USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska 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 > Part 44
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HOG RAISING.
Considerable interest has been manifested in the department of hog raising for a number of years. At an earlier day, among fancy breeders, the preference was given to Chester Whites, but more recently the Poland China and Berkshire have almost entirely taken their place. Most of the hogs raised in Mahaska county are shipped to Chicago, the facilities for shipping in that direction being excellent over the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. We take pleasure in mentioning some of those farmers who have given their special attention and energy to the raising of fine hogs:
A. Lewis, of Pleasant Grove, and E. H. McCann and James Bridges, of Monroe, are engaged in the raising of Berkshires. In Oskaloosa township A. J. Lytle, S. R. Pettit & Sons, and S. L. Pomeroy, have manifested their preference for Poland Chinas. The fine Berkshires in the same township, by M. K. Prine & Sons, have taken premiums at the State and St. Louis fairs. Wiley Wray is a breeder of Berkshires, C. N. Smith of Chester Whites, and W. T. Smith of Essex. In Jefferson township Moore Brothers breed Poland Chinas and cultivate artichokes in large quantities as a feed, claiming that such a diet is a cholera preventive.
HORTICULTURAL.
Whatever rank Mahaska connty may have taken in fruit raising has been well earned. The lessons of her horticulturists have been taken in the school of bitter experience. Attention was given to fruit growing with the first settlement of the country. Bushels of peach and apple seeds were brought from the east and planted; hundreds of trees were shipped by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The favorites of a dozen states from Maine or New York to North Carolina, were brought to the far West, to which it was hoped they might acclimatize. About 1848, Robert Seevers sent to his brothers near Oskaloosa nineteen hundred young apple trees, which were set ont and started in a flourishing condition. Some of the more hardy of these trees are still bearing. Many fruit trees began to bear abont 1854 and 1855. During both of these years a large crop of peaches was gathered, as these and the winter preceding had not been severe. But the winter of 1855-6 was intensely cold, and then followed a dry summer. The result was most heartily discouraging. Scarcely a peach tree survived the winter in Mahaska county. The favorite apples, Rhode Island, Greening, Bell Flower, Newton Pippin, Baldwin-in short the cream of eastern
353
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
varieties-were nearly all killed. But in the language of John N. Dixon, in one of his reports, " there were a few men like Wellington at Waterloo, that did not know when they were defeated, or were too obstinate to acknowledge it. These men went to work to select varieties wherever they could be found, from the wreck of our orchards that had survived those terrible winters, and from these selections and other varieties since added, as experience has justified, we have to-day as valuable a list of choice apples as any state in the Union."
Through toil and sacrifice other obstacles were overcome. The gopher grabbed the young trees. The county supervisors allowed a bounty of two dollars per dozen for gopher scalps, and in six months claims for 20,000 scalps were allowed, and bounty paid to the amount of $3,333.33}. Isaac Jackson killed 5,207 gophers in a single season. Still the orchard men had no peace; the borer bored, the mice and rabbits girdled the young trees; the crumpler preyed upon the leaves, and likewise the canker worm, cod- dling moth, the caterpillar, etc., and we presume the conflict will continue until the " varmints " give up, for it is evident the fruit growers do not intend to.
Though most of the eastern favorites have been abandoned by Mahaska county pomologists, yet a fine fruit list remains. Of apples there are many choice varieties; one hundred and ten kinds were exhibited in 1876 at the Centennial, and one hundred and seventy-five varieties at the State Horticultural meeting from Mahaska alone, in Jannary, 1877. Neither of these lists included the summer varieties. The staple carly apples include, among others, Early Harvest, Red June, Yellow June, Red Astrachan and Duchess of Oldenburg. Fall varieties as fine as anywhere in the world, Pound Royal, Lowell, Porter, Dyre, Famense, Early Winter, Rambo, Perry Russet, Grimes' Golden Pippin, White Winter Pearmain. Later: Johna- than, Westfield, Seek-no-further, Ben. Davis, Genitan, Willow Twig and Virginia Greening. Dwarf pears in Mahaska county may be considered for the most part as a failure, though standard pears do very well. Peaches can be raised in this latitude after a moderate winter, and especially on oak ridges on thin land where the trees do not develop too rapidly, and are reasonably sheltered. But, on the prairies, every few years most of the trees are killed by a severe winter, and the work of planting and nursing has to be resumed. Small fruits are raised in abundance, and of various kinds; they grow wild in great plenty. Grapes seem to be a natural product, and the yield is prolific.
Mahaska county is privileged to boast of some of the largest orchards in the West. Several of these are deserving of mention:
John N. Dixon, in Oskaloosa township, has an apple orchard of 10,000 trees. In the same township Thomas C. Beach has 3,000 bearing trees, M. K. Prine 2,000, and George Avey 1,500. In Harrison Township Samuel Low has 1.500 trees, and in Pleasant Grove is the orchard of Albert Lewis, containing 1,200 trees. These find a ready shipment north and west, some of them having been sent across the Rocky Mountains to Virginia City, Nevada. In one school district in Oskaloosa township are 21,000 apple trees, most of them bearing. Possibly this statement is not true of any other district in the West.
A County Horticultural Society was organized in the office of Joseph Kelly, Jannary 15, 1869. The first officers elected were D. A. Coleson, President; Amos Kemble, Vice President; W. A. Hunter, Secretary;
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
James Ruan, Corresponding Secretary; Treasurer, Mrs. Wm. Kemper. This association continued for some years, but the Agricultural Society having given a good deal of attention to fruit growing, it gradually ab- sorbed the interest of those connected with the Horticultural Society, and a few years ago the funds in the treasury of the latter were passed over to the agricultural interest, and they have since really, though not formally, united in one association.
The meeting of the State Horticultural Society was appointed for Oska- loosa, January 16, 1877. Iowa had taken the ribbon at the world's fair in the previous fall, and considerable interest was manifested in this, the first subsequent meeting. Mahaska citizens determined to make as good a showing as possible. Several citizens spent no little time in going over the county to select the finest and greatest variety of apples, and the reward they received amply re-paid them for their time and trouble. The state meeting was held in the court room. Apples from varions counties were tastefully displayed upon different tables. The meeting began on Tuesday, the 16th, and continued three days. At this meeting from the report of E. H. Calkins, chairman of committee on awards, we make the following extract:
"For best collection of fruits grown in any one county we award the first premium to Mahaska county. The exhibit of fruit by Mahaska county de- serves more than a passing notice for its intrinsic value as to varieties, its extent in numbers, the superior quality of its specimens, and the fact that several of the truly valuable varieties originated within its borders. Many of the specimens are immense in size, forcibly reminding us of the fabled story we read in our boyhood days of a certain ambitions frog who one day saw a noble ox grazing near the little puddle in which he reigned, con- ceived he might possibly 'attain to the dimensions of the ox and com- menced to swell ' accordingly; only these apples stopped a little short of the disastrous consequences which overtook the frog. Prominent among this collection we find a pyramid of Jonathans, by Thos. C. Beach, grown near Oskaloosa, perfect in form, beautiful in symmetry, and blushing the deepest scarlet. We fully endorse the remarks made last night, that if the title to the term, ' Proud Mahaska,' was not rightfully acquired, it should justly be bestowed from this time forward. And we should like to hint to our friend Dixon that if such scenes as he has delineated on canvas and placed in this room are of ordinary occurrence in his vicinity, he and his friends should direct their best efforts in the future to teach such persons that they labor under a sad mistake."
This last allusion was to a caricature designed by Jno. N. Dixon and ex- ecuted by B. V. Seevers, of a cadaverous looking Hoosier emigrant who has headed his equipage toward the rising sun, and who is represented as giving utterance to the discouraging sentiment, "Gwine back to Injeanny; my brats must have apples and you can't raise them in Iowa."
To M. K. Prine was awarded the premium for the best peck of apples for profit, being of the Ben Davis variety. During the session of the so- eiety was read a report on "Orchard Culture and Management," by John N. Dixon, who was elected vice-president of the association. Also an es- say was read by Amos Kemble, on "Small Fruits and their Culture," and another paper on "How to Utilize Fruits and Vegetables."
As the first premium county in the banner fruit state of the world, Ma-
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
haska can hope to do no better than to maintain her present rank; and her prospect in fruit raising is a brilliant one.
In this connection it is but proper to notice .the extensive Canning and Pickling Works of A. Kemble & Co., at Oskaloosa. These gentlemen had been gardening for some years, and the growth, or rather the start of their canning enterprise was the result of accident. In the year 1873 the Downing House, instead of canning its own tomatoes as had been the cus- tom heretofore, made a contract with Kemble & Co. to put np five hundred cans of this vegetable. This was done without other apparatus than a com- mon wash boiler on a cooking stove. The following year Mr. Kemble resolved to can tomatoes for the trade, and the casual remark of a friend led him to undertake also the canning of corn. In a temporary shed Kemble & Co. put np 1,500 cans of tomatoes, and the same amount of green corn. The tomato canning was quite successful, though the corn was a partial failure. Nothing daunted, preparations were made in 1875, and 7,000 cans of corn and tomatoes were sealed for the market and success crowned the effort.
In 1877 the firm put up no less than 25,000 cans of these vegetables, and the trade of 1878 will probably exceed this. Kemble & Co's establishment is a simple frame building and divided into several apartments. In one of these the cans are made by men employed for that purpose. The cans are prepared to be soldered and a small hole about the size of a pin head is punchen in the center of the can lid. In another apartment the vegetables are prepared and put into the eans cold and soldered up, as also is the small aperture at the top. Then the eans are taken into another apartment, where they are placed in large pans of water and cooked by steam. The process is a delicate one and has been perfected only by mnuch patience and long experiment. The air being confined in the can, if cooked too long without relief, would explode. By the use of thermometors and time pieces the little aperture in the lid is re-opened for a moment and the air allowed to escape, when it is again sealed. This process retains the flavor of the fruit which would be lost to a great degree if cooked in an open vessel. After sufficient cooking the cans are labeled and are ready for the market.
Kemble & Co. have facilities for putting up 2,500 cans per day. They ship their goods mostly to surrounding points in this state. This is the only considerable canning establishment in Iowa, except one started in Marshalltown during the present season. Kemble & Co. have never given much attention to fruit canning.
This same firm have also been engaged for some time in putting up cu- cumber pickels. These are pickled in tanks holding from 50 to 100 barrels and are kept in brine until the season for marketing, when they are barreled in vinegar. Thus have been put up 130 to 140 barrels of pickles annually for a number of years past.
Just north of the canning establishment is Kemble & Co's green house, the only one heated by steam in the State of Iowa. Here the business of flower gardening has been carried on quite extensively for three years, and here under 5,000 feet of glass abont 15,000 potted plants were in stock for the spring trade of 1878. The steam heating apparatus will produce a temperature of 90 degrees the coldest winter days, but the temperature is usually kept at from 50 to 70 degrees, which lower temperature makes the plants more hardy.
356
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
MAHASKA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in the office of the county superintendent, June 14, 1872. At the first meeting the physicians present were Dr. Smith, of Granville, Dr. Page, of New Sharon, Dr. Chamberlain, of Beacon, Dr. Gruwell, Dr. Hoffman, Dr. Coolidge, Dr. McMillen and Dr. Hurst, of Oskaloosa.
Of this meeting Dr. J. F. Smith was president, and Dr. Hurst, secretary.
A meeting for permanent organization was held on the 18th of July, when officers were elected for one year, as follows: D. A. Hurst, president; W. L. Chamberlain, secretary; J. P. Gruwell, vice-president, and F. W. Coolidge, treasurer; Drs. Huntsman, Page and Chamberlain, censors.
A constitution and by-laws were then adopted.
The society has held its meetings semi-annually, and of late years in the office of Dr. Hurst, in Oskaloosa. The purpose of the society is purely professional, and for mutual improvement. Diagnoses of remarkable cases are read and discussed.
At the last meeting, held July 9, 1878. F. W. Coolidge was elected president, Wm. Butler, vice-president, J. C. Barringer, secretary.
The following is the roll of members, August, 1878: F. W. Coolidge, D. A. Hurst, H. R. Page, H. C. Huntsman, W. E. Chamberlain, J. P. Gru- well, Lucian Smith, Win. Butler, W. L. Chamberlain, W. L. McAllister, S. E. Rhinehart, D. H. Hare, W. M. Bonnet, R. S. Dean, Grover Hillis, J. F. Smith, J. C. Barringer.
MAHASKA COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
This branch of the American Bible Society was probably established in 1845. The official records have been mislaid, of all business and meetings , previous to 1855.
The contributions to the Bible cause for the year previous to the meeting of 1855 were twenty-two dollars. The society reached its maximum con - tributions in 1868, when the revenue from gifts was three hundred and twenty-seven dollars.
The last meeting of the society was held September 30, 1877, at which time the officers elected were Chas. Hutchinson, president; Dr. D. A. Hurst, vice-president; Wm. H. Shaw, secretary; Henry Howard, treasurer.
The society has not accomplished much in the way of active service since 1876. The contributions last year were about fifty dollars. The county depository is at the store of R. Whitaker, and is quite depleted-the new regulation of the parent society being to send out no more books without cash in advance-and the local society is not now prepared to purchase very heavily on those terms.
The county has not been canvassed by a Bible agent for several years.
COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
The first Sabbath-school convention in Mahaska county was held in 1863. This was a sort of called or impromptu meeting, and no regular association was formed.
The second convention was held in Oskaloosa, beginning October 31,
357
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
1866. Three years had elapsed since the previous meeting, and in num- bering the conventions we believe the convention of 1866 is usually called the first.
The president of this convention was John R. Needham; secretary, Dr. J. F. Erving; and treasurer, Henry Howard. The convention continued in session three days, and a very profitable time seems to have been spent.
The speakers from abroad were B. W. Chidlaw, of Cincinnati, Rev. J. M. Strong, of the American Sunday School Union, and Dwight L. Moody, then an enthusiastic young man from Chicago, a warm friend of the Sun- day-school work. Perhaps little did those present at the convention of 1866 think that this was a man who had power to stir both sides of the Atlantic by the simple eloquence and earnestness of his speaking. Not only angels but great men are frequently entertained unawares.
At this convention the following report was presented :
NAME OF SCHOOL.
No. of
Pupils.
No. of
: Teachers.
Books in
Library.
First M. E .. Oskaloosa.
340:
500
Second M. E., Oskaloosa.
60
12
150
First Presbyterian .
110
13
250
United Presbyterian
82
13
250
Congregational.
110
14
250
First Baptist.
128
13
300
Christian. .
144
15
500
Cumberland Presbyterian
64
11
300
Friends, City.
82
8
80
Friends, Oskaloosa
65
6
400
Six Mile
80
8
125
Farmersville
41
8
200
Given ..
79
7
200
Union.
35
6
146
Madison Township.
55
4
Spring Creek Friends.
65
4
150
Pleasant Dale.
40
6
124
Enterprise.
.
90
9
50
In June, 1872, the state Sabbath-school convention was held in Oska- loosa, at which about one hundred and fifty delegates were present from abroad, and a very pleasant and profitable time was spent by those in at- tendance.
We believe that county conventions have been held every year since 1866, and usually in Oskaloosa, which, though moderately well attended and in- teresting, have experienced nothing of peculiar interest to the historian. Of the Sabbath-schools of the county we have occasion to speak more par- tienlarly in connection with the various churches under whose care they may be organized.
MASONRY.
For the following history of Masonry in Mahaska county we are in- debted to Henry R. Kendig, Esq., of Oskaloosa:
The written history concerning the introduction of the mystic order in Mahaska county, may never reveal the fact as to when, where, or upon whom the peculiar ritualism of the order was first conferred.
358
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Who knows, but that among the noted chiefs of the once powerful and intellectual Sac and Fox tribe, the ancestors of a " Keokuk" or " Black- Hawk" may have bowed before a rude altar, "on a high hill or in a low dale" of Makaska county's beautiful prairies, bedecked with grasses, serving as the " checkered pavement" and tessellated with flowers native to the land, as the " middle chamber," while the " clouded canopy of Heaven" most spaciously and speciously served as the "santum sanctorum," and the morning, evening, and the brightest of the southern stars, served as the lesser, while the handwriting of Almighty God, as revealed to them in Nature, the greater lights of their boundless " Holy of Holies."
Of this, however, as already indicated, we know not, and never will, and it is more to note the introduction of Masonry into Mahaska county by the present inhabitants who people her borders and interior, than to theorize upon the probabilities of centuries ago, that we write.
Among the pioneers of every frontier ever settled by the Anglo-Saxon, there were to be found those who were regularly instructed in mind, and cherished in their hearts a love of the mysteries and principles of the an- cient and time-honored institution. Mahaska county was not by any means an exception to this rule, for among the very first of all comers, when wagons, tents, and rude log-huts hastily constructed, marked the early set- tler's hearth and home, came James Seevers, from Winchester, Virginia, (the father of Hon. W. H. Seevers, one of the judges of the Supreme Court' of Iowa), who was chosen the first Worshipful Master of the first Lodge organized in Mahaska county, as will hereafter appear. This gentleman has survived the hardships and toils of the early settler, and yet lives at the advanced age of eighty-six years, an esteemed citizen of Oskaloosa, a zealous votary of Masonry-one, who until prevented within the last year, by the infirmity of age, always identified himself with the order on funeral and all other public occasions, and as far as it was possible for him to do, in the private councils of the Lodge room.
Cotemporaneous with his coming, came also Daniel Rogers, of whom much of what has been said of James Seevers, is true of the veteran, zealous man and Mason, save that he on July 30, 1878, gathered up his " working tools," and departed to that "bourne from whence no traveler returns," at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. About the same time came James Edgar (father of W. S. Edgar), who also has since died. Likewise James Comstock came about the same time as did also Alfred Seevers, first cousin of James Seevers, above referred to. These fraters longed for the time when a sufficient number could be obtained, and enroll themselves as char- ter members to petition the Grand Master of Iowa jurisdiction, for a dispen- sation to organize a Lodge in Oskaloosa.
This day, after "awaiting a time with patience," at last came, and, Janu- ary 16th, A. D. 1849, James Seevers, as W. M., Thos. A. Freeman, S. W., and David S. Sampel, J. W., each to serve in his respective station, under appointment by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Iowa jurisdictions, obtained such dispensation, and in due time, after presenting their doings and workings under dispensation, at the session of Grand Lodge, June 7th, A. D. 1849, a charter was granted these brethren, and their newly admitted members. Naming and numbering it, Triluminar Lodge, No. 18, and afterward the following officers duly elected by their brethren, to serve them for the then ensuing year:
James Seevers, W. M .; Thomas A. Freeman, S. W .: David S. Sampel, J.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
W .; W. S. Dart, Treas .; Samnel Bresslar, Sec .; Alfred Seevers, S. D .; James Edgar, J. D .; G. C. Ritchie, Tyler.
The present officers are: E. M. Beatty, W. M .; James Atchison, S. W .; Alonzo T. Drinkle, J. W .; A. A. Kendig, Sec .; Morris L. Levi, Treas .; Homer H. Seerley, S. D .; A. W. Warrington, J. D .; J. S. Walker, S. S .; W. P. Hellings, J. S .; Benj. R. Perdne, Tyler. Total number of present membership, 207.
For above five years Triluminar Lodge, No. 18, did good and square work, as was repeatedly attested by resolution in Grand Lodge, offered and passed. When Dec. Sth, A. D. 1854, a constitutional number of her mem- bers applied for, and obtained a dispensation to organize a new Lodge, with Nelson J. Smith as first W. M .; Geo. W. Baer, S. W .; W. S. Edgar, J. W .; S. Stephens, Treas .; F. B. Mathews, Sec .; L. D. Haines, S. D .; Geo. Delong, J. D .; Francis Castles, Tyler; and, at Grand Lodge session. June 6, 1855, obtained a charter, under name and number of Seevers Lodge, No. 54.
Oskaloosa village, in Masonry at least, had now grown into city propor. tions, having two " Blue Lodges " in full and healthy working order. Under the workings of the two Lodges, Masonry moved forward with unprece- dented thrift, until January 8th, 1863, when a better and more commodious hall was obtained, and on account of the enlistments into the union armies, of the membership of both Lodges, Seevers Lodge, No. 54, surrendered her charter and consolidated with the parent Lodge, Triluminar, No. 18.
War! War !! Who can foresee or foretell the extent of all the evils to fol- low the wake of the desolating and devastating march? Whose sacred and hallowed homes and altars are absolutely free from the stealthy insinuation, or protected against desecration by the tainting touch of the bloody hands, the tell-tale of the vile butcheries and treachery? Who can successfully withstand the sowings of distraction and dissension ? No one. Is it strange then, that the rebellion of 1861 to 1865, which convulsed the entire nation, and made the world interested spectators, as with bated breath they anx- iously looked forward to the close, swayed in partisan spirit, as each indivi- dual interest caused him to incline? Which sought to divide the sentiment of a people hitherto bound in one bond of national union, and, to divide the territorial inheritance of the fathers, by sectional lines, traced by " that sum of all villainies," Slavery? That entered the Holy and sacred home of God, and divided the communicants into factions, and the homes of loved and loving kindred, arraying father against son, son against father, brother against brother. Is it strange we ask, that Masonry could not escape the direful results of the leprons touch ?
Triluminar Lodge. No. 18, felt this touch. She had, by the consolidation of Seevers Lodge, No. 54, with her own already numerous membership, a large aggregation of members, who, though not permitted in lodge assem- bled to avow any sectarian or particular political party creed, yet very nat- nrally were divided in their preferences as to petitioners presenting their names as candidates for the mysteries of the order. These differences grow- ing out of the issues of the internicine war, the nation's great calamity, through which we were then passing, caused distraction to some extent, and the working of the order was interrupted for a season. To correct the then existing evil, on the 12th day of April, 1866, a large number of the mem- bership of Triluminar Lodge, No. 18, with J. Y. Hopkins as W. M., Henry R. Kendig S. W., and M. L. Jackson J. W., applied to and obtained from the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Iowa, letters of dispensation to
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