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 61
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Rev. Cornell is still pastor, but is also corresponding secretary of the Iowa Christian Convention, and devotes one-half of his time to State mis- sion work. The present membership of the congregation is not far from thirty-five. The deacons are T. Graham, J. M. Hiatt, and N. F. Hoen.
Baptist Church .- This congregation was organized January 2, 1875, by J. F. Childs, of Oskaloosa, with fourteen members, in the old New Sharon school house. It was recognized as a church by the customary ceremony of the Baptists in June, 1875. The first officers elected were Hattie E. Page, clerk, and J. F. McCurdy, deacon. J. F. Childs has been the only salaried minister the church has ever employed, and he remained with them a part of his time, until the spring of 1878. Rev. O. L. Cruttenden, who lived at Sharon, and was preaching at Eddyville and Leighton, has preached gratuitously to this people almost as much as their employed minister.
The meetings of the church from the time of its organization were held in a hall in the business block which was destroyed by fire in April, 1876. This apparent misfortune led to the decision to build a church. A lot was purchased by Rev. O. L. Cruttenden, south of the Friends' meeting-house, and on this the congregation erected a small chapel, which was dedicated in November, 1876. The ministers officiating were Rev. Brand, of Grinnell, Rev. Fuhrman, of Oskaloosa, and Revs. J. F. Childs and O. L. Cruttenden, of New Sharon. The church was dedicated free from debt.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
A Sabbath-school was organized, April 18, 1875, with Dr. H. R. Page as superintendent, but was disbanded in the spring of 1878. The present clerk is Mrs. O. L. Cruttenden. Deacon, Wm. Aiken. Trustees, Stephen Davis, Wm. Aiken, and O. L. Cruttenden.
Universalist Church .- A building, under control of the denomination, Universalists, was built in New Sharon, in 1877. The city contains quite a large element of those who are called liberal in religious thought, and the occasion of the building of this church was the refusal of an orthodox pulpit to one of their ministers. The platform on which the church was erected, was that it should be forever equally free to all denominations. Until August, 1878, it has been the house of worship of what is termed a Universalist Parish, which was, at the time of the meeting in New Sharon of the State Universalist Association in that month, changed to a church organization.
The church building is a neat frame structure, costing about $3,000, and is substantially free from debt. In October following its erection, Rev. Fidelia W. Gillette commenced to occupy its pulpit, which she continues to do every alternate Sabbath. This lady is from Michigan, and is said to have been twenty years in the employ of the National Lecture Association, but recently entered the ministry for conscientious reasons. She is sinart, well educated, and a fine speaker, and has preached greatly to the satisfac- tion of her congregation in New Sharon. She receives six hundred dollars annually for the alternate Sabbath preaching in this church.
Of the meetings of the Society of Friends, we have taken occasion to speak in the county history proper.
The history of the New Shiron Star, is found under the chapter on "The Press."
BEACON.
Beacon is a station on the Keokuk & Des Moines R. R., and is a mining town, situated on section 27, Oskaloosa township, about two and one-half miles sonthwest of Oskaloosa city. Its site is in the valley of the Muchaki- nock, on the east side of the creek, and as approached from all sides presents a very picturesque appearance, nestling among the hills like an eastern vil- lage. The surrounding landscape is one of more than ordinary interest and beauty, and there are few mining towns indeed which can rival Beacon in neatness and attractiveness.
The land on which Beacon is now located was formerly owned by Ezekiel Mendenhall. The town was laid out in 1864, under the name of Enter- prise, that being the name of the post-office at that time, although by the railroad men it was known as Oskaloosa station, that. being the stopping place in that day for all railway travel to the county-seat. The name was changed to Beacon in 186 . The town was platted by E. J. Evans. The first cabin within its present boundaries was owned and occupied by a man named Miles. The first business house was erected by John Pritchard, and by him occupied as a general store and hotel. The town was incorporated in 1874
The first mayor was M. C. Ruby, who has held that office ever since and continues to swing the gavel at the council meetings at this writing. The aldermen are Robert Beadle, Charles Wilson, William Davis, Hugh Jones, and E. E. Roberts. Recorder, John Thomas. Marshal, C. W. Wray.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
The mayor and aldermen serve without pay, save in the honor and satisfac- tion they receive from proper discharge of duty. The corporation is free from debt and taxes are light, as the main expense is in keeping up streets and sidewalks.
From eight hundred to nine hundred is considered a fair estimate of the population of Beacon. It is a good trading point, and maintains four gen- eral stores, viz: Iowa Coal Co. (H. A. Pittman, manager), Phillips & Fos- ter, M. Jones & Co., and Davis, Price & Co. Drug store by Wm. Beards- ley, Beacon hotel by C. W. Wray, three saloons, two blacksmith shops, etc., besides mills and coal works mentioned below, comprise the other business enterprises of the town.
MILLS.
Eureka Flouring Mills .- This building was built in 1865, by Benja- min Roop, at an expense of $55,000 or $66,000. The building is 84 feet square, a five story brick and stone. At one time it contained six run of stone, but now is equipped with but three. The engine is one of fifty horse power. The mill was originally built as a distillery and mill com- bined, but a government law being passed to the effect that distilling should not be carried on in a building with any other business, Roop was com- pelled to build a distillery separate. Hence, a great waste of room in the building. During the past few years the mill has been lying idle, but was recently sold to J. M. Jones, who now runs it. The mill has a capacity for sixty barrels of flour and seventy-five hundredweight of meal per day.
HESTON & LOUGHRIDGE. These gentlemen have a frame flouring mill with two run of stone, near the bridge across the Muchachinock. It is a steam mill, and has been built about twelve years. It does altogether cus- tom work.
I. O. O. F.
Beacon Lodge, No. 264, I. O. O. F., was established December 4, 1864. with seventeen charter members and the following corps, of officers: John J. Shultz, N. G; D. S. Smith, V. G .; J. W. Bowen, secretary, and John S. Morgan, treasurer. This lodge claims to have grown more rapidly than any other in the State. Their present membership is 108. Their hall was destroyed by fire August 24, 1877, but they had an insurance which covered most of the loss. They now have a well furnished hall over Davis, Price & Co.'s store, and have $1,200 in the treasury. The present officers are M. Howells, N. G .; Wm. M. Viles, V. G .; A. Henry, secretary, J. Price, treasurer. J. W. Bowen, of this lodge, is District Deputy of District No. 20, including lodges Nos. 16, 128, 231, 264 and 335.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Beacon Star, No. 490, Lodge of Good Templars, was established in 1873, with forty charter members. Their present membership is sixty. They meet in the Odd Fellows' Hall, over Davis, Price & Co.'s store. At this writing the meetings have been suspended till fall.
SCHOOLS.
Until 1874 Beacon had but a small brick school house of a single room. seating some sixty or seventy pupils. It has now a fine two story brick
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
building containing four rooms, built in 1874, at a cost of near $10,000, and seating about 225. The number of pupils enrolled last year was about 270, though the usual attendance was considerably below that figure. The teachers chosen for 1878-9 are Mrs. Thomas, principal, Miss Shoemaker, first intermediate, Mr. Hedge, second intermediate, primary. The principal receives $50 per month, and the other teachers $30. The schools are graded, but extend only through Grammar grade. The direct- ors are M. C. Ruby, president; John Thomas, Geo. Deaver, Wm. Bowen, Eli Robinson, D. W. Williams; See'y of Board, H. B. Davis; Treas., John J. Phillips.
POST-OFFICE.
Was established in 1866 under the name Enterprise. The following have been the postmasters: H. L. Ethridge, 1866-7; John G. Jones, 1867-72; John R. Baer, 1872-3; J. W. Bowen, 1873-4; E. J. Evans, 1874-7; J. W. Bowen, re-appointed in 1877. and is the present incumbent. The revenue of the office for the last quarter was $167.
WELCH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This society was organized in 1867 by J. W. Pickett. A frame church building was built by the society abont 1870. The various ministers in charge have been D. S. Davies, D. R. Lewis, David Thomas and C. D. Jones.
The church is composed of about fifty members, and have service in Welch every Sunday morning and evening, conducted by Rev. C. D. Jones, the present pastor. The church is free from debt, and contributes from $400 to $500 a year to support the gospel.
The Sunday-school was organized cotemporary with the church, and is at present superintended by Christmas Evans.
Beacon M. E. Church, or Kinsley Chapel, was organized quite a num- ber of years ago, but was not of much consequence until the building of its church edifice, which was done in 1875 at a cost of $1,542.
It was dedicated November 7, 1875, by Revs. B. Marks and D. D. Downs. The ministers in charge since that time have been E. Sampson, B. Marks, J. R. Reasoner and W. R. Stryker, The latter is present minis- ter, who preaches here and in Black Oak township.
The income of the church is near $350. Its membership is eighty-five. The Sabbath-school is composed of about one hundred members, superin- tended by J. J. Phillips.
The trustees are D. D. Downs, J. J. Phillips, Simeon Phillips, Joseph Phillips and John Ream.
Stewards, Phillip Howe and D. D. Downs.
IOWA COAL COMPANY.
This present company was organized in 1872. Previously the mining interest at this point had been in charge of some Keokuk men, with J. W. Rodefer at the head, and we believe was known by the same name. The first company operated one shaft.
The leading spirit of the new Iowa Coal Company has been Geo. Will- iams, of Keokuk, who owned controlling power of the stock. Mr. Will-
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
iams was a thorough business man, and to his position at the head of the company is much of the present prosperity of the town due.
The death of Mr. Williams in July of the present will, of course, be felt by the mining interest at Beacon, since for his great executive force it will be difficult to find a substitute. His son, Chris. L. Williams, has been ap- pointed administrator of the estate of the dead president, and will probably conduct the company without material change for the present. C. L. has been secretary and treasurer of the company for some time, and is well acquainted with its workings. The superintendent of the mines is J. W. Bishop. of Keokuk. The foreman at the mines is Simeon Phillips, a prac- tical miner and competent manager.
The company owns, near Beacon, about three hundred acres of coal and two hundred acres of surface. The thickness of vein is from five to eight feet, and yields as good coal as Mahaska county affords. This is high trib- ute, in the banner coal county of Iowa.
The company operates both a shaft and slope. The former has been running about eight years. The coal is brought in cars by mules to the foot of the shaft, and cars elevated by steam power. The coal is removed from the slope by mules. At the shaft coal is found forty feet below the surface. The air in the mines is kept pure by means of a fine cut through from the central part of the mine to the surface, and a strong draft produced by a fire at the base of the flue. The pumping apparatus, which is located several hundred feet from the shaft, and has power communication by wire cable, is most excellent, and affords little trouble.
The capacity of these mines, were the demand sufficient to keep them in " full blast," is forty cars per day. At present, however, the company have only about one hundred men on their pay-roll, and do not find the demand sufficient to operate a full force of workmen.
A switch from the Keokuk & Des Moines R. R. is laid to the mines, but none to the Central Road. This is a disadvantage to the company, as it gives them neither a good northern outlet nor a competing line. The coal is marketed all along the line of the K. & D. M. Road, but especially at the company's yards in Keokuk, Des Moines, Council Bluff's and Omaha.
There has never been but one strike of any great consequence since 1873. At that time President Williams established a store at Beacon, proposing to sell to the miners as cheaply as they could buy elsewhere. During the first winter most of the miners dealt at the store. In the spring, it becom- ing necessary to reduce the force, the foreman was ordered to discharge a certain number of men, with instructions to include those who withheld their patronage from the company's store.
This caused a general strike, the miners declaring their right to trade where they pleased, and refusing to work at all if any of their number were discharged. Quite a number of Swedes were brought up, from Keokuk, who had been engaged on the Government canal, and the mining continued with a new set of hands. This was more than the Beaconites had caleu- lated upon, and they were glad to go to work as they had opportunity at the company's terms. The miners are now paid by the bushel, the price being three cents.
ROSE HILL.
Rose Hill is a new and neat village on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa-
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
cific Railroad, and was laid out on the building of that branch which passed through Mahaska county in 1875. The land on which the town is located was owned by James Ornbaum and A. Williams. Ornbaum was the first name of the post-office and of the village, and all deeds are recorded under that name .. As a station it was called Rose Hill and the post-office was changed to that in July, 1876, since which time the old town name has fallen into disuse.
The first business house was built in 1875 by Bailey & Stubbs, since which time the growth of the place has been quite rapid.
Believing that fifty years from to-day Rose Hill will be such a city that its inhabitants would regard a record of its business interests in 1878 as a valued relic, we give the following abstract:
Rose Hill has five general stores, kept by H. L. Orr, McCoy & Roberts, Bethea & Son, James Stout, J. I. Edwards; two drug stores, W. L. Crow- der, and Brown, Stewart & Ewing; furniture store, M. Kruse.
Hotels: Pacific House by James Means, and Union House by G. W. Stout. Livery, by S. F. Tinsley.
Millinery, by Miss N. Rodgers, and the ladies Hartman and Arnold.
Harness shop, by H. B. Waters.
Lumber yard, by H. McGregor.
Billiard hall and saloon, by S. L. Peebler.
Just across from the depot is a two story grain warehouse, built in 1876, by John Myers. This is now owned and operated by Bethea & Son, and offers good facilities for storing grain on a small scale.
The trade of Rose Hill is well sustained, and the town is improving rap- idly. The custom of its business houses comes mostly from the surround- ing country, which offers some excellent farms. A portion of trade comes from Keokuk county.
The town has been several times visited by the fire fiend. In February, 1878, several buildings were burned, including a drug store, shoe-shop, saloon and dwelling. In the winter of 1877-8 was burned the only church building the town contained. It was a frame building and belonged to the Free Methodist congregation, established at this point some years before the town was laid out. No steps have yet been taken toward the erection of a new building.
Rose Hill post-office was established in January, 1876, and is kept by H. L. Orr, the first and only postmaster at this point. The revenue of the office is about $300 per year.
The town was incorporated in January, 1877, and the government in- vested in a Mayor and five trustees or aldermen. The council meets once a month, and the Mayor is town magistrate. The first chief officer was S. K. Wilson. The present city government is as follows:
Mayor-J. H. Sawyer.
Recorder-B. H. Harding.
Treasurer-Dr. C. Brown.
Assessor-S. P. Ewing.
Street Commissioner-F. L. Jackson.
Trustees, or Councilmen-Dr. Crowder, J. C. Williams, R. P. Bowles, J. A. C. Swiggett, and C. J. Jackson.
The business of the city government is as yet confined mainly to the care of sidewalks and streets.
As a school district Rose Hill is a part of North White Oak district.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
The building now occupied as a city school was erected in 1875, and used as a select school by Prof. Messer until 1877, when it passed into the hands of the public. The usual salary paid is $35 per month, and the average attendance during the winter months is sixty pupils. This exhibits cramped work and a crowded school, and has excited a desire on the part of the Rose Hill citizens to have a separate school district, in order that they may enlarge their building and conduct their school to suit themselves. The present directors are Robert Doak, S. K. Wilson, and Morris Lister.
In justice to Rose IIill physicians the town should have a green vegeta- ble market during the entire year. The list of doctors is legion, viz: S. B. Waters, A. J. Cook, W. L. Crowder, J. C. Williams, and C. Brown.
Rose Hill is located on one of the best railroads in the West, and her shipping facilities are first class. However, the light crops for the past two years have lessened what might otherwise be an excellent exhibit.
Cars of stock shipped during the year ending July 1, 1878. 120
grain . 25
The station agent is B. H. Harding.
ROSE HILL LITERARY AND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
This association is composed of the literary people of the town, who have banded together for general culture, and for the purpose of building up a library for future use among the citizens. It was organized in De- cember, 1877, and has only fairly commenced its work. Meetings are held in which debates, essays, and other literary exercises entertain the audience. The membership is now thirty-seven persons. The receipts, from dues and fines, are divided between running expenses and the establishment of a li- brary now containing some fifty volumes of well-selected literature. From small beginnings great ends may be reached.
MASONIC.
Industry Lodge, No. 260, A. F. & A. M., was established March 25, 1869, at Springfield, in Keokuk county, and was moved to Rose Hill in January, 1877. This lodge meets in a well furnished hall over Crowder's drug store. Its membership is about twenty-five.
The present officers are: E. R. Stevens, W. M .; J. C. Williams, S. W .; S. K. Wilson, J. W .; H. L. Orr, Secretary; W. R. Bridges, S. D .; M. S. Hadley, J. D.
Rose Hill is a new town and only requires time to spread itself over the two sections of land which comprise its corporate limits.
FREMONT.
Fremont, the only town in Cedar township, is a neat little village of about 200 inhabitants, situated on section 14, being on the divide between Skunk river and Cedar creek, a branch of the Des Moines. Thus located it was on the line of an immense travel in the days preceding railroads, an old settler informing us that he had seen as many as 50 wagons encamped over night in a single grove north of town. Up to this date Fremont has
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
no railway, but will probably be on the line of a future route which will choose the " divide " as its natural grade.
The town was laid ont by Wmn. Morrow in 1848, and by him namned in honor of Gen. Fremont, who about that time made his trans-continental trip. Mr. Morrow built the first store in the town, a log building, which has since rotted down. The first dwelling was also erected and occupied by him, and is now used as a corn-crib, located in the northern part of the town. Just across the street and a little northeast, stands the first school house that Fremont ever had, being now used as a stable.
There are very few old settlers in the town, though quite a number live upon the surrounding country.
Fremont has a number of business honses of which we note the follow- ing: Canon & Gunn, general store, established 1873. These gentlemen are not so warlike as their names would seem to indicate, but are followers of peace and good business. When times were good their sales have aggre- gated $30.000 per annum.
J. Q. White & Son, general stock, established 1872.
F. N. Byram & Co., general stock, established 1876.
M. W. Byram, drug stock, established 1876.
In addition to these, Fremont has a blacksmith and wagon shop, hotel, three churches, and photograph gallery. There are four physicians in the place, Drs. McFall, Hook, Bond and Sigafoos.
The first hotel in the village was built and kept by Thomas Rankin. It still stands and is now known as the Canon House, and is conducted in good style by Samuel R. Canon.
A post-office was established in 184S, and to this fact is largely due the existence of Fremont as a town. The postmasters have been in service in the following order, Wm. Morrow, J. Q. White, Mary Canon, I. J. Faucett, Ira Barr, S. H. Heinzman, C. W. Wray, A. J. Mader and J. A. Gunn, who is the present incumbent, and who has handled the mails in the store of Canon & Gunn during the past four years. Fremont has a mail three times a week from Oskaloosa, and a new route has just been established from Ottumwa, by which there will be three mails per week, thus giving the town a daily mail.
No coal has been discovered nearer than four miles from Fremont, at which distance a mine has been recently opened on Skunk river. How- ever, this is only a two foot vein, and most of the coal used in town is brought a distance of 9 miles. It is worth about 12 cents, delivered. Wood sells for from $2.50 to $3.00 per cord. Most of the merchandise sold in the town is hauled from Ottumwa, 14 miles distant, some of which is bought there, and some shipped from Keokuk. Ottumwa is regarded by the citizens as the most convenient shipping point, the distance however being about the same as to Oskaloosa.
Fremont has a good school, and school building. . The latter is located in the western part of town, and is a one story frame, 24x60 feet, containing two rooms, one of which is used as a primary school, and the other for more advanced pupils. This building was erected in 1871 at a cost of about $1,600 for building, and $450 additional for lot and furniture. It will seat about 150 pupils, though the enrollment the past year has been a little under a hundred. School is usually kept seven months. There are two teachers employed in the winter, the last ones being Emma and Nettie Baitsell. Salary paid is from $35 to $40 per month. The present direc-
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
tors are: George Lentz, president; R. T. Newell, secretary; P. Ackerman, treasurer.
The Free Masons have a lodge in Fremont, known as Toleration Lodge, No. 236, A. F. & A. M. It was established in 1868, the first officers being as follows: J. D. Cochran, W. M .; P. Akerman, S. W .; J. C. Keith, J. W .; G. Mershon, secretary; Wm. Dinsmore, treasurer; J. H. Heinzman, S. D .; J. H. Eastburn, J. D .; Wmn. Ellis, Tyler. The lodge built a hall about 1870 at an expense of $800. This they have neatly furnished and meet once every month. The present number of members is 52, some of whom belong to Oskaloosa chapter. The officers for 1878 are: N. Allender, W. M .; F. N. Byram, S. W .; S. F. McFall, J. W .; M. W. Byram, secretary; Geo. Shayler, treasurer; S. H. Heinzman, S. D .; C. G. Bryam, J. D .; E. H. White, Tyler.
A branch of the county library mentioned in county history, has been established at Fremont. An initiation fee of one dollar is charged, and the payment of this, with 50 cents annual dues, constitutes a membership. The president of the Fremont branch is J. W. Slater, secretary, and treas- urer, M. W. Byram. The number of members is 22, which entitles the branch to 33 books, one-half more books being allowed than there are members enrolled. These books are changed every three months at the county Superintendent's office in Oskaloosa.
Fremont has three churches, viz:
Fremont M. E. Church-This church is included under Cedar circuit of which a sketch has been given in the history of Cedar township. The church building is a brick structure built in 1856, and has for sometime been sadly out of repair. During the summer of 1878, however, it has been refitted and made comfortable. The original cost of the building was about $1,000. The present membership is 30. The pastor, Geo. Nulton, lives in Fremont and preaches here every other Sabbath. The present trustees are B. C. Howells, B. F. Sheets, and Geo. Lentz. No Sabbath- school in 1878, though there had been one previously.
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