USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 78
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
he had completed arrangements, and was just about to grasp when the bubble burst. The agent for the capitalist, in company with John C. Polley. Esq., then of De Witt, was at Calamus to make investigation of the property to which he claimed title, and of which he had perfect abstracts, being nearly all the land south of Calamus to the Wapsie. He drove with his visitors over the country, pointing out to them his possessions, and satisfying them fully of the sufficiency of his security. Arrangements were therefore made for Robinson to accompany the gentleman to Chicago, and there transfer his securities and receive his money.
In the mean time, some suspicion had been aroused in the Recorder's office by the vastness of his operations and the rapidity of his purchases, and the facility he seemed to have in effecting loans, and the apparent ease with which he paid them. Among other deeds filed for record, was one from the Keublers, which bore nine forged signatures, part of them females. J. D. Fegan, the Recorder, being acquainted with the Keublers, called the attention of J. E. McArthur, then an attorney at Calamus, to the fact of this deed being on record, and requested him to confer with the Keublers. McArthur neglected to do so, and the matter passed along for some weeks, until Mr. Fegan, in passing Calamus on a railroad train, again called McArthur's attention to the fact confidentially, and told him that if he could not afford to go out to Keubler's, he would pay him for doing so. McArthur immediately went out, and one of the Keubler boys came back to Calamus with him.
This was the day on which the two gentlemen mentioned above were exam- ining the property precedent to effecting the $30,000 loan. As Robinson reached town from the tour with them, he learned that Mr. Keubler was waiting for the train to go to Clinton to investigate the matter. Sending his guests to his house in company with his Superintendent, he found Keubler and went on the train with him to Clinton. On Keubler's return, he reported matters all right. What explanation he made to him to convince him of this is not known. Robinson returned at about 6 o'clock in the evening, and while seeing his guests off on a later train, two interested parties from Clinton arrived, and, taking him aside, informed him of their suspicions, and insisted upon other security for their loan. Robinson saw that the game was up, settled with them as best he could, and when daylight came, he had disappeared. In 1877, his whereabouts was discovered in Georgia ; a requisition was obtained, and one who had been a a heavy loser by him was deputized to go and make the arrest. This he did, and brought him as far as Nashville where, as he reports, he escaped from him.
The criminal career of Robinson, so far as is known, began the first of April, 1870, and ended about the middle of August, following ; and during this brief period, he had forged paper of various kinds to the amount of about $90,000. Of these forgeries, twelve were forged deeds, ten were forged satisfaction pieces. In addition to these, were a large number of forged notes, being a series of notes which he had taken for the purchase of the Marshall County property, and which he had duplicated. In an article written soon after the explosion, by a gentleman whose business made him familiar with the facts, the amount of money realized by Robinson upon these notes was said to be about $65,000, $11,000 being, however, genuine notes, leaving the balance in forged paper $54,000. His estate was thrown into bankruptcy, and paid the victims about 20 per cent. It is not believed that he carried away much money, his failure to secure the $30,000 loan having made his largest real estate forgeries unpro- ductive, and large sums having been squandered in wild financial transactions, and in extravagant living.
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636
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
EDEN TOWNSHIP.
Eden Township first formed a part of Camanche Precinct. In 1856, it was organized as a separate township. This is one of the finest farming town- ships in the county. It is well watered, its southern boundary being the Wapsie, and it is traversed from north to south near its center by Brophy's Creek. Much attention is given to stock-raising, and some of the finest farms and largest herds of cattle to be found in the county are in Eden Township. Its population, according to the last census. is about one thousand.
This township is less than a Congressional township in area, and includes portions of Townships 80 north, Range 5 east, and 81 north, Ranges 4 and 5 east, the principal area being in 81 north, Range 5 east.
Among the early settlers were James D. Bourne, Robert C. Bourne, John and Thomas Brophy, William Shelden (on the old Abbey place), J. D. and William A. Davidson, who entered the Cherrywood farm ; Jonathan Waterbury, who lives on southwest quarter Section 4, Township 80 north, Range 5 cast ; William Simpson, who settled on the place now owned by the Payne Brothers ; William Ten Eyck, who lived on the place now owned by Thomas MeCone ; John Maxson, who was a surveyor, and located on the place now owned by R. J. Dannatt ; William Cope, who still resides on his claim.
In 1851, the English settlers came into this township and vicinity, among whom were Samuel Dannatt and his sons Benjamin, Thomas, Samuel and John, John Bower and his sons Thomas and Humphrey, George Hardy, George Hill and his son Thomas, George Pearson and his two sons Henry and George: and afterward came Thomas B. Dannatt. John B. Dannatt and C. B. Dannatt, John Tate and his sons William, Thomas and Charles, William Canty, George Houston, William Richardson and his sons William, Thomas and Amos. These nearly all came from the village of Killingholme in Lincoln- shire, England, and, bringing capital with them, they bought out the original claim-takers and engaged in successful farming. They are thrifty and enter- prising, largely engaged in stock-raising and feeding, and their broad fields, fine farm-houses and outbuildings make Eden Township a model one.
The first schoolhouse in the township was a log structure built in 1849, and stood upon the farm now occupied by Peter Hill in the Union district, which comprised in its limits then nearly the whole township. There are now nine school districts in the township, all being provided with neat and commodious school-buildings.
There are but two churches in the township-the Methodist Church at Low Moor and a chapel at Malone, which was erected under the auspices of the Baptist Church at De Witt. Low Moor is a post village, and is situated on Section 22, Township 81, Range 51, in Eden Township.
Low Moor is an outgrowth of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, and is a station on that road. It was surveyed and platted in the spring of 1858, the original proprietors being J. Tong, Wilson Mudgett and Milo Smith. The first house was built by William Gulick ; the second, by Richard Wagner, and the third by Roswell B. Millard, who was the first station agent and Post- master. The post office was established in August, 1857, on the opening of the railroad and before the platting, but the town had been projected and its name selected. George Weston, P. J. Schuyler, Charles Seward and John M. Haskill have succeeded to the honors and emoluments of the postmastership,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
the latter being the present incumbent. The population is about two hundred. A neat frame school-building, with commodious grounds in a beautiful maple grove, accommodates its " Young Americas," the attendance at which is about seventy.
The Methodist Church is a small, but very tasty frame building, in the Gothic style, and seats about four hundred. It was erected in 1869, at a cost of about $3,600.
Religious services were held in the " Jones " Schoolhouse in the early days. It was then in Camanche, in what is now District No. 1, in Eden. All denominations held their meetings here. In 1858, a class was organizerl, and, at this date, the organization of the Low Moor Methodist Church can be prop- erly reckoned. When the railroad was opened and a population began to gather there, this was thought to be a more central point, and at first the meet- ings were held in the depot until the schoolhouse was erected in 1867, which was occupied for religious services until the completion of the church. The Church now numbers about fifty members. It is at present attached to Caman- che, and the Pastor is Rev. W. E. McCormac.
A stock company own and operate a steam grist-mill. The building was formerly a grain warehouse. The machinery was put in in the spring of 1878. It has two runs of stones.
Mr. Dannatt, in erecting a fine store-building, provided the people of Low Moor with a commodious public hall on the second floor.
DIRECTORY.
Crone & Manley, general merchandise ; Haskill & Son, general merchan- dise ; J. L. Haskill, Postmaster ; John Hoffmire, blacksmith ; Thomas Rowe, wagon-maker ; Henry Etter, shoemaker ; Charles Collins, watchmaker; S. C. Bauder, grain and agricultural implements ; R. J. Hart, physician and drug- gist ; E. L. Penfield, attorney ; S. W. Brazell, agricultural implements ; G. E. Mudgett, hotel ; Thomas Fetchett, saloon ; Chris. Bristley, saloon.
MURDERS.
In the fall of 1848, a murder was committed in Center Township. John Foley, an Irishman, was murdered by a neighbor known as Yankee Grable. Grable had borrowed a yoke of oxen from Foley. The latter sent a boy for the cattle, and Grable, for some reason, refused to return them. Foley then went to Grable's and demanded his cattle. An altercation took place between them, during which Foley made some demonstration of a threatening character, upon which Grable seized a stake from a hay-rack and with one blow killed him on the spot. Grable was arrested, indicted and tried, but was cleared. He then left the State and lived a number of years in Missouri, but finally returned to this county, where he lived in Olive Township until his death a few years since. Hiram Brown was the Sheriff at the time, and, after his indict- ment, he permitted him to go at large upon his honor. The man was worthy of his confidence and appeared at Court at the proper time for his trial.
Ten years later, or in 1858, another murder took place in this township. It occurred at the stone schoolhouse on election day. A young man named Quick had a difficulty with Thomas Kelly at a saloon at Ramessa, and, on the day of election came to the voting-place and an altercation ensued ; after a few words, Kelly drew a dirk-knife and stabbed Quick to the heart, killing him instantly. He fled but was pursued by citizens and captured by Mr. Garrett Davenpeck and others. He was indicted, tried and brought in "not guilty."
638
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Washington Township comprises the north half and the southeast quarter and Sections 21 and 28 of Township 82 north, Range 4 east; and the north half of Sections 1, 2 and 3, in Township 81 north, Range 4 east, being bounded east by Center Township, north by Waterford, west by Welton and De Witt, and south by De Witt. This township was organized March 15, 1856, and the first election held on the first Monday in April at the house of Joel King. As then organized, the township was a full Congressional township, but its area has since been diminished, and a portion attached to De Witt.
Washington was a well timbered township originally, Center Grove extend- ing through this and Center Townships. The most heavily timbered portions were on Sections 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 24, and were known as Center Grove in Washington Township. A slough running north and south, near the east line of this township, protected the timber from the prairie fires, and the timber area widened in Center Township on the east. Through this timbered portion of the township, the land is somewhat broken, and the timber is now nearly all gone, having been used for building, fencing, and other farm purposes, and the land, having been grubbed out, is mostly under cultivation in small farms.
There are no streams of any size, nor are there any mill-sites in the town- ship. The prairie portions are somewhat rolling, but very eligible for cultiva- tion. Washington has been noted as one of the best wheat sections in this part of the State. The northeastern portion is settled quite largely by Ger- mans : in the remainder of the township, the people are mostly Irish. Many of the first of these latter settlers, who came in about 1850. were from the same neighborhood in Ireland : and as they soon built a church of their own faith, others were attracted by the convenience of church privileges, and settled in this neighborhood. Perhaps another dominant reason for their consolida- tion was the fact that the latest entries to Government lands were to be had in this locality, the more eligible lands in this section having all been taken prior to their immigration.
Among the early settlers in this township were Elias Stallcup, Jerry Ding- well, John Smith, O. W. Denham, whose farm is now the County Farm, Washington Stallcup, George Benton, John Brogan, Christopher McGinn, Thomas O'Toole, John Cavanagh, H. M. White, who for a great number of years was Justice of the Peace; Burrill Bassett and John Southers, who settled here in the spring of 1851, on a spring on Section 11, which they found cov- ered by an Indian wigwam ; Old Campo spent the winter with them, and in the spring of 1852, he accompanied Bassett to California ; Thomas Wilson, now of De Witt, Joseph Stone, George Farrell, Barney Flannery, John Lawler, Patrick Lawler, Daniel Lawler, Michael Trimble, James Harkins, the Burkes, the Cassadys, Patrick Shannon and others.
The first school meeting was held at the house of Rouse P. Brown, in the winter of 1854, and a Board of Directors elected and district organized. The officers elected were James Harkins, James Cornwall and Thomas Wilson. The township is now well supplied with commodious and neat school buildings. On the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, Section 23, is located the only church in the township. It is a Catholic Church, and they also have a pastoral residence and out-buildings and a cemetery. The
639
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
original church, which has been twice enlarged, was built in 1856, during the pastorate of Father Frances McKenna. Father John Scallan succeeded him in 1860. Father Thomas McCormick, now of De Witt, succeeded, being the first resident Pastor. During his stay, the church was enlarged, and a par- sonage and out-buildings erected. He was succeeded by Father Gaffney, who is the present incumbent. The church has been enlarged a second time.
During the pastorate of Father McCormick, a great revolution was made in the community on the question of total abstinence. In December, 1875, he held a mission, at the conclusion of which the temperance pledge was given by him to nearly every member in his parish. In February, 1876, St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society, of Center Grove, was organized. At the first, they held their meetings in the church, but in the fall they erected a hall, 18x36, for their exclusive occupancy. The Society now numbers about eighty members. Under their auspices, a large circulating library has been established, and is doing much for the intellectual culture of the people.
There are no paupers in Washington Township, which speaks strongly for the industry and economy of its citizens.
The farms are mostly small ones, or rather there are few large land-owners in the township, and the farms are mostly of eighty to one hundred and sixty acres each.
John Dolan, who is the largest land-owner, settled in the northeastern part of the township in 1853.
Patrick Lawler is a prominent man in this township, and represented it for several years in the old Board of Supervisors.
James Harkins, when he settled in the township, in 1850, for a time lived in a hole in the ground; then he built a log house, since replaced by a fine residence. Only an instance of the success which attends industry and economy.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
Center Township comprises Township 82 north, Range 5 east, and Sections 1 to 6 and 11 and 12, in Township 81 north, Range 5 east. It is bounded north by Deep Creek Township, west by Washington and De Witt Townships, south by Eden and Camanche Townships, and east by Lincoln and Hampshire Townships.
Center was organized in March, 1852, and the first election held in April, at the house of Jacob Lepper.
The township then included all of Washington Township, and a part of what is now De Witt Township. Its subsequent changes of boundary are recorded in the chapter devoted thereto. Its surface is gradually rolling. Though admirably watered for agriculture and pasturage, there are are no large streams or mill sites within the township limits. It was originally very fairly timbered, affording the farmers ample fuel and fencing material, and, until 1856. a covert for many deer, when they were hunted down by the Grove boys.
The gently sloping prairies of Center Township, with their rank growth of wild vegetation indicating inexhaustible fertility, and easily arable naturally, at an early date became the home of the industrious and thrifty class of settlers who have since established its claim to be the garden township of the county, and one of the model agricultural sections of the entire West. So evident were the advantages of its arable slopes for settlement, owing to the contiguous
640
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Center Grove belt of timber and proximity to river markets, that before 1850 quite a number of claims had been entered.
When, in 1851, Adam Kelley, the present patriarch of Elvira, located on the knoll where Joseph Bair now lives, there was only one house, the small (Bohart) place, between there and Camanche, and Daniel Earhart was the only resident on the road to Lyons. Henry Winters, W. E. Leffingwell, N. S. Warren and J. Lepper were living in the vicinity, toward the northwest. Lewis R. Buckhead lived where Sam Kelley is now located, and owned an enormous claim, since subdivided into many productive farms. Soon afterward, many energetic settlers arrived and began to convert the prairie into homesteads. Among them were the Thiessens, Ahrens, John Kinkaid, L. K. Kellogg, the Ingwersens, Travers and the Rices.
However, 1852-57 were the years during which Center received not only the largest immigration, but an influx of those substantial citizens who have made the township what it is for prosperity and progressiveness. American, English, German and Irish elements, from the first, combined to develop its marvelous agricultural resources. Circumstances did not require any severe privations on the part of the settlers of Center ; they were comparatively near both market and supplies.
The first tavern on the stage-route, between Lyons and De Witt, was kept by Jacob Lepper, at the grove in Section 13. It was of brick, and a well-known wayside inn. The post office was established in -, at Suffolk. Its present name of Elvira was bestowed by W. HI. Gibbs, in honor of his wife, when he laid out the town-plat. In 1855-57, the flush times extended even to Elvira, which was then a very lively trading point, the stores of Hinman and Allen, the latter kept by one Huntington, doing an immense business for a large tributary section. As people could not very well transport many goods with them in moving to a new country, it was necessary for them to stock up, and the build- ing up of new homesteads necessarily involved a gross amount of purchases, difficult to conceive in a well-settled country. Then, it is probable that the township, during those years, had a larger population than at present, owing to the concentration of land by the permanent residents buying the farms of those who, for various reasons, removed from the county. A post office was, in 1865, established at Elvira through the efforts of Judge Cotton and R. A. Lyons. Jesse Travers was the first Postmaster, and at his death, in September, 1874, was succeeded by the present official, N. E. Brooks.
United Presbyterian Church .- On the 26th of December, 1853, Rev. Alex- ander Pattison organized an Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church at the house of Jacob Bohart, in Center Township, to be called the Congregation of Pleasant Prairie, and under the care of the Presbytery of Keokuk. The per- sons present at the organization were W. W. Beatty, Adam Kelly, Peter and Jacob Bohart. Messrs. Beatty and Peter Bohart were at this time elected Ruling Elders, and ordained on the 29th of January, 1854, at which time the first communion was celebrated, there being fifteen communicants. Rev. Mr. Pattison officiated and also administered the sacrament of baptism to two adults and twelve children. During the winter of 1854-55, a call was extended to Rev. John B. Clark and he was installe.l as the first Pastor, his charge includ- ing Le Claire Prairie, Port Byron and this Church. Mr. Clark was, however, during the following summer, killed by lightning, at his home in Le Claire Prairie. Eleven more members had been added to the Church, May 31, 1855. March 23, 1856, Rev. R. S. Campbell began his labors, preaching on alternate Sabbaths here and at De Witt, where a Church had been organized.
641
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
During this period, the congregation had held their services in private houses or in schoolhouses. . On the 16th of March, 1856, at a meeting held at the house of Jacob Bohart, it was decided to build a house of worship, and, during that fall, a church, 36x44, was erected in the village of Elvira, on ground donated by R. A. Lyons. and which was formally occupied in the fol- lowing spring.
In 1857, the Church, by the adoption of the basis of union between the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches became the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Campbell continued his pastoral relations until August, 1865, when he resigned this charge and remained at De Witt. The membership had increased to forty-seven. In 1866, Rev. Thomas Calohan was called to the pastorate and remained until September, 1868, when he was deposed from the ministry by the Presbytery of Le Claire. The name of the Church had, dur- ing his stay, been changed to the Elvira U. P. Church. During the summer of 1869, Rev. D. Nicoll was called to the charge, in connection with the Church at De Witt, two-thirds of his time at the latter place, and commenced his labors October 1, 1869. Rev. - Johnson succeeded Mr. Nicoll in 1875, remaining one year. After his removal, Rev. G. W. Hamilton was called, as the Pastor, in 1876, and is still with this people. Since his connection with the Church, their house of worship has been repaired, frescoed and refurnished, making it one of the neatest country church buildings in the county.
WELTON TOWNSHIP.
The township of Welton comprises nearly all of Township 82 north, Range 3 east, the eastern half of Sections 24 and 25 and Sections 34, 35 and 36, being included in De Witt Township. It is bounded north by Bloomfield Township, west by Berlin Township, south by Orange and De Witt Townships, and east by De Witt and Washington Townships. The township was organ- ized in March, 1858, and the first election held in the Walrod Schoolhouse, the first Monday in April, 1858. With the exception of Lincoln, organized many years later, this was the last township organized, and its territory was taken from Bloomfield and De Witt Townships.
In an early day, a negro had settled on a small stream tributary to Silver Creek, which has since been called "Nigger Creek." He remained but a short time and his name even could not be obtained.
Among the early settlers were Erastus Wright, Washington Wright, who settled at the piece of timber since known as Wright's Grove, about the center of the township. There were, also, some skirtings of timber along the banks of Silver Creek, which runs southeasterly through near the center of the township. The northwestern portions of the township are known as " barrens," being oak-openings of scattered timber; the remainder was rolling prairie, the eastern portion being particularly fine.
David Cass, John Walrod, N. N., John and Michael Walrod, his sons; Abram Walrod second, and Charles Wickwire, were also early settlers.
At near the center of the township, is a station of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which runs through the town from north to south, and a post office, both called Welton. It is the shipping-point for this vicinity, and Irons & Perrin carry a general stock of merchandise here. There is also a black- smith-shop, etc.
642
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
In 1850, an Englishman named Shepherd, came over as the agent of a colony of English artisans, to locate their lands for them. He made his selec- tion in this vicinity and located a large tract. Upon their arrival, they com- menced to build a village about a mile from the present station and which they called Welton. Each member of the colony had forty acres of land and two town lots. Quite a number of buildings were erected, stores, a hotel, shops and dwellings. But these men did not take kindly to pioneer farming, all of them having been trained to mechanical employments, having among their number a furrier-Mr. Skinner, of Lyons-tailors, bookbinders, painters, paper-hangers, etc., and one after another they returned to their respective callings, locating at different points in the West. Christopher Buck retained his farm; is now the only one of the original colony who remains there. Mr. Skinner has retained ownership of lis farm, but has for many years resided in Lyons. The town has all disappeared. On the southwest quarter of Section 10, there is located a Free-Will Baptist Church, which is a flourishing society, and where regular services are maintained.
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