USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 29
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In 1867 the people united in the building of a union church, which later was purchased by the Congregational society, and in the winter of 1868-9 it was rented for school house purposes and in it was taught the first school by J. H. F. Balderson.
The first sermon in the place was preached, however, by Rev. Spooner in the depot in the late months of 1866, this man being of the United Brethren faith. Next came the Universalist preacher, Rev. Eaton. Then came another United Brethren preacher, Rev. Longshore. A society of this faith was formed, but went down after a year or two.
The infant of Mr. and Mrs. William Vaughan, born in the winter of 1866-7, was doubtless the first to be born in Kellogg; it survived but a half year.
The first marriage was that of William Patten to Mollie Winters in 1867.
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In 1872 a large and costly flouring mill plant was erected at Kellogg. It was operated about three years, when it was burned and another followed in a few years.
Kellogg had a fine growth for many years. A former history of this place. compiled in 1878, speaks of it as follows : The town of Kellogg has had a rapid growth in the thirteen years of its existence. It is surrounded by a magnificent farming region and enjoys a large trade. Its population ranks third in the county and it has by no means reached its limit of growth. Its citizens are wide-awake and enterprising, and are able to hold their own in competition with the surrounding towns. Its builders are fully employed and its growth during 1878 is equal to that of the most prosperous towns in Iowa, population being considered."
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Kellogg was legally incorporated in 1874, pursuant to a vote of its people. The first council was organized March 16. 1874, made up as follows : J. H. F. Balderson, mayor ; W. J. Hayward, Philip Shoemaker, L. L. Patton, L. W. Davis, S. B. Lyday, trustees; J. B. Burton, recorder ; F. Clawson, marshal and street commissioner.
The mayors have been as follows: J. H. F. Balderson, 1874 and 1875; L. W. Davis, 1876; T. L. Patton, 1877-78; H. M. Cox, 1880: A. W. Adair, 1881-2; G. J. Wright, 1883: A. G. West, 1884: G. J. Wright. 1885: C. M. Golden, 1886: John Simpson, 1887: J. R. Smith, 1888; D. H. Setzer, 1890; W. J. Breedon. 1893 : D. K. Moberly, 1896; C. K. Irish. 1900; A. G. West, 1902: S. B. Powers, 1906: W. N. Jones, 1908: J. Boyle, 1910: F. L. Phipps, 19II.
The municipal officers in the spring of 1911 are: F. I .. Phipps, mayor ; R. C. Birchard, clerk : C. J. Irish, treasurer ; A. L. Miller, marshal ; council- men, C. W. Richetl, F. T. Hammer. R. C. Butron, Perry Coon.
The town is not well protected against fire. The small water system of the town is not sufficient, but better things are promised another year. when a more up-to-date system will probably be voted upon. The recent year's fire has opened the eyes of the citizens and business men. Now the town only has small street wells and a cistern of small capacity on the hill. When these improvements go in it is thought also to erect a town hall and jail com- bined. These, with a suitable stand-pipe on the heights, will secure the citizens and property owners against the further ravages of the dread fire fiend.
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Kellogg has a good gasoline gas-lighting plant owned by the town : also the advantages of a good electric lighting system by the Craven Electric Com- pany, private. The gas plant was installed in 1905 at a cost of four thousand dollars. Bonds were floated for ten years for this purpose.
BUSINESS IN 19II.
In the month of April. 1911, the following were the business factors in Kellogg :
Agricultural Implements-Craven Implement Company. Craven & Mo- berly.
Garage-Craven Garage Company.
Bank-Burton & Company's State Bank.
Barbers-Hammer & Shill, Arthur Jay.
Blacksmiths-A. N. Dunn.
Brick and Tile-Kellogg Brick and Tile Company.
Cement Blocks-R. L. West.
Clothing-Moses Caminsky.
Creamery-Beatrice Creamery Company.
Dentist-J. C. Craven.
Druggists-R. C. Birchard, Carl W. Forche.
Furniture and Undertaking-B. A. Burton.
General Dealers-Ed. Lison, Bobzin Corner Store. Jones Bros., Galusha & Company.
Grain Dealers-Farmers' Elevator Company.
Hardware-B. A. Burton. Craven & Moberly.
Hotel-Hotel Simpson.
Lawyer-John W. Burke.
Stock-Stephen A. Morris, C. W. Rowland.
Livery-Harry Richeld.
Lumber-Charles Bobzin.
Mills-Roller, by E. A. Conrad.
Meats-"Melcher's Market."
Milliner-Mrs. Lizzie Arthur.
Newspaper-Enterprise.
Pool Room-Mr. Nichols, of the Simpson hotel.
Physicians-Drs. J. Frank Hackett. B. Liesman, Dr. Wood.
Restaurant-Olson Bros., Leslie Hill.
Valve Factory-Stock company of home capitalists.
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The most important concerns of Kellogg at this date are the brick and tile factory and the valve factory. The former was established in 1905.
The churches of the town are the Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Christian and German Lutheran societies.
The lodges include the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias and Woodmen and Yeoman orders. (See Lodge and Church histories else- where.)
The postoffice at Kellogg was established in 1865, and has been of the third-class since January 1, 1907. There are four mails each way daily. The first rural free delivery route was established July 1. 1902. There are now three routes. The amount of postoffice business transacted in 1910 was $4.300.16. The following have served this office as postmasters: Samuel Rich, B. F. Wright, William Fisher, Mrs. Phoebe Ludwick, I. L. Hammer, WV. P. Coutts, J. W. Burke, E. J. Birchard, the last being the present incum- bent.
Kellogg has been visited with two disastrous fires, one in September, 1909, and another January 22, 1911. In the first fire the entire eastern side of the first business block was totally destroyed, aside from a residence or two. One dealer, Mr. Bobzin, lost over twenty thousand dollars in this fire. This was occasioned by a small boy burning scrap papers in the alley and this ignited with straw in a livery barn across the alley from the old bank building.
In the fire of last spring the opera hall was destroyed and with it a skating rink and part of a millinery stock. Total loss in this fire was said to have been about five thousand dollars.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ACTOR, LEN X TILDEN FOUN A UNS
VIEWS OF BAXTER, IOWA
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.
That portion of Jasper county described as congressional township 81, range 20 west, is known as Independence civil township. It is bounded on the north by Marshall county; on the east by Malaka township; on the south by Sherman and a part of Poweshiek townships; on the west by Clear Creek township. It contains thirty-six sections of mixed timber and prairie land ; is well watered by numerous small streams and larger creeks, all flowing southward, emptying into the waters of the Skunk river. The town of Baxter, a station on the Great Western railroad, is situated at the exact center of the township, and was long before railroad days known as Baxter postoffice.
Independence township was organized in March, 1858, by the county judge then in office. This was one of the later townships set off from the original precincts of Jasper county.
The population of the township in 1905, according to state reports, had reached nine hundred and twenty-nine.
In 1878 the value of personal property was fixed at $52.909, of which sum were included 619 head of work horses : 20 mules; 1,473 head of cattle.
In 1878 the total amount of taxable property, personal and real, in In- dependence township was placed at $241.443, and the tax on the same was turned into the county treasury to the amount of $4,517. See present valua- tion list elsewhere for all the townships within the county.
A TERRIBLE REAPER ACCIDENT.
Among the terrible accidents of this township may be recalled that of 1874. when Alfred Butler, son of a widow Butler, of this township, was killed by a reaper. The team he was driving became frightened at a terrific clap of thunder and started to run, throwing the boy from his seat in such a manner that his body fell in front of the cutting bar of the reaper, by which part of the machine his right foot was severed and his left leg amputated at
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the groin, the parts above being so mangled and torn that death ended his sufferings in a few minutes, and before the men at work binding could reach him.
THE TOWN OF BAXTER.
What was originally styled "Baxter Postoffice," on section 22, of In- dependence township, has come to be a thriving town of about five hundred and fifty population. It is situated on the Great Western railroad and draws trade from a large farming settlement, it now being the most business- like place in the northern part of Jasper county. It had in 1877 come to be a small hamlet in which were to be seen a postoffice, a physician, a public hall in which public meetings, church services, etc., were held, and near at hand was a good frame school building.
Baxter has made its great growth since the building of the railroad, first styled the "Diagonal," then the "Maple Leaf" route and now the Chicago Great Western system. This railroad reached this place in 1883, since which date the town has made much growth.
The town was platted October 24, 1883. by David W. and Amy Smith. It is within Independence township and is a part of section 24. It was in- corporated in 1894, and the 1911 municipal officers are as follows: H. Haz- lett, mayor; Carl C. Webb, clerk: Charles Burdick, treasurer; H. H. Mag- gard, marshal: councilmen, J. S. Booth, W. T. Thorp, George Diehl, O. E. Cunningham, A. C. Rose.
The mayors of Baxter have been as follows: J. D. Richards, 1894; G. W. Thompson, 1896; J. F. Klise, 1897-1899, inclusive; W. T. Thorp, 1900 to 1904: C. C. Graham, 1904-05 ; H. Hazlett, 1906 to the present date, hav- ing served well and faithfully for the last six years.
The question of providing some adequate water works for Baxter comes up at the special election this season. It is designed (if the people so elect) to issue bonds in the sum of ten thousand dollars.
In 1904 the town erected a city building of cement blocks at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars and in connection with this building a gasoline gas plant was added, costing the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars. The bonds run ten years.
THE POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
This office was established at an early date in the town's history and among those who have been postmasters are the following: S. B. Higgins, Milo T. Burnett, J. F. Klise, George T. Hager, F. L. Phipps, D. R. Mann, Mrs. J. N. Mann, Carl C. Webb, who was appointed July 1, 1906.
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A twenty-six-mile rural route was established a few years since. The receipts of this office in 1910 amounted to about one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine dollars.
IQII BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
In the fall of 1910 the following were the chief business and professional factors of the town of Baxter :
Banking-State Savings Bank and People's State Bank.
Baxter Dairy Company.
Baxter Roller Mills-Hager & Noah.
Baxter Telephone Company (incorporated).
Blacksmiths-O. S. Tipton, H. D. Wilson.
Baxter Mercantile Company.
Harness Shop-C. C. Commack & Company.
Implements-Baxter Implement Company.
Newspaper-The New Era.
Pool Room-C. S. Bishop.
Cigar Maker-August Gouch.
Clothing-H. E. Gould & Company.
Coal-Denniston & Partridge and S. E. Squires.
Dentist-W. R. Crawford.
Drugs-Downs Drug Company and C. M. Forney.
Furniture-Buckley & Noah.
General Dealers-Miller & Klemme.
Hardware-Buckley & Noah, Hastie Hardware Company.
Hotels-The Commercial, by G. A. Small, a dollar hotel by Mrs. Mar- garet Cool.
Live Stock-F. W. Scharmann, J. M. Vansice, Smith & Wiley. Meat Market-Duncan Mckenzie.
Millinery-Mrs. H. H. Maggard.
Photographs-J. L. Butler.
Physicians-Drs. H. W. Canfield, C. C. Graham and Paul Koeper.
Planing Mills-O. O. Tipton.
Poultry and Eggs-Thomas Canfield.
Real Estate Dealer-C. C. Webb. Insurance-C. C. Webb.
Shoemaker-James Trussel.
Postal Telegraph & Cable Company.
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Klise's Opera House. Jewelry-G. H. Pease. For the Lodge and Church history of Baxter see special chapters.
VILLAGE OF IRA.
This is one of the smallest villages in the county, and yet much business is transacted here. It was platted as a station point on the Great Western railroad about 1883-4 and now has a population of about one hundred and fifty. It had, in the spring of 1911, a Christian and Methodist Episcopal church ; a Modern Woodman of America camp of thirty members and the Yeomen also had a lodge at this place, organized about 1890. Both meet in the hall on the second floor of the Ira Building Association's building.
The business interests at Ira are now :
Lumber-The Ira Lumber Company, L. F. Richards, manager.
Grain-Rippey & Hanson.
General Dealers-G. A. Rumbaugh, A. H. Campbell.
Hardware-C. C. Barbee.
Blacksmiths-F. I. Inglis.
Barber-L. I. Harding.
Bank-Farmers Savings Bank.
Postmaster-A. W. Jeffries.
Harness shop-W. W. Mead.
Restaurant-C. L. Palmer.
Stock dealer-Trammel & Jeffries.
Railway agent-W. M. Barber.
Implements-F. I. Inglis. Hurst Hotel.
A postoffice was established at Ira in 1883 and is now situated on lot No. 9. block 5. A rural free delivery route was established here April 1, 1903. The amount of business transacted here in 1910 was five hundred and twelve dollars and thirteen cents. Two mails are sent and received here daily at this time. It is a fourth-class postoffice. The postmasters who have served here have been in the following order: Salem Jeffries, W. J. Craw- ford. H. A. Jeffries. W. J. Crawford, H. A. Jeffries, H. R. Lorimor, A. W. Jeffries.
CHAPTER XXIX.
HICKORY GROVE TOWNSHIP.
The extreme northeastern subdivision of Jasper county is known as Hickory Grove township. It is six miles square and comprises township 81. range 17 west. It has but few streams of much size and is a prairie town- ship of excellent fertility and now well improved and the abiding place of hundreds of magnificent and valuable farm homes. The only village within its borders is Newburg, on the eastern line, midway north and south, a station point on the Iowa Central railway. This township is bounded by Marshall county on its north ; by Poweshiek county on the east : by Rock Creek town- ship on the south ; and by Mariposa township on its west. In 1905 its popu- lation was placed by the state authorities at six hundred and thirty-eight. It was organized in 1864 and was among the later ones to be set off from the original townships or precincts of the county.
Among the earliest land entries within this township may be nanied Francis Holyoke and Homer Hamlin in the northeast quarter of the south- east quarter of section 20, May 12, 1854: John Swigart. the southwest quar- ter of section 34, on May 15, 1854.
The amount of money apportioned from the school fund in the spring of 1851 for this township was but a few dollars ; the amount for the territory now included (the township not yet having been organized) in Hickory Grove and two other precincts was only $28.10, but at that day but little was needed for schools, as settlers were very far between.
In October, 1865. William R. Skiff was appointed agent to locate swamp lands scrip for Jasper county, but nothing was done for a year when he was ordered to dispose of the scrip for cash, on the best possible terms.
UNUSUAL ITEMS OF INTEREST.
In the middle of August, 1876, Harry Ford, a lad of seven years, was bitten by a rattlesnake in this township. The fangs of the reptile struck him in the hollow of his foot and he being heated at the time, the poison was ab- sorbed into his system and as a result he died within twenty-four hours.
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In June, 1875, a small child of Scott Aydelotte, of this township, was scalded to death. Its mother had placed a tub of boiling hot water in the middle of the room, and had stepped to a nearby well, leaving the child in the room alone. The child approached the tub, fell in and was so badly scalded that it yielded up its innocent young life the day following.
In 1878 Hickory Grove township had an assessed valuation of personal property amounting to $26,625; of this was included 527 horses, 47 mules and asses and 800 cattle.
In 1877 the total valuation of all property in this township was $284,- 450, on which they paid into the county treasury the sum of $4,487.
The schools and churches, as well as lodges of this township, are de- scribed in general chapters on these topics elsewhere.
The Iowa Central railroad touches the eastern sections of this township, with a station point at Newburg, a small platted place in section 24. An other branch of the same railroad runs to the northwest from Newburg, go- ing diagonally to section 6 where it leaves the county.
The wagon roads in this township are situated, as a rule, on section lines and are well worked.
The conveniences of modern mail service, the telephone and other im- provements which are now universally enjoyed by all up-to-date farmers here obtain to a good degree. To be a land owner in this goodly portion of the "kingdom of Jasper" is indeed to be an independent citizen.
VILLAGE OF NEWBURG.
In Hickory Grove township, in the northeastern corner of Jasper county, is situated Newburg. A postoffice was established at this point in 1878. It was made a rural delivery station in July, 1902. The amount of business transacted in 1910 was only seventeen dollars and ten cents. This office suffered the loss of fifty-three dollars by a robbery, to which no clue was ever obtained. Two mails are received here daily, except Sunday. The fol- lowing persons have served as postmasters or postmistresses : E. H. Taylor. James R. Wood, O. V. Kenaston, F. J. Edelblite, Miss Sarah J. Clay, served nine years and six months, until August 23, 1893, when Mrs. Mary J. Craw- ford served until May 11, 1897. or three years and eight months, when Miss Sarah J. Clay was reappointed and is still serving.
The population is now supposed to be about one hundred and fifty.
There are two church buildings in Newburg, the Church of God and the Congregational denominations. See church chapter.
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The business interests of Newburg in April, 1911, are :
General dealers-G. D. Alden, Dale Livingston.
Banking-The Newburg Savings Bank.
Grain-Newburg Farmers Elevator Company, doing almost half a mil- lion dollars worth of business annually.
The Newburg Creamery Company, with numerous routes, doing an an- nual business of $30,000.
Implements and lumber-A. C. Newcomer.
Blacksmiths-George E. Buck, W. T. Richardson, who also runs a ma- chine shop.
Hotel-Shannon House, by John Shannon and wife.
The agent for the lowa Central Lines at this station has been for the past seventeen years, P. S. Howard.
It goes without saying that this place is situated within one of Iowa's richest farming sections
CHAPTER XXX.
LYNN GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Lynn Grove township is one of the original precincts of Jasper county, organized by the commissioners in 1846. It is situated in the extreme southeastern corner of the county; is bounded on the east by Poweshiek county, on the south by Mahaska county, on the west by Elk Creek town- ship, Jasper county, and on its north by Richland township. It comprises, as now constituted, all of congressional township 78, range 17 west. The northeastern portion is quite rough and originally heavily timbered, while the balance of its territory is fine, rich prairie land, the cultivation of which has made it among the richest sections within Jasper county. The enter- prising town of Lynnville is the only place within this township, a history of which will follow the general history of the township. This township originally included much more terstory than at present.
The schools and churches are mentioned under their respective head- ings, in the general chapters of this volume.
At the general election in 1852 this township gave the following votes for the presidential candidates: For Gen. Winfield Scott, eighteen; for Franklin Pierce, twelve. Scott carried Jasper county, but was not elected.
In 1855 when the prohibition question first came up for solution in Jasper county, the voters of this township gave thirty-one votes for prohi- bition as against thirty-four votes against it. The measure carried in the county by thirty-five majority, and saloons then had to pay a license in order to sell intoxicating liquors.
That this township was in a prosperous condition in 1878 it only need be said that the county records show that there was at that date $76,580 worth of personal property, including the following items: 747 horses, 210 mules and asses and 2.011 cattle of a taxable age. The previous year the record is that this township paid into the county treasury the sum of $5.304. 19, as the taxes on a total valuation of all property of $257.505.
The population of the township, according to the reports compiled by authority of the state. in 1905 was eight hundred and eighty-three.
The first pioneers in this goodly township were original land entry men -men who sought out this section of the famous Iowa country in which to
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build for themselves homes. Among the earlier land entries the following named are now recalled after consulting the records of the county and the land office books : John R. Sparks, the west half of the northwest of section 10. December 4, 1846; William M. Stallings; Walter Turner, Jr., the east half of the southeast of section 36, November 18. 1847; Moses Starr, the northwest of section 35, April 27, 1848.
The original township, or territorial precinct, of Lynn Grove included "all that part of Jasper county east of the range line between 17 and IS." But we find that changes were made and that on September 4, 1854. the territory of the precinct was sub-divided. throwing Rock Creek into a terri- tory described as "congressional townships 80 and 81, range 17 west."
In 1857 the record shows that Lynn Grove was still in possession of all territory within congressional townships 78 and 79. range 17 west.
Richland township was cut off in 1860. since which date Lynn Grove has been as now seen on the maps, an even township of land.
Some time in the fall of 1846 a saw mill was constructed and started in this township by .\. T. Sparks. It was on the North Skunk river, and by the end of harvest time, in 1848, he had a good flouring mill in operation. This was a superior milling plant to that hitherto put up with by the pioneers. who had much trouble to obtain good flour at the illy-built make-shifts of mills in this section of lowa. It was greatly prized by the people of the en- tire county, saving as it did three days drive to Oskaloosa over very uncertain streams and poor highways.
Concerning the hardships of settlers here. the reader is referred to the general early settlement chapter in this volume.
In March. 1851, the record shows that the apportionment from the school fund for this township amounted to forty-two dollars and sixty-one cents. This looks small to the residents of the school district in this year of the world.
ANOTHER EARLY SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT.
Among the various historical writings of Joseph Arnold of this town- ship the writer has gleaned the following facts :
In the spring of 1844. Wesley Stallings, his son William, and David Campbell came to Lynn Grove to establish homes. They came with ox teams. But prior to these pioneers had come five men and taken claims and two had cabins built on them by these men. But all alone in the green glad solitude of the far west, these men tired of the country, believing that not in their life
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time would this country ever be settled up, hence they hunted and doubtless found greener pastures more to their liking.
On the arrival of the Campbells and Stallings they took the two claims on which had been the cabins referred to above. They broke out twenty acres of the virgin sod and when their plow became too dull to do further work in the sod they went seventy-five miles to have the sharpening done and paid for the work in breaking. While on this trip they chanced to meet W. T. Mayfield and wife, Nancy, with a family of six children. They begged them to locate in this section of Iowa and this they did in the month of August following. The Stallings returned and sowed some turnip seed and made many other improvements on their claims, then returned to their old home in Illinois. When Mr. Stallings returned he had his wife and five children and one dollar and seventy-five cents in cash.
In the spring of 1845, David Campbell and family returned on April 19. It is quite certain that these constituted all that were in Lynn Grove in 1844.
John R. Sparks and wife with eight children arrived in 1845, during the month of March. He possessed twenty-five dollars and a team of horses, two yoke of oxen and two yoke of steers. They located on section 10 and he lived and died on that claim. He used to relate that the Indians were so thick that they stuck out from under the bed frequently, but that he never had any trouble with them, but was more troubled with wild animals than with In- dians. Mr. Sparks died August 17, 1886, and his good wife passed away in June of the same year and they were buried in the Odd Fellow's cemetery near Old Settler's Park.
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