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 34
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PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.
Palmyra township is immediately south of Richland and Allen townships.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justice of the Peace: H. E. Woods, Pahnyra.
Township Trustees: Richard Butcher, Indianola; E. E. Gardner, Indianola ; T. J. Nicholls, Palmyra.
Township Clerk : J. A. Morris, Carlisle.
Township Assessor : William Dillon.
Warrants Drawn on the Poor Fund :
Food and Clothing
$192.89
Hlouse Rent and Fuel
9.00
Medical Aid
10.00
Burial Expenses
11.50
$223.39
Trustees Road Report :
Cash on Hand January 1st, 1907
$ 129.57
Received From County Treasurer
886.73
$1,016.30
Paid for Labor and Material
$ 839.22
Balance on Hand
177.08
$1,016.30
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the public schools for Palmyra township. for the year ending July 1. 1907.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Palmyra township has six independent rural school districts with a school house in each district, the total value of which is $3,400. School was maintained seven and one-half months during the year. There were eleven females employed at an average compensation of $33.50 per month. There are one hundred and ninety-seven persons of school age in the districts. The average attendance dur- ing the year is one hundred and ten. The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil is $2.05.
PALMYRA INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.
l'ahyra has one school building of two rooms valued at $1,400, and main- tains school nine months of the year. It employs one male teacher as a compen- sation of $46.00 per month, and one female teacher at a compensation of $40.00 per month. There are sixty persons of school age in the district; average at- tendance, forty-three. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $1.80.
Palmyra township in boundary, is one of the most irregular in the county. The townships in the north half of the county, excepting the two western, are all irregular in boundary. A student looking on the map can conceive of no reason why the boundaries have been fixed as they are. Perhaps the first set- tlers who determined these boundaries, had good and sufficient reasons for the same, which have not been handed down to the present generation. Palmyra township contains as many good farms and as little waste land as any township in the county. It has long been noted for its excellent farm improvements, and for the fine herds of blooded cattle, owned by the farmers. Some of these herds are not only equal to any in the state, but to any in the west. The farms are generally well improved and are in an excellent state of cultivation. The history of Palmyra township begins with the history of the county. Part of it was in the "strip" about which so much has already been said. It was settled by white men while this part of the country was still in the hands of the Indians. Wil- liam Mason located in this township in 1845, and it is generally conceded that he plowed the first furrow in Warren county. The Myricks, Henry James, Obadiah lligby and the Farleys were among the early settlers. Matt Farley was born near Palmyra, November 10, 1846, and was one of the first white children born in the county. There is no railroad in this township, and but one village, Pal- myra. The town of Palmyra was laid out by John Farley and J. F. Moorman.
Directory: HI. E. Woods, variety store; W. R. Schooler, general store; G. C. Gillette, blacksmith ; J. E. Reed and J. D. Blake, physicians; James Myrick, harness shop ; Silas Igo, auctioneer. The people of Palmyra get their mail on a route from Carlisle. The township is without a postoffice.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the spring of 1852, John Kitchell organized a class of Methodists, com- posed of the following members: John Kitchell, Esther Kitehell, Lucy Ann Kitchell. Sylvester Farley, Elizabeth Farley, Jane Farley, Lucinda Paul, Eri W. Fonts, Filethe Fonts, Phebe Fonts, Smith Parker, Mary Parker and Lneinda Lundy. John Kitehell, class leader. Eri Fonts, steward. The religious services
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
were held in the schoolhouse. The first board of trustees were: E. W. Fonts, John Kitehell, Sylvester Farley, John Morris and Michael Laverty. E. L. Briggs was the first pastor. In a short time there were added to this class seventeen members. The first church building was commenced in 1855, and completed in the early part of 1856. In fourteen years it became necessary to have a church of larger dimensions. In 1870 the present church building was ereeted with a seating capacity of 500. For many years it was the largest church in Warren county.
FRIENDS' CHURCH.
The first Friends' church in Palmyra township was organized about the year 1849; one among the first religious organizations in the county. The eon- stituent members were: Thomas Rees and family. Robert Rees and family. Solomon Kight and family. A. Johnson and family. Charles Hinshaw and family. Rhodema Newlin and husband were pastors of this church in an early day. The first church building was erected in 1849. It was a log building, erected by the members of the church and the neighbors, and was used for both school and church purposes. Later a frame building was erected and paid for by sub- seriptions, and this building was also used for both school and church purposes. Later, another church building has been erected by a branch of the Friends' churel, known as the Progressives.
Philo G. C. Merrill of Palmyra township, was a member of the senate in the Tenth General Assembly, and John II. Miller, who still resides in the township, represented Warren county in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly.
LODGE.
The Palmyra Lodge. No. 146. I. O. O. F., was organized in October. 1867. with fourteen charter members. Present officers : Walter Tallboy, N. G .; Samuel Garrett, V. G .; D. A. Craig. Treasurer; G. Epps. Secretary ; J. W. Bruce, War- den. Present membership, twenty-nine.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Richland township is the northeast township in the county, and is bounded on the north by the Des Moines river; on the west by Allen and Palmyra town- ships; on the south by Union township: and on the east by Marion county.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justices of the Peace: W. H. Robertson. Carlisle; Earnest Shepherd, Ilartford.
Township Trustees: A. Myrick, Ford; Geo. Patterson. Carlisle; Sanford Wilson, Hartford.
Constable : E. W. Canady. Carlisle.
Township Clerk : Ed Owens, Hartford.
Township Assessor: W. W. Guinn.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund.
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IHISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Food for clothing $122.40
Medical Aid 206.25
$328.65
Trustees Road Report.
Cash on hand January 1, 1907 $ .39
Received from County Treasurer
863.02
Received from A. W. Freel 2.25
$865.66
Paid for labor and material
$812.42
Balance on hand
53.24
$865.66
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's Report of the Public Schools for Richland township for the year ending July 1, 1907.
HARTFORD GRADED SCHOOL.
The independent district of Hartford has one school building of two rooms, valued at $1.100. It maintains a school for eight months of the year. There was one male teacher employed, at a salary of $40 per month; and one female teacher, at a salary of $32.50 per month. There are sixty-seven persons of school age in the district. The average attendance for the year forty-six : average cost of tuition per pupil per month $1.57.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP SUB-DISTRICTS.
Richland township has nine sub-distriets with a schoolhouse in each, the total value, $2,675. The schools taught in the year average eight months. There were four male teachers employed, at an average salary of $32.55 per month; and fourteen female teachers, at an average salary of $31.24 per month. There are two hundred and eighteen persons of school age in the township sub- districts. The average attendance, one hundred and five ; average cost of tuition per pupil per month, $2.87.
Richland township is one of the smaller townships in the county, containing less than thirty-six sections. It is the northeast township of the county, the first settled, contained probably more timber than any other township in the county. Indeed, if the timber had been properly husbanded, it would have been sufficient to supply the wants of the entire county. It was in this township that the Government saw-mill was erected by Captain Allen and John D. Parmelee, and here the first destruction of Warren county timber began that was so ruth- lessly carried forward until the native timber has almost entirely disappeared. There were groves of magnificent walnut trees. Some of them were made into rails, and some sawed into boards, and the large limbs were left to rot or be burned on the ground. Many of those trees would today be worth $100 each possibly more, but they are gone. On the hills there were beautiful oak trees,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
the value of which now could hardly be estimated, but they too have gone the way of all the earth. Richland township was a part of the "strip," and enjoyed the distinction of belonging to Polk county for about seven years. Every student of the past of Warren county can but regret the careless manner in which the large groves of excellent timber in Richland township were dis- posed of and the little profit that was derived from them. As has been else- where mentioned. John D. Parmelee was the first permanent settler in the county, and in this township took up his abode in 1843, and remained until 1860 when he went farther west. The first settlement in Richland township dates back to the days of the Indians. Several men were able to get across the line and make claims before the Indians retired. although such enterprises were strictly for- bidden by the government. Others slipped across the line and selected their claims and were ready to rush in and take possession as soon as the day for the Indians' departure had arrived. Uriah Dodson was among the enterprising settlers who came in 1845 to take a claim. This was about six weeks before the time for the departure of the Indians. Ile forded the Middle river near the Parmelee mill and reached the top of the bluff where he could get a good view of the surrounding country, and expressed himself well satisfied and that he would set his stake there and claim it for his future residence. Moving a little farther on he saw smoke rising from a log cabin, which was already occupied by George Leslie, who had been building bridges for the government, and like Parmelee. had got in on a permit before the expiration of the Indians' time. It was near the mill site where William Mason broke the first prairie land in Warren county on the claim of Mr. Parmelee. Amos and William Freel were early settlers. also Newton Guthrie. J. D. Hartman and many others came in as early as 1846. It is now believed that L. N. Fouts tanght the first school in Richland township. in a log cabin. Newton Guthrie and J. D. Parmelee were the first to enter their lands as soon as opportunity was given in 1848. Richland township has furnished more legislators than any other township in the county. William M. Marshman was senator in the Eleventh General Assembly. Mark A. DaSheill was senator in the Fourteenth. Fifteenth. Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies, and represented Warren county in the Twelfth General Assembly while a resident of Hartford. C. L. Anderson represented Warren county in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second General Assemblies. Newton Guthrie repre- sented Warren county in the Ninth General Assembly, and also in the Extra Session.
HARTFORD.
John D. Hartman (the father of Indianola's present mayor) laid out the town of Hartford in 1849. The postoffice was established in 1859, Dr. J. Huff being the first postmaster. The first honse was built in 1850.
DIRECTORY OF BUSINESS.
M. M. Barr, general store. L. B. Nunnally. general store. W. Cheeney. hardware. A. Badgley, jewelry. Findlay Shepperd, postmaster. F. Nichols,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
barber shop. Carl Noe, blacksmith. E. C. Sturman, physician. The first Sunday school was organized at Hartford in 1849 with Daniel Smith as super- intendent.
CHURCHES.
The Baptist church was organized April, 1853. The following list of charter members shows that Charles MeKay was among them: E. D. Taylor, A. J. Duncan. O. C. Hancock, James Duncan, Charles MeKay, S. V. R. James, J. H. Terwilleger, Margaret Duncan, Louisa Jane Duncan, Susan Taylor, Margaret Hartman. Julia A. Hancock. This society was organized by B. B. Arnold. moderator, and HI. Wyatt, clerk. B. B. Arnold was the first pastor. The first church building was erected in 1858. The building was sold about a year ago, But ten members remain.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church was organized in a schoolhouse in 1854 with the following members: Uriah Dodson and wife. James Talbott and wife. Amos Mattock and wife, Clark Badgley and wife, Henry Stonebunner and wife. Martha Carey and Mrs. Ray. The first pastor was James Hill, and the next P. T. Russell. A schoolhouse was built east of Hartford, known as Brown's schoolhouse, to which the Christian church gave $100 and was allowed to use the schoolhouse for church purposes. The Christian church at Swan met with them. making a strong society. In 1868 the present church building was erected in Hartford at a cost of $1500. S. J. Mathewson is pastor. Present membership one hundred. This church has a flourishing Sunday school and Christian Endeavor Society.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
William Henry Kelly, pastor. Present membership one hundred. Con- gregational expenses $750. Benevolences raised last year, $80. The Sunday school has an enrollment of seventy members, and the Ladies Industrial Society fifty, and the Junior Endeavor Society twenty members. This has long been recognized as an influential and prosperous church.
M. E. CHURCH.
Hartford was the head of the first Methodist Episcopal circuit established in this part of the country. John W. Teas was appointed pastor of the Three Rivers Mission in 1849, and took up his head-quarters at Hartford. His circuit embraced Warren and Madison counties and a part of Polk county, and was called the Three Rivers Mission. A parsonage was built at Hartford and occupied for several years by Methodist preachers. A small church building was erected and served a good purpose for many years.
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IIISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
LODGES.
YOEMEN.
Three Rivers Homestead No. 323. was organized August 3. 1899 with twenty- four charter members. G. E. Shupe, Foreman. F. E. Morris, M. of A. Mary Cutlip, Correspondent. It now has thirty members.
I. 0. 0. F.
Hartford Lodge No. 507, I. O. O. F. was organized in 1856, and was re- chartered in October. 1894 with five members. It now has a membership of forty. W. II. Cain, N. G. Homer Hull, V. G. I. G. Badgley, Sec. A. L. Putnam, Treasurer.
G. A. R.
This post was organized in 1883 with forty-three charter members. Henry Cain, Commander. Ira Parker. Adjutant. S. M. Quinn. Quartermaster. J. HI. Miller. Chaplain. Geo. Haworth, S. V. Com. Present membership twelve.
A. F. & A. M.
Hartford Lodge 83, A. F. & A. M. Present officers, Guy Coon, W. M John Beitzel, S. W. J. A. Morris, J. W. J. F. Sherman, Sec. A. L. Putnam, Treasurer. Present membership sixty-five. Meets on Saturday night on or before the full moon.
FORD.
Perry Furrow, general store. Mart Ray. railway station agent. Perry Furrow, postmaster. Ford is located on the Des Moines and Knoxville branch of the C. B. & Q. railway system, which road crosses the township from west to east.
SQUAW TOWNSHIP.
Squaw township is the same as township 74 north of range 24 west of the 5th P. M. of Iowa.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Justice of the Peace: W. C. Conrad, New Virginia.
Township Trustees: John A. Murphy, Indianola; W. G. Davidson. New Virginia ; George McIntosh, New Virginia.
Constable: John W. Sams, New Virginia.
Township Clerk : George M. Van Patten, New Virginia.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Township Assessor: George Hagen.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund:
Food and clothing
$ 29.85
Medical aid 29.00
$ 58.85
Trustees Road Report :
Cash on hand January 1. 1907
$ 9.70
Received from County Treasurer 860.69
$870.39
Paid for labor and material
$816.18
Balance on hand 54.21
$870.39
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's Report of the Public Schools for Squaw township for the year ending July 1, 1907.
Squaw township has nine sub-districts with a schoolhouse in each, valued at $4.300. It maintains an average of seven months school in the year. There were employed five male teachers, at an average salary of $35.57 per month; and fifteen female teachers, at an average salary of $30.85 per month. There are two hundred seventy-five persons of school age in the township. The average attendance is one hundred and sixty-one. The average cost of tuition per pupil per month $1.94.
Squaw township brings us again into Indian vocabulary. The word squaw signifies female or woman among the tribes of the Algonkin family, and is the dearest of all words to the Indian braves. Squaw township was a favorite hannt of the Indians. After they evacuated this part of the country, groups of them returned to Squaw township to look at the scenes with which they were familiar in former days. The Indian is a sentimentalist, he delights in reminiscences and possesses a most excellent memory. The principal stream in Squaw town- ship is called Squaw Creek, and there is another creek in the township. namely Papoose Creek. That brings forward the Indian again. Papoose signifies baby, and there are no babies in all the world more attractive than Indian babies. To see a score of sqnaws marching in single file each with a papoose in a haver- sack on her shoulders, is a sight worth remembering. The bright-eyed squaw with her long black hair, carrying a delightful little papoose, is really worth remembering. In an early day. before the railways were built. there was a stage line from Indianola to Osceola. The half-way station between these two points was in Squaw township near where the village of Medora is now situated. That half-way station was a point of considerable interest in those days. Stage horses were changed at that point. and dinners were served, and an air of business prevailed all around. This station with all that was connected with it was abandoned when the railways came. There is no railroad in Squaw township ; to those who love the bustle and stir of the railway station, it makes Squaw town-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
ship undesirable; but to the farmer who loves rural life and cares nothing for the hum-drum of business, Squaw township is a desirable locality. The land is somewhat broken, but in the township there are many good farms. It is well adapted to stock raising, which is largely the proper method of farming in Warren county. The old idea that corn is the only profitable crop is or ought to be obsolete. Corn requires too much labor. Each ear must be husked by human hands. for human skill has never been able to invent a successful corn- husking machine.
J. Hackney was the first settler in Squaw township. He settled on section 10 in 1848, and made considerable improvements, but later sold his improvements and songht a newer country. After 1852, the township settled rapidly. There is but one village in this township. Medora, which was laid ont and named by Charity D. Rice in 1870. There are two general stores in the village, the one kept by Burgess and Son, and the other by H. H. Himstreet. C. C. Taggart and Fred Foster, blacksmiths.
CHURCHES.
PRESBYTERIAN.
There is a Presbyterian church building at present unoccupied.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
The Methodist Episcopal church has a membership of eighty-six. Harry Lyon is the Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. Joe Burgess is the president of the Epworth League.
COUNTRY CHURCHES.
The Medford M. E. church maintains a Sunday school, superintended by Mary Davidson, and also an Epworth League.
Plainview M. E. church has a membership of forty one. Mrs. John Murphy is Sunday school superintendent.
The Mt. Tabor M. E. church was organized March 1855, with a membership of twenty-eight. The following have served this church as pastors: Wm. Butts, Wmn. Pring. John Reynolds, Henry Hadley, George and John Conrad, Enoch Woods. Archibald Murphy, D. B. Clary, D. Thompson, John Hestwood, Michael Sheets, Joseph Knots. Joshua Smith, George Clanner. M. R. Harnard. Adam Kern, Arthur Barton, W. C. Smith. E. Voorhees. M. R. Stryker, HI. C. Preston, C. A. Fassett, J. D. DeTarr.
The first church building was erected in 1874 and dedicated on the fourth day of July, and cost nineteen hundred dollars. The society has a membership of thirty-six. It maintains a Sunday school, Epworth League and Ladies' Aid Society.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
LODGES.
1. 0. 0. F.
Medora Lodge No. 681. I. O. O. F .. was organized October 17. 1901. with five charter members. It now has a membership of thirty-five. Alexander Sanders. N. G .; C. Deskins, V. G .; J. W. Matthews, Secretary ; J. P. Burgess, Financial Secretary.
YOEMEN.
Medora Homestead No. 676, was organized May 8, 1901. with nineteen charter members. It now has a membership of fifteen. C. C. Taggart, Foreman ; H. H. Himstreet, Correspondent.
M. W. A.
Medora Camp No. 9343. M. W. A. was organized March 7. 1901. with twelve charter members. Its present membership is thirty-five. C. C. Edgerton, ad- viser ; Alex. Williamson, clerk.
COOL ..
J. L. Graham conducts a general store, J. H. Moore, physician.
The Christian Union church was organized November 11, 1893, with the following members: Elizabeth Morris. Mande Butler. Sarah Goodrich, Rebecca Coatney. Lizzie Hess, Ella R. King. Anna R. New, Lizzie Disney, L. A. Disney. Litey New, Etta New. W. B. Disney. The following pastors have served this church : Rev. Quick. Joe. Griffin. Charlie Hollingsworth. Nathan Eveland, N. D. Gordon. C. W. Reed. The present membership is fifty-six. Horace Wallace is Sunday school superintendent. The church building was erected in 1894 at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Union township is bounded on the north by Richland and Palmyra townships, on the east by the county line, on the south by Belmont township and on the west by Lincoln township.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1908.
Township Trustees: J. E. Frank, Sandyville, J. W. Batten, Pleasantville, C. O. Stacy, Sandyville.
Justice of the Peace: V. N. Carpenter. Sandyville.
Constable : J. B. Putnam, Ackworth.
Township Clerk : C. W. Sandy, Sandyville.
Township Assessor: A. E. Frank.
Warrants drawn on the Poor Fund.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Medical aid
$ 15.25
Trustees Road Report.
C'ash on hand January 1, 1907
$ 476.51
Received from County Treasurer 1018.95
$1495.46
Paid for labor and material
$ 916.19
Balance on hand
579.27
$1495.46
The following is condensed from the County Superintendent's report of the Public Schools for Union township for the year ending July 1. 1907.
Union township has five independent rural school districts and five school- houses valued at twenty-six hundred dollars. An average of seven months of school was maintained in the township for the year. One male teacher was em- ployed at a salary of $43.20 per month. Ten female teachers were employed at an average salary of $31.14 per month. There are one hundred and sixty-three persons of school age in the district ; average attendance during the year seventy-six. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. $2.34.
SANDYVILLE-INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.
Sandyville has one schoolhouse of two rooms, valued at fifteen hundred dol- lars. It maintained school eight months during the year and employed one male teacher at a salary of $13.00 per month and two female teachers at an average salary of $32.73 per month. There are thirty-nine persons of school age in the district; average attendance, twenty-nine. Average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $2.47.
Union township was settled in the early history of Warren county by a very enterprising class of farmers, who came from Ohio and Indiana. It is an excellent township of land. There is a divide that is not excelled for beauty in the country. The north part of the township is drained by South river ; and the south part by Coal creek and other tributaries of White Breast. The natural appearance of the land in its virgin state was very attractive. The soil is good; the water is good, and the topography of the conntry is not excelled anywhere in the county. There is but one village. Sandyville, in this township; and it is not as prosperous as it once was. because there is no railroad in the township; and after railroads were established, the villages that were considerable distance from a railroad ceased to improve. When farmers go to town, they want to go to a railroad point. The settlers early gave attention to schools and churches. There is no place in this part of Iowa where the farming community have more generally prospered than in Union township. They have given attention to both grain raising and stockraising. All of the first settlers who remained on their farms became prosperous, well to do, happy and contented. The township being one of the east tier of townships in the county. many of the inhabitants go to Pleasantville and Knoxville to trade.
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