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 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
In 1852 and soon after, a large number of people from Western Pennsyl- vania, principally Presbyterians, settled in the neighborhood and united with the Church. Prominent among these were Rev. James MeKean and his family of boys. He had preached for twenty years, in Waynesburg, Ohio. The old Church is still vigorous, and vies with its youthful companions in earnest. faitli- ful effort to promote the cause of morality and religion.
In 1858, a Methodist Episcopal Church was built at the little village of Jonsontown, in the southeastern part of the township, but village and Church afterward suffered because of the superior attractions of railroad centers. About ten years later, another Methodist Episcopal Church was built on Section 16, one and a half miles east of the railroad station. Regular service is held in the latter ehureh.
In 1872, the Christian denomination ereeted a house of worship at Scotch Grove Station, and is in a prosperous condition.
This township combined with Wayne, have greater church facilities than any other three townships in the county. It can be said of them, with empha- sis, that they are a church-going, law-abiding, patriotie and prosperous people.
541
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
CLAY TOWNSHIP. 1
Clay is one of the oldest-settled townships in the county. The first per- manent settlers were David Killam, John E. Holmes, Benjamin Collins, Tru- man Brown and Madison Brown, who were here before 1838. John E. Lovejoy, now of Scotch Grove, came in 1839; P. D. Turner and Horace Turner came the same year, and, in the following spring, Lyman Turner, the father of P. D. and Iforace. From 1840 to 1850. a few settlers came in, but in the latter year, the tide of emigrants which came pouring West, reached that place, and Clay Township was rapidly settled from that time on. A small portion of the village of Canton is in this township, and Canton may be called the commercial center. In early years, considerable lumber was manufactured at Canton. The South Fork of the Maquoketa enters the township at the northwest corner, and crossing to the east, leaves the township at the village of Canton. Along the river there is a good body of timber. The land along the river is a good deal broken and some of it rather sandy, but where it can be tilled gives good crops. Mineral Creek runs through the township near the south side, entering it near the north line of Section 31, and leaving it about a mile and a half north of the southeast corner of the township. The land in the prairie districts is abundantly productive, and the township is well watered and timbered.
Taken as a whole, Clay compares favorably with other townships of the county.
BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This Church was organized June 14, 1870, at the schoolhouse in the south- west quarter of Clay Township, by a committee of the Dubuque Presbytery. The committee consisted of Revs. S. Hodge, D. D., J. L. Wilson and Elder Judge McKean. Previous to the year 1861, Rev. George E. Delavan, of Wvo- ming, had preached in this neighborhood, and on his death, which took place that year, Rev. James L. Wilson, of Scotch Grove, was invited and continued to preach at the Paul Schoolhouse in Wyoming Township, every two weeks. from June 16, 1861, till the close of 1872. In 1865, these services were held in the Paul Schoolhouse, Clay Township, and the Lord's Supper was adminis- tered frequently here, the Elders of Scotch Grove assisting, with which Church the most of the brethren in this neighborhood had united.
April 27, 1870, a petition was sent by these friends to the Presbytery and a committee appointed as above stated, who, in company with Revs. H. N. Potter, of Epworth, Moderator, and Justus L. Janes, of Wyoming, met as stated, on the 16th of June, 1870, and organized Bethel Presbyterian Church. of Clay Township.
Andrew Scroggie and Stephen R. Streeper were chosen Elders, and ordained and installed by the committee.
Arrangements were also made to build a church edifice, but as soon after & Church was formed in Onslow, agreement was made with the Free-Will Bap- tist Church in Clay, to have services in their church, which has been continued till the present time. A charter and by-laws were adopted and legally exe- cuted December 17, 1870.
On January 13, 1873, Rev. J. L. Wilson resigned the pastoral charge of this Church, and, on May 25, Rev. John Rice preached and was invited to
542
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
return and has since continued to preach to this Church in connection with Scotch Grove.
On June 16, 1877, a congregational meeting was held, Rev. John Rice presiding, at which time it was resolved to adopt the limited term of office for the Elders and Deacons, whereby cach is to serve three years; and the follow- ing were chosen as Elders : Andrew Scroggie, Stephen R. Streeper, Andrew Duncanson and Thomas Hamilton; and as Deacons, A. P. Ormsby, John Dennison and David H. Orr, and on November 4, they were duly installed.
This Church, at its yearly meeting, January 8, 1879, gave strong expression to the principles of the Presbyterian Church, on subjects of temperance and dancing.
Officers, 1879: John Orr, Chairman; John Dennison, Secretary; A. P. Ormsby, Treasurer.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
There are but few counties in which there is no Washington Township, and Jones County is no exception to the rule. This is the northeast township of the county, and is one of the first settled portions in it. The north fork of the Maquoketa River enters the northeast corner, crosses to the southeast and leaves the township about a half-mile north of the southeast corner. The Whitewater branch of the Maquoketa enters the township from the north, a mile west of the northeast corner, and unites with the latter in the north part of Section 10. Farm Creek crosses the southwest portion, and, entering Clay Township on the south, empties into the south fork of the Maquoketa a little north of the center of that township.
The surface of Washington is quite broken and hilly, and a large portion is timber-land. The soil, when cultivated, is productive, and the settlers are mostly Irish. Among the pioneers in this township were C. P. Hutton, who was one of the first Board of County Commissioners, as is stated elsewhere ; James Hutton, the son of C. P. Hutton, who now resides in Scotch Grove Township ; Abraham Hostetter and a Mr. Mefford. These settled there about 1836 or 1837. William Radford, Mahlon Lupton, William Rafferty and George Banghart, came and settled in Washington, not far from the same time. A portion of the city of Cascade is in the northwest corner of this town- ship and in the northeast corner of Richland, but the greater portion is in the county of Dubuque, and Cascade is properly a Dubuque County city.
The early history of this township is more or less identical with that of Richland, and is given in a chapter by Barrett Whittemore.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township is east of Fairview and west of Madison. The surface is, largely, rolling prairie land ; in parts it is somewhat broken. The Wapsipini- con River enters from the west, near the center, and running southeast, leaves the township a mile west of the southeast corner. Along the river, there is good timber-land, and there is considerable timber in the northeast corner. The village of Newport is in the south part, on the Wapsipinicon, and consists,
543
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
at the present time, of only a small collection of dwellings and a grist-mill. There is an excellent water-power at this point, and this village was once the county seat. One of the finest bridges spans the Wapsipinicon at this place that there is in the county. It is an iron structure, and rests upon good, solid, stone abutments.
The Christian Church society have a small, brick church edifice in the northwestern part of the township, and there is a fine schoolhouse in the same neighborhood. The first settlers in the township were James Sherman and Adam Overacker. They were here as early as 1838 or 1839. Sherman set- tled in the eastern part, and in early times was a Justice of the Peace. Over- acker settled in the neighborhood of Newport. Levi Cronkhite, David Myers, Anthony Overacker settled also in the neighborhood of Newport. David Ger- man settled in the eastern part, near Sherman. Reuben Bunce, now of Ana- mosa, was also an old settler in Jackson. In the year 1846, Francis Byerly, Michael Byerly, Jacob Byerly, Andrew Byerly, John Byerly, William Byerly, and Adam Byerly came and settled in the neighborhood of Newport. William Benadon and Simon P. Benadon came with the Byerlys, Charles Beam came also about the same time. Daniel Slife came in 1849. From this time on, the settlers came in rapidly and Jackson is now well settled and well improved.
CASS TOWNSHIP.
This township is north of Fairview, and, though not the earliest settled. comprises a portion of the very best farming land in the county. The south portion is considerably broken, and is principally timber-land, and a small dis- trict in north is likewise hilly and uneven. The central portion is a beautiful prairie district, almost entirely level or slightly undulating. The farms are in a good state of cultivation, and the farmhouses and barns good and substantial. The Buffalo Creek runs across the southwest corner, and the Dubuque & South- western Branch of the Chicago & Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway crosses the southwest. In the center of the township the Congregational Church society has a good house of worship, and there is a Methodist Church two miles north of the center. In the southwestern portion there is one of the most flourishing creameries in the county, owned and operated by Messrs. Stuart & Chadwick. Among the early settlers of this township were Elisha Dodge, now of Monticello, Solomon Thomas, Mr. Pitcher, George Hall, Alex. Crawford. A. P. Condit. John Powell, M. Reaves, Linus Osborne, David Osborne, John Reaves, Silas Samms, Jonas Samms, Robert Condit, Oliver Doyle, Mr. Acres, Jolin Wallace and others.
There were but few settlers in the township until the year 1854, and the population increased rapidly after that time.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
This fine agricultural township lies immediately south of Monticello and northeast of Anamosa. It is surpassed by none in the fertility of its soil and the character of its inhabitants. While in many portions of the township the Mand is comparatively level, yet, as a whole, it is abruptly rolling and uneven. interspersed with rich lowlands and lined by several small ravines. Primeval
544
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
forests are not found, but areas of thrifty young timber are not rare. Nearly all the land is tillable, and is watered by Kitty Creek with its two main branches and their small tributaries. The southern sections constitute a "ridge" or water-shed from which small streams flow northward, and others to the southeast. The township is traversed by no river. The soil is generally a sandy lonm. which produces excellent small grain, fair corn, good grass, and nearly all the varieties of fruit which are adapted to this latitude. Areas of alluvial soil yield premium corn. Their luxuriant meadows and cultivated grasses supply winter food for the cattle gathered in from their " thousand hills." The town- ship is well adapted to general farming and the dairy business, which latter interest is rapidly becoming prominent.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first permanent settler was James Spencer, who located in the north part of the township in the spring of 1840. It was the general intention to name the township in his honor, but at the organization in 1856, " Wayne " was chosen in memory of a county in Ohio.
J. Mc Laughlin is said to have built a cabin and dug a well on land now owned by Hon. G. W. Lowell, as early as 1838, and possibly a few others may have founded claims before J. Spencer, but they remained only a short time. and he was the earliest settler still residing in the township at date of its organiza- tion. His widow lives in Monticello with her son-in-law, Joseph Clark. The growth of the township was not rapid until after 1850. During the decade prior to 1860, the population increased a hundred-fold. Notwithstanding its natural advantages, it was among the last to be settled, and was the latest organ- ized in the county.
ORGANIZATION.
This township, previously nameless, was organized on the 7th of April. 1856, at the house of O. G. Scrivens, by the electors of said township, wło were convened by call of Joseph Gant, who had been appointed for that purpose on the 15th of March preceding, by G. C. Mudgett, the County Judge.
The Judges of election were Jacob Zigler, T. Hartman and Henry Simmons. The Clerks of said election were B. F. Gant and John Clark. The first township officers elected were : Justices of the Peace. David M. Cook and Alpheus Johnson ; Constables, William Nelson and R. Batchelder; Assessor, John Clark : Town Clerk, Joseph Gaut ; Trustees, O. M. Gaut, J. Goodin, T. Hartman ; Road Supervisor, O. G. Serivens.
Twenty-three votes were cast at said election. The following list includes a majority of all the early settlers, and their nativity, who located in Wayne Township at any time prior to its organization in 1856: E. Ackerman, New York; I. Ackerman, New York ; W. Armatige, Pennsylvania ; Robert Barn- hill, Indiana : George Brown, Indiana; John Batchelder, New Hampshire : Steven Batchelder, New Hampshire; N. Batchelder, New Hampshire; Romance Batch- elder, New Hampshire; B. Batchelder, New Hampshire; A. Batchelder. New Hampshire ; N. Bigley, Pennsylvania : Warren Burrough, N. Y .; Martin Barts. Pennsylvania : John Clark, Pennsylvania : J. C. Clark, Pennsylvania : David Cook, Pennsylvania; Roswell Crane, New York : Joseph Dawson, Pennsylvania ; Z. Dunning, New York; M. Davis, -; C. S. Gilkey, Michigan ; O. M. Gaut. Pennsylvania : Joseph Gant, Pennsylvania ; Benjamin Gaut, Pennsylvania ; A. Himebaugh, Illinois ; L. Hitchcock, Pennsylvania : Stephen IIester, Indiana :
545
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
George Hall, New Hampshire; T. Hartman, Pennsylvania : William Jorden. -; Alpheus Johnson, New York ; George W. Lovell, Michigan ; Daniel Loper, Pennsylvania ; J. MeDonald, Canada; G. C. Mudgett, Indiana : James Milne, New York ; John McBride, Pennsylvania ; W. H. Perine, Ohio; David Reed, Pennsylvania; Robert Reed, Pennsylvania ; James Spencer. Pennsylvania ; Thomas Schoonover, Indiana; G. Schoonover, Indiana ; L. Schoonover, Illinois ; H. Simmons, Illinois ; O. G. Serivers, Indiana ; James Stacy, New York ; E. Stroman, Pennsylvania ; William Sanford, Ohio; A. Sanford, Ohio ; W. P. Sanford. Ohio; C. Taylor, New Hampshire; D. Tucker, New Hampshire ; M. Tippen, Ohio; S. Wooster, New Hampshire; E. Wooster, New Hampshire; Jacob Zigler, Pennsylvania.
In the newly organized township, the first school was taught by Miss Nellie McConnon, in the house of Roswell Crane at Langworthy, but Miss Martha Crane, and doubtless others, had taught school in the unnamed and unorganized township. Miss MeConnon afterward married W. H. Proctor, a merchant in Monticello, and has since died.
COUNTY FARM.
The State of Iowa, throngh C. P. Hutton and T. S. Dawson, Commission- ers of Jones County. donated to Jones County the northeast quarter of Section 36, in Wayne Township, on the 20th of June, 1840. This, with subsequent additions and modifications, constitutes the "County Poor Farm." It now contains about 200 acres, and the county has occupied and improved it since about 1860. The first Steward was O. B. Doyle. It has been for ten years in charge of John Platner and wife, who are regarded as thoroughly compe- tent. General farming is practiced. The beneficiaries of the institution average fully twenty in constant attendance, and comprise nearly all nationalities and all colors, and all ages, from the nursling to the veteran of nearly ninety winters. The county is burdened with several who are incurably insane. While the policy of the county is to decline furnishing a comfortable retreat for all the lazy, able-bodied, willingly dependent applicants for its charities, never- theless, the treatment of all its unfortunates is considerate and humane.
VILLAGES.
Langworthy, now a station on the Southwestern Branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was laid out by Col. W. T. Shaw January 2. 1858. It is situated in the northwestern part of the township, and contains about one hundred and twenty-five souls. It has one general store, one cream- ery, one idle cheese-factory. one blacksmith-shop, one shoemaker's shop, a post office, a depot, a church, express office, and no saloon. A. H. Hall is the merchant, and is doing an average annual business of $12,000. He is also the acceptable servant of the people and the United States Government as Post- master. The obliging station agent, J. A. Rollins, informs us that the total amount of freight and passenger business is annually about 81,700, which includes the transportation of seventy-five tons of butter and twenty-five car- loads of live-stock. The "Crescent Creamery," described elsewhere, is the chief enterprise of the place.
Amber .- This enterprising little village is in the southern central part of Wayne, and has grown up since the autumn of 1874, when the Midland depot was there located. It now has one general store, kept by Mrs. C. E. Sanford
546
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
& Son, one wagon-shop, by J. P. Hollenback, one blacksmith-shop, by W. H. Green, one carpenter-shop, one paint-shop, two warehouses, a depot, express office and post office ; there is also a lumber-yard and an office for the sale of agricultural implements. J. C. Ramsey, the station agent, buys annually 30,000 bushels of grain, and Hartman & Sanford have shipped 15,000 bushels this year. Forty- five ear loads of live stock are shipped annually ; 950,000 feet of lumber are sold, and $700 received for the sale of tickets. The founders of Amber were the Hartmans, the Sanfords and J. C. Ramsey, and they are still prominent in business. T. Hartman, a pioneer, is the original Postmaster. The post office was established in 1873, with the name of Blue Cut, which was, on the 1st of July, 1878, changed to Amber.
CREAMERIES.
On the eastern central part of Wayne is the noted Diamond Creamery of H. D. Sherman & Co., proprietors. Howard Putnam, Superintendent.
It was opened in the spring of 1878, and the average amount of milk used per month the first season was 10,000 pounds. Average per month in 1879, 14,000 pounds.
This creamery uses the Orange County deep-setting pans, the square revolving churn and the Walker Patent Butter-Worker. The milk is entirely supplied from Wayne Township, and twenty-seven pounds are used in the manufacture of a pound of butter. This ereamery received the first premium for Iowa butter and the sweepstakes at the International Exhibition in New York in 1878.
The Crescent Creamery, C. E. Marvin, Proprietor and Superintendent. is located at Langworthy station. and is ample in all its appointments. This was erected early in 1879. and is receiving a monthly average of 265.000 pounds of milk from the dairies in Wayne Township, and the monthly product of butter is nearly 12,000 pounds, and pays to farmers about $25,000 per year. Some small dairies average forty pounds per day for each cow for nine months. An artesian well supplies the creamery with constant and pure water. Philadel- phia and New York monopolize the " Crescent " and "Diamond " products.
Near Langworthy. also, is the neat little creamery owned by Minor Davis, which receives an average of 2,000 pounds per day during the season.
All of these creameries are recently established, and the farmers of Wayne are thus given a home market for $50,000 worth of the most profitable farm produet.
CHURCHES.
The oldest church in Wayne is that of the United Presbyterians, on the eastern border, near Scotch Grove, which is the nearest post office. It was organized on the 12th of May, 1856, with twelve members. One hundred and eighty-six persons have been members of this Church. The first Pastor was the Rev. A. J. Allen, and the present Pastor, the Rev. W. D. Ralston, has been in charge since 1864. ' The present Elders are Matthew Nelson, Robert Heasty, J. L. Acheson, James Milne and George L. Himebaugh. The church and parsonage are valued at 83,000. The present church edifice was erected in 1865, and, from the shape of its spire is locally known as " The four-horned church." Many of its members reside in Scotch Grove.
The Langworthy Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in October, 1859, by the Rev. Bishop Isabel, and has enjoyed a continuous itinerant pastorate. The preacher in charge is the Rev. R. Ricker. The
-
547
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
present edifice, named the "Springer Memorial," was built in 1872. The first Trustees were P. G. Bonewitz, Minor Davis, Michael Tippin, H. Albertson, J. F. Wilkins, Z. Dunning and F. J. Fish.
The Burr Oak M. E. Church, a charge on the Langworthy Circuit, also erected a new church in the autumn of 1872, the Rev. J. M. Hedge being Pastor. The first Trustees were Daniel Loper, Ephraim Stroman, George Soper, Jacob Fryberger and Jacob Rhue.
There are three German Churches, the oldest of which is the German Evan- gelican Lutheran St. John's congregation, (of Unaltered Augsburg Confession ). This society was organized in 1861, the first minister being R. Oswald. Their new church was built in 1877.
Ths Evangelical Lutheran Zion's congregation built a church in 1874, and their first Minister was J. J. Oetjen.
The United German Lutheran Reformed Church was organized in 1976, and their first minister was George Rettig. This society holds no service at the present date.
Town Officers .- The following is a list of town officers elected October 14. 1879: Town Clerk, P. M. Himebaugh ; Trustee, Noah Bigley : Assessor. J. C. Lawrence; Collector, A. H. Hall ; Constable, Orange Lawrence.
Road Supervisors .- District No. 1, T. Tobiasen : No. 2, J. C. Lawrence ; No. 3, H. Adams; No. 4, W. B. Allen ; No. 5, G. L. Himebaugh ; No. 6, George Schoonover ; No. 7, Henry Hoyen; No. 8, T. Borderker; No. 9, J. D. Priest ; No. 10, Horace Soper; No. 11. Peter Hartman ; No. 12, Henry Hartman ; No. 13, H. J. Jacobs ; No. 14, H. Harms; No. 15, Noah Bigley ; No. 16, E. Stroman.
The township is traversed by three railroads, two of which are controlled by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and the other is the Midland Branch of the Chicago & North-Western. Most of the residents of Wayne own the farms they cultivate. The majority are Americans, but a large percentage in the north and east are German and others, foreign-born. The population, in 1875, was 1,135. Two hundred and three votes were cast at the election in October, 1879, but the number of male adults exceeds that number, since many foreigners do not care to assume the duties of citizenship, although this class. together with all others, unite to form one industrious, thrifty and moral com- munity.
-
1
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY.
ABBREVIATIONS.
Co .................
company or county
dir
.. . dealer
I. V. C .. .Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
P. O ... .Post Office I. V. A .. Iowa Volunteer Artillery
I. V. I Jowa Volunteer Infantiy
S. or Sec. .Section
st. . street
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.
L. J. ADAIR, physician and surgeon, Anamosa ; is a native of Akron, Sum- mit Co., Ohio, and was born Nov. 28. 1840; he grew up and received his education there and commenced reading medieine; when the war broke out, he enlisted in the three month's service, in Co. K., 19th Ohio V. I .; after his time expired, he re-enlisted in Co. H, 104th Ohio V. I .; he served as Orderly Sergeant for eighteen months, and, for six months, was in command of the company ; among the battles he was in were battles of Nashville, Franklin, through the Atlanta campaign, and man yothers, some twenty-four battles in all being on their battle-flag; he was wounded at Pine Mountain and at Etowah River ; their brigade received the arms of Gen. Johnston when he sur- rendered ; he was mustered out June 28, 1865; after his return from the service. he resumed the study of medicine, and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1868; he came to Iowa and located at Anamosa in 1870, and, since then, he has prac- tieed his profession here. Dr. Adair was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Porter. from Hartford, Conn., Oct. 19, 1971; they have had three sons, two of whom were taken away by scarlet fever ; Fred is their only son.
WILLIAM ALSPAUGH, dealer in butter and eggs, Anamosa; is a native of Morrow Co., Ohio, and was born June 9. 1841 ; when 13 years of age, his parents moved to Iowa and located in Jones Co. in 1854 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education here ; during the war, he enlisted in Co. K, 6th I. V. C .; the regiment went to St. Louis, and was then ordered North and West in the Indian serv- ice ; he was slightly wounded by an arrow ; he was in the service over three years ; in 1874, he engaged in his present business, and has built up a large trade ; he ships mostly to Eastern markets, Chicago, New York and Boston. He has held the office of Township Collector. He married Maggie Conway, from Pennsylvania, May 27, 1866.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.