"History of Decatur County and Its People" Volume IProf. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising EditorsThe S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago IL, 1915. |
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| Chapter XIV ~
Decatur County Towns Pages 153 - 182 |
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| DAVIS CITY The Town of Davis City is located on the west bank of Grand River, on section 33, Burrell Township. The town was laid out in 1855 by W. H. CHEEVER. The autumn before, however, William DAVIS had constructed a log residence and a sawmill, the latter operated by water power. In the spring of 1855 he built a frame dwelling and in the autumn of 1856 he erected the first store in the town. In this store the first stock of goods was placed on sale by G. W. JENRE, who later sold out to ARNOLD & DAVIS, which firm was in turn succeeded by DAVIS & BOWMAN. Henry BOWMAN built a hardware store in 1872, the same year in which J. R. FRISBIE put up the second store building in the town. At this time there were no more than fifty people in Davis City. Oscar SEVERE'S harness shop was opened soon after, and then came Archibald RANKIN'S drug store. YOUNG & WREN'S "Chicago Store" and MORRIS & CLARK'S store, the latter being the first brick structure here. The original Town of Davis City contained just four blocks, each 60 by 124 feet, and about the year 1870 CLARK'S Addition was laid out. Other additions have since been made. The postoffice was first at the house of W. F. CRAIG, the first postmaster. Henry BOWMAN, James TEALE, Carter SCOTT were other early incumbents. The railroad was constructed through the town in 1879. The first school was taught in 1857 by M. J. S. WARNER. A brick schoolhouse, with three rooms, was constructed soon after, costing $2,200. A church was constructed in 1878 by John CLARK at a cost of $4,500. The Methodists and United Brethren held alternate meetings in this building, and it was occasionally used by the Latter Day Saints, Christians, Baptists and Adventists. |
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| Lodges Davis City Post No. 306, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized March 31, 1884, with twenty-two members, and was mustered in by Hugh WHITE, of Mt. Ayr, under the direction of the department mustering officer, W. T. WILKINSON. In the spring of 1885 the post purchased a building for meeting purposes. Davis City Lodge No. 375, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in 187_. Davis City Lodge No. 314, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in 1876 and William ASBACH was the first noble grand. Davis City Lodge No. 89, I. O. O. F., was organized in December, 1885, with fourteen members. Banks The Citizens Bank was established here in 1879 by the Decatur County Banking Association. The Farmers Bank, a private institution, was established first in 1894 with S. RADNICH as president, and A. C. DORN as cashier. The bank commenced business under the present name August 1, 1902. J. A. FRAZIER is president; O. L. FRAZIER is cashier. The capital stock is $10,000 and the deposits amount to $94,000. The Valley Bank began business May 15, 1900. J. N. GATES is president and owner. It is a private bank. The capital is $10,000 and the deposits amount to $90,000. Newspapers The first paper to be started at Davis City was the Clipper and was started in 1876 by D. Frank KNAPP. Its life expired after eighteen months. J. C. STOCKTON started the Commercial in 1879 and sold to C. W. LILLIE. The last proprietor was C. C. BARTLETT. He moved away and the paper was taken to Kansas. The Press was established in March, 1884, by J. W. MATHER and discontinued in June, 1885. The office material was taken to Weldon and used by the Hornet at that place. The Tidings was established in October, 1885, by the ADAMS Brothers, as an independent paper. The Davis City News, the present weekly paper published here, was started in 1910 by Grant MALLORY. The paper has a good circulation and is a four page, five column sheet. The location of Davis City has many natural advantages. Good building stone can be found in abundance, lumber in plenty, one of the finest water powers in the county, plenty of good limestone water under the town, sand in abundance, brick clay, and excellent farming and grazing country surrounding. It is thought that the wheat lands on the bottom lands near and south of the city are as good as any in the state; they are also splendid for corn. The town is situated on what is called and known as the second bottom land, partly level and partly undulating, and above the high water mark of Grand River by twenty or thirty feet. Near the western limits of the city there was once located a famous spring, where in the early days the Indians came from all directions, claiming for it great medical properties. In later days the spring was neglected, and the surrounding timber having been burnt and scarred to a great extent, while sand has covered all traces of the spring. The water then issued forth from under the edge of a limestone rock and it is now over a half century since the Indian trails led to this place from every direction. Another legend is that about three miles southeast of Davis City, on section 13, township 67, range 26, stood an oak tree, near ten feet in circumference at the surface of the ground and not more than thirty feet to the topmost limbs, and spreading out fully twenty-five feet each way, while a person could step from the ground up the limbs like stair steps. This tree stood out alone, with no forest nor brush near. It has been said that the Indians claimed this as their sacred tree and brought the sick for many miles, hanging them in hammocks at the top of this tree and claiming that they would not die while in the tree. Some of the old settlers have claimed to have visited the sick in this tree. About the year 1832 this point became known as the Falls of Grand River, and for many years was a noted point. During this time the falls became famous, an enterprising citizen of Missouri, one of the Jackson County Mormons, under the laws of Missouri, having pre-empted the Grand River Falls by commencing to improve the same for mill power. This power was held until the state boundary line question was settled, and when the line passed south of the falls several miles, the pre-emption and claim became void and the claimant never appeared again in the vicinity. Allen SCOTT, seeing immediately the value of this water power, at once preempted the same under the territorial laws of Iowa, and held the same, entering the adjoining land with the expectation of improving the power at some future time. In the year 1855 William DAVIS heard of the falls and their value and, wishing to erect a mill, came from the East, examined the property and entered into a partnership with SCOTT in erecting a mill. This was in the spring of 1856 and within three months the mill was running. DAVIS purchased SCOTT'S interest in the mill, also eighty acres of land, and at once laid out four blocks of lots, with the intention of bettering the prospects of those who would work for him. A GERMAN VILLAGE In the early days of the town and vicinity a colony of German immigrants settled on land about one mile northwest of Davis City. The colony contained mechanics, merchants, physicians and laborers. They seemed to be in a flourishing condition for a time, but the change of climate and manner of living soon had a disastrous effect. Fevers broke out among them. The physicians did not understand the nature of the disease and nearly all of those attacked died. Their remains were buried in a grove near the site of the community. The few survivors became scattered and the very location of the village lost. GARDEN GROVE Newspapers published in 1869 have this to say of Garden Grove: "This is a handsome village, located in the township of the same name, in the northeast part of the county, and on the road from Chariton to Leon. It is on a fine, rolling prairie, adjacent to a splendid grove of timber, on the Weldon Fork of Grand River. It was first settled by the Mormons in the spring of 1848. but the town plat was not recorded until within the last year (1868). The land was sold off in parcels by metes and bounds. Many of the early Mormon settlers remained until 1851. The place now contains two general stores, one drug store, two hotels, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one flouring mill and four physicians. There are flourishing lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows here. " A minute and interesting account of the Mormon settlement at Garden Grove may be read in the article by G. P. ARNOLD, entitled "Early Days," to be found elsewhere in this volume. Among the early and actual settlers in this town were Enos DAVIS, O. N. KELLOGG, William DAVIS, Amasa J. DAVIS and probably a few others. Prior to 18o6 there also came to this town the following: S. F. BAKER, C. R. LAMPMAN, Ben WOOLEY, G. W. PIPER, Hiram CHASE, Edward DAWES, R. D. KELLOGG, D. STEARN, A. B. STEARN. J. R. CARY, Hugh BROWN, J. H. WOODBURY, Thomas CHAMBERLIN, Nathaniel SHAW, Dan BOWEN, Svlvanus ARNOLD, J. D. BURNS, S. METIER, Hiram CHASE, Thomas LILLARD, John VAIL, S. P. McNEIL, Robert McBROOM. A number of these men brought their families. The village never had a sudden growth and, in fact, did not appear at all promising until the construction of the railroad in 1871. The first shipping into this town by railroad occurred on January 10, 1872. By the year 1885 the population had increased to 625. G. W. PIPER was the first postmaster, and A. B. STEARN was the second. Other early men in this office were J. S. BROWN, Hiram CHASE, F. D. C. SHAW, J. W. BOYLE, J. O. PARRISH and John D. BURNS. Garden Grove was incorporated in the fall of 1879 and John D. BURNS was the first mayor. Schools The first school in Decatur County was taught here in the winter of 1848-49. No building for school purposes was erected for several years. A frame structure was then built and was soon after destroyed by fire. In 1856 a brick building was put up and was then considered the finest school in Southern Iowa. In 1873 a new frame building was erected, costing $7,000. The Garden Grove Normal School was started in 1881, under Prof. R. A. HARKNESS, with two assistants. A building, costing $5,000, was erected on grounds west of the depot. The school had good attendance from this and surrounding counties until HARKNESS was called to the professorship in Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa, and then the school was discontinued. Churches The Presbyterian Church was organized July 9, 1856, at Stephen CARRITHER'S, six miles west of Garden Grove, by a committee appointed by the Des Moines presbytery, consisting of Rev. J. M. BATCHELOR and Elder WILLS. Calvin JOHNSON and Thomas CHAMBELIN were chosen elders. The first members were Calvin and Sarah JOHNSON, Thomas and Elizabeth CHAMBERLIN, James and Sarah J. IRVEN, Joseph and Eliza JOHNSON, Maria L. BRENGLE, Anna A. MOORE, Elizabeth CARRITHERS, Harriet BROWN and Mary BURNS. This was then called the Leon Church and preaching was by turns at Leon, Calvin JOHNSON'S place, Prairie City and Garden Grove. Afterward the name was changed to the Garden Grove Church. The pastors have been Revs. James P. Brengle, Craig Van EMMON, Reuben HALM, Fred REA, George ENSLEY, Robert BEER. During the [Civil] war a frame church was built at a cost of $1,300. A fine brick church was constructed in 1882 and cost $4,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at an early day in the house of Sylvanus ARNOLD, a mile west of the village. Reverend CAREY formed the first class, among the members being ARNOLD, his wife and daughter, and CAREY and wife. Charlotte SHAW and her father were received soon after. Until 1888 the society held their meetings in the Presbyterian house of worship. In the spring of that year plans were made for the erection of a church of their own, and the cornerstone was laid on July 26th. The property cost $4,000. Lodges Temple Lodge No. 170, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered June 7, 1865, with B. V. RICHARDS as the first worshipful master, E. H. ALEXANDER as senior warden, and A. CULVER as junior warden. A hall was built in 1869 which cost the lodge the sum of $1,600. An order of Independent Order of Odd Fellows was maintained from 1864 to 1872 and then removed to Humeston. Henry Walton Post No. 312, Grand Army of the Republic, was mustered April 8, 1883, with about twelve members. Bryson BRUCE, S. L. WOOD, W. H. KEHLER, C. D. WHEELAND, V. L. CHESTER, Willis HINE, C. R. HALL, C. E. MATER and Michael SULLIVAN held the first offices. Banks The Garden Grove Bank was established in July, 1880, by the Decatur County Banking Association (D. and A. B. STEARNS and L. P. SIGLER). G. J. WOODBURY was the cashier. C. S. STEARNS & Brothers began in the banking business in November, 1883. The STEARNS family were probably the most influential people in the development of Garden Grove. The elder members of the family, D. and A. B., came here in 18.54 from Ohio and in July of that year A. B. was hired to G. W. PIPER, the only merchant in the town, Sylvanus ARNOLD making the contract in favor of Mr. STEARNS. At that time whiskey was freely sold and Sunday was the big day for disposing of the liquor. Mr. ARNOLDS stipulated that STEARNS would not sell whiskey on Sunday, an agreement which PIPER accepted. This had the effect of breaking up the Sunday whiskey traffic. Dan STEARNS at this time was breaking prairie for the wage of $12 per month. In two months A. B. STEARNS bought out PIPER'S store and the two brothers went into partnership. Notes William DAVIS is said to have bought the entire Mormon claim for $400. The Mormons also sold 400 head of sheep to the settlers at an average price of 45 cents per head. About two hundred Pottawatomie Indians encamped on the creek west of [John Day] YOUNG'S farm [Grand River Township ~ SRB] in the winter of 1851-52. The first trees planted in the village were two willows. They were cut in Davis County, la., by Tom KNAP and O. N. KELLOGG and after being used for more than three days for riding switches they were planted. The nearest settlement to Garden Grove in 1850 was at Dodge's Point, now in Appanoose County, forty miles away. The first meadow of tame grass cut in the county was a twenty acre lot of which Professor Harkness' home later occupied the southwest corner. Josephine KELLOGG, daughter of O. N. KELLOGG, was the first child born in the village. In the winter of 1848-49 the nearest postoffice was at Princeton, Missouri, and for three months there was no communication between the settlers and the outside world. At the end of these three months a couple of strangers passed through from Princeton and A. J. DAVIS and John BROWN took advantage of their tracks in the snow and visited the postoffice, forty miles distant. The first sawmill was drawn from Keokuk by Tom KNAPP with an outfit of sixteen yoke of cattle, a pair of horses and two wagons built in Keokuk for the purpose. The mill was set on the banks of the Weldon, west of town, and the freight bill paid by KNAPP was $560. In February, 1884, fire destroyed a solid block in Garden Grove, from the corner of Main and Jefferson east, including JENNING'S general store, WOODBURY'S drug store, CRAIG'S barber shop, KNAPP'S meat market, BROWN's grocery, F. E. STEARNS & Co's. general store, McCAULL'S boot and shoe shop, RIDEWAY'S harness shop and the postoffice. Newspapers The Garden Grove Bulletin was an advertising sheet issued from 1854 until 1869 at irregular dates by D. and A. B. STEARNS. The Garden Grove Enterprise was established in 1869 by I. M. BELVEL. He sold to W. J. WHITEMAN, who discontinued the paper in 1873. It was a republican paper. The Garden Grove Express first came into existence on May 5, 1873, but was called The Iowa Express until December, 1882. J. O. PARRISH was editor and proprietor until March 1, 1881, when he disposed of the property to Bryson BRUCE. Early Days The following is from the pen of G. P. ARNOLD: "The words that follow do not purport to reveal new subject matter, or to contain anything heretofore unknown, but rather to attempt to fix the location of certain landmarks in the early history of the Township of Garden Grove, to correct a somewhat hazy conception of the whereabouts of the temple and other matters allied to the early times of this locality. Whenever numbers are used for land sub-division it is understood to apply to the township mentioned above. "The writer first saw Decatur County in June, 1853, and cannot, therefore, claim that he came here with the first installment of the Gentile invasion. The temple I saw, of course, but when it had fallen into a prosaic and practical state. 'To what base uses we may descend, Horatio.' It was used to stable horses and at this time, to make it respectable, would have required the services of a pocket edition of Hercules in the original Augean stable act. "Later on this narrative will give location and uses to which this temple was dedicated. It is the regret of good men, peace men, like Tolstoy, Quakers, Dunkhobers and the like, that to install great reforms or to set up a new religion, streams of innocent blood must be shed. The list is long, but the mind readily recalls Calvary, the Roman Martyrs, Smithfield and the Tower, Reign of Terror, and but yesterday in Moscow and Petrograd, the snow was reddened with the blood of working men. The followers of Joseph SMITH, known as the Latter Day Saints or Mormons, had their tragedy, too. When Joseph and Hyrum SMITH were killed by a mob at the window of Carthage Jail, then the doom of Nauvoo as chief city of the faithful, a manufacturing center, utilizing the waters of the great river near at hand, was sealed. "The exodus began in the early months of the year 1847. Small parties crossed the river on the ice, driving westward. The presidency now developed on Brigham YOUNG and about this time the idea must have been conceived of pushing on to Salt Lake, as it was called upon the maps, for Young and party arrived there in the latter part of the same year 1847. One party of refugees came to Decatur County, arrived in this township in 1847, named the place Garden Grove and established a 'Stake in Zion' or perhaps it was a 'Stake of Zion.' The establishment of the stake was to utilize the forces of the people and found a kind of theocratic-communal life. "When called together under a tree in that April day, in the year 1847, some were tolled off as bridge builders, others were to cut the logs for cabins, others were set to prepare the ground for planting. For the most part they were poor folk and the work animals were thin and unequal to the task of breaking prairie. This is usually given as the reason why the settlement was made in or near the timber skirting the streams. Although substantial cabins and a few minor industries were built it never was the intention to make the stay permanent. After Nauvoo, all other than Salt Lake were resting places only. "Practically all left here during 1853. I have alluded to the theocratic-communal character of the settlement. At one time a little less than three sections were fenced in one field. This was subdivided into plots of arable land eighteen acres in extent. The farmer paid in kind tithings to the church. Those otherwise employed tithed themselves in like manner. It is believed that no white man lived in the township when the Mormons came; no courts, no law, and the land had not been sectionized. It is a matter of fact that they grew hemp and being a peaceful people, one is in doubt for what purpose, until he remembers the great cable for the great trek in May, 1851. No murders are of record or within the memory of any remaining Gentile, although rumor is to the effect that a body was found hanging to a tree in a secluded spot. It may have been a case of suicide; at least there was no investigation or attempt thereto made. "As a rule the Mormons and Gentile neighbors lived in peace together, and the exceptional case was that of a man who sought his plow shortly after the departure of a delegation for Salt Lake and found only the woodwork in the brush while the share, mouldboard and all other iron parts presumably were journeying to the Promised Land. He, the possessor, argued, perhaps, that it was a sight easier for his neighbor to get another from John Deere than he far away in the wilds to find one there. The mill, too, where the community ground their corn, merits description. The motive power was oxen or cows and the burrs turned by reason of the specific gravity of the animals. It was a treadmill of a peculiar type. Imagine a wheel with an axle ten feet in length, having spokes mortised into the axle in an irregular maimer. When the axle already spoked, and a gudgeon in each end was raised perpendicularly, the spokes covered with plank, the result was an inclined plane upon which the animals walked, thereby driving the burrs. Belts and cogwheels were of wood and rawhide and except a few bolts and bits of iron around the stand of burrs, there was little besides. Evidently the iron age had not yet arrived. "Before this mill was made and set up near the south line of section 28, they tried to make out of a hard granite glacial boulder a millstone. The work progressed so far as to face the boulder for the nether stone and there the work ceased. It is said that the local blacksmiths could not temper the steel hard enough to cut the granite. The 'Big Field,' so called, comprised major parts of sections 32, 33 and 34. There were cabins and improvements scattered along the smaller streams, called branches. The temple was located near the west line of the northeast of the northeast of section 33, about thirty rods south of the town residence of the late Sam METIER. This structure was built of logs and had a puncheon floor. The logs forming the sides of the building were pinned together, forming a solid side without side brace, and the roof was of clapboards. It was three or four stories, all on the ground, as was the current witticism, used in describing the Paris mercantile establishment at High Point. The temple was used for secular as well as sacred purposes. With these people dancing was held to be very near a means of grace. "I am not apprised whether authority for the practice or the art terpsichorean was found in the new revelation delivered by Joseph SMITH, or rested on the Old Testament text. Evidently the New of the authorized version did not sanction it. It mattered little to the young saints, I imagine, where lay the authority if the local fiddler was proficient in scraping the Arkansas Traveller, Fisher's horn pipe or Money Musk. Conservative Gentile opinion is, that the population at its height was about two thousand souls. The industries were a rope walk, wagon and blacksmith shops and the mill. CRITCHLOW, Doctor ROBERTS and BLANCHARD were leading lights. Orson PRATT, also, as the records in Salt Lake show, tarried here for a season. It is mooted whether President Brigham YOUNG was ever here; if he was it was while passing through on the first trip to the Salt Lake Basin. It is said that Lee, of the Mountain Meadows episode, abode here, too. No credit for that. Brigham YOUNG is usually credited with having received the revelation concerning polygamy. This new light must have come to Young about the time of the dispersion from Nauvoo, because two or three of the leaders practiced it while living here. "This is Gentile testimony. With a short account of what I am pleased to call the great trek I will close this part of the early township history. OnMay 20, 1851, the start was made from Garden Grove with a train of 120 wagons, all made in shops here out of white oak, whip sawed, near at hand. One outfit of two wagons, one of which was a trailer, drawn by eight yoke of oxen, carried 1,000 feet of hemp rope, 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The hemp was grown here and worked in a local rope walk. The cable was intended for ferrying unbridged streams. Pontoons were also a part of the luggage. "Accompanying the wagon train was a battalion of 500 uniformed, armed men, mounted and commanded by a colonel and other officers. It is noticeable that whenever these people tarried for a short or longer period they began the building of temples. Witness the Ohio Station, Nauvoo. Garden Grove, perhaps Pisgah and Council Bluffs, and at last Salt Lake where very early, maybe the first year, it is recorded that YOUNG drove his walking stick in the ground and declared 'that here shall a temple be built;' and after many years the pretentious, many-pinnacled structure fulfilled the prophecy. "This closes the short account of the Mormon phase of the early settlement. "The Gentiles came here as early as 1848 and later. The well known names KELLOGG, DAVIS, CHASE, KNAPP, BAKER, PIPER, BOWEN and others are recalled. O. N. KELLOGG built a hotel out of Mormon cabins and added another story atop. It is this ancient hostelry that departed this life twenty-five years ago which by many was supposed to have been the ancient temple. "At this time good feeling existed between the Hungarian colonists of New Buda and the people here. I remember that July 4, 1854, witnessed a great out-pouring of colonists joining with the people here in honor of the day. Seats were used in the peach orchard adjoining the KELLOGG Hotel. It seems as if New Buda had appeared in force. I recall the presence of POMUTZ, VARGA, MONITANI, MARDARASZ and many others whose names have slipped through the meshes of the years. The peach orchard bore fruit that year to the extent of fifty bushels, it is said. "Jonathan Creek was named after a pioneer swine-herd who drove his half wild, mast fed hogs to the Missouri River to find a market. His cabin was in Center Township near the stream which bears his name. Weldon, although the ancestral acres of this family were in Burrell Township, was probably named in like manner. Maybe it was Cherry Creek, too, after a person, as one of the name lived here. It was almost the universal rule to hear, in those days. "Grand River spoken of as plain Thompson, Thompson's Fork of Grand River, never Grand River. Personality counted for much in those days. One who has lived in a gold mining camp has been impressed with the imaginative, optimistic nature of many of the gold hunters. "A story spreads quietly that Crazy Dick, or a drunken sailor, was seen with a big sack of dust and the dust never came from this camp; then Dick or the sailor is followed and in a short time a stampede is under headway. Almost every camp has its old-time story of stampedes and stampeders. "Stories are floated about, oftentimes with a basic deal of truth, how Lucky Bill took a chance in his claim at Last Chance. Struck it rich. It was the merest chance that Bill went mining there at first. This desire to 'strike it' is ingrained in human nature and no nationality or race is exempt. "The manifestations are the same whether at Moosehead in the far North, Gold Lake of the California Sierras, Coolgardie or the Rand of South America. One would not expect to find mystery and even a bit of stampede here in Decatur County. "First as to the mystery. Artillery Grove, in the early days, was a prominent landmark situated in Clay Township, Wayne County; a high bluff covered with oak trees near Steele Creek could be seen from afar. The legend is that troops on their way from the fort at Raccoon Forks to Fort Leavenworth buried here two pieces of artillery to save them from falling into the hands of the Indians. This story is at least sixty years old and moss-packed. "Another is that a paymaster buried his trunk somewhere in Long Creek Township to save his wealth from the savages. This, too, is as old as the former and hoary with years. The real stampede occurred before the War during the late '50s when men flocked to the gold mines on Steele Creek in High Point Township. Less than twenty years ago there remained at the said mines the rotting side of a long torn as evidence of the rush. "It is a fair presumption that the artillery were not 16-inch pieces and the mines of the Steele Creek basin were not Cripple Creek claims of the first water. Here ends the chapter. "This is, the writer believes, a fair account of the early days, not complete and perhaps not entirely free from error, but undertaken with the hope that the great field, temple and cognate matters of interest, as to location, at least might be fixed in the minds of the rising generation ere the last living witness had passed in his checks. Sometimes it is necessary to jog the memories of the old-timer, 'Lest we forget, lest we forget.'" Miscellaneous During the winter of 1848 William DAVIS bought the church property at a very small price per acre and resold the land in eighty-acre lots at $50 for first choice and down to $30 for the last choice. He also formed a partnership with Don C. ROBERTS and furnished a few hundred dollars, which his partner invested in staple commodities, mostly groceries, which was quite a convenience, but proved a loss to the senior member of the firm as the groceries were partly stolen from the cabin fitted up for their occupancy. Mrs. Enos DAVIS kept a school in their cabin at $1.26 per scholar, for a term of three months, the pay mostly in provisions. O. N. KELLOGG bought the first choice of lots and in the spring of 1849, in company with Enos DAVIS, bought the gardens and the use of two cabins of a couple of families living on the tract, and moved into them. In September of that year Hiram CHASE and his family came to join the little colony. They were the first to come direct from Dodge's Point over the new road just staked out. About that time Daniel WINTERS and Mordecai SMITH, with their families, came from Lee County and went about four miles northwest. Winters moved to land that he had entered and as he was the first settler there and a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church the settlers named it Gospel Ridge. In the spring before O. N. KELLOGG had entered a quarter section there, the first entered in the county. The citizens were formed into a society for mutual protection, as many of the claims had valuable improvements. Josiah MORGAN and a few others, with their families, reached the grove in the fall. The latter settled on Jonathan Creek, a few miles southwest, where Jonathan STANLEY, from Tennessee, had lived a hermit life for several years, dressing in buckskin and living by hunting and trapping. MORGAN bought a claim just west of the town and the Mormon Mill which had failed. He fixed the mill and it became a great convenience to the people of the community. He built a good, hewed log house adjoining his cabin in in 1863 and soon after sold and settled on Gospel Ridge. The place was afterwards owned and occupied by Sylvanus ARNOLD and called White Oak. During the winter of 1849 and 1850 a gentleman named Gwimi, from Virginia, visited the place, looking for locations for his children, three of whom, two sons and a daughter, made homes here the following year. Henry B. NOTSON came and brought a stock of goods, opened a store in an extra cabin moved up for the purpose by Enos DAVIS, with whom he boarded. Jehu BLADES also sold goods in the lower part of town, near the creek. There were many Indians, chiefly Pottawattamies, in the vicinity during the early days, under the control of Chief John Kish Kosh. At the time the Mormons left the grove the weather was very inclement, roads almost impassable; and groceries, flour, meat and clothing were sold for small prices in order to lighten the weight of the wagons. Along at this time, also, came the need of accommodations for travelers. Accordingly O. N. KELLOGG added another log house to the one he occupied with space between, and an additional story over all, the upper part in one room when used for a hall and divided by curtains when used for sleeping rooms. A sign told the seekers for shelter that this was the California House and a little board nailed to the fence marked Entertainment, showed that E. DAVIS' cabin, a little east, might hold a limited number. The first hotel stood where DOOLITTLE'S home later was erected. The Mormon young people assembled in the hall sometimes, as their church had been taken for a stable. The lumber was whipsawed for doors and floors. In the summer of 1849 John M. WHITEKAR of Van Buren County made this place his headquarters, being one of the three appointed to select the 500,000 acres of school land. He also located the ninety-six sections of university land. There was some saline land here, but it finally went back to the Government. R. M. McBROOM settled here in 1850. The first election was held in 18.50. William DAVIS, Victor DOZE and Hiram CHASE were the judges. Hiram CHASE was elected justice of the peace and served twenty years. Daniel HANKINS came and was the first settler at High Point, also brought a hand mill to grind corn. For a number of years it was at least forty miles to a good flouring mill. Most of the goods, flour included, came from Keokuk — Cleghorn & Harrison, Bridgeman & Reed, Cox & Shelley were among the principal houses dealt with. The Des Moines Valley Whig was the first paper taken after a postoffice was secured. S. F. BAKER and wife came in 1851 on their bridal tour. Z. W. KNAPP and family joined their friends, CHASE and KELLOGG, and many others also came in 1852. The next year brought an even greater number, many of them locating around Gospel Ridge, most of them from Illinois. A school district had been organized and Mrs. Enos DAVIS taught in the east room of the California House. Hiram CHASE had a school in their kitchen the preceding winter. The year 1854 brought a great influx of valuable settlers. William DAVIS and Hiram CHASE built a two-story frame schoolhouse and Rev. J. R. CARY began school there. While soldering some tin on the cupola a workman dropped a coal which ignited the shavings and the building was consumed. Sylvanus ARNOLD replaced it with an octagonal brick, which in turn was supplanted by another frame structure. E. W. DAWES purchased the first hotel property and it was then called the DAWES House. The Ohio House and the Amos House were later hotels. Garden Grove was incorporated in 1879. D. L. BOWEN and George DOUGLASS built the first flouring mill. John AVIX, an Englishman, and his wife walked from Keokuk, carrying their small child and luggage and built the first frame house in Garden Grove. This home was later improved and became the residence of A. C. SHAW. The first sawmill was built by a company and operated by John MARSHALL, west of town, on Weldon, in 1855-56. PLEASANTON The Town of Pleasanton is situated on the divide between Grand River and Little River on the south line of Decatur County. The surrounding country is a rolling prairie, fertile and in a good state of preservation. One account states that the town was laid out in the spring of 1854 by Daniel BARTHOLOW and called Pleasant Plain. Another authority states that the town was founded in 1854 by William SNOOK and William LOVING. The town was first known as Pleasant Plain. There was a postoffice 2 1/4 miles northwest of the place called Nine Eagles, which was subsequently moved here and the name changed to Pleasanton. The first business house erected for use as a general store was owned by a Mr. HINKLE. It was located on the lot where the PAINTER store later stood. The next building was constructed on the present site of the TYE Building, by Green WATSON. The village liad a very slow growth until 1883 when the Des Moines & Kansas City Railroad was built through the place. This is now a part of the Burlington. When the railroad first reached Pleasanton the town was christened Harding, but this name did not remain very long. The first hotel or public house was conducted by Joel PAINTER and in 1800 the second hotel was erected by Royal RICHARDSON, which he managed for twenty-two years. The first postmaster was Captain WARNOCK. The first schoolhouse, which also served as a meeting house, was a log building erected in the early days of the town. The logs are still in use in the framework of a barn erected by H. A. COWLES. The college, a building 30x60 feet, two stories high, was next erected, but was destroyed by a tornado in 1864. After this a brick schoolhouse was built and in 1898 after being pronounced dangerous gave way to a frame school of two stories, costing $1,000. The first paper was the Index, established in 1900 by J. R. BENNETT. The Bank of Pleasanton was opened for business on March 6, 1906. It is now known as the Farmers and Merchants Bank. Wilham WOODARD is president and J. W. CHEW cashier. The capital is $20,000 and the deposits $112,000. Several times in the history of the town there gave been destructive fires. The south side was burned at one time and the north side has suffered twice. In an issue published in 1868 the Decatur County Journal has this to say of Pleasant Plains, now Pleasanton: "This village is situated on the divide between Grand River and Little River, on the south line of the county in Hamilton Township. An addition to the village is situated in Missouri. The surrounding country is a rolling prairie, fertile and in a good state of cultivation, with timber about a mile distant, both east and west. Some years ago a building was erected here for a college. An institution of learning was duly organized with flattering prospects, but in June, 1864, the building was blown down and has not yet been rebuilt. "The town was laid out in the spring of 1854 by Daniel BARTHOLOW. It now contains four general stories, one drug store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, two hotels, one shoemaker, three physicians, and one attorney. Its population is about two hundred and fifty. One of its substantial and enterprising citizens is Royal RICHARDSON, proprietor of the RICHARDSON House, and also the owner of a fine farm, on which he this year cut sixty-five tons of timothy hay and harvested 1,000 bushels of oats. There is a good brick schoolhouse and a Masonic lodge known as Emblem Lodge No. 189. There is an organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church with a Sabbath school in connection. The place is twelve miles south of Leon and twenty miles northwest of Princeton, the county seat of Mercer County, Mo. It has a daily mail north and south and semi-weekly east and west. The postoffice here is called Nine Eagles, for the reason that mail matter directed to Pleasant Plains often miscarried, there being a place of that same name in Jefferson County, Iowa." Pleasanton And Its Past By Royal RICHARDSON I was born in Phillipston, Worcester County, Mass., February 12, 1827, and my parents were natives of the same state. I was reared on a farm, and received my education in my native town. I was married to Martha JOHNSON and in 1854 I came to Batavia, Illinois, where I worked at the carpenter's trade for two years. We located at Pleasanton, Decatur, County, Iowa, in May, 1856. The town was then called Pleasant Plains, had been laid out in the spring of 1854 by Daniel BARTHOLOW and contained about fifty inhabitants. At that time the towns in Decatur County were Decatur, Garden Grove, Leon and Westerville. Allen SCOTT was postmaster at Nine Eagles, northwest of Pleasanton. In 1859 the postoffice was moved to Pleasanton and W. S. WARNOCK became the first postmaster. The writer held the same office for eighteen years. Among the early settlers of Pleasanton and vicinity I recall the names of Patrick WILLIS, Joseph TONG, A. W. MOFFETT, William HAMILTON, William ACTON, William LOVING, George MOREY, Ebenezer ROBINSON, William ALDEN, John CLARK, Elijah CRAWFORD, Wyllis DICKINSON, G. P. WALKER and Abner MARKS. Dr. George HINKLE started the first store and conducted it for three years. Greenville WATSON started the second store and afterwards moved to California. Jeff GARDNER started the third store. He died after the war in Mercer County, Missouri. A. WORKS afterwards had a store and Joel PAINTER kept the first hotel. The village blacksmith was William Snook whose daughter afterwards married Dr. E. C. MACY. A. W. MOFFETT mended shoes. Tom MAJORS, afterwards candidate for governor of Nebraska on the republican ticket, had a large stock of goods in 1859. Some time during the war a two-story frame building was built by private subscription for educational purposes. It was generally known as the College. In June, 1855 [1864?], it was destroyed by a cyclone which blew down and unroofed thirteen buildings. Several persons have lost their lives by violence in Pleasanton and vicinity. The first was Edward PURCELL who was shot and killed on the street in 18G4 by Dike's Missouri militia. PURCELL was required to hurrah for Lincoln but he refused to do so and was fired on with fatal result. Dr. Parmentus MULLINNIX was killed in 1866 at a dance seven miles southeast of Pleasanton in Mercer County, Missouri. John CRAWFORD was charged with the deed, but was tried at Princeton [Missouri] and acquitted. At the preliminary Joe Warner of Leon represented the prosecution and Judge ORTON of Princeton and Judge FORREY of Leon the defense. CRAWFORD afterwards moved to Kansas and became a county treasurer. James ALLFREY, a school teacher and lawyer, was shot and killed in 1867 by Jake WILLIAMS, about three miles southwest of Pleasanton. Williams immediately disappeared and never was tried. He is now dead. ALLFREY was a dead shot and had two Colt's revolvers with him when killed, but was taken unawares. At the breaking out of the Civil war the spirit of patriotism pervaded the entire community. Much of the spring of 1861 was occupied in drilling and preparing for war. The drill master was Capt. Jeff MILLER, a veteran of the Mexican war, and who was afterwards wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. There was no draft in Hamilton Township and the people responded patriotically to every call for troops. Pleasanton and vicinity supplied soldiers to the Federal Army and the following is the roll of honor: |
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| VAN WERT Van Wert is an old town on the Humeston & Shenandoah, now the Burlington, and is located on section 12, Long Creek Township. It was first settled about 1853 and was called Florence. On June 29, 1855, the town lots were sold at public auction. George W. BIGFORD built the first store about the same time. A steam mill was constructed by George DOUGLASS. The original town contained fourteen blocks and additions have been added from time to time. The name was afterward changed to Prairie City, then to Prairieville and on April 1, 1880, to Van Wert. The village possessed but one store, that of John GIMMEL, until 1880, when the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad was built to that point. The western portion of that road was sold to the Humeston & Shenandoah, and they extended the line westward to Shenandoah. This gave the town an impetus and stores were erected by W. E. STONE & Company, D. THARP & Company and M. R. SANGER. The Des Moines & Kansas City Railroad was built to this town in 1882. This was made an independent school district in 1872 and a frame building, 22 by 28 feet in size, was erected at a cost of $465. The building soon proved too small for the needs of the district and it was sold in 1885 and a fine two-story frame costing $2,700 was built. It contained three rooms. |
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| The Methodist Church was built in the summer of 1861 by the members.
The Christian Church was first built in 1886 at a cost of $1,700. The town was incorporated fifteen years ago with P. K. HALL as the first mayor. Several newspapers have been published in Van Wert with different success. C. S. FULMER established the Van Wert Record in 1905 and made of it an excellent publication. There are no papers published here at the present time. Another authority on the early history of Van Wert states that the first store was opened by J. IRVING in the east end of his own dwelling house, in the year 1853. The second venture was claimed to have fallen to the lot of Paul ORD and the next to George HICKFORD, followed by Jehu BLADES. W. E. STONE was in business for himself for about a year and a half, after which he took J. C. FLETCHER into partnership. They continued in business for two years when they dissolved partnership. STONE continuing alone until 1886 and then selling out to TALLMAN & BLAIR. This latter partnership broke up after six months, Tallman retaining the business and entering into another partnership later with Ed HALL. In 1875 a novel and unsuccessful attempt was made to operate a gristmill by wind. By the application of steam this mill was afterwards made a success. The Present Town The Town of Van Wert, with the latest improvements necessary to a town of its size, such as telephones, railroads, good mail service, etc., has grown into a prosperous and enterprising community. The citizens of the town have used every effort to make the community a substantial one and have formed several organizations with this purpose in view. The lodges and clubs are also engaged in the work of civic betterment. The railroad is the means of making Van Wert an excellent trading point, quite an amount of grain and stock being shipped to the markets from here. The first bank was organized in 1898. It was called The Farmers & Merchants Bank. Mark M. SHAW was the cashier. In 1900 the Bank of Van Wert purchased this institution and on December 10, 1900, organized with W. F. BLAIR as president, E. O. STEARNS as cashier and Mrs. Ada L. STEARNS as assistant cashier. The capital was first $10,000. Those interested in its organization were: W. F. BLAIR, Morris BROWN, G. S. BARR, G. A. HAMILTON, F. L. HALL, J. STEARNS, M. F. THOMPSON, E. O. STEARNS, William GOODMAN, Lester GOULD. The capital stock at present is $10,000 and the deposits $100,000. L. GOULD is vice president and A. E. BLAIR, assistant cashier. Van Wert, like many other towns in the county, has been the victim of destructive fires at different times. In September, 1903, a fire consumed everything on the west side of Main Street and north of the tracks. In February, 1915, another bad fire occurred in the business section of the town, practically a whole block being consumed. Van Wert Post No. 205, Grand Army of the Republic, was mustered in July, 1883, with thirty members. GRAND RIVER Grand River is located about a half mile from the west bank of Grand River, on section 33, in Richland Township, on the Burlington Railroad which was formerly known as the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad. It is in the heart of a fine agricultural district, inhabited by the most substantial and progressive farmers of Southern Iowa. The soil in this district is very rich. Also, as a trading point, Grand River is of considerable importance. This town was laid out in 1881 by E. C. PERKINS for a corporation then known as the Town Lot Company, a company organized for the purpose of laying out towns along the route of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad. The first business house was constructed by the firm of BOSWORTH & MILLIGAN and was known as the Blue Front. It was used continuously as a general store until the building was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1905. G. W. BRADSHAW started the first store, according to account, and later entered partnership ship with Mr. LAMB. S. C. JENNINGS started a general store in 1886. A school building was constructed in the town in 1876 and a union church building in 1881. Some of the first residents of the town were Schuyler JENNINGS, C. H. CHAPMAN, A. R. TAYLOR, John BURHAM, Dr. H. C. BONE, Doctor LANDES, W. J. BECK, H. C. JENNINGS. Several of the above assisted in selecting a name for the new town in its early days. At a public meeting held in 1881, Beulah, Westerville and other names were proposed and rejected in turn. A motion made by C. H. CHAPMAN, later proprietor of the CHAPMAN House, to call the town Grand River prevailed and so the town was named. Soon after the town was started lots were offered for sale and were taken very rapidly. Dwellings, store rooms, hotels, etc., were at once erected and soon the community had the appearance of a fast growing city. During the first year the presence of the hands who were at work on the extension of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad from that place westward across the state, helped to give the merchants of the place a good trade until thebusiness of the town could be built up from the surrounding country. The new town, however, had a good trade from the very start. One thing which at first very materially retarded the growth of Grand River was the difficulty in crossing Grand River at that time, there being no bridge and the river having to be forded. This tended to cut off a large part of her legitimate trade. In the summer of 1887, though, an iron bridge was constructed across the river one-half mile east of the town, and the difficulty was removed. Among the early improvements was a fine church building, erected by the Presbyterians, but which was open to other denominations when not in use by the builders. The State Savings Bank at Grand River was originally established in 1889 by Patrick GRIFFIN who conducted it as a private institution under the name of Bank of Grand River. Ten years later Mr. GRIFFIN disposed of the business to A. L. ACKERLY who conducted it as a private bank under the same name until July 1, 1900, when it was incorporated under the title of State Savings Bank of Grand River. This is now known as the First National Bank. A. L. ACKERLY is president; Patrick GRIFFIN, vice president; J. C. BROTHERS, cashier; and Charles Kelley, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $25,000 and the deposits amount to $118,000. The Farmers Bank was established in 1903. J. SWITZER is the president and A. R. SWITZER is cashier. The capital is $10,000 and the deposits amount to $128,000. DECATUR CITY Decatur City, another of the county's substantial towns, is located very nearly in the center of the county. As a trading point it is an important one with many natural advantages. Decatur City is one of the oldest settlements in the county and was first designated as the county seat. Two years later, in 1853, the county seat was moved to Leon. A common school district was maintained at a very early day. In 1864 it was made an independent district and a frame building, 32 by 40 feet, was built at a cost of $3,000. This building was burned in 1885. The structure was insured for $1,000. The next building was erected in 1885 and cost $3,200. It was 30 by 60 feet and was divided into two rooms. Several newspapers have been published in Decatur City at different times. The Commoner was published from 1859 to 1861 by F. A. C. FOREMAN; the Decatur Enterprise in 1866-7 by C. S. WILSON. FOREMAN went to Chicago from here and later died at Marengo, la. WILSON afterwards became editor of the Des Moines Daily News. The Des Moines, Osceola & Southern Railroad was built to Decatur City in 1882 and then on to Leon and thence south. The name of the road was afterwards changed to the Des Moines & Kansas City, under which it operated until acquired by the Keokuk & Western and made a standard gauge road. The road is now owned by the Burlington Route System. The first church built in the town was in 1856 and was dedicated by the Methodists. Later there were four societies here and all used this one church for their services. An Early Description The following description of this town was published in the Decatur County Journal of March 4, 1869, and gives a correct idea of the town at that time: This place is situated on a high prairie in Decatur Township, 24 miles east of Grand River, and on the line of the Leavenworth & Des Moines Railroad. It contains three general stores, one drug and grocery store, one family grocer, one stove and tinware store, three hotels, one milliner, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one chair maker, two cabinet makers, one wheelwright, one harness maker, two shoemakers, and three physicians. The following are prominent and leading citizens of the place: DICKEN & MECHEM, S. W. JOHNSTON & Company, P. S. DICKEN and A. MILES & Son, general merchants; A. GILL, dealer in drugs and groceries and also proprietor of the Decatur House; HOGUE & CALDWELL, dealers in stoves and tinware; Sam SCHENCK, wagon maker and postmaster; J. H. HORNER, harness maker; Thomas WALLER, military and general claim agent; C. SCHENCK and J. W. LANEY, physicians; William KEW, shoemaker; Col. H. W. PECK, chief engineer, I. & M. Railroad. Decatur City being on the main road east and west, enjoys the advantages of a daily mail, with a semi-weekly mail south via Cainsville, Bethany and Gallatin to Cameron on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad. There is a Masonic Lodge and a lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows. Banks The Citizens State Savings Rank of Decatur City was organized in the year 1892. At the present time James CRESWE is president; H. T. RAUCH, vice president; E. W. TOWNSEND, cashier; and O. F. WALKER, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $20,000; the deposits are $173,000. The Decatur State Savings Bank was established in 1908 and at the present time has a capital stock of $20, 000 and in deposits the sum of $180,000. W. H. LOYD is president; F. T. EURITT, vice president; James C. COZAD, cashier; and L. D. SHOEMAKER, assistant cashier. Both of these banks are doing an excellent business in that section of the county and both have a reputation for strength and integrity. WELDON This is another town whose existence was begun by the advent of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad. In the summer of 1880 about July the railroad company purchased of J. P. KLINE seventy acres of fine farm land adjacent to and south of the railroad for a town site. On August 3d it was laid out in streets and lots which Mere rapidly purchased. The proprietors of the town were formed into a company composed of L. P. SIGLER, J. L. YOUNG, of Leon, DRAKE and HILL of Centerville. Doctor MITCHELL built the first house in the town; Merritt FRENCH and family were the first to begin housekeeping. Doctor WALL also constructed a house about the same time. A railroad depot was soon put up and became headquarters for many of the town people. L. G. and F. M. JAMISON moved their store building and stock of goods from Smyrna and were the first business firm in the town. After some delay a postoffice was established, the delay being over the name of the town. L. G. JAMISON was appointed postmaster and to accommodate the office he constructed an addition to his store. This building, with all its goods, was destroyed by fire several years later. The second general store was that of LEDGERWOOD & HODGES. The first lumber yard was that of BALDWIN and WILLIAMSON. The former member of the firm soon sold to John BULLARD of Fort Madison. Mrs. WOLEVER who had kept a boarding house at Greenbay for several years soon built a hotel near the depot and did a good business. Weldon was incorporated in 1902. Bank The Bank of Weldon was organized in the spring of 1881 by the Decatur County Banking Association and conducted by it until January 1, 1886, when it was sold to a company consisting of Thomas J. EALS, Cyril C. WOOD A. E. CHASE, S. O. HINGSTON, Oscar JUDD, J. Z. McALLISTER, E. L. CHASE. The Weldon Savings Bank was organized in 1901. H. E. STEVENS is president; W. R. WARREN, vice president; F. L. HALL, cashier; C. T. NEWELL, assistant cashier. The capital is $20,000 and the deposits amount to $127,000. Other Early Business M. HUGHES, before the first holiday season came, had put up a two story business house on the east side of Main Street, using the upper story for living rooms and the ground floor for hardware and agricultural implements. A. L. DILSAVER was the first on the ground with an exclusive stock of groceries. His family living rooms were back of the store. Doctor WALL soon saw that a drug store was a necessity and set one going under the firm name of WALL & FIPPIN, but soon sold out to C. B. CHASE & Company. Dr. George A. STUART who had located here for practice had his office in this store. John METIER owned the first livery barn, selling out to HOWARD & RUDD, and with Lee MATHENY went into the hardware and implement business. In the early spring of 1881 John BARNARD moved his shop from Smyrna and became a blacksmith of Weldon. William BAKER constructed a large store room at that time and stocked it with general merchandise. The ROGERS sisters opened a millinery establishment. T. L. McVAY and Ol MAYER had charge of the market; Frank DOOLITTLE, jeweler; Dick MURPHY, furniture; Dick MURPHY, G. W. HESTER, M. FRENCH and Joseph COFFEY, carpenters. Newspapers On May 26, 1881, the first newspaper in the Town of Weldon was issued. It was called the Weldon Witness and was edited by Ed BURLEIGH. The paper was a newsy little sheet, but was short lived, passing into the hands of S. L. DAILEY of Humeston in March, 1883. The paper was printed in a store building which then stood on the present site of the Christian Church, which was moved later. Three terms of school were taught in the same building before a schoolhouse was constructed. After the demise of the Witness the Weldon Hornet was published and edited by J. R. CRICHFIELD. Then came the Weldon Messenger, edited by G. M. SMITH. F. W. DURNAL next published a sheet, also called the Hornet. The next paper was the Expositor by W. R. BOARDMAN. He left town in 1893 under a cloud. Next was the Weldon News by E. E. GRAHAM. The Weldon Bulletin was then started by H. J. REGER, assisted by his daughter, Blanche. Schools W. E. MORROW taught the first term of the above mentioned school; Doctor MITCHELL taught one term, as also did Mr. WHITMARSH. In 1883 the first schoolhouse was built in East Weldon. J. H. JAMISON probably taught the first term in the new building. Ira CONDIT, ROY, WINGETT, COZAD, PALMER, RATCLIFF, LATTA and HILL were other teachers. As the years passed and the number of school children increased a new building, an elegant two-story modern structure, was built. Churches Until the beginning of the second year of the town's existence Sunday school and all religious services were held sometimes in the waiting room of the depot, sometimes in the bank parlor, or wherever a room large enough could be had. Early in 1882 both the Methodist and Christian Church peoples united their efforts and built the Methodist Episcopal Church which was dedicated in August of the same year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by President PARK of Simpson College, Indianola. Rev. D. O. STUART was the first pastor of the new church. The members of the Christian Church decided after a time that they were strong enough in numbers, as well as financially, to build a chapel. Consequently, in May. 1889, they dedicated their church building, L. L. CARPENTER preaching the dedicatory sermon. In 1902 an annex was built to the structure. A heating and lighting plant was also added. Both of these churches now have a substantial membership. |
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| Lodges At one time Weldon was called the city of lodges. Some of them flourished for a day and then died. Jacinth Lodge No. 443, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was chartered June 5, 1884. Weldon Lodge No. 441, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in December, 1881. Doctor GREENLEE who came here in the spring of 1882 was instrumental in organizing a Grand Army of the Republic Post in 1883. Other lodges Avhich (sic) have existed here are the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Good Templars, W. C. T. U., W. R. C, and Rebekahs. First Vital Statistics The first child born was John Lewis MITCHELL, son of Rev. G. E. MITCHELL and wife. The first marriage was that of C. B. CHASE and Blanche ROACH. LEROY Another of Decatur's prosperous towns is Leroy. It is located on section 11, Garden Grove Township. The town lies in the center of a good agricultural district. Leroy was laid out in 1880 upon the building of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad, now the Burlington, as were several other towns in the county. Maj. J. L. YOUNG, L. P. SIGLER and E. S. BUFFUM established the town on land owned by BUFFUM. Some time later they disposed of their interests, or a part of them, to ex-Governor DRAKE and his business associates. Mr. BUFFUM still owns considerable of the town site. The first business house erected in Leroy was built by FLANNIGAN & PERRIN, who conducted a general store therein. Other business houses followed, residences were built and the little town began to show sturdiness and progress. The town has made much gain during the past few years and is one of the best trading points in the county. As a shipping point it is also excellent. The country surrounding this town is well adapted for stock raising of all kinds. A modern schoolhouse was erected in the summer of 1904. The Leroy Exchange Bank was founded in 1896 by F. E. and C. S. STEARNS of Garden Grove with B. D. BARGER as cashier and Mrs. BARGER as assistant cashier. C. S. STEARNS acted as president and F. E. as vice president. On the first of March, 1906, J. W. STEARNS of Garden Grove succeeded BARGER as cashier. E. _. BLAIR is president at this time; H. E. STEVENS, vice president; D. C. THURLOW low, cashier; and Edna THURLOW, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $15,000 and the deposits amount to $50,000. NEW BUDA The following description of this extinct town appeared in a county newspaper in 1868: This place is located on the west side of Grand River, on a beautiful second bottom, about a half mile from the river. It was laid out in November, 1855, bv Ernest DRAHOS. It was the center of a settlement of Hungarian exiles, who landed in this country in the year 1852, under the leadership of General UJHAZY, one of the companions of KOSSUTH. Seeking a refuge and asylum in this far land of the West, they could not forget the associations of the land of the Magyar and so called their adopted prairie home New Buda and gave to the public park in their village the name of Kossuth Square, while one of their streets they christened Magyar Street. The village contains sixteen blocks of eight lots each. There are two general stores, one blacksmith shop, one hotel and a good schoolhouse. The population is about one hundred. TERRE HAUTE This is another village which has disappeared. An early account describes it thus: This is a primitive looking village on the west bank of Grand River, some five miles southwest of Decatur City, at the point where the survey of the I. & M. Railroad crosses, and on the road leading to Eagleville and Bethany, Mo. It has two stores, one blacksmith shop, one hotel, one shoe shop, one cooper shop, schoolhouse and postoffice. Its population is about seventy-five. TUSKEEGO This is only a station on the Burlington Railroad. It was laid out in 1879 on section 20, Bloomington Township, the land being owned by A. M. JACKSON. The town was laid out in business and residence lots. The first building was erected in 1870 and the first merchant was S. W. HURST. A postoffice was established there in 1879. HIGH POINT This is an old postoffice village in High Point Township. At one time there were several stores there, but now there is little left except the name. WESTERVILLE Westerville is an old town situated on Grand River, on section 28, in Richland Township. A postoffice was established at this place in 1853 and Theron WESTERVELT was appointed postmaster. He named the town. In the following year a village was laid out by William HENSHAW and named Milford. This name was afterwards discarded. Richland Township was settled early by such men as Alexander BRAMMER, Michael FOLAND, Theron Westervelt and others. In 1852 a colony from Tennessee settled in the northeast corner of the township, in what was afterward known as Little Tennessee. Another authority on the early history of this section states that the Town of Westerville was first settled by HENSHAW, and was known by the name of Milford until 1855, when Theron WESTERVELT came from Ohio and built a gristmill and changed the name to Westerville. I. P. LAMB was another early settler, also Samuel LANDIS. |
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| 1915 History Index *** History Index *** Decatur County IAGenWeb |