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Paton
This is the name of the only town in the northeastern section of Greene county, a bright, prosperous village of four hundred inhabitants. It is located about eighteen miles northeast of Jefferson and ten miles north of Grand Junction. The town - as well as the township - takes its name from a wealthy pioneer landholder, Paton, who lived in New York City. He was much interested in the early prosperity of the town, helped liberally in building the Presbyterian church, gave a bill for the same and when he died, left a fund to endow a public library. Out of this splendid benefaction his son has bought a library of 1,500 volumes, furnished a room for the proper keeping of the same and pays the rent of the room from year to year. The library is under the care of Mr. A. C. Harris, postmaster of the village, hence its maintenance is generously provided for. The land upon which the site of Paton is located was originally owned as a farm by James H. Tallman, whose title ran back to nearly [early ?] government ownership. He platted and laid out the town soon after the advent of the Des Moines & Ft. Dodge Railway. A part of the town site is located on eighty acres of land owned for some time by Mark A. Hanna, the celebrated Ohio politician and close friend of William McKinley. Paton is a good business point, Dawson township having no village within its limits, is naturally a reliable contributor to the business of Paton, marketing its produce, in large measure, and buying goods from that point. The same is true of a large scope of country north, east and south, embracing as good land as may be found anywhere in the great west. The population is largely American, quite a proportion of it being Indianians, who came in the early day under the leadership of Rev. William Roberts, the real founder of the Friend’s church in Dawson township, the history of which is given in its proper place. Paton township has given to Greene county many oflicials who have earned the right to be called, in the largest sense, public men. Joshua Jester served two terms in the Iowa Legislature; Chas. P. Walker is at present chairman of the board of supervisors, and A. C. Harris was an active, useful member of the board of supervisors back in the 90’s. E. P. French served as county auditor and S. S. Rutter as clerk of courts. The town has had a steady growth, meeting the needs of the community its tradesmen so well serve. The township has been visited by two tornadoes of a mild type, no fatalities resulting. The first occurred the year of the notable Grinnell cyclone, possibly a branch of that terrific windstorm. It seemed to zigzag through the township, destroying the house of W. G. Crowder, turning it upside down. As it was occupied when the storm struck it, the escape of ‘the family from destruction seems to border on the miraculous. A mild-mannered tornado came up from the southwest in 1894. It did some damage at Farlin, but encountered no buildings until it struck and demolished the Catholic church in Paton, thence on to the barn of A. Taute, and later struck one for N. C. Tallman, both of which it demolished. It is said to have gently moved the residence of A. P. Kelsey twenty five feet off its foundations. No serious invasions from disease of epidemics are reported in the township since its organization. Two suicides are chronicled in the township/ The first in 1884, of which Charles Wise was the victim. He shot himself at the home of his brother, Harvey Wise. The second case was that of Milburn Marker, in 1894, and resulted from the taking of carbolic acid. He had been a great sufferer from a long siege with typhoid fever, and it is supposed in a time of utter despondency on account of his prolonged illness, he ended his life. The only crime ever perpetrated in Paton township meriting and receiving a penitentiary penalty was the one committed by the Flecks - father and son - in a raid they made upon the John A. Brown home, Sunday evening, March 8, 1883. They came armed with guns, and without warning, opened fire on the Brown family. The result was a hot conflict in which a number were engaged. The Browns, although seriously wounded, managed to overcome the Flecks and secured and held them until help arrived. The aggressors were tried for the crime, and both sent to the penitentiary, the father, J . W. Fleck, for five years and the son, George, for two and one-half years. The incident created great excitement throughout the township, there being a fear that like all feuds, it might break out again. These men were pardoned before they had served their full sentences. The first oflicers of the town were: Mayor, Jas. A. Rowles Recorder, Craig H. Townsend Treasurer, J. T. Cowan Councilmen, J. Wibill, W. R. Garritt, A. W. Kelsey, A. H. Gilliland, H. H. Smith, O. S. White. Oflicers for 1883: Mayor, Jas. A. Rowles Recorder, Craig H. Townsend Treasurer, J. T. Cowan. 1884: Mayor, Thos. M. Hall Recorder, Craig H. Townsend Treasurer, J as. A. Rowles Assessor, E. P. French. 1885: Mayor, Thos. M. Hall Recorder, S. S. Rutter Treasurer, Jas. A. Rowles Assessor, Geo. E. White. 1886: Mayor, Thos. M. Hall Recorder, S. S. Rutter and L. L. Palmer (Rutter resigned) Treasurer, Jas. A. Rowles Assessor. Geo. E. White. 1887: Mayor, Geo. M. Odell Recorder, Thos. J. Rice Treasurer, Jas. A. Rowles Assessor, Geo. E. White. 1888: Mayor, W. R. Garritt Recorder, Thos. J. Rice Treasurer, J. L. Hunt. 1889: Mayor, A. Y. Swayne Recorder, W. H. Kegrice Treasurer, J . L. Hunt. 1890: Mayor, Chas. Walton Recorder, W. H. Kegrice Treasurer, W. H. Wahl. 1891: Mayor, Chas. Walton Recorder, F. W. Crowder Treasurer, W. H. Wahl Assessor, H. H. Smith. 1892: Mayor, Frank W. Crowder Recorder, Jas. A. Cason Treasurer, W. H. Wahl Assessor, Geo. E. White. 1893: Mayor, William H. Wahl Tecorder, K. C. Latta Treasurer, Jas. A. Cason Assessor, Geo. E. White. 1894: Mavor, A. C. Harris Recorder, K. C. Latta Treasurer, W. T. Cason Assessor, Geo. E. White. 1895: Mayor, E. G. Elmore Recorder, K. C. Latta Treasurer, W. T. Cason Assessor, A. C. Harris. 1896: Mayor, Joel Shaw Recorder, K. C. Latta Treasurer, W. T. Cason Assessor, H. H. Smith. 1897: Mayor, Geo. M. Odell Recorder, K. C. Latta Treasurer, L. W. Corey Assessor, H. H. Smith. 1898: Mayor, John F. Johnson Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, L. W. Corey Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1899: Mayor, Lewis L. Palmer Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, L. W. Corey Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1900: Mayor, Lewis L. Palmer Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. ]901: Mayor, Lewis L. Palmer Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1902: Mayor, Ira Batcheller Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1903: Mayor, Ira Batcheller Recorder, W. S. Grant Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1904: Mayor, Andrew J. Jones Recorder, Walter J . Roberts Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1905: Mayor, Andrew J . Jones Recorder, Walter J. Roberts Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, Frank Bradshaw. 1906: Mayor, Chas. H. Jones Recorder, Walter J . Roberts Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, P. E. Hinton. 1907: Mayor, Chas. H. Jones Recorder, Walter J . Roberts Treasurer, A. C. Harris Assessor, P. E. Hinton. Councilmen from 1883, and terms of service (years):
H. C. Erickson and Geo. E: White were elected councilmen but refused to qualify. The first meeting of the council was held July 11, 1883. L. K. Adler, an attorney from Grand Junction, was present and instructed the new oflicers concerning their duties and obligations. POSTMASTERS. The number of Paton postmasters has been quite limited. W. H. D. Lummis was the first. He held the oflice until 1878, when A. Y. Swayne was appointed, who held the oflice until 1888, when he was succeeded by W. R. Garrett, Mrs. Hattie Pemble was appointed in 1890 and was succeeded by L. L. Palmer in 1895. A. C. Harris assumed the duties of the office January 1, 1898, and has served continuously until the present time. CHURCHES The Presbyterian Church was organized the 12th of June, 1876 - centennial year - with eleven members, the services being conducted by Rev. W. D. F. Lummis. On the 26th of November of the same year, Rev. Luther Dodd was called to the pulpit as stated supply. Rev. W. H. Beach was the second pastor and he was followed by Rev. W. A. Smith, under whose ministrations a handsome church edifice was built in 1888 at a cost of $2,000, and the house was dedicated with appropriate services, on the 24th of February, 1889. The following pastors have served the church since the resignation of Reverend Smith: Revs. Hamilton, W. Dixon, E. Rice, Rahnire, Mattox, Jack, S. B. McClelland, Alfred Martin, McLaughlin, L. C. Gray, Joseph Mapson, W. A. Pinkerton, W. , F. Schooler, J . J. Ehrstein, and M. J. Millard, who is now on the field. By a late adjustment with authority of Presbytery, this church and the one at Dana are under the care of the same pastor. A good Sunday School is maintained by the church. St. John, the Evangelist - this church is the child of St. Bridget’s church, Grand Junction, and under its watch and care. Its first church was dedicated in May, 1894, but in little more than a month was blown down by the cyclone of June 20, and totally wrecked. The property was amply insured, and was rebuilt without expense to the parishoners. The society owns an entire block of ground centrally located. LODGES GEM lodge No. 429, A. F. & A. M., was instituted by special dispensation issued by Grand Master George B. Van Saun, June 24, 1882, more than a quarter of a century ago, and has enjoyed an unusually prosperous career. The charter was granted a year later, at the annual meeting of the grand lodge at Cedar Rapids. The lodge was opened in due form June 19, 1883, at 2 o’clock p. m., and oflicers were elected. Public installation services were held at the M. E-. church in the evening. Large delegations of visiting brethren were present from Jefferson and Grand Junction. Of the thirteen charter members, four are still members of this lodge. They are: Edward P. French and Frank Bradshaw, of Paton; H. W. Livermore, of Miami, Florida, and A. H. Reynolds, who, bereft of reason, has been in an asylum for years. The first communication of the lodge was held July 27, 1882. At that meeting three petitions were presented for membership, and the three thus applying are still members of the lodge: A. C. Harris, Chas. P. Walker and Geo. Hopkins. The lodge has had nine masters in twenty-five years, as follows: Thomas H. Hall, Edward P. French, W. R. Garritt, A. C. Harris, L. L. Palmer, C. P. Walker, Geo. M. Odell, Frank L. Joy and G. A. Stalford, who is serving his first term. The lodge has a larger membership at present than at any time during its history. Eighty-nine have been received, and forty-five dismissed, leaving forty-four in good standing. Only one member has died in twenty-five years, A. W. Kelsey, one of the charter members, who died July 19, 1899. The present oflicers are: W. M., G. A. Stallord; S. W., A. J. Jones; J. W., L. S. Carl; treasurer, H. H. Waldron; secretary, K. C. Latta; S. D., F. Bradshaw; J. D., J. W. Busby; S. S., E. S. French; J. S., E. R. Lawrence; tyler, Harry Phillips. The records of the lodge show that during all the years of its existence, the brethren have always worked in perfect harmony. Paton camp no 3837 Modern Woocman of America was organized May 2, 1896, with the following charter members: James Colemen, George W. Kester, George W. Smith, Jacob Walker, L. H. Roberts, Aaron Smith, M. J. Conry, W. J. Lyon, George A. Taute, H. W. Rice, William Walker, F. Johnson, Edgar McRae, J. B. McRae, George Johnson, J. Johnson. Oflicers chosen for the first year: Venerable consul, L. H. Roberts; worthy advisor, Aaron Smith; banker, George W. Smith; clerk, George W. Kester; escort, Peter Erickson; sentry, George Taute ; watchman, Hamlon Rice. Initiated and taken in on card, one hundred and ninety three. Transferred to other camps and deceased, one hundred and two. Membership at date, ninety-one. Amount paid in one year of ten assessments, $860. Present oflicers: Venerable consul, C. J. White; worthy advisor, Charles Walton, Sr.; banker, Charles Walton, Jr.; clerk, W. H. Fowler; escort, E. C. Bauer; watchman, John Gliem; sentry, A. O. Anderson; chief forrester, J. E. Anderson. |
| Transcribed from "Past
and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together
With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading
Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |