The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 88

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 88

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officers were elected that day and one of them also engaged in trapping, a set of township officers for the two lucrative employment that had pre- voting precincts, Lizard and Des viously attracted the attention of In- Moines.

dians and professionals.

On Sept. 7, 1859, a special election

William Stenson, the first postmas- was held to vote on the erection of a ter and storekeeper in the township, public building or court house, and excelled in neatness and taste as a this measure having been approved, farmer. Henry Steckelburg also kept another special election was held Nov. store at his home on 23 a few years. 19, 1859, to approve the contract for John H. Johnson was the first one this building and a bridge over the elected a justice and he was after- Des Moines river at old Rolfe. The wards called "The Squire." Wm. whole number of votes cast in both Price was the first one elected consta- precincts at these special elections ble. Carl Steinbrink, a man of splen- were 16 and 21 respectively.

did physique and who served as a county supervisor, was the largest 1859, according to the county records man in the township. John M. Brown, which are the only ones available for the most popular trustee, in 1891, on reference, only one set of township of- Sec. 18, erected the costliest residence. ficers were again elected for the two David Miller was a fine scholar, a suc- voting precincts.

At the gereral election held Oct. 11,

cessful teacher and a good superin- At the general election held Nov. 6, tendent. Old lady Weber, born in 1860, a full set of township officers 1810, was the oldest person in the were elected for the year 1861, and as township. follows. Michael Collins, county su-

In 1867 several farmers hauled their pervisor; Patrick McCabe, Charles dressed hogs to the Sioux City mar- Kelley and Michael Walsh, trustees; ket. Manson did not become a trad- Michael Collins, clerk; John Quinlan, ing station until 1870.

assessor, and Philip Russell, justice of

The first couple married were Ferdi- the peace. nand Zanter and Caroline Fieldhaber, In 1862 the trustees were John Cal- who had a Fort Dodge justice perform ligan, Charles Kelley and Patrick Col-

the ceremony iu September, 1866.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

lins. In 1863 they were Patrick Mc- Larney, James Donahoe and Patrick

Previous to the organization of Po- Collins. In 1869 they were A. H. Van cahontas county all the voters in the Valkenburg, Henry Steckelburg and Lizard settlement belonged to Jack- Joseph Breitenbach. In 1872 they son township, Webster county, and were D. W. Brown, John W. Wallace the elections were held at the home and Daniel Messinger. The succession of Jas. P. White, wholived two miles of the trustees since that date has southeast of the Lizard Catholic been as follows:

church. D. W. Brown, 1872-76; J. W. Wal- The first election in Lizard town- lace, '72-75; Daniel Messinger, '72-73; ship was held at the home of Charles B. B. Moore, Fred Kelsow, '75-77; Kelley (Sec. 12) March 15, 1859, the David W. Wallace, '76-84; J. H. Cars-

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

tens, E. M. Calligan, '78, '89-90; Ren- township and an inn was established kin J. Weber, M. T. Collins, '72-84; M. at the home of Caspar H. Brockshink Wiese, Ben Rost, '80-84; Daniel Lane, on the SW} Sec. 36, Lake township, '85-90; P. Forey, P. M. Donahoe, Mich- that was continued by Patrick Forey, ael Morrisey, Walter Ford, '86-88; John his successor. On one occasion some M. Brown, '87-99; James C. Carey, 91- emigrants lost a team and barely es- 94; John Carstens, '92-99; M. M. O'- caped with their own lives while try- Connor, '95-99; P. M. Donahoe, 1900- ing to ford the Lizard west of that 02; T. F. Collins, 1900-02, James P. place. This event led the emigrants Russell, 1900-02. to ford that stream further south, on

JUSTICES-Philip Russell, 1861-68; the farm of Michael Morrisey, and Charles Kelley, '63-64; John H. John- passing the home of Michael Walsh son, '67-74; James J. Bruce, '68; A. H. the new route meandered northwest Van Valkenburg, '69-79, '75-79; Wm. W. to Camp Grove and the homes Westlake, '71-74; Patrick Forey, '75- of Nicholas Nolan and Garret Schoon- 82; E. M. Calligan, '82, '87-91; Walter Ford, '83-93; Michael Morrisey, '83-86; T. J. Calligan, '92-93; G. B. Carstens, '94-99.

maker on Sec. 4, where the latter established and maintained an inn for a number of years. This trail, passing thence westward near Sunk

CLERKS-Michael Collins, 1861; Pat- Grove was for many years the main rick McLarney, Patrick McCabe, Phil- thoroughfare in the south part of the county. Trains of emigrant wagons,

ip Russell, '64-66, '68-71. '73-80; J. H. Johnson, '67; John W. Wallace, '72; followed by droves of horses, cattle Henry Kelley, '81-82; E. M. Calligan, and sheep, passed westward on it near- '83-86; J. C. Carey, '87-89; John M. Rus- ly every day, when it was in good con- sell, '90-94, '97; Michael J. Russell, '95- dition, and scores of them also passed 96; Walter P. Ford, '98-1900; E. H. eastward. Christoffer.

The first improved highway was the

ASSESSORS-John Quinlan, '61-63, '65; Lizard and (old) Rolfe road which was Roger Collins, '64; Philip Russell, located in 1862 and extended due north David Miller, '67, '69; George Spragg, from the west line of Sec. 36 to the northwest corner of Sec. 36, Des Moines Wm. W. Stenson, A. H. Van Valken- burg, M. T. Collins, '70, '74; Walter township. Michael Collins and Os- Ford, '73, '81-82; James C. Carey, '75, car Slosson took the lead in securing '78-79, '84-86; G. B. Carstens, Carl this road and it was located by Patrick Steinbrink, Michael Crahan, Chris- Forey, commissioner. The first road topher Nolan, Philip Walsh, '93-96; Dick Hoefing, '97-1900; Christopher Daniel Johnson, commissioner, in the Nolan.

running east and west was located by spring of 1866 south of the north row

The first jurors from this township of sections, and it was called the East were Patrick Forey, James Donahoe, and West road.

Roger Collins and Patrick Collins, who served in November, 1860.

HIGHWAYS.

The first and for many years the only road across Lizard township was J. J. Bruce, '70-73.

COUNTY OFFICERS.

TREASURER AND RECORDER-Mich- ael Collins, 1862-64.

TREASURERS-Michael Collins, 1865;

CLERKS OF THE COURT-Philip Rus-

the emigrant wagon trail that mean- dered across the county from Fort sell, 1862-65; J. W. Wallace, '75-86.

SUPERINTENDENTS-Michael Collins

Dodge to the Little Sioux river and thence to Sioux City. This route at 1863; J. J. Bruce, '68-69; David Miller, first crossed the northeast part of the '70-78.

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LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

SHERIFF-Joseph Breitenbach, 1874- 1866, and the other teachers that 77. taught in it were William Patterson, RECORDER-Michael Crahan, 1881- Maria Mitchell, James T. White, 82.

James White, Jr , Hannah Stiles and

CORONERS-John H. Johnson, 1868- Jefferson Snodgrass.

69, '76-77; John M. Brown, '80-81.

In the fall of 1866 a frame school COUNTY SUPERVISOR3-Michael Col- house was built in this district then lins, 1861; Patrick McCabe, '62-65: called Walsh No. 2, on the NE corner Philip Russell, '66-67; J. J. Bruce, '68- of Sec. 23, by Michael Collins, con- 69; David Miller, M. A. Moore, Walter tractor. The oak lumber for the Ford, '72-74; Wm. Stenson, '75-77; Carl frame of it was obtained at Todd's Steinbrink, '78-83; T. J. Calligan, '84- mill, 11 miles SE of Fort Dodge, and 86; M. T. Collins, '87-92.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

the other materials used in its con- struction were hauled from Boones-

The first school in the Lizard settle- boro, a distance that required four ment was established in 1858 at the days to make the trip. This building, home of James T. White, who lived having received a new floor, was still on the east side of the county line road in good condition for use in 1900. It on Sec. 30, Jackson township, and was the third school building erected Hannah Stiles taught it several terms. in this county, and the first teachers

The first meeting of the settlers in in it were David Miller and James J. the south part of this county to con- Bruce, both of whom later became sider school matters was held at the county superintendents. The second home of Charles Kelley in March, 1861. county teachers' institute was held in There were present at this meeting this building in December, 1871, by David Miller, superintendent.

Charles Kelley, John Calligan, Patrick Forey, John Quinlan, Dennis Connors,

In 1863, when the board consisted of Roger Collins, Michael Walsh, James John Calligan, Patrick Collins and Donahoe and Patrick McCabe. At John Quinlan, the township was di- this meeting Charles Kelley, John vided by the establishment of sub- Calligan and Patrick Collins were district No. 1-Calligan-in the NE elected directors and they organized corner of the township, another school as a board by electing Charles Kelley, was started in the vacant cabin of president; Patrick McLarney, secre- Dennis Connors on the SW} Sec. 1, tary, and Roger Collins, treasurer. and the teachers that taught in this That fall Ellen Condon, who received building were Philip Russell, Fannie her certificate from W. H. Hait, taught the first school in a vacant log cabin built by Patrick Collins near the SE corner of the SW} Sec. 13. The pupils

Haire (Collins p. 156), and Mattie Lumpkin, who taught the fall term of 1865 in the log cabin and the winter term of 1866 in the new school house that attended this school were Peter built in this district in 1865 by James Donahoe, who later became the hus- P., son of D. C. Russell of Jackson band of the teacher, and his brother, township, on the hill on Sec. 2, and Thomas Donahoe, Edward, Thomas, later moved to the NW corner of Sec. Mary and Ellen Calligan, Catherine 12. The next teachers in it were and Mary, daughters of Roger Collins, James J. Bruce, who secured his cer- M. T., John and Mary Collins, Mary tificate from Superintendent W. D. Quinlan, Annie and Catherine Mc- McEwen August 20, 1866, and taught Cabe. This log cabin called the "Pio- here the ensuing fall and winter terms and George B. Knapp. neer School House" was used for school purposes until the summer of

In 1867 school house No. 3 (Sec. 26)

658

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

was built in the Wiese district by J. double chimney is another register for J. Bruce, and the next year No. 4 (Sec. the egress of the foul air. It has also 34) was built in the Boyd district by a commodious hall in front and a sub- J. J. Bruce and Michael O'Shea. No. stantial coal room at the rear. 5 (Sec. 29) in the Vetter or Lincoln

Patrick McLarney, the first secre- district, was built in 1869, and No. 6 tary of the school board, was succeeded (Sec. 8) in the Wallace district in 1870. by Patrick McCabe 1863-70, Walter No. 7 (Sec. 10) in the Johnson district Ford, David Brown and M. E. Owens, was built in 1871 and No. 8 (Sec. 19) in '74-75. Roger Collins, the first treas- the Humboldt district in 1873.

urer, served until 1866, when he was

Each of these sub-districts with the succeeded by G. B. Carstens, J. J. exception of Humboldt and Lincoln, Bruce, Wm. Stenson, Henry Shields, was named after the man who was Joseph Breitenbach and by G. B. Cars- serving as director for it at the time tens again in 1874-75.

the school house was built in it. The territory for the 9th district, which is

INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS.

About the year 1875, after the eight in the center of the township, is still sub-districts had been established and included in those adjoining it on the a school house had been built in each, north, east and south, namely, John- some of the citizens in the western son (No. 7), Walsh (No. 2) and Boyd districts, led by Henry Shields, a di- (No. 4).

rector, and Joseph Breitenbach, treas-

Other early teachers that taught in urer in 1873, complained that the older the township were Henry Kelley, Liz- districts on the east side of the town- zie McCann, Lizzie Calligan, Walter ship absorbed an unequal share of the and Alfred Clark, J. J. Graham, M. H. school funds. The school board at Comstock, Kate and Annie B. Condon, this time according to the number of

Mary Walsh, Mary Condon, Mary the sub-districts consisted of Charles

Mulholland, Annie Kelley, Kate Kelley (president), Patrick McCabe, O'Boyle, Michael Crahan, Oscar I. John Wiese, Wm. Boyd, John Vetter,

Strong, Ella Westlake, E M. Calligan, Henry Shields (secretary), Daniel Nellie Tyler, Maggie Griffin, Walter Johnson and Wm. Tobin; and G. B. P. Ford, Michael, John and Maggie Carstens was treasurer. In the in- Russell, Lilly Collins, Tessa O'Niel terests of peace and good will, an, ar- and Mary J. Calligan. This township rangement was concluded whereby has always had an over supply of good each of the sub-districts as then con- teachers and its schools have been stituted became an independent dis- quite progressive.

trict in the management of its school

In 1899 there was erected in the affairs. Each district since that date Humboldt district one of the most has elected its own board of three di- convenient and modern of the rural rectors, each of whom is elected for a school buildings in the county. All term of three years. and they elect the windows are on one side of the their own president, secretary and building so that the light coming only treasurer. So general has been the from the rear of the pupil falls on his satisfaction under this arrangement book and not on his eyes. The stove that no desire to change it has ever located in one corner of the room is been expressed. It is, however, the

encased in a steel jacket.

Pure air is only township in the county in which

constantly admitted through a regis- the schools are managed in this way.

ter underneath the stove, and it is YOUNG PEOPLE. heated before it reaches the pupils. Many of the young people of both Near the floor in one part of the large sexes, after completing the course of

659

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

studies provided by the public schools, Sec. 26. In 1871 Arndt Ross and three have gone to various higher institu- of his daughters were buried in this tions of learning where they have pur- plot of ground, and in 1871 it was do. sued collegiate and professional courses nated to the trustees of the township of instruction. Among those that by Jacob Carstens for cemetery pur- have already entered professions with poses. It was platted by Oscar I. good promise of success may be named Strong, who was then teaching school Michael Murray, physician, Chicago; in the home of Adolph Felterbaum, Charles J. Kelley, physician, Burling- and Mrs. Catherine (Dietrick) Hoefing ton, Iowa; Wm. J. Collins, attorney, was buried in it that year.

Clare; M. J. Russell, attorney, Man- son; Joseph McCarville, priest, Ar-

LIZARD CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Nearly all the pioneers of the Lizard mah; Martin Murray, priest, Clarion. settlement had been brought up un-

Literary societies or lyceums have der the Roman Catholic faith and for been maintained through the winter more than twenty years their spirlt- seasons of most of the years since 1868. ual needs were supplied by the priest These evening gatherings have re- at, Fort Dodge. The first religious ceived the patronage of old and young, services in the Lizard settlement were and proved genuine nurseries of learn- held at the home of Sylvester Griffin ing as well as sources of social pleas- on the NE} Sec. 19, Jackson township, ure.

LIZARD POSTOFFICE.

August 15, 1855, by Rev. Father Amonds of Iowa City. Rev. John

The "Lizard" postoffice, the firstone Vahy, the first priest located at Fort in the township, was established at Dodge, held his first services in the Lizard settlement ar, the home of the home of Wm. Stenson, postmaster, on the SEt Sec. 14, in December, 1868. James T. White on the SW≥ Sec. 35, After four years of faithful service, same township, in May, 1856. He con- for which he received the magnificent ducted the first religious services in salary of $12 a year, he resigned and Lizard township at the home of Mich- closed the office. M. E. Owens soon ael Collins on the SE} Sec. 13, during afterwards re-established the office at the summer of 1857. Rev. John Vahy . his home on Sec. 10 under the name continued to serve them most of 1858, of "Buda," and it was continued until when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Jan. 1, 1875, when he left the county. McCulloch. After a few months of Later it was again established as service by Rev. Mr. Elward he was "Lizard" postoffice by Garret Schoon- succeeded by Rev. J. J. Marsh who maker at his store and inn on the SW} continued about four years, or until Sec. 4, and he maintained it until 1884, his decease in March, 1865. His par- when he moved to Calhoun county. In ish extended from Fort Dodge to Em- 1891 Carl B. Elsen re-established the metsburg and it was his custom to store and postoffice at this place. In stop over night on the way at the hotel 1900 he was succeeded as postmaster kept by David Slosson at old Rolfe. by Martin Siebels and on Feb. 1, 1902, He visited Lizard once a month and the office was discontinued, free rural delivery having been established from Gilmore City.

THE PUBLIC CEMETERY.

Emmetsburg once in three months. Other homes in the Lizard settlement in which he held services were those of Michael Donavan, Sylvester Griffin

Lizard township has three cemeter- and James Fenton, all of whom lived ies, the Catholic on Sec. 24, the Ger- in Jackson township.

man Lutheran on Sec. 9 and the public Rev. Patrick Delaney and Rev. Jos. cemetery on the northwest corner of Butler then served the Lizard people

660

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

until 1870, when Rev. Thomas M. Len- THE ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH. ihan became their successor and es- The St. John's congregation of the tablished new preaching stations at of the German Lutheran church has Fonda, Pocahontas, Pomeroy, and secured a good church building, par- Manson. In 1871 he secured the erec- sonage and cemetery, all located near tion of the Lizard Catholic church, each other on the west side of the 32x72, with 14 feet studs and costing NW} Sec. 9. The church, 32x60 feet with its furniture $2,600, on the coun- and costing $2,000, was built in 1885 ty line road east of Sec. 24, on which on a site of 2} acres that was donated the cemetery is located. completion of this building for which tery purposes. After the by Otto Siebels for church and ceme- In 1890 a parsonage the corner stone was laid July 6, 1871, and other outbuildings, costing $900, the services were held every other were built on 40 acres adjoining, pur- Sabbath and this congregation was as chased at that time, and in 1894 the strong as the one at Fort Dodge. Soon church was supplied with a good bell afterwards he secured the erection of by Jacob Carstens. In 1902 a new par- churches at Emmetsburg, Dover town- sonage was built at a cost of $2,000.

ship, Fonda, Pacahontas (a Bohemian

This church was organized in 1885 parish), Pomeroy, Manson and Fort by a number of families living in Liz- Dodge, and in 1881 the parsonage cost- ard, Lake and Lincoln townships. ing $1,700 at the Lizard church. He While some of these people, John and was that year succeeded by Rev. Gerd Carstens, Dietrick Hoefing, Die- Stephen Norton, the first resident deric and Rudolf Beneke and others pastor, who enlarged the church at a had located here as early as 1867; or cost of $700, built a barn and other very soon thereafter, yet none of them outbuildings. He served Lizard un- had ever belonged as communicant til his death in 1887, when he was suc- members to any organized congrega- ceeded by Rev. Matthew Darcy. After a residence of two years at the Lizard church he moved to Clare but contin- ued to serve Lizard until 1895, when it became a part of the Gilmore City parish, under. Rev. F. D. Sullivan, who in 1901 was succeeded by Rev Stephen Butler.

tions of this or adjacent counties. Most of them, coming from Ostfries- land, Germany, were not accustomed to the church rites generally observed by the Lutheran Synods in this coun- try, or even by those who had come from other German provinces. Whilst all Lutherans adhere to the same doc- trines, as set forth in the Augsburg Confession, it is a noteworthy fact

Many of the founders of this church now lie buried in the Catholic ceme- tery near it on Sec. 24, among whom that the rites observed in the services may be named Charles Kelley, Mr. and of the churches vary as much in the Mrs. Hugh Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Den- liturgical element as do those of the nis Mulholland, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. O'Connors, Mrs. John Calligan, Mrs. The Ostfriesland people are very con-

M. T. Collins, Philip Russell, James servative, object to everything like Condon, Patrick Forey and Michael high-church-ism and insist on the Walsh. simple rites of their fathers. On this

Four soldiers are buried here, John account the Lutherans of this con- Russell, John Thornton and Hugh gregation refrained from becoming O'Niel, who served in the civil war, members of neighboring churches.and and Sylvester Griffin, who served in also from organizing under their first the Mexican war. Decoration Day pastors, services were held here first in 1886.

The first one to hold German serv-

661

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

ices in the south part of this county cession were drawn by ox teams. Dur- was Rev. J. F. Doescher, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, Fort Dodge, 1867-74. He came occasionally in 1871-73. In 1874 his successor at Fort Dodge, Rev. Theodore Mertens, held occasional services, first in the

township. In 1875 the services were established at the O'Boyle school house, Sec. 19, by Rev. Theo. Mattfield of Manson, who continued until 1879. He and his two predecessors belonged to the Missouri Synod.

'Their successors, Rey. M. During of Pomeroy, 1880-82; Rev. W. Schultzke and Rev. Geo. Merschroth, 1882-84, all belonged to the Wartburg Synod.

"In the early dawning of the year,

Produce the plow and yoke the sturdy steer;

Goad him till he groans beneath his toil,

Till the bright share is buried in the soil."

The winter of 1856 and 57 was ex . tremely cold. On Dec. 5-8 there oc- curred the severest snow storm of the 41 years preceding. The drifts ranged from 3 to 12 feet, and where the prai-

Commencing with the year 1885, when the St. John's church was or- ries had not been burned the previous ganized and the church built, this fall travel was impossible during the congregation has been served by min- remainder of the winter. This was isters of the Iowa Synod, namely, Rev. true of the deep ravines on the route Otto Steahling, the first resident pas- to Fort Dodge near the Collins and tor, 1885-94; Rev. William Weltner, Griffin groves. 1894 to date.

There was scarcely any sunshine in March, 1857, and a the first of April.

The pastor of the church is superin- large amount of snow remained till tendent of the Sunday school and maintains a parochial school six LEADING CITIZENS. months of the year. The first persons

Breitenbach Joseph, was sheriff buried in the cemetery were Deborah of Pocahontas county from Jan. 1, and Herman, children of Otto Siebels. 1874, to Sept. 13, 1878. After nearly

In 1891 Rev. Otto Steahling effected five years of public service in this ca- the organization of the St. Peter's pacity he met with an accident while Lutheran church, that meets for wor- getting a load of hay on the prairie ship in the Center school house, Lin- near Pocahontas that resulted in his coln township. This congregation now death that day. The court at its next consists of twelve families represent- session, Hon. Ed R. Duffie, presiding

ing 30 communicant members.

judge, on the recommendation of the OXEN AND HORSES. bar, had the following resolution "That The use of horses was introduced in spread on the public records:

Lizard township in 1861, but their use in our business relations with the de- did not become general until after ceased during many years, we have 1870. Before the sloughs were bridg- found him a fearless, active and effi- ed oxen were indispensable, since they cient officer; that we sincerely mourn could draw loads through sloughs that his death and tender our sympathy to were impassable with horses. At the his bereaved family."

He came in 1867 from Wisconsin and

funerals in the Lizard settlement dur- ing. the 60's, usually more than 40 of located on the SE} Sec. 22. He left a the 50 conveyances forming the pro- wife and three children. His wife

ing the period of bad roads in those early days the farmers, in going for coal and other heavy commodities, of- ten formed neighborhood trains or processions, so they might assist each other in crossing the bad places. On home of Diederic Beneke and later in the farm they followed the advice of the Saylor school house in Lincoln the classic Roman poet, Virgil:

662

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

later married August Miller, lives in His large dwelling house was built in Lizard township and still owns the 1891, soon after the erection of the old homestead. barn. The buildings are protected by

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 88

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058