USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 68
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the saloon as a curse, because it ab-
Its editors have issued two special sorbs the earnings of a great number Christmas editions, one on Dec. 16, of persons who cannot then pay their 1896, containing twenty pages filled just obligations to the merchants and with original stories of the pioneer other legitimate tradesmen.
days and large local advertisements, and the other an illustrated one of
FIRST POSTOFFICES.
The first postoffice in Clinton town- twelve pages, on Dec. 13, 1900, con- ship was established in 1876 at the taining an account of some of the home of William Matson on the SW} leading citizens and business inter- Sec. 16, on the route from Pocahontas
508
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
to Old Rolfe. The name of the office from Northwestern Iowa, was mus- was "Ben Lomond," and Wm. Matson tered in at Camp Mckinley, Des continued to serve as postmaster until Moines, May 25, 1898, and arrived at March 1, 1878, when the office was Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, May 31. discontinued. Blooming Prairie post- It was assigned to the campaign in office was maintained on the semi- Porto Rico as a part of the third weekly mail route from Pocahontas to brigade, second division of the third Humboldt at the home of Sewell Van army corps, but was returned to Des Alstine on section 25 from March 1878 Moines August 30th, and the men
until the spring of 1882.
The valuable quarries of building or limestone rock, opened on section 25, in 1881 by C. J. Carlson, and belonging to the Kinderhook beds,* and the county drainage district No. 1, on Crooked creek, t the south branch of Pilot creek, have already been de- scribed.
According to the census of 1900, the population of Rolfe was 994, and, in- cluding its suburbs, 1,175.
From Rolfe and vicinity there went forth to engage in the war with Spain in Cuba in 1898, the following volun- teers:
Louie Peterson, enlisted April, 1898, sketches have already been given of
Co. F, 49th Reg.
John Everson, enlisted at Rock Rapids, June 24, Co. H, 52d Reg.
24, Co. H, 52d Reg.
Benjamin Everson, enlisted June Jarvis, Augustus H. Malcolm, Wm. D. McEwen, Perry Nowlen and Robert
Geo. W. Tremain, enlisted June 10, Struthers.
Co. G, 52d Reg.
Beam Watson Wilna, M. D., (b. Edward R. Ashley, enlisted June 23, June 26, 1858,) Rolfe, is a native of Co. G, 52d Reg.
Jones county, Iowa. After receiving Andrew Denend, enlisted June 23, a good common school education, and Co. G. 52d Reg.
studying medicine with his father, Mid Roberts, enlisted June 23, Co. Dr. Wm. O. Beam, he pursued a colle- G, 52 Reg.
giate course at Cornell College and ment of the Iowa State University.
Homer Sanford, enlisted June 23, graduated from the medical depart- Co. G, 52d Reg.
Louie Peterson became a corporal in In the spring of 1881 he located tem- July. Co. F, H and C were known as porarily in the old store building and the Davenport, Sioux City and Web- Hotel de Telford at Old Rolfe, in an- ster City companies, respectively. On ticipation of the coming of the first June 23d, when the last four left Rolfe, railroad in that part of the county. a farewell meeting was held at the When the railroads came and the new depot and, after music by the band, town of Rolfe was founded, he secured an address was delivered by C. C. a permanent location as the first resi- Delle, Esq. The 52d regiment, to dent physician of that town. His of- which most of them belonged, was fice is now located in a fine suite of rooms in the east end of the State
*Page 144. +Page 306.
from Rolfe were mustered out, Oct. 30, 1898, after a service of four months in camp.
The Northwestern Land Co., that platted the towns of Rolfe, Plover, Gilmore City, Clare, Mallard, Curlew, Ayrshire and Ruthven, consisted of J. J. Bruce, President; A. O. Garlock, Secretary; Wm. D. McEwen, Charles E. Whitehead, Geo. W. Ogilvie, C. N. Gilmore and B. F. Kauffman, and was organized in 1881.
PIONEERS OF CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
In the account of the early settle- ment of the north part of this county, the following early settlers or resi- : dents of Clinton township, namely, Oscar F. Avery, Ora Harvey, Wm.
509
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
Savings Bank, and its equipment in he entered the public school and at cludes a complete set of surgical in- sixteen received a second-grade teach- struments and a valuable medical li- ers' certificate. At eighteen he brary. He owns a fine home in Rolfe taught his first term of school, and and an improved farm of 160 acres in then taking a three months' Normal that vicinity. course, taught the same school in
He is one of the pioneer physicians Simcoe county during the next three in this county and the period of his years. He then commenced a term of school in the adjoining district, but
professional career at Rolfe is longer than that of any other business man at the end of one week-Jan. 10, 1866- in the town. His skill as a physician, the school house was burned. This public spirit as a citizen and long resi- occurrence was attributed to a preju- dence in the community have caused dice developed by his unfavorable him to be widely and favorably known. criticism in the public press of the He has taken an active part in both drunkenness that appeared at the local and county politics, but has nev- celebration of the Orangemen, July er been an aspirant for political hon- 12th, previous. He relinquished his ors, although he has served as a mem- contract and on March 16th, 1866, ber of the Rolfe school board during started for Chicago, stopping at the past four years and as president of Toronto a few days to visit some it in 1900. His ambition has been to schoolmates on the way. He carried rise in his profession and, in this re with him a first-grade teachers' cer- spect, he has succeeded admirably. tificate issued by the board of educa- He has been the surgeon for the C. & tion of Simcoe county, that was good N. W., and C., R. I. & P. railways for for three years, and attested his good a number of years.
On May 12, 1886, he married Emma Brown, at Rolfe, and his family con- cluded to go west in the hope he sists of two daughters, Hazel and might locate in a community where Wilna Winnifred.
moral character and excellent literary attainments. At Chicago he con-
there were no Irish people. He
Beam C. H., druggist, has been a passed by rail to Ackley and thence 'resident of Rolfe since 1885. In 1890, by stage to Iowa Falls, where he met after teaching school a few years, he several Canadians who wished to lo- entered the employ of Geo. W. Core, cate in Pocahontas county. In com- as a pharmacist. Later he was pro- pany with David Wallace he carried prietor of a drugstore at Plover and, his luggage and walked from Iowa since 1895, of one at Rolfe. He has a Falls to section 8, Lizard township, a talent for business and is achieving distance of 77 miles, selecting a home- well-merited success.
stead and fording the Des Moines
Bruce James Jeremiah, (b. Nov. 6, river at Fort Dodge. He was sur- 1843,) resident of Rolfe, is a native of prised to find his new location was in Oswego, N. Y., the son of Thomas another Irish settlement, and where and Mary Bruce. His parents, who there were even persons who knew were of Scotch-Irish descent, emi- his parents when they lived at Mona- grated from the north of Ireland to gan City, Ireland.
Oswego in 1842, and soon afterward
At the time of his arrival in Lizard located in Hastings (then called Sim- there were only four school houses in coe) county, Ontario, where his moth- Pocahontas county, namely, in the er died Aug. 15, 1845. After the death Robert Struthers and (Old) Rolfe dis- of his mother he was taken care of in tricts, Des Moines township, and in the homes of other people. At nine the Calligan and Walsh districts in
-
510
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
Lizard township. On Aug. 20, 1866, hontas Times for several years after he was examined and received a teach- its removal to Fonda and took the ers' certificate at Old Rolfe from W. lead in establishing and maintaining D. McEwen, county superintendent, the Rolfe Reveille from July 12, 1888, and in 1867 taught the summer and to Jan. 1, 1894.+ winter terms in the Walsh district. His public career in this county cov- In the fall of 1867, he was elected ers a period of thirty years and began county superintendent and also coun- Oct. 8, 1867, when he served as a clerk ty supervisor from the Lizard district. at the general election in Lizard
On March 4, 1867, he married Mary township. On that day he was elect- J. Price, one of the pupils in his first ed to three public offices, namely, jus- school in Lizard township. In the tice of the peace and county supervisor fall of 1869, he was elected county from Lizard township, which then treasurer and moved to Old Rolfe embraced nearly the south half of the where, on Jan. 1, 1875, he and W. D. county, and superintendent of the McEwen established a store. In 1881 public schools of the county. As a he became president of the North- resident of Lizard township he served western Land Co., and on Feb. 14, as justice of the peace in 1868, as 1882, was admitted to the bar by county supervisor in 1868-69, county Judge Edward R. Duffie, at Pocahon- superintendent 1868-69, and county tas. In 1882 he erected the building treasurer four years at Old Rolfe in known later as the Tremain Hotel, 1870-73. As a resident of Clinton town- and became one of the first residents ship he served as the first mayor of of the new town of Rolfe, where for a Rolfe in 1884, president of the Rolfe few years he engaged in the mercan- school board in 1891-92, justice of the tile business.
peace in 1891-92, representative of the
He took a leading part in the first 78th district, which included Poca- newspaper enterprise and was identi- hontas and Calhoun counties, in 1886- fied with the public press of the 87, and county supervisor nine years, county a number of years afterward. 1880-85, '95-97. He was president of On June 14, 1869, he rode to Fort the board of supervisors five of the Dodge with Dennis Mulholland, of eleven years he was a member of it. Lizard, and on the next day arranged
In the various offices to which he with B. F. Gue to print the Pocahon- was called he rendered the people of tas Journal for one year for $450.00. this county a faithful and efficient On the next day, June 16, 1869, W. D. service. None ever questioned his McEwen, the other editor, arrived ability or his integrity of purpose, and the first issue of the Pocahontas and no one was either better ac- Journal was printed and placed in quainted with the county's affairs or their hands for distribution. The endeavored to promote them more un- second issue of this paper was re- selfishly than he.
On May 15, 1897, he had a tumor 1869, and the subsequent issues were the size of a man's hand, removed
ceived in Lizard township July 25, printed as is regularly as the mails from the back of his head, that began could carry copy to the printer and re- to appear soon after his recovery from turn the printed sheets for folding typhoid fever in 1882. A few months and distribution. This was the offi- later he retired from business and pol- cial paper of the county during 1869, itics and now devotes his attention to 1870 and 1871 .* He wasa regular con- the cultivation of his farm on which tributor to the columns of the Poca- he lives at Rolfe.
*See page 144.
tSee page 306.
511
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
In 1857, at the age of fourteen, he chased and improved the Et Sec. 15, united with the Wesleyan M. E. Lake township, and directed his at- church, Canada. In 1876 he became tention to raising draft horses of the an elder in the Unity and later in its English Shire and Norman varieties. successor, the Second Presbyterian Three years later he bought the SEł church of Rolfe. In 1883 he united Sec. 36, (160 acres) Clinton township, with the M. E. church of that place. adjoining Gilmore City, improved and He has been a life-long advocate of arranged this farm for raising stock the cause of prohibition and has taken and still lives upon it. He also owns a leading part in promoting that 305 acres on Sec. 26, adjoining, that cause in this county.
His family consists of nine children, who died Feb. 26, 1896, at his home in one having died in childhood.
1-William Ulysses Bruce married
were bequeathed to him by his father,
Illinois.
Perhaps no one has done more to Belle Fisk, lives in Omaha and has a promote the draft horse industry in family of two children. Pocahontas county than Will E.
2-Marion Bruce married Gussie Campbell, of Gilmore City, since he Wilcox, lives in Rolfe and has one was one of the first to introduce the child. He became a workman in the Percheron breed in this section. In Reveille office at the time it was es- the fall of 1889 he made a trip to tablished and owned a half-interest France and imported direct to this in it from Jan. 1, 1894 to Aug. 4, 1900. county three fine Percheron stallions. He was recorder of Rolfe '95-96 and On March 25, 1886, he married Mary has been postmaster since July 1, 1897. H. Bain, of Peotone, Ill., and has a
3-George Washington Bruce mar- family of three children-Mildred, ried Ella Wallace, lives at Rolfe and Gladys and Bernice.
has four children.
He is an elder in the Presbyterian 4-Robert Bruce in 1897 graduated church of Gilmore City, and has been from the law department of the Iowa a trustee since its organization in 1888. State University and is now practic- His estimable wife has always been a ing law at Rolfe. On Oct. 11, 1899 he faithful worker in this church, serv- married Carrie Ritchey of Des Moines ing as its first treasurer, president of its aid society two years and as its or- township.
5-James Bruce graduated from the ganist nearly all the time.
Carroll James Andrew, (b. Feb.,
law department of the Iowa State University in 1898, was engaged in a 1852,) who has been identified with law office in Denver a few months the mercantile interests of Fonda and and since Jan. 1, 1900 has been book- Rolfe, since 1884, is a native of Macon, keeper for the Pocahontas Savings Georgia. the son of Patrick H. and Bank at Pocahontas.
Frances K. (Tucker) Carroll. In 1867 6-John E. Bruce in 1899 married he moved with his parents to Jackson Anna Miller, has one child and lives county, Iowa, where in 1870, he mar- in Des Moines township.
ried Anna Mary Daly, a native of that Bertha Belle, Edward E. and Har- place, and located on a farm. He re- old are still at home.
mained there until 1880, when he
Campbell Will E., (b. 1858) of Gil- moved to Clinton county, and found more City, is a native of Crete, Will employment in a general store. In Co., Ill., the adopted son of John F. 1884 he moved to Fonda, two years la- and Emily S. (Hewes) Campbell of ter to a farm in Dover township, then Manteno, Ill. In the spring of 1883, successively to Rolfe, Fonda and In- he came to Pocahontas county, pur- cline where, for two years, he had
512
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
charge of a general store. In 1900 he (Loughead) at Plover, and Charles Al- returned to Rolfe, where he and his vin at Pocahontas.
son James are employed in the de- Charlton James Henry, (b. June partment store of M. Crahan. His 24, 1856,) is a native of Butler county, brother, P. J. Carroll, was the first Ohio, accompanied his parents (Jesse resident priest of the Dover and Fon- and Margaret) to Davis and Dallas da Catholic churches in 1882-87. counties, Iowa, and in 1882 purchased
His family has consisted of nine eighty acres and prepared a home on children of whom Anna died at the section 11, Center township, for his age of sixteen and Francis at four.
father and family who arrived the 1-Zachary Taylor (b. Dec. 4, 1871) next spring. In the fall of 1889, he in 1899 married Mina Negus, of Des Moines, and lives at Rolfe.
located at Rolfe. In September, 1891, he married Franc Lenore, daughter of
2-Patrick Henry (b. Feb. 22, 1874,) Dr. Wm. Otterbein and Esther Ann in May, 1898, enlisted in Co. K, 1st (Stewart) Beam and a native of Linn Reg. S. D. infantry at Madison and county. In the spring of 1895 he rendered military service in the Phil- moved to the old home on the farm in ippines until October, 1899, when he Center township, but in the fall of was honorably discharged as a ser 1899 returned to Rolfe. He was for geant. During a portion of his time several years the manager of the he was a messenger for Brig. Gen. H. Shannon ranch in Center township. G. Otis, at the arsenal at Cavite, and He isnow vice-president of the First he was accorded a public reception in National Bank of Rolfe and owner of McKee's hall, Oct. 27, 1899, on his re- ten improved stock farms* in that vi- turn to Fonda. He is now located in cinity that contain 3,060 acres and on
South Dakota.
which he has put about fifty miles of tiling. His family consists of four
3-Emma Theresa on May 18, 1897, married Charles F. Linnan and lives children-Lucile Beam, Shannon B., in Fonda, where he is engaged in the Frank B. and Clyde B. real estate business.
James Michael, Emmet
Ella and Regina are at home.
Charlton Charles Alvin, (b. March Robert, 17, 1865) is a native of Dallas county, Iowa, the son of Jesse and Sarah
Charlton Jesse, (b. July 2, 1818,) Charlton. In the fall of 1882, he lo- was a native of Butler county, Ohio. cated with his brother on a farm in In March, 1850, he married Sarah Ann Center township. In the fall of 1893 Brenton, (b. Ind., Jan. 20, 1828.) In he was elected treasurer of Pocahon- 1857 he moved from Butler county, tas county and being twice re-elected, Ohio, to Davis county, Iowa; in 1863 served in that capacity six years, 1894- to Dallas county, where his wife died 99. In 1895 he married Minnie, daugh- in 1868; and in 1883 to section 11, Cen- ter of Henry and Mary Jarvis, of ter township, Pocahontas county. Rolfe. He lives at Pocahontas and His family consisted of nine children, owns 502 acres of land in that vicinity. of whom William, Hettie and an in- Clason Joseph, one of the early fant died early in life, and Rebecca pioneers of Pocahontas county, in the Jane, wife of James H. Campbell, died spring of 1863, located on a farm of 80 at Rolfe April 10, 1896, Martha Eliz- acres on section 1, Clinton township, abeth in 1889 married William Callon with a family consisting of his wife and lives in Center township. Mary (Rebecca Kinyon) and ten children. Ann (Maulsby) lives at Earlham, Iowa; Upon an unbroken prairie, covered James Henry at Rolfe; Ida, Bell with tall grass and inhabited by mos- *See page 463, quitoes, he built a log house and occ
M. CRAHAN AND FAMILY
1
M.CRAL
CRAHAN STORE BLOCK. Rolfe.
RESIDENCE OF MICHAEL CRAHAN Rolfe.
513
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
cupied it until June, 1874, when he with his parents to Lizard township, sold the farm and moved to Kansas. Pocahontas county. At the age of He died in 1880 and his wife in 1888. eighteen he began to teach school, In Clinton township he served as a and at twenty-two, in the fall of 1880, trustee, 1865-71; as the first president of the school board, '69 70; as justice of the peace, '71-73.
was elected and served two years as recorder of this county. On Jan. 10, 1883, he married Mary J. McSweeney,
Ann Clason, his eldest daughter, in of Fayette county, and located at Fon- 1864 married Richard Chatfield and da, where as a general merchant and located in Wisconsin, where she died manager of the Fonda creamery, he Sept. 26, 1884, leaving a family of six became the successor of Geo. L. Brow- children, of whom Dora married James er. In 1886 he relinquished his inter- Thompson and located in southern ests at Fonda to John R. Welsh and a Iowa; Rose married Wm. Blain and few months later established a small located in Kansas; George entered the regular army; Edward located in Liz- ard township; Cora and Alfred are at home.
Sarah Clason on Dec. 25, 1869, mar- ried Geo. W. Heald. (See Heald). The wedding occurred at her father's home and was the first one in the township.
Mary Clason on March 30, 1872, mar- ried Carl John Carlson, who for a number of years was proprietor of the quarries on section 25, and later lo- cated on a farm near Havelock. Their family consists of eight children- Carl J., Florence R., Emma H., Wor- den J., Minnie M., James A., William A. and Wilfred Bert.
Core George Wellington, (b. Dec. 15, 1859) druggist, Rolfe, is a native of Marion county, received his educa- GEO. W. CORE, ROLFE. tion in the public school and learned the drug trade as an apprentice with general store in the First Nationalbank his uncle. In the spring of 1882 he building at Rolfe. In 1888 he and J. opened a drug store in Rolfe and has J. McGrath erected a two-story brick maintained it ever since. On Dec. 26, block, (44x100 feet) the first one in 1882, he married Birdie Bedell, of Ma- Rolfe, and later increased it to 100x100 rion county, and has one child, George feet. He is now the sole owner of Clinton. In the fall of 1895 he was this building and proprietor of the the nominee of the democratic party large department store conducted in in this district for representative and it. The arrangement of this store is lacked only a few votes of election. very convenient, and the variety of
Crahan (b. July 12, 1858,) general its large and constantly changing merchant at Rolfe, is a native of Man- stock of goods is suited to meet every chester, Delaware county, lowa, the want and their quality every taste. son of Patrick and Margaret (Mc- Eight to ten persons are constantly Mahon) Crahan, In 1869 he moved employed and goods are delivered free
1
514
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
to all purchasers residing in the city. May 11, 1858,) is a native of Iowa City, He has achieved a remarkable degree the son of Thomas and Margiana of success as a merchant, and the se- (Nightingale) England. On May 16, cret of it may be attributed to his 1881, while keeping a shoe store at personal knowledge and oversight of West Dayton, he married Ida M. all the details of the business and his Rugg, of Grand Junction. In 1882, he superior facilities both for making moved to Grand Junction and, during purchases to good advantage and the next four years, was engaged in many sales at a small profit. He al- the drug business. In Oct, 1885, he ways keeps his promises and never ad- established a drug store in a small vertises what he does not have.
building in which for a while he also
He has a controlling interest in the lived at Gilmore City. In 1889 hẹ Rolfe egg packing house, does consid- erected and began to occupy as a erable business in land and lives in druggist the two-story brick building, one of the largest and finest houses in in the rear of which his law office is the county. He has served seven now located. In 1895 he entered the years as a member of the Rolfe town law department of Drake University, conncil, was president of the Rolfe graduated in 1896, and in January, school board in 1898-99, and mayor of 1897, was admitted to the practice of that city in 1899-1900. He has always law by the supreme court of Iowa. voted the democratic ticket and is a Since that date he has been devoting member of the Catholic church. his time and attention to the practice
His family consists of eight chil- of law in this county. He is the own- dren-Maggie, Mamie, Nellie, Nora, er of a good residence and several Edward Leo, Esther G., William C. other properties in Gilmore City. and Grace Irene.
During the period of, his business Duty George H. Rev., (b. Aug. 13, career, by his honesty and integ- 1849,) pastor of the Presbyterian rity, he won the confidence and es- church, Rolfe, May 1, 1887, to Oct. 1, teem of the people among whom he 1890,* was a native of Clark county, lives. In the fall of 1898, when he Mo., where he was brought up on a was not a candidate, he was accorded the nomination for county attorney at the democratic convention in this county. He is guided by strong and intelligent convictions that lead him farm. After attending the public school until he was seventeen he spent two years in an academy and four in Westminster College, Mo. Ile was li- censed to preach in 1873 and in Sept., to take the side of good morals in all 1877, was ordained to the full work of local issues. He is recognized as a the gospel ministry by the Cumber- man of ability and noble aspirations, land Presbyterian church. Since his a logical thinker and a forcible public transfer to the ministry of the Pres- speaker. byterian church he has served Rolfe, West Bend and Leeds in Iowa; Boli- var, Joplin and Ironton in Missouri. He is now located at Bonaparte, Iowa, and is planning the ercction of a large church building.
His family consists of two children, Bessie and Max. His amiable wife was chosen one of the trustees of the Presbyterian church of Gilmore City, when it was organized in 1888, and has continued since that date one of its most faithful and efficient workers.
On Oct. 5, 1880, he married Isadore Ellis, and of his family of three chil-
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