The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 84

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company
Number of Pages: 915

USA > Iowa > Marion County > The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C. > Part 84

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VERPLOEGH, C .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26, P. O. Pella. Was born December 7, 1831, in Netherlands, and followed farming until he came to the United States, in 1853. He settled in this county and now owns 164 acres of fine land. Has filled the office of road supervisor for several terms. He married Miss Petertje Van Zee, in 1858. She was born in Netherlands, December 27, 1839. They have nine children: Adarana, Mertje, Hendrek, Hester E., Aartje, Elizabeth, Mary, Conrad and Cornelia. Lost one, Henry. They are members of the Reformed Church of Pella.

VERPI.OEG, GOVERT-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35, P. O. Pella. Was born May 11, 1838, in Gelderland, and was there raised on a farm and received the benefits of a common school education. In 1853 he came to America with his parents, and they settled in this county. Has a farm of seventy acres, which is under good cultivation, and contains good comfort-

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

able buildings. In 1865 he took a trip to Oregon and resided there come two and a half years. He married Miss Van Steinberger in 1864. She iss native of the same place as himself, and was born in 1840. By this union they have nine children: Artie, Minnie, Katie, Cornelius, Jane, Henry, Leonard, Conrad and Kryn. Lost one. Himself and wife are members of the First Reformed Church of Pella.

VERPLOEGH, HENRY-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26, P. O. Pella. Was born February 28, 1843, in Gelderland. He emigrated to the United States in 1853 with his parents. His father died on the ocean. Henry landed at New Orleans and came from there to this county. He ownss farm of sixty acres and is one of the sturdy, honest and industrious farmen of this county. He has been twice married; first, to Miss Elizabeth Vaa Zee in 1869. She was born in 1844. By this union they have two child- ren: Aartje and Conrad. Mrs. V. died in 1871. He married for his second wife Miss Aartje van Arkel in 1876. She is a native of Gelderland, and was born in September, 1856. By this union they have four children: Mary, Henry, Judith and Elizabeth. His mother, who has passed her eightieth year, finds a pleasant home with her son.

VIERSEN, S. H .-- Was born in the Netherlands on the twenty-ninth day of August, 1842, and emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1847 and settled in Marion county where he was principally raised on a farm. He afterward commenced his mercantile experience. He was elected county recorder in 1872, and held the office two years. He has always taken great interest in educational matters, and has been an efficient worker on its school board, of which he is president. He married in 1872, and has two children: Jesse L. and Sepke S. Lost one son, John H.

VIERSEN, H. Y .- Was born in the Netherlands April 10, 1794, and was raised there. He engaged in mercantile pursuits and was also a large chicory manufacturer and grain dealer. He was one of the colony who settled here in 1847. After coming to this county he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and the farm on which he settled, a short distance west of town, is now occupied by his widow and sons. He married Miss Hilje Sipma, July 12, 1829. She was born in the same province on the seventh day of October, 1805. Mr. Viersen died August 3, 1864, leaving six child- ren: Siebergje H. (born January 8, 1830), Auke H. (born May 26, 1831). Ipe H. (born May 24, 1833), Oeberle (born June 10, 1835), Heerke H. (born December 11, 1838), Sipke H. (born August 9, 1842).

VIERSEN, A. H .- Postmaster. One of Marion county's esteemed citizens. Was born in the Netherlands, March 26, 1831, and lived there until 1847. Then emigrated to the United States with his parents, and settled on a farm in Marion county, H. Y. Viersen being one of the original settlers. Our subject had a mercantile experience of twenty years. In 1858 he was elected city treasurer at the time that Isaac Overkamp was mayor. Mr. Viersen is the only one who has held that office, excepting Mr. Overkamp. From 1861 until 1862 was county treasurer and recorder. He has held other offices: city clerk, township clerk, and a member of the city conn- cil. In 1872 he was appointed postmaster, a position which he still holds, and is admirably qualified to fill. In 1857 he was married to Henrietta F. Roelofsz, a native of the Netherlands. Their family consists of twelve children: Joost, Lillie, Mary, Auke, Henrietta, Lulu, Lydia, Josie, Ben- jamin, Ype, Andrew and Birdie. Mr. Viersen has taken a great interest in educational matters.

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LAKE PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.

VISSER, WILLEM-Farmer and brick-maker, Sec. 16, P. O. Pella. Was born December 6, 1814, in Rotterdam, and spent his boyhood days with his father on the farm, and attended the schools of that county. In 1848 he came to America, and joined the Holland colony at Pella. In 1872 he moved on the farm on which he now resides. He owns 145 acres of fine land. In brick-making he averages about three hundred thousand a year. A good share of the buildings in Pella and vicinity are made from his yard. He gives his attention mostly to that business, and makes first- class brick. He married Johanna M. Venermide in 1834. She is a native of the same place as her husband. and was born March 2, 1812. By this union there are nine children: Gertie, Jolin, Martin, Pietter, Allie, and Gerret. They lost eight. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

VISSER, PIETTER-Farmer and brick-maker, Sec. 16, P. O. Pella. Was : born February 4, 1842, in Rotterdam, Holland, and was there raised until five years of age. Was brought to this country by his parents in 1847, and received a fair English educatiom In 1878 he emigrated to Kansas and took up a homestead in Gove county, but in 1880 he returned to this State . and settled on a part of his father's farm, and turned his attention to mak- ing brick. He had followed this business five years prior to going to Kan- sas. He married Miss Teentje Schakel in January, 1864. She is a native of Holland, and was born in June, 1847. By this union they have eight children: Mary, Minnekis, Gertie, Allie, William, Leonard, John, and Jane. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

VOS, B .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22, P. O. Pella. Was born November 21, 1821, in Netherlands, and was raised a farmer. He came to the United States in 1849, and settled in this township and engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 110 acres. He has filled the office of school director some fourteen years, and road supervisor several times; also school treasurer. He was $70 in debt when he came here, and what he enjoys is the result of his own labor and good management. He married Miss Gertjy Kaamp, in 1848. She was born in Netherlands, November 8, 1821. They have four children: Abraham, William, Jonnatje, and Klaas. They are members of the Bethel Church.

W AGAMAN, W. K .- Of the firin of W. K. Wagaman & Co., pro- prietors of the City Mills. Is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born on the 27th day of October, 1844, and lived there until nineteen years of age, and in 1863 removed to Stark county, Ohio, and two years later came to Iowa and located in Marion county. He was raised a miller, and it may be said was bred to the business. His large practical experience gives him an advantage rarely possessed by men in this line. The mill does both a custom and merchant business, and has an-enviable reputation for the qualities of its manufactures which meet with a ready sale. He married Miss Elizabeth Rhineheart in 1866. She was born in Pennsylvania, and principally raised in 'Ohio. Their family consists of three children: Katie C., Peter, and Cora E.

WEIERSE, A .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27, P. O. Pella. Was born in South Holland, October 22, 1822, and there was raised and educated. He came to this country in 1855, and settled in Marion county on the land which he now occupies. He owns fifty acres of fine farm land, mostly under cultivation, and his buildings are good. He married Miss Wilhel-

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

minia Colyn in 1858. She is a native of Gelderland, and was born Octoba 30, 1835; came to this country with the first Holland colony. They have a family of eight children: Cornelia, Trintie, Jane, Leonard, Harman, Sufrin, Jacob, and Albert. Have lost one. Himself and wife are members of the Third Reformed Church of Pella.

WELLE, CORNELIUS-Fariner and stock-raiser, Sec. 32, P. O. Pelh Was born in South Holland, September 13, 1828, and was raised in the city of Gorengem, receiving a common school education. He learned the bek. er's trade from his father, and worked with him in the shop until they crossed the ocean in 1847. They settled in Marion county, and Cornelis helped his father on the farmn and devoted his spare moments to the study of English. He now has a very fair English education. When twenty. eight years of age he settled on the place he now occupies, in 1856. Mr. W., Sr., died February 9, 1880, aged eighty-two years. He left an estate of 400 acres of improved land to be divided between his wife and four child. ren. Being one of the early settlers, our subject has had his share of hard- ships of pioneer life to contend with, and he has acted his part faithfully. He married Miss Twantye Nollen, in 1861. She is a native of Gelderland. and was born November 9, 1839. They have four children : Henry, Peter, Twantye and Dirkge. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Presbyterian Church. In his manners he is pleasant and agreeable.

WESTERKAMP, HERMAN-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13, P. O. Pella. Was born August 20, 1844, in the Netherlands, where he learned the carpenter's trade. He came to the United States in 1869, and settled in this county and engaged in farining. Owns 109 acres of land. His fr ther, Fedde Westerkamp, lives with him. He was born on the twenty-first of February, 1813. His wife was born on the fifth of May, 1814. They had two children: John and Herman. She is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church of Pella.

WINTERS, E. E .- Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Pella. Was born on the fifth of January, 1838, in the village of Zoutkamp, Province of Groningen, Netherlands. He remained there until six years of age and then moved to Viram, and resided there until the fall of 1849, when he crossed the ocean with his parents. They settled in Holland, Ottam county, Michigan. He secured a common school education in Europe and took a preparatory course at the Holland Academy in Michigan. In 185; he commenced a collegiate course at Rutgers College, New Brunswick. New Jersey, and graduated there in 1860, and entered the Theological Seminary at the same place in the fall of the same year, and graduated from there in May, 1863. Was licensed by the Classis of Holland and ordained in August of the same year by the Classis of Orange, New York, and was settled as the pastor of a church at Cuddebackville, Orange county, in 1863. In March, 1866, he came to Pella, and took charge of the First Reformed Church. He has been twice married. First to Miss Mary E. van Liew, on the twenty-sixth of May, 1863. She was a native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and was born on the twenty-sixth of December, 1840. She lived to enjoy life until the twenty-third of March, 1864, when she was gathered to the land of rest. He married again on the twenty-eighth of November, 1865, Miss Minerva Kenebeck, a lady of rare talent and culture. She was born in June, 1835, in the city of Cuddebackville, New York.

WISSE, ABRAHAM-Wagon-maker. Was born October 21, 1834, in the Netherlands, and came to the United States in 1854, settled in New

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SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.

Tork State and farmed about three years, then came to Iowa and settled in Burlington, and worked two years at the carpenter's trade. Then worked ome four years for Mr. Nealys, a nurseryman, after which he again took p carpenter work. Came to. Pella in the spring of 1865 and commenced working at the wagon trade with Mr. Buerkens. They continued the busi- ess until the Pella Manufacturing Co. bought them out. He was one of he organizers of the company, and owns eighty-five shares in it at present. Ie commenced life a poor man and has gained what he now has by hard rork. He married Miss Dina Lubberden on the thirteenth of June, 1868. he is a native of Netherlands and was born on the fourth of January, 1842. By this union they have one child, John. Lost one. Mrs. Wisse is a mem- er of the First Reformed Church of Pella.

WORMHOUDT, H .- Lumber-dealer. Was born in Rotterdam, Febru- ry 15, 1825, and learned the carpenter's trade in his youth. He emigrated › the United States in 1847. and settled in Marion county, and worked at is trade and in the saw-mill business until 1872, when he engaged in the amber business as agent for a Mr. Baldwin, and in 1875 became a partner f the firm of Waechter & Wormhoudt. The firm are doing a large and acrative business in their line, and have the unlimited confidence of their atrons. Mr. W. has been prominent as a member of the city council, and a educational matters, at the present time serving on the school board. Ie is also a deacon in the First Reformed Church. He married, first, Miss Lartje Overkamp in April, 1850. She was born in the Netherlands and ied in Pella in October, 1855, leaving two children: Johanna M. (now frs. Hospers, born July 28, 1851), and Gerret H. (born November 2, 1853). Ie married for his second wife Miss Annie Overkamp, a sister of his first rife, in 1858. She, also, was born in the Netherlands. By this marriage hey have seven children: Henry D. (born July 22, 1860), Effie (born Oc- ober 28, 1862), Isaac Andrew (born November 14, 1866), John (born Au- ust 10, 1869), Edward (born July 13, 1872), Andrew I. (born September 1, 1875), Dominicus (born January 11, 1879). One son, Isaac A. (born March 13, 1865), died November 15, 1865.

CHAPTER III. SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.

ummit Township-Town of Otley-American City-Biographical.

SUMMIT township was organized from part of the old township of Red lock in March, 1854. The following is taken from the official records:

" On March 3, 1854, the petition of Jacob Pendroy and sixty-one others, zas presented to the county judge asking that the township of Red Rock e divided and a new township to be called Summit be organized. The etition was granted, and the first Monday in April was fixed as the time or holding the organizing election. John C. Donnel was appointed to arry out the provisions of the order, and the house of Jacob C. Brown was esignated as the place for holding the first election."

The township corresponds with congressional township 77, range 19. 'he north and east portions of the township are prairie, and constitute a art of the water-shed between the basins of the Des Moines and Skunk

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

rivers. There is considerable timber in the southwest part which borde near the Des Moines River. There are no large streams in the tom ship.

The coal fields of the township are of wide extent and are very prodas ive. The firet mine is said to have been discovered in 1849 by Mr. Jct A. Scott, and was for many years the only one worked. The next mi was opened in 1861 by William Fisher. The coal veins average from for to seven feet in thickness, and the coal is of the best quality found i Iowa.

When the organization of the township was first talked of, the mm Harrison was proposed, but the name Summit was finally adopted. Itis said that the name, as adopted, was advocated by a number of settlers vl originally came from Summit county, Ohio.

The first election was held on the first Monday in April, 1854, arth house of Jacob C. Brown, and the following are the names of the office elected: John Ribble and A. F. McConnell, justices of the peace; Ga Reynolds, I. N. Crum and Ira Kelsey, trustees; Abram B. Scott, clet: Ira Kelsey, assessor; and A. Donnel and P. P. Harp, constables.

Some changes were effected in the civil geography of this towneby. which, though they were the result of partisan wire-working, and occorre at a comparatively recent date, we shall take the liberty of sketching briefy. In 1862, in response to a petition of a portion of its citizens, the townsh was enlarged by the addition of that portion of Polk (township 76. rue 19) lying north of the river. This change not being agreeable to the Re publicane of the township, they petitioned the board of supervisors to han the above mentioned territory, locally known as the "Whitebreast Seth ment," re-attached to Polk, which was accordingly done at the September session, 1864. But, owing to the neglect of the clerk, John B. Hamilton to transmit to the board of trustees an official report of the change, med embarrasment and partisan feeling resulted at the election that fall in re lation to the admission of the vote of that district. A hot dispute was em- ried on for some time that very nearly resulted in personal violence But the difficulty was finally settled by the admission of the challenges votes.

Soon after this the Democrats again petitioned for the attachment of the disputed territory, which act was received by the opposite party as an m. knowledginent that it was not a part of the township at the time of the election. The petition was granted. and Whitebreast was now indisputabir a part of Summit, and so it remained till 1867, when the board was agua asked to restore it to Polk, which was accordingly done, and where it Is since remained.

Prominent among those who settled in the township at the earliest dat. are James Price, the Wilsons, David and Allen Tice, and Andrew Me Among those who came later, were, Joseph S. West, the Harps, I. N. Cruz James Deweese, S. S. Roberts, Alex. B. Donnel, and Allen Lawhead. Mary of these are still residents of the township. Others took claims at a ray early date, but did not become permanent settlers. Most of the first settien located in and along the edge of the timber, and it was not till '45 that the divide began to be permanently occupied.

James Price was born in Clark county, Ohio, September 14, 1817, em .. grated to Cass county, Michigan, at the age of thirteen, and from thence to Burlington, Iowa, in 1840. From there, early in the spring of '43, in com-

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SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.

iny with Jonathan Donnel, he came into this county and selected a claim. je first cabin they built was a few rods below the coal mine owned by S. Roberts. Some slight remains of this pioneer building are still visible. his house he occupied with his family on the twenty-second of June. That spring Mr. Price broke nine acres of prairie on his claim, planted it th corn, and realized from it a surplus of two hundred bushels, which he Id for fifty cents per bushel. On the following season he obtained some ed wheat from Fairfield, and obtained from it a fair crop. During the st summer he went to Burlington to mill, and in the winter to the nearest ill on the Skunk. On the occasion of his winter trip he had to ferry his ad over that river in a canoe. On his return from a trip to Fairfield, it ined much of the time, then turned so cold that his clothing was frozen iff on his body. On another occasion, returning in company with Ray d Samnel Wilson, from a milling expedition to Skunk, a heavy snow- ›rmn obstructed the way so much that it was necessary to make frequent Its till one or the other should go forward in search of the path and break e drifts.

Andrew Metz settled in the township in 1846. Andrew Donnel came e same year. The former was a native of Germany, the latter was a native Pennsylvania, from whence he moved to Ohio in 1818.

A somewhat amusing instance of claim jumping may be related here. ndrew Donnel had made a claim and hauled some logs to the ground, eparatory to the erection of a house thereon. But, after a few days ab- nce on some other business, he returned to the place and found, to his tonishment, and, we presume, somewhat to his grief, that the house was ready built and occupied by Mr. John Scott. Mr. D. preferring not to sturb the intruder, made another claim in the neighborhood, which proved be far superior to the first in value.

The first post-office in Summit township was called "Divide," and John . Scott was commissioned P. M. in '47. But, as Mr. S. did not serve, the lice was immediately discontinued, and he carried the mail to Red Rock r several years. At first, not having any regular mail-bag, he took the hall amount of matter directed to that place tied up in a handkerchief.

In the summer of '57 a post office was established on section 16, called ewark, Wm. H. Anderson, P. M. Some years after this it was shifted to the hands of various persons, and finally got settled at Otley, where its ime was changed to that of the village, Geo. H. Hammond, P. M.

The first day school was taught by Abram B. Scott, in the southern part the township. Watson, better remembered as " the one armed Watson," terward taught in a small cabin on the divide. In the same cabin the first inday-school was organized and conducted by Andrew Donnel and others, the summer of '49, and preaching was had there on irregular occasions. The next year after the organization of the township, in 1855, Summit wnship contained:

Polls 117

Real estate valned at $89,002

Personal property . 33,557

In 1870 the valuation was

Real estate.

$146,772

Personal property

49,927

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

In 1879 it was

Real estate $269,400 84,452

Personalty

The independent school district plan prevails in this township, there being nine independent districts. There are also nine road districts. A road tar of two and one-half mills on the dollar was levied last year, from which then was realized for the improvement of the roads the sum of $800. The aggre gate tax levy of the township for all purposes, last year was sixteen and one half mills on the dollar.

There are in the township public and private burying grounds to the number of eight, as follows:

Private ground on the land of William Fisher.

Private ground on section 16, called the Pendroy ground. .

Honnold ground in section 13.

Burkhalter ground in section 29.

Viersen ground in section 29.

Yowell ground in section 30.

The West ground in section 34.

Public cemetery in section 27.

The Otley coal mines are located a half mile south of the town of Otley. The vein is from four to eight feet in thickness and is of an excellent qual- ity.

The following is the official directory of the township for 1880:

Trustees-John Ribble and M. Tilma.

Justices of the Peace-John W. Honnold and N. A. Bovee.

Olerk-W. S. Honnold.

Assessor-E. S. Bearden.

Constables -- G. D. Pastina and John Brown.

TOWN OF OTLEY.

Otley was laid out in August, 1867, by J. F. Baldwin, Columbus Long and George W. Johnston. It is located in sections 15 and 22.

The depot was the first building in the town, and it may properly be termed a railroad town and being such is characterized by much of the en- terprise, dash and sprightliness common to towns of that kind.

The first store building was erected by Mr. R. Weaver, and Alexander Jolly built the first dwelling.

Otley post-office dates from the spring of 1868, J. W. Honnold having been the first postmaster. His successors have been as follows: J. S. Davis, J. C. Donnel, G. M. Hammond, Simpson Bell and Isaac N. Crum.

The town of Otley was named in honor of Col. Otley, engineer of the Des Moines Valley Railroad at the time the town was laid out.

Otley is regarded as one of the liveliest towns along the railroad. Great -

quantities of grain, stock and farm products of all kinds are annually shipped from this point.

The public school consists of two departments; H. B. Wilson is at pres- ent principal and Miss Ida Dunn assistant.

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SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.

Isaac N. Crun is the present postmaster, and T. M. Donaldson is railroad station agent.

! There are three store of general merchandise kept by the following per- sons respectively: Isaac N. Crum & Son, W. B. Keeler & Son, L. Plette & Co.

: M. K. Walker and T. J. Kirkwood are the proprietors of the two drug stores.

Boots and shoes are sold by J. Minaardi.

Groceries are weighed out by L. Wielenga. .

Besides the foregoing houses of business there is one hotel, one harness shop, one millinery, two blacksmith shops, two grain elevators, both oper- ated by J. B. Hendershott; one grist mill, turning lathe operated by wind power, and stock yards.

CHURCHES.

There are three churches, Baptist, Methodist and Dutch Reformed.

The Baptist Church-This church was organized in February, 1871. J. T. Hendershott, J. B. Hendershott, Mrs. Penninah Hendershott, Colum- bus Long, M. W. Yowell and wife, Mrs. Sophrona Yowell, William White and wife and Mrs. C. Finley, constituted the membership of the church.

The same year the church was organized a large frame church building was erected at a cost of $4,000.

. The building was dedicated in November, 1871, by Rev. Wm. Wood, as- sisted by Rev. Mr. Fry.

The membership of the church numbers sixty, Rev. F. M. Archer being the pastor.

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The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 84

Author: Union Historical Company Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company Number of Pages: 915

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Company
Number of Pages: 915