"An Interesting Early History of Decatur County"by Mrs. O.N. Kellogg |
| Chapter Twenty-Four THE GRANGE MOVEMENT – RAILROAD SERVICE – LONG CREEK SETTLERS |
| Decatur County was first made a representative district by itself in
1856. Hon. Dr. J.N. Laney was elected by the democrats in the Fall of
1857 and was a member of the 9th General Assembly and, although one of
the youngest members of that body, was elected speaker pro tem in the
organization of the House and received the additional compliment of
being appointed by His Excellency, G. S. Kirkwood, as one of his suite
on his visit to Donelson. He name became more familiarly known
throughout the State by the unequivocal resolution which he introduced
in the House of Representatives in extra session of the 9th General
Assembly, which reads as follows as copied from the journal of the House
of that session: “Whereas, the President of the United States has
appealed to all loyal citizens to aid and facilitate his efforts to
maintain the honor and integrity of the American Union; Therefore, be it
resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring,
therein, that the entire resources of the State of Iowa, both in men and
money are hereby pledged in any amount and to any extent that the
President may constitutionally demand to suppress treason, subdue
rebellion, enforce the law, and protect the lives and property of all
loyal citizens and maintain the Constitutional Union.” On the
adjournment of the legislature he went into the United States Service as
a Major of the 34th Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. The following are the names of all the Granges organized in Decatur County, together with the First Master and Secretary of each. Leon, J.A. Johnson, C.W. Watson; High Point, E.H. Alexander, John Buffum; Gospel Ridge, H.G. Styles, A.E. Chase; Woodland, J.L. Lentz, J.R. Stephens; Eden Prairie, Wm. E. Gammon, John Albaugh; Franklin, Wm. Botkins, Alma Jackson; Long Creed, N.E. Spencer, James McCann; Pleasant Hill, E.W. Daws, Henry Evans; White Oak, Jos. Jewett, Amanda Engle; Grand River, F.M. Branamer, John Backus; Steele Creek, Wm. Ryan, M.C. Cane; Davis City, W.F. Craig, J.W. Leeper; Independence, Wm. West, James Meadows; Bloomington, R. P. Lillie, W. C. Shiner; Central, A.M. Daily, J.W. Yost; Bradney, W.H. Parries, W. P. Cameron; Welcome, Jonathan Delap, J.C. LaForge; Green Valley, Alex Ramsey, T. J. Walters; Diamond, Wm. Pence, Davis Thomas; Jack Oak, Jessie Lloyd, A.G. Gardner; Hawk Eye, Edward Smith, Maggie Stewart; Fayette, J.R. Andrews, James Scott; Fairview, Wm. Van Nostrand, J. Campbell; Pleasant Plains, Jefferson Miller, J.A. Wasson; New Salem, J.C. Gammill, P.F. Poole; Dickinson, John Henderson, John Holden; Decatur, J.B. Springer, Thomas Ward; New Hope, W. C. Akers, Hiram Tash; Pleasant Valley, Milton Boord, Ira Bullard; Valley, J.A. Osborn, C.G. Frazee; Bethel, A. W. Cox, James Burke; Pioneer, Samson Hinds, W.A. Wasson. The aggregated charter members were 1,220, showing that Representatives from more than 600 families had gone into Grange movement in Decatur County. Some perhaps were actuated by purely selfish or from political motives but most with a determination to do all in the power to advance the interest of the farming community. A county council composed of delegates from each Grange met at Leon once a month for the purpose of transacting the business of the order. They organized the Decatur County Fire Insurance Company, with policies amounting to fifty thousand dollars. They also started what was known as the Grange store in Leon and, although it was not conducted on the right business principles, still it was the means of doing a great deal of good, particularly to the City of Leon. Goods were sold at greatly reduced rates, a heavy trade was being done. The other merchants sneered, frowned and fretted. At last they were compelled to sell their goods at competing prices which brought customers from Mt. Ayr, Eagleville, and all the northern part of Missouri. A business was then established and the tide of prosperity began to flow Leonward. Merchants from other places came and helped to build up the place, blocks of buildings and real estate went up, and Leon became, and still is, one of the most wide awake business places in southern Iowa. The party to who I am indebted for this will please accept thanks. Here follows part of the clipping from a paper giving some account of the “old settlers” reunion of 1886. “The present of Miss Josephua Kellogg was hailed with joy, the first little one who came to cheer us all, and she still continues on the same. She was the first lady who sent by rail from Garden Grove to the east, going to meet the work trains at the Wayne County line, and there taking the passenger train. Our first lady superintendent of schools in Decatur County who soon showed what a woman could do in her proper sphere; the first passenger who came from Leon to Garden Grove for thirty-nine cents. (A reduction of fare to conform to legal enactments was insisted upon by the Granges who were strong in the county. The railroad fought the reduction a long time but at last succumbed.) Also first in Journalism, being editress of the household department of the Garden Grove Leader, Wightman, editor. We wish all could have heard her remarks, and hope her poem on her old cradle, that graced the platform, may be printed if her speech cannot be.” Dr. Thomas Johnson came to Garden Grove in the winter of 1855-'56. He practiced medicine and surgery in the county nearly twenty years. Also his son, Richard Johnson was a number of years devoted to the same calling. Miss Jane Johnson, who came with her father and brother, was singularly devoted and self-sacrificing, beloved and respected by all. Dr. Richard married Miss Frank Burns, daughter of William Burns, who was one of the early settlers at Garden Grove, and the family were a power in the places of good at an early day where work in the church counted and laborers were few. The M.E. Church there is indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burns for their fervent prayers and efficient labors, although they finally sought a permanent location elsewhere, as did also the Johnsons above mentioned. Spencer Waters came to the county in 1854 and first settled on Long Creek. As he was a good cabinet maker he concluded to leave farming and moved to Garden Grove where he carried on a a successful business until his health failed. At his death his wife, left desolate, took up the burdens of life and bravely reared their three sons in the practice of industry in all worthy pursuits and well have they repaid her watchful care. Their opportunities for acquiring an education were excellent and well improved. Eli Blades and his brother, and others of the first settlers on Long Creek, where there is plenty of stone suitable for building, have been quite successful in the various enterprises connected with the building up of a new country. |
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