USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 27
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Thompson went from Onawa to St. Louis, and Barnum remained in Onawa until the following spring, removing thence to Nebraska, where he, in course of time, became a prominent citizen. Thomp- son subsequently attempted to found another similar religious society, but was unsuccessful, and next turned his attention to publishing a book on the "Origin of the Black and Mixed Races," which book he pretended to translate largely from the Hebrew and Greek languages, which, it is said, he in reality knew nothing about. The last heard of him by his former followers in Monona, was to the effect that he was in Philadelphia in destitute circum- stances. After his flight from Preparation, his family was sent to him at Onawa, his followers (?) dividing the personal property among themselves, each taking such of his own property as he could identify. An action in chancery was immediately begun to set aside the conveyances of real estate, which litigation lingered in the courts for eight years, or until December, 1866, when the conveyances were all declared to be fraudulent, and were set aside,
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the Supreme Court of Iowa holding that Thompson held the property only as a trustee. The property was sold under an order of the court, and the proceeds were divided among the original contributors in ratio to the amount contributed by each. Of the sixty families brought to Monona by Thompson-to the settle- ment at Preparation-only three or four remain-to such an in- glorious termination was Baneenyism destined to attain.
The proper name by which this peculiar sect sought to be known is said to have been the "Congregation of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," which was contracted to "Con-je-pre-zion," and hence the members came to be known as the "Conjeprezionites." Prepara- tion was also familiarly known as Baneemy Town.
Monona county was organized in 1854. At the time of its or- ganization, it had a population of 222; its population in 1860 was 832; in 1865 the population was 1,056; in 1870 it had reached 3,654, which was increased to 5,967 in 1875, and to 9,055 in 1880. Thirty-two votes were cast for Governor in the county in 1854; 134 votes were cast in 1857, and in 1859, Samuel J. Kirkwood and A. C. Dodge, Gubernatorial candidates, each received 105 votes in the county.
Charles B. Thompson was appointed the first County Judge. This was before the location of the county seat, so that the first county business was transacted at Preparation. In the autumn of 1854, the county seat was located by the commissioners appointed by the Legislature. They gave the place selected the name of Bloomfield, but there being another town of that name in the State, it was changed to Ashton. The county seat remained there until the spring of 1858, when it was removed to Onawa by a vote of the people. The following were the first county officers: Charles B. Thompson, County Judge; Guy C. Barnum, Treasurer; Hugh Lytle, Clerk; Homer C. Hoyt, Sheriff.
Monona county then embraced what is now the west range of townships of Crawford county, but the change was made in accord- ance with the votes of both counties in 1865. In 1860 a vote was taken on the question of the removal of the county seat from Onawa to Belvidere, and another vote was taken in 1862, on the removal to Arcola; both of which attempts, however, failed, and the location of the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad may be said to have, in all probability, finally settled the question.
The first newspaper was published by "Father Ephraim" Thomp- son at Preparation. and was called Zion Harbinger and Weekly Messenger. Thompson also published a monthly periodical. Dur- ing the continuance of this paper, it flourished under several dif- ferent names, such as the Weekly News and Messenger and the Democratic Messenger. This paper was started in 1854; in 1855, Thompson published a paper called the Onawa Adrenture. In November, 1860, a paper was commenced at Onawa, by A. Dim- mick and D. W. Butts, called the Monona Cordon. The next pa-
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per, the West Iowa Gazette, was started by Mr. Butts about the be- ginning of 1863, and was succeeded in 1865 by the Monona County Gazette, the first number of which was issued December 2d, 1865, F. M. Howdendobler and C. H. Aldridge being the pub- lishers. The People's Press made its first appearance in Onawa in 1870.
The first frame house erected in the county was built at Prep- aration in the summer of 1853, of materials brought from Potta- wattamie county. Thomas Lewis taught the first school in the county at Preparation in the same year. In 1854 the first lumber was sawed at Preparation. Amos Chase, at the same settlement, was the pioneer blacksmith. John S. Blackburn began the mak- ing of that very palatable article, corn meal, in 1857. In 1857, a frame school house was erected at Ashton.
The first officers of Ashton Township were: Lorenzo D. Driggs, J. B. Gard, Justices of the Peace; Josiah Sumner, Isaac Ashton, J. B. Gard, Trustees; Aaron Cook, Clerk; Lorenzo Driggs, Asses- sor; J. Sumner, M. Owens, Constables.
The present county officers of Monona county are: C. H. Aldridge, Clerk; James Walker, Sheriff; John K. McCasky, Auditor; G. H. Bryant, Treasurer; M. W. Bacon, Recorder; J. B. P. Day, Surveyor; J. G. Iddings, Superintendent of Schools; G. M. Scott, E. Wilber, Fred. McClausland, Board of Supervisors.
The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad traverses the county from north to south, along its western border. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern enters Monona County at the northeast corner, and terminates at Mapleton Station. This line is, it is presumed to be built through the county, touching Onawa, and extended into Nebraska, crossing the Missouri at Decatur. Another line, running from a point in the western part of Crawford county, through Monona County, and passing on to Sioux City, is looked forward to. This line is expected to be built by the W. & St. P. company, and will pass about ten miles east of the county seat.
The towns of Monona County are: Whiting, situated in the northwestern part, on the Sioux City & Pacific; Mapleton, to the northwest; Soldier, to the southeast, and Onawa in the western part of the county.
ONAWA.
The prosperous and progressive town of Onawa, the county seat of Monona County, is located near the middle line of the county, north and south, and about eight miles east of the Missouri River, but only about four miles from the nearest point on the river to the southwest. The Monona Land Company laid out Onawa in 1857, including in its area about six hundred acres, with about six hundred additional acres of out-lots. The principal streets run east and west, and are one hundred and fifty feet in width, the
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other streets being eighty feet wide, with alleys sixteen feet wide. Two blocks were reserved in the northern part of the town for public parks.
S. S. Pearse built the first house in Onawa July 2d. 1857; the Onawa House was raised on the 4th of the same month, by J. E. Morrison. Among the first settlers were Judge C. E. Whiting, J. E. Morrison, Timothy Elliott, R. G. Fairchild and S. S. Pearse.
Surrounded by an excellent farming country, with plenty of timber within two or three miles, Onawa is certain to develop into a point of considerable importance. Since its incorporation, and the completion of the railroad, the population of the town has steadily increased. Onawa is thirty-seven miles from Sioux City, about sixty-five miles from Council Bluffs, and thirty-eight miles from Missouri Valley Junction.
Up to 1868, Onawa remained a sub-district of Franklin township district. A petition was presented in that year, praying for a spec- ial election to vote upon the question of the organization of an in- dependent school district. This petition was granted, and the or- ganization was effected February 22d, 1868. The members of the Board, for the first year, were: Charles Atkins, President; James Armstrong, Vice-President; F. M. Snow, Secretary; N. A. Whit- ing, Treasurer; R. G. Fairchild, L. D. Sittle and J. E. Selleck, Di- rectors. The first school taught in the town was taught by A. R. Wright, now of Sioux City, in a little log school house, now on Main street, about the year 1857. There was a brick school house -- 28x50 feet in dimensions, and one-story high, erected subse- quently, which was successfully utilized until the building of the present edifice in 1874. The present public school building is a fine brick structure, 48x85 feet, and three-stories high. It con- tains six rooms. The building cost in the neighborhood of $20,- 000. The present school officers are: Board of Education-J. K. McCaskey, President; S. B. Martin, Secretary; C. H. Holbrook, Treasurer: N. A. Whiting, B. D. Holbrook, G. E. Warner, J. E. Selleck, M. Vincent, members of the Board. The corps of teach- ers as composed at this writing, is as follows: W. H. Dempster, Principal; Belle M. Gilcrest, Assistant Principal; W. J. Maugh- lin, Annie C. Gillette, D. E. Smith, Flora J. Maughlin, Bessie Gray, teachers. Present enrollment, about 300. The school build- ing is a model of architectural beauty and finish, the rooms are large, heated by means of furnaces, ventilated in accordance with the Ruttan system, and furnished with single and combination desks.
The Court House at Onawa was built by the Monona Land Company in 1858, and donated to the county. The building cost about $7,000.
A summarized history of Monona county's newspapers has been given hitherto. Room-or rather want of room-only suffices here to say that the Monona County Gazette was taken charge of
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in 1879 by W. A. Green alone, who ran the paper until 1870, when it subsequently passed into the ownership of the Gazette Publishing Company, with Mr. J. D. Ainsworth as the editor. In 1875, Ainsworth became sole proprietor, and has continued to hold the fort in a most commendable way. The Gozette is an eight- column folio, and has a circulation in excess of 800 copies.
The first railroad was completed to Onawa in November, 1867. The town gave the company the right of way, and lots, and cash to the amount of $8,000, besides donating twenty acres of land for depot grounds. Onawa has a reasonable prospect for a rail- road from Mapleton during the present year.
The date of the platting of Onawa was the year 1857. The following persons composed the Monona Land Company: T. Elliott, J. E. Morrison, J. L. Merritt, C. E. Whiting, R. G. Fair- child, S. S. Pearse, A. B. Gard, W. S. Phillips, A. Dimmick; Judge Whiting being the President; T. Elliott, Treasurer; S. S. Pearse, Secretary.
The first Mayor of Onawa was Dr. R. Stebbins. Present municipal officers: H. E. Morrison, Mayor; T. P. Noble, Record- er; J. C. Pike, D. B. Kenyon, John Cleghorn, J. R. Thurston, T. C. Walton, Council.
The business interests of Onawa may be classified, with reason- able accuracy, as follows:
General stores, four; groceries, three; drug stores, two; millinery, three; harness, two; hardware, two; meat markets two; clothing, one; Jewelry, one; agricultural implements, two; flour and feed, one; bank, one; barber shop, one; hotels, three; blacksmith shops, three; furniture, one; boots and shoes, two; livery, two; lumber, one; flouring mill, one; fancy goods, one; saloons, two.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
Congregational Church Society .- The Congregational Society was organized June 27th, 1858, by Rev. G. G. Rice, of Council Bluffs, and Rev. Reuben Gaylord, of Omaha. The first-named gentleman was the society's first pastor, and he was succeeded by the Rev. George L. Woodhull, who died October 1st, 1870, aged 28 years. Mr. Woodhull's successor was the present pastor, Rev. Charles N. Lyman, who assumed the charge January 1, 1871. The church edifice was erected in 1870, and was dedicated in Decem- ber of that year. The cost was $6,000. Prior to the erection of this building, the society held its services in the Court House. The present membership of the society is fifty-five. A Sabbath School, with an average attendance of seventy-five pupils, is connected with the church. The superintendent of the school is the Rev. Charles N. Lyman.
Methodist Episcopal Church Society .- The Methodist Episcopal Society was organized October 9th, 1870, by Rev. J. F. Walker,
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who was the first pastor. The successive pastors were: Revs. L. H. Woodworth, A. L. Mattison, O. S. Bryan,. J. B. Starkey, J. Warner, H. W. Jones, S. W. Owen, C. E. Chase, F. A. Burdick and A. J. Beebe, the latter being the present pastor. The edifice now in use was built in 1873, at a cost of $2,000. The society had previously held services in the public school house. The present membership is forty-three. The society has a parsonage, which was built in 1873. during Rev. Starkey's pastoral term. There is also a Sabbath School with about seventy-five pupils, the superin- tenaent of which is Miss D. E. Smith. The present Trustees of the society are: M. W. Bacon, S. W. Grow, L. D. Sittle, W. C. Marr and T. C. Walton.
Roman Catholic Church Society .- The Catholic Church Society at Onawa may be considered to date its existence from the build- ing of its church edifice in the latter part of 1872. Mass had been celebrated there occasionally, as far back as 1866, and in 1867, when Bishop Hennessy assumed charge of the western part of the State, which, during the government of his predecessor, Bishop Smythe, had been administered by the late Bishop O'Gor- man, of Omaha. Mass was celebrated prior to 1866, by priests of the Diocese of Nebraska, and particularly by Father Tracy, of old St. John's, who had charge from the Yellowstone to the Platte. Rev. B. C. Lenehan is the present pastor.
Monona Lodge No. 380, I. O. O. F .- This Lodge was organ- ized June 7th, 1878, by Grand Master A. J. Morrison. The charter members were: E. W. Holbrook,. H. W. Cady. L. H. Belknap, John Douglas, C. M. Ross, J. S. Baggs, D. L. Utterback, James Carmody, R. Horning and J. K. McCaskey. The first officers were: J. K. McCaskey, N. G .; J. Carmody, V. G .; J. Douglas, S .; E. W. Holbrook, T. The membership of the Lodge is twenty-eight. Present officers: P. T. Noble, N. G .; Geo. W. Penn, V. G .; L. D. Sittle, S .; W. M. Bacon, T. The meetings of the Lodge are held on every Saturday night of each week in the hall of the society over the bank.
Vesper Lodge No. 223, A. F. and A. M .- A dispensation was granted to this Lodge August 28th, 1867. The first officers were: F. W. Snow, W. M .: James Butts, S. W .; Truman Pierce, J. W .; Charles Atkins, S .; Fred McCouslan, T .; W. A. Grow, S. D .; M. A. Treeland, J. D .; John Baggs, Tyler. A charter was granted the Lodge June 3d, 1868. The charter members were F. W. Snow, James Butts, Truman Pierce and other wortny gentlemen. The present officers are: James Walker. W. M .; H. Douglas, S. W .; G. E. Warner, J. W .; J. D. Ainsworth, S .; R. Stebbins, F. S .; B. D. Holbrook, S. D .; D. Handle, J. D .; J. D. Giddings, S. S .; O. D. Bishop, J. S .; F. W. Snow, Tyler. The Lodge meets every Wednesday, on or after each full moon, in the hall over the bank. The membership of this society is thirty-eight, and it is in a flour- ishing condition.
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Monona County Agricultural Association .- This association was organized in the spring of 1871, as a stock company. The first of- ficial board of directors was composed of the following-named gen- tlemen: C. E. Whiting, Fred McCausland, J. E. Morrison, M. A. Freeland, W. G. Kennedy, A. Dimmick and E. Peak. The first officers were: C. E. Whiting, President; M. A. Freeland, Vice- President; James Walker, Secretary; B. D. Holbrook, Treasurer. The association owns thirty-five acres of land situated about one mile north of Onawa, which land is enclosed with a good, substan- tial fence. Inside the enclosure is Floral Hall, an excellent build- ing, with dimensions of 20x40 feet, as well as an additional "L," of 24x60 feet. There are also a fine Amphitheatre and good stables and cattle-sheds. A half-mile race-track is another improvement. All these are in good condition. The present board of directors is composed of W. T. Boyd, A. Oliver, J. D. Woodward, J. B. P. Day, R. G. Fairchild, C. E. Whiting and G. E. Warner. The present officers are: A. Oliver, President; J. B. P. Day, Vice- President; J. D. Ainsworth, Secretary; B. D. Holbrook, Treasurer. The society is in a very prosperous condition. Its last annual fair, the ninth, was held in September, 1881.
Monona County Old Settlers' Association .- This association was organized in August, 1879, by C. E. Whiting, R. Stebbins, T. R. Carratt, J. E. Morrison, Judge Oliver, F. H. Day and others. The first officers were: F. H. Day, President; C. E. Whiting, C. M. Scott, W. L. Ring, Vice- Presidents; James Walker, Secretary, R. Stebbens, T. R. Carratt, John Heisler, James Robinson, J. D. Woodward, Executive Committee. Present Officers: W. L. Ring, President; F. F. Roe, T. Elliott, G. M. Scott, Vice-Presi- dents; James Walker, Secretary and Treasurer; J. B. P. Day. C. E. Whiting, Judge Oliver, J. Cleghorn, Executive Committee. The present membership of the association is about 275.
MAPLETON.
This growing town was platted in the autumn of 1877, by the railroad company. The first hotel was built by A. P. Kennedy in 1877. The Maple River branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, was completed from Maple River Junction, the first train arriving in October, 1877. A branch of the C., M. & St. P. R. R. from Sioux City to Mapleton is now graded, and will ere long be placed in running order.
In September, 1877, J. Garrison built the first store in Maple- ton. It was 10x12 feet in dimensions. The Messrs. Scott soon afterwards built the store they now occupy.
The first settlers in the village were: J. Garrison, W. F. Scott and brothers, W. F. McHenry and B. Whiting, who settled here in the autumn of 1877. The town was incorporated in 1878, with J. F. Scott as Mayor. The population is about 600.
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The Mapleton Bank was organized October 3d, 1878, with B. Whiting, President; N. H. Bliss, Cashier, and with abundance of capital. It is a flourishing and substantial institution. At pres- ent, B. Whiting is the President, C. I. Whiting, Cashier.
The schools of Mapleton are graded, and in excellent condition. A handsome structure was erected in 1880-81, at a cost of $3,500. J. A. Wakefield is the Principal. About 100 pupils are enrolled.
An order of Odd Fellowship was organized Sept 11th, 1879, with five charter members. J. Hutton was the first N. G. The Lodge now has twenty-five members.
A Masonic order was organized in July, 1880, with ten charter members. The present membership is fifteen. J. D. Rice was the first Master of this Lodge.
The Presbyterian Church Society was organized July 31st, 1881, by Rev. A. K. Baird, assisted by Rev. J. C. Gilkerson, the'present pastor, with a membership of seventeen. The church officers are one Elder and three Trustees.
The M. E. Church Society of Mapleton was organized by Rev. Thomas Cuthburt, during the year of 1880. The church edifice, a neat and durable brick building of the Gothic style, 32x50 feet in dimensions, was erected during the same year, at a cost of $2,300, and the following Trustees were appointed: W. E. Roberts, President; B. Whiting, Treasurer; George Adams, Secretary; A. W. Cobland, G. A. Smith, Trustees. The Society is small, but grow- ing, was organized with a membership of six, and now numbers twenty. During the year, 1881, the Society built a parsonage at a cost of $800, the building being in every way highly creditable to the organization. There is, in this connection a Sabbath School, with an average attendance of eighty. W. E. Roberts is the Superintendent. Rev. H. P. Dudley is the present pastor.
The Baptist Church Society was organized in March, 1866, by Rev. George Scott. Its membership is thirty-eight. Rev. W. H. Dorward is the present pastor.
The Mapleton cornet band was organized in 1880, with ten members. A. I. Lanterman is the leader.
Mapleton's business and professional establishments are repre- sented as follows: Four general stores, one ;newspaper-the Mapleton Press-one bank, four hotels. two livery stables, two hardware stores, three saloons, two blacksmiths, one boot and shoe store, one grocery, one millinery store, one harness shop, four physicians, two grain dealers, two lumber yards, one wagon factory, one furniture store, one farm machinery establishment, two meat markets, four dealers in live stock. -
An article with the captivating caption, "Society in Mapleton," says: "Mapleton will compare favorably with older towns east or west as regards[ social privileges. Although a town of only eighteen months' . growth. we here find many advantages that would be prized_by those seeking homes in the West.
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"Our people are mostly from the Eastern States, and are well informed, public spirited and up with the times. As yet we are without an organized church, but union services and Sunday school are regularly held in the public hall, and there is a prospect that either a Presbyterian or Congregational society will soon be formed. The Methodist Episcopal church contemplate building a house of worship the coming summer.
"The 'Blue Ribbon' movement has reached Mapleton, and up- ward of 200 have signed the pledge. It is to be hoped that efforts that have been made in this direction will not be in vain.
"A literary society has been sustained during the past winter with considerable interest. Lectures, readings, concerts and other entertainments have not been wanting to afford amusement for the winter evenings. The many demands for money incident to carrying on the enterprise of a new town are met with cheerful- ness and a ready response by our citizens and no laudable undertak- ing has yet failed for the lack of means.
"A tax has been levied in Maple Township and partly collected for the purpose of erecting a substantial school building, that will be the pride of our city. A mayor, six alderman, and other effi- cient officers manage municipal affairs; quiet and good order uni- versally prevail in our midst.
"People looking for homes in Western Iowa should visit Maple- ton before deciding on a permanent location."
The following is taken from editorial correspondence to the Carroll (Ia.) Herald : "Western Iowa is constantly furnishing examples of the sudden rise and rapid growth of new towns. The wild prairie of yesterday is frequently transformed into the busy and bustling center of trade to-day. One of the most notable of these instances is found in the history of Mapleton, from which place I write. The town was platted in the fall of 1877, and is consequently less than a year and a half old. The Maple River branch of the Northwestern road reached here about the middle of October, 1877. At that time there was no settlement worth mentioning. Now the town numbers five hundred inhabitants, and is growing steadily. The railroad, which leaves the main line sixty miles southeast, terminates at Mapleton. By virtue of this fact. the place enjoys exceptional advantages over other towns on the line. It is located near the beautiful Maple River in the far- famed Maple Valley, long noted as comprising within its limits the finest farming land in the west, but until recently not accessi- ble by railroad. It will doubtless remain the terminal station for years to come, and its present prosperity cannot but increase in the future. Although Mapleton is young, it has none of the characteristics of a mushroom town. The buildings are ex- tremely creditable and calculated for permanency. Many of the residences are handsome and attractive. The location of the town is excellent. It lies on high, but nearly level ground,
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sloping just enough to afford good drainage. The residence lots are all superior, and there is ample room for a large city. The land surrounding it is unexcelled for agricultural purposes, nearly every acre being tillable. The Maple River furnishes numerous water powers, there being three grist mills within five miles of the town."
WHITING.
Although comparatively young, in respect to many other Western Iowa towns, Whiting has made rapid strides since its first settlement. A complete representation of its more enter- prising business establishments will be found among the bio- graphical data hereunto appended.
MONONA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
ONAWA.
James Butts, M. D., was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1822; remained at home until twenty-one years of age; then began the study of medicine. He moved to Wis. in 1856, and engaged in the practice of medicine; was also postmaster while in that State. He removed to Kans. in 1860, traveled extensively through the west, settled at Onawa in 1866, and has practiced medicine there ever since. He opened a drug store in 1873, and after four years, sold it. He has been twice married; the first time in 1844, and to Lucy L. Crawford, in 1880.
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