USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren 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 &c > Part 64
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LINN.
This is the northwestern township of the county, and lies over almost to the Raccoon river on the northwest. It may be questioned whether there is in all Iowa a finer township of land than this for the general purposes of agriculture. The soil is the richest of the dark loam abounding through- ont the drift regions; and in this township it is entirely free from stone. The fertility of the soil even approaches to rank Inxuriance, and it will take ages to exhaust its primeval vigor. The location of the township is high, and there is scarcely an acre of waste land in its limits. Scarcely any natural timber is to be found, and the prairies sweep away in rolling undulations. This township lies on the ridge between the Raccoon and and Middle rivers, by both of which and Middle branch it is drained.
The Crows, J. McClain and H. Onstott, were among its earliest settlers. There is a flourishing Catholic church in the western part of the town- ship, from which we have no direct returns.
The Pleasant Ridge Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1873, with John Thompson and wife, Hiram Baker and wife, M. A. Bentley and wife, Philip Hull and family, Mr. Clark and wife, J. W. McClain and wife, as original members.
Its excellent frame church, which is well furnished inside and out, was
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
also built the same year, and dedicated December, 1873, by Bishop E. G. Andrews, and Rev. J. A. Smith, the pastor, who was the organizer of the church. Besides him the church has had D. Lamont, J. J. D. Scoles, Mr. Kennedy and D. Thompson, as its pastors.
Its present membership is about one hundred. It is situated in as fine a section of country as there is in Iowa, and it is in a flourishing condition. There is a fine Sunday-school connected, with an attendance of about seventy-five. John E. Baker is the superintendent. It is kept up winter and summer, and great interest is shown in it.
The officers of the township are the following:
Justices-Peter Black, J. W. Knight; Constables-V. M. Clary, C. B. Smith; Trustees-D. Lympus, A. Stiffler, G. S. Black; Clerk-S. W. Baker; Assessor-John Bell.
JEFFERSON.
The following history of this township is kindly furnished us by Hon. L. S. Spencer, who has seen its entire growth:
" People who have spent their lives in an old settled country can form but a faint idea of the privations and hardships endured by the pioneers of a new country. When I look on the great and prosperous State of Iowa at the present, then look back a quarter of a century, I am struck with as- tonishment, and can hardly credit my own senses. But such are the re- sults, and no human power can prevent them. After Abdolonymus liad been taken from his humble station in life, and made King of Sidonea, it is said he hept a pair of wooden shoes near his throne, to remind him of his former obscurity, and check the pride which power is so apt to en- gender in the heart of man. The above sentence is deemed worthy of pre- servation, not only as a memento of early times, and serving as a contrast to the present advanced state of improvement, but on account of the histori- cal associations it raises in the memory of the early settlements of a new country, when the people were all on an equality, when one neighbor thought not himself independent of another. How often, when men rise from poverty to wealth, or from a humble station in life to an exulted one, do they forget their station in early years and put on the robes of aristocracy and pride, not only of individuals, bnt of states. Every state and every neighborhood, as it grows in age, should keep step with the age in which it lives, and I believe that Iowa has. Twenty-five years have passed since I came to Jefferson township. It was then a new country; quite a portion of the settlers were from Missouri, and their love of hard labor was not ex- ceedingly strong nor their muscles none of the best. Christianity had never taken very deep root in their hearts, the Sabbath being a day of recreation, hunting and trading, making social visits, while the other por- tion, many of whom had been schooled from their youth to attend reli- gious worship on that holy day, pnt fortli their efforts to improve the mor- als of the youth that were growing up around them.
"The first organized school district formed in Jefferson township, was in Angust, 1854, and a tax voted for to build a house. But little oppo- sition was made to the organization of the district, but a strong oppo- sition to the tax, and that mostly, if not entirely, by those that had no ed- ucation, bad morals, and but partially civilized. A portion refused to pay their taxes. This district now lies partly in Linn and partly in Jefferson,
ยท
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
and was the first district organized in either township. The first school taught in this district, was tanght by the writer of this article, during the winter of 1854 and 1855, in a private log cabin, with only one window, be- longing to S. L. Burlingame, then in Ohio, on a visit. The wages paid was twenty dollars per month, and the teacher boarded himself. The seats were made of slabs, without any backs-the desks of the same. During the next fall a frame liouse was built. This was used as a school-house and a meeting house. What is now known as ' Brush College District,' was organized in the fall of 1855. During the winter of 1856 and 1857, the writer was a pedagogne in this district. Walked two miles every night and morning, across the open prairie, with no overcoat, with two feet of snow, on the level, one of the coldest winters on record-my track would often fill up with the drifting snow within five minutes, my face would freeze nearly every day. At this carly day nearly all lived in log cabins, which were not the most comfortable places imaginable, during those cold winters. Often woke up in the morning, with the bed covered with snow a couple of inches deep, that had sifted through the clapboards of the roof, and everything frozen up about the house, and had to be thawed by the fire before breakfast could be had. Our stables were built of prairie hay and straw. These could be made very comfortable, nearly as much so as the dwellings in which we resided. We went to church with an ox team and sled. Made visits the same way with our neighbors during the winter season, for we were all neighbors then, and were willing to help each other. When a cabin was to be raised, all turned out and helped put it up, and perhaps "chink " and danb it. This was done by making mortar with dirt and straw, then filling up the cracks between the chinking and logs with this mud or mortar. This was the way we plastered our houses in an early day. During these early days the " little brown jng" was in
common use. Too much so for the good of the community. It often caused angry words and bloody noses. Sometimes the rifle or shot gun were used to settle difficulties that was caused by its too frequent use. When a marriage was solemnized, the whole neighborhood took a part, and there was a general good time. No one was slighted. There were no rich gifts, as at the present day. The ceremony was performed by some minister, or a justice of the peace. Had a supper composed of the products of the soil. Sometimes a turkey gobbler, from the woods, or prairie chickens fried or stuffed, roasted or made into a 'pot pie,' composed the greater part of the ' fixings ' for the table.
" When the couple commenced housekeeping, the furniture was of the simplest kind. The table was made at home, with boards joined together, and fastened with cleats nailed to them, on the under side. When the writer of this commenced housekeeping, he made his own table and bed- stead, and instead of chairs we used three legged stools-the table we have yet, made twenty-five years since. On these bedsteads we slept as soundly and arose in the morning as much refreshed, as we would on one that cost fifty dollars. Onr victuals tasted as sweet, and strengthened our bodies as much as if we had eaten off of a forty dollar table. What would a girl do at the present day, if she had to commence life in such a style? Let us all look at the wooden shoes and reflect. Meetings were held at private houses, if houses you might call them. A good old-fashioned sermon was preached, that men might become better, and love their neighbors as them- selves. Those good old tunes were sung. ' Old Hundred ' and ' Windham '
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
tunes were nsed. The congregation seated themselves on slab benclies, in- stead of cushioned seats. After services each one took his road across the prairie, home. These were the days of the pioneer, and days of enjoy- ment, they were. The sick were looked after much more than at present. Men thought much more of their home and their word than at present. The first Sabbath-school was organized in May, 1856. This organization has been kept up until the present, 1879.
"A post-office was established in February, 1855. The writer was ap- pointed postmaster, and held the office for eighteen years. Its original name was Lynn. Previous to this we had to go for our mail to Fort Des Moines, a distance of sixteen miles. Our first mails were carried on horseback, from Fort Des Moines to Winterset, once a week. During the spring of 1856 the Western stage company got the contract, and then it became a tri-weekly. Some two years after this it was carried daily, so that for the greater part of the past twenty-five years we have had excel- lent mail facilities."
We have referred at some length to the early settlers of this township in the county history. It was one of the first settlements in the county.
The Rock Island railroad runs entirely through the township, and two of its stations, Bevington and Lothrop are in this township. It has, there- fore, excellent shipping facilities.
There is a large number of foreigners in this township, principally Ger- mans and Irish, and they are among the most industrions and useful citi- zens of Warren county.
The Catholics have a church in the northeast corner of the township which is in a very good condition.
The Linn Grove Methodist church was organized in 1852. It is a frame building, costing $2,000; was built in 1869, and dedicated the same year, by Elder Dimmitt.
The present membership is about twenty-six. It has had the following pastors: Rev. Swearingin, A. Lauback, A. Badley, Rev. W. C. Martin, A. H. Murphy, Rev. Jones, A. Kern, Geo. Clammer, J. A. Smith, - Beck, J. J. D. Scoles, Mr. Kennedy, and D. Thompson.
A Sunday-school, having an attendance of seventy or eighty pupils, is connected with the church under the present superintendence of John Wesley Burkhead.
The following are the township officers:
Justices-A. H. Perkins, S. W. Lee; Constables-Michael Hayden, W. A. Wallace; Trustees-John Lyman, Jolin Hall, Robert Kelley; Clerk- M. S. Welch; Assessor-S. L. Burlingame.
WASHINGTON.
This is the largest township in the county, containing a little more than two full Congressional townships, or more than seventy-two sections of land.
It was the scene of two of the early settlements of the county, one at Ackworth and the other at Middle river, while Indianola early became very important. All these are fully treated elsewhere, leaving little to cull in the matter of purely township history. Our readers are referred, there- fore, to those portions.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The township officers for the year 1879, are as follows:
Justices-Thomas W. Graham, John W. Howard, R. C. Brazleton; Con- stables-J. A. Embrec, Ves Barns, J. L. Gilman; Trustees-Geo. Cavitt, P. P. Henderson, Benjamin Hinshaw; Clerk-W. F. Powell; Assessor- C. L. Trueblood.
Owing to its size, Washington township has three justices of the peace, and three constables.
PALMYRA.
This township is the most irregular in the county. It is composed of a part of ranges 22 and 23 west, and a part of both townships 76 and 77, a sort of patch-work.
The first settler was John D. Parmelee as fully narrated in the general history.
Mr. William Mason, who came to his present location in 1845, still lives on the same farm.
The Myricks, Henry James, Uriah Dotson, William Freel, Obadiah Higby and a Mr. Panl who died many years ago, were among the early settlers, and several of these still reside in the county.
There are two branches of the Society of Friends in this township. The first and oldest, the Middle river meeting was organized in 1851, with Charles Hinshaw and wife, Benjamin Smith and wife, John White and wife, Jolin T. Moorman and wife, Daniel Frazier and family, Joseph Cook and wife, John Cook and wife, Jolin Pierson and wife, E. Newlin and wife, Jacob Moon and wife, Susanna Wright, Ruth Stanton, and Hannah Hors- man, as original members.
The church was built in 1853, but abandoned some years ago, and the meetings are now held in the Union School-house. The number of mem- bers is nearly fifty, and the society is in good condition.
The other is located in the south part of the township, and was organ- ized in 1862, with Jacob Moon and family, William Morgan and family, Hiram Morgan and family, Mrs. Bond and family, and Mrs. Anderson and family. The frame church, costing $400, was built and dedicated in 1862, but it has become too small for the wants of the society, and the intention is to build a new one soon. The membership is almost fifty.
The following are the officers of the township for the current year:
Justices-A. Payne, G. A. Epps; Constables-Henry Switzer, James Myers; Trustees-John Tresham, A. Buckliam, W. S. Butterfield; Clerk- Dan McGregor; Assessor-Geo. Smith.
UNION.
This township is bounded on the north by Palmyra and Richland, on the east by Marion county, on the south by Belmont, and on the west by Washington and Palmyra.
The township was settled at an early day and William G. Sandy and J. M. Blanchard were the first settlers. They entered their land in 1848 among the first thrown upon the market in Warren county ..
The first school-honse was built on land owned by E. R. Smith on sec- tion eleven in 1853.
Rev. Lansing Harris preached the first sermon in the township at the house of Mr. T. J. Sinnard, in 1851.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Miss Sarah Varner taught the first school in the suminer of 1854.
Mrs. W. G. Sandy is the oldest settler now living in the township, hav- ing come here in March, 1847.
Mr. Philip Lambert and a Mr. Harmon made the first improvements in 1847.
The first physician was E. Williams in 1855. Benjamin Beeson and C. Cunningham sold the first goods in 1854.
The township has improved gradually and surely, and now contains much wealth.
The township affairs are administered by the following officers:
Justices-C. H. Carpenter, E. T. Brown; Constables-A. Carpenter, A. L. Dolby; Trustees-Henry Bassett, C. F. Moorman, A. J. Guy; Clerk- L. H. Tuttle; Assessor-Levi Reeves.
BELMONT.
This was one of the latest townships organized. It is situated on the east line of the county with Union township on the north, Whitebreast on the south and Otter on the west. It is one of the best townships in the county, and its appearance and topography bears much resemblance to Linn township. Its growth in population, wealth and importance has been very rapid, and it is now considered one among the most desirable town- ships in the county.
Its early settlers were, a majority of them, from Belmont county, Ohio, hence its name.
Its early history is less important than some of the older townships but its late growth is probably the most striking of that of any township in the county.
It has a large number of churches, far surpassing in number any other township in the county, when its lack of towns and villages is considered.
The Highland Methodist church was organized in 1860, with Daniel Monroe and wife, Elizabeth Thompson, Mary Wilson, Francis A. and Louisa Monroe as original members.
The frame church was begun in 1870, though not completed until the spring of 1879, and cost about $1,000. It was dedicated in June of this latter year by Rev. A. J. Barton, of Indianola. The number of members is about twenty-five. A Sunday-school with about forty pupils is con- ducted in connection with it. Great interest is manifested in the school and the attendance is very regular.
The First Freewill Baptist church was organized in the winter of 1871-2, with James Golden and wife, Samuel Shaw and wife, B. S. Runnels and wife and William Hicks and wife. The society erected a frame church in 1873 at a cost of $1,600, which was dedicated in June of that year by Prof. Baker of Wilton Junction.
It has had as pastors Harrison Otis, M. S. Hubbell, and Y. N. Emerson, but has no pastor at present.
The membership numbers about fifty.
The Sunday-school, with a membership of about fifty pupils, is con- ducted under the superintendence of Joseph Fellows. It is probably the only Freewill Baptist church in the county.
The first member of the society of Friends that settled in Belmont township was Leroy Lawrence, about the year 1858, on section 2. A few
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
years later Phineas Hoops settled on section 13. In 1868 five or six fami- lies had settled near where Waveland meeting house now stands, and com- meuced holding an independent or indulged meeting at a Friend's house. In 1869 several families settled in the neighborhood, and a preparative meeting was established with about forty members. In the year 1870 a meeting-house was built on the east side of section 11, one-half mile north of the place where Felix now stands. The first meeting was held in this house the latter part of the summer of that year. There are five acres of ground in the lot, one half is planted in a grove, and a graveyard for the church and neighborhood occupies a corner of the lot. In 1877 a monthly meeting was established by Ackworth quarterly meeting, by the name of Waveland, with about 140 members, principally drawn from the immedi- ate neighborhood. There are five recorded ministers belonging to this meeting, as follows: Jonathan Healton, Catharine Smith, Elisha Smith, D. J. M. Wood, and Amy L. Trueblood. The elders are Frederick Smith, Stephen Mosher, John Michener, Tamar Michener, G. P. Quaintance, Sarah Quaintance and Melissa Smith. The number of members is about one hundred and forty.
A Sabbath-school is kept up the year" around in connection with the society, and has a membership of over a hundred.
Also a temperance organization, a Band of Hope, has been organized in connection with it, and has a membership of about fifty.
The Catholic church of St. Mary's of Perpetual Help, was organized in 1871. Its original members were Michael Ripperger, John Keller, Fred Sommers, Joseph Zimmermann, Peter Heller, Joseph Dittmer, John Stopf and Jacob Steger.
The church was built in 1872, is a frame building, and cost about $2,500. It was dedicated July 4, 1878, by Rev. J. Brazill, Vicar-General of Iowa, assisted by Nicholas A. Sassel and S. F. Wieland, the priest in charge.
The number of members is one hundred and seventy-five, thus making it one among the most important Catholic churches in the county.
Fairview Methodist Episcopal church is an organization, dating back many years, and had the following original members: Elizabeth Conrad, S. W. Conrad, F. Conrad, B. C. Conrad, E. J. Conrad, J. B. Guy, Jas. Gilbert, Ellen Gilbert, Jno. Ball, Samuel Westerfield, Nancy Westerfield, John Long, Jane Long, James Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Sarah A. Sur- baugh.
The frame church was built in 1871, at a cost of $1700, and was dedi- cated during the same year by Rev. Dr. Burns.
Messrs. Sheets, Murphy, Eckles, Guyer, Brown and Barton, have been its pastors, and its present membership numbers about sixty. Its condi- tion may be said to be fairly flourshing.
The following are the present township officers of Belmont:
Justice-E. Brady; Constables-Jno. C. Hook, J. H. Fetters; Trustees -R. D. Bloom, Jonathan Ellis, Jno. Turner; Clerk-J. Vanscyoc; As- sessor-W. Morrison.
OTTER.
This town is surrounded by Washington on the north, by Belmont on the east, by Liberty on the south, and by White Oak on the west.
R. M. Hightower and Levi Hollingsworth and the Baleses were among
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
its first settlers, and we have treated of it at some length in the main body of this book.
It is drained by Otter creek running through its entire distance from south to north, and by South river flowing through its northern portion.
Its officers are as follows:
Justice-D. B. Graham; Trustees-W. Loper, W. P. Nutting, W. H. Brown; Clerk-R. B. McClelland; Assessor-O. B. Wolcott.
WHITE OAK.
This township is bounded on the north by Washington, on the east by Otter, on the south by Squaw, and on the west by Jackson, and is just a Congressional township, of range 24, township 75.
James Langley and a Mr. Clayton were the first settlers, but Mr. Daniel Braucht bought out Langley's improvements on section 30, and entered the land as soon as it came into the market.
Andrew Reed and John A. Jamison came soon after, and remained until the township had acquired considerable population and importance.
In 1851 came the McClures, and with them Albert Randolph, Lugenius Park, Wesley Harnsberger and Andrew Park.
E. Bilbo taught the first school in the winter of 1852-3, in a small log cabin on the farm now owned by John Randolph.
For many years an agricultural society was maintained in the township, but two or three years ago it was merged in the Warren County Society.
The township is drained by Squaw creek and South river, and is a valu- ble one for agricultural purposes. It has also important coal interests, some of which have been developed.
The following are the present officers:
Justices-W. L. Morris, E. Bilbo, Constables-Lee Starbuck, J. Ander- son; Trustees, J. W. Randolph, Mose Andrews, W. T. Wallace; Clerk- W. L. Morris; Assessor-S. S. Hewitt.
JACKSON.
This township is bounded on the north by Jefferson, on the east by White Oak, on the south by Virginia, and on the west by South township, Madi- son county.
Its history is closely connected with that of the county in general, and inuch of its population is composed of industrious enterprising Germans and Irish.
The surface of this township is generally rough and broken, and there is considerable waste land. In places, however, are as fine spots for farming as could be desired. The township is drained mainly by Painter creek, which passes through the center from west to east.
This township is well watered, and has been found better adapted to stock-raising than farming. The former business has been pursued with considerable success.
St. Mary's is the only post-office in the township.
The present officials are:
Justices-Jas. Small, M. Downing; Constables-A. P. Gill, Jacob Gar- ver; Trustees-D. E. Braucht, Jno. McGinnis, Ves Struble; Clerk-M. Gillespie; Assessor-J. S. Hufty.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
VIRGINIA.
This is the southwestern township of the county, and was among the latest settled.
The township was so named because a large portion of the early settlers. came from the " Old Dominion."
George Richards, for many years past a resident of Otter township, was the first settler, in May, 1853.
In 1854 came the Feltons and Thomas Proudfoot and his sons. In 1855 came some of the Reeds and Knottses, and the town of New Virginia was laid off in the spring of 1856.
The first sermon was preached in the township in May, 1855, at the house of John Felton, by Rev. Jesse Sherwood, from the text, "Stand fast in the faith; quit ye like men."
This township is badly situated as to transportation facilities, being abont. equidistant from Indianola and Osceola, but it seems probable that it will sometime secure a road, to be run between these two points.
The officers of the township, at its organization, were as follows: Jus- tice, John Felton; Constable, Abraham Felton; Trustees, Wm. Reed, Abra- ham Felton, Wm. Conner; Clerk, Absalom Sayers; and John Felton was Assessor for Virginia, Squaw and White Oak townships.
The present officials are:
Justices-C. L. W. Proudfoot, A. Adams; Constables-J. A. Morgan, John McCuddin; Trustees-A. L. Thompson, Levi Gamble, J. F. Pelton; Clerk-Lee Talbott; Assessor -- Robert Greenland.
SQUAW.
This township lies east of Virginia, on the line between Warren and Clarke counties, and is also one of those townships which were not im- portant until a late day, although it held some of the earliest settlers in . the county.
J. Hackney was the first settler, coming in 1848, and settling on section 10. These improvements were bonght in 1850, by A. Smith, who still resides in the township.
David Johnson settled on section 11 in 1852, and since that time the township has taken an active part in the history of the county.
The first school-house was built on section 14. It was built by subscrip- tion by A. Smith, Z. Nicholson, Geo. Coverdale, U. Williams, D. Tenney and a few others.
Tabor M. E. church has a flourishing society and a comfortable church building.
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