trustees: Hoyt Gates. Norwalk; A. M. Miller, Orillia; E. L. Willett, Norwalk.
Constables: Dan Cupp. Cunning : Walter Vancil, Norwalk.
Township Clerk: H. G. Wykoff, Norwalk.
Township Assessor: W. T. Nickle.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund: Food and clothing. $48.75. Trustees Road Report :
Cash on hand January 1, 1907
$ 19.31
Received From County Treasurer
1,738.54
Received From Poll Tax 16.85
$1,774.70
Paid for Labor and Material
$1.450.62
Balance on Hand 324.08
$1,774.70
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the public schools of Linn township for the year ending July 1. 1907 :
Linn township has eight independent rural school districts and eight school buildings valued at $5.400. It maintained school eight months of the year and employed twelve female teachers at an average compensation of $34.08 per month. There are two hundred and nineteen persons of school age in the dis- triets, and an average attendance of one hundred and ten. Cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $3.13.
NORWALK GRADED SCHOOL.
Norwalk has one school building valued at $5,000, and employs three teach- ers ; one male teacher at a salary of $55.00 per month, and two female teachers at an average salary of $46.94 per month. There are seventy-six persons of school age in the district, and an average attendance of sixty-eight. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $1.94.
MT. PLEASANT.
Mt. Pleasant has one school building of two rooms valued at $3.000, and maintains school nine months of the year. It employs one male teacher at a compensation of $48.00 per month, and one female teacher at a salary of $35
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
per month. There are sixty-three persons of school age in the distriet, and an average attendance of forty-four. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $1.88.
Linn township is the northwestern township of the county, and occupies the divide between the Raccoon and Middle rivers. The soil is of the richest quality to be found anywhere in Iowa. There is but little timber in this township and no stone. There are no coal mines, but for agricultural purposes there is no better township in central Iowa. The Chicago Great Western Railway passes through this township from north to south. There are three stations on this road in the township, namely : Orillia, Cumming and Lida. The latter is not being used at present. The Des Moines and Osceola branch of the C. B. & Q. system eurves into Linn township at Norwalk. The farms in Linn township are well improved, and as valuable as any in the county. Common farms in this township, range in price from $100 to $200 per acre. Two of Linn township's honored citizens served in the legislature; John Kern being a member of the senate in the Ninth General Assembly, and served also in the extra session of that body. George Wright represented Warren county in the Seventeenth Gen- eral Assembly. Both of these gentlemen were highly esteemed by their fellow citizens, and rendered acceptable services as legislators.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Samuel Crow located on North river in Linn township, in February, 1846; and William Crow was born there May 6, 1846.
The first postoffice was called "Pyra," and was established on the present site of Norwalk, in 1856; W. S. Glaze was postmaster.
The town of Norwalk was laid out by George M. Swan, and the name of the postoffice changed from Pyra to Norwalk,
The first house on the present site of the town was built by Samuel Snyder, in 1852.
Dr. E. H. Carter was the first physician. A. N. Goode was the first merchant.
Jesse Black erected the first steam saw mill in the township on North river in 1857.
Norwalk is now one of the most attractive villages in the county. Its in- habitants are a wide-awake, intelligent, progressive class of citizens.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF NORWALK.
Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware and Harness : A. E. Easter.
General Store and Implements : C. F. Crow.
Drug Company : Dr. C. A. Willet and R. E. Beery.
Norwalk Bank : Simon Cassidy, president ; J. S. Cassidy, eashier.
E. M. Beery : Postmaster.
There are three rural routes connected with this office: the first was estab- lished in 1901; the second in 1903; and the third in 1906.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
The Norwalk Free Press is owned and published by S. C. Cooley and V. R. Huff.
William Dorsey : Station Agent.
Mrs. Phoebe Corbet : Hotel.
Bakery and Restaurant : W. R. Black.
Meat Market : Amon E. Young.
Barber Shop: Clyde James.
Lumber Yard, Bnilder and Contractor : C. F. Snyder.
Elevator and Feed Mill: J. M. Allison.
Dr. Welty located in Norwalk in 1876.
D. K. Brown has an apiary of two Imindred colonies with probable produe- tion of $1,200 worth of honey.
Blacksmith: J. W. Kleinendorst.
Livery Barn : Bridgeman & Anderson.
Miss Josie Snyder : Millinery.
Auctioneer : Orin Crow.
Carriage and Repair Shop : F. E. Musel.
Norwalk is an incorporated town. D. W. Yount, mayor; W. M. Dorsey, clerk; I. I. Goode, treasurer.
LODGES.
M. W. A.
This lodge was organized in 1891, with thirteen members. It now has a membership of ninety-seven. Present officers: J. W. Goode, Counsel; C. B. Kern, V. C .; J. W. Cassidy, Banker; 1. A. Lierlie, Clerk. Meets the last Wed- nesday of each month.
YOEMEN.
This lodge was reorganized in 1903 with twenty-five charter members. Present officers: Mrs. Annie Me Williams, Foreman; Carrie White, Correspon- dent. It now has a membership of seventy-three.
CHURCHES.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church of Norwalk, was organized in 1866, with a class of twenty members. The church building was erected in 1872, during the pastorate of Elder Gaston, and dedicated by Eller Neil Cheatham. Elder Wessel Stevenson is the present pastor. Present membership, one hundred and twenty- five. Raised last year for pastoral support, $800. This church has a Ladies' Aid Society of thirty members; Mrs. Stepheny, president. W. F. Dessenberg is the Sunday school superintendent. The school has an enrollment of one hun- dred and twenty. The annual incidental expenses of the church is $100. A C. W. B. M. of eighteen members, Miss Mande Thomas, president. This society gave to missions last year $100.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1856 with the following members: Benoni Black, Mary Black, Peter Black, Thomas M. Wilson, Eliza Wilson, Jane Onstott, Jesse Huff, Mary Huff, George Blosser, Dorcas Blosser, John Kern, and Miriam Kern. The first church was built during the pastorate of D. B. Clary, in 1868, at a cost of $3,600; and dedicated in 1869 by Rev. A. C. Williams. The present church building was erected in 1896, at a cost of $7,000, during the pastorate of A. A. Thompson. Present membership, one hundred and fifty. Raised for pastoral support last year, $650; missions and other benevolences, $300. The Sunday school has an enrollment of one hundred and fifteen; C. B. Kern, Sunday school superintendent. Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. Allen, president. Epworth League, Lester Cooley, president. W. F. M. S., Mrs. M. R. Harned, president. Board of Trustees, D. W. Yount, president. Present Pastor, M. R. Harned.
Norwalk eireuit has long been considered one of the most desirable charges in the Des Moines conference; and some of the ablest pastors in the conference have served this charge.
WOMAN'S CLUB.
A Reading Circle was organized in 1894, with twelve members. In 1897, the circle was reorganized and named the Norwalk Woman's Club. Its object is purely literary, at present pursuing the Bay View course of study. Present membership, seventeen. Present officers: Mrs. Margaret Dixon, president; Mrs. Birdie Guthrie, vice-president; Mrs. Minnie Cassidy, secretary; Mrs. Emma Arnold, treasurer.
CUMMING.
II. M. Thatcher: Station Agent.
General Stock Merchandise: John Malone.
Druggist and Physician: Dr. Cochran.
General Stock and Merchandise: Cale & Misner.
Cummings Bank : Simon Cassidy, president ; William Glynn, cashier. Blacksmith : Cupp & Harless.
Barber: C. L. Huston.
Blacksmith : Thomas Tryer.
Harness Shop: D. K. Wagner.
Feed Mill : Haynes Bros.
Meat Market : John Fagon. Implements : J. J. Cahill.
General Store: J. Gillespie.
Contractor : John Van Hinning.
Lumber Yard : L. Olive.
Postmaster: John Malone. One rural ronte established in 1903.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
LODGES.
M. W. A.
This lodge was organized December 28, 1896, with thirteen charter mem- bers. Present membership, one hundred and three. Officers: George Aller, Con .; T. J. Frazier, Adviser; D. W. Harless, Clerk; Frank Patterson, Watch- man ; T. F. Doheny, Banker; Dr. Cochran, Physician.
CHURCHES.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This church was built by Father O. O'Roroniek in 1893, at a cost of $4,000, with sixty families in the parish. Present pastor, Father Gleason of Valley Junction.
FRIENDS' CHURCH.
This church was built in 1880, at a cost of $1,400, and the society organized with about sixty charter members. The parsonage is on the same lot with the church, and occupied by the present pastor, E. Loft. C. L. Jenks is the Sunday school superintendent. The enrolhuent is forty. Pastoral support last year, $300. Present membership, sixty-five.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The church building was erected in 1892, during the pastorate of Fred L. Stevenson, and cost $1,700. Lawrence Ivenson, Class Leader. Mrs. Fagan, Steward. Rev. M. R. Harned, Present Pastor. Paid last year for pastoral sup- port, $100; and for benevolences, $50.
Cumming, located on the Chicago Great Western Railway, was laid out by Frazier Callison in 1888.
The first house was built by George Bowers. A. E. Cross was the first merchant.
ORILLIA.
Orillia, a station on the Chicago Great Western Railway, was laid out in 1887, on land belonging to James MeLain, who was one of the early settlers of Linn township, locating there in 1852. on government land.
Station Agent : J. Rockefeller.
General Store and Implements : J. Rockefeller.
Postmaster: J. Rockefeller. One rural route established in 1902.
J. L. Miller : Stock Dealer. Ships abont fifty car loads of cattle per year.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
M. E. CHURCH.
The Orillia M. E. church was formerly called Pleasant Ridge, and was organized in 1873 with John Thompson and wife, Iliram Baker and wife, M. A. Bently and wife, Philip Hull and family, Mr. Clark and wife, J. W. McClain and wife as original members. During the pastorate of J. A. Smith the first church building was erected, and dedicated by Bishop E. G. Andrews. The building cost $1,500. There is a Ladies' Aid Society and a Sunday school con- nected with the church. Current expenses last year, $60; benevolences, $75; ministerial support, $200. The church is being repaired at the present time, and will shortly be reopened. Present pastor, J. D. O'Dell. A large number of pastors have served this society, among whom have been some of the ablest in the Des Moines conference.
OTTER TOWNSHIP.
Otter township is the same as township 75, north of range 23, west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Township Trustees: Jos. Chumbley, Indianola; Sherman Guy, Milo; Wil- liam Clark, Indianola.
Township Clerk : Fred O. Nutting, Indianola.
Township Assessor : Elbert Woods.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund, none. Trustees Road Report :
Cash on Hand January 1st, 1907 $ .54
Received From County Treasurer
1,082.89
$1,083.43
Paid for Labor and Material
$1,074.79
Balance on Hand 8.64
$1,083.43
The following is condensed from the county superintendent's report of the public schools for Otter township, for the year ending July 1st, 1907.
Otter township has eight independent rural school districts and eight school buildings valued at $5,250. School was maintained on an average of seven and one-half months during the year. One male teacher was employed at a compensa- tion of $37.90 per month, and seventeen female teachers were employed at an average compensation of $31.20 per month. There were two hundred and twenty- one persons of school age in the district, and an average attendance of one Imindred and fourteen. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.53.
Otter township received its name from that very interesting little animal-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
the otter. To the people of today, it seems almost incredible that the otter was an inhabitant of this part of the country. But the old settlers aver that there is no mistake, that the little animal really occupied a place in Otter township in considerable numbers. As a fur producer it has no superior in this region. The otter is very choice in its food, subsisting almost entirely on fish. It catches a fish, brings it to land, takes the fish between its forepaws, begins at the head and proceeds to devour toward the tail, rarely, if ever, eating the tail. The reason that present day people are somewhat skeptical in reference to the otter ever having been a resident of this part is, feeding as it does upon fish, it usually burrows in the vicinity of large streams. Perhaps there was a sufficient amount of fish in Otter creek and South river to justify a colony of them to make Otter township its headquarters. The Otter spends a considerable part of its time in play. Selecting a suitable place-a steep hill-side, it slides down and walks back and slides down again, and thus continues the sport. Ages before the Canadian young people engaged in tobogganing, the otter had enjoyed the sport in all continents, for it is a world-wide settler. It is well that its name should be preserved in the name of one of Warren county's townships. The names of towns and places are not only significant and serve to designate and give indviduality, but often are historical and perpetuate a historical item in a way that cannot otherwise be done. So Otter township will ever bring to mind the wild, timorous, little animal, so rich in fur-bearing as to be sought by people of all regions.
Otter township is drained by Otter creek, which runs through the entire township from south to north, and by South river flowing through its northern portion. There is some rough land in this township, but the most of it lays well. It contains many choice farms. Originally there were considerable quantities of native timber in this township, but the woodman's axe has not left much of it. No coal mines have been developed in this township. The Indianola and Chariton railway branch curves into this township for a short distance. There are no villages in the township. In an early day Hammonds- burg, in this township, bid fair to be a prosperous town, but when the railroad was built and Milo located, a large part of Hammondsburg was moved to the Milo site. A small portion of Milo is in Otter, so that the people of this town- ship have the advantages of the town of Milo. The northwest corner of Otter is within a mile of Indianola, and Ackworth station is within two miles of the township, thus transportation facilities for the people of this region are fairly good. Levi Hollingsworth, the Baleses. R. M. Hightower and Alfred Clark were the first settlers in Otter township. R. M. Hightower came in the spring of 1846, and lived for more than a generation on the same farm. According to his statement, there were but three families in the county south of the "strip" when he settled in Otter township; these three families lived north of Sandy- ville. Mr. Hightower voted at the first election held in the county at the Ginder schoolhouse rast of Ackworth. He helped to organize the township, and did his part in the development of the county. Alfred Clark came about the same time and settled in section 11. and entered hus land when it came into market. and
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
still resides upon it. Ellen Graham Richardson, a daughter of James and Mary Graham, was born in this township, in 1849. There were several other births in the township earlier than hers.
The Christian Union church in Hammondsburg, was organized October 10, 1889, with twenty members. The church building was erected in 1874, repaired in 1890 at a cost of $400. There is a Sunday school in connection with this church. The current expenses of the church are about $150. At present there are seventy members. The following pastors have served this church: C. G. Hollingsworth, one year; Joseph Griffin, one year; K. D. Wolf, one year; W. D. Pond, four years; C. S. Fair, seven years; Andrew Dorrel, three years; N. D. Gordon, one year.
There is a Methodist Episcopal church, called Brown's Chapel, located on section 19, in this township. At present there is a membership of eighty-five. This church sustains an interesting Sunday school; W. F. Butler, superintendent.
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