USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 54
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 54
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Dr. James Pressnell located at Scranton in 1868, and died in 1883. Dr. R. Olive has
been in practice for twenty years, and has kept a drug store since 1872. Dr. W. C. Davis was here two years, and went to Geor- gia. Dr. B. Il. Hoover was here two years, and in 1881 went to Audubon County. Dr. E. A. Gleason was here a year and a half, and in 1885 went West.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
MISCELLANEOUS.
EDUCATIONAL.
HERE is no subject connected with our progress and civiliza- tion in which our people have taken a deeper interest than in that of education. While our public schools, which constitute the basis of our progress and intelligence, have especially engaged the attention of our most enter- prising citizens and legislators, they have also liberally en- couraged the higher institu- tions of learning, as is shown by our numerous seminaries, colleges and universities. Iowa has education for her corner-stone, upon which she has reared an enduring superstructure. Education is the secret of the great prosperity of our State and the safeguard of our institutions. There is no exense whatever for a person being un- educated in Iowa, for her counties are dotted
over with numerous and excellent school- houses, while the school buildings in the cities are models of elegance and convenience, and these public schools are free to all, rich and poor, irrespective of race, color or re- ligion. There has been manifested a constant and very general determination to bring the schools of the State to the highest degree of excellence, consonant with sound policy and the development of its material resources.
The findings of the last census in educa- tional matters, although hardly a revolution to our people, are yet not a little gratifying, as they enable the people elsewhere to realize something of the work being done in Iowa in educational matters. In respect to the number of school-lionses lowa is seen to be fifth, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois only having more. The same States have each more teachers than Iowa. Six States only surpass Iowa in respect of sit- tings in schools, of value of school property, of ontlay for school purposes, and of number of pupils attending school. In respect of the
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extent of illiteracy, no less than twenty-five States have more persons over ten years of age unable to read and write.
The first schools taught in Greene County were private or subscription schools. Their accommodations, as may be readily supposed, were not good. Sometimes they were taught in small log houses erected for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are in use now were unknown. A mud and stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth, with fire-place wide enough and deep enough to take in a four-foot back- log, and smaller wood to match, served for warming purposes in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and maybe a few panes of 8 x 10 glass set in; or, just as likely as not, the aperture would be covered over with greased paper. Writ- ing benches were made of wide planks, or, maybe, puncheons resting on pins or arms driven into two-inch auger holes bored into the logs beneath the windows. Seats were made out of thick planks or puncheons: flooring was made of the same kind of stuff. Everything was rude and plain, but many of America's greatest men have gone out from just such school-houses to grapple with the world and make a name for themselves. and names that came to be an honor to their country. In other cases private rooms and parts of private houses were utilized as school-houses, but the furniture was just as plain.
But all these things are changed now. A log sehool-house in Iowa is a rarity. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures. The rude furniture has also given way, and the old school-books, the " Popular Reader," the " English Read- er" (the finest literary compilation ever known in American schools), and " Web-
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ster's Elementary Spelling Book." are super- ceded by others of greater pretensions. The old spelling classes and spelling matches have followed the old school-houses until they are remembered only in name. The school-houses and their furnishings are in full keeping with the spirit of the law that provides for their maintenance and support. The teachers rank high among the other thousands of teachers in the State; and the several county superintendents, since the office of superintendent was made a part of the school system, have been chosen with es- pecial reference to their fitness for their position.
It is impossible to find any reports of educational matters in this county prior to 1858, when the Seventh General Assembly passed " An act for the public instruction for the State of lowa," and organized the present school system. By this act, which went into force March 20, 1858, each civil township was made a school district, and the number of districts and distriet officers were thus greatly redneed. By the same aet the office of county superintendent of schools was created, and appropriations made in aid of teachers' institutes.
From that time to this the record has been one of alnost continuous improvement. The present condition of school matters is best shown by the following statistics, selected from the last printed report of the State Superintendent of Publie Instruction:
Number of district townships, 14; inde- pendent districts, 16: sub-districts, 145; un- graded schools, 141; rooms in graded schools, 21: average duration, in months, 7.5; male teachers employed, 76; average monthly com- pensation, 837.22: female teachers employed, 242; average monthly compensation. 829.
The number of males in the county between five and twenty-one years of age was 2.936:
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
females, 2,886; total enrollment in publie schools, 5,179; average attendance, 3,081; average cost of tuition per month, per pupil, $2.10.
Two of the 138 school-houses in the county are briek, the others frame. Their total value is $92,870; value of apparatus, $3,091; number of volumes in libraries, 882.
During the year there was paid for school- houses and sites, 87,339.73; on bonds and in interest, $2,143.35; for other purposes, from school-house fund, $4,089.42; for rent and repair of school-houses, $3,375.44; for fuel, $3,564.30; for secretaries and treasurers, $1,226.26; for records, dictionaries and appa- ratus, $439.26; for insurance and janitors, $1.023.50; for supplies, broom, chalk, etc., $1,653.30; for other purposes, out of contin- gentfund, 84,785.05; for teachers, $40,360.93.
A normal school, or institute, is held every summer during the long vacation at Jeffer- son. Professional conductors are employed for these, and much good has been accont- plished by the better training of teachers.
The permanent school fund in charge of Greene County amounts now to 841,024.583, all of which is loaned to farmers at 8 per cent. The fund has suffered no losses from bad loans. The county owns now but eighty aeres of land (in Willow Township), and this will soon be sold and proceeds added to the permanent school fund.
AGRICULTURAL.
The surface of Greene County is gently undulating, consisting largely of prairie in- terspersed with groves, and with belts of timber along the streams. The soil is a loose, black loam of great fertility, generally from two to four feet in depth, lying above a yellow elay. The northern portion is high and rolling, forming a broad and beautiful terrace, from which, by the generally level
surface common to prairies, the eye can range north and south a distance each way from twenty to twenty-five miles, and affording locations where beauty of landscape and grandeur of scene will enrapt the artistic eye. This terrace at a former geological age formed an ancient sea-beach, coinciding with the eskers and asers of Europe, but subse- quently was overlaid with the fluvio-marine deposit now constituting the black prairie surface soil so rich in fertility. While beyond the Missouri the solid rock is reached at twelve to sixteen feet, here, in the borings for coal, the " drift" is found to be nearly eighty feet in depth.
The agricultural products are numerous, comprising all cereals, fruits and vegetables common to the north temperate latitude. The great staples are corn, wheat, oats, barley, flax and rye, with potatoes and the other usual vegetables of the garden.
The fruits do well. There are large and productive orchards of the apple, pear, cherry and phun. Though the great fertility of the prairie soil makes it unfavorable for those kind of trees that grow very rapidly, their too great and sneculent growth making them liable to winter-kill, yet, by growing those kinds whose growth, though slower, is rapid and form a firm wood called from this feature " iron clads," farmers are able to have large orchards of very valuable and luscious fruits. Of small fruits the strawberry, gooseberry, blackberry, raspberry, grape, ete., are grown in profusion.
Cattle are grown at a great profit, and the industry is rapidly attracting more attention. The dairy industry, too, has during the last few years assumed great importance.
The following are the most important agricultural statisties given in the State een- sus for 1855, pertaining to Greene County:
Average size of farm, 139 acres; number
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of acres of improved land, 189,214; acres in cultivation, 132,192; aeres of nimproved land, 109,757: acres in pasture, 38,514; rods of hedge fence, 36,470; rods of barbed wire fence, 884,887; rods of other fence, 102,735; farms managed by owner, 1,456; by man- ager, 25; by tenant for money rent, 147; by tenant for erop rent, 331.
Acres of Indian corn, 88,945; bushels harvested, 3,145,497: acres of wheat, 7,644; bushels harvested, 112,821: acres of oats, 30.030: bushels harvested, 944,274: tons of straw, 16,582; acres of rye, 1,796; bushels harvested, 21,011; tons of straw, 1,260; acres of barley, 200; bushels harvested, 4,126; acres of buckwheat, 305; bushels harvested, 2,926; acres of broom corn, 23; tons of prodnet, 7; aeres in sorghum, 303; gal- lons of sorghum syrup. 23,321 : acres of pota- toes, 1,170; bushels raised, 83,027; acres of onions, 7: bushels raised, 2,893; bushels of beets, 2,093; bushels of turnips, 8,843; bushels of peas and beans, 1,497; aeres of tobacco, 108; pounds of produet, 563.
Acres of planted timber, 996; acres in natural timber, 9,075; eords of wood cut in year, 3,284; number of bearing apple trees, 31,815; bushels of fruit, 19,401; bearing plum trees, 2,082; bushels of fruit. 776; bearing cherry trees, 3,128; bushels of fruit, 520; other trees in bearing, 790; trees not in bearing, 63,245; aeres in vineyard, 60; pounds of grapes gathered, 5.703: vines not in vineyard, 15,820; pounds of grapes, 50,- 180; stands of bees, 615; pounds of honey, 7,165.
Acres of elover, 338; tons of hay, 177; bushels of seed, 32; acres of Ihungarian seed, 42; tons of hay, 98; bushels of seed, 14; acres of millet, 2,051; tons of hay, 3,143; bushels of seed. 41; acres of timothy, 14,268; tons of hay, 11,061; bushels of seed, 3,070; tons of hay from wild grass,
53,173; acres of flax, 659; bushels of seed, 4,193.
Gallons of milk sold or sent to factory, 41,946; gallons of eream sold or sent to fac- tory, 134,328; pounds of butter made, not at factory, 538.433; pounds of cheese made, not at taetory, 2,464.
Thoroughbred cattle, 165: grades, 1,917: work oxen, 2; milch cows, 10,870; all other eattle, 20,263; cattle slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 4,355; total horses, 7,961; sold for export, 183; mules and asses, 227; sold for export, 11; Poland-China hogs, 16,940; Berkshires, 5,814: Chester Whites, 1,029; Duroe-Jerseys, 147; Essexes, 58; other im- proved breeds, 1,079; total hogs, 49,406; slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 27,713; Merino sheep, 121; Cotswolds, 581: Leices- ters, 36: South-Downs, 111; total. 2,286; slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 279; num- ber of flecees, 2,141; pounds of wool, 12,- 026; common chickens, 105,395; improved breeds, 10,291; other domestic fowl, 17,750; dozens of eggs, 332,316.
GREENE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Greene Connty Agricultural Society was organized and incorporated in 1869. The incorporation began May 22 of that year, and is to continue 100 years. It is a stock company, capitalized at $100,000. though of course but a small portion of this was ever paid up-no more, in fact. than necessary to purchase and fit up grounds. The latter in- clude forty acres, on the northwest corner of section 7, township 83 north, range 30 west, and are located about one mile northwest of the publie square at Jefferson. Any person owning one or more shares is a member of the incorporation, and entitled to one vote for each share.
The officers of the association inelnde six- teen directors, elected annually on the first
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Saturday in January, in each year, and a president, vice-president, secretary and treas- urer chosen from the board of directors.
Fairs are hell every year, either in Sep- tember or October. The grounds are valued at $3,000, and have on them very good built- ings and an excellent half-mile track.
The directors for 1870 were: B. F. Robin- Officers for 1876: President, Richard E. son (president), W. S. McBride (secretary), . Witt; Vice-President, Alpheus King; Sec- J. N. Harrington (assistant secretary), Albert retary, G. B. Dean; Treasurer, Mahlon Head; Head (treasurer), Thomas Roberts, William ' Marshal, M. E. Marquis; Assistant Marshal, Anderson, J. N. Coulter, G. V. Roberts, Jo- John II. Dawson. The fair was held Octo-
seph Coombs, Q. L. Kephart, A. C. King, A. King, James Harker, Samuel Rhoads, R. E. Witt and Daniel Vader. The fair was held in October that year.
For 1871 the principal officers were: Pres- ident, Alpheus King; Vice-President, R. E. Witt; Treasurer, Mahlon Head; Secretary, G. B. Dean. The fair was held September 26, 27 and 28, and the total receipts were $728.
Officers for 1872: President, A. King; Vice-President, Dr. G. H. Grimmell; Treas- nrer, Mahlon Head; Secretary, G. B. Dean. The fair was held September 4, 5 and 6, and the total receipts were $486. A " horse fair and stock sale" was held on the grounds June 20 and 21, under control of the officers of the society.
Officers for 1873: President, A. King; Vice-President, G. Il. Grimmell; Treasurer, Mahlon Head; Secretary, G. B. Dean. The fair was held October 2, 3 and 4, and the to- tal receipts were 8475. The premiums awarded amounted to $545.
Officers for 1874: President. A. King: Vice-President, R. E. Witt; Treasurer, Mah- lon Head; Secretary, G. B. Dean; Marshal, M. E. Marquis. The fair was held Septem- ber 30 and October 1 and 2; the total re- ceipts were $524, and the premiums awarded, $448.
Officers for 1875: President, Albert Head; Vice-President, Richard E. Witt; Treasurer, Mahlon Head; Secretary, G. B. Dean; Mar- shal, Miles E. Marquis; Assistant Marshal. John H1. Dawson. The fair was held October 13, 14, 15 and 16; receipts were $432.98; cash premiums, $265.10.
ber 12, 13 and 14. Receipts, 8489.05; pre. miums awarded, $355.15.
Officers for 1877: President, Richard E. Witt; Vice-President, Alphens King; Seere- tary, G. B. Dean; Treasurer, Mahlon Head; Marshal, J. H. Dawson; Assistant Marshal, M. E. Marquis. The fair was held Septem- ber 13, 14 and 15. Receipts, 8390.70; pre- minns, $326.
Officers for 1878: President, John Gray; Vice-President, G. A. Cady; Secretary, Al- pheus King: Treasurer, G. B. Dean; Mar- shal, Harvey Partridge. The receipts of the fair were $448.25. The premiums were scaled 50 per cent.
Officers for 1879: President, Richard E. Witt: Vice-President, G. A. Cady; Secre- tary. A. King; Treasurer, G. B. Dean; Mar- shal, Harvey Partridge. The receipts of the fair were 8718.50; premiums awarded, $407.50.
Officers for 1880: President, 1. Head; Vice-President, G. A. Cady; Secretary, Al- pheus King; Treasurer, G. B. Dean; Mar- shal, Harvey Partridge. The fair was held September 15, 16 and 17, and was favored with a large attendance. The premiums amounted to $338.25, and the receipts to 594.77. The premiums and all other obliga- tions were paid in full.
Officers for 18$1: Same as previous year.
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The fair was held September 14, 15 and 16, and was financially unfortunate.
Officers for 1882: President, G. H. Grim- mell; Vice-President, O. W. Park; Secre- tary, G. B. Dean; Treasurer, John Gray; Marshal, William Wilson. The fair was held August 29, 30 and 31.
Officers for 1883: President, G. Il. Grim- mell: Vice-President, William Wilson; Treasurer, John Gray; Secretary, G. B. Dean; Marshal, Samnel Beard. The fair was held September 20, 21 and 22.
Officers for 1884: President, J. Il. Grim- mell; Vice-President, William Wilson; Sec- retary, Samuel Jay; Treasurer. John Gray; Marshal, Samuel Beard.
Officers for 1885: President, G. II. Grim- mell; Vice-President, William Wilson; Sec- retary, J. M. Rhoads; Treasurer, A. M. Head.
Officers for 1886: President, G. H. Grim- mell; Vice-President, Sammel Jay ; Secretary, A. M. Ilead; Treasurer, Z. A. Church. The fair was held September 17, 18 and 19.
The society receives annually $200 from the State. This amount is of great assistance in making the fairs financially successful.
RAILROADS.
The Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad Company, organized to build a railroad across the State of Iowa, laid its track as far as Boone in the autumn of 1868, and the next season the line was completed to the Missouri River. Jefferson and viein- ity contributed several thousand dollars, and eighty acres of land, to secure railroad con- nection with the rest of the world. John I. Blair, of New Jersey, was the president of the company. The whole line, 354 miles in length, was leased as soon as completed to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany, for ninety-nine years, at a certain per cent. of the earnings.
The road has 24.52 miles in Greene Conn- ty, assessed at $10,000 per mile, or 8247,- 551.05. The townships crossed, and the mileage in each, are: Junction, 5.93; Grant, 3.49; Jefferson, 2.62; Jackson, 6.29; Seran- ton, 5.39; Kendrick, .80. The stations are Grand Junction, Jefferson and Scranton. The first is seven miles east of Jefferson, and the last is eight miles west. Jefferson is 369 miles from Chicago, 231 miles from Clinton, 150 miles from Cedar Rapids, 95 miles from Missouri Valley, and 119 miles from Conneil Bluff's.
The Keokuk, Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad was built in 1869 as far north as Fort Dodge, and received no tax or bonns in this county. That portion of the road below Des Moines was afterward sold to the Rock Island Company, and the remainder became the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad. This has since been extended north to the Minnesota State line. The townships crossed in this county, and mileage in each, are: Washington, 6.646; Junetion, 9.740; Paton. 6.608: total, 22.99 miles, assessed at $4,000 per mile, or $91,960. The stations are Rip- pey, Grand Junction, Dana and Paton.
The Des Moines & Northwestern Railroad was built in 1880, under the auspices of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Com- pany, which has since operated it. It is a narrow-gauge road, and extends from Des Moines to Fonda, 114.9 miles. In aid of this road Jefferson Township voted a 5 per cent. tax, Grant 2 per cent., Franklin 5 per cent. and lardin 5 per cent. The total mileage in this county is 27.6. assessed at $1,200 per mile, or $33,120. The town- ships crossed, and mileage in each, are: Franklin, 6.1: Grant. 4.3; Jefferson, 2.7: Hardin, 1.2; Bristol, 7; Highland, 6.3. The stations are Cooper, Jefferson and Chur- dan.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
The total railroad mileage in the county is 75.11; assessment, $372,511.05.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The first court-house was used until 1870. when the present building was creeted. It is a two-story brick, and cost 837,000, and is a very ereditable court-house -- one of the best in Northwestern Iowa. Above are the court room and the offices of the county superintendent and surveyor and below the offices of the elerk, sheriff, auditor, treasurer and recorder.
The "ealaboose " now used by the town of Jefferson, in the western part of town, is the first county jail. This wooden structure, which much resembles a freight-car in ap- pearance, and a bridge across the Coon River. are all that the county received twenty-five years ago from the American Emigrant Com- pany in exchange for all its thousands of acres of .. swamp " land, large areas of which
never was swamp, but the most fertile prai- rie. The present jail, built of briek, and containing cells of iron, was built in 1878. The contract was let to C. L. Wood & Co., for $3,600. The jail is two blocks south of the publie square.
The county infirmary is on the poor-farm, which comprises 240 aeres-the southeast quarter of section 21, and the north half of the northeast quarter of section 28, Bristol Township. The infirmary and farm are under charge of John M. Forbes, and the usual number of inmates is not far from twenty.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION.
The population of Greene County was 1,089 in 1856, 1,421 in 1859, 1,374 in 1860, 1,416 in 1863, 2,036 in 1865, 2,353 in 1867, 3,494 in 1869, 4,627 in 1870, 5,755 in 1873, 7,037 in 1875, 12,727 in 1880, 15.923 in 1885.
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JEFFERSON.
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JEFFERSON.
JEFFERSON, the county seat of Greene County, is beau- tifully located on high table land, between the North Raccoon River and Hardin Creek, being about half a mile east of the former and two miles west of the latter. and near the geographical center of the county. The town site has an elevation of some seventy-five feet above the level of the river. It was laid out in 1854, at a time when the financial condition of the county was such that it was necessary to effect a loan of $200 for the purpose of purchasing the site. That amount was borrowed of Hoyt Sherman, of Des Moines. At the first sale of lots those around the square brought from $10 mp, while those not so advantageonsly located were sold at from $3 to $5 a lot. The largest amonnt, $60, was paid for the lot at the southeast corner of the square, just east of the Head Honse. It is said that, after the survey of the lots, Judge Phillips and
B. F. Robinson wrestled to see who should have the first choice, and that Phillips threw Robinson, and had the honor of purchasing the first lot in Jefferson. The first building erected on the town plat was a hewed log house, built by George S. Walton in the antumn of 1854, for a dwelling. The follow- ing year he put in a small stock of mer- ehandise. The building is still standing near the lead House, where it was first erected.
The town was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, by the commissioners who selected the site; but in consequence of there being an old town of that name in Dubuque County, the Postoffice Department refused to grant another office of the same name in the State, and suggested that the name be changed. Captain Rippey then gave it the name of New Jefferson, and the Department granted a postoffice under that name. The prefix " New " has since been dropped, and it is now known as Jefferson, as was at first in- tended.
The first house within the present incor- poration was not that of Walton, but was built by B. F. Robinson in 1854. It was
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY,
outside the original town plat, but still de- serves a place in the early history of Jeffer- son. Mr. Robinson, who is yet living at Jefferson, sold goods there the following year. In the summer of 1855 Robert M. Rippey built the second house on the town site. It was used as a residence and office, and was the first frame structure in Jefferson. The third house was ereeted by Dr. Lewis, who was the first physician of the place. He died the following winter, and this was the first death in Jefferson. The first birth was in the family of Columbus Peek, who soon after moved away, and the second was Charles Calley, the same winter.
In the spring of 1856 a saw-mill was built by Rippey, MeBride & Culley, and this was of material assistance to those desirons of building. Among those who put up houses in 1856 were Dr. William S. McBride, James Orange, Sam. Cowan, and one Rivers. The first eourt-house was also built this year, and was the first building fronting on the square. All the other buildings were southeast of the square. Soon after the first settlement of the county the major portion of the land was acquired by speculators, and this faet retarded the further settlement of the county, and also the growth of Jefferson. From 1862 to 1865 not one building was put up. The popula- tion at this time was about 200. The first mail route through this region was estab- lished in 1857, from Adel to New Jefferson, onee a week.
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