The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 91

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 91

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).

Mrs. Daniel Lane, sister of Michael

Samuel (b. 1851), coming with his Walsh, and one of the old settlers in parents to Pocahontas county, in 1879 Lizard township, died at 72 in 1899 at located with his brother John at Pomeroy where her husband still Pocahontas. In 1881 he married Mary lives. McLarney and a few years later loca-

Wiese, John (b. 1819), who in 1865 ted at Gilmore City. His family con- secured a homestead on Sec. 26, was a sists of six children.

Walsh, Michael (b. 1830; d. 1900-p. In May 1865, with wife and three 164), one of the early pioneers after children, he located in Lizard town- whom the Walsh (No. 2) school dis- ship. He was a good farmer and be- triet was named, was a native of Cork came quite prominent as a citizen. Co., Ireland. In 1852 he came to New His wife died in 1887 and he died in York and the next year to Butler Co., 1893. Their family consisted of four

O., where in June 1856, he married children: Henrietta after her mar- Margaret Lully, a native of Dublin, riage moved to Kansas; Minnie mar- and located in Rock Island Co. Ill. ried Henry Rawdell and in 1893 loca- Hle was not satisfied with his pros- ted in Minnesota; Emma married A. pects there, and leaving his wife with F. Habenicht and lives in Webster friends he started afoot for the prai- county; Gustave married Sophia Raw- ries of western Iowa and arrived in dell and lives in Washington.

Lizard township in October following.

Wiese, Michael (b. 1821; d. 1898), Here he put a pre-emption claim on owner and occupant of the NE} Sec. 160 acres on the NE} Sec. 14 and erec- 3 since May 1866, was a native of Ger- ted a log cabin. The land was put on many where in 1844 he married Caro- the market sooner than he expected line Hinz and remained until 1851, and he was then able to buy only 40 when he located in Wisconsin. Fif-

acres of the amount claimed. When teen years later he located on a home- it was opened for homestead entry he stead in Lizard township; which he secured 40 acres more and as the years improved and enlarged as the years passed he made other purchases so passed to 520 acres. He was prosper- that at the time of his decease in 1900, ous as a farmer and very highly res- he owned 400 acres. His log cabin pected for his many excellent qualities 16x18 feet is said to have been the first of character.

one covered with shingles west of Ft.

For many years he drove a bay horse Dodge. Ten years later it was re- to Manson whose instinct seemed al- placed by a large frame house the most equal to man's intelligence. shelter and comforts of which were When commanded to stand still by shared with many a wayfaring travel- Mr. Wiese, no matter what the cir- er passing eastward or westward on cumstances were, he would not move the emigrant route. He was a good until told to do so. The man and his

native of Germany where he married.

677

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

faithful horse grew old together and voluntary and heroic struggle in the when the latter died his master said, face of untold privations, hardships He would not long survive him. This and dangers. Some facts that have been prediction proved truc, for he died mentioned have so deeply impressed soon afterward at 77 in 1898. His wife the author, by way of comparison and died at 79 in 1901. Both were mem- contrast, that he has deemed it not

bers of the Lizard Lutheran church. unwise to refer to them again, and His family consisted of ten children he indulges the hope that every read- five of whom are still living. er will recognize and appreciate the broad and generous spirit that on the SW+ Sec. 27, in 1881 married prompts the following comparisons.

William G., who owns a fine farm Caroline Siefert and has a family of

The people of this country have not five children; William, Etta, Caroline, been accustomed to look to Ireland

Michael married Ellen Siefert and cessful farmers, and during their first George and August.

occupies the SE+ Sec. 33.

John E., occupies the old homestead and has a family of five children.

for the best types of model and suc- years the pioneers of Lizard township were not rated very high. for their proficiency in farming by the dwell- Many changes have been wrought dur-

Frederic owns and occupies 80 acres ers in the other parts of the county. on Sec. 28.

Etta married Adam Wassen, lives ing the last forty years, and the fore- in Webster county and has a large going historic review of that town- ship discovers the fact, that if the family.

Westlake, William W., who se- farmers, representing other lands cured a homestead on Sec. 28, and across the ocean, have done well, served as a justice, 1871-74, died a few many of those that came from Ire- years ago and also his son Wallace. His land have also done well. Several of daughter, Ella, a teacher, married them accumulated as many acres, William Merchant; her mother also and others improved their homes with married and both have left the coun- as fine buildings as the leading repre- ty. His farm is now owned and oc- sentatives of other distant countries, cupied by F. Vanderhoof.

who reside in the township or coun- During recent years some of the

Zanter, Ferdinand, who in 1865 ty. located on Sec. 22, is still a resident of Germans, their nearest and most for- the township. In August 1862 he en- midable rivals, and some of the listed as a member of Co. D, 27th Ia., Swedes also, may have surpassed them and spent three years as a soldier in the a little in raising fine stock, but in civil war. His marriage to Caroline one respect worthy of special com- Fieldhaber in September, 1866, is said mendation,-they have excelled, name- to have been the first one in the town- ly, in the education of their sons and ship.

The Irish in Lizard Township.

daughters. This is all the more re- markable because the entire town- ship still remains a rural district, a

Nearly all the pioneers and many of the later settlers of Lizard town- circumstance that compelled them to ship were natives of Ireland, and send their youth away from home in their first rivalry was with thecitizens order to secure the facilities of a of Des Moines township over the loca- thorough and complete education, tion of the first public buildings and even in the common branches.

As early as 1881 the fact was noted

county seat. It has been a source of profound pleasure to record their"foot- in the press of this county, that Liz- prints in the sands of time"-a story of ard township had had, for several

678

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

years, a surplus of good teachers. ren and youth and expended money This has been true of this township freely for the erection of special every year since. Then, the list of six buildings.

young men furnished by this town- If, however, a comparison be made ship (p. 659), two to each of the three of the courses of instruction, a slight

learned professions-the ministry, contrast will be perceived. While medicine and law-is at this date and the Irish, in the education of their to the best of our knowledge, with- youth, have been content to have out a parallel in the county. There them master the English language, is not another township in the county the children and youth of their rivals, that can claim so large a representa- in the special schools provided for tion of young people in these three them, have been required to spend a professions.

great part of their time learning a

On considering this matter a little "mother tongue," for use when they more closely, it will be found that may . visit the "Father Land".

While many from other nationali-

every one of these young men, in the list from Lizard township, represents ties beyond the sea, in coming to a family whose parental heads came This land of the free And home of the brave, from the Emerald Isle. Here is a fact that is as siguificant as it is re- retain a lingering hope of a future re- markable. That their most formid- turn and discover a tendency to re- able rivals in farming and stock rais- produce, as long as possible, the cus- ing have been represented in the toms with which they were familiar teaching force of the township by in the Fatherland, the Son of Erin, oniy a small proportion, and have as when he leaves the " Auld Counthry" yet no representative in the circle of he usually does so "for good," and be-

professional men raised in it, affords matter for profitable investigation and possibly of instruction.

fore he reaches the middle of the Atlantic has fully decided to "grow up with the country" in the land of

Results are the effects of causes. his adoption. It is easy to see that The contrast to which attention has these two ideas of life and education been called is due to definite causes are quite different and the difference that may and ought to be perceived. may be sufficient to produce very We are not ready to believe that this different results in the education and contrast is due to a less interest in development of children and youth. the education of their children and The Irish people in Lizard township youth on the part of other nationali- are to be congratulated for their ties represented in the township, for manifest interest in, and the success they have made liberal provision for that has attended their efforts to edu- the special instruction of their child- cate their children.

XXIII.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

"There are countless heroes who live and die, Of whom the world has never heard; And one of the bravest and best of all, Of whom the list can boast, Is the man who falls on duty's call, The man who dies at his post."

ARSHALL township patriots of the Revolution. Sept. 2, (92-34) is the third 1884, at the request of the citizens a number of whom had come from Mar- shall county, the name was changed' to Marshall. The organization of this township completed the list in this county.

from the south in the west tier of the county. The terri- tory included in it was attached to Des Moines twp. until Dec. 1, 1862, when the south half was This township is crossed in a south- ly direction by both branches of Cedar creek. In the early days a slough existed along the Big Cedar in the northeast part that was a very popular resort for trappers. John Buckner and two Halleck brothers, trappers who lived near Lizard Lake during the 70's, built on the NW} Sec. attached to Clinton. June 7, 1871 the whole of it was attached to Dover and during the next eleven years it was known as North Dover. June 5, 1882, in response to a petition presented by A. L. Thornton, it was established under the name of "Laurens," in honor of Henry and John Laurens, 14 a sod stable for their team and a

(679)

680

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

small shanty for their own comfort In 1870 Alonzo L. Thornton and and occupied them several seasons family consisting of wife and three during the trapping period.

children, Lucius, Mary and Alonzo,

Clear Lake, in the southwest corner located on Sec. 18, and during that of the township, is about a half mile season expended about $5,000 in build- wide and one and a half miles long. ings and improvements, hauling the It was not known to be dry until the lumber from Pomeroy. The early drouth period of 1894-5, but during the part of the summer was wet, there next few years the neighboring farm- were no bridges over the sloughs and ers cultivated and raised crops on the 400 feet of lumber made a heavy load lake bed. It extends over portions of for four horses. The house built was sections 5 and 6, Dover township. In a two story frame, 32x32 feet. Two August 1872 a town site was surveyed stables and a large granary were also and platted on its northeastern shore, on lots 1 and 2 and the SEISWł Sec. 32, Marshall township, by Fred Hess. This land was then owned by James and Mary Lombard, of Charles-

built that year. This was the first settlement in the township. During the previous year John W. Wallace and Isaac Parrish, residents of Lizard township, had broken for this com- town. Mass., who named the place, pany about 15 acres on Secs. 18 and 24, Lombard, and confidently expected a adjoining. In 1870 this breaking was railroad would soon pass through it. planted with forest trees, principally The latter, however, never came and maples and elms.

the town was not built.

In the autumn of 1871, A. L. Thorn- Rufus Greene, who Sept. 25, 1871, ton, who had taken a regular course in entered the NEI Sec. 30, 160 acres, civil engineering and was a skillful was the only homesteader in this surveyor and maker of maps, moved township. W. F. Atkinson, while to Des Moines in order that he might serving as county recorder, secured a devote his attention to map work. tree claim of 40 acres on the SE} Sec. Rufus Greene accompanied by his 4.

THORNTON, GREENE & CO. FARM.

wife and two children, Rufus and Mary, then moved upon the farm and

The first ten years of the history of began to superintend the operations. this township clusters almost wholly The stock then consisted of 5 horses, around the company farm of Thorn- 3 yoke of oxen, 20 cows, 50 head of ton, Greene & Co. on Sec. 18. About stock cattle and 40 head of hogs. In the year 1868 Albert M. Thornton, 1870 no crop had been raised except a Alonzo L. Thornton, his son, and little sod corn and in 1871 the crop Rufus Greene, his brother-in-law, raised on 15 acres was but very little residents of Chatauqua Co., N. Y. better. Fonda, the nearest postoffice formed a partnership under the name and market, was 14 miles distant. of Thornton, Greene & Co., and The situation was intensely lonesome bought three sections of land, of which and the outlook anything but en- 1280 acres were on Secs. 18, 20 and 8 in couraging. During the next year the Marshall township and 640 more were situation did not change very mater- on Sec. 24 adjoining in Buena Vista ially and in the spring of 1873 he loca- county. This land was bought from ted on a homestead on the NEĮ Sec. 30 Jasper county under the Swamp Land and Albert M. Thornton, who had Act for $1 an acre and it was intended become a resident of Webster county, to be utilized for the promotion of three objects, agriculture, horticul- ture and forest tree culture.

moved upon the company farm. He remained on it until 1876 when he returned to Webster county.

RUFUS GREENE

MRS. KATE GOULD GREENE

ALBERT M. THORNTON

MRS. MARY S. GREENE THORNTON Marshall Township.

MR. AND MRS. W. F. ATKINSON County Recorder, 1887-90

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. HAWLEY Marshall Township.

681

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

The original plans in regard to the McLain (b. Ill. 1839) on 14, and A. F. establishment of a nursery, etc., were Craig on 15. soon abandoned and the partnership 1884. P. F. Carlson (b. Sw. 1844) on 5; in the stock ended with its sale in the John Boyanovsky (b. Boh. 1824) and spring of 1874. Isaac Parrish the ten- J. J. Lindhall (b. Sw. 1849) both on 7; ant in 1876, after seeing the grass- R. M. McCombs (b. Ohio 1854) on 23; hoppers clean out everything, became Richard Kibble on 29, and Alvis, discouraged and left. He was suc- Anton and Chris Thoma on 31. ceeded the next three years by John

1885. August Gustafson (b. 1857) on Blomberg and in 1880 by Marion Will- 5, Julius Grund, A. A. and A. L. iams. In 1881 Alonza L. Thornton re- Bunch on 10; D. W. Bently on 15; W. turned to the farm and remained a L. Mitchell on 22; Elhanan W. Reniff citizen of the township until his de- on 23, W. F. Bovee on 26 and John cease at Pocahontas, when he was Chamberlain (b. Mich. 1832) on 29. serving his second term as recorder, in 1885. In 1879 when the land was divid- Edgar C. Scott on 27.

1886. George Thomas on 22, and ed he received, among others, section ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS. 18, on which the company buildings The first general election was held were located, and Rufus Greene the in the school house on the N. W. Cor. NEĮ Sec. 20, the SW≥ Sec 8, 80 acres Sec. 19, Nov. 7, 1882, Rufus Greene, on Sec. 30 Swan Lake township, and C. T. Williams and W. F. Atkinson 240 acres on Sec. 24 in Buena Vista serving as judges, and C. H. Hutchins county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

and O. P. Phillips as clerks, all of whom qualified before Justice Jere- miah Bronder. At this election fif-

1870-79. Previous to the year 1877, the only residents of the township teen ballots were cast and by the fol- were those who occupied the com- lowing persons: A. L. Thornton, pany farm on Sec. 18, namely, Alonzo Rufus Greene, Emery M. Doty, J. W. L. Thornton 1870-71; Rufus Greene Furness, O. P. Phillips, C. E. Herrick. 1871,-73, and then to 1892 on his own Eri D. Anderson, George Hawley, L. farm on Sec. 8; Albert M. Thornton, C. Thornton, W. F. Atkinson, Henry 1873-76 and Isaac Parrish. In 1877 M. Doty, L. S Scott, C. H. Hutchins, John and Andrew G. Blomberg located Charles Higgins, C. T. Williams. on 18, and Peter Johnson and his son, Every vote was cast for J. W. Wallace, Charles A. Peterson, on 8. In 1878 there arrived Charles J. Blomberg and Louisa Jonson, and in 1879 Marion Williams. candidate for clerk of the court, and the following township officers were elected: Rufus Greene, Henry M. Doty and George Hawley, trustees; L.

1880. George A. Hawley on 14, S. Scott and C. H. Hutchins, justices; Charles J. Bjorklund and J. W. Fur- L. C. Thornton, clerk and O. P. ness.

Phillips, assessor.

1881. Alonzo L. Thornton returned to 18.

The succession of officers has been as follows:

TRUSTEES: Rufus Greene 1882-92,

1882. In 1882 a large number of new families arrived among whom were Henry M. Doty, 82-84, 96-1901; George Hawley, 82-85; Samuel Tibbetts, W.

those of E. M. Doty (b. Mich. 1849) and H. M. Doty (b. Mich. 1852) both L. Mitchell, 85-96; J. K. Crum, 86-88, on 14; O. P. Phillips (b. N. Y. 1815) on Axel Blomgren, 89-97; J. M. Spain, 93-95; Chris Larson, 97-1902; C. A. Hawley, 98-99; P. K. Ryan, O. A. 1; W. F. Atkinson on 11; Lucian Scott on 20, and C. H. Hutchins.

1883. Anton Jonson, on 4; Alex Forsburg, T. C. Smith,

682

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

' CLERKS: L. C. Thornton, 82-83; W. F. Atkinson, 84-86; C. J. Bovee, 87-92; A. F. Craig '86-87; O. P. Phillips; C. W. E. Craig, 93-94; L. J. Reed, 95-96, J. Bovee; D. W. Bentley '90-92; Geo. 1901-02; A. G. Blomberg, 97; A. F. Thomas '93-96; E. F. Lynch; F. K. Craig, J. F. McLain, 99-1900. Hawley '98-99; T. C. Smith; L. J.

JUSTICES: L. S. Scott, 82-94; C. H. Reed; Thomas Eberle 1902.

Hutchins, 82-84; A. F. Craig, 85-86, 91, SECRETARIES: L. Clingman '85-86; 95-97; O. P. Phillips, 87-89; W. D. W. F. Bovee '87-88; R. M. McCombs Bently, 91-94; Henry Buett, G. W. '89-92; Chas. A. Hawley '93-98; A. F. Smith, A. L. Bunch, W. R. R. Merwin. Craig '99-1902.

TREASURERS: E. M. Doty '85-88; R. N. McCombs, 85-86; E. C. Scott, 87- A. F. Craig '89-93; W. L. Mitchell '94- 88, A. G. Blomberg, 89-91; A. H. 96; D. W. Cook, J. H. Pulley, John Ritchie 92, 95-98; A. L. Bunch, 93-94, F. Anderson '99-1902. C. N. Carlson, 99-1901; H. R. Pulley.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

The first teachers were Fannie B. 'I'hornton, Emily R. Tinkcom, Mrs.

Fannie B. Thornton taught the Maria Sanders and her daughters, first school in the township, in the Lucia (Wilson), Carrie (Wells), and

Thornton and Greene home during May, all of whom are now in Colorado, the winter of 1872-73. She was also Mrs. Ida Anderson, A. F. Craig, 'A. G. Blomberg, Mrs. Ruth Herrick, Mary E. Thornton, Eliza Gilson, (Sec. 19) in 1873, but not used until the Belle Tucker and G. M. Brown. Among recent teachers have been Venia Hawley, Albert L. Marshall, the first teacher in the temporary school building built in that vicinity summer of 1874. The township was then known as North Dover and this temporary school building was the Maud McLain, Mrs. Fred (Boekenoo- fifth one built by the Dover school gen) Hawley, Mabel Atherton and board. The second school building Cora P. Eaton.

was built on Sec. 14, in the Hawley District in 1880, and the first teacher in it was Ida (Herrick, wife of Eri P.)

GROVES, ROADS, ETC.

The first grove was planted by Alonzo L. Thornton on 18 in 1871, the Anderson. This was also a temporary second one by Rufus Greene on 30 in building. In 1883 it was replaced by a 1873 and the third one by Chas. J. good one and afterwards it was moved Peterson on 8 in 1876. The other from place to place in the township as groves planted in 1882 and previous it was needed in some new district until thereto were on the farms owned and 1894 when it was sold. The last dis- occupied by J. W. Furness, Eri D. Anderson and George Hawley.

trict settled was supplied with a good building in 1897 and all have now good buildings, several of the older ones having been recently replaced by new ones.

The road districts at first were ar- ranged to correspond with the school districts, and when these were com- pleted in 1894 there were nine of In 1895 a large grader was

Rufus Greene served as a member them. of the Dover school board for that purchased and the next year the town- district in 1873, A. M. Thornton in ship was consolidated and divided 1874 and F. G. Thornton in 1875. into two districts. Since that date Rufus Greene then represented the the work on the roads has been let to district until the township was regu- the lowest bidders.

larly organized. The succession of

This township has never had a school officers since 1885 has been as postoffice or store and the early set- follows: tlers of it had a long distance to travel

ASSESSORS: O. P. Phillips, 82-84;

PRESIDENTS: C. H. Hutchins '85;

683

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

to enjoy these conveniences. On Feb. vid W. Bentley with whom he lived. 1, 1902 a rural free delivery route was David had a family of six children and established from Laurens to the south in 1894 returned to Marshall county. line of the township and Jared Hugh- Joseph then began to live with his es was appointed carrier. sister, Mrs. Nicholas Moore, on sec.23.

In 1886 five acres on the sw corner In 1900 receiving the appointment of of sec. 20 were selected for a public deputy sheriff he located at Pocahon- cemetery. It was platted by H. W. tas. He left home early in life and Bissell and the first person buried in spent several years traveling and it was Mrs. Fred Delph in 1892. prospecting in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming.

Bjorklund Charles J., owner and leisurely in a southwesterly direction occupant of the company farm on sec. across sec. 19. The last deer was seen 18 since 1890, is a native of Sweden, in 1882 and it was shot by Geo. Hughes.

During the year 1881 J. W. Furness cated one year in Bellville and the kept seven cows and received for but- next in Marshall township. His fam- ter sold at Fonda $178.00, an average ily consists of six children; Charles, of $25.43 a cow. Seven calves were Adolph, Eric, Elias, David and Annie. also raised.

Blomberg John (b. 1825; d. 1897), As late as 1883, A. L. Thornton was the pioneer owner and occupant of the only resident who owned a vehicle. the sex sec. 30, was a native of Swed-

The first child born was Frank Wil- en, came to America in 1877, and oc- liams on the company farm July 4, cupied the company farm on sec. 18 1880.

during the next three years. In 1880

The first marriage was in April 1878 he moved to Bellville township but in when Chas. J. Blomberg and Louisa 1883, located on the sw} sec. 30, im- Jonson were married on the company proved and occupied it until his death farm.

at 72 in 1897. He was a leading mem-

The first death occurred in 1879 ber in the Swedish Lutheran church, when Peter Jonson died.

Religious services have been held No. 2 by William Byers, of Marathon, and later by Peter Sutter, of Laurens,

Fairfield township. His wife remains on the farm which she assisted great- ed of five children.

for a number of years in schoolhouse ly to improve. Their family consist-

Charles J. (b. Sweden 1853) in 1876 ministers of the Dunkard or German came to Pomeroy with his brother, Brethren church.

Marshall township has furnished the following county officers:

RECORDERS: Alonzo L. Thornton '83-85; Mary E. Thornton '85-86; W. shall township. After the death of F. Atkinson '87-90.

SHERIFF: W. L. Mitchell 1900-02. SUPERVISOR: A. H. Richey '97-02. LEADING CITIZENS.

August, and found employment as a blacksmith. In April 1878 he married Louisa Jonson, the marriage taking place on the company farm in Mar- his brother, August, in 1883 he loca- ted on the nwł sec. 30 which he im- proved and has since occupied. He now owns 200 acres. His family con-

Bentley Joseph (b. Iowa 1840), sists of seven children; Gothard E., Carl W., Elsa L, Edith V., Alma S. and Alphild.

owner and occupant of 320 acres on sec. 15 from 1883 to 1900, is a son of one of the early pioneers of Marshall August Wilhelm (b. 1855; d. 1883), a county and, in coming to this county, blacksmith, came to Pomeroy in 1876. was accompanied by his brother Da- In 1881 he married Augusta, daughter

1889,

lo-

In 1871 a drove of elks were seen by L. C. Thornton and others passing

came to America

684

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

of Peter Jonson and died at 28 in 1883, married Mr. Inkenbach, lives in Mar- leaving one son, David. Augusta shall township and has a large family. later married Solomon Johnson, a Ceena married Wm. Hoffman and merchant, and lives at Pomeroy.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 91

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