USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 43
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Tranquility was an ancient hamlet that had a store and postoffice at one time.
PLANO VILLAGE
was laid out and the plat was filed for record. November 21, 1879. In F. J. and Emeline Steel. The village lies on section 21. It is a station on the Mis- souri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad.
There are no data at hand relating to the first settlements in this townslap. The first comers were here, however, in the 'los and found a fertile soil and other conditions that were satisfactory and conducive to a permanent stay. One of the pioneers of the township was Joel Elan, who came from Illmois with his wife and family in 1840. There were but three families in the town- ship at the time. Jesse Day arrived from Davis county in the spring of 1850, and located on a farm of two hundred and forty acres in sections 14 and 24. Ile was one of the thirteen men who organized the township, seven of whom had the name of John attached to their family cognomen ; hence, Johns town- ship. Mr. Day took a great interest in the breeding of fine cattle and English draft horses.
Nathan M. Jones came with his parents, William and Abigail Jones, and others of the family, from Indiana in the spring of 1851, and settled on see- tion 7. William Jones assisted in organizing the township. Nathan located on section 9 in 1850, and was elected sheriff that year. In the fall of 1857 his official duty required him to hang William Hinkle, who had been convicted of murder in the first degree, the victim being his wife. Mr. Jones had three sons, William 1., born in 1850: Lafayette, born in 1800; and John 1 ... born in 1867. All were born in this township.
William Jennings, of Kentucky, married Christina Shultz, of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1854 they left their home in Ohio and coming to Appanose county, settled in Johns township, two miles south of Plano.
John Duvall was born and reared in Pennsylvania. There he married Sarah Crawford in 1843, and in April, 1857. settled on a farm in Johns township. first living in a log cabin. He was a man highly esteemed by his neighbors
David Peugh was a Virginian by birth. When ten years of age his par- ents moved to Indiana, from which commonwealth David immigrated to lowa in the spring of 1854 and settled on a farm in this township, on section 15. The residence he found here was of log construction. He became largely miter- ested in sheep-raising.
Sammel I. Wailes came to the county in 1854. He married Lucinda Wailes. daughter of Leonard Wales, who was an early settler of the county and died in 1872. Samuel P. Walles was the father of Dr. L. C. Wailes, a former well known physician of the county.
George N. Wailes located here in 1854, and in 1855 married Ellen Mitchell
Henry Frank Shoemaker located on section 14. this township, in 1854 and died in 1878. Mr. Shoemaker was an excellent farmer and one of the best of citizens.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Michael W. Thomas came to Appanoose county in the fall of 1851 with his father, Henry L. Thomas, and entered one thousand acres of land, part of which was in section 31. At the age of eighteen Michael married Malinda Pendergast, daughter of Samuel P. Pendergast, an early settler of the county.
Moses A. Ferren, a Pennsylvanian, located in this locality in 1853 and by thrift and good business judgment became owner of several hundred acres of land.
David Haines was a settler of 1856.
John Hudson, of North Carolina, is a "Forty-niner" of the county.
John .A. Pierson located here in 1856. Ile served on the board of super- visors and in the lower house of the state legislature.
A. A. Adams came to the county with his father, Hugh Adams, in 1856. and in 1858 married Nancy A. Moreland, daughter of William Moreland, who located here in 1849. Mr. Adams became prominently known in the township and was a member of the board of supervisors.
John H. Close and his wife, Mary, came here in 1850 and built for them- selves a new home in a new country. Mr. Close died in 1873.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
Lincoln township is bounded on the west by Wayne county, on the north by Johns township, on the east by Bellair and Pleasant townships, and on the south by Franklin township. It was organized in the '50s. Jerome postoffice was established a number of years ago but has been discontinued.
Lincoln has many good farms, the soil being arable and well drained by Cooper and Shoal creeks. Its people are industrious and progressive, as the well-tilled fields, good roads and fences, modern homes and farm buildings well attest. There are no better supported district schools in the county and the churches testify to the religious character of the men and women. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Rail- roads enter the township.
Among the early settlers were John Moore, who came here in 1848. He is said to have killed thirty deer in one week, they were so plentiful. Mr. Moore was wont to tell of his experiences. Wolves were so numerous that the farmers' live stock were in constant danger from their ravages. Ile told of killing a buck, a fine, large fellow. After skinning and dressing it, he took a hind quarter to town and traded it for the family's first set of cups and sau- cers. No mill, at the time of his settlement here, was closer than Des Moines, so the family subsisted for a while on grated boiled corn. Their buckwheat flour was made by a coffee mill.
S. C. Van Ness left the Keystone state in 1857 and arrived in this county. He became one of the prosperous men of this township.
Peter Sidles, born in Ohio, became a resident of this county in 1859. Ile located on section 3 in this township, and soon had one of the finest farms in the community. He was a veteran of the Civil war and very prominent both in church and lodge circles.
A. S. Van Dorn, after four years' experience in the gold mines of Cali-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
fornia, settled down to farm life in this township in 1855. He prospered and attained a place in the estimation of his neighbors that was enviable.
John Maning, an Ohioan, settled here in 1854 and became prosperous and influential. His son Harvey was a member of the Eighth lowa Volunteer Cavalr ...
Jonathan Rinker, a Kentuckian by birth, came to this state from Indiana in 1845, bringing with him his wife, Elizabeth. They first settled in Van Buren county, removing from there to Appanoose in 1851 and entering a tract of land. The family, consisting of cleven members, traveled to their new home in a wagon drawn by oxen, and when he arrived at his destination Mr. Rinker had but eleven dollars remaining. The boys of the family were Robert F .. Oliver C .. Franklin, Leander, Walter and George W.
C. R. Jackson located in this township in 1854, coming from Indiana.
Robert S. Lowry was born in Indiana. The year 1847 found him in Illi- nois and from that state he removed to AAppanoose county in 1853. locating on section 20, this township. Ile became one of the largest landholders in the county, owning at one time over a thousand acres. Mr. Lowry dealt largely in live stock and reaped a generous profit from his operations, part of which he invested in bank stock.
31. Darrah and his father, Henry Darrah, were early in the county, coming here in 1850. In '1858 the son married Susannah Lawrer, daughter of Wil- liam and Catherine Lawrer, carly settlers of the county.
Addison Pendergast was born in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1848. In 1858 he settled in this township with his parents. He was a veteran of the Civil war.
llenry Moreland, who married Belinda C. Jones, daughter of an Appa- noose pioneer, settled in this town in 1852. In the following spring they removed to Independence township.
BELLAIR TOWNSHIP'
Bellir township was organized in 1858. It is in the central part of the county and adjoins Center on the west. Its northern boundary is Walnut. southern. Pleasant, and eastern, John- and Lincoln townships.
The topography of Bellair township shows many hills and considerable timber, along the banks of Cooper, Big Walnut and Hickory creeks. Under- lying the surface are rich and profuse deposits of coal and across it run the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific ; Keokuk and Western, and Centerville Traction Railroads. There are good farms but not in the same proportion as in other townships. Belfair's wealth lies hidden from sight until brought into commercial use by pick and shovel of the mmer.
David and Libby Schaeffer, natives of Ohio, settled in Bellair in 1840, and were among the first to arrive in this part of the county. I. Shaffer, who was born in the township in 1847, and a brother, sons of David, after the latter had returned to Ohio in 1808, remained on the home farm on section 20 1 Shaeffer married Theresa A. Robinson, daughter of James M and Charlotte Robinson, of Franklin township, in 1875. An uncle of Mr Shaetter was one of the first bishops of the United Brethren church.
In the Bear 1847 James R. Wright and his brother, I'dward R Wright,
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
natives of Tennessee, settled in this township on section 10. James R. was a veteran of the Civil war.
Robert C. Baker, a native of Kentucky, married Margaret Parks, who was born in South Carolina. In 1849 they came to this county and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land in Bellair township. Among their ten chil- dren were Hugh II., James W., Harrison, Henry C., Benjamin F., William and James W. The last mentioned and Harrison were in the Civil war. Robert C. Baker died in 1808. Henry C. Baker was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm in 1878.
Benjamin P. Mells settled in this township in 1858. He was born in Eng- land. At one time he owned over five hundred acres of land here. Finally he removed to the county seat.
Michael Arbogast was a native of Virginia and left the Old Dominion in 1850 to seek a betterment of his financial condition in the west. With $150 in his pocket he reached Appanoose county and entered land in this town- ship. In 1853 he went to California with an ox team and worked there on a farm and also got a taste of mining. He returned to this county in 1856, resumed farming and acquired a large tract of land.
W. H. Bradley was born in Indiana. He came from his native state to Iowa in 1856 and purchased land two miles north of Centerville. In 1859 the family removed to this township, where Mr. Bradley became possessed of sev- eral hundred acres of land.
Israel Garten came to Appanoose county in 1853 from Madison county, Ohio. Ile located in this township and became possessed of considerable land
Jacob Shontz made his appearance in Appanoose county in 1858 and located in this community. At one time he owned over six hundred acres of land. He has held all the township offices.
William Strickler, a "Buckeye," was born in 1820. He came to the county in 1850 and settled on a farm. He was a good business man, notwithstanding the fact that he was a minister of the gospel, and accumulated much land and was prosperous. His son John was in the Civil war.
Dr. A. A. Keran brought his family to Appanoose county in 1854 and settled on a farm in Bellair township. Dr. Keran was also a Methodist min- ister. His daughter Armilda married John Kingsbury, long a resident of this township.
Levi Clemmens began to provide for his own maintenance by chopping wood, and when seventeen years of age he worked for a butcher in his native place. Wayne county, Indiana. In the spring of 1852 the young man became a resident of Bellair township. Leaving the farm in 1876, he opened a meat market in Centerville.
Robert M. Evans settled on a farm in this township in 1853 and remained a resident until 1871, when he retired to Centerville.
G. R. Moss, with his bride, Martha Bishop Moss, moved from Ohio in 1853 and settled in this township. He died in the spring of 1900. John .1. Moss, a son, was born on the farm in 1857 and became a school teacher. Finally, Mr. Moss settled down on the farm and made quite a reputation as a breeder and dealer of shorthorn cattle.
William 11. Wright. an Indianan, settled here in 1856, purchasing a farm
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
of two hundred and forty acres. He married Miss C. A. Mills, daughter of Henry and Rebecca Mills, early settlers of the county, in 18to.
Dr. H. C. Dukes and his parents. Arearim and Mary Dukes, settled in Bellair township in 1850, and here the elder Dukes purchased a large tract of land. Dr. Dukes located in Numa in 1876.
VILLAGE OF BELLAIR
The village of Bellair was platted in October, 1854, by John Potts for Alex- ander Jones, and is situated on section 18. There were twenty lots. In 1855 J. L. Matkins started a store and in 1859 a postoffice was established, and by the year i880 there were about a dozen residences. The growth of the village had been stunted, by the building of the Chicago & Southwestern Kadroad in 1871 to the
VILLAGE OF NUM.A
which had been created March 13, 1871, by G. R. Huston, Undrila Huston, E. E. Ilarvey and Emma Harvey. The survey was made by J. F. Stratton.
Numa hes off section 18 and is a station on the Chicago & Southwestern. Its main support comes from the coal mines adjacent. Numa was incorpor- ated in tyog and now has a population of 000. The contiguous coal fields and mines have added largely to its growth. A majority of the people are of for- cign origin. The Numa State Savings Bank is a strong institution, having a capital of $15,000. Its cashier is I. L. Long.
The first sermon preached in this neighborhood was by Rev. Haynes, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, in 1853. In 1857 school children were gath- ering at a schoolhouse that had been built and soon thereafter a mill was erected at Numa.
A Methodist society was formed at Bellair in 1857 by Asa Thornburg and wife. William Fox and wife, Perry Steward and wife and Russell Matkins and wife. In 1804 a stone building at Bellair was purchased and converted into a church. The structure was used until 1874, when the society built a new one at Numa. This church was dedicated in 1874 and cost about Sogo. Among the first pastors were Ress Jesse Hill, George Clark, Charles Clark, Thomas Stevenson, John Orr and James Hunter.
The Christian church was formed about 1858 by Henry .Adamson and wife, Dr. Ball and wife, Dr. Morris and wife, James Steward and wife and John Steward and wife. The society built a church at Bellair in 1871, at a cost of $1,200. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder Sevey, of Centerville. in the fall of that year. Among the early ministers were Res. John Humphrey. Dr. Combs, Captain I. E. Harvey and Elder Judd.
BILLMIR LODGE, NO. 133. 1. 1 .. & M. M.
received its dispensation and held its first meeting September 30, 1857, in the upper story of the schoolhouse, with James Hagan, W. M .; John V. Criswell. S. W. ; Peter Sidles, J. W. The other charter members were E. E. Harvey,
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IHISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Gavin Morrison, G. W. Fisher, G. R. Houston and A. Jones. A charter was grante 1 by the grand lodge in June, 1858, and in 1879 it was moved to Numa.
VILLAGE OF MYSTIC
The newest little city in the county is Mystic and is the largest town in the county outside of Centerville, its population now numbering about 3,000. The plat of Mystic was filed for record May 28, 1887. The site was surveyed by S. T. Stratton for James S. Elgin, and is the southeast quarter of the north- cast quarter of section 17. township 6g. range 18. Several additions have since been made and the village is still growing.
The coming of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad in 1886 made the future of the projected city certain, as it gave an outlet to the products of the splendid mines then operated and later to be opened in that vicinity. The town grew apace, but in 1910 and in 1911 disastrous fires overtook it and practically destroyed all of the business district, entailing heavy losses. No one seemed to be discouraged, however, and frame buildings were replaced by substantial and neat-appearing brick structures. Building is still going on and Mystic's business street looks well. indeed. The traveling public, which enters the place by way of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and the interurban from Centerville, is entertained nicely at a new brick hotel. There are quite a number of mercantile concerns, two banks, churches, lodges and a moving picture theater.
POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was established at Mystic, October 7. 1887, and Dennis M. Van Dyke was appointed the first postmaster. His successors have been : Eva I. Griffith. November 2, 1889: John F. Page, October 14. 1893: George Stude- baker. August 5. 1897; Joseph D. Ball. August 27. 1901 ; John H. Luse. Feb- ruary 28, 1907.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI
The Methodists in this vicinity, with the assistance of Rev. C. W. Powel- son, organized a church in September, 1886, and in the same year erected a house of worship, which was rebuilt in 1907. A. parsonage adjoining the church was built in 1910 at a cost of $2,000. There are now 205 members and an attendance at the Sunday school of 205. Those who succeeded the first pas- tor are: W. E. Green, 1891-2: Elias Handy, 1892-4: P. H. Macbeth, 1894-5: W. S. Sharer, part of 1895: J. J. Beckham, 1896; E. J. Smith, AApril-Septem- ber, 1807: R. Breeden, part of 1807: R. Collier, 1898; J. W. Carson, 1001; George Blogg, 1903; M. A. Banker, 1906; C. A. Field, 1900; C. R. llankin -. 1910; . V. B. Ilightshoe, 1911.
The Christian church which has been established a number of. years, has for its pastor, E. W. Killian, and the United Brethren church's pulpit is filled by Donnie Minton.
4
Bird's eye View of Master Main Street East Bradley's Bank
Main Street West Egypt Mines
SOME VIEWS OF MYSTI.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
BRADILY'S BANK
The Bradley Bank was established in 1802 by D. C. and J A. Bradley, of Centerville. It is a private concern and does business in a one-story building of red pressed brick, created in the fall of tout, at a cost of about $7,000. The cashier is A. J. Richardson.
MYSTK INDUSTRIAL. SAVINGS BANK
This concern was established in moy by F. E. Bitinger. D. D. Forsyth. J. 11. Swanson, James Hunter, N. W. Lebaugh, C. R. Porter and R. ( For- syth. The officials are: F. E. Bitinger, president ; D. B. Forsyth, vice presi- dent : J. H. Swanson, cashier. The bank has a capital of $1500; surplus and undivided profits, $3,000. The home of the bank is in a brick building, con- structed at a cost of $2,000.
FRATERNM. ORDERS
Walnut Lodge, No. 258, A. F. & A. M. was organized August 24. 1903. The charter officials were: Robert M. Tait, W. M .: J. W. Calvert, S. W .: David B. Forsyth, J. W. The present officials are: Thomas R. Sedgwick, WV. M. : M. M. Van Dyke, S. W. ; Dr. W. J. Fentor. J. W. ; J. W. Calvert. Sec. ; A. J. Richardson, Treas .: 11. J. Pearson. S. D .; J. I. Bartlett. J. D .: Harry MeNamara, S. S .; Roy Herron. J. S .: George Philly, tyler. The membership is eighty-five.
Merriam Lodge. No. 555. 1. O. O. F. was chartered in October, 1892. In iglo the charter was burned and a duplicate was issued December 23. 1911. The original members were Vexander Orr, D. B. Forsyth, W. W. Elles, Wil- liam McIntosh, William Orr, Charles Ball, William Oughten, D. H. Baskı, 1). W. For-yth and C. J. Herron. The present officials are: W. Il. Dochther- man. N. G .: r. Hickinbotham, V. G. : Joseph Stearns, Fin. Sec. ; John Meln- tosh, Red. Ser .: S. D. Knox, Treas.
Mystic Sur Lodge of Rebekahs. No. 255, was organized in 1814. 11- charter was burned in the fire and a duplicate was issued December 28, 1911. The first members were: W. Mcintosh, William Orr. James Hunter, D. 1 :. Forsyth, Laura Forsyth, Harry Mcveigh, I. W. Ferguson, A. S. Carter, WI. 11. Falls. Abia Mcintosh, Emma Orr, Belle Hunter, Lizzie Foryath, Betsey For- syth, Henrietta MeVeigh, S. M. Ferguson, Mrs. V. M. Carter, Mrs. W. D Dingman. Lena Melntosh, Ella Orr. Maggie Hunter, Ilizabeth Oughten, Anna Marker
Court Sunbeam, No. 1. Order of Foresters, was chartered in the Me and the charter was burned in 1911. A new one was issued in January, 1012 The first members were: Ed McConville, Sr. Ve Gulgrass and Jacob Galgras
Pride of lowa Circle, a companion lodge to the Foresters, lost its charter in the fire and received a duplicate in 1912 Harriet Taylor, Lizzie OBran, Jane Booth. Mrs. Moon and others were the charter members
Cherokee Tribe of Red Men. No. 20, was organized on the Tenth Sun, Traveling Som. G. S. D. 120 The original charter was burned m 1011
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IHISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
The charter members were: G. E. Jones, Sam Moss, Isaac Moss, J. H. Martin, Robert Wilson, J. E. Milburn, O. N. Davis, J. A. Davis, J. Wallace, D. G. Thomas, J. P. Evans, J. Bryan, John Morgan and Ralph AAppleby.
Niota Degree of Pocahontas, No. 12, was organized on the Eleventh Sun of Traveling Moon, G. S. D., 420, with the following charter member -: Rob and Jennie Martin, Stell Wakeland. Rebecca Milburn, Mr. and Mrs. F. Bow- ers, Horace Silk, Dora Davis, Charles Davis, Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Scott, Lou Risher. Jennie Thomas, Mary McDonald, Minnie Butler, Eva Douglas, Melissa Hamilton, Agnes Lawton, Maggie Gordon, Amy Showers, Harriet Taylor, Nel- son Barnes, W. H. Dochtherman, 1. Wakeland.
Mystic Circle, Knights of Pythias, No. 272, was organized in 1891.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP
This township was organized in 1858 and held its first election in October of that year. Its southwestern lines are broken unevenly, by Center township taking part of the southwest corner. Taylor township is to the north of it, Center and Sharon on the south. Walnut on the west and U'dell on the cast. Much of the township was originally covered with timber and it is watered by the Chariton and Soap creeks. There is some good tillable land, however, and many farms are improved with modern residences and outbuildings. Coal underlies the hills, but there are no towns. The Wabash, Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroads cross the township. Good schools and churches prevail.
John White, Sr., lived in Pennsylvania before coming to lowa. There he married Jane Pierman, a native of Kentucky. In the fall of 1848 he settled in this township, having made the trip by team and bringing with him one hun- dred dollars in cash. He entered a large tract of land and by energy and indus- try accumulated thirty-two hundred and twenty acres of land in Iowa. Kan- sas and Nebraska. Mr. White died in 1877. Ile was the father of John W. White, of Centerville.
A. E. Tucker, a native of lowa, came to Douglas township with his par- ents, Francis and Millie (Cruse ) Taylor, in 1849. A. E. Tucker married Izora T. Andrews, a daughter of Silas Andrews, who came to the county in 1851 and settled in Taylor township, to which place Mr. Tucker afterward removed.
1 .. W. White was born in Appanoose county in February, 1854, of parents who were carly settlers. He married Jennie Ulm, of Appanoose county, in 1873.
Peter Koontz was an early settler in this township. Ile was a native of West Virginia, removed to Ohio and from thence to lowa in 1856. lle became prosperous in his ventures in this township, beginning with practically noth- ing. In 1861 he became a private soldier in the Civil war and lost his right arm in battle.
James Hamilton came here about 1861 from Guthrie county. He owned several hundred acres of AAppanoose land at one time and held responsible township offices.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
SHARON TOWNSHIP
Sharon township was organized in 1858 and its first election was held m the month of October of that year. It is only four sections in width and six section> in length. Douglas township is on the north, Washington on the cast, Caldwell on the south and Center on the west. The Chariton water" the soil. which is productive and fosters the various cereals grown in this latitude. The township has good schools and churches and the farms show care and good management. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and Keokuk & Western enter this township.
Harvey Cochran was born in Van Buren county and when an infant was brought by his parents to Appanoose county, in 1813. He was one of the pioneers of this community and a valued citizen.
Peter McCoy came into this community in 1849 as did also Gilbert M. Mccoy, who entered one hundred and ninety-seven acres of land on section 15. William McCoy came in the same year and settled on section 1f.
Sammel Henge was a native of Kentucky and removed to Indiana with hi- parents. He became a citizen of Appandone county in 18 10, the year that lowa was admitted into the Union as a state. He married Elinor Caylor in 1851.
John C. Wright was a Pennsylvanian by birth. He came to Appanose county with his parents in 1847 and was one of the sturdy men who assisted largely in the growth and prosperity of this section of the county.
Jacob Shift- settled here in 1854 and acquired over six hundred acres of land. Besides being an excellent farmer he was a carpenter and worked at his trade for many years.
Martin Van Dyke was here as early as 1854. He served in the Civil war.
SHARON VAD KIRKWOOD
Sharon was and is no more. It was laid out on section 33. by William 1) Packard in 1850 and the survey was made by John Potts. By the following year there were five or six dwellings, two stores and a saloon, or tavern. Wil- kinson, the proprietor of the rum shop, met an accidental death, but before that he had caused the board of county commissioners and others in authority. more or less trouble. His sudden "taking off" caused but little, if any, anguish; on the contrary, there was rejoicing. not for the death of a bad neighbor, but for what it entailed, which was the closing of the saloon and the appearance once more in the neighborhood of the bird of peace. There is not a vestige of the town remaining. Close by, on section 35, was the old hamlet of kirk wond, where was established a postoffice and a Baptist church in 1852 The former is gone and the latter is not strong in numbers.
WALNUT TOWNSHIP
Ihr- township hes south of Chariton; Bellair and Center are to the south of it. John- township is it- western boundary and Center and Douglas, its eastern It contains twenty-four stare miles of territory, and is watered by the Claritin river and Walnut creeks. There are numerous farms under
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
high state of coloration, and the citizens are progressive. liberally supporting schools, churches and all that goes for the advancement of themselves and the coming generations.
.Among the first settlers in Walnut township were Rev. Daniel Shaffer, a clergyman of the United Brethren faith; Isaac and Nathan Bartlett and a man named Marchbank. Wolyes were very numerous at the time they came and for many years after; so much so that the board of county commissioners first offered a bounty of fifty cents on their scalps and increased the reward to one dollar each for the scalps of old wolves and fifty cents apiece for young ones. Scalps were brought into the county seat for the bounty on them in such num- bers that the money paid out for the destruction of wolves made quite an item in the treasurers' accounts for several years.
The following wolf story may bear repetition here : On one occasion. David Scott. an early settler of the township, succeeded in trapping a pup wolf, partly grown, which he promised his boys to tame. He put a leather collar on the beast, to which he attached a trace chain, which he fastened to a post with a leathern thong. In the morning pup and chain were gone. The ani- mal was repeatedly seen after that, but was not recaptured for two years. The wolf, now full grown, still had the chain and collar attached to him. The chain had been worn as bright as a new silver dollar by being dragged over the ground and underbrush.
David Thornton Stark, an Indianan by birth, emigrated to Iowa in 1846 and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Walnut City, with his parents. Caleb and Rhoda ( Burney) Stark.
William R. Thompson was an early settler in this township, coming here in 1856 and locating on a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, on which was a log cabin. Forty acres of this had been plowed. The land was purchased from a Mr. Elam. William R. Thompson was the father of Archibald F. Thompson, an attorney of Centerville.
Albert R. Scott came to Appanoose county with his father in 1851 and located on a farm in Walnut township, a part of which became the site of Walnut City. lle was the builder of the Christian church in that community.
Jacob Sweetman, an Indianan, removed from Van Buren county. Iowa. : 0 Appanoose county in 1850 and improved a farm on section 35. lle owned both a sawmill and a flour mill.
David and Nancy ( Ray) Scott came to Appanoose county from Indiana in 1853 and settled in this township, on land purchased of the government. While on business in Kansas in 1862, Mr. Scott died. Noah M. Scott. a son, served the county as clerk of the courts. The elder Scott owned over seven hundred acres of land.
R. B. Scott was an early settler here. coming to the county in 1857. He was at one time possessed of over six hundred acres of land.
Noah 11. Ash was a farmer and stockman. In 1845 he came to Appanoose county with his father, Noah H. Ash, Sr .. and settled in Chariton township. In 1862 the younger Ash purchased a farm in section 35, this township. and became a citizen of the county.
Benjamin Needham settled in the county in 1854 and became one of the prosperous men of Walnut township.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COLAT)
James E. Robinson and wife located in Centerville m 1852 and there Mr. Robin-on worked at his trade. He remained there until 1857, when be moved to a farm on section 10, this township.
Michael Everman was a Kentuckian. He settled in tenter township, this county, in 1850, and in Walnut township in 1816.
Thomas M. MeNeff came to the township in 1853 and died in 195 1 son, D. T. MeJeff, came at the same time and became a prominent farmer and stockman.
William Myers, who came here in 1852, became the owner of several hun- dred acres of land and a great deal of other property. He helped to build the first schoolhouse in the township and, it is said, he ground his fret grist of wheat in the family coffee mill.
David C. Ashby at the age of eight years came to Appancose county with his father. Daniel C. Ashby, in 1856, and the family became well known through- out the township. Daniel C. died in 1864 from disease contracted in the army during the Civil war.
W. P. Darrah removed from West Virginia to this section of the country in 1850 and acquired a large tract of land in this township. He hell all of the principal township offices.
George Elgin, a native of South Carolina, removed to this county and in 1854 purchased a farm on section 6. He married Phoebe, daughter of Joseph and Jane A. Armstrong, in 1860. The Armstrongs came to the county from Indiana in 1850.
.A Baptist society was formed in the township as early as 1848 and among the members were the Bartletts, Marchbanks, Childers and Thomas Richard- son. Meetings were first held at the homes of the settlers, but when the school- house was built it was used by the society. In 1856, "Concord" church was built, two miles west of Walnut City, and stood there umtil 1875. when it was replaced by a building of more comfort and greater pretensions to appearance.
The first school taught in the township was by a Mr. Masters, whose pupils met in a small log cabin in 1853. AA schoolhouse was built the succeeding year = a frame structure and John P. Smith tangl the first classes there. Smith was a man of considerable "character" and in the winter of 1853 made rails for David Scott. He was an exporter and occasionally held religions services in the neighborhood.
I class of Methodists was organized in the winter of 1854-5. In John 1. Smith. He was assisted by the MeJeff and Wakefield families. The society grew and built a house of worship in Walnut City in 1873, at a cost of $1,500.
The United Brethren organized a church at an early day, under the guid- ance and efforts of Res. Shaffer. The members attended the church in Chari- ton township, which was built through the munificence of Res. Shaffer, the pastor. The organization finally dwindled away and the building was converted into a schoolhouse.
WALNUT CITY -\ \111 VGF
The place which we now consider, Walnut City, is only a city if halle No matter what the original intentions of its founder may have been. it never
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416
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
became entitled to any more dignified title than hamlet. Hamlet it was in the beginning and hamlet it is today, after an existence of many years. The town is situated on sections 4 and 5, and was dedicated to public use by its owners, John Scott, Francis Childers, James Bartlett and Madison Hollman, Novem- ber 17. 1858. J. H. Darrah was the surveyor. The first store was opened in the place by MeNeff brothers soon after the town was laid out, and then came two other stores, a wagon and blacksmith shop and a few dwellings. There was also a postoffice in 1866 but it exists no longer. Rural free delivery has made one unnecessary.
The Christian church of Walnut City was organized in 1855, by David Scott and wife, John Scott and wife, William Myers, W. IT. Clark and wife and George Elgin and wife. The carly preachers were Elders E. E. Harvey and J. C. Porter. A church building was erected in 1856.
OTHER VILLAGES OF THE COUNTY
There are other small towns in the county that should at least be mentioned by name. Dennis, a station on the Missouri, lowa & Nebraska; Maine, in Tay- Jor township; Rathbun, established in 1892, a mining town ; Orrville, another mining town laid out in 1892; Darby, the same year; Johnstown; Kennegela and Coal City, in Wells township; and Diamond and Brazil, in Bellair township. )
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