The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 85

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Iowa > Lee County > The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the 10th of September, 1836, the proprietors of the West Point made a sale of lots, after pretty full advertisement The proprietors were all temperance men, and one or two of them Elders in the old blue-stocking Presbyterian Church, and they had set apart a liberal plat of ground to their late minister, who was coming to settle there, and they had arranged to build a meeting-house and organize a church. To be a " hard-shell" Baptist was then respectable with the settlers ; to be a Campbellite, was passable ; and to be a Methodist, could be tolerated ; but they felt that it was asking rather too much for any one to come among them, and propagate temperance and blne-stocking Presbyterianism. It was strongly whispered that this was a bad lot to settle a new country-in fact, it was whispered pretty loudly. The proprietors were very anxious to have their sale a success. They were all Kentnekians, and, at that time, had scen but few Yankees ; still, they had picked up some Yankee ideas, and, as nearly all the settlers were from the South, they concluded to make, on the day of sale, a regular, old-fashioned barba- cue. No sooner was this known, than the hard-shells themselves softened, and offers from all quarters were made to take charge of the roasting department of the barbecue, and the worst of enemies became the best of friends. Both the sale and the barbecue were a grand success ; plenty to eat for all, and well cooked, no one intoxicated, everything cheerful and pleasant. The sale nmounted to about $2,300.

West Point itself and immediate vicinity, up to its being cursed with getting the county seat, for which it struggled so long, was a model town for sobriety and moral character.

When first settled, it was a sort of half-way place of meeting, between a clan that lived on the Skunk, headed by a notorious rough of the name of Hamp. Rattan, and an almost equally hard set that lived on Sugar Creek, headed by a family of the name of Points. These parties would regularly meet in West Point, on Saturdays, run scrub-races, drink whisky, and made themselves generally disagreeable to the good citizens. The Rattan crowd were horse thieves and regular desperadoes. They finally became so bad that the citizens encouraged the Points party, and, one Saturday, they drove the Rattan party out of town, and finally out of the country ; and as the county settled up, the Points party naturally drifted off. John Points was known as the bully of his section, although not at all quarrelsome.

At that time, there was a man of the name of Allan living near where Charleston is situated How. Allan was from Maine, and prided himself on being a Yankee-an article scarce at that time in that section. Allan had heard of Points as the bully of West Point. Points was a Ken- tuckian. Allan sent him word that he would meet him in West Point on a certain Saturday ; that he was from Maine, and that he believed a Waine man could whip any Kentuckian. With the Saturday, Allan and Points met for the first time. Their friends formed a ring, and the two men went to work. Points had ten friends to Allan's one, but no one said a word. Perfect fair-play was observed until Allan said he was whipped. It was a rough-and-tumble fight, and

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

never were two men more evenly matched, and seldom better men. The fight was long and desperate, and both men were badly mangled when through.

Old Father Brand, a Virginia gentleman of the old school, who had graduated into a Justice of the Peace, commanded the peace, and commanded the power of the commonwealth to stop the tight : but no one obeyed, and the commonwealth stood still until the fight was over, when he had both participants arrested. Each one pleaded that it was merely in fun: no harm was intended ; that it was merely to test the fighting-qualities of Maine and Kentucky. Allan was very eloquent that Points, at least, should not be fined, as he was the victor : but the Justice could not be convinced that it was legal for men to fight in fun. He fined them $5 each, but } never heard of the fine being collected.

Another fighting scene, at that early day, was laughable in the extreme. Among the early settlers in West Point was a family of the name of Dodds. The old man was a little knob of a man, who did not weigh more than one hundred and twenty-five pounds ; but he had been a celebrated fighter in Tennessee in his day. He had two sons, Orrin and Warren-both now good citizens in Arkansas. Orrin had a store on the southeast corner of the town : the doggery was on the northwest corner. There was a little path from the grocery up to Dodd's store, beaten through the grass. One beautiful evening. just about sunset, a big, blustering man of the name of Driscoll, from Kentucky, was boasting in the grocery of how many men he had whipped, and declaring, with boisterous oaths, that he could whip any man of his age. Dodd was by, but he had lost his voice, so that he could only whisper ; but he went up to Driscoll, who was twice as big as he was, and asked him how old he was. Driscoll said he was sixty-five. Dodd, without saying a word, started slowly up the path to his son's store, who was at the time sitting out by the door. When he got there. he whispered "Orrin. old Driscoll says he can whip any man of his age. He is sixty-five ; 1 am seventy-two. Will 1 whip him ?" Orrin replied, " If you can make anything by it." The old man, without saying another word, turned and deliberately walked back the same path to the grocery, and again went up to Driscoll and said : " You say you can whip any man of your age. You are sixty-five; I am seventy-two;" and-diff!"he took him, knocked him down and jumped upon him. Driscoll commenced hollowing " Murder ! murder :" The bystanders took off Dodd, when he again slowly and quietly marched up the sanie path to his son's store and said, " I whipped him!" and that was the last of it. Driscoll was badly hurt, and never got drunk in town after that. It made him a good citizen.

The ambition of West Point in the early day of its greatness was to be the county seat, and after many trials and many failures, it finally succeeded in getting the Court House. L'p to thai time, Salmon had had a monopoly of selling whisky for the thirsty and the traveling men ; but during court, John G. Kennedy, of Fort Madison, opened out with a caboose, where he was sup- posed to sell ·· choice red-eye."

Near the town lived a noble old man of the name of Creel, au old-fashioned Kentnekian. who kept up the Kentucky rule of taking a dram when he went to town. During court week, Creel came to town, and meeting a friend, they went to Kennedy's and took a couple of drinks. Creel then went into the Court House, and, not liking something that was said or done, very emphatically objected. Judge Mason was on the bench at the time, and he fined Creel five dollars.

After adjournment of Court, the old man went to Col. Stewart's residence, where Judge Mason was stopping, and told the Judge that he did not object to or complain of the tine, but that he really thought it should have been put on Kennedy and not him. The Judge, in his kind way, asked, "Why so?" " Why," says the old man, " I go to town, generally, about once a week, or once in two weeks, and, according to my old custom, I go to Salmon's and take two drinks, 1 treating some one and he treaung me. We are used to Salmon's whisky; it is not strong and does not hurt us ; we understand it. But here comes this man Kennedy, from Fort Madison, with his new kind of whisky, that we know nothing about, and I take only my two drinks, and it intoxicates me so 1 am fined. It was not me, but Kennedy, that was to blame." The Judge at once agreed to and did remit the fine.

FIRST PREACHERS, FIRST SERMONS, ETC.

The first preachers who visited West Point were Rey Daniel Cartwright, a Wesleyan Methodist, and a distant relative of Peter Cartwright: a Mr. Burns, who lived near Skunk River, and a mulatto preacher of the Methodist faith, who lived in Van Buren County, an intelligent man and a good preacher. Rev. Cartwright died about twelve years ago, at Kossuth, in Des Moines County, where his son Harrison still lives, engaged in merchandising. The first Pres- byterian minister was Rev. Alexander Ewing, who may be mentioned as the first minister holding regular services. Until the completion of the Presbyte- rian Church, meetings were usually held at the house of William Pat- terson.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian Church was organized under authority of the Presbytery 1 of Schuyler, June 24, 1837, and is believed to be the oldest Presbyterian Church organization in the State. The services were conducted by Revs. Samuel Wilson and L. G. Bell. The original members were William Patter- son and wife Eleanor ; Alexander H. Walker and wife Isabella; Ambrose Stone and wife Catherine ; David Walker and wife Nancy ; Cyrus Poage and wife Mary. William Patterson, A. H. Walker and Cyrus Poage were elected and installed Ruling Elders.

Of the original members, Cyrus Poage, who was a surveyor, moved to Mis- souri ; Isabella and Nancy Walker died while members of the Church ; William Patterson and wife removed to Keokuk ; David Walker, who died in 1876, was the last one of the original members left at West Point.

Rev. Alexander Ewing was the first minister called to the Church, and was its Pastor from 1838 until 1841. He was succeeded by Rev. Salmon Cowles. who remained only one year, when Rev. John M. Fulton took charge for two years. Rev. L. F. Leake preached from 1844 to 1846, when Rev. Cowles returned and remained until 1847, when his connection was again severed, and his place filled by James L. Fullerton, who, in 1851, gave way to Rev. James G. Wilson, now U. S. Consul at Jerusalem. Mr. Wilson was Pastor of the Church until 1853, when Rev. Cowles returned for the third time, and remained until 1860. In that year. Rev. George D. Stewart, now of Fort Madison, was called to the pastorate. During Mr. Stewart's administration, there was an ex- tensive revival, and many were added to the Church. In 1865, Mr. Stewart received a call from the Presbyterian Church at Burlington, Iowa, which was accepted, and he was succeeded by Rev. William Crow, who remained for two years, when "Father Cowles," as he had come to be called, again assumed charge for one year. He was followed by Rev. Henry B. Knight, who remained until 1869. Rev. George A. Hutchinson succeeded him and continued two"

years. In 1871, Rev. James Welch was called to the Church, and during his administration the Church had a season of revival. The present Pastor, Rev. J. P. Baker, took charge of the Church in 1878, with a membership of 116.

The first church building was a brick structure, erected in 1838 or 1839. and was the first built of that material in the State. It stood on the same lot occupied by the present building.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This Church was organized by a Rev. Mr. Jennison, in 1839, at a meeting held in the old log schoolhouse, then standing on the corner of Race and Jeffer- son streets.

The original members were William Alexander, William Stewart, Simon Cooley, Lewis Pitman, William Rose, John Honnal and George Berry, with their wives, and in some cases their children were members. Also, Mrs. Eunice Harger and Mrs. James Scott, making the total membership about twenty. After organization, church services were held, sometimes in the office of 'Squire Brand's hotel, and occasionally in the old log schoolhouse. These two places were the only places capable of accommodating religious assemblies, and were occupied by all denominations.

During the year 1842, a small church was erected on Hayne street, in which the society worshiped until the year 1855, when they sold the old building to the German M. E. Church, and erected a more commodious building on the

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

corner of Jefferson and Race streets. In 1862. the Church had increased in membership sufficiently to secure and support a minister for his whole time. The Church continued to grow until 1865, when the roll of membership had reached 150. About this time, however, dissensions among the members caused a falling off, and. although the organization is still maintained, the Church has never since experienced its former condition of usefulness. A Sabbath school was organized shortly after the Church was established, with some forty or fifty members. William Alexander was the first Superintendent.

GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.

The German M. E. Church was organized in the fall of 1852, by Rev. Mr. Kofpfaga, with ten members-P. Wooster, his wife and daughter Annie ; Peter Roth and wife, Jacob Yotter and wife, Jacob Risser and wife, and Charles Whitlock. In the year 1855, they purchased the old brick church first built by the M. E. Church, which they occupied until 1877, when they they built their present neat and tasty church, 28x30 feet, on the site of the old brick. The present membership is twenty-three.

Soon after the organization of the Church, a Sabbath school was estab- lished, which now has an average attendance of sixty. P. Wooster was the first Superintendent, and so continued until 1877, when he was succeeded by Charles Whitlock. There are also three Bible-classes in connection with the Church, which are in a flourishing condition.

The following is a list of ministers who have been assigned to the Church since its organization : - - Kofpfaga, Charles Schneider, and - Conrad, who died during the second year of his pastorate.

MENNONITE CHURCH.

As early as 1839, a few families of this faith had settled in the neighborhood of West Point; but it was not until 1845, that they had increased in number sufficiently to warrant the organization of a church.

In the spring of that year, Johannes Mueller (John Miller), a Mennonite preacher, arrived with his family, and, shortly after, a meeting was held to . arrange for holding religious services. The night following this meeting, the house occupied by Miller was entered by robbers, Miller was brutally murdered, and his son-in-law, Henry Leisa, who occupied the house with him, received such wounds that he died shortly afterward.

In 1849, a second effort was made to organize a church. At this meeting, held on Sunday, Second-Advent Day, there were present Isaak Berghthold. Jacob Berghthold, Christian Gram, John Roth, Christian Schmitt, Jacob Risser, Jacob Ellenberger. John C. Krehbiel, Christian Krehbiel, Abraham Deutsch, David Herstein, Michael Roth, Jacob Roth, Jacob Blum and J. Goebel-fifteen in all. Jacob Ellenberger and John C. Krehbiel were elected preachers, and Isaak Berghthold, Jacob Risser and Christian Krehbiel as a Church Committee.

Meetings were held regularly from this time forward ; the private houses of the members being used until 1850, when a log house was built on land previ- ously purchased, three miles south of West Point, near Sugar Creek. The first services held in this church was on Pentecost Whitsunday, in 1850; and on the same day, in 1851, the preachers were ordained, and the first communion adminstered by Rev. David Ruth.

In 1855, the place of worship was removed to West Point, the schoolhouse and private residences being used for the purpose until July 26, 1863. when the congregation took possession of their new frame church.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

At this first service, there were present the following ministers : Heinrich Ellenberger, the blind Mennonite preacher, from Lyons ; Christian Schowalter, of the Franklin German Evangelical Church ; - Braschler, of the German M. E. Church ; and George D. Stewart, of the Presbyterian Church of West Point.

The old log church on Sugar Creek was sold, but the lot on which it stood is still owned by the Church, and is used as a cemetery.

The present membership of the Church is 59, and the value of the church property is estimated at $800. Rev. John C. Krehbiel is the present Pastor.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

Efforts to obtain a detailed sketch of this Church were not rewarded. Rev. J. P. McAuley, the present Pastor, resides in Dallas, Ill., and divides his time with this and other churches.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Catholic Church was organized in the summer of 1842, under the administration of Father J. G. Allemann, at that time located at Fort Madison. The heads of families who comprised the original membership were as follows : R. W. Strothman, Johan Rompp, Bernard Helman, Arnold Fullenkemp, Henry Dirker, Frank Witte, Bernard Brockman, Bernard Droppel, G. Droppel, Joseph Strothman and Bernard Dingman. The first services were held at the house of Joseph Strothman, Father Allemann officiating ; soon after which, Father Allemann came to live at West Point, boarding at Mr. Strothman's. In the winter of 1842-43, the erection of a frame church-building, 21x40 feet, was commenced, which was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1843. The con- gregation, at that time, had increased to fourteen families. Father Allemann was succeeded by Father Michel, in 1846. His successors, in their order, were Rev. Fathers Reffe, Hottenberger, Johannes, Orth and Jacoby, who is now the priest in charge.

The first church built sufficed for eight or ten years, when it was enlarged and used until 1858. In that year, the erection of the present building was commenced, under the auspices of Father Reffe. It is not possible to state the cost of this building, as the brick were manufactured on the ground, and the largest part of the labor performed by members of the Church. The outlay on the building, in cash, was about $6,000. The organ cost $800, and the three fine-toned bells that hang in the tower, $3,000. The member- ship of the Church, at this time, consists of about one hundred and fifty families.

The services of the Church on Sunday are: Low mass in early morning, with high mass and sermon at 10 o'clock A. M .; Sunday school from 2 to 3 o'clock, and vespers 3 to 4 o'clock P. M. On week days: 7.30 mass for children.

The first school in connection with the Church was organized about 1846, with an attendance of from fifteen to twenty children, who were taught by Father Alleman, in the church.

In 1850, the first school-building was erected, a brick, 20x24 feet, which stood south of the church-building. When this was completed, Henry Krebs took charge of the school. The erection of the present school-building was an event of the year 1877, under the supervision and management of Father Jacoby. The building is 55x69 feet, two stories and basement, which is arranged for four schools, three of which are in operation, with an average

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

, attendance of 175 scholars. The schools are taught by the Sisters of St. Fran- cis, their mother-house being at La Crosse, Wis. Four sisters have charge- of the school, three of whom devote their whole time to the work. The principal language used is English, but German is also taught. Church history is made a study, and religious exercises are held in each room two hours in each week. conducted by Father Jacoby.

The societies in connection with the Church are : The Young Men's Sodal- ity, for literary exercises, with 75 members ; a Young Ladies' Religious Soci- ety. with 85 members. The meetings of the former are held at stated intervals, and of the latter, at the call of the Priest, and are under the guidance of Father Jacoby. The Altar Society, to which married ladies only are admitted. numbers 120 members.

A Mutual Life Insurance Association was organized by the members of this Church July 4, 1878, and is controlled by a President. Treasurer and three Assessors.

WEST POINT ACADEMY.

This institution, which was successfully maintained for several years, was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, approved January 23, 1839. Will- iam Patterson, John Box, J. Price, A. H. Walker, Cyrus Poage, Joseph How- ard, Isaac Beeler, A. Hunsicker, A. Ewing, Hawkins Taylor, Campbell Gil- mer. David Walker, Solomon Jackson and William Steele were the incor- porators.

The first term of the Academy opened on the first Monday in June, 1842, with Rev. John M. Fulton as Principal.

The same year, Mrs. McGunagle, of Athens, Ohio, opened a school for young ladies, under the directorship of William Stewart, Dr. Freeman Knowles, William Stotts and William Patterson. In her prospectus, Mrs. McGunagle sets forth that "the inhabitants of West Point and immediate vicinity are moral and intelligent, and it is believed that board can be had as cheap as at any town in Iowa, say from $1 to $1.25 per week."

The old Court House, erected during the time of the county seat troubles, now serves as a public school building.

POPULATION AND BUSINESS.

West Point is the largest inland town in the county, and numbers about twelve hundred inhabitants. Herman Brink owns and operates successfully a fine flouring-mill. It has five general stores, doing a good business ; two stove, hardware and tinware stores: two drug stores; two wagon-making estab- lishments : a grocery, queensware and crockery store, and the usual number of smaller stores, shops, etc. Jacob Peters is proprietor of the Planters' House, the principal hotel.

The village was incorporated in 1854, and has maintained an organized government to the present time. The present officers are: William G. Pitt- man, Mayor ; James Daugherty, Assessor ; R. A. Scovel, Recorder ; Trustees -P. J. Entler, J. D. Peebler. Theodore Wichard, Peter Smith, Reuben Kilo and Christian Kraus.

DENMARK.

It is not remembered who located the first claim where Denmark is now situated, as the owner did not occupy it in person. In the summer of 1835, a boy was sent over from Des Moines County, who broke five acres of ground to

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

hold the claim. It was soon after sold to Wade Hampton Rattan, from whom it was purchased by Timothy Fox, Curtis Shedd and Lewis Epps, on their arrival from New Hampshire, in 1836. These men proceeded to lay out a town the next year, and the present name was given it by John Edwards, who was there at that time on a visit from the East.

Until the settlement at Denmark was made, the New England States had contributed comparatively nothing to the population of this part of the Black Hawk Purchase. "Yankees " were looked upon with suspicion, but in a short time these pioneers, with others who quickly followed, showed the stuff of which they were made by the superior quality of their improvements, their industry. and enterprise, and interest in church and school. Denmark and vicinity soon became the garden-spot of Lee County, and in the years which have followed, the advance has been maintained.

During the summer of 1837, Rev. William Apthorp preached to the new comers, and in the spring of 1838 was organized the

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF DENMARK.

The founders of the Church were Timothy Fox, Lewis Epps, Curtis Shedd and their families, Edward A. Hills and Samuel Houston, who came early in 1836. In October following came William Brown and family, and among those who followed in 1837 were William B. Cooper, Ira Houston, David Wilson, John Hornby and Charles Whitmarsh, with their families ; also Hartwell J. Taylor, Francis Sawyer, Jr., Timothy Sawyer, John E. Leeper, Austin Newton, Alonzo Barton and J. Gilman Field, single men.

At the organization, Rev. J. A. Reed, of Warsaw, Ill., and Rev. Asa Turner, of Quincy, were invited to assist. The first house of worship was 24x20 feet, covered with split boards, loose floor and unplastered walls.

Rev. Asa Turner, whose anti-slavery ideas would not be tolerated any longer at Quincy, Ill., where he had been preaching, was invited to the Church in July, 1838, and employed half his time. During this year, Daniel Epps, Francis Sawyer, Sr., Oliver Brooks, Isaac Field and Jonathan Bullard, with their families, came to the settlement, and the Church was further strengthened. Rev. Asa Turner was installed Pastor November 5, 1840, by the Illinois Asso- ciation. The ministers present on this occasion were Rev. William Kirby, Rev. William Carter, Rev. B. F. Morris and Rev. Reuben Gaylord; also Charles Burnham, a licentiate. At this meeting was formed the Iowa Congregational Association, consisting of Revs. Asa Turner, J. A. Reed, Reuben Gaylord and Charles Burnham. The Churches embraced in the Association were Denmark. Lee County ; Farmington, Van Buren Country; Fairfield, Jefferson County ; and Danville, in Des Moines County.

In 1845, the Church began the erection of a new house of worship, which was completed the next year and dedicated in July. This house was destroyed by an incendiary fire some ten or twelve years afterward, after which the present building was erected.

An important event in the history of Denmark occurred in 1868, when, being without a Pastor, Prof. H. K. Edson was appointed a committee of one to fill the vacancy. He selected Rev. E. Y. Swift, who was installed in the following year, and still continues in charge of the congregation.

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The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 85

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 898

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 898