USA > Iowa > Dallas County > The History of Dallas County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 60
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Considerable grain and stock are shipped from it annually.
Waukee was laid out by L. A. Grant, now of Des Moines, in 1869, who formerly owned the land on which it stands.
The first house in the town was built by L. A. Grant, and stood near where the water-tank now stands.
The first goods sold in Waukee were sold by W. J. Johnson, soon after the town was established.
The first birth was Minnie, daughter of James Parker, November 25, 1869. The first death was that of Mrs. A. Tyler, January 26, 1870. It is supposed that John M. Atkins and Miss Dora Taylor were the first couple married in the town. The marriage ceremony was performed by C. F. M. Clark, J. P.
The town was incorported in 1878. B. F. Halstead, G. S. Whalen, M. Sines, C. C. Tyler and C. F. M. Clark were appointed the committee on corporation and corporation election.
The following officers were elected who were both the first and present officers of the town:
Mayor-C. F. Howe.
Recorder-W. E. Humphrey.
Assessor-J. E. Huston.
Marshal-Samuel Shearer, vice L. Hubbard resigned.
Councilmen:
C. C. Tyler, Patrick Hogan,
A. T. Blackman,
W. Wood,
Taylor Bates, C. F. M. Clark.
The present population of the town is about two hundred and fifty.
POST-OFFICE.
The first post-office was established in October, 1869, W. J. Johnson be- ing appointed postmaster, who held that office until 1870, when he was succeeded by C. F. M. Clark in 1870, who has held the office ever since, and is the present postmaster.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
General Stores .- A. T. Blackman, C. Middlekauff.
Groceries .- Mrs. B. M. Snow; How, & Duncan.
Hardware .- Tyler & Huston.
490
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Drug Stores .- C. F. M. Clark, W. A. Carter.
Lumber Dealers .- Tyler & Huston.
Coal .- C. C. Tyler.
Real Estate .- Miles Sines.
Grain Dealers .- Herbert & Carrell, C. C. Tyler.
Blacksmiths .- Charles Robinson, John Olke.
Hotels .- Thomas J. Sloan, James Parker.
Livery .- Thomas J. Sloan.
Physicians .- J. K. L. Duncan, George L. Piper, S. W. Aldridge.
Lawgers .- B. T. Halstead, Geo. A. Smith.
Flouring Mill .- Gurnsey & Treefry.
Harness Maker .- Geo. S. Wharton.
Restaurant .- R. McDougal.
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
This building is a two-story frame structure, 26x40 feet in size. There are two good school rooms and two recitation rooms. The cost of the build- ing was $2,300. They employ two teachers. Principal-A. C. Phillips Assistant-Sarah E. Randall.
The average attendance of pupils is about eighty-five.
Waukee is an independent school district. The members of the school board are: President-A. T. Blackman; Secretary-C. F. M. Clark; Treas- urer-C. Tyler; George Bass.
THE BURYING-GROUND
Is located one-half mile south of town, contains two acres, is owned by a joint stock company. President-M. Sines; Vice-President-John Wragg Secretary-C. Robinson; Treasurer-A. T. Blackman. Directors-M. Sines J. Wragg, C. C. Tyler, George Bass and A. T. Blackman.
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
Waukee also has a library association, and quite an extensive library which is being kept in good shape, and being added to more or less every year, and is becoming a very profitable institution in the town. The par- ticulars regarding this were to have been furnished, but have not been sent in, which omission we regret.
SHIPMENTS.
The following shipments were made from this station during the year 1878:
Corn 146,000 bushels.
Oats
12,600
Wheat 10,400 66
Hogs 3,000 head. 260
Cattle
Waukee is becoming quite a shipping point for grain and stock, having quite a large scope of good farming country around it, which is becoming pretty well settled. But there is still considerable vacant land and open prairie in the township.
A great quantity of corn is now cribbed at this station, and still more is coming in, all of which is to be held over until the coming summer.
491
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
I. O. O. F.
Waukee Lodge, No. 311 .- This lodge was organized, under charter from the Grand Lodge, on the 14th day of March, 1875. W. W. Moore presided as the installing officer, and the following persons were elected for the first term of office: L. Swearengen, N. G .; D. Bates, V. G .; C. W. Robinson, R. S .; T. Bates, Treasurer.
The following officers were appointed: E. L. Carrell, C .; W. M. Cribbs, W .; J. W. Blackman, O. G.
The lodge is in a very flourishing condition at the present, having a fine suit of rooms, well furnished and fitted up, in which they hold regular meet- ings with good attendance, and the members take great delight in promoting its growth and prosperity as one of the important institutions of their town.
We acknowledge indebtedness to Mr. C. F. M. Clark for the above sta- tistics regarding the lodge.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was first built by the Episcopalians, who for some years had quite a flourishing organization in the town, but afterward became so reduced by emigration and death of membership that the organization became disbanded, the most of the members going into other organ- izations, and finally sold their church building to the M. E. Church, who now occupy it, having service every other Sabbath. The M. E. Church of Waukee is united with the Fairview Church, in Boone township, a few miles south, in one charge, with Rev. Vail as pastor, who resides at Waukee. Each church has quite a large membership, and they are making encourag- ing progress.
WAUKEE CIRCUIT.
"In 1874 the annual conference held at Des Moines organized the Waukee circuit, and A. J. Barton was appointed preacher in charge. On a beautiful eminence about two miles east of Booneville was located the only church edifice on the charge. This was called Fairview, and it was at this place, in 1849, that the Rev. E. M. H. Fleming organized the first Methodist society in Dallas county.
"The year was prosperous, and closed with an increase of membership from eighty-six to one hundred and fifty-five.
"At the next conference, held at Indianola, Brother Barton was re-ap- pointed to the charge.
"During this year the society at Waukee purchased of the Protestant Episcopal church, the lot and church then being built, and completed the same at a cost of twenty-three hundred dollars.
" At the conference of 1876 Rev. D. Lamonte was appointed to the charge, and served one year.
"In 1877 the present incumbent, Rev. E. P. Vail, was appointed preacher in charge, and on the 28th of April, 1877, the church at Waukee was ded- icated, and the entire indebtedness of the church property, ten hundred and sixty dollars, was liquidated."
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
"The First Presbyterian church of Waukee, Iowa, was organized April 24, 1870, by Rev. William Campbell, who was appointed a committee for that purpose by the Presbytery of Des Moines.
492
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
"Twenty-one persons composed the organization. Rev. George Pierson was the first stated minister to this church. He began his labors here in May, 1871, and closed in May, 1876. The present pastor, Rev. R. J. Hughes, commenced preaching here in June, 1876.
" The first ruling elder in this church was J. A. Wick. In December, 1873, Mr. A. Tyler was elected elder. In January, 1878, Mr. Wick re- signed, and Mr. J. R. Elliott was elected in his place. The present session consists of Mr. Tyler and Mr. Elliott. The first board of trustees con- sisted of J. A. Wick, Jacob Snyder and -. Subsequently M. H. Baugh, William Cribs and T. K. Duncan composed the board. At present N. Nish, C. R. Storrs and T. F. Howe constitute the board of trustees.
"The church edifice stands in the southwest part of town. It is a frame building, in size 28x40, and will seat two hundred persons.
" The house was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,600. All but $400, which was given by the Board of Church Erection, was raised by the members of the church and the residents of the village. The lot on which the building stands was donated by General L. A. Grant, of Des Moines.
" In 1871 the church edifice was dedicated to the worship of God. Rev. T. O. Rice, then of Des Moines, preaching the dedicatory sermon. During the summer of 1878 the house was painted, the foundation penciled, the windows furnished with shutters, and some repairs made inside, the whole costing $100. The present membership of the church is forty-seven.
"There is a Sabbath-school in connection with this church, held during the summer season only. It has an enrollment of sixty scholars and six teachers."
XENIA.
This is a small village in the northern part of Des Moines township, located on section 4, township 81, range 26, near the northeast corner of the county, and about one mile and a-half west of the Des Moines river. It was laid out as a town many years ago, and made something of a growth in that direction for several years, but being left far to one side by the railroad, without any prospect of ever getting one, and being situated so near the corner of the county, with so many towns springing up near and around it in much more favorable circumstances, its growth soon ceased, and its prospects for becoming a city of considerable dimensions vanished, leaving it a small inland village, with ten or a dozen houses. There is still one store in the village, kept by Messrs. Leaming & Parks, which has quite a local trade; one boarding house, J. Casebeer, propietor; two physi- cians, Dr. Sanks and Dr. Brooking, each of whom has a good country practice, having a large scope of territory at their command, in much of which are thick settlements; and there is a Methodist Episcopal church in the village, a neat frame structure, neatly finished and comfortably arranged for the accommodation and convenience of the village and country people around in that vicinity.
There is also a post-office in the place, a blacksmith shop, and a good school-house.
It is an old settled place, and has a good country and farming com- munity around it, composed chiefly of industrious, sturdy, well-to-do farmers.
TOWNSHIPS.
As has been before stated, on the authority of Mr. Elijah M. Haines, "The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.
" The first legal enactment concerning this system provided that 'whereas particular towns have many things, which concern only themselves and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own towns, therefore the freemen of every town, or the major part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurte- nances of said towns, to grant lots, and make such orders as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court. * *
"Similar provisions for the incorporation of towns were made in the first Constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639; and the plan of town- ship organization, as experience proved its remarkable economy, efficacy, and adaptation to the requirements of a free and an intelligent people, became universal throughout New England, and went westward with the emigrants from New England into New York, Ohio and other western States."
Dallas county was for some time without being regularly divided into townships, owing to the sparseness of settlement in many localities, as was generally the case with other counties in the west during the first years of their existence as counties.
The first general division of Dallas county into precincts was made in March, 1850, for political purposes; but no regular organization of town- ships was then made.
The county was then divided into five precincts for political and judicial purposes, as is shown by the following orders as designating the bounda- ries of Penoach, Boone, Des Moines, Buena Vista, and Owens precincts.
STATE OF IOWA,
TUESDAY, March 5, 1850.
DALLAS COUNTY. S
Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment, the 5th day of March, A. D. 1850. Present: Messrs. O. D. Smalley and William W. Miller, Commissioners, and S. K. Scovell, clerk of board of commissioners.
Ordered, That the county of Dallas be divided into precincts, with the following metes and bounds, to-wit: All the territory, commencing at the southeast corner of township (80) eighty, range (26) twenty-six; thence north to the county line of said county; thence west to the northwest corner of township (81) eighty-one, range (27) twenty-seven; thence due south three miles; thence south by east to the place of beginning shall constitute one precinct, to be known and styled the Des Moines Precinct. The first election to be held at the house of Aaron Johns.
31
494
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Ordered, That all the territory included in the following metes and bounds, to-wit: Com- mencing at the northeast corner of township (81) eighty-one, range 28; thence west to the northwest corner of the county of Dallas; thence due south twelve miles; thence east twenty- four miles; thence northwest to the place of beginning, shall constitute one precinct, to be known and styled as the Buena Vista precinct. The first election to be held at the house of Adam Vineage.
Ordered, That all the territory included in the following metes and bounds, to-wit: Com- mencing at the southwest corner of Dallas county; thence due east six miles; thence due north twelve miles, with all the territory west that is attached for election and judicial pur- poses, shall constitute one precinct, to be known and styled Owens Precinct. The first elec- tion to be held at the house of John W. Hayes.
Ordered, That all the territory included in the following metes and bounds, to-wit: Com- mencing at a point on the east line of said county, one mile south of the correction line; thence due west to the head of Galloway's branch; thence down said branch to its junction with the north branch of Raccoon river; thence down said river to its junction with the South Rac- coon river; thence due south to the southern line of said county; thence east along last men- tioned line to the southeast corner of said county; thence north to the place of beginning, shall constitute one precinct, to be known and styled the Boone precinct. First election to be held at the house of John Clayton.
Ordered, That the balance of the territory included in the following metes and bounds. to- wit: Commencing at a point on the east line of said county, one mile south of the correction line; thence along the Boone precinct line to its junction with the South Raccoon river; thence south to the south county line; thence west to the corner of Owens precinct; thence north to the south line of Buena Vista precinct; thence east along the Buena Vista precinct line to the southeast corner of said precinct; thence south to the place of beginning, shall constitute one precinct, to be known and styled Penoach precinct. First election to be held at Adel.
The diagram on the opposite page gives some idea of this general divis- ion of the county, according to foregoing orders, in 1850.
February 2, 1857, again, we find by the records, that the county was laid off into ten general divisions, called townships, just doubling the number previously made, and consequently lessening the territory of each for con- venience for political and school purposes, as is shown by the following orders describing each; but it appears that this division was only intended to be temporary, and none seem to have been regularly organized as settled townships, no orders or preparations for elections having been made:
DES MOINES TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits, shall form and constitute the township of Des Moines, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast cor- ner of Dallas county; thence west to the northwest corner of township eighty-one (81), north, range twenty-six (26); thence south to the southwest corner of township eighty-one (81), north, of range twenty-six (26); thence east to the southeast corner of township eighty-one (81), north, range twenty-six (26); thence north to the place of beginning.
BEAVER TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that the district of country inclosed in the following limits, shall form and constitute the township of Beaver, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of township eighty-one (81), north, range twenty-seven (27); thence west to the northwest cor- ner of the aforesaid township; thence east to the southeast corner of the aforesaid township; thence north to the place of beginning.
DALLAS TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Dallas, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. eighty-one (81), north range twenty- eight (28); thence west to the northwest corner of township No. eighty-one (81), north range twenty-nine (29); thence south to the southwest corner of township No. eighty-one (81),
PRECINCTS-MARCH 5, 1850.
81. T.
DES MOINES
BUENA VISTA
80. T.
79.T.
1
PENOACH
OWENS
BOONE
78.T.
29. R.
28. R.
27. R.
26. R.
495
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
north range twenty-nine (29); thence east to the southeast corner of township No. eighty- one (81), north range twenty-eight (28); thence north to the place of beginning.
This made Dallas township include two congressional townships.
IOWA TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Iowa, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty-nine (29); thence west to the northwest corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty- nine (29); thence south to the southwest corner of township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-nine (29); thence east to the southeast corner of township No. twenty-nine (29); thence north to the place of beginning.
SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Sugar Grove, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty- seven (27); thence west to the northwest corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty-eight (28); thence south to the southwest corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty-eight (28); thence east to the southeast corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty-seven (27); thence north to the place of beginning.
WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the followings limits shall form and constitute the township of Walnut, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty-six (26); thence west to the northwest corner of township No. eighty (80), north range twenty- six (26); thence south to the southwest corner of township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-six (26); thence east to the southeast corner of township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-six (26); thence north to the place of beginning.
. BOONE TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Boone, to-wit:
# Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-six (26); thence west to the section line dividing sections three (3) and four (4), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-seven (27); thence south on said line to the south line of Dallas county; thence east on the county line of said county to the south- east corner of the county aforesaid; thence north to the place of beginning.
'COON TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of 'Coon, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of section nine (9), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-seven (27); thence west to the northwest corner of section seven (7), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-eight (28); thence south to the south- west corner of township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-eight (28); thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-three (33), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-seven (27); thence north to the place of beginning.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Union, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-nine (29); thence west to the northwest corner of the township aforesaid; thence south to the southwest corner of Dallas county; thence east on the south line of said county to the southeast corner of township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-nine (29); thence north to the place of beginning.
496
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
ADEL TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Adel, to-wit:
Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-seven (27); thence west to the northwest corner of township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-eight (28); thence south to the southwest corner of township No. seven- ty-nine (79), north range twenty-eight (28); thence east to the northwest corner of township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-eight (28); thence south to the line dividing sec- tions six (6) and seven (7), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-eight (28); thence east to the southeast corner of section four (4), in township No. seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27); thence north to the township line dividing townships seventy- eight (78) and seventy-nine (79); thence east to the southeast corner of township No. seven- ty-nine (79), range twenty-seven (27); thence north to the place of beginning.
In the minutes of March 17, 1857, the following order appears:
COUNTY COURT, March 17, 1857.
The townships in Dallas county will remain for the present as heretofore existing prior to the March term of the county court, 1857, and the elections therein respectively will be held also as provided by the trustees thereof. Provided, that the township of Walnut shall be and remain a township as given at the March term of county court, 1857, and a warrant has been issued by the county court for its organization at the April election, 1857.
The law providing for the election of a county assessor, superceding the necessity of multi- plying the number of townships.
The diagram on the opposite page gives some idea of the division of the county, in 1857.
ADEL.
This township occupies the second place from the south and east in the tiers of townships, and is therefore the southeast one of the four central townships in Dallas county.
It is known in the government surveys as congressional township 79, north of range 27, west of the fifth principal meridian.
It was one of the first three electoral precincts formed in the county, as early as 1849, but was then known by the name of Penvach, and after passing through various forms and changes of boundary lines, until the general division of the county was made into precincts, March 5, 1850, when the territory now included in Adel township constituted a small part of Penoach precinct. (See order for Penoach, March 5, 1850.)
By the general division of the county again into townships, in February, 1857, Adel township was made to include its present territory with that of Colfax, and a one mile strip off the north side of what is now Adams, and also off the west half of Van Meter. (See previous order, February 2, 1857.)
Nearly two years later the boundaries were extended south to the south line of the county throwing the old territory of 'Coon township into Adel, and making the latter include what is now Adel, Colfax, Adams and the west half of Van Meter township, as shown by the following order, made in January, 1859:
Ordered, By the court, that the district of country included in the following limits, shall form, and constitute, the township of Adel, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of township (79) seventy-nine, range (27) twenty-seven; thence west on the township line, dividing (79) seventy-nine and (80) eighty to the northwest corner of township (79) seventy- nine, range (28) twenty-eight; thence south to the southwest corner of said township and
TOWNSHIPS-FEBRUARY 2, 1857.
.
DALLAS
BEAVER
DES MOINES
81. T.
SUGAR GROVE
80.T.
IOWA
WALNUT
79.T.
ADEL
UNION
BOONE
78.T.
'COON
.
2.9. R.
28. R.
27. R.
26. R.
497
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
range; thence east to the northeast corner of township (78) seventy-eight, range (29) twenty- nine; thence south on the range line to the south line of Dallas county; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of section (33) thirty-three, township (78) seventy- eight, range (27) twenty-seven; thence north on the said section line to the northwest cor- ner of section (3) three, township (78) seventy-eight, range (27) twenty-seven; thence east to the southeast corner of township (79) seventy-nine, range (27) twenty-seven; thence north on the range line, dividing (26) twenty-six and (27) twenty-seven, to the place of beginning.
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