USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > The history of Appanoose 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 > Part 55
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The Sabbath school is claimed to be the successor of the first organization effected in the township, of which Leven Dean was Superintendent, probably in 1847. J. H. Phillips is the present Superintendent; Mrs. Margaret Taylor, Assistant; Jennie Randall, Secretary and Librarian. The teachers are R. Buckmaster, Amanda J. Miller, Mrs. E. H. Sawyers, Margaret Taylor and J. B. Morrison. The attendance is about forty.
Presbyterian .- This society has been in existence thirty years, having been formed in 1848, by Rev. J. E. Ewing, who subsequently died at Winterset. The first Elders were C. H. Howell and Elisha Sawyers. The first members were John Graham and wife, Mrs. E. Sawyers, R. McMurray and wife, Msr. E. A. Drake, Mrs. D. H. Miller, and perhaps two or three others.
The different Pastors have been Rev. Messrs. J. H. Shields, Smith, Fisher, Kain, Kendrick, Jones, Merwin and Hahn.
The society built its house of worship in 1871. The building is 36x44 feet in size, with vestibule 12x20, and cost about $1,800.
The membership is twenty-nine. J. B. Stuckey, D. R. Farley and Dr. S. H. Sawyers are the Elders; J. H. McAdams, J. B. Stuckey, Dr. Sawyers, G. N. McMurray, D. R. Farley, Trustees.
Mrs. L. L. Taylor is Superintendent of the Sabbath school ; Mrs. S. H. Sawyers, Assistant ; Mrs. Mattie J. Phillips, Secretary and Librarian. The teachers are Amanda Miller, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Sawyers, Mrs. E. H. Sawyers, Mrs. M. M. Sawyers. There are about sixty pupils.
Baptists .- A church of this faith was organized here in 1853, the first mem- bers being Joel Staley and wife, John Hicks and wife, Robert Frost and wife.
The Pastors have been Rev. Messrs. I. M. See, Thompson, Green and Will- iam Barnet.
A church was built in the village in 1856, but just before its completion it was burned down. It was 36x40 feet.
Owing to political differences among the members, no meetings were held for about ten years ; but, after the war, the organization was revived, and the society is now in a peaceful, prosperous condition. Meetings are held at the Clancey Schoolhouse, two miles west of Unionville.
There are now about forty members. The Elders are Joel Staley, Colloway Baker and James Creech.
A Union Sabbath school is maintained here, of which Calloway Baker is Superintendent.
Dunkards .- This society has a church two miles south of Unionville, which was built in 1870, at a cost of about $1,500.
The society was formed in 1856.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
MASONIC.
Unionville Lodge, No. 119, A., F. § A. M .- The dispensation for this Lodge was issued October 16, 1857, by John F. Sanford, Grand Master, and at Grand Lodge, in June following, a charter was granted without comment, from which it is inferred that the officers were "bright." The officers during the first year appear to have been : T. J. Taylor, W. M .; S. Clark, S. W .; N. Udell, J. W .; J. Delay, Treasurer ; M. Davis, Secretary ; J. N. Riggs, S. D .; E. Taylor, J. D .; E. Davis, Tiler.
The deaths have been T. J. Taylor (in the volunteer service), Phineas Taylor, Samuel Matheny, Rev. T. D. Boyles, Mr. Shafer, Mr. Ralston and J. A. J. Thomas.
Present officers: J. N. Riggs, W. M .; J. B. Morrison, S. W .; T. D. Barnet, J. W .; D. A. Sawyers, Treasurer ; A. Hicks, Secretary ; S. E. Lane, S. D .; C. W. Morrison, J. D .; D. P. Denny, Tiler.
The Lodge has about fifty members. Meets Thursday evening before full moon.
MORAVIA. (Taylor Township.)
Moravia was laid out by Joseph Stauber, Theophilus Vierle and Ephraim Conrad, and was surveyed June 27, 1851. The location is on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, Town 70, Range 17. The plat was recorded July 15, 1851, in book A, page 158.
These three men emigrated, with their families, from North Carolina in 1849, and stayed in Jefferson County during that winter. In the spring of 1850, they came to Appanoose County, and Mr. Stauber bought a claim held by a Mormon, and which, the following year, became the site of the present village of Moravia.
One of the Mormon trails leading from Nauvoo westward, in 1846, passed directly through where Moravia now stands, thence along the ridge through Iconium, and so on west. This was subsequently adopted as a public highway, and there is hardly a road in Iowa more closely bordered with farm dwellings- so close, as one expresses it, that a stone could be almost thrown from one house to another.
Moravia grew rapidly during the first ten years of its existence, and, just prior to the building of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad, there were six or seven stores in the town, as well as other business places. The town held on pretty well till about 1870, when a newspaper, called the Messenger, was established.
The first store opened in the place was by Solomon Long, probably in 1851.
Ed. Reich was the first Postmaster, and the mail was carried from Unionville once a week by Joshua Sumner.
The first school taught in the vicinity was by Harvey McCoy, in the winter of 1850-51, in a log cabin one mile southeast of the town. This was attended by children from the families of Daniel Cummins, Seward Sumner, E. Conrad, Mr. Weiring and J. Conrad.
The first marriage was that of Capt. Cummins to Miss Stauber, probably in 1852, and the first death, that of Isabel Sumner, about the same time.
An Odd Fellows' Lodge was established here years ago, but surendered its · charter in 1875.
P
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
1
Mrs. Mary McLane, who had been recently married, committed suicide September 15, 1867, by hanging herself in the loft of her house with a skein of yarn. Her husband had quarreled with her, and had threatened to leave her, and the rash act was committed in a fit of despondency.
A small flouring-mill was built in 1877, to be driven by wind-power, but, this proving insufficient, steam is being substituted.
EDUCATIONAL.
A schoolhouse was built in 1853, by members of the Moravian Church, which was used three years, when it burned down. The commodious two-story building now standing in the public square was built in 1867, under the authority of the township district.
The Independent District was organized April 17, 1868, with E. Cummins as President ; W. S. McCloud, Vice President; P. Reeder, Secretary ; E. Powell, Treasurer ; L. Crist, E. Dodd, B. C. Stauber, Directors.
The public square was fenced in 1870.
John J. Cree is now President of the Board; M. Winsler, William Tissue, Directors ; E. Cummins, Treasurer Dr. S. N. Harvey, Secretary.
Ruth Cree is Principal of the school and Laura Reich, Assistant. The number of pupils of school age is about sixty.
RELIGIOUS.
Moravian .- This Society should not be confounded with the United Breth- ren, although the doctrine taught is about the same. The Moravians claim John Huss as their founder, they having declined to bear arms in the religious wars waged by the Catholics in Bohemia against the Protestants, thus having adopted the doctrine of non-resistance, even before the Quakers. The Church here may be said to date from the settlement of Joseph Stauber, Edward Reich, Ephraim Conrad and Theophilus Veiring, with their families, in 1850, who laid out the town for the benefit of the future society, and dedicated forty acres in addition for church and parsonage grounds, most or all the money having been contributed by a philanthropic member in North Carolina.
In the fall of 1852, Rev. Charles Barston, of Indiana, visited the colony and preached a few times. During his stay, several children were baptized.
A schoolhouse was built in 1853, but burned down in 1856.
Rev. Hiram Myers began preaching here, probably in 1854, and moved to Moravia in 1856.
The church-building, which was dedicated July 25 or 26, 1857, is about 28x40 feet in size.
Bishop Shults visited the church in the spring of 1859.
In 1864, Rev. Henry Cooper, who had recently settled in Illinois, became Pastor, but being drafted into the military service in Ohio, returned to that State, served for awhile, and came back to his charge in the following winter. In 1865, he married a daughter of Mr. Stauber, when he was called to a church in North Carolina.
Rev. Lewis Clewell was the next Pastor, succeeded by Rev. Francis Knauss, he by Rev. Benjamin Ricksecker, and he by Rev. James Haman, the present incumbent.
There are twenty-five members. Paul Oehler, Fred. Blumenstalk and Jacob Babst, are the Elders.
Cumberland Presbyterian .- This Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Law- rence, December 17, 1853, and the constituent members were T. W. Patrick, Jane
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
Patrick, Jonathan Davenport, W. M. Biddle, Eunice B. Biddle, James Reatty, Robert Patterson, Nancy L. Andrews, Priscilla R. Hayes, Lementine A. Hayes, Rosetta A. Hayes, Charlotte Cook, Lucinda Davenport and Rebecca Cuppy.
The Pastors have been Rev. Messrs. Lawrence, Wheelers, Hawks, George S. Adams, Levi Hewitt and Smith McCall.
The construction of the house of worship was begun in 1874, and finished in 1876. It is 28x42 feet in size, and cost $1,500. The dedicatory sermon was preached October 7, 1877, by Rev. W. F. Baird, of Burlington.
The society has about sixty members. John H. Williams, F. M. Sharp and J. J. Cree, Trustees ; James Beatty, James Cree, John Sharp, D. B. Horner, Elders ; J. H. Williams, A. F. Grabill, Deacons.
Methodist Episcopal .- This Church was formed in 1853, or the year fol- lowing. The class was composed of Mr. Shinn and wife, William Elswick and wife, with a few others.
Some of the Pastors have been Rev. Messrs. Manson, Delay, Clark, Mor- rison, Thorn, K. P. Morrison, Morton, Ashbaugh, John Orr, McFadden and Carrier.
The church-house was built in 1867, at a cost of about $1,500.
The society has at present thirty-six members. Sanford Huffman is Class- Leader ; Mrs. Elizabeth Winsler, Steward ; Dr. Huffman, A. E. Monroe, William Shetterly, Michael Winsler, J. T. Harn, Trustees.
Union Sabbath School .- This appears to have been formed in 1851, with Ephraim Conner as first Superintendent.
As now organized, Rev. James Haman is Superintendent ; J. A. Monroe, Assistant ; John Stauber, Librarian ; William Peatman, Secretary ; J. T. Harn, Treasurer. The teachers are J. J. Cree, F. M. Sharp, Eugene Horner, J. T. Harn, Mary Reich, Ruth Cree. The average attendance is about sixty-five.
MASONIC.
Antiquity Lodge, No. 252, A., F. § A. M .- The dispensation for this body was issued December 16, 1868, by Reuben Mickel, Grand Master. Pickering Tarr was W. M .; F. M. Sharp, S. W .; J. B. Anderson, J. W. There were ten other members.
The only death has been that of John Sharp.
Taylor McFatridge is the present W. M .; J. T. Harn, S. W .; S. N. Har- vey, J. W .; John Duvall, Treasurer ; J. J. Cree, Secretary ; Eugene Fuller, S. D .; Amos A. Hayes, J. D .; D. Pence, Tiler.
The Lodge meets Saturday evening on or before full moon. It has about thirty-five members.
WALNUT CITY. ( Walnut Township.)
Walnut City is situated on Sections 4 and 5, Town 69, Range 18, and Sec. tions 32 and 33, Town 70, Range 18. The dedicators were John Scott, Francis Childers, James Bartlett and Madison Hollman, who acknowledged the deed November 17, 1858, before W. J. Darrah, J. P. It was surveyed on the 27th and 28th of July by J. H. Hough, County Surveyor. East, State and West streets run north and south, intersected by Main street. The variation is 9º 30'.
Some of the first settles in the township were Isaac and Nathan Bartlett, a man named Marchbank, and Rev. Daniel Shafer, a United Brethren preacher.
467
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
A Baptist Church was formed in the neighborhood, probably as early as 1848. Some of the first members were the Bartletts, Marchbanks, Childers and Thomas Richardson. When the first schoolhouse was built in the town- ship, the meetings were held in it. A house was built two miles west of Wal- nut City about 1856, and named Concord, which stood till about 1875, when a new house was built-a very neat structure. The society has now about seventy-five members. A. F. Haines is one of the Deacons, and D. O. Scott is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, which is well attended.
The first school ever held in the township was in 1853, at a small log cabin, taught by a Mr. Masters. The first schoolhouse was a frame structure erected in 1854, and a school was taught therein by John P. Smith, in the winter of 1854-55. Occasional spelling-schools were held here during the same winter, as well as at the settlers' houses. Smith, who was something of a vocalist, also taught a singing-class, so that the young people of Walnut had ample resources for amusement during the winter. Smith had acquired his knowledge of music according to the "patent note system,"* a scheme very popular in the past generation. Mason's "Harp " came around in 1850, or thereabouts. and Smith secured a copy while teaching his school. He succeeded in getting a slight knowledge of the round-notes, and, in order to maintain his prestige, used to sing from it to his friends ; but it was noticed that he invariably selected the melodies with which he was most familiar, so that he could sing them from memory. Smith was quite a local character, and, in the winter of 1853, made several thousand rails for David Scott. The weather was very cold, but he persisted in doing without socks, underclothing or overcoat. The deep snow, however, forced him into buying a pair of boots. Smith had a license as " exhorter " from the M. E. Conference, and held occasional services in the neighborhood. When the war came Smith enlisted, but did not live to return, and his personal worth, as well as his labors for good in Walnut Township, have amply earned this biographical mention.
The first death was that of Henry Clay Scott, in 1853.
The first marriage was that of E. Wakefield to Margaret S. McNeff, October 27, 1853.
Wolves were very numerous in this township for several years after its settlement. On one occasion, David Scott succeeded in trapping a cub partly grown, which he promised his boys to tame. He put a leather collar on the beast, attached a " trace " chain and fastened the chain to a post with a leather thong. In the morning, the cub and chain were gone. The animal was repeatedly seen after that, but was not captured again for two years, when the chain was recovered also. The brute had dragged it wherever he went, and the chain was as bright as a dollar.
A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the winter of 1854-55 by John P. Smith, the membership being mainly among the McNeff and Wakefield families. The society, which has now about twenty-five members, built a church in Walnut City in 1873, which is about 28x40 feet in size, and cost $1,500. Mrs. Stafford is Superintendent of the Sabbath school.
A church of the United Brethren faith was organized in the township at an early day by Rev. Mr. Shafer, who built a small church in the southern part of Chariton Township from his own means, and donated it to the society. The organization finally broke down, and the building was converted into a school- house.
* The "patent note system " now practiced by glib-tongued agents in the rural neighborhoods is a great stimulus to vocalization, but the music is not so tuneful as that secured by the old plan.
468
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
The first store opened in Walnut City was by the McNeff Brothers, soon after the town was laid out. The town, at its fullest development, had two stores, a wagon-shop, blacksmith-shop, shoe-shop and perhaps a dozen dwellings. This business showing has for several years been reduced to a store, post office, blacksmith and wagon shop.
The post office was not established till 1866. Prior to that time, a club existed, each of whom would visit Centerville in regular order for the purpose of getting the neighborhood mail.
The Christian Church at Walnut City was organized in the township in 1855, the first members being David Scott and wife, John Scott and wife, William Myers, W. H. Clark and wife, George Elgin and wife. The ministers since the formation of the society have been Elders E. E. Harvey, J. C. Porter and
Walden. The house of worship was built in Walnut City in 1856, and is a frame building, about 28x40 feet in size. At one time the society had about one hundred and sixty members, and the number is still about one hundred and twenty-five. W. B. Stevens and Josiah Harvey are now the society's Elders ; W. S. Main and W. T. Myers, Deacons. Thomas McNeff is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has about fifty attendants ; Newton Harris is Assistant ; Samuel Cates, Secretary ; William Myers, Treasurer. The teachers are William Myers, W. B. Stevens, William Harris, Mary Myers, Joseph Hol- loway, Mary Holloway, Mrs. William Owings.
A mock Legislature was established in the winter of 1877-78, which afforded a great deal of amusement in the neighborhood. This is to be revived during the coming winter.
It is said that the township has had no history of an exciting or tragic nature. Mr. Scott, now Clerk of the Courts, says he held the office of Justice in the township for six years, and that he had only two cases during the time, and both on change of venue from other townships.
Walnut contains only twenty-four square miles, and is watered by the Chari- ton and the two Walnut Creeks. A glance at the statistical tables in another place will indicate population and other interesting information.
HIBBSVILLE.
(Franklin Township.)
Hibbsville is situated on the northeast quarter of Section 35, Township 68, Range 19, and was surveyed for James and Pleasant Hibbs, September 15, 1862.
A glance at the map will show that the plat lies near the northeast corner of the township. The laying-off of the plat induced quite a number of fam- ilies to settle here at an early day. A post office was established in 1853, which yet remains.
A schoolhouse was built in 1854. This was a frame structure, and prob- ably the very first of the kind in the county.
James Hibbs, the proprietor of the plat, started a store in 1851, and in 1853 started a saw-mill. In 1855, the facilities of the town for doing busi- ness were further increased by the building of a flouring-mill, in connection with which a carding machine was started.
In 1857, the town had a hotel, three general stores, a drug-store, a black- smith-forge and a shoe-shop, all doing a good business.
469
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
The mutations of population affected the little town unfavorably, and when the Chicago & Southwestern Road was built across the county, leaving Hibbs- ville two miles on one side, the people migrated in various directions, and most of the buildings were removed at the same time.
So it goes-the engineer's transit makes unavailing the plans laid by the pioneers for the location of towns. Had not Numa been established, it is prob- able that the business of Hibbsville would have long remained. There is one store in the place, owned by James Hibbs.
THE TOWNSHIP.
It is stated that the pioneer settler of Franklin was Joseph Jump, a well- known character among the first inhabitants, who made a claim in 1848. He had, however, been in the county two or three years prior to that time. Those who came next were James Hibbs, Mr. Barney and Mr. Parker, in 1853.
The post office at Livingston was established in 1858, with E. O. Smith as Postmaster.
A Baptist society was formed in the vicinity of Livingston in 1855, the organizing members being Benjamin Barney and wife, L. G. Parker and wife, A. E. Stevens and wife, Levi Wafford and wife, the first meeting being held at Mr. Parker's house. The first preacher was Elder Blackburn, whose successors have been Elders John Osborn, Bolster, Benton, Burkholder, Turton, Parker and Archer. The society now meets at the Livingston Schoolhouse, but intend to build in 1879, as it now owns two acres of ground for church and cemetery purposes, the donation of E. C. Smith, Esq. The Deacons of the church now are Allen Pettitt, R. B. Williamson and William Condra ; Samuel N. Bell, Clerk. There are about sixty members.
A Union Sabbath School is maintained here. H. L. Halladay is Superin- tendent ; E. O. Smith, Assistant; Charles Landers, Secretary ; James Mur- phy, Librarian. The teachers are E. O. Smith, Mrs. Nancy J. Parker, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Hallady, R. B. Wilkinson, and Mrs. Helen Wood. The average attendance is thirty-nine.
The earliest marriage remembered was that of Benjamin Joiner to a niece of Absalom Foster, probably about 1854.
A steam saw-mill was set in operation by E. O. Smith in 1858, followed soon after by a flouring-mill.
During the war, a "contraband " named John Jones, found employment about the premises of Mr. Parker, who was absent in the service. John was a quiet, steady-going fellow, and, not long after he became an inmate of the Parker family, joined the church. John's residence in Franklin was regarded as highly reprehensible by several citizens, most of whom lived about Hibbsville, and who had posted notices, intimating that the negro must leave. One night, Mrs. Parker was awakened by a loud crash, but believing that a pantry-shelf had fallen, and being very tired, did not get up to ascertain the cause. In the morning, she found that a window had been broken and the weather-boarding near it bruised by a volley of stones thrown by the heroic enemies of Jones. The next morning, a denizen of Hibbsville went over to tell Mrs. Parker that a meeting had been held at that place the previous evening, in which a reso- lution was passed that John must leave the neighborhood. While he was talk- ing, a mounted party appeared, riding toward the Parker house. They were seen by Mr. E. O. Smith, who, fearing that mischief was meant, ran over and confronted the men as they dismounted at the gate. The party turned out to be a detachment of the State-line patrol, formed of citizens along both sides of
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
the boundary for mutual protection. These men had heard of the outrage, and had assembled to investigate it. They were invited into the house, where the Hibbsville man sat, looking badly frightened and apparently anxious to cut his visit short. The patrol and Mr. Smith pressed him into giving an account of the meeting the night before, minute enough to satisfy a metropolitan daily. He was given some very pointed and wholesome advice, and allowed to go. When last seen, he was traveling in the direction of Hibbsville at a gait that would have been a credit to the " seven-league boots." This accidental but seasonable show of force prevented any further trouble about John.
A school district was organized around Livingston April 9, 1859, and the first teacher was Mr. Goodenough. A building owned by E. O. Smith was used as a schoolroom till 1865, when a house was built. The district now includes about twenty families.
A store was started in 1865 by Thomas Frost. The present store-keeper is William Bales.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in this township holds its meetings at the Wilson Schoolhouse, and a Union Sabbath School is conducted at the same place.
There is a society of Dunkards in this township. Meetings are held at the Valley schoolhouse. Elder William Stickler has been Pastor for several years.
The Church of God, or " Weinbermarians," a society having a general resemblance to the Dunkards, have meetings both at the Wilson and Valley Schoolhouses. Elder Richardson, their Pastor for some time past, has just given way to Elder Mullen.
Franklin, somewhat contrary to the rule in this part of Iowa, is settled by New York people.
DEAN AND HILLTOWN. ( Wells Township.)
Dean lies in the southwest corner of Section 4, Wells, near where the Mis- souri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad crosses Indian Creek, and is a station on that railroad. It was named after Henry Clay Dean, for many years a leading politician in Iowa, and who now resides on a farm four miles south of this sta- tion, just over the Missouri line.
The plat was surveyed April 12, 1873, by Henry Shaw, and was dedicated as a town by James W. Summers in July of the same year. About two-fifths of the plat lies south of the track of the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad, which has a direction here from southeast to northwest. The streets from east to west are numbered, beginning on the south side of the plat, while those running north and south are designated by the letters of the alphebet, begin- ning on the west side.
For a time, the indications were that Dean would become a brisk little town ; but, the valley proving unhealthy, several settlers withdrew. A store or two was established, but the business was abandoned, and, besides the depot business and post office, nothing but a drugstore is maintained.
Considerable coal-mining is done in the vicinity.
HILLTOWN.
This is a little hamlet on Chariton River, in Section 16, two miles south of Dean, and known on the records as Pleasant View, which has fot several years past done a brisk business in mining and hauling coal to surrounding towns.
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