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 70
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The first school-house was built in 1846, on the northeast corner of sec- tion 30, at a cost of $653. It was in this house that the first school, con- sisting of sixty-five pupils, was taught by William McLoud. He received as compensation $15 per month; he is now a farmer, residing on sec- tion 26.
A very few settlers came into the township until the year 1853, when there was quite an influx of settlers, so that in 1854 they had a temporary organization; but the first regular election was held by the order of Geo. Crispin, county judge, April 2d, 1855, at the home of Win. Pringle, there being only eleven voters in the township at the time, and the following persons were elected to the several offices: J. J. Kreamer, D. Rosecrans, John Crispin, township trustees; Wm. McLoud, township clerk; James Wilson and J. P. Kreamer, constables; C. W. Rosecrans, assessor; Wm. Pringle, supervisor; E. T. Case and E. W. Jeffries, justices of the peace: The present officers are: Justices of the peace, J. C. Evans and F. M. Gortner; constables, P. H. Clarahan and L. B. Disney; trustees, R. T. Carris, David Gregg and N. Besser; clerk, M. F. Mickey; assessor, Daniel Rosecrans.
Mr. Clemens put up a log cabain and lived in it about a year without any door, window or floor, except the mother earth. This cabin was close to the main Indian trail from English to Skunk river, but they were always friendly. During the second winter he was short of ammunition; some Indians came along with a good supply ; he tried to obtain some of them but they would not part with any. Some time before he met with an ac- cident which injured his left knee so that he was some lame at this time. He had raised a crop of turnips which he had stored under the floor of his cabin, and the Indians wanted some, but they would not trade powder for them. After a good deal of bantering with them and showing them his knee, they made a bet of fourteen turnips against a castor-oil bottle full of powder that he could outrun them a certain distance; the ground was marked off and he won the race, but before they left he gave themn the turnips.
KEOTA.
This town was laid out in 1872, by J. P. Yerger and C. H. Achard. It is located near the eastern border of the county, on the divide between
597
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
English and Skunk river, in section twenty-four, and is surrounded by as delightful country as the sun shines on.
The present limits of the town are: east and west three-fourths of a mile, north and south one-half mile. The first building erected was a drug store, by J. S. Kulp, February 14, 1871, and is still occupied by Mr. Kulp for the same purpose.
The town was incorporated in December, 1873, J. S. Kulp being chosen the first mayor. The independent school district of Keota was organized in August, 1873, and the same fall a school-house was erected.
The Keota post-office was established in March, 1872, Hon. J. F. Wilson being appointed post-master. He still occupies that position. To show the amount of business transacted by this office, it will only be necessary to state that the amount of money transmitted by postal orders alone will, this year, approximate the sum of $30,000.
The amount of shipping done over the C., R. I & P. railroad will amount to about 800 car-loads per annum. The shipments during the month of October, 1879, were as follows: Stock, twenty-six cars; grain, forty-two cars; emigrant's goods, two cars; merchandise, one car; potatoes, one car.
BUSINESS HOUSES.
Dry Goods, Groceries, Clothing, Boots and Shoes .- Moses & Erdice; J. H. Williams: Littler, Ashby & Co .; D. Sidey; Johnson & Schrecken- gast; M. Singmaster; Thompson & Bro.
Hardware, Sewing Machines, Guns, etc .- Palmer & Tallman; Joseph Kulp.
Druggists .- J. S. Kulp, D. L. Nercross; J. B. Irwin.
Agricultural Implements, Stoves, etc .- J. C. Clark, Ezra Barnes. Clothing .- Isaac Klein.
Meat Market .- J. Chatterton & Son.
Millinery and Dress-Making .- Fanny Shurts; Mrs. J. B Irwin; Sue M. Yockey; Mrs. R. S. Brice.
Grain Dealers .- Junkin & Ruder; J. S. Rice.
Furniture and Undertaking .- Henkle & Ritchey.
Flouring Mill .- Hefflefinger & Stewart.
Carriage Factory .- Van Winkle & Sons.
Hotels .- J. B. Warrington; L. A. Morton.
Produce Dealers .- J. F. Graham; W. L. Williams.
Livery .- J. C. Huskins; L. A. Morton.
Lumber .- Henkle & Hutchinson.
Boots and Shoes .- M. Daiber.
Jeweler .- G. H. Mantz.
Photographer .-- H. T. Holden.
These firms all carry a good stock and are among the most enterpris- ing in the State. The location of the town is a good one, but the great secret of its success is to be found in in the character of its men of business. Instead of discouraging competition, every inducement is held out for new firms to locate in the town, and to manufactories es- pecially have they held out special inducements. As an example of the amount of business which one man can successfully engage in, E. M. Ritchey, of this place, affords a good illustration. He is a member of the firm of Henkle & Ritchey, which carries a large stock of furniture of every
·
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
description, also of the firm of Littler, Ashby & Co., the leading dry- goods house, and besides this deals in sewing machines and musical instru- ments, and is secretary of the glass company. There are others who have more capital and transact fully as much business, but we refer to him as a fair example of what a Keota business man is. Keota owes its prosperity, however, as much to G. L. Reed, the editor of the "Eagle." To him be- longs the credit of securing to Keota
THE GLASS WORKS.
Mr. J. H. Leighton, then living in Wheeling, West Virginia, had been corresponding with parties in Oskaloosa, in this State, in reference to the erection of works there, but not meeting with satisfactory encouragement he determined to look up a more desirable point. Seeing a copy of the Keota "Eagle" in Wheeling, and being struck with the enterprise of the business men of this city, he determined to apply here and see what en- couragement he would receive. Accordingly Mr. L. corresponded with Reed, and through the courteous offer of Mr. Reed to lend him all the as- sistance in his power, he came on, and to-day, as a consequence, Keota, a comparatively new town in the wilds of Iowa, as the Eastern capitalists would say, is blessed with glass works, in full blast, turning out as good work, and as much of it, as any factory of its size in the United States; in fact it is the only flint glass works this side of Cincinnati.
Mr. Leighton came here comparatively unknown, although having the best of references from the attorney-general of the State of West Virginia and other prominent officials of the city of Wheeling; but even with these sub- stantial tokens of his integrity and worth, it was only with the utmost en- deavors and hard work that the large project was carried through.
These works are owned by a joint stock company, incorporated under the laws of the State, with the following officers:
President -- J. C. Charlton. Secretary-E. M. Ritchey. Manager-J. H. Leighton.
Directors-H. Henkle, G. Gregory, J. W. Tallman, R. S. Brice, J. C. Charlton.
The building is 50x104 feet, and has a seven-pot furnace. Ground was first broken for the building in May, 1879, and by September the works were in operation.
After three months' trial the venture gave such flattering promise of suc- cess that the directors determined to double the stock, which was immedi- ately taken, chiefly by the first stock-holders. About forty workmen are now employed, and this force is to be largely increased as the factory has facilities for the employment of double the present force. Mr. Leighton, the manager, comes of a family of glass manufacturers, and possesses se- crets relating to the manufacture of glass which have never been suffered to get out of the family, and as a consequence of this the glass which is being made under his direction is of a very superior quality. The goods turned out by this establishment are of a finer quality and can be sub- jected to more severe tests than any other made in the United States, and so generally has this fact come to. be recognized that without any partic- ular effort to introduce the goods, the demand far exceeds the supply. Sand
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
of a superior quality is procured within a few miles of the factory, while coal peculiarly adapted to the melting process is procured at Oskaloosa, at a distance of thirty-five miles, from which circumstances this establishment has great advantage in freights over every other in the country. The fol- lowing are the chief constituents which enter into the material from which the glass is made.
Sand, pounds. 1,400
Carbonate of soda, pounds 600
Lime, pounds. . 200
Nitrate of soda, pounds
200
Arsenic, pounds
10
Manganese, pounds
5
The establishment is now turning out work which would have seemed impossible in a town which seven years ago had no existence, and whose location ten years ago was the centre of a bleak, uncultivated and uninhab- ited prairie. Its success affords a good illustration of what skill, coupled with enterprise, will accomplish.
SCHOOLS.
The first school building was erected in the fall of 1873. It was a frame building and contained two rooms. In 1875 an addition was built to this building of two more rooms, thus furnishing accommodations for the rap- idly increasing school population, also completing the original design and making of the building a very handsome structure. The building as it now stands cost about five thousand dollars. The principal is R. P. Kelley, and the attendance is about two hundred. The school board consists of E. Moses, Jerome Palmer, A. K. Stewart, H. Henkle, J. W. Tallman, M. A. Hulse and G. L. Reed. E. Moses is president and J. T. Webber treas- urer.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church was organized May, 1855, the original members being John Reed, J. A. Reed, Mary A. Snodgrass, Hannah J. Reed, John Marshall, R. B. Curry, John Seaton and others. In 1875 a frame church- building was erected, at a cost of $3,000. Thus far the pastors have been Rev. J. V. Smock, Rev. Garret Hugger, and Rev. Alexander Danskin, the present one. The present membership numbers seventy.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1873. The following were among the original members: L. Duskee, Luther Torrey, A. J. Echerd, P. Kiser, H. P. Newton, G. P. McCrary and J. F. Graham. In the fall of 1873 a frame church-building was erected at a cost of $2,500. In January, 1874, the building was dedicated by Bishop Andrews. Revs. Messrs. Twining, Gortner, Davis, Miller and Pugh have been the pastors up to the present time, the latter serving in that capacity now. The mem- bership numbers sixty.
The Baptist Church was organized in December, 1872. J. K. Bryson and wife, A. Sypher and wife, Aaron Richardson and wife, Samuel Wise and wife, G. W. Cady and wife were some of the first members. The
600
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
church-building was erected prior to the organization of the church; in October, 1872, it was completed. It is a neat frame structure and cost $1,871. The building was dedicated in October, 1872, by Elder N. A. Reed. Elders Wood, Frey and Tracy have been the pastors. The congre- gation have no regular pastor at present. There are about ninety members now.
The United Presbyterian Church was organized in June, 1873. Theop- ilas Kirkpatrick and wife, Samuel Srocox and wife, Samuel McKee and his wife, with fourteen others, constituted the first organization. A frame church-building was erected in 1876 at a cost of $4,087. It was dedicated on the sixteenth of December, 1876. Rev. Robert H. Barnes has been pastor from the first. There are at present about one hundred members.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Adelphi Lodge, No. 353 A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensa- tion in July, 1875. The charter members were Hon. J. F. Wilson, Isaac Farley, E. Moses, N. G. Field, E. M. Ritchey, H. Henkle, J. Palmer, Wil- liam McLoud, Hon. H. N. Newton, H. P. Newton, A. L. Erdice and Daniel McFarlane. The present officers are, Isaac Farley, W. M .; Daniel McFarlane, S. W .; J. Palmer, J. W .; F. B. Home, treasurer; E. M. Ritchey, secretary; A. J. Lindner, S. D .; Robt. Renfroe, J. D. There are thirty-six members of the order.
Enterprise Lodge, No. 159, I. O.O.F., was originally organized at Talley- rand, and was removed to Keota in 1872. It has about fifty members with the following officers : B. F. Elliott, N. G .; H. Mantz, V. G .; E. M. Ritchey, treasurer; A. Green, secretary.
Keota Lodge, No. 103, A. O. U. W., was organized in February, 1876. Daniel McFarland, G. L. Reed, Isaac Farley, J. C. Clarke, H. Hen- kle, J. O. Wallace, F. M. Smock, J. H. Stauffer, A. L. Lindner and E. M. Ritchey were the charter members. J. O. Wallace is M. W .; Z. W. Hutchinson, F .; J. C. Clake, O .; J. E. Glover, recorder; E. M. Ritchey, financier; M. A. Hulse, receiver; A. Stewart, guide; are the present officers of the Lodge, whose membership numbers thirty-three.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Keota also has a public library containing about three hundred volumes. The library is located at Irwin's drug store and is accessible to all the mem- bers of the association, free of charge. The officers of the association are: Mrs. J. C. Clarke, president; J. B. Irwin, librarian; Miss Mollie Stewart, treasurer; A. L. Lindner, secretary.
The town contains at the present time over one thousand inhabitants, and its municipal authorities consist of the following officers:
Mayor-J. W. Tallman. Recorder-J. E. Eaton. Treasurer-J. C. Huskins.
Aldermen-J. F. Wilson, A. E. Stewart, A. L. Erdice, Joseph Charl- ton, J. S. Kulp, J. T. Webber.
Assessor-J. Koehler.
Street Commissioner-Isaac Schrecpengast.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
HARPER.
This is a thriving trading-point on the C., R. I. & P. railroad near the western boundary of the township, five miles west of Keota. It was laid out in 1872 and is situated on section thirty. It contains a post-office, flouring-mill, one hotel, a church, a comfortable school-house, and a lodge of I. O. O. F. The church belongs to an organization of Methodists, Mr. Salisbury manages the hotel, Robert Renfrew is the leading grain-dealer, Namur, Neiss & Fetzer are proprietors of the flouring-mill, while B. A. Cleveland and Hoffman & Bro. are proprietors of two stores of general merchandise.
Though Harper is a comparatively small place, the shipping done there is no small affair. During the month of October, 1879, it reached the number of fifty-three care, as follows: Hogs, 16; corn, 22; wheat, 6; oats, 4; rye, 3; potatoes, 1; emigrant's goods, 1.
Creswell is a post-office located in Lafayette township, north of Harper.
ST. ANDREW'S SOOCIETY.
This organization, as will be seen from the following preamble to the con- stitution, was formed in November, 1875. The society has flourished from the beginning and lias done a good work in the community. The northern part of Lafayette township is settled to a very large extent by people of Scotch origin. They are a moral, order-loving, benevolent and enterpris- ing class of people, and that section of country is one of the most delight- ful in the State.
PREAMBLE TO CONSTITUTION:
The benevolent feelings implanted by the Creator in the hearts of men are given for practical development, and if it is true that no braver hearts beat than those that throb under a Scottish plaid, much more so is it true that nowhere does the development of the benevolent feelings find a readier expression than among Scotchmen; the expression of these benevolent promptings is not confined to individuals; it assumes an organized form, and thus becomes more efficient, and concentrates individual efforts into a. well-digested and laudable system of benevolence; especially is it true of Scotchmen in foreign lands; ever since the organization in 1657, of the' "Scots' Charitable Society, of Boston," wherever a few Scotchmen located are together, an immediate desire arises to form a Charitable or St. An- drew's Society, for the purpose of relieving their distressed fellow-country - men.
In accordance with this natural trait of character, a few of the Scottish residents bestirred themselves to organize the St. Andrew's Society of Keo- kuk and adjoining counties. A call to meet and celebrate the anniversary of St. Andrew at Keota, was heartily responded to by the residents of the neighborhood and adjoining counties; among those present were Hon. J. F. Wilson, David Ferguson, D. H. Gregg, James Gregg, Dr. McFarland, Robert Patterson, A. Patterson, James Lyle, Robert Renfrew, James Wil- son, Thomas Simpson, and other patriotic Scotchmen, who earnestly dis- cussed the propriety and duty of forming a St. Andrew's Society; conse- quently, on November 30, 1875, the St. Andrew's Society was organized.
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
A committee was appointed to make drafts of a constitution and by- laws for the society (with David Ferguson as Chairman). A call to meet on February 7, 1876, which constitution and by-laws were adopted, with list of members' name, appended :
Hon. J. F. Wilson.
Hon. David Archer.
Dr. McFarland.
David Ferguson.
D. H. Gregg.
James Gregg.
A. Patterson.
R. Patterson.
James Wilson.
James Lyle.
Robert Lyle.
Thomas Simpson.
H. Gemeal.
John C. Wilson.
William Booth.
George G. Clyde.
David Clyde.
A. Teakle.
W. Ferguson.
James Ormsbey.
James Gregg, Jr.
Robert Renfrew.
John Driburg.
Alex. Robertson.
Arc. Stewart.
A. Stewart.
William Veitch.
LAFAYETTE PRESBYTERIAN CHUCH.
This church was organized in 1855, under the direction of Rev. D. V. Smock.
J. F. Wilson, wife and daughter, David Gregg and wife, James Palmer and wife, David Clyde and wife, D. H. Gregg and wife, and Miss Susanna Wilson, were the original members.
In 1869 a frame church was erected at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. It was dedicated the same year by Rev. D. V. Smock. The present pastor is Rev. Alexander Danskin. The membership at present numbers forty.
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY.
SIGOURNEY.
A DAMS, J. M., insurance agent; was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1830; at an early age he was taken by his parents to Perry county, Ohio, and in 1852 came to this county and was engaged in teaching, and fol- lowed mercantile pursuits; he held the office of sheriff for two terms; filled the position of cashier of the Sigourney bank and remained such until it sold out to the First Na- tional Bank; he has had a large experience in insurance and ex- press business, and at the present time is the agent of the United States Express Company; he rep- resents the following insurance companies: Home, N. Y .; North America, Philadelphia; Continen- tal and Springfield Fire and Ma- rine, Royal of England, North British Mercantile and Queen, besides various State companies; he married Miss Eunice I. Mc- Lean, in 1854; she was born in Green county, Ohio, and died in 1855; he married for his second wife Miss Susan C. Cissna, in 1857; she was born in Indiana; they have five children: Hattie I. (now Mrs. T. C. Weaver), Charles E., Milo A., Mary B. and Gertrude D. Adams, R., blacksmith.
ADAMS, JOSEPH, farmer; was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, in 1814, and raised there until 1821; he was raised a far- mer and afterward learned the
trade of blacksmith; he came to Washington county, Iowa, in 1839, and lived there until 1844, and since that time has made his home in Sigourney, where he worked at his trade for a long time; he owns a farm near town of 80 acres; he married Miss Mary Tracy, in 1839; she was born in Maryland and died August 11, 1879, leaving seven children: Margaret (now Mrs. Farra), Henry C., sheriff of the county, John B., Mattie A. (now Mrs. Ellis), James A., Mollie (now Mrs. Hay), and Wil- liam.
ADAMS, H. C, sheriff of Keokuk county; was born in Washington county, Iowa, in 1844, and brought to this county by his parents the same year; he was raised a far- mer; he enlisted in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry during the late war, in Co. D., and after serving three years re-enlisted as a vet- eran; he was present at the bat- tles of Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Vicksburg, and in the Atlanta campaign, and with Sher- man in his march to the sea, and participated in the grand review at Washington; he was mustered out as orderly sergeant of Co. D; after returning to his home he worked at the trade of blacksmith, and in 1877 was elected sheriff, and again in 1879 re-elected to the same office; he married Miss Sophronia Minteer in 1871; she
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
was born in Ohio; they have two children: Stella, and an infant daughter.
Abernethy, J. F., clerk. Alexander, Mrs. A. E.
Allbright, Geo., farmer, Sec. 35.
Alsup, G. W., farmer, Sec. 20. Alsup, T. F., farmer, Sec. 8.
Ames, J. W., farmer, Sec. 35.
Anchors, John, farmer, Sec. 35.
ANDERSON, J. T., hardware merchant; born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1847, and lived there until nine years of age, when his parents removed to Saux City, Wisconsin, where they resided eighteen months and then decided to settle in Washington county, Iowa, coming there in 1857; here the subject of this sketch was educated, and after a mercantile experience of four years came to this county in 1873, and connected himself with T. C. Cunningham, under the firm name of Cunningham & Anderson, dealers in hardware, agricultural implements and farm machinery; he married Miss Virginia I. Cun- ninghamn in 1872; she was born in Indiana; they have one daugh- ter: Mary Victorine.
Applegate, J. H., principal of schools. ARMSTRONG, DR. J. N., dentist; born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1851, and lived there until 1865, when he removed to Iowa; he entered the office of Drs. Wilson & Denise, dentists, of Burlington, to learn his profes- sion, after which he settled in this city, in 1876, and has since been engaged in the practice of dentis- try; he married Miss Mary E. House in September, 1877; she was born in this county; they have one child: Lewallen.
B AIRD, J. C., station agent C. R I. & P. R. R .; was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1835, and resided there until 1845, when he was taken by his parents
to Illinois; he enlisted in the 112th Ill. Vol. Infantry during the late war, and was sergeant- major of the regiment, and was in the service three years and three months; came to this county in 1874, and has been connected with the company he now represents eight years; he married Miss Jose- phine Annison, of Cambridge, Henry county, Illinois, in 1867; she was a native of New York; their family consists of five chil- dren: Rayınond, Evelyn, Lucy, Henderson and Elsie.
BAINES BROTHERS., dealers in general merchandise; the firm is composed of John M. and G. P. Banes; they are natives of Ohio and came to this state in 1856 and settled in Henry county; they have been selling goods from boy- hood, and may be said to have grown up to the business; they came to this county in 1872, and have built up a successful and profitable business and command a large trade.
Baldauf Bros. & Co., clothing deal- ers.
BARKER, W. H., farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Sigourney; born in Ver- mont, August 12th, 1828; was raised there a farmer, until 1856, when he moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin; he remained there until February, 1860, when he moved on the place where he now resides; owns 215 acres of land; in 1851 he married Miss Laura Wilcox, a native of Ver- mont; they have one child: Alice B. (now Mrs. Page), who has two children: Anna L. and Lloyd S .; in 1861 he enlisted as a private in Co. F, Eighth Iowa Infantry; served for three years and partici- pated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, Corinth, and others; Mr. and Mrs. Barker are members of the M. E. Church; he also belongs to Lodge No.
605
SIGOURNEY.
Ninety-eight, I. O. O. F., and A, O. U. W., No. Sixty-two, Sigour- ney; he and his son-in-law, Mr. Page, run the farm and also have a blacksmith shop in connection. Baker, J. N., farmer, Sec. 17. Basil, Jeremiah, farmer, Sec. 8. Basil, Stephen, farmer, Sec. 8. Beatty, J. A., stock dealer. BEATTY, WM., photograph artist; was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1844, and remained in Ohio until 1855, when his parents removed to Wis- consin, where they lived until 1856 and then settled in Burling- ton, Iowa, and in 1857 he changed his place of residence to Johnson county, Missouri, and while living here learned the art of photogra- phy, in which occupation he has since been engaged; he came to this county in 1873; married Miss Katie Shanafelt, in February, 1870; she was born in Moores- ville, Indiana; they have four children: Lottie, Willie, Anna and James D.
BEATTY, THOS., proprietor of the Beatty House; born in Mis- souri in 1814, and was raised in that State; his youth was spent in attending school and in mercantile pursuits; he became a prominent merchant of St. Louis, and ac- cumulated a large sum of money, which he lost in steamboat in- vestments; came to Iowa in 1851, settling at Pleasant Plains, and in 1852 removed to Richland, Keo- kuk county, where he engaged in general merchandise and buying stock; this occupation he followed twenty years, and in 1872 changed his business, came to Sigourney and purchased the Beatty House; he married Miss Mary A. Taylor, in 1840; she was born in Vir- ginia; they have five children: Catharine (now Mrs. McIndoe), James, Callie (now Mrs. Charl- ton), Mary, and Celia (now Mrs. Dr. Higgins).
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