The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 65

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 65

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).

J. W. Kirtley also located on what is now the Gillooley farm at the same time. He made a claim of about four hundred acres of land, inc a mill privilege, on Silver Creek, which he afterward sold to Dr. G. Turner, who moved here in 1840, with his family, consisting of four Louis, Joseph L., George W. and John; and two daughters-Harriet O afterward married Job Trites, and Eleanor, who married John F. I Dr. Turner was accompanied by his sons-in-law, Thomas W. Clark an Thomas, with their families.

Digitized by Google

541

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Dr. Turner built a log cabin at what is now known as the Bechtel place, one mile west of De Witt, into which he moved with his family, and he, with his sons and Clark, built a saw-mill, which was probably the second mill built in the county. His sons afterward built a grist-mill on the original site of the saw-mill, in the year 1848, which was the second grist-mill built in the county, and is now owned and operated by Capt. W. H. Hall. In the year 1837, John and George Eldred located in the timber on Silver Creek, near where is now the Eureka Mills, on July 4, and named the grove for that reason Independence Grove. They were bachelors, and withal rough speci- mens of humanity, usually engaged in drinking and carousing; and besides, it was said, were equal to more infamous crimes. They remained until immi- gration began to pour in, when one of them went north to Minnesota, where he was killed in a drunken broil. The other met a like fate in California. One of them served a term in the State Prison from this county, for hog stealing.

In 1838, John F. and Aaron Homer, Abner and Eldad Beard, from Massa- chusetts, settled at Independence Grove, where they engaged in farming. Aaron Homer died at the residence of Abraham Folcke, in 1839, of consump- tion. Eldad Beard died in Orange Township, in the year 1845, of typhoid fever. John F. Homer and Abner Beard are still living in the town of le Witt, both having been successful in business; Mr. B. having retired, Mr. Homer still engages in the active duties of his business as hardware merchant, in company with his son George F. Mr. Homer has filled various positions of trust. having held the office of member of the Board of Supervisors, besides several municipal offices ; which positions he has filled with credit to himself and benefit to the community. Mr. Beard resides with his family in the town of De Witt. and is serenely stepping down the declivity of life, a much respected citizen. Dr. Turner died in October, 1845, and was among the first to be laid in the old cemetery, near the town of De Witt.

John Walrod and family, consisting of four sons: Abram, Henry, William, David, and three daughters-Celinda, who afterward married Hon. W. E. Leffingwell, and Philinda, wife of Ira Lepper, and Lucia, wife of Jacob Lep- per, settled on what is now known as the Black farm, in Welton Township, which was then a part of this township. John Walrod died in the year 1848, and was buried on his own farm. Henry was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun wbile hunting for deer, in 1844. It seems that in crossing " Nig- ger Creek," near the present residence of Martin Dobler, in Welton Township, in putting his gun down to cross the creek, it was discharged, killing him instantly. His body was found several days after the occurrence, and buried on his father's farm.

Col. Lyman Evans and family, consisting of his son-in-law D. H. Brown and wife, and five sons-Norman, Lyman W., Charles, Barney and Walter, and Betsy, a daughter, who died in the year 1839, located at Independence Grove in the spring of 1839. Col. Evans held various positions of trust, and was universally respected. The Colonel's mother, widow of an old Revolu- tionary soldier, accompanied him to this township, where she resided until her death, in 1848, at the advanced age of 92 years. She was the second person buried in the burial ground in the wood.

George W. Neville, wife, and family of two girls-Isabella, afterward wife of H. Browning ; Roseltha, afterward married to J. S. Casey-settled at what is known as the Neville place, near Ames' Creek, in 1837. George W. Neville died in 1864.

Digitized by Google

542

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

David Bedford, wife and family, consisting of his three sons-Ashbel, wife and two children ; Robert, wife and one child, and S. N. Bedford, unmarried- and one daughter, who married Rev. O. Emerson, in 1842, settled in this town- ship, in 1839. S. N. afterward married Elizabeth Dunham, in 1849. Ashbel and Robert were each elected to and served as Recorder and Treasurer of the County during the early part of its history. Robert died in 1846, and Ashbel removed to Michigan, where he now resides.

Samuel N. still resides in the town of De Witt. Robert built the first house in the town of De Witt, in the summer of 1841, on' Harrison street, where Conwell's blacksmith-shop now stands. It was a log cabin.

S. P. Burton and family located south of Independence Grove, about the year 1839, with his wife and family, consisting of three daughters-Sarah A: (afterward married R. L. Westbrook, Clerk of the Court in 1848), Harriet and Elmira.

Seth Lum and wife, and Phineas Cass, a brother-in-law, settled in this town- ship in the spring of 1840, west of what is now the town of De Witt, and adjoining the corporation.

Early in the spring of 1837, a man of the name of Miller, with his family, settled on Silver Creek, northwest from what is now the town of De Witt; during that same year, in the winter, he went to Davenport for provisions ; came back to the Wapsie, having walked the entire distance ; was compelled to swim the river ; caught cold and died. His was the first death in the township. He was buried in the timber west of Silver Creek about eighty rods, a little southwest of the present Eureka Mills.

John Firman, wife and seven children, located at the Kimball Place in 1839; at the same time, the Achords, three brothers, bachelors, boarded with him, but got the ague, and finally became discouraged, and all left the country. A child of Firman's, who died early in 1839, was the second person who died in the township.

John Knott, a Frenchman, settled at the north side of Evans, or Independ- ence Grove, at an early date ; afterward, sold his farm to a man of the name of Titcomb, who lived here a few years ; sold out to Mr. Desmond, who now owns the farm.

Titcomb removed to Missouri with his family ; was elected County Judge of the county in which he resided ; got into a dispute with his son, which ended by his son's shooting him dead. The son was sent to the penitentiary for twenty years.

Adoniram Kendall and wife, settled at what is known as Work's Mill, and built a saw-mill in 1841. He built the mill in company with Ashbel Bedford, brother of Samuel N., now residing in De Witt.

Absalom Dennis, wife and family, consisting of two daughters-Christiana, afterward married to Hon. J. D. Bourne, and Jane, who married J. W. Dear- born-settled at what is known as the Holmes place, southwest of De Witt, near Silver Creek, in 1839.

Jonas Oaks and family, consisting of wife, one son, Chessman, and two daughters, Celinda and Rachel, settled in Independence Grove in 1841. Jonas Oaks died in 1846. Chess, or Dr. Oaks, married a Miss Olive Martin, of Scott County. Moved to Denver, Colo. (was appointed Indian agent to the Utes), where he now resides. Celinda married a man of the name of Healy in 1842, who died a year after their marriage, leaving one child. She, after- ward, in 1845, married Jonathan Shinn. Rachel married John Soliss in 1845, who died shortly after, and left her with one child. She then married a man of the name of Howard; the family then moved to Nebraska.

Digitized by

Google

543

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

A Mr. Dudley settled in Independence Grove in 1839; lived there two years, and sold out and moved away. In 1840, Daniel P. Soliss and family moved into the grove northwest of De Witt, and settled on Silver Creek. Abram and Nicholas Walrod, brothers of John Walrod, with their families, settled here in about 1841. Abram's family consisted of his wife and six sons -Michael, Benjamin, N. N., John, Abram, James, and three daughters-Bet- sey, married to Esquire Names; Sarah, married to Lyman Evans, Jr. ; Sylvia, married to George Scott. Abram settled in what is now known as the John Walrod farm, in Welton Township, then a part of this township.

Nicholas' family consisted of his wife, four sons-Hiram, Nicholas, Abram and Jacob, and three daughters-Kate, married to Alonzo Names ; Anna, mar- ried to William Brown (Brown was drowned in the Wapsie River, while bath- ing, in 1864) ; Betsey, married to M. A. Harrington. The Walrods were quite a numerous family in those early days, and were a power in politics. It was said of them, that any aspiring politician, who was "solid " with the Walrods, was secure of his election.

Long since that time, however, the population of this county has increased to such an extent that it has been beyond the power of any one family to con- trol the elections of this county.

A. R. Bissell, wife and family, came to this town on the 12th day of May,. 1840, and settled on the place now occupied by him just north and outside of the corporation. Mr. Bissell was, for several terms, School Fund Commissioner of the county, besides holding other offices of trust. He now resides at his home near De Witt, enjoying the fruits of his labors; his daughter Helen is married to W. H. Talbot, a prosperous hardware merchant engaged in business in the town of De Witt. J. B. Bissell, a son, served in the war of the rebellion in the Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment, and lost a limb in battle. Charles P., another son, is a physician in Dakota, and Evelyn is the wife of A. W. Jack, a merchant at New Jefferson, Iowa.

Henry Strickler and William Strickler early made claims east of Thomas Hatfield's place, sold out to W. H. Bennett, and left the country, as did the Bassetts who lived on the Wapsie River. The Purcells were also early settlers near the Wapsie, south of De Witt, but early left the country. Ambrose Betts came to the township at an early date, resided here until 1870, when he sold his farm two miles southeast of De Witt, and removed to Oregon.

A. G. Dearborn, wife and two sons, J. W. and Frank B., came to the township in 1846; he occupied a farm south of De Witt, and died in 1875. J. W. was, from 1871 to 1875, Deputy Sheriff and Jailer of the county, with his office at De Witt. Both J. W. and F. B. are residents of the town of De Witt.

M. Gillooley was an early settler, and still occupies, with his family, the farm originally purchased by him southwest and adjoining the town of De Witt.

Grandfather Lepper, an old Revolutionary soldier, settled at an early date in the Grove north of the town, with his wife and three sons, Jacob, Ira and John. Grandfather Lepper died in 1840. The descendants of Jacob and Ira still live' in the community. John also died at an early date.

The Pomeroys, two brothers, came in 1839, lived for awhile on Silver Creek, northwest of the town, and then moved away.

David Cass, wife and family, came to the township in 1840; his children were John, Stephen and Betsey. He moved to Jackson County after residing here four years, where he died.

Alex. Work came to this township about the year 1838, located the farm now owned by his son Alex. Work, Jr., lived there a number of years and mov d

Digitized by Google

544

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

into the town of De Witt, where he resided with his wife. He went West in . 1878. Mr. Work was the second Recorder in the county.

R. C. Bourne, Esq., brother of Hon. J. D. Bourne, made a claim to the land now owned by Alfred Smith, southeast of the town of De Witt, in 1836. He also at the same time made a claim to land just below the mouth of Ames Creek, on the Wapsie River. He sold the first claim to David Bedford. He went to California, in 1849, returned in 1852, and returned to California with his family, consisting of his wife, formerly Margaret Brophy. and three chil- dren, William, Thomas and Mary C., and settled in Grass Valley, where he died. He was a member of the first. Board of County Commissioners, and was elected in 1840.

Louis Hayden and a man of the name of Chittenden, settled east of Ames' place, in 1839, between that place and Brophy Creek, made claims, remained for a short time and left the country.

A Mrs. Holland settled west of the town of De Witt, on Silver Creek, in 1840; she was a widow. Married George Macomber, and afterward moved to Davis County.

Benjamin Rollins and family came to this township in 1840; he died in 1846.

Moses Goff and family, and George Goudie and family, settled here in about the year 1841 or 1842.

Alvin Ketchum and family came in 1840, remained a year and returned to Ohio.

Edward West and wife, two sons, Daniel and Harry, and two daughters, Ellen, married to Volmer, Sarah, married to Israel Barr, Davenport, lowa, came to this township in 1843, settled on a farm in the southwest part of the township, where Mr. West now resides, with his sons situated on good farms around him.

Reuben Cudney and Zephaniah Allen, with their families, lived in the township for about one year, coming here in 1840.

Father John Cotton, with his wife and family, consisting of three sons- Aylett R., Salem, John and Wickliffe, and sister-in-law, Miss Rachel Lane, who afterward married Robert Bedford, came to this township in 1844. His two daughters, Arcana, married to W. W. Wolcott, and Talitha, married to G. W. Pascal, came with their families a short time afterward. Father Cotton died January 20, 1870. Father Cotton was born on the old Plymouth farm in Massachusetts, which we believe he once owned and was a lineal descendant of the famous Puritan, Rev. John Cotton. Father Cotton died as he had lived, a zealous, faithful and devoted Christian. He formerly owned the farm now owned by L. S. and N. S. Harrington.

Aylett R., whom we mention in another place, is an eminent lawyer of Clinton, Iowa. John died in March, 1856.

Salem and Wickliffe, the one an energetic business man and the other a leading lawyer, are residents of the town of De Witt.

William Horan and family settled in this township on the north side of Round Grove in the year 1840.

Monroe Warren and wife settled in this township in 1844.

R. L. Smith came to this township with his family in 1848, and settled on the place now owned by him, called the Rural Home. Mr. S. was an ardent Abolitionist, and his house was for years a station on the underground railroad. Mr. S. often relates how negroes escaping from slavery were brought to him at night, and he, assisted by others, among whom we may mention Judge E.

Digitized by ogle

545

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Graham and Hon. S. S. Burdett, would hitch up his team and take them to the next station on their way rejoicing to that then haven of the colored man- Canada.

John G. Wallace, wife and family, with two daughters-Emily, married to J. L. James, and Kate, married to T. H. Ellis, settled in this township in 1843. Mary, a daughter married to W. A. Cotton, Esq., and George and Albert are residents of the town of De Witt.

Thomas Reed and family located on the old Reed farm in 1849, where he died. Patrick Lawler came at about the same time, remained a year or two, finally settled in Washington Township, where he now resides.

In collecting the history of the old settlers, so far as it can' be gleaned from the recollections of those who survive, we frequently hear the name of "Campo" mentioned. So far as we can gather his history, he appears to have been a half- breed French Indian, who flourished here at an early day. He employed his time in hunting and trapping, and was always welcomed at the homes of the early settlers. He was regarded as one of the finest shots with a rifle in the country, and that, too, with but one hand, one having been taken off at some- time before his career here. He was somewhat nomadic in his habits-here to-day and off to-morrow. Many interesting stories are told of him as a hunter, and were not this history of De Witt Township already exceeding its limits, we should certainly embalm some of them. More than one old settler has said to us that " Old Campo " deserved a conspicuous place in the early history of this county. He went West, it is said, to California, in about 1852, with Burrell Bassett, an early settler of this region, and has not been heard of since.

INCIDENTS, ETC.

In 1845, or thereabouts, David Cass had claimed 160 acres about two miles north of the town of De Witt, now owned by Moses Goff, W. Saltmarsh and M. H. Haskins, in the timber. But Willard Barrows, of Davenport, was desirous of laying claim to it, and sent up a party to the land, on which they put up a cabin, which was immediately torn down by the settlers. A claim meeting was held with reference to the matter, at the house of Jonas M. Oaks, at which the old settlers convened. Norman Evans was appointed Marshal. The claimants were heard, and the land divided between them. Barrows afterward forfeited his right to the land and the whole of it reverted to Cass.

In 1841, J. W. Kirtley and Dr. Turner had a law suit over a claim to some land, in which Kirtley was successful. Kirtley celebrated his victory by giving a barbecue at Point Pleasant on the Wapsie, at which all the old settlers were present, among whom were Seth Lum and wife, A. Kendall and wife, S. P. Burton and wife, the Walrods, Norman Evans and wife, and many others. All joined in the festivities of the occasion and took part in the dance.

The bill of fare was fresh pork, spare-ribs, ham, venison, cakes (a rarity in those days), and besides, a barrel of whisky with the head knocked out and several tin cups close at hand, with which the men helped themselves, and yet there was no drunkenness to mar the general joy of the occasion. Kirtley says that on the occasion of this barbecue he determined to have a " big blow- out," and that he had his cards of invitation printed on white satin, with the names of Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren and other noted statesmen of that day, as managers of his ball, with Judges Grant, Leffingwell, Wilson and other prominent gentlemen of this State as deputy managers ; that the affair was a success, and was attended by every- body of note in the county at the time.

Digitized by

Google

1 546

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

The first election held in the township was in April, 1840, at Abraham Folcke's, at which there were present about twenty persons, at which election John F. Homer was designated as Justice of the Peace, and Jacob Lepper as Constable.

Homer received his commission, and thereupon, it is said, the people began to quarrel and dispute over their claims and other matters, and law suits were the order of the day.

The people concluded that if they had no Justice of the Peace the people would cease quarreling, whereupon Mr. Homer resigned his office. At the election in the fall of that year for that office, there was a tie between Ashbel Bedford and John Thomas for the office of Justice. Both refused to qualify. Bedford was afterward appointed and served for a short time. For several years thereafter, it appears there was no Justice, and if one was needed, the people were compelled to go to Camanche and bring one out, whether to marry a party or to take an acknowledgment.

In 1845, a family by name of Woodruff came to the township from Ohio. A daughter Dolly, aged sixteen years, had contracted the malignant scarlet fever, of which she died here. The people were so much afraid of the disease that they would not go near her. Miss Christiana Dennis, now the wife of Hon. J. D. Bourne, however, braved the danger and took care of the young lady until her death, being the third death in the township.

The first celebration of Independence Day, held in the township, was on the 4th of July, 1841, at which time Samuel Murray, a lawyer of Camanche, deliv. ered the oration. Rev. B. H. Cartright was Chaplain. The dinner was a regular barbecue, consisting of chickens, and pigs roasted whole, quarters of pork, all cooked in the woods in pits made for the purpose on the premises of Seth Lum. The attendance was large, and the occasion closed with a dance in the evening, at the residence of Lum.

The first burial-ground was located in the wood west of what is now the Kimball place, north of the town of De Witt, where the people of the vicinity who died during the early settlement, were buricd. Afterward, in 1844 or 1845, the old cemetery near the town of De Witt was established; both have since been abandoned, and a new cemetery, called Elmwood, was laid out by the town of De Witt, about three-fourths of a mile north of the corporation, in 1869.

The Catholic Cemetery. just west of the town, was established about the year 1853 or 1854, and is still used by that Church as a burial-place.

Lizzie Bedford, daughter of Robert Bedford, now wife of James Dunham, residing in California, was the first white child born in the township; she was born July 16, 1839. Lyman, son of D. H. Brown and wife, born in 1840. was the second.

--------

The first sermon preached in the township was preached by Deacon Hall, as he was called, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the residence of Thomas Hatfield, in September, 1837. Mrs. Hatfield was very anxious to hear preaching, whereupon Mr. Hatfield went to Camanche, opposite Albany, Ill., crossed the River to that place in a skiff, took Deacon Hall back with him, and, after he had preached, returned with him in the same way.

....

The first marriage in the township was that of Minerva Cass to Peter Ryan, which took place at the residence of Mr. Seth Lum in 1840; & Mr. Gardner, Justice of the Peace at Camanche, performed the ceremony.

The first school taught in this township was taught by Miss Fannie Moore, in a log house near Silver Creek, on what is now the farm of Martin Ill, two miles northwest of the town of De Witt. Her school was composed of seven

Digitized by gre

547

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

scholars, viz .: Hannah Brown, now Mrs. Stevens; Mary A. Brown, now Mrs. Riggs, daughters of David H. Brown; Sarah A., now Mrs. Westbrook ; Elmira and Harriet, daughters of S. P. Burton ; Philena Walrod, now Mrs. Ira Lep- per, and Ephraim Cass. She taught one term of three months. Miss Moore was from Massachusetts-a regular "Yankee school-marm."

A great change has taken place since that time; the township is now com- posed of some eleven subdistricts, with an elegant and commodious schoolhouse built on the most modern and improved plan, in each subdistrict. The school population of the township, irrespective of independent districts, numbers 500 persons. A school is taught in each subdistrict for at least two terms of four months each, during the year, and every facility is provided for enabling the young of both sexes to acquire a good education.

The years 1839 and 1845 are remembered by the old settlers as the years during which much sickness prevailed. In 1839, but few families escaped severe attacks of the ague; in many families all were prostrated, and had to depend on their neighbors for help. In 1845, fevers of a severe type prevailed, many old settlers dying therefrom.

In 1844, June 5, a terrible tornado passed over the town of De Witt, com- ing from the northwest, through Evans', or Independence Grove, through the town of De Witt, which at that time was thinly inhabited; a house of Jobn Snow's was blown down, and one of J. D. Bourne's, the one he now lives in, was moved from its foundation ; and the fence west and north of the house was destroyed. The tornado passed through Round Grove, destroying the timber in its path, took a southeasterly course, crossing Brophy Creek at about the same place that the torzado of 1860 crossed it, and crossed the Mississippi River near the mouth of the Wapsie River.

On June 3, 1860, the tornado, known as the Camanche Tornado, passed through this township south of De Witt, creating havoc in its path. The day was a very sultry one, and about 5 o'clock, in the afternoon, a huge funnel- shaped cloud seemed to move out of a brazen sky in the southwest eastward, like a terrific monster, scattering death and destruction in its way ; houses, barns, fences, timber, and, in fact, everything in its path, was mown down as though with a besom ; fifteen persons in this township, alone, were killed by it; two persons, now living in De Witt-A. G. Wallace and George A. Fuller- were taken up and carried over the highest tree-tops, and landed without injury.

Many stories are told of the privations and obstacles overcome by the early settlers. Money was out of the question ; there was none in the country ; 25 cents was the highest price paid for wheat, and that out of the store, besides having to haul the wheat to Davenport to market. Very often a man would take a load of wheat or pork to market, and after remaining all night, and pay- his necessary hotel expenses, would have nothing to bring home.

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.

The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 65

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 807

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807