USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 84
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
NICHOLSON, SAMUEL-Sec. 25, P. O. Ladora. Was born in Miami county, Ohio, May 27, 1830, living with his parents until he reached his majority, when he worked at the harness business but which he had to abandon and return to the farm, as his oldest brother had gone West. He re- mained there until 1855, when he married Miss Eliza Harp and shortly af- ter started for the West, coming with teams in emigrant style to Iowa county, arriving four weeks from the time he started. His wealth consisted of "a two-and-a-half gold piece " and his team and wagon. Renting a.
piece of land from his brother he farmed it two years and in the meantime .. he purchased 80 acres and at intervals broke a few acres. In 1857 he built his first house and moved into it during the summer and lived there until 1867, when he purchased another farm, on which he now lives, still owning the first. He now owns three good farms in all consisting of 400 acres, all of which he has accumulated by his own labor. He has four children :: George A., John B., Charles N. and Samuel.
NORTON, MRS. OLIVE D .- Sec. 16, P. O. Koszta. Is one of the- many women to whom the West is truly indebted for its advance- ment in civilization. She was born in 1816, in Verona village, Oneida county, New York. In 1836 she was married to Arowil R. Norton who- died in 1875. In 1855 she came with her husband to Iowa county and set- tled where she now lives. She underwent all the deprivations usually ex- perienced in a frontier life, commencing in a log cabin with a young family of six children around her and in a wild and neighborless country. But by the persevering labor of her husband and oldest boys the wild prairie purchased by her husband was gradually converted into a good farm, and the log cabin gave way to the comfortable house she now enjoys. Her children are all living in Iowa county, excepting the youngest who is a Methodist minister. One son served three years in the war of the Rebel- lion. Another, A. R. Norton, is now living with her farming the place and rendering all the care and assistance that she needs and to whom she is in- debted for this brief sketch of her life. Mrs. Norton has been a member of the M. E. Church for fifteen years. Her husband was also a member of the same at the time of his death.
NUTTING, GEORGE D .- Sec. 20, P. O. Belle Plaine. Was born in Rensselaer county, New York, September 25, 1845, where he lived with his parents until he was nine years old, when they moved to. Scott county, Iowa, leaving there in the spring of 1867, and settling in this. county, in that year, on the farm on which the subject of this sketch now lives. His father dying in the same year left him to care for his mother and a family of small children. Not being blessed with any means he was. obliged to work out by the month to earn a team and make payments on land his father had purchased, but failed to do so, only paying a part of the interest. Afterward by farming rented land and hard work he maintained his mother and her smaller children and accumulated enough to purchase the farm on which he lives consisting of 160 acres. He now has one of the best improved farms in Iowa county. On it is a young bearing orchard of 300 trees, 50 bearing grape vines and 700 maples. He has a good house and barn. His farm is stocked with twelve head of horses, forty-six hogs and twelve head of cattle. He still keeps one of the horses he purchased in his younger days, now over twenty years old. His mother died in 1874, and his sister then became his housekeeper. He deserves much credit for maintaining his orphaned brothers and sisters, and supporting his mother
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HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.
:and at the same time improving his farm. In 1878 he married Mrs. A. D. ·Cottrel, who came to this county with her invalid husband, Stephen D. Cottrel, in 1870, hoping that the change and the climate of Iowa would benefit him, but she was doomed to disappointment as he gradually failed and died in 1877. From 1873 to the time of his death she was obliged to support her husband and four children by what she could earn by teaching and by sewing, earning in that length of time $1,300, and when she taught had to ride five miles and return daily.
RII IDENOUR, CYRUS-Sec. 7, P. O. Belle Blaine. Was born near Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, in 1841. He came to Iowa in 1855 and settled in Cedar county where he lived until 1861, when he came to this county and settled in Honey Creek township where he now lives. He has had three wives, by whom he has had six children: John A., Nicholas C., Mary E., Henry C., Daniel D. and Cyrus C., all living except- ing Daniel D. His present wife was Sarah Coin, whom he married in 1867. When he came to Honey Creek it presented a wild and cheerless aspect. Building his cabin and occupying it before he could procure doors and win- dows his family suffered from the cold, it yet being early in the spring. His farm is clear of any incumbrance, and he intends to remain perma- nently in Iowa county.
S LATER, JOSEPH-Sec. 7, P. O. Belle Plaine. Was born at New- castle-on-Tine, Scotland, May 29, 1830. When quite young he was apprenticed to Robert Stephenson, the famous locomotive builder of Eng- land, the father of whom built the first locomotive in the world. In the spring of 1846 he came to America with his father and settled at Dav- ·enport, Iowa, where he worked at the engineer's trade and was also en- gineer on several steamers running on the Mississippi from St. Louis to Galena, and at one time superintended the building of the first steam en- gine built in the State of Iowa, at Burlington. In 1851 he married Mary Ann McFaran, of Davenport, by whom he has six children living: William (the oldest son is an engineer and employed at Belle Plaine), Ella (the old- est daughter is married and living in Kansas), Mary, Joseph, Celia and Edward. Mr. Slater has recently abandoned the engineering business and has taken the homestead, he being the only son (his only brother, Edward, dying in the army, a member of company B, Twenty-eighth Iowa), his father, now in his eightieth year, being too old to perform the labor on the farm, and will spend the remainder of his days with him.
STEFFY, JOHN-Sec. 32, P. O. Victor. Was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1834. He lived with his parents until he was twenty years old. In 1854 they came West and settled in Cedar county, Iowa, he following them the next year. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Hart of Cedar county, and renting a farm lived there until 1859 when he came to Iowa county and worked as a farm hand for Samuel Huston, by the month, until 1862, when he enlisted in company B, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and was with his company until December 6, 1863, when he ·came home on a sick furlough, and not being able to endure the hardships of army life, was discharged in July of 1864. While with his company he paaticipated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Sabine Cross-roads, and several others. After his discharge he returned to Cedar county, and the next year he came to Iowa county, renting a farm until 1866, when he purchased 160 acres. He has one
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
child, Edward. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
STEFFY, SAMUEL-Sec. 32, P. O. Victor. Was born in Venago. county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1841, where he lived with his parents until he was eleven years old, when they came West, settling in Cedar- county, Iowa, where he continued to live until 1861, when he enlisted in company D, Eleventh Iowa infantry. His regiment was ordered to St. Louis, and from there to Jefferson City. After guarding that city a few weeks, and a part of the regiment being on detached duty at Fulton, Mis- souri, and other places, was ordered back to St. Louis, and from there to Shiloh, and three weeks after, on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, partici- pated in the battle of Shiloh, and skirmished from there to Corinth. Dur- ing the summer they were on general guard duty at Corinth and other- places. On the 2d of October, early in the morning, while his company were quietly in quarters, and not suspecting an enemy near, they were or- dered out, as they supposed, for roll call, and were only partly clad, when the order " forward, march!" was given, when there was a hasty grasping for shoes and necessary clothing, and then they found out that they were attacked by the rebel General Price, and then began the battle of Corinth, lasting two days. Early on the morning of the second day, Mr. Steffy came near being killed. While cooking his breakfast with three of his comrades the rebels fired two solid shots at the camp-fire, killing one and wounding another. He next participated in the Siege of Vicksburg, and was also at Atlanta on the 22d of July, 1863. He participated in all the battles of his regiment, also being in Sherman's march "from Atlanta to the Sea." After his discharge at the close of the war, he returned to Ce- dar county, and making a short visit came to Iowa county and purchased 160 acres of wild land in Honey Creek township, where he now lives. By subsequent purchases he has increased his farm to 220 acres. He married Elizabeth Housman, by whom he has five children: John, Elousia, George, Emma and Elva.
STRACHAN, GEORGE-Sec. 13, P. O. Belle Plaine. Was born in Bauffshire, Scotland, in 1829. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a gardner for three years at Money Musk, on the estate of Sir Robert Grant, and after serving his time he worked as journeyman at Haddo House, the seat of Lord Aberdeen, for two years and then he went to the city of Dublin as gardner to Gilbert Burns until he came to America, in January of 1852, landing in New York City the following March, being nearly eight weeks on the voyage. His first employers were J. Hogg & Son, proprietors of the Yorkville Nurseries, with whom he worked four months, then going to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he followed the avocation of gardner until 1861, when he started for the West. In 1854 he married Ann McKinley, of Worcester, Massachusetts, by whom he had six children: John, William, George, Robert, David and Thomas. In Oc- tober of 1861 he came to Iowa county, where he had previously purchased land. the purchase-money being all earned after landing in New York. Although his means were limited he has succeeded in improving his farm and kept apace with his neighbors and is now enjoying the fruits of his toil. In 1864 he was bereft of his wife and mother of his children. He was again married in 1879 to Mrs. Delia G. Baldwin, of Iowa county, who is an old settler of the county.
SULLENBERGER, D. L .-- P. O. Koszta. Was born at Covington,.
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HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Ohio, December 30, 1830, where he lived until the spring of 1853, when he, with a party of several, started for Oregon, but when reaching St. Joe they separated, part going on and the others returning to Illinois, he being with those who returned. He stopped in Marion, and was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Company as foreman of a construction force, filling that position one year and was then employed on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Road in the same capacity. In 1854 he returned to Marion, Illinois, and married Elizabeth Pruett and soon after went to Missouri, but returned to Illinois, settling in Schuyler county and engaged in farming until the fall of 1856, when he came to Iowa county and lived one year. In 1857 he returned to Illinois, where he lived until 1860, when he again came to Iowa county-after making a trip to Missouri-and has re- sided in Koszta ever since. His first enterprise after settling was the mill- ing business in company with his father and afterward with C. E. Haverly,. selling out his interest in 1862; since then he has been engaged in various kinds of business, being employed by the Cole Brothers for nearly twelve years and is still in their employ. He has four children: Salome (who is a prominent teacher and has taught many schools in Iowa and adjoining counties), Charles E. (whose natural gift is vocal music; he is also a mil- ler by trade, having worked sometime in the Star Mills), Alla Maria (who is married and lives in Humboldt county, Iowa) and Ernest.
W HEELER, H. H .- Sec. 8. P. O. Belle Plaine. Was born in Mus- kingum county, Ohio, May 15, 1827, where he spent his boyhood
days. His father dying in 1846 the superintendence of the homestead fell upon his shoulders, which capacity he filled until his mother's death in 1854, he coming to Iowa that same year. In 1851 he married Catharine Darner. When he first came to Iowa he lived in Muscatine county one year, coming to Iowa county in 1855 and settled in Honey Creek township near Koszta. Having some means he purchased 240 acres all of which he has improved and since that time he has purchased 380 acres more, mak- ing two farms amounting in all to 620 acres. His wife also owns 278 acres, 65 of which she farms herself, the balance she has farmed by tenants. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are both endowed with good business talents and are accumulating property and are classed among the largest land owners and most extensive farmers in the county; they jointly owning nearly 900 acres of good farming land. They came to Iowa county when discourage- ments stood on every hand. The country was sparsely settled and markets at a great distance and produce at low prices and no regular laid out and worked roads, excepting the State road, then running from Iowa City to Marshalltown. Mrs. Wheeler was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1832, and lived with her parents until her marriage. In 1864 they visited old acquaintances and scenes of their childhood in Ohio, but so changed was everything that they gladly returned home satisfied that Iowa far ex- ceeded Ohio in everything. They have two children : Elizabeth J. and Joseph A., both living at home.
WHITE, ALEXANDER-Sec. 22, P. O. Koszta. Was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1820. When he was nine years old his parents moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he continued to live with them until he was seventeen, when he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade. During the three years that he was to serve he was to receive only three dollars per month and his board, and to have only six months schooling. In 1841, having learned his trade, he began life for him-
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
self by working as a journeyman in Muskingum and Guernsey counties, for one year, and then he bought a shop and three acres of ground five miles west of Cambridge, on the national turnpike running from Cumberland, Maryland. to Columbus, Ohio, where he carried on blacksmithing and wagon-making for four years; at that time all freighting and traveling was carried on by teams and staging. Four large coaches passed his shop daily, and many freight teams consisting of six, eight and ten horses. In 1846, having nearly lost the use of his arm by overwork, he rented his shops and went into the livery business at New Concord. In 1849 he mar- ried Elizabeth P. Wycoff, and soon after disposing of his livery he returned to his shops and carried on blacksmith and wagon-making for ten years, and two years of that time he was also engaged in the mercantile business in company with his brother. In 1860 he sold out his shop and his inter- est in the store and went to New Concord and engaged in the hotel business. In 1864, belonging to an organized militia company, he was ordered out for one hundred days' service, and sent to Baltimore doing guard duty, and while there was sent out on a scouting expedition, and while out partici- pated in the battle of Monocacy Junction. After his discharge in 1864, he returned to New Concord and after selling out and settling up his business he started for the West, coming to Iowa county in the spring of 1865 and settled on a quarter section of land that he had entered while out prospect- ing eleven years before, and since that time has increased his farm to three hundred and sixty acres all of which is under cultivation, well stocked, with a neat and substantial dwelling and convenient barns, sheds, etc. He has seven children: Jane A., Mary S., Milton W., Jessie S., John A., Lizzie R., Willison J. Mary A. is the wife of N. W. Adams of Marengo. Milton W. is attending medical lectures at the Iowa State University.
CHAPTER IX.
PILOT TOWNSHIP.
Its Name-Geographical-Area-Population-Valuation-Live Stock-Physical Features- Early Settlers-Burned out-First Minister-Organization -- First Election -- Present Offi- cers -- Schools-$11 per month for Teaching -- Present Salaries-Present Teachers-Post- office-Burying Ground-Creamery-Hurricane-Hail -- Soldiers in the War.
ITS NAME.
THIS was the last township organized, and although last, by no means least. It is a peculiar fact that the best land was taken up last, and that many of the counties and townships were formerly thought to be second rate. Pilot township took the name of the little grove on section 23, and the grove was called Pilot Grove because it served as a landmark to guide the traveler across the trackless and treeless prairie.
This little clump of trees stood out alone and could be seen for many miles all around. Settlers living in the southwestern part of the county, when going to or from Marengo, knew well their directions and distances from this little Pilot Grove.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
Pilot township is bounded north by Sumner, east by Troy, south by Eng- lish and west by Lincoln. Technically described it corresponds exactly with
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PILOT TOWNSHIP.
township No. 79 north, of range 11 west of the fifth principal meridian. Its area is a little over 36 square miles, or more exactly 23,214, acres. The population, according to the United States census of 1880, was 884, an in- crease over the census of 1870 of 61. The number of polls is 188. At the presidential election November 2, 1880, James A. Garfield received 97 votes, W. S. Hancock 64 votes, and James B. Weaver 24 votes.
The real estate is valued at $174,000, and the personalty at $42,000. There are 1,562 cattle, 563 horses, 22 mules, 314 sheep and 2,852 swine. Besides the road tax they pay $4,800 taxes.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
There are four streams of water; viz., North English River, Old Man's Creek, Old Woman's Creek and Devil's Run. North English River rises in Poweshiek county, flows east through Lincoln township of that county, then through Lincoln township, Iowa county, and enters Pilot, flowing through the south part of sections 31, 32 and 33, thence southeast through English and Fillmore townships, and through the north part of Washington county into Iowa River. Old Man's Creek, so often spoken of in this his- tory, flows east through the north part of the township into Troy and York, thence through Johnson county into the Iowa River. Old Woman's Creek rises in section 9 of this township, and after wending its way through sec- tions 10, 11 and 12, empties into Old Man's Creek just off the west line of Troy. Devil's Run rises in Lincoln township, flows southeast through the southwest part of Pilot, and empties into North English River. Formerly there was no timber in the township except a little grove, called Pilot Grove, near the line between sections 23 and 24, and a very few scattering trees on North English River. There is no stone, except several large sized boulders which have been used for building purposes. There is a little bottom land on North English River; the balance of the township is high prairie. The north half is slightly rolling; the south part is very rolling and broken.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settler in Pilot was Reuben Miller. He came from Illinois in the year 1845 and settled on section 8, English township. He was a native of Kentucky. He laid off the town of Millersburg in the year 1852, June 28. In the year 1854 he built a water mill on North English River, put in burs and ground corn. The mill was just over the line in English town- ship, but he had built a house and lived in what is now Pilot. He subse- quently removed to the western part of the State, where he still lives. Reuben Miller was fond of the hunt, he killed deer by the score, he chased bears and trapped large game and took many otters and minks. He was a whole-souled, good-natured honest man. One of his sons, Martin, acci- dentally shot himself through the head while preparing his gun for a hunt, on Christmas morning in the year 1862. Hezekiah, another son, died about fifteen years ago.
Jacob Wertz came from Ohio and settled on section 23, in the year 1854. He lived there about a year, then sold out and went away. He was a close- fisted German. It is said by some that his was the first house.
Christian Myers came from Virginia in the year 1854 and settled on sec- tion 34, and still lives there. He built a very small hut on the bank of
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Devil's Run at first, then a log house one-half mile from the Run, and now he has the largest frame house in Pilot.
George and William Lortz came from Richland county, Ohio, and two years previous came from Germany; October 1st, 1855, came and settled in this township on section 27. At first they got some slabs from Miller's saw-mill and laid them on poles, covering them with sods, hay, etc., and lived there several days, when the hut caught fire and burned entirely up. They saved nothing except the gold coin, which had been secured in a Ger- man trunk. They were left destitute and had it not been for the few dol- lars in gold would have suffered with hunger. The next spring they built a house of frame and boards. George has moved to section 23, and Wil- liam still lives at the old place on 27. Both have families, and are consid- ered among the best situated, financially, in the township.
W. G. Springer came from Macon county, Illinois, October 6, 1855, and settled on ne qr of 31, and with boards and other lumber, fresh from Mil- ler's mill, built a frame 16x16, one room and six in the family. Mr. S. has since lived in the county, and is now pastor of the Christian Church at Marengo. J. C. Springer, his eldest son, having been a short term in the army, accepted a position as deputy county clerk five years, then returned to Pilot, where he now lives, keeping store and post-office. W. J., second son, studied law, and is now practicing at New Hampton, Chickasaw county. The third son, James T., a teacher, lives with his father in Marengo. El- der Springer preached for his denomination more or less from his first set- tlemen here, having aided in organizing several churches. He was clerk of courts from 1862 to 1868. The first winter of his settlement here he shot fifteen deer, and his family helped him eat them.
Lorenzo Stahl came from Huron county, Ohio, in the spring of 1856, and settled on section 28, and lives there yet. He is said to be the wealthiest man in the township. Gottlieb Eckert, Francis Mc Allister, John Rudolph, Bernhard Hilficker, J. B. Rowe, W. E. Morse, Samuel and Adrian Carron, all came in 1856. Wm. Lortz, who now lives on section 27, came in Sep- tember, 1854, from Ohio, to enter his land, in company with four other Germans; viz., Frederick Merk, Conrad Gautlert, George Fisher, and Christian Barr. They came by rail to Davenport, then by stage to Iowa City. When they left Iowa City they started on foot, and having lost the road went away down into Washington county. When they saw their mis- take they came to Richmond, then they hired a team and came to Millers- burg. Then they tramped around for several days and finally Christian Barr and Wm. Lortz entered each 200 acres. Fisher located in Poweshiek county. Gautlert and Fisher each entered land in Fillmore township, and also each bought a lot in Williamsburg; then the supposed future capital of the county. Fred Merk did not enter land. Of the above named persons. Wm. Lortz, only, came and lived on his land and still lives there in com- fortable circumstances. After they had selected their land they walked to Iowa City, entered it, and returned to Mansfield, whence they had come. The next fall Lortz removed to his land and built a little house and covered it with hay. It caught fire as before stated and was burned. The day be- fore the house burned the Lortz boys had returned from Iowa City, where they had laid out some $60 in purchases for the winter-flour, meat, pota- toes, clothing, etc. All this was burned thus making it doubly hard for them.
The first marriage was that of Daniel Page to Beda Elizabeth Miller.
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685.
PILOT TOWNSHIP.
The first male child was born August 8 or 9, 1856, Michael Elwood by name; he was the son of Patrick and Margaret Elwood. The first girl was Lena Stahl, daughter of Lorenzo and Rose Stahl, born September 7, 1856. The first death was that of the wife of John Hilficker, who died in the spring of 1856, and was buried at Millersburg. The first minister in the township was Elder W. G. Springer, a Christian minister, and held his- first services in Millersburg. The first services in the township were con- ducted by Dunkards in the Stahl or South Pilot school-house. Catharine Myers did the first weaving of cloth. The early settlers went to Wasson- ville to mill, a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles, and to Iowa City for supplies, a distance of thirty-five miles.
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