USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa, its cities, towns, and c., a biographical directory of its citizens > Part 70
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Railroad or no railroad, the people of Dutch Creek township continue to prosper, and that portion of the county's population are as comfortably fixed as any other part of the county.
The civil officers of the township chosen at the last election are as follows:
Trustees-John Iams and Wm. Seaton.
Clerk-V. O. Jones.
Assessor-A. L. Mayer.
Justices of the Peace-B. Vardin and W. M. Abraham.
PARIS.
Paris was laid out by Eleazar Kinkade in July, 1846; it is located on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 32, township 75, range 9. The town has never aspired to great things, but as a pleasant post vil- lage where a limited amount of trading is done, it probably meets the ex- pectation of its founder. Valley is the name of the post-office. Dutch Creek post-office is located in the northeast corner of section 27. Here is also located a town, or rather a site for a town, called Dublin; this town amounts to very little, the plat not having been recorded. Grace Hill just across the line in Franklin township, affords convenient postal privileges to those in the east part of the township, while to those in the north part, West Chester affords good mail facilities.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
PLEASANT VALLEY CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Robb, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey, Mr. and Mrs. Junkin, Mr. and Mrs. Harris and others were the first members of the organization. In 1856 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $2,168. Rev. J. F. Tate was the pastor from 1854 to 1870; from 1871 to 1874, Rev. John Lackey was pastor, since which time Rev. Mr. Tate has been pastor. The membership numbers about seventy-five.
IOWA TOWNSHIP.
This township includes all of township 77, range 6, except what lies east of the Iowa river, and in addition to this twelve sections of range 7.
A few settlements had been made on English river in the north part of the county prior to 1840. The first settlement in Iowa township was prob- ably made by Joseph Edelstein. This man was originally from Switzerland. He first located in Ohio, and in 1838 came to Iowa in search of a new loca- tion. He took a claim on English river, not far from the present site of Riverside, on section 13, township 77, range 7. Here he built a cabin, and made arrangements to bring his family from Ohio. From some cause the cabin was burned down before the arrival of his family in 1839, and he was compelled to live with his family in a cave near English river until he could build another dwelling. After the completion of the new cabin he moved into it and prospered. Besides farming he did considerable work at his trade of wagon-making. He was a zealous Catholic, and in the course of time quite a community was established in that neighborhood composed of persons of like religions faith. One of the first church buildings of the county was erected in that locality. His family consisted of six children, three boys and three girls. Mr. Edelstein and his wife died a number of years since. A short time after Edelstein settled on English river a man by the name of John Diehl settled in the same neighborhood. His claim was on section 14. He came from Germany a single man, and shortly after arriving in America married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Spaner. He and his wife moved on the claim, taken the year previous, in 1839. He was a Lutheran, and succeeded well at his occupation as a farmer; the family consisted of two children, both girls. Mr. Diehl died in 1843, and his widow still lives on the original claim.
In 1839, Simon P. Teeple, from the State of New York, took a claim in section 13, built a cabin and moved into it with his family. He was a phy- sician; the first in English river neighborhood, and among the first in the county. His wife was a sister of Dr. Stone, one of the first settlers of Washington. Dr. Teeple was an enterprising and industrious individual, and soon became one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He held a number of prominent offices, among others, that of representative to the territorial legislature, and his house was the place where the first elec- tion in the township was held, in 1840. In 1841 Dr. Teeple removed to Iowa City, where he soon afterward died.
During the latter part of the year 1839 A. H. Haskell, Charles Haskell, and Abraham Owens took a claim on English river in section 18, township 77, range 6. The two former individuals were from Rhode Island. A. H. Haskell was a married inan, the other two wore without families. There was a good mill-site on this claim, which they immediately determined to
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
take advantage of and erect a mill. During the following winter they col- lected quite an amount of timber and prepared the frame for a mill. Dur- ing the following March English river became so swollen as to overflow its banks and some of the timber was carried off by the current, while there was immediate danger of the whole framne being carried off. Charles Has- kell and Abraham Owens got into a skiff in order to rescne some of the tim- ber from the current, and while doing this the skiff was capsized and both occupants were thrown in the river. Owens succeeded in getting to the shore half drowned, and Haskell perished in the river and his friends were unsuccessful in attempting to recover the body. Some two and a half years afterward, in August, 1842, a man by the name of George Cline noticed a dog burrowing in the ground near the river, about half a mile below the mill-site; upon examination he discovered the skeleton of a man, which proved to be the remains of Charles Haskell. The skeleton was carefully exhumed placed in a coffin and buried near the present site of the Sutton mill. The death of Charles Haskell is supposed to have been the first which occurred in that part of the county.
A. H. Haskell and Owens proceeded with the erection of the mill but did not complete it. They sold their claim in 1841 to Mr. N. McClure and left the county.
Wm. Duvall found a splendid grove of timber which he took for a claim in 1839. The town ot Riverside is now located on that claim, Duvall having disposed of it and left the county in 1842.
In the spring of 1839 Renben B. Davis settled on section 32, township 77, range 6. The settlement which he begun was near a creek which was named in his honor, Davis creek, and still bears that name. He came orig- inally from New Jersey, and settled in Des Moines county, this State. He was a member of the denomination called Seventh Day Baptists, and by occupation was what may be termed "jack of all trades." When he moved into his cabin his family consisted of his wife and two children. In 1840 he erected what in those days passed for a frame house, and was probably the first of the kind erected in that section of country. It was 16x36 feet, weatherboarded with shaved clapboards, floored with split puncheons, cov- ered with shingles, a stone chimney in the center, and two fire-places. The house was originally intended for a tavern, as the military road leading north was laid ont about this time; it passed near the dwelling and the owner anticipated quite a run of custom from the travelers who were to throng this thoroughfare. Although the military road did not prove to be as much thronged as was anticipated, the tavern did a fair business during the following four years, as it was a popular resort for travelers and claim hunters.
The first marriage in the township was that of Frank Forbes to Elizabeth Holland; the marriage ceremony was performed at the house of John Hol- land by R. McReynolds. The first birth was that of George L. Edelstein, July 19th, 1840; his parents were Joseph and Frances Edelstein. On the 12th of June, 1841, Annie McDaniel, danghter of Gilson and Alvira McDaniel, was born; she was the first female child born in Iowa township.
Rev. R. McReynolds, a Baptist minister, preached the first sermon in the township at the house of R. B. Davis, in June, 1840. The first school in the township was taught by Herman S. Guy, who is now dead. The house in which this school was taught stood on section 26. There were about twenty pupils attended. The school lasted three months and the teacher
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
received $2.00, or its equivalent in trade, for each pupil in attendance. The school-honse was erected in 1841 by the citizens of the neighborhood who joined together, cut the logs and erected the building.
Carpet, jeans and linen were woven by Mrs. Catharine Marling as early as 1842.
In 1844 a divorce was granted to Nathaniel McClure and wife who at that time were residents of Iowa township.
The first election of civil officers for the township occurred in 1840; C. D. Gillam and L. W. Day were elected justices of the peace; John Traft and A. W. Davis were elected constables. Prior to the time of this election A. H. Haskell had been commissioned by the governor, justice of the peace; he was, therefore, the first justice of the peace in the township.
Yatton post-office, the first one in the township, was established in 1841, N. P. Cooper being the first postmaster. The mail, which was carried on horseback, was received once each week.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Clerk-D. A. Fessler.
Assessor- George Schilling.
Justices of the Peace-W. E. Hawthorn and Henry Swift.
Mr. Hawthorn is one among the first settlers of the township, and has probably done more than any other one man to develop the material resources and mold the public sentiment of that section. At an early day his fellow-citizens honored him with the office of justice of the peace, which office he has filled with honor to himself and to the satisfac- tion of his fellow-citizens for many years. He is an intelligent and upright man, and one whom his neighbors may well confide in.
THE TOWN OF YATTON.
Yatton is located on the northeast quarter of section 19, township 77, range 6. It was laid out by John F. Vandyke and Nathaniel McClure, in July, 1856. It was at one time an important trading point, and among other important business interests was the location of one of the best flour- ing mills in the county. Upon the completion of the railroad to Riverside, in 1872, Yatton began to decline, and it was not many years till all the business of the town, with the exception of the mill, was transferred to the new town.
RIVERSIDE.
This is a town of considerable importance. Situated as it was for a num- ber of years at the terminus of the railroad, and being in the centre of a most beautiful, populous and productive territory, it acquired an extensive trade. During the past year the railroad has been extended into Keokuk county, but Riverside is still, and probably will continue to be, a flourishing town. It was laid ont in December, 1872, and is situated on sections 17 and 18. Among the principal features of Riverside is
TRADITION LODGE, NO. 359, A. F. & A. M.
The Lodge was chartered June 7, 1876, the first officers being as follows: William Beardsley, W. M .; William. H. Hardy, S. W .; D. W. Ott, J. W .;
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
William Ott, secretary; C. C. Druff, treasurer; J. W. Gemmill, S. D .; J. H. Hardy, J. D .; Josiah Godlove, Tyler. The present officers are: William Ott, W. M .; Henry Hohn, S. W .; Samuel Hensley, J. W .; D. W. Ott, sec- retary; John Mentzer, treasurer; W. R. Hunter, S. D. There are at pres- ent about twenty members of the order.
M. E. CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1842 at the house of Samuel Marlin, who, in connection with his wife Catherine, John Marlin and wife, Ezra Marlin, Rhoda Guy, Mrs. Cline, J. F. Van Dyke and wife, John Forbes and wife, and others, constituted the first members. In 1873 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $3,500, which was dedicated during the winter of 1874 by Prof. N. W. Fellows. The present membership is sixty-five.
RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
Was organized in March, 1878. The first members were: B. F. Brockway, Lydia Parker, Lillie Parker, C. S. Brink, O. Matthews and others. This Church has a membership of about thirty, and religious services are held in a rented hall.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
This Catholic Church was organized in 1876. During the year 1876 a brick church building was erected at a cost of $4,500. The building com- mittee consisted of the following-named gentlemen: Otto Schmidt, John B. Yegger, R. Beauquot, James Walsh, J. C. Wambacker, George Welte, N. Schnabelen, H. L. Swift. The church was dedicated by Father Purcell on Palm Sunday, 1877. The membership consists of about one hundred families, or about three hundred persons, young and old. The church will cost, when completed, about $7,000. It is 40x80 feet in size, and will com- fortably seat 800 persons.
ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This Church was organized by Right Rev. Mathias Loras, of Dubuque, in 1844. James Edelstein, John Schilling, Joseph Schnoebelen, F. J. Schnoe- belen, John Conoly, Patrick Colton and others, constituted the original membership. A frame church edifice was erected in 1848; in 1858 an ad- dition was put to it. In 1877 a new church was built. The present build- ing is 85x35 feet, and cost $2,700. The pastors since 1865 have been as follows: Joseph Knaeple, Rev. McDermot, Joseph Harding, Peter Maly, George Heer and Peter Brammenschenkle. The present membership con- sists of twenty-one families.
SEVENTY-SIX TOWNSHIP.
The civil township received its name from the congressional township of which it forms a part. Owing to the absence of timber the early settlers shunned this portion of the county, and prior to 1850 there were scarcely any improvements made. A few settlements were made much earlier; in fact Charles Patterson, from Maryland, took a claim on section 23 as early
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
as 1839, and Mr. Vina, on section 24, in 1840; but this must have been under peculiar circumstances as this region was generally shunned by pio- neers till a much later period. James Bartlenson and W. S. Hamilton came a few years later and took the first prairie claims.
The first marriage was that of William Thomas to Jane Patterson, which took place at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Charles Patterson, in 1851; the marriage ceremony being performed by John Eyestone, J. P., the father of the present county anditor.
The first birth was that of Charles Stewart, son of Wm. G. and Hannah Stewart, in 1848.
The first death was that of a son of Jolin Batterson in 1860, who was buried in the orchard on the farm of James Batterson.
The first preaching was by Rev. Mr. Janes, who was a tanner by trade; he preached at the house of Charles Patterson as early as 1846.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Garret Meek in her own house; there were six pupils whose tuition was paid by their parents. The first school-house was built on the northeast corner of section 14, in 1860, at a cost of $50. J. C. Taylor was subdirector at the time and it was under his direction the house was built. The first weaving was done by Mrs. Jane Batterson.
In the summer of 1859 one of Jackson Batterson's boys, aged 7 years, got lost while crossing the prairie. Tidings of the affair were carried to Martin Cochrane, then living in Cedar township, who gathered together a number of his neighbors and started in search of the lost boy. The next day the lost boy was found by his mother in front of her own home; the boy was so badly lost that he did not recognize the house nor his own parents.
Seventy-six township was organized in 1856, the first election taking place in April at the house of John C. Taylor. The first township trustees were, David M. Brooks, John S. Melvin and Samuel Mathers; James H. Sargent was the first township clerk, and James Gardner the first assessor; W. S. Hamilton was the first justice of the peace.
Prior to the organization of the township it was a part of Dutch Creek, and also a part of Lime Creek township. At the election in July, 1856, when a vote was taken on the proposition for the county to issue bonds in aid of the Mississippi and Missonri River railroad there were twenty-six votes cast in Seventy-six township; twelve in favor of the bonds and four- teen against. In 1875 the township had, according to the census of that year a population of 914.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Justices of the peace-C. O. Nichols and Israel Davis.
Constables-John Flerty and N. Stevenson.
Clerk-J. W. Torrey.
Trustees-P. H. Tallman, J. M. Wilson and J. L. Banks. Assessor-Samnel Galloway.
This township has no town within its boundaries; however, the C. R. I. & P. railroad passes through the township, entering it near the southeast corner and running thence in a northwest direction. The best of shipping facilities are thus afforded, although the station, West Chester, is located a short distance across the line in Cedar township; Keota situated to the west just across the line in Keokuk county also affords a convenient ship-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ping and trading point. The region of country embraced in the boundaries of this township is a most beautiful and productive one and has a prosper- ous future awaiting it. The people are among the most enterprising in the county.
THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1862, at the residence of Martin Coch- rane. The names of those persons chiefly instrumental in establishing this Church and who constituted the original members are as follows: Martin Cochrane and wife, John Harnisli and wife, Charles Wilson and wife, Father Darling, V. Darling and wife, and Leander Darling and wife.
A frame church building was erected in 1873, at a cost of $1,800, one- half of which sum was contributed by Mr. Martin Cochrane, who was also a member of the building committee. This church was dedicated in De- cember, 1873, by Rev. Mr. Kephart, president of Western College, which is the leading institution of learning of this denomination in the West. . The present membership of this Church is forty. In this connection it will be proper to state that the first Sunday-school in the township was or- ganized at the house of Martin Cochrane in 1864.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This Church was organized in February, 1867. Robert Fisher, John Work, Daniel MeLaughilin, Samuel Robb and R. L. Hammel were chiefly instrumental in bringing about this organization. In 1868 a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,400. The building was dedicated the same year, since which time the Clinrch has had but two pastors; Rev. William Tate and Rev. Mr. Lackey. The present membership numbers sixty. In connection with the church is a cemetery which was founded in . 1868. It is located on section 26, and is kept in a good state of repair.
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
This civil township corresponds with congressional township No. 76, range 8, except in the southwest corner where a portion of the congres- sional township is attached to Franklin township. This township was originally a part of Lime Creek precinct.
In 1844 Cedar township was first formed. The territory first included wihin the bounds of this township was somewhat different from the town- ship as now constituted. Its boundaries were originally defined as fol- lows:
Township 75, range 8, and sections from 19 to 36 of township 76 range 8. It will be seen from this that originally Cedar township was composed of what is now Franklin township, and abont halt of the territory which now comprises it.
At the election held in 1853 Cedar township cast fifty-nine votes; in 1857 it cast a vote of eighty-seven, and according to the census of 1875 it contained that year a population of eight hundred and eighty-three.
One of the first white men who visited this township with a view of making a permanent settlement was Calvin Craven, who came in 1839. After prospecting the country for some time Mr. Craven departed and again returned the following year. In the meantime a man by the name
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
of Duke had taken a claim and improved about three acres. Mr. Craven bought Duke's claim which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of timber and " all the prairie he wanted " for four hundred dollars. At the time Mr, Craven bought this claim he says he could have had all the prairie around the present city of Washington for nothing, bnt timber was scarce and was considered valuable, so he went farther and paid $400 for a timber claim. Among the other persons who settled within the bounds of Cedar township abont the time Mr. Craven came were, William Myers, William Dnsenberry, Lenox Dayton and William Hinkston.
The first marriage was that of Newton Smith to Nancy Young, and the first child born was that of William and Elizabeth Hinkston. The first death was that of Mrs. Elizabeth Hinkston, who was buried at the Patter- son graveyard. Rev. H. Johnson, a Baptist minister, did the first preaching in the neighborhood, the services usually being held at the house of Mr. Ayers.
The first school was taught by Harvey Craven in a log cabin located on section 29. This was in 1843; the school was a subscription school and numbered fifteen pupils. The following year Calvin Craven, William Cra- ven, John A. Young, James N. Young and A. Young joined together and erected a school-house; this was the first school-house erected in the town- ship and stood on section 28.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Trustee, elected in 1879-David Benson.
Clerk-J. B. Young. Assessor-J. E. Booth.
Justices of the peace-John Gordon, Jr., and M. D. Storey.
THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON.
Lexington was laid out in April, 1865, by M. D. Storey; was located on section 8.
BAPTIST CHURCH
Was organized in 1868. Calvin Craven and wife, Mrs. Rebecca Bur- ham, Mrs. Elizabeth Dnsenberry, Mrs. Julia Hites, Mrs. Martha Craven, Jotham Ogden, Mrs, Phoebe Ogden and R. Fanney and wife were the per- sons who formed the first organization. They had originally been con- nected with the Baptist Church in Washington, but owing to the distance necessary to be passed over in attending religious services, a new organiza- tion was formed in Cedar township, and a frame church building was erected in 1868 at a cost of seven hundred dollars. Rev. John Coffman, J. H. Miller, E. B. Porter and T. H. Jones have been pastors of this Church. The present membership numbers ninety-six.
M. E. CHURCH.
This Church organization was formed in 1873. Samuel Brown, Martha Brown, James Daniels, Jennie Daniels, James Dick, Catharine Dick, John G. Meloin and Deborah Meloin were the persons who composed the first or- ganization.
In 1873, a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,250 which was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Kendig on the 6th of September of that year.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The present number of members is forty-six. Since the Church was or- gtnized there has been no deaths among the members, which fact is some- what remarkable and worthy of mention.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
This township consists of the larger part of congressional township 75 range 8, a small portion of range 7, of same township and about three sec- tions in township 76 range 8. Its boundary line to the north and east is the west fork of Crooked creek, and consequently is very irregular.
The township was originally included within the bounds of Cedar town- ship, but in 1854 a new arrangement was ordered by the county judge. Cedar township was extended farther north, and out of that portion south of the township line 75 and 76 was organized a new township which was called Franklin. The county was well settled at the time the township was organized, as at the first election there were fifty-four votes polled.
On Sunday, August 25, 1872, William Scranton, of Marion township, was visiting in this township at the residence of Jolin G. Seward, and while the two families were entertaining each other in conversation a little boy of Scranton's wondered off unnoticed from the house. He was shortly af- terward missed and could nowhere be found, althoughi the whole surround- ing country was diligently searched. The alarm was spread throughout. the neighborhood and before night over a hundred joined in the search, but to no avail. On the following Wednesday the lost child was found about a mile from the house concealed in the tall prairie grass which grew in an adjoining slough. It is reported that the boy was found under the following peculiar circumstances:
The wife of Wm. Clark, who lived near by, was quite ill and had been confined to ler bed for some time previously. The report of the lost child had been carried to her ears and produced quite an impression on her mind. On the Tuesday night following the Sunday when the boy strayed off, she dreamed that the child had been found in the tall grass of the slongh already mentioned; the following morning the dream seemed to be so real that she would not be satisfied till some one would go to the described place, and she insisted that some one search the place, which being done the child was found, somewhat exhausted by excitement and from lack of food, but still alive and unharmed. Soon after the lost boy was found Mrs. Clark died. The boy is now a full grown and healthy lad.
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