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 25
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On the 8th day of July, 1853, John Stipp and John Hessen- flow, employed F. M. Frush, to survey and plat a town on land then owned by them, described as the south-west quarter of section 15, and the north-west quarter of section 22, and called it New Town.
The first house in the new town was built by Daniel Samp- son, who opened the first store in it, and also kept the first
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Pioneers of Marion County.
post-office the first year of the existence of the place. The mails were at first supplied by volunteer carriers, and the office maintained by volunteer contributions. In due time it was discovered that there was another post-office in the State, bearing the same name, and it was then changed to Gosport.
Gosport is still a small village, but its location is a pretty one, being on an upland flat, within the limits of the timber that margins English creek, and contiguous to a fine farming country on the north, east and south. It contains one store, a large frame building originally erected and used as a hotel, but now unoccupied, and a number of small dwellings and shops.
On the 23d day of March, 1857, being about three years and a little more than eight months, later than the time Gosport was surveyed, Hugh S. Smith, employed Wm. Kent to survey and plat a town on the south-west quarter of the south-west quarter of section 27, and on the north-west quarter of the north-west quarter of section 34, land then owned by Mr. Smith, he having purchased it of Benjamin Litton, and called it Columbia.
James D. Steel built the first house, a round Ing dwelling, now not standing, John McEldoring sold the first goods, Andrew Reed kept the first post-office, and Clark and Will- iams kept the first hotel, and are still proprietors of the same building together with a large flouring mill.
The name Columbia, was that of the post-office, which was previously kept by Brumfield Long, at his place, about two miles west of where the village was located .*
Quite a strife arose between the people of Gosport and Columbia, on the occasion of the location of the latter. Believ- ing that the building of another town so near their own would
* Columbia post-office was established November 15, 1854, and the commission came to Mr. Long shortly after. He kept it till about the Ist of January, 1857, when it was moved to the village.
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Township Histories.
be detrimental to its prospects, the people of Gosport resolved to nip the new aspirant in the bud. To this end they attended the sales of lots, intending to buy all they could of them, and let them lay vacant. But this trick was understood by the Columbians, and the lots were bid off at too high figures to warrant safe investments by the other party, and they aban- doned the scheme.
The town is located in the midst of a large prairie, and sur. rounded by a good farming district. It contains three stores, one hotel, a large flouring mill, one church building, and a proportionate number of shops and dwellings, some of the latter being very good. The church was erected at an early date, under the pastoral charge of Rev. P. H. Jacobs, Old School Presbyterian.
The following was the population of Washington township, by the United States census of 1870:
Native.
1,273
Foreign 12
Total 1,285
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Pioneers of Marion County.
CHAPTER XXX1.
Franklin Township-Geography and Early History-Ear- ly Settlers-John Clark-Milling Adventure-Nathan Nichols-His Death-Peter .Rowe-First Orchards- First Church Organizations-First School House -- Calo- ma.
Technically, Franklin is in town. 75, range 21, and is bounded on the north by Pleasant Grove, on the east by Knox- ville, on the south by Dallas, and on the west by Warren county.
Much the larger portion of the township is prairie, the tim- ber narrowly margining White Breast, that runs through the south-east quarter, and a small creek called Coon creek, that runs through the north-west quarter. Coal is abundant along White Breast, and several veins have been opened and worked measuring four feet in thickness. The prairies are less broken than in some other portions of the county; and, the soil being excellent, no better farming land can be found than exists in Franklin.
On the 3d of October, '48, by order of the county commis- sioners, this township was defined as a part of Dallas, and so remained till about '52, when it became a part of Pleasant Grove, and so remained till the 28th of February, '55, when, by order of the county judge, it became a distinct township, to be known as Franklin township.
On the 2d day of April, of the same year, the first election in and for said township, was held at the house of John Clark, at which John McNeil and John Miller were chosen justices; Samuel Ream and William Sweezy, constables; John Clark, assessor; J. W. Hightree, clerk ; Warren McNeil, Isaac Cap-
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Township Histories.
elin and Samuel B. Wilson, trustees. There is no record of the number of votes cast.
The following are the names of most of those persons who settled in the township at the earliest dates :
Nathan Nichols and Amanda Hewland, in '46 ; Peter Row, William Frazer and James Frakes, in '48; John Clark, in '49; Daniel F. Smith, in '50, and J. W. Hightree, in '52.
Of these John Clark is the oldest resident settler in the township, and I). F. Smith the next, the rest having moved away or deceased. John Clark was born in Tennessee, Feb- ruary 14th, 1815, came to this county in '49, arriving at Knox- ville on the 26th of June. Having traded William Frazer a land warrant for a timber claim on White Breast Creek, he also made a prairie claim, built a cabin on the bottom, and moved to it on the 26th ofJuly. In raising this cabin near help was so scarce that he had to resort to friends in Knoxville, and even then it required three days to put the building up.
The first milling Mr. Clark done was at Brobst's and Hay- makers, on Cedar. In '55 he went to what was known as Beach's mill, now a place called Sumerset, on one of the Three Rivers, in Warren county. At that time there was, on the route to this mill, a wide stretch of uninhabited prairie, on which there was neither a tree, trail nor mound to guide the traveler who wished to cross it, and some one had set stakes at wide intervals as the only way-marks. Mr. Clark, with a wagon and two yoke of cattle, and accompanied by a man named Nathaniel Brown, had crossed this desert to Beach's, and remained there two days waiting for their grinding. Now being in some haste to get home, they set out in time to reach Hammondsburg before night. Here they concluded to tarry no longer than was required to feed and their teams and themselves, hoping to reach home long before mid- night. So, without further delay, they drove on, but when darkness came they found it impossible to keep the way them"
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Pioneers of Marion County.
selves, and thought it advisable to trust to the instinctive sagac- ity of their cattle to pilot them through. Unfortunate trust ! The brutes, left to themselves, had lost their reckoning, and were as much at fault as their masters-if indeed they cared particularly about what direction they traveled. At all events, after plodding along in this way for a long time, Mr. Clark be- gan to think something was wrong, and set about making a calculation of their locality as well as it could be done by star- light, the result of which calculation proved that they were far out of their way, indeed so far as the breaks of White Breast, not far from the south-west corner of the county. And here, to add to their vexation, the wagon ran into a slough, at which Brown became alarmed and begged Clark to camp till day- light. But the latter was not disposed to lay out if such a contingency could be avoided ; so they got the wagon out and proceeded, making a guiding point of certain stars, and reached home at about one o'clock.
Nathan Nichols taught the first school in '53, in a house, left vacant by one of the Frakes. The house stood on the bottom near White Breast, in section 26. It was long afterwards moved to Mr. Richies, and is doing service as a stable.
The death of Nathan Nichols will long be remembered on account of the painful circumstances under which it took place. He and Mrs. Hewland, who was a widow, and a relative of his, had come from Ohio together, and were living together south of White Breast, till a grown son of Mrs. H.'s created a disturbance that caused him to take up his abode alone in a small cabin not far distant. One evening, some time after taking up his lonely abode, he went to Mrs. Hewland's for a pitcher of butter-milk. On receiving it he took a hearty drink of it, and was observed to take another ere he reached his domicile. Nothing more was known or thought of him till next day, when his non-appearance about the premises induced some one to go to his house. There they found him dead, and
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Township Histories.
all the evidences to prove that he had died in extreme agony. He was lying upon his bed with his head hung over the rail- ing, and his face black, whilst over him and upon the floor were strewed large quantities of feathers from the bed-tick that he had evidently torn open in his struggles. At one time some suspicious of foul treatment were entertained, but no conclu- sion was better to arrive at than that the poor man died from a violent attack of bilious colic, induced by the excessive draughts of butter-milk he had taken into his stomach. Mrs. Hewland afterwards returned to Ohio.
Peter Rane went to California in '52, and returning after an absence of two years, found that his wife had gone to Missouri, and followed her. He never returned. Frakes went to Wapello county,
Jackson McClain and John Clark planted the first orchards in '52. Of the sixty trees planted by Mr. C., but two now live. McClain's are mostly living.
Rev. A. Colborn was the first preacher in the township, and John Demors organized the first society of United Brethren in '51. The meeting was held in sub-district number one, and the class was composed of persons belonging to various denom- inations. Revs. Banebreak and Sleeper also preached and organized a church of United Brethren at Coloma.
The first house erected for school purposes was in district number one, in '50. Soon after its completion Chas. Smith, now living in Pleasant Grove, came and asked the privilege of dedicating it to educational purposes by delivering a lecture on slavery. The request was granted, and this was the first lec- ture of any kind delivered in the township. W. M. Stone made the first political speech ever made in the township in this house in '56, in favor of John C. Fremont for President.
Daniel F. Smith kept the first postoffice in '57, called Col- oma, the name it still retains. Mails once a week between
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Pioneers of Marion County.
Chariton and Newton. Present postmaster, F. A. Harding; mails weekly.
The population of Franklin, by the U. S. Census 1870, was:
Natives
723
Foreign
4-5
Total. 768
337
Township Histories.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Dallas Township- Its Geography and Early History-An Incident Connected with the First Election-Names of Early Settlers-Nicholas Helms-The First Mill-First Marriage and Birth-Thomas Kirton-An Adventure Through the Snow-Destruction of Wild Game-The Bauer Brothers-Peter Yrentz-Hiram Teakel-Henry Harstman-Church Organizations-First School -- New- bern-Dallas Town-A Hunting Adventure-Conclusion.
Dallas is the south-west corner township of the county, and is technically described as town. 74, range 21. It is bounded on the north by Franklin, on the east by Washington, on the south by Lucas county, and on the west by Warren county.
White Breast runs through the north-west quarter, and a nameless branch of English takes its rise in the interior, and runs through the south-east quarter of the township. Timber is more abundant than in Franklin, but covers much less than half the surface. Coal abounds along these streams, and numerous veins have been opened, averaging about three feet in thickness. One owned by John F. Willis, near Dallas Town, is worked. But the richest coal fields are to be found in the west and south-west.
From the 6th of January, '47, till the 2d of October, '48, this township constituted a part of Washington, after which it was ordered that it and town. 75, range 21, (Franklin,) be called Dallas ; and so remained till some time during the year '52, (at precisely what date we have been unable to ascertain,) it became a distinct township. The first election after this,
21
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Pioneers of Marion County.
was held at the house of Thomas Kirton, April 5th, '52, at which the following officers were chosen :
Joseph Bauer and William J. McClain, justices; Hiram Tea- kel and John Clark, constables; Peter Yrentz, Alloys Bauer and Thomas Kirton, trustees.
An election was held in November, '48, at which time nine votes were cast, by settlers in what is now Dallas and Frank- lin; but, as in so many cases, the record was poorly kept, carelessly handled and finally lost.
A day or two after this election, Joseph Bauer being on his way to Fairfield, was requested by Nathan Nichols, the clerk, to carry the poll-book to Knoxville. Not having been an offi- cer of the election, Mr. Bauer objected on the ground of the illegality of such a performance, but was finally persuaded to take and deliver it to George Gillaspy, the sheriff of the county. But by missing the right way to Knoxville, Mr. B. was so much delayed that he did reach there till some time in the afternoon; and then, being in much haste to be on his journey again, he found George directly, and handed him the docu- ments.
" Are you one of the board? " asked that dignitary.
" No," answered Bauer, and was about to add some expla- nations, when the great man cut him short with:
"Then I don't want your poll-book," and abruptly turned away, refusing to have anything more to say about it.
This scene took place in Babbitt's store. Gillaspy walked around the counter and appeared to be engaged in something else, whilst Bauer stood thoughfully discussing the matter with himself, but unable to decide what he should do with the precious document. To return with it to the proper authority was scarcely to be thought of, as other business urged him to be on the way to Fairfield, and he would not risk the responsi- bility of carrying it with him. At length his own perplexity and the provoking silence of the great George, roused his
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Township Histories.
wrath, and decided him instantly. He drew the poll-book from his bosom, dashed it upon the counter and drew the attention of George to it in this emphatic manner: "Here, take your poll-book and do what you d-n please with it," then abrubtly left the presence. It was not till after his return from Fairfield that Mr. Bauers learned that it had been found necessary to send for Nichols that evening to come to Knox- ville, present the poll-book and take the oath required by law in such cases.
The following are the names of persons who settled in this township at the earliest dates:
Nicholas Helms, with his four sons, and Win. Willis, in '46; Thomas Kirton, Henry Wagoner, Joseph Bauer, Peter Yrentz, and Hiram Teakel, in '58; Alloys Bauer in '49; Henry Ghor ing, Henry Harstman, and Jacob Smith, in '50, and Jacob Fight in '52.
Of these, Thomas Kirton, Wm. Willis, Henry Ghoring, Henry Harstman, Joseph and Alloys Bauer and Hiram Teakel live in the township. Nicholas Helms is dead, and his four sons are supposed to live in Missouri. Henry Wagoner, Jacob Smith and Jacob Fight are also dead.
Nicholas Helms was from Ohio, and he, with his sons, took claims in what is now the southwest part of the township. During his residence here he was a useful citizen to the extent of his means. By the erection of a tempoary hand-mill, worked by a crank, he supplied many of the early settlers with meal when it was impossible to obtain it from the great distance people then had to go for breadstuffs. Particularly during the winter of '48 and '49 did this little corn-cracker prove to be of inestimable value; for, as has already been shown, it was impossible to get any distance from home on account of the great depth of snow. During this period, every family within reach of this mill, who had a peck of corn to convert into meal, came to it; and the faithful little make-shift was kept at
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Pioneers of Marion County.
work day and night, grinding a peck, or even a mess or two, for one and then another, as their turns would come, each cus- tomer taking his own turn at the crank.
In the family of Mr. Helms occurred the first marriage in the township, that of his son Jesse and Miss Sarena Wind, whose parents resided within the limits of Lucas county. The wed- ding took place in Dallas, December 25, 1847. And to this couple was born the first child born in the township, Henry Helms, Aug. 2, '48.
Thomas Kirton was born in Yorkshire, England, came to Canada, where he resided five years, from thence to Illinois, and from thence to Clay township, in this county, in '43, and from thence to this township in the spring of '48. He pur- chased a claim where he now lives in the north part of the township, of an individual named Geo. Leach, an adventurer of some notoriety in this part of the country at that time, and suspected of being a horse-thief. After selling to Mr. Kirton, Leach moved his residence to Franklin township, near where John Clark now lives, where he passed the winter of '48 and '49, making it rather his temporary home. Once during this winter, being at Pleasantville he set out for home across an unin- habited prairie, the snow being nearly three feet deep on the level, and blown into drifts of much greater depth, and unbroken trail, this adventurer came very near ending his career. After struggling through the trackless waste till within about two miles of distination, he became so exhausted that further pro- gress seemed impossible, and it occurred to him that he must perish. In view of his impending fate he cut a small stick, flat- tened it, wrote his name thereon, and stuck it up in the snow, in order that his remains, if ever found, might be identified, and then laid himself down to die. But here the horrible idea of leaving his carcass to be possibly found by some fellow being, but more probably to be devoured and scattered by wolves, came upon him with such force that it roused him to a determination
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Township Histories.
1
to make another effort for his life. This he did, and by such efforts as only the fear of death can nerve a sufferer to make, he reached his home alive.
We may as well add in this connection, that such was the severity of that winter that much of the wild game perished in this portion of the county. In one instance a number of deers, being unable to travel, huddled together and remained in one place in the timber on White Breast, where they trampled a circuit a few rods in circumference, keeping the snow down by their feet and the heat of their bodies, whilst it arose like a wall around them. Here they remained till their prison walls van- ished under the warth of spring, and those that were alive escaped. A great many turkeys were also found dead in the spring.
Joseph and Alloys Bauer, who reside in the western part of the township, were natives of Hanover, Germany, from whence they came in '33 to Indiana, and from there to their present residence (section 19) in '48 and '49. Joseph made his claim and Alloys purchased his of Leander Bennett, a temporary settler, who had came from Illinois in '46.
Just previous to the commencement of the severe winter of '48 and '49, Joseph had procured the grinding of four bushels of meal at Burch's, on White Breast, and on this, with pounded hominy and what little grinding they could occasionally get done on Helm's hand mill, they subsisted all winter. Leander Bennett had also taken a sack of corn to Burch's; but being unable to get it ground soon, he returned without it, thinking he might be able to go or send for it another time. But the snow soon put an end to all hopes of the kind till spring. And then, after so long waiting, he found that the mice had made nests of the sack and taken their winter's subsistance out of its contents. A fortunate circumstance for the mice.
During their first two or three years residence here the Baners, being destitute of any kind of earthern vessels, barrels or even
342
Pioneers of Marion County.
boxes, or lumber to make them of, used wooden troughs to store their provisions in.
Peter Yrntz moved into this township from Eddyville, late in the autumn of '48. Owing to the lateness of the season he did not get his stock feed and provisions moved up before the first snow fell; and as all kinds of provisions were scarce in the county, he subsisted by borrowing from his neighbors for his own subsistance, and broused his cattle in the White Breast timber.
Hiram Teakel was a native of Tennessee, from which State he moved to this, and to this township in the winter of '48 and settled where John Graves now lives, near Newburn, and pur- chased the claim of Freeland Willis, giving him $5 for it. On this he built a cabin, broke and fenced ten acres, and after liv- ing on it two years, sold it, and purchased another claim of Adam Uchler, in section 17, where he now lives.
On moving up from Eddyville, and nearing his destination, Mr. T. found no road and scarcely an object to guide him aright across a treeless prairie; and at the same time the snow was so deep that the fore wheels of the wagons were nearly burried in it. The teams, one a horse team and the other oxen, could make but slow progress. But by constant and untiring efforts they at last succeeded in reaching their chosen place of habita- tion, and are now, in common with many of their cotempo- raries in the privations and sufferings of pioneer life, reaping the rich reward of their perseverence through difficulties.
Jacob Smith planted the first orchard in the township, but none of the trees are now living, having perished from expos- ure and neglect.
Henry Harstman was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, December 17, 1818, and left that country for Amer- ica, in 1847, first settled in Ohio, from whence he came to Indiana, and from thence to his present residence on section 8, in September, 1850. Here he purchased a claim of 160 acres,
/
343
Township Histories.
of Henry Wagoner, for thirty dollars. This claim had no improvements on it, and Mr. Hartsman proceeded at once to erect a cabin 18 by 20, near the creek. Here he lived for some time, during which he occasionally suffered severely with the ague, and was at one time, for nine consecutive days, with- out any other food than potatoes. This, however, was not for the want of grain, plenty of which Mr. H. had stored away, but for the want of ability to get it carried to a mill and ground. Ile is now the owner of a well-improved farm of 490 acres.
The western portion of Dallas is mostly settled by Germans, a part of whom are Lutherans in doctrinal faith, and the others Catholic. Rev. J."F. Shearer, an American Lutheran minister first organized a society of those holding to that faith, in 1854. About sixteen families were united, making a membership of 45. But, as Mr. Shearer could only speak English, his place was soon taken by Rev. Wilhelm Hounderdosse, from Ger- many.
The Catholic church was organized in 1854, by the union of nine persons of that faith, by whom a hewed log church was soon erected, 16 by 18 feet, with bellfry. This organization was not effected by the aid of a priest, and it was not till after the erection of a house of worship, that Father John Krekel held services in that community. A frame building is now in process of erection for a parsonage.
.
Wm. Demoss and - Johnson first formed societies of United Brethren and Methodists, in 1851-2.
Asa Davis taught the first school in a round log cabin built for the purpose, in 1852. Henry R. Klingman taught next.
Newbern was surveyed by F. M. Frush, by request of Ran- some Davis, on the south-east quarter, of the south-east quar- ter of section 31, September, 9th, 1851. One of the chairmen was Joseph S. Howard, now Professor Howard, of McGee College, Missouri. The other is not remembered. It was so named by Mr. Davis, from a town of the same name in Indi-
344
Pioneers of Marion County.
ana. Nine lots were sold at auction, at from four to eight dol- lars per lot. Mr. Davis built the first house within the town plat, (a hewed log,) that stood in the north side of the village. Jesse Moon sold the first goods, till he disposed of the busi- ness to Fletcher Kane. The first post-office was kept by Joseph Howard, father of Joseph S., mentioned above. He received his commission in the spring of 1853, not having been previously consulted. His successor was Fletcher Kane. Present incumbent John Willes. Mails daily. Chicago post-office on the north-east quarter of the north-east quarter of section 17, was established in February, 1872, Julius Teakel, postmaster. No public mail service, but matter supplied from Newburn by private conveyance. There was no town laid out here, but the place contains two stores and several dwellings, and is situated on White Breast creek. Christopher Anderly, first opened a store there, in 1867, and jocularly gave it the name of Chicago.
The first hotel was a log house, kept by Rufus Murry. Dr. C. Taylor was the first practising physician, located in the vil- lage. He is still a resident practitioner.
There are now two stores, two hotels and rather more than ยท a proportionate number of good buildings. A small part of the village lies in Lucas county, and the entire location is very good, being surrounded by an excellent and well-improved farming district, convenient also to coal and timber.
Dallas town is located on the southwest quarter of the the southeast quarter of section two. It was surveyed by F. M. Frush, in September, 1857, at the instigation of Richard Wil- lis, on land purchased by him of a Mrs. Eckles. Mrs. E. was a grass-widow, whose husband was at that time alive and not divorced from her, and upon this ground the opinion was held by some that the title of the land given by her was not secure. This report materially injured the prospects of the village for a short time; but the fact that Mrs. Eckles
:
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Township Histories.
had purchased the property with her own money, restored con- fidence, and a goodly number of lots were at length sold.
The embryo city was at first called Ohio town on account of the number of settlers from that State, in the neighborhood. But it was eventually found advisable to change it to Dallas, in conformity to the popular habit of calling it so when Dallas . post office was about all there was of the town, and was there before it.
Dallas post office was established in 1855, and was first kept by John Parrett, in a little log house still standing, but unoc- cupied. Present P. M., P. Buckalew. The first house was built by Hiram L. George, who also sold the first goods. The place now contains one store, two blacksmith shops, a commo- dious M. E. Church building, and a good school house. The one store enjoys the trade of a fine farming country lying south and east of it.
Mr. Parker Buckalew, the P. M and lone merchant of Dal- las, relates to us a hunting expedition of his, with which we will close this history.
In December, 1853, being then on a visit to the country, he was ambitious of the distinction that might be accorded to any young man for killing a deer before returning to the east. Accordingly, he one day accompanied by Simon Thomas, an experienced hunter, on a hunting expedition. Having separa- ted from his companion, and seated himself on a rise of ground in the timber for the purpose of ambushing the game that was expected to come that way on its accustomed round, he had the good luck to spy two large deers passing about 25 yards distant. Taking aim as well as he could through the timber, he fired, and had the glorious satisfaction of seeing one of them, a large, withered buck, drop. He ran to it with the utmost speed, and found the animal only wounded by a graze of the bullet across the back, and already getting upon its fore feet. Here, in the midst of his excitment, Parker
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Pioneers of Marion County.
threw his gun away, and bravely laid hold of the creature's horns. With this the latter made a violent surge, threw his assailant headlong down the hill and fell upon him. Still Par ker held fast, and a rough and tumble struggle ensued, during which the buck hooked his sharp, hind hoofs in P.'s pants, and, with one violent jerk, sundered the lower half of the youthful Nimrod, leaving only the waist hand of his pants and a few shreds belonging to the legs thereof. The possibil- ity of having his hide served in the same way now presented itself to the excited imagination of the desperate hunter with such force that he instinctively placed a big tree between him- self and the flying heels of the buck, still maintaining his hold upon the horns. In this condition the deer's head was drawn around the tree, and Parker had an opportunity to get his knife and cut its throat, thus ending an adventure that, for having the quality of being at once exciting, critical and com- ical, is surpassed by few of its like on record.
The following was the population of Dallas by the United States census of 1870:
Native 936
Foreign 130
Total 1066
Total population of Marion county by the United States cen- sus of 1870:
Native.
.21,731
Foreign . 2,705
Total. 24,436
ye
,SER D 1929
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