USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 56
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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
This township has no railroad, but about twenty-five years ago there was a town platted on section 8 and called Lexington and a postoffice was established by the nanie of May City. Rufus H. Townsend, who was the first merchant in Harris, moved his stock of goods to this new town of Lexington, or May City, as it is commonly called, and conducted a general store and acted as postmaster for twenty years. He sold out last year and moved to northern Wisconsin, having sometime before purchased a dairy farm there. Mr. Townsend and his wife were in quite poor health about the time they moved to May City, but they regained their health completely in Wisconsin. They attribute this remarkable and fortunate change to Christian Science.
Among other settlers who came to Harrison township in the eighties were Frederick Mayor, Theobold Henning, F. Henry Newkirk, John Settler, Hermon Eden. William Eden, George A. Sauer, William D. Sauer and Henry Small. Mr. Small was county supervisor several years. On section 20 are David Wilson and John Byers, both thrifty farmers. Mr. Byers had a peculiar experience with his buildings. He bought what was called the Jeffries farm, on which was a large double house and a whole village of barns. Lightning first struck and fired one of the barns and from this others caught fire. All the barns and the granary were burned, leaving only the house. About two years later a cyclone dipped down and blew away his house and barns, leaving only a corncrib standing. Mr. Byers was fortu- nate in having insurance and drew from the insurance companies six thou- sand dollars in about two years. It is needless to say Mr. Byers favors adequate insurance.
HORTON TOWNSHIP.
Horton township is much the same as the rest of the county, except that the Ocheyedan river crosses it from north to south near the west border. Along this stream there are a few low hills in places. However, the homesteaders found good selections and occupied them from 1871 to 1873, as follows :
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
Section 8. Lester C. Washburn, Sylas Cook, W. H. Gibbs, James Griffith and S. A. Colburn. None of these settlers remained very long on their claims. Mr. Griffin moved into Sibley and engaged in the implement business, later sold out and moved to Nebraska, where he died many years ago. S. A. Colburn moved to Sibley and got a precarious living as best he could.
Section 10. A. M. Kimball, T. D. Romans, Edward Bauerand and F. Chkonald were transients, of whom little was ever known.
Section 12. F. McConnel, P. E. Randall, Eliza Tilton, W. R. Bowling and W. H. Yates. The first three of these were transients, but Mr. Bowling remained in the county until the time of his death a few years ago. He was a good neighbor and a public spirited citizen.
Section 14. William H. Bisbee, J. McDonald, C. M. Richards and T. T. Bowling were all transients, except Mr. Richards, who moved to Sibley and established a dray line. He is now dead.
Section 18. Martin Day, Amanda M. Haslip, George Machenson and William Filke. Mrs. Haslip was the widow of a captain in the Civil War. She was the mother of Mrs. J. H. Douglass of Viola township. Later she built a home in Sibley, where the Sibley hospital now stands. She died many years ago. William Filke still lives on his claim and is rich.
Section 20. T. O. Wilbern, Daniel Stevens, H. B. Clemens, Mathias Stevens and Horace J. Dawley. Mr. Wilbern was one of the early mer- chants of Sibley, where he still lives a retired life looking after his property interests. He served as mayor of Sibley several terms and is now justice of the peace. H. B. Clemens lived on his claim a good many years and finally moved to Sibley and was engaged in the dairy business for several years. Later he moved to the state of Washington, where he still follows the same business.
Section 22. William J. Quinn, W. W. Herron and Joseph H. Kerns. Mr. Herron remained a few years and was a stirring citizen. The others were transients.
Section 24. Luther Phillips and James Dibbin were both transients ; Samuel Collett was a well-known character; Seymore Coyer still holds his land, but is living in Ocheyedan, and is wealthy. John Robertson still holds his land, but of late years has been residing in Ocheyedan. He moved to New Mexico in 1913.
Section 26. A. C. Burnham, F. M. Barnes, W. J. Gibson and W. H. Gibson were all transients.
Section 28. Ira Stevens, J. H. Fenton, and J. S. Reynolds. Mr.
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
Fenton was one of the first supervisors, but did not receive any of the bene- fits of the early grafting. Mr. Reynolds' homestead was in East Holman. where more will be recorded concerning him.
Section 30. J. C. Willey, William Reid and Adam Kundret. These men moved away directly after proving up.
Section 32. Samuel Brown was an old soldier and lived on his claim several years after proving up and then moved to Sibley, later selling his land. His wife died a few years ago and he is now living with his son, Dr. Fred J. Brown, of Sheldon, Iowa. D. Redington and J. B. Hazlett, both transients, secured the rest of this section.
Section 34. Captain L. G. Ireland, who settled on this section, will be remembered as an enthusiastic man on the subject of tree planting. He preached that it was every man's duty to plant trees and he practiced what he preached. Not only did he plant the trees but he undertook to have in his grove every variety of tree that would grow in this vicinity. The big grove on his claim is a living monument to Ireland's enthusiasm. N. WV. Emery was of a more practical mind, and while he planted a large grove. he devoted more time to general farming. Jacob Brooks planted a large grove also. Mr. Ireland died in the south, Mr. Emery died on his farm, and Mr. Brooks died in Sibley.
Section 36. A. V. Randall, who now resides in Ocheyedan, settled on this section near the west shore of Rush lake. T. S. Wallace on the north shore of the same lake, and J. H. Attall on the south shore.
Of these early settlers few remain. Many are dead and others drifted away seeking greener pastures where grasshoppers were unknown. Very few held onto their land long enough to gain by the material advance in the price of land. William Filke is the only one in this township to hang on and he still lives on his original claim. He stuck through all the hard times and raised stock and gradually bought more land until now he owns eight hundred acres of good Osceola county soil with plenty of good build- ings. He is one of the wealthiest farmers in the county, a good record for a man with only one hand.
The history of this township would not be complete if the influx of immigrants from 1883 to 1885 were not mentioned. They were generally supposed to have come from Indiana. In fact, they came from a neighbor- hood on the border between Indiana and Illinois. Among these can be mentioned W. H. Noehren, who bought and settled on section 22 and for many years made that his home. He was for some time an efficient member of the board of supervisors. He now resides in Ocheyedan and is recorded
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
among the business men of that town. Fred Glade settled on section 23 and always wielded a strong influence in township affairs. He reared a large family and he and many of his children still reside in this county. Dick Wassmann bought the L. G. Ireland farm, which is one of the best and most attractive places in the county. Mr. Wassmann added to the already great variety of trees planted by Captain Ireland until it is claimed there are over one hundred varieties of forest trees in the beautiful grove that delights the eye as one drives past it. Mr. Wassmann served three terms as county treas- urer and at one time wielded a powerful political influence in the east end of the county. After retiring from the treasurer's office he was connected with the bank of Ocheyedan until his death a few years ago. There is hardly space to mention at length all these strong men to whom Horton township owes much of her present prosperity. Among them is found such well known names as August Palenski, Chris Bremmer, August Bremmer, Charles Greip, Edward Hoffman, Conrad Hattendorf, Henry Bremmer, Herman Bremmer. August Claus and August Consoer. Other names appearing are Engle, Hromatka, Ling, Osterman, Piscator, Sixta, Weston, Zick and Wick- land. These, with others, have changed this township from a sparsely set- tled, and in places poorly farmed, district to one of the garden spots of north- western Iowa.
A German church is found in Horton township on section 27 which is more fully mentioned in the chapter on churches. Horton supports six pub- lic schools. The present trustees are August Clais, Conrad Bremmer and Adam Engle, with George T. Ling as clerk.
OCHEYEDAN TOWNSHIP.
Ocheyedan river, originally a wandering stream, crosses this township from north to south. The Ocheyedan valley is quite broad and contains good land. Some of the bottoms are too wet for cultivation but make fine pasture and meadow. Some of the best meadows in the county are in the Oyche- yedan valley. A big ditch has been recently made by a dredge, thereby straightening the stream and making more of the land fit for cultivation. The speculators got only one of the even numbered sections-section 26-in this township. The rest of the government land was taken by homesteaders.
Section 2. This was taken by Mark M. Smith, Ashley Smith, T. A. Taylor. A. B. Elmore, C. R. Boyd and D. H. Boyd. Mr. Elmore and wife are both dead. The Boyds are still alive and reside in Ocheyedan and are among our most respected citizens. The Smiths have all moved away.
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MAP OF OCHEYEDAN TOWNSHIP, OSCEOLA COUNTY
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573
O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOW.A.
Section 3. Among those who came later and established homes we find C. C. Simmons on section 3, who has a fine farm.
Section 4. On this section was Elder Dean, who held the first church services in the eastern part of the county-first in his own homestead shanty and afterwards on the claims of others in the neighborhood. More may be found about Elder Dean in the Sibley Congregational church items. Here also was E. N. More, who remained in the county until the time of his death a few years ago. Walter Woolridge was well known as he lived on the bank of the creek on the main road between Sibley and Ocheyedan. Jennie Keeler was a school teacher. James Dailey moved to California many years ago. Archibald Dailey was also here a short time. G. Pearson came from Marshalltown, Iowa, bought and settled on the old Dailey claim on section
4. On account of the homesickness of his wife he tried his best to sell out a few years after he came but, as luck would have it, he could not sell at that time. In time the wife became reconciled and he kept the land and became wealthy. He died in April, 1914.
Section 6. Here was George N. Taylor, who lives in Ocheyedan and is past ninety years of age. S. S. Parker later held the office of county re- corder several years. He was possessed with the hallucination that he could trace a criminal in his mind and locate him. The term hallucination is used for the reason that he never got any results, but died still firm in his belief. He was an old soldier and did some secret service duty in the army and al- ways had an idea that the rebels were still after him to get revenge for something he did while in the service and that he must always watch out and keep in hiding. He died a natural death a few years ago in South Da- kota. He was a good citizen, a splendid neighbor and valuable friend. Other settlers in this section were Fred Kirby, J. C. Moore and David J. Jones. Kirby and Jones both died in this county.
Section 8. William D. Dunning and Rosetta Smith. Later Dunning and Mrs. Smith married and both died many years ago. Franklin Frick moved to California and is now dead. Elihu Dubbs and John Hanon also had claims on this section but were not permanent residents.
Section 10. Here Cline Bull, one of the early successful bankers, filed on and secured a quarter section under the timber-culture act, generally called a tree claim. Mrs. Maria P. Pell, wife of Rev. John Pell, secured a quarter section for the minor heirs, William H. Kimberly and Delia A. Kim- berly. Will Kimberly later was clerk of courts several terms, studied for the ministry and is now engaged in missionary work in Nebraska. Delia
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
A. Kimberly was for many years a popular school teacher in this county and died a few years ago. Her funeral was held from the Allendorf church and was one of the largest ever held in the county. The Des Moines Valley Railroad Company secured the south half of this section as indemnity land.
Section 12. John H. Johnson died on his claim several years ago. William M. Combs. a transient, also had a claim here. Alden Carpenter will be remembered as the father of Mrs. A. Romey, of Sibley. He and his wife died at the home of Mr. Romey several years ago. James M. Sutton, who was quite a noted cattle man, is dead.
Section 13. T. B. Fletcher is a man of affairs and a prominent citizen on section 13.
Section 14. On this section located George C. Farr, L. T. Tatum, Carl Boer and Luke Horriban. Horriban was an extensive cattle raiser and at one time had the whole Ocheyedan valley for a herding ground. He died a few years ago in South Dakota.
The claim of D. D. McCallum was on this section. He spent his odd moments reading law and was admitted to the bar and practised in Sibley. Later he received the nomination for district judge on the Republican ticket and was elected. He died from cancer of the face and neck. His son, A. W. McCallum, served several terms as clerk of district court and is now doing a prosperous abstract business in Sibley. Mrs. D. D. McCallum lives in Sibley with her son.
Section 18. Edgar Cole was a transient. Joseph Kirby died in Ochey- edan. Thomas P. Bailey moved from this section to Springfield, Missouri, where he recently died. Eugene Hayes did not remain long.
Section 20. Charles A. Stevens was a permanent settler. Edward Lord early moved to Sibley and later to the far west where he died. Mary Ann Naggs was the widow of Fred Naggs, who lost his life in the February bliz- zard of 1872.
Section 22. Amos Buchman lived in a dug-out on the bank of the Ocheyedan which had belonged to trappers some years before. Mr. Buch- man was a tailor by trade, a good tailor but a poor farmer. He clung to his claim long enough to get a patent and eventually moved to Sibley and worked at his trade until near the time of his death. T. L. Hayes, Ludwig Grodt and Helmuth Steffinhagen were other settlers in this section. The two latter moved to Ocheyedan where Steffinhagen died and Mr. Graves is leading a quiet and retired life.
Section 24. Of Peter Weinland, Joseph M. Rice and Charles Grodt not much is known. The Tatums all moved south a short time ago. Joseph
575
O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
P. Tower, or "Old man Tower" as he was called, had such an extremely hard experience that mention of it should be made so people living here now surrounded by comfort available in this latitude may know how people clung to the land in that early day. Mr. Tower was a veteran of the Civil War but was not receiving any pension at that time. He had a wife, but was too poor and decrepit and broken in health to support a home. He was also af- flicted with fever sores on his legs that kept him from working or getting round very much. Mrs. Tower lived with her own folks in Washburn county, Wisconsin, while Mr. Tower drifted into this county to file on one hundred and sixty acres of land. He did odd chores for the neighbors for something to eat and when the weather would permit slept on his claim in a cave with a few boards over it. He was unable to do any hard work and although all his neighbors had about as much as they could do to get along yet they were inclined to help him secure title to his land. However he was possessed with the idea that they wanted to jump his claim and kept himself miserable worrying about it. The winter before he could prove up he secured a leave of absence from his claim and went to Milford and cared for a drove of swine for his board and in the meantime made enough money to pay the government entry fee. He spent the last summer on and around his claim and in the early fall came to Sibley to make final proof before the clerk of the district court. Old, decrepit, ragged and gray, the clerk took his evidence, but had to have two witnesses. He was so afraid his neigh- bors would jump his claim that he dared not ask them. The clerk, knowing them all, said he would find the witnesses. When the matter of the land office fee was reached he had to have help to rip his clothing in which he had sewed his money for fear of being robbed. In getting his change, all in small pieces, a few old dry crusts of bread that he had to live on during the trip, came to view. When his clothing was thoroughly searched for money and counted he was one dollar and forty cents short. It would be hard to conceive of a picture of more despondent misery than was depicted on that poor old man's countenance when it was discovered that he had not money enough. However the clerk told him not to worry-that he would make up the difference. The clerk later took him home and gave him something to eat and supplied him with a package of grub to last him until he reached home. The next day it was very little trouble to find the two witnesses re- quired. In fact, it was discovered that all of his neighbors would have made it hot for any one who would have attempted to contest his claim. The proof was forwarded to the United States land office at Des Moines with draft for the required fee. Thinking the land officers might be interested, the clerk
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
wrote them the old man's condition and story. In due time the final receipt arrived and with a return of the draft with these words, "Mr. Griffin and myself decline to receive any money from this claimant. Please return the draft to Mr. Tower and long may he wave." The draft and final receipt was sent to him and he was never seen in the county again. This proof was made in October, 1875. The records disclose that on December 16, 1887, a warranty deed, free from all incumbrance, was filed in the recorder's office in which the consideration appears as forty-seven dollars and life support. Mr. Tower was probably never very smart, but if the recording angel's rec- ords could be scanned his name would no doubt appear in a prominent place among the heroes.
Section 25. J. D. Kelley has a nice half section farm on sections 25 and 26.
Section 26. This section was taken by speculators.
Section 28. Wallace A. Chamberlain, John N. Coleman, Isaac Middle- ton, James Middleton and A. S. Lewis left early. Claus Yess, a hard work- ing German, settled on this section. He bought more land and the land and crops made him wealthy. Mr. Yess now lives in Ocheyedan enjoying the fruits of his hard work and good judgment.
Section 30. Here was William H. Hays. D. W. Chamberlain, and Edgar Frary. Mr. Frary died a few years ago. Huston A. Doolittle served through the Civil War and now lives in Sibley.
Section 32. John Rode died in Melvin a few years ago. W. H. Bark- huff died on his claim several years ago. W. R. Smith is in the country yet. John Brammer is dead. Little is known of Luther L. Webb.
Section 34. Lewis Thomas, Delos Lyons and George Williams did not remain long enough to be termed permanent residents. John Hesbeck still owns his land but has retired and now resides in the town of Ocheyedan. John D. Smith is in the far west.
VIOLA TOWNSHIP.
This township was set off from Horton in the seventies and the home- steaders were as follows :
Section 8. Obed Averill, Alonzo Averill, Elmer Mulinex, David Aver- ill. Alonzo Averill later moved to Sibley where he lived many years and then moved to southern California where he died a few years ago. His widow now lives in Los Angeles, California.
Section 10. Here settled William Rubow, who about thirty years ago
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MAP OF VIOLA TOWNSHIP, OSCEOLA COUNTY
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
sold his farm and moved to southwestern Iowa where he now resides. Charles Bennett remained only a short time. E. S. Bennett remained on his claim many years and finally retired from farming and moved to Sibley. Mr. Bennett is one of many others who have always been satisfied with northwestern Iowa.
Section 12. On this section was Charles C. J. Ball, whose stay was short. Emaline Scribner and J. F. Scribner were also transients. Peter Shaw later retired to Sibley, and when the Burlington Railroad came into the county, he went to the new town of Melvin and established the first pool hall and lunch counter in that town. A few years ago he returned to Sibley and is now enjoying a retired life of ease.
Section 14. Here was Charles A. Shaw, who remained in the county until the time of his death many years ago. J. F. Ramsen left early. Charles C. Ogan lived on his claim a few years and then moved to Sibley where he remained a few years and then moved on. It is reported that he died last year. John H. Douglass was closely identified with the early history of this county. He was sheriff several terms and won the reputation of guarding the interests of the homesteaders against agents who attempted to enforce collection of machine debts, a fact which made him very popular. He be- longed to no political party, but always ran for office as an independent can- didate. He called himself a Mugwump. He earned much money as sheriff and in working for the Iowa Land Company. Besides he received a pension, but he spent it all as fast as earned. He was generous to a fault and would give away his last dollar as freely as though he was a millionaire. He looked for every one to do the same by him with the result that he died a few years ago in destitution. It was his philosophy of life to spend his money for him- self and family as he went along and who will say he was wrong. That was his choice.
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