USA > Iowa > Van Buren County > The history of Van Buren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c, a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa &c > Part 57
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Judge Wright, in an address speaks of Van Buren Company, and in one place, of a member, he says :
"John Carnes might be called appropriately the talking, bragging member of the firm. It was his peculiar province to dwell on the advantages of the place and its high destiny in the future. He originated the flaming handbills, and magnified the hydraulic privileges connected with our location at the Des Moines Rapids. And one person assures me that to these handbills, and Carnes' exaggerated statements as to the amount of water-fall and character of
Joshem & Sloan
KEOSAUQUA
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LARRY
T
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
the Rapids at this point, may be traced the idea in the minds of the Missourians that these Rapids were those meant in their State Constitution.
In 1850, a private bank grew out of the savings of a number of citizens, among them J. H. Bonney, G. G. Wright, J. J. Kinersly, Joel Walker and George W. Games ; each of whom deposited $1 originally, and afterward twenty-five cents per week, with the condition that it was not to be drawn excepting for loans and purchases of notes. At the length of four or five years the amount deposited had grown to $5,000, and was divided among the depositors.
EARLY AND LATE EDUCATORS.
The pioneers of Van Buren County commenced their work by preparing themselves and their successors for the work before them, by the institution of a good system of popular education. But, as their means were limited, their first seminaries were like their dwellings-of logs; the seats were benches made by splitting small logs, mostly of basswood, with very little polish, and that little done with an ax ; their desks were made by boring into the wall with a large auger, and inserting strong pins, inclining to the front, on which was fastened a plank, if any was to be had ; if not, what was called a "puncheon," hewed on one side. The windows, instead of being perpendicular were hori- zontal. And to these rude cabin-schools do Hon. G. W. McCrary, Hon. H. C. Caldwell and many other men of prominence owe their primary education.
As the above mention applies to Van Buren County at large, it may, with propriety, be localized so as to apply to Keosauqua.
Tom Wilkinson kept the first school at the (now) county seat in 1839. He taught in a log cabin standing in a lot now owned by Judge Sloan. Wilkinson left in 1842, and married a half-breed of the Cherokee nation.
Caroline McBride taught at Keosauqua about 1840.
Necessity brought into vogue the private subscription schools, and these continued from fifteen to twenty years. Mr. Lane taught one of these schools in 1851, in the Odd Fellows' rooms. The system of private schools was con- tinued as late as 1866, during which time a small brick schoolhouse was put up. The independent school system was introduced about the year 1866.
Keosauqua now has one of the finest graded school buildings in the county. There are five departments. The Principal of the school is Mr. John R. Lan- des. The teachers are, Miss Mary E. Brown, First Primary ; Second Primary, Miss Ada Redd; Intermediate, Clara Hartson; Grammar School, Emma Layton.
The report for November, 1878, showed the names of two hundred and seventy-nine scholars on the roll.
The schoolhouse was erected in 1866, at a cost of $18,000.
In 1839, a literary lyceum was established, the following being the act of incorporation :
AN ACT to incorporate the Keosauqua Lyceum.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of Territory of Iowa, That James Hall, John Fairman, S. W. Summers, S. N. Lewis, Elisha Puell, John Carnes, Rich- ard Billups, Simon Drouillard, Jacob Lane, John Goodwin, John Purdon, Sewell Kinney, C. Ste- venson, John Stevenson, M. Sigler, John Sigler, Cyrus H. Ober. Wilson Stanley, Russell King, Thomas Wilkinson, Alfred Vesters and such other persons as shall from time to time, become members of said corporation, shall be and are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be one body corporate and politic, in deed, fact and name, by the name and style of " The Keosauqua Lyceum ;" and by that name they and their successors shall have succession, and shall be per- sons in law capable of suing and being sued, pleading aud being impleaded, answering and being answered, defending and being defended in all suits and complaints, matters and cases whatso- ever : and that they and their successors, by the same name, shall be persons in law capable to
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purchase, take, receive, hold and enjoy, to them and their successors, any real estate. in fee simple, or for term of life or lives, or otherwise, and any goods, chattels, or any per- sonal estate, for the purpose of enabling them the better to carry into execution, encourage and promote such measures as may tend to the advancement of science and literature, and also to whatever else that may tend to the promotion of education, the advancement of knowledge, and the development of truth in the sciences : Provided, the clear yearly value of such real and per- sonal estate shall not exceed the sum of $5,000. And that they and their successors shall have full power and authority to give, grant, sell, lease, devise and dispose of the said real and per- sonal estate, or any part thereof, at their will and pleasure; and that they and their successors, shall have power from time to time to make, constitute, ordain and establish such by-laws, or- dinances and regulations as they shall judge proper, for the election of their officers, for the elec- tion and admission of new members of said corporation, and the terms and manner of such admission. for the better government of their officers and members, or fixing the time and place of the meetings of said corporation, and for regulating all the affairs of said corporation, : Pro- vided, such by-laws and regulations shall not be repugnant to the Constitution or laws of the United States or of this Territory.
SEC. 2. And for the better carrying on the affairs of said corporation, there shall be a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the corporation, who shall hold their offices from the time of their appointment, or election, until the first Monday of March then next, or until others shall have been chosen in their places. And that the said J. N. Lewis is hereby appointed President, the said Wilson Stanly, Treasurer, and the said John Carnes, Secretary, until the first Monday of March next ; and that said officers shall, on the first Monday of March next, and always thereafter, be chosen by the members of the said corporation in such manner, and afterward at such time and places, as shall be directed by the by-laws of said corporation to be made for that purpose : and that the President or Vice President, and any seven members of said corporation, shall be sufficient to constitute a legal meeting for the transaction of business.
SEC. 3. This act shall be subject to amendment by any future Legislature.
Approved, January 24, 1839,
There was, during a period encircling the year 1851, an academy at this place. It ran a successful race with other schools of learning.
In 1842, a lyceum was started under the management of Hon. George G. Wright, Hon. J. B. Howell, J. J. Kinersly, C. Baldwin, J. H. Bonney, Elisha Cutler, James Hall, Samuel Summers and others. It was carried on with spirit for about two years, when it was discontinued.
THE CHURCHES.
Father Purdom's was where the minister first found a home and a place to preach. The house was a double log cabin, with an entry between, and stood on the bank of the river, about three hundred yards above the town. Preach- ing was heard but seldom, and as late as 1840 the Methodist minister preached once a month. Even then, one of these rooms would scarcely be filled. Bryant, Hawk, Summers, Arrington, Shinn, of the Methodist ; Bell and the two Ran- kins (the uncle and nephew), of the Presbyterian, and Post, of the Baptist Church, if not the first, were among those who first taught the way of life to those attend- ing upon their ministry at this place. They preached at the house in the winter, and frequently in the grove in the summer. The congregations were not large, but uniformly attentive, manifesting an appreciation of the moral lessons incul- cated. Father Purdom was a Kentucky Methodist. His house was always open, however, to the traveling ministry of all denominations. While he had strong prejudices and great quaintness of character, he was a warm friend and as warm an enemy. He had a very strong attachment for his church, his home and his family. In 1848, he departed this life, much respected and lamented- and sleeps in the grave-yard-a tract which he gave from his premises for the town burying-ground. He left a large family, all of whom left and settled in Western Missouri.
The first church organization was by the Methodists, under the leadership of Leonard B. Statler, a son-in-law of Elijah Purdom, who was appointed Class- Leader.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Mr. Hadden built the first church at Keosauqua, in 1840. It was used by all denominations.
The Rev. Daniel Lane has furnished the following descriptive article of the history of the Congregational Church :
The first Congregational ministers who made a settlement with the people of Van Buren County were myself and Rev. Harvey Adams, the latter settling at Farmington, and myself at Keosauqua. This occurred in November, 1843. We were from Andover Theological Seminary, graduates of the same year of our arrival. There were seven other Congregational ministers, young men. who came to the then Territory of Iowa, with us, and two more followed us the next year, making in all a company of eleven young muen, all of whom were from the Seminary at Andover, Mass., and all belonging to the same theological class-all classmates.
One of the two who joined us in 1844, Rev. Erastus Ripley took for his ministerial fields Bentonsport and its surroundings.
At this early period, Van Buren County was considered one of the most important counties in the Territory, made so by both the number of its inhabitants and by the fact that it was the home of Abner Kneeland, and his infidel colony. Mr. Keeland often lectured in Farmington, Bona- parte, Bentonsport and Keosauqua in the interest of his peculiar views, and, of course, in oppo- sition to Christianity. Ile had many converts-so many that in 1841 or 1842, an attempt was made to carry the county, politically, by an infidel ticket. The effort, however, was a failure.
In entering upon my ministerial work in Keosauqua, however, I very soon made up my mind that the fundamental truths of the Gospel, and their practical bearing and influence in soci- ety, were what the people needed more than any discussion upon infidelity. This decision I saw no reason for reversing during my ten years of ministerial labor in the town.
The Congregational Church was organized in a little more than one year after my arrival in Keosauqua. The membership consisted only of five persons-two males and three females. Two of the five lived four miles from town. Only Mrs. Lane, my wife, lived in town, and the other two at a distance of two miles out. There was no church edifice in the place finished and ded- icated until December, 1847, at which time the brick church in which the Congregationalists now worship, was completed and occupied.
The effort in building that church edifice, and the sources whence came the funds for the payment of the bills, were somewhat peculiar. Being satisfied that a church edifice had become an actual necessity, in order to secure efficiency to my labors as Pastor of the Congregational Church, I called a meeting of those interested in such an enterprise, and laid before them my views of the whole matter. All present felt the importance of having a house of worship, but whence the money to secure it? This was the practical question. In those early days in the county, there was but little money in anybody's pocket.
Estimates were made of the cost of the house in question. About $140 must be raised at once, in payment for the brick. To raise this in caslı, and to do it immediately, was an obstacle which seemed to those present insurmountable. The deliberations were closed with the convic- tion that the erection of a " meeting-house" must be deferred until another year.
I went home from that small gathering of six or seven persons with feelings in close proximity to discouragement. I had already labored some three years in Keosauqua, and only about one-half of that time had our Church been favored with any place for regular preaching each Sabbath. To continue this was contrary to all my ideas of ministerial usefulness. My salary, at this time, was $400, the greater part paid in cash by the American Missionary Society, of New York. On reaching home, I unburdened my mind to my wife, and a long conversation ensued. I finally asked her if she thought we could possibly get along with family expenses if I should make myself responsible for the payment for the brick which would be required for the house in contemplation. To take $140 out of $400, when we had no other pecuniary resource whatever, seemed, at first, like opening the door to financial helplessness. After a long talk, we came to the conclusion that our friends in Keosauqua would not allow us to die of starvation in any event which might result from the diminished salary. And so, under the quieting thought, wife says : "Yes, we will try to do without the $140, if, by so doing, we can have a house of worship of our own." This answer given, my plan was at once determined upon, and I was at rest. I slept soundly that night, and the next morning, was ready for further action.
There was a brickmason then living in Keosauqua, of the name of Jesse Winn. He had always promised me that when we were ready to build a church, if we would put one up of brick and give him the job, he would do a good thing for us. The first thing to be done was to see him. I found him finishing the cornice of a small brick building. Ascending the ladder to where he was standing, in the familiar language of Iowa's infaney, I said to him: "Jesse, if I will furnish the brick from my own purse for a church edifice, will you lay them up free of charge ?"
He looked at me to see if I was in earnest. That question settled, he laid his trowel upon the bricks, straightened himself up with folded arms, and said: "I don't know, Mr. Lane ; that is a temptation. A moment intervened, and then he added: "I owe Jesse Elder $50 on
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
an election bet. I lost the het and gave him my note for $50. If you will go to him and get him to give me that note on condition that I do the brick work of the church, I will do it."
I was at the bottom of the ladder. I had descended in quicker time than I went up; and my next man was Jesse Elder, and I said to him: "Jesse, if I will furnish the brick for a church of 30x40 feet, and 14-foot post, and Jesse Winn will lay them up on condition that you will sur- render to him that election-bet note which you hold against him, will you do it?" He replied without a moment's reflection : "Tell Jesse Winn if he will do that, there will be no trouble about his $50 uote."
The house of worship, in my enthusiasm for the moment, was built. That was one of the best mornings of my life. He who makes "the wrath of man praise Him" was now extolled by an election bet ! This was something that no theologian, however learned had thought of.
But there was something else to be done. Another meeting was called of the six or seven who had met the previous night and decided adversely. Now, at their second deliberation, the whole face of the enterprise was so changed that all were encouraged to rise up and build. A subscription-including the gift of a lot for the site of the church-was raised, of $600; the Pastor, however, subscribing only $100, instead of $140. Against his paying the latter sum, there was such an earnest protest from those present that, instead of carrying out his first deci- sion, he diminished the sum by $40. Afterward, however. before the building was finished, he paid $20 more.
But the brick, the brick work and the subscription, including the church lot, being secured, the next thing was provision for the foundation of the house. There was a stone-quarry near, and from its owner I gained permission to get all the necessary stone free of charge. Then, mount- ing my horse, I rode to the two members of my Church living four miles from town. They were hus - band and wife ; the husband was a stone-mason. Telling him my errand, he immediately agreed to do the foundation work for his share in the enterprise. But both the stone and the brick must be trans- ferred to the church lot before either the stone or the brick-masons could enter upon their work.
There were living then two friendly families, the one six and the other seven miles from town. Both had good double teams, with accompanying wagons. To think of those friends was equivalent to immediate action. Again I was on my horse, bound for their prairie homes. Find- ing the men and telling my errand, they agreed at once to see the stone and brick in their proper place on the church lot ; and all this free of charge.
Triumphant moment that, under responses so favorable ! Again, in imagination, the house was built. Perhaps it was ministerial which prevented a victorious "hurrah !" with the usual swinging of the hat. Be this as it may, there was at that moment, as I hope, some gratitude to the Author of sanctuary worship for this preliminary success.
And now, strange to say, it took us about one year and a half to complete the building, not- withstanding onr anspicious beginning. The times were hard, lumber was dear, carpenter work was costly, funds came in slowly, and many were the obstacles cansing delay of the work. Finally it was done, except a few last things, the cost of which would be some $30-a small amount ; but how to raise it at first was not very apparent, for it seemed to me the members of the church had given the last cent they could spare. The building had now cost us about $1,000.
At length, a happy thought, as it afterward proved, occurred to me, and I went into my study-which was originally a smoke-house, but now finished for a theological sanctum-caught up a slip of paper and wrote upon it the name of every man in town outside of our Church mem- bership who, I thought, would be willing to give me SI toward the $30 needed. I then sallied forth to try success in this new direction. It is enough here to say that, with only one exception, I secured the dollar of every man whose name I had written upon that paper.
All was now ready for the final finish of the building, which was soon done, and the house, with thankful hearts, was then dedicated, free of debt and with no solicited aid from abroad, to the God of sanctuaries and sanctuary worship.
The church in which the Methodist denomination now worship was built in 1851. Rev. Henry Clay Dean was the Pastor at that time. The membership is, perhaps, two hundred. Rev. S. S. Murphy is Pastor. The church was remodeled in 1874.
The colored people have two churches here. The Baptists use the building on the hill formerly occupied as a schoolhouse, while the Methodists worship in the little brick church near the river-bank.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In conformity with an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved December 19, 1838, a meeting of the citizens of Van Buren County was held in the town of Keosauqua on Saturday, September 11, 1841, for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Obed Stannard was elected President, George Wright, Secretary, and J. H. Bonney, Treasurer. There were seven Directors chosen.
The first fair held was in the fall of 1842. Col. Stiles S. Carpenter delivered the address. It was the first agricultural address in the county, and probably the first ever delivered in the State of Iowa. A. W. Harlan, James H. King, William Hadden, W. S. Wright and William Duncan took part in the first meeting.
There were one or two fairs held, after which the interest seems to have lagged, until September 27, 1851, when a meeting was held "for the purpose of forming an agricultural society." Dr. J. B. Elbert was appointed Chair- man and L. D. Morris, Secretary.
A committee of seven were appointed to draft Articles of Incorporation. Those seven were Capt. J. E. Miller, A. H. McCrary, I. W. McManaman, Seth Millington, H. C. Caldwell and L. D. Morris.
A vote was then taken for officers and Directors of the Society. The result was: Dr. J. D. Elbert, President ; Robert Meeks and Capt. J. E. Miller, Vice Presidents ; H. C. Caldwell, Recording Secretary ; L. D. Morris, Corresponding Secretary ; Seth Millington, Treasurer; I. W. McManaman, A. H. McCrary, James Burns, John M. Whitaker, C. H. Bonner, A. Phillips, Nathanal Myer, E. Mayne and Seth Fordyce, Directors.
The first fair was held Tuesday, October 28, 1851.
The Society has held successful meetings each fall since.
There was a historical society formed at Keosauqua in 1838, which had a successful and protracted life. The society is now defunct.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION.
One of the institutions at Keosauqua (belonging equally to all sections of the county) is the Pioneer Association.
The call for a meeting of the citizens was made in June, 1871. The call was signed by Edwin Manning, Charles Baldwin, J. J. Kinersly, Thomas Rankin, James Bell, Bertrand R. Jones, Joel Walker, Russo King, George W. Games and James Shepherd.
The first meeting was held Saturday, July 22, 1871. On motion of Charles Baldwin, Dr. N. Shepherd was called to the chair, and Bertrand R. Jones was appointed Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting.
The following resolutions were adopted :
" Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn to meet again the 5th day of August, and that a committee of five be appointed by the Chair, whose duty it shall be to give notice of the adjourned meeting in the. county papers, and to invite all the old settlers of Van Buren County to attend said adjourned meeting, for the purpose of organizing an Old Settlers' Association."
The Chair appointed as such committee, Charles Baldwin, James Shepherd, Dr. R. N. Cresap, Capt. F. Hancock and Maj. J. C. McCrary.
In accordance with the resolution of the previous meeting, the Association met August 5, 1871, Dr. N. Shepherd in the chair.
It was resolved that all persons who had resided in Van Buren County thirty years be entitled to become members of the Association.
The first permanent members were : Abner H. MeCrary. President ; Capt. Frederick Hancock, Vice President ; B. R. Jones, Secretary, and Jonathan Thatcher, Treasurer.
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Successive meetings were held, and to-day the Association is in a prosper- ous condition.
The present officers are as follows : Capt. Frederick Hancock, President ; Charles Baldwin, Vice President; Edwin Goddard, Secretary ; Harvey Duf- field, Treasurer ; Jonathan Thatcher, Marshal. Board of Control-Cedar Township, William C. Morris ; Union Township, George Parker; Lick Creek Township, Charles Porter; Village Township, Jonathan Nelson ; Chequest Township, Ira Claflin ; Van Buren Township, Stephen Fellows ; Washington Township, Mrs. Marguerite Sanford; Harrisburg Township, Robert Sturdi- vant ; Farmington Township, Robert Gray ; Bonaparte Township, Isiah Meek ; Vernon Township, Aaron H. Thatcher ; Henry Township, Sylvester S. Henry ; Des Moines Township, Hyram Baird ; Jackson Township, John C. Holland.
The members of the Association number about five hundred.
KEOSAUQUA INCIDENTS.
A bridge across the river at Keosauqua was commenced in 1850, but never completed. It fell down when partly erected, in 1851. The ferry was then used until the new bridge was built. The bridge enterprise cost the citizens about $6,000, for which they received nothing in return.
The first, and probably only, flatboat from Keosauqua direct to New Orleans was built by Samuel Morton, two miles below town, in the spring of 1841. It was loaded with pork by Manning & Steeles. A. W. Harlan, was the com- mander and pilot. It reached the port in May.
William Duncan commenced erecting a mill in the fall of 1837, below town.
Mr. Kinersly tells that, in 1838, there were but three or four women here, and, in 1842, the number of old bachelors had increased to thirty-five. Edwin Manning was the first to leave the ranks of single blessedness.
Kinersly was the only man who had a stove in those days. Quail were worth $1 apiece; and, although an expensive luxury, the rush to get a meal of quail cooked over Kinersly's stove was great.
In 1845 and 1846, there were but three families out of the seven hundred people who were not ill. Bilious and intermittent fevers raged, and there was a heavy mortality list in consequence.
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