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 63
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The first three settlers in this township were Moses Nowels, Hiram Co- vey, and E. Flanders. These men came into the township in April. 1843, and made their claims in the early morning of May 1st. For a considera- ble time they had no post-office nearer than Oskaloosa. Nor was there either ferry or ford across the Des Moines. The settlers sometimes con-
530
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
structed small rafts and took their wagons across in pieces, swimming the horses behind. In this way it took about a half day to cross the river.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Geo. W. Baer, on section 3, in a log school house. This was a subscription school and was conducted about 1845 or 1846.
Mr. Nowels gave us a description of the early fanning mill which he used. The grain was tramped out on the bare ground and the kernel and chaff were swept up and thrown into a rail pen. When it became neces- sary to separate the wheat from the chaff one man took a half bushel of the mixture, and holding it as high as he could, poured its contents slowly to the ground while two others made a current of air by means of a bed sheet or quilt, which, in their hands, accomplished the work of a fan. When a strong wind was blowing this power was sometimes dispensed with and Dame Nature herself did the necessary fanning.
The land in Jefferson contains a number of small groves of jack oak and elm, but the timber is not remarkable. There are several springs of good water in the township. Coal is not much mined.
From a well dng on Sampson More's farm, in 1875, we get the following record of strata:
Soil, rich black loam
2 feet.
Yellow clay
13
Soapstone
14 66
Slate.
.
12 66
Coal
2
Black jack
2
Oil slate-burns readily
16 66
Animal formation
20
Vegetable formation
15
Slate
6
Coal
3
105 feet.
There are now two post-offices in Jefferson township, Ferry and Eveland Grove.
'The present officers are:
Justice-J. M. Tucker.
Trustees-Freeman Eveland, J. W. Calloway, John Collins.
Clerk-A. Mehanna.
Assessor-Wm. A. Atkinson.
Constables-J. W. Trotter, L. C. Williams.
WHITE OAK.
This township is on the eastern line of Mahaska county, and is known in surveys as township No. 75 north, range No. 14 west, of the 5th princi- pal meridian. The township lines were run by Alvin Burt in the fall of 1843, and the sub-divisions by U. S. Surveyor S. C. Wiltse, in December, 1844. The south fork of Skunk river flows through the township and pre- sents generally, a rapid current, a sandy bed, and perpendicular banks of 15 feet in height. The river bottom is valuable only for its timber, which is abundant and of good quality. The uplands are so slightly elevated
531
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
above the main streams, as scarcely to merit the name. The surface is very moderately rolling, and the soil of a choice quality. The prairies, when they occur distinet, are beautiful, and the timber has been first-class. The township is decidedly mixture in its kind of land, timber land, brush and prairie alternating. It contains about 700 acres of swamp lands, and is traversed by a number of small creeks which flow into Skunk river. Its name is taken from the kind of timber predominating. The township also contains some good ledges of rock, from which building-stone may be obtained.
Among the very first settlers in White Oak were Alex. Troy and two brothers, M. Kinsman, Henry Bond, Wm. Bridges, James Stanfield, John and Wm. Butler. It would be hard to decide between these as to who did make the first settlemement, they having come in together at the time the land came into possession of the whites. This township contained the Indian village known as Kish-Ke-Kosh's village, and to its ruins the first settlers were indebted for part of their building material. M. Kinsman probably had the first cabin completed. It was built of logs and covered with bark from the Indian wigwams. The first school in this township was in a claim house belonging to Henry Bond, and located on seetion 31. It was tanght by a lady teacher whose name we could not ascertain, and was a subscription school. This was in 1845. No religious exercises were held in the bounds of this township until in this same year, when Rev. Kirkpatrick, a Methodist preacher on Eddyville circuit, preached in the house of M. Kinsman. Quite a number of the settlers, however, had attended services at the Concert M. E. church in Cedar township, and some of them belonged to the class organized there at a very early day.
In order to utilize the very excellent timber thereabouts, and to assist the incoming settlers to more comfortable homes, a saw-mill was started on the ground where White Oak P. O. now stands. This was run by ox power-six oxen answering for a steam engine. Of course the work was not very rapid, nor were the logs sawed very large, but cabin floors were provided for, and puncheon furniture was superseded by that made from sawed Inmber.
On this ground a town was laid out in 18-and grew to be quite a village, containing twelve or fifteen houses. Twenty acres of land had been laid out in lots. The lack of a railroad, or other canses for building up a town, left Oxford in a declining condition, and about twenty years ago it began to be abandoned. In 1860 or thereabonts, the town lots were bought up by Messrs. Kinsman & Gaskell, were fenced in and turned into corn fields. Now the place is called White Oak P. O. The old dwellings have about all disappeared. The post-office is kept by O. R. Gaskell, who has been keeping a general store here since 1871. The post-office was es- tablished in 1869, with Henry Winder as first postmaster. The office is on the mail route between Oskaloosa and Cedar and has three mails per week.
OSKALOOSA.
This township contains the county -seat, and is twice the size of an ordi- nary township, being longest in an eastern and western direction. It cor- responds to those tracts in the government surveys known as township seventy-five (75) north, Ranges 15 and 16, west of 5th principal meridian, Mahaska county, Iowa. In the northeastern part it is not regular in shape,
532
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
but follows the channel of Skunk river. In the government survey the regular township lines were made by Wm. and Alvin Burt in the summer of 1843, and the survey was completed by George Wilson in January, 1845. The entire township is thickly settled, and is well adapted for farm- ing purposes. The southeastern and western portions are good prairie, and the northeastern part is considerably broken. Along the creeks the coal veins reach the surface, and the coal is easily mined from the banks. The Muchakinoek crosses the southwestern portion of the township, with steep banks, and good current. The soil is excellent. Timber is rather poor, except in the southern part along the Muchakinock.
Within the boundaries of this township are Oskaloosa and Beacon, the first and third towns in the county in size, and the history of these places in connection with the coal interests, has included the early history of the township.
Oskaloosa is by far, the wealthiest township in Mahaska, and takes a leading place in stock raising. The census of 1874 shows within the lim- its of the township 2,054 horses, 5,015 cattle, 90 being thoroughbred short- horn, and 10,171 hogs; 155,069 pounds of butter were made in the same year. Its population was 7,408, or nearly one-third that of the county.
The township officers are:
Trustees-R. P. Bacon, H. R. Kendig, Wm. S. Martin.
Clerk-John Hall.
Assessor-H. P. Weaver.
Road Supervisors-1st District, D. A. Himes; 2d, A. B. Paine; 3d, J. H. Warren; 4th, M. Varley; 5th, Geo. Mitchell; 6th, Isaac Votaw; 7th, Tie; 8th, Wm. T. Smith; 9th, Tie; 10th, D. J. Evans; 11th, Geo. Dusen- berry; 12th, Wm. T. Henry; 13th, No votes cast; 14th, E. C. Wing; 15th, Thos. Hyde; 16th, Tie; 17th, Danl. Harris; 18th, W. F. Woodward; 19th, Wm. Reeves; 20th, Richard Parsell; 21st, J. Madson.
SCOTT.
This township is known in government surveys as No. 75 north, of 17 west, of fifth principal meridian. The township lines were run by Win. A. Burt, United States Surveyor, in Angust, 1843. The section lines were run by Deputy Surveyor Wm. L. D. Ewing, in July and August, 1845. The Des Moines river divides the township, cutting off the southwest corner. This was one of the first settled townships. The south and west parts are well timbered, while the north is prairie, all well settled and in a high state of cultivation. The timber along the Des Moines has been of quite heavy growth. Just east of Bellefontaine is one of the best ridges of white oak timber in the State, extending np the river to' the county line.
The oldest settler is Dr. Boyer, who came to the township, April 18, 1843, and remained until after the country began to be generally settled. In his first attempts to come to this part, he met with opposition from the dragoons, left here to guard the border, and was escorted quite a distance baek toward the Mississippi, but when he was left alone, the Doctor took a circuitous route and returned. During the last three days of April, while watching his intended elaim from trespass, he lived on three biscuits and what nourishment he could seeure from game.
Among others who came to this township at the first, were Van B. De-
533
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
lashinntt, Jacob HI. Majors, John Majors, E. Flanders, H. Covey, B. T. Lonsberry, and Joseph Tally. These all made claims near the river.
Jacob H. Majors was probably the first justice.
This township was first called Jackson, but in the election when Scott was running for the presidency, it cast a solid vote for the veteran of the Mexican War. Dr. Boyer was commissioned to return the vote to the county officials, and at the same time requested to have the name of the township changed, not appreciating the Democratic name, Jackson, for a township of the opposite political complexion, He was asked for his peti- tion. He handed in the election returns, saying, there was a unanimous and unmistaken petition. The joke was appreciated, and Jackson became Scott township.
During the first winter Dr. Boyer was there, he shot ninety-three wolves. He was a great linnter, and kept some fine dogs and horses. From his land along the Des Moines, the Doctor has sold $12,000 worth of black walnut timber.
Mrs. Covey taught the first school in Scott township. This was a private school and was kept in a building built mainly by Boyer and Delashmntt, at a cost of $237. This honse still stands on its old location, in what is now the village of Rochester.
This last named village was laid out by John Wright in October 26, 1850, but never amounting to much, not ever having to exceed fifty in- habitants. Its palmiest days were when the Des Moines was navigated by small steamboats, this then being a landing. Dr. Boyer kept a general store there for several years, including 1857-8-9. At one time he landed there one thousand barrels of salt, and had all his heavy goods shipped up the river.
The name of the post-office at this point was Anburn. It does not now contain a single business house.
Bellefontaine has much a similar history. Is is located on the west side of the Des Moines, close to the county line. It was laid out August 24, 1846, by Nathan Gregory and E. H. Thisselle. The first cabin in the place was built by Mr. Thisselle. Thisselle and Boyer established the first business honse there, abont 1849, and a successful business with Dr. Boyer as partner, has been carried on there ever since, until about three years ago. At the time of the building of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., a station was made in Marion county about three-fourths of a mile from Bellefontaine, called Tracey. The business of Bellefontaine, including the above men- tioned store (now Boyer & Son), was transferred to the new town in Marion county, and the place now has no trade whatever. The post-office was also removed to Tracey. E. H. Thisselle had been first postmaster at Bellefon- taine.
There was a Masonic Lodge at Bellefontaine, known as Bellefontaine Lodge, No. 163, organized about 1848. They now meet in Tracey.
The present township officers are:
Justice-George DeLong.
Trustees-Wm. Gilmore, John Shultz, W. E. Boyer.
Clerk-George Fansher.
Assessor-J. M. Norwood.
Constable-Alonzo N. Church.
Road Supervisors-1st District, W. G. Locke; 2d, Jas. Finney; 3d,
534
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Win. Gilmour; 4th, R. B. Walker; 5th, S. S. Robertson; 6th, J. M. Nor- wood; 7th, R. V. Correll. %
Olivet Presbyterian Church, in this township, was dedicated October 17, 1867, by Rev. Fisher, of Centerville. It was completed during that year at a cost of $1,666, and paid for at time of dedication. Its seating capac- ity is from to 200 to 300.
Olivet is a station on the C., R. I. & P. R. R., in this township.
1 MONROE.
This township borders the eastern line of Mahaska county, and in sur- veys is designated as township 76 north, range 14 west, of the 5th princi- pal meridian. The township lines were run by Alvin Burt, July 10, 1843, and sub-survey was made by U. S. Surveyor S. C. Wiltse, December, 1844. Skunk river traverses this entire township in a southeasterly direction, averaging eighty feet in width, and probably two feet in depth. It has a sand or sandstone bed, a quick current and perpendicular banks. The val- ley or river bottoms are generally low and wet, best fitted for grazing lands. The river and the creek which passes through the southwestern part of the township, are bordered with good timber. The nplands on both sides of the river are rolling and very fertile.
There are about six hundred acres of swamp lands in the township. The first settlers in the township were Jacob Johns, James Bridges, Henry Wymore, William Kimberly, John Baker, and Thomas Tinsley.
Jacob Johns was the first man to break the soil. He located on section 13 in the eastern part of the township, and in a few years he had a fine farm, which he and his family enjoyed for many years. Some of the old pioneers stated to the historian that in three days after they had pitched their tent, they had a cabin completed, and the happiest homes they ever enjoyed were in the "old cabin home," but these cabins have nearly all dis- appeared, and are succeeded by fine dwellings and cottages.
Coal is found in abundance. The mine that is most successfully worked is known as the Rhinehart shaft, situated on section 36. The coal is of a good quality. The vein is from 6 to 7 feet thick, and supplies coal for a large scope of territory. They run a force of 20 miners.
The first school in the township was taught by Henry McMillen, in the winter of 1852, as a subscription school.
In Indianapolis, a Campbellite Church was organized, and a building erected in 1852. Jacob Reid was the first pastor. The church was used until 1873, when a new building was put up at a cost of $1,600. The present membership is about 100. A. T. Snyder is the pastor.
A Baptist congregation was organized in 1854, which built a church in 1865, at a cost of $3,000, under the pastorate of Rev. James Fry. The present membership is about 50. The present pastor is Rev. Nelson.
Indianapolis is a small village about the center of the township. It was laid out by Willis Baker, from Indiana, in 1845, who, having pleasant rec- ollections of his native state, named his town Indianapolis, after the cap- itol of Indiana. This town was for the accommodation of the farmers as a trading point. Its growth has been slow. The present population is about one hundred. It contains two general stores, a post-office, black- smith and wagon shop.
535
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Skunk river, flowing through this township, furnishes excellent water power, and, as a result, there are three flouring and three saw-mills located on the river.
James Senate built the first mill, and on this site the Roberts Brothers, in 1874, built a fine flouring-mill, having three run of stone. The Smith and MeBride mill was put up in 1870 by the Wymore Brothers. It has a fine location on the west side of the Skunk river, and has three pairs of burrs. Samuel Cox built a mill on the west side of Skunk river in 1848. The mill has since passed into the hands of Ford and Anderson. This has two run of stone.
Monroe township has three fine iron bridges over the Skunk river.
The present township officers are: justice, G. A. Kent; trustees, L. C. Tanner, J. L. Roberts and B. C. McClain; clerk, Hamilton Brown; asses- sor, John Summers; constable, Phillip Henderson.
ADAMS.
This township borders South Skunk river on the north, and follows the channel of the stream for its southern boundary. It is known in the gov- ernment surveys as township 76 north, range 15 west, of the 5th principal meridian. The survey of township lines was made by William and Alvin Burt, in July and August, 1843, and was re-surveyed by Deputy-surveyor Stiles S. Carpenter, in October, 1847. Its surface is, for the most part, roll- ing, and the soil is a rich, sandy loam, and well adapted for farming pur- poses. Adams township contains a considerable amount of timber, the most valuable of which is burr oak. The timber has been well preserved, and we are informed by an old settler that it is more abundant now than thirty years ago. Large quantities of wild blackberry bushes are found in the brush. The value of the land is from twenty-five to forty-five dollars per acre. Adams township is not very thickly settled, as most of its farm- ers own large farms, from five hundred to eight hundred acres. Part of the roads in this township are well worked, being thrown up in the center, though as a whole the roads do not compare favorably with other parts of the county. The farms are generally well improved by good buildings.
Adams township formed a part of Monroe in 1845, but was subsequently detached. The first justice of the peace was Matthew P. Crowder. The first school in the township was taught by A. N. Atwood, in a claim-house belonging to Squire Crowder. Probably the first church in the county was a Methodist organization, formed in the house of John Ruby, in 1846. At present there are two churches in the township-North River Baptist church, and the Centenary M. E. church. The latter was built about 1863, and the former probably a year later. The present minister of the M. E. church is Rev. J. H. Cook. The Baptists have no regular preacher. There are four Sunday-schools within the borders of this township, and on July 4, 1878, these schools had a grand union celebration in the grove of A. Ruby. During the time of the grange excitement a chapter of the Pat- rons of Husbandry was organized in district school house number 1, but is no longer an active organization.
In the fall of 1876 was organized, at the house of Adam Victor, an agri- cultural association known as the Adams Township Agricultural Society, and having in view a sort of annual township fair. The first president was
536
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Elijah Busby. The September exhibition of that year was considered a success. Nothing but stock and purely agricultural products were exhib- ited. About one hundred and fifty were present, and a general good time was had. The only premiums given at this free exhibition were blue rib- bons. This meeting being such a success the neighboring townships were invited to take part in the following year, at an exhibition held on the as- sociation's leased grounds, in John F. Allgood's grove. Here an admit- tance fee of ten cents was charged, and two thousand persons are supposed to have been present. It is the purpose of the association to pay cash pre- miums after a time. The present officers are: G. W. France, president; Joseph Davenport, vice-president; Willis Willhoit, secretary; Robert Bass, treasurer; and John Allgood, marshal. The fall meeting of 1878 has been appointed for September, 26 and 27.
A big wind storm visited Adams township on June 18, 1871, blowing down houses, fences and trees. The year 1851 is known by the citizens along Skunk river as the year of the flood, at which time the farms of the bottom land were almost wiped out. No lives lost in either case.
Of the first settlers A. Ruby and Jos. Davenport are probably the ear- liest now living.
Adams township contains no village worthy of the name, and only one post-office, Comet, established 1877, with Stephen Criss, postmaster.
The following are the presnt township officers:
Justices-Wm Hibbs and Frank Stone.
Trustees-Jacob Koogler, J. D. White, J. C. Wilson.
Constables-Geo. Stone, C. W. Pittman.
Assessor-Ed McDonough.
Clerk-Chas. Stanley.
MADISON.
This is one of the central townships in Mahaska county. Its congres- sional name is No. 76, north of range 16, west of the 5th principal merid- ian. The township lines were run by Win. A. Burt in August, 1843, but the township was not divided by section lines until it was surveyed in 1847 by the U. S. Surveyor Stiles S. Carpenter. The south fork of the Skunk river flows across the township from the northwest to the southeast and divides it into what is known by the residents as North Madison and Sonth Madi- son.
For farming purposes the land of this township takes a front rank. It is fertile and well drained. A considerable belt of timber skirts the banks of the Skunk. The farms are in a good state of cultivation, and speak well for the industry of the people who in twenty-eight short years have changed the wilderness into a finished, well settled and finely improved community.
Among the first settlers were Enoch Shoemake, Wmn. Goodplaster, John Padget, Wm. Brummel and Samuel Coffin. These settlers attended the land sales at Iowa City in 1850, on foot, and traveled in company with oth- ers, banded together under the club law, protecting themselves from the encroachments of speculators or claim-jumpers who might be disposed to play the game of sharpers at the land sales.
The first school in Madison township was a private enterprise. In the fall of 1846 Samuel Coffin, John Padget and Wm. Goodplaster built a log house for school purposes, and employed Wm. Lawrence as the first teacher.
537
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
This school was on the farm now owned by Thos. Coffin. The second school was taught in a house on the farm now owned by Milton Padget. Both these, as the local reader will notice, were on the south side of the town- ship. For several years the country north of the Skunk was very thinly settled, and enjoyed no school privileges.
The first religions exercises in this township are said to have been held in school house No. 1.
On the Skunk river is located what was known in early days as the "Up- per Mill," thus named in contrast with the Comstock, or lower mill, in Os- kaloosa township. This " Upper Mill" was built by Russell Peck and Geo. Duncan in the summer of 1843, and contests with the Benedict mill the name of the first in the county. In 1858 the mill passed into the hands of Messrs. Braden Bros. It has since been rebuilt, and for the last eight years has been owned by Whitmore & Anderson. The present mill is equipped with three run of stone, and has a capacity for grinding 300 bushels per day. The building, machinery and site are valned at $18,000.
At this point is a fine iron bridge across the river, composed of two spans. A substantial limestone approach crosses the bottom, avoiding em- bargo from overflow.
On the east line of this township is the new station " Lacey," on the Cen- tral Road. This is quite a small village, but affords good shipping facili- ties to the farmers of Madison.
The present township officers are:
Justice-I. C. Middleton.
Trustees-Geo. Crispen, T. W. Dye, G. M. Mott.
Clerk-Jesse J. Hill.
Assessor-Amos T. Young.
Constable-T. C. Young.
BLACK OAK.
This township has corresponded to the boundaries of congressional town- ship 76, north of range 17, west of 5th principal meridian, since 1860. At one time Black Oak was a part of Jackson township, which in 1845 ex- tended so far north as to include one township in Poweshiek county. Black Oak was surveyed as a congressional township by U. S. Surveyor W. A. Burt in August, 1843. The section lines were run by W. L. D. Ewing, in September, 1845. The soil is mostly good prairie, and is drained by South Skunk river, and by Black Oak, Muchakinock and other creeks.
Black Oak Grove is a small tract of good timber on sections 8, 9 and 16, comprising about 600 acres.
The first settlers upon the soil of Black Oak township were John Gillas- pie, William, Jacob and John Majors, Aaron Folk, - - Johnson, Richard Quinton, Wm. Owens, Henry Groves, John Randall, James H. Warren, Fielding Betz, John Shoemake, Wesley Moreland and Jacob Miller.
The first school in Black Oak township was taught by C. Chipman, on section 17. The first meeting for religious worship was held at the house of Dr. Warren.
From the book of original entries we find that the first lands purchased in Black Oak township were as follows:
538
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Wesley Metter on
May 8, 1847, a part of section
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