USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 29
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The inhabitants of Eden township are among the best class of citizens in the county and prosperity seems to be on every hand.
The towns of this township are Low Moor, Follets and Malone, which will be described in the subjoined paragraphs.
MURDERS.
Not every community is free of the awful crime of murder, and Eden township comes in for her share, though at an early day. Two of these dark crimes will be narrated in this connection.
In the fall of 1848, a murder was committed in Center township. John Foley, an Irishman, was murdered by a neighbor called "Yankee Grable." The last named had borrowed a yoke of oxen of Foley. The latter had sent a boy for the cattle, and Grable, for some reason, would not let him have the oxen. Foley then went after them. An altercation ensued between the men, during which Foley made some sort of a demonstration of a threatening character, whereupon Grable seized a stake from a hay rack and with a single blow killed the man. Grable was arrested, indicted and tried. but was cleared. He soon left the country and resided in Missouri a number of years, but later returned to Clinton county and located in Olive township, where he lived until death claimed him. Hiram Brown was sheriff at the time, and allowed him to go on his own recognizance until trial day, and he did not betray his confidence. It was a sad, unfortunate affair all through and deeply regretted by the little settlement of newcomers.
In 1858 another murder was committed in this part of the county. It was at the old stone school house on election day. A young man named
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Quick had trouble with one Thomas Kelly at a saloon at Ramessa, and, on the day of election came to the voting place where the deed was committed. After a few hot words, Kelly drew a dirk-knife and stabbed Quick in the heart, killing him instantly. He fled the country, but was followed by citi- zens and captured by Garrett, Davenpeck and others. He was indicted, tried and found "Not guilty."
LOW MOOR.
The eighty-one miles of railway from Clinton to Cedar Rapids was built by the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railway Company. Of this com- pany, Col. Milo Smith, of Clinton, was superintendent of construction. Low Moor was a direct outgrowth of that railroad, and was platted on sections 22 and 23, township 81, range 5, by Milo Smith, W. H. Mudgett and Jack- son H. Tong, April 30, 1858. These men, the owners of the town, were discussing the problem of a name for the place. The iron rails used in the construction of the road came from Low Moor, England. Colonel Smith was standing by a pile of rails at the time, and noting the name, Low Moor, England, stamped on the rails, said, "There is a good name, Low Moor, stamped on that rail, and Englishmen live all around here." Thus the name was chosen.
The first house was built by William Gulick in 1858, and is still stand- ing, occupied in 1910 by William Lee. The second house was built by Rich- ard Wagner, the third by Roswell B. Millard, who was the first station agent and postmaster. The postoffice was established in August, 1857, on the opening of the railroad and before the platting, but after the projection of the town and the selection of the name. The postmasters since the first, in order of serving, have been: William O. Gulick, George Weston, P. J. Schuyler, Charles Seward, John M. Haskill, Mrs. Emily Haskins, R. B. Mil- lard, A. S. Hazard, and R. B. Millard. Mr. Haskill was reappointed to suc- ceed Mrs. Haskins, but died before taking office. The office remains fourth class and is the starting point of one rural route, established October 16, 1906, at which time Elvira postoffice was discontinued. This route runs northward in Clinton county, is twenty-seven miles long, and is carried by Ben Johnson.
Mr. Millard, the first and present postmaster, can truly claim to be the pioneer of the town, and is well informed on its past history. One of his recollections as station agent of the early days of the town is of a quiet, medium-sized bearded man who always had a cigar in his mouth, and fre- quently stopped at the town. Mr. Millard asked who he was after seeing him
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several times, and was told that it was a fellow named Grant, a leather dealer of Galena. Little did he dream that this modest man would in ten years be- come the greatest American soldier of his century, and one of the greatest generals in history.
In early days Low Moor was a conspicuous station on the "underground railway," and George Weston and Richard Wagner were the "conductors" on the road and keepers of the station, which was located in the house at the corner of Third avenue and Fourth street, the second built in the town, and in 1910 occupied by James Burns and Miss May Montague. At one time the garret of this house concealed twelve negroes for one night. The next station was located in Clinton, on the site of the present Lafayette Hotel.
In early times Jim Jordan, afterwards known as "Stormy Jordan," kept a saloon here, and, in co-operation with Ed. G. Butcher and Tom Bower, was one of the moving spirits in the horse races run in those days, the course passing through Low Moor. These races were quite exciting and furnished a great deal of diversion to the pioneers, as incidentally considerable profit to certain lucky individuals.
George Weston was the first merchant, and others who came shortly after were P. J. Schuyler, Croan & Manly, Charles Kestner & Son. Later merchants were Van Devere & Brazell, C. W. Conover, John Wolfe, Mr. Crocker, and the Dannatts, who since their coming have been the largest business men of the town. The first hotel was kept by Peter Nay. A steam grist mill was at one time operated by a stock company.
About 1900 a paper, the Low Moor Independent, was started by a Ca- manche editor. This was bought by T. M. McCartney, and the name changed to Courier, but in the fire of 1907 the printing shop was destroyed, and the subscription list was sold to the De Witt Observer.
There is now one church in the town, the Methodist (see Church his- tory) and the Baptists hold services in the same building.
The present doctors are D. L. Youngs and C. C. Lambert, and among those formerly located here may be mentioned A. S. Hazard, G. W. Soule, A. H. Peters, R. J. Hart, A. S. Porter and John Waggoner.
The one great disaster in the history of the town was the fire of October, 1907, which originated in the printing shop of T. M. McCartney and de- stroyed practically everything in the business section of the town between the railroad track and Third avenue, including Dannatts', Eaton's and Hunt's store buildings, Conover's and Dannatt's dwellings, the hardware store build- ing, postoffice, hotel, Odd Fellows hall, and some warehouses and minor buildings, the loss aggregating fifty thousand dollars. The larger portion of
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the devastated section has since been rebuilt with better buildings, and busi- ness is very prosperous in the town.
The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs are represented, besides some insurance lodges. The Odd Fellows building, erected since the fire, is of pressed brick.
INCORPORATION.
Low Moor was incorporated as a town in March, 1896. The first mayor was George White, and succeeding him have served James Throop, Ben Van Epps, S. C. Bauder, R. J. Dannatt, S. C. Bauder, Harry Eaton and C. A. Wolfe. The present officers are C. A. Wolfe, mayor; W. L. Dannatt, clerk; George Crampton, treasurer; council, George Hudson, Lewis Lee, S. C. Ros- siter, Robert Hall, W. C. Conover and F. W. Rice. The town is lighted by gasoline, has cement sidewalks and crossings, and the main street is macad- amized. The general spirit is that of improvement.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Agricultural implements, Harry Eaton; Citizens' Savings Bank (see Bank chapter) ; general merchants, W. L. & A. Dannatt, George E. Long; City Hotel, W. C. Conover ; stock, coal and grain dealers, W. L. & A. Dan- natt; Stone-Cook Lumber Company, Robert Hall, manager; meat market. G. F. Howson & Son; Low Moor Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company; coal, flour and feed, Harry Healles; windmills and pumps, George Crampton; C. A. Young, manufacturer of Iowa Corn Crusher; Low Moor Auditorium Company, proprietors of an auditorium erected in 1909, thirty-six by seventy- eight feet in size, with eighteen-foot stage, used for general entertainments of various natures.
Of the merchants doing business here now, the Dannatts and Harry Eaton deserve special mention for the magnitude of their operations, in con- sideration of the size of the town. The population is about three hundred fifty.
The town has been little disturbed by crimes, but in 1897 Joe Siler shot John Otto, a storekeeper, and then killed himself.
MALONE.
There was formerly a station named Remisis, on the Northwestern line situated on a grade, which made it difficult for trains to stop. This was burned down, presumably by the railroad men, and a new one located at Malone, which has been in existence at least thirty years. It is a large cattle shipping point. E. and L. Hansen conduct a general store here.
Follets is simply a way-station on the line of the Rock Island railway.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
DE WITT TOWNSHIP.
De Witt township-the name-sake of De Witt Clinton, the fifth governor of New York state and a prominent man in his day and generation-was organized April 1, 1843, and had been included in what was Clear Creek town- ship up to that time. In passing, it should be stated that at first Clear Creek township comprised a large scope of country, commencing "At the southwest corner of section 9, township 82 north, range 4 east; thence west and north, including the west half of township 81 north, range 4 east, and township 81 north, ranges 2 and 3 east, and township 82 north, ranges 2 and 3 east, to- gether with the fractional township 80 north, range 2 and 3 east." It then included in its boundaries the largest part of De Witt and all of Orange, Olive, Welton and Berlin as shown on recent maps.
Later Olive and Orange were created from De Witt territory, leaving it as we find it today, with an irregular northern boundary. It is now bounded on the north by Welton and Washington townships; on the east by Eden town- ship; on the south by Scott county and on the west by Orange and Welton townships.
Perhaps no single township in Clinton county contains more valuable farm lands and better improved homesteads, than De Witt. Nature did much for this section of Clinton county, and man has accomplished what nature could not do. It contains about forty-five square miles of fertile land, unex- celled in all Iowa's fair agricultural domain. It is well watered and timbered. Silver creek runs through the western portion; Ames creek, eight miles in length, rises in the northeastern part and finally empties into the Wapsipinicon. There were originally many fine native groves of excellent timber.
FIRST ATTEMPT AT SETTLEMENT.
R. J. Crouch, who gave the matter much thought and investigation, de- fined the first settlers to have come in about as follows :
At Round Grove, A. G. Harrison effected a settlement in 1836. He came in with his brother-in-law, Loring Wheeler, and both soon made claim to gov- ernment lands. Harrison remained, put up a small cabin and opened up his farm. Wheeler returned to Dubuque, remained there in trade until 1841,
(20)
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when he came back, having been appointed territorial clerk under Judge Thomas S. Wilson, associate justice of Iowa territory at that date.
Abraham Folcke and family came next, locating in the western part of the township. two and a half miles west of present town of De Witt. This was the first family to settle in the township.
In the fall of the same year came George W. and Doctor Ames, Thomas Hatfield, D. F. Bly, Hiram Loomis and John Black, all settling in the south- eastern portion of the township, at "Ames' Timber," where they took up claims on large tracts of land. Doctor Ames, having consumption, returned to Dubuque, where he died in 1837.
J. W. Kirtley came about that date, too, and claimed four hundred acres, including a mill site on Silver creek, which he later sold to Dr. G. W. H. Turner, who came in 1840. Doctor Turner erected a log house at what was later called the Bechtel place, a mile to the west of De Witt. He with his son Clark built a saw mill, probably the second in Clinton county. The son subsequently built a flouring mill on the same mill site in about 1848. which was also the second grist mill in the county. Later it was the property of Capt. W. H. Hall.
John and George Eldred located in the timber on Silver creek on July 4, 1837, hence he named the grove Independence Grove. These men were here, but their presence was no credit to the young colony in De Witt town- ship, for the one was killed in Minnesota and the other in California, for dark crimes. many of which they had committed. One had served time in the penitentiary for wholesale hog stealing.
In 1838 came John F. and Aaron Homer, Abner and Eldad Beard, of Massachusetts, locating at Independence Grove and commenced farming.
John Walrod and family, consisting of four sons, Abraham, Henry, Wil- liam and David, and three daughters, settled in Welton township (then a part of De Witt). John Walrod died in 1848 and was buried on his own land. Henry was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun while out on a deer hunt in 1844. He was buried on the old homestead, too.
In 1839. Col. Lyman Evans and family, including his son-in-law, D. H. Brown, located in Independence Grove. The Colonel was a public-spirited settler and held many positions of trust in his township and county. His mother, the widow of a Revolutionary soldier, lived with him to the time of her death, when she was over ninety-two years of age, and was the second person buried in the burial ground in the woods.
George W. Neville, wife and family settled at or near Ames creek, in 1837. He died in 1864.
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In 1839 came Davis Bedford and family, in which were three sons, Ash- bel, S. N. Bedford and Robert Bedford. Rev. O. Emerson married a daugh- ter of the pioneer in 1842. Samuel N. Bedford built one of the first houses on the plat of De Witt, if not the first, a log cabin erected in the summer of 1841, on Harrison street, where Conwell's blacksmith shop later stood.
In 1839 S. P. Burton and family located in Independence Grove. Seth Lum and Phineas Cass settled in the township in 1840, adjoining what is now the town of De Witt.
Early in the spring of 1837 a Mr. Miller and his family settled on Silver creek, northwest of where the town was later platted. He went to Davenport for provisions and came back to the Wapsipinicon river, having walked the entire distance. He was forced to swim the angry waters of the river, caught cold and died as a result. His was the first death in the township and he was buried in the timber west of Silver creek.
John Firman, wife and children located at Kimball's place in 1839; at the same time came the Achord brothers, bachelors. They got the fever and ague, were disgusted and left the country. Firman's child was the second to die in the township.
John Knott, a Frenchman, settled at the north side of Evans at Inde- pendence Grove, at a very early date; he afterwards sold his place to Mr. Tit- comb, and he in turn sold to Mr. Desmond. Titcomb moved to a county in Missouri, was elected county judge, got into a dispute with his son, which ended in the son shooting his father's head off, and the son was sent to the penitentiary for twenty years.
Adoniram Kendall and wife settled at Work's Mills and built a saw mill in 1841 ; he was a partner of Ashbel Bedford.
Absalom Dennis, wife and family, consisting of two daughters, Christena, who afterwards married Hon. J. D. Bourne, and Jane, who married J. W. Dearborn, settled in what was known as Holmes Place, southwest of De Witt, near Silver creek. in 1839.
The Oakes family came to the township in 1841. The good citizen, Mr. Dudley, located at Independence Grove in 1839. The Walrods, already named, were an influential set of people and it is related that they carried the balance of power in the local politics of the township in those early times.
A. R. Bissell and wife arrived in the township in May, 1840, locating just outside of the present plat of De Witt. He was school fund commissioner. His son, J. B. Bissell, served in the Civil war as a member of the famous Twenty-sixth Regiment and lost a leg in battle.
Henry Strickler and William Strickler made early claims east of Thomas
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Hatfield's place, but sold out and left the country. The Purcells were among the pioneer band near the Wapsipinicon. Ambrose Betts came to this town- ship at an early date, resided here until 1870, when he sold and moved to Oregon. A. G. Dearborn and wife and two grown sons came in 1846. Mr. Gillhooley, another pioneer, located southwest of De Witt town.
Grandfather Lepper, a Revolutionary soldier, settled early in the grove north of town. He had a wife and three sons, Jacob, Ira and John. The grandfather died in 1840. The Pomeroys came as early as 1839, but removed. Another settler of 1840 was David Cass. He lived here four years and moved to Jackson county, where he died.
Alexander Work came to the township in 1838, located the farm later owned by his son, Alex. Work, Jr., lived there a number of years and moved to the town of De Witt. He was the second county recorder and later moved West.
R. C. Bourne, Esq., brother of Hon. J. D. Bourne, made a claim south- east of town in 1836, which he sold to David Bedford. He went to California in 1849, returned in 1852, but later went back to California, where he died. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners, elected in 1840.
Father John Cotton, wife and family came from Massachusetts in 1844. He died in 1870. He was a native of the old Plymouth farm, in Massachusetts, which he once owned and he was a lineal descendant of the famous Puritan, Rev. John Cotton. He formerly owned the land now owned by C. S. Harring- ton.
At the north side of Round Grove, in 1840, settled William Horan. There were many others but their names are no longer familiar to the present- day generation. One must not be forgotten in this record-"Campo," who it appears was a French and Indian half-breed. He employed his time mostly in hunting and trapping and was always welcomed at the firesides and tables of the first settlers in the township. He was a real pioneer character and later moved on West, going to California in 1852 with Burrell Bassett.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
De Witt township was the scene of many a laughable incident and some not so funny. In 1841, J. W. Kirtley and Doctor Turner had a suit at law over a claim to some land, in which Kirtley was victorious. He celebrated his victory by having a great feast-a genuine barbeque-at Point Pleasant on the Wapsipinicon, at which all the old settlers were present. The bill of fare was fresh pork, spare ribs, ham, venison, cakes (a rarity in those days), be-
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sides a barrel of whiskey with the head knocked out and tin cups hanging near where all could help themselves, and yet it is said none "were the worse for liquor." Kirtley wanted a "big time," and had it. He had his invitation cards printed on white satin, with the names of Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Dan- iel Webster, Martin Van Buren and other noted statesmen of that day, as managers of the ball, with Judges Grant, Leffingwell, Wilson and others of Iowa as deputy managers. It was really a grand affair, carried out to the joy and taste of a large number of people.
The first election in De Witt township was held at the house of Abraham Folcke, where twenty voters were present. John F. Homer was elected justice of the peace and Jacob Lepper, constable. A row was started over his decisions regarding land claims and he resigned. From then on, others served awhile and then no one would have the office, so when any legal matter like marrying or acknowledging an instrument was needed they went to Camanche and imported a justice.
The first celebration of Independence day in this township was in 1841, at which time Samuel Murray, a lawyer of Camanche, delivered the oration. B. H. Cartright, a minister, was chaplain. The dinner was an old-fashioned barbeque, consisting of chickens and pigs roasted whole, quarters of pork, all cooked in the timber in pits made for the purpose on the premises of Seth Lum. A dance followed in the evening.
The first burial ground in De Witt township was in the woods west of what is known as the Kimball place, north of the town of De Witt, where nearly all the early burials took place. In 1844 or 1845, the old cemetery near De Witt was established and both have long years since been abandoned, and a new cemetery, called Elmwood, was laid out by the town of De Witt in 1869; it is three-quarters of a mile north of town. The Catholic cemetery was estab- lished in 1853-54, just west of town.
The first birth in the township was a daughter of Robert Bedford, born July 16, 1839. A son of D. H. Brown-Lyman Brown-was the first male child born in the township.
The first marriage was that of Minerva Cass to Peter Ryan in 1840, at Seth Lum's house. Gardner, a justice of the peace from Camanche, performed the ceremony.
The first school was taught by Fannie Moore, in a log house near Silver creek, on land later owned by Martin Ill, two miles northwest of De Witt. She had seven scholars. She was a genuine "Yankee schoolmarm."
The years 1839 and 1845 were the great years for sickness in this part of the county, fever and ague prevailed and worse diseases, too. In 1845 many died of fevers.
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In 1844 the first tornado known to white men in this county passed through the township in about the same location as did the famous one of June 3, 1860, known as the Camanche storm. In the last named no less than fifteen persons were killed by it. A. G. Wallace and George A. Fuller, after- wards residents of the town of De Witt, were literally taken up by the wind, carried over the highest trees and landed without serious injury.
Much might be said of early-day privations, which were, however, no worse here than in other sections of Clinton county, and of which mention has been made heretofore. Money was out of the question. Twenty-five cents was the highest price paid for wheat and that out of the stores, besides having to haul it to Davenport to market. Frequently. a man would take a load of wheat or pork to market, and after remaining all night and paying his neces- sary hotel bills, would have nothing to bring home.
Farmers went twenty miles to mill for meal and flour. But those who fought the good fight of hardship saw better days-and deserved them. too. After 1850 times grew better. prices went up some. men built better houses and life seemed more the worth living.
The only incorporated town in this township is De Witt, the former county seat and the second best place in the county today.
TOWN OF DE WITT.
The Council and House of Representatives of the territory of Iowa, in response to a petition from the citizens of Clinton county, asking the re-loca- tion of the county seat, which had been circulated by George Griswold, and which was induced by the jealousy of the early communities, by an act of January 14. 1841, appointed William Miller, of Cedar county. Andrew F. Russell, of Scott county, and William A. Warren, of Jackson county. as com- missioners to re-locate the seat of justice of Clinton county. They were to meet at the residence of Abraham Folcks, in Clear Creek precinct, within six months from the date of the passage of the act and to "proceed to locate said seat of justice as near the geographical center of said county as a good and suitable situation, convenient to wood and water. could be found. having refer- ence to the present and future population of the county."
They met in May of that year and selected as the location one hundred sixty acres in the center of the north half of section 18, township 81, range 4 east. It was found that this was government land. so two hundred dollars was borrowed and the sheriff. James D. Bourne. ,sent to Dubuque to enter the land. The town was then platted by Lyman Buck, the county surveyor, and the plat
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was recorded July 6, 1841. The lots were offered at public sale. The selec- tion of the name had been made before the commissioners submitted their re- port, and was settled by a vote of the people in the vicinity. Miller, a very popular man, wished to have the town called Millersburg, but Warren was successful in having it named Vandenburg, it is said in honor of his sweet- heart. a Miss Vandenburg. By act of the Territorial Legislature of February 17, 1842, the name was changed to De Witt, in honor of De Witt Clinton, whose surname having been given to the county, it was thought fitting to give his Christian name to its seat of government.
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