USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > The history of Des Moines county, Iowa, containing a history of the country, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers > Part 76
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Danville Lodge, No. 48, A., F. § A. M., was instituted under dispensa- tion July 1, 1854, and a charter was granted June 6, 1855, the charter mem- bers being as follows : R. B. Foster, R. G. McFarland, Caleb Webster, Pren- tice Yoeman, J. S. Stephenson, L. L. Beery, C. D. Beebe, Clark Jackman. The officers under the dispensation were: Prentice Yoeman, W. M .; R. G. Mc Farland, S. W. ; Caleb Webster, J. W. ; J. J. Stephenson, Treasurer : R. B. Foster, Secretary ; L. L. Beery, S. D ; C. D. Beebe, J. D. ; Clark Jack- man, Tiler. The first officers under the charter were : L. L. Beery, W. M. ; Caleb Webster. S. W. : William Wiggins, J. W .: R. B. Foster, Treasurer : Christian Fischback, Secretary : R. G. MeFarland, S. D. : Clark Jackman, J. D. ; C. D. Beebe, Tiler. The present officers are : J. A. Wright, W. M .; R. M. Chamber, S. W. ; B. F. Berton. J. W. ; W. H. Stewart, Treasurer ; J. P. Irwin, Secretary ; Reuben Tomes, S. D. ; A. A. Wilcox, J. D .; J. F. Masters, Tiler. This Lodge has a membership of forty-nine. The value of its property, including building, furniture, library and money at interest, is $1,800. It was first instituted at Lowell, Henry County, under the name of Lowell Lodge, No. 48, and chartered June 6, 1855. This charter was surrendered · June 4, 1857, and returned June 8, 1864. The place of meeting was changed to Danville, Des Moines County, and Lodge named Danville Lodge, No. 48.
Danville has three general stores. one furniture store, one harness-shop, two blacksmith-shops, one tailor-shop, one carpenter-shop, one tinshop, three phy- sicians, one live-stock firm, one elevator, one flouring-mill and one cheese-fac- tory, also one public hall.
MIDDLETOWN.
Middletown is situated four miles southeast of Danville on the line of the B. & M. Railroad. Josiah T. Smith, now in California, came from Ohio to Danville Township in April, 1839, and settled on the site of present village of Middletown. He laid out a portion of his land into town lots, which were sur- veyed by T. L. Sergent, in December, 1846. Subsequently other lots were surveyed by John D. Wright, County Surveyor, October 4, 1847. During the year 1847; a preliminary meeting of settlers was held to decide on a name, to
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
be mentioned in the petition for a post office. John Sharp, of Pennsylvania, proposed the name of Middletown, which was accepted for the office and future village. The first house built after the survey, was constructed of logs, and owned by Theodore Folensbe, who was appointed the first Postmaster. The office was established in 1847, in the log-cabin tailor-shop of the above named. In 1839, a log-cabin schoolhouse was built near the east line of Danville Town- ship, in the neighborhood of the present village of Middletown, but really lo- cated in Flint River Township. It was called Lewins Point, and named after Mr. Lewins, one of the carly settlers. In this building, the religious meetings of the various denominations of neighboring settlers were held for many years. T. L. Sergent opened the first store in Middletown in a brick building, which was the first of its kind in the village, and was erected by him in 1851. In 1848, Mr. Sergent built a steam saw-mill which he afterward sold to a man who moved it away. From 1853-55 he built a steam flouring-mill, but shortly after moved it to Mount Pleasant.
Thomas R. Davis was one of the earliest settlers in Danville Township ; he came in 1835. Other pioneers in the vicinity were Francis Reddin, Mr. Basey, Joseph Edwards, John Hodgen and William Lamme.
George W. Dee, born in Franklin County, Vt., March 2, 1807, de- parted from that rocky country by a two-horse team May 3, 1839, traveling overland to Buffalo, N. Y., thence shipping by boat over Lake Erie to Detroit, Mich. Here the wagon and tough French Canadian horses were again brought into use. Traveling across the country, leaving Chicago twenty-five miles to the north, Mr. Dee reached Fulton, Ill., and from there shipped by steamboat to Burlington ; thence he proceeded at once to his brother War- ren Dee's farm on the line of Augusta Township. Warren Dee had come in the fall of 1838, just before the land-sale, bought a claim and entered it. This claim was located two miles southwest of what is now the village of Middletown. George W. Dee bought a claim of his brother, built a log cabin upon the same, entered it, and at the time of the land-sale paid $200 for the same.
The first marriage in the village of Middletown took place in the winter of 1847, when W. W. Correll and Elizabeth were united.
The United Presbyterian Church, of Middletown, was organized over thirty years ago and an edifice was erected in 1851, which was sold to the Methodists in 1874, about the time the United Presbyterian Church disbanded.
The First Presbyterian Church, of Middletown, was organized December 29, 1851. by a committee of the Presbytery of Iowa, consisting of J. C. Sharon and F. B. Dinsmore. The first members were : Samuel P. Jaggar, Ruling Elder; Mrs. Ann McClelland, Mrs. Parmelia Jaggar, Miss Cordelia Terrill, J. G. W. Robinson, Mrs. Hester Long, Miss Elizabeth Long, M. W. Robinson, Mrs. Martha Robinson, John Baird, John M. Clark, Mrs. Hannah Huntington, Mrs. Keziah Jaggar. The first Pastor was Rev. Robert McGui- gan. The present Pastor is W. J. Bohlman, who was installed October 1, 1875. He resides in Burlington, and is teacher at the High School. The present membership is eighty, and the value of the church property, $2,600. Connected with the Church is the Ladies' Missionary Society. A Union Sabbath school is held in this church.
The Methodist Church, of Middletown, has for its Pastor I. N. Busby. Nothing of its carly history could be ascertained.
In 1858, a new frame schoolhouse was built in Middletown, and called Subdistrict No. 9 of Danville Township. The present teacher is Morris Clark.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
The Middletown Temperance Union was organized in 1871, and existed . until February, 1878, when a re-organization took place and the name was changed to Union Reform Club, of Middletown. The first officers of the new association were : S. J. McMaken, President ; Frank Carden, Recording Sec- retary ; Benjamin Burton, Financial Secretary : Miss Carry Utter, Treas- urer. The present officers are the same, except that W. T. McMaken has been elected Vice President.
In connection with the temperance work, literary exercises are indulged in by the members of the association. The present membership is something over one hundred.
Middletown has two general stores, two carpenters, one blacksmith, one butcher, one painter and one physician. It also has two public halls. The present Postmaster is John Hodgen.
The township officers of Danville Township are: E. Beans and William Stewart, Justices of the Peace; J. P. Wing and W. W. Kelley, Constables ; Samuel E. Keller, Clerk ; David Philips, Assessor; B. W. Antrobus, Henry Mathews, J. W. Hough, Trustees.
Parrish Post Office is also located in the township of Danville.
MEDIAPOLIS.
In 1867, a north and south railroad was talked up and subscriptions made. The citizens of Yellow Springs Township contributed $20,000 local aid, and in August, 1869, the track was laid and ears running to what is now Mediapo- lis. During the same month. W. H. Cartwright, A. Hemphill and W. W. King laid out town lots, which were surveyed by J. Wilson Williams. The first business building was put up in the fall of 1869, by Mr. Cartwright, and occupied by him with a general stock of goods in December, 1869. The erection of the depot building was commenced as soon as the track was com- pleted to that point.
Additions have since been made to the town by William Harper and D. G. Bruce.
A tinshop was one of the early institutions. The post office was estab- lished in 1870, A. Messenger, Postmaster, who still retains the office. In 1875, $10,000 was subscribed to the B. & N. W. R. R., on which Mediapolis promises to be an important point, as it is already on the B., C. R. & N. The Burlington & Northwestern Narrow-Gauge also passes through Mediapolis.
Through the energetic labors of Rev. M. Bamford and his fellow lay work- ers, a good Methodist Church was built in Mediapolis in 1875, of which Rev. Bamford is still the Pastor.
The United Presbyterians effected an organization in 1871, and built a church in Mediapolis in 1872. Rev. D. G. Bruce has for the past five years been its Pastor, having been preceded for short periods by Rev. Messrs. MeDill, Blake and others. Since January, 1879, the Church has been without a minister.
The Independent District School, of Mediapolis, was established in tempo- rary quarters in 1873, and taught by Miss Maggie Bruce. During the summer of 1877, a two-story frame schoolhouse was built at a cost of $2,500. The first teachers in the new schoolhouse were Miss Maggie Getty and Miss Minnie Cartright. The present teachers are Miss Maggie Getty and Miss May Cramer. The present attendance is about one hundred and thirty.
Progress Lodge, No. 226, A., F. §. A. M., was instituted under dispensa- tion December 18. 1867, and chartered June 3, 1868. The first officers were :
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IIISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
George Wright. W. M .; O. A. Paul, S. W .; D. M. Adams, J. W .; J. R. Backus, Secretary. The charter members were Morris Boss, George Wright, O. A. Paul, J. R. Backus, D. M. Adams, Isaac Guy and C. W. Littleton. The present officers are: R. W. Wilson, W. M .; N. B. Hixon, S. W .; H. C. Kline, J. W .; H. B. Cartright, Treasurer; Fred. C. Tuttle, Secretary. The Lodge meets at Masonic Hall, has a present membership of forty-two, and property valued at $2,500.
Garner Lodge, No. 379, I. O. O. F., was instituted under dispensation May 17, 1878, and named after Dr. Garner, first Grand Master of the State of Iowa, by A. J. Morrison, G. M., assisted by William Garrett, Grand Secre- tary. A charter was granted during the session of the Grand Lodge in October. 1878. The charter members were R. Smith, J. W. McCoy, J. W. Merrell, II. Ross, J. A. Nelson, J. S. Taylor and B. F. Stahl. The first offi- cers were: R. Smith, N. G .; J. W. McCoy, V. G .; J. W. Merrell, Secretary ; B. F. Stahl, Treasurer. The present officers are: J. W. McCoy, N. G .; J. WV. Merrell, V. G .: T. H. Rhodes, Secretary; J. S. Taylor, Permanent Sec- retary; C. M. Adams, Treasurer. The Lodge meets in Masonic Hall, has a membership of twenty, and property valued at $150.
Mediapolis Lodge, No. 67, of the Anti-Horse-Thief Association, was November 15, 1874, with the following as charter members : J. H. Guthrie, W. B. Bradley, H. C. Harper, Daniel Matson, Samuel F. Edwards, Joseph Carl, A. C. Brown, S. S. King, J. W. Talbott and E. G. Archer. The first officers were : John Talbott, W. P .: S. S. King, W. V. P .; John H. Guthrie, W. Sec- retary ; A. C. Brown, W. Treasurer ; Samuel Fry, W. Marshal. The secret work was given by the Grand Deputy, Henry Evans. The Lodge has now a membership of over forty, and has done some very efficient work. The object of this association is not to create a mob law, but to see that the laws of the State are properly enforced, and the community protected from rogues and outlaws. The present officers are: Fred C. Tuttle, W. P .; Thos. Davis, W. V. P .; J. P. Ware, W. Secretary ; James Purcell, W. Treasurer ; R. R. Lock- hart, W. Marshal. Lodge meets in Carmean's Building.
The Mediapolis Brass Band was organized in October, 1878. with the following members : O. H. Talbott, R. Ware, Edward Bridges, Charles Deets, J. W. Hemphill, James McMullen, E. C. Loper, Charles Amborn ; J. W. Hemphill, President; O. H. Talbott, Secretary.
The Enterprise was established by Newton & Green in December, 1874, with Mr. Newton as editor. It came into the possession of J. W. Merrill in September, 1875, after several changes of proprietorship. Mr. Merrill has conducted and edited the paper since that time. It is now in its fifth volume, and is enjoying a good local circulation.
The business interests of Mediapolis consist of three general stores, two hotels, one hardware establishment, one drug store, one restaurant, one com- mission house, one grain firm, two harness-shops, two agricultural-implement concerns, three blacksmith-shops, one tinshop, two wagon-manufacturing establishments, two physicians, two millinery firms, four carpenters, two shoe- makers, one painter, one jeweler, one watchmaker, one livery-stable, two tailors, one plasterer, one barber. one printing establishment, one real-estate firm and one butcher-shop.
The township officers of Yellow Springs Township are: B. F. Stahl and Grafton Rhodes, Justices of the Peace; D. L. Tubbs and Edward Adams, Constables ; L. F. Pierce, Clerk ; J. H. Black, Assessor ; J. R. Jones, J. R. Braden and William Housted, Trustees.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
KOSSUTH.
The first permanent settlement in this neighborhood was made by Jacob Westfall and Allen Eliot, near Yellow Springs, in the fall of 1834. Thomas and D. E. Blair made claims earlier, in the southwest part of this neighbor- hood but coming on to improve, found them taken by others. Looking for unoccupied land, one went west as far as Mount Pleasant, the other came to Round Prairie, and was pleased with it. Both coming across next day, they found the Carter tribe, form the "State of Macoupin," making claims, and occupying from Thomas Hutchcroft's place to that of A. Rankin, inclusive. The man living on the last-named place offering to sell, they bought his logs and built a cabin, to which T. Blair moved his family in May, 1835. One day earlier, B. W. Clark and his relatives, moved in, occupying from the Mediap- olis Road. south to Westfall's, and south of Westfall's to near Sperry. Allen Eliot had a claim on the north side of Round Prairie, the west half of which was sold to Joshua Swank, in March, 1835, Eliot retaining where J. and S. Waddle now live. Swank finding the bottom better for his stock, moved there the same spring, and with his brother Wesley and W. Milligan, were the first settlers there. Job Carter made the claim on which Kossuth now stands, and but a few rods from the present location his humble cabin stood.
July 3, 1836, the Territory changed its political relations, being then made a part of Wisconsin. The 4th of July dawned on a growing community. There were ten thousand people west of the river. They were opening farms and building houses; they were buying and selling ; they were marrying and giving in marriage, and children were being born unto them.
Allen Eliot and Miss Cole were married the previous winter, and so were Wesley Swank and Miss Henrietta Hilleary, but they were obliged to go within the jurisdiction of Illinois for the purpose. The first marriage in the neighbor- hood was that of Josiah Edwards and Miss Pamela Westfall, in 1837. In Huron, the first was Nathan Westfall and Miss K. McKee. The first birth was that of Jacob Westfall, Jr., at Yellow Springs. There were as yet no schools, but the Gospel was already preached by the adventurous and earnest Methodist itinerant. Rev. Mr. Stateler had made Westfall's a preaching-place in 1835, followed by Rev. Mr. Ruble, who died early in 1836. Father Isham Edwards, of the Newlight Church, also preached to his neighbors occasionally in the neighborhood of the Spring
The next ten years of Territorial life worked many changes. The main interest was agriculture, and the farmers became producers instead of con- sumers. Previously bread and meat had been hauled from Illinois. Hogs were few, and fattened on the acorns. Horses of that day would not satisfy the horsemen of this. Cattle were largely used for all kinds of labor, especially for breaking prairie, ten or twelve oxen making a plow-team. Many cattle died in the winter and spring from the scarcity of food. A traveler, finding a man beside a dead ox, offered sympathy ; the granger replied " he didn't mind the loss of the ox, but was bothered for a place to dry the hide, as every panel of his fence was already in use." The coming years were years of plenty. The productiveness of the soil and freedom from weeds made farming casy. But there was no market except to new-comers, and new-comers and old settlers were alike hoarding their small means for the purchase of their homes. The land in Yellow Springs was sold in the winter of 1838. Claim organizations had been formed by the people throughout the country, and their rules were rigidly enforced.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
The first Justice of the Peace was William Dupont, who was appointed by Gov. Dodge in 1836. IIis decisions are still quoted, or rather those of his wife, for his family relations were like those of Adam, as given by the epigram- matist :
" He was the first by woman ruled,
The Devil ruled the woman."
Isham Edwards, Esq., Alexander and Philip Mascal, exercised the same office at an carly day.
The Yellow Springs Presbyterian Church was organized September 12, 1840, by Rev. J. A. Carnahan with eleven members, and fourteen were added within the year. The first Elders were Thomas Blair, S. Fullenwider and John Bandy. The first preacher employed was Rev. W. C. Rankin in 1841. The Rev. S. Paine succeeded him in 1842, and the building of a church began. Rev. B. Roberts was his successor, remaining until 1847.
During the summer of 1836, the members of two or three families met occasionally on the Sabbath, for Bible-reading and instruction, but no regu- lar Sunday school was organized till April, 1837, at which time the "Round Prairie Sunday School " began its existence with thirty or forty scholars. T. Blair was the first Superintendent. The school was held in pri- vate houses at first, and afterward in a temporary schoolhouse until the sum- mer of 1838, when it took possession of the schoolhouse here, and has had a home in Kossuth ever since. In 1841, a school was organized at the R. P. P. Church, and the school here took the name of "Yellow Springs Sunday School."
A temperance society was formed in 1837, with Judge D. Rankin, Presi- dent. A barrel of whisky was brought here in 1836, by Thomas Carter, for sale, but it was bought up by the temperance people, and the seller promised to bring no more, and intoxicating liquor has never been publicly sold in the neighborhood since.
The first school was taught by Miss M. A. Blair, at the house of her father, T. Blair, in the spring of 1838. The next winter an unoccupied claim cabin was obtained, and Rev. Elihu Springer was employed. Miss Blair taught there the following summer. The same summer, Miss Becky McGinty taught the first school on the Bottom. In the summer of 1838, the first house built expressly for school purposes was crected here at Job Carter's spring, and William E Gilliland taught the winter school. In 1841, May 15, the Board of School Inspectors of Yellow Springs Township, sent greetings through William Rankin, Township Clerk, to certain citizens in four districts of given bounds, to notify the electors to meet on the 19th of June following. to elcet a Moderator, a Director and an Assessor for cach of said districts, thus inaugurating the com- mon-school system of free schools for the children of free men.
In 1844, the charter for Jefferson Academy was obtained, and through the efforts of Rev. S. Paine, S. Fullenwider, T. Blair and others, the brick build- ing, now the front of the Kossuth House was completed, and Rev. B. Roberts began, in the fall of 1845, his labors as Principal, with his daughter, Miss Louise, as Assistant.
The close of the year 1846, December 28, found Iowa one of the States of the Union. In the first State Legislature were Dr. S. Fullenwider in the Sen- ate, and D. E. Blair in the House. The political change of relation had little effect on local communities, or the life of the people. For the next ten years, the religious, material, educational and social interests of the county made steady advancement.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
The Methodists had raised and covered a log church at Yellow Springs, but loss of members at that point made a change desirable. In 1846, it was taken down and rebuilt as Wesley Chapel, two miles east of its first location, and oc- cupied for ten years as a preaching-place by Rev. D. Crawford, 1846 ; J. Jam- ison. 1847 ; J. B. Hardy and J. T. Coleman, 1848; Thomas Kirkpatrick and N. King, 1849 : Joseph McDowell and Joseph Cameron, 1850; H. N. Wilber and D. Dickenson, 1851; E. Lathrop, 1852: M. See and N. Wells, 1853; T. G. Thompson, 1854; J. Haynes, 1855. Through the efforts largely of Rev. J. Haynes a commodious and tasteful church was built at Northfield, 1855.
In 1854, the Presbyterian Church was built at Kossuth, and Rev. B. Wall began his ministry there in 1855. The members seceding in 1846, united with the Yellow Springs Church. Rev. M. Whittlesey succeeded Mr. Roberts as preacher to that Church, followed by Mr. Eastman, for six months each. Rev. W. A. B. McCuistion began his ministry in 1849. Dying in 1851, Rev. G. W. Spaulding held the place for n-arly a year. From 1852 to 1854, Rev. J. M. Philips labored here. After him, Prof. Ottinger filled the pulpit for a short time. Rev. E. J. Gillet was called to the pulpit in 1855, and supplied it for five years. In 1855, the ultra Abolitionists again bolted, and in 1856 built a church on the North Hill, in Kossuth. In 1850 and 1851, a general religious interest pervaded the entire community, and all the churches shared in ingath- ering of new members.
Meanwhile, education was not neglected. Schools were established and well sustained everywhere. Rev. B. Roberts continued to teach at Jefferson Academy, assisted, in 1846, by Prof. M. L. Comstock and Miss M. A. Blair. In 1846, Prof. Comstock was Principal. For two or three years after this, it weakened badly, but began to improve in 1852, under the management of Rev. J. M. Philips. In 1853, J. W. McDill was a teacher, and also Prof. N. R. Leonard. Prof. Ottinger, in 1854, was its last Principal. The next summer, a new house was built, and it put on the new style of "Yellow Springs Col- legiate Institute," and Dr. Gillet was called to the Presidency, with N. R. Leonard, Professor of Mathematics, and E. Pierce, of Language.
The college prospered under the guidance and instruction of Dr. Gillet, Prof. Leonard, Pierce, Comstock and others, until 1861. From that time it declined, in spite of the efforts to sustain it by Prof. Pierce, S. R. Allen, J. W. Peet and others, till its final dissolution under W. D. Moore, 1869.
July 5, 1873, Articles of Incorporation of "Kossuth Academy " were signed, and a school was started a few months later, with Miss V. L. Scott as Principal, and November 7, 1874, the college-building was purchased by the stockholders of the new institution. Under its present popular management, it presents a show of much good work done by both teachers and students.
Yellow Springs had failed to become a center of either business or popula- tion, and in the fall of 1849, Messrs. W. H. Cartwright and J. J. Crowder, owning a stock of goods there, moved them to the basement of the Academy. In 1850, the postoffice was established and named " Kossuth," J. J. Crowder, Postmaster. S. S. McBride started a store later. Afterward. R. J. Harper was his partner. Still later, it was run by Heizer & Yost. Dr. Fullenwider was for some time a partner in the firm of W. H. Cartwright & Co., but retired and built the Kossuth House in 1856. In 1855, Oliver & Yost built and put in operation the Kossuth Mills, and sold, the year following, to Sweeney & Har- per. The Kossuth Mills, after passing through the hands of Sweeny & Har- per, Harper & Cox, Heizer & Cox, became the property of Heizer, Hutchcroft
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& Co., and under their management became one of the best paying institutions in the country, and the firm of Hutchcroft & Co. keep up their good name.
A tile-factory a mile south of Kossuth, has added to the business, and greatly benefited the country. Messenger & MeClurkin were its founders, in 1871. Messenger & Pierce are the present proprietors. So great has been the call for their products that the aid of a steam engine and much new machinery has been required and provided the present year. W. H. Cartwright continued his successful mercantile career here till the close of 1869. J. L. Yost, S. B. Heizer, James Waddle, S. Pollock, J. J. Crowder, J. W. Chapman, B. F. Van- leaven, James Vannice, John Bridges, M. Crane, R. R. and F. Wycoff, R. S. Hedges, J. N. Covert, M. L. Heizer, Joab Harper, T. Rhodes and others have sold goods here at various times with various results.
The Free Church employed Rev. S. K. Kain in 1856, his pastorate lasting two years. Rev. D. Gilmore was their preacher in 1860. Rev. W. G. Kep- hart succeeded him, and preached till 1865, when Pastor and people were ab- sorbed by the Yellow Springs Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. Kephart min- istered until 1869. In 1870, April 13, the union of the Yellow Springs Church and that of Round Prairie was consummated and Rev. Alexander Scott became Pastor of the " First Presbyterian Church of Kossuth."
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