USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 13
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long, and thirteen inches wide. The opening in which the docu- ments of the earlier time were placed had to be enlarged for the reception of the box prepared by Mr. Lathrop. All the docu- ments were placed in the box, and are as follows: Original charter of Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association, which built the Mechanics' Academy on the same grounds; the constitution and by-laws of this organization; a copy of the Iowa City Re- publican containing Dr. Shrader's article on the old building; a copy of the Republican containing Mr. Lathrop's article on the same building; the Daily Republican for April 29, 1897; the Daily Press of the same date; an old advertisement of the opening of school in the old academy; a circular issued in re- gard to gavels made from the wood in the old building; and the Historical Record for April, 1897. Over this stone was placed the tablet that held a place of honor for more than half a cen- tury in the old building. The inscription reads: "Mechanics' Academy, founded June 14th, A. D. 1842." The corner stone and tablet stand on the line of the old building mentioned above, and one may see them by descending the steps between the west wing and the administration building of the Univer- sity Hospital. Since the portico covers the stone and tablet now, no one would suspect it being in such a position, and the stranger would find no historical interest in that quarter unless his attention was called to it. One advantage may be found in the present hidden location-the wear of the seasons will never destroy the lettering on the tablet, and when the hospital walls have decayed, and in after years the remains are investigated .by the student of ancient history, he will wonder how the tablet retained for so long a period its distinct lettering.
However, not all that occurs in any locality can be of a happy outcome, much as it might be so desired, for events that bring sorrow are mingled rapidly with the opposite type. To illustrate:
June 18, 1897, was a sad day in Iowa City and in the state of Iowa so far as its possessions and valuable collection of books were concerned. Not only property, but life was lost in the attempt to stop the flames that had possession of the old building that housed the library and science apparatus. Light- ning struck this building on the morning of June 18, and a few minutes later the fire burst out of the southwest corner of the
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THE INCORPORATED CITY
structure. This was about four o'clock, and by five the entire building was in control of the flames. Four persons, Lycurgus Leek, Sam Grimm, Mary Barrett, and Sam Tomlin hurried to the second floor to secure valuable documents, and were en- gaged in this work when the fire drove them out. Here was where the first of the four met his death, due to being caught by falling beams which the fire had loosened. Too late he saw his danger, and while his companions succeeded in escaping he was burned to death when he fell. Every effort was made to rescue the faithful fireman, but nothing could be done until the . flames were under control, when friendly hands removed the blackened and burned body.
The wreckage of years of labor was found in the ashes. Val- uable private collections, and collections that could never be replaced under any condition or for any price were totally ruined. That others had shared the fate of Lycurgus Leek was for some time feared when Regent Al Swalm and Frank Volk- ringer, who were the first to enter the burning building, did not appear. They entered the building through a window at the north end of the gallery and turned the hose on the fire from that quarter. While here the wooden hatchway began to burn and they were forced out, Mr. Volkringer leaping to the second floor and escaping by means of the ladder. Mr. Swalm came out exhausted and was taken to the Saint James, where he became delirious.
A thrilling story is told of the miraculous escape of one fireman, Frank Slezak. On a high ladder, thirty feet above the ground, a burning timber flying through the air struck him, knocking him from the ladder. Whirled toward the ground apparently in the face of instant death, he turned a half somer- sault and once more struck the ladder, through the rungs of which his feet were thrust, and in this position he hung until he could draw himself back up the ladder to an erect position.
The loss was estimated at one hundred thousand dollars on books alone. Some forty thousand books and pamphlets were entirely ruined or damaged beyond repair. All day on Sunday the search continued for valuable books that might yet come from the ruins. From the Talbot collection of 4,500 volumes, about 2,000 were saved, and special effort was made to save this private collection.144
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154 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
In the cemetery stands a monument dedicated to the man who lost his life in this fire. It reads : "Leek In Memory of Lycurgus M. Leek who sacrificed his life June 19, 1897, while fulfilling the duty of Vol. fireman, aged 40 yrs., 4 ms., 14 days."
This was erected by the firemen, citizens, and city council of Iowa City. The firemen attended the dedicatory exercises of this monument as an organization, while the city council were also present. Here in the presence of the bereaved family, father, mother, wife, and orphan children, the exercises were conducted with appropriate music and addresses. Dr. Chas. A. Schaeffer, then president of the University, gave an address, in which he said: "All the world loves a hero and does honor to the memory of a man who risks his life to save the lives and property of others. There are heroes in peace as well as in war." In contrasting the numerous monuments of war heroes as compared to heroes of peace, he said: "The exercises of today should impress upon the minds of our young people the thought that war is not essential to the making of heroes. Lycurgus Leek gave his life in the attempt to save the books of the University. All honor to him and to the other members of the fire department. Their efforts were in vain, but time will heal the wounds caused by the loss of books and building, and shall cause a building that will defy the flames. Within that building, I pledge you, there shall be special recognition of the self-sacrificing hero, for we shall place upon the walls a tablet in honor of and setting forth the deed of Lycurgus M. Leek. Thus we shall obey the scriptural injunction, 'honor to whom honor is due.' "
President Schaeffer was followed by a stirring address given by Rev. S. N. Watson. From his address the following is taken: "We stand here today in the discharge of a solemn duty, the performance of which is a privilege and a blessing - the dedication of a memorial to the man who lived the common life of us all, and whom death in the service of others
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Veris
قراءة
IOWA CITY AND ITS ENVIRONS
EARLY MAP OF IOWA CITY, 1854
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has lifted so high above the names and memories of common men. This monument of enduring granite which loving hands have erected to a brave fireman whose life was an unhesitating sacrifice to devotion to duty - this is the best that hands can do, the best material record, the best earthly testimonial that can be made. But there is something more lasting than records chiseled deep in the surface of polished stone. Years from now the record there may be blotted out by the ruthless hand of time, but the record in men's hearts and lives - never."
Tienen County For $53
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CHAPTER IX
Towns and Townships
B EFORE Iowa City had been platted a full month, and be- fore any indications of a town appeared beyond a plat, another city was platted on a claim within the limits of Johnson county. The papers in the transaction are the best proof of the facts that probably never went farther than the proper plans of the city that was to be.
"This indenture made this eighteenth day of July, 1839, between William Dupont and Elizabeth Skinner of Johnson county, Iowa Territory, of the first part, and Leander Judson and Frederick M. Irish of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, hath by these presents bargained, sold, etc. all their right, title and interest to the several blocks and lots being in the town of Monroe, situated on their claim and embracing the site of the civil Indian chief Poweshiek's village on the east bank of the Iowa River in the county and territory above mentioned, and further described Block Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 48, 50, 53, 57, 59, 60, 71, and 40, designated on a plat made of the said town by L. Judson, and recorded in the recorder's office in and for said county of Johnson, and the said William Dupont and Elizabeth Skinner here do bind themselves, etc. . in the penal sum of one thousand [dollars] each to make a warranty deed to the par- ties of the second part . for the above described prem- ises or Blocks of land after they shall have acquired title of the same of the United States (and when demanded) and the parties of the first part are hereby bound . . . to secure said title. Provided the parties of the second part shall pay or cause to be paid at the time of the sale of said land the
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amount that the said tract of land may bring at the public sale, and they shall warrant and defend the same against all claims except the United States.
"WILLIAM DUPONT her
"In presence of C. Swan
ELIZABETH + SKINNER Mark.
John Frierson.
"This indenture entered Sept. 2, 1839, on p. 24, Book first. Given under my hand and seal Sept. 2, 1839. Isaiah P. Ham- ilton, Recorder for Johnson county, Iowa Territory.
"A true copy, transcribed from Book first, pages 23 and 24. "August 6, A. D., 1841. JESSE BERRY,
"County Recorder.
"Whereas, we, Leander P. Judson and F. M. Irish, did on the 18th day of July purchase of William Dupont and Eliza- beth Skinner their claim on the Iowa River, known as the chief Poweshiek's Village (a particular reference of such purchase is made to a plat of the Town of Monroe) made by L. Judson and recorded in the recorder's office for the county of Johnson, and to Dupont and Skinner, did to said Judson and Irish and also did make and secure three claims on the opposite side of the river from said village of Monroe containing about two and one-half sections of land. Now be it known that we the said Judson and Irish do in consideration of one hundred dollars to us paid release and quit claim one equal and undivided third part of all such above described property to John G. Nichols of Wisconsin Territory. Witness our hands and seals this twenty-second day of August, 1839.
"Matthias D. Ross
"LEANDER JUDSON F. M. IRISH.
"This contract entered on page 21. Given under my hand and seal this August 22, 1839.
"ISAIAH P. HAMILTON,
"Recorder for Johnson County, Iowa Territory. "The above is a true copy transcribed from Book first, p. 21.
"August 6, A. D., 1841. JESSE BERRY, "County Recorder.
"We, the undersigned, Proprietors of the town of Monroe, Johnson County, Iowa Territory, do hereby convey, etc.
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all right, title and interest to Lot No. ten (10) in Block No. fifty-three (53) as described on the recorded plat to Isaiah P. Hamilton, Recorder of the above named County and Territory for the consideration of forty dollars, the receipt whereof, etc. . and we do further agree to give a warranty deed for said lot when said land shall be sold by the United States government.
"Witness our hands Aug. 22, 1839.
"LEANDER JUDSON "F. M. IRISH "J. G. NICHOLS.
"This Bond entered on page 27, Book first, .
. Sept. 3, A. D., 1839.
ISAIAH P. HAMILTON,
"Recorder for Johnson County, Iowa Territory.
"A true copy, transcribed from Book first, page 27. "August 6, A. D., 1841. JESSE BERRY,
"County Recorder." 145
"The town of Monroe is situated in the county of Johnson, in the Territory of Iowa, on the present location of the civil Chief Poweshiek's Village on the east side of the Iowa River on William Dupont's claim. The streets running east and west are named as follows, commencing on the west side: Weston, Wasson, Charles, Kishkakosh, Dillon, Swan, Powe- shiek, Trout.
"Those running north and south named as follows: Wil- son, Williams, Gheon [Gehon], Dodge, Lucas, Antwerp, Gard- ner, Scott, Warfield."
The town was surveyed by L. Judson, July 18, 1839. The proprietors' names are printed on the blocks according to the record as transcribed, and these were: "L. Judson, Irish, Nicholds, and William Dupont, Johnson County, Iowa Terri- - tory." The record was entered Aug. 13, 1839, Isaiah P. Ham- ilton, Recorder and transferred to the present book Dec. 15, 1841, by Jesse Berry, county recorder.140
Another pioneer who came into the northern part of the county, now Jefferson township, in 1841, was Benjamin Swisher, who was also from Ohio. He "purchased his claim from a homesick pioneer," his possession being secured for a team of horses, as to improvements and right of entry, since the money was not to be obtained, none being in circulation,
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when the country had no means, and there was little need of handling much cash. Title to the farm land could be acquired later by formal entry. Here Mr. Swisher lived for forty-two years. His first home was a settler's cabin which stood in the edge of the timber on the Iowa river, "where that prairie of unsurpassed beauty and richness which reaches to the Cedar River begins." He scarcely thought of any settlers going be- yond him "on that storm swept plain." Soon a commodious frame house took the place of the cabin, and progress began as fast as it could where markets were fifty miles distant and no signs of coming nearer for many years, as one could not think of the rapid progress made when once the iron rails were laid. But the pioneer passes, and Mr. Swisher was called farther on in July, 1885.147
The name of the pioneer is perpetuated in the village now located on part of the farm he owned. The town was platted soon after the interurban was located, and its situation is given as "ten miles south of Cedar Rapids, three miles west of Shueyville, twelve miles from Solon, and one and a half miles from the north county line."
The village of Shueyville, in the same township as Swisher, has a local history that cannot be separated from that of "school and church," and therefore is kept in that connection. Other points have been the location of postoffices and yet have platted towns which are on record. Greencastle was platted as a town in September, 1856. The plat was recorded in Oc- tober of the same year. The location was in section thirty-one, township eighty-one north, range seven west, and section six of eighty, range seven. The proprietors of the village were "Wil- . liam Horner, Mary E. Horner, and Andrew and Rebecca Day," the latter two indicating by their "marks" their willingness to call this a town.148
There was an addition to Western made by J. E. and Mary M. Bowersox in 1860, from section three of Jefferson township, which was surveyed by W. H. Shuey during the time that Geo. W. McCleary was county judge.149
The very latest town in the township and probably in the county is called by the name of Cou Falls, which was platted in April, 1905, and is located in section twenty-one of Jefferson
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township. Robert J. and Laura C. Safely are the proprie- tors, 150
The pioneers of Oxford township included the names of the Douglass families, James and Ebenezer, and Charles Marvin, with Henry, Bronson, and William Brown, who came in 1839. Soon after the Hulls, Porter and John, settled near, and John L. Heartwell, familiarly known later as "Uncle John," located in the same neighborhood, but he returned to Ohio not long after where he remained until 1852, settling then permanently two miles north of the present village of Oxford.
James Douglass always lived upon the farm where he first located and became the first postmaster of the old office estab- lished in the year 1844. His death occurred in 1854, but he left five sons, John, Cyrus, James, David, and William, to carry on the work he had begun. Here, as elsewhere, the first settle- ments were made in the woods when thousands of acres were lying open to the free use of the man who might choose to possess them. The old habits remained, and the training of the fathers in the wooded country was put into practice in the prairie state, until the gradual crowding forced the later com- ers to improve the open land, which soon was claimed as com- pletely as the timbered sections.
Neighbors were far apart in those days, for any one within a radius of ten miles was counted a neighbor, and it is said to require small space to name all the neighbors in the area com- prised in those dimensions. As far east as Tiffin were the Spragues and Spicers, and Amos Doud. Some distance farther on were the homes of Sam Huston, John Headly on what was afterward known as the Wolf place, the Gillelands, Keelers, and Nathaniel Fellows, and as far as the Isaac Dennis place, they were considered as part of the settlement. Orion Leuis made a claim where the Remley farm is now. At this early date the nearest on the south were Burns and Simpson, on Old Man's creek. A settlement over the line in Iowa county was really part of the neighborhood, but its history lies with an- other section of Iowa data in the vicinity of the present town of Homestead.
There was no government land in Oxford township, as it is now called, after 1855. Some of the first entries were made at the Dubuque land office, later the office for this district was lo-
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cated at Iowa City, which made the matter of less inconven- ience. It seems that about the year 1852 there was a grand stampede for land in this vicinity, not only by those who in- tended to make a home here, but by the man who began to see the future in land values as it proved a short time afterward when one might say the first level was reached, illustrating the periodic stages in the real estate values.
Settlers continued to arrive during all the period up to the date mentioned above when the first of the foreign element came into the township. These were the German families of the Klenks, Wagners, and Jacob Floerchinger. These were the first of a large group that came into the neighborhood, and they have become in these later days the substantial farmers of the county, as other peoples of foreign birth in different sec- tions. In 1856 the census of the township gave the sources of the population to that date, which indicates the interesting facts of states drawn upon in the settlement of a single one of the townships of the county, and which would, if followed out, make a study of great value. From Ohio there were eighty- five citizens; Iowa natives, in that short time, fifty-one; Penn- sylvania, forty; New York, thirty-three; Germany, twenty- three; Ireland, eighteen; Indiana, twelve; Kentucky, eight; Illinois, six; Canada, four; Michigan, two; Vermont, Massa- chusetts, England, Scotland, North Carolina, Missouri, Ten- nessee, one each. Out of all the heads of families numbering ninety-nine, eighty were farmers, yet there was on the average only about thirty acres of cultivated land to each family. The native products must have been quite abundant, for the prices of products would have made the returns from thirty acres on the average a poor living for most families. It is said that corn was worth about fifteen cents, wheat thirty, and oats possibly twelve, with pay in worthless bank bills most of the time.
The township of Oxford takes its name from one of the same name in the county of Chenango, New York. From the manu- script of M. W. Cook, who wrote many pages in the local his- tory many years ago, the story runs that when the petition had been prepared for presentation to the county judge asking that he form a new township, the space for the name was left va- cant. W. H. Cotter had the matter in charge, and mentioning to his wife the fact that no name had been inserted, she sug-
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gested the name of "Oxford," the township in which she had spent her early days in her native state. To make the matter just several names were prepared and written on slips of paper, and then drawn by a disinterested little child of the family, resulting in the favored name as mentioned.
"Tanktown" was the former name of the station on the road when first extended beyond Iowa City, and the site of the original settlement was on the southwest quarter of section twenty-one. The postoffice then kept on the hill and called Ox- ford, in charge of Mr. Vaughn, did not prevent the people from using the name "Tanktown."
Oxford was platted in September, 1868, under the ownership of P. C. and Augusta C. S. Wilcox, the particular location originally being in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty-one. The plat was recorded in Oc- tober of that year.151
The Clear Creek settlement extends beyond the limits of the present township, since, as one may see in connection with the development of the township boundaries and the accompany- ing maps, the original Clear Creek included parts of several others. But the settlement was all one neighborhood, and if it overlaps now it should be discussed as a single settlement. Among the names of those who came here there are a number who are mentioned in connection with Oxford township. Others reside in Penn township and are found in the story of Big Bottom or North Bend. But the Dennises, Mrs. M. A. Den- nis and family, Bryan, I. V., and Adaline, afterward Mrs. A. J. Bond, came from Ohio in April, 1839, settling on what became later the John Porter farm. It will be noted that Bryan Den- nis became a leader in the affairs of the county. Henry Spring- meyer was one of the first German settlers. Geo. Paul settled in the township in 1843; Jarvis and Jackson Frost in 1841; James Montgomery in 1842; Jackson Sanders, 1842; William Lancaster, 1843; Yale Hamilton, 1845; John McConnell came with his large family in 1840, and one of his daughters was af- terward Mrs. Wm. K. Talbott, who assisted her husband in founding the Snethen Seminary in Iowa City. Another prominent figure in the township in the early days was Archi- bald Gilleland, who acquired a large tract of land which in- cluded about five hundred acres. It is said that he was one of
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the first regents of the State University, but that must have been "Iowa City University." Wesley Reynolds settled here in 1840, entering his land as soon as it came into market, prob- ably at the sales at Marion. He furnished four sons for the Union army during the Civil War, and for this any man should have a monument.
After the Indians moved to the northwestern part of the county, within the limits of the present township of Monroe, they were located on the north side of the river, hence had no headquarters on the south side of the river. However they made the Clear Creek valley their hunting ground, and in the opinion of the chiefs of the tribe no richer field for game was in the old haunts of the Red Man.
The town of Tiffin was named for the town of the same name in Ohio, indicating the sources of the settlers in that com- munity better probably than any argument since the old en- vironment had not been forgotten by the early settlers. The town is located on land originally a part of the farm of Rolla Johnson, who came from the city in Ohio that has fixed its name upon the map of Johnson county. Among the old set- tlers of the township in which the village is located the name of Bryan Dennis is probably the most conspicuous in the records of the county since at his house the first election was held, and he was among the first to have a part in the affairs of the com- munity. Tiffin was platted in December, 1867, for Rolla John- son by James Dawson, and is in section twenty-eight of town- ship eighty, and range seven.152
The first settlers in Big Grove township have been named as arriving in the years of 1838 to 1840. The sources were the states of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, while Eng- land contributed one in the person of Robert Matthews. War- ren Stiles, whose name is mentioned in the township history at its organization, came in 1839 from New York. He settled on section twenty-six. The year before, Charles Fowler came from New York, W. Fackler from Indiana, and Warner Spur- rier from Ohio. Two more, Thomas King and Strawder De- vault, came from Indiana in 1839. In 1839 five more, Jehiel Parks, P. C. Brown, E. M. and Moses Adams, and Abner Arrowsmith, came from Ohio. Harvey Lyman came from the same state in 1840, also W. D. Cannon, and E. T. Pratt in the
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