USA > Iowa > Fayette County > The history of Fayette County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 67
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But, to begin at the beginning, the first dwelling erected at Auburn, and in the township as well, was that of James B. Earll, who, in 1849, began the erection of a saw-mill on the bank of the Little Turkey, at this point. With him came his sons, Morris B. and Hiram W., who assisted him in the business. Two years after (1851), Earll and his sons erected a flouring-mill, which began to grind in September-a great boon to the inhabitants of Fayette County and the southern part of Winnesheik, who had before been compelled to go to Elkader to mill. About this time, the infant settlement was increased by the accession of John A. Griffith, Samuel Hull, Hiram and Hull Hoagland, James Boale, S. D. Helms and others. In 1851, Hiram Hoagland built a cabinet shop and started a turning-lathe, the first in the county, and here scores of early settlers, preferring to live aristocratically, came to buy their bedsteads and chairs. About the same time, Mr. Griffith, in connection with the Earlls, started a general store, and in the next two years Z. McJunken built a hotel, the " Iowa House," A. L. Dunn & Brother started a drug store, Torode & East- man began manufacturing the "Childs Separator," and other mechanics followed, giving the town much animation and stir. The town continued to attract other business, for the Earlls started a small plow factary, I. Bilger
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
built a small brewery, and about the same time McJunkin & Crawford started a pottery, the first in Northern Iowa.
The first school at Auburn, probably in the Winter of 1852-3, was taught by J. S. Pence.
A saloon was started in 1853, for about New Year's, 1854, a meeting was held to deliberate upon the means to suppress the evil. Samuel Hull presided; Wm. Winston and Rev. John Bowman were elected Vice Presidents, and Rev. S. D. Helms, Secretary. An association was formed, which held weekly meet- ings nearly all Winter. At the first meeting, seventy-one persons signed the pledge.
The people of Auburn celebrated the 4th of July, 1854, in the most elabo- rate style, full particulars of which are given in the general history.
The same year, the people of Auburn erected a school house, which eclipsed anything then done by other towns in the county for educational pur- poses. The building was used, also, for many years, for church purposes, by the Methodists and United Brethren.
February 9, 1855, Augustus Turner, a blacksmith, was killed in the vicinity of Auburn, while with others he was undermining a bank, which unexpectedly gave way, fell upon him, split his skull open, and crushed him to the ground, a mangled corpse.
In 1855, came ominous tidings from the West that the Indians were on the war path, in the neighborhood of Clear Lake, and massacreing all the Indian traders thereabouts. A few days afterward, a portentious looking letter arrived at Auburn for Capt. Neff, which, when opened, was found to bear the seal of the State of Iowa and the signature of Gov. Hempstead, commanding that officer to notify his company to be in readiness to march to Clear Lake for the purpose of exterminating or otherwise punishing the bloodthirsty savages. Capt. Neff obediently summoned his comrades, who voted to a man to offer up their lives, if need be, on the altar of their country. The next day, the Captain found that he could not be spared, for he was employed in the mill. Another could not die and leave his little children orphans, but his wife's father, a veteran of the Black Hawk war, nobly stepped into the ranks to save his son-in-law's life. Still another could not possibly leave home just then, for his wife was in such a situation that if he perished on the frontier, his next child would be a posthumous one. Several others were equally unready for glory and death, but the majority kept up their courage exceedingly well. A few days after, another order came, notifying the company that the Governor would be at West Union, on a certain day, to inspect the command prior to their set- ting out on their perilous march. The boys came, but Gov. Hempstead did not. Burning for glory, the volunteers, in the absence of their officers, charged upon and captured the " Black Warrior," which they held until near nightfall, to the terror of its proprietor. The stock on hand was effectually cleaned out, but before leaving, the boys settled their score with gratifying liberality. A few days afterward, another order relieved them from the necessity of leaving home to maintain their country's honor in the grassy prairies of Cerro Gordo.
Early in April, 1866, both mills in Auburn were injured by a high freshet, the water reaching a higher point than ever before known by white settlers.
August 13, 1866, a party consisting of Charles Hathaway, Mrs. Elizabeth Lame, her fifteen-year-old daughter, and a babe of fifteen months, undertook to cross the Turkey above the dam, at West Auburn, but unfortunately Hathaway lost control of the skiff in which they had seated themselves, and it floated over the dam, where all four were drowned.
536
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
May 13, 1866, the M. E. Church at Auburn the construction of which had been begun three years before, was formally dedicated for worship, the exer- cises being conducted by Rev. Dr. Kynett, assisted by the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Smith. The text from which Mr. Kynett preached was, Phil. iv, 19, " But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus."
The United Brethren Church at Auburn, was dedicated on Sunday, Sep- tember 30, 1877, the exercises being conducted by Rev. E. B. Kephart, of Western, Linn County ; Rev. A. W. Drury, of West Union, and Rev. Mr. Thornton, of Castalia. The indebtedness remaining against the church, about $250, was fully provided for on the same day.
I. O. OF O. F.
Fayette Lodge, No. 60 .- The organization of this Lodge was a notable event in the early history of Fayette County, its institution having been witnessed by a large delegation from West Union. H. C. Pierce acted as Special Deputy on the auspicious occasion, which was November 29, 1854. The charter was dated October 26. W. A. Chase was the first N. G .; J. A. Griffith, V. G .; James Boale, Rec. Sec .; H. W. Earll, Per. Sec .; M. B. Earll, Treas.
The present officers are : John Biddinger, N. G .; W. H. Canfield, V. G .; Henry Alton, Rec. Sec .; L. Irving, Treas.
I. O. OF G. T.
River View Lodge, No. 342, was organized in January, 1878, by Rev. D. Sheffer, of West Union. The present officers are : Dr. Branch, W. C. T .; Mrs. Henry Miller, P. W. V. T .; Henry Miller, B. W. C. T .; R. Belknap, Marshal.
POLITICAL RECORD.
April 5th, 1852, David Downs and Samuel Lewis were elected Justices of the Peace ; Israel C. Gregory and S. Finch, Constables ; David Cross, John Bowman and Hiram Hoagland, Trustees.
March 7, 1853, road districts were established.
April 4, 1854, Lyman Nash and Hiram Hoag were elected Justices ; A. M. Quivey and Aretas Whitcomb, Constables ; Jerome Boswell, Assessor ; James Boale, Clerk ; A. Winston and A. Whitcomb were two of the Trustees elected.
April, 1854, John R. Bailey was elected Justice ; Hiram Tibbits and Amri Curtis, Constables ; M. B. Earl, J. H. Williams and George Brown, Trustees ; William B. Winston, Assessor ; John J. Arbuckle, Clerk.
The same month, Road District No. 5 was established.
April, 1855, the electors of the township chose John L. Carson, Justice ; J. L. Sawyer, T. F. Curtis and I. Utter, Trustees ; R. E. Burlingham, Clerk ; J. S Lame, Assessor.
The record from this year forward to 1863 is missing.
In October, 1863, A. Biddinger, J. C. Williams and M. Duclos were elected Trustees ; Hull Hoagland, Clerk ; J. P. Blakeney and John L. Carson, Justices.
The officers for 1865 were : Barney Foreman and J. M. Bemis, Justices ; Samuel Gardner, Wm. B. McCleary and John Witte, Trustees ; Hull Hoagland, Clerk ; J. S. Lame, Assessor.
For 1866, W. H. Austin, Justice ; M. Duclos, J. T. Edson and Jacob Cloyer, Trustees ; Hull Hoagland, Clerk ; J. S. Lame, Assessor.
February 10, 1866, the electors of School District No. 1 held a special election and unanimously voted to establish the Independent District of Auburn.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
EDEN TOWNSHIP 95, RANGE 10.
Active settlement in this township commenced in 1852. The first settler in the township is said to have been a bachelor named James Austin, who prob- ably built a cabin on Section 11, in 1849, but sold his claim to Baldwin Kirk- patrick at an early day.
The first birth in the township was that of Mary Johnson, in 1851; and the first marriage, in February, 1852, was that of Miles Lewis and Mary Finch.
In 1852, the township was organized with a voting population of 9. The name Eden was betowed upon it, probably, from the resemblance it was supposed by the old settlers to bear to the ancient paradise on the Euphrates.
Prior to the date of its organization, Eden was a part of Auburn Township.
The first school taught in the township was in the Spring of 1854, by Han- nah Tiff, in a private house.
Later in that year, a log school house was built on Section 24, and the first teacher therein was Miss Murray.
It is supposed that the first religious services were held by Rev. S. D. Helms, in the houses of settlers, previous to the building of any school house or houses of a public nature.
A Catholic church was built near the northern line in 1857, and was prob- ably dedicated by Bishop Loras, of Dubuque, who at that time held deeds to several tracts of land in the township.
In 1866 or 1867, Aaron Martin, while threshing for Mr. Wade, was caught in the gearing while the machine was in motion. He was whirled round and his back broken, from the effects of which he died in about two weeks.
A son of James Murphy was drowned just below the mill at Waucoma, about 1868.
The South Branch of the Turkey River flows through the township in & southeasterly direction, and Crane Creek touches some part of it in the south. There is a moderate supply of timber along these streams, though it is not heavy in many places.
WAUCOMA.
The land on which this town is located was entered by J. P. Webster, in 1854. The town was laid out by Webster.
The first house on the town plat was built by Baldwin Kirkpatrick, in 1855; is still standing and is called the Empire House. The oldest settlers now liv- ing in the village are Mr. and Mrs. J. Southerland, who came in 1855. The first child born in the town was Milo Kirkpatrick.
In 1855, Ed. Page and Phebe Whetstone were married.
Waucoma is the principal village in this township. It is situated on the west bank of the Little Turkey, and has a most beautiful location. The vicinity is a level prairie, diversified with groves. The bluffs of the Turkey disappear some distance below this place.
This village has a good flouring-mill, several stores and mechanics' shops, and contains two or three hundred inhabitants. The stream is spanned by a graceful iron bridge above the mill-dam.
The grade of the Davenport & Northwestern Railway passes through the town, and when the iron is laid Waucoma will become a town of considerable importance.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
ITS CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
The Congregational Church was organized in 1874, and held its meetings in the school house. The first Pastor was Rev. A. V. House. In the Winter of 1875-6, the society built a church, 32x44, at a cost of $2,500, which was dedicated January 6, 1876, by Rev. E. Adams. The Deacons were Alexander Clyde and William Murray.
The Sunday school is a Union Sunday School, under charge of E. B. Still- man.
United Brethren .- In 1874, Rev. Mr. Drury and son held revival meet- ings in Waucoma ; and, as the result, a society was organized, being supplied every two weeks by Rev. Mr. Drury, of West Union. At present, they are holding meetings in the Congregational Church, through the kindness of the Congregational Society.
The Methodists have no organized society ; but at one time held services, conducted by Rev. Mr. Richardson.
SOCIETIES.
Waucoma Lodge, No. 303, I. O. of O. F., was organized January 14, 1875, by D. D. G. M. Davis, with the following charter members : A. A. Boylan, J. P. Webster, Elisha Fitch, D. G. West, S. H. Stein, D. P. Moody. The fol- lowing are the officers first elected: J. P. Webster, N. G .; A. A. Boylan, V. G .; S. H. Stein, S .; D. P. Moody, T.
The officers eleeted in 1878 were: W. M. Scoville, N. G .; Eugene Finch, V. G .; James Glass, S .; N. Bevans, T.
Standard Lodge, No. 351, A., F. & A. M., was instituted in 1875, with the following acting as officers, under the dispensation : A. P. Fowler, W. M .; W. E. Bender, S. W .; Linus Fox, J. W .; James Miller, Treas .; Henry Fel- ker, Sec .; R. Patterson, S. D .; William Mill, J. D .; John Lawrence, Tiler. The remaining charter members were O. B. Dodd and Voltaire Johnson. The Lodge was chartered in June, 1876, and duly constituted.
This organization has grown quite rapidly, the following having become members so far : J. M. Burnside, H. Anderson, J. C. McFarland, G. C. Luce, George Bell, Thomas Cochrane, Myron Chase, Frank Johnson, Scott Brown, Stephen Brown, C. C. Dykens.
EDEN.
This little hamlet is situated on Section 24, three miles southeast of Wau- coma. A saw-mill was built here by Mr. Stone, in 1856. The Patrons of Husbandry have a general store at this place, managed by a joint stock com- pany.
This village has not met the expectations of its founders, for it has not gained in population or business since 1857.
ALPHA.
This is another little village, located on Section 32, and also known as Johnson's Mill. The mill is located on the north bank of Crane Creek, and was built in 1869. The patent-middlings process is used in this mill. The other business at Alpha includes a general store and a blacksmith shop.
The old bridge across the creek is soon to be replaced by a new structure, abutments for which are now being laid.
There is a Union Sabbath School at Alpha, A. M. Barber, Superin- tendent.
539
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.
The territory composing Windsor Township (94-9) is almost entirely gently rolling prairie, the soil being very fertile. The southern sections are not yet all improved, but the breaking plow will soon destroy all traces of the prairie grass yet remaining on a good many desirable sites for farms. The grade of the Davenport & Northwestern Railroad passes through the southwestern corner, and when the track is laid, the farmers of Windsor will be eligibly situated as regards markets. As Windsor is still a pioneer settlement, as regards the accu- mulation of wealth, grain growing is the principal industry with the laborious farmers of that township, who hope ere long to embark in the more remunera- tive occupation of stock growing. Considerable flax is grown in the southwestern part, Benjamin Farrell having thirty or forty acres in 1878. This is raised for the seed only, which goes to Cedar Rapids to be made into oil.
This township was set apart by Thomas Woodle, County Judge, February 6, 1854.
The first election was held at the James Austin School House April 3, 1854. David H. Downs was called to the chair. James Austin, George W. Campbell and David H. Downs were elected Judges of Election, and Isaac Howe and David Downs, Clerks. The election resulted as follows : Oliver A. Brown and David H. Downs, Justices of the Peace : Thomas Turner, Andrew Woodson and Robert Dutcher, Trustees ; Rhodolphus Eddy and George W. Thomas, Constables ; Washington Corey, Town Clerk; Isaac Howe, Town Assessor. The first action of the Trustees recorded is as follows :
Resolved and agreed to by them, that the hands in the east part of the township should work to the center of the township west ; the hands in the west part of the township should work to the center of the township east.
ORISON WICKHAM, Supervisor for the west part of the township. JEROME MILLARD, Supervisor for the east part of the township.
In 1878 a school election was held, at which A. H. Fox was elected Presi- dent.
On the 11th of April, 1867, Artemus Craft attempted to cross the Turkey River below the dam at Thompson's Mill. The horses were taken off their feet by the water and floated to a deep hole a little way below. There the wagon became uncoupled, and in clinging to the forward part Mr. Craft lost his life, and his team was drowned also.
Mrs. Nicholas Kaler committed suicide by hanging on the 3d of August, 1867, while temporarily insane.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Hawk Eye Grange, No. 1083, was instituted March 4, 1873, at the Centre School House, with thirty charter members, when the following officers were elected and installed, viz. : George Schrock, M .; James Graham, Overseer ; G. F. Colby, Lecturer; G. W. Kibbee, Steward; J. J. Schrock, A. S .; P. P. Hancock, Chap .; D. W. Wilbur, Treasurer; C. T. Parker, Secretary ; I. Goodspeed, G. K. ; Mrs. J. Goodspeed, Ceres ; Mary Schrock, Pomona ; Mrs. Hancock, Flora ; Belle Kibbee, L. A. S. Officers 1878-J. J. Schrock, M. ; A. J. Merton, Overseer ; George Richmond, Lecturer ; R. Hughes, Steward ; E. Goodspeed, Assistant Steward ; D. W. Wilbur, Treasurer ; James Graham, Secretary; G. W. Kibbee, G. K .; Mrs. M. Goodspeed, Pomona; Miss Belle Kibbee, Ceres ; Mrs. E. Hughes, Flora ; Mrs. A. Schrock, L. A. S. Meetings monthly, on the last Saturday before each full moon at the place of organization.
540
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY
BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
(Township 94, Range 10.)
This township is mostly prairie land of unsurpassed fertility of soil. As. yet there is but very little timber, though little groves of young trees dot the prairie here and there, showing that in a few years there will be plenty of saw- logs. The surface is gently undulating, affording good drainage and beautiful building sites. The first settlement in this township was made in 1852 by Mrs. Samantha Finch, but immediately following her were several others. who came and began homes. Mr. McCall named the township Richland, on account of the fertility of the soil, but it was changed in accordance with the wishes of the people, to have the post office and township of the same name ; hence the change from Richland to Bethel. In the Fall of 1855, Mr. Thomp- son and his son were burned on the prairie, the particulars of which are given in the general history.
The first birth in the township was that of Arthur McCall, in 1856.
A Union Sabbath School was organized in the Summer of 1856, by Peter Abbott, who shortly after married Emily Palmer, being the first wedding in the township.
Rev. Mr. Brooks, a Methodist minister, began a revival effort in 1857, which resulted in the conversion of over one hundred persons; the converts adopting to the letter the old fashioned practices of the Methodists, the men cut- ting the back buttons off their coats and the women laying aside their jewelry.
There was something of a contest between this township and Eden for the possession of the southern tier of sections. now attached to Eden. These sec- tions were transferred back and forth several times, the County Judge for some time granting every petition praying for a change in the southern boundary of Eden or the northern boundary of Bethel.
EDUCATIONAL.
From the early records, which are incomplete, it appears that three schools- were kept in the township in the Spring of 1859, the teachers being Anna Bursee, Mary Alexander and Helen Ward. The following Winter, the schools were conducted by Harriet Boydston, Alice Nuttall and Philinda Innis. April, 1860, District No. 1 was divided, and the territory set off erected in District No. 3. J. Burbank was President of the Township District, and A. M. Pitts, Secretary. In 1862, Henry Y. Smith became President, and J. Burbank, Sec- retary. The Board fixed the wages of teachers of the Summer schools at $10 per month. In March, 1868, provision was made for a new building in the southern part of District No. 1, and also in No. 4. February 28, 1870, the building in No. 5 was relocated on Section 24. In March, R. S. Niles was selected as President of the Board; E. Rogers, Secretary ; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. Provision was made for erecting a new house in No. 3, and for No. 6, as well. In 1871, the township district officers were re-elected. May 13, 1871, the house in No. 6 was inspected and accepted. March, 1872, the township voted $750 for the house in No. 3. C. M. Gazer became President ; A. Rogers, Secretary ; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. A six-mill tax was voted for con- struction fund in Nos. 3 and 1. In 1873, A. Ives became President; E. M. Aikin, Secretary ; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. It afterward being found that Mr. Gardner was ineligible. I. S. Dickins was chosen in his place. In Decem- ber, the building in No. 3 was viewed and accepted. N. B. Searles became
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
President in 1874; R. F. Rogers was chosen Secretary, which position he has held continuously ever since. President in 1875, J. T. Gager, and in 1877, R. Hathaway. The building in No. 2 was accepted October 20, 1877, and that in No. 8, December 29th.
OFFICIAL REGISTER.
As is usually the case, the early records of Bethel Township have disap- peared. The only accessible Clerk's book begins with 1860. At the election in that year, 38 votes were cast. P. G. Abbott, G. W. Chamberlain and Orson Ward were elected Trustees ; J. Burbank, Clerk ; Elijah Ober, Assessor ; J. Burbank and A. M. Potts, Justices.
At the election in October, 1877, 105 votes were cast. The road tax for the present year is five mills.
The southern part of Bethel is only thinly settled, as yet. Several farmers in this part of the township raise large quantities of flax. The northern part of the township is somewhat sandy. The slope toward Crane Creek is very gentle, and a more delightful drive can hardly be found in the West than the road running westward through the northern part of Bethel. On either hand are modest dwellings, surrounded by thickly-planted shade trees, which give the wayside homes an air of considerable antiquity.
BANKS TOWNSHIP.
The first settler in Township 93, Range 10, was Theodore Wilson, who located, in the Summer of 1851, on the west side of Sections 7 and 18, at the north end of the timber since known as "Wilson's Grove." Wilson appears to have had an eye to business. He claimed the whole grove, and when he could effect a sale, he posted to Dubuque to make the entry so that he could transfer the title.
In 1852, Robert Armstrong located in the township. In the Summer of 1853, Oliver T. Fox, from New Jersey, purchased Wilson's claim, at the head of the grove, and moved here with his family in the following Fall. George Linn, from Maine, William Robertson and Peter Robertson settled in the vicinity during the same year.
In May, 1854, Levi Williams and William T. Wade, from New Jersey, came to Fayette County, to visit Fox and to view the country. At that time, they found four families in the township, viz .: the Armstrongs, the Robertsons- not a settler between them and West Union, and not a cabin in townEwest of them.
In May, 1855, Williams and Wade returned to the township and settled on Sections 7 and 18, on Government land, " which," says Mr. Wade, "with few exceptions, extended nearly to West Union, but which was all entered that Summer."
The civil township of Banks was created by order of the County Court Feb- ruary 4, 1856. The township was named in honor of Hon. N. P. Banks of Massachusetts.
The first election was held at the house of George Linn, April 7, 1856. The poll book shows the names of six voters on that occasion, viz. : David Linn, David Linn, Jr., George Linn, Oliver T. Fox, Levi Williams and William T. Wade. Mr. Wade is the only survivor of the number. At this election, David Linn and William T. Wade were elected Justices of the Peace ; William T. Wade, Township Clerk ; David Linn, Levi Williams and O. T. Fox, Trustees ; Geo. Linn, Assessor.
542
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
N. Bent, William E. Royce, H. L. Royce, William Elliott and Nathan Linn, with their families, settled in Banks Township in 1856.
In the Summer of 1856, the Republican Convention, to nominate a candi- date for Representative to the Legislature from Fayette and Bremer, was held at the house of George Linn.
At the April election, in 1857, 12 citizens exercised the right of suffrage. In October, 1858, there were 20, and at the Presidential election, in 1876, 69 votes were cast, and "the township," says Mr. Wade, "gave Hayes and Wheeler and Burdick 25 majority.
The first school in Banks Township was taught by Jane Spears, in the house of David Linn, Jr., in the Summer of 1857. George Linn taught the school in the Winter of 1858-9. The first school house was erected in Sub- District No. 1, in 1865. There are now four school houses in the township.
The first roads located were the " Armstrong road," from Wilson's Grove to West Union, in May, 1855, and the " Fox road," between Sections 7 and 18, in June of the same year.
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