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 69
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SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was erected in Sigourney in the summer of 1850,. previous to that time school having been held in the old court-house. This house was a frame building, 16 x 24, and was erected by Miles F. Reeves. The building is still standing, it being occupied at present by Mr. Corbin as a residence. The first teacher who ruled in this building was Hannah Gray. The second school-house was a two-story building, containing four rooms; this building is still standing, and is at present occupied as a resi- dence by Mr. Pickett, formerly principal of the Sigourney schools. At present there are two commodious brick school-houses capable of accom- modating the rapidly increasing population of the city for some time to-
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
come. The one situated in the south part of the city has been in use for a number of years, and at the time it was built was considered a very cred- itable building. It was not erected without a heated contest, and in this particular its history does not differ from the history of a majority of the school-buildings of the State. The building in the north part of the city has just been completed. It is not as large as the other one, but is an ele- gant structure, and well adapted to the purposes for which it was built, viz .: the accommodation of the primary pupils in that part of the town. The following are the present members of the school board:
A. G. Brown, president.
E. Shafer.
J. H. Shawhan.
R. Adams.
William Veitch.
M. Wightman. C. M. Brown, secretary.
Theodore Robinson, treasurer.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
Van Buren township corresponds with congressional township No. 76, range 12 west, with the exception of two sections in the southeast part of the township, which are attached to Sigourney township. The country is very broken, but there is an abundance of stone and timber, and the soil is very fertile and productive. In 1851 it contained a population of 283, and in 1856 a population of 715. According to the census of 1875, there were 1,036 inhabitants, 167 dwellings, and the same number of families. In the southern part of the township there is quite an important coal interest, which promises to become, in the course of time, one of the leading indus- tries of the county. The mine which is being operated at present is owned by Mr. Bounton and is operated by Mr. Durham. It was opened three years ago, and at present fourteen hands are employed. The vein is five and one-half feet thick, and by reason of its proximity to the Sigourney market finds a ready sale for its products.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Justices of the Peace-J. Wheeler and E. Allen. Constables-John Seaton and H. F. Rogers. Trustees-T. F. Ford, A. Kleitz and A. Swails. Clerk-E. Wheeler. Assessor-Samuel Woodridge.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Was organized in 1868. John Nouke, A. Kretman, F. Just, Andrew Licky, G. Neirman, John Kietreman, and others, were the original members. A frame. building was erected in 1868, at a cost of $1,100. The church was dedicated in November, 1868, by Rev. Mr. Sherman. The present member- ship is thirty-four.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
KENDRICK M. E. CHURCH
Was organized in 1863, Mr. Hilan, Mr. and Mrs. Mead, Mr. and Mrs. Dan- ner and Miss Sarahı Danner being the first members. A frame church building was erected in 1875, at a cost of $2,200, which was dedicated in October of that year by Rev. Mr. Mark. The present membership num- bers about seventy-five.
The only town of which the township ever boasted was Keenersburg, lo- cated on section four. Keenersburg is no more, and, like the cities of the plain, its location even would be difficult to trace out. Van Buren town- ship is likewise without any mail facilities except those which are furnished by adjoining townships.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
This corresponds with congressional township No. 76, range 13. It orig- inally included a large portion of what is now Warren township, and was called Coal township. At the January meeting of the county commis- sioners, 1846, the following order was adopted:
" Ordered, that the boundaries of Coal township be as follows: township 76, range 13; and also as much of township 75 as lies north of North Skunk river, shall be included in said township, and that the clerk record the same in a book kept for that purpose."
In 1847 the name was changed to Washington, and the boundaries de- fined as at present. In 1850 the township contained 215 inhabitants; in 1856, 580; and in 1875, 1,246. Absolom Waddle, one of the first settlers, is 103 years old, and still resides in the neighborhood where he first settled. John Garrett and wife were also early settlers; he is 92 years old and she is 82. They have been married 67 years, and have over one hundred de- scendants. One of the first settlements was in the vicinity of Springfield, which is among the oldest towns in the county. It is located on sections 28 and 33, and was laid out in 1845. It has always had a good country trade, and for many years has enjoyed postal privileges. Although this township compares very favorably with others in fertility of soil and other natural resources, it is chiefly noted for the coal interests. The centre of the coal fields is the town of What Cheer, known as Petersburg until recently, when the name was changed by authority of court. It is situated on sec- tion 10, and was laid out in October, 1865.
The steam flouring mill, owned and operated by Daniel Dodge, is one of the most important features of the place. Mr. Dodge was recently elected as a member of the board of supervisors, and is a man of capital, pluck and enterprise. A store of general merchandise is managed by Harland & Davis. The post-office is located in their building. J. H. Leathers is also a dealer in general merchandise. The What Cheer House and the Summit House are the leading hotels. There are nine principal coal banks, where are employed, in the aggregate, some three hundred hands. The principal persons engaged in the mining business are, William Clubb, Gillette & France and Rhodes & Bedford. The Railroad Mining Company own the largest mine, which covers a half section of land. This last mine has not yet been operated to any considerable extent, but when the track is laid to What Cheer, which will be in a short time, the mine will be worked to
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
its fullest capacity. The vein is six feet thick, and lies about seventy-five feet beneath the surface. The principal part of the coal mined in this county has been taken from the mines in the vicinity of What Cheer, and, although the mines have been situated at a distance of seven miles from the nearest railroad station, there were about 20,000 tons mined in the past year. When there is direct railroad communication with the mines, this will prove to be one of the most important mining regions in the State.
A remarkable suicide occurred in this place in 1877. David McCune owned and operated a grist-mill, and, on the 31st of June was found dead, suspended by the neck from a rope, in his mill. For a few days prior to the suicide it was noticed that McCune acted strangely, among other things giving away flour to all who wanted it. £ The mill was running till late in the night of the 31st, when the suicide occured, and has stood idle ever ! since.
The present township officers are as follows:
Justices of the Peace-William Humes, and J. K. Pratt. Constables-George Downing and T. C. Ritenhouse. Clerk-J. C. Headlee.
Trustees-Thomas Thornloe. David Baxter and George Elliott. Assessor-H. M. Harlan.
PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
It corresponds with congressional township, No. 77, range 13. Although it contains some of the best farming lands in the county, it was not settled till long after the rest of the county. When the settlements did begin the country was improved rapidly, and at present there is probably not a sec- tion of land in the township which is not improved. The first settlers were: J. H. Grasser and Cyrenus Emmons. The former came from Ohio and settled in Adams township; from there he went to Prairie and settled on section fourteen, where he now resides. Emmons came from Ohio and settled on section thirty-two. One of the first physicians was Dr. J. D. Davis, who came from Richland. Rev. D. C. Smith, a Methodist minister, preached the first sermon at the house of Harley Peck; the Friends organized the first church. L. Hollingsworth, afterward county auditor and treasurer, now residing in Sigourney, taught the first school in Coal Creek district; he received $27 per month and had twenty-six pupils. The first school-house was built in this district in 1867, at a cost of $400. It was afterward moved on to section thirty-two, and is now the residence of Aaron Pim. In the early settlement of this part of the county prairie fires were of frequent occurrence, and sometimes very destructive. When dis- asters of this kind occurred, the more fortunate neighbors spared no effort to relieve the wants of the sufferer.
The town of Coal Creek was laid out in April, 1866, and the plat in- cludes parts of four sections, 29, 30, 31 and 32. There has been a post- office located here for a number of years.
The B., C. R. & N. railroad passes through the south part of the town- ship, upon which has recently been laid out a town by the name of Thorn- burg.
In 1850 this township was not yet settled and had no separate organiza-
@amiel Mir arlane
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
tion; what few persons may have resided in its present limits were attached to what was then known as Coal township. In 1856 it contained a popula- tion of 105; in 1875 in contained a population of 926. No other town- ship except Lafayette can show such a rapid increase in population.
The present township officers are:
Justices of the Peace-N. Holderman and E. Rust. Constable-J. P. Santee. Trustees-Samuel Smith, C. Allison, W. H. Biglow.
Clerk-Thomas Ward.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
This township is located in the north part of the county and corresponds with congressional township No. 77, range 12. For several years after it began to be settled, it was a part of English River township. In 1850 it contained a population of 29; in 1856 the population amounted to 164 males and 129 females; in 1875 there were 949 inhabitants. The first four settlers in Adams township were John Ballard, Hugh Rodman, John Duke and Moses McCoy. In 1849 Martin Ballard taught the first school. William P. Cross was the first man married, and the first death was that of a daughter of David Miller, on the farm where Solomon Hallett now lives. The first town laid out was Aurora, situated on sections three and four. In October, 1879, the town of Keswick, on the line of the B., C. R. & N. rail- way, was laid out; it is situated on sections twenty-one and twenty-two.
The present township officers are as follows:
Justices of the Peace-T. E. Johns and Thomas Cover. Constables-S. Carl and M. Holliday. Trustees-Daniel Gordon, Thomas Cover and Wm. Cross. Clerk-A. H. Stephenson. Assessor-J. F. Burdine.
ENGLISH RIVER TOWNSHIP.
In 1850 this township contained a population of ninety; in 1855 it was 676, and in 1875 there were 1,260 inhabitants. In April, 1845, the town- ship of English River was organized and comprised all of Liberty, English River and Adams. The first settlement was made near the present site of South English by James Mehaffee and Jacob Bowers, in the year 1844. In 1845 James Thomas and John Houston came. The family of James Thomas was the first, the others being unmarried, and located on the north- west quarter of section twenty-two. Houston located on section twenty- four, near the present site of South English, and this place was for a num- ber of years called Houston's Point. James Chambers and H. H. Rodman settled soon after on section thirty. Thomas Morgan settled in 1847, and the following winter Chambers Rodman froze to death. He started to Sig- ourney early in the morning of a mild winter day, and while there became somewhat intoxicated. He did not return, as was expected, in the evening. The next morning some young men started from Houston's Point to hunt for deer, and had not proceeded far until they heard Rodman's dog bark. Being attracted by the barking of the dog, they proceeded to the spot,
36
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
where they found the dead body of Rodman frozen stiff. The first birth in that neighborhood was the daughter of H. C. and Rebecca Rodman, March 27, 1846. The first deathi was that of a child of James Thomas.
The township was organized with twenty voters, in April, 1852. The snow was at that time one foot deep. At this, the first election, the follow- ing officers were chosen :
Trustees-Joel Slate, H. H. Rodman and James Thomas.
Clerk-Henry Fawel.
Justice-W. S. Slate.
The present township officers are:
Justices-Thomas Leasly and A. D. Spickerman.
Constables-Bacon Holmes and R. Webster.
Trustees-T. A. Morgan, Adam Wheeler and W. A. Gore. Clerk-J. H. Root.
Assessor -- D. N. Coffman.
This section of country has always been noted for the enterprise, inde- pendence and intelligence of its citizens. The first settlers were from that part of the Union where churches and free schools abounded, and those who have since settled have been of the same character, consequently schools and churches were early organized.
The Methodist Episcopal was the first organized, in 1851, with the fol- lowing named persons as members: Joel Slate and wife, Martin S. Slate, L. E. Slate, H. H. Rodman and wife, and S. M. Glandon. The Baptist was the second organization, in 1855.
A union Sunday-school was organized in the fall of 1857, by a Baptist preacher from Iowa City, with the following officers: superintendent, Joel Slate; secretary, M. Slate; librarian, S. M. Glandon. It had a library of two hundred volumes.
The M. E. Church built the first meeting-house, in 1859.
The first sermon preached was at the funeral of Chambers Rodman, by Father Elliott, a Baptist preacher.
South English now has three meeting-houses, to-wit: Methodist, Baptist and Christian. Webster has two: Methodist and Congregational. White Pigeon one: Christian.
The first school we have any account of was taught by S. M. Glandon in 1851,and the school-house was no modern structure, as there were no win- dows to it. Webster had the first frame school-house, and it is doing duty yet, although built in the fall of 1854. There are now ten schools.
The first marriage was Lem. Brinor to Miss Dinah Houston, in June, 1852, M. S. Slate officiating. The first death was a child of James Thomas.
The first frame house was built in 1852, by S. M. Slate, and is a pretty good house yet. Mr. Slate has lived in the house ever since, until last fall, Twenty-three years without moving is something unusual in Iowa. The first store was kept by Ethan Post, and it is said of him by the early set- tlers that he could generally by found at his post-fast asleep. The first saw-mill was built by William Slaydon. The first postmaster was H. H. Rodman.
Of the old settlers there is still living here Grandmother Houston, and Rebecca Rodman (widow of Chambers Rodman). James Thomas is liv- ing in Oregon; H. H. Rodman in Missouri. In addition to the above
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
there are several citizens still living there who have been in the township for over twenty-five years. Among them are Thomas Morgan, Mrs. Hux- ford (daughter of H. H. Rodman), S. M. Glandon and wife, M. S. Slate, Cordy Glandon and family, and Moses Hall and wife.
The town of South English was laid out in March, 1855, and was located on sections 23, 24, 25 and 26. Since the railroad has been located through the township, there being no suitable depot grounds in the old town, a new addition has been laid out near the depot, a short distance from the old town, and a large number of the houses are now being moved there. The first store was started shortly after the town was laid out. At present South English is quite a business point and bids fair to become quite a town, now that it has railroad facilities.
J. F. White, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general merchandise is the leading merchant of the place, and a man of large capital and great in- fluence. There are few men in the county who have so wide-spread reputa- tion as Mr. White. Especially in that part of the county has he exerted a wide-spread influence and contributed much toward the development of the country.
C. F. Crosby is a dealer in groceries; he is also a very successful business man and possessed of large influence. The following other firms are doing a good business: W. T. Coffman & Co., drugs; W. T. Platt, drugs; W. M. Shepherd, hardware; Geisler & Garlick, lumber; J. F. Mead, blacksmith; J. Q. Lewis, saddlery; N. C. Miller & Son, livery. There is a first-class hotel kept by U. Younkin. The following are the leading physicians: W. W. Newsome, A. Hale and Dr. Cocklin.
The " Western Herald " is a sprightly newspaper published here, a brief history of which is given in the chapter on the " Press of the County."
The Methodist Church was organized in September, 1851, and a frame church-building was erected in 1858, at a cost of $600. Revs. Messrs. Hestwood, Orr, Skinner, Manderville, Shain, Teter, Baker, Smith, Miller, Davis and Wycoff are the ministers who have been pastors. The member- ship at present numbers thirty-one. Of the original members Mr. Slate and S. M. Glandon are yet active communicants.
The Christian Church was organized in 1856. In 1875 a frame building was erected at a cost of $1,200, which was dedicated the same year by Elder Carpenter, of Oskaloosa. The present membership numbers twenty.
The South English Lodge No. 263, I. O. O. F. , was organized October 10, 1873, C. F. Crosby, T. A. Morgan, A. Klindschmit, F. E. White, John Nyswaner and J. C. Wilson being the charter members. There are forty members of the order at present.
Naphtali Lodge No. 188, A. F. & A. M., was organized August 10, 1865. A. D. Griffin, Henry Meeker, B. F. Black, W. P. Teeters, J. D. Kirby, J. G. Miles, S. M. Waters, S. M. White, J. F. White, Wallace Har- monson, Wm. Hartsock, James McLaughlin, Solomon Hallett, were the charter members. The following are Master Masons: A, D. Griffith, Henry Meeker, J. F. White, Thos. Seerley, W. W. Newsome and J. C. Wilson. There are at present thirty-four members of the order. The present officers are: J. C. Wilson, W. M .; W. H. Wait, S. W .; Wm. Sloan, J. W .; J. F. White, treasurer; D. N. Coffman, secretary; J. Ax- mear, S. D .; C. D. Kemball, J. D .; Thos. Seerley, tyler.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
WHITE PIGEON
Is located on sections 6 and 7 and was laid out in June, 1855. It has a post-office and one church. This is a Christian Church and was organized in 1859 by Elder E. Scott. A Carmichael and wife, A. J. Lutton and wife, M. Higgins and wife, C. K. Wheeler and wife, and R. Smith and wife were among the first members. A frame church was erected in 1875 at a cost of $1,200. The present membersnip is thirty-five. The church was dedicated in 1875 by Elder J. N. Smith.
WEBSTER.
This town is situated on sections 30 and 31 and was laid out in April, 1854. It is a place of considerable business and contains a post-office and two churches, Methodist and Congregational. The former was organized in the fall of 1853. Wm. Reed and wife, Thomas Morgan and wife, and M. J. Monicue were among the first members. A frame church-building was erected in 1873 at a cost of $2,100. This building was dedicated to the worship of God in December, 1873, by Rev. James Hill. Reverends Messrs. Orr, Mandeville, Sherman, Smith, Robison, Elrod, Kendrick, Pugh, Davis, Miller and Wycoff have been some of the pastors. The present membership is sixty-seven.
The Congregational Church of Webster was first organized at South English in October, 1866. In September, 1870, the congregation changed its place of meeting from South English to Webster, and in 1871 a frame church-building was erected at the latter place, costing about $1,800. The building was dedicated the same fall by Joseph Pickett of Des Moines, who was chiefly instrumental in erecting the building and contributed liberally toward the building fund. The pastors thus far have been E. B. Ellis, F. Crang and James E. Moore. The original members were, Charles Hoyt, Susanna Hoyt, Emma J. Hoyt, Delia C. Root, J. H. Root and Laura A. Root. The membership now numbers forty-eight.
Webster has always been a good trading point and with the new impetus it has recently received by the extension of the B., C. R. & N. railroad, promises to become a place of considerable importance.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
This is the northeastern township of the county, and is known upon the tax-books and by real estate dealers as township No. 77, range 10 west. In 1850 it had a population of 5; in 1856 there were 399, and in 1875 there were 1,080 inhabitants.
The present township officers are as follows:
Justices of the Peace-John Wilson and John Moler.
Constables-Wesley Simons and W. S. Roach.
Trustees-Thos. McCam, W. S. Roach and James Beaty.
Clerk-Thomas Kelley.
Assessor-John McMahon.
The township was organized in March, 1854, at the solicitation of Wil- liam J. Watkins, and named by him in honor of the township from which
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
he came in Henry county, Indiana. The settlers at that time were Thomas and James Butler, Isaac Truax, William Harding, R. McDowell, John J. Whitmore, James Lockridge, and others who have since died or changed their location to some other part of the country.
The first election was held on the first Monday in April, 1854, at which time the following officers were elected: Clerk, Wm. Harding; justice of the peace, George Disor; trustee, Thomas Watkins; assessor, W. J. Wat- kins, who took as pay for his services a warrant, and traded the whole of it for a $2.50 pair of boots. This assessment was made in that same year, 1854, and was the first in the township. David Brown, Jeremiah Suitor and Henry Lockridge acted as judges of the election, and Win. J. Watkins as clerk. This township has eight school districts, and the first school- house was in district No. 3. The first death in the township was a child of William Carmichael. The first marriage was that of Louis May to Catharine Watkins, by George Disor, J. P. ; the next was that of James Lockridge to Lucy Whitmore. The first preaching was in a school-house, and in 1854 the Dunkers organized their church, which is still in good con- dition. Beside this, there are two other churches, German Baptist and Catholic. The former was organized in 1855, Samuel Brower, D. Miller and S. Florey being among the first members. In 1865 a frame church- building was erected, at a cost of $2,500. Elders David Brown, Samuel Florey, Andrew Moler, B. F. Florey and Christopher Brower have been the pastors. The present membership is about 130.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH
Was organized in 1875 by Rev. J. F. Nugent. Martin Stapleton, John Kelley, Patrick Devine, Anthony Kelley, Patrick Rourke, Patrick Mc- Cam, and others, were the first members. A frame church building was erected in 1875, which cost $2,000. The land upon which the building was erected was donated by Patrick McCam. There are about twenty fam- ilies belonging to this church.
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP.
This is the same as congressional township No. 76, range 10. In 1856 it had a population of 181; in 1875 it was 1,762. It was a part of Clear Creek township until 1855, when it was organized into a separate township, the population at that time numbering 50. In 1842 a claim was taken in the northwest portion of the township by Roe Clemmons, near what is now known as Holsworth's Grove. This, the first settlement, was made about the same time other parts of the county were settled, but on account of the scarcity of timber this section was shunned, and from this cause the rest of the county was well populated before Lafayette got a start. The next set- tlement was made in 1843 by J. J. Kreamer and J. P. Kreamer, who set- tled on Clear Creek, in the southern part of the township. At the time the township was organized the most of the land belonged to speculators, which was found to be a serious obstacle in the way of rapid settlement. In order to remove this impediment, and at the same time secure educa- tional facilities, the few settlers began to levy enormous taxes for school purposes. This had the effect of bringing the speculators' land into mar- ket, and of erecting commodious school-houses on each four sections of land
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
in the county. At the beginning of the late war the township had a pop- ulation of about 200, and of these 21 enlisted in the army.
The township now has a population of nearly 2,500, and so rapid have been the improvements during the past five years that nearly all the land is now under cultivation, and it is now regarded as the garden of Keokuk county.
The first couple married was John Joseph Kreamer and Mrs. Mary Besser in 1845, the ceremony being performed by Jacob Wimer, a justice of the peace in Lancaster township. The first birth was that of Joseph Kreamer, December 24, 1845; the second that of Mary Kreamer, Novem- ber, 1846. The death of Peter Besser, in October, 1844, was the first, he having been buried in the Shockley grave-yard, near Skunk river. Dr. T. B. Mc Williams was the first physician to locate in the township, and Rev. Mr. Smith, of the Presbyterian Church, preached the first sermon at the house of E. T. Case, in December, 1855.
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