USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 27
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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 | Part 71 | Part 72
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
that the first council met December 31. 1868, and was made up of the fol- lowing gentlemen: W. L. LeFever, mayor; M. K. Campbell, recorder : L. M. Shaw, Seth Dixon, J. B. Bennington, John Morrison, A. S. Elwood, trustees : William Johnson, treasurer : John I. Nichols, marshal.
The first ordinance was one to restrain persons from hitching teams to the fence around the public square.
Up to 1878 the sentiment of the people of Monroe was largely in favor of allowing liquors to be sold under a licensing system, at least for the sale and use of ale, wine and beer, but at that date a new council was elected with this in view and wiped the saloon from the town.
The following have served as mayors of Monroe: W. L. LeFever, elected in 1868; J. Kipp, 1870: H. Green. 1872; J. C. MeDill. 1873: J. B. Bennington. 1874: L. M. Shaw, 1875: Melvin Nichols, 1876; G. W. Hertzog. 1877: W. T. Stotts, 1879: AAaron Custer, 1880-8t: W. G. Romans, 1882: D. Hiskey, 1883: J. Cunningham, 1884: 2. Mosher. 1885: . Mosher. 1886: G. W. Hertzog. 1887-8: J. W. Honald, 1889; W. L. LeFever, 1890: Hugh Mor- rison, 1891-93: S. S. Seger. 1894-6; - - Crane. 1896-7: Hugh Morrison, 1898: S. S. Seger. 1899: J. B. Gray, 1900-01 : J. Koder. 1901-02: D. J. Lev- eridge. 1902-3: G. M. Cowles, 1904-05: J. Kbder, 1905-6-7: A. Palmer, 1908-9: W. T. Wolcott. 1910-11
The present town officers are W. T. Wolcott. mayor: D. C. Phillips, clerk: Jonas Barr, marshal : councilmen. C. C. Worth. George H. Orcutt. George Ammer. O. G. Shaw, George Neff.
A gasoline gas plant provides sufficient light for the town. It was in- stalled in 1902-3 at a cost of six thousand dollars, secured by floating bonds. The town has a good brick city hall and jail, but needs water works.
In 1905 the population of Monroe was eight hundred and thirty-six, ac- cording to the state census reports.
The banking interests are mentioned in the chapter on banking.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
In the spring of 1910 the business and professional interests of this old and interesting town were as follows:
General Dealers-James H. Cochrane, Frank J. Coffee, Custer Brothers & Wright, Louis H. Yost.
Groceries-J. A. Murray.
Meats-Irwin Heffelfinger.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Live Stock-R. B. Hendershot, Mark Bateman, Charles Cramer, WV. 1. Shaw, William Whitted, all breeders but the first named.
Drugs-W. W. Townsend.
Lawyers-J. Kipp & Son, Jacob Koder.
Hardware and Plumbing-Ammer & Worth.
Blacksmith-George F. Anderson.
Physicians-Dr. Charles J. Alpin, Leonard W. Cochrane (dentist ), Robert E. Gladson (dentist). In 1911, D. H. Wheelwright, F. L. Smith.
Livery-George Corroy, Thomas W. Hancock
Merchant Tailor-Edwin A. Coburn.
Millinery-Estella Broomfield, Mrs. Cora Ferguson.
Cigar Maker-Harry Demming.
Shoes-O. H. and I. W. Fisher.
Hotel-Roberts House.
Lumber-Citizens' Lumber Company.
Furniture-J. & S. Scharf, Chicago Furniture Company ( 1911).
Exclusive Live Stock-Monroe Live Stock Company.
Newspaper-The Monroc Mirror.
Telephone Company-The Monroe Telephone Company, who built a fine cement block exchange building in' 1910.
Cement Work-L. T. Munson.
Real Estate-WV. T. Stotts.
Buggies and Wagons-Hetherington & Son.
TIIE CITY OF THE DEAD.
The people of this community have ever taken much care and have a just pride in their cemetery. The Monroe cemetery was established as a private enterprise on the part of Daniel Hiskey, Esq., who, in 1871, pur- chased twenty-two acres of land, at a cost of two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, within a half mile of the public square. This was soon fitted up and properly improved for a resting place for the departed dead of the community. In 1878 the property was sold to F. M. Slusser, Esq. He continued proprietor until his death, when his heirs, a son and daughter, took the work up and have carried the same on ever since, although they reside away from Monroe. Through pioneer hardware man, L. M. Shaw, they have had this burying place well cared for and improved. Aside from this the citizens, especially the Ladies Association of Monroe, have accomplished much to beautify the sacred enclosure and through their work have suc-
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
ceeded in laying a fine cement walk from the city out the entire way to the cemetery, a half mile, and they have also cared for all graves and grave lots where relatives do not reside in Monroe. No obnoxious weeds and tall, un- sightly grasses are permitted to grow on the grounds. The walk alone cost them eight hundred dollars. With the return of each springtime, these grounds are looked after and Memorial day is an interesting event in Monroe district, for all gather and remember the graves of departed friends. Many fine shade trees beautify the place, both native and evergreens. There are many costly monuments, including the John D. Long shaft, forty feet high, of white mar- ble, surmounted by an angel figure of rare design. This monument was raised by a Philadelphia firm who had to send a special freight wagon to draw the material from the railroad to the cemetery, so huge were the parts, including the great granite base. This monument, which cost ten thousand dollars, was erected to the memory of the great cattle raiser and "cattle king" of Jasper county, who at one time just before his death had eight hundred acres of Jasper county land and a mansion on one tract of it. Strange to relate, and seemingly without cause, Mr. Long took his own life by hanging, about ten days prior to a great imported stock sale he was to have on his farm. He left a daughter by his first marriage and his second wife, who was buried beside him in the spring of 1911.
When the construction of mausoleums became so popular a few years since in lowa a company, at an expense of twenty-two thousand dollars, erected one on the Monroe cemetery grounds, on land purchased of the pro- prietors. This was completed in 1909 and has two hundred and fifty crypts, of which about forty are now disposed of. The prices at first were one hun- dred dollars, but after Mr. Maytag, of Newton, came into possession of the place it was raised to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per crypt. It is a massive piece of masonry, lined with pure white, polished marble. It con- tains four tiers of crypts, one above another, for both children and adults. This is a private institution and has nothing to do with the cemetery proper.
POSTOFFICE IHISTORY.
There has been no record kept of this office, except intermittently, so it will be impossible to go much into details. It was one of the early offices in Jasper county and the following gentlemen have served, with possibly one or two more, but this seems to be about a correct list : Mrs. Adam Tool, first in charge ; Thomas Petete, 1854, John Hickey, W. L. Lefevre, Aaron Adams, I .. W. Allum, O. B. Kipp, Il. G. Nelson, John Vandernast, W. T. Stotts, H.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
A. Perrin, who received his appointment in 1897, and still holds the office ac- ceptably to the patrons of the office H. J. Perrin is assistant postmaster.
Monroe postoffice was robbed May 14, 1902, when twenty-three dollars in stamps and small change were taken from the money drawer.
VILLAGE OF FAIRMOUNT.
This is a station point on the old Des Moines Valley (now the Rock Island branch) railroad, situated in Fairview township, midway between Monroe and Prairie City. It is beautifully situated by nature, being on a level plateau of prairie land separating the Des Moines from the Skunk rivers, the timber from both streams being plainly in sight. In 1878 the place had grown to possess a Methodist Episcopal church edifice, costing almost two thousand dollars.
At the date last mentioned Fairmount did considerable business in the shipping of farm products, including many potatoes. The present business of the place is confined to a few business houses, a church and the usual small shops such as are demanded by the farming community. The county directory of 1910-11 gave the population of Fairmount as fifty. The general dealer was Arch Livingston, who was postmaster : grain dealer, J. M. Porter & Sons.
A Methodist Episcopal church is sustained here, the same being cared for by the pastor from Prairie City. The postoffice at Fairmount was estab- lished in 1876. It is a fourth-class office, and has had but two postmasters, George Volk and A. Livingston. It is a small office, having transacted only one hundred dollars' worth of postal business during the last year. Two mails are received and one sent each way daily.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP AND THE CIVIL WAR.
Fortunate, indeed. are the publishers to obtain a true certified copy of the list of soldiers who went from this township to the Civil war. The list is certified to by R. C. Anderson and Robert Elwood, sworn to before Notary Public Simeon B. Tefft, January 11, 1865. The company and regiment in which these men served will generally be found in the War chapter of this work, hence will not be repeated in this connection, but their age will be here published, showing, as it does, that Fairview sent forth from her midst youth and age, the best blood and flower of the community. Other townships may have equaled this, but no record is found :
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Armstrong, Richard, aged forty. Adams, Aaron, aged thirty-five. Armstrong, Samuel, aged eighteen. Brady, George, aged eighteen. Bain, Robert, aged twenty. Bain, James, aged eighteen. Bargenholts, James, aged twenty. Box. Joseph, aged twenty-eight. Baker, Henry, aged twenty-three. Beath, Thomas, aged twenty-four. Buckhalter, Cason, aged forty-four. Bargenhalts, Peter, aged eighteen. Carr, Raymond, aged eighteen. Campbell, M. K., aged twenty. Cowles, H. A., aged eighteen. Caple, S., aged eighteen.
Dowler, Henry, aged eighteen.
Deve. William, aged twenty-seven. Dibble, Milo, aged twenty-five. Everley, William R., aged twenty- four. Estella, William, aged nineteen. Ellwood, A. G., aged thirty-seven.
Everly, J. B., aged twenty-six.
Fudge, John C., aged twenty-one. Fudge, James W., aged twenty- three. French. Angus, aged thirty-five. Grubb, Sylvester, aged eighteen. Grubb. William, aged eighteen. Gray, Perry, aged forty. Gray, John, aged twenty-one. Gray, Samuel, aged nineteen. Gray. James, aged eighteen. Harcourt. Charles, aged twenty- three. Heron, David. aged twenty-one. Hughes, Sylvester, aged nineteen. Hawkins. David, aged forty.
Hitchins, Joseph, aged thirty. Howard, A., aged eighteen. Hammond, J. Q., aged twenty. Hunter, Jacob, aged forty.
Hill, John, aged twenty-one. Hill. Frank, aged twenty-five. Hill, James, aged nineteen. Hawling, Edward. aged thirty.
Hawkins, William .A., aged eighteen.
Jordan, Isaac, aged eighteen. Jones, T. K., aged eighteen. Jones, G. G., aged twenty-five. Jordan. John, aged forty-three.
Kerr, Thomas, aged twenty-one.
Kerr. Wesley, aged eighteen.
Kerr, George, aged eighteen.
Knapp. William, aged twenty-two.
Knapp. C. D., aged thirty.
Kaiser, Christopher, aged eighteen.
Kindle, Joseph, aged thirty.
Loudenback. R., aged fifty. Lapella. John P., aged eighteen. Loudenback. I. N., aged twenty-two.
Lone, J. P., aged twenty-five. Loudenback. David, aged nineteen. Loudenback. Joseph, aged twenty- one.
Leeter, D. W., aged twenty-two.
Mudgett. P., aged nineteen.
Mudgett, Woodbury, aged nineteen. Mateer. John, aged thirty-five.
Mateer, Alex., aged twenty-five. Morgan, Joseph, aged twenty-six.
Murphy. I. M., aged twenty-eight. Murphy, William, aged twenty-one. Montgomery, James, aged eighteen. Moore, W. W .. aged twenty-eight. Mathews. Peter, aged twenty. Mortimore, Ephraim, aged eighteen
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Mathews, Alfrey, aged eighteen.
Mathias, Henry, aged thirty-four.
McKee, Robert, aged nineteen.
McBride, John, aged eighteen.
McDonald, Charles, aged twenty- one.
McWilliams, Henry, aged twenty.
McDonald, Allen, aged thirty.
McReynolds, Ewing, aged twenty- two.
McReynolds, David, aged twenty- six.
McCarthy, J. W .. aged twenty-one.
Nimmo. David, aged twenty-three.
Nelson, H. G., aged forty.
Painter. James, aged twenty-two.
Porter, Andrew J., aged twenty-one.
Porter, Robert, aged eighteen.
Porter, William, aged twenty.
Priddy, D. M., aged forty-two.
Parker. Joshua, aged thirty-one.
Patterson, James, aged eighteen.
Pattison, Alex., aged fifty-five.
Romans, A. D., aged twenty-two.
Rice, Frank, aged twenty-five.
Richardson, Norris, aged twenty- five.
Rogers, Edward, aged eighteen.
Rutter. James G., aged thirty-one.
Rutter, John, aged twenty-one.
Rutter, David, aged eighteen.
Robison, Jasper, aged eighteen.
Robison, George, aged twenty.
Sumney, Anthony, aged thirty-three. Sumney, Ransom, aged twenty-one. Staler, William, aged · nineteen.
Schooley, William E., aged eigh- teen.
Schooley, James, aged forty.
Stem, Jacob, aged twenty-four.
Scott, David, aged twenty-two.
Scott, David, aged twenty-three.
Scott, James, aged twenty-one.
Story, John H., aged forty-two.
Story. James, aged eighteen.
Shellady, Stephen, aged eighteen.
Shelledy, S. B., aged sixty.
Shelledy, John E., aged twenty-five.
Stevens, James, aged eighteen.
Sterrett. Robert, aged forty-four.
Starrett. Finley, aged eighteen.
Thorne, George, aged twenty.
Taylor. James, aged twenty-six. Tefft. Seneca, aged eighteen.
Taylor, James C., aged twenty-four.
Taylor, Columbus, aged twenty-two.
Taylor, John, aged thirty-five.
Volk. Michael, aged twenty-two.
Vaughan. H. C., aged twenty-two.
Wood. Eli F .. aged twenty-five.
Whitted, Aaron, aged eighteen.
Wilson. James, aged nineteen.
Winkler. Theodore, aged eighteen.
Whitman, Adam, aged eighteen.
Westfall, Leander, aged twenty-two.
VETERANS WHO RE-ENLISTED.
These are the soldiers from Fairview township who veteranized : Robert W. McKee, H. C. Vaughan, Ransom Sumney, Robert Bain, Thomas Kerr, William Eyerley, Sylvester Hughes. I. N. Loudenback. Leander Westfall,
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
E. McReynolds, J. Q. Hammond, John Hill, James G. Rutter, William Murphy, John Schooley. William Mills, William Estee, Alex. Livingston, S. V. Shelledy, O. W. Buckhalter, Jeff Long, John Scheck, John Hiskey, H. Stem. Samuel McReynolds.
CHAPTER XXI.
MOUND PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
This sub-division of Jasper county is in the southwestern part of the county, comprises about twenty-seven sections of land, for the most part sit- uated in township 79, ranges 20 and 21 west. It is bounded on the north- east by the South fork of the Skunk river, that stream being the line be- tween it and Sherman township. It is of quite irregular form, owing to the meanderings of the river. A portion of Prairie City is within this town- ship, while the remainder is situated in Des Moines township. The north line of the township is traversed by the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific rail- road, which enters Washington township at Colfax, just to the west line of Mound Prairie township.
A half dozen or more small tributaries of the Skunk river flow from the southwest to the northeast through this township. But little native timber ever grew within this township, but the farming land on the prairies is of an excellent character and has come to be very valuable. The only village within the township, aside from a portion of Prairie City, is Metz. a small station point on the Rock Island railroad.
Mound Prairie was organized in February. 1857. under the old county judge system. The order of the court creating this township organization reads as follows: "That there be a township organized by the name of Mound Prairie, bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of section 3, township 79. range 20, thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of township 79. range 21 ; thence west on the county line to the southwest corner of said township and range: thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of section 35. township 79, range 20; thence north on the section line to the quarter section stake on the east side of section 11, same township and range : thence west one mile: thence north to place of beginning."
It will be seen that this took in much more territory than the present township does. Washington township was not yet cut off and made into a township organization.
Among the original land entries in this township, as first organized. were the following: Elbert Evans, on the southwest of section 2, range 20.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
October 28, 1848: John Rodgers, in the southwest quarter of northeast range 20, of section 2, October 21, 1848.
The state census returns for 1905 gave this township a population of 1,393.
In 1878 the township paid a personal tax on $45,867, including the items of 544 horses; 39 mules; 1,067 head of cattle over six months of age.
In 1877 the total real estate and personal tax of this township was re- corded as $276,776, on which a tax was turned into the county treasurer amounting to $4.575.26. See table of present township valuations, in the chapter on County Government.
The people of Mound Prairie have ever been on the alert for the in- troduction of the best public school methods and have had standard Jasper county public schools from the earliest date of its history. Much concerning schools, churches, lodges, etc .. in this township will be incorporated in the general chapters of this volume, under their proper and respective headings.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settler in this township was Joseph Slaughter, of section 5, and he came in 1845 and built a log cabin, went back east and returned with his family in the spring of 1846.
Samuel K. Parker settled in 1847. He had a saw mill operated by Robert Warner.
In 1853 John Sumpter settled on section 7. He became the first justice of the peace of this township. Then there were a few settlers on the east side of the river before 1855. in what is now known as the Metz corner, and among these were the Millers, L. D. Samms, who came in 1849; James, John and G. W. Miller, of 1853. with possibly others who settled for a short time and moved on west.
At that date the facilities for home and comfort were not excellent, only for the stout-hearted. brave and self-denying spirits. The nearest post- office was at Tool's Point: a grist mill at Red Rock: a corn-cracker on the Indian creek. near present Colfax: all merchandise had to be hauled on wagons from the Mississippi river : salt was seven dollars a barrel; cut nails fifteen cents per pound and other articles in proportion.
Coal was first discovered in this county in 1846 by a young man on the Slaughter place.
Reaping with a reaper was first accomplished in this township in 1857 with an old Rugg reaper.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Following the settlers already mentioned, may also be recalled the following : E. R. Peck ; on section 19 was Riley Scoyac, who remained until 1857: Daniel Shepherd: and possibly a few more in the early fifties.
The first school was taught as a private school by Mrs. Charles Kendall in the kitchen of her small house in 1856. This stood on the southwest quarter of section 8. The first school house in this township was erected on the southwest corner of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 7 and among the first teachers there was Samuel Gooden.
The fencing all had to be of rails split from the nearby forests, and if for no other reason the timber sections of the country were always occupied first, this being many years prior to barb wire inventions. Then the timber afforded better protection against the severe winter blasts. The winter season was usually put in by these pioneers at rail splitting and getting out logs, some of which went twenty miles to be sawed into floor stuff for cabin homes. The diet was usually corn bread, corn cakes and honey and plenty · of prairie chicken breasts.
In 1843 a mounted company of dragoons passed through this township from lowa City to Raccoon Forks or Fort Des Moines. They crossed the Skunk at Samuel K. Parker's place.
In 1849 set in the heavy California emigration to the faraway gold fields.
In 1856-7 the Mormons passed through on their way to Salt Lake, in colonies of from five hundred to one thousand daily, with their hand-carts loaded with all their earthly possessions. Each company had a few wagons and good tents for the leaders and the sick ones. The hand-carts were rough and unsafe for such a long trip.
The same road was lined from sunrise to dark in 1859 with Pike's Peak trains, and then the Skunk bottoms were next to impassable. The suffering of both man and beast will never be known.
The first railroad in this township made its advent in 1867. the Rock Island system.
In 1894 Seth W. Macy sunk the first hole for coal so far out on the prairies and struck five feet of good coal. Hanson & Naylor later opened a large bank near this point in the township. Now one of the most valuable coal mines in Iowa is situated on the R. N. Stewart farm on section 17.
The winter of 1855-6 was long to be remembered, being one of the severest on record. Snow stood thirty inches deep on a level in the timber and much suffering was experienced all over Iowa.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
THE VILLAGE OF METZ
Metz is the small railroad station situated midway between Newton on the east and Colfax on the west. In 1877 it is said to have contained but a half dozen buildings, all told. It was put in here by the railroad company as an accommodation to the farming community, where stock and other farm products might be shipped and where lumber and fuel might be pur- chased from the local dealers. It is situated on section 11, and was platted in 1883, by William Hitchler. It now contains about eighty population. Its present business consists of a general store by Jesse H. Clement, who is also the postmaster ; the grain business is carried on by D. J. Eberhart. Recently a Baptist church has been organized and a house of worship erected, at least is now in course of erection : it is a frame building in the northern part of town.
VILLAGE OF SEVERS.
This is a coal mining town and has never grown to great proportions. It is at the terminus of a coal spur extending out from Colfax. A postoffice was established there many years ago.
CHAPTER XXII.
ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Rock Creek township is on the eastern border of Jasper county and the second from the north line of the county. It comprises all of congres- sional township No. 80, range 17 west, except section 31, in the southwest corner which belongs in Kellogg township. Hickory Grove township lies to the north; Poweshiek county to the east ; Richland township at the south and Kellogg township on its west. In the central and eastern portions is a fine body of native timber. Rock creek, a beautiful stream, with its branches affords ample drainage for this township, which for the greater part is made up of excellent prairie farming lands, now of high value on account of the price of land and its exceptional fine productive qualities. The Rock Island railroad runs through its domain from east to west, bearing to the south- east in its course.
According to the state census reports in 1905, the population of Rock Creek township was seven hundred and twenty-four. It takes its name evi- dently from the stream of the same name, a tributary of the Skunk river.
Among the first original entries of government land within this town- ship may be mentioned Theodore Whitney, in the northwest of section 9, on October 27. 1848: Charles G. Adams, in the north half of the northeast quarter of section 27, and the south half of the southeast of section 22, 011 the same date.
This township was set off from Lynn Grove township September 4, 1854. The first election was held at the house of James Elliott. This sub- division of Jasper county was described as being congressional township Nos. 80 and 81. range 17 west. Later Hickory Grove was formed from its northern half.
Among the fatal accidents in this township is recalled by those living there in 1874. that of Washington Young, who was struck by lightning on September 19th of that year and instantly killed, while standing in front of his blacksmith shop. A man and boy standing near him were badly shocked, but not materially injured. During the same thunder storm, a barn be- longing to J. H. Russell. living five miles southwest of Newton, was'set on fire by lightning and totally destroyed.
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA. 305
Rock Creek is purely an agricultural district and has hundreds of most excellent, well improved farms, upon which reside a happy, contented and prosperous people.
To show the general sentiment of the township, in April, 1855, when the prohibition of the sale of liquor came up through a vote in Jasper county, it may be stated that the vote stood eight for the law and twelve against.
In 1878 the total assessed value of all personal property in the town- ship was $38.805, including that levied on 477 head of horses; 17 head of mules and 989 head of taxable cattle.
In 1877 the total valuation of both personal and real estate was $275.590, on which the sum of $5,280 was paid into the county treasury. The reader is referred to the table in the County Government chapter on total valuations of the various townships in Jasper county as in comparison to the figures of this year.
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