USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pella > Souvenir history of Pella, Iowa : contains a concise story of the founding and life of Pella, Iowa > Part 3
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The first apple orchards were planted in Lake Prairie township by Green T. Clark and John B. Hamilton, in the spring of 1847. The trees, about fifty in all, were brought from Illinois.
The following is a complete list of the American pioneers who were here when the Hollanders came, and the majority of whom settled in Lake Prairie and adjoining townships in 1843-44. A number of these sold their land to the Hollanders in 1847 and moved to other parts of the country, and some remained here to become leading factors in the growth and development of Pella and vicinity. Taken from K. Van Stigt's history of Pella:
Awtry, Giles
Gillaspy, George Gillaspy, Samuel
Brown, Jacob C.
Buffington, James A.
Hall, Claiborn
Buffington, S. W.
Hamilton, John B.
Buffington, W. H.
Hamilton, Robert
Buffington, A. C.
Howard, Charles
Bambridge, Levi
Ilarsin, G. W.
Brown, Andrew J.
Hiskey, Daniel Harp, Charles
Clark, Green T.
Curtiss, Israel C.
Karr, Andrew
Crum, Isaac Coakley
Kinney, David
Koons, Asa
Durham, David T.
Karr, William
Deweese, James M.
Donnell, Jonathan
Donnell, Alexander B.
Earl, Daniel
Matthews, O.
Matthews, O. Jr. Matthews, Simpson B.
Finley, Walker
Karr, George
Barker, Francis A. Binckly
Iler
Lanhead, Allen Launsbury
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THE FIRST BAND CONCERT IN THE GARDEN SQUARE
Metz, Andrew
Mikesell, John H. Miller Moore, Elias
Scott, John Stanley, Wilson Stevenson, S.
Tuttle, Thomas
Mudgett, John McDermit, Wm.
Tice, David Tice, Allen
Nossaman, Wellington
Welch, William
Nossaman, Levi
Welch, John
Price, James
Warren, James L. Dr.
Prunty, Elias
Watts, Richard R.
Parsons, S. P.
Walters, Conrad
Porter, Joseph
Whaley, John R.
Peter, Samuel
Wilson, John Scott
Poever, J. B.
Wilson, Fremont
Reay, David
Walker, John
Raynor, James O. Rome
Yearns, Mordichia
The Awtrys, Ilers, Coakly, Roman, Binkley and others settled north of Pella in the vicinity of the Skunk river. John J. Mudgett lived northwest of Pella, and Jacob C. Brown about due west, across the line of Summit township. The first farm owned and occupied by Mr. Brown was later well known as the H. Y. Viersen farm. John Scott, James Price, Andrew Donnell, John Scott Wilson, Fremont Wilson, Roberts and others also lived west of Pella, across the line of Summit township.
East of Pella, in Black Oak and Richland townships, across the Mahaska county line, lived Dr. J. L. Warren, the Millers and the Howards. The pioneers of American birth who were more closely connected with the Holland colonists, and whose service in the early days was invaluable to them, were the Nossamans, the Hamiltons, the Welchs, I. C. Curtis, Green T. Clark, etc.
Van Stigt's history, in the Holland language, speaks of these families in terms of the highest esteem, giving them credit for receiving the Hollanders with open- armed hospitality, and of vieing with each other in rendering help and advice that made the first years of sojourn in a strange land much easier for our fathers. There are also many letters on record, written by the Rev. Henry Scholte, which acknowledge a deep sense of indebtedness, and a warm appreciation of the great service rendered to them by these men. Pella was fortunate and owes much of her later development to the fact that a number of these families remained as long as their lives were spared, and many of their descendants are among our prominent citizens today.
Estimated upon the basis of material results two of the most valuable men in the early history were Wm. Welch and his son-in-law, Wellington Nossaman. They operated the first sawmill in Lake Prairie township and probably the first in the county. Also the first, or one of the very first, mills for grinding corn. As both lumber and foodstuff were commodities that were essential above all others, these industries filled an important place in the life of the community. Mr. Welch was a potter by trade and ran the first pottery in this part of Iowa. People came from all over central Iowa to buy crockery, which was of more importance then than in our time-especially jugs, which have apparently seen their day of greatest usefulness.
Worth, David B.
Roberts, S. S.
Williams, William
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
Mr. Van Stigt in his valuable history of Pella pays an especially high tribute to the character and worth to this community of Dr. James L. Warren, who set- tled in Mahaska county, six miles northeast of Pella, in 1843. As a physician he enjoyed a large practice among our early settlers, and he is still often mentioned by the few pioneers who remain with us, for his great zeal in religious work, and for the example he set in every line of endeavor that made for the best inter- ests of the community. Dr. Warren was one of the first ministers of the M. E. Church to preach in Mahaska and Marion counties, and organized the first class west of Libertyville. He was licensed as a local preacher in 1828, ordained (leacon in Oskaloosa in 1852, and was ordained an elder by Bishop Ames in 1863. He practiced medicine from 1831 up to a short time before his death.
Another pioneer who filled a leading and important place in the life and development of this community was the Hon. Green T. Clark. He was one of those already mentioned as having settled a few miles southeast of town, in 1843. He was a man of great energy, ability and foresight, and was called upon to fill many important positions. He was the first county assessor, before Iowa had been admitted as a state. He was a justice of the peace and a member of the county board of supervisors for a number of years and was four times elected as member, for Marion county, of the Iowa legislature. One son and one daughter are still residents of Pella today. He became one of the most successful farmers and largest stock raisers in this part of Iowa, and owner of many acres of valu- able land.
Old J. H. H. Van Spanckeren Building, East Franklin Street.
Biography-Americans
SANDE S' COSIE.
MRS. JOHN B. HAMILTON ROBERT S. HAMILTON
JOHN B. HAMILTON
ROBERT G. HAMILTON was born in Bath county, West Virginia, on the 2d day of February, 1824, and came to this county in April, 1843, four years before the coming of the colony from Holland. He learned the carpenter trade in his youth, but after coming to this county he settled about four miles southeast of Pella and engaged in farming until 1855, when he moved to Pella and worked at his trade of contractor and builder until 1872, after which he engaged in the lumber busi- ness. Mr. Hamilton was a man of strong religious convictions and during his entire life in this community took a leading part in church work. He was one of the organizers of the Methodist church and a leader in the congregation until the day of his death. No man was ever held in greater esteem by our people, both Americans and Hollanders, than Robert G. Hamilton. We have often heard the story of the valuable assistance he rendered to the leaders of the Holland colony when they came here as strangers, needing the guidance and help of men whose character was above reproach.
WELLINGTON NOSSAMAN was born in Monroe county, Virginia, April 12, 1817, and removed with his parents to Pike county, Kentucky, when two years of age. He was raised on a farm and attended the common schools. In his sixteenth year he re- moved to Indianapolis, Ind., remaining there nine years, and in 1842 came to Iowa, settling in Jefferson county. Resided there one year and on the 17th of March, 1842, he married Miss Sarah Welsh, a native of North Carolina, born February 26, 1825. On the first of May, 1843, he came to Lake Prairie town- ship and took up a claim on the Des Moines river, three miles south of Pella, built a log cabin (which to Mr. Nossaman's knowledge was the second in WELLINGTON NOSSAMAN the county), and broke a piece of ground. He built the first horse mill for grinding corn in the county, and in partnership with his
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
father-in-law, Wm. Welsh, started the first pottery in 1845. Started a horse saw- mill in September, 18-15. He was elected the first coroner, and by virtue of his office acted as the first sheriff of Marion county. Bought an interest in Joseph Porter's first sawmill in Pella, and in 1851 he opened the Franklin House in Pella, running it for four years. He commenced the mercantile business at the same time and was thus employed for ten years. Next started the first perpetual lime kiln in łowa and made lime for several years. He furnished, free, all the lime for Central University, and in money and materials contributed over one thou- sand dollars to the building of that institution. This was in a day when one thousand dollars was a small fortune. In 1875 he built the Nossaman Hotel, north of the old depot, which he operated until the fall of 1880, when he rented it to his son-in-law, Jacob Todd. Mr. and Mrs. Todd were members of the Bap- tist church of Pella, and were among those who founded it.
HON. GREEN T. CLARK, MRS. MARY BUTTS, MRS. MARY TODD. Taken on the 60th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Butts. Three survivors of the pioneers of 1843.
GREEN T. CLARK. One of the best known and highly respected of a past generation in Lake Prairie township, Marion county, was Green T. Clark. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and took a prominent part in the pioneer life and the later development of the community. He was born on the 25th of March, 1823, in White county, Tennessee, and was taken to Illinois by his parents when six years of age. Removed to Lee county, Iowa, 1834, and from there to Marion county in 1843. He settled a few miles southeast of Pella and at one time his farm consisted of 700 acres of valuable land. He was elected assessor at the first election ever held in the county. In 1854 he was elected a member of the Fifth General Assembly of lowa, and was re-elected in 1856. He was again elected in 1874 and re-elected in 1876. He held the office of justice of the peace and also served as a member of the county board of supervisors. Commencing life as a poor boy, was the architect of his own fortunes, and one of the most successful men in Marion county. He married Miss Nancy Wilson, a native of Kentucky, in 1846. Two children died in early youth and four lived to maturity
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BIOGRAPHY-AMERICANS
and were well and favorably known to our people. They were Thomas J., Louisa, Allen H. and Ada.
MRS. MARY BUTTS, wife of Mark Butts and daughter of Levi and Caroline Nossaman, was born February 13, 1843, and came to Lake Prairie township with her parents when three months old. Born near Fairfield, lowa. Died in Pella, aged sixty-eight years and four months.
JOSEPH PORTER. The maxim, "Through struggle to triumph," might well be applied to the life history of Mr. Porter. He was born in Kent county, Delaware, August 10, 1818, and spent his youth on a farm with his father until nineteen years of age. Then walked to Lafayette, Ind., a distance of 900 miles, and made the trip in twenty-six days. In 1847 he emigrated to this county and purchased a claim and engaged in farming for about five years, when he moved to Pella and built a sawmill and brought the first steam engine into Marion county. This mill was located on the lot now occupied by the C. Rhynsburger home. After two years he built another sawmill on East Third street, about two blocks east of where the Washington mill was formerly located. Here he also added a flour mill to his establishment. In 1857 he traded his mills to John B. Hamilton for part of the land which was afterwards well known as the Porterville farm. Here he lived for many years and became known as one of Marion county's most pro- gressive and successful farmers and stock raisers. He married Miss Mary A. Chezum, December 31, 1840. By this union there were thirteen children, four of whom died in early infancy. The others were James, Elisabeth (Mrs. Wm. Millison), Marion, Nancy (Mrs. N. Wray), William, Charles, Mary F. and Joseph F. (twins), and Margaret Catherine. Mr. Porter owned the first reaper in the county and also operated one of the first threshing machines.
WILLIAM JESSE CURTIS was born at Aurora, Ind., on the 2d day of August, 1838. He is the son of Hon. I. C. Curtis, a leading lawyer for many years of Marion county, Iowa, and Lucy Holman Curtis, who was a daughter of Judge Jesse L. Holman, a Supreme Court judge of the state of Indiana, and afterwards judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana, appointed by President Andrew Jackson.
In 1884 the Curtis family moved from Aurora, Ind., to Marion county, Iowa, and settled on the banks of the Des Moines river, some six or seven miles southeast of the present city of Pella. About 1856 the Curtis family moved to Pella and resided there until the spring of 1864.
The father of William Jesse Curtis was deeply interested in the location of Central College at Pella and for several years was its active agent. As soon as the college school was open, under the direction of Rev. E. H. Scarf, William Jesse Curtis was one of its students, and for several years WILLIAM JESSE CURTIS thereafter attended the school, his teachers being Dr. Scarf, Dr. Elihu Gunn, Professor A. N. Currier and Mrs. D. C. A. Stoddard. On the 21st of November, 1861, Mr. Curtis was mar- ried to Miss Frances S. Cowles, a sister of Edward Cowles, a prominent merchant of Pella, Dr. E. H. Scarf performing the marriage ceremony. On February 2, 1863, Mr. Curtis' son, Holman Cowles Curtis, who now resides at San Bernardino,
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
Cal., was born at Pella. On the 12th day of March, 1863, at Knoxville, Iowa, Mr. Curtis was admitted to the bar, Hon. William Loughridge being the presiding judge of the court and John B. Hamilton its clerk.
Immediately on his admission to the bar, Mr. Curtis became a partner of his father in the practice of law under the firm name of Curtis & Curtis. In 1863-64 Mr. Curtis was a member of the city council of Pella.
On the 12th day of April, 18644, the Curtis families in company with the families of John B. Hamilton, N. P. Earp, Dr. James A. Rousseau and a number of others, left Marion county with horse, mule and ox teams for the Pacific coast, and after encountering innumerable hardships and dangers-being on several occasions attacked by Indians and their stock stampeded-reached San Bernardino, Cal., on the 19th day of December, 1864. And since that date San Bernardino has been, and still is the home of William Jesse Curtis. The history of his life in California is another story.
ROBERT B. WARREN was born in Tennessee in the year 1829. He came to lowa with his father's family in 1841, settling first in Lee county. He moved to Mahaska county in 1843. He and his father, Dr. J. L. Warren, built what was known as the Warren mill, six miles northeast of Pella on the Skunk river, in 1846. This mill was burned down in 1850 and was rebuilt. In about 1882 this inill was again burned down, but was never re- built. He lived on his farm surrounding the mill ROBERT B. WARREN until 1891, when he removed with his family to Des Moines, Iowa, where he re- sided until the time of his death in 1906.
While living in Mahaska county he was elected to the State Legislature in 1881, and served in the Nineteenth General Assembly. He was a member of the Pioneer Law Makers' Association at the time of his death.
S. F. PROUTY was born January 17, 1854, at Delaware, Ohio. He came with his father to Knox- ville, Iowa, in 1855 and moved with his father to a farm in Clay township in 1858. After complet- ing the public schools he entered the Central Uni- versity in 1870 and graduated in 1877 as the vale- dictorian of his class. In 1876 he took the first prize in oratory in the college. He took the first prize in oratory in the State Oratorical Contest held in Cedar Rapids in the fall of 1876. He repre- sented the state of Iowa in the Interstate Oratorical Contest held at Madison, Wis., in 1877, and won second prize. Immediately after his graduation HON. S. F. PROUTY in 1877 he was elected to the chair of Latin in the Central University of lowa and continued to occupy that position for four years.
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BIOGRAPHY-AMERICANS
› In 1879 he was elected a member of the State Legislature and served in the Eighteenth General Assembly. He was the youngest member that ever served in the State Legislature with one exception; John P. Irish was of the same age at the time of service. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1881. He resigned his position as professor of Latin in the Central University and went into the prac- tice of law in this city in partnership with N. J. Gesman. He practiced law in Pella for ten years. He was for several years treasurer of the university. After he began practicing law he was elected city attorney, during which time he codi- fied and indexed the confused city ordinances. This compilation is still in use. In 1891 he moved to Des Moines and formed a partnership with the late I. M. Earle. This partnership was continued until Mr. Prouty was elected judge of the District Court of Polk County, Iowa, in 1900. He was afterwards elected a member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional District. Since he retired from Congress he has practiced law in Des Moines, Iowa, where he still resides.
MLE LAGER
PEER
An Oasis of Years Gone By.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
COCT
Reading from left to right-Mrs. Clemantine Betzer, wife of James H. Betzer and daughter of Wilham and Elizabeth Welch. Mrs. Sarah Nossaman, wife of Wellington Nossaman and daughter of William and Elizabeth Welch. Mrs. Annia Smith, wife of O. H. Smith and daughter of William and Elizabeth Welch. Mrs. Isobel Gregoire, wife of John Gregoire, and daughter of William and Elizabeth Welch.
Mrs. Gregoire taught the first school in Marion county. Her school house was of the log cabin variety with split logs with the flat side turned up with hickory legs, as seats and a split log table for a desk. This school was located about four miles south of Pella and located on the farm later owned by Engle Ver Ploeg.
These truly pioneer women were here in 1844 and did much to help the Hollanders in getting their homes in shape to live and assisted in finding food stuffs at times when the rations ran low. They could not understand the Holland language, but they managed to tell the new settlers in the sign language what they desired and it was not long until they were the very best of friends and neighbors. Mesdames Nossaman and Gregoire spent their entire lives in Pelle and vicinity. living to a good old age, and enjoying the respect and love of their fellow citizens up to the time of their demise.
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BIOGRAPHY-AMERICANS
JOHN WELCH
MRS. JOHN WELCH
BETSY WELCH-Left PEGGY STOKER-Right
WM. WELCH
MRS. WM. WELCH
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
MARK BUTT
MRS. MARY BUTT. WIFE OF MARK BUTT
MRS. MARY TODD, WIFE OF JACOB TODD
LEVI NOSSAMAN
MRS. LEVI NOSSAMAN
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BIOGRAPHY-AMERICANS
J. B. COTTON
Because of the prominent part Mr. Cotton filled in the social, educational and business life of the community, he and his estimable family still live in the mem- ory of the older citizens. He was born in New Hampshire on the 2d day of De- cember, 1826, and lived there until 1865. . He was raised on the farm and at the age of twenty-seven entered the mercantile business. He came to Pella in 1865, and in 1874 was one of the organizers of the Pella Manufacturing Co., and a nuni- ber of years later was the active manager of this important industry. Prior to that time he was engaged in the dry goods business in the location now occupied by the Farmers' National Bank, under the firm name of Cotton & Baker. He had a thorough musical education and from 1865 until 1883 he was principal of the Musical Department of Central College and also chorister for the First Baptist Church. Under his able instruction the College Glee Club became a noted organ- ization. He married Miss Mary Moran in 1849. She was born in Vermont. Mrs. Cotton was a woman of fine Christian character and left the impress of her per- sonality on the entire community. There were eight children: Annie E., Jennie G., Ada J., Charles S., Joseph F., Harry A. D., Mabel B. and Leslie E.
PROF. C. C. CORY
As instructor in Central University, superintendent of the public schools of Pella, as well as in his career as a merchant, Mr. Cory was known for his opti- mistic, buoyant temperament that made him one of the most valued additions to the college faculty, at a time when it took rare courage and unflagging energy to keep the young and struggling institution on its feet. As superintendent of the public schools he had few equals and none that were more successful in bringing out the best that was in the students under his charge. A great lover of music and an accomplished vocalist, Professor Cory accomplished more to develop the musical talent of this community than any one of his time. Out of school hours he was nearly always to be found with a coterie of friends prac- ticing church music, glees and cantatas, and arranging amateur concerts. He was born in the Green Mountain state on the 18th day of September, 1833, and received his education at Derby Academy, which he supplemented by close study and application at home. As a conductor of normal institutes he ranked among the most successful in the state. In 1886 Professor Cory was tendered the super- intendency of the State Industrial School for Girls at Mitchellville, Iowa. He accepted this position and held it until his health failed in 1897. He married Miss Mary Moran in 1857. She was also a native of Vermont. Their family consisted of two children, Fred M. and Hattie M. Professor Cory died in January, 1897, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William O. Foraker, in Chicago.
M. H. POST
Was born in St. Francisville, Mo., August 16, 1840. He was the son of Rev. M. J. Post, who advised the Hollanders to locate in Marion county and led them to the present location of Lake Prairie township, where the family remained as honored citizens of Pella. Mr. Post, Sr., died in 1848, and the subject of our sketch remained here for many years, receiving his education, and later success- fully conducting the leading hotel for a long time. Later he moved to a farm just east of Pella. He married Miss Nancy Mortimer in 1862. She was born in Indiana and died in Pella in 1869, leaving one daughter, Nancy. In 1871 he mar- ried Miss Nellie Vander Linden. She was born in the Netherlands. There were two children by this union, Helen and Julia. Lost one daughter, Hattie. Mrs. Post and her daughter, Julia, still reside in Pella.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF PELLA, IOWA
MOTHER TODD
TODD, MRS. JACOB-Mary E. Nossaman was born a short distance south of Fair- field, Iowa, the 13th day of February, 1843. When only three months old she came to Marion county with her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Nossaman who settled on a farm a few miles southeast of Pella. She was married to Jacob W. Todd on the 14th day of November, 1867; the wedding took place about five miles south of Pella, Rev. E. H. Scarff officiating.
Mrs. Todd as well as the other members of the Nossaman family were true pioneers and took a prominent part in the early struggle to change the wilderness into a civilized land. Mrs. Todd and her cousin, Mrs. Mark Butts, were among the early school teachers in Marion county. The account of a trip to Knoxville made by these young women in the early days was one of the many interesting reminiscences told the writer by Mrs. Todd, who at the advanced age of nearly eighty years, is still in the best of health and full of interest in all that pertains to the early history of Pella and vicinity. We are also indebted to Mrs. Todd for a detailed description of the first log school house in Lake Prairie township, if not in Marion county.
Mrs. Todd received her education in the crude country schools of that period and later, when "Central" was built, she was among the first students to enroll. Before "Central's" foundation walls were laid, when the school was held in the old brick building on Washington street, known as the De Booy home, Mrs. Todd became a student and continued until 1862, when financial need compelled her to take up teaching in order to help in the support of a large family. She first taught in the Porterville neighborhood, about four miles southeast of Pella, and received the munificent salary of $8.00 per month, with the privilege of boarding around in the homes of the pupils.
Mother Todd is one of the few, typical pioneer women of the old school: she delights in telling of the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments of those early days, and it is a pleasure to hear her tell the many interesting incidents of which she has a personal knowledge. In compiling this work we have been greatly indebted to her for many facts pertaining to the early pioneer days; no one in the community has done as much to help us gather the material out of which we have built up this account of the development and growth of Pella and the surrounding territory.
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