USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 72
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The following compose the present Board of Directors : F. J. Sokol, W. F. Hanson and W. J. Belcher. W. I. Cram is Secretary, and Henry Green, Treasurer.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERARY SOCIETY.
A Blue Ribbon Society was organized in Monmouth in 1878, whose meet- ings were of a literary character. This Society proved a failure, so far as its meetings were concerned, and in the spring of 1879, upon the call of Rev. G. W. Rogers, was held a meeting of those who wished to become members of some local literary organization.
At the first meeting, Rev. Mr. Rogers was elected President, and S. E. Ralston, Secretary. A Constitution and set of By-Laws were prepared, including a temperance pledge. Consequently, while the Society was not organized as a temperance organization, all those who sign the Constitution and By-Laws, thereby becoming members, are held by the pledge. The meet- ings are held every Tuesday evening, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are attended by large audiences. The Society has a membership of about fifty. The exercises are composed of original essays, readings and music. In
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the weekly programme, the managers are frequently assisted by persons who are not members.
The present officers are : Henry Green, President; Kate Hubbard, Secre- tary ; E. B. Arnold, Editor, and H. M. Kennedy, Treasurer.
CHURCHES.
Baptist Church .- On January 30, 1858, Luther Holmes and wife, Henry Green, J. B. White and Deborah A. Call organized into a conference for the purpose, if they should be prospered and encouraged, of forming a Baptist . Church in Monmouth. Quite a number were added to the conference in the . course of a few weeks, and a petition was circulated requesting a council to organize a Church. The Council met May 15, 1858, and,. on the following Sabbath, the recognition sermon was preached by the Rev. O. A. Holmes. The first Deacons of the society were Daniel Widel and J. B. White. The other officers elected were Henry Green, Clerk, and A. Coffin, Treasurer. Luther Holmes was the first Pastor of the Church, who continued from its organization until 1864. He was immediately succeeded by Horace Holmes, who preached to this people about ten years, beginning in June, 1864. The pulpit remained vacant after Mr. Holmes' retirement until 1877, during which year Rev. Charles Brooks was Pastor. March, 1878, the pulpit was filled by Rev. William H. Barnes, who preached every alternate Sabbath at Monmouth and Nashville. Almost fifteen years this society held its services in the district schoolhouse. Their comfortable church building was completed in 1872, and dedicated May 19 of that year by Rev. O. A. Holmes. The house of wor- ship will seat from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. The membership is . now forty-two. The Pastor is Superintendent of the Sabbath school. The Church Trustees are G. H. Ward, A. B. Lake and Thomas Reed. The Dea- cons, H. M. Kennedy and T. Baldwin.
M. E. Church .- Monmouth contains a flourishing M. E. Church, of which Rev. Rogers is Pastor. We were disappointed in an attempt to secure a his- tory of this society.
SPRAGUEVILLE.
Spragueville is a little village on the western border of Van Buren Town- ship, about one-half mile south of the Maquoketa River, and a short distance from the mouth of Deep Creek, on which the town is located. The town may be said to be on the edge of the prairie, being bordered by prairie country on the south and adjoining the timber which skirts the Maquoketa on the north.
The village was named after one Spragne, who located at this point in 1841. A mill was built here on Deep Creek in an early day, and known as Sprague's Mill. On the same spot where the pioneer mill stood, Thompkins & Alexan- der erected a large flouring-mill at a cost of $14,000. Shortly afterward, Thompkins sold out to Charles H. Riley, who subsequently purchased the share of Mr. Alexander and now owns the entire mill. Mr. Riley has of late years expended several thousand dollars in improvements. The mill is now known as Deep Creek Flouring Mills, having three run of stone, and a capac- ity for grinding forty-six barrels of flour per day. The water supply from Deep Creek is constant.
The town was laid out in 1867, by A. Alexander. It has not had much growth and cannot increase greatly until it has railroad communication. The
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town contains one general store, kept by A. Alexander, who is also Postmaster at this point. The village has two mails weekly, which are carried from Pres- ton. A drug store is kept by John Miller, and a hotel by Capt. Smith. The other places of business include a saloon, blacksmith and wagon shops.
VAN BUREN.
Van Buren is a post office and hamlet. located near the geographical center of Van Buren Township, and is the place of holding Van Buren Township . elections. It affords a place of residence for some eight or ten families and has enjoyed the accommodations of the postal service since 1852. Otto Schmidt is Postmaster and receives a tri-weekly mail from Miles. Van Buren was settled in an early day by Ohio people, and was commonly known as Buckeye, by which name it is still frequently called, despite the different cog- nomen applied to the post office. The business of the place might be summed up in the naming of a general store, by Otto Schmidt, a hotel, by Charles Reiner, a blacksmith-shop and other institutions. such as is usual in country villages.
FULTON.
Fulton is located on the southwest quarter of Section 24, in Farmer's Creek Township, and is about eight miles north from Maquoketa. The town was laid out in 1851, by William C. Morden, and enjoys a daily mail route from Maquoketa. A Presbyterian Church was erected in Fulton in 1874, at a cost of nearly $2,000. The Church has no regular Pastor at present, but the pulpit is supplied during a"good portion of the time. A substantial public school building was erected in 1870. The school is not graded, but has an average attendance of some sixty pupils. Fulton has three general stores, kept by William C. Morden, W. B. Whitley and Lyman Whitley. J. W. Eckles is the only physician. Thompson Bros. and Godfrey Myers are engaged in blacksmithing. Fulton Lodge, No. 339, I. O. O. F., has headquarters at this point, meeting every Saturday. Fulton and vicinity include the residence of quite a number of Masons, who belong to the Lodge at Andrew. In the town, is the saw-mill of John Frank. Two other mills, grist and lumber, are in the vicinity.
SPRING BROOK
is a post office village in Jackson Township. It is the site of a Roman Catho- lic Church, and contains a fine store building, in which business is conducted by C. M. Kegler, who is also Postmaster.
ST. DONATUS
was platted March 6, 1860, by D. Lowen, and is located on the southwest . quarter of Section 7, Tete des Morts Township. The first post office was established by Peter Gellen, in 1856. There are two churches here, Catholic and Lutheran. The town is the site of St. Mary's Institute, conducted by the
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Sisters of Notre Dame as a branch of a similar institution at Milwaukee. The building is a large stone structure, 80x50 feet and four stories in height. Five acres of improved land are connected with the building. The convent was built in 1864, and is in charge of seven Sisters of the Order mentioned. In the course of instruction here given are included needle-work, house-work and other useful occupations. Accomplishments come in for their full share in the department of music and painting.
MILL ROCK.
Mill Rock was platted in July, 1854, and is therefore the oldest town in Monmouth Township. The proprietors were D. L. Royer, John McCollum, W. H. Rosenberger, William Wilcox, Henry Sloper and John B. Cobb. A portion of the plat was vacated in 1867. Here was first established what was for years known as Cobb's Post Office, in honor of the first Postmaster. The town is located about three-quarters of a mile south of Baldwin, and consists of ten or a dozen dwelling-houses and a flouring-mill. The latter is upon Bear Creek, a stream that supplies the power driving the mill, which was built about twenty-five years ago by one Sloper, and formerly was called Sloper's Mill. It is now owned by James Craig, and is equipped with two runs of stone, which are kept in motion the greater part of the year.
CANTON
is on the county line at the point where it crosses the south fork of the Maquo- keta. At this point are a grist and two saw mills. A considerable quantity of lumber is here sawed and shipped over the Midland road from Monmouth, being drawn to the latter place by teams. The town contains some eight or ten places of business, beside the usual blacksmith, wagon shops, etc. The situa- tion is delightful and the water-power valuable. What are wanted to make Canton an important point are railroad facilities, which in time it will get. It was platted in June, 1855, by C. W. Thompson.
OZARK.
Ozark is a small village on Section 5, Brandon Township, three and one- half miles from Canton. It is said to have been established as a post office in 1855. The principal business of the place is conducted by John Reyner, who has here a grist-inill, saw-mill and woolen-mill. The first mentioned was erected in 1855; the latter, in 1863. Mr. Reyner is also Postmaster and merchant of Ozark.
NASHVILLE
is a station on the Midland road, located on southeast quarter of the soutli- east quarter of Section 24, Monmouth Township; was laid out by D. S. Teeple, June 15, 1872. It contains a good general store, blacksmith and wagon shops, lumber yard, grain dealer, etc. It is situated in a most excellent farming com- inunity, and enjoys a good local trade.
G.N. Relsall COL. COMD'G. IST CAV. I.N. G.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
LA MOTTE.
La Motte has existed as a post office and village for a great many years, but was not platted until November 10, 1873, when it was recorded by thirty-five property holders. It is located on the border between Prairie Springs and Richland Townships. Confidence Lodge, No. 337, A., F. & A. M., is located here.
It has a flouring mill, two general stores, a cheese factory, broom manufac- tory, besides the usual blacksmith, wagon shops, etc. A very fertile and finely cultivated country surrounds La Motte, and peopled with a good class. Its prospeets were once very flattering but railroads diverted its trade. The C., B., C. & St. P. R. R. has been completed this year, and at this time (October), cars are running through to Zwingle. La Motte will now take a new growth and we prophesy for it prosperity.
ZWINGLE
is located on the county line, being in part in Jackson and in part in Dubuque County. Here was established the first Reformed Church in Iowa. Zwingle is on the narrow-gauge road now building from Bellevue to Cascade. It con- tains a mill, a general store, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, ete.
COTTONVILLE
is an old town in Richland Township, and which at one time before the day that railoads determined the fate of towns, had the most flattering of pros- pects. It is in one of the finest agricultural sections of the State. It has two stores, blacksmith shops, etc., and does a good local business:
STERLING
is quite an old village located on the corners of Sections 15, 16, 21 and 22 of Iowa Township. It contains a Methodist Church, the Pastor of which lives in Sabula. Sterling is in the midst of one of the most fertile and finely improved sections in the State.
IRON IIILL
was platted by Franklin Bowling April 5, 1869, and is a recorded town of twenty-five lots on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 30, in Farmer's Creek Township. It has two general stores, lumber yard, etc.
OTTER CREEK
is a post-office village on Section 24, in the township bearing that name. It contains two stores, a grist-mill, two blacksmith shops and a wagon shop.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
BELLEVUE WAR.
We are placed in an unpleasant position by the conflicting views enter- tained by many of the most prominent early settlers in regard to what is known as the " Bellevue War." Since printing that portion of our book, sev- eral well-known citizens have sent us the following newspaper articles to publish. All we can do is to insert them, and let the people form their own conclusions.
PUBLISHERS.
[ From the Bellevue Leader.]
EDITOR LEADER-My attention has been called to an anonymous commu- nication in your paper, copied from the Excelsior, entitled "A Leaf from the Early History of Jackson County," printed over the signature of one who signs himself an " Old Settler." I was surprised that Mr. Shaw, the editor of the Excelsior, and yourself should give character and credence to such an untruthful, slanderous and sensational story as the one above referred to.
In writing up the early history of Jackson County, I endeavored to give only the facts as I and other old settlers remembered them, and I believe that nearly every one of the old settlers now living will cheerfully sustain me in the main as to the truth and veracity of the story I have written of the events and happenings of early pioneer times in this county, and particularly those relating to the causes which led to the bloody encounter in Bellevue on the 1st day of April, 1840. This anonymous writer in the Excelsior charges that the men who participated in the Bellevue battle against Brown and his gang were a "drunken mob organized to rid the country of a man who was the coming man, respected by all the respectable citizens of the county"-What for? Let him speak for himself. He says: "Cox was jealous of him (Brown) politically, and all those that were engaged in the transaction were indebted to Brown for clothes and provisions, and were pleased with the idea of getting rid of their debts when they at once proceeded to put in execution their murderous intent."
I am thankful that there are a few old settlers still living who will join with me in denouncing the author of this charge as a base slanderer, who would heap obloquy and calumny upon the character and memories of those gallant men who sacrificed their lives in maintaining law and order. Permit me to again make mention of the names of the honored dead who participated in the struggle against Brown and his bandits-the men whom this anonymous writer brands a " drunken mob," organized for no higher or better purpose than to commit wholesale murder to get rid of paying their honest debts, due Brown for clothing and provisions. Read their names, and, if you can find a man now living, in or out of Jackson County, that will indorse the wholesale charges made by the Excelsior's correspondent, I will pledge myself to show that he was a friend of, and a sympathizer with, murderers, thieves and robbers. This is strong language. Nothing but justice to the dead would induce me to use such strong terms to hurl back the vile calumnies of "Old Settler." I have here- tofore refrained from saying anything that would reflect upon one class of good
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citizens, who differed with myself and others as to the means taken to break up Brown's bandit gang. I have regarded such as honest differences of opinion, and respect those who entertained them none the less for differing with me ; but there was another class, so closely identified with Brown and so fully in sympathy with him, that, even to this day, they will defend him and praise him, whenever occasion will permit. Now for those who sleep the sleep that knows no waking-who were the persecutors and murderers of Brown and his men, according to " Old Settler," men whose names and memories I shall ever cher- ish, and whose characters shall never be disgraced or abused by one of Brown's own gang, which I shall prove this correspondent to be, and that too by words from his own mouth, before I get through with him-J. K. Moss, Anson Har- rington, John T. Sublett, H. K. Magoon, James McCabe, David G. Bates, Charles W. Harris, James L. Hanby, James Beaty, William Beaty, Arch. Drummond, ex-Sheriff James Watkins, John Stucke, John Howe, John G. McDonald, Col. James Collins, Col. Thomas Cox, Jobn A. Hall, James L. Kilpatrick, William Watkins, George Watkins and John W. Cox. Such are the names of some of the dead that I now remember, who participated in the fight when Brown was killed. Among those still living, I might mention the names of Alex. Reed, Col. T. J. Parks, Thomas Sublett, Sam Scott, Len Hilyard, L. J. Heifley, Jerry Jonas, James Jones, Nicolas Jefferson and John D. Bell .. These are the names of some of the men that this defender of Fox- who was one of the murderers of Col. Davenport-has charged as being a " drunken mob," organized to commit murder to get rid of paying their debts. Many of these men, now dead, filled high, honorable social and political posi- tions in this county before and after that " transaction," and are related to some of the best families in the country. Col. Cox was the first Representative from Jackson and Speaker of the House of the first General Assembly. J. K. Moss was the second Representative; John Howe, the first Recorder; Anson Har- rington, the first Judge of Probate ; J. S. McDonald, Clerk of Courts ; James Watkins was Sheriff for many years afterward. The ball from his gun killed Brown.
The names of Col. James Collins, H. K. Magoon, J. L. Kilpatrick, David G. Bates, James Beaty, Arch. Drummond and Sam Scott are not unknown to the early settlers of Galena, Ill., and the few pioneers that are left will join with me in denouncing the charge made by "Old Settler" as a base and vile slander upon the good names of the above-named pioneers. Before I proceed to deal further with this viper, who is a mere tool of others who have pushed him to the front to express sentiments they themselves dare not do, permit me to again give your readers a few incidents of our early history. First, let me ask if there is an old settler in this county who doubts that a band of thieves and robbers infested this country for several years previous to the year 1840, whose general rendezvous was in Bellevue, and who made their headquarters with W. W. Brown, who kept a hotel here at that time, and seemed to be their leader and chief? If there is such an old settler, let me call his attention to a few of the crime happenings, commencing with the murder of Thomas H. Davis by Groff. It was on the first day of a term of court in this city when this awful crime was committed, in broad daylight, when our streets were filled with citizens from all parts of the county. There was but one expression- outside of Brown's clan-that it was a cold, premeditated, cowardly murder. What were the facts in the case as developed upon the trial ? There was a civil suit pending between Groff and Davis; but there was also trouble existing between Brown and Davis, brought about by a stolen horse being left by Fox
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in charge of Davis, and which the owner traced to Davis' stable. Davis was a fearless man, and, on the day he was murdered, had been denouncing Brown and his gang as a band of horse-thieves and counterfeiters. On the trial, it was shown that Brown borrowed V. G. Smith's rifle and placed it in the hands of Groff, telling him to go to the island and kill squirrels. In less than twenty minutes from that time, Groff waylaid Davis and shot him in the back with this same rifle. Brown took an active part in Groff's defense. No other plea but that of insanity would save Groff. He was proven insane by Brown's men, and acquitted, and Brown had the satisfaction of know- ing that his accuser in the horse matter was out of the way-under the sod. I cannot remember all the criminal charges brought against Brown and his ' outlaws, such as robbing the Collinses, on Cooper Creek; stealing of Brigam's horses, which were found in Brown's stable; the purchasing of Pence's oxen, in Monmouth, with counterfeit money ; the sale of a span of horses by Brown to Thomas Graham, which the real owner followed and the horses were taken from Mr. Graham; the robbing of J. C. Mitchell's house, and the sending of James Thompson and A. Montgomery to assassinate Mitchell, but, fortunately for Mitchell, he turned the tables on them and killed Thompson. Montgomery afterward killed Brown, of Maquoketa. Barger, who murdered his wife in Bellevue some years afterward, was the bosom friend and companion of Brown.
Now, what are the facts as to the charge of " mob ?" I have heretofore stated that the courts of justice in Jackson County were powerless. It mattered not what the charge was, an alibi could be proved, and the criminal went scot- free.
Baffled and beaten in every instance in bringing these outlaws to justice, a committee was appointed to see Prosecuting Attorney Crawford, and Judge Wilson, then one of the Associate Judges of the Territory, and ask for orders. I was one of that committee. After laying our grievances before the Judges- many of which grievances they were conversant with-Judge Wilson protested against anything like mob violence, and said the arm of law would p otect the people. He then advised that an information be filed, charging Browrn and his associates with conspiracy to commit depredations, as alleged by the committee. Such course would prevent them from testifying in one another's behalf. This was accepted by the committee, and on, or about the 25th of March, 1840, James Crawford, then Prosecuting Attorney, drew up an information, charging Brown and twenty-two others as above stated, which information was sworn to by Anson Harrington, and the warrant issued by Charles Harris and George Watkins, Justices of the Peace of Jackson County, and placed in the hands of myself, then Sheriff of the county, for service. Brown, being somewhat of a pettifogger, bid me defiance, and declared that the law did not justify this whole- sale arrest. No other alternative was left me but to summons a posse. In doing so, I made the selection from all parts of the county, and that too from the best and most influential men in the county, hoping when Brown saw the the mnen the posse was composed of, he would surrender to the law.
The appointed time for serving the warrant of arrest on Brown and his twenty-seven followers was the 1st day of April, 1840. Brown had been informed as to the day fixed for his arrest, and had speedily assembled his men and sympathizers together, at his house, where he armed and harangued them for the fight. He fortified his premises, and unfolded to the breeze a red flag, on which was inscribed " Victory, or Death."
Being absent at Sabula, I arrived in Bellevue at 9 o'clock, A. M., on the morning of the 1st of April, 1840, accompanied by James McCabe, Andrew,
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Farley and Alex. Reed. I found that Col. Cox had assumed command of the posse, and had issued an order closing every saloon in town, and this order was carried out to the letter. The Colonel had provided rations and hot coffee by the boilerful for the men, and not one drop of liquor of any kind was drunk by the men of the posse during that or the next day. Every man who engaged in the fight will bear me out as to the truth of this statement. So much in answer to the charge of " drunken mob," as made by " Old Settler."
A consultation was held, and it was unanimously decided that Brown and his men should submit to the authorities. We were more than anxious to avoid an open conflict and bloodshed, provided Brown and his men would submit and surrender peaceably. I was directed to proceed to Brown's headquarters and read the warrant to him and his men, and do all in my power to prevail on him and them to surrender. Brown met me at the door and politely invited me in. I then read the warrant to him, and asked that the rest of the men be called up, so that I might also read the warrant to them. As I read over the names, he called them up and commanded them to pay attention to the read- ing. Brown said he doubted the legality of the wholesale arrest. He then asked me to show him a list of the names of the posse. I showed them to him, and, after looking them over, he asked if security would be required, pro- vided he and his men surrendered and waived examination. I told him I would release him on his own recognizance, and take his bond for the appear- ance of the rest of his men named in the warrant. While this parleying was going on between Brown and myself, his men were freely imbibing at the bar and becoming boisterous. Brown endeavored to put a stop to the drunken orgie by retreating from the bar-room into the main building, and calling his men to follow him. In a few minutes he returned, and proposed that if I would go back to the posse and bring with me John T. Sublette. H. Magoon and George Watkins to pledge themselves that my proposition would be carried out in good faith, he and his men would surrender. On my return to the posse, I reported, in brief, the conference I had had with Brown, but it did not meet with the approval of the posse. After discussing the matter for an hour or more-Col. Cox all the while urging that Brown's proposition be accepted-it was finally decided that the parties named should accompany me into Brown's presence, when they should give the desired pledge to Brown and his men. In company with Sublette, Magoon and Watkins, I proceeded to Brown's house ; but, when about to enter, Brown, with a dozen or more of his men, with guns in hand, ordered us to halt. Brown then ordered Sublette, Magoon and Watkins to leave his premises, and me to advance, which order was reluctantly obeyed. On entering the house, I was greeted with the wildest shouts of derision. The room was crowded, and the bottle was often passed around. Under the influ- ence of whisky, Brown's men had become unmanageable, and he was powerless to control them. Our disposition to parley was taken for cowardice, and we were denounced in the most bitter terms. They declared that they would hold me as a hostage, and, with the first advance upon them, my life should pay the penalty. I went with Brown into a back room. He was perfectly sober, and seemed to realize that he could no longer control his drunken men. He admit- ted as much to me, and asked to be left alone until next morning, when his men would be sober, and he could prevail on them to surrender peaceably. While we were yet talking, some one told Brown my men were marching in the direction of his (Brown's) house. He asked me to go out and stop them, and then return to him. I hurried from the house, stopped the posse, and told them all that had transpired within doors. It was now 3 o'clock in the
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