USA > Iowa > Benton County > The history of Benton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 51
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Lone Tree Grange .- Organized in Homer Township July 3, 1872, with P. Vandyke, Master; J. T. Hershey, Secretary ; C. O. Byam, Overseer ; John Johnson, Treasurer ; Amos Lord, Lecturer ; H. P. Sebern, Chaplain ; William Morgan, Steward ; James Hinkley, Assistant Steward ; Milton Johnson, Gate Keeper ; Miss Alice Sebern, Ceres ; Mrs. Eliza Johnson, Flora; Mrs. Van- dyke, Pomona ; Miss Sallie Sebern, Lady Assistant Steward.
Eden Center .- Organized February 5, 1873. J. M. Hill, Master ; John T. Fairgrave, Secretary.
Canton Center .- Organized February 17, 1873. Nathaniel Dice, Master; J. T. Robbins, Secretary.
Bruce .- Organized February 18, 1873. T. J. Sloan, Master; J. B. Stuart, Secretary.
In 1872, James McDaniel, of Big Grove, was made County Deputy, and in the following year a County Council was formed.
The Order reached the summit of its growth and usefulness in 1874, and during the Winter of that year it proved a most efficacious means of collectin and forwarding supplies to the destitute population on the frontiers of Nebraska and Dakotah, whose crops had been devoured by grasshoppers. The people on Benton County, in common with the whole of Central and Eastern Iowa, colf lected of their abundance, both of food and clothing, to preserve the lives o- the settlers in the settlements beyond the Mississippi River ; and a very largef part of the present prosperity of Western Nebraska and Southern Dakotah is due to the generous sentiment for brothers in distress manifested by the farmers in Iowa during the Winter of 1874-5.
If the part taken by the Patrons of Husbandry, during that Winter, in loading hundreds of freight cars with the means of support for the sufferers further west, were all that Order had ever accomplished, its mission would be fully approved at the final settlement of accounts of the human race.
It must be stated, however, that the Order is now in a languishing condition, many subordinate Granges having surrendered their charters, and most of those yet active are only so on the records of the State Grange. The causes for this condition of things lie just below the surface, and can be easily stated.
In the first place, many persons with crude and shallow ideas, but with nimble tongues, obtained admission to the Order immediately after its forma- tion. Some of these had been unsuccessful in politics, and hailed the organi- zation as a means for their own advancement to positions of profit, and perhaps of plunder. These sought to drag the Order into politics, believing that the rapidly growing society could take and hold the balance of power as against the two great political parties. Others sought to make the Grange a means for dis- seminating crude ideas of reform in politics, finance and business. These peo- ple were honest enough and meant well.
The sober American sense of the membership of the Order was proof, how- ever, against the schemes of the politicians who had sought an entrance within its gates with such ardor ; and, except in a few instances, the members maintainad their former political relations, and so the place-hunters fell off, much to the advantage of the society.
In business matters, the Grange failed to accomplish what it set out to do. The various ventures into which Granger capital was invited, were nearly all
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
set on foot before the panic of 1873, and the stores and other enterprises found themselves doing business against a falling market. Had they made the differ- ence between the buying and selling prices larger most of these ventures would have proved reasonably successful ; but as a rule, the capital was largely en- croached upon or entirely absorbed in the hard years of 1874 and 1875. These business houses, and more especially those engaged in selling farm machinery, were met with the most unrelenting opposition from those who were already in trade : and, having long experience as well as ample capital, were in a situation to sell at figures that the Grangers could not successfully compete with.
The Grange Store at Belle Plaine, however, having been carefully managed from the start, has proved a decided success in the hands of its projectors, and is a notable contrast to the numerous stores started by the Order in Iowa, only a few of which now do business.
As an educational force the Order has been of great value. Those who have lost money in the business enterprises in which they have invested, have an experience that will be useful hereafter. The frequent meetings, relieving the monotony and loneliness of farm life, have been of immense benefit to the mem- bers, who have exchanged many valuable ideas with each other, some of which have been put in practice, whereby better crops have been raised, and labor-saving devices have been introduced, to the pecuniary benefit of thousands of members of the Order. For this reason alone the meetings should be constantly held, n order that a broader intelligence shall be secured; and to further this end, a system should be devised whereby each Grange can establish a small library ; and when it has been studied, let it be exchanged for the books of a neighboring Grange.
BLIND ASYLUM.
On page 197 of this volume will be found some account of the origin of this noble charity and of its removal to Vinton, through the liberality of the citi- zens of that town, who contributed $5,000 for the purchase of grounds and the construction of the building.
There are about one hundred and thirty pupil inmates of the Asylum, two being from Wyoming Territory and one from Dakotah, the remainder being resi- dents of Iowa.
The musical department is the leading feature in the educational depart- ment, and special attention is given to vocal, piano and organ instructions, and also to voice culture and harmony.
The following is a summary of the number of pupils in the musical depart- ment : In piano music, 80; organ, 14; voice culture, 4; clarionet, 3 ; horns, 7 ; flute, 8; violins, 28; violincello, 3; orchestra, 21; vocal music, 96; har- mony, 39; New York Point System, 23.
Some of the more advanced students act as assistant instructors upon the piano and organ, and are thus the better qualified for the profession of teaching.
In the Industrial Department, broom-making is the principal trade taught. This trade for the blind has many advantages ; it is easily learned, the material used is cheap and easily procured, and the machinery employed is inexpensive, and brooms being an absolute necessity will always be in demand.
Instruction is also given in the manufacture of mattresses ; but this depart- ment is of necessity limited from the fact that there is but a limited demand for this article of manufacture in this locality. It has been maintained thus far without any expense to the State.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Special attention is given to bead-work, crocheting, knitting and other fancy work, and in these many of the young ladies become quite proficient. This branch of their education will not only serve to occupy spare time and relieve the tedium of life, but may also be made a source of profit.
Fifty-five young ladies are being instructed in this department.
Instruction is also given on the sewing machine. By patient and persever- ing efforts on the part of the teacher in this department, the young ladies learn to manage the machine with great facility, and to manufacture articles of dress with as much taste and beauty as those who have the use of their eyes.
As many of the pupils are clothed at public expense, the Principal utilizes this department in the manufacture of shirts for the young men and dresses for the young ladies. Hand sewing is also taught.
The following persons compose the Faculty : Principal, Rev. Robert Caroth- ers, A. M. ; Matron, Mrs. Emeline E. Carothers ; Teachers : Thomas F. McCune, A. B., Penmanship, Grammar, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Rhet- oric, Logic, Mental Philosophy; Miss Grace A. Hill, Grammar, Literature, English and American ; History, Ancient and Modern ; Astronomy ; Mrs. C. A. Spencer, Moral Philosophy, Physiology, Physical Geography, Botany, Ge- ology ; Miss Mary Baker, Mathematics ; Miss C. R. Miller, Intermediate ; Miss Lorana Mattice, Second Primary ; Miss A. M. Mccutcheon, First Pri- mary ; S. O. Spencer, Musical Director ; T. S. Slaughter, Orchestra, Violin, Piano.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
May 18, 1873, Thomas Noland, a lad of 18, living in Kane township, was killed by the horse he was riding. The horse ran against a cow, throwing No- land to the ground, when the horse stumbled and fell upon him, breaking his neck.
A. Manuel, a German peddler, commited suicide at Big Grove, September 30, 1876, by firing a revolver at his breast. He had a small property, and no cause was apparent for self-destruction.
Judge William C. Smith died at his home in Union township, March 28, 1877, at the ripe age of 70 years. Judge Smith, before removing to Iowa, had been for a time a room-mate of Horace Greeley, and once in jest promised Greeley he would vote for him for President some day, a promise that he fulfilled the Fall before his death.
VINTON,
the county seat and principal town of Benton county, is a flourishing town containing about 3,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the west bank of the Cedar River (south bank at this point), and occupies the only really fine position for a good town on the Cedar in Benton county. It is on a high bottom that never overflows, and the prairie gradually rises from the bank southward, and affords beautiful sites for residences. The timber on the opposite side is nearly two miles in width. Nature has done much for this spot, and the good taste displayed by the citizens of the city in the construction of their homes and ar- rangement of their grounds, renders it one of the most attractive and beautiful towns to be found in Iowa-"The Beautiful Land."
As far back as 1843, a grove of cedar lined the river bank where Vinton now stand, many of the trees being tall, straight and free from knots. These trees were cut down by an adventurous spirit of the name of Thompson, and by him rafted to St. Louis, where they brought a very large price. "Cedar"
Ofco.
tomridge VINTON
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Johnson the next year had a logging camp farther up the stream, and in 1845. James Newell cut a raft in Black Hawk County, which about exhausted that valuable timber. Other parties had ascended the river before Thompson for the purpose of logging, one of whom was Dyer, a misshapen, hump-backed creature. who could neither read nor write.
The town of Fremont, now Vinton, was laid out in Lots 5, 6 and 7, of west half of Section 16, Township 85, Range 10, November 24, 1849, James Leve- rich, proprietor, Irwin D. Simison, surveyor, and the plat was recorded Novem- ber 29, 1849. The first settler on the original plat was Chancy Leverich,* who came in 1845, and built a cabin near the river ; he remained here a year or two and sold to Gideon B. White, or "G. Billy," as he was familiarly known, by whom the claim was sold to James Leverich.
Much of the early history of Vinton is necessarily a part of the history of the county, and will be found in the general history, so that brief allusion are all that will be necessary here.
In April, 1849, when the question of removing the county seat from North- port or Vinton, to a point nearer the river, was submitted to the people. the only building on the original town plat, was the log cabin and grocery, built by Chancy Leverich, in 1845.
Mr. James F. Beckett and his family, settled here in the Spring or Summer of 1849, and H. R. Sanders, Beckett's son-in-law, built a house on the street north of the Court House Square, during that Summer ; it was a frame house. The only log building so far as is known, ever erected on the town plat was that built by Chancy Leverich, in 1845-6. The saw-mill erected on Mud Creek in 1849, by John Royal and C. C. Charles, supplied the lumber for the first houses in Fremont. The third building was erected on Beckett street, by J. R. Beckett, son of James F. Among those who settled in the new town in 1849-50-1, were Dr. J. C. Traer, Dr. C. W. Buffum, Cyrus C. Charles, Har- rison Bristol, John Alexander, James Crow, W. C. Stanberry, J. S. Tilford, and others.
THE FIRST SERMON.
The first Court House of which mention has been made elsewhere, was also the first School House and Church. In it was held the first religious services held in Fremont, on the second Sunday in August, 1850, by Rev. Dr. Wood, of Iowa City. The building was yet unfinished, and the floors had not been laid, nor were there any windows or doors, except the openings left for them : a rude platform of puncheons laid across the sleepers on one end was constructed for the minister, while the little congregation sat on the floor timbers with their feet on the ground.
THE FIRST STORE.
The first store if it may be called such, was a sort of grocery and saloon, by Chancy Leverich, in 1848, A year or two later, Cyrus C. Charles opened a little shop, and kept a few goods ; the first stock of goods however, of any ac- count, was opened in the Spring of 1852, in the lower story of the Court House, by Russell Jones, as agent or partner for Greene & Brothers, of Cedar Rapids.
THE FIRST BLACKSMITH
was James Wood, a native of England, who visited the place in 1849. When he arrived here, seeing no signs of the town, lie inquired of a man he met how
*Chancy Leverich was in West Union, Fayette County, in 1850-1; built the Leverich House on the present site of the Descent Honse, in that town in 1851. He then went to Clermont where he remained a while, and then went to Minnesota, where it is said he laid ont the town of Austin, and was killed in a drunken brawl in a saloon in that town, about 1854. HI
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
far it was to Fremont, and was very much surprised when he was informed that he was then standing on the public square. The shell of the Court House was then standing, but he thought it was intended for a barn. Mr. Wood returned to the place in 1850, and established himself as a blacksmith, building his shop near the river, on a lot at the foot of what is now Beckett street. The lot was donated to him by Mr. Beckett, and he purchased the lot adjoining it for $2.50.
THE FIRST POST OFFICE.
The first post office in Benton county was established at Northport-Vinton, October 1, 1846, called Vinton, and Stephen Holcomb was appointed Post- master. In 1850, a mail route was established between Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, via Fremont, and July +,, of that year, a post office was established, and J. L. Beckett appointed Postmaster. The contract for carrying the mail was awarded to David King, of Kingston, now a part of Cedar Rapids, and Greenbury Luck carried the mail once a week for four years. The mail for Cedar Rapids arrived here on Friday. About 1853, another mail route was established from Quasqueton to Vinton, over which the mail was transported once a week, arriving at Vinton every Wednesday, and leaving every Thursday morning.
FIRST BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
John H. Kelsey and Mary A. Webb, married March 10, 1853, and Mar- quis D. L. Webb and Mary J. Beckett, married April 5, 1853, were among the first if not the first marriages in Fremont.
The first births were those of James W. Sanders, born March 25, 1850, and William M. Traer, born May 25, 1850.
The first death in town was that of Samuel Rosebury, in the Spring of 1851, and the second that of James F. Beckett, in November of the same year.
FIRST SCHOOL.
The first school in Fremont was taught in the old Court House in the Fall and Winter of 1852-53, by George Parish. The house was burned before the term closed. The next Summer, Miss Jennie Chapin taught school in a little brick building on Main street, known as Alexander's office. A school house was built that Summer, and in the Fall, Mrs. Fellows taught the first school in it.
The United Brethren Church was organized here about 1853, probably by Rev. William Stiles, and in 1854, through its Trustees. James Richie, James Crowe and William Ludlow, purchased of James Crowe a building on Jefferson street, for $725 (the building is now occupied by Mr. Baumer), and held serv- ices therein until about 1858, when it ceased to exist. Rev. Mr. Newman was the last preacher.
SETTLERS WERE WELCOMED-SPECULATORS TOLD TO PASS ON.
When immigration to the town was fairly begun, it is said that as soon as a man arrived he was accosted with the familiar 'frontier whoop and questioned closely as to his business. If he proved to be a speculator, he was kindly but firmly told that he had better pass on. If, however, he asked to become a per- manent settler, he received the well-known frontier welcome. What that was, only those who have experienced it know what genuine hospitality is. Every- thing the hard-fisted, large-hearted pioneer had was at the service of his guest -his house, his money, food, horses, wagon, everything, and he was treated as one of the family.
427
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
TWO HUNDRED.
In 1854, the town contained, by actual count, two hundred inhabitants, Mrs. Beckett being the " census taker."
FIRST CELEBRATION.
The first celebration of Independence Day at Vinton was in 1852, which was attended by fifty persons, the whole country-side turning out in force. The observances were held in a building erected by Thomas Pound for a store. Mr. Rice was President of the Day, and W. C. Stanberry, Vice President. John H. Kelsey read the Declaration of Independence, and suitable sentiments were responded to by others.
An amusing circumstance occurred during the speeches. Stanberry had some time before kissed a German woman named White, whose face was neither comely nor clean. Greenbury Luck, the mail carrier, was extremely tight, and every little while would break in on the speaking to propose three cheers for the man who had " kissed the Dutch woman." The hit was irresistible : and after Greenbury had called for applause two or three times, Stanberry, in abso- lute despair, was compelled to leave the room until his persecutor got too sleepy to remember him.
A dinner was served by the women present. The meat was supplied by Mr. Vardeman, who had killed a sheep for the occasion. Mr. Pound had brought some lemons from Dubuque, which formed the basis for lemonade, and Dr. Traer furnished some " pop.
A few got patriotically tight in the afternoon, but kept within the bounds of decorum. Indeed, in spite of the temperance sentiment now prevailing, the historian is of the belief that the pioneers of Benton County had a right to taste a little whisky at their celebration of the seventy-seventh flight of the Amer- ican Eagle.
THE FIRST PAPER.
The Vinton Eagle; a small six-column paper, made its first appearance on Wednesday, January 10, 1855, with Frederick Lyman, Editor. Although it is not an historical number, there are some matters of interest to be gleaned from its columns.
On Saturday, January 6, 1855, the Western Stage Company established a tri-weekly line of stages between Vinton and Cedar Rapids, and Mr. Lyman pointedly asks, " What has become of the tri-weekly Mail that we so earnestly petitioned for months ago ?"
From the advertising columns it appears that Vinton Lodge of A., F. & A. M., held its regular meetings "Saturday evenings before the full moon." Vinton Lodge, No. 32, I. O. of G. T., met every Friday evening. W. E. Smith, W. C. T .; James Wood, W. S.
James Wood advertised "lands for sale." John J. Tyler, late from Europe, advertised that he intended to carry on the business of plastering, lay- ing stone, brick, etc. Taggart & Douglass wanted 1,000 saw logs at the Vin- ton Steam Mill. J. C. Traer was the druggist. Green & Jones kept a general stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, crockery, etc .; Elijah Evans, dry goods, hardware, drugs and medicines, etc .; Brubaker & Catlin, dry goods, hats, eaps, clothing, etc. D. B. Keys, also, had a general assortment. The Il- linois House, by J. B. Webb, and the Howard House, by John H. Shields, were the hotels.
428
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
John M. Cantry's legal card was first on the first page; James Crow, County Surveyor, General Land Agent and Justice of the Peace, followed in the same column ; John Weare was running a weekly line of stages between Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, with " Lawrence " for driver.
In No. 2 of the Eagle is a brief description of Vinton, which is prefaced by the editor as follows : "Not being in possession of the necessary statistical information, having called in vain upon a few of the older residents to furnish us with facts and figures, we shall merely give our conclusions drawn from observation during four weeks' residence in this town." He then proceeds to give his " conclusions." "The town proper is of only three years' growth, and contains upward of 500 inhabitants, who came from all parts of the United States, but mostly from Indiana and Ohio. A slight sprinkling of Yankees, a few Dutchmen, one or two Englishmen and a convayniant number of Irish com- pletes the catalogue."
One good school house is completed and occupied with 100 scholars. The school was ably conducted by two teachers, but Mr. Lyman had not yet learned their names. Two churches (Presbyterian and Methodist) and a fine Court House were under contemplation. There were three hotels and one steam saw- mill, of " mammoth dimensions but limited machinery at present."
VINTON PRICE CURRENT.
VINTON, January 17, 1855.
Beef, per pound, 4 to 5 cents ; butter, per pound, 20 cents; beans, white, per bushel, $1.00: chickens, per pair, 20 cents ; corn, per bushel, 25 cents ; corn meal, per bushel, 45 cents ; eggs, per dozen, 12} cents ; flour, per barrel, $7.00; ham, per pound, 6 cents ; lard, per pound, 8 cents : oats, per bushel, 25 cents ; potatoes, per bushel, 50 cents ; pork, per hundred, $3.50; shoulders, per pound, 4 cents ; wheat, per bushel, 75 cents; wood, per cord, $2.00.
The second term of Mrs. Fellows' school for girls commenced in Vinton October 1, 1855.
September 20, 1856, Everett Keys, of the firm of D. B. & E. Keys, lost his life at the saw-mill, northeast of Vinton, owned by the firm. He was watching the motion of the circular saw, and, being asked by one of the men to assist in lifting a board off the carriage-way, he stepped forward to lift it, when it caught on the saw, swung round and threw him against it. One leg was instantly severed from the body and the other badly mangled. Medical help was procured as soon as possible, but he lived only two hours. He was buried by the members of Vinton Lodge, No. 83, I. O. O. F., of which he was a member.
The Vinton Cemetery Company was organized October 30, 1858, with S. D. Redfield as President ; Charles M. Hare, Secretary ; John S. Tilford, Treasurer; W. C. Smith, R. Kennedy, J. E. Palmer, J. F. Young and Joseph Dysart, Directors.
E. Humphreville, who had been a citizen of Benton County since 1855, died in Herkimer County, N. Y., on the 13th of April, 1859, of consumption.
The bridge at Vinton was first crossed by a wagon and team June 27, 1857. This important improvement was accomplished by a stock company, formed in November, 1856, composed of J. C. Traer, J. E. Palmer, J. W. Filkins, John Mason, J. S. Hunt and others. The structure, which was erected by Kelly & McCoy, cost $8,500. The entire length was 462 feet, resting on eight piers, each pier being composed of sixteen piles, each pile driven into the river bed a distance of twelve feet. The piers were protected by solidly-constructed breakers. The transverse floor timbers were twenty feet long, giving a clear width of sixteen feet.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Vinton (as described in the Eagle of September 17th), in 1859, had four- teen houses engaged in general trade, one banking house, two insurance agencies, eight attorneys, five physicians, one dentist, twenty-five builders, two furniture shops, one milliner, three blacksmith shops, one plow factory, one harness shop, one tailor, three shoe shops, one jeweler, four hotels, a stage office, two butcher shops, two livery stables, three secret societies, two printing offices, one female seminary, five religious organizations, one steam saw-mill and one ferry. Eighty-five buildings had been erected in the preceding twelve months, and nineteen were at that time in process of construction.
FLOURING MILLS.
The establishment known as the Vinton Mills was erected in the Fall of 1857, by J. F. & W. H. Young, at a cost of about $20,000. It is run by steam, and has three four-foot buhrs.
The Eagle Mills, owned by Durand & Kimball, were built in 1869 or 1870. In 1861, the population of Vinton, by census taken in September. was 1.010; 477 males and 533 females.
A " Young Men's Christian Association" was formed December 21, 1867, with S. A. Knapp as President ; B. R. Sherman, Vice President; S. H. Watson, Treasurer ; J. W. Bar, Secretary; H. M. Hoon, Librarian ; B. R. Sherman, S. Williams, James Wood, Alex. Sanderson, Geo. Pierce, Directors. A small library was soon afterward procured, most of the books of which are still preserved, and are kept at the Herald office. Perhaps it would be a good plan to turn the library over to the Reform Club, lately organized, by which society it could be made the basis for a library worthy of the town.
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