USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 32
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While Unionville has not had a newspaper plant it has enjoyed the felicity of being sponsor for a newspaper which bore the title of the Unionville Chronicle. which was established by John R. Wilson. The paper for a while was printed at Moulton and then at Centerville. It was discontinued in 1008.
THH: MASTIC TELEGRAM
Mystic is the newest little city in Appanoose county and has had a wonderful growth. In 18SO the town site was devoted to farming, but now it is a flourish- ing trading point of 3.000 inhabitants and nicely supports the Telegram, which
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
was founded in 1906 by W. C. Raymond. Mr. Raymond only stayed with the Messenger about six months and then sold his enterprise to Roy Godsey. The latter disposed of the plant within three months after its purchase to the present owner and proprietor, A. R. Scott, who devotes his attention to giving a large clientele a newsy and popular little paper, that is published weekly. The Mes- senger is a six-column folio and progressive in politics.
CHAPTER XX
CENTER TOWNSHIP AND CHALDEA THE COUNTY SEAT-EARLY SETTLERS -- PLATTING OF THE COUNTY SEAT-THE PIONEER CABIN WAS ALSO THE FIRST STORE AND COURT HOUSE-JAMES WRIGHT ERECTS THE FIRST BUILDING IN CENTERVILLE -'SQUIRE WADLINGTON MOVES HIS CABIN TO TOWN-CENTERVILLE GROWS- AN EARLY NEWSPAPER'S ADVERTISEMENTS-CENTERVILLE INCORPORATED AS A VILLAGE.
The history of Centerville is practically that of the township, as the first settlers of Center located near the present site of the county seat, which was given the name of Chaldea.
George W. Perkins was probably the first one to make this township his home. Fle located near the future city in 1841 and made preparations to start a nursery. Mr. Perkins, as will be seen quite frequently in these pages, was a man of great activity and managerial ability. He was often called upon to take part in starting the machinery of the new county government, was chairman of the first board of county commissioners and the first postmaster of Centerville, or Chaldea, as the county seat was then called and, when the name of the office was changed to Centerville in 1847, he was reappointed to the postmastership. The Masons also settled close to the county seat, coming from Lee county in 1844. with their families.
The first store opened for business in the township and in fact the first in the county, wa- that of Spencer F. Wadlington, a sketch of whom will be found in the chapter devoted to pioneers. Mr. Wadlington located near the site of the city, to the northeast; put up a crude log cabin, in which he placed a small stock of merchandise. Having no wife or family, he also slept and cooked his mcals in the building.
The seat of government of Appanoose county was named Chaldea and was located on the northeast quarter of section 36, being established in October, 1846, by the board of commissioners. The public square lies in the southwest part of the plat, and is one of the largest in the state. The survey was the work of J. F. Stratton and was completed in the winter of 1846-7.
The first building erected in the village of Chaldea was a cabin by James Wright, early in 1847, and soon after, Spencer Wadlington moved his cabin to the town and placed it on the lot now the site of the Wooden Bank, on the corner of West State and Twelfth streets. In this cabin was held the first term of the district court.
James Hughes was the first blacksmith in the town. He arrived here in the summer of 1847. selected a lot and built a smithy. The little settlement was
311
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
slow in its growth the first two or three years. In the winter of 1848, there were all told the following people in the county seat : Spencer F. Wadlington. merchant ; Thomas Cochran, a merchant, and his family: James Hughes and David Beeler, blacksmiths ; E. A. Packard and family, hotel; Benjamin Spooner, farmer and family; James J. Jackson, carpenter ; C. H. Howell, merchant. Liv- ing near the town and practically citizens were George W. Perkins and family, William S. and Thomas G. Manson and families, J. F. Stratton and A. Pewthers. As has been stated heretofore, George W. Perkins was the first postmaster and Benjamin Swearingen, still living in Centerville, carried the mail on horseback to and from Keosauqua once a week.
Joseph Goss, still living in Centerville, became one of its early citizens in 1855. After accumulating a little capital he opened a small boot and shoe store. In 1881 he engaged in the hardware business and for some years past has been proprietor of the Goss foundry.
Elisha Sawyer, with his family, came to Jowa in 1850 and for a while kept a hotel in Centerville and later one at Unionville. He lived to the extreme okl age of ninety-five years, dying at Unionville in 1901. lle was the father of sev- cral children, among them being Sylvester Hartwell Sawyers, who became famous as a physician and the father of two physicians who are residents of Centerville.
In 1850 Jeremiah Brower moved with his family from Missouri to Center- ville, where he practiced medicine three years, after which he moved to Wayne county. With them at the time was a son, Chancellor J. Brower, who was fif- teen years of age.
Calvin R. Jackson left Indiana in 1848 with his mother, his wife and sister and two children, and came to lowa, first locating in Henry county. In 1854 he arrived in Appanoose and settled on a farm three miles south of Centerville. remaining there one year. after which he removed to Jerome.
Dr. Henry Hakes was a resident of Centerville as early as 1854. He con- ducted a drug store on the west side of the square. In 1865 he moved to a farm . southwest of Centerville, where he resided until his death in 1885.
William Barton MeDonald, who married Lucinda Dale, removed from Indi- ana to lowa in 1855 and settled on a farm of three hundred and seventy-six acres, three miles northeast of Centerville. In 1902 he retired to Centerville.
William Aliller AleCreary. a native of the Old Dominion, came to lowa in the year 1856 and located at Centerville, then a rapidly growing little trading point. He clerked in William Bradley's store for the first two years and at other periods. After the war he entered the employ of Francis M. Drake and eventually engaged in the drug business.
D. M. Thompson immigrated from Indiana in 1847 and settled in Appanoose county.
Cyrus G. Wentworth, brick manufacturer, located in Center township in 1856. Ile had the only brick yard in Centerville for many years.
S. W. Wright took up his residence in Centerville in 1856 and engaged in the drug business.
Jacob Shaw came to Appanoose county with his father, Jacob S. Shaw, in 1856 and located near Centerville, where the elder Shaw engaged in brick-mak- ing. He was killed at a coal shaft in 1872. S. W. Shaw was another son.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
In the year 1857 John .\. Talbot, a native of Delaware, settled in this town- ship, engaged in farming, also milling and mining.
J. G. Brough removed to this county from Ohio in 1852 and settled four miles west of Centerville. The father died in 1853. Mr. Brough learned his trade of tanner under J. W. Williams, at Centerville, and then went into business for him- self at Dean.
Moses Merritt, a native of Wayne county, Indiana, located in Centerville in the fall of 1858 and opened a general store.
T. Il. Morris settled in this county in 1849. A veteran of the Civil war, he lost a leg in battle. He was recorder of Appanoose county at one time.
V. M. Scott located in the county in 1853. He was a veteran of the Civil war and clerk of the courts.
Robert Henderson, with his parents, William S. and Sarah ( Miller , Hender- son, left Indiana in the year 1849 and immigrated to the state of Iowa. In 1850 the family settled in Centerville, where W. S. Henderson engaged in black- smithing several years. In 1870 he was marshal of Centerville and was elected mayor of the city in 1884. He was his own successor in the office the following year.
G. G. Ashby, son of Daniel C. and Nancy Ashby, removed from Indiana to Iowa with his parents in 1857. The location selected was near Centerville. Mr. Ashby was a Civil war veteran. In 1885 he was elected county superintendent of schools.
Thomas O. Wilson became a contractor and builder at Centerville. He was a native of Virginia. In 1856 Mr. Wilson removed from Ohio to lowa and located at Centerville, where he followed his trade of cabinet-making and eventually drifted into contracting and building.
James R. Wooden, a native of Indiana, learned the craft of harness-making when a young man. He arrived in Centerville with his family in the fall of 1850. where he engaged in general merchandising. Later Mr. Wooden became prom- inent in local banking circles. The Wooden bank is well known, of which Charles Wooden, a son, is cashier. Another son, A. E. Wooden, is a clothing merchant at the county scat.
James S. Hamilton came to Appanoose county from Indiana in 1852, When nineteen years of age, and entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in the vicinity of Centerville. This place later became known as the Coon Hollingsworth farm. In 1858, Mr. Hamilton sold the farm and bought land on which he moved, part of which became a part of the site of Centerville. He also engaged in the sale of farm implements at the county seat for some time.
Moses Merritt and Lucy Ann, his wife, settled in Centerville in 1857. where he engaged in general merchandising with Caleb Wentworth, under the firm name of Wentworth & Merritt. In 1886 he was deputy county auditor under his son. James Merritt.
John Lankford, still hale and hearty at the age of eighty-five years, came to Centerville in 1850, where he carried on the trade of cabinet making until 1865, at which time he opened a furniture establishment and has been a dealer in that line to the present day.
Electa Howell, widow of Henry B. Howell, left the state of New York in 1855 and took up her residence in Centerville with her son, Charles H. Howell,
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
who had been here since 1847. That year Mr. Howell erected a log store build- ing and remained there in general merchandising for the following three years. Ile subsequently put up a large building to meet the demands of increasing trade and in 1856 a larger building took its place. Mr. Howell was one of the active and important men of the town. He speculated in real estate, helped organize the First National Bank and was its vice president for a number of years. 1Ie was active in securing railroads for the community and was a prominent mem- ber and elder of the First Presbyterian church.
The citizens of Centerville welcomed to their thriving town in 1855 Jacob Knapp, who began the manufacture of boots and shoes. lle formed a partner- ship with Warren Allen, the firm being known as Knapp & Allen. Mr. Knapp sold his interest in 1858 and took up farming in Walnut township, where he devoted most of the time to the breeding and raising of full-blooded draft horses.
Jacob Rummel was clerking in a store in Centerville in 1856. The next year he formed a partnership with William Clark and engaged in the sale of mer- . chandise. By 1860 the firm name was Rummel & Bashore. He served a term as county clerk.
Calvin Finley Spooner came to Iowa with his parents, Benjamin and Martha (Ware) Spooner, in the spring of 1845. The claim which the family improved is part of the original plat of Centerville. In 1846 Calvin F. Spooner took up a claim near his father's, which is also a part of the site of Centerville. He was the first coroner of the county and one of the early sheriffs.
Dexter A. Spooner came to Centerville with his parents in 1845. being at the time thirteen years of age. He clerked in his father's store until 1856, when he established the first stage line of the village and carried the first mail to Clar- inda. He sold out to the Western Stage Company in 1859.
M. L. Ware came to Appanoose county with his father in 1851. He enlisted in the Civil war in July, 1861. He married Miss M. J. Hamilton, daughter of A. H. Hamilton, in 1863, and then settled in Centerville.
Benjamin Swearingen, still living in Centerville, came here in the early '405, and, it is said was one of the first mail carriers in the county.
In 1855 and less than a decade after the county had been organized, Center- ville was incorporated and had within her borders almost one thousand inhabi- tants by the year 1857, when the first newspaper in the county was established. That wielder and molder of public opinion, The Chieftain, was well patronized by the business and professional men of the bustling and growing little trading point and its issue of May 18, 1858, saved through the methodical system of J. W. Williams, a pioneer business man of Centerville, shows many interesting things in its columns. The chief value of this copy of The Chieftain lies in the fact that it was published during the infancy of the county and its chief city : and also that it gives to the present generation a view of the county seat and its busi- ness men, when the town was in its callow youth, so to speak, and just beginning to show its importance.
The professional men living in Centerville in 1858 and using the columns of The Chieftain to draw patrons to their offices were Dr. Franklin Eells, whose office was in the Oldham House, one of the pioneer caravansaries of the village. There was also Dr. Hugh McCoy, who appears before the public in the follow- ing card :
8
A
Shawville Mine North Main Street West Side of Square VIEWS OF CENTERVILLE
Centerville, Looking Sontheast South Eighteenth Street Centerville, Looking Northeast
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
"CITIZENS OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
"I am now prepared to attend upon you when afflicted by 'the hand of disease'. Wishing to return thanks for years of liberal patronage, I shall take this mode of so doing : at the same time I would respectfully solicit further favors and all may rest assured 1 will attend them myself as I have no partner, neither do I desire one, believing that hereafter I shall be able to attend all calls pertaining to my profession."
Dr. William Sayres advertised himself as a practicing physician and surgeon of Cincinnati.
Among the legal profession whose cards appeared in The Chieftain were H. P. Welsh, office on east side of the public square; Tannehill & Cummings, west side of the public square ; and Ilarris & Galbraith.
Of merchants, there were several who advertised in detail their wares for sale. R. N. Glenn's drug store was claimed to be the best place for drugs, and "pat- ent medicines warranted genuine," north side of the public square, at the old stand of Wright & Glenn. Arthur Allen, successor to K. Allen, advertised drugs and "many articles to be found in grocery establishments." Those calling atten- tion to their stocks of merchandise at this period were :
W. Bradley, with a "$30,000 stock of fall and winter goods." Among other things for which Bradley offered the cash was 10,000 head of hogs. 3,000 bushels of potatoes, 1.000 bushels of white beans, 3.000 bushels of wheat and 1,000 green or dried hides. The store was on the west side of the public square. The "Regulator" claimed to be the friend of the people in giving those seeking bar- gains in dry goods, boots, shoes, etc., "prices to suit the hard times." This estab- lishment belonged to William Wittenmyer. (. II. Howell also kept a general store in 1858. His son, Frederick, has been for some years past one of the lead- ing members of the Appanoose bar. The firm of Clark & Rummel offered a "choice stock of spring and summer goods, exclusively for cash or ready pay."
Thomas O. Wilson, cabinet maker, appears in a card, which apprised the com- munity that as soon as he could secure properly seasoned lumber he would be enabled to furnish his patrons with anything in the line of furniture and, "hay- ing on hand well-seasoned timber suitable for coffins, I will be at all times pre- pared to furnish them at the most reasonable rates and on the shortest notice."
The Tremont House assured the traveling public good accommodations at reasonable rates. This hostelry was on the west side of the public square and was conducted by S. Walker.
The advertisement of the Oldham House shows the condition of things :
"OLDHAM HOUSE George Oldham, Proprietor North Side Public Square, Centerville, Iowa.
Stages leave this House daily for the East and West. No pains will be spared to make those favoring him with a Call Comfortable. All information Cheerfully given to Travellers, in regard to different routes.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Attached to this establishment will be found a Large and COMFORTABLE STABLE
and an abundance of the best Feed, with careful and attentive Ostlers.
GIVE HIM A CALL
The Highest Market Price Paid for All Kinds of Provisions. Dec. 12, 1857.
32-ly."
D. L. Strickler was the pioneer photographer. His gallery was over Bradley's store and he cordially invited ladies and gentlemen to visit the studio and exam- ine his work, which he declared to be in the greatest degree of perfection : "Ist, the plain ambrotype; 2nd, the colored ambrotype; 3d, the Melancotype : 4th, the Parchment Photograph or Patent Leather Pictures: 5th, my Sphereotypes, the Excelsior of the Art."
In this issue of The Chieftain, George Oldham displays a desire to sell his hotel and other possessions; Strickler & Martin inform the public they are sell- ing harness and will take in exchange for repair work pork, hides and steers' hair. There are a number of legal and estray notices. Among the former appears the following : Notice to G. M. Hinkle and Albert Howell, foreclosure; Carter & Sales vs. Thomas Malone, attachment notice : William C. McLean vs. John and Lucretia Hargrove, foreclosure. Administrators' notices : David Groom appointed administrator of the estate of l'eter Groom, deceased ; Humphries Roberts, of the estate of George Davis, deceased.
The estray notices will indicate in a measure the price of cattle and horses in 1858: "On the 31st of December, 1857, two light bay mares, described as follows, to-wit: One supposed to be five or six years old, both fore feet and the right hind foot white and a white spot in the forehead, and has some collar marks on both sides of her neck-13 or 14 hands high, pony made ; appraised at sixty dol- lars. The other is 13 or 14 hands high, pony made : both hind feet and right fore foot white, has a blaze face : appraised at forty-five dollars by G. W. Wise and John Lankford, on the order of H. P. Welsh, justice of the peace."
"Taken up by Thomas Lee, of Clinton township, Wayne county, lowa, on the 21st day of December, 1857, Four Steers as follows: One Red Steer 4 years old, with a crop off each ear, and the bush of his tail off; One Black Steer, 3 years old, with a crop off each ear and an under bit in the left ; One White Steer. 2 years old, with a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right ear : One a red and white pied Steer, 2 years old, with a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right ; appraised at eighty-five dollars, by W. II. Adams and Randolph E. Williams. before Elias Jennings, justice of the peace."
In the '50s many of the settlers spun the wool and wove the cloth that entered into the family's clothing. To meet the demand Charles Blasburg apprised the community of his business in the following card :
"WOOL CARDING
"At Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. The subscriber having moved his Carding Machine from Bentonsport, and permanently located at the Flouring Mill of Talbott & Potts, in Centerville, is prepared to card all kinds of clean
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Wool in the very best style ; and solicits a share of public patronage. He Hatters himself that by strict attention to business, being a practical workman, he can give general satisfaction.
"As he expects to run night and day, persons staying over night can generally get their work to go home."
The reference made in the above card to "staying over night," will be appre- ciated by those still living, who, at the time flouring mills were scarce in the county, would be compelled to go many miles with their grist and finding others ahead of them at the mill. were compelled to wait their turn, which in many instances meant a stay "over night," or from one to two and three days.
CENTERVILLE IS INCORPORATED
In January, 1855, a petition was presented to Judge AAmos Harris, praying that the question of incorporating the town of Centerville be submitted to a vote of the citizens, which was granted. and on February 20, 1855, an election was held. the judges being 'Squire Bates, John Snell and John Potts; clerks, J. G. Brown and J. F. Stratton. The project carried and, on the 12th of March. 1855. the elector- chose (. W. Wise. W. S. Henderson. D. P. Sparks, J. G. Brown and William Clark a committee to prepare a charter, which was submitted to the elector- and ratified by their votes on March 26, 1855. Soon thereafter an elec- tion was held under the charter and officers chosen, but the records of this elec- tion and the minute book of the first officers of the town are lost and probably will never be found.
On October 1. 1857, the charter of 1855 was vacated and a special charter was adopted. under the provisions of Chapter 100, Acts of the Sixth General Assem- bly.
From 1857 on to 1870, the town of Centerville experienced many ups and clowns in the administration of its public affairs. During the Civil war, from April 14, 1802, to the spring of 1865. no records of the town were made and no officer- elected, and it is presumed the affairs of the town were carried on under township administration. The county judge ordered an election of town officers in April, 1865. and Centerville was under the administration of its local officers until October, 1808, when the corporation again fell under the rule of the town- ship, and remained, strange to relate, in this condition, until its incorporation as a city of the second class in April, 1870, at which time the following officials were elected: Mayor, E. C. Haynes ; trustees. T. M. Fee, Amos Harris, I. S. Gilliam. C. W. Bowen. A. Richards ; recorder, M. S. Boyles ; treasurer, M. 1. Boyles ; city engineer, Henry Shaw ; marshal, John Wilmington.
In 1857. when the new charter had taken the place of the first one. C. Went- north was elected mayor; S. W. Wright, recorder : D. P. Sparks, A. Perjue, Amos Harris, C. 1. Howell. J. Knapp, and J. Lankford were elected to the council Ofmances were passed, and chief among them was an iron clad law relative to the liquor traffic.
From 1858 Centerville continued to grow. In 1840, when the town was started, there were two inhabitants; in 1848, there were go; by the year 1854 the number had increased to 283; in 1800 there were 820; in 1870, 1.037 ; by the year 1880 the population had grown to 2.175; in 1800 the number of people here had grown to 5.250; the census of 1000 showed 5.256, and that of toto indicates a popul ton of 7,000.
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IHISTORY OF APPNOOSE COUNTY
The county judge made no record of the first election held in Centerville for municipal officers, a grievous oversight or piece of negligence. This precludes the giving of a list of city officials until the year 1857. It is known, however, that Spencer F. Wadlington was the first mayor. From that time on the record is clear and the names of the chief executives and recorders follow :
1857-8-Mayor, C. Wentworth ; recorder. S. W. Wright. 1858-9-Mayor. A. L. H. Martin : recorder. James Ewing. 1859-60-Mayor. J. B. Beall ; recorder, C. Wentworth. 1860-1-Mayor. S. Wadlington; recorder. O. P. Stafford. 1861-2-Mayor. W. B. Alexander : recorder. O. P. Stafford. 1862- - Mayor, J. W. Huston; recorder, Willard Truax. 1865-6-Mayor, O. W. Barden; recorder. William Morret.
1866-7-Mayor, E. C. Haynes, resigned; M. Bevington; recorder, T. O. Wilson.
1867-8-Mayor, M. Bevington ; recorder, T. O. Wilson. 1868- - Mayor, M. Bevington ; recorder, T. O. Wilson. 1870-1-Mayor. E. C. Haynes; recorder, M. 1 .. Boyles. 1871-2-Mayor, C. Wentworth : recorder. B. A. Ogle. 1872-3-Mayor. C. Wentworth : recorder. D. L. Strickler. 1873-4-Mayor, C. Wentworth ; recorder ; B. A. Ogle. 1874-5-Mayor, C. Wentworth; recorder, M. B. Pennington. 1875-6-Mayor. N. Earlywine; recorder, M. B. Pennington. 1876-7-Mayor, N. Earlywine; recorder, F. M. Sanders. 1877-8-Mayor. N. Earlywine; recorder, J. R. Hays. 1878-0-Mayor, J. W. Farley; recorder, D. S. McKeehan. 1870-80-Mayor. N. Earlywine; recorder, L. C. Lane. 1880-1-Mayor. N. Earlywine; clerk. James S. Ellis. 1881-2-Mayor, N. Earlywine; clerk, James S. Ellis. 1882-3-Mayor, N. Earlywine; clerk, James S. Ellis. 1883-4-Mayor, L. C. Whitney; clerk, James S. Ellis. 1884-5-Mayor. Robert Henderson ; clerk. W. T. Swearingen. 1885-6-Mayor, George D. Porter: clerk, J. P. Gribben. 1886-7-Mayor. R. Ilenderson ; clerk, J. l'. Gribben. 1887-8-Mayor. E. C. Haynes ; recorder, l'. B. Wilkes. 1888-9-Mayor, E. C. Haynes ; clerk, P. B. Wilkes. 1880-90-Mayor, R. Henderson; clerk. J. I. Ong. 1800-1-Mayor. R. Henderson; clerk. J. N. Dunbar. 1891-2-Mayor. M. Bevington : clerk. J. N. Dunbar. 1892-3-Mayor. M. Bevington ; clerk. J. N. Dunbar. 1893-4-Mayor, R. Henderson; J. T. Conner. 1894-5-Mayor, R. Henderson ; clerk, J. P. Gribben. 1805-6-Mayor, John Elliott : clerk, J. P. Gribben. 1896-7-Mayor, John Elliott; clerk. J. P. Gribben. 1897-8-Mayor, I. E. Valentine ; clerk, James S. Ellis. 1898-9-Mayor. W. A. Callen ; clerk. James S. Ellis. 1899-1900-Mayor, W. . \. Callen : clerk, John Batterton. 1900-01-Mayor. W. A. Callen ; clerk, John Batterton. 1901-02-Mayor. W. A. Callen ; clerk. Thomas W. Meers.
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