USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 67
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626
HISTORY OR POWESHIEK COUNTY.
SOCIETIES.
Masons .- Lilly Lodge, No. 254, A. F. and A. M., was organized October 23, 1868, with Geo. S. Tabor, E. L. Cardell, C. A. Harrah, James E. John- son, C. A. Uhl, Geo. Gibbs, A. S. Meigs, Thomas Cady, F. E. Bodine, and N. H. Blanchard, as charter members.
The following board of officers were appointed:
E. L. Cardell, W. M .; James E. Johnson, S. W .; Thos. Cady, J. W .; Geo. Gibbs, Secretary; C. A. Uhl, Treasurer; Geo. S. Tabor, S. D .; N. H. Blanchard, J. D .; A. S. Meigs, Tyler.
The lodge is in a healthy financial condition. It has, in connection with Royal Arch Society, erected a handsome brick structure, two stories high, and furnished in first-class manner. The building was completed at a cost of about $3,500, and is the handsomest one of the kind in the county.
Royal Arch Masons, No. 50, Hyssop Chapter, was organized September 20, 1869, in McDowell's Hall, with G. S. Tabor, M. E. H. P .; E. L. Cor- dell, E. R .; I. G. Wilson, E. S .; John Gower, C. H .; James Johnson, P. S .; George Gibbs, R. A. C .; J. H. Duffus, M. T. V .; A. L. Ingalls, M. S. V .; A. S. Meigs, M. F. V .; James E. Johnson, Secretary; A. S. Meigs, Treas- urer; M. A. Malone, P. S. A meeting was held under dispensation. It is now in a flourishing condition, with a good financial standing.
Knights of Honor .- Malcom Lodge was organized July 9, 1879, in the I. O. O. F. Hall, with W. A. Vernon, B. R. Meigs, W. A. Carter, H. V. Hilliker, George Spaulding, Fred. Schultz, C. A. Chapman, L. E. Cardell, Alex. Duffus, F. P. Hubbert, E. O. Tabor, A. C. Blizzard, J. W. McDow- ell, Wm. Scott, Wm. Johnson, B. J. Martin, J. W. Remine, Clark Varnum and E. G. Terwilliger as charter members. The Grand Dictator then administered the obligations to those present. The following board was chosen: Clark Varnum, Dictator; F. P. Hubbert, Vice-Dictator; L. E. Cardell, Assistant Dictator; A. C. Blizzard, Past Dictator; H. V. Hilliker, Reporter; E. O. Tabor, Financial Reporter; W. A. Vernon, Treasurer; J. W. Remine, Chaplain; Alex. Duffus, Guide; E. G. Terwilliger, Guardian; B. Martin, Sentinel; J. W. McDowell, Medical Examiner; W. A. Vernon, F. P. Hubbert, J. W. Remine, Trustees.
I. O. O. F .- Malcom Lodge, No. 369, was instituted August 1, 1877, by S. G. Funk, S. Scovill, F. Schultz, F. Kissler and T. M. Akers as charter members. The first board was S. G. Funk, N. G .; S. Scovill, Vice Grand; F. Kessler, Treasurer; T. M. Akers, Secretary. They met in the Masonic Hall until October 27, 1877, when they met in their present hall, which is the second floor in a brick building on Main Street. Their hall is elegantly furnished. The lodge room is 20x40 feet, with two ante-rooms. The
627
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
present membership is thirty-four, with F. Kessler, Noble Grand; A. L. Shattuck, Vice Grand; Peter Bradbrook, Treasurer; James H. Duffus, Secretary.
THE M. E. CHURCH.
The present imposing church edifice was erected in the summer of 1875, at a cost of $3,000. It will seat about 325.
The names of the pastors, beginning with the first, are: James M. Coats, William H. Honn, E. P. Mitchener, A. V. Kendrick and James M. Coats. Rev. Pugh is the present pastor.
The present membership is increasing, and the church is prosperous.
The sabbath-school meets every week, with a large average attendance.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In this history, as in all others, we write facts that may be preserved when we are gone. All persons have more or less interest in some church. Members and those who are not have kindly feelings toward a church; the memories of the aged especially delight to linger about the church they have been accustomed to visit in youth and riper years. The name of our old pastor, the words of truth he uttered, the pure example he set, the consolation he gave in seasons of bereavement, are some of the dearest memories of life. In preparing a sketch like this, let us keep in view the passage found in Psalm cii, 18: "This shall be written for the generation to come."
The settlement known as the Yankee settlement, on the State road, in Malcom township, was commenced in the year 1854. In the lapse of two years' time about thirteen families had come and secured homes. During this time and onward till the autumn of 1859 no stated means of grace had been enjoyed in the settlement. Then a prayer-meeting was established and carried on by the united influence and efforts of Rev. James Cox, of the United Brethren, and Rev. A. D. Chapman, of the Presbyterian denomina- tion. This prayer-meeting was continued weekly through the fall and following winter, and there was occasionally preaching by these two minis- terial brethren until the next April (1860), when the organization of a church in Malcom township was proposed by the people. As the persons to be associated in the relation of membership in the contemplated church organization were unacquainted with the form of government and the dis- cipline of the Presbyterian Church, it was proposed that the candidates for membership unite with the Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, and that Rev. A. D. Chapman request the Presbytery of Iowa City, at its next meet- ing, to append the name of Malcom to that of Brooklyn, so that henceforth
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
it should be known in the records as "The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn and Malcom," until some further change might be desired.
The Presbytery granted the request. As the number of members in Malcom township was equal to that in Brooklyn, Rev. A. D. Chapman preached one-half the time in each place. In the spring of 1860 the Mal- com sabbath-school was organized and superintended by Mr. H. D. Arnold. It was continued during the summer and suspended in October, and thus it continued till the winter of 1864-5, only in the summer, and the Super- intendents were L. E. Cardell and Christian Yaple. After the above date the school continued through the entire year, and Alonzo Wigton was Superintendent for several years.
In April, 1867, the Brooklyn and Malcom branches were separated and made into two distinct churches, and have thus remained.
The church at Malcom grew and flourished under the leadership of Rev. A. D. Chapman. In November, 1868, Rev. Robert Court took charge of the church, and continued as pastor till the winter of 1873-4, when he . accepted a call to Lowell, Mass.
The church was completed and dedicated in the summer of 1871. The seats were purchased by the liberality of a man from Indiana, and $100 per year was contributed to the support of preaching by the Brick Church, of Rochester, N. Y. The church was then supplied by Rev. Mr. Kennedy, of Grinnell, until the 1st of May, 1874. In May, 1874, Rev. James Stickel accepted a call to the pastorate.
Mr. G. E. Rice has been Superintendent of the sabbath-school since the winter of 1874-5.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
No. 79, range 15, west. This township is of regular size, bounded on the north by Malcom, east by Scott, south by Jackson and Union, and west by Washington. The land is generally level and all arable. It has good railroad facilities, and its position in the county gives it a great advantage over many of its sister townships.
The Grinnell and Montezuma Railroad runs diagonally northwest and southeast across the township. The county seat, Montezuma, is only a mile and a half from its southern border, and the thrifty little town of Malcom is only a mile from its northern border. It enjoys the privileges of good schools, a depot, church and post-office near the center, at Ewart. The North Fork of English River flows from west to east through the center of the township, but the broken land which so often follows the creeks is vastly wanting here.
Its population, from the census of 1880, was 706, placing it next
A PIONEER HOME OUT WEST ISTRESIDENCE OF REV. J.B. GRINNELL IN IOWA. à MAY. 1854 ··
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
to Chester, which is the least in the county; less even than Union, which has 709, and whose area is not so much by twelve square miles. At the last general election in 1879 there were 158 votes polled, but as the popu- lation is rapidly increasing, the poll of 1880 will show an increased vote.
This is a young township, and much of the land which now produces the largest crops was formerly thought too level, and otherwise unfitted for the best efforts of farmers. There are, it is true, occasional years when the weather is too wet for a portion of the land, but if the crops of corn which were grown in the year 1880 are anything like a fair estimate, we should be compelled to pronounce it the corn township of Poweshiek county. One man gathered eighty-four bushels of corn from one acre. No township in the county has less waste land than this, not even Chester, which is consid- ered by some to be the best of the sixteen. There is only one small nat- ural grove in Pleasant, while in Chester there are two. There is but one advantage that Chester possesses over Pleasant; namely, that of having the land a little more rolling, whereas, in Pleasant considerable of it, es- pecially about Ewart, is very flat.
The township is furnished with eight good school-houses. The school- houses here, as often elsewhere, were built largely with money raised by taxing the lands of non-residents and speculators. For this cause we often see neat little school-houses well furnished and kept, without another build- ing in sight. Many of the districts have a school-house which, in appear- ance and furniture, far surpasses any private residence in the neighborhood. But this is not the case in Pleasant, for some of the farmers have erected elegant homes, and made the surroundings beautiful. The land is all oc- cupied, but the farms, as a general thing, are too large. The Ewart Bros. own over two thousand acres, which, however, is not in a single farm. With the natural capabilities of the soil, and its advantageous geographical position, it is destined to become, perhaps, the very foremost in population, wealth and desirability in the county.
The citizens are considerably in the advance of the average intelligence and enterprise.
Ewart, Malcom and Montezuma are the shipping points.
In the summer of 1868, there occurred a singular freak of lightning. A young man by the name of John Amos, had recently purchased a good span of horses, and as he saw a storm approaching, he unhitched from the plow and took them into the barn. No sooner had he tied them in the stall than a shaft of lightning knocked him down and killed both horses.
39
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
EWART.
This live town is situated on the line of the Grinnell and Montezuma Railroad. Its business men are an enterprising, go-a-head class, and the amount of grain, hogs and cattle handled at this point will compare favor- ably with that of larger places. The town was laid out by the Ewart Bros., from whom it took its name in December, 1875. The first building, which was a residence, was erected in 1875, by L. H. Harris. The first store building was put up by A. B. Woods in the spring of 1876. The same season several other buildings were erected, among which was the grain warehouse.
The business interests of the town are at present represented by A. B. Woods, who keeps a well selected stock of general merchandise. Mr. Woods is also postmaster, station agent and deals extensively in grain.
G. T. Burns keeps pegging away, and by working close to the last, awl. ways keeps the pedestrians supplied with a good article in the boot and shoe line.
B. N. Warren, the village vulcan, came to Ewart in the spring of 1878. He does all kinds of general repairing, and being a thorough workman, commands a large patronage, and is identified among the best men of the town.
Dr. W. B. Cotton, physician and surgeon, located in Ewart in the spring of 1880. He has a large practice, and is one of the most successful practi- tioners in the county.
The United Presbyterian Church, erected in the summer of 1880, is a neat and imposing church edifice that is a credit to the town.
Voters meet on election day at Ewart and there exercise the right of suf- frage. At the present time the political sentiment is largely Republican, though last fall there was a majority of twenty-five given the Greenback ticket.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EWART.
The organization of this church was effected Sept. 4, 1876, with John McDill, Mrs. Nancy Donnan, James Donnan, Wm. Hamilton and wife, John Hamilton and wife, Mary A. Donnan, Della J. Donnan, and Margaret Rutherford as original members. The first services were held in the depot, then in the school-house. At the Daily school-house it was proposed to or- dain the elder, but it was not until December 29, 1876, that James Don- nan was duly ordained as elder. Rev. Shearer, of Oskaloosa, conducted the services while meetings were held in the Daily school-house. The first communion service was held December 30, 1876. On April 10, 1880, Rob-
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
ert G. Cutts was also elected elder. Although the society has met with many difficulties and is a small congregation, not numbering over thirty- two members, it has erected, during the summer of 1880, a neat frame church 30x46, the cost of which is $1,000. Rev. John Gilmore, of Oska- loosa, is the present pastor. The church is now in a flourishing condition, and with such untiring zeal as the United Presbyterians manifest it would be needless to expect otherwise.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP.
Township 79 north, range 14 west. The surface is more rolling than that of Pleasant and considerably less so than Lincoln. The principal streams are: North English, flowing east through the center, and Deep River, through the southern tier of sections. Between these two flows of water the divide furnishes the very best of farming land, and it is evident that the owners of this rich domain have prospered, for they live in good homes and have attained independent circumstances. The farm improve- ments, in this township, show that the people are not at all behind, but in many particulars far ahead, of even earlier settled sections. The general character of the citizens is such that it becomes a desirable community in which to build a home.
The clerk's records show the following in reference to the organization of Scott township:
"This is to certify that Scott township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, was or- ganized October the 8th, A. D. 1861. Whereas, Malvin Wigton was ap- pointed chairman; Eli Shook, Addison Bone, W. B. Harden, judges; L. V. Torrey, J. K. Rayburn, clerks of election. The following township offi- cers were elected: Assessor, Addison Bone; Clerk, L. V. Torrey; Super- visor, N. B. Tilton; Justice of the Peace, Malvin Wigton; Trustees, Den- nis Bryan, Eli Shook, John Early."
At the general election on the 13th day of October, 1863, there were only twenty-three votes cast, but from that time population increased rap- idly.
The township is of the best prairie with scarcely an acre of waste land. Many of the settlers on "Irish Ridge," in the southeast, are of Irish de- scent. The population of the township in 1880 was eight hundred and twenty-two, and there were one hundred and fifty-four votes cast at the general election in 1879.
The Grinnell and Montezuma Railroad runs through the northwest corner a distance of half a mile. There is no post-office in the township, but sit- uated as it is, with Montezuma close at hand on the south, Brooklyn on
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
the north, and Malcom on the northwest, no township in the county is so favorably located which has no depot or post-office. It has good schools, and although it has no church there are churches in easy reach on all sides.
The present township officers are:
Assessor-Charles Bramer.
Township Clerk-Charles Arthur.
Trustees-D. O. Strong, Neri Bryan, Wm. R. Johnson.
Constables-Frank Torry, John Hutchinson, Jr.
Justices-Charley Arthur, Joseph Hunter.
Scott township cemetery is located at the center of section 16, and contains just 126 square rods, and has ninety-six lots 12x16. It was surveyed and laid out on the first day of September, 1879, and in just one year there were eight new graves.
Charles Arthur is treasurer and trustee for the association.
There is a society of United Presbyterians who meet every two weeks, in the Fitzsimmon's school-house, No. 3, in section 26. Rev. J. B. Gowdy, of the Lincoln township U. P. Church, fills the appointment.
Once a month several families of Episcopalians, who belong to the Brook- lyn Church, meet in the same school-house, and Rev. Judd, of Brooklyn, conducts the services.
The teachers in the different schools are as follows: No. 1, Miss Jennie Gordon; No. 2, Miss Ella Cale; No. 3, Mr. J. A. Bruce; No. 4, Mr. R. S. Willett; No. 5, Miss Maggie Wallace; No. 6, Miss Sarah Morrison; No. 7, Mrs. Laura A. Willett; No. 8, Miss Hattie Burch; No. 9, Miss Pauline Arthur.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP ORANGE LODGE.
The "Enniskillin True Blue," Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 146 .- This order meets in its own hall, at Summer Hill, once each month. It was organized October 24, 1876, at the house of Thomas C. Johnson, on section 22, and the names of the charter members are as follows: Thos. L. Johnson, W. M .; Samuel Jordan, D. M .; John Beird, Secretary; William Armsrtong, Treasurer; Edward Downey. From the above five they have increased to twenty-five members. They now own a convenient hall, built for their own use, twenty-four feet long and sixteen feet wide, and situated in section 27. The present officers of the lodge are: Thos. L. Johnson, W. M .; William Glass, D. M .; John Hutchinson, Jr., Secretary; William Armstrong, Treasurer.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
INCIDENTS.
The house of William Armstrong was burned in June, 1880, when the family, left entirely destitute of home, were compelled to go to the neigh- bors for shelter. All their household goods were completely destroyed.
A granary belonging to Mr. Henry Fitzsimmons, and standing near his house, burned in March, 1879, consuming one hundred bushels of oats, twenty-five bushels of wheat, all his carpenter tools, farm utensils, and a harvester, for which he paid $215.
Ezra M. Dunn's house burned in September, 1879.
Only one divorce granted to a citizen of the township. This husband and wife could not agree, but quarreled incessantly. After they had been divorced a twelve-month they again married; but an evil influence seemed to destroy their happiness, and after a second six months' trial again separated.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson township occupies the extreme northeast corner of the county, and coincides with regular township No. 81, range 13. It is bounded on the north by Tama county, on the east by Iowa county, on the south by Warren, and on the west by Madison, township. It is well watered by nu- merous small creeks, nearly all of which take an easterly course. Walnut Creek, the largest, enters from the west, in section 7, and passes out of the township at the very northeast corner of section 1. Timber grows along the water-courses, but no large tracts are found. Enough wood for fuel and fencing can, without difficulty, be obtained by all the farmers. The soil is well adapted for the cultivation of corn, which forms the staple product.
No township in the county has better natural facilities for raising cattle, and the enterprising farmers show that they are awake to their best inter- ests, in the fact that there are now more than thirteen hundred head of cattle of all ages in the township. Except during some of the most inclement winter weather, stock remains with perfect security from wind and storm, sheltered in the many timber nooks and hill slopes.
Scattered all among the little hills are frequent springs of never-failing water, and creeks that never go dry.
Much of their corn is fed on the farm, and the same natural facilities which favor cattle raising applies equally well to swine. Eighteen hundred hogs, within the past year, have been fitted for the market, and it is certain that there will be a greater number this year. There are five hundred and forty-nine horses, which shows that they are not all needed for work, since to every legal voter there are two and three-fourths horses.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
The population in 1880 was 938, and the number of votes cast at the gen- eral election in 1879 was 171.
Nine good schools, located within easy access, furnish every child the very best means of becoming acquainted with the fundamental principles of education. In the year 1854 only one school was taught within the present limits of the township. The teacher's name was Daniel Kennedy, and he had an attendance of less than twenty pupils. The school-house in which he taught was constructed with logs, and the necessary funds for its completion were raised by subscription. Many of our present well built and well furnished school-houses would never have been undertaken if we were obliged to depend on voluntary subscriptions.
Mr. Kennedy, the pioneer teacher of Jefferson, now resides in Belle Plaine, Tama county, where he became the first mayor of that thriving city.
The first frame school-house was erected on the northwest corner of sec- tion 12. It cost $400.
The township, though by no means the oldest in the county, has been or- ganized twenty-six and a half years. Settlements, however, began three or four years earlier.
It is yet a question who was the first pioneer settler, but the following named persons were among the earliest:
Daniel Winslow, a native of North Carolina, in the year 1851, settled in section 2. Mr. Winslow emigrated at an early date to Illinois, where he lived several years, then, as above stated, came to Iowa.
Norman Parks, in the year 1852, settled in section 3. He was an Indi- anian by birth, and lived in that State till coming here. Mr. Parks, from the first, became one of the prominent men of the township. At his house occurred the first township election, April 3, 1854.
In the same year, L. T. Blake settled on section 6. Mr. Blake, by birth a " Hoosier," resolved to try the fortunes of a new country, and first sought a home in Illinois, but hearing of fairer prospects in the " Hawkeye" State, he came to this county and found what he called "the best land in the Union."
J. R. Duffield came from the State of Illinois, and after searching for the best location to build his future home, he took a claim in section 9, in the summer of 1853.
James Sumner, S. Brewer, James Brewer, Hulett Davenport, Jonathan Boyl and H. L. Ainsworth were also among the early settlers. These names figure prominently in the early history of the township, and all who resided there in those early days, knew them well. The hardships they endured and the sociabilities they enjoyed together were not much unlike others
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
placed in similar circumstances. They frequently were compelled to go to Iowa City to mill, and sometimes, being detained by bad roads and weather, their provisions were greatly reduced before they again reached home.
The order of court has been preserved, and we give below a verbatim copy showing how and when the township was organized. It was written and signed by Judge Richard B. Ogden:
"Organization of the township of Jefferson, county of Poweshiek and State of lowa, to-wit: At a meeting of the county court, held at the court- house in Montezuma, on Monday, the 6th day of March, A. D. 1854, it is ordered by the county court that a township be laid off, by the name of Jef- ferson, described as follows: Congressional township number eighty-one, thirteen west, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of Madison township, thence south to the line dividing townships eighty (80) and eighty-one (81), thence east on said line to the eastern line of said county of Poweshiek, thence north on the line dividing the counties of Pow- eshiek and Iowa, six miles to the place of beginning, And that an election be held at the house of Norman Parker, in said township, on Monday the third (3d) day of April A. D. 1854, for the purpose of electing township and such other officers as the law directs.
Witness my hand and seal, this 10th day of March, A. D. 1854.
" RICHARD B. OGDEN, " County Judge of Poweshiek Co., Iowa."
At the election as provided in the foregoing order, the following named persons were elected: Justices, Norman Parker, James Brewer; Consta- bles, Eli M. Doughty, George Lukecart; Trustees, G. Lukecart, E. M. Doughty, Norman Parker; Assessor, James Brewer; Clerk, H. L. Ains - worth; Supervisor, Eli M. Doughty.
The first marriage in the township was J. H. Doughty and Miss Mary Jane Winslow. Rev. Robert Duncan performed the ceremony.
The first white male child born was a son of Wm. and Cornelia Doughty His name was Monroe Doughty. The first white female child born in the township was Helen Blake, daughter of George Blake.
The first regular practicing physician was Dr. Barton, who formerly came from Ohio.
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