USA > Iowa > Fayette County > The history of Fayette County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 61
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Daniel Cook built a small store and stocked it in the Summer of 1850, and commenced work on a hotel building, on the corner of the southeast corner of Vine and Elm streets, in the Fall of the same year.
The first law suit was before Henry F. Smith, Justice of the Peace, in 1851. George Stansbury had sold some dressed hogs to Daniel Cook. Cook, in turn, had sold one-half of one of them to M. V. Burdick, who had discovered a sus- picious spot on the neck of the dead animal, and returned it to Cook as being " diseased meat." Cook wanted Stansbury to take it back ; but he refused, stoutly alleging that the meat was good. Cook thereupon commenced suit, which was duly tried before Justice Smith, and created considerable excitement
CHTalmadge EDITOR"GAZETTE" WEST UNION
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
än the little hamlet. The Justice decided that there was "no cause of action." It was afterward discovered that the hog had been killed by a gun shot, and the suspicious spot that had caused this trouble was occasioned by the bullet, which lodged in the neck of the animal.
THE FIRST HOTEL.
In the Spring of 1851, Daniel Cook, who had commenced a hotel building the previous Autumn, sold to J. H. & D. Stafford, who erected the Stafford Hotel, known as such until it was purchased by S. W. Cole, and by him called the " West Union House." Chauncy Leverich was building another hotel on the southwest corner of Vine and Walnut streets, where the Descent House now stands. At the same time Leverich had purchased the land of William Wells, upon condition that he should have the house up and enclosed by the 4th of July, 1851. Mr. J. B. Hough, of Clermont, who helped build the " Leverich House," says that they raised the frame of that a few hours before the Stafford Hotel was raised ; that there was considerable rivalry between the workmen on the two buildings, to see which would get their frame up first. The Stafford Hotel was finished and opened first, however (see general history).
A COMICAL RACE.
During the Summer of 1851, Daniel Cook had a bear chained near his store, which was near the back end of the building now known as the Stewart House, but known as the "Dayton House " in 1854. He was fattening the animal in anticipation of a grand Christmas shooting match. The boys and young men used to tease this bear by throwing sticks, etc., at him, and it was intensely amusing to them to see the bear start for them and be brought up " all stand- ing" when he reached the end of his chain. One day "Phin." Sturgis was amusing. himself at the bear's expense in this manner, and had roused the anger of Bruin by poking sticks at him, until the animal started for his tormentor. " Phin " ran the usual distance and turned, expecting to see the usual perform- ance when the bear reached the end of his chain ; but much to his surprise and terror, Bruin didn't stop. In some way the chain was broken loose from the post, and "Phin " found that he would have to " git " pretty lively if he wanted to escape a bear hug. He wasn't disposed to laugh now. There were no houses then on the east side of Vine street, and it was an exciting race. Stur- gis says: " I did my level best, and made splendid time, but the bear was close behind me when I reached the building on the corner where the Hobson boys have their job printing office now, and I had begun to think my time had come. But I suddenly dodged around the corner of the house ; and the bear, too fat to turn so quickly, kept right along to the timber." The bear was found in the timber the next day, tangled up with his chain, re-captured and returned to his imprisonment ; but Sturgis says he had no desire to meddle with him any more. The shooting match came off according to the programme, and bear steaks were served to the guests at the grand Christmas ball at the Stafford Hotel.
The first white child born in the town was Oscar W. Rogers, son of Jacob W. and Sarah Jane Rogers, October 2, 1849.
The first religious meeting was held in 1849, at the house of Henry F. Smith, Esq., which stood near the present site of George N. Rosier's barn. Rev. John Hinman was the clergyman, but the precise date is lost.
The first church was built by the Methodist society in 1853, on Lot 15, Block 19, in West Union.
N
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
MILLS.
In 1851-2, Gabriel Long and Josh'a Wells built a steam saw-mill on Block 19, West Union. The mechanical and engineering work was done by Norman Churchill, of Monroe, Wis. The old frame is still standing near the brick flouring-mill, the building of which was commenced by Wm. Redfield, Maxson & Co., in 1855. In April of that year, says the Pioneer, " A large portion of the material is already on the ground to build the steam flouring-mill of Red- field, Maxson & Co." This mill was located on Block 19, just north of the saw- mill. It was built of brick, and was not completed until 1857. It was never very successful, and has been silent now for some years.
In the Spring of 1852, Mr. Wanzer, of Clayton County, arrived at West Union, with the exciting information that he had traced two thieves with a span of stolen horses to the vicinity of the town, and that the rogues were still in the vicinity. The people of the town had strong suspicion that Leverich was in league with the band of outlaws then infesting the county, and concluded that he might hold communication with the thieves during the night. Upon the supposition that they were concealed somewhere in the Turkey River tim- ber, a line of sentries was established between the suspected point and the town. The night passed, and no discoveries were made; but it was afterward learned that the rascals were at Lost Grove that night, and that they received a supply of food from West Union at that place. Leverich, if it was him, was too sharp for them ; and, although strongly suspected, was never fully detected in any unlawful act.
One day in September, 1852, a messenger came riding in hot haste into West Union with the startling announcement that fifteen hundred Indians were advancing upon the town to exterminate its inhabitants ; that all the settlers to the west had been ruthlessly murdered and scalped, and their cabins burned, and that unquestionably the merciless savages would hurl themselves upon the town during the following night. Immediately the wildest excitement prevailed. There was " hurrying to and fro;" a meeting was called, and the brave citizens of West Union decided not to run, but to make a determined and vigorous defense. William McClintock was elected Commander-in-Chief, and Friend Dayton was dispatched post haste to Elkader for a supply of ammunition, as there was none in town. The people were requested to bring out all the arms they had, and succeeded in finding one rifle, one army musket and one single- barreled fowling-piece. The Commander-in-Chief shook his head dubiously when he reflected that these composed the entire armament of the place, that they had no powder, and that in a few hours fifteen hundred red devils might be screeching their terrible war-whoop in the peaceful streets of the town. He and his brave but unarmed supporters were intensely relieved, however, when they learned soon after that there was not an Indian within 150 miles of Fayette County.
In 1852, in the Fall, Judge Woodle, Rev. H. S. Brunson and Rev. John Webb opened a store on Vine street, and employed Phineas F. Sturgis as accountant and salesman. Their store was known to the early settlers as "The Arcade."
M. V. Burdick says that the firm adopted the word "handsomely " for cost mark ; that he deciphered it, that he would let them know it, and sent a note without signature as follows :
Beware. ye men of the Arcade, I will not let you doubt ; Though " handsomely" your cost mark's made, 'Tis " I.andsomely " found out.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Burdick was not successful in disguising his chirography, as his friends recog- nized his propensity for rhyming, for the next time he entered the store Mr. Sturgis very complacently handed him the note, and, with a merry twinkle of the eye, asked him if " he had ever seen that before."
" The Arcade " was on the west side of Vine street, a small wooden build- ing still standing, a short distance north of the Bank Building, over the door of which may yet be seen the old sign of " Woodle & Brunson."
The first paper in West Union is not included in the list of newspapers of the county. It was not printed, appeared semi-occasionally and was called The Gleaner. Nobody knew who published it, and it made unmerciful thrusts at random. "Everybody," says Mr. Burdick, " was hit, but nobody knew who it was that hit him." Burdick says the following card in The Gleaner " didn't cost him a cent:"
M. V. BURDICK, Attorney at Law.
Clients taken in and done for ; victims fleeced in the tenderest and most approved style. Office, on Judge Woodle's desk. Residence, in Dr. J. N. B. Elliott's-back side of his house.
The first paper printed in West Union, and the first in the county, was the Fayette County Pioneer, the first number of which was issued October 23, 1853, by John Gharky, who cherished a just pride in an " untamable pen," and who endeavored to make the Pioneer conform to his ideal. He is said to have been a warm-hearted, generous man, with his roughest side out.
THE RAID ON THE BLACK WARRIOR, WEST UNION.
In 1854, there was a saloon called "the Black Warrior," located probably on Lot 3, Block 13, on south side of Elm Street, kept by a Mr. Padden and a partner whose name is forgotten. The baleful influences of the place were so keenly felt that the ladies of the town determined that it must and should be suppressed. Accordingly, on the 29th of June of that year, they assembled to the number of fifteen or twenty, proceeded to the saloon and requested the pro- prietor to quit the business that was making so much mischief and trouble in the community. Mr. Padden declined to give an answer until he could consult with his partner, who, he said, was at Auburn. His partner was sent for, but the ladies were impatient. They thought that Padden was only dallying to gain time, and they decided to adopt decided measures. One of the rear win- dows was boarded up; these boards were removed and the "Black Warrior" was in possession of its enemies. Several barrels, half barrels, demijohns, etc., were quickly emptied of their contents. While the work of destruction was going on, Padden made an attempt to replace the boards on the window and thus imprison the crusaders within, but, says a prominent citizen, "I was stand- ing close by, and he couldn't make the boards fit." This event caused a great deal of excitement and ill-feeling, and numerous threats were made of retalia- tion ; houses were to be painted black, etc., but fortunately these threats were unfulfilled. It was an element in the following election, however, and the "Black Warrior" and its friends succeeded in tieing Elder Webb with Gabriel Long, as their candidate for County Judge, who then "drew lots" with Webb and "wore the ermine."
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The doctors were J. N. B. Elliott, J. H. Stafford, J. Cruzan, Levi Fuller and J. H. Hart. The attorneys, William McClintock, C. A. Newcomb and Jacob W. Rogers. M. V. Burdick had just left. The attorneys all did a land
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
office business. Davis & Minford, Tibbetts, Piper and L. B. Dershan were the blacksmiths of the town. At the close of 1854, Philip Herzog sold his interest in the red Empire Cabinet and Chair Factory, on the east side of the square, to W. T. Perry, who, with Nathaniel C. Smith, Herzog's partner, enlarged the business. E. L. Sherman and John A. Grover were the harness makers and saddlers. Brewer & Peck, wagon makers. Webber came in 1855. Henry Wohrenberg was tailor, the first in town. S. D. Rowland dressed deer skins, which were plenty and cheap. Occasionally an elk was brought to the West Union market. Sampson & Cowles were shoemakers, employing three or four journeymen.
In the Fall of 1854, George W. Snell arrived in town with a traveling daguerrean car, stopped on the public square and remained some time. D. B. Hanan was taking likenesses in a room in Hale's Hotel.
During the Winter of 1854-5, five families lived in Matthew Wells' house, on the west side of Vine street, afterward owned by Milo McGlathery. Corn sold for 35 cents a bushel ; pork, 3 to 4 cents a pound ; hickory, maple and ash wood sold for $2 a cord, and oak, walnut, basswood, etc., at $1.75. Fifty cents a cord was paid for chopping wood, and laborers received $1 a day.
In the Fall of 1854, William Wells made a sale of lots in his addition to West Union. Dr. Fuller bought two for $90, and C. A. Newcomb two for $85. April 20, 1855, F. Dayton sold at auction sixteen lots in Block 17. Henry Smith bought one on which was a house, for $110. Twelve of the lots sold at prices ranging from $33 to $67.
In January, 1875, the Fayette County Union published an interesting communication from John Gharky. the first editor in Fayette County, entitled "Twenty Years Ago," from which the historian compiles the following inter- esting statements in relation to West Union in 1854-5 :
The principal dry goods merchants at West Union at that time were Dens- more & Co., the "Co." being Charles Chadwick, L. C. Noble and B. T. Reeves ; Henry C. Lacy & Co. in their "Crystal Palace," and Charles A. Cottrell, successor of the lamented Daniel Cook. Berkey & Winet were almost exclusively in the grocery trade, in which their principal rivals were Somers & Webster, who occupied their noted " Black Warrior."
In May, 1854, Dr. Levi Fuller and H. Chandler established the Pioneer Hardware Store. This was the first hardware store in the town, and in the Fall of the same year was owned by J. H. Hart & Co.
There were four public houses in the Fall of 1854, viz .: The West Union Hotel, Job Arnold, proprietor, which was the first tavern first occupied by David Stafford, by his widow, "Aunt Lucinda," after his death, and then by S. W. Cole. The Irvin House, on Lot 1, Block 13, where the Descent House now stands. This house was built by Chauncy Leverich, and opened as a hotel by him ; bought by - Irvin, and kept as the Irvin House by his sons James and John. The Dayton House, on Lot 5, Block 13, Elm street, east of the West Union House, built by Friend Dayton and kept by him ; and the United States House, on Lot 5, Block 11, Vine street, built by Job Arnold as a storehouse, purchased, enlarged and opened as a hotel by Samuel Hale.
On Christmas evening, Dec. 25, 1854, a grand ball was given at the Irvin House. A general invitation was extended, a splendid supper prepared and a merry time was had. The Irvins were good providers, their wives superior cooks, and that house, says Gharky, "set an excellent table." Cotillion parties were quite common. Society was not artificially graded then, and at these parties silk and calico, broadcloth and bluejeans, mingled together on the same broad level.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Henry Jones and Luke Camp were independent surveyors. Jud. Jones was schoolmaster, occupying the Baptist Church, teaching phonetics, and giv- ing general satisfaction.
IMPROVEMENTS.
During 1854, great improvements were made in the new town. Samuel Hale, C. A. Newcomb and D. J. Marvin erected six houses ; and the following named persons one building each, viz. : A. J. Clark, William Minford, H. S. Brun- son, A. Gruver, N. Pease, Joshua Wells, Levi Fuller, Gideon Stafford, Gabriel Long, S. Bailey, H. Wonnenberg (the first tailor), M. Rowe, William Gibson, U. L. Stowe, Darius Hanan (the first daguerrean artist), J. R. Smith, J. Niekel, George R. Slayton, E. Luce, Berkey & Winet, D. H. Hall, C. W. Corey, Ste- phen Reeves, S. M. Phillips, A. C. South, H. Chandler, Friend Dayton, Somers & Webster, Sam. Malone, R. A. Bishop (the first baker), and Mr. Neffin, mak- ing a total of thirty-seven.
June 1, 1854, D. P. Foster, familiarly called " Palm " for short, a son of Joseph W. Foster, took the contract to carry the mail to and from McGregor twice a week.
July 10, 1854, Orton's Circus performed to crowded seats-the first exhi- bition of the kind in West Union.
August 3, 1854, the first regular camp-meeting commenced a short distance west of town. The Pioneer of that date remarks : "The first large out-of- doors meeting in Fayette County was held at a large rock in Pleasant Valley Township as far back as 1850, if not further." It was in 1849, in West Union Township.
On the last Friday night in December, 1855, the Methodist parsonage was consumed by fire. The minister's library was very much damaged.
January 17, 1856, the boiler for the steam flouring-mill arrived ; and on the 29th of the same month, a dumb man preached in the Methodist Church. Subject, " Abraham Sacrificing Isaac." Rev. Mr. Dollarhide assisted.
DEATH BY POISON.
On Tuesday night, May 31, 1859, Lewis Nash, aged some 9 or 10 years, a son of Lyman Nash, died suddenly at the house of Dr. Stafford in this place, from the effects of eating wild parsnips, it is supposed. In the course of the preceding afternoon, he and two or three other boys dug and ate what they sup- posed to be artichokes. but which proved to be the poisonous plant above men- tioned. The other boys were sick, but recovered.
There were 170 Good Templars in West Union in February, 1867.
RAILWAY MEETING.
A railway meeting was held at the Court House on Thursday evening, Jan- uary 9, 1868. Joseph Hobson was Chairman and J. W. Shannon, Secretary. William McClintock, Esq., stated the object of the meeting to be to decide upon the necessity of sending some one to Des Moines to assist our legislative dele- gation in protecting our interests in relation to the land grant.
Addresses were made by Judge McClintock, Joseph Hobson, S. S. Ains- worth and Richard Earle.
Judge McClintock was invited to go to Des Moines for the object above suggested.
The local finance committee was instructed to make an effort to raise the necessary funds, and report to Judge McClintock.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
S. S. Ainsworth, I. F. Clark and J. F. Babcock were appointed a commit- tee to circulate petitions.
On Sunday, July 18, 1875, the pulpit of the M. E. Church at West Union was occupied by Mrs. Mary C. Nind and Mrs. Lucy E. Prescott. In the even- ing, Mrs. Prescott delivered a short address on the organization, progress and object of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. At the close of her address, several ladies, deeply imbued with the importance of attending to the spiritual wants of the heathen on the opposite side of this wonderful little planet, gave their names for membership, and on Monday afternoon a Branch Society was organized by the election of officers as follows :
President, Mrs. L. W. Waterbury ; Vice Presidents, Mrs. C. Miller, Mrs. Tyrrell and Mrs. Joseph Hobson ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Jennie Lacy ; Assistant, Miss Fannie Hobson ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. L. Armstrong ; Treasurer, Mrs. Myron Peck ; Literary Committee, Mrs. Wm. Fuller, Mrs. A. C. Jones, Miss Julia Capwell, Miss Julia Slitor.
March 23, 1878, Frank Reed, a journeyman cooper, committed suicide at the United States House, West Union, by taking laudanum. He was an unmar- ried man, and came to Fayette County from Sterling, Illinois.
SCHOOLS.
The first school house in West Union was a log structure, built in the Sum- mer of 1850, on the north end of Lot 1, Block 15, on the east side of the town. Some authorities state that J. S. Pence taught the first school in this building in the Winter of 1851-52, but there is strong evidence that James Boale taught first in the log school house, six months, for $100. Mr. Boale was examined for the position by J. W. Rogers, in his field near the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 16, Town- ship 94 north, Range 8 west, a little southeast of the school house, with hoe in hand, standing beside a crooked rail fence with " all out-doors " for a room and all creation for an audience, if they chose to attend. Mr. Boale stood on the other side of the fence, passed a short and satisfactory examination, and gave good satisfaction.
The log school house was used for religious purposes as well as for schools for some years, until churches were built and the school district had outgrown its dimensions. Then the churches were used for school houses ; but, until 1858, the author can find no record of schools or school districts.
May 3, 1858, the electors of School District Township of West Union assembled at the Court House and elected S. S. Ainsworth, President ; E. L. Hackett, Vice President D. G. Hoffman, Secretary, and H. N. Hawkins, Treasurer of the District. There were nine sub-districts at that time, and on the 14th of May, the Board of Directors met at the office of S. S. Ainsworth, in West Union. There were present: S. S. Ainsworth, President ; E. L. Hackett, Vice President ; D. G. Hoffman, Secretary ; John Gharky, District No. 1; William M. Eldridge, No. 2; D. B. Smith, No. 3; A. Butler, No. 4; Isaac Hitch, No. 5; George Neff, No. 6 ; F. Smith, No. 7; Lewis Davis, No. 8, and Samuel Harper, No. 9. At this meeting, it was resolved to submit the question of levying a tax of two mills for " Teacher's Fund " and two mills for " School House Fund " to the legal voters of the district; also, whether the Board should be authorized to borrow $5,000 for procuring sites and building school houses.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The Director of Sub-district No. 1 was authorized to organize two schools in that district, and Messrs. Gharky, Ainsworth and Hoffman appointed to employ teachers therefor.
On the 26th day of May, 1858, William Wells donated to No. 1 an acre of ground lying southwest of Wells' donation, ona consideration that a school house should be built thereon ; but the district selected another site, and the land was " deeded back " to Mr. Wells.
Miss Quackenbush, Miss Sleiter and Mr. Carpenter were teachers in No. 1 in 1858, aud Miss Morton taught in No. 4.
It would seem that at that time there was no school house in No. 1, for on the 16th of October, 1858, the Board paid rent for the Baptist Church and for Ormond's Hall, probably for school purposes, and the United Brethren Church was used as a school house in the Summer of that year.
In 1859, there appear to have been but seven sub-districts, and three schools were authorized in No. 1. This year, the Baptist Church and Brick Church (U. B.) were used for school houses in No. 1, and D. W. Hammond and wife and Miss M. E. Hackett were the teachers. Miss Hawley, teacher in No. 2; Miss Farrer, No. 3; W. T. Mitchell, No. 4; S. B. Potter, No. 5 ; Emma Hale, No. 6; James L. Campbell in No. 7.
In the Spring of 1860, Sub-district No. 1 drops out of the township dis- trict records, and the inference is that No. 1 was erected into an independent district at that time. In 1861, there were only six sub-districts and No. 7 was made No. 1.
An agreement between the Independent District of West Union and Town- ship District, entered into on the 19th of December, 1863, stipulates that there- after Sections 16, 17 and 18, south half of Sections 7, 8 and 9, west half of Section 15, northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 22, north half of northeast quarter of Section 21, northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 21, and north half of Sections 19 and 20, should constitute the independent district.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the township district in March, 1878, the following teachers were paid, viz .: Emma House, No. 1 ; C. G. Gra- ham, No. 2 ; Dell Abbott, No. 3 ; J. E. Robertson, No. 4; Louise Crowe, No. 5 ; J. F. Cornish, No. 6 ; Carrie Harrison, No. 7.
The Board for 1878 is constituted as follows : Wm. Alcorn, No. 1 ; M. N. Trout, No. 2 ; J. F. Smith, Jr., No. 3; Charles Hoyer, No. 4; John W. Stewart, No. 5; B. F. Conkey, No. 6; J. G. Nefzgar, No. 7 ; John A. Knox, No. 8 ; John W. Steward, President ; Morris Merritt, Secretary.
The Independent School District, of West Union, was organized, probably, in the Spring of 1860, but the early records are lost. It is said that at the first meeting, when a Board of Directors was chosen, the district voted to borrow money to build a school house, and for three years were voting taxes and rescinding them ; but at last, in May, 1863, a contract was made with David Winrott and Lewis Brown to build a school house on Lots 4, 5, 6 and 7, Block 4, plat of Union, on the north side of Elm street, for $2,900. The house was to be 30x50 feet, two stories, with a vestibule 10x30 in front, and, as the dis- trict was " short," the contractors were allowed a year in which to complete it. They commenced work in May, 1863, and the building was ready for occupancy in April, 1864. The first teachers in the new building were E. B. Wakeman, Principal ; Mrs. R. R. Wakeman, Miss Jennie E. Hines and Addie M. Close. The term commenced April 25 and ended July 18, 1864.
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