USA > Iowa > Dallas County > The History of Dallas County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 61
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No record of any important changes appears in the boundaries of Adel township, except occasional minor changes of cutting off and adding on different sections, at various times, for school and other purposes, until about ten years after the above date, in January, 1869, when Van Meter, Adams and Colfax townships were formed into separate organizations, and Adel township was left in its present form, as bounded by the congressional township lines, and no record appears of any important change since the last mentioned date.
Adel township is admirably supplied with water, timber, coal, building materials and mill privileges. The North Raccoon river passes through the west side of the township, entering near the northwest corner of section 6, and flowing in a very crooked course down through the township, passing out at the south side on section 33. From near the center of section 18 it runs in a southeasterly course until it reaches nearly the southeast corner of section 21; then bends abruptly and flows southwest to the southeast cor- ner of section 29, just east of Adel, where it turns again quite abruptly to the southeast, and winds on in that direction out of the township. There is a cut-off, called the slough, which leaves the main branch near the north- east corner of section 19, and runs nearly in a straight course until it inter- sects the main branch again just east of Adel, above the wagon-bridge, leav- ing a large island in the bend of the river, cut off by the slough, on which island there are several valuable farms. On the east side of the river Hick- ory creek flows down from the north and empties into the Raccoon river near the east point of the bend, and a short distance below it Miller's branch flows in from the east. Butler's branch flows in from the west and empties into the slough just above the fair grounds, north of Adel; and other minor streams empty into the river from different localities in the township. All these larger streams are heavily timbered along their bor- ders. Abundance of stone and coal is found along these streams, but no coal mines of any importance have yet been opened or extensively worked in the township.
A few years ago very strong indications of the existence of iron ore were discovered in sinking a shaft prospecting for coal, near Miller's Branch, but from some cause or other the work of discovering the extent and value of the mine has not been prosecuted any further. The east and northeast part of the township contains plenty of excellent farming land, as also the south- . west corner, west of the river, and numerous large and well improved farms are found throughout the township.
There is a comparatively small amount of wild prairie now to be found in Adel township, and what little there is still unimproved is principally owned by capitalists and land speculators, held at high figures.
Adel township has the honor of the second settlement in the county be- ing made within its present bounds, and also has both the honor and good fortune of having the county-seat located within its limits.
The first settlement in Adel township was made by Samuel Miller, March
498
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
12, 1846, in what is known as the Miller settlement, a short distance east of Adel; and from which settlement doubtless Miller's Branch derived its name.
Some time in January, 1846, Samuel Miller, W. W. Miller and Eli Smith- son came through here prospecting, selected their claims in the Miller set- tlement, and returned to their former homes. On the 12th day of March, 1846, Samuel Miller returned here with his family, and settled on his claim formerly selected, where he lived for many years.
March 25, 1846, W. W. Miller and family, accompanied by his son John Miller, and his son-in-law, Eli Smithson, and perhaps others, returned here and settled on their claims as before selected, John Miller taking as part of his claim the land on which the county-seat now stands, and afterward re- linquished his claim on a quarter section in the interests of the county-seat.
Soon afterward these were joined by others (see early settlement), and before long quite a thriving settlement was formed in the township, which continued for years to grow, perhaps, the most rapidly of any in the county, on account of the location of the county-seat.
The first cabin built in the township was Samuel Miller's, on his claim east of Adel, early in the spring of 1846. The second one was, perhaps, W. W. Miller's cabin, built soon afterward.
The first mill in the township was Samuel Miller's "stump mill," started December 24, 1846, and the first school-house built was the one built by W. W. Miller, as previously described (see early settlement). The first school in the township was taught in this house by S. K. Scovell, during the winter of 1847-8, a three-months' term, at eight dollars per month. It was a private enterprise, at the expense of W. W. Miller, but free to all who desired to send their children. The township now has seven school- houses, besides the two graded schools at Adel and Dallas Center.
The first post-office established in the township was probably the one es- tablished at Penoach, with J. C. Corbell as postmaster. There are now two in the township, Adel and Dallas Center.
The first sermon preached in the township was either by Thomas Butler or Elder Castel, at a very early day.
The first congregation organized in the township was also the first one organized in the county, that one organized by Elder John P. Glenn, at the school-house of W. W. Miller, in May, 1847, which was the origin of the Christian church now of Adel, in a re-organized form (see sketch under town of Adel). The township now has five or six churches within its bounds.
Many of the first incidents of importance occurring in Adel township, like those also of Boone and Van Meter townships, are the same as those occurring first in the county. A few in each township have been herein re- peated, simply to give some idea of the first settlements and improvements in each. To attempt to follow these events up fully, would be unsatisfactory either for the writer or reader, as it is now impossible to get all the various incidents, names and dates correctly.
Adel township has two good towns, one near the southwest, and the other near the northeast corner of the township.
Adel, the county-seat, is located on sections 29 and 32, on the west bank of the North Raccoon river, and is the oldest town in the township and county, being laid out in 1847, and is also the largest, having now some 1200 inhabitants.
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Dallas Center is located on the north half of section 2, a station on the Des Moines & Ft. Dodge R. R., between twenty and twenty-five miles from Des Moines. It was laid out in May, 1869, and has between five and six hundred inhabitants. (See sketches.)
Adel township also has two railroads, making both the towns within its bounds, railroad towns.
The D. M. & Ft. D. R. R. crosses the northeast corner of the township, entering at the east side, on section 13, and passing out at the north side on section 2, thus cutting off about two sections of land to the northeast.
The Des Moines, Adel & Western R. R., running from Waukee to Adel, extends through the south part of the township, entering the east side of the township near the southeast corner of section 25, and extending nearly due west to Adel, which is as far as it is now completed, though the new railroad bridge is now under contract and process of construction, and will be completed before spring, when the road will doubtless be extended on to Redfield and Panora, Guthrie county. This is Adel township's pet rail- road, of which it is justly proud, and especially the enterprising citizens of Adel for the energy and liberality and enterprise they have displayed in putting it thus far under headway, and their untiring perseverance in labor- ing to push it on through as surveyed and graded.
The township also has one water-power grist mill, situated on the banks of the slough cut-off, just northeast of the town of Adel. This mill was built by J. H. Strong, now of Des Moines, and H. H. Moffatt, in 1856-7, at a cost of about $20,000, but would now, perhaps, not cost half that amount. It is now owned by Noeinger & Cantrel. (See sketch, Adel.)
Within the township also are two other mills situated at Dallas Center, one steam grist mill, owned by R. Roberts, and a planing mill owned by C. Rathbun & Son.
The township also has three good bridges built by the county, one east of Adel, and two north of Adel; besides one situated nearly on the township line between this and Sugar Grove township, which may be claimed by both. These are all frame bridges, and the most of them, if not all, were built by Jonathan Peppard.
There are also numerous large fruit farms in this township, among which may be mentioned that of Benjamin Greene adjoining the town of Adel on the south, known as the old Ira Sherman farm. Mr. Greene has something over thirty acres of an orchard, well filled with thrifty trees, mostly bear- ing, and of various and choice varieties; also quite an extensive vineyard, well kept and fruitful, the vines of which were beautifully laden with choice grapes during the past years.
Ezra Van Fossen also has an extensive and valuable orchard, about a mile southwest of Adel, of about the same size and character as that of Mr. Greene. And throughout the township, especially in the older settle- ments, the farmers are becoming well supplied with all kinds of tame fruits of their own raising.
The first election held in the limits of the township, occurred April 5, 1847, at the house of W. W. Miller, that being one of the polling places of the first election held in the county; and for a long time Penoach was the voting place for the entire county.
The township officers elected at the last election, 1878, were:
500
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Township Clerk-G. W. Loomis. Assessor-S. G. Barton.
Trustees :
Henry Stitzel. W. H. Kridler. L. Kenworthy.
Justices: G. W. Clark. R. R. Richmond. W. T. Allen. J. L. Clarkson (failed to qualify). Levi Diddy (appointed).
Constables :
J. D. Payne. W. S. Jamison. W. R. Cartwright. Wesley Wright.
BOONE.
This township is situated in the southeast corner of Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 78, range 26, west of the fifth principal meridian.
It has passed through numerous changes in its boundary lines since it was first called Boone, at it was one of the first three electoral precincts formed in the county, as early as 1849, and then received its present name. By the general division of the county into precincts, March 5, 1850, Boone precinct was made to include all of its present territory, except a one mile strip along its north side, and also included about half the present territory of Van Meter. (See previous order, March 5, 1850.)
In the general division of the county into townships, February 2, 1857, Boone township was made to include all its present territory and one-half of Van Meter, as shown by the following order of the county court, re- corded under the above date:
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 southeast corner of the county aforesaid; thence north to the place of beginning.
There seems to have been no important changes after this in the boun- daries of Boone township until in January, 1869, when Van Meter town- ship was organized in its present form, leaving Boone bounded, as it now is, by the congressional township lines.
The main Raccoon river enters the east side of Boone township in the north part of section 30, then bends abruptly to the south and flows in that direction for about a mile when it tuns again to the east and flows in a winding course within about a mile of the south line of the county and township, until it passes out at the east side of the township on section 25, and flows on to the Des Moines through Polk county.
501
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Sugar Creek extends diagonally from near the northwest corner of the township toward the sontheast until it empties into the Raccoon on section 26, and Johnson creek about two miles sonthwest of it, and nearly parallel with it, flows in the same general direction until it empties into the same river to the west. These three streams give the township excellent water and drainage privileges, as also an abundance of wood, building material, coal and mill sites. There is considerable timber and rolling land in Boone township, as also excellent river bottom land; and a large portion of the northeast half of the township is admirable prairie land. There is evi- dently plenty of coal, also, along these streams and bluff lands, but no im- portant mines have yet been opened, as so many are being worked in other localities not far distant, and with the conveniences the railroad affords of shipping, especially with the extensive Van Meter coal mine so near, it has not been necessary or profitable to open or work mines in Boone to any great extent.
When the demand from abroad increases sufficiently to warrant the nec- essary expenditure, no doubt Boone will be able to find plenty of coal as convenient and of as good quality as is now found in the neighboring local- ities along the river, and the work of extensive mining will then be com- menced in earnest. Building material of almost all kinds is very plentiful also in the township. Plenty of good stone for building purposes, as also for lime manufactory, is found within the limits of the township.
It is throughout that locality that the greatest quantities of those "lost rocks" or limestone boulders have been found. They are becoming less numerous now, as so many of them have been used on account of the superior quality of lime they produce. But when these all fail there will be an almost unfailing supply found in the limestone quarries along the streams.
The C., R. I. & P. R. R. passes east and west through the township, just north of the river, crossing the latter at its southern bend, just west of the town of Booneville.
This railroad gives the entire township excellent market privileges, and gives it one town, Booneville, within its limits. (See sketch of Boonville.) Booneville is also its only post-office.
Boone township was also among the earliest settlements in the county, and in giving the separate township histories it should be borne in mind that for many years, and in fact until January, 1869, Boone township also included the east half of Van Meter, and, therefore, many of the early in- cidents which now properly come under the history of Van Meter township really occurred in what was then Boone. On this account it is difficult to separate between the two and give the early particulars of each, and must, therefore, give much of the early histories of both in one. The first settler on the present territory of Boone township was John Wright, some time in 1846, on section 22. He had previously settled across the line, in what is now Van Meter township, early that spring, not far from Levi Wright's present home, and built the third log cabin erected in Van Meter; but as Levi Wright informs us, John did not remain on his first claim long until he moved off by himself into better hunting fields, and settled, as above stated, on section 22, within the present limits of Boone township, and thus became the first settler of that township as well as nearly the first in the other. Soon after he moved over, "Deaf Jim" Wright, his cousin, also
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502
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
went over and made his home principally with John for some time, but still kept his land in Van Meter, adjoining Levi.
Greenbury Coffin also settled in Boone township about the same time as John Wright, or not long afterward, and near by him, on section 27, they being brothers-in-law.
In 1847 William D. Boone, George Gresham, J. C. Goodson and John Johnson also settled in Boone township, and soon afterward others came in and formed quite a flourishing community. William D. Boone died in 1855.
J. C. Goodson still lives on his old homestead, owning a large tract of some 300 acres of land. He first came to this county prospecting in 1846, but did not move and settle here with his family until 1847, and to him we are indebted for many important items regarding the township history.
The first school in the township was taught by his wife, Priscilla Good- son, at an early day.
The first marriage in Boone township was the same as that in Van Meter, George Haworth and Mary Stump, Sept. 2, 1847, in Henry Stump's new hewed-log house. This is also claimed as the first marriage in Van Meter township, as it occurred in the present limits of Van Meter, and both parties lived west of the congressional township line, though it was at that time Boone township.
They were married by J. C. Corbell, Esq. This being also the first mar- riage in the county. (See account.)
The same is true also of the first death in these townships, that of old Mr. Coffin, in the winter of 1846-7, being also the first in the county. (See account.)
The first cabins were built by John Wright and Greenbury Coffin, in 1846.
The first sermon was preached in the township by a colored minister, now living in Des Moines, Rev. Ezra Rathburn, at the house of John Wright. This occurred soon after the settlement was made.
The first circuit preacher who preached in the township was J. Q. Ham- mond who organized the first church in the township. It was a Methodist Episcopal Church, and some of the original members were J. C. Goodson and his wife, Priscilla Goodson, George Gresham and his wife, Nancy Gres- ham, Susanna Boone, and Sarah Lane.
This is the only church now in the township, and is called the "Fairview Church," named by J. C. Goodson. The building is located a little south of the center of the township, and is the first and only church building in the township.
Some of the ministers on this circuit who have ministered to it are as follows: Reverends J. Q. Hammond, Ockerman, Robert Haun, M. H. Hare. George Clark, Thomas Dixon, Donahue, Fieming, Murphy, Sexton, Barton, LaMonte, and E. P. Vail, the present pastor, living now at Waukee, where he also preaches, uniting the two churches as one charge. (See sketch of church at Waukee.)
This township has one good iron bridge spanning the main Raccoon river, near Booneville, also a fine railroad bridge a short distance above it, across the same stream, besides other bridges of minor importance over the smaller streams in different places. There is also one good steam inill in the town- ship at Booneville.
There are many large and well improved farms in the township, which are kept in fine repair by the owners, and stock-raising is followed extens-
503
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
ively. This township displays some of the best blooded stock in the county, and has, perhaps, as many extensive stock-raisers and dealers as any other locality in the county. It also has some extensive and valuable orchards, and generally shows thrift and prosperity in like manner with its adjoining neighbor, Van Meter.
The Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad passes through the northeast corner of the township, cutting off a three-cornered piece containing about two sections.
Boone township has a desirable location, as well as a stable and thrifty class of citizens, and on account of being situated so near Des Moines, as well as because of its natural advantages and advanced improvements the land is generally valuable and readily salable.
The township now has nine school-houses, and as many sub-districts.
The township officers elected at the last election were as follows: Town- ship Clerk-Simpson Flinn; Assessor-S. S. Parker; Trustees-Jameson, A. Nish, Jasper Goodson; Justice-J. M. Flinn; Constable-Austin Flinn.
VAN METER.
This township is the second one from the east in the south tier of town- ships in Dallas county. It is known in the government surveys as con- gressional township 78, north of range 27, west of the 5th principal meridian.
The forks of the Raccoon river are near the center of this township, and the Bulger creek flows into the South Raccoon river within the township. boundaries, giving it very fine water, timber and mill privileges. It also has plenty of good prairie farming land, and some excellent river bottom land for agricultural purposes.
Its surface is, for the most part, rolling, the soil fertile, and the general improvements now pretty well advanced. It is becoming quite thickly settled, and has numerous large and well improved stock and grain farms, and the citizens are generally in comfortable circumstances.
The territory now known as Van Meter township was, for a long time- after the organization of the county, without any separate township organ- ization, being split up and attached to the other adjoining townships. For a long time the east half was a part of Boone, while a part of the northeast. corner was attached to Adel township, and the remainder, in connection with the greater part of what is now Adams township, united in forming 'Coon township, which was soon afterward all thrown into Adel township, and so remained for a number of years, until Adel was settled in its pres- ent form.
Van Meter was first settled in its present form by the following order,. made January 4, 1869, as shown by the records:
Ordered, That all that portion of congressional township number seventy-eight (78), range. twenty-seven (27), now included in the township of Boone; and all that portion of said congressional township number seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27), aforesaid, now included in Adel, be detached from said townships of Boone and Adel; and that the whole of said township seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27), shall constitute a new town- ship, to be called and known as Van Meter township; and it is further
Ordered, That William Ellis be appointed to post notices of the organization of said township of Van Meter, in pursuance of the statute in such cases made and provided.
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
This order established the township in its present form, with the bound- ary lines of the congressional township above named. Some minor changes in the boundaries may have occurred since, for school purposes or other conveniences, but no record of any important or permanent change is found since that date.
Van Meter township has the honor of the first settlement in Dallas county being made within its present bounds. This settlement was made by the Stump Brothers, during the fall of 1845, as before stated (see early settlements.)
Early the next spring a number of more settlers came into that vicinity, the Wrights, the Ellises, the Haworths and others, and during that year the number was increased by the arrival of Henry Stump and family, Noah Staggs, Mr. Clark, Henry Garner, Henry Busick, John Juvenaugh, James Black, William P. McCubbin, Richard Golden, John Clayton, Syl- vanus Night, James Moore, Nathan Moore and William Brown, and doubt- less others whose names we have not been able to ascertain-making quite a thriving settlement in that vicinity during that year.
Wa are indebted to Mr. Levi Wright for the principal information re- garding the early settlement of this township, who came into that vicinity in February, 1846, took a claim on section 16, in company with his brother, James Wright, built a cabin on his claim, and moved his family there from Polk county the following April, where he still lives, a number more coming into that and other parts of the county at the same time and in company with him.
The first house built in Van Meter township was also the first one built in the county, which was the claim cabin, 16x18, built by the Stump broth- ers early in the winter of 1845, as previously mentioned.
The second claim cabin in the county was built by Levi Wright a few months later, in the last of February, 1846, abont the same size and style of structure and architecture as that of the Stump cabin.
John Wright built the third cabin soon afterward, and Henry Stump, sometime during the spring of 1846-as Mr Wright informs us-built the first double hewed-log house in the township, consisting of two rooms, one story high, each room being about sixteen feet square. This house was considered a fine structure in those days, and perhaps was not sur- passed in beauty and convenience and comfort for many years.
The first death in this township was also the first one in the county, as previously mentioned. It was that of old Mr. Coffin, the father of Green- bury Coffin, and father-in-law of John Wright. He died at Henry Stump's house, of old age, during the winter of 1846-47, and was buried in the Clayton grave-yard (see first death.)
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