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 64
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James W. Ward, company I, for- tieth infantry.
Isaac H. Dempsey, company I, for- tieth infantry.
George Yule, company I, fortieth infantry.
William J. Gaston, company H, for- ty-seventh infantry.
William H. Kitterman, company I, first cavalry.
James G. Smith, company A, sev- enth cavalry.
Jeremiah H. Triggs, company D, seventh cavalry.
Daniel D. Moore, company D, sev- enth cavalry.
Jacob A. Lowe, company K, ninth cavalry.
SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA.
The following beautiful poem, which has won for its author a national reputation, and has been sung in the theaters of Europe, was written in a Southern prison, by Adjutant S. H. M. Byers, at present (1879), U. S. Con- sul, at Zurich, Switzerland. In his little book, " What I saw in Dixie," on pages 73-4, he copies from his diary, December 25, 1865, as follows: "This is my second Christmas in prison. * * * * * ** Lieutenant Tower, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who had lost a leg in the army, and who was afterward captured, is now to be exchanged and sent home. He wears a hollow, artificial limb, in place of the one lost; this we packed full of letters, one of which contained ' Sherman's March to the Sea.' The rebels little suspected our novel way of communication with our friends. The Lieutenant went safely through, and the letters were all safely de- livered":
Our camp fires shone bright on the mountains That frowned on the river below, While we stood by our guns in the morning And eagerly watched for the foe- When a rider came out from the darkness That hung over mountain and sea, And shouted " Boys up and be ready, For Sherman will march to the sea."
Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman Went up from each valley and glen, And the bugles re-echoed the music That came from the lips of the men. For we knew that the stars in our banner More bright in their splendor would be, And that blessings from Northland would greet us When Sherman marched down to the sea.
Then forward. boys, forward to battle, We marched on our wearisome way, And we stormed the wild hills of Resaca, -God bless those who fell on that day- Then Kenesaw. dark in its glory, Frowned down on the flag of the free, But the East and the West bore our standards, And Sherman marched on to the sea.
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KEOKUK COUNTY WAR. RECORD.
Still onward we pressed, till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, And the blood of the patriot dampened The soil where the traitor flag falls; But we paused not to weep for the fallen, Who slept by each river and tree, Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel, As Sherman marched down to the sea.
O, proud was our army that morning That stood where the pine darkly towers, When Sherman said, "Boys, you are weary. This day fair Savannah is ours." Then sang we a song for our chieftain That echoed o'er river and lea, And the stars in our banner shone brighter, , When Sherman marched down to the sea.
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS.
RICHLAND.
RICHLAND township being almost entirely situated east of the boundary line of 1837, and comprehending nearly all of what is commonly known as the " Old Strip," had more than four years the start of the rest of the county. It has been seen that although people were not entitled to settle there prior to October, 1838, Aaron Miller and his son John settled early in the spring of that year. In the spring and summer of 1839 this settle- ment was reinforced by the arrival of Robert Pringle, James Higgin- botham, William Lewis, Mitchell Gill, John Wasson, James M. Smith and William Bristow. The latter still remains on the original homestead, where he has little else to do than enjoy the fruits of his hard labor and re- flect that, as a head of a family, he is the oldest permanent settler in the present bounds of Keokuk county, and none older west of him, as all the others referred to have changed homesteads.
Smith first settled one mile east of where Richland now is, and after building the walls of his cabin he built his scaffolds, took his broad-ax and hewed the walls both inside and out. Then with said ax he hewed a true face and straight edge to the puncheons for his floor, making tight joints, all of which made some people look on him with contempt, saying that he was proud.
While a portion of what is now Keokuk county was yet part of Wash- ington county, and before the county of Keokuk was organized, the first election was held within the present limits of the county. It was held on the 5th day of October, 1840, in the brush without a house, near a spring, about seventy-five yards from where Levi Greeson now lives. The officers elected were: J. M. Smith, justice of the peace; and Theodore Cox-now of Winterset-constable. Cox failing to qualify, John Pennington was appointed. Subsequently, R. S. Mills was elected justice of the peace and John Marchel was elected constable.
After the county was organized the first election was held in April, 1844. At this time Richland township was the principal part of the county, and the people there took advantage of this state of affairs by appropriating the lion's share of the spoils. The following were the officers elected:
County Commissioners-Jeremiah Hollingsworth, James M. Smith and Enos Darnell.
Judge of Probate-John M. Waters.
County Treasurer-Wm. H. Brown.
County Surveyor-Samuel E. McCracken.
County Assessor-Andrew Ogden.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
Sheriff-George W. Hayes.
Recorder-A. P. Tannehill.
Commissioners Clerk-Edom Shugart.
These officers were all residents of what is now Richland township, ex- cept Brown and Ogden.
The first birth in this township was a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Scearcy, in December, 1840. The first death was that of Mrs. Margaret Marchel, who died in 1840.
The first time that the anniversary of American Independence was cele- brated within the present limits of Keokuk county was July 4, 1841, at the house and grove of J. M. Smith, one mile east of where Richland now is. Oliver Higginbotham read the Declaration of Independence and Manning B. Mills delivered an address suited to the occasion. The young bachelors and maidens remained over night enjoying each other's society in perhaps the first grand social party in this county, and then and there were in- troduction s and acquaintances formed which finally resulted in five wed- dings.
SCHOOLS.
Richland township has always had a good reputation for its schools. The first school of the county was taught in a school-house about three and a half miles northeast of Richland, in a house which has already been de- scribed in our educational chapter. This township also boasts of having possessed the only successful academy of the county. It was located in the town of Richland and was attended by pupils from all parts of the county. This academy was started by Benjamin Naylor, W. B. Lawler and B. F. McCollister, in 1857. They commenced with thirty-five pupils and closed with seventy-seven. The second session opened with with seventy-one and closed with one hundred and thirty-two. It continued to prosper until it had an attendance of over two hundred. The institution finally became unpopular and the teachers discontinued it and went elsewhere. Richland township still retains the township district system, but one other township in the county adhering to that system, that being German.
SEPARATE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first preacher that ever preached in this vicinity was Jacob Spain- hour, who preached at the house of John Miller (where now stands the orchard of R. M. Tracy), in the year 1839. He baptized some persons at this, his first meeting, among whom was Mrs. Wm. Scearcy.
Soon thereafter, Alexander Blakely preached here. Both of said preach- ers continued to preach here occasionally for several years. But as most of the members of this church removed from seven to ten miles west, the or- ganization at this place became dissolved and they organized in their new neighborhood and built a meeting-house about one mile north of Ioka, where they maintain their organization.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1840 Frederick F. Lyon, John W. Mitchell and Henry Harden all preached here, and in that year an organization was effected of seven mem- bers, at the house of James Lewman, near to where Moses Mendenhall now
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
lives. The names of the members were Henry Harden, Catharine Harden, Jesse Ruggles, Luvina Ruggles, James Lewman, Mary Lewman and Leah Lewman.
Rev. Mr. Rathburn, of Mt. Pleasant, assisted in the organization, having been sent here by the presiding elder, Henry Summers. Elder Summers held the first quarterly meeting in Fairfield, in the fall of 1840, and in 1841 or 1842, held the first quarterly meeting that was ever held in this vicinity. Moses Shinn was the first circuit preacher. They built their first meeting-house of round logs, some three miles southwest of where Rich- land now is. But soon after the town was laid out they established their church in the town, and have ever since maintained their organization, and on several occasions the number of the members, including probationers, has been rather extensive. At the present time they number fifty-five memb- ers. They own a church-house and lot worth about $1,500, and a parson- age worth about $800. The average attendance at the Sunday-school is probably about fifty. They have also another organization of about thirty- six members, and a church-house worth about $,1,700, called Kingsley Chapel, situated about three and three-quarter miles northwest of town. Rev. M. Swanson is at present pastor of both congregations.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
It is probable that the first preacher of this church who ever preached here was John W. Snelson. The next was Uriah Long. They both preached in 1841 or 1842. H. H. Hendrix, John Rigdon, - Gill, Aaron Chatter- ton, and Samuel Downey were among the first preachers.
On the 19th day of November, 1848, the first church organization was formed, consisting of sixteen persons, to-wit: Wm. Hamlet, Jane Hamlet, James Rooker, M. A. Rooker, John Maulsby, Sarah Maulsby, Mary A. Maulsby, Mercy Stephenson, Wm. Tingle, Fred P. Caveness, Z. Caveness, Owen Goldsmith, Mary Goldsmith, Jane G. Smith, John Wasson and Susan Wasson. At the time of organization Owen Goldsmith and Dr. Wm. Tingle were chosen elders, and John Wasson and Wm. Hamlet were chosen deacons. There were, at various subsequent dates, added to the con- gregation thirty-one members; but as preachers were scarce in this country, not near equal to the demand, the congregation had no regular preaching, but they maintained their organization for several years, and until some of their number had died and over thirty had moved away, including all the officers but one. Thus they became disorganized, and so remained until March 23, 1865. Elder N. A. McConnell held a series of meetings here, and organized a congregation of thirty-one members. A. I. Hall and A. H. Smith were chosen elders, and R. M. Tracy and L. F. Smith were chosen deacons. Since that time 110 members have been added to their congregation. Their present number is fifty-five. They have not had reg- ular preaching near all the time, but have never failed to keep up their meetings regularly on Lord's day. They own a church-house and lot worth about $1,700. Their Sunday-school averages in attendance about seventy.
MORAVIANS.
In 1854, Hiram Myers, a Moravian, located here and preached and or- ganized a congregation of seven members, consisting of himself and wife,
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
John Davis, Sarah Davis, A. C. Romig, Lydia Sherriden and James Blickensderfer. In 1857 the preacher left here and the church became dis- organized.
WESLEYAN METHODISTS.
In the year 1856 an organization was effected some two and a-half miles east of town, of about twenty-five members. The organization continued for some six or seven years before becoming dissolved. Meanwhile, Revs. Stores, Wm. Abraham and Frank Kirkpatrick ministered to them.
UNITED BRETHREN.
In 1853 Rev. John McVey preached in Clear Creek township, and in this vicinity a few times. Rev. F. F. Lyon, a Methodist preacher, hearing him, thought he learned the way of the Lord more perfectly, and therefore united with the Brethren, and was forthwith licensed to preach for them. Lyon traveled in 1854-5-6, and organized congregations, one of which still exists, and is known as Fairview. It is about six miles northeast of town. Since that time another congregation was organized two miles east of town. They have - members and a church-house worth about $800. Rev. Shiflet was their pastor for a time.
FRIEND'S SOCIETY.
In 1840, Thomas Frazier, of Indiana, appointed a meeting at the house of P. C. Woodward. Soon thereafter Abijah Bray, of Indiana, held a meeting here. An organization was formed for worship in 1841 or 1842, under the care of the Pleasant Plain Monthly Meeting. Among the first who went into this organization may be mentioned the names of James Williams, Angeline Williams (afterward an accepted minister), and of the Woodwards, there were Prior C., Susannah, Samuel, Wm. A. and Ruth. Of the Haworths, there were Beriah, Sarah, Eli, Lydia and John, Sr., Moorman, Allen, John, Jr., George and Mahlon and their wives. Of the Hadleys, there were William, Mary, Joshua, Lydia, John, Jarah, Joel, Eleanor and Riley.
At their request, a preparative meeting for business was organized or granted by the Pleasant Plain Meeting, in 1845. Another preparative meeting was organized at Rocky Run, about three and a-half miles north- east of Richland, in 1850, embracing some of the above named persons, and some others, including John Howard, a minister. About the same
time a Monthly Meeting was organized at Richland.
After about ten
years the Rocky Run meeting was discontinued. The members thereof merging into the Richland meeting. In November, 1864, the Richland preparative meeting was divided; there being since that date two prepar- tive meetings, known as the Richland and Hopewell. The Richland Meet- ing has a meeting-house forty by sixty feet, and five acres of ground, worth about $1200, situated one and one-half iniles south of town. The ground was donated by Joseph Hadley. The Hopewell meeting is situa- ted one and one-half miles north of town, and has a house twenty-four by forty-eight feet, and one acre of ground, the whole worth probably about $800. This land was donated by Levi Greeson. They each have scripture- school on First day. The average attendance at Richland is about sixty,
547
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
and at Hopewell about twenty-five persons. The whole number of members belonging to the Richland Monthly Meeting is 296.
MISSIONARY BAPTISTS.
In 1848, Rev. R. Cheedle preached a few times and organized a church in town, which organization was afterward moved some three miles north of town. Rev. J. W. Mitchell, formerly a Methodist preacher, united with them and preached for them for several years. Rev. Win. Elliott and James L. Cole preached here in 1851, and occasionally for three or four years thereafter. The North Walnut church was organized by William Elliott and J. M. Wood in 1852 and was in 1860 merged into the Howard Grove church about five miles southeast of Richland. The said J. M. Wood will be remembered by many citizens for his peculiar manner of en- lightening mankind. On several occasions he came to town in an old buggy, and would drive around the public park singing as loud as he could, then stop his team, kneel in his buggy and pray, then stand up and preach to the crowd of boys and men that came laughing at his eccentricities and calling him crazy.
On the 30th of November, 1857, Eber Ward preached and organized a church at what was called the Wyman school-house, two and one-half miles west of town. They called it the Sharon Baptist Church. There were seven members entered into this organization. The first meeting was pro- tracted a few days, which resulted in five accessions to the church. On the 28th of March, 1864, Elder J. T. Walker, Narcissa Walker, N. H. Tyer, Maritia Tyer and Dosia A. Harlan, entered into an organization in Rich- land. After organization, on the same day, Mary Bales and Martha Bales were added to the congregation. Subsequently a few others were added.
The church north of town and the Sharon church merged into the Rich- land church, and continued in that name until December 12, 1874, when, by action of the church, the same was changed to Fairview; and although they for years called it the Richland Baptist church, their meetings were regularly kept up at the Wyman school-house, instead of at Richland. They now have a church-house at Fairview, five miles west of town, worth probably about $1,500, and a live working congregation numbering fifty- six members.
MORMONS.
In the year 1840, or 1841, two Mormon preachers, from Nauvoo, Illinois, came, and created a great excitement about ten miles southeast, and then came and preached at the house of Aaron Miller and stirred up the minds of a few persons. Mrs. Aaron Miller, William Miller, James Miller and and wife, and perhaps others, united with them. Mrs. James Miller was a sister to William Scearcy, and her parents and brothers were much opposed to her uniting with the Mormons. Her mother cried out publicly to the people to watch their horses or the Mormons would steal them. When these persons were about to join the church, they repaired to the water for baptism, one of the preachers designing to baptize and the other to lay on hands, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. But William Scearcy and his friends appeared, and with threats forbade the baptism of Mrs. Miller. The preachers threatened to send judgments upon Scearcy & Co., and de- stroy both soul and body, because by this disturbance they deferred the
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
baptism of all their converts. The next morning they slipped off and baptized all before Scearcy was aware of it. They all went to Nauvoo, and after some months some of them renounced their faith. Others went with them and are yet with them at Salt Lake.
The present township officers are:
Justices-W. W. Allen and W. G. Fedris. Constables-J. H. Kent and W. A. Tousey. Clerk-L. Bassett. Assessor-W. G. Bralliar.
Trustees-H. W. Tracy, W. T. Drummond and S. Harlan.
THE TOWN OF RICHLAND.
The town of Richland was laid out by Pryor C. Woodward on the 19th day of June, 1841, and surveyed by J. B. Davis, of Washington county. Soon thereafter Benjamin Edwards laid out another town just five miles northwest of Richland, on the grounds now composing the beautiful farm of Allen Stalker. This town was laid out as a rival of Richland. In one respect it had the advantage of most towns, for it had two names: one of which was Newton and the other Western City. As it and Richland were both desiring to be recognized as the capital of the county when organ- ized, it had another advantage, as will be subsequently shown, because the chief officer of the county designed to make of this place a great metrop- olis.
Among the first settlers in the town of Richland were Eleazer Bales, C. E. Woodward, John Noyes, John Raines, R. L. Mark, James Williams and Jonas Hoover. Hoover built the first house; Williams was the first postmaster; Raines was the first blacksmith, and although slow and tedi- ons, was a good workman. Many have seen a good sewing needle of his make, about the right size to carry No. 8 thread. Mark, and another man by the name of L. J. Smith, each had their shops in which they sold whisky and groceries, and especially the whisky. In 1844 the first store was set up by Beriah Haworth. The first hotel was by Dr. W. H. Tingle, in 1845. In 1848 Williams and McCracken built a steam saw mill.
I. O. O. F. LODGE.
Kossuth Lodge No. 32, was organized in Richland, March 19th, 1851. The charter members were S. Harned, N. G .; N. L. Witcher, V. G .; O. P. Sherraden, Sec .; J. D. Israel, T .; and S. A. Evans. Wmn. L. Orr, of Fair- field, was the acting D. D. G. M. At their first meeting there were four initiates, to-wit : H. Bagley, H. R. McPherson, J. W. Whitacre and W. H. Folmsbee. Their members increased rapidly and there have been initated here since the organization of the lodge two hundred and forty-one mem- bers. From this lodge have sprung the Lancaster, Sigourney, Talleyrand, Ioka and Brighton lodges, and two lodges in Nebraska. The Richland lodge has for the last twenty-five years maintained the honor of the insti- tution with friendship, love and truth. This lodge now numbers 97 mem- bers and owns real estate worth about $2,700 Their present officers are L. A. Funk, N. G .; R. M. Tracy, V. G .; M. L. Bristow, Sec .; L. Bral- liar, T .; S. A. Evans, financial secretary. None of the charter members
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
are now members here but Evans, and as far as is known, none but Evans and Harned now belong to the order.
RICHLAND ENCAMPMENT NO. 50.
This lodge was organized January 18th, 1871. The charter members were John Davis, John Stockman, S. A. Evans, James Davis, J. M. Davis, G. W. Stevens, John Carmichael, J. D. Haworth, A. C. Charlton, W. G. Fearis, W. T. Drummond, Daniel Davis and Thomas Thompson. They number about fifty members.
RICHLAND LODGE, NO. 38, A. F. & A. M.
This lodge was organized in June, 1852, and chartered June 8th, 1853. The charter members were J. D. Gray, W. M .; S. Harned, S. W .; W. H. Efner, J. W .; F. A. Dorr, N. L. Witcher, Wm. Grimsley, Thos. and D. N. Henderson. From this lodge have sprung the Pythagoras Lodge, of Lan- caster, the Talleyrand Lodge, of Talleyrand, Justice Lodge, of Ioka and Martinsburg Lodge, of Martinsburg. Richland Lodge now numbers fifty-one members, and owns property worth about $1,200.
TEMPERANCE ORANIZATIONS.
Richland has had its various temperance organizations, among which may be mentioned the Sons of Temperance and the Good Templars; be- sides others such as the old Washington, etc. But as the general sentiment is so radically favorable to temperance, and the town ordinance requires the payment of so much money in order to get a permit to sell intoxica- ting liquors, the several temperance societies have for some time past acted as though they thought it not necessary to maintain their organization.
POPULATION AND BUSINESS.
Richland has a population of about five hundred, and is well represented by all professions and every kind of business. It has long been considered a fine trading point, and is surrounded by as fine a farming community as can be found in the State. Its merchants have a reputation, of being re- liable; its mechanics are the best in the county, some of them having achieved distinction as inventors, and the professional men are deservedly popular, on account of their learning and skill. All that Richland needs to become one of the best inland towns in the country is a railroad. Many attempts have been made to secure a railroad and the people have showed a disposition to be taxed heavily for this purpose; but, as yet, all these at- tempts have failed. The time, however, is not far distant when some line will be extended into this, the most productive part of the county, and then let other railroad towns look out for a troublesome rival.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township was one of the first settled outside the old strip. Its congressional name is number 74 north, range 11 west. The lands in this township were surveyed and offered for sale in 1846, although the most de-
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
sirable lands were claimed, and a large portion of the township improved, prior to that time. The South Skunk forms the north boundary, which boundary is in consequence very irregular.
For farming purposes and stock-raising this township takes a front rank. The first part of the township settled was what was formerly known as the Rock Creek neighborhood, and the first settlement was made by Wm. Scearcy on the last day of April, 1843. According to treaty stipulations the country was to be open for settlement on the first day of May, and in order not to be late in profiting by securing the advantages which prompt- ness always vouchsafes, Mr. Scearcy started a day in advance. Although he started ahead of time he was not there any too soon to secure the desirable location where the first claim was staked out. Although Mr. Scearcy had his claim disputed he succeeded in establishing himself on it, where he still lives. In the competition for the best claims disputes not unfrequently arose, and for want of time and the pressing demand for speedy arbitration, these disputes were sometimes settled by recourse to pugilistic skill. The claim to Twin Groves, a very desirable location, was settled in this way, and the winner gave the loser a yoke of oxen for the future undisputed pos- session of the claim. Among the first to locate in the Rock Creek coun- try, and who came about the time Wm. Scearcy came, were Aaron Miller, Robert Blacker, Win. Webb, and Richard Quinton, the latter being elected from the county to the first constitutional convention, and afterward for several years, prior to his leaving the county, permanently indentified with the politics of the county.
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