USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 58
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" PRESBYTERIANS.
1
"The Presbyterian was the first church edifice in the town or in the town- ship. The Rev. George E. Delavan. then living at Maquoketa, having occa- sion to pass through Wyoming, was pleased with its location, and, upon his
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
representations, the Rev. James H. Spellman, a home missionary, came here to look up the interests of Zion, in connection with the organization of a Pres- byterian Church.
"On the 17th day of May, 1857, a society was organized, as preliminary to the organization of a Church. A constitution was adopted, and Joseph Bryan, John' Morse and Emmons Leonard. elected Trustees; A. W. Pratt. Treasurer, and A. M. Loomis. Clerk. The Rev. George E. Delavan became the Pastor. Articles of Incorporation were adopted April 8, 1859. The organization was effected at the house of A. W. Pratt. A. M. Loomis, A. W. Pratt, Jeremiah Gard. Thomas Haines, Sr .. and A. M. B. Stiles were the members who signed those Articles of Incorporation. The Church thus con- sisted of six members. Four of them had passed the meridian of life, and two were young and full of hope.
"Capt. Loomis is the only one left in our midst to tell the old story of the organization of that Church, by those half-dozen men. low widely divergent have been their paths. Pratt, in Massachusetts ; Bryan, gone West : Haines, gone North ; Stiles. in Chicago ; Gard, moved to Kansas in the spring of 1878. He felt the infirmities of age, and remarkel to the writer that he had only a little while to stay. and if the boys could do better in Kansas, he was willing to go. Ile died there in the fall of the same year. He was an upright. man, a good neighbor and a sincere Christian. He organized a Sabbath school on Pleasant Ridge, and was the efficient Superintendent. Ilis last meeting with his school was very affecting, and scemed more like a father bidding adion to a family, than simply a neighbor moving away. He was not afraid to die.
* * * When the news of his death was received here. every heart was sad, and all, with one accord, said, in sober accents, ' Uncle Jerry died among strangers.' In Kansas, he organized another Sabbath school, and died with harness on.
" Ile had been twice married, and twice he had followed to the grave his partners. He left one daughter and four sons. He had lived in Wyoming nearly a quarter of a century, and had reached nearly fourscore years.
* * * *
" During the summer of 1860, the old church edifice was erected. The Rev. Trowbridge, of Dubuque. laid the corner-stone, with proper ceremonies. An exca- vation has been made in the stone, where the records of the church, a copy of the Eureka and several other articles, were deposited in a sealed box. Mr. Delavan, the Pastor, was untiring in his efforts to build that church. IIe wrote, begged and worked. until his efforts were crowned with success. He witnessed the gradual rising of its walls with pride and pleasure, till the last brick was laid and the last flourish given by the mason's trowel. With one blast from the breath of Omnipotence, those walls were razed to the ground. The faithful gathered around to view the ruins, and with philosophic and pious mien, in solemn chorus, said
It was to be, It's God's decree From time's beginning.'
" Fondly cherished hopes were blasted. The numerical and financial feeble- ness of the Church almost made the idea of rebuilding hopeless. Standing on one corner of those ruins, Mir. Delavan, with uplifted hand. said : ' With God's assistance, these walls shall be rebuilt.' His untiring energy was again called into activity. He visited remote parts of the county, enlisted the
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
sympathies of men and women abroad, and again had the satisfaction of seeing those walls rising in place. X * * *
"Mr. Delavan was the only minister that has died in Wyoming while sustain- ing pastoral relations to any of the churches, and he deserves very honorable mention in connection with the growth of Wyoming and its moral and religions development. He was an active worker in the field for the benefit of his fellow- men. The first winter after he came here, he organized a library association, and succeeded in gathering together quite a number of volumes of valuable books. Ile also 'caused to be read a paper. It was a semi-monthly publica- tion, and was edited and read by a person appointed at each meeting, thus giving the editor two weeks to write his editorials. It was called The Iris. * *
"Some time in the fall of 1860. Mr. Delavan was attacked with bleeding at the lungs. He continued his ministrations after he became so weak that he could not stand while he preached : but, sitting in his chair and breathing with difficulty, he proclaimed the great truths of the Gospel. I remember going in to see him one morning, just as he was finishing his breakfast. He said to his wife : 'Get the Bible, and we will have our usual family worship.' She replied that she was fearful he was too much prostrated. Said he: 'I can acknowledge God.' Then, sitting in his chair, he devoutly implored the divine blessing upon his family and all mankind. March 18. 1861, he passed serenely from earth to receive the reward of the faithful, and his funeral was the first religious service held in the church he had labored to build. He was a man of marked ability, a thorough scholar, and, in his intercourse with men, exhib- ited very many of those excellencies that should adorn and embellish Christian character. His widow was left with four small children, in very limited circun- stances. Trusting in the widow's God. she has done nobly. One son and one daughter are well situated in Pittsburgh, Penn .; one daughter is the wife of the junior editor of the Anamosa Eureka, and the youngest son is the editor and proprietor of a prosperous newspaper in Greene County, Iowa.
" The widow lives at Hopkinton, Iowa, and is at work for 'The Master.' Her time, voice and pen are freely given for the benefit of the Sunday school and missionary work. Her . Bible Readings' evince a thorough knowledge of that book and a sincere belief in its wonderful teachings. Her addresses are remarkably clear, and show an order of talent that would grace any pulpit in the land. The ministers who followed Mr. Delavan as Pastors were Revs. George R. Carroll, J. L. Janes, A. K. Baird, Mr. Lodge and Mr. Goodale.
" Mr. Janes, while temporarily preaching at Floyd, was attacked with cerebro-spinal meningitis, and died suddenly. He was brought here for burial. His connection with the Church as Pastor had been so recent, his many acts of kindness and generosity. his faithful preaching, his social manners, and all relations, whether as Pastor, friend or neighbor, endeared him to the people. whether in or out of the Church, and he was followed to the grave by a mourn- ing community, who realized the great loss, but were consoled by the thought that it was his gain. Ilis widow lives in our midst, esteemed and respectedl. Benevolent, generous and kind, with health much impaired. she patiently waits to 'enter into the joy of the Master.' The son is a successful physician, and lives at Newark, N. J. The daughter is the energetic and talented wife of E. B Champlin, Esq., of Wyoming.
1
. A. Bronson
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
" UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
"This Church was organized November 4, 1859, by the Rev. Jonathan Stewart, with twenty members. Samuel Coburn, Jesse Barrett and J. W. Wherry were the first Elders. Coburn and Barrett are gone and Wherry alone of that trio is left. Of this organization, I have but a few incidents to relate; but, in passing, will smply state-their church was built without ostentation; they sing the Psalms of inspiration, and mind their business with admiration.
" The first preacher I recollect connected with this denomination, was John Anderson, a young man from Washington County, N. Y. He preached here before the Church was organized. He was sent out as a supply, was quite young, but his sermons were ripe with thought and careful preparation. He preached good sermons full of beauty, pathos and power, one of which I well remember. His subject was . The Judgment Day,' and from the storehouse of thought and the elevated planes of imagination, with Gospel truth and eloquent zeal, he portrayed the scenes of that awful day. He warned, admonished, entreated, and if any of those who heard him receive the reward of the workers of iniquity, it will not be the fault of John Anderson. L. J. Crawford, J. U. McClenahan and William Donaldson have been the installed Pastors.
"BAPTIST CHURCH.
"The Baptist Church, which, in the early history of Wyoming, had an existence here, was organized on Pleasant Ridge, at the house of Judge Holmes, by his father, Rev. Luther Holmes, in 1852. In 1858, it was transferred to this town, where it retained an existence without any settled Pastor until 1862. At its organization, there were six members. The largest number connected with the Church at any one time was twenty-three. of whom two were united by baptism and the rest by letter. The Church was feeble; the removal of some and the death of others diminished their number, and, after a struggle of nearly six years, the organization was abandoned.
" Rev. Luther Holmes located on Pleasant Ridge in 1851, and died in 1858. He was among the first resident ministers in the township. During his residence here, his ministrations partook much of the character of our itinerant preachers. In winter, private houses, and summer, the groves, were used for Church purposes. His name is remembered as one of the early Christians who taught both by precept and example. He died at the age of seventy years.
* * *
"I would be glad to mention various associations that had an existence, but space forbids. Wyoming had its prosperous Lyceum, flourishing Literary and Library Association, Horse Protection Society, often called Vigilance Commit- tee, its object being as stated in its constitution, 'to ferret out offenders and bring them to justice. * *
The organization of these societies in all new countries is almost a necessity. They are a terror to evil-doers, and the horse-thief and blackleg flee from the ' wrath to come.'
* * * * * * *
1
" The old Iowa Mutual Insurance Company was formed here, just how early I cannot tell, but should say about 1857. Milton Briggs was the Company, and there were a few men they called Directors. The stock was represented by energy, perseverance, and determination, and its surplus capital was invested
K
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
in what is commonly called ' cheek.' It was astonishing to see what an amount of this commodity could be bought with so small a surplus. It was a good thing for Wyoming, and brought to our town many men and considerable money. It loaned money, and when its affairs were wound up, there was no one to receive its indebtedness, or look after it, and that clever old statute of limitations paid it. It favored the education of the young, and for this purpose built a large schoolhouse in our town, and would have made it more ornamental. if it had not been for short-sighted School Directors. It discharged its obliga- tions with fidelity and paid its losses promptly. It might have been doing business yet, but it was alleged that legislation was unfriendly, and its affairs had better be wound up.
" In the spring of 1856, Thomas Green and Mr. Bodenhoffer built a steam mill in the north part of the township. It has been torn down and removed. It furnished lumber for most of the buildings that were being erected at that time, and there is not a farm for miles around but what is fenced with lumber. more or less of it coming from that mill.
" In our early history. all merchandise was brought in wagons from various points on the Mississippi River ; afterward, London became the great shipping point. In wet seasons, it was a severe task to get across the Wapsie Valley and over some of the miry sloughs, both this side and beyond. For years. we looked and hoped for a railroad connection directly east. At length, with aid to the amount of $40,000, the Davenport & St. Paul road was finished through our town in the year 1871. x
* * * The Midland Railroad was finished through the north part of the township the same year, and the town of Onslow commenced. By the two railroads, our citizens have access to all points, north, east, south and west. × * %
" The first doctor who lived on this town plot was Dr. Edwards. He came in the spring of 1856. Of his antecedents, I know nothing; of his skill. I am entirely ignorant ; but it was said he bought a fine pacing horse of Nick Countryman. One day, he paced out of town, and Nick's estate would be glad to know if he is pacing yet.
" Among the first merchants were J. A. Bronson, Irving Green, Gilbert & Kelly, Hendricks & King. B. K. Bronson, S. M. Bronson, A. G. Brown, A. Bronson, S. K. Tourtellot, J. B. Allen, Hezekiah Moore. Charles Gilbert and George Foote, Benjamin Stiles. L. D. &. D. E. Brain- ard. The first tinner's name was White, and his shop was in the back part of A. H. Persons' house. The latter was the first artist in the town, and his rooms were at the house of Mr. Thomas Green. R. S. Williams was the first successful brickmaker, and to him Wyoming is greatly indebted for its brick blocks and dwellings. His stores, halls and galleries, and shops of vari- ous kinds, speak of merited success. The first hotels were kept by Brainards. and in the business they got up a corner. Uncle Ansel and Daniel E. were cornered where the Valley House stands, and Nial and his sons were cornered where the Bissell House stands, and L. D. was cornered out on the prairie, a mile east of town, but running a hotel.
" I have mentioned the earliest settlers, or those who came in 1839 and 1840. It is a short list and I repeat it : James Van Voltenbergh, with his sous Joseph, Taylor, Peter and Dan, David Pence, William Knight, Garrisons. Simp- sons. * * *
In 1842, John B. Nichols, the father of our druggist, moved on what is now called South Prairie, and located on the farm now owned by Mr. John Byerly.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
He was the first settler in that vieinity. In the summer of 1842, he eut logs. and drew them out on the prairie for a house. His farming occupying his time for a few days. his traek on the prairie was no longer visible, and he lost his logs. A second lot of logs shared the same fate. When he drew the third set. he took occasion to mark the road so that he could find them. You can judge that there was pretty tall grass over there. He is said to have killed seventeen rattlesnakes one morning before breakfast.
"In 1844, Joel B. Taylor and Seaborn Moore moved here. Taylor located where Peter Byerly lives ; his father came a few years later. Seaborn Moore was formerly from Georgia : but he had been living in Indiana and Illinois long enough to get himself and family thoroughly filled with a real genuine ague, and he left that country to find a spot where the ague was unknown. Those of you who know where he located will readily conclude that the ague would never find him. It was a very secluded spot in the northeast corner of the township. There were two ways to get there. You could follow up a narrow, crooked. roeky ravine from toward Monmouth, or you could go over through the brush toward Canton. No matter which way you went, you could always tell when you were most to Esquire Moore's. When you had gone just about as far as you could get, you felt very certain that you were pretty near Mr. Moore's. There was no ague there. A pure spring of crystal water came up among the roeks. Lightning had a peculiar attachment for that place, and often man- ifested its power. There were in the family father, mother, seven boys and two girls. Some of them, however, were married. and all became stout and robust. In after life, five of those boys enlisted to fight the battles of their country and against the the oppression of the native heath of their father. Those five boys were as successful in dodging rebel bullets on battle-fields as they had been heaven's artillery in the rocky ravine at home. Mr. Moore was the first Jus- tiee of the Peace in the township.
* * x * *
"John Tompkins came to Wyoming in 1846, and is one of the few who has retained his first location. Sarles Tompkins, the father of Stillwell, eame in 1848. He or Thomas Green built the first barn in the township; both were built the same year. Mr. Tompkins was killed while trying to load a log on to a sled in 1862. John T. Lain, the father of Samuel, came into Wyoming in 1849, and located on the farm now owned by Roderick Spencer. Ile sold his claim afterward to Sweet and Lindsay, who elaimed to be doctors : but it is said to be a question whether they were engaged in that laudable business or stealing horses. He died some years ago. His widow is still in our midst, tottering under the infirmities of age.
S. C. Bill, O. J. Bill, L. D. Brainard and G. W. Fawcett came in 1851. and located on Pleasant Ridge. and chained their wagons to the trees to keep them from blowing away. They had heard of Iowa's balmy breezes and thought they would anchor their prairie sehooners to some trees and thus secure a foot- ing on terra firma. They were the first settlers on that ridge, and came from Ohio. They had traveled from the Buckeye State in wagons, during one of the wettest seasons ever known, and when they got on to that ridge, they prob- ably thought it like Mount Ararat, and they took possession of it. L. D. Brainard pitched his tent on the Stephen Hamilton farm ; also entered some timber-land in the east part of the township. This timber had been claimed by some one from Jackson County, and the Claim Society from that county came up to notify L. D. that he must get off that land. IIe heard what they hul to say, and then in language almost profane said, 'By the long wars, we
1
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
have six rifles and plenty of ammunition. You undertake to drive me away from here and we will show you that we know how to use them.'
* * * * *
*
" He never heard of that Claim Society again. Brainard built a saw-mill on Bear Creek, which was the first in this vicinity. He went West several years ago. W. H. Holmes and Amos Robbins came the same year. The latter shot himself a few years later. Mr. Holmes is still in our midst. At the first election in the township, he was elected Justice of the Peace : has since been Representative, Senator, County Judge and State Treasurer, and is now our obliging Postmaster.
* * * * *
"Samuel Conally, Sr., and Benjamin Wilson came into the township in 1851. In the two families, there were twenty-two persons ; and they are all liv- ing except one. Thomas Conally went to California and died ; all the rest remained in Iowa and lived. Mr. Conally lives on the land he then bought. He is eighty-eight years old, and I believe is the oldest person in the township, and is one of the few survivors of the of the war of 1812.
* *
"Samuel Conally, Jr., lives in the first frame house that was built in the township. It is the house where George Gilbert formerly lived. .
"W. S. Johnson came in the spring of 1852, and William Stuart, in the fall of the same year; both located on the ridge. Mr. Johnson was at one time a Representative in the Iowa Legislature. Ile died a few years ago, in Connecticut, where he had gone for the benefit of his health. He leaves three sons in Wyoming, and one (the Doctor) in Connecticut. Mr. Stuart was the first Postmaster in the township. The post office was at his house, and was called Pierce; it was established in 1853. As before mentioned, Mr. Stuart went to California and died.
" William Ingles came that year, and located in the east part of the town- ship. Walter Trimble and James Tabor came the same year. The former is dead; the latter lives in the southeast corner of the township, on a well-in- proved farm, and is said to have the largest orchard of any man in the State. John Russell and John Sim were among the immigrants that year. The for- mer lives in Clay Township, but the prominent offices he has held make him familiar to us. He has been a member of the Legislature several terms. and Speaker of the House of Representatives and State Auditor. In the fall of 1879, he was elected State Senator, to represent Jones and Cedar Counties. His companion, John Sim, lives on the farm he bought from Uncle Sam, near Onslow, and is spending the decline of his life in ease and retirement. He is one of the noblest works of God-an honest man.
"Truman Eastman, the father of Joel, was among the arrivals that year and located on the ridge; he died several years ago. His widow still lives on the old homestead.
"Nathan Potter, Joseph and Hiram Wheeler, and Charles Gardner came in 1853.
" Mr. Stingley located the same year on S. G. Franks' farm, and Widow Seals on the land now owned by Charles Johnson and W. J. Brainard. John Miller came that or the next year, and bought and improved the west part of R. B. Hanna's farm. The house has been removed.
"Benson Stunkard and' S. J. Pence also came that year. The latter planted the first large orchard in the township, and, unlike many others, he stays to enjoy its fruits. E. B. Nims came that year, and located where his
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
widow now lives. William Tasker was also one of the settlers who came in 1853. He lived on a farm a little east of Onslow, a lonely bachelor, until he found grace with Paul. His brother, John Tasker, eame soon after, and has been much interested in county polities, and has been a member of the House of Representatives. Elijah Edwards, on Beers' Creek, was among the first settlers of the township. Old Mr. Paul, the father of all the other Pauls and of both of the Taskers' wives, eame about the same time, and loeated on what is now called South Prairie. He spent the decline of a well-spent life hon- ored and respected, and surrounded by more children grown to mature years than often falls to the lot of man. He died at the house of his son John, some years ago, at the age of seventy-eight. The evening before he died, he sent for me to come and see him. When I sat down by his bedside, he said. with his native politeness, . I do not wish to take any medieine ; exeuse me. I sent for you to come and tell me how long you thought I would probably live.' The fluttering pulse told that life was fast ebbing, but his mind was clear and serene. No tremor shook his frame at the thought of death's cold embrace. He had laid his treasures 'where moth and rust do not corrupt.' Before the morn- ing sun had shed his rays on the beauties of earth, the spirit of Henry Paul had gone to the realm of everlasting life. I have thus sketched some of the carly settlers up to the organization in 1854. The rapid increase after that prevents further details. * * * * *
&
"Most of us, ere we reach the half-century stake in Wyoming's progress, will have finished our course. A few of those in middle age will be permitted to linger on the threshold of the second half-century of our history, among the inereased beauties, enjoy the more exalted privileges, and appreciate better the early sacrifices of those who were pioneers in molding, fostering and directing the early career and institutions of the township of Wyoming."
WYOMING IN 1879.
The flourishing town of Wyoming is very pleasantly situated in the south- western portion of the township of the same name, and numbers at least a thousand souls, nearly all of whom are Americans. The place was settled by emigrants from the States of New York and Ohio. The Bear Creek runs through the town and joins the Wapsipinicon River, about four miles from the corporation limits, and affords something of a water-power for the use of the inhabitants. The business portion is on the east side of Bear Creek, and the business houses being built of briek give to the place a good substantial appear- ance. The publie-school building and the church edifiees are plain, simple and commodious, and bespeak that the inhabitants prefer convenience and comfort above useless display and architectural ornament. The place was incor- porated as a eity in 1873.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
1873-Mayor, M. H. Calkins; Reeorder, T. E. Patterson ; Treasurer, E. Perkins ; Marshal. L. V. Brainard ; Street Commissioner, J. W. Milner ; Trustees-B. H. White, D. L. McDaniels, S. W. Johnson, T. M. Wilds and W. J. Brainard.
1874-Mayor, M. II. Calkins : Reeorder, C. S. Gilbert; Treasurer, J. B. McGrew ; Street Commissioner, J. W. Milner; Marshal, J. H. Countryman; 1
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
.
Assessor, L. F. Hartson : Trustees-S. W. Johnson, B. H. White, D. L. Mc- Daniels. T. M. Wilds and W. J. Brainard.
1875-Mayor, John Waite; Recorder. T. E. Patterson ; Treasurer, W. T. Fordham ; Street Commissioner, John A. White, Sr .; Assessor. A. B. Holmes. Trustees-D. L. McDaniels, W. J. Brainard, T. M. Wilds, S. W. Johnson and Lansing Hover.
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