USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 24
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
The seventh paper was the Free Press, by H. L. Barter, from 1881 to 1882.
The eighth paper was the Wheatland Gazette, established in 1888 by Markham & Doeckman, then by T. W. Buxton, then Buxton & Son, same as today.
The various changes on this paper have been about as follows : Frank W. Buxton bought out Dieckmann February 6, 1889. The firm name was Mark- ham & Buxton until July 5, 1893, when Buxton purchased the entire interest. Buxton sold to Parsons brothers ( Paul and Otto) May 2, 1894. They resold to Buxton April 1, 1895. John F. Feddersen leased the plant from Buxton July 1, 1899, but allowed the paper to die before the expiration of the lease January 1, 1901. On January 2, 1901, Perry T. Buxton went into partner-
Digitized by Google
246
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
ship with his father and resurrected the Gazette under the firm name of F. W. Buxton & Son. With the exception of the first six months, the junior partner has had full control of the Gazette since his advent into the newspaper busi- ness, up to the present time. The paper is now a seven-column quarto, run on a power press by gasoline. This is the only Democratic paper, outside of Clinton, in the county. Yet the county is conceded to be strongly Demo- cratic. The word Buxton was attached to the title Wheatland Gazette, at the request of many patrons, who recognized it as a distinctive mark of stability and permanence, an idea rarely utilized by men of the profession
N. J. Edwards, of Toronto, has been connected with the Gazette corres- pondence staff for seventeen years, surely a record of unbroken faithfulness and historic mention in this work.
DELMAR NEWSPAPERS.
In October, 1872, Gen. Daniel McCoy established the Delmar Journal and at first had his paper printed elsewhere, for lack of facilities. In Febru- ary, 1874, the paper was consolidated with the Preston Clipper and both cen- tered at Delmar. McCoy had charge until January, 1875, when F. R. Ben- nett took charge until his office was destroyed by fire in 1878. Previous to the fire. McCoy had started the Delmar Independent, which he still continued to run in the eighties.
March 1, 1888, F. L. Sunderlin established what is still the Delmar Journal. It was in his hands entirely until 1908, when he sold to Harry J. Reger, who conducted it one year, when its founder. F. L. Sunderlin, took it back and continues its publication. It is a four-page paper, issued each Friday ; is Republican in politics : a first class lively country local paper, edited by its owner, who is ably assisted by Minnie E. Grindrod.
CHARLOTTE PAPERS.
At Charlotte, in Waterford township, this county, the first newspaper adventure was in about 1870, when the Advance, a page sheet printed at the De Witt Advertiser office, was established. Next came a small concern that only ran a short time and died a natural death. Then the Charlotte Monitor was established and operated two or three years. The present paper of the place is the Record, established by A. W. Gault in 1904. It is a seven-col- umn, twenty-four by thirty-six paper, independent in politics, printed on a Washington hand-press. This plant was originally the Wheatland Spectator, established in 1881, moved by Mr. Gault to Calamus in 1901 and to Charlotte in 1904. The Monitor preceded this at Charlotte and was run two years by L. V. Dunn.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XVI.
ELK RIVER TOWNSHIP.
Elk River township, the northeastern sub-division of Clinton county, dates its history as a township and civil government by itself, and it was one of the six original townships in the county. It is bounded on the north by the county line; on the east by the Mississippi river or state line; on the south by Spring Valley and Hampshire townships; on the west by Deep Creek town- ship. It comprises congressional township 83, range 6, and fractional parts of township 83, range 7. It derives its name, as does the principal stream running through it, from the large number of elk horns found at an early day along the banks of the streams. Only one of these noble animals was ever killed here since the settlement of the township. At one time there were between seven and eight sections of heavy timber, the heaviest in Clinton county, but much of this has long since disappeared before the destructive propensities of the modern landowner. A valley extends to the west from this township and through it has been constructed two railroads, the property of the old Midland and the Sabula, Ackley & Dakota, one running north and one to the west.
From Teed's Grove to the mouth of Elk river, a distance of four miles, the banks are lined with excellent stone in almost limitless quantities. As early as 1878 David Shadduck, on section 24, had a residence built from these quarries, costing fifteen thousand dollars.
The Elk river has two branches, one flowing southeast from Jackson county, and the other in a northeasterly direction, until they unite at Teed's Grove, finally emptying their waters into the great Mississippi. After the two forks unite, they afford many a good mill site, because of the rapid flow of their waters.
When the first settlement was made. the citizens of the township voted to name the township, when it should be organized, Fair Haven, after the city of this name in Connecticut, where many of the pioneers came from. But upon the organization it was named Elk River, after the stream.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The Teeds were the first settlers in this township. Mr. Teed located in the thick oak timber in the grove on section 16, township 83, range 6, east.
Digitized by Google
248
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
The date of this settlement was 1836, one year after Buell, the first settler in Clinton, came in. Although surrounded by the richest of prairie land, he girdled the giant oaks and made him a clearing, for that was "the way we do it down East." When the United States surveyors came through in 1837, they informed him that he had located upon a school section. He immediately pulled up in disgust, and left, saying, "I will stay where I can have timber." He was never afterwards heard of in this county.
July 8, 1839, the following came to the township for settlement : Arthur Smith, Otis Bennett, C. E. Langford, Levi Shadduck, David Shadduck, George Hollis, John Hollis, James McIntyre, O. A. Crary, Joseph Mccrary, John Carr, William Alexander, William Dinwoodie, Martin Todd, Michael Tool, George Griswold, Alfred Brown, Thomas Calderwood, Daniel Smith, James Leonard, Sr., Robert Cruthers and William Smiley.
In the autumn of 1839 a petition was made and granted for a postoffice and it was established on section II, township 83. James Leonard was com- missioned postmaster. The office was soon after discontinued for want of patronage. While it was in existence the mail was carried on horseback on the Dubuque and Davenport route. The next office was established Novem- ber II, 1843, and called Elk River, with John Sloan as the first postmaster. At present this is known as Almont, which town is a station on the railroad. Another postoffice, named Mead, was established in 1874 on the old Sabula, Ackley & Dakota railroad. Isaac C. Finch was postmaster. After two years the office was burned and then abandoned.
EDUCATION AL.
The first school was taught in a log cabin where Chester Babcock later lived. The first teacher was Julia Carpenter, of Fulton, Illinois. This was in the summer of 1842 and by 1877 the township had so materially developed that there were thirteen school districts within the township and each had a school house. New buildings took the place of the old Iog structures and cheaper frame ones, the average cost of the new ones being about one thousand dollars. Teachers received in 1870-80 about twenty-five dollars per month.
About 1880 there were only seven hundred acres of non-resident land in the township, this being owned by two men. The last piece of government land was sold or entered in 1852. The German element predominates in this township, as it has from the first.
In 1837 O. A. Crary built a mill on Elk river that cut much of the early lumber used by the pioneers. It stood on section II, township 83, range 6.
Digitized by Google
1
249
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
Up to 1842 it did a large amount of business, which only ceased with the diminished timber tracts. It was then taken down and moved to Jackson county, near Green Island. The next attempt at mill building in the town- ship was in 1843, when John Sloan, William Sloan, George Griswold and M. L. Barber began the erection of a mill for the manufacture of hemp. A description of the business is found later on in this article.
After several failures a saw mill was finally started by Calderwood & Dinwiddie in 1842. Government land was used from which to cut many thousands of feet of lumber, some of which was sent to Galena and other Illinois and Iowa points. In 1850 the mill was sold to C. E. Langford, who operated it several years longer.
An attempt was made in 1842 to construct a "current mill" in the sloughs of the Mississippi river, using the force of the current against a special-made wheel for the propelling force. This was in section 17, township 83, range 7. Frederick Hess and George Griswold were the originators of this enter- prise (?). The frame was raised in March, 1843, but the project was never carried to a successful ending.
The last encampment of Indians was in the fall of 1839, at the mouth of Elk river, at a place where an old trading post had been previously built, the chimney of which was standing not many years ago. The Indians having no rights there, were driven away.
In 1856 a man named O'Brien killed his wife, on the Robert Cruthers farm, by beating her to death with a piece of a board, while he was on a drunken spree. He confessed his crime, was committed to jail in De Witt, and while confined there he broke jail and was never seen in this county after- wards.
Another crime of the early days was that committed in 1860 by Walter Baldwin, whose father's land adjoined Abner Munger's land and a dispute arose about the division line. Sunday morning they all three met in the high- way, when the young man, Walter, attacked Munger, who held him at a safe distance with his open jack knife, until young Baldwin procured a heavy piece of board with which he fractured the man's skull. He gave himself up to the authorities, was fined a dollar and set free. Upon the death of his victim, he was not to be found, but in 1863 he, on the advice of his lawyer, stood for trial and was found guilty of manslaughter, but before the case reached the supreme court, the chief witness had deserted from the Union army and could not be had, so the case was entered as a nolle prosequi.
Digitized by Google
250
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
TOWNS OF ELK RIVER TOWNSHIP-ALMONT.
Almont was the first, and for a long time the only, station on the Mid- land road in Elk River township. It is a large stock shipping point, the cen- ter of a stock raising and feeding district. Simon Hanssen keeps a general store there at present. The first postoffice here was established on November II, 1843, and called Elk River. The postmasters were, in the order of their serving, John Sloan, Thomas Calderwood, William G. Haun, A. J. Bingham and J. S. Herwick. The name of the office was changed to Almont under Mr. Herwick, and he has been succeeded by Edward O. Langford, Maxwell Halee, L. L. Kinner, H. C. Heldt, Hans Hanssen and Simon Hanssen, the present incumbent. In 1904 a rural free delivery route, extending about twenty-five miles in Clinton county, was established at Almont, of which George Johnson is the carrier.
HAUNTOWN.
The town in Elk River township of most historic interest is Hauntown, one of the oldest settlements in the county. Here John and William Sloan, George Griswold and M. L. Barber began the erection of a mill for the man- ufacture of hemp in 1843. A large quantity of hemp was raised in the town- ship that year, but it was found that an impracticable amount of labor was required in the manufacture, so the plan for the hemp factory fell through with. William Gray bought out three of the partners and, with Mr. Barber, decided to convert the mill into a grist-mill. In 1846 they interested William G. Haun, destined to become a figure of much local prominence, and that year established a flouring mill. A distillery and store were built at the same time. The distillery had a capacity of nine barrels a day, and sold its product mostly in the pineries, branding the whisky as "Old Rectified Whisky, from B. J. Moore & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio." From the establishment of the mill and distillery until 1857, Hauntown was one of the most important business points in this section of the country, and "Billy". G. Haun won quite a reputation as a financier. He later built a steam sawmill at the mouth of Elk river. By 1859 his creditors had dispossessed him of his Hauntown property, and he moved the sawmill from the first location and converted it into a distillery. The mill at Hauntown has been in operation since, with different owners. and having undergone many repairs. At present William Struve operates it as a grist, flour and saw mill. John Nelson keeps a general store at Haun- town. This was in early days one of the important postoffices of the county,
1
Digitized by Google
1
251
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
the mail being carried on horseback from Lyons, and has since been an active center, the dance-hall there being the scene of much gayety. But the coming of the railroads robbed Hauntown of its early prospects.
ANDOVER.
Andover was platted as a town September 10, 1886, by August and Dor- othy Eggert in the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 22, township 83, range 6. The town grew up because of the demand of the stock feeders and shippers between Almont and Bryant for a station, and one was located in answer to their petition, after which the town was platted, and grew up about the station. The postoffice was established May 24, 1886, and F. P. Naeve, the first merchant, appointed as postmaster. He continued until May 26, 1908, when Otto H. Bock, the present incumbent, succeeded him. A rural free delivery route, twenty-one and a half miles long, John Gehlsen, carrier, was established from Andover in 1906.
For several years a creamery was operated at Andover, but was later moved to Teed's Grove. It is a considerable stock shipping point. The pres- ent business interests are represented by O. H. Bock and D. P. Naeve, general merchants; E. H. Hagge, dealer in agricultural implements, and John Grimm, Jr., hotel-keeper.
In 1910 Andover was incorporated as a town, and the officers are as follows : Albert Boysen, mayor; D. P. Naeve, clerk; R. P. Bock, assessor; John Wilke, Jr., treasurer; councilmen, O. H. Bock, John Aude, George Rittner, F. P. Naeve and John Grimm, Sr.
TEED'S GROVE.
Teed's Grove is a village which has never been platted or incorporated, but which has grown up about the station of that name on the old Sabula, Ackland & Dakota railroad, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. The station was named from its proximity to the original Teed's Grove, named after the first settler of the township. At present Her- man Peterson keeps a large general store here, Frank Petersen a hotel, Charles Tietjens is a blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements, and there is a branch of the John Newman creamery, of Elgin, Illinois, located here under the management of Mr. Enrep. The Teed's Grove Savings Bank is located in a good building (see Banking chapter). The Elk River Lodge of Odd Fellows and Alpine Lodge of Rebekahs have their headquarters here. The
Digitized by Google
252
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
postoffice was established as a fourth-class office in 1870, and the postmasters have been Frederick Kohl, the first incumbent, August Balley, August Wessel, H. H. Petersen, Hans Ohlsen, H. H. Petersen and Herman Petersen, who is the present postmaster.
Elk River Junction is a mere railway junction point on the Milwaukee railway in Elk River township.
Digitized by
CHAPTER XVII.
DEEP CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Deep Creek township is bounded on the north by Jackson county, on the west by Waterford township, on the south by Center, and on the east by Elk River. It comprises congressional township 83 north, range 5 east. This was one of the first six townships organized, and was described among these in 1841.
The name is derived from the stream which drains it, running first to the east, and then making an elbow to the north and flowing toward the Ma- quoketa, through the well known Deep Creek bottom, a mile and a half in width, unsurpassed in the county as farming land. The stream itself was named not so much from the depth of its water, as from the height of the banks and the depth of the valley. The township, except for the floorlike valley, is prairie, more and more rolling as one proceeds northward to the county line. When it was settled, there were belts of timber along the streams, so that the pioneers could easily obtain building and fencing material.
An earlier writes thus describes Goose lake, now drained, but still some- thing of a lake in wet weather, and still the haunt of some ducks and geese in the winter season: "In the southern part of the township the valley widens into a vast savanna, in the center of which is the famous Goose lake, now diminished to a fraction of the expanse that formerly gleamed from the grassy sea surrounding it, when its permanent area was more than a square mile, and its surrounding marshes much greater. The lake owed its exist- ence to the peculiar conformation of the country. It occupies about the sum- mit of the water-shed between the Maquoketa and the Wapsipinicon, so that when its waters overflowed they flowed both north, through Deep creek, into the former, and south, through Brophy creek, into the latter, though the. actual crest is about a half mile south of the lake. Evidently the magnifi- cent valley formed by these two conterminous creeks was once the bed of a vast bayou, when the present bluffs of the Mississippi were its shores. East of Goose lake is also the divide between the drainage by Elk river to the Mississippi, where the Midland railway passes from the grade formed by the course of the former to that of Deep creek. Goose lake has no inlet, being fed by copious springs. Though they, of course, must vary with the
Digitized by Google
254
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
rainfall, the lessening of the lake's depth is not due to their diminishing, but to drainage by county ditches, in order to reclaim the swamp lands men- tioned. The drainage has added hundreds of acres of fat pasture land to the resources of the township and county, and its expanse resembles astonish- ingly the far-famed fen country in Lincolnshire, England, with its reeds, lush meadows and fat cattle. The lake took its name from the myriads of water-fowl that, from ages before the time the country was settled (though lately comparatively few in number) to the present day, find in its sedgy shallows congenial haunts and breeding grounds. The sight that the lake presented before its feathered inhabitants were decimated by the shot-gun, during the migrating and breeding seasons, especially in the months of April, October and November, would throw the amateur duck hunter of today into ecstasies. One of the most reliable and conservative of the old settlers, Thomas Watts, remembers that many times he has stood upon the bluffs overlooking the lake, and seen swans alight upon the lake in such numbers that acres and acres of water appeared as white as a snowdrift. And as they flew to and fro, the glitter of long lines of snowy white pinions was a spectacle of dazzling beauty. Besides swans, the lake was frequented by pelicans, brant, wild geese and clouds of ducks. The clatter of their wings and the loud honking and quacking as they assembled at night, fairly dark- ening the horizon with their long columns, was absolutely deafening. For many years there was no apparent thinning of their numbers, though the lake was a source of valuable food supply to the settlers. Not only were vast numbers of fowl shot and snared, but wagon-loads of eggs were taken during the breeding season. Many eggs of wild geese were hatched by domestic fowls, and for many years wild geese were no rarity in Deep Creek farm- yards."
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest settlers near Goose lake were from the eastern states, but the next wave of immigration brought the Germans and Irish. The first settler in the township was a certain Boone, a nephew of the well-known Daniel Boone, who settled at what has since been known as Boone's Springs. Before the land was surveyed, John Jonas and Dennis Collins resided in the town- ship, but did not enter claims for themselves. The first permanent settlers were Matthew Flinn, James Kerwin, Thomas Watts, afterward county sur- veyor and member of the Iowa Legislature, and Captain Hubbard. About the same time, from 1836 to 1838, came the Simmonses, James, Hiram and Egbert, father and sons, and soon after John Mormon, William L. Potts and
Digitized by Google
255
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
Isaac Ramsay and family. Most of the pioneers got claims of six hundred to one thousand acres by the simple process of going upon a rising place which suited, and staking off all the land in sight. Nearly all the land was taken up by the permanent settlers from the government, and speculators and claim jumpers did little business in this township.
The Indians gave possession of the country in 1837, but for several years thereafter friendly bands of Sacs and Foxes would return to Deep creek and Goose lake, attracted by the hunting and trapping. Otter, mink and muskrats were very abundant, and deer were so numerous until 1855 that one could not take a short walk without seeing several. Small game was also plentiful. The Indians were on good terms with the settlers, traded with them, and sometimes visited at their homes. The last elk in the township was killed by an Indian named "Jim," he having adopted the name of James Bourne out of friendship for the latter.
The first farms occupied were those along the creek bottoms, on account of their fertility and of the abundance of good springs. The rough northern portion was the last settled. Health was good, ball-playing and horse-shoe pitching formed favorite sports.
NOTABLE EVENTS.
The first child was born to William L. Potts, in September, 1839. The first funeral was that of Charles C. Smith, held soon after. The first wedding was in 1844, when Thomas Watts married Emmeline, daughter of Robert Hunter, at her father's house, William Hunter, justice, performing the cere- mony. The first religious services were held at Hunter's school house in 1844, by Rev. O. Emerson and other missionaries. Other early ministers were the Revs. Larkins and Blackford.
Early teachers in the log school houses were Philo Hunter, Marietta Rhodes and Mrs. Rodman.
The panic of 1857 was little felt in the township, as few of the farmers were carrying interest. The Midland railway was built in 1870, and crosses what was then the northern part of Goose lake on a solid embankment. The old stage route from Lyons to Maquoketa, the main road in early days, went through an almost impassable quagmire just south of the railroad, and few travelers in winter seasons could get through without getting stuck in the mud and sending for help, but this has for many years been raised and is now firm road.
Old settlers considered the winter of 1842-43 the coldest, as that winter
Digitized by Google
256
CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA.
cold weather continued so long that on the first Monday in April a load of a thousand bricks was hauled across Deep creek on the ice. Twenty inches of snow fell on the level in the winter of 1849-50.
The two great scourges of the early farmers were the wolves and the prairie fires. The wolves captured many of the hogs and sheep in early days and long continued to be troublesome. In fact, it is not uncommon yet for one of these wild visitants to be heard of. The prairie fires con- tinued as long as there were fields of dried grass, and were probably mostly set by hunters after the Indians left.
Previous to 1854 the settlers around Goose lake had been greatly an- noyed by losing horses and cattle, owing to a regular line of horse-thieves from St. Paul to Missouri and Kansas, where border troubles and the Kan- sas war made a harbor for all kinds of desperadoes. That year they organ- ized a Home Protection Society, with Capt. C. B. Hubbard as president. Sixteen men were chosen as riders, and from that time the mere existence of the organization made property in live stock safe. Near this time James Spurrell lost a valuable steer, which the thief took to Lyons. He was tracked through the snow and captured, but succeeded in making a temporary escape in zero weather, on horseback, without boots, hat or coat, and was severely frozen.
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.