USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pioneers of Marion county, consisting of a general history of the county from its early settlement to the present date. Also, the geography and history of each township, including brief biographical sketches of some of the more prominent early settlers > Part 23
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At a session of the county commissioner's court, January 6, 1847, it was ordered that town. 77, range 21, be called Perry. This name was in honor of Commodore Perry, of the Lake Erie victory notoriety. It was suggested by some of the citi- zens that it should be called Cincinnati, but this name was not adhered to after the township was organized.
As above defined it included all of the present township of Perry and all that of Swan, except two sections and four half sections belonging to town. 76, range 21, since added to Swan. The place of holding elections was at the house of Wm. Markley.
At this election about fourteen votes were cast, and Dan. Kiger and Hezekiah Gay were elected justices; James M. Brans and Joshua Linsey, constables; Asa Hughs and Joshua, Linsey, trustees, and James M. Brans, clerk. The first pre cient election was held at the house of Asa Hughs, April 7th, '46, 13 votes cast.
This and the next election were held north of the river, and the two following south of it; but the flood of 1851 caused a dissatisfaction among the people, owing to the inconvenience of crossing the river, and so, at the July session of the com- missioners' court, 1852, it was ordered that that portion of town. 77, range 21, north of the Des Moines river, constitute the
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township of Perry. Election to be held at the town of Ben- nington. At this election Harrison Freel was elected justice, but we have no record of any other officers.
Perry is the northwest corner township of the county, and is bounded on the north by Jasper county, on the east by Red Rock, on the south by Swan, with the Des Moines river as its boundary line, and on the west by Warren county.
The township is mostly timbered, and, with the exceptions of the bottom lands on the river, somewhat hilly. Coal is abundant along the north bank of the Des Moines river, and on the small streams. Lead ore has also been found in the bank of the river; and, at an early day, the remains of furnaces were discovered in the vicinity of the ore, supposed to have been used by the Indians in smelting it. Walnut Creek is the largest stream running through the township.
The following are the names of those who settled in the township at the earliest dates: Hezekiah Gay, Joshua Linsey, Dan. Kiger, Chas. Owen, Asa Hughs, Robert Alison, Alfred Vertrice, and Mordica Yearns, in '45; Peter Brans, and his two sons, James M. and Benjamin, Thomas Car, Wm. Hughs, Wm. Gregory, Samuel Waterman, and Joseph Mc Williams , in '46. Numerous other names might be added of persons w settled at a still later date, had we space to admit them. Of the above named but three still live in the township, six went to California many years ago, one to Missouri, five are dead, and one's whereabouts is unknown.
Asa Hughs first moved from Indiana to Iowa in '36, and settled in Marion county, on Lake Prairie, in '44, from whence he moved to Perry in '45, and made a claim on Walnut creek, in what is now section 12. Here he lived, surrounded by a numerous family till the date of his death, Feb. 13, 1863.
The Brans family were natives of Pennsylvania, from whence they moved to Ohio in '25, and from thence to Mahaska county, Iowa, in '45. In the spring of the year following, James came
a
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and took up his residence on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mullins, in the north-west corner of Red Rock township, where he remained till he had put up a cabin on his own claim, where he still lives. His father, Peter Brans, died November 4th, 1860.
Perry township being a rough, timbered region, wild game was quite plentiful at an early date, and even within the past few years wild cats and lynxes have existed there. We may relate a little wild cat adventure, of which J. M. Brans was the hero. It occurred in the spring of '46, when Mr. B. was employed in making rails some distance from his house. Observing a large elm stump, about twenty feet high, with a hole in it near the ground, he incautiously put his head in it to see what discoveries he could make. And the discovery he did make caused him to withdraw his countenance as speedily as possible; for, within a very short distance of it was a great mother wild cat and her three kittens. Mr. B. had no gun, so he closed the hole securely, went for help, and soon the old cat was ousted from her den, killed by dogs, and the kittens cap- tured. After being retained a short time they were not deemed a safe breed to adopt as a part of the domestic circle, and were dispatched.
Hezekiah Gay was a bachelor, and is well remembered for his eccentricities. For some time after his settlement in the township, he lived by himself in a rude shanty near the present . site of Bennington, and was much occupied with speculative ideas of manufacturing machinery to be operated by the water power of the Des Moines river. Full of his plans of construct- ing an immense woollen factory, he was often seen with a miniature trough filled with water, taking the level of the river, to ascertain what height he should build his dam to have suf- ficient power. But there was other power needed than water, and this Hezekiah had not, either in purse or in credit; so the water power was never brought into service. He then
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became interested in a shingle machine; and this involved him to an extent that subjected the property to an execution. About this time Hezekiah was seen on his way to " Tool's Point," (now Monroe,) to procure a rope as he stated to a neighbor, to serve as a belt for his machine. This was the last seen of him in Perry, and to this day his whereabouts is unknown.
In August, from the 10th to the 14th, '48, Wm. Gregory and E. H. Baker caused a town to be surveyed on the north bank of the Des Moines river, on the east half of section 9, and called it Bennington. Stanford Doud, surveyor. Gregory was the owner of the claim, and Baker had it surveyed, sharing equally the profits on the sale of lots. Baker then put up a store room and dwelling together, and in the fall following moved his goods from Red Rock and began business. He also secured the appointment of P. M.
Shortly before Bennington was laid out, June 14, Hezekiah Gay caused a town to be laid out on the north half of section 9, and called it Perryville. This was done in competition with Baker's and Gregory's contemplated town. But neither of the places prospered, and, in process of time, were abandoned by their proprietors, leaving no more of them than their names. Two or three small houses occupy the town plat of Benning- ton, and one of the citizens keeps a ferry, which is on the main road between Pleasantville and Prairie City.
Gregory opened a farm in the country, where he died many years since, and Baker moved to Prairie City, and from thence to Colfax station, where he still lives.
Baker will always be remembered by many old settlers as one of the most eccentric characters that ever existed in Marion county. Many stories might be told to illustrate this fact, a few of which we give. He sometimes took a whim to sell no goods on certain days, and his best customers could not move him from his purpose. On another day he would be extremely
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accommodating to everybody. Then he would positively refuse to sell coffee on a certain day, or would accommodate only cer- tain customers with it, refusing even those who had come quite a distance, and were prepared to pay for it, however promising to supply them liberally on the day following.
In his transactions as postmaster, he was at one time known to retain letters when called for by their owners, so as to give him apportunity to advertise them. Their appearance on the list was clear proof that they were in the office when called for.
At one time a customer called at the store and found Baker at work in his garden. And here his oddity was so conspicu- ously manifest that if he had thereafter been tried for murder and convicted, he could have plead insanity with some plausa- bility. He was at full length on his abdomen, and bareheaded, his bald crown glistening in the hot sun, as it bobbed up and down to the motion of his work; and as he hoed to the length of his hoe-handle he would drive the blade deep in the ground and pull himself forward. Thus he toiled away as though his life depended upon it, and would not stop a moment to talk to or wait upon a customer.
But the most heartless instance of his whimsical behavior is the manner in which he received his aged mother, whom he had not seen for many years. She had come from Illinois to make him a visit, and had brought him a valuable present. It was late in the evening when she arrived, and a neighbor ac- companied her to the house of her son and knocked for admit- tance. Baker asked who was there, and, on being informed that it was his mother, he informed the visitors that he was in bed, that he would not get up to admit even Jesus Christ, that she might go to John Young's that night, and he would see her in the morning. And no pleading of the old lady or her escort could move the unworthy son to open the door. Morti- fied and grieved beyond expression, she retired and resolved not to see him. So, early next morning, before breakfast, she
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sat out on her return home. Baker, on hearing of her depart- ure, was pricked to the heart, mounted a horse and went in pursuit of her. After a hot chase of several miles, he came up with her. He apologized for his want of civility in not admitting her, stating that he was not in a condition to receive her just then, and asked her to return with him. But Mrs. B. was exasperated beyond conciliation, and no pleadings of her son seemed to have any effect upon her purpose, only to make it stronger. So she went on her way, and he returned to his bachelor home, conscious that he had made a grievious mistake.
Among those who settled in Bennington at an early date was a family named Moon. During their residence here they were victims to the ague, which reduced them so much in strength and finances that they were at one time on the point of starva- tion, and pro' ably would have perished but for one little circumstance that seemed a direct interposition of Providence in their behalf. Mrs. Moon went down to the river to try to do some washing, when she saw four wild ducks swimming in still water near the shore. She immediately returned and
informed her husband of the discovery. He was too weak to carry the gun, but proposed to do the shooting; so his wife took the gun and he followed. Coming within easy shot of the game, Mr. Moon took rest against a big tree and fired. The shot was effectual, causing one duck to turn on its back. It was to be supposed the others would have taken flight, but not so; they merely fluttered away a few yards and then returned to their dead companion. Taking advantage of their want of discretion, the gun was soon re-loaded and another duck killed; and in like manner the others clung to the fatal spot, and likewise perished. Mrs. M. then fished them from the water with a stick, and the large family of Moons made the first full meal of them and proportionate share of grated corn
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bread that they had enjoyed for some time. The next day they shook easier than usual.
Mr. Moon afterwards made a claim a few miles north-east of Bennington, where he still lives. Here Mrs. M. had another adventure worth relating. One day, during her husband's absence, word came to her that the pups were playing with a deer, in a clearing a short distance north of the house. Taking one of the two guns-a heavy piece-she went out and got upon a log that was elevated upon a stump some ten feet from the ground, the better to see over the tall weeds. From this elevated position she spied the game within easy shot, confronted by the brave young dogs; and, taking deliberate aim at it, fired. But she had no time to see what effect the shot had upon the deer; for the treacherous gun shot both ways, and its reverse shooting sent Mrs. M. backwards to a horizontal position on the ground. Not being much hurt, she got up and went to look for the game; finding it down and evidently dead, she went to give it a close inspection, when it instantly roused up; and ere she had time to think of her danger, or make her escape, the enraged brute sprang upon her, knocked her down and tore off a portion of her clothing, compelling her to roll under a log near at hand, to escape further injury. From this narrow retreat she emerged in a short time, re-loaded her gun and put an end to her adventure by shooting the deer through the head.
The first preacher of the gospel that labored in this township was a Rev. Mr. Kline, of the M. E. Church. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Mr. Rainer, of the same denomination.
The first person that taught school was Patience Drouylard, at her own house, in 1850. She had from fifteen to twenty scholars. The next school was taught by James M. Brans, near his present residence. He had an attendance of from twenty to thirty scholars.
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Pioneers of Marion County.
The first school-house was built in sub-district number one, in 1851. It was a roughly-hewed log-house, built by William Cowman at a cost of $100.
The population of this township, by the U. S. census of '70, was as follows:
Natives 450
Foreign. 15
Total 465
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Township Histories.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Swan Township-Its Geography and Early History-First Election-Names of First Settlers-First Birth and First Marriage-C. M. Thomas-Daniel Hunt-First School- First Orchard-First Preachers-Andrew Schirner-A Severe Crisis- Wheeling-Lynching the Castners.
This township is all of town. 77, range 21, south of the Des Moines river, with the additions of 5 and 6, and the half of sec- tions 1, 2, 3 and 4, belonging to town. 76, same range. It is bounded on the north by Perry, on the east by Union, on the south by Pleasant Grove, and on the west by Warren county. Numerous small streams run through the township, mostly from south to north. Coal abounds in various parts, and thin veins have been found in wells of considerable depth. Several veins have been opened and worked, one in the northwest part of the township, owned by John Shook; one three miles east of Wheeling, by J. F. Smith; and one near and west of Wheeling by Wm. Carte. That of Mr. Smith has been most extensively worked, and is about four feet thick. This township is rather more than half timbered, the small streams being widely margined by heavy growths, covering all the northern part, except the wide strip of bottom land along the Des Moines river, called Hoosier Prairie, so named from the number of people from Indiana who settled on and about it. Part of this tract is uncultivated, being quite sandy and sub- ject to inundations from the river. The southern part of the township is mostly prairie, with here and there a beautiful native grove.
Swan was organized in '51, being up to that date a part of Perry, and was separated into a district township by order of
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the board of commissioners, in compliance with the petition of her citizens, for reasons already stated in the history of Perry. It was called Swan from the beauty and brevity of the name, by the suggestion of a former citizen of Swan township, Ath- ens county, Ohio.
The first election was held at the house of Moffett, at which Wilson Groom was elected clerk. John Shook was jus- tice at the time the township was organized, and held over. At this time Gilson Shook was elected constable.
The first election of which there is any preserved record, took place on the 4th of April, '53, at the house of Charity Groom. Judges- John Noyes, Jacob Haynes, and Edward Murray; clerk, C. C. Wilkie; deputy clerk, J. W. Brand Number of votes cast, 37, by which the following officers were elected: J. Metcalf and Samuel P. Hamilton, justices; A. G. Young and Robert McElroy, constables; James Metcalf, Jacob Haynes, and Edward Murray, trustees; Eli M. Cole, assessor; and H. W. Groom, clerk.
The following are the names of persons who settled in this township at the earliest dates: Charles M. Thomas, Wm. H. Parmer, Jesse Johnson, James Crabb, John Firman and his two sons, John Henry and John Stroop, in '46; John Groom, Wm. Groom, Jesse Walker, Harrison Freel, the three Markly brothers, Wm. Bundren and his sister, Mary Tout, in '46 ; Daniel Hunt, Andrew Schirner, John Butcher, and the Chil- ders family, in '47. Of these but seven still live in the town- ship, to-wit: C. M. Thomas, W. H. Parmer, Jesse Johnson, John Henry, Daniel Hunt, Andrew Schirner and John Butcher. James Crabb lives in Perry, the Grooms are dead, and the others unknown.
The first white child born in the township was Emma Jane, daughter of Wm. H. Parmer, born October S, '46. She is now the wife of James H. Easley, and still lives in the town- ship.
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The first marriage was that of Wm. Markley and Eva Groom, in February, '48.
Chas. M. Thomas was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Vir- ginia at an early age, from thence to Van Buren county, Iowa, and from thence to his present residence in Swan, during the last week in '45. During his residence in Van Buren county, Mr. Thomas was made the victim of treachery, by which he nearly lost his life. Having a partnership interest in a claim there, he had been assisting his partner in the erection of a house, and was to receive his pay in return help. Being fond of milk he was treated to a mess of it at meal time, and took violently sick directly after, from which he did not recover for several weeks. From the sudden and violent nature of his sickness, and remarks made by his partner, it was evident that the latter had drugged the milk with a view of putting Mr. T. out of his way, and ge ting full possession of the claim.
Mr. Thomas has still in his possession a coffee mill with which the family ground several bushels of buckwheat during the early part of their pioneer life in Swan.
Daniel Hunt was a native of New Jersey, from whence he first moved to Ohio, from thence to Iowa in '40, and to Swan in the autumn of '47, and made a claim where Asher Kise now lives. He sowed the first timothy in the township, in the spring following, one-half acre in all, and sold nine bushels of the yield in seed to James Thornburgh. Mr. Hunt is now a successful stock raiser.
John E. Groom taught the first school in the township, in a small cabin originally owned and occupied by a man named Moore, on the east side of what is now Daniel Hunt's farm, on Hoosier Prairie, at what date we have been unable to learn. At this time the grass grew tall on this prairie, and Harrison Freel plowed a pathway for his children to travel in to school, which is still dimly visible.
The first orchard was planted by Jesse Walker, on land now
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Pioneers of Marion County.
owned and occupied as a farm, by Jacob Camp. Only four or five of the trees still live, the trunks of which are between twelve and eighteen inches in diameter.
The Rev. Mr. Forbes, United Brethren, was the first person remembered to have preached in this township. Revs. John- son and Gardner were the first Methodist preachers that organ- ized societies of this denomination here.
Andrew Schirner came from Germany in '36, and settled in Indiana. From thence he came to his present place of resi- dence in Swan, in March, '47, and purchased a claim from Michael Keeterman. This claim was mainly in the timber, and the only improvement made upon it was a small cabin, of that temporary construction usually denominated a " claim pen," having neither floor, door nor windows. 'Mr. S. how- ever, borrowed a saw of his nearest neighbor, Jesse Walker, and soon made an opening for his house, and added such other improvements as were indispensable to a dwelling. He then took possession of it with his wife and five children.
But now came a crisis such as many pioneers have had to pass through, yet all with that degree of safety that should impress upon their minds the fact that there is a Providence that rules even in the temporal affairs of this life, and grants relief just when it is most needed to save the desti- tute from the worst consequences of their destitution. Mr. Schirner now found his finances reduced to twenty-five cents, and his provisions to meal enough to last a day or two, besides a little coffee. Here, in a wilderness, destitute of means, what but starvation should follow the consumption of their limited supply. And, to add to the poor man's distress, the good wife, feeling, perhaps, more deeply the trying situa- tion, as women are apt to feel it, began to weep and chide her husband for bringing them there to perish. Mr. S. thereupon concluded to try his luck at hunting, though he was not a prac- ticed hunter, and game was not abundant. But fortunately he
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did not have to go far ere he found and killed a pheasant; then a couple of quails, and, on his return, a squirrel. These, with the meal and coffe, served as a temporary bait; and when they were consumed, went visiting to Jesse Walker's, where they obtained a supply of meal and meat to last till more permanent provisions could be made for their future wants. Mr. Schirner is now in independent circumstances, and refers to his early pioneer hardships in a way that gives them rather a comical than grave aspect; as events we might have wept over at the time, now assume a phase decidedly amusing to us, as we look down upon them from our elevated and independent posi- tions.
On the 5th of July, 1851, Thomas Palson and John Ran- kin caused to be surveyed on land owned by them, on the north west-quarter of the north east-quarter of section five, and called it Wheeling, in honor of Wheeling, Va., as suggested by Henderson Palson. Surveyor, James Rousseau ; chain- carriers, Henderson Palson and Elisha Hardin. By agree- ment the plat was equally divided between the proprietors, Palson being proprietor of the east and Rankin of the west side. The first house was built by James Wilson, the second by Henry Hamilton, and the third by C. C. Wilkie. That by Wilson was a frame, and the others were log houses. The first postmaster was James Wilson, and he also had the first blacksmith shop in town. Present postmaster, John Palson. Mails tri-weekly. The first goods were sold by James Wal- ters and John Butcher. The first physician located in town was C. C. Wilkie, who is still a citizen and in practice. He came originally from New York, in 1849, resided in Knoxville several months, and finally located in Wheeling, in 1853.
Wheeling has never grown beyond the proportions of a small country village, but its location is pleasant, being on level upland prairie, surrounded by a rich farming country, with timber and coal convenient.
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Pioneers of Marion County.
In concluding the history of this township we shall take occasion to relate a sensational event that took place in '49, in which a number of citizens of this and Pleasant Grove were participants.
In '47 a family named Castner came from Missouri and set- tled 'about two miles west of Wheeling, where James Thorn- burgh now lives. The family consisted of five brothers, Jonas, William, John, Ebenezer, and James-all grown men except the last named, who was still a boy-and their mother. Jonas was married, and afterwards took up his residence near Hart- ford, Warren county.
The reputation of the Castners previous to their coming here was such as to justify the opinion that they were no profitable addition to the settlement, and their movements were closely observed by those who felt interested in the fair fame of the community, and the safety of property. It was believed that the Castners had been driven from Missouri for some misde- meanor of theirs there, and it was therefore deemed not advisa- ble to permit them to remain here undisturbed longer than they should give the people an excuse for disturbing them. Such an occasion eventually transpired. Bill went to Illinois on a marauding expedition, where he aided in a daring rob- bery, and was caught and lodged in jail at Quincy. From there he somehow managed to escape, and was so closely pur- sued to within a short distance of his home that he was com- pelled to swin the Des Moines river somewhere below Des Moines City, and finally escaped.
News of Bill's escape from jail reached the people here, and a number of them determined to watch for his return to head- quarters. Having secreted themselves so as to observe the approach of any one, they patiently watched and listened til past midnight for whatever signs might indicate the fugitive'l arrival. They knew his family expected him that night, and that his brother John had joined him after he had crossed the
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river; but it was now evident that the Castners believed, or at least suspected that they were watched, and therefore acted with extreme caution.
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