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 59
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1876-Mayor, J. A. Bronson : Recorder, P. D. Swigart ; Treasurer, A. B. Holmes ; Trustees-W. H. Holmes, A. M. Loomis, M. H. Calkins, W. J. Brainard and O. L. Thompson.
1877-Mayor. J. A. Bronson : Recorder, P. D. Swigart; Treasurer, O. M. Watson ; Assessor, Ansel Bronson : Street Commissioner, William Ire- land : Trustees-W. J. Brainard, A. M. Loomis, A. E. Spitzer, T. R. Marshall and H. Arnold.
1878-Mayor, A. E. Spitzer ; Recorder, P. D. Swigart ; Treasurer, W. T. Fordham ; Assessor, Ansel Bronson ; Street Commissioner, John A White. Sr. ; Trustees-J. A. Bronson, J. White, Sr. ; L. loyer, C. S. Gilbert and H. Arnold.
1879-Mayor, R. S. Williams ; Recorder, A. L. Trumbull ; Treasurer, C. C. Horton ; Assessor, Ansel Bronson ; Street Commissioner, John A. White, Sr. ; Trustees-A. E. Spitzer, A. E. Allen, F. O. Ellison, S. W. Johnson, A. M. Loomis and H. Arnold.
The present officials are opposed to the sale of intoxicating beverages, and1 no saloons are licensed in the town. There are three churches, one graded school, one newspaper, one national bank, three dry-goods stores, one merchant tailor, one clothing store, one exclusively grocery store, two restaurants and groceries combined, two drug stores, one flour and feed store, two harness-shops, two shoe-shops, two millinery and dressmaking establishments, one furniture store and undertaker, two meat markets, two hardware stores, one livery stahle. one lumber-vard, one barb-wire factory, one machine and wagon shop, two blacksmith-shops, one cooper-shop, one barber-shop, one steam flouring-mill. one creamery, one agricultural implement store, two hotels, three doctors, four lawyers, two dentists, one architect and builder, one railroad office, one express office and no saloons.
The people are thriving and industrious, and the prospects of the town flattering. The Wyoming Creamery is situated here, and is a valuable acquisi- tion to the town, which is well situated to secure the trade of a large and fertile agricultural district.
Wyoming Journal .- The first newspaper published at Wyoming was in December, 1870, by A. L. Smith. and was called the Wyoming Journal. Smith continued the publication until March, 1872, and then moved his office to Anamosa and began the publication of the Anamosa Journal, the history of which is given elsewhere. After the lapse of a few weeks following Smith's removal to Anamosa, Rev. E. Skinner purchased material and established a newspaper office, and began the publication of a weekly paper, also entitled the Wyoming Journal. Mr. Skinner filled the chair of editor and proprietor for some months, and sold the office to N. W. Woodford, who continued the publication something more than a ycar, and abandoned the enterprise, and the office reverted to Rev. Mr. Skinner. For a time no paper was issued, when the office was purchased by Messrs. Hunt & Howard, the publication resumed. but the name was changed to Wyoming News. After a brief period. Mr. Hunt became the sole proprietor, and the publication was continued to the close of the first volume of the News. Again for a time no paper was published.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
In January, 1875, P. D. Swigart purchased the office of Messrs. Hunt & Skinner, and resumed the publication of the Wyoming Journal, and still con- tinues as editor and proprietor. Politically, the Journal maintained the prin- ciples of the Republican party during its early years of publication, and until the time when Mr. Hunt took control. and during his administration it was neutral on political matters. Since 1875, under the present management. it has maintained an independent standard, and has had but little to say in refer- ence to political matters ; Mr. Swigart aiming to furnish a local newspaper for the people of Wyoming and vicinity, and deeming it not advisable or necessary to espouse the cause of either political party. The office of the Journal is well supplied with material in the jobbing department, and enjoys a good local patronage. The circulation, though not large, is increasing steadily ; and there is reason to believe that the Journal has secured permanent footing, and will continue to prosper as the years go on.
Wyoming Lodge, No. 147. I. O. O. F .- Instituted January 4, 1867. The first officers were : W. T. Fordham, N. G. : Robert Hanna, V. G. ; C. C. Horton, Secretary. Officers for 1879: F. O. Ellison. N. G. ; C. C. Horton, V. G .; L. F. Hartson, Secretary ; L. J. Richards, Treasurer. The Lodge has a membership of thirty-five, owns its hall and furniture, and has $300 at interest ; has on hand about $100, and is in a good healthy condition.
Keystone Lodge, No. 206, A., F. g. A. M .- Organized at Wyoming. under dispensation, February 2, 1867, and under charter, June 5, 1867. The first officers under the charter were : O. E. Aldrich, W. M. ; A. G. McGrew, S. W .; A. B. Stiles, J. W : R. Gilbert. Treasurer ; Truman Gilbert, Secretary ; John A. White, Jr., S. D. ; John Paul, J. D. ; R. L. McCune, S. S. ; C. C. Hor- ton, J. S. : Ed Smith, Tiler. The present officers are : C. H. Johnson, W. M. : C. S. Shepard, S. W. ; Charles Pawson, J. W .; C. C. Horton. Treasurer ; T. B. Reynolds, Secretary ; M. M. Van Horn, S. D .; W. H. Peck, J. D .; H. B. Littell, Tiler. The Lodge has a membership of seventy-one, owns its hall, which is well furnished, and also owns an adjoining hall, which is used for refreshment purposes, etc.
Wyoming Lodge, No. 109, A. O. U. W .- Organized March 29, 1877, and elected the following officers : H. H. Green, P. M. W .; W. J. Chamberlain, F. O. Ellison, G. F. ; T. R. Marshall, O .; M. E. Ilurd. Recorder; A. M. Loomis, Financier; W. J. Brainard, Receiver: C. C. Horton, G. ; E. B. Wherry, I. W. ; L. W. Norton, O. W. The Lodge has a membership of thirty-five, and is in good working condition. Since organization, the Lodge has sustained but one loss, that of Mr. W. E. Hurd, to whose widow was paid the sum of $2,000.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
This township is situated in the second tier of townships from the south, west of the township of Wyoming. The surface in general is smooth and unbroken, in parts rolling, and there is a range of low hills extending east and west through the center. There is but little timber in the township, and the inhabitants depend in a measure on the adjoining towns for wood for fuel. The farmhouses are good, the farms well cultivated, and the soil as fertile as in any part of the county. Bear Creek crosses the southern part from west to east, and a branch of Mineral Creek has its source in this township. The township makes a fine display of good schoolhouses. and the employment
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
of good teachers bespeaks a commendable interest in the education of the rising generation.
Among the early settlers were Mr. Scriven, who settled in the township about the year 1855, at the place where the village of Onslow now stands. He is now dead and the family is scattered : one daughter is now living on a part of the old farm. the wife of Alex Clark, also an old settler.
Amos Gilbert settled a half-mile north of Onslow. He died two years ago.
Fred Dockstader settled a quarter of a mile west of Onslow, and . C. C. Himebaugh on the farm next west of him.
Mr. Crouse, a German, settled in the extreme north. He died some years ago.
Jacob Bender and his brother Thomas settled in the south part of the town- ship.
Horace Fay founded what was once the village of Madison in the southwest. These are perhaps all those who might be properly called pioneers.
A few years later, the following persons were added to the settlers of the township : H. Bartow, William Hawley and family, Henry Cross, John McDonald and brothers, John Anderson, James Tuttle, M. O. Felton, John and Willard Niles.
THE VILLAGE OF ONSLOW.
The village of Onslow is in the northwest portion of Wyoming and the northeastern part of Madison, a part in both townships. E. M. Franks, who settled in Wyoming Township some years ago, and become a large land-holder, was the proprietor of the town. The site was laid off into lots and the village begun, in the spring of 1872, on the completion of the Midland Branch of the Chicago & North-Western Railway to this point. Mr. Franks died two years ago.
The site is a pleasant one, and Onslow has been an important shipping- point on this railroad. The prosperity of the village has been materially affected, in its commercial interests, by reason of the ravages of fire. No less than three destructive fires have occurred in the business portion during its seven years existence. There are three good church edifices in the village, the Presbyterian, the Methodist and the Roman Catholic. The Rev. Mr. Goodale. Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Wyoming, supplies the Presbyterian pul- pit at Onslow, and the Rev. Charles P. Mathers, of Center Junetion, the Methodist pulpit. The inhabitants of the village are nearly all Americans. and the support of the Catholic Church is principally from the surrounding country. There is a good publie school of two departments, and a commend- able spirit of enterprise characterizes the inhabitants of the village. There is one large general store, one hardware store, two drug stores, one grocery store, one furniture store, one agricultural implement store, one lumber-yard. one grain elevator, one confectionery store, one millinery store, one art-gallery. two blacksmith-shops, two wagon and repair shops, one cheese-factory, one livery stable, one hotel, one meat market, one harness-shop, two doctors, one dentist, one lawyer, and one saloon.
The stockyards are first-class, and a good deal of shipping is done. The village is not incorporated and numbers about two hundred and fifty souls.
CENTER JUNCTION.
This village, of about the same size as Onslow, is situated on the same rail- road in the northern part of the township of Madison, and also at the junction
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad with the Midland. This village is quite near the geographical center of the county, and it is owing to this fact and the railroad junction, that it was named Center Junction.
. The proprietors of the town were Kinsey Elwood, James A. Bronson, S. W. Johnson and John M. Squares, and the village began its existence in the fall of 1872; the year in which the Midland Railroad was completed through the township. John M. Squares has since purchased of the other proprietors their interests, and now owns the vacant lots, as well as the most of the lands adjoining the village. Owing to railroad facilities, Center Junction is a good shipping-point. The village has a good publie school, and there are two church edifices, owned by the Presbyterian and the Methodist societies. The Presby- terian Church was recently dedicated, is built of briek, and is an ornament to the village. The Pastor is the Rev. Daniel Russell. The Pastor of the Metho- dist Church is Rev. Charles P. Mathers, and the society has a neat and com- modious house of worship. There are two general stores, one drug store, one hardware store, two restaurants, one millinery store. two blacksmith-shops, one wagon and repair shop. one tin-shop, one hotel. one creamery, two depots, two express offices, one harness-shop, two grain warehouses. stockyards, two doctors and no saloons. The Postmaster is Zuri G. Isbell.
Lodge No. 245, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Center Junetion in 1872, and has a membership of 35.
Lodge No. 160, A. O. U. W., was established in the spring of 1878, and is in a prosperous condition. The Lodge has had no losses since it was estab- lished.
Much of the early history is similar or identical with that of Wyoming Township, and is given at length by Dr. Calkins, elsewhere.
OXFORD TOWNSHIP.
This is the southeastern township of the county. The Wapsipinicon River enters the township from the west, at about the center of the north and south line, and, crossing diagonally, leaves the township about a half-mile west of the southeast corner. The township, like all others in the county, is well watered. Along the Wapsipinicon there is sufficient timber for the ordinary uses of the inhabitants. Much of the land that was too wet for farming pur- poses years ago, now constitutes a part of the best land in the county. The township is well settled by emigrants from the Eastern States, and there is quite a large settlement of Bohemians.
John Bryan, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, was the first settler on the north side of the river. He left Ohio with his family in 1847, and came to Iowa and settled in Linn County, whence he moved into Oxford Town- ship in 1849, where he still resides. He did the first breaking on the north side of the river. The first settler on the south side of the river was a Mr. Strong, the father of William Strong, who settled there the year before Mr. Bryan settled north of the river. Among those who came about the same time that Mr. Brvan did, were L. Wallston and family and Samuel Coon and family. These, with Bryan and Strong, were the only inhabitants in the township until 1850. In that year, William Bowers and family came and set- tled in a log cabin near the river, and was driven from his home for a time during the high-water season of that year. In the fall of 1852, Miles Carter
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
came into the settlement and bought out William Bowers and opened up what is now one of the largest farms in the county. He died some years ago, and Ira and Julius Carter carry on the farm, which comprises about a thousand acres. About the time that Carter settled here, John Waite and Francis Ben- nett. with their families, came and settled in the western part of the township. Bennett was drowned in the Wapsipinicon, and John Waite resides in Wyo- ming. He was attacked with paralysis a year ago, which rendered him entirely speechless. About 1853, Peter Moore, John Wherry and William Bratten. with their families, settled in Oxford Township, and James Bollen, now deceased, came in soon after. Clement Guthrie and George Rathbone also settled in the town not far from the same time.
From this time on, the settlement of the township was rapid, and now it is one of the most populous in the county, aside from those in which there are large towns.
OXFORD JUNCTION.
The village of Oxford Junction is situated about a mile north of the river. near the center of the township, and at the junction of the two branches of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and contains near two hundred inhabitants. The site was laid off into village lots in 1871, by John Bryan. Since that time, two small additions have been laid out : one by Bryan and one by George Wilson. The C., M. & St. P. Company recently purchased land at this point, and the machine-shops, etc., for those divisions are to be located here. This gives to the village an air of importance, and the prospects of its improvement are quite flattering. Already building has commenced, and another addition is to be made to the town soon. The village now contains one school of fifty pupils. a recently established newspaper, one church, erected by the Lutheran Church society four years ago, three dry-goods stores, one drug store, one hardware store, one restaurant, two meat markets, one 'harness-shop. three grain ware houses, two wagon and blacksmith shops, three shoe-shops. one hotel and three saloons.
OXFORD MILLS.
This village, of near the size of the Junction, is situated on the south bank of the Wapsipinicon, a mile south of the above place. Its name is derived from the flouring-mill erected here about the year 1857, by Messrs. Courtright & Lathrop. It is a three-story wood building and contains the modern appoint- ments of a first-class mill. The property has changed hands at sundry times. and is owned by S. F. McDonald, Esq. The Wapsipinicon at this point affords an excellent water-power, which, if utilized more fully, would greatly benefit the town. Messrs. Cartwright & Bristol are the proprietors of a large general store ; there are two drug stores in the village, one public school, and the Meth- odist Church society has a good house of worship. There is also a hotel and the usual shops found in a village of the size.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
HALE TOWNSHIP.
This township was named in honor of the Hon. J. P. Hale, at the sugges- tion of Daniel Garrison, who was the first settler of the township. The town- ship of Hale is situated west of Oxford and east of Rome, in the southern tier of townships in the county. The Wapsipinicon River crosses the township from west to east, and divides it into two nearly equal parts. Along the river there is considerable timber and there are a number of small groves ; so that the township may be said to be well timbered. A good supply of building stone is found in the township and the quality is most excellent. A good share of the surface is beautiful, rolling prairie land, and the farms are in a good state of cultivation. There are three church edifices in the township ; one at Pleasant Hill, one two miles southeast of that place and one at the small village of Hale. The first settlement south of the river was at what is now called Pleasant Hill, and, as stated, Daniel Garrison and family were the first settlers. Mr. Garri- son emigrated from the State of Indiana, and came into Hale Township in the month of June, 1838. Pleasant Grove and the land south of it was claimed by a colored man in the year 1837, and for many years the place has been known as "Negro Point." The name was changed to Pleasant IIill at the suggestion of Miss Martha Miller, and to the satisfaction of the people of the neighborhood. The church at this place is called the Pleasant Hill Church, and the Sunday school, Pleasant Hill Sunday School. Daniel Garrison built the first log cabin the neighborhood, and the house is still standing. though it is more than forty years old. Horace Seeley came in the spring of 1839, and Lawrence Simpson and William Simpson in the fall of the same year. Law- rence Simpson was once County Surveyor. Joseph Bumgarner came in 1840, MI. Q. Simpson and Silas Garrison in 1842.
On the north side of the river. the settlement was not made as early as on the south. Philip Lewis and William Cronkhite were the first and came about 1850. After them came Clement Lane, Robert Brown, William Vroman, Mrs. Sweet, Burt Smith, John Fradenburg, George Thurston, Harvey Campbell, Clement Guthrie, William Wallston. John Brigham, J. C. Austin, and others.
The Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad crosses the north part of the township, and the small village of Hale is situated on this road. There is one general store. a blacksmith-shop, a wagon-shop, a public school and a good house of worship, belonging to the Methodist Church society. George Lewis is Postmaster of the village. Much of the early history is identical with that of the adjoining township of Rome.
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.
This is the southwestern township of the county. The surface is generally even and unbroken, and the soil as fertile as any in the county or State. A number of small but beautiful groves, pleasantly distributed, constitute the only timber-land in the township. It is well watered by the north and the south fork of Walnut Creek and their tributaries.
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The township is one of the best agricultural districts in the county, the farmhouses are good, and the farmers thrifty and prosperous. Among the early settlers of this township were John Armstrong, deceased; Amos Breed. deceased ; Jonathan Raver, decased ; T. O. Bishop, A. S. Miller (J. G. Hakes was an early settler of Fairview, but now resides in Greenfield), James and I. Curtis, Ira Mead, R. D. Stephens, John Arnold, A. and E. Peet, Valentine Newman, Robert Murfield, Jonathan Goudy, Amos and John Cole, the Millers. Rosses and others.
The Sabula, Aekley & Dakota Branch of the C. M. & St. Paul Railroad crosses the north part of the township, and the small village of Martelle is situ- ated on this road, in the northwest corner of the township. There are about one hundred inhabitants, two general stores, one drug store, one wagon-shop, one black- smith-shop, one hardware store, one school, and the Christian Church has a good church edifice. The Baptist society also worships in the same building. There are two other churches in the township, one near the center and another in the southern part. . There are a goodly number of Germans in the township, and. as elsewhere, they are among the most prosperous citizens in the county. The education of the rising generation is well cared for by erecting sehoolhouses and the employment of faithful teachers.
ROME TOWNSHIP.
The following, from the pen of the late R. J. Cleaveland, will be read and appreciated by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Mr. Cleaveland was born in Boston, Mass., in November, 1805, and died at his residence in Olin. Jones County, on the 7th of September, A. D. 1877, at the age of nearly seventy-two years. He graduated at Harvard University in the Class of 1827. and was a ripe seholar, a genuine patriot and an honest man. At the outbreak of the civil war, he sought to enlist as a volunteer, but was rejected because of his age. He was finally admitted to the ranks of the famous Iowa ninth. and. with that regiment, served until it was mustered out of service. It was due to his acquaintance at Boston that the ladies of that city presented to the regi- ment the magnificent colors, the details of which are related in the war history of the county, elsewhere.
The historical sketch here published was written by Mr. Cleaveland and printed in the Olin Times. a newspaper that was established at Olin, in the year 1874, by Messrs. Stickle & Arlen, but was discontinued at the end of a few months. After completing the history of Rome Township. Mr. Cleaveland. at the request of many. wrote a portion of the early history of the county, but. as the facts given by him are the same as those given elsewhere by Barrett Whittemore and others, we have thought it not necessary to repeat it in this connection.
Among the early settlers of Rome, no one now living has been more sue- cessful in material accumulations, or is held in higher esteem as a citizen, than John Merritt.
REMINISCENCES OF ROME-1840-1841. BY R. J. CLEAVELAND.
" On the 9th of September, 1840, a cold, misty rain falling, my wife and I. after fourteen days' ride, in a lumber wagon, from Logansport, Ind., arrived at
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
the log cabin of Norman B. Seeley. This dwelling stood near where the town- well now is. Here the hearthstone and one log still remain to mark the spot. Mr. Seeley's house, saw-mill, and blacksmith-shop were the only structures here --- the latter roofed with a rag carpet.
" My wife was an only daughter. and the motive which prompted this long journey was to give her mother (old Mrs. Seeley) a home with us. Thirty miles from our destination, we learned that Mrs. S. had died in July of that year. But we came on, though with ardor dampened-hopes withered. The country appeared in consonance with our feelings, a dreary waste of prairie- except Walnut Creek and Wapsie timber, . Sugar Grove ' and ' Big Woods '- to the north and west. The beautiful groves of young timber on the right bank of Walnut from the bridge to Sibballs, Creek was then all prairie, and the view without obstruetion.
"On the left, above the bridge from Mr. Gilman's house to far above. Moore's, was a large and fine grove of white oak long since cut down by the greedy pioneer.
" Here I commenced my first lesson in chopping, plowing, mowing and farm work in general. Here we succeeded, though poor, indeed, we both were, in all except brave hearts and strong arms, in gaining a home in these then Western wilds. I had but 82 left when we arrived.
" The Indian, wolf, and deer, and other wild animals were almost the sole occupants of the soil. N. B. Seeley, John and Joseph Merritt, Isaac Simpson, Moses Garrison, Orville Cronkhite, George Saum, Thomas Green, Horace Seeley, Francis Sibballs, E. Booth, the Reeds, Browns, Joslyns, and others, were in Jones County before me.
" At that time there were no railroads west of Buffalo, N. Y., and no tele- graphs. The mails crept slowly and sadly along in stage-coaches. and letters were subjeet to 25 cents postage. There were no bridges nor stores away from the ' Father of Waters.' Many a time I have walked to Dubuque and back, bringing a pack of thirty to fifty pounds of groceries for myself and neighbors.
"The generation of to-day can hardly dream of the obstacles to be overcome -the hardships borne at that time. Difficulty is the element and resistance the work of every true man or woman. I now thank God for casting my des- tiny in this glorious and most beautiful State, where half my life has been passed. I glory in being a pioneer of Iowa.
" As remarked, my wife's mother died on the 9th of July. 1840, only two months before our arrival. The first American flag hoisted in Jones County was hoisted at Rome in 1840, and made by this aged lady." She allowed no other fingers to work thereon but hers, and this was her last work. Here, and at this time, was also the first liberty pole raised, the first post office located, and the first distriet school instituted in the county. The school was taught in the ' Sugar Grove,' by T. Stivers, Esq., who was the only blacksmith here, and also Deputy Postmaster.
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