USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > The history of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 51
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The legislature, after several ineffectual attempts, failed to elect United States Senators, and late in February adjourned without an election. Thus, for the first two years after organizing a State government, Iowa was not represented in the United States Senate.
. At the fall election in 1846, when King was elected to the legislature, affairs seem to have been very much mixed. There were three candidates for representative to the State legislature, six candidates for Governor, and four candidates for representative to the United States Congress. For the other offices there were but the two candidates-the Whig and Demo- cratic. The following is the abstract of the vote as cast:
GOVERNOR.
Ansel Briggs 214
Thomas McKnight 158
R. Lucas 10
- Bailey 10
6
T. B. Wright. . A. Jones
4
SECRETARY OF STATE. James H. Cowles 167 Elisha Cutler 212
Morgan 1
411
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
STATE TREASURER.
Egbert T. Smith 166
Morgan Reno. 199
STATE AUDITOR.
Eastin Morris.
159
Joseph T. Fales
REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS.
Joseph H. Headrick. 165
G. C. R. Mitchell. 163
S. C. Hastings 221
Shepherd Leffler. 239
STATE SENATOR.
S. B. Sheladay 158
R. R. Harbor 240
STATE REPRESENTATIVE.
Nelson King 160
William Webb 124
95
L. B. Hughes
The following is an abstract of the votes cast at the election in August, 1847:
REPRESENTATIVE TO CONGRESS.
William Thompson . 357
Jesse B. Brown. 295
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
George Wilson 210
H. W. Sample. 322
Charles Coskery 40
STATE TREASURER.
P. B. Fagen 211
Paul Bratton
329
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Charles Coskery
309
Madison Dagger 291
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
Joseph Kellum 287
Joseph Adams. 178
Sanford Harned 1
SHERIFF.
J. B. Mitts
239
James Robison
310
26
208
412
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Ebenezer Johnson 310
R. Alexander
205
COMMISSIONER'S CLERK.
Sedley C. Harris 296
Elijah Shockley
253
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
Joseph Casey
248
Sanford Harned.
. . 13
CLERK DISTRICT COURT.
S. A. James
313
S. E. McCracken
..
171
TREASURER AND RECORDER.
Joel Long 288
Robert Galbraith
149
SURVEYOR.
John Baker
286
David T. Vittetoe
121
Jacob Payton CORONER.
318
INSPECTOR OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
C. M. Wood
363
Jacob Shaver
29
At this election there was an approximate vote cast of six hundred and fifty, and the Democrats had a clear majority of seventy votes. Four years afterward, at the August election, there were nearly eight hundred votes cast, and the Democrats had a majority of one hundred.
The following is an abstract of the votes cast at said election:
COUNTY JUDGE.
George Pinkerton 102
J. B. Whisler 293
John Baker 373
TREASURER AND RECORDER.
Ben. P. Shawhan 394
R. F. Weller 327
SHERIFF.
Joseph Butler 337 Green Atwood 102
W. A. Blair
237
413
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
Maxon Randall
295
James Carr ..
37
Jacob Payton
189
Owen Monahan
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
537
George Cuspin
31
George Gray
CORONER.
179
M. G. Driskill
205
Obed King
56
John Pennington
16
Scattering
At the election held in August, 1852, for Congressman, State officers and county officials, the following was the result:
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS.
442
Bernhart Henn
194
Philip Viele
30
J. S. Stephenson
8
Scattering.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
337
Geo. W. McCleary
173
J. W. Jenkins.
21
T. M. Clagget
TREASURER OF STATE.
Martin S. Morris
336
Hosea B. Horn. 172
AUDITOR OF STATE.
335
Asbury B. Porter
172
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.
259
Andrew Alexander 407
John J. Franklin 1
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
423
A. P. Moody
5
A. J. Stevens . 3
Rowley Martin
1
.
William Pattee.
D. N. Henderson .
M. M. Crocker
191
414
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
RECORDER AND TREASURER.
Sedley C. Harris 305
Harvey T. Smith.
403
Solomon Sharp
5
A. Smith .
2
SHERIFF.
James McGrew 309
Joseph Butler
29
Isaac Whitacre
26
J. B. Butler
2
The political complexion of the county can best be determined by refer- ence to the vote on Congressman, Henn being the Democratic candidate, and Viele being a Whig. In addition to being on the popular side in poli- tics, Mr. Henn was personally very popular, he having been connected with the land office in early days, and having made the first plat of the county.
In August, 1853, there was a sheriff, treasurer, recorder and coroner elected. The following is an abstract of the vote:
SHERIFF.
Morrison F. Bottoff 253
James McGrew 181
Joel Long
117
TREASURER AND RECORDER. 1
400
Daniel D. Slaughter
1
Pail Seever
1
SURVEYOR.
D. N. Henderson. 87
Elijah A. Lathrop 157
E. A. Lathrop 15
Elijah Lathrop
44
S. C. Harris
19
Scattering .
11
CORONER.
John Pennington 52
G. A. Tally 45
Scattering 31
At the election in 1854, Andrew Alexander was elected clerk of the District Court, J. T. Axtele, prosecuting attorney, and Joel Crossman, sur- veyor.
Abstract of votes given for the offices of county judge, recorder, sheriff, surveyor and coroner, and for and against the removal of the county-seat, at an election held on the first Monday of August, 1855:
Harvey L. Smith.
415
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
COUNTY JUDGE.
Sanford Harned 707
George Crispin. 537
Scattering
4
RECORDER.
M. J. Batluff 550
A. C. Romig 593
A. B. Cuny . 85
Scattering
6
SHERIFF.
C. D. McCalley 621
N. W. Whited 464
14
SURVEYOR.
Joel Crossman 716
J. W. Morgan 316
Scattering . 5
CORONER.
John Pennington 447
Isaac M. Hughes. 110
Scattering
1
FOR COUNTY-SEAT.
Lancaster 758
Sigourney
531
In April, 1856, there was an important election held at which it was de- cided who was to be school-fund commissioner, whether Sigourney or Lancaster should be the county-seat, and whether hogs and sheep should be restrained or allowed to run at large. It will be seen from the following abstract of that election that the people had materially changed on the last question :
SCHOOL-FUND COMMISSIONER.
Wm. H. Brunt 1021
Benjamin Parrish
797
COUNTY-SEAT.
Sigourney
982
Lancaster 930
RESTRAINING HOGS AND SHEEP.
For restraining
427 Against restraining 1284
Scattering.
416
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
In 1856 the people of the county were very evenly divided on the ques- tions of national politics. Samuel A. Curtis and Augustus Hall were the candidates for Congress, and of the fifteen hundred and seven votes cast Curtis received seven hundred and eighty-four and Hall seven hundred and twenty-three. The great reaction had come which transferred the State from the Democratic to the opposite party. The tidal wave which carried James W. Grimes into the gubernatorial chair and which was so unexpected as to cause astonishment among the most sagacious party lead- ers throughout the Union, occurred in 1854; but then, as now, the people of Keokuk county were not easily diverted from the old political land- marks. The change came, it is true, but gradually, and the verdict of that change has never been so emphatic and unequivocal as to invest either or any party with the ownership of its offices. Ever since 1854 hard work and good behavior have been requisites to political preferment in Keokuk county.
At the August election, 1856, the following were elected:
Representative, A. C. Price; clerk of district court, A. S. Alexander; prosecuting attorney, E. S. Sampson.
Abstract of election in October, 1857:
GOVERNOR.
Ralph B. Lowe 879
Ben. M. Samuel 780
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
Oran Faville ..
881
George Gillispie 775
REPRESENTATIVE.
William McGrew
881
J. T. Sales 767
COUNTY JUDGE.
Sanford Harned 948
Maxon Randall. 713
RECORDER AND TREASURER.
Alvin C. Romig 1005
Morrison F. Bottuff 645
SHERIFF.
Joel Long
962
A. H. Smith . 653
James McConnell
14
SURVEYOR.
Joel Crossman
916
George Crispin 714
CORONER.
James McConnell 767
P. L. Eckley
745
417
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
' At the October election in 1858, Samuel R. Curtis received 728 votes for representative to Congress, and H. H. Trimble received 689. For the office of clerk of the District Court there were polled 1388 votes, of which A. S. Alexander received 1388, there being at least one unanimous choice of the people of Keokuk county.
The following official directory is a correct list of the county officers elected during the twenty years, 1859 and 1879 inclusive:
1859.
County Judge-J. M. Casey.
Recorder-W. H. Brunt.
Sheriff-J. M. Adams.
Surveyor-B. S. Irwin.
Drainage Commissioner-R. C. Lypes.
Coroner-James McConnell.
Superintendent of Common Schools-James Frey.
Representative-H. Campbell.
1860.
Lincoln Presidential Electors 1330
Douglas Presidential Electors 1194
Breckenridge Presidential Electors 14
Bell Presidential Electors.
2
Clerk District Court-J. H. Sanders.
1861.
State Senator-Isaac P. Teter.
Representatives-John Wasson and Lewis Hollingsworth.
Treasurer-A. S. Alexander.
Sheriff-James M. Adams.
County Judge-John Rogers.
Surveyor-Joel Crossman.
Superintendent of Schools-D. V. Smock.
The questions of building a jail and levying a bridge tax were both de- cided in the negative.
1862.
Clerk District Court-J. B. Shallenbarger.
1863.
State Senator-John C. Hogin.
Representatives-Joseph Andrews and Roswell S. Mill.
County Judge-John Rogers. Sheriff-W. B. Merriman.
Treasurer -- Lycurgus McCoy.
Superintendent of Schools -- D. V. Smock.
418
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
1864.
Lincoln Presidential Electors 1149
McClellan Presidential Electors
938
Clerk District Court-John A. Donnell.
Recorder-James E. Woods.
1865.
Senator -- E. S. Sampson.
Representatives -- T. A. Morgan, D. A. Stockman.
County Judge -- John Rogers.
Treasurer -- Lycurgus McCoy.
Sheriff-J. T. Parker.
Surveyor -- J. B. Peck.
Superintendent of Schools-D. V. Smock.
1866.
Clerk of Court-Joseph Andrews.
Recorder -- James E. Woods.
Senator -- John C. Johnson.
Representative-John Morrison.
1867.
Representatives-John Morrison, William Hartsock.
County Judge-William McLoud.
Treasurer-J. Q. Howard.
Sheriff-John T. Parker.
Surveyor-Joel Crossman.
Superintendent of Schools-A. J. Kane.
1868.
Grant Electors 1938
Seymour Electors
1503
Clerk of Court-J. M. Brunt.
Recorder -- James E. Woods.
1869.
Senator-J. W. Havens.
Representatives-John Morrison, B. A. Haycock.
Auditor-L. Hollingsworth.
Treasurer-J. Q. Howard.
Sheriff-Andrew Stranahan.
Superintendent of Schools-J. A. Lowe.
Surveyor-J. A. Benson.
1870.
Clerk of Court-John M. Brunt. Recorder -- N. Warrington. Members Board of Supervisors-W. F. Morgan, J. P. Yerger.
419
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
1871.
Representatives-John Morrison, John F. Wilson. Auditor-Lewis Hollingsworth.
Treasurer -- John Q. Howard. Sheriff-Andrew Stranahan.
Superintendent of Schools-T. J. Hasty. Member of Board of Supervisors-C. B. Merz.
Surveyor-G. W. Halferty.
1872.
Grant Presidential Electors . 1,852
Greeley Presidential Electors. 1,361
O'Connor Presidential Electors.
54
Representative-C. C. Wilson.
Clerk of Court-M. Wightman.
Recorder -- J. M. Jones.
Member Board Supervisors-Joseph Merryfield.
1873.
Senator-H. N. Newton.
Representatives-David Archer, J. T. Harper.
Auditor-A. A. Davis.
Treasurer-John M. Brunt.
Sheriff-Andrew Stranahan.
Superintendent of Schools-H. D. Todd.
Surveyor-E. B. Kerr.
Member Board of Supervisors-G. W. Morgan.
1874.
Clerk of Court-M. Wightman. Recorder-J. M. Jones.
Member Board of Supervisors-Levi Bower.
1875.
Representatives-B. A. Clevland, Sanford Harned. Auditor-John Morrison.
Treasurer-L. Hollingsworth.
Sheriff-Andrew Stranahan.
Superintendent of Schools-H. D. Todd.
Member Board of Supervisors-William Jackson.
Surveyor-Nathan Warrington.
1876.
1,862
Hayes Presidential Electors. 2,366 Tilden Presidential Electors. Clerk of Court-M. Wightman. Recorder-J. M. Jones. Member Board of Supervisors-Isaac E. Stanley.
420
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
1877.
Senator-Sanford Harned.
Representative-Matthew Williams.
Auditor-T. F. McCarty.
Treasurer -- Levi Bower. Sheriff-H. C. Adams.
Surveyor-E. B. Kerr.
Superintendent of Schools-H. D. Todd.
Member Board of Supervisors-D. C. Baker.
1878.
Clerk of Court-Joel Richardson.
Recorder-W. C. McWilliams.
Member Board of Supervisors-J. C. Winget.
1879.
Representative-C. H. Mackey.
Auditor-T. F. McCarty.
Treasurer-Levi Bower.
Sheriff-H. C. Adams.
Surveyor-E. B. Kerr.
Coroner-L. Hollingsworth.
Superintendent of Schools-John Bland.
Member Board of Supervisors-Daniel Dodge.
The following is an abstract of the vote cast at the October election, 1879:
GOVERNOR.
John H. Gear
.2,017
H. H. Trimble. .1,918
Daniel Campbell 151
D. R. Dungan . 22
REPRESENTATIVE.
E. S. Sampson . 1,996
C. H. Mackey 2,008
S. W. Huff 78
AUDITOR.
Leslie Bassett. .1,933
T. F. McCarty 2,068
James Thompson 98
TREASURER.
Elmer Moses . 1,942
Levi Bower. 2,057
James Cline
96
421
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
SHERIFF.
John Morrison .1,950
H. C. Adams. 2,965
J. Barnhizer 79
SURVEYOR.
E. B. Kerr .2,041
J. P. Harris . 1,065
SUPERINTENDENT OF. SCHOOLS.
J. K. Pickett . 1,98%
John Bland 2,011
H. D. Gortner 106
CORONER.
L. Hollingsworth
.2,025
Harman Seaba. .1,948
Sidney Sherwood 104
MEMBER BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Samuel McFarland. 1,977 .
Daniel Dodge . 1,996
A. Warnock. 125
SHALL STOCK BE RESTRAINED ?
Yes
.1,984
No.
.1,567
COUNTY FINANCES.
There is very little cause for complaint in regard to the financial man- agement of the county. There has been an absence of extravagance from the beginning, and in the main, county affairs have been managed in an economical and judicious manner. Indeed, many are of the opinion that the management of county affairs has been too conservative. The greatest expenditures have always been those voted by the people themselves.
Elsewhere we have given statistics of the earlier financial affairs of the county. They will afford interesting points of comparison with statements of the present time and a few years back.
The permanent improvements have been quite generally made, and with the one exception of keeping up the immense bridge system of the county, there is no reason why expenses may not yet be considerably reduced.
The following is the total valuation of lands and personal property, and also the aggregate amount of each tax levied in the county for the year 1878, as shown by the tax-books when the same was delivered to the county treasurer for collection :
Total valuation
$ 4,999.537
422
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
TAXES.
LEVY.
AMOUNT.
State
2 mills.
$ 9,997.07
County
3 «
14,995.61
School
1 mill.
4,998.54
Bridge
1
4,998.54
Insane
1
4,998.53
Poor farm.
1
4,998.54
County Bond
1
4,998.54
Poll
2,361.00
Road
1,473.15
District, loans of
31,155.34
Railroad
55,307.58
City
1,032.60
Total
$141,315.04
In order that a comparison may be made with another county of nearly equal population and valuation, the taxes levied in Warren county for the same year are hereby subjoined. They were as follows:
Total valuation
$ 4,905,937
TAXES.
LEVY.
AMOUNT.
County
4 mills.
$ 19,607.03
State
2
9,803.50
School
1 mill.
4,901.75
Bridge
1₺ mills.
7,352.59
Poor Farm
2,450.85
Bond
2,450.85
Insane
1}
2,450.85
Poll
2,158.00
Road
4,915.88
District
18,185.16
School-house.
5,708.12
Contingent
8,567.46
City . .
2,118.99
Total.
$ 90,733.03
The following table will show the tax levied for the ten years beginning with 1870 and ending with 1879:
Total tax for 1870. $ 85,935.78
Total tax for 1875.
$113,561.80
Total tax for 1871. . . 174,863.72 Total tax for 1876
113,917.65
Total tax for 1872. .. 105,626.58
Total tax for 1877. . . 98,168.19
Total tax for 1873.
93,164.29 Total tax for 1878. . . 141,315.04
Total tax for 1874.
96,312.29
Total tax for 1879. 74,001.66
423
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
The general expenses of the county for the fiscal year 1878, as shown by the auditor's books, are shown by the following exhibit:
Courts $ 2,390.34
Supervisors.
980.27
Other county officials
2,999.15
Township officers.
2,235.66
Roads and bridges .
6,270.86
Fuel, light and repairs county buildings
873.44
Books and stationery.
1.197.20
Sheriff's deputies and bailiffs
797.29
Jail expenses
754.45
Deaf, dumb and insane.
1,705.24
Justices and constables .
716.53
Witnesses in justices' courts
755.25
Elections
579.75
Poor-house
2,709.83
Insane building
2,864.20
Poor outside infirmary
1,800.11
Printing.
1,463.58
Miscellaneous.
204.15
Total
$32,063.16
For the sake of comparison we present the following exhibit for Warren county, for the same year. As before remarked Warren county has some- thing near the same valuation and population as Keokuk and for the pur- pose of comparison furnishes a fair standard, with the exception of court expenses; in this particular Warren county should not be regarded as a good standard as the court expenses there were unusually high owing to a very unusually expensive murder trial.
Courts
$12,390.34
Grand jury
876.25
Township officers.
1,419.55
Supervisors and county officers
7,508.68
Collection delinquent taxes
50.90
Roads .
23.50
Certificate of balance
5,219.76
Assessors.
991.00
Fuel for court-house and jail
315.29
Goods for court-house and jail
181.29
Jail expense.
644.55
Books, stationery and printing
3,036.97
Janitor.
520.00
Miscellaneous
2,541.34
Total county fund
14,044.76
Total bridge fund.
5,580.10
Total poor farm fund
1,784.03
Total insane fund.
357.55
Total
$41,158.10
The county has no indebtedness except a bonded debt which amounts to thirteen thousand dollars.
765.86
Superintendent of Schools.
424
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS.
You raised these hallowed walls; the desert smiled, And Paradise was opened in the wild .- Pope.
The first settlement of the county was scarcely completed before the servants of the Lord were at work in the new vineyard. Within the last fifty years the agents of the Christian religion have been taught and trained to accompany the first advance of civilization, and such was their advent here. In the rude cabins and huts of the pioneers they proclaimed the saine gospel that is preached in the gorgeous palaces that, under the name of churches, decorate the great cities. It was the same gospel, but the sur- roundings made it appear different, in the effect produced, at least.
The Christian religion had its rise, and the days of its purest practice, among an humble, simple-minded people, and it is among similar surround- ings in modern times that it seems to approach the purity of its source. This is the best shown in the days of pioneer life. It is true, indeed, that in succeeding times the church attains greater wealth and practices a wider benevolence. Further, it may be admitted that it gains a firmer discipline and wields a more general influence on society, but it remains true that in pioneer times we find a manifestation of Christianity that we seek in vain at a later time and under contrasted circumstances. The meek and lowly spirit of the Christian faith-the placing of spiritual things above vain pomp and show-appear more earnest amid the simple life and toil of a pioneer people than it can when surrounded with the splendors of wealth and fashion. But we may take a comparison less wide, and instead of con- trasting the Christian appearances of a great city with that of the pioneers, we may compare that of thirty years ago here in the West with that in the present time of moderately developed wealth and taste for display, and we find much of the same result.
The comparison is, perhaps, superficial to some extent, and does not fully weigh the elements involved, nor analyze them properly. We simply take the broad fact, not to decry the present, but to illustrate the past. So that looking back to the early religious meetings in the log-cabins we may say: "Here was a faith, earnest and simple, like that of the early Christian."
The first religious meetings in the county were held in the cabins of the settlers, with two or three families for a congregation. On pleasant days they would gather outside in the shade of the cabin or under the branches of a tree and here the word would be expounded and a song of Zion sung.
The Friends, or as they were more generally known, the Quakers, were the pioneers of religious organization. The remarkable sagacity which always seems to characterize these people in their selection of lands early lead quite a number of them to locate on the rich and productive soil of what is now Richland township. For the first few years after the settle- ment of the county, members of this denomination were much more numerous than all others. In 1841 they erected a small house of worship about one-fourth of a mile north of the present town of Richland.
The Methodists, Baptists and Christians, always among the first in pioneer work, were not long after the Quakers. In 1847 the Methodists and Christians built houses of worship in Richland which were probably the first church buildings of note in the county, although organizations were formed and temporary buildings erected long prior to that time.
425
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
There was a Methodist church organized at Richland in 1840 by Rev. Moses Shinn, the original members being James Looman and wife, H. Harden and wife, Mrs. Lavina Ruggles and George Ruggles. The Christian church of Richland was organized shortly afterward, and as before re- marked a substantial church building was erected in 1847. One of the first Baptist churches organized, was by Andrew P. Tannyhill in the south- ern part of the county in 1843.
Benjamin F. Chastain organized a Christian Church in Jackson town- ship, in 1844. The original members were Woodford Snelson and wife, Jesse Gabbert and wife, Dr. Raglin, Nathan Ruth and Benjamin Chastain. Meetings were held at the house of Woodford Snelson who lived on section thirteen.
Among the first Baptist preachers was Andrew P. Tannyhill, who preached in barns, dwelling houses or in the woods, wherever and when- ever he could get an audience.
The Mt. Zion M. E. Church was organized in the south part of the county in 1854. The following were the original members: Jas. D. Wil- liams, Jacob Battorff, Philip Heninger, Andrew Taylor, Benjamin Hol- lingsworth, Joel Skinner, Benjamin Parish, Thomas M. Thompson, Jas. M. Cheeny, James Cowger.
There was a Christian Church organized at Lancaster, in 1848, with the following membership: William Trueblood and wife, J. W. Snelson and wife, Thomas Cobb and wife, Asa Cobb and wife, James Mitts and wife, Samuel Williams, Elizabeth Williams, W. H. Brant and others.
A Methodist Church was organized in the same place, about 1852, the original members being: S. A. Evans and wife, Mrs. Jessie O'Neal and Miss Mary O'Neal.
In 1846 there was a Methodist church erected at Sigourney. The pas- tor at that time was Rev. S. Hestwood; the church having been organized some time previous by Rev. Mr. Hulbert.
A Baptist Church was organized in Sigourney, in 1845, by Rev. Mr. Elliott.
Churches were also organized in the eastern, northern and western parts of the county in an early day.
In 1850 there were in the county four Baptist churches valued at nine hundred dollars; three Christian churches; valued at eight hundred dol- lars; two Quaker churches, valued at four hundred and fifty dollars; seven Methodist churches, valued at thirteen hundred dollars; or in all sixteen churches, valued at three thousand four hundred and fifty dollars.
The following are the names of the ministers, or as they were then called preachers. who first labored among the people of Keokuk county: Moses Shinn, a Methodist, who was probably the first of the denomination to preach in the county. Revs. Haynes, Kirkpatrick, Orr, Hulburt, Hest- wood and Snakenburg were also pioneer Methodist preachers, some of whom are still living.
Rev. Mr. Spainshower was probably the first Baptist preacher who trav- eled among the people of Keokuk county. He was followed by Rev. Andrew P. Tannyhill, and Rev. Mr. Elliott. These men labored among the people with considerable success and their work is still visible, especially in the southern part of the county.
The Presbyterian Church was late in getting a foothold in Keokuk county. About the year 1856, a small church of less than a dozen members was or-
426
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
ganized in Sigourney. N. H. Hall, then of Webster, J. F. Wilson and the Gregg family, of Lafayette township, constituted the membership. S. C. Kerr was their first pastor. In 1858 Rev. D. V. Smock settled in Sigour- ney and took charge of the organization. Some four or five years after- ward Mr. Smock moved to Lafayette township and was succeeded in Sigour- ney by Rev. A. A. Mathews. On moving to Lafayette, Mr. Smock organ- ized a church there and in 1860 another church at Martinsburg. Mr. Smock was a useful and highly respected citizen of the county, and like Rev. Mr. Snakenberg, of German township, had great influence among the people. Their influence upon the morals of the people cannot be overesti- mated. Mr. Smock was elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, in 1861, and continued to hold the office till 1868. He is now dead, but his works still live.
Many other particulars might be given relative to the churches of the county, but the details are reserved for another place, where they will be given in connection with other matters pertaining to the history of the sev- eral townships where they are located.
GOLD EXCITEMENT.
No doubt the desire for " gold " has been a main-spring of all progress and exertion in Keokuk county, from the beginning until the present time, and will so continue unto ages remote. But usually this desire has been made manifest only in the usual avenues of thrift, industry and enterprise.
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