USA > Iowa > Dallas County > The History of Dallas County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 63
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
By the above order Union was made to include not only its present terri- tory, but also that now known as Linn township. It seems to have re- mained in the above described shape for several years until June 4, 1855, when it passed through another change, as shown by the following:
Ordered, By this court that hereafter the following shall be the boundaries of Union town- ship as petitioned for by divers citizens of Union and Penoach townships:
Commencing at the southwest corner of Dallas county; thence east six miles; thence north to the correction line; thence east on she correction line to the corners dividing sections thirty-two (32), and thirty-three (33); thence north six miles; thence west to the county line; thence south on the west line of Dallas county to the place of beginning.
Again the minutes show that the following order made on February 2, 1857, first established Union township in its present form as bounded by the congressional township lines:
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.
It then continued in the above described convenient and settled condition until May 9, 1859, when five sections were added to it for school purposes, by the following order of the county court:
WHEREAS, The people living on sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, township No. seventy-nine (79), range twenty-eight (28) west, have shown that they suffer great inconvenience for the want of school facilities, by reason of their isolation, and therefore ask that they may be at- tached township of Union, thereby securing to themselves the privileges of a common school; and they further ask that the east half of section thirty-six (36), township No. seventy-nine (79), north range twenty-nine (29), west, be also detached from Linn township and added to the township of Union. It is therefore
Ordered, That the said territory be added to the now Union township for the purpose of accommodating the people living therein.
513
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
The above mentioned five sections remained thus attached for school pur -. poses until June 7, 1870, when Union township was again settled with its present boundary lines by the following order of the board of supervisors, and from which it has not since been changed:
Ordered, That all the territory included within congressional township No. 78, north of range 29, west of fifth P. M., Iowa, shall constitute the township of Union.
Thus it is seen that Union, like several others of the townships, has been made to pass through numerous changes of form since first named. But has at last, though quite recently, become settled in a permanent and conven- ient form from which it will not probably be changed for some years to come.
The first settler in Union township, as Judge Burns informs us, was David Dailey, who settled on section 4, sometime in 1847 .*
He was joined in the spring of 1848 by Humphrey Smith and his son- in-law, Henry Owens, who, in partnership, built the first mill in the town- ship, near the mouth of Cottonwood creek, on the banks of the South Rac- coon river. (See account.)
Others may have come in about the same time, or previous, whose names and dates have not been received. In February, 1848, Leroy Lambert, now of Adel, settled on section 6, near the west line of the county, where he lived for a number of years.
About the same time, or not long afterward, Mr. Wilcox, and others, came into that vicinity; but the settlement in this township did not in- crease very rapidly during the years of 1848-9; while in 1850-1 there was quite a rapid increase.
In 1850 the Cavenaugh brothers, Patrick, Thomas and Michael Cave- naugh, came in and bought the claim of David Dailey, in section 4.
They also entered a large tract of land adjoining it, which included the present site of Redfield. A few years later they laid out the town of New Ireland on part of the present site of Redfield, and a few years afterward they sold the town site and large tract of land adjoining it to Redfield and Moore, after which the name of the town was changed. (See sketch of town.)
About this time, also, Elisha Morris came into the vicinity. J. W. Hayes settled on section 5, west of Redfield; John F. Willis, on section 4, which is now partly included in the town plat of Redfield; Nelson Cave settled on section 4, some three-quarters of a mile southwest of town, where he died the following year.
In 1848-9 L. D. Hewitt settled on section 8, where he died about two years ago, having lived on the old homestead some 28 years. He was a great fruit man, one of the best in the county, and a highly respected citizen.
In 1849, also, Charles Vermillion settled on section 8. He still owns the property though living now in Dexter.
In 1850 Uriah Stotts settled in Union township on section 8, where he still lives as an ex-probate judge of Dallas county. He had come to the county at an early day and settled first in Van Meter township, perhaps as
*This statement regarding the first settlement of Union township is at variance with one made in the previous part of the work, under early settlement, because of additional information received, since sending the other to press.
514
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
early as 1847-8, but moved to Union in 1850, and settled on his present homestead.
In 1849 or 1850 George B. Warden also settled on section 1, three miles east of Redfield. He had previously lived for some time in Adel, and sold goods in the old court-house.
Elijah Thomas, also, and his three sons, Mahlan C., Martyn and Abner Thomas came in 1850. Two years afterward Martyn died, and Abner died in the army. Mahlon C. Thomas is still living in Redfield, and to him we are indebted for many important items regarding this township and town.
The above names are but a few of the settlers during that period; but they are only given as some who were among the early settlers of Union township. Since those days the general appearance of things is radically changed, and Union is no longer the weak, sparse settlement, but the in- fluential, thickly populated township.
The first cabin in the township was probably built by David Dailey in 1847, and the next ones by Humphrey Smith and Henry Owens, who built the first water mill; and the Cavenaughs, perhaps, erected the next cabin.
The first death in the township was probably that of David Dailey's child, soon after he settled in the township; and some time in 1849 Mrs. Brewer died, on the Smith property, and was buried in the Wiscotta burrying- ground. In 1850 old Mr. Cavenaugh, father of the Cavenaugh brothers, died near the present site of Redfield, before the town was laid out, and soon after he arrived in the county. He was buried in the Wiscotta bury- ing-ground, and a few years ago his remains were removed to Des Moines. He was over eighty years of age when he died.
The first grave-yard started in the township was the Wiscotta grave-yard, above mentioned. The ground for this was donated to the public for bury- ing purposes by the Cavenaughs when the town was first laid out, and the grave-yard property was deeded to three trustees, Isaac Fee, George Noel and John Puffer. It is still the principal one in the township. There is another now near Dexter, which has been deeded and laid out for several years.
Union township is well supplied with mills, having at least four good water mills and one steam mill within its bounds.
The Parker & Hollingsworth grist and saw-mills, known as the Redfield mills, stand just west of the town of Redfield, on the same site of the old Cavenaugh mill. This old mill was built about 1854-5, by Thomas Cav- enaugh, now of Des Moines. It was a frame structure, and, from all ac- counts, a pretty jolly time was had at the raising of it. L. D. Burns was the mill-wright in its construction. It was afterward burned down. The grist-mill now on the same site was built by Hollingsworth & Brown in 1874, and the saw-mill was built in 1872, by Amos Dowe, of Maine.
The Wiscotta mill, situated about one mile southeast of Redfield, on the north bank of the South Raccoon, was built in 1865, by Bowles & Horner, and is now owned by Zimri Horner & Co. A sad accident occurred near this mill a short time ago. Two men attempted to cross in a boat while the river was terribly swollen and the current very swift, so that with all their strength and efforts they could not stem the current nor keep their boat right side up, and they were swept over and drowned.
The Newport woolen mills, situated just across the river from Horner's mills, and using the same dam, were built about the same time by Joseph Cook and A. W. Lewis. The dam was built in partnership. This mill has
515
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
changed hands several times, and is now in the possession of Joseph R. Sheely. It is not running, and has not been for some two years.
The Cottonwood mill, on the South Raccoon, also, about one mile east of the Wiscotta mill, was built about 1870 by Bowles, Pearson & Hollings- worth. This one has also changed hands several times, and is now owned by Mr. Sheely, and is doing good work.
At Dexter there is a steam grist-mill within the corporation, owned by Mr. Maulsby, which is doing a thriving business.
The Compton steam saw-mill is also in Union township, some miles southeast of Redfield. It was built in 1856 at Wiscotta, and afterward re- moved to its present site, about thirteen years ago.
Union township also has some good coal-mines (see coal-mines), and sev- eral county bridges. The bridge at Redfield, built by Jonathan Peppard, 240 feet long, is said to be the best wood bridge in the county. An iron bridge 150 feet long is now being built across the South Raccoon by the King Bridge Company, of Ohio, in place of the old wood bridge torn down. There are also several other smaller county bridges in the township span- ning Bear creek and the North river near Dexter.
This township now has nine school-houses, and as many sub-districts, be- sides the graded and public schools in the different towns, the Bear Creek Academy, and the large Normal school-building now being erected at Dex- ter.
The township officers elected at the last election, 1878, were:
Township clerk-C. R. Wright. Assessor-T. C. Chance.
Trustees :
J. E. Stiles, Leverett Brown, Evan George.
Justices :
Mahlon C. Thomas, John A. Carrothers.
Constables :
David Chance, William Stephens.
The township has two post-offices, one at Redfield and one at Dexter.
DES MOINES.
This township is situated in the northeast corner of Dallas county, and is known in the Government surveys as congressional township 81, range 26, west of the 5th principal meridian.
It has passed through a good many changes in its boundary lines since it was first organized, being one of the first three electoral precincts formed, as early as 1849. And by the general division of the county into precincts, March 5, 1850, Des Moines was constituted one, as shown by the order given on that date (previously quoted).
It was then made to include, not only its present territory, but the greater part of Beaver and Grant townships as well.
516
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
In the general division into townships, February 2, 1857, it was constitu- ted in its present form, as bounded by the congressional township lines. (See order previously given, Feb. 2, 1857.)
In October of the same year a change occurred, which added a two-mile strip to its south side, six miles in length, as is shown by the following order made by the county court, October 5, 1857.
Now comes Caleb Crawford and others, and files a petition asking the court to strike off two miles from the north end of township 80, north of range No. (26) twenty-six (being a part of Walnut township), and attach the same to Des Moines township; and it appearing that the people on this strip are laboring under great inconvenience from their being isolated from the main settlement in Walnut township, and their proximity to the settlements in Des Moines township, making it much more convenient to be attached to Des Moines township, it is ordered that the two-mile strip aforesaid be attached to Des Moines township and form a a part thereof.
Again in January, 1859, the following change was duly authorized by the court:
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 north-east corner of Dallas county: thence west to the northwest corner of township eighty-one (81), range twenty-seven (27); thence south to the south- west corner of section eighteen (18), township eighty-one (81), range twenty-seven (27); thence east to the southeast corner of section sixteen (16), township eighty-one (81). range twenty-seven (27); thence south to the southwest corner of section twenty-seven (27); thence east to the northeast corner of section thirty-six (36). township eighty-one (81), range twenty-seven (27); thence south to the southwest corner of section seven (7), township eighty (80), range twenty-six (26); thence east on the section line to the east line of Dallas county; thence north to the place of beginning.
This change of line cut off all the northeast part of Beaver township and added it to Des Moines township. In June, 1861, it was organized with its present boundary lines, which cut off from Des Moines township all that had been before added lying west of the range line dividing ranges 26 and 27 (see sketch of Beaver). And in September, 1868, Grant town- ship was organized in its present form, which cut off from Des Moines all that had been previously taken from Walnut township, leaving Des Moines township reduced to its present form as bounded by the congressional township lines, and no record appears changing it since that date.
The Des Moines river passes through the northeast corner of this town- ship, entering at the north side on section 3, and flowing out at the east side on section 25, pretty well down toward the southeast corner; and Beaver creek flows across the southwest corner, cutting off nearly three sections of land by its winding course.
These two streams afford sufficient water and drainage for all parts of the township. And the Des Moines, having a heavy belt of timber along it, furnishes a plentiful supply for all the citizens of the township. Quite a large per cent of the township is timbered and hilly land; but still there is a sufficient quantity of good arable land which is of a very fertile char- acter, and some excellent bottom lands near the river and Bear creek. There is still some uncultivated prairie land in the township; and there are also numerous large, well-improved farms.
A settlement was made in this township at a very early day, it being among the very first settlements in the county.
The first settlement in this township was made by O. D. Smalley, May 18, 1846, who moved in at that time and took possession of the land. He
517
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
located on the northwest quarter of section 26, where he still lives, and for several months held sole possession of all that region of country, until in September, 1846, John and David Speare settled on section 11, up in the timber near the Des Moines river, while Mr. Smalley chose a prairie loca- tion.
August 15, 1846, Jerry Evans settled on section 2, in the timber, also near the river, and well toward the northeast part of the township and county, not far from the present site of Ruth's Mill.
Judge McCall settled on section 12, on the prairie east of the river, in September, 1846.
Samuel Ramsey settled on section 26, in October, 1846, and Judah Leam- ing settled on the southwest quarter of section 23, March 1, 1847. Each not far from the present location of the Snyder post-office.
The settlers of 1846 were not very numerous in this township, and the number was not very greatly increased during the next year, but they afterward began to come in and fill up the settlements gradually, enabling this township to keep pace with the general progress elsewhere in the county, until it is now in prosperous condition and pretty generally settled up.
The first election was held at the house of Judah Leaming, in August. 1848, which was also the fourth election held in the county, the other two polling places in the county being Penoach and the house of William P. McCubbin.
The first post-office established in the township was at the house of O. D. Smalley, in September, 1858, O. D. Smalley also being appointed the first postmaster. The township now has two post-offices, Xenia post-office being located near the north line of the township, and Snyder post-office located in the southeast part of the township.
The first school was taught in the house of Martin Tucker, in 1850, by Dr. Plumly, and had ten pupils in attendance. There are now seven school-houses in the township, and one hundred and eighty voters. It is an independent school district.
There are also three coal mines in the township, all located on section 14, and plenty of coal is to be found in various other localities along the river (see coal mines).
Beaver creek is spanned with one frame bridge, near tho southwest cor- ner of the township, on section 33. The township has one steam saw and grist-mill, known as "Ruth's Mill," situated on section 3, near the north- east corner of the township, and not far from the Des Moines river, owned by W. Ruth.
It was built by the present owner in 1867, has two run of stone, and is doing a thriving business, having a good local custom. There is also a steam saw-mill situated on section 24, owned by Mr Taylor.
The first minister in the township was John Johns, a Baptist, who probably held the first church service in the township. There is now one church organization and church building in the township-the Methodist Episcopal church, at Xenia.
The township has no railroad, and but one town (Xenia) within its bounds, and that is only a small village, consisting of a few houses, and is situated near the north line of the township, on the line between sections 4 and 5. The nearest market towns for the township are Minburn and
518
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Perry in Dallas county, and Boone, on the C. & N. W. R. R., in Boone county, about twelve miles north of Xenia.
The township officers elected at the last election, 1878, were:
Township clerk-W. S. Craft. Assessor-O. D. Smalley.
Trustees :
S. S. Purdy, Peter Stoker, Jacob Wingerson.
Justices :
Z. E. Cottrell, John Hunt.
Constables :
S. S. Zenor, Jacob Lawson.
WASHINGTON.
This township occupies the second place from the north and west in the tiers of townships, and is, therefore, the northwest one of the four central townships of Dallas county. It is known in the government surveys as congressional township 80, north of range 28, west of the fifth principal meridian. It lies high and dry, and contains a large tract of fine prairie and farming land, a continuation of the excellent quality of land found in the north part of Colfax township. It has a good many well-improved farms, and is commencing to turn off annually large supplies of stock and grain of various kinds. There is also considerable uncultivated prairie of excellent quality held by speculators at high figures, which tends to retard the growth of the township; but despite of all this, general improvements and cultivation are being carried on in a most commendable manner, and Washington township is making a healthful, vigorous growth.
The North Raccoon river flows in a southeasterly course through the east side, cutting off several sections from the northeast corner of the township, but following along down near the east line for some distance after leaving the township boundaries, so as to leave the timber belt either in the township or near the line during nearly the entire length of the east side.
This stream, together with other smaller ones, flowing into it from the . township makes water, timber, coal and building material quite plentiful and convenient to all parts of the township.
There is plenty of coal along the river in this locality, and several banks have been opened and worked some, but not very extensively, except for home consumption. The vein in this locality is from twenty to thirty inches thick. (See coal mines.)
By the general division of Dallas county into precincts, under date of March 5, 1850, the territory now included Washington township, was made to form part of Buena Vista precinct; March 3, 1856, it became part of Sugar Grove township; and in general division of the county into town- ships, February 2, 1857, it still constituted the west half of Sugar Grove township.
519
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
A little more than a year afterward, March 2, 1858, the following order was made by the county court, constituting a new township by the name of Washington:
Now, on this day, comes D. M. Starbuck et. al., and files a petition for the division of Sugar Grove township. Thereupon it was
Ordered, That the district of country included within the following bounds shall form and constitute the township of Washington, to-wit: All that portion of township No. eighty (80), north of range No. twenty-eight (28), lying west of the North Raccoon river, and all of the township No. eighty (80), north of range No. twenty-nine (29) west; and that a warant issue for an election, to be holden at the school-house, in school district No. 4, in said township, on the first Monday of April, A. D. 1858, for the perfecting an organization of said township; and that there be elected, at that time and place, three township trustees, one township clerk, two justices of the peace, and two constables, and such other officers as may be provided by law.
By the above order Washington township was first inade to include all its present territory lying west of the Raccoon river, and all of what is now Lincoln township, and so it continued to remain in the above described shape until in June, 1867, when the present territory of Lincoln was cut off and formed into a separate organization, as shown by the order under that township.
Washington was then reduced below its present size, having only that portion of the congressional township 80, range 28, which lies west of the river and thus it remained without much of any change until June 7,. 1870, when the board of supervisors made the following order concerning it:
Ordered, That all the territory included within congressional township No. eighty (80), north of range No. twenty-eight (28), west of fifth P. M., Iowa, shall constitute the town- ship of Washington.
This new boundary line added to Washington quite a large corner of valuable land, comprising nearly four sections on the east side of the river in the northeast corner of the township, and fixed it in its present form with the congressional township boundaries, and no record appears of any important change having been made since that date.
The first settler in Washington township was John Sullivan, who came in with his family and made a settlement within its present boundaries in 1848, and afterward traded his claim and cabin for a gun worth $6.00.
Regarding the early settlement of Washington township, Judge Burns. also makes the following statement in his centennial history:
"In 1848, also, James McLane, Jacob Minter, Samuel Mars, John S. Sam- mis, -Redish, soldiers of the Mexican war, from Kentucky, settled and took claims about, and comprising the farm of Henry Myers in Washington township. John Bivers, an unmarried man, took a claim about the same time. Bivers made his home at George P. Garoutte's."
This settlement was near the northeast corner of the township, and was. for a long time in Sugar Grove township, east of the river, even after Wash- ington was organized, but is now in Washington.
Martin W. Miller settled here also in 1848; William Rouse, William T. Clark and others in 1849; David M. Starbuck and others in 1850, making Washington an early settlement and giving it a good start to grow to its present state of thrift and enterprise.
The first school in the township was taught by John Warford in the northeast part of the township, in 1857. It now has nine school-houses.
520
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
The first religious services were held on section 36, by Rev. Abram Lau- bach, a Methodist minister.
There are two churches in the township, a Christian chapel and an M. E. church. The latter has no church building, but meet in the Beaver school- house for services, and are now talking of building. They have a member- ship of 64. For particulars see the account given of this church by its pastor, Rev. David Shenton, under the history of Adel.
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.