USA > Iowa > Marshall County > The History of Marshall County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 64
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Witnesseth : That in consideration of the covenants of the second party hereinafter named, and one dollar in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and provided always that the said second party shall appropriate, in due form of law, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, from the Swamp Land Fund of said county, for the purposes hereinafter described, the said first party does hereby covenant and agree to erect such a seminary for educational pur- poses, in accordance with the recorded articles of incorporation of the said first party, said seminary to be located in the town of Albion, Marshall County, Iowa, of the value of not less than Five Thousand Dollars, and otherwise in
520
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
consonance with Articles of Agreement made by this said first party, with " The High School of the County of Marshall, State of Iowa." Executed the 8th day of November, A. D. 1858. The said seminary also to be dedicated and appro- priated as by the said last aforesaid Article of Nov. 8th, 1858. The remainder of the said sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, which shall not be appropriated to the bona fide crection of said seminary, shall be reserved as a contingent fund for the employment of teachers, the purchase of library and other furnishing, sustaining and providing therefor and keeping the said seminary in repair.
And the said second party covenants to submit to the voters of Marshall County the question of the above appropriation of the Swamp Land Fund, as early as practicable, and, if the measures shall be by them adopted, to devote the said sum of ten thousand dollars as above specified, provided that a good and sufficient bond in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful execution of this article, shall be executed by the said first party to this second party, and provided that none of the above moneys shall be drawn from the Treasurer of Marshall County, except by an order signed by the President and countersigned by the Secretary of the said first party, specifically stating for and to what purpose the amount of said order is to be applied.
Witness our hands this, the 25th day of January, 1859, and the seals of the respective parties.
THOMAS SWEARINGEN, President. THOMAS J. WILSON, Secretary Of the Marshall County High School Co. JAMES L. WILLIAMS, Clerk
Of the District Court and acting County Judge in the absence of William C. Smith, County Judge.
BOND.
Know all men by these presents, That the Marshall County High School Company as principal, and Stephen Tripp, H. C. Knapp, Thomas J. Spindler, M. A. Tucker, Wm. E. Walker, S. M. Pepper, Wm. Parnell, Terry Gowing, Samuel R. Culp, John Montgomery, I. J. Ferguson, J. W. Tripp, H. S. Pat- rick, John H. Amery, Samuel Andrews, Volney S. Bartlett, Gideon Wheeler, A. E. White, B. G. Phillips, A. Loucks, M. Perigo, R. McRill, et al., as sure- ties, are held and firmly bound unto Marshall County, State of Iowa, in the penal sum of twenty thousand dollars, well and truly to be paid, and to this we bind ourselves, heirs, executors, assigns and legal representatives.
Witness our hands and seals this 25th day of January, A. D. 1859.
The condition of the above obligation is such that if the said Marshall County High School Company shall well and truly perform according to their tenor and proper interpretation certain Articles of Agreement entered into with Marshall County aforesaid, this 25th day of January, 1859, the original dupli- cate of which is hereto attached, then this bond to be null and void, and other- wise in full force.
Dated Marietta, Ia., Jan. 25, 1859. THOMAS SWEARINGEN, President, [L. s.] THOMAS J. WILSON, Secretary Stephen Tripp. A. E. White, H. C. Knapp, Of the Marshall Co. High School Company. [L. S.] Samuel R. Culp, John Montgomery, Gideon Wheeler,
Thomas J. Spindler,
I. J. Teagarden,
B. G. Phillips, Adam Loucks,
M. A. Tucker, William E. Walker,
J. W. Tripp,
H. S. Patrick, M. Perigo,
John H. Amery, R. McRill,
Daniel Andrews, Abram Lybarger,
Seymour M. Pepper. William Parnell, Terry Gowing,
Volney S. Bartlett,
Wm. T. Evans.
521
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The manner in which the school was to be erected "without expense to thecounty," was by the appropriation of money from the Swamp Land Fund. This act had been legalized in certain counties and under certain conditions, immaterial to mention here,since it is shown that Marshall possessed them, both as regards her population and lack of need of work upon swamp lands.
The Board of Trustees determined to petition the County Judge for a special vote upon the question of appropriating $10,000 of the Swamp Land Funds the school. The request was granted, and Judge Smith issued a proclamation to that effect Feb. 14, 1859. The notice was published in the Marietta Express.
The election took place March 28, 1859, and resulted as follows :
Towns.
For Against Appropriation. Appropriation.
Marietta
137
3
Marion
31
12
Le Grand.
4
63
Eden ..
3
23
Green Castle.
28
Marshall.
I17
13
Jefferson.
2
28
Bangor.
13
33
Liberty
56
9
Iowa ...
202
1
Vienna.
10
5
Washington.
15
Total
575
233
The County Judge issued the necessary warrants, for the payment of the the appropriation ; but it had transpired prior to the vote that much of the swamp lands had been sold on time, thereby necessitating a partial pay- ment of the sum called for by the vote.
Albion, meanwhile, had raised her share, by the sale of High School Co. stock. Work was begun on the building and the plan of opening the school appeared about to be carried out.
The change in outside aid, relieved Marietta and Marshalltown of the orginal notes, and they were never paid. The slowness with which the Swamp Land Fund came into the County Treasury, induced the Company to effect some negotiation of the collaterals, the exact nature of which does not appear of record. It is believed that the Company never realized the full amount of the appropriation. An arrangement amicable and satisfactory was reached, however, and further than that we are not able to state.
The school was not an overwhelming success. It failed to achieve lasting renown, and finally passed into the hands of the Lutherans, who opened a de- nominational institute there. The transfer of property was conditional upon the erection of an addition to the building, and certain other repairs. After a few years of struggle, in which the school proved a financial failure, the property passed into the possession of Thomas Swearingen, who became sole proprietor by purchase at a Sheriff's sale. Thus the old High School Company was wiped off the board, and the money paid out by Albion went the way of many another investment in stock.
After some ineffectual efforts to maintain a private school therein, the prop- erty passed into the hands of the Methodists, as related in the opening of this chapter.
522
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
STATE CENTRE.
INCLUDING A SKETCH OF EDEN AND STATE CENTRE TOWNSHIPS.
When the first settlement was made in the southwestern part of the county by Greene Allen, in 1849, it was made in Eden Township, which included at that time the present limits of State Centre. Allen made a claim of 600 acres, and built a little cabin 14x16, and a straw shed for his stock. which he had driven from his home in Illinois. He also brought with him provisions to last six months. He was obliged to go to Oskaloosa to mill, but the mill could not always be depended upon, as the trails were often impassable because of the high water. Hence a diet of parched corn and bean soup was not an unfre- quent one with his family. Within a period of a year or more, a settler of the name of Maggard built a cabin about two miles distant, on the old Thayer place. Until then, Allen's nearest neighbors had been the people of the Timber Creek settlement and of Newton City. In 1851, "Uncle John " Sparks of Lynn- ville. Jasper County, built a mill, which lessened the distance which had to be traversed for a grist. It was in this year that the great freshest swelled all the
rivers and small streams to an unimagined volume. The next settler in Eden
Township was Philip Barbee, who made a claim and built a cabin on the farm later owned by John Jarolam. This was in 1852. In March, 1854, H. Robb, C. B. Mendenhall and C. B. Rhodes with his family came to Eden. Mr. Robb entered a claim in what is now State Center Township, while Mendenhall and Rhodes settled lower down the grove in Eden proper. F. Woolston, Eugene Summers, Simon Price and P. A. Culver came in during the Summer of that year, and took their places in the ranks of pioneers. In this year there was great apprehension of trouble with the Indians; but, though living in dread of what calamity might befall them from that quarter, the settlers did not desert their homes. Mr. Woolston was a blacksmith and was very useful to the busy community with his trade. Rev. Thomas Mendenhall came in August, 1854. He was a devoted Methodist minister, and later preached in the school house of North Eden. He performed the first marriage ceremony in the township, the bride being the daughter of Jacob Crouch, the groom John Dondson. The first sermon was preached in Eden Township by Rev. Abram Woolston. It was in a new log house, and there were about sixty people present. Mr. Woolston says that every man, woman and child in the township was present, except one very old lady. Mr. Woolston also relates how he and some children had an encounter with three panthers while out gathering wild plums. "We were gathering plums," he says, " when I saw an animal spring from the bushes, and go quietly away. I dropped everything and started after it, supposing it was a young fawn. One of the girls, who knew it was a panther, screamed with terror for me to come back. We saw three of them. They did not seem to have any intention of troubling us. They were subsequently seen again. but they shortly afterward disappeared."
The Winter of 1854-5 was so pleasant that men worked out of doors in their shirt sleeves. In the latter year, Ruston Bullock, J. Van Pelt and Will- iam Greenfield came, and began their farms-Mr. Bullock in State Centre and Mr. Greenfield in South Eden. Mr. Owens Price also came in this year, and established himself on the prairie on the direct road to Marshalltown. He had a large family, and was very hospitable, and his house was the stopping place for travelers to and from Marshalltown. R. E. Scotten built a cabin near the edge of Story County, this same year, and it was the last house on the prairie trail to Nevada.
523
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Winter of 1856 was terrific. Snow began the first of December, and was very loath to go. Grass did not appear much before the middle of May.
Dr. Mendenhall and F. O. Woolston brought the first reaper into the county the Summer of this year. It was a McCormick, purchased in Sioux City.
A school house was built this year in North Eden.
In 1857, Mr. Conway Rhodes laid out the town of Edenville, and brought quite a heavy stock of goods there. The first Fourth of July celebration was held this year, in the grove back of Edenville, Rev. Mr. Merrill, from College Farm, Jasper County, delivering the oration. This year a weekly mail from Marietta was established, with Isaac Sanford as first Postmaster.
The year 1858 was another one of flood and torrent, seven years having elapsed since the last.
In 1859, a Good Templars' Lodge was established, and held services once a month on Sundays. It was this year that three-cent postage stamps came into use.
In 1861. the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad . Company surveyed their line through the county, which gave a strong impulse to immigration, notwith- standing the gloom of the war. Eden Township sent her quota to the army, lacking four ; and among her brave boys who fell, the names of Simon Wool- ston. Harry Nichols, Irving Benson, George Culver, E. Bartlett and Martin Logan are inscribed with honor upon her record.
In November, 1863, the Chicago & North-Western Railroad had its track laid here on its course to the setting sun. With it came the " Crow's Nest," a moving caravansary on wheels, kept by Alexander Crow, in which meals were furnished to track layers, or any chance homeless traveler. In an article in the State Centre Enterprise, from which we draw a portion of our facts, Crow is described as " tall, dark, gypsyish looking man, generous with his tongue and purse, the beau ideal of a jolly landlord.
The railroad company had bought eighty acres of land of A. C. Babcock, upon which they started a town, calling it Centre Station. William Barnes, now of Chicago, was the first agent, and also built a small shanty for a grain storehouse, and paid 80 cents for bushel for wheat. Later he had the name changed to State Centre, owing to its being located so near the geo- graphical center of the State. W. L. Smith and William Thompson owned property near the corporation line. Business brightened. The farm houses be- tween Edenville and the station were all hotels, in the sense of entertaining travelers, and money began to circulate freely. A daily stage was placed on the thoroughfare from State Centre to Des Moines.
Everybody remembers the " cold New Years." The mercury was 12ยบ below zero and the wind blew a gale. In January of that year, several hun- dred hogs were driven to State Centre for shipment. A dreadful storm came up. and many of them were frozen-1,300 out of 1,800. Some four weeks after the storm they were found, standing up straight where they had been smothered by the snow and frozen solid.
In the Spring of this year, the first house made its appearance in State Centre. It was not built, but moved there from Marietta, sixteen miles distant, by John Anselm. It was a small frame structure, 18x20 feet, and is now occupied by J. S. Fairhead. It was used by Mr. Anselm as a hotel. The same day that Mr. Anselm arrived with his family to take possession of his house, Mr. Barnes' family arrived. Mr. Barnes built the first house in the village, the Union Hotel, it being a part of his bargain with the railroad com- pany that he should keep travelers who came to the station, as the " Crow's
524
1
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Nest" took flight with the onward progress of the track. This is now known as the " Stipps House."
The first birth in the village was a daughter of John Anselm-Emma.
During this Summer there were several small buildings put up, one by Mrs. M. Barnes. Rev. Mr. Basset, formerly a clergyman in Washington City, came into the town and built a large two-story house, just at its edge, which from the elevation of its location could be seen for miles away. In the Fall, T. B. Car- penter came, and, at abont the same time, A. N. Woolston.
Mr. J. W. Dobbins and V. J. Shipman came to State Centre in January, 1865, and erected a one-story frame building, now occupied by S. M. Morgan, and put in groceries and boots and shoes. This was the first store in the place. Mr. Dobbins was originally from Sandwich, Ill, and Mr. Shipman from Orleans Co., N. Y. The Carpenter Brothers erected a store in May and put in a stock of goods. The family of T. B. Carpenter occupied a back room of the same building until such time as a suitable dwelling could be prepared. On the 27th of June, there came a terrible thunder-storm from the west, ac- companied with a fearful wind. Mr. Carpenter's family felt the house shake as if it was in the hands of some monster, and then there came a crash. The whole building had fallen inward, one of the timbers striding a little girl with such force that she died the next day. The cooking stove, in falling over, burned the baby, May, and she, too, came near dying. The air was filled with dust ; boards and heavy timbers were tossed about and wagons were lifted up and carried long distances. But notwithstanding this calamity, the Carpenters rebuilt their store, which building is still standing, and got a new stock of goods. Among the families in State Centre in 1865, were William Barnes, John Coulter, Abe Woolston, G. W. Bassett and C. F. Culver. John King opened a dry goods store this year. During that and the following year, the influx of people was very great, and the little village began to grow rapidly. The Union Hotel was under the supervision of William Greenfield, who had sold his farm and bought out Mr. Barnes. He in turn sold to Ruston Bullock, in April, 1866. Dr. O. G. Hunt arrived this year, and was the first physician to settle in State Centre. J. H. Post came also in this year and opened a stock of drugs. Jacob Fisher was the first blacksmith and came at this time. The Walker Brothers, Frank and Warren, belong to this year, and fitted a large and handsome store, now occu- pied by West & Sheary. In the years 1866-7, there were about six hundred people in the place, showing a surprising growth for so short a period. The first briek block was built in 1867, by C. B. Rhodes, and in that year, the high school building was completed, at a cost of $8,000. Miss Jennie Bradbury taught the first school in the town, in a little shanty school house, built by subscription.
The first death in State Centre was that of Seremiah Dudley, Feb. 1, 1867. He is spoken of as an estimable man.
The first lawyer's shingle hung out in this wide-awake place bore the name of John King. He was a Harvard graduate, and a graduate from that still sterner school, Libby Prison, where he was incarcerated for nearly two years. The first place of worship was in the little old shanty which also served as a school house. Rev. Mr. Knepper, a Lutheran, was the Pastor. The Methodists predominated in numbers here, but the denominational lines were not strictly drawn. A Sabbath school had been formed as early as 1866, with James Thur- man as Superintendent, and with only fifteen scholars. Rev. Mr. Kendig was a Methodist preacher who held services over Shipman's store. In 1868. Rev. Mr. Kellogg, of Marshalltown, formed a Presbyterian Church with eight mem- bers. These societies built church edifices in 1869.
-
525
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
State Centre kept on growing. In 1872, there were the following ship- ments of freight from the station : Freights forwarded, 2,179,990 lbs. : ticket sales, $287.05. Amount of money received at station, $7,269.68. It will be impossible further to note the arrivals or the new business undertakings. but we will confine ourselves to the city of to-day.
A petition, signed by forty-two legal voters of State Centre, and bearing date Aug. 20, 1866, and addressed to the Hon. F. A. Lampman, County Judge of Marshall County, prayed that the territory included with the following boundaries, be incorporated : The west half of the northeast quarter, the east half of the northwest quarter, and the northeast quarter of the southwest, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, Sec. 10, Township 83, Range 20, County of Marshall, State of Iowa. The Court ordered, Aug. 26, 1867, that the petition be granted.
Subject to this incorporation, the officers of the city from that date to the present are as follows :
For 1867-8-Mayor, Washington Walker ; Recorder, T. B. Carpenter : Trustees-William Barnes, Samuel Nichols, J. H. Lay, C. H. Richards, R. B. Bullock.
For 1868-9-W. Walker, Mayor; O. J. Whitson, Recorder ; Trust- ees-J. W. Dobbins, J. S. Ewing, C. R. Richards, S. W. Lamson, L. L. Clark.
For 1869-70-J. S. Ewing, Mayor ; O. J. Whitson, Recorder ; D. Zwilling. Treasurer ; H. C. Stone, Assessor ; W. Sower, Marshal ; Trustees-C. R. Rich- ards, S. W. Lamson, T. B. Carpenter, John Gutekenst, R. G. Haum.
For 1870-71-J. S. Ewing, Mayor ; O. J. Whitson, Recorder ; J. W. Dobbins, Treasurer ; J. H. Nichols, Assessor ; W. H. Bunker, Marshal and Street Commissioner ; Trustees -- O. G. Hunt, J. A. Bartlett, E. P. Thompson, S. Armstrong, A. Manwaring.
For 1871-2-Williams Barnes, Mayor ; S. W. Lamson, Recorder ; W. H. Stipps, Treasurer ; J. B. Carpenter, Assessor ; W. H. Knepper, Marshal ; Trust- ees-H. T. Summers, H. S. Brayton, P. B. Ellis, George W. Bassett, O. R. Chamberlin.
For 1872-3-John H. Jones, Mayor ; James H. Nichols, W. H. Stipps, Treasurer ; J. B. Carpenter, Assessor ; A. R. Chamberlin, Marshal ; Trustees, James A. Bartlett, O. J. Whitson, W. L. Smith, F. S. Munson, S. M. Morgan.
For 1873-4-John King, Mayor; J. W. Merritt, Recorder ; W. H. Stipps, Treasurer ; J. B. Carpenter, Assessor ; Trustees-James Allison, T. S. Munson, J. Lander, H Bishop, J. N. Deering.
Mr. Jones resigned the Mayorship and his term was filled by J. A. Bartlett. For 1874-5-Joseph Lander, Mayor ; James H. Nichols. Recorder ; O. J. Whitson, Treasurer ; William Snyder, Marshal ; Trustees-F. S. Munson, H. Bishop, James Allison, E. P. Thompson, J. O. Brewer.
For 1875-6-Joseph Lander, Mayor : E. W. Bishop, Recorder; O. J. Whitson, Treasurer ; J. B. Carpenter, Assessor ; Trustees, O. G. Hunt, B. S. West, William Losey, Joseph S. Schulling, L. B. Goodrich.
For 1876-7-Joseph Lander, Mayor: J. W. Merritt, Recorder ; O. J. Whitson, Treasurer ; Charles Hanson, Assessor; C. W. Fay, Marshal ; Trust- ees-F. S. Munson, E. P. Thompson, H. S. Brayton, E. M. Scott, J. S. Fair- head.
For 1877-8-H. Robb, Mayor ; J. W. Merritt, Recorder; W. H. Stipps, Treasurer ; W. D. Bower, Assessor ; C. W. Fay, Marshal ; Trustees-E. M. Scott, J. H. Jones, M. E. Miner, J. Gutekenst, J. Gulic.
526
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
BUILDINGS.
The present offices occupied by the City Board are in a frame building located on the north side of Second street. Portions of the building are used as engine house, and the other part as a jail.
The post office was established here in the Spring of 1864, and a niche in the depot building was assigned it. C. F. Culver was Postmaster. January 1, 1865, J. W. Dobbin was commissioned Postmaster, and held the office until 1871. D. A. Lacey succeeded him, holding the office until February 9, 1874. Then J. R. Deming was appointed, and continues still to hold the appointment. It was made a money-order office April 1, 1878.
The Exchange Bank of State Centre was opened April 1, 1869, by J. W. Dobbin, in the same building it now occupies. The 1st of January, 1877, Mr. O. J. Whitson took a one-half interest in the bank with Mr. Dobbin, under the firm name of J. W. Dobbin & Co. The bank has always paid all checks of depositors, even at the time of the Chicago fire, and the panic of 1873.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department of the city was organized in 1875, subject to an ordi- nance of the City Council. One engine is called the Button engine, and is a single-decker requiring thirty-five men at the brakes, and can throw three streams. This engine was purchased of the Old Washington Company in Mar- shalltown, for $600. A Douglass engine is also in use by the department. This is much is a much smaller engine than the other, but is a good one. It cost $350. The department also have a hose cart which belongs to the Doug- lass engine. There are about 800 feet of hose altogether, and about forty-five men in the department. The officers are as follows : Company No. 1, J. A. Brewer, Foreman ; Company No. 2, Martin Ward, Foreman. J. O. Culler is Chief Engineer ; F. S. Munson, First Assistant ; J. H. Nichols, Second Assistant.
WATER WORKS.
The water works question had been one of increasing moment each year to the citizens of State Centre, which finally culminated in an agreement with George E. Beach & Co., of Marshalltown, for the construction of a system of water works, with the necessary pipes and hydrants within the limits of the incorporated town of State Centre. The agreement was entered into August 28, 1877. Beach agreed to erect within four months the above-named system, in a good, workmanlike manner, for a consideration of $2,200. The committee appointed on the part of the city were as follows : F. S. Munson, E. P. Thomp- son and E. M. Scott.
Mr. Beach fulfilled his agreement literally. A bill for $50 extras was allowed.
The pump is a 33 inch discharge, with check valve in suction and discharge pipe, and is called the " Little Giant." manufactured by Chapin & McGue. Ottumwa.
The tank is located over the well formerly used by the C. &. N. W. Rail- road. The tower is a strong substantial structure, 34 feet in height, and is secured by 6x8 anchor posts. The mill is a Halliday's Self-Regulating Stand- ard Mill, manufactured by United States Wind Mill Company at Batavia, Illinois. It is 13 feet in diameter, with a pressure of over 175 pounds to the square inch. It has the capacity to work four engines. There are six hydrants and 1,000 feet of mains, exclusive of mains connecting hydrants, they being supplied direct from the tank by another set of mains.
W. C. Smith 1 ALBION
527
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Taken as a whole, there are few towns in the West of the size of State Cen- tre that have such a thorough system of protection against fire. They are a success in every particular, and the little city has great reason to feel proud of her acquisition.
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