The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 79

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 79

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Washington Township comprises the north half and the southeast quarter and Sections 21 and 28 of Township 82 north, Range 4 east; and the north half of Sections 1, 2 and 3, in Township 81 north, Range 4 east, being bounded east by Center Township, north by Waterford, west by Welton and De Witt, and south by De Witt. This township was organized March 15, 1856, and the first election held on the first Monday in April at the house of Joel King. As then organized, the township was a full Congressional township, but its area has since been diminished, and a portion attached to De Witt.

Washington was a well timbered township originally, Center Grove extend- ing through this and Center Townships. The most heavily timbered portions were on Sections 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 24, and were known as Center Grove in Washington Township. A slough running north and south, near the east line of this township, protected the timber from the prairie fires, and the timber area widened in Center Township on the east. Through this timbered portion of the township, the land is somewhat broken, and the timber is now nearly all gone, having been used for building, fencing, and other farm purposes, and the land, having been grubbed out, is mostly under cultivation in small farms.

There are no streams of any size, nor are there any mill-sites in the town- ship. The prairie portions are somewhat rolling, but very eligible for cultiva- tion. Washington has been noted as one of the best wheat sections in this part of the State. The northeastern portion is settled quite largely by Ger- mans; in the remainder of the township, the people are mostly Irish. Many of the first of these latter settlers, who came in about 1850, were from the same neighborhood in Ireland; and as they soon built a church of their own faith, others were attracted by the convenience of church privileges, and settled in this neighborhood. Perhaps another dominant reason for their consolida- tion was the fact that the latest entries to Government lands were to be had in this locality, the more eligible lands in this section having all been taken prior to their immigration.

Among the early settlers in this township were Elias Stallcup, Jerry Ding- well, John Smith, O. W. Denham, whose farm is now the County Farm, Washington Stallcup, George Benton, John Brogan, Christopher McGinn, Thomas O'Toole, John Cavanagh, H. M. White, who for a great number of years was Justice of the Peace; Burrill Bassett and John Southers, who settled here in the spring of 1851, on a spring on Section 11, which they found cov- ered by an Indian wigwam ; Old Campo spent the winter with them, and in the spring of 1852, he accompanied Bassett to California; Thomas Wilson, now of De Witt, Joseph Stone, George Farrell, Barney Flannery, John Lawler, Patrick Lawler, Daniel Lawler, Michael Trimble, James Harkins, the Burkes, the Cassadys, Patrick Shannon and others.

The first school meeting was held at the house of Rouse P. Brown, in the winter of 1854, and a Board of Directors elected and district organized. The officers elected were James Harkins, James Cornwall and Thomas Wilson. The township is now well supplied with commodious and neat school buildings. On the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, Section 23, is located the only church in the township. It is a Catholic Church, and they also have & pastoral residence and out-buildings and alda cemetery. The

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original church, which has been twice enlarged, was built in 1856, during the pastorate of Father Frances McKenna. Father John Scallan succeeded him in 1860. Father Thomas McCormick, now of De Witt, succeeded, being the first resident Pastor. During his stay, the church was enlarged, and a par- sonage and out-buildings erected. He was succeeded by Father Gaffney, who is the present incumbent. The church has been enlarged a second time.

During the pastorate of Father McCormick, a great revolution was made in the community on the question of total abstinence. In December, 1875, he held a mission, at the conclusion of which the temperance pledge was given by him to nearly every member in his parish. In February, 1876, St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society, of Center Grove, was organized. At the first, they held their meetings in the church, but in the fall they erected a hall, 18x36, for their exclusive occupancy. The Society now numbers about eighty members. Under their auspices, a large circulating library has been established, and is doing much for the intellectual culture of the people.

There are no paupers in Washington Township, which speaks strongly for the industry and economy of its citizens.

The farms are mostly small ones, or rather there are few large land-owners in the township, and the farms are mostly of eighty to one hundred and sixty acres each.

John Dolan, who is the largest land-owner, settled in the northeastern part of the township in 1853.

Patrick Lawler is a prominent man in this township, and represented it for several years in the old Board of Supervisors.

James Harkins, when he settled in the township, in 1850, for a time lived in a hole in the ground; then he built a log house, since replaced by a fine residence. Only an instance of the success which attends industry and economy.

CENTER TOWNSHIP.

Center Township comprises Township 82 north, Range 5 east, and Sections 1 to 6 and 11 and 12, in Township 81 north, Range 5 east. It is bounded north by Deep Creek Township, west by Washington and De Witt Townships, south by Eden and Camanche Townships, and east by Lincoln and Hampshire Townships.

Center was organized in March, 1852, and the first election held in April, at the house of Jacob Lepper.

The township then included all of Washington Township, and a part of what is now De Witt Township. Its subsequent changes of boundary are recorded in the chapter devoted thereto. Its surface is gradually rolling. Though admirably watered for agriculture and pasturage, there are are no large streams or mill sites within the township limits. It was originally very fairly timbered, affording the farmers ample fuel and fencing material, and, until 1856. a covert for many deer, when they were hunted down by the Grove boys.

The gently sloping prairies of Center Township, with their rank growth of wild vegetation indicating inexhaustible fertility, and easily arable naturally, at an early date became the home of the industrious and thrifty class of settlers who have since established its claim to be the garden township of the county, and one of the model agricultural sections of the entire West. So evident were the advantages of its arable slopes for settlement, owing to the contiguous

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Center Grove belt of timber and proximity to river markets, that before 1850 quite a number of claims had been entered.

When, in 1851, Adam Kelley, the present patriarch of Elvira, located on the knoll where Joseph Bair now lives, there was only one house, the small (Bohart) place, between there and Camanche, and Daniel Earhart was the only resident on the road to Lyons. Henry Winters, W. E. Leffingwell, N. S. Warren and J. Lepper were living in the vicinity, toward the northwest. Lewis R. Buckhead lived where Sam Kelley is now located, and owned an enormous claim, since subdivided into many productive farms. Soon afterward, many energetic settlers arrived and began to convert the prairie into homesteads. Among them were the Thiessens, Ahrens, John Kinkaid, L. K. Kellogg, the Ingwersens, Travers and the Rices.

However, 1852-57 were the years during which Center received not only the largest immigration, but an influx of those substantial citizens who have made the township what it is for prosperity and progressiveness. American, English, German and Irish elements, from the first, combined to develop its marvelous agricultural resources. Circumstances did not require any severe privations on the part of the settlers of Center ; they were comparatively near both market and supplies.

The first tavern on the stage-route, between Lyons and De Witt, was kept by Jacob Lepper, at the grove in Section 13. It was of brick, and a well-known wayside inn. The post office was established in -, at Suffolk. Its present name of Elvira was bestowed by W. H. Gibbs, in honor of his wife, when he laid out the town-plat. In 1855-57, the flush times extended even to Elvira, which was then a very lively trading point, the stores of Hinman and Allen, the latter kept by one Huntington, doing an immense business for a large tributary section. As people could not very well transport many goods with them in moving to a new country, it was necessary for them to stock up, and the build- ing up of new homesteads necessarily involved a gross amount of purchases, difficult to conceive in a well-settled country. Then, it is probable that the township, during those years, had a larger population than at present, owing to the concentration of land by the permanent residents buying the farms of those who, for various reasons, removed from the county. A post office was, in 1865, established at Elvira through the efforts of Judge Cotton and R. A. Lyons. Jesse Travers was the first Postmaster, and at his death, in September, 1874, was succeeded by the present official, N. E. Brooks.

United Presbyterian Church .- On the 26th of December, 1853, Rev. Alex- ander Pattison organized an Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church at the house of Jacob Bohart, in Center Township, to be called the Congregation of Pleasant Prairie, and under the care of the Presbytery of Keokuk. The per- sons present at the organization were W. W. Beatty, Adam Kelly, Peter and Jacob Bohart. Messrs. Beatty and Peter Bohart were at this time elected Ruling Elders, and ordained on the 29th of January, 1854, at which time the first communion was celebrated, there being fifteen communicants. Rev. Mr. Pattison officiated and also administered the sacrament of baptism to two adults and twelve children. During the winter of 1854-55, a call was extended to Rev. John B. Clark and he was installed as the first Pastor, his charge includ- ing Le Claire Prairie, Port Byron and this Church. Mr. Clark was, however, during the following summer, killed by lightning, at his home in Le Claire Prairie. Eleven more members had been added to the Church, May 31, 1855 .; March 23, 1856, Rev. R. S. Campbell began his labors, preaching on alternate Sabbaths here and at De Witt, where a Church had been organized.

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During this period, the congregation had held their services in private houses or in schoolhouses. . On the 16th of March, 1856, at a meeting held at the house of Jacob Bohart, it was decided to build a house of worship, and, during that fall, a church, 36x44, was erected in the village of Elvira, on ground donated by R. A. Lyons, and which was formally occupied in the fol- lowing spring.

In 1857, the Church, by the adoption of the basis of union between the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches became the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Campbell continued his pastoral relations until August, 1865, when he resigned this charge and remained at De Witt. The membership had increased to forty-seven. In 1866, Rev. Thomas Calohan was called to the pastorate and remained until September, 1868, when he was deposed from the ministry by the Presbytery of Le Claire. The name of the Church had, dur- ing his stay, been changed to the Elvira U. P. Church. During the summer of 1869, Rev. D. Nicoll was called to the charge, in connection with the Church at De Witt, two-thirds of his time at the latter place, and commenced his labors October 1, 1869. Rev. - Johnson succeeded Mr. Nicoll in 1875, remaining one year. After his removal, Rev. G. W. Hamilton was called, as the Pastor, in 1876, and is still with this people. Since his connection with the Church, their house of worship has been repaired, frescoed and refurnished, making it one of the neatest country church buildings in the county.

WELTON TOWNSHIP.

The township of Welton comprises nearly all of Township 82 north, Range 3 east, the eastern half of Sections 24 and 25 and Sections 34, 35 and 36, being included in De Witt Township. It is bounded north by Bloomfield Township, west by Berlin Township, south by Orange and De Witt Townships, and east by De Witt and Washington Townships. The township was organ- ized in March, 1858, and the first election held in the Walrod Schoolhouse, the first Monday in April, 1858. With the exception of Lincoln, organized many years later, this was the last township organized, and its territory was taken from Bloomfield and De Witt Townships.

In an early day, a negro had settled on a small stream tributary to Silver Creek, which has since been called "Nigger Creek." He remained but a short time and his name even could not be obtained.

Among the early settlers were Erastus Wright, Washington Wright, who settled at the piece of timber since known as Wright's Grove, about the center of the township. There were, also, some skirtings of timber along the banks of Silver Creek, which runs southeasterly through near the center of the township. The northwestern portions of the township are known as " barren's," being oak-openings of scattered timber ; the remainder was rolling prairie, the eastern portion being particularly fine.

David Cass, John Walrod, N. N., John and Michael Walrod, his sons; Abram Walrod second, and Charles Wickwire, were also early settlers.

At near the center of the township, is a station of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which runs through the town from north to south, and a post office, both called Welton. It is the shipping-point for this vicinity, and Irons & Perrin carry a general stock of merchandise here. There is also a black- smith-shop, etc.

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In 1850, an Englishman named Shepherd, came over as the agent of a colony of English artisans, to locate their lands for them. He made his selec- tion in this vicinity and located a large tract. Upon their arrival, they com- menced to build a village about a mile from the present station and which they called Welton. Each member of the colony had forty acres of land and two town lots. Quite a number of buildings were erected, stores, a hotel, shops and dwellings. But these men did not take kindly to pioneer farming, all of them having been trained to mechanical employments, having among their number a furrier-Mr. Skinner, of Lyons-tailors, bookbinders, painters, paper-hangers, etc., and one after another they returned to their respective callings, locating at different points in the West. Christopher Buck retained his farm; is now the only one of the original colony who remains there. Mr. Skinner has retained ownership of his farm, but has for many years resided in Lyons. The town has all disappeared. On the southwest quarter of Section 10, there is located a Free-Will Baptist Church, which is a flourishing society, and where regular services are maintained.

South of the above is also the church of the Seventh-Day Baptists, on the northwest quarter of Section 15.

As their doctrines are somewhat peculiar, and it being the only church of this faith in this vicinity, the following history of their settlement as a col- ony and as a Church, furnished by their Pastor, is appended.

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH OF WELTON.

"Stephen Mumford was the first Seventh-Day Baptist that set foot on American soil. He came from London to Newport, R. I., in 1664. Six years after his arrival, several members of the First Baptist Church of Newport, embraced his views of the Bible Sabbath, and, on the 23d of December, 1671, they covenanted together and became a Seventh-Day Baptist Church.

"The Welton Church was organized on the 7th of January, 1855, under the officiating hands of Elders L. A. and John Davis.

"The following are the names of the constituent members : L. A. Davis, Pastor ; John Babcock, Deacon ;, Leven Hurley, Clerk ; John Davis, Elder ; Elizabeth Babcock, Rebecca Davis, Marvel Davis, Mariah Davis, Permilla Davis, Anna Davis, Mary Ellen Davis, Sarah Davis, Martha Babcock, J. O. Babcock, Sarah Hurley, Uriah Davis, Vianna Davis, Luther Davis, Abel Davis, Permilla Davis, 2d, Gilbert Hurley.

"Some of the doctrinal points : They believe that the observance of the first day of the week as the Sabbath or a day of rest, is of Romish origin, and a direct violation of the fourth commandment ; therefore they observe the sev- enth or last day of the week, believing it to be the only Sabbath or day of rest established by Jehovah or mentioned in any way in the Bible. They have no fellowship with persons who use intoxicating liquors as a beverage, nor with slaveholders and their abettors. Card-playing or gambling in any form is not countenanced by the Church.

" The names of the Pastors and their terms of pastorate are as follows :

"First-Elder Lewis A. Davis came to this county from Peoria County, Ill. Being a very conscientious man, he won the love of the Church under his care, and the respect of all with whom he came in contact. The epitaph on his monument emphatically expresses the truth, as follows :

' OUR PASTOR. ' Honest, Faithful, Kind and True.

' His first term commenced in 1855, and closed in 1861.'

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"Second-Elder Charles A. Burdick was a young man from New York. He became at once interested in the young folks, and did much for their advancement. He served the Church from 1861 to 1864.

" Third-Elder Thomas A! Maxson was received by the Church as Pastor, in 1864, and remained till 1866. Many were added to the Church under his labors, but he became disaffected toward the Church, and joined the Free-Will Baptist, in the same neighborhood. Following him, the Church again employed Elder Davis from 1866 till his death, in 1867.

" Fourth-Elder Varnum Hull was secured as Pastor of the Church in 1868, and was released in 1875. He came from Milton, Wis. ; was a deep thinker, a thorough and clear reasoner. A part of the time he spent as a mis- sionary in this State and Nebraska, and was quite successful in his labors.

"Fifth-Elder Henry B. Lewis, of Albion, Wis. His labors began in December, 1875, and continued till May, 1879. After the first year, the Seventh-Day Baptist Missionary Society employed him half the time in differ- ent parts of the State. He was an earnest worker, strong in the faith, and devoted to the cause. He preached the practical duties of religion, and his untiring efforts were not in vain. Elder Lewis was the last Pastor of the Church up to this date, August 1.

" In the years 1853 and 1854, several families of the Seventh-Day Baptist faith emigrated to this county from Ohio and Illinois, with the intention. of securing homes ; and, being a religious people, they were wont to meet on the Sabbath Day and listen to the preaching of the word. As this was the first organization of the kind in the vicinity, and they not yet having built a church house, a schoolhouse near by was obtained for their use. But, through the workings of prejudice and jealousy, they were deprived of this accommodation, and were obliged to meet from week to week in the dwellings of the different families. In the spring of 1858, a Sabbath school was organized, and in the winter following, a church house was built.

" Two sessions of the Seventh-Day Baptist Northwestern Association were held with this Church-one in June, 1861, and one in June, 1869. Another and more commodious church building was erected in the spring before the last association.

"Twenty-two men from this society were soldiers in the civil war of 1861. Four died in the army, and three were maimed for life. The Mission Society and other benevolent institutions received liberal donations from the Church.

"In the last ten years, at least half the membership have sold their posses- sions here and emigrated to Nebraska and Tama County, in this State, and joined churches there. In October, 1874, the Tama County and Welton Churches established a yearly meeting, to be held with the churches alter- nately. At present, there are only fifty-eight members in the organization. There are two hundred and twenty-three names on the list, and there are but three of the first members now belonging to the Church.

" The Church is stronger, spiritually, than ever before."

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.

At the January session of the Board of Commissioners, in 1846, the town- ship of Olive was divided, the line running north and south 160 rods west of the range line, between Ranges 2 and 3; the eastern part to be called Union Township, and, in July, 1854, the name was changed to Orange. This town-

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

ship contains the four west tiers of sections in fractional Townships 80 and 81 north, Range 3 east, and the east half of the first tier of sections west of range line, between Ranges 2 and 3. It is bounded on the north by De Witt, Welton and Berlin Townships, west by Olive Township, on the south by the Wapsipin- icon River and on the east by De Witt Township.

The North-Western Railway passes through the township from east to west, north of its center, and Barber Creek waters a portion of its southern territory, and on this stream is located the grist mill of George W. King, which was built some ten years since. The township is mostly level prairie, except along the Wapsie, where it is liable to overflow, and is used for grazing purposes. It was well timbered all along the Wapsie, but the balance of the township was open prairie. Among the old settlers may be named Hiram Brown, Richard H. Dawson, Sr., the Lowreys, A. Barber, George W. Pascal, A. S. Allison, D. Dwire, the Suitors, William Lawton, the Pearsalls, A. J. Smith, D. Names and others.

This is a fine farming township, and the land is mostly divided into small farms. Orange Post Office is situated in the southeastern portion of the town- ship. Grand Mound, a village and station on the North-Western Railway, is located on Section 18, near the west line of the township, and north of the center. It was an outgrowth of the railroad, is surrounded by a prosperous farming community, and is quite a point for trade and shipments of grain and stock.

The " oldest inhabitant " is Mr. John R. Merrill, who is comparatively a young man. He settled here in 1862, at which time there were but two houses near. He was the station agent, the first Postmaster, represented the town in the Board of Supervisors and has held other offices. In 1867, he, with Claus Weise, built the store now occupied by G. R. Nowels, and put in a stock of general merchandise, and dealt also in grain, continuing in this business until 1873. In 1873, Roger Kelsey removed from De Witt, and engaged in busi- ness here, dealing in groceries, boots and shoes, grain and cattle, building up a large and lucrative business.

The present business houses are: J. R. Merrill, general merchandise ; Roger Kelley, groceries, boots and shoes ; Kahler Bros., extensive dealers in general merchandise, grain and live stock ; M. Bricken, hotel and livery ; Muhs & Co., saddlery ; Claus Weise, agricultural implements ; M. H. Merrill, grain-dealer ; H. D. Miller, Postmaster and drugs and books; Jones & Jensen, general merchandise ; Tuttle & Sunderlin, hardware; Sunderlin & Hansen, bakery and confectionery ; G. R. Nowels, general merchandise ; Miss B. E. Kelley, millinery ; Utof & Hahn, carpenters and wagon-makers ; G. W. Ingram, blacksmith ; E. L. Barnes, Justice and harness shop ; Harmon & Twiss, wagon and carriage builders ; W. J. Bonesteel, physician ; J. A. Carson, homoeopathic physician ; Lewis Artis, Phenix House.

The Methodists are the oldest organized Church at Grand Mound. In 1869, a neat frame church was erected 20x34 feet in size. For some years previous, their services had been held in the schoolhouse. Rev. G. M. Hedges was the first Pastor. The membership is about thirty. A Sabbath school, numbering about eighty, meets each Sunday at 12 o'clock.

The Baptists had also an organization. The inauguration of this Church enterprise was by Rev. Mr. Fish, an Evangelist, and services were continued for a period, but were some time since discontinued.

The United Presbyterians have also a Church here, resulting from the labors of Rev. D. Nichol, of De Witt, who preaches here every alternate Sabbath,

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and who has a large and increasing congregation. This society have recently purchased the schoolhouse, which they will remove to another lot and convert into a chapel.

The Catholic Church, of SS. James and Philip, is a fine edifice 36x60 feet in size, with a spire 82 feet in height. This was erected in 1876. The first mass was celebrated here on the 17th of April, 1876; by Father Brady, of De Witt, and, the same day, subscription books were opened for the erection of this Church, and, on the 16th of July following, the first services were held in it, although it was not consecrated until in the fall. The building cost $3,000. The Catholics have a large and wealthy society here, a considerable number of the membership being Germans. Father McCormick officiates here'each Sun- day.

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 79

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