USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 29
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Township 93, range 25, shall constitute Norway civil township.
Township 91, range 25, shall constitute Dayton civil township. Township 91, range 24, shall constitute Lincoln civil township. Township 91, range 23, shall constitute Blaine civil township.
Township 92, range 23, shall constitute Iowa civil township.
Township 92, range 24, shall constitute Clarion civil township. Township 92, range 25, shall constitute Lake civil township.
Township 92, range 26, shall constitute Liberty civil township. Township 93, range 26, shall constitute Boone civil township."
Lincoln township now has a population of five hundred and sixty-one. The history of its schools and churches is set out under the general chapter heads of these subjects, presented elsewhere in this volume, hence will not be referred to in this connection. Lincoln township is, in many parts, flat and was originally very wet and lacked natural drainage outlets. Regarding this feature, another section of this chapter will treat in detail, but it may be here stated that there are now many drainage ditches cut here and there through-
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out the township. The White Fox creek courses through the western por- tion, into which falls a system of artificial drainage ditches. Galt and Clarion both being near, there are no towns or villages within the township. It is bounded on the east by Blaine township, on the south by Wall Lake town- ship, on the west by Dayton township and on the north by Clarion and Grant townships. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad traverses the north- eastern part of the territory, with a station point, over the township line, in Blaine township. This is purely a prairie township, except for the artificial groves planted by the thoughtful early settlers. These groves have come to be thrifty and full of large trees which give the landscape a charming appear- ance, and afford shelter in winter and cooling shade in summertime. These groves are located, usually, on the north and west sides of the farm houses and barnyards. Maple, willow, ash and elm, with some box elder, are the common trees. The prices of land have rapidly advanced in the last decade, owing to a general advance of prices in the county, as well as to the fine improvements and drainage of the soil in the lower tracts of land. There are many extensive, highly-developed places within the township, including the farms of O. P. Morton and W. T. Richards. It is generally conceded that the Morton place, where W. C. Morton, the father of O. P. Morton, first settled in 1875, is now one of the best places, counting the character of land and its modern improvements, within the township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Aside from lands belonging in the land grant for railroads, mentioned in a special chapter, the first lands were taken as homesteads under the 1864 United States homestead act. For the most part, these were not proved up on until about 1876. In what was originally Lincoln township, the pioneer settlers included D. D. Leonard, John Pearl. A. S, and William Fox, William MeCormick, Charles Miller, Stephen Parker, J. D. Denison, Peter and Michael Burke, Michael Russell, A. K. Ketchum, Edward Mabbott, Aaron Ellsworth, Joshua Meeker, the Lords, Fosters, Benningtons, Nicholses and Manns, nearly all of whom came prior to 1875. It is impossible to go further into detail concerning the many who arrived at later dates and at once set about build- ing homes for themselves on the bleak prairies of this township, now so fair to look upon. The Richards family, who came in from Webster City about 1883, have battled hard and have finally won out, now owning one of the valuable places in the township. Scores of others have beautiful, valuable
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farm homes, and seem, one and all, to believe their lines were really cast in pleasant places, and their surroundings at this date convince the stranger that they made no mistake in the selection of their homesteads. The farmers are becoming wealthy; they enjoy life and purchase the best of all that tends to make home and social life what it should be. There are numerous modern farm houses, the occupants of which enjoy the advantages of fine, blooded stock, spacious barns, excellent water systems, electric-lighted barns and houses, and magnificent groves, with their trees towering high and branches spreading broad. Many have their houses heated by modern systems-steam and hot water-and baths, with running hot and cold water, just such as one sees in city places.
As an example of these well improved places, the Morton home may be cited. There the elder Morton, pioneer from Iowa Falls in 1875, started without means and battled on for long years. He was among the first to pay special attention to planting out trees and shrubs, and everlastingly kept at it, until, before the death of the head of the family and his estimable wife, they enjoyed the luxuries of a thoroughly-equipped farm home. The father and son, O. P. Morton, working in conjunction, cared well, and in a scien- tific and progressive manner, for the tilling of their half section of land, now among the most valuable properties in the township. The planted trees about the premises make up a grove of greater variety than any other grove in the neighborhood. The township has raised its own timber, to the extent that saw-mills were established and have cut considerable cottonwood lumber from trees planted from the seeds, or set from slips and mere saplings, thirty or forty years ago. These fine groves afford an excellent wind-break against the severe storms of winter, such as the original settlers contended with in the old prairie days, when the township had not a tree growing on its surface. The barn on the Morton place is modern throughout, being about one hun- dred and twenty feet long. Its first story is of cement blocks, and has cement floors from end to end. It is provided with a complete system of water- works, and has electric lights in every section, including the topmost parts of the spacious bay-mow. Cattle, both stock cattle and milch cows, and horses all have clean, suitable stalls and apartments, while ample space is allowed for storage of grain and machinery. Even the feeding troughs are constructed of cement, as well as the hay mangers for horses. The contrast of this barn with the old time "straw sheds," which had to be used in the seventies and eighties, is indeed striking.
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A BANNER TOWNSIIIP.
In 1912 Lincoln township was counted the banner township in the county for improvements made during that year. On a score and more farms there were effected improvements amounting all the way from three hun- dred dollars to four thousand dollars each. Many farms were fenced in and crossed by sub-dividing fences of wire-woven fencing. The township used one hundred and twenty-five carloads of tiling. There were then six drainage districts in the township. Tens of thousands of dollars have been expended in placing these ditches and tiling there. In parts of Lincoln town- ship the fall for these tile drains is but little and in cases none at all, and a rather novel scheme was resorted to in order to get the surplus water from the lands. Many of the ingenious farmers conceived the idea that the ponds and "sink-holes" might be dried out by sinking seven-inch wells down to a distance of about two hundred feet-some going more than three hundred feet. The plan proved successful, in that the surface water on these lands was carried off through these tubular wells, probably by an underground stream. The late Senator J. P. Dolliver, it is stated, drained out parts of Owl lake, Humboldt county, in a like manner many years ago. Around these wells in Lincoln township large cement basins were built and into these the eight and ten-inch drain-tile empty their waters. The appearance of the township has materially changed in the last decade. Where once nothing but muddy waters stood almost the year round, now one sees grow- ing luxuriant crops. No richer or more lasting soil can be found in the world than this soil, when once it is drained. To reclaim these lands, once thought to be worthless, required capital and courage on the part of land owners, but the wisdom of the method is now plain to be seen.
CHAPTER XXXI.
NORWAY TOWNSHIP.
Norway township, named on account of the large Scandinavian popu- lation within its boundaries, is the second township from the western line of Wright county and is immediately south of Hancock county. At its east is Belmond township, at its south is Lake township and on its west is Boone township. It comprises all of congressional township 93, range 25 west.
The headwaters of Eagle creek rise in this township, as do also those of Otter creek. The county drainage districts extend into this region, and within the last few years the low, swampy lands have been materially improved by these canals and the numerous tile drains with which the county is now being gridironed. The Scandinavian people are frugal and enterprising, and take more kindly to becoming Americanized than the peo- ple of any other nationality that come from over the big seas to become citi- zens. These people have largely occupied Norway township. They are believers in and supporters of good schools and churches, of which an extended account is given in the chapters on these special topics, presented elsewhere in this work. The township is without a town or village, and the only railroad line that crosses its territory is about a mile and a half of the old Chicago & Iowa line, from Belmond to Forest City, which crosses sec- tion I.
The population of Norway township, at various enumerations, has been as follows: In 1880, it was only 77; in 1890 it was 452; in 1900, 756, and in 1910 it had decreased to 744. The 1905 Iowa state census book gave this township as having 190 males of the age of twenty-one years and over, and 144 from eighteen to forty-four years.
The land is of an excellent quality and is being well cared for by the present landowners and their renters. A third of a century ago, the vast scope of prairie there was one great pasture land, where were herded thou- sands of head of fattening cattle, brought in from other locations to take advantage of the free grass found growing so luxuriantly on the land of non-residents, but today the scene is changed, and all land is fenced and improved, the owner plowing what he can and pasturing the remainder.
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ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT.
In September, 1879, Norway township was taken from Boone township and made a separate civil township, its population then being about seventy- seven. The township has had a good local government, and its people moved early in the matter of good roads. The people have set out their share of groves, and today the settlers have come to be an enterprising, well-to-do class of citizens, who make farming pay as perhaps few of the farmers of other townships in the county make it pay.
There is no class of foreigners within the borders of Wright county which appreciates more highly what has been made by exchanging the land of the north of Europe ( whence nearly all came, poor people, not many decades since ) than does the Scandinavian population of Norway township.
Probably the first settler there was James Johnson, who located in the northwest of section 24, prior to 1874, and his danghter Malinda was the first child born in the township. The first school house was built in 1876. The Schovland brothers came in among the first; also the Sigstad family, in section 18; Mr. Downs located in the northwest of section 9, and U. I. Bruns in the southeast of section 17. It has been claimed by some that Ole Thompson was the first to bring his family to this township-he was very near the first, at any rate. The first church was erected in 1888.
Bruce postoffice was at one time the postoffice of this township, and there was a country store supplying some of the more common articles needed by the community, but the rural free delivery system discontinued this office several years ago. Clarion, Renwick and Garner are now usually resorted to as market towns and trading places by the citizens of Norway township. The country store and the creamery of Norway township have always been of much benefit to the farming community.
There is but one cemetery within the township, the Norway cemetery, situated on a part of the Robert Lucus farm, west from the creamery and near the school house.
The first township election was held at the house of L. T. Ligstad, on the general election day of 1879. The judges of election were John C. Smith, James Johnson and Andrew Korlin; clerks, Henry Crist and Emmel Ligstad. At that date the county supervisors were A. S. Chapman, N. B. Paine and E. A. Howland.
CHAPTER XXXIL
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
Pleasant township is the extreme northeastern sub-division of Wright county, as now divided into civil townships. It was ordered set off on March 5, 1856, and its boundaries were defined by the county authorities as "the east half of the county." Judge Dean was then county judge and he ordered an election in Pleasant township to be held in April of that year, which resulted in the election of the following township officials : Jus- tices of the peace, J. M. Elder and Robert Rowen ; constables, William Clif- ford and James G. Riley; township clerk, William E. Rogers; trustees, Will- iam B. Walters, Edwin Ballou and Henry Luick; assessor, Washington Dumond; road supervisor, Anthony Overacker. The bond of the road super- visor was fixed at fifty dollars; the assessor, who also collected taxes at times, gave a bond in the sum of three hundred dollars. Dumond resigned within a month of his election and J. M. Elder was appointed in his place, thus really becoming the first man to assess the township, which was half of the entire county.
The report of the first road supervisor shows there were twenty-one persons who labored on the highways during that year, to the amount of forty-one dollars; that the supervisor labored to the amount of six dollars, and that there was expended for bridge material the sum of four dollars and fifteen cents, which amount would not build a three-plank culvert now- adays.
With the formation of Vernon township, Pleasant township was reduced one-half in size, and still comprised the northeast quarter of the county. Subsequently, Iowa and Belmond townships were taken from Pleasant, and still later, changes were made that reduced it to its present dimensions, a six-mile-square territory, conforming to the lines of township 93, range 24 west, with Hancock county at its north boundary, Franklin county at its east, Iowa township at its south and Belmond township at its west.
The earliest settlers in the county dropped in there, early in the spring of 1854-several months in advance of the settlement on the Boone by William Stryker, July 5, and by Major Brassfield, in Liberty township, August 12, 1854. This east-side "settlement" spoken of by some was made
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by John Beebe, who entered the land later owned by Fred Luick, at the north end of Franklin grove, where he built a bark shanty. However, becom- ing alarmed at the report of Indians on the northern borders, he fled the scene and never returned. Messrs. Ford, Hill and a half-breed Indian, named Murdock, settled at Horse grove at the same time Beebe came in, but, after a few months' sojourn, also left without making any improve- ments.
The first, therefore, to become regular settlers within what is now Pleasant township were those who located in and near Belmond and Rowan, as before stated in the early settlement chapter in this work, including Messrs. Henry Luick, Gray, the Overackers and Mr. Wilse.
In 1855 a saw-mill was constructed in this township, on the banks of the Iowa, but was washed away by the floods of the following spring.
The first merchandise probably ever sold over a counter in Wright county was from the stock put in by J. W. Cowles, in July, 1855. About that date a small stock was opened at Sheffield, in the vicinity of present Goldfield-just which was the first, no one can now determine. This stock on the east side was at Belmond, and there has never been a day since that summer day in July, 1855, when there has not been a fair general store at Belmond. The first frame dwelling was erected by Martin and S. G. Pritchard in August 1855. Martin Pritchard had a blacksmith shop at that early day -- probably the first in Wright county. The first sermon was preached there by Rev. McNutt, and the first religious society formed in the county, the United Brethren church, was organized there.
Pleasant township is within the famous Iowa valley district, a locality which ever affords an abundant harvest of paying crops. Two groves are old-time landmarks-Buroak in the north and Franklin in the south part of the township. These afforded the largest supply of native timber found in any township in the county, save, possibly, Troy township, with its three- thousand-acre Bach grove. On account of this fine Iowa river timber, the first settlement naturally drew itself together there, fencing and fuel being two things always sought for by pioneers. It was many years before groves began to be planted by the settlers, but now beautiful groves are seen here and there and almost everywhere in the limits of the township and county.
The population of Pleasant township, according to the United States census report of 1910, was seven hundred and seventy-five, including a por- tion of Belmond town. The present enumeration will add somewhat to that given above.
BELMOND IN 1867.
BELMOND IN 1915.
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The schools and churches of the township are mentioned elsewhere in this work, in a general chapter covering the topic for the entire county.
BREASTWORKS.
It is related that in 1852-3 the Winnebago Indians constructed a mud or sod fort a little to the northeast of Franklin grove, as a protection against the savage Sioux tribes, with which they were ever at war. Many arrow heads and Indian bones have been discovered there.
An account of this "fort," as given by an old United States soldier, is probably correct. J. P. Myers, who in 1879 resided at Perry, Iowa, recalled his early travels over this county and all the north Iowa country while attached to the United States Dragoons, in 1843 and at a later date, but a few years prior to the white settlements. He speaks of the "Neutral strip" between the savage, warring Sioux and the more friendly Winnebago tribes. This strip was thirty miles in width and covered a portion of what is now Wright county. He says the Winnebagoes were the weaker of the two tribes, hence needed the protection of the government. Acting upon this, the military authorities had built a "fort," or really an earthwork, for the Winnebagoes, on land owned later by pioneer Fred Luick, which land he broke up for farming purposes in 1855. This was near Belmond, and is doubtless the same "fort" above named.
The same authority says that on one occasion the "wily Sioux, in num- bers of about one thousand, managed to steal down and secrete themselves, as is supposed, in Burroak grove, and while the dragoons were camped on the Boone on the west side of this county, the Winnebagoes were scattered in small bands; they came down on the little fort and captured it, killing most of the inmates and taking the remainder prisoners. Rumors soon reached the dragoons, who saddled and mounted their horses in haste, and overtook the Sioux, defeating them, killing many and returning the prison- ers. In all there were about six hundred killed."
The ruins of this fort were still to be seen when Fred Luick came to Wright county, the walls then being about three feet high.
THE TOWN OF BELMOND.
There are only two towns, or villages, within the borders of Pleasant township-Belmond and Palsville. Belmond is situated on both the west and east sides of the Iowa river, but in recent years the most of the place
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is confined to the east side, hence is within Pleasant township, while that portion on the west side is within Belmond township. Belmond town is situated in sections 19, 20, 29 and 30 of township 93, range 23 and 24. It was platted on October 20, 1856, by William E. Rogers, James M. Elder and Archer Dumond. Mr. Dumond desired to have it called after the town of his home in Indiana-Crown Point-but the others talked him out of it, and while they wanted it named Dumond, he prevailed, and, as a compro- mise, Belmond was substituted. Had he not been a very modest man, we might have had a "Dumond," instead of Belmond in Wright county today. Belmond is the only town of that name in the United States.
The town at first was all on the west bank of the lowa, but soon Doctor Cutler became associated with others and platted on the east side of the stream and agreed that all should be known as Belmond, although up to that date the place had gone by the name of Crown Point. The store and frame building mentioned before as having been located there were both on the west side. In fact, there was but little to be seen on the east side until after the Civil War period.
Cutler & Eller built a saw-mill and flouring-mill in 1856, which was washed away, and then a steam mill was erected, which did service a mim- ber of years and was finally moved to Kansas. Doctor Cutler also built a house on the west side in 1856-the first there. The first brick house in Belmond, and possibly the first in Wright county, was the structure erected by Archer Dumond, one of the town's founders, on the hill in West Bel- mond about 1856-7; it is still standing and is occupied. In 1875 there were at Belmond three churches-Methodist, Congregation and Catholic; a bank, two hotels, a newspaper, and the usual number of stores and shops. It had a population of three hundred, which has increased now to about fourteen hundred.
For lodges and churches, also public schools, see special chapters on these topics, elsewhere in this volume.
EARLY DAYS IN BELMOND.
The first attorney to practice at Belmond was Omer Kent ; J. L. Morse was the second and Z. C. Bradshaw (later a Methodist minister ), was the third, after which came W. Eskridge, who was later killed by the Indians in a massacre in Colorado.
Early physicians in Belmond were, Doctors Cutler, Morris, Woodley, P. C. Jones and Galer. Early stage drivers from that point were Luther
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Loomis, M. Lord, Solon Jones, Kirk Malvin, William Wertz and Fred Fulton.
The first marriage was that of J. E. Rowen and Catherine MeNntt, in 1856, the ceremony having been performed by J. M. Elder.
The first ( wooden ) bridge over the lowa at Belmond, was carried away by the flood and ice in 1867. The old mill was washed out in 1870, in which year, five men were drowned in one week about the town, while attempting to cross and re-cross the angry waters of the lowa.
The first school in Belmond was taught in a granary on the hill on the west side of the river, the teacher being Jane Oliver. A school house was not built until 1857, and the teacher's certificate was issued by II. W. Mont- gomery, school-fund commissioner, the teacher receiving eighteen dollars per month.
G. N. Thompson has a pocket account-book, once his father's, from which the following "hard-times" figures for wages and goods are quoted. "Belmond, Iowa, June 3, 1857-George Wilson began work today at $5.50 per month and his board. One month later he purchased a pair of boots, paying $5.50 for the same, but in October that season he had coming to him $30.00."
The Belmond Hotel was built in 1858 by Patterson & Prindle. Doctor Cutler opened his store at Belmond the same year.
A beautiful monument was unveiled at Belmond on Memorial Day, 19II, erected to the memory of that grand old Christian worker and Con- gregationalist minister, Reverend Sands. It was the gift of "Loving Friends" and has inscribed on its surface, among other items, the words, "Preacher, Patriot, Pioneer."
MUNICIPAL.
On October 21, 1881, by a vote of fifty-one to forty-seven, Belmond became an incorporated town and has had the following mayors and clerks : J. L. Morse, first mayor, was followed by R. M. Cameron, S. D. Pierce, R. M. Cameron, L. B. Clark, N. Reese, J. B. Brewsaugh, J. L. Klemme, Col. T. B. Kaufman, M. S. Paige, W. A. Bartholomew, R. M. Cameron, J. H. Reese, Val Griesy, R. M. Cameron, Theodore Wright and W. C. Ramsey. The recorders and clerks have been E. S. Hubbard, U. B. Tracy, J. W. Seeber, Frank Dunlap, G. N. Thompson, M. H. Littell, W. H. Pierce, E. H. Hubbard, J. C. Brown, J. B. Steeber, Ed H. Sands, J. B. Steeber,
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E. A. Pierce, and G. J. Byers, present efficient clerk, who holds the office by appointment of the board, under the newly enacted laws.
The original town officers were: J. L. Morse, mayor; E. S. Hubbard, recorder; David Luick, G. G. Pritchard, R. M. Cameron, G. H. Richardson, J. B. Brewsaugh and D. L. Cuppett, trustees.
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