The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 93

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 93

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W. D. Everett, James Karr and Mike Morris erected the first saw-mill - 1850, being a temporary affair, driven by horse-power. It stood near be sonth bank of the river.

Richard R. Watts was a native of Ohio, where he was born in 1815, hoved to Indiana in 1820; to Illinois in 1830; to Jefferson county, Iowa, in -842, and from thence to Marion county in the spring of 1843, and settled ear the present site of Coalport. During his early residence here he and is family suffered some of the privations common to the times. During me winter they were dependent upon the services of a coffee-mill for their aily bread, and with it they ground ten bushels of buckwheat that season. John Babcock was also a native of Ohio. When he settled here his Emily consisted of a wife and seven children, mostly girls. He was a Mor- Son in faith, and his wife was a member of that church. At one time uring a period of about six weeks, his family was reduced to the verge of Starvation, subsisting almost entirely on nettles boiled for greens. On rare ocasions they obtained a piece of corn-bread from Mike Morris. This =ind of diet produced a change in their complexions from a natural to a [ ark, greenish hue, suggestive of poor health.

VILLAGES.

There were two villages laid out in this township, but they were never m proved to any extent. The first is Ronssean, on the south bank of the Ever, in section 9. It was located by Wm. Kent, and surveyed by James Rousseau, April 25, 1850, and named for him. Here a pretended effort was -nce made to erect a dam and lock in the great visionary enterprise of enproving the navigation of the Des Moines River.

Coalport is located on section 14, at the point of a large bend in the river, . n the south side. It was laid out by Wm. Welch, May 11, 1857, and 80 Lamed on account of the vast quantity and superior quality of coal in its -icinity.

There was a post-office located at Rousseau, August 12, 1873, with J. A. Walker, postmaster. There is also a good grist-mill, store of general mer- handise and ferry across the Des Moines River. Mr. Walker, besides be- Ing postmaster, manages the store and operates the ferry.

There is a Baptist Church at Coal Ridge, Sec. 23. This small church was built in 1873 at a cost of $600. The following preachers have served he church: Rev. E. H. Scarff, William Elliott, T. J. Arnold, O. Sperry, L. Fosdick. The most of their supply came from Pella. No services at pres- int.

The population in 1875, was 879: in 1880, 735.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MSBERRY, M. J .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15, P. O. Knoxville. Was born on the fifteenth of February, 1837, in Mason county, West

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

Virginia and was there raised and received an education in the comme schools of that county. He spent his boyhood days with his father on dr farm and in his father's tanyard. He came to this county in the springd 1857. He owns 142 acres of land. He has held various township off He married Miss Adeline Greenlee, in 1863. She is a native of Vinis and was born in 1836. By this union they have six children: Warren L, Elbert S., Edna H., Jessie M., Roy and Rolla (twins). Himself and are members of the Baptist Church of Coal Ridge.

ERG, CORNELIUS VAN DEN-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, P.Q

B Pella. Was born November 13, 1824, in South Holland. Wasthe raised on a farm and received an education in the schools of that county At the age of twenty-two he came to this country, in 1847 with the nom Holland colony. His parents were also members of the same colony. Th settled in Lake Prairie township, and he is one of Marion county's succand farmers. He owns 400 acres of land, about 200 of which are under gou cultivation; 100 hundred acres in pasture lands, and the rest in timberland and has his farm well stocked. He married Miss Cornelia Vanhamert the fifth of October, 1856. She is also a native of Holland, and was bu in the province of Gelderland. By this union they have three childres Celia (now Mrs Vermers), Cornelius and Peter. Lost three. In coming to this country he crossed the ocean in the sail vessel De Maastrown, com manded by Capt. Scott. Landed at Baltimore, and came from there to tu county. Being one of the first settlers here he has endured inany hardship and it is but just that he should now enjoy the benefits of his competency.

BRUCE, JACOB-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18, P. O. Knoznih Was born April 3, 1821, in Hardy county, Virginia, and residd there until thirteen years of age, then emigrated to Ross county, Oli with his parents, where he resided until 1848. He spent his youthful yes on a farm and acquired an education in the common schools. At the of eighteen years he learned the distilling business, but he has not world at it it much during his life. From Ohio he emigrated to Fulton county Illinois, where he spent one year, came to Iowa in 1849 and settled in to county on a claim. In 1858 he sold his claim and bought the land on whid he now resides. He owns 320 acres of fine farm land, rolling ground, which he has good and comfortable buildings. He married Miss Mary !. Crozier in November, 1843, a native of Ohio, born August 26, 1823. B this union they have ten children living: H. S., George, Eliza, Jureldim, Rosetta, Mary L., Nancy D., Sarah M. and James McLellan (twins), and Na tha M. Lost one, Minerva J. They also have a nephew living with the Harvey Columbns, son of Minerva J. In 1860 Mr. Bruce took a trip !! Colorado and engaged in farming and dairying. In 1866 he returned al settled on his old home. Mr. Bruce had but seventy-five cents in his pocket when he landed here. He worked for thirty-seven and one-half cents a day, and his wife would yoke up the oxen and go to the timber and baul wood She also helped to cut brush and clear out the farm. They are now very comfortably located, and are among the best respected citizens of th county.

C' ROZIER, ROBERT-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17, P. O. . Rom seau. Was born February 28, 1828, in Ross county, Ohio. raised there on a farm and received an education in the common schools that place. He emigrated to Fulton county, Illinois, where he lived om year, then came to this county in the fall of 1849, and settled where

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POLK TOWNSHIP.

ow lives. He first built a cabin on his claim and lived there until 1852. Ie then took his family and started across the plains in one of those noted rairie schooners, with an ox team. He spent four years among the mines f California, then came back by way of the Isthmus and settled on his old laim, and he has made this his home since, although he has been four imes to Colorado since then. He now owns a fine farm of 800 acres. He as been a member of the county board of supervisors two terins and nstice of the peace several terins. He married Miss Nancy Ward in 1848. lhe was born in Ohio in 1829. By this union they have six children: "hornton, Josephine, John, James, Newton and Edwin. Lost, two. E' LLIOTT, WILLIAM M .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8, P. O. Rous- seau. Among the pioneers of this county, and one of the most prominent, B the subject of our sketch. He is a native of Barren county, Kentucky, nd was born on the 15th day of March, 1825 .. He spent his boyhood days u a farm. At the age of nineteen he commenced to learn the milling business. Continued therein three years and then took up agriculture. He ame to this county in the fall of 1854, and settled in Whitebreast, in this ownship. In 1865 he drove a herd of cattle across the country to Pike's Peak and sold them to the miners for gold-dust. In October, 1880, he noved on the farm where he now resides. He owns 4813 acres of well im- roved land, on which he has good and comfortable buildings. He ommenced life with limited means and has been the architect of his wn fortune. In his manner he is kind and genial and has won the respect f a large number of friends. Although he has never been an aspirant for ffice, he has held many of the township offices, always filling them faith- ully. He married Miss Mary Underwood in August, 1849, a native of Kentucky. She was born July . 21, 1832. By this union they have cight hildren: Dawson, Nancy (now Mrs. N. A. Crozier), Moses, Lucinda M., fary M., Sarah A., Estella and William. Lost one.

ELLIOTT, D. B .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18, P. O. Knoxville. Dawson Elliott, or Doss, as he is commonly called, is the eldest son of W. {. and Mary Elliott, and was born September 13, 1850, in Barren county, Kentucky, and was taken from there to this county by his parents when bree years of age. He married Miss M. A. West, December 30, 1871. the is a native of Ohio and was born on the 25th of November, 1855. By his union they have four children: Edna May, Bertie G., Millie M. and Villiam J. He owns a fine farin of 1924 acres, well improved.

EVERETT, JOHN S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22, P. O. Knox- ille. Prominent among the early pioneers in this county was the subject f onr sketch. He is a native of Cayuga county, New York, and was born Lpril 6, 1816. When two years of age he removed with his parents to Point Pleasant, Mason county, Virginia. Was there reared on a farm and ducated. When he attained his majority he returned to New York and worked on a farm in summer and attended school in the winter, and there- y obtained a good English education. In 1840 he moved to his old home Virginia, and engaged in teaching for two years. Abont that time he >ok a partner in life in the person of Miss Elizabeth E. McCown, a native f Virginia. She was born October 15, 1823. This event occurred in 1843. Le then took np agricultural pursuits and followed that profession until he ime to this county in June, 1847. He has a fine farm of 120 acres, nd also forty acres of timber land. Their family consists of seven children ving: Sophia (now Mrs. Greenlee), A. J., Joanna (now Mrs. Carpenter),

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

J. M., Mary, William and Warren. Lost four. Himself and wife members of the Baptist Church, in which he holds the offices of deacon superintendent of sabbath-school. He was one of the first trustees of township and has held that office almost unceasingly since, and hasdh held other offices in the township. He being among the first, he coded many hardships in those early days.

L AM, A. 'T-Fariner and stock-raiser, Sec. 13, P. O. Pelle. Was la in October, 1856, in Marion county, Iowa, where he was raised manhood and educated. He is an energetic young man and possesses moral principles. His father, Cornelius 't Lain, was one of the early oneers here, and came with the Holland colony in 1847. He took mi claim and remained a citizen of this county until 1870 when he died. left a wife and six children: John, Cornelins, Annie, Peter, Sally and Fal erick (now deceased). The mother again married, and now resides in Ka sas.

LIVERE, W. J .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Coalport, P. O. Knorril This gentleman is a native of Virginia, and was born December IL 1813, where he was raised and educated. At the age of nineteen he cam menced to work in the Canahawa salt works, where he remained fifa years. He then took up agricultural pursuits and followed that bosiam until 1870. In 1879 he came to this county and settled at Coalport. married Miss Lucy J. Everett in 1838. She is a native of New York, was born in 1810. By this union they have five children: Sarah E., Ba nett F., John W., Thomas D. and Jane A. Lost three. Although bett short time in the county, Mr. Olivere has by his courteous and affabled meanor won hosts of friends.

R EYNOLDS, M. S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 16, P. O. Rousem Was born December fourth, 1822, in Mason county, Virginia spent his boyhood days on a farm with his father and attended the comme schools of that vicinity. In the fall of 1845 he came to Iowa and cetth in Scott county and lived there until the spring of 1846, when he came this county and settled on Whitebreast Prairie, and he has made t county his home since. At that time there was but one house in Pelle h 1851 he purchased a claim near Coalport, consisting of ninety-six acres ad resided there about two years. The high water in 1851 forced him to cate his dwelling for some time, He was obliged to take his family fr the house in a frail canoe and run great risk of their lives in getting the ashore. He next moved on to a farm near Pella. In 1854 he went in the saw-mill business and followed it seven years, part of the time in part nership with his father-in-law, W. Nossaman. They owned the second ar. mill in the county. It was first located in Lake Prairie township. It@ afterward moved to Whitebreast. In 1860 he took a trip to Colorado sat spent seven months among the mines. He returned to this county and 1864 moved on the farin on which he now resides, which consists of 19 acres. He also owns fifteen acres of timber land. He has held various d fices in the township, and has always discharged his duties faithfully. . L 1851 he married Miss Nancy Nossaman. She is a native of Kentucky was born February 15, 1832. By this union they have eight children: A fred C., Vernon M., Samantha, Allen W., Ida M., Mortimer, Levial Charlie. Lost one, J. L.

RIJSDAM, G .- Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1, P. O. Pella. Was bon May 4, 1844, in South Holland. Came to America in 1854, win

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POLK TOWNSHIP.

'is parents, who settled in Marion county and engaged in farmning. The Object of this sketch was here raised and educated. He married Miss Jane Tan Nien Whoort on the eighteenth of March, 1871. She is a native of Louth Holland, born March 17, 1851. By this union they have five chil- Fren : Ellen, Arie, Gerty, Frank and Henrietta. He is an industrious, hon- st, energetic citizen.

S TEVENSON, ANDREW-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P. O. Ot- ley. Prominent among the early pioneers in this county is the sub- bet of our sketch. He is a native of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and was born February 4, 1818. He was raised a farmer and educated in the com- aon schools of that county. At the age of seventeen he emigrated with his varents to Michigan, and from there to Van Buren county, Iowa. After Iving there a short time he took a trip to Ohio, where he lived three years, ind then came to this county in May, 1843, and settled in what is now Lake Prairie township and took one of the first claims in that vicinity. He esided there one year, then moved to this township and purchased a claim. He owns 400 acres of land abont 200 of which are under cultivation. He helped organize the township and was one of the first trustees and holds hat office at the present time. He married Miss Maria Karr in 1849. She s a native of Indiana, and was born in 1828. By this union they have even children: Mary J., John, Harry, Thomas, Elizabeth, William and Minnie. Lost three: James, Gertrude and Pierce. Himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church.

ETER, AMOS-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17, P. O. Knoxville.

I Was born September 5, 1826, in Ross county, Ohio, and was raised nd educated in the common schools of that county, and spent his boyhood lays with his father on the farm. He came to this county in 1846, and ook up a claim in Union township, and commenced pioneer life in earnest, nd has made this county his home since that time. In 1873 himself and amily made a tour to Puget Sound, returning in 1874. He moved to Eagle Rock farm, on which he now resides, in March, 1861. It contains 10 acres under good cultivation. He married Miss Sarah A. Crozier, in .849. She is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1832. By this union they lave seven children: Allison, Geo. M., Martha V., Delna, Alice D. and larah A. (twins), and Emma. They lost two. Mr. Teter commenced life , poor boy, and is entirely a self-made man. During his long sojourn has frequently held township offices.

AN LINT, NICHOLAS-Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13, P. O. Pella. Was born March 14, 1846, in South Holland, and brought y his parents to the United States in 1847, and belonged to the original Holland colony that settled in Lake Prairie township. Nicholas spent his boyhood days on the farm with his father, and attended the common schools. He married Miss Susan Veenstra in 1871. She is a native of the Nether- ands, and was born in 1853. By this union they have four children: Cor- elins, Barbara, John and James A. They lost one. He owns 98 acres of ine land; about 65 acres of which are under good cultivation.

W YNGARDEN, J. VAN-Deceased. Was born April 28, 1804, in South Holland. He came to this country in 1855. and settled in bis township. He owned a fine farm of 600 acres, which is now divided mong his heirs. His wife is still living, and is now in her seventieth year. }. H. van Wyngarden, the youngest son. inherited the old homestead on Jec. 12. He was born on the 23d of February, 1854, in South Holland. Came

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

to Marion county with his parents, and received the benefits of the com- mon schools. He learned the carpenter trade, and judging from mm samples of his work it is safe to state that he understands his business. & has a fine farm of 90 acres, well improved and well adapted to the rainy of all kinds of grain. Has a fine house and good, comfortable builds for his stock, and everything about the premises is arranged in good they WYNGARDEN, JOHN VAN-Farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 12, P.Q. Pella. Was born October 4. 1846, in Zuit Holland. He was there min until nine years of age, and attended the schools of that country. In 188 he came to this county with his parents. They settled in this towndi and John attended school some, and by devoting his spare' moment ! study he attained a fair English education. He is engaged in agricole pursuits at present, and owns 320 acres of fine land, about forty som under cultivation, the remainder in pasture and timber lands. Hed owns some town property in Pella. He is an industrions, entergetic citi

CHAPTER X. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Geography-Organization and Early Settlers-Post-offices-Biographical.

TECHNICALLY, Franklin is in township 75, range 21, and is bounded on th north by Pleasant Grove, on the east by Knoxville, on the south by Dalla and on the west by Warren county.

Much the larger portion of the township is prairie, the timber narrowly margining Whitebreast, that runs through the southeast quarter, and small creek called Coon Creek, that runs through the northwest quarta Coal is abundant along Whitebreast, and several veins have been opend and worked, measuring four feet in thickness .; The prairies are less broka than in some portions of the county; and, the soil being excellent, no bet- ter farming land can be found than exists in Franklin.

ORGANIZATION AND EARLY SETTLERS.

On the 3d of October, 1848, by order of the county commissioners, this township was defined as a part of Dallas, and so remained till about 1852 when it became a part of Pleasant Grove, and so remained till the 28th d February, 1855, when, by order of the county judge, it became a distinct . township, to be known as Franklin township.

The petition asking that Dallas township be divided, and a new tow ship to be known as Franklin be organized, was presented to the county conrt in February, 1855. The petition was signed by John Miller and twenty-three others. The petition was granted and an order made accord- ingly on the twenty-eighth of February. The second of April, 1855, the time appointed for holding the first election. John Miller was appointed organizing officer, and the house of John Clark was designated as the place for holding the election. On the second day of April, the election is and for said township was held at the house of John Clark, at which John McNeil and John Miller were chosen justices; Samuel Ream and Willian Sweezey, constables; John Clark, aasessor; J. W. Higtree, clerk; Warren

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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

McNeil, Isaac Copelin and Samuel B. Wilson, trustees. There is no record of the number of votes cast.

# The following are the names of most of those persons who settled in the township at the earliest dates:

Nathan Nichols and Amanda Hewland, in '46; Peter Row, William Frazer and James Frakes, in '48; John Clark in '49; Daniel F. Smith, in [50, and J. W. Higtree, in '52.

1 John Clark was born in Tennessee, February 14, 1815, came to this coun- try in 1849, arriving at Knoxville on the twenty-sixth of June. Having traded William Frazer a land warrant for a timber claim on Whitebreast Creek, he also made a prairie claim, built a cabin on the bottom, and moved to it on the twenty-sixth of July. In raising this cabin near help was so scarce that he had to resort to friends in Knoxville, and even then it required three days to put the building up.

The first milling Mr. Clark did was at Brobst's and Haymakers on Ce- !

dar. In 1855 he went to what is known as Beach's mill. now a place called Summerset, in the Three Rivers country in Warren connty. At that time there was, on the route to this mill, a wide stretch of uninhabited prairie, on which there was neither a tree, trail nor moand to guide the traveler who wished to cross it, and some one had set stakes at wide intervals as the only way-marks. Mr. Clark, with a wagon and two yoke of cattle, and accompanied by a man named Nathaniel Brown, had crossed this desert to Beach's, and remained there two days waiting for their grinding. Now being in some haste to get home, they set out in time to reach Hammonds- burg before night. Here they concluded to tarry no longer than was required to feed their teams and themselves, hoping to reach home long before mid- night. So, withont further delay. they drove on, but when darkness came they found it impossible to keep the way themselves and therefore trusted to the instincts of their oxen to find the way. The oxen became as much bewildered as the driver, and early next morning Mr. Clark found himself at the south-west corner of the county.

The first school in the township was taught by Nathan Nichols in a va- cant house previously occupied as a dwelling by a Mr. Frank.

Mr. Nichols and a widow, who was a relative of his afterward, were living together in the same house and the former was compelled to move his quarters elsewhere by a son of the latter who created a disturbance. Some time after looking np his abode elsewhere he returned to the widow's honse for a pitcher of buttermilk. He drank heartily of the milk before leaving, and was found dead the next day at his own house, with all the evidences to prove that he had died in extreme agony. He was lying upon his bed with his head hung over the railing, and his face black, whilst over him and upon the floor were strewed large quantities of feathers from the bed-tick that he had evidently torn open in his struggles. At one time some suspi- cions of foul treatment were entertained, but no conclusion was better to arrive at than that the poor man died from a violent attack of bilious colic, induced by the excessive dranghts of buttermilk he had taken into his stom- ich. The widow afterward returned to Ohio.

Peter Rane went to California in 1852, and returning after an abeence of two years, found that his wife had gone to Missouri, and followed her. He never returned. Frakes went to Wapello county.

Jackson McClain and John Clark planted the first orchards in 1852.

Rev. A. Colborn was the first preacher in the township, and John De-

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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.

moss organized the first society of United Brethren in 1851. The meeting was held in subdistrict number one, and the class was composed of pa- cons belonging to various denominations. Revs. Messrs. Bonebreak and Sleeper also preached and organized a church of United Brethren at Or loma.

The first house erected for school purposes was in district number om, in 1850. Soon after its completion Chas. Smith, now living in Pleasest Grove, came and asked the privilege of dedicating it to educational per- poses by delivering a lecture on slavery. The request was granted, and this was the first lecture of any kind delivered in the township. W. I Stone made the first political speech ever made in the township in thi house in 1856, in favor of John C. Fremont for president.

POST-OFFICES.

Daniel F. Smith kept the first post-office in 1857, called Caloma; the name it still retains. Mr. Smith's successors, as postmaster at Caloma, wer first Anderson McNeil, then W. A. Rodgers, and then the present post- master, F. A. Harding, who was appointed in June, 1871.

Besides a post-office there is, at Caloma, a store of general merchandise. kept by Mr. Harding, a blacksmith shop and hotel. .

Star post-office is located near the center of the township; Mr. E. L Wines is the present postmaster.

There is no church building in the township. The Baptists and Luther- ans have occasional services at school-houses.

The Franklin township burying ground is located on section 29.

The following named persons are the present officers of the township:

Clerk-C. E. Smith.

Assessor-G. L. Gustin.

Trustees-Thos. Deer, A. Glenn, J. F. Lohse.

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The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C., Part 93

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