USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa, its cities, towns, and c., a biographical directory of its citizens > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
The north and eastern parts of Franklin township are somewhat rough and broken, but the most of the country is productive and easily cultivated.
GRACE HILL.
This town was laid out several years ago, and is located on section 31. It is near the west line of the township and affords postal and trading facili- ities for the people from the west part of Franklin and the east part of Dutch Creek townships. As to its size and pretensions not much can be said, and it is not known whether or not the projectors of the town ever had any very sanguine expectations of a grand and prosperous career. The post-office is located across the line in Dutch Creek township.
588
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WEST CHESTER.
This is a railroad town, the only one in the county west of Washington on the Knoxville branch. It was laid out in December 1872, and is lo- cated on the sontli part of section 31, township 76, range 8. It is a very flourishing trading and shipping point; has the usual number of business- houses, churches, and a very creditable school-building.
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized and known as part of Iowa township in 1840. This was in October, and the following April the first election of officers occurred. It continned to be a part of Iowa township till 1854, when Highland township was organized. The first settlement was made by John Clark, who took a claim in section 7 in the year 1840. Mr. Clark was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Iowa from Indiana. His family consisted of three boys: Joseph, John and David; three daughters: Katy, Mary and Martha. The oldest danghter was a widow who had three chil- dren; her name was Kirtz, and she still lives on the original claim. Mary married James Stirling and Martha died unmarried. Mrs. Clark died in 1847 and Mr. Clark died in 1865, aged eighty years. The next settler was Ahira D. Liming, who settled on section 18 in 1841. Mrs. Liming died in 1844, which is supposed to have been the first death in the township; she was buried on the south side of Grove creek, not far from the cabin in which Mr. Liming lived. John Forbes settled near where the military road crossed Grove creek, in section 17. It was in Mr. Forbes' cabin that the first sermon was preached, by F. R. S. Byrd, of the United Brethren Church, in the winter of 1843 and 1844. In 1844 Isaac McGruder settled on section 22; Willam Wallace settled on section 23 and Moses Lane on same section. John A. Brewer, Amos Brewer and Solomon Albangh set- tled on section 26 about the same time. The families already mentioned were all the persons who settled in the township prior to the year 1845. Shortly afterward several new settlers came to the township, among whom were D. C. Smelser, settled on section 5; E. W. Marshall, located on sec- tion 12; also, J. F. Litsey and Lot Owen; John Tompkins bought ont John Forbes.
The first marriages in the township were those of John Parks to Eliza- beth Wallace, and Eli Wallace to Margret McGruder. These marriages occurred in 1845, and were solemnized by by Rev. John Hayden.
At first, the settlers without exception, made their claims near the` tim- ber, and the best of the prairie was entered by non-residents and remained unsettled until 1850. At this time settlers began to come in rapidly, and in 1854 the township was detached from Iowa and organized into a separate municipality. J. Ray and E. Supple were the first justices of the peace, and Caleb Marston clerk. In 1848 Davis Creek post-office was established on section 5, C. G. Maynard being the first postmaster. In 1854 Dairy post-office was established on section 28, R. Prettyman being the first post- master. Both of these offices have for a long time been discontinued. At present there is but one post-office in the township. It is called White Ash and is located on section 1.
The first birth in the township was that of John Tompkins, son of John and Catharine Tompkins. It is not positively known where the first school
589
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
was taught, but Mr. Emmerson taught a very successful school at Harris- burg in 1854; he died a few years ago and was buried at the Davis Creek cemetery. The Kentucky school-house, erected on section 11 in 1845, was probably the first school-honse in the township. The first divorce decreed was that of A. D. Liming from his second wife, formerly widow Marion, in 1850.
On the 27th of March, 1844, the body of James Burch was found in the grove near the head of Goose creek. He had been at Washington and when on the way home to Richimond was lost and perished from the effects of the cold. John Ashworth was the first person sentenced to the peniten- tiary from the township. He was convicted of forgery in 1855.
At the first election, held August 1854, there were eight votes cast in Highland township; according to the census of 1875 there were at that. time in the township 787 inhabitants.
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Trustee-S. R. Love. Clerk-O. Slotts. Assessor-A. O. Sands.
Justices of the peace-P. B. Coan and W. S. Grecian.
HARRISBURG.
Harrisburg was laid ont by John Burris in 1855. This town was located on section 14. For a time great efforts were inade to build up a town. Mr. Burris bought a large amount of land in the vicinity of the town which was located on the southwest quarter of the section. Quite a num- ber of lots were sold and all the land in the vicinity of the proposed town was rapidly settled up. About one hundred houses were built in the town and on the land adjacent which was supposed to belong to Burris. At the full tide of prosperity Harrisburg met with a sudden collapse from which it never recovered, and ever since that time the material proportions have been gradually vanishing from mortal eye and its memory from human recollection. The cause of Harrisburg's decline and fall was the sudden failure of Burris and the financial ruin of all who had anything to do with him.
DAVIS CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
Was organized July 11, 1868. D. Rice, A. Owens, J. Lettry, J. Little, W. Owens, F. Green, D. Owens, Mary Lettry, Nancy Green, Eliza Marston, Jane Rice, Mary B. Green, Mary E. Little, Sarah T. Marsh, and Margaret B. Owens were the original members. In 1858 a frame church building was erected on the northeast quarter of section 11. The present member- ship numbers 45.
EAST PRAIRIE M. E. CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1870, with a membership of abont 80. In May, 1876, the organization bought the East Prairie school-house, located on section 8, and fitted it up for a place of worship at a cost of $350. The present membership numbers about fifty.
590
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ENGLISH RIVER TOWNSHIP.
This was one of the first townships settled and organized in the north part of the county. It was settled chiefly by emigrants from Ohio and In- diana, and received its name from the river which flows through it. It is situated entirely within congressional township 77 and is composed of twenty-four sections in range 7 and eighteen sections in range 8. It will be seen from this that English River township is somewhat larger than a congressional township. English River precinct was first formed in 1840 at which time its boundaries were defined as follows: "All north of town- ship line 75 and 76, except township 76, ranges 7 and 8." This was changed in April, 1841, as follows: "All lying between a line drawn north and south eight miles from the east line of the county and a similar line sixteen miles distant."
On the first Monday of April, 1845, English River was formally organ- ized into a township by the election of civil officers. It must not be pre- sumed, however, that the country was unsettled prior to this time. The settlements were made fully as early as in any other part of the county, with the exception of the extreme east and south of the county; and the township in reality existed as English River precinct from the very first organization of the county. It had its civil officers, who, though not elected by the people, held their positions and discharged the functions of their offices under the appointment and under the authority of the Gov- ernor of the Territory.
The first real estate transfer in the county was of a parcel of land in Eng- lish River township, and the conveyance was executed and acknowledged before a justice of the peace, acting under appointment of the governor. This instrument bears date of December 31, 1839. As it is a matter of considerable interest, being the first transfer not only of the township but of the county, it is deemed to be of sufficient importance to be reproduced at this place.
"This indenture, made and concluded this 31st day of December, 1839, between Charles D. Haskell, of the first part, and Abraham Owens, of the second part, both of the Territory of Iowa, and county of Washington, wit- nesseth: That said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has bargained, sold, re- leased and confirmed unto the party of the second part and his heirs and assigns forever, one equal, undivided third part of eighty acres of land, being heretofore known as Haskell's mill-site claim, on English river, in the county of Washington, and Territory of Iowa; and I do hereby sell and release, and forever quitclaim, one equal third part of the above-mentioned land, together with one equal, nndivided third part of the water privilege, spring, minerals and timber, and one-third part of the appurtenances thereunto belonging, reserving the express right to cut and hanl off timber for my farm when required, to his heirs and assigns forever; and to warrant rant and defend the same against all other claims, the United States excepted.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written.
[Seal.]
"C. D. HASKELL.
"Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of- "A. H. HASKELL,
"CLARISSA HASKELL."
591
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
"TERRITORY OF IOWA,
"WASHINGTON COUNTY.
"This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace in said county of Washington, Charles D. Haskell, who is per- sonally known to me to be the real person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing deed, and who then acknowledged that he signed, sealed and de- livered the same freely and of his own accord, for the use and benefit of the persons therein named.
"A. H. HASKELL, "Justice of the Peace."
The present officers of the township are as follows:
Trustee-C. A. Elliott. Clerk-W. E. Kerr. Assessor-L. C. Bush.
Justices of the peace-W. E. Kerr and T. H. Jackson.
At the election held in 1853 there were 143 votes polled in English River township. According to the census of 1875 the population of the town- ship at that time was 1,431, or next to the largest in the county, it being second to Washington only, in point of population.
With regard to the first settlements of the county a tolerably full and it is hoped authentic account has already been given in another chapter. There are some facts however which are applicable for this particular place, and they are accordingly given, even though it be at the risk of repeating.
Cyrus Cox came from Michigan in 1839; he settled on section 8. Stephen Bunker and Johnathan Bunker came from Indiana in 1839; they settled on section 9; George Oloughlin, from Indiana, settled on section 29; Ad- dison Williams, from New York, on section 10; David Bunker, from Indi- ana, on section 7; S. B. Cooper, from New York, on section 22; B. Cres- well, from Illinois, on section 10; Paddy Connely, from Ireland, on section 7; Gideon Bear settled on section 31; Wm. Shaw on section 3; Daniel Bunker on section 1; John and Joel Tyler on section 10, and Joshua Wil- liams on section 7; all of these persons came prior to or about the begin- ning of 1840.
With regard to the first marriage and the first birth there are some dif- ferences in opinion, and if the statements here given as facts differ with previous statements the reader will know that there is a difference of opin- ion as to early events occurring about the same time.
Jonathan Bunker was married to Mary Randall in 1842, the ceremony being performed by C. D. Gillam, a justice of the peace, and about the same time a Mr. Gilchrist was married to Cynthia Tyler.
Abraham Bunker, son of David and Mariam Bunker was born in 1841; Rebecca Cox, daughter of Cyrus and Jane Cox, was born in 1840. A daughter of Daniel Bunker died and was buried on section 7, in April, 1840. These births, marriages and deaths are supposed to have been the first which occurred in the township.
Dr. Joseph Hamilton came from Ohio among the first who settled in this region, and for many years practiced medicine. He still resides in the bounds of the township, but has not practiced for a number of years.
Rev. Joseph Hamilton, of the Protestant Methodist Church, whom we suppose to be identical with Dr. Hamilton, preached good orthodox sermons at the residence of Wm. Wright, and the school-house in Snake Hollow as
.592
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
early as 1842. Allen Thompson taught a subscription school of twenty scholars, at $2.00 per scholar, in 1842; he afterwards returned to Ohio, where he died many years ago. The same year Mr. Thompson taught the first school in English river township the first school-house was built. The citizens joined together and built it without any outlay of money, except for glass, and this was furnished by David Bunker.
When the first settlements were made in this township the land had not yet been surveyed and much trouble arose among the claim-owners. Claims were jumped causing fights, and sometimes burning claim cabins, and fre- quently expensive law-suits. It is said that in 1839 two men claimed the whole township, George Oloughlin claimed the part south of English river and Jonathan Bunker that part north of the river. Of course there was no anthority whereby a right could be established to hold such extensive claims and these extensive domains were soon sub-divided.
One of the most productive parcels ot land, and as pleasing a location as there was in the county, fell into the hands of Thomas B. Dawson, who, in the fall of 1840, conceived the idea of building a city, and as a result of this idea there was laid out the town of
RICHMOND.
The town was laid out in November, 1840, and is located on the south- east quarter of the northeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30. In May, 1856, Mr. Dawson laid out an ad- dition to the town, and in June the same year John Bull laid out another addition. In writing of Richmond twenty years ago the editor of the Washington "Democrat " said:
" Richmond is situated in the north part of the county, in English River township; it contains a population of 300 or 400, three stores, as many gro- ceries, and the usual number of mechanics. It has a good frame school- house, and the largest Catholic Church in the county, the congregation being large enough to support a resident priest."
Those who are familiar with the present condition of Richmond, can, by .comparison with the foregoing, form some opinion of its growth during a score of years.
CHURCH OF HOLY UNITY.
This Church was organized in 1855, John Baumgartner, T. Eschee, I. Master, Joseph Critz, Joseph Edelstein, John Schilling, T. Eschee, Sr., Michael Smith, J. Reiner, Sr., John Keifer, Martin Kron and G. Hein were the original members. A brick church was erected in 1868 at a cost of $20,000. Fathers Mitchell, Emons, Fendrick, Schneider, Yonker, Maly, Hier and Brominschenkel have been pastors. The present membership is 400.
RICHMOND LODGE NO. 96, A. F. & A. M.
Was organized in 1856. Nelson Van Patton, J. L. L. Terry, John S. Maple, W. Round, L. Beun, G. Beun, and Thomas C. Scott were some of the first members of the order. Nelson Van Patton, J. L. L. Terry, D. Bunker, W. W. Gwinn, Cyrus Cox, G. B. Richards, G. G. Gallagher, Wm. Arnold and Marion Oloughlin have held the office of W. M. The members of the order at present number thirty.
593
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
KALONA.
This town is situated on t'ie north side of English river on sections 17 and 18, township 77, range 7. It was laid out August 6, 1879. On the 15th of same month S. E. Parker erected a stone building which he still occupies. Shortly after A. Boone opened a store for the sale of general merchandise. Topping & Langwell have a drug store, There is one hotel and there are two blacksmith shops. Abbott & Wolff are grain dealers. Ballenger & Co. sell lumber, and there are some other business enterprises of less importance. The population of the town is about one hundred and fifty.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township is what is known as township 76, range 7, its boundaries corresponding throughout with the boundaries of the congressional town- ship.
This township was one of the last settled in the county, and there were few living within its bounds until the year 1852. It is located a little north- east of the centre of the county, and is composed chiefly of undulating prairies, with but few streams, and these small ones. The land is of a good quality and very productive, and, with its present improvements, is now one of the first townships of the county.
The first settler was a party by the name of Lemon, who came in 1843 and located on Goose creek, near the east line of the township. He died some years ago.
Another of the early settlements was near the present site of the M. E. church, in the northwest corner of the township. Among the pioncers were H. Berdo, Henry Bathmell, W. J. Steadman, George Zeck, William Round, David Donaldson, J. M. Meek, and the Glasgows.
The first official meeting of the township was held in a school-house near where the M. E. church now stands, and this school building was the first one erected in the township. 1
The north part of the township is the most broken and uneven, and is settled mainly by foreigners, chiefly from Bohemia. The central and southern parts are settled by people mainly from Ohio and Pennsylvania, and many of the farms show marks of New England enterprise in the way of improvements. There are three Churches-Presbyterian, United Pres- byterian and Methodist.
GRAND PRAIRIE CHURCH.
The petition for the organization of this Church was drawn up August 22, 1859, and soon after presented to the Presbytery. The following were among the leading persons who composed the first organization: B. B. Glasgow and wife, J. M. Glasgow and wife, William M. Glasgow and wife, Robert Lytle and wife, Alexander Lytle and wife, S. B. Glasgow, S. H. Kirkpatrick, Joseph Davidson and wife, Mary Montgomery, Mrs. E. Con- ningham, Miss Kate Lytle and Robert Glasgow, Jr. A frame church edifice was erected in 1867 at a cost of $3.000. The pastors have been J. R. Doig, D. D., and Rev. H. T. Ferguson. The membership at present numbers sixty-five.
594
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. -
This Church was organized April 15, 1868. The persons who composed the first organization numbered forty-four, and were before that members of the U. P. Church of Washington. In the same year the Church was organ- ized a place of worship was built at a cost of $3,000. The present member- ship numbers about eighty-five.
PLEASANT PLAINS M. E. CHURCH
Was organized August, 1862. The first trustees of the Church were T. M. Smith, Samuel Matters, M. S. Curtis, Warren House, George Zeck, E. Irwin and Elisha Helwick. A frame church was erected in 1863 at a cost of $2,300. The mem bership of this Church numbers at present abont fifty- five.
LIME CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This township includes all of township 77, range 9, and eighteen sections of range 8. It is situated in the northwest part of the county, and a small portion of it was on the Indian side of the boundary line of 1837, so that part of the lands of this township did not come into the possession of the Government till 1843. In common with the other lands along the well- watered and well-timbered region of English river, the lands of this town- ship presented a tempting prize to the sharp vision of the pioneer land- viewer, and, as a result, the township was among the first in the county to be settled. Lime Creek precinct was formed at the time the first voting precincts were named and boundaries defined, and though the territory com- posing the township has frequently undergone the vicissitudes of change, there has never been a time since Washington county was, that Lime Creek township was not.
The census of 1875 showed Lime Creek township to be the fourth in the county in point of population, the three townships of Washington, Iowa and English River being of larger population. The number of inhabitants in 1875 was 1,383.
A few settlements were made in the southern and southeastern parts of the county before any settlements were made on English river, but it was not long till they found their way north and west. Thus it is that we find quite a number settled in Lime Creek as early as 1839, among whom were the following: William Davidson, Warthan McFarland, M. Hull and David McFarland. In 1840 the following settled: W. L. Hewet, Dr. James Waters, Benjamin Parker, and S. C. Waters. Soon after came the following: Isaac Leighton, S. A. Waters, Joseph Wasson, and others.
Warthan McFarland was one of the first justices of the peace, and it was this official who solemnized the first marriage of the township, in 1841, the parties being Philip Hines and Susan Gillam.
The first birth was that of Elizabeth McDowell, now deceased.
The first death was that of Mrs. Squires, who resided on Smith creek. She died in the spring of 1842, and was buried in the graveyard near H. B. Taylor's.
Dr. James Waters was the first physician who practiced in this part of the county. He came to the township from Indiana, and several years since emigrated to Kansas.
The first preaching was by Rev. Mr. Nichols, a Presbyterian, who preached at the house of Joseph Wasson.
595
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The first school was taught in a log cabin located in section 26, in the winter of 1843-'44, by Nancy Pinkerton. Her compensation was whatever the patrons chose to pay her.
The first house erected for specific school purposes was on section 25, near the residence of Mr. Taylor. It was erected in 1846, and cost $180.
Lime Creek township has been peculiarly unfortunate in its towns. The first attempt was that of Wassonville, then Dayton, and now, since the ex- tension of the Iowa City and Western Railway, Wellman, whose pros- perity as well as location and name, promises to be permanent.
WASSONVILLE.
This town was laid out March, 1848, it being one of the oldest towns in the county. It was located on section 12, township 77, range 9. For many years there was a good mill located there, and considerable trading was done. It was on the most popular route from Iowa City to Oskaloosa, and was the first station on the line of the underground railroad, laid ont by Superintendent Woodin in 1856.
Much interest having been aroused at Iowa City concerning the fate of Kansas during the slavery agitation, a public meeting was held at which several spirited speeches were made, but after the public meeting of a gen- eral character adjourned, a private meeting for special purposes met. It was at this private meeting that the following address or commission was drawn up and placed in the hands of Mr. Woodin, who seems to have been chiefly instrumental in opening up a line of communication:
" To the friends of the Kansas Free State cause in Iowa:
"The undersigned have been appointed a committee to act in connection with similar committees appointed in Chicago, and in other States, and with committees of like character to be appointed in the various counties of this State, and especially in those counties lying west and southwest of us.
"The plan of operation is the establishment of a direct route and speedy communication for emigrants into Kansas. The committee have appointed Messrs. George D. Woodin, Esq., Wm. Sanders and Capt. S. N. Hartwell to visit your place for the purpose of having a committee appointed there to facilitate the general plan of operation and carry out the details. They will explain to yon the minutiæ of this plan at greater length than we are able to do in this communication.
"Captain Hartwell is a member of the State legislature in Kansas, and is recently from the scene of the ruffian atrocities which have been committed in that embryo State.
" We have here pledged 'our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors ' to make Kansas a free State, and we shall expect our friends from this place westward will give us their hearty co-operation.
"Yours in the cause of Freedom, "W. P. CLARK, Ch'n. "C. W. HOBART, Sec'y.
"IOWA CITY, June 10, 1856."
" H. D. DOWNEY, Treas. "I. N. JEROME. "LYMAN ALLEN.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.