USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 32
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It has an excellent lot of common schools and as these are included in the Educational chapter they need not here be referred to.
One of the earliest land entries in this township is shown by the public records to have been Samuel K. Parker, in the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 32, on June 14. 1849; William Rickey, in the northwest quarter of section 20, on May 15, 1849.
Much of the land in this township is underlaid with a good grade of bituminous coal, which has been mined in paying quantities for many years.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad crosses the southern point of this township from east to west. the mileage in the same being about four miles.
ORGANIZATION, ETC.
Sherman township was organized in 1868.
According to the state census reports of 1905. the population of Sherman township was five hundred and seventy-five.
As far back as 1877 the total valuation of property in this township amounted to $359.326. on which the people owning it paid into the county treasury the sum of $5,475.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1878 the personal tax was levied upon property valued at $75.622, in- clusive of 793 head of horses. 29 mules and asses and 1.785 head of taxable cattle. By comparing these figures with those contained in the item of town- ship valuations, found in the County Government chapter of this volume, the reader will note the advancement in the last quarter of a century of the town- ship's history.
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Clear Creek township is situated in the extreme northwestern part of Jasper county, bounded on the north by Story county, on the east by Inde- pendence township, on the south by Poweshiek township, on the west by Polk county. It is six miles square and comprises congressional township 81, range 21 west. It was organized by order of the county board in the month of August, 1849, and was described later as it now stands.
Indian creek courses through this township on its southeastern course, and together with its tributaries drains and waters the township well. Con- siderable native timber is found in this portion of Jasper county. In 1905 the state census gave this township a population of seven hundred and eighty- seven. Its schools and churches will be treated in the general chapters on such topics. Among the first to take up government land in this township were Joseph Kintz, two tracts in sections 24, 25 and 26, July 2. 1849: Adam W. Maggart in section 25. July 9, 1849.
The school fund apportionment for this township in 1851 was nineteen dollars and ninety-seven cents. At the presidential election in 1856 General Winfield Scott received nine votes and Franklin Pierce twenty-three votes in this township.
In April. 1855. the people of Jasper county voted on the ever-present intoxicating liquor problem and in this township the vote stood eleven for and forty-eight against the measure.
In 1878 the records show that there was a total assessment on personal property in this township amounting to $61.206. This included the 615 horses, 30 mules and 1.388 head of cattle in the township.
The tax levy for 1877 shows this township to have had a total valuation of property of $249.980 and on this they paid into the county treasury the sum of $3.757.26.
THE VILLAGE OF CLYDE.
This little hamlet was for many years a useful adjunct to the people of this township. It is situated on section II of a small branch of Indian creek. less than two miles from the north line of the county. It is about fifteen miles from Newton and twelve from Colfax, while it is but twelve miles south of Colo, Story county.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Maxwell & Company started a general store here in 1868: in the autumn of 1874 the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a church here at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. In 1878 the hamlet had a dry goods store and three shops, with about fifteen or twenty dwelling houses.
It was at this point in February, 1875, that during a fearful storm, the residence of Charles B. Maxwell caught fire and was totally destroyed, caus- ing a loss of four thousand four hundred dollars, one half of which was covered by insurance. Clyde is still only a small trading point.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Within this chapter will be found many interesting, valuable accounts of the doings of men and women who have participated in the development of Jasper county, from its earliest settlement to this date. The editors have sought to publish only that which is believed to be accurate, and as such it will be valuable to the reader of local history.
VILLAGE PLATS OF THE COUNTY.
The following is believed to be an account of the plattings of all of the villages, towns and cities within Jasper county up to May, 1911. Only the "originals" are here named :
Amboy, platted January, 1872, by David B. Gotschall and wife on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 17. township 80, range 18. The Rock Island road runs through this village plat. It is in Kellogg civil town- ship.
Baxter, platted October 24, 1883, on the southwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section 14. township 81, range 20, by David W. and Amy Smith. It is situated in Independence civil township and is a station point on the Great Western railroad.
Colfax was platted by Abel Kimball, of Scott county, Iowa. on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 1. township 79, range 21, in July, 1867.
Clyde was platted September 18, 1857. on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section IT, township 81, range 21, by V. M. Heller and Joseph West and their wives.
Farmersville was platted by Anderson Vowell and wife. Letty, in May, 1876, on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 12, town- ship 79. range 20.
Fairmount-No record of first platting. Boles addition was made March 21. 1876. This is a station point on the old Des Moines Valley rail- road (now Keokuk & Des Moines), between Prairie City and Monroe.
Greencastle, on section 14, township 80, range 21, was platted by Albert Shipp and wife, August 30, 1855. This plat is situated in Poweshiek civil township, southeast from Mingo.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Galesburg, on section 16, township 78, range 18. was platted by William Burton and wife. August 22, 1855, and is situated in Elk Creek township.
Ira, which was platted as "Millard" originally. December 3. 1883. by William F. Rippey and wife. is on section 32. township 81, range 20. It is situated within Independence civil township.
Jasper City (now Kellogg) was platted on section 26. township 80. range 18. September 12. 1865, by Enos Blair and Absalom Adair and their wives. It is in Kellogg civil township.
Kellogg ( first known as Jasper City ) was incorporated August 12, 1873. after which it took the name Kellogg.
Killduff was platted January 5. 1884, by Timothy Killduff and wife, on the east half of the southeast quarter and east third of the west half of the southeast quarter of section 35. township 79. range 18. February 21. 1883.
Lynnville was platted July 23. 1856, by John and Mary Arnold, on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 11, township 78, range 17. and is within the civil township of Lynn Grove.
Monroe was platted December 18, 1856, on the northwest quarter of section 31. township 78. range 19, by Daniel Hiskey and wife. This is within the civil township of Fairview.
Mingo was platted May 27. 1884. on the northeast half of the south- west quarter of section 3. township 80, range 21, by Thomas A. and David Baker and is within the trritory of Poweshiek township.
Metz was platted July 23. 1883. on the southeast quarter of the north- east quarter of section 11. township 79. range 20, by William Hitchler and is within Mound Prairie township.
Newburg was platted September 30, 1878. on the east half of the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter of section 24. township 81, range 17. by Horace and Margaret Palmer, in Hickory Grove civil township.
Newton (original ) was platted by the county commissioners of "Jasper county, Territory of lowa," July 7. 1846.
Prairie City (first called Elliott) was platted June 7. 1856, by James Elliott and wife, on section 2. township 78, range 21. This is in Des Moines township and a part runs over into Washington township.
Rushville, in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9. township 80, range 18, was platted by Jesse and Jane Young. March 24. 1857. and is situated in Kellogg civil township.
Reasoner was platted August. 1877. by Samuel and Mary Reasoner. on the northeast quarter of section 10, township 78, range 19. and is situated in Palo Alto civil township.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Sully was platted on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 78, range 17, August 3, 1882, by Robert Ryan, trustee. This is in Lynn Grove civil township.
Tools Point was platted and filed for record May 13, 1850, by pioneer Adam Tool, on the southwest quarter of section 31, township 70, range 19.
Turner was platted April 19, 1899, on the northeast quarter of the north- west quarter of section 34, township 80, range 17, and is within Rock Creek civil township.
Vandalia was platted on section 36, township 78, range 18, by Joseph W. Buffington, February 25. 1853.
Valeria was platted October 24, 1883, by N. W. Johnson and wife, on section 20, township 80, range 21, in Poweshiek civil township.
Wittemberg was platted by John Carey, president; T. Failor, secre- tary of the Wittemberg Manual Labor College, on the east half of section 3. township 80, range 19, December 15, 1856, and the same was recorded Janu- ary 12, 1858. This was in Newton civil township. It was vacated in 1878 and in 1890.
Another village was platted at Oswalt. in Poweshiek township, but little. save a railway station has ever been built there. It is midway between Col- fax and Valeria, on the Colfax & Northern railroad, in Poweshiek township.
CALIFORNIA GOLD SEEKERS.
During the great California gold fever days, and in 1850, Jasper county was caught. as was many another lowa county. A party was formed in- cluding the following gentlemen : David and William Edmundson, John E. Copp and son. Nathan Williams, William Smith, Curtis Dooley, Jesse Wilton and Peter Miller. Williams and Miller died in California. Dooley returned and a few years later went to Oregon. This party crossed the great plains, then styled the "Great American Desert." As a rule none were but little more advanced. financially, when they returned than when they left lowa. Some, however, did quite well.
EARLY STAGE ROADS.
In February, 1847, an act was approved by the lowa Legislature, by which E. G. Hanfield, of Marion county, and Rufus Williams and Joab Ben- nett, of Jasper county, were authorized to lay off a road known as the "State Road." commencing at Knoxville, and running by Red Rock to Newton.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
These men were to meet thirty days later and have their expenses all paid jointly by the two counties.
On the 12th of the same month Edward -- , of Iowa, Nathan Will- iams of Jasper, and A. D. Jones, of Polk counties, were appointed to es- tablish a road, beginning at James McCrea's in township 79, range 6, and running by the way of Newton and Fort Des Moines to the county seat of Dallas county, lowa.
Provisions were also made for running a road from lowa City, by the way of Marengo, to Newton, David Edmundson being the locating commis- sioner.
February 18. 1847, Manly Gifford, of Jasper, John Hamilton, of Marion, and Thomas H. Napier, of Polk county, were appointed to lay out a state road from Lake Prairie, in Marion county, to Fort Des Moines, running on the north side of the Des Moines river. These commissioners were required to meet before September of that year, to execute their duties.
Joint resolution No. 9. of the first General Assembly, calls for the rep- resentatives in Congress to use their influence to obtain the establishment of a mail route from Iowa City, by the way of Newton, to Fort Des Moines, and to secure the establishment of a postoffice at Newton City. Resolution No. 12 called for the representatives in Congress to use their best exertions to obtain an appropriation for the establishment of a military road from lowa City to Fort Des Moines, and from thence on to the Missouri river. The preamble states that the route would conduce greatly to the public interest, and that, passing through a region remote from the navigable waters of any stream, it would thereby tend to facilitate the sale of large tracts of the public domain, which would otherwise remain unsettled for a long time.
MARRIAGE RECORD.
As long as people "are married and given in marriage" in this world. if not in the world to come, it may be of some interest to the reader of this historic volume to know something of the first and subsequent marriages in Jasper county, as discovered in the records of the county.
It appears of record that the first marriage in the county was that which united Sergt. James Hill, United States Army, of Fort Des Moines, and the bride, Miss Susan .\. Tool, daughter of the first pioneer in this county. This marriage is not recorded here, but in Marion county, as this dates back earlier than the organization of this county. The marriage was performed in the
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
month of February, 1845. the ceremony being performed by Rev. Pardoe, an illiterate minister who had frequently preached as a missionary to Keokuk and his tribe.
It is related of this eccentric minister, that he talked to the Indians and told them that if they loved to do right and believed in the word of life, that when they died they would go to a land "flowing with milk and honey." whereupon old chief Keokuk replied that he would much prefer to have it whisky and corn !
The first entry found in the Jasper county marriage register reads ' thus :
"The United States of America, Greeting: This may certify that James F. New has presented the [evidence] of being a regularly licensed minister of the gospel, in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church ; therefore, know ye that the said James F. New is hereby authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony in said county so long as he maintains his standing in said church, and no longer.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, at Monroe, this 4th day of December. A. D. 1846. "PETER MILLER, Clerk."
The credentials of Elder Claiborne Hall, a minister of the Christian church, were recorded in 1849, and also the credentials of Rev. John Crill and R. H. Brooks, preachers of the Methodist church.
No marriages prior to 1849 are to be found recorded. Those consuni- mated during that year were: Jesse Hammer and Margaret Sparks, by Rev. J. F. New: Alexander McCollum and Amanda Tice, by Elder Hall : Alex- ander Davis and Mrs. Mercy Shoemake, by Jabez Starr, justice of the peace ; Jacob Trulinger and Mrs. Catherine Wenn, by B. F. Brody, justice of the peace.
From January, 1870, to January, 1879. there were 990 marriages re- corded in the county's books in the clerk's office: from 1880 to January, 1890. the marriages numbered 2,001 in the ten-year period ; from 1890 to 1898 the number was 1.832: from 1898 to 1907, the total was 2,392 for the decade, an average of 236 annually. From 1907 to January 1. 1911. the number of marriages was 680. This makes a grand total of 7,895 since January I, 1870. forty years.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOW.1.
INTOXICATING LIQUORS, PROHIBITION, ETC.
From the earliest date in the history of this county, as well as in the entire state of lowa, there has been a division of public opinion regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. As a rule the river towns on the east and west borders of the commonwealth have been the locations where the idea of prohibition has been hooted at and fought the hardest. This is natural, for at such points the worst of our population have always resided. the better element having chosen the prairie lands farther out from the con- .taminating influences of river traffic and boatmen's life.
The record of this county shows that in April, 1855, the question of prohibition was submitted to the people, and resulted in defeat by a vote of three hundred and seven to three hundred and forty-two, thirty-five majority for prohibition. At that election Newton. as a precinct, gave one hundred and eighty-eight votes against the sale of liquor, and had it not been for this large majority (more than one hundred ) the county would have gone for "free whisky.'
In July, 1855, it is recorded that at the town of Monroe, Bennett Put- nam was appointed by the judge as agent for the purchase and sale of intoxi- cating liquors for that town, and that on the 10th of the same month he pur- chased one hundred and fifty dollars worth of liquors to be kept in his stock for "legitimate uses." Even this was a better regulation than many of the liquor laws enacted on lowa soil, by which the "devil has been whipped around the bush."
UNIQUE TEMPERANCE ELECTION.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, in Newton, was organ- ized in June, 1876. with Mrs. Reynolds as its president ; Mrs. A. C. Gardner, secretary : Mrs. Golding, treasurer. In 1878 it reported sixty-eight mem- bers.
Perhaps the most noted thing ever attempted and carried to completion was that of holding a separate election, on the same day of the regular elec- tion held by the men eligible to vote in Newton. The women had their own ballot box and rallied their forces strong. early and late, and when the bal- lots were counted out by the men, it was found that the town had gone "dry" by one hundred and fifty majority. The ladies polled over four hundred bal- lots at their voting place. This was over whether Newton should grant license to saloons or not. In this case the ladies, no doubt, had much influence on the casting of the ballots of their husbands and the reader can judge as to the propriety of letting women vote as a purifier of elections in this country.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
On June 27, 1882, the prohibition question in Iowa was voted on, the question being whether or not an amendment should be added to the state constitution prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, including "ale, wine and beer." The vote in Jasper county, by precincts, was as follows :
For Amendment.
Against Amendment.
Lynn Grove township.
234
33
Buena Vista Township
136
45
Independence Township
117
42
Colfax precinct
I71
24
Elk Creek Township
I19
127
Monroe precinct
299
143
Prairie City
42
7
Vandalia precinct
40
65
Sherman township
90
39
Palo Alto township
152
58
Poweshiek township
185
28
Mound Prairie township.
90
36
Newton township
533
196
Kellogg township
185
III
Clear Creek township.
146
7
Washington precinct
68
14
Malaka township
43
63
Mariposa township
43
75
Richland township
92
34
Rock Creek township.
29
53
Hickory Grove township
92
40
Total .
3.148
1.360
Majority for amendment
1.788
Total vote.
4.508
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Newton and Jasper county, generally speaking, have always disapproved of the sale of intoxicating liquors, and until recent years have not tolerated "boot-legging," but now it is common for such outlaws to get their work in, in certain parts of the county. But saloons have never found a home at New- ton. As early as 1855, Andrew Insley was engaged in the illegal sale of
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
liquor at Newton, and the citizens took the matter in hand, and finally pur- chased his stock of one hundred and thirty-six gallons of pure whisky and nineteen gallons of good brandy which they took to the court house and de- stroyed. Insley agreed to quit the business, but soon resumed his illegal work at peddling whisky. This being made known, the brave, true-hearted women of the little hamlet gathered together and in a meeting resolved to destroy the "vile stuff." This was accomplished under the leadership of Mrs. Lamb, Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Pettefish. The grand jury failed to find a true bill against the man or he might have been severely punished. He had also sued the ladies for destroying his "property." but the case would not stand in Judge McFarland's district court.
During 1856 the women of Newton visited the liquor shop kept by San- ford Porter and completely destroyed his stock in trade. Porter was greatly enraged and had the ladies arrested, but the case amounted to nothing. for he had no redress before the courts, as his was then, as now, looked upon as an illegitimate business.
LOCAL LITERATURE AND AUTHORS.
Since the pioneer days in Jasper county there have been several literary characters, those who have penned many beautiful poems and framed many fine sentences and pages of prose writings. These can not all be reviewed in a work of the nature of this, but mention must be made of those that have come within the personal knowledge of the writer.
Miss Carrie L. Early, daughter of George Early and wife, of Newton, will be long cherished by those who have read her fine poems and other com- positions. She passed from earth's shining circle all too young to have made herself known to the nation, as she would have done had she been spared to old age. She died at the age of twenty-seven.
In a book of her rare gems of poetry. she had one poem entitled "Suc- cess," the last verse of which is here given. It really shows that her own sweet life was a success in and of itself.
"If thou hast striven to make clean Thyself and build a life of good To others, while thyself shall glean From wheat or tares a sheaf of good- If thou hast given thy best life's blood To gain the cause thou didst think best,
If every day thou didst an act of good.
Then thou hast truly gained success."
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Miss Gulillma Zollinger was a recent year contributor to periodicals. "Dan Drummond," "The Widow O'Callihan's Boys" ( 1908). "The Route of the Foreigner" (1910), "A Boy's Ride" (1909), and "Maggie McLane- han" (1910), etc., are all from her winning pen.
Dr. Perry Engle has written many beautiful things of sentiment and deep philosophy, both in prose and poetry.
Dr. J. H. Gorrell has written many good things along various, lines, including scientific, professional, and also religious and political. His recent work on his religious faith is said by good judges to be a work of rare merit as a compilation on religious subjects.
As a local writer for the press none excels "Tommy" M. Rodgers, as he is known. He has long served on various papers and gets down to the bot- tom of one's heart when he tries to be sentimental. Some of his writings along down the years are rare gems, in beautiful English word settings. He was a soldier in the Civil war and. with another youth, established the first daily in this county.
Mr. Rinehart, who conducted the Herald many years, was a brilliant writer in both prose and poetry, some of which may be seen in this work.
Mrs. T. G. Springer, of the north part of this county, wrote fine verse in Civil war days. One poem was dedicated to the Jasper Volunteers in 1861 and proved to be prophetic.
Another lady whom Jasper justly claims was Nettie, daughter of Mr. and Skiff, later known as Nettie Sanford-Chapin, through her two marriage unions, the last being to the veteran journalist. E. C. Chapin, of the Marshall County News. She wrote mostly prose. She resided at Washington several winters and wrote much concerning society and fashionable Washington circles. She loved history also and wrote much of interest and value on Iowa history. She published several small books herself. She has been dead a number of years.
The following is a campaign ode written many years ago by William Burney, then editor of the Newton Herald, now editor and proprietor of the Collins Gasette, the occasion being the congressional campaign of 1888:
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Friend of the people, wise and just. Faithful to country, and to trust, Nor shyster, nor deceiver ; Straightforward in debate and vote, A gallant chief mongst men of note, We hail thee, General Weaver.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Brave soldier 'mid the gory fight For freedom, union, and the right, Undaunted 'til the close : Now, 'mid the fight for equal laws For rich and poor-a holy cause- Thou bearest on thy foes.
And truth and justice must prevail ; And sore oppression, and the wail From many a burdened life, Shall, by thine efforts, disappear, 'Till o'er the land, afar and near, Shall cease the cause of strife.
God bless our country-may her boys Have every blessing, and may joys Find none their non-receiver : And blessings crown thee, statesman true. March on to conquer, we renew Our pledges, General Weaver.
THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF 1869.
Jasper county, in common with others in this portion of this country, had a rare-once in a life-time chance-in the month of August, 1869. to view the sublimity of a total eclipse of the sun. It had been foretold by astronomers and they hit the very minute in which it appeared. It appeared as total within a stretch of country more than one hundred and fifty miles in width through lowa. The body of the moon completely hid the sun from view. When the disk of the sun was almost covered and the light began to diminish, a chilliness crept into the air, which during the earlier part of the day had been extremely hot (it being .August 7th), and a coolness not ex- perienced even of a summer evening hour seemed to envelop the earth. This approach of cold was instant and almost alarming. Birds and domestic fowls sought their roosts, dogs and horses manifested much uneasiness and in some instances positive terror. Cattle huddled together in fear at the swiftly ap- proaching darkness and yet it was scarcely four o'clock in the afternoon. The (24)
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