USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
"Politically speaking Hesper has always been hopelessly republican, and has had assigned to it a fair share of the county officers. Among them William Johnson, George N. Holway and H. L. Coffeen, superintendents of schools; C. E. Meader and E. R. Haines, treasurers ; and James L. Cameron, who was surveyor twenty-two years. H. B. Williams also represented the county in the state Legislature in the late sixties.
"In the spring of 1868 the Philomathian Library Association was organized and at this date it has about five hundred books in its library.
"During its nearly fifty years Hesper has had four postmasters. The first one, Dr. W. C. Battey, was succeeded in 1871 by Dr. Fordyce Worth, who held the office twenty-five years, less two months, with a break of one year, during which time Lewis Harkness was the incumbent. Dr. Worth was suc- ceeded June 5, 1896, by Elling J. Vold."
The population of Hesper township was 849 in 1890; 882 in 1900, and 823 in 1910. Hesper township supports two general stores-Burre Burreson is the proprietor of one and E. J. Vold manages the other. Doctor Worth still conducts his drug store. R. J. White handles farm machinery; Robinson Reid is the village blacksmith; Roy Dart runs a restaurant; Dr. Gertrude G. Wellington, a former resident, has returned to practice medicine; the meat market is run by B. Franklin. John McMillan conducts a sawmill and feed mill at his farm a half mile from the village.
CHAPTER XXXI FRANKVILLE TOWNSHIP
(By Geo. M. Anderson [Linnevold] in "Anderson & Goodwin's Atlas," 1905.)
Frankville is the eastern township of next to the southern tier. Of the early settlers of this township, there is now living one who came to the county as a soldier in 1846, and was stationed at Fort Atkinson until his discharge. He settled in Frankville township in 1851 on section 31, where he has resided ever since. I refer to James Daniels .* His family consists of eight children- six boys and two girls-all born in this township, the oldest boy, George W., born December 5, 1851, was probably the first white child born in the town- ship.
The first house built in the township was built by Wm. Day near where the Mckay schoolhouse now stands. This was before the land was surveyed, so when the surveyor ran their lines he found himself in a school section, so he then moved to Decorah.
A. P. Rosa was one of the earliest comers into the township. He came to Jowa in 1847, and farmed it in Clayton county for three seasons. In March, 1850, he selected lands in section 31, hewed timber for a log house, which he built and moved into that year. He acquired a farm of 1,000 acres, which after his death was divided among his seven sons and one daughter. The first reapers and threshing machines were bought by him and used on this farm. At one time it was a notable sight to see his three reapers and a company of harvest hands following them in his wheat fields of over a section in one body.
Wm. Birdsell came to the township in 1851 and settled on the southwest quarter of section 28. Ile raised a family of nine boys. Four of the boys saw service in the War of the Rebellion. Wm. Beard located on section 14 in July, 1851, moved his family by team from LaPorte county, Indiana, in November, 1852, and spent the first winter in a cabin on section 23, in which Hammond, his third son, was born. In February of that year Beard rode on horseback, following an old Indian trail to Dubuque, to perfect his title to his
* Since died.
265
266
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
eighty-acre farm. In May, 1853. the family moved into their new house on section 14, which became the family homestead for the next fourteen years. In 1878 Mr. Beard rented his farm and moved to Decorah and in 1879 he and his son started the first creamery in the county, which in the next ten years helped the farmers to pay off more mortgages than all previous wheat crops had done for them by raising the grade of their home-made butter worth 5 cents per pound to the best creamery worth 16 to 20 cents per pound. He was of a practical turn of mind, he invented and put into effective use a corn plow, corn planter and a grain harvester. He was a model farmer, a stanch republican, a Christian and a model father.
The first Norwegian to settle in the southwest part of the township was Knudt Tollefson. He settled on section 30 in 1850 and lived there until 1854. when he sold out to Isaac Allen. Knucht Godmundson settled in the same neighborhood. He built a mill and ground corn for his neighbors free of toll : previous to the Godmundson mill, the people a great many times had to depend on the women for their grinding, which they did with what they named "the Armstrong mill." said mill consisting of a piece of tin punched full of holes and nailed to a board, on which they grated the corn.
J. B. Schenck settled on section 5 in 1851. He raised a family of six boys and one girl, all born in Frankville township.
The north part of the township was mostly settled by Norwegians who came there in 1850, 1851 and 1852. Some settled across the township line in Glenwood. Most of them came from Wisconsin.
This township has one village, Frankville. It was founded by Frank Tea- bout in 1851-2. It is located in the southeast part of the township on what is known as the state road. As it is, Frankville is a pleasant village which at one time figured conspicuously in the history of the county.
FRANKVILLE VILLAGE
This village once promised to be one of the good towns of the county, and had it been fortunate in securing a railroad it would have been the metropolis of the east side residents. One may judge of its activity from the sketch appended hereto, taken from Sparks' History :
"In 1851-2-3 the county was deluged with a healthy immigration. They were men noted for their integrity, perseverance, and a determination to suc- ceed. They came in their covered carts drawn by oxen, with the family sup- port hitched on behind in the possession of a good milch cow. A great many of these men found their homes on Washington prairie. The earliest pioneers were the Hawkes, Moses Hostetter. J. Callendar, Christopher Anderson Estrem, Win. Padden, the Rose family. Jacob Duff, Walter Rathbun, and others. These came in 1850 or early in 1851. Among the number who drifted into the county in the years 1851-2 were J. T. Atkins, the Beards and Cutlers, John and James D). Mckay, Joel Pagin. Wm. Birdsell. Philip Husted. Isaac Birdsell. Erick Olson Bakke, James B. Schenck, and others too numerous to mention. This immigration had the effect to change the wild prairie of a year or two pre- vious into the garden of Winneshiek county. The construction of houses was carried on until they dotted the prairie from every conceivable point of the
267
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
compass. Deer were numerous, prairie chickens plenty, the small streams abounded with speckled trout, while larger fish were to be obtained from the lowa river. With these, and what they were able to raise, it would seem these hardy pioneers fared sumptuously.
"Along with the tide that rolled over the country in 1851 was a man noted for his wealth, energy and perseverance. He came to stay, bringing with him a herd of cattle. Among others who preceded him was one Timothy Fuller, whose claim he purchased and settled on. This man is known all over the country as Frank Teabout, the founder of Frankville.
"In 1852, Frankville was little more than a trading point, at which lived the only inhabitant and proprietor, Mr. Frank Teabout; but about this time an event transpired which gave to it life and brighter prospects for the future. A commission had been appointed to locate the state road for the benefit of immigrants seeking homes in Northwestern lowa and Southern Minnesota. Frankville secured the road.
"The location of the road is the greatest event in the history of Frankville, for without it, in all likelihood, the place would never have been anything more than the residence of Mr. Frank Teabout. As it is, Frankville is a pleasant village, and at one time figured conspicuously in the history of the county.
"It was near night when the commission arrived at Mr. Teabout's residence, and they of course accepted his hospitality until the next morning. On the next day Mr. Teabout lead the commissioners to Decorah, they declaring their line of march to be the location of the new road. There were other parties besides Mr. Teabout who studied self-interest in the location of the state road. Among the number was John McKay. He secured the passage of this desired highway through his farm. Mr. Mckay had the same ambition for a town that actuated his neighbor. His first work in that direction was the estab- lishment of a postoffice, which was effected on the discontinuance of the James- town office. He also secured the location of a store at this place. This town bore the name of Trout River, and at one time was a strong competitor of Frankville. The postoffice was continued at this place for nearly two years, whence it was moved to Frankville. It is claimed that this move was effected through a compromise entered into between the respective founders of the two towns.
"Immediately on the location of the road, as if by magic, a town grew up about the nucleus that had previously been built, and was given the name of Frankville. Frankville very soon became the great center of attraction. Moneek became discouraged, and moved the greater part of its worldly effect up to the new town.
"The Lathrop House, an impressive three-story frame building, was built by Philip Lathrop in the year 1854. This hotel was well provided for, and did a good business. The building was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1857-8. Mr. Lathrop was absent at the time of the burning of his house, at Des Moines, lobbying through a bill asking the location of the deaf and dumb asylum at Frankville, the people of that place pledging land and material in aid of its construction. Mr. Teabout replaced the building destroyed, by another, which long afforded hospitality to the traveler.
268
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
"Much of the early success and prosperity of Frankville is justly accredited to its founder, Mr. Frank Teabout. He possessed wealth, and lavished it on the various enterprises that benefited his town. In 1852 he built the Presby- terian church, and gave it to that denomination-the first house of worship built in the village. This church edifice was early occupied by Rev. D. W. lyon, a preacher who divided his time between MeGregor. Monona, Frankville and other points.
"In 1854 Mr. Teabout built a sawmill at a cost of $1,500. This mill did a good business, its owner finding a ready sale for all the timber it could saw. The mill was sold to Mr. Cutler. No trace of it remains today. In 1856 Mr. Teabout built a large steam grist mill, of two run of stone, at a cost of $10,000. The mill, during the first few years of its existence, was a financial success. It was finally sold by the proprietors to Messrs. Beard and Cutler, who trans- ferred the machinery to the Springwater Mill, on the Canoe. Parties used to come from Southern Minnesota to get their grist ground at this mill.
"The Methodist church was built in 1873. This denomination had held serv- ices previously in other buildings. To the Reverend Mr. Webb is said to belong the honor of being the first minister of this denomination to officiate in the place. Frankville continued to prosper until the Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road cut it off ; then came its decline."
Frankville today is what it always has been. a pleasant little village. Its residents are among the best people of the county, industrious and progressive. Some day a railroad may find its way across the prairie and, tarrying at its door, invite it to keep its promise of pioneer days.
Frankville township is credited with 874 people in 1910.
CHAPTER XXXII
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
The best historical sketch of Lincoln township that is available at the present time, so far as it covers the early days, is found in Sparks' Ilistory. It consists of notes taken from the writings of S. Pike, a Ridgeway pioneer, and is as follows :
"The first settlement was made in Lincoln township in the spring of 1852; Knud Alfson built a small house and broke up a few acres on section 27, while Lars Thompson commenced about the same time on section 34. In the fall of the same year. Jacob Knudson and Kittle Sanderson established themselves on sec- tion 22. The next year Gunder Kittleson, Albert Kittleson, Gullick Thompson, Tove Thompson and Thomas Thompson settled in the immediate neighborhood, while John Seleir, Michael Farrel, Charles Straun, John Holehan, Nels Olson, Charles Junck, H. W. Klemme, Andrew Michael, Philip Kratz and Win. Black- burn came in during the two or three years following. The township of Lin- coln was formerly reckoned as an integral part of Decorah, an arrangement that did not last very long, as a reconstruction of the map was soon effected, by which the present township was apportioned to Sumner, and upon the authorized survey and platting of townships, was given its present name."
Of Ridgeway, the trading center of the township, Mr. Pike made this record: "In 1866 Ridgeway existed only in name. About this time, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway having reached there, the railroad company built a house for their accommodation, and Mr. S. Pike soon after took charge of it. The building was 16x32 feet base, one and a half stories high, divided into several compartments, and ceiled throughout with good matched flooring. Mr. Pike with his wife moved into the house December 4, 1866, a day ever to be remembered in their experiences of housekeeping. Though the ground had been frozen for some time previous, the heavy rains that had fallen the preceding week had thawed the earth again, and the different gangs who were grading the prospective grounds, and also a gang of track layers who were putting in a switch and laying a spur of track for present accommodation, had made the house a place of resort for shelter during the heaviest of the rains, and when they reached there about dark of that rainy December night, the prospect was dreary enough. Fred
269
270
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
Gashorn and James Kinney antedate Mr. Pike's claim to the title, 'oldest inhab- itant,' by about two or three weeks. They did not live within the limits of the present village, however, but were about a hundred rods below. The winter was unusually severe and protracted, the last passage of the snow plow being on March 28. 1876, and that after a three days' effort from McGregor."
Alexander's History says: "No effort was made in the way of improve- ments until about a year after the road was completed to Cresco. In July, 1867. J. L. Flowers built a grain warehouse, and Gilchrist & Co. another soon afterward. A drug store by A. M. Blakeman, and a general merchandise store were built the same year, and a postoffice established. A small depot building was also erected in 1867. The next year there were many other improvements, and business greatly increased."
Continuing Mr. Pike's narrative, he says :
"In the spring of 1874 (May 9), Ridgeway was swept by a fire that threat- ened to wipe out the entire village. The fire started in a small untenanted wooden structure. A continuous blast from the south swept across the square, tak- ing everything in the line of the wind. The weather had been very dry for some time previous, and the densely packed wooden row fronting the railroad was simply a line of tinder boxes through which the fire swept without let or hinderance, and one hour from the time the alarm was given, four-fifths of the business interest of the town were in ashes. The fire originated with two little boys, four years old, lighting a cigar."
The record shows that Ridgeway at that time contained eighty-nine buildings and thirty-four of them were burned. The loss was stated at $48,730, insurance $11,850.
The Independent School District of Ridgeway was organized in 1875. The town was incorporated in the carly 'gos and its limits extended in 1900. It is surrounded by a rich territory and enjoys a good trade. The Methodists some years ago built a very comfortable, cosy little church, which is also used for such entertainments as would be permitted in a church. All lines of business are well represented by the following :
General merchandise -- Baker-Johnson Company, the leading store. Rollin G. Baker, G. R. Baker and S. G. Johnson, owners ; Hopperstad & Brekke: L. H. G. Larson ; Mrs. E. A. Bakken & Co.
Restaurants-E. 11. Albertson ; 11. 11. Fjelstul.
Hotel-S. C. Helms, proprietor.
Barber shop-Arthur Johnson.
Telephone office-Arthur Johnson, operator.
Meat market-Mr. Armstrong.
Plumbing and heating-W. James Paley.
Drug store-Dr. G. W. Hoffman
Winneshiek County Bank-S. R. Ringcon, cashier.
Hardware store-Henry Butz. Harness shop-Jno. Wonderly.
Blacksmith shops .- Otto Kecker; Alfred Orum.
Lumber yard-W. H. Klemme.
Poultry house-L. T. Fosse.
Creamery-L. T. Fosse-Lincoln Creamery Company.
271
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
Livery barn-Chas. Beucher. Feed mill-R. A. Griswold. Garage-R. A. Griswold.
CHAPTER XXXIII
FREMONT TOWNSHIP
At the June session of the county court in 1856 a petition was presented by a large number of the voters of town 100, north of range 10, praying for the estab- lishment of an electoral township to be known as Fremont township. The name is said to have been suggested by Elijah Middlebrook in honor of John C. Fremont, who was a presidential candidate at that time, says Ellison F. Chase in his sketch of Fremont township in the "Atlas of Winneshiek County" (1905).
The court ordered that an election be held at the house of Richard Barnes in said township on the first Monday in August. 1856, for the purpose of electing three township trustees, one township clerk, two justices of the peace, and two constables, and also to vote for the county and state officers to be elected at that time. Thus was the township organized This election came off as ordered. Mr. Barnes' house in which this first election was held was a log cabin with one principal room fourteen feet square with an annex twelve feet square at the back, into which Mrs. Barnes and their three-months-old baby, E. M. Barnes, who is now the present owner of the old homestead, were hustled to make room for the voters, who mimbered forty-nine.
Joseph H. Eddy. Datus E. Shelmidine and J. P. Johnson were appointed judges of the election, and Joseph F. White and Richard Barnes, clerks.
The following were elected to fill the township offices: DeWitt Brady, D. E. Shelmidine and J. P. Johnson for trustees ; W. F. Daskam for town clerk; Joseph HI. Eddy and Wm. Fifield for justices of the peace; C. Parmalee and Wm. Gager for constables.
There were six elections held at this same house during years of 1856 and 1857. Some of these, however, were special elections. Afterwards there were four elections held at the house of Elijah Clark, one at Plymouth Rock, and six- teen at the red schoolhouse, district No. 6, after which they were held at the Grange hall in Kendallville.
Mr. Richard Barnes is the sole survivor from among the eleven officers who conducted the first election in the township.
Vol. 1-15
273
274
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESINEK COUNTY
When the Civil war broke out Fremont township responded to the call for volunteers to offer their services in defense of the flag with her full quota of brave men. Leaving their families and friends, perhaps never again to sce their faces, these resolute flag defenders took their places at the front. One man left his wheat stacks standing unthreshed on his claim.
The business upon which the early settlers of Fremont township depended for a livelihood was raising wheat for the market. They sowed the seed, har- vested the crop and threshed it, then plowed the ground for another year's crop or as much of it as possible before the ground froze. Then the business of the day was to take their crop to market, which for a long time was at MeGregor, Iowa, a long, tedious trip in cold, stormy weather, with neither overcoat nor overshoes. But these sturdy pioneers prospered and thrived upon what would make the present generation look like a pumpkin vine the next day after a good hard frost had struck it for the first time.
The boys as well as the girls were taught all kinds of housework, including sewing and knitting. A man who at the present time is a very prominent citizen of Chicago and a most skillful physician, as a boy living on a farm in Fremont township for many years made all his own clothing as well as helping his mother make garments for other members of the family.
Fremont township is situated in the northwest corner of Winneshiek county. It occupies the congressional township No. 100 north, range to, west of the 5th principal meridian, with the exception of the northern tier of sections, which is within the boundary line of Minnesota. The surface is undulating, and in central part, bluffy. The Upper Jowa river runs southeasterly through the township. entering near the northwest corner of section 7. and pursuing a winding course to the southeast, leaving the township on the south line of section 35 and return- ing at near the southeast corner of section 36. The river is clear, rapid, and in its winding descent affords numerous favorable mill sites. The banks are skirted by forests of a great variety of deciduous trees, except here and there where the land has been cleared for farming purposes. Here and there upon the bluffs on the eastern and northern side of the stream are clusters and large groves of pine, spruce and cedar, some of it having been utilized in the early days of settle- ment for building purposes. The siding for the old Winneshick House in De- corah was sawed from pine logs, which grew in Fremont township and was sawed at the Carter sawmill at Plymouth Rock in 1853-54.
It is difficult to discriminate exactly as to whom belongs the honor of being the first permanent white settler in Fremont township. It probably belongs to Wm. Fifield and wife, who settled upon section 23 in 1854 and put up a "shanty" and began a struggle for a home in what was then a lonely wilderness. The farm has remained in the family name to the present time, and is now owned by their son, W. C. Fifield. Mr. and Mrs. Fifield, in common with others living out on the frontier, endured many hardships and great privations. At one time, for a space of two weeks, they saw nothing in the way of food except white beans. Other- had been reduced to middlings and salt as the only means of suste- nance for their families. Being located a long distance from market or mill it was often the case that winter's snows shut them out from the rest of the world for weeks at a time. The life of the early settler was not all hardship and priva- tion. The spelling schools and singing schools afforded much pleasure and en-
275
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
joyment for all, as these gatherings were attended and participated in by old and young.
The first postoffice in the township was at the house of Billings, on section 23. It was called Willamantic, and was supplied from Decorah once a week. This office was discontinued after about one year, and one established at Twin Springs, which was afterwards changed to Kendallville. Twin Springs postoffice was kept by Miss Caroline Ladd, who came to be known in the community as "Nasby." At one time Twin Springs postoffice was supplied by a stage line running from Decorah, Iowa, to Austin, Minnesota, which made the round trip once per week. The last proprietor of this stage line was A. M. Perry. and when the route was discontinued Plymouth Rock and Kendallville offices were supplied from Decorah, the mail being carried to Burr Oak and then brought across by a boy on horseback.
Plymouth Rock, situated in the southeast corner of the township, had its beginning probably as early as in 1852, when it is said a dam was built across the river at that place, and the following year Selden Carter built a sawmill on the site. The land had not yet been surveyed. Later the sawmill was discontinued and a flouring mill built by Mattock & Kelly and others. Mattock & Kelly sold their interests in the property afterwards to Bean Bros. For a time this mill made money for its owners, but when wheat failed the milling business failed too. The property subsequently came into Mr. G. V. Puntney's hands, who later sold to Geo. Sears. In 1902 floods so damaged the dam that it was not considered worth while repairing. Mr. Sears moved the machinery and lumber of which the building was constructed to Ridgeway, Iowa.
S. G. Kendall came to this county in 1860 from Mississippi. He had some capital invested in Plymouth Rock mills with Bean Bros. He afterwards built the mill at Kendallville which was known as Twin Springs. He had his mill in operation in 1862. From that time on the place was called Kendallville, and the name of the postoffice was changed from that of Twin Springs to Kendallville.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.