USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
The schools of this township are operated under the rural independent district system, there being seven independent districts, besides the independ- ent district of Arlington. The latter is presented in Mr. Cooney's article, to which we add in this connection, the following: Number of teachers em- ployed, six : duration of school, nine months; compensation of teachers, one male, ninety dollars per month, and five females at an average compensation of forty-three dollars and thirty-three cents per month. There are two hun- dred and forty-nine persons of school age in the district, of whom two hundred and thirty-nine were enrolled in the schools, with an average daily attend- ance of one hundred and eighty. The average cost of tuition per month
389
FAYETTE COUNTY, 10WA.
for each pupil was one dollar and ninety-four cents. There were twenty- four non-resident pupils enrolled in the schools during the last year, from whom was realized in tuition fees one hundred and twenty-four dollars and twenty cents. The school house is valued at six thousand five hundred dollars, the value of school apparatus is two hundred dollars, and there are nine hun- dred and forty-seven volumes in the school library.
The rural independent districts employed one male teacher and six fe- males, at salaries ranging from thirty dollars per month in one district, to forty-two dollars and thirty-three cents in another, the average for the en- tire township being thirty-seven dollars and thirty cents. The schools were in session eight months in the year, and one hundred and forty-three of the two hundred and eighteen pupils of school age were enrolled in the schools. The seven school houses are valued at four thousand five hundred dollars, the school apparatus in them is valued at six hundred and seventy-five dollars, and there are four hundred and ninety-nine volumes in the school district libraries.
CHURCHES.
Arlington has three church edifices, representing the Christian, the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren denominations.
Mention is made of these in Mr. Cooney's article, and but little more need be said. The same is true of the social and fraternal societies of the place, though the Masonic history is worthy of more than passing notice, and the interested reader is referred to the history of Freemasonry in Fayette county, by Past Grand Master D. W. Clements.
The United Brethren church has not been in a prosperous condition for a number of years. This is due, in part, to the death or removal of some of the prominent members whose contributions and influence kept the organization together; but the principal cause was due to the division of the church throughout the country on certain disciplinary changes by the general con- ference some twenty-five years ago. Some churches accepted the change without question, while others revolted and continued to maintain the original organization, assuming that they were the United Brethren church in fact, and that the adherents to the new disciplinary doctrines were seceders. This brought litigation, weakened both branches of the church, and has resulted in the disorganization of many churches. The Arlington church still has services by the "Radical" branch, or what they term to be "the original United Brethren church," and a regular pastor of that faith is stationed there. It is claimed that this denomination was the first to enter the field, and that Rev.
390
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
John Brown preached the first gospel sermon at the Orrear cabin in 1847, and that continuous services were kept up by traveling ministers until the Brush Creek church was organized in 1876. The church was built and dedicated two years later. The building committee consisted of W. R. Mor- ley, Jonas Gunn, Lucius Carey, Rev. O. R. Robbins (who was also the build- er) and Dr. C. F. Waldron. The building is of brick, thirty-two by forty- eight feet, sixteen feet high, surmounted by a spire and belfry.
ARLINGTON. By James Cooney.
A flourishing, incorporated town located in section 28 of Fairfield township, with a population of about eight hundred and fifty. This town- ship has some of the richest and most valuable agricultural land in Iowa. The town was platted in 1856, on land owned by C. D. and T. E. Shambaugh, D. C. Finney, F. R. Hynes, Nelson Huckins and Isaac Walrath. The town was named Brush Creek and was known by this name until the railroad was built into the place.
When the name of the town was changed to Arlington, R. N. Hibbard, Esq., was mayor, and was the leader of the citizens favoring the change of name, which was objected to by some of the older residents and by the officers of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. Hon. J. A. Thomp- son, being then a member of the Legislature for Fayette county, succeeded in having the law of the state amended so as to compel the railway company to change the name of the station to Arlington. The place for a time was known as Moetown, one Charles Moe being the first white land owner and settler there. Moe sold his land to C. D. and T. E. Shambaugh, December 20, 1856. The Shambaughs were the first business men in the town; they built a log house where they kept hotel and a general store.
York Lodge No. 202, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was established at Taylorsville, January 26, 1867, but was removed to Brush Creek in 1873.
The township elections were held at Taylorsville until 1872, when a change of voting place was made to Brush Creek. Soon after the location of the present railway, at and through Brush Creek, several buildings, including the present hotel building, were removed from Taylorsville and with them nearly all the business of this hitherto prosperous village.
There is now a large, well-kept cemetery near the old town plat of Tay- lorsville, which is the most used burial ground for southeast part of the county.
391
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
The first public school in Brush Creek was taught by Samuel Taylor in the school house known as Newton school house which was moved to the village. There is now a large two-story brick building which was built in 1877, and an addition thereto, afterwards built. The estimated value of Arlington public school property is six thousand five hundred dollars.
CHURCHES.
The Christian church (church of Christ) was organized in April, 1858, under ministration of Elder Brittel, and was the only denomination owning and maintaining a church building here until 1876, when the Methodist Episco- pal church was organized, and a church building erected. In the year 1878 the United Brethren congregation built its present brick church. These three denominations now have good church buildings here and hold regular Sabbath services. A German Lutheran congregation holds services here at times, but has no church building.
Arlington enjoys a fine modern waterworks system put in at a first cost of about five thousand dollars, which has been improved and extended at an additional cost since. The waterworks is the property of the town. Arling- ton also has gas works (acetylene), owned by a private corporation, which gives a fine service and is well patronized.
The first bank established here was by Rawson & Rice, known as Brush Creek Bank. Rawson & Rice (A. Rawson and Ed. Rice) were also livestock buyers and energetic business men who did much to make the town prosper in a business way. There are now two banks at Arlington: First State Bank, of which D. B. Allen is cashier and Miss Fannie Bates bookkeeper. Chauncey Deming is president of this bank. The First National Bank was established in 1910, and T. J. Ainsworth is cashier. This new national bank is now erecting its bank building. Guy L. Rawson is president of the bank, and John Wilken vice-president. He is a prosperous business man of the town, and was the chief promoter of the new bank.
The town was visited by a cyclone in June, 1883, which wrecked the Methodist Episcopal church, and several dwelling houses. No person was fatally injured, but considerable property was wrecked and some narrow escapes were reported.
Arlington has a good opera house of two stories. The second story is used as lodge rooms by the Masons, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors, Grand Army of the Republic and other societies of the town. There is a town hall owned by the city, where council meetings
392
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
and elections are held, and where the town keeps its fire extinguishing hose and other property. This hall was built at a cost of two thousand dollars, exclusive of value of lot.
The following is a partial list of the pioneers and former business men of the town and vicinity, now deceased, who were most active and contributed most to the building and prosperity of the town :
Andrew Ainsworth, farmer; William Ainsworth, farmer and carpenter ; William Anglemyer, farmer ; Vernon Arbuckle, retired farmer ; Alex Anderson, machinist : P. G. Abbott, farmer ; Adam Becker, merchant and farmer ; Charles Bond. retired farmer: Chancy Brooks, retired farmer; Ira Calkins, retired farmer : James Crawford, retired farmer ; James Cole, retired farmer ; James Dempster, farmer; George L. Doane, farmer ; Michael Eckert, retired farmer ; Samuel Fereday, farmer ; A. J. Fish, farmer ; Charles Glime, retired farmer ; Fred Glime, merchant, farmer, politician, etc .; D. B. Hoxton, retired farmer ; George Hancock, farmer; Jacob Hill, farmer; W. H. Hoover, merchant ; Mat Hammas, tinner and plumber; Charles Jaques, farmer; Albert John- son, farmer : James Kennedy, farmer ; Peter Kuney, hotel keeper and farmer ; J. D. Kuney, livery and feed stable ; L. C. Kuney, merchant ; William King, re- tired farmer; W. F. Lackey, retired farmer ; M. Lackey, wagon maker; Peter Leonheart, farmer; Charles K. Leonheart. druggist; W. D. Little, cooper ; John W. Lickiss, retired farmer ; Eugene Moine, farmer; William McAlavey, farmer ; A. C. Manson, farmer ; John Mead, retired farmer ; Mathew McCrea, merchant ; Joseph Menges, retired farmer ; William R. Morley, farmer ; Henry Moyer, farmer; J. P. Moine, farmer; Palmer F. Newton, farmer; O. H. Osborn, owner and editor "Neves"; S. T. Oviatt, proprietor furniture store; William Philips, attorney-at-law and farmer; Calvin Perkins, farmer ; L. Page, farmer ; Albert Probasco, farmer, ex-member county board supervisors; Phil- ander Rawson, farmer ; Walter Rawson, saw mill, lumber dealer ; Edward Rice, banker, ex-member Legislature; George Rice, farmer; S. E. Rice, farmer; James Richards, farmer ; O. R. Robbins, United Brethren preacher and me- chanic ; J. B. Squires, retired farmer ; George Simpson, Sr., retired farmer ; C. D. Shambaugh, merchant and farmer; T. E. Shambaugh, merchant and farm- er ; Ben Shambaugh, justice of the peace and farm owner ; James Shambaugh, retired farmer ; Monroe Shumway, druggist ; W. H. Smith, drayman ; William Spatcher, blacksmith; William Truesdell, retired farmer and carpenter; Wil- liam F. Taylor, retired farmer; Killen M. Voshell, retired farmer; Alex. Wandell, merchant; Isaac Walrath,, farmer and hardware; Jacob H. Walrath, farmer and hardware; Stephen Westcott, retired farmer; Loyd Westcott, farmer ; G. Wheeland, physician ; Chandler Wilcox, farmer; C. G. Wheeland,
393
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
farmer ; Peter White, attorney-at-law and farmer; W. C. White, merchant ; R. A. Wilcox, farmer ; Heiman Wilson, retired farmer.
Among the pioneer settlers advanced in years not now actively engaged in business, now having good homes in the town and most of them well to do farmers, all highly respected citizens, are :
Hon. Andrew Addie, ex-clerk of district court and member of General Assembly, representative from Fayette county ; Joseph Antwine, W. H. Bene- dict, J. A. Blanchard, James Carnall, Robert Ewing, J. A. Foster, W. C. Glime, J. T. Gable, John Howard, Lewis James, J. R. McDonald, Charles Roe.
The principal business firms now are as follows :
Attorneys at Law-John Hutchison, D. D. Palmer.
Blacksmiths-Jake Montz, Robert Rutherford, H. Roloff.
Banks-First State Bank, D. B. Allen, cashier; First National Bank, T. J. Ainsworth, cashier.
Barbers-G. A. Goodspeed, Robbins.
Boots and Shoes-William Powell.
Billiard Hall-Emmet Taylor, proprietor.
Creamery-Farmers Co-operative Company.
Cement worker-Charles Cushion.
Cooper's Shop-J. H. Little.
Carpenters-Frank Ainsworth, M. Lackey, R. L. Newton, Robert Hunter, Henry L. Palmer, J. P. Wiltsie, Albert Wilson.
Clothing Store-T. L. Gleim, manager.
Draymen-Oliver Murphy and Andrew Perkins.
Drug stores-Walter M. Shumway, D. and B. B. Walrath.
Dentist-Dr. E. S. Taylor.
Furniture and Undertaking-W. H. Gleim & Sons.
Feed Mills-R. L. Newton, John Silha & Son.
Grocery Stores-E. D. Allen, G. C. Bates.
General Stores, Dry Goods and Groceries-J. M. Welch, Frank Kuney Company, George A. Lickiss, G. C. Bates (extensive grocery trade).
Hotel-St. Cloud, W. Kenyon, proprietor.
Harness Makers-William House, J. C. Wilken.
Hardware - Stores, Harness Stock and Farm Implements-Jewell & Moyer, John C. Wilken.
Ice Business-Floyd Finney.
Jewelry Store-A. R. Bird.
Livery Stables-George Hyde, L. Rittenhouse.
Lumber Dealers-Keve Lumber Company, Guy L. Rawson.
394
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Meat Market-H. Schoeppe.
Millinery Store-Floy-Hallack.
Newspaper-W. F. Lake, editor.
Opera House-Kingsley, proprietor. Painters-Roy Newton, L. J. Palmer.
Photograph Gallery-C. Stetter.
Postmaster-O. Z. Wellman.
Physicians and Surgeons-O. O. Ayer, C. E. Bower (homeopathic) Gates M. Brown.
Racket Store-C. B. Woodson.
Real Estate-A. Rittenhouse.
Restaurant-Crothers.
Saw Mill-Guy L. Rawson.
Stock and Grain Buyer-George Simpson & Son.
Teamsters-Paul Hendrickson, A. Hulderson, C. N. Finney.
Tinner and Plumbers-E. D. Miller, John Cramer, both with Jewell & Moyer.
Veterinarian-Dr. C. M. Allen.
Wagon Shops-M. Lackey, H. Roloff.
TAYLORSVILLE.
By James Cooney.
Taylorsville, a former town located on section 22 and 23 of Fairfield town- ship, was laid out by Jarad Taylor, who settled here in 1851. A log school house was erected here in 1850 and school was taught in the building. The United Brethren church ministers held regular church services in this log school house, among whom were Revs. Israel Shaffer, John Dollarhide, Wil- liam Moore, George Watrous, Enoch Fothergill, Willis Bunton, John Brown, the latter beginning his ministerial career in the county in 1847.
Killen Voshell and Hannah Taylor were married at Taylorsville in March, 1851, by Jarad Taylor, justice of the peace. Mr. Voshell resided near here on his large valuable farm until his death in 1909.
In 1856 Jacob Hartman opened a hotel at Taylorsville: Peter Kuney and his son, J. D. Kuney, kept the hotel when the town was at its best. This town at one time had a large trade. A. M. Childs conducted a general mer- chandise store as early as 1860. Becker and Kuney and William White had good stores here also.
CHAPTER XXVI.
FREMONT TOWNSHIP.
The township of Fremont was organized under authority of the county judge, November 4. 1856, and the organizing election was held on the 6th of April, 1857. The election was held at the home of A. Ritchie, and S. S. Leech, S. R. McClay and P. M. Corbly served as judges of the election and J. Curtis and N. W. Spears were the clerks. The officers elected at this time were : H. W. Zimmerman, justice of the peace ; John Strong, S. R. McClay and J. Burch, trustees; L. C. Dudley, clerk ; C. Cline and R. W. Lawrence, constables.
It is said that the name "Fremont" was chosen by N. W. Spears, in honor of the "Pathfinder of the Rockies," who aspired to be President, as well as the first leader of the Republican party.
The first school officers of the township were elected in December, 1856, P. M. Corbly being chosen president of the board, N. W. Spears, secretary. and P. M. Obenchain, treasurer. N. W. Spears was the first school teacher in the township, having a class of seventeen pupils, whom he taught in his own house during the winter of 1856-7, for a consideration of ten dollars per month. During extremely stormy weather he kept his pupils all night, and, of course, boarded them. Some of his pupils lived three miles from the school, and when it is remembered that there were no fenced roads at that time, the danger to children being caught out in a snow storm were greatly multiplied. It is said that P. M. Obenchain taught an evening school during. the same winter. The first school house built in the township was a log struc- ture, constructed from material contributed and hauled to the site by patrons of the proposed school. This house was erected in the fall of 1857.
The August, 1857, election was held at the house of N. W. Spears, and twenty-seven votes were polled, indicating a Democratic majority of nine. The first religious services in the township were conducted by Rev. James Burch, a Free-Will Baptist, at the home of E. Shipp, in the spring of 1856. Mr. Burch was a local celebrity who had learned to read after his marriage. He was exceptionally fond of hunting and usually traveled his circuit prepared
396
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
for either hunting or preaching, as circumstances justified. During the autumn of the same year Rev. Mr. Allen, a United Brethren minister from West Union, united with Rev. H. W. Zimmerman, a local minister of the Methodist faith, in holding a series of religious meetings, which resulted in much good and was the nucleus to church organizations the following spring. Churches of these denominations were erected and maintained for many years. The organizing members of the United Brethren church were P. M. Corbly and wife, John Strong and wife, Richard Lawrence, Oliver Kelly and wife and John Bessey and wife. The membership of this church during its exist- ence, included the names of many of the prominent people of the township. The first members of the Methodist Episcopal church were Rev. H. W. Zimmerman and wife, N. W. Spears and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Chi- chester and Mrs. Angeline Morehouse. This organization also had a pros- perous career, but is now absorbed by the church at Westgate. In the spring of 1859 Rev. Peter Colgrove located in Fremont township and proved a valu- able acquisition to the religious affairs, but died in August of the following year. He reared a family of educators who have left their impress upon the school history of Fayette county. Mr. Colgrove built the brick school house on section 33, in the autumn of 1859, and James F. Babcock taught the school therein during the following winter.
In the early days it was customary to name the school houses or school districts, instead of numbering them, as now. The change to the present plan was brought about because of the inconvenience of writing long names in the county records, often on limited space. The White school house was erected in. 1860, by H. L. Matthews, and the first teacher therein was S. C. Beck. The Red school house was built in the year last written, by Charles Goodrich, and N. M. Mallery was the first teacher. The McSweeney school building was erected in 1867, by E. T. Older, and Anna M. Older was the first teacher in that district. The Baker school was established in 1869, and Mrs. Augusta Baker taught the first term of school.
A Union Sabbath school was organized in 1864, with John Dickman as superintendent. The Dickmans, William, John and Henry, were among the early and prominent families who found homes in Fremont township.
Mill postoffice was established in this township in 1860, and Joseph Chi- chester was appointed postmaster. The office was continued until the intro- duction of the rural free delivery system, as appears more fully in the article on postoffices.
The first land entry of record in Fremont township was made by Thomas Rand, January 16, 1853. He located parts of sections 31 and 32. During
397
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
the winter of 1848-9 the settlers throughout the county organized a "Claim Society" for the purpose of mutual protection against claim jumpers. They took this precaution before the surveys were completed, and before the lands were generally on the market.
During the Civil war Fremont township organized a Soldiers' Aid Society, to co-operate with the county central committee both in the enlistment of volunteers and in caring for the families of those who responded to their country's call. Rev. H. W. Zimmerman was appointed a member of the county central committee, and Mrs. N. W. Spears was president of the Fre- mont Township Soldiers' Aid Society, the other officers being Mrs. L. C. Dud- ley, secretary, and Mrs. E. T. Older, treasurer. The society was ever vigilant in collecting and forwarding needed supplies to the front and in disbursing their bounties among the needy families of absent soldiers.
Fremont township is one of the best agricultural townships in the county. The land is mostly rolling prairie, with considerable timber in the central and southwestern portions of the township, along the Wapsipinicon river and its tributaries. The "Wapsie" is a stream of considerable volume, which, with its principal tributary, the Little Wapsie, the latter flowing southwesterly across the township until it forms a junction with the principal stream on sec- tion 19, affords an excellent drainage system. The Wapsipinicon river tra- verses the township in nearly a southern direction, passing out of the township into Oran, on section 32. Besides these principal water courses, there are numerous creeks and spring branches which render the land well adapted to stock-raising, as well as general farming.
For many years Fremont township was considered a kind of educational center among the rural schools. Perhaps no township in the county has turned out more college graduates than Fremont, or more persons who have attained prominence in educational circles. The schools are organized under the dis- trict township system, there being nine sub-districts in the township having school during the period covered by the latest official report (1909). The average duration of schools was seven and four-tenths months. Sixteen female teachers were employed during the year at an average compensation of thirty-four dollars and ninety cents per month. There are two hundred and ninety-two persons in the township district between the ages of five and twenty-one years, of whom one hundred and ninety-five were enrolled in the schools, with a total average daily attendance of one hundred and twelve. The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil was three dollars and seven cents. Value of school houses, three thousand three hundred fifty dollars. Value of school apparatus, three hundred and thirty dollars. Number of volumes in the school district libraries four hundred thirty-three.
398
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
TOWN OF WESTGATE.
Until within comparatively recent years, Fremont was exclusively a rural township, having no town or village within its borders of greater importance than a country postoffice. The trading points were Maynard, four miles east of the east line of the township, Oelwein scarcely three miles southeast of the corner of the township, and Sumner, a few miles farther, in Bremer county. But the building of the St. Paul branch of the Chicago Great Western railroad, which traverses the township from southeast to northwest, stimulated the establishment of a station, midway between Oelwein and Sumner. This sta- tion is known as Westgate, and even before the completion of the railroad it began to show signs of activity and progress. Men of means and business acumen foresaw the possibilities of the place, and within a few years Westgate became a thriving town of considerable importance. It was laid out by Cass and Jamison, and was prosperous as a young town from the start. There are all of the industries usually found in small towns, with several mercantile establishments, a hotel, three churches, Methodist Episcopal, Catholic and Lutheran, a bank, good school, and various mechanical shops, besides being the home of a number of retired farmers from the adjacent country. For a history of the churches, the reader is referred to the general articles which treat of the denominations represented in the town.
There are several social and fraternal organizations represented in the place. An Odd Fellows lodge was once organized there and prospered for a time, but it has been merged with the lodge at Maynard. Westgate was in- corporated May 9, 1896, its school district being co-extensive with the corpora- tion limits. The school house of two rooms is valued at one thousand dollars. There are sixty-eight persons of school age in the district, of whom sixty- three were enrolled in the schools during the last year, the average daily at- tendance being forty-nine. One male teacher was employed at a salary of sixty dollars per month and one female whose salary was forty-seven dollars and fifty cents. The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil was two dollars and nineteen cents. Nine months' school was taught in this dis- trict during the year ending June 30, 1909, the latest official report.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.