USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 66
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" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal at Montezuma this 9th day of March, A. D. 1855.
" CHARLES G. ADAMS, "County Clerk."
" STATE OF IOWA, - " POWESHIEK COUNTY. SS.
"The State of Iowa to Mr. Edward Griswold, Greeting:
" You are hereby commanded to proceed to the organization of Warren township by posting up copies of the accompanying notice in three of the most public places in said township, at least fifteen days before the day of said election, and fail not under the penalty of the law.
"Witness Richard B. Ogden, County Judge in and for said county, with the seal thereof affixed, this 9th day of March, 1855.
" R. B. OGDEN, "County Judge."
"Notice.
"There will be an election held at the school-house on the land of A. S. Ross, in Warren township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, for the election of a Commissioner and Register of Des Moines River Improvement, one County Surveyor, two Justices of Peace, two Constables, three township
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
Trustees, one Clerk, one Assessor and as many Supervisors as there are dis- tricts in said township, also a vote taken by ballot for and against the pro- hibitory liquor law.
"BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY COURT."
At the first election, held in the Ross school-house the 2d day of April, 1855, the following officers were elected, there being 42 votes cast:
County Surveyor, Lewis H. Smith; Township Trustees, Robert Manatt, Jr., Isaac Drake, Samuel Drummond; Justices of Peace, John Morrison, Charles Comstock; Constables, Thomas Manatt, William A. Negley; Assessor, Robert Manatt, Jr .; Road Supervisors, Robert Manatt in No. 1, James Fry in No. 2.
There being a tie vote for township clerk, James Manatt and W. H. Elliott each having received 20 votes and A. S. Ross 1, Robert C. Shimer was appointed to that office.
The judges of the above election were Isaac Drake, Robert Manatt, William Scott, and clerks of said election were Robert C. Shimer, James Manatt.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The church was organized May 30, 1875, with the following members: Jacob Korns, Mrs. Emma Korns, John S. Kizer, Mrs. Jennie Kizer, George Bisom, George Chapman, Mrs. Catharine C. Chapman, Clara B. Chapman, Alice S. Chapman, Jno. W. Chapman, William Dougherty, Mrs. Ellen Dougherty, Talathacumi Dougherty, Mrs. Mary E. Lee, Mrs. Anna Maria Lee, Virgil Lee, Homer Lee, Abbie S. Lee, Icie Lee, Martin V. Sterling, Mrs. Matilda Sterling, John Mitchell, Mrs. Ellen P. [Mitchell, Chas. W. Mitchell, Rebecca Mitchell, Emma Mitchell, Jason L. Billings, Mrs. Lamira Johnson. Meetings were first held in the different school-houses in the north part of Warren township, and south part of Jefferson township, commencing in March, 1875, led by Rev. S. N. Millard, an Evangelist, At these meetings about twenty-five or thirty professed conversion. There being no church near, it was finally decided to organize a Congregational church, and as far as consistent, Christian people of all denominations unite in one church. A council of ministers was called May 20, 1875, to take preliminary steps. The council consisted of Rev. G. F. Magoun, D. D. of Iowa College, W. W. Woodworth of Grinnell, J. W. Pickett of Des Moines and G. H. White of Chester Center. Seeing the need of a church edifice, steps were soon taken and, accordingly, the present elegant struct- ure was completed in the fall of the same year. It stands on the north-
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
west corner of Jacob Korns' farm, on section 3. The church contains a main audience-room capable of seating 300, also a prayer-room with sliding doors opening into the main room. The church cost $2,500, including fur- nishing in a neat and substantial manner. The church was dedicated De- cember 26, 1875, President Magoun preaching the sermon. By effort of Rev. W. H. Romig, the church debt has been satisfactorily met.
The following ministers, among others, have preached for the church: Rev. S. N. Millard, Prof. Buck, Pres. Magoun, W. W. Woodworth, F. H. Magoun, Richard Hassell, W. H. Romig, C. H. Eaton, the present pastor.
The sabbath-school meets every sabbath, with an average of fifty. Mr. Lawrence Leyenberger is present Superintendent and Miss Kate Torrence, Secretary.
Present Deacons are: Jacob Korns, John Kiser and George Bisom. R. F. Lavender, Jr., present Clerk; Martin V. Sterling, Treasurer.
HARMONY MORAVIAN CHURCH.
This is one of the only three of the same denomination in the State of Iowa. It is situated near the southwest corner of the township, on the southeast corner of section 31. The church was organized in 1868, and Rev. L. P. Clewell, the first pastor, commenced his labors in March, 1869. The following summer the church was built, and also repaired, after being nearly destroyed by lightning. The structure is convenient and neat, seat- ing about 200, being 50 feet long and 40 feet wide.
On the 6th day of August, 1869, the church was struck by lightning and terribly shattered and broken. The electric bolt descended upon the spire with an awful crash, scattering it in splinters. When it reached the roof and main body of the church it seemed to burst in four directions, parting at the same instant the four walls of the church, and denuding the ceiling of plaster and breaking nearly all the joists of the floor; and when the fluid entered the earth the concussion was so great that a portion of four town- ships quivered and trembled at the shock. A sulphurous smell and a kind of blue smoke arose from the dismantled house of worship. But, strange as it may seem, it did not burn. Hundreds of astonished people came to witness this demonstration of God's power in nature. There stood the new church, not yet quite finished by the builder, riven and ruined. Splinters lay thick upon the ground on either side, and even twenty rods away, in the field, Mr. T. G. Wheeler picked up pieces of considerable size, torn from the frame-work of the steeple. Some predicted that it could not be repaired; that the tottering structure must be removed and a new one take its place. It was, however, refitted and dedicated for sacred worship
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
the same fall. It is not presumed that these good people are more super- stitious than many of their neighbors, but this phenomenon of natural causes has produced an ineffaceable impression upon all minds that it was the finger of God, and that whether sent for judgment or witness, it gives them but a glimpse of the power of him who holds all the elements of nature at his will. The repairs on the church, after the stroke of lightning, amounted to about $600.
The present membership is thirty-nine, and Rev. W. H. Romig is their pastor.
The sabbath-school meets every sabbath, with an average attendance of about fifty, and Mr. John Kraft is Superintendent.
There is a society of Moravians, who meet at Victor school-house, and Rev. Romig occasionally preaches there.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Formerly there was a saw-mill, owned by Robert Manatt, Jr., on Big Bear Creek, in section 22. The mill was built in 1850.
Probably the first marriage was that of James Manatt to Livina Snook. Mr. Manatt still lives, on section 22, but his wife died about the year 1874.
Thomas Rainsburg taught the first school, in Ross or Hazel Greeen school-house, in the winter of 1853-4. He is now Treasurer of Poweshiek county.
Owing to the continual high water in Big Bear Creek and other streams during a portion of the memorable wet summer of 1851, the settlers were prevented from getting any corn-meal or flour, and for a considerable time the whole of Snooks' Grove settlement were compelled to live on "lye hominy" and a small allowance of meat. All the bottom lands were flooded for several days, and the neighbors crossed in a skiff.
The house of W. H. Willett was burned to the ground in the spring of 1879. Also, in April of the same year James Manatt's house, then stand- ing on section 22, was consumed by fire.
John H. Concklin, Cyrus Drake and Daniel Bush were hunting, Decem- ber 14th 1878, and met with a sad accident near Mr. W. H. Wheeler's. Fred Thomas, a lad of 15, was driving, when one of his companions, Daniel Bush, accidentally slipped while getting into the sleigh and caught the lock of his gun on the seat, discharging the contents of the gun into the driver's head, killing him instantly.
The barn of R. C. Shimer was burned April 16, 1863, consuming a span of horses, corn, wheat, hay and other valuable farm appliances. This oc- curred on section 8.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
The present township officers are:
Clerk-R. C. Shimer.
Assessor-J. A. King.
Trustees-H. T. Rohrer, Levi Marks, John Kraft.
Justices of the Peace-T. G. Wheeler, Joseph Buchanan.
School expenses for the year ending September 20, 1880:
For building $ 344.66
For contingent expenses
595.39
For teachers' salaries 2,462.00
Total
$3,402.05
The present teachers are:
No. 1, Ida Manatt; No. 2, J. A. Linder; No. 3, Luella Haswell; No. 4, Mattie S. Cain; No. 5, Delma Anger; No. 6, Ida Rowland; No. 7, Ella Adair; No. 8, Jennie A. Campbell; No. 9, Nellie Blanchard; No. 10, Liz- zie J. Peaslee.
MALCOM TOWNSHIP.
The position of this township is central, being No. 80 north and range 15 west.
Flowing east, Little Bear Creek passes through sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 27, 26 and 25; and Big Bear Creek, in the same direction, flows through sections 5, 4, 3, 11 and 12.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad follows the course of Little Bear Creek, making a station by the same name as the township, in the southeast corner of section 26.
With Sheridan on the north, Bear Creek on the east, Pleasant on the south and Grinnell on the west, it lacks none of the advantages afforded by a large farming district on all sides. The surface and soil are all that could be desired, being adapted to garden products, grain and fruit. The rapid development of the resources of the township has been due largely to superior railroad advantages and its central geographical position.
The township officers are:
Trustees-W. W. Wheeler, W. A. Vernon, Milo Torrey.
Justices of the Peace-G. S. Tabor, L. E. Cardell.
Clerk-N. F. Bates.
Assessor-A. P. Meigs.
In 1880 it contained a population of 1,073, and 232 voters. The real estate is valued at $271,841, and the personalty at $60,567. The road tax last year was 3} mills.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
L. W. Zinc, a German, who settled on section 14, in 1854, was among the first settlers. Mr. Zinc moved farther west several years ago.
Church Meigs came from Linden, Vermont, and in the spring of 1854 took a claim in section 14, but made no permanent settlement until the fol- lowing spring.
James Motherall came in 1855 and settled in section 10. He removed west several years since.
Edmund Cardell came from Washington county, Vermont, and settled in section 14.
'The first settlements were on what is known as the " State Road," which runs from Iowa City to Des Moines.
P. P. Raymond came from Vermont and in the spring of 1855 settled on section 15. Mr. Raymond is now a banker in the village of Malcom.
The first white child born in the township was a daughter of L. W. Zinc.
The first permanent physician was J. W. McDowell, who came from Princeton, Illinois, in the year 1867, and still resides in Malcom. The first doctors who practiced in the township were Ruben Sears and John Conaway, of Brooklyn.
The township was organized in 1859, and the first officers were:
Trustees, H. D. Arnold, C. B. Martin, H. Provos; clerk, S. Bates; assessor, Rober Motherall.
The first meeting of the board of trustees was at the house of Edward Cardell.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Patience Wallace, at the house of Church Meigs, in the year 1855. There were six children in attendance.
The first school-house was built by the settlers in section 23.
Now there are nine good school-houses and eleven good schools in the township. We have been able to obtain the names of the teachers:
No. 2, S. R. Wallace; No. 5, Miss Josie Jones; No. 6, Miss Ida Whit- sett; No. 9, Miss Jennie Moss; No. 7, O. J. Laylander, Prin .; Mrs. H. V. Hilliker, Assist .; Miss Helen Shirland, Assist .; J. W. Remine, Secretary School Board.
In the independent district of Malcom City there are 136 pupils regis- tered and 169 of school age; ten months of school; $1,250 paid teachers; $3,100 worth of school property.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
POST-OFFICE.
The postmasters here have been in the following order: W. J. Johnson, appointed December 19, 1866; J. E. Johnson, 1868; J. H. Duffus, 1872; Thomas Cady, 1874.
GERMAN TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The church building is situated on the northeast corner of section 4, on the Sheridan township line.
It was organized on the first day of November, 1867, with C. C. Schultz, H. Broders, F. Lange, H. Barenfuss, F. Schultz, G. Buchenan, J. J. Schultz, C. Ridasch, F. Lisker, H. Schultz, J. Knoebel, F. Paulsen, as original members. The present membership is thirty-five.
The frame church was built in the year 1867, at a cost of $1,000, and was dedicated by Rev. F. A. Boden, now in Kellogg, and Rev. A. Rhen. Rev. J. Meyer is present pastor.
Mr. J. J. Schultz gave the land for the church and it was through his efforts, together with C. C. Schultz, Fred. Schultz and a few others, that the church was built.
THE MALCOM FAIR.
The grounds of the association, with headquarters at Malcom, are three- quarters of a mile south of town. They are closely fenced, containing a race course, buildings for agricultural and mechanical exhibit, judges' stand, and are fitted up in good style. Ample accommodations are fur- nished for stock. The fairs held each fall have been uniformly successful, the animals, garden and field products being of the highest order, and these fairs have done much to promote good feeling and emulation among the farmers of the county.
REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT.
For several years a continued movement has been on foot to bring the county seat from its present location at Montezuma, to Malcom. Having in mind the benefits which would accrue to them, the citizens have used every endeavor for the furtherance of that object. Malcom is within a mile and a half of the geographical center of the county, and is also about the center of population. As now situated the county seat is more easily acces- Bible for the inhabitants of the two southern tiers of townships, the popula- tion of which, by the census of 1880, is 8,361, as against 10,521, the popula- tion of the two northern tiers.
The people of Malcom are exceptionally energetic and alive to their in- terests, and it is only the preponderance of sentiment for other reason
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
against moving it, that has kept the court-house where it is. But as the. northern part of the county contains the greater number of inhabitants, 2,160 more, as the census shows, its convenience should be consulted, and when the time shall come when new buildings are erected, the county seat will doubtless be moved somewhere on the line of the Rock Island Railroad. In the summer of 1880, when the subject of removing the county seat to Grin- nell was being agitated, and canvassers from that city were out with peti- tions, Malcom, not one whit behind, sent out men with remonstrances and petitions, and promised as much as Grinnell, the donation of a finished court-house and site therefor to the county.
But the people of the county were so divided in opinion as to whether it should be moved at all, or if moved, whether it should go to Malcom or Grinnell, that a majority for removal to either place could not be procured. Doubtless the subject will rest until the growth of the county business and the natural decay of the buildings shall render necessary the erection of a new court-house, jail, etc. If, as now seems highly probable, a railroad should be built from Montezuma to Malcom, the southern part of the county would be put in closer communication with this town, and its desires in this respect furthered.
HOW ONE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS TELLS HER STORY ABOUT SEEING JOHN BROWN.
" Of the eventful mornings that came and went in the spring of 1859, one will ever remain a pleasant memory to me. One day in the early spring of that year (I cannot now recall the exact day) a rumor ran through the settlement that John Brown, better known throughout the West as Ossawattamie Brown, had arrived in Grinnell with a small band of fugi- tives from Missouri on his way to Canada. Grinnell at that time was known far and wide as an important station of the underground railroad, Hon. J. B. Grinnell, receiver; and there was a standing reward of a large amount offered by the leading slaveholders of Missouri for the head of that gentleman. Happily his head still rests upon his broad shoulders, and consequently the reward has never been claimed. The party remained for several days at Grinnell for recuperation and rest, when their journey was resumed. Knowing that their route would bring them past my residence I, with the curiosity peculiar to my sex, as well as the sympathy that I felt in the movements of the old hero, waited his coming. It was a clear and bright morning, a brisk, cool breeze played over the broad prairie, the winding paths of which were those of the wildest freedom. About eight o'clock my watchfulness was rewarded, and walking to the gate I awaited their approach. The wagon containing the fugitives was closely covered, the
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
gloved hands of the driver being all that was visible. A little in advance rode John Brown on horseback, and upon him my interest centered. He passed closely enough to where I stood for me to have grasped his hand, and I have always regretted that I did not offer him mine; I lowly bowed, which salutation was respectfully returned. I shall never forget his appear- ance: it was truly patriarchal. An expression of weariness and anxiety rested upon his features, but over it all, from his clear, bright eyes, gleamed out the determination and will of his resolute spirit. No word passed between us, but the warm 'God bless you,' in my heart, was earnest and sincere; and I honored him as much in his protection of those five refugees as I should have done had he been leading a host from bondage to the land of promise. I soon after heard of the safe arrival of the party in Canada. The short, yet eventful, career of Brown after this is well known. The raid at Harper's Ferry, the arrest and imprisonment, the trial, and the last scene in the tragedy, have furnished a chapter in the history of the nation.
"ELIZA."
MALCOM VILLAGE.
This thriving town is situated in section 26, only a mile and a half from the geographical center of Poweshiek county. It is beautifully located on elevated ground on the direct line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, and bids fair to become one of the best business centers of the county. It is a child of only fourteen years growth, and already contains a population of five hundred, two fine churches, one school-house, one bank, one hotel, one post-office, one depot, four large brick buildings, three gen- eral stores, one grocery, one hardware, two drug stores, one dry goods store, two blacksmith and two wagon shops, one livery, one harness shop, one lumber yard, one grist mill, two grain elevators, one public hall, one cab- inet shop, one bakery, one meat market, three dressmakers, one telegraph office.
In the year 1863 the C., R. I. & P. R. R. pushed through the county. In the year 1866 Mr. Z. P. Wigton laid out a town plat, and the first buildings were erected the same year by Mr. W. J. Johnson, of Daven- port. Depot, grain-house, and other buildings followed each other in rapid succession.
April 23, 1872, an election was held to decide the question of incorpora- tion. The vote was for incorporation by over three-fourths majority.
The first city officers elected, May 18, 1872, were as follows:
Mayor, W. A. Vernon; Recorder, W. R. Akers; Treasurer, B. Osborne; Trustees, G. W. Griffin, W. J. Johnson, I. G. Wilson, W. W. Osborne, J. H. Duffus.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
On the morning of May 6, 1877, a destructive fire broke out on the east side of Main Street, sweeping in its ruthless march almost the entire por- tion of the street. Three grocery stores, one furniture store, one hardware store, one meat market, one jewelry store, one dwelling, the town hall (in which was the Masonic lodge), and several other buildings, in a short space of time were destroyed by the fire.
There are two churches, the Presbyterian and the Methodist.
The year 1877 was a red letter in the history of Malcom progress. The sound of the hammer and the saw, and the click of the trowel was heard day by day, early and late. Brick store-rooms, several prominent dwell- ings, and numerous other improvements were the result. New sidewalk has been laid and the streets graded. Old buildings have been refitted and adorned with paint.
The city officers are:
Mayor-F. P. Hubbard.
Assessor-J. W. Remine.
Marshal-J. W. Remine.
Recorder-H. V. Hilliker.
Treasurer-W. A. Vernon.
Trustees-P. Broadbrook, L. G. Bodum, V. S. Wilcox, Thos. Cady, W. E. Gould, J. H. Duffus.
Another destructive fire broke out June 6, 1879, and destroyed two sa- loons and one hotel.
A fire destroyed the barn of Mr. W. R. Akers, burning two horses, Oc- tober 9, 1879.
It has been thought that these fires were the work of an incendiary.
On September 3, 1880, I. G. Wilson's grain elevator was burned, to- gether with two horses.
THE MALCOM GAZETTE.
This journal is published every Thursday by the editor and proprietor, Jas. H. Duffus. It was established a number of years ago, but discon- tinued for reasons mentioned in the salutatory of the present editor, which follows. Mr. Duffus is eminently a good citizen, watching closely the in- terests of his town, and is always in the lead advocating improvements. If the town had more of such live, enterprising, wide-awake men, its pros- perity would be certain. The paper is Republican, and devoted to the in- terests of the party. It has a good advertising patronage from the business men of Malcom and other towns of the county. Its subscription list is increasing; and as the paper is becoming better appreciated its sphere of
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
influence and usefulness is constantly enlarging. Mr. Duffus' salutatory, in the edition of December 6, 1877, is as follows:
" In resuming, after the lapse of several years, the publication of the Gazette, a few words of introduction may be fitting. The cessation of our paper at the close of volume three was occasioned by the limited patron- age of the newly settled town and county. Since last issue of the paper great changes have occurred. From being a hamlet of a few houses, Mal- com has grown to be a flourishing town of about 800 inhabitants, a point of large and constantly increasing trade. Situated as it is, in the center of Poweshiek county, the garden spot of central Iowa, for a long time the need of a local newspaper has been felt to properly represent our business interests in the way of advertisement, and to be the medium of communi- cation for local as well as general news. To meet this growing demand we begin again the publication of the Gazette, Vol. 4, new series, and greet our readers in this first issue. We are aware that our neighboring towns of Montezuma, Grinnell, and Brooklyn, lave papers of more or less stand- ing and patronage. With due deference to these feeders at the public crib, in the shape of county advertisements, we are forced to say that they have at best but inadequately represented our business interests, and sometimes, with partisan spririt, opposed them, and that there are local interests at Malcom demanding a town paper. We desire to make a local paper, full of items of interest to our citizens and the country around. To this end we invite the co-operation of our people generally. Send in every item that will enliven the local column. While we hope to present each week a sum- mary of general news, our constant aim will be to present a home paper that you cannot afford to do without. On all occasions we shall advocate the claims of Malcom. Believing, as we do, that our town is justly enti- tled, as no other town in the county is, by reason of centrality to the county seat, we shall, from time to time, press these claims upon the pub- lic mind, and defend them against the ungenerous rivalry of neighboring towns. Our columns shall be used to promote the best interests of the com- munity, not only seeking its business prosperity, but its higher advance- ment in religion, temperance, and social well being. While we are Re- publican in politics, in many respects our paper will be independent upon political issues, and we shall feel free at all times to criticise party man- agement and corruption in Nation and county, whether it be found in Re- publican or Democratic ranks. Thus, then, the Gazette greets its readers, and hopes, as a permanent enterprise, to receive a welcome in your homes from week to week."
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