USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 77
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CHURCHES,
The M. E. Church of Mitchellville was organized in 1855. Elijah Can- field and wife, Lot Plummer and wife, A. J. Barton and wife, I. C. Barton and wife, Maria Burk, J. Ezra Plummer and wife, Jeremiah Canfield and wife, Homer Canfield and Joshua Canfield were among the first members and those chiefly active in bringing about the organization. A frame church building was erected in 1876 at a cost of twenty-four thousand dol- lars. The present membership numbers sixty.
The Universalist Church was organized in 1878. The original member- ship numbered thirty-five, of which the following were the officers:
Moderator, Thomas Mitchell.
Clerk, Barlard Slate.
Treasurer, Tillie Mitchell.
Deacons, W. S. Jones, A. Rothrock, Pauline Weeks.
A frame church building was erected in 1870, at a cost of two thousand dollars. The following are the names of the pastors who have had charge of the church: W. W. King, T. C. Eaton, J. R. Sage, A. Vedder, F. W. Gillette.
The present membership is 41.
The Church of Christ was organized in April, 1870. Samuel Henderson and wife, W. H. Hall and wife, C. H. Jones and wife, James Rooker and wife and John E. Heduck and wife were among the persons who formed the first membership. In 1873 a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of two thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars.
The present membership numbers seventy-six.
POPULATION.
Like all other towns which in the western country are so ambitious to make a good showing in point of population, Mitchellville falls consider- able short of the number of inhabitants which it has been claiming. Ac- cording to the returns of the enumerator who has just completed his work, the population is about eight hundred.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
Madison township was organized in April, 1847. As at first constituted it was composed of congressional township number eighty-one, of range twen- ty-five, number eighty, of range twenty-five, number eighty-one, of range
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
twenty-four, and the north half of number eighty, range twenty-four. It will thus be seen that Lincoln, Jefferson and a portion of Crocker townships have been formed out of the original territory belonging to Madison township. As a township, Madison is one of the oldest in the county and the territory which originally composed it now contains about one fourth of the population of the county outside Des Moines. Taking into consideration its past history together with the present, the township is one of the most important in the county. It is celebrated alike for its population, wealth, abundance of nat- ural resources and for the interesting nature of its natural resources. Big Creek, its principal stream was early famed, and along its banks were be- gun the first settlements in the north part of the county.
Among the pioneers of this township are Andrew Messersmith, the oldest, probably, now living in the township; L. M. Small, who came in 1846; David Norris, Andrew Grosclose, R. Bowman, Wm. Hampton, Charles Gaston, Andrew Evans, now living in Boone, James Wilson and C. M. Burt. Of these original pioneers there are but three now living in the township. -A. Messersmith, L. M. Small and C. M. Burt. There are others who may be considered pioneers, Eli Mosier, A. T. Davis, Jno. Elsley, Wm. Rowe, C. and J. H. Grigsby. The first election was held at the house of L. M. Small, in section thirty-four in the spring of 1847. The first justice of the peace was John McClain. The first death that we have account of was a daughter of L. M. Small, who died January, 1848. The first regular physi- cian was Dr. Mather. The first preaching was by the Rev. Mr. Buzick which was only occasionally. Along the southern boundary of this township, which is the Des Moines river, there is an abundance of timber, and the land somewhat rough, but the northern part is prairie and mostly well im- proved.
POLK CITY.
This town was located in May, 1850, on the northwest quarter of section one, township eighty, range twenty-five, near the Des Moines river, by George Bebee, who settled there in 1846. It was an atttractive spot, and was formerly the site of an Indian village, called Wauconsa. Having no competing towns nearer than Des Moines on the south, and Boone on the north, it maintained, through the enterprise of its citizens, its prestige as a thriving town. It arose to the dignity of a corporation in 1875, with the following as its first board of official dignitaries: A. D. Hickman, mayor; J. A. Kuntz, recorder; A. L. Clinghan, treasurer; T. L. Dyer, assessor; N. R. Kuntz, O. N. Rogers, Wm. G. Swim, W. J. Wilson, R. R. Armstrong, aldermen. In 1865 the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was completed to Boone, and in 1867 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific road was completed to Des Moines, and these roads soon began to draw largely on the territory before tributary to Polk City. In 1874 the Des Moines & Minneapolis (narrow gauge) road was opened from Des Moines to Ames, passing through Polk City, and the citizens thereof were measurably con- tented and pleased; but one of the most uncertain things is the future of a town located on a railroad. In 1879 the narrow gauge road passed into the control of the Chicago & Northwestern, who at once decided to change the gauge to that of the standard width, and also to straighten the line more nearly to a direct one, which would leave Polk City nearly two miles to the west. This has been done, much to the discomfiture of Polk City,
46
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
whose citizens are now making efforts through the courts to regain their alleged violated rights.
The following are the leading business houses of the place:
General merchandise-N. R. Kuntz and R. L. Clingam.
Drugs and groceries - Armstrong & Dyer, S. S. Robinson.
Hardware-J. B. Kellison.
Agriculiural implements-Jno. Simmons.
Harness-Jno. Eett, Frank Plappert.
Livery stable-E. H. Crane.
Furniture and undertaking-Mosier & Halpman, A. Snyder.
Shoe shops-H. B. Sweeney, Wm. Shuetz.
Millinery and dress making-M. E. DeLare.
Physicians-R. B. Armstrong, J. O. Skinner & H. Matter, homeo- pathic.
Meat market-Moses Pierce & -. Kirtzman.
Blacksmiths-Fenner Bros, Bowen Fenner & Harver.
Wagon shops-Conrad Huge.
Saw mills-Miles & Crabtree, Vauhining & Crank.
Flouring mills-Egleston & Stubbs.
Hotel-Miles House, George W. Miles, proprietor.
Secret societies-I. O. O. F., Masonic, A. O. U. W. Jewelry-Stark & Crank.
Churches-Methodist, Congregationalist, Baptist and Christian. The following is a list of the city officers:
Mayor and J. P .- Simon Helpman.
Recorder-G. W. Roe.
Treasurer-S. S. Robinson.
Assessor -- J. Chivalier.
Marshal-M. Crabtree.
Councilmen-R. L. Clingan, James Crabtree, E. H. Crane, J. Sim- mons, George W. Miles, William J. Van Hyning.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in. 1848, with about twelve members. A frame church building was erected in 1866, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. The building was dedicated in 1867. There is now an indebtedness of about one hundred and fifty dollars. The member- ship numbers sixty.
The Baptist Church was organized in 1868. Z. Loper, F. Loper, R. L. Clingan, Mrs. E. L. Clingan, Lucinda Gardner, Samantha Harvey, E. P. Saunders, and Dorcas Baker were the persons who composed the first or- ganization. The congregation has no house of worship, and at present numbers but twenty members. Dr. J. A. Nash, W. H. Wilson and L. W. Atkins have been pastors in times past.
The Congregationalist Church was organized April 3, 1858. The first members of the organization were as follows: Solomon Hunt, H. R. Bard- well, Clara A. Bardwell, Sara R. Burnet and Catharine Stewart. A frame church was erected in 1868 at a cost of three thousand dollars. The build- ing was dedicated in 1869 by Joseph W. Picker. Among the pastors who have had charge of the church in times past were the following: Revs. J. K. Nutting, G. W. Palmer, Alexander Parker and J. F. Graves. The
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
membership at present numbers thirty-seven. There is a flourishing Sun- day-school in connection with the church with twelve teachers and about one hundred pupils. Mr. O. N. Rogers is said to have hauled the first piece of timber which was used in the construction of the church building.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Polk City Masonic Operative Lodge, No. 308, A. F. & A. M. Date of charter, June 5, 1872, with the following charter members: A. Holcraft, W. M .; N. R. Kuntz, S. W .; S. F. Donaldson, S. S .; C. A. Williams, J. W .; B. O. Hanger, J. D .; H. Crabtree, Tyler; R. B. Armstrong, Treas .; F. F. Barton, S. D .; A. D. Kellison, Chap .; C. J. Clark, Sec .; W. Rowe, J. S. The present members are: R. B. Armstrong, Treas., W. Gaston, G. C. Baker, D. C. Hanger, T. J. Brinton, B. O. Hanger, H. H. Beigler, J. Hunt, E. W. Burleigh, S. Hunt, D. Blain, J. D., S. H. Houser, C. J. Clark, N. R. Kuntz, W. M., H. Crabtree, A. D. Kellison, R. L. Clingan, Sec., T. T. Kelsall, J. W., E. H. Crane, S. S., B. A. Little, W. M. Campbell, S. D., F. McClain, G. S. Chambers, John McLean, J. Channon, H. J. McDonald, S. F. Donaldson, Jas. McLean, G. Donoy, P. Messersmith, E. S. Derrick- son, Tyler, J. N. Noland, J. Dunlap, H. O. Ken, F. L. Dyer, Ed. Parmen- ter, H. Egleston, S. W., M. Ritgers, Wm. Rowe, J. C. Thompson, J. Rop- pelye, T. Warden, P. Sutter, C. F. Wright, C. C. Shellhart, W. J. Wilson, J. F. Saylor, J. Young, A. C. Truesdell, Geo. Zerr, F. Trumpeter, Gust. B. Little. The hall is 18x50 feet, on the second floor, rented from N. R. Kuntz.
Polk County I. O. O. F. Polk City Lodge, No. 300. Date of charter, October 22, 1874, with the following members: A. Holcraft, Jno. McLean, R. L. Clingan, C. F. Wright, N. R. Herrington, D. W. Ingersoll, J. Schroe- der. The membership is seventy-nine members in good standing. The size of hall is 18x50 feet, leased from J. B. Kellison, and is well fitted up. They have a Rebecca degree, No. 89, " Samarian," chartered October 18, 1877.
Excelsior Lodge, No. 185, A. O. U. W., is yet in its infancy, its charter only dating back to March 20, 1879; it now has a membership of 18, and bids fair to become much stronger.
OTHER TOWNS.
In addition to Polk City, Madison township has in time past boasted of two towns. Montacute, or, more definitely speaking, Springfield, was laid out by G. H. and J. Hauser, in June, 1849. It was located on the south side of the southwest quarter of section 6, township 80, range 24. Corydon was laid out in May, 1853, by James Skidmore and Nathan Mathews. It was located on the southeast quarter of southwest quarter and southwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 12, township 80, range 25. In 1855 New Corydon was laid out adjoining the old town by the same parties.
HOPKINS' GROVE U. B. CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1851 with about twenty members. In 1866 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $1,800. Rev. John Simp- son was the pastor at the time the church was erected. The denomination
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
of which this church forms a part boasts that it never fellowshiped a slave- holder nor a member of a secret society. The church is in a prosperous condition and has a membership of sixty.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
The first settlements in the bounds of the township, were made between the years 1848 and 1852. It was in this region of country that the McClain setlement was located; it was also here that the Hon. William H. McHenry settled when he first came to the county. Mr. Nathan Andrews was one of the early settlers and among the most influential citizens who came in early times. Thomas Murray came from Indiana in 1852, and settled on section 3. He had a family of seventeen children. The first school-house erected in the township was in the McClain neighborhood. It was used not only for schools but also for religious and political purposes. The first births in the township were those of David Hartman, born September 4, 1850; Shel- ton M. McClain, born April 8, 1851; and Mary Angelina McClain. The parents of the former were John D. and Olive McClain, of the latter John and Mary Ann McClain.
The first death was that of Jesse Spickelmeyer, who died in 1853, and was buried on the Andrews farm, where there is now a cemetery.
The first regularly practicing physician was Dr. D. C. Mather, who now resides in Boonesboro.
Rev. Wm. Coger, a Christian preacher, and Ezra Rathbun, were the first to conduct public religious services.
Martha Duncan was the first "school-marm"; she received the sum of one- dollar per week, and was boarded by the patrons of the school.
In the winter of 1848 Mr. Coger was going home from church in com- pany with Mr. Hunt, when he saw a prairie wolf. The snow was about. three feet deep, and the reverend gentleman forgetting that it was Sunday,. started in pursuit, and running it down caught it in his arms, and carried the prize home, a distance of eight miles.
Jefferson township was a part of Madison till the spring of 1851, when it . was ordered to be formed into a separate township. The boundaries of the- township at first can be determined by the following official order:
Ordered, That the following boundaries are hereby established as the boundaries of Jeffer- son township, to-wit:
Beginning where the line extending between sections sixteen and twenty-one, in township seventy-nine, range twenty-four, crosses the Des Moines river; thence west along said line. between sections seventeen, twenty, eighteen, nineteen, of said township, to the range line between twenty-four and twenty-five; thence north along said line to Beaver Creek; thence up the channel of said creek to the township line between townships seventy-nine and. eighty, of range twenty-five; thence west along said line to the west line of Polk county; thence north along said line to the Des Moines river; thence down the main channel of said river to the place of beginning.
And it is further ordered, That the school-house in district number one, in the present township of Madison, be the place for holding the first election in the township.
It was in the bounds of this township that the first murder was com- mitted, the details of which are narrated elsewhere. Here it was also where the first effective claim club, as a township organization, was first formed, William H. McHenry, first Sheriff, then mayor of Des Moines, and now District Judge, being one of the leading members of the organization. The early settlers of this part of the county were a long way off from any base
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
of supplies, Fort Des Moines being the nearest trading point. The dis- tance was great considering the almost impassable condition of the roads, and to avoid the necessity of a too frequent trip to Des Moines the settlers produced themselves many articles of domestic comfort. Mrs. Jessie Fouts and Mrs. Olive McClain were especially noted as being expert weav- ers of carpet and cloth. In fact the prudent wives of the early settlers were skilled in many kinds of domestic labor, which have become to be among the lost arts.
As an agricultural region Jefferson township probably has no superior in the State. The soil and other physical characteristics of the country make it especially well adapted to farming and stock-raising. While the surface of the land is not much broken except along the Des Moines river, it is sufficiently undulating to make the climate healthy and soil productive even during the rainy season. Beaver Creek flows through the center of the township, and between the main stream and its principal tributary, South Beaver, is a beautiful plateau, which is not only the loveliest region in the county but is also healthy and as productive as nature with her exhaustless resources could well make it. Immediately south of Beaver Creek, in section twenty, is located a small body of water known on the map as Pleasant Lake. In the southwest part of the township is Ayers' Grove
In February, 1857, the town of Andrews was laid out. It is situated about one mile southwest of the Des Moines river, on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section nine, township eighty, range twenty-five. The town was laid out by William Frazier and Nathan Andrews. The town is not now and never aspired to be a place of very great pretensions. Nevertheless in its unassuming career it has not escaped the slanders of envious neighbors who sometimes call it by the euphoneous name of Dog Town. This name, it is said, had its origin in the fact that a man by the name of Doggett has had considerable to do with its past history. There are, however, towns and cities of much greater note and commercial im- portance than Andrews has yet aspired to, which have acquired fame and prosperity despite odious nicknames. There is a post-office located at An- drews, and this in connection with its favorable location make it a favorite resort of the rural inhabitants on rainy days and Saturday evenings.
Almost cotemporaneous with Andrews was the former town of great ex- pectations known by the name of Lovington. It was laid out in Decem- ber, 1854. Its location was at the mouth of Beaver Creek on the south- east quarter of section 18, township 79, range 24. The town has now no importance except as a relic of the departed past. It has lost its local hab- itation and name, and a person in order to find it would be compelled to avail himself of the services of the County Surveyor. Lovington, how- ever, must not perish; long live Lovington.
The first township trustees were S. Hunt, Wm. Hartway and Wm. F. Ayers. Wm. S. Prouty was the first clerk, and J. D. McClain was the first assessor.
The first official meeting of the township board was held in a log school- house on section 36.
There is one district township and nine subdistricts.
The present township officers are as follows:
Trustees-Samuel O. Ewing, Joseph Herrold, and W. P. McClain. Clerk-N. Frazier.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
The other officers are A. H. Parrott, C. H. Campbell, J. A. White, F. Caborow and John Davis.
CROCKER TOWNSHIP.
This township is composed of all that part of congressional township number 80, of range 24, which lies east of the Des Moines river. This in- cludes all of the congressional township except about two sections, which, lying west of the Des Moines river is attached to Jefferson township.
From 1867 till 1870 the territory now comprising Crocker township was divided between Saylor and Madison townships. At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors on December 20, 1870, there were two petitions pre- sented to the honorable body praying for the organization of new townships. One was signed by numerous citizens of the county living in the south part of Saylor township, praying that the part of congressional township 79, of range 24, lying east of the Des Moines river be made and consti- tuted a separate civil township, to be known by the name of Lincoln. The other petition was signed by a large number of citizens, electors and prop- erty owners residing in the east part of Madison township, praying for the organization of a new township composed of the territory included in con- gressional township number 81, of range 24. These petitions were granted, and it was ordered that the part of congressional township number 79, of range 24, lying east of the Des Moines river be formed into a new town- ship, and that it be called Saylor; that congressional township number 81, of range 24, be organized into a new township and called Lincoln; that the south part of congressional township number 80, of range 24, hereto- fore belonging to Saylor, and the north part heretofore belonging to Madi- son township, be organized into a new township and called Crocker. Such is the history of the formation of the township. It was named in honor of Gen. M. M. Crocker, one of the most distinguished citizens of Des Moines, and one of the most gallant soldiers among the many which Polk county sent into the army during the war of the rebellion.
The township was formally organized January 9, 1871, at which time the first election was held. F. Nagle, E. Parmenter and D. C. Marts were the first trustees. J. M. Marts was the first assessor of the township. The first meeting of the board was held at the Dietz school-house, located in subdistrict number 5. The township was divided into nine school districts in each of which have been erected comfortable school-houses.
The school-houses are located as follows: Northwest corner of section 12; northeast corner of section 9; northeast corner of section 7; northeast corner of section 18; southeast corner of section 16; southeast corner of section 23; southwest part of section 36; west part of section 34; southeast part of section 29.
There are also nine road districts, and there were last year levied for road purposes the sum of four mills on each dollar of property assessed. The population of Crocker township is composed chiefly of persons engaged in farming and stock raising. They are a thrifty and enterprising class of people and the township is rapidly filling up. The soil is productive, and when the land is brought under a good state of cultivation the country will sustain a very dense population.
The Des Moines & Minneapolis Railroad passes diagonally through the township from the southeast to the northwest, and thereby are furnished.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
good facilities for the shipment of the superfluous products of the country. Along the line of the railroad have been established three stations-Trent, in the extreme south part of the township; Ankney, near the center; and Pelton, in the northwest. There is no regularly laid out town at the first named place, there being simply a depot, post-office and buildings suitable for the storing and transferring of grain and stock. Ankney was laid out in April, 1875, by J. F. Ankney. It is located on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 23, township 80, range 24. Its growth during the past five years has not been rapid but gradual and healthy. It is the popular trading point for a large and prosperous section of country, and from present indications will, in the course of a few years, be a town of some four or five hundred inhabitants. Pelton Station is located on the north part of the southwest quarter of section 9, on the west bank of Rock Creek, a beautiful little stream which rises near the north boundary of the town- ship and empties into the Des Moines about five miles southwest of Ankney.
Four Mile Creek passes through the northeast corner of the township, and with the exception of some scattering timber along its banks in sections 1 and 12, the northeast half of the township is a continuous prairie, with slight elevations and small depressions, forming an undulating surface of surprising beauty and remarkable fertility of soil. The southwestern por- tion is more broken and largely interspersed with timber growths. In this township, like others already mentioned, the first settlements were made in the timber, and when the prairie portion of the township began to be set- tled there was a lively competition and some strife between the respective parts of the township.
The first school-house built in this region of country was the Dietz school-house, built in 1851, and constructed of hewn logs.
Conrad Stutzman, one of the most prominent citizens of the county in early times, resided in the bounds of Crocker township. Among other early settlers were the following: C. Dietz, Jacob Shellhart, D. Brum- baugh, Samuel Brown, and David Miller. Many of the early settlers have died and their remains lie buried in the cemetery on section 17, about one mile southwest of Pelton Station.
The Des Moines Valley Church was erected by a congregation of Dun- kers during the year 1876 at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars. This so- ciety was organized in the year 1868, with a membership of some eight or ten, of whom Conrad Dietz and George Baker were the more prominent. The society has from time to time been augmented by the location in the neighborhood of immigrants of that peculiar faith. It is now in a most flourishing condition, and has a membership of some eighty.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Trustees-R. Wane, C. H. Gross, J. L. Miller.
Assessor-George Harley.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
The first steps taken for the organization of this township occurred in December, 1870. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors on the 26th of that month a petition from the citizens, electors and property owners of congressional township number 81, of range 24 was presented, praying that the said territory be constituted a new township, to be known by the
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
name of Norway township. It was urged by the petitioners that a large portion of them resided from six to eight miles from Polk City, the place where elections were always held, and they averred their belief that a large number of people would be greatly benefited by the organization of a new township. The petition was granted, but at a subsequent meeting the name was changed from Norway township to that of Lincoln.
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