Chapter Twenty Two

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON, LINCOLN, MADISON AND MONROE TOWNSHIPS.

JEFFERSON.

This township was surveyed as a township and divided into sections by William Dewey in the winter of 1844-5. Although we have no definite knowledge as to the origin of the name, it is generally conceded that this township was named for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the author of our decimal system of coinage and the writer of the Declaration of Independence. It is the southwest corner township, and was for a number of years after its settlement isolated by the Des Moines river. Moses Nowels, Hiram Covey and A. Flanders were among the first settlers in Jefferson. They came in April, 1843, and each staked off his claim on the memorable first day of May of that year. Van B. Flanders was the first white child born in the township. For several years they reached Oskaloosa, the nearest postoffice, by swimming
their horses across the river and taking the wagon and its load across in a canoe. Mr. Nowels introduced the first fanning mill into the county, having it brought up the river from Keokuk by boat. For a number of years the settlers did not aim to raise any grain but corn. When wheat became a part of the annual crop it was treaded out by horses on the threshing floor, or beaten out with the flail in the hands of the hardy frontiersman, and cleaned by pouring out the grain while the rapid motion of a sheet in the hands of two persons winnowed the chaff from the wheat, when the breeze was not sufficiently strong to do that work. This fanning mill was a great boon in the neighborhood.

The first school was taught by Mr. George W. Baer, on section 3 in a log schoolhouse. It was a subscription school, and taught about 1846. Jefferson township had rich lands and grew in population rapidly. Among the settlers who came later were Robert Wharton, who has been school treasurer of the township for forty years; Horace Lyman, P. G. Butler, Joshua Way, John Eveland, Thomas Lee, Henry Eveland, J. H. Evans, A. Rogers, John M. Lacey, Nelson Cone and Emanuel Hites. Besides the Des Moines river, Coal creek, Bluff' creek and other small streams afford a good water supply. In April, 1843, just prior to the opening of the new purchase, Edward Davis and his eldest son, coming from Illinois, crossed the Des Moines river near where Eddyville is now located, and camped for a time at the mouth of the first creek flowing into the Des Moines on the west side of the river. On account of its high bluffs, they named it Bluff creek. Going some miles further they thought they discovered coal in the bed of the second creek, which they named Coal creek. Reconnoitering still further north along the river, they came to a third small stream which, from the cedar trees growing on its banks, was called Cedar creek. These streams have always borne the names given them in that early day. Mr. Davis determined to locate on Bluff creek, and returned to its banks and awaited the opening day. Before the day had dawned he had started off two hundred acres of land which became his home while he lived. Like many of the pioneers, the attachment to the farm became so strong that himself and wife could think of no spot more lovely to them, and chose to be buried in the soil that had nourished them in their lifetime.

Simon Covey, a son of Hiram Covey, was fifteen years of age when he came and is now living in Oskaloosa. He recalls many interesting reminiscences of frontier life. In 1845 his father and A. Flanders took a raft of logs down the Des Moines river to Bonaparte to replenish their supply of flour and meal. He was sent overland with a two-wheeled cart and an ox team to bring back the proceeds of the venture. The home supply of food was very short, and before he got to his destination his keen young appetite had devoured the last morsel, leaving him to make the last day's journey on an empty stomach. According to the custom of the time he jogged on without thinking much about so common a thing as running short of something to eat. About noon a fellow traveler shared his dinner with him. They brought back with them the proceeds of the sale, sixteen bushels of corn meal and two hundred pounds of flour. Mr. Covey says that both his father and mother were teachers in New York, their native state, and his mother taught the first school in Scott township, at Rochester. Their home was only a short distance across the river, and she took her children with her for the day, crossing the river in a canoe. She gave her family a fair education around the home fireside. Mrs. A. Flanders is still living with her daughter, Mrs. Daniel Mattox, on the home farm which her husband staked out on May 1, 1843.

Mining interests in Jefferson township have received a wonderful impetus in the last few years. Buxton, a mining camp of four or five
thousand people, lies mostly across the line in Monroe county, but has several hundred of its population in this county. The Durfee mining camp, on sections 19 and 20, has a population of between three and.four hundred; White City has five hundred; the Cricket mines have one hundred and fifty, and the Eveland mines about the same population. These mining camps vary in the number of their population as the demand for workmen is slow or active.

The township has 191 farms whose value is $217,923, and personal property to the value of $60,307. Its population as last reported by the county auditor was 2,400.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

Lincoln township includes a territory outside of the city of Oskaloosa. The line marking its bounds extends in a somewhat zigzag form about the city, taking in several sections from the northeast corner of Garfield. It was created for the convenience of the property holders adjoining the city limits. It is scarcely necessary to mention that this little township bears the name of the great freedom-loving Lincoln. It has a population of five hundred, with 115 farms, whose value is $83,626. The value of its personal property is $69,527.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

The township lines were run by the government suveyors in 1843, and the section lines four years later. This township received its name from James Madison, who was the nation's chief executive during the war of 1812.

The south fork of the Skunk river divides the township into North and South Madison. The south part of the township was settled first. Samuel. Coffin, Jerry Libbey, Greenberry Coffin, Simeon Johnson, Benjamin Crispin, William Windsor, Enoch Shoemake and John Padgett were among the early settlers south of the river. The district north of the river was for many years a hunting ground. John and Robert Mitchell, Milton Crookham and a few others had things their own way for years on the north bottom. As already stated, the first school in Madison township was taught by WilIiam Laurance, in his town claim cabin. Like all of the early schools it was a subscription school, but well ordered and effective, A spelling school in those days was counted a greater luxury than an opera of today.

The settlers in this part of the county attended the land sales at Iowa City, going on foot in companies and banded together under the club laws for protection.

From the earliest period there has been a deep religious sentiment among the people of South Madison. In some instances extreme and radical views have been taught.

The Duncan & Peck mill was started in this township in 1843, and its wheels have been kept moving almost constantly ever since. Sixty two years is a long period to have furnished bread to the children of men who have come within its circle.  Few if any mills in the county have contributed so much to its civilization and comfort. This mill is spoken of by all the old settlers as the "Upper Mill." A saw mill was in operation at this place before the grist mill started, and it is generally conceded did the first work of that kind in the county. A quarter of a century ago it was counted a fine piece of property. Of later years it has not aspired to do so extensive a business. It is now owned and operated by J. S. Whitmore.

The people of North Madison have a good shipping point in the village of Lacey on the Iowa Central Railroad, just across the township line. Mrs. Helen Bailey, a daughter of Simeon Johnson, who came to the township in 1847, has written a number of entertaining letters about the early settlement and pioneer customs of those early years. Mrs. Bailey still resides in Madison township in sight of the home owned and occupied by her father's family. She has been an intelligent observer, not only of her own neighborhood, but of the great west, from the days when it was a wilderness. These personal observations and recollections are the very best material of which history is made.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

This township is named for the author of the Monroe doctrine, and is the seventh of our townships which are named for Presidents of the United States.

Among the first settlers were Jacob Johns, James Bridges, Henry Wymore, William Kimberly, John Baker and Thomas Linsley. William Kimberly was a local Methodist Episcopal preacher and a very strong abolitionist. Those who sat under his preaching say that he never closed a prayer withbut offering a petition for "the poor black brother in bondage." For his views; which were then thought to be extreme, he was subjected to many indignities, These he bore with fortitude and rejoiced to be permitted in his advanced years to see the accursed institution of slavery wiped out. Jacob Johns is said to have been the first man to break the soil. He located on section 13 in the southeastern part of the township, and soon made for himself a good farm, which he enjoyed for many years. All of the pioneers unite in saying that they never spent happier days than in the comfortable old cabins of the early years.

North Skunk river runs diagonally southeast across the township, and Middle creek along the southern boundary. The township is well watered and timbered but has no railroad.

The first school of which we have any record was taught by Henry McMillan in the winter of 1852. He was a brother of the late Dr. B. F. McMillan, of Oskaloosa, and died on the western plains while en route to California in 1859. Like all the schools of that period, it was a subscription schools. The township now has nine schools. The Center school, on section 21, is the handsomest and best equipped country school in the county. There are also many fine homes and well kept farms. There are several generations of the Brown family in Monroe township. William Brown and Matilda McMillan Brown came to the Spring Valley settlement in 1852 from Knox county, Ohio. They purchased a home on section 21 and while the log cabin was being built they lived in a temporary shelter. The family had been here about six weeks when Mr. Brown took chills and fever and died, leaving a family of seven boys ranging in age from six to twenty-one years. Mrs. Brown had been a teacher in her earlier life and resolutely completed the home and engaged the Spring Valley school two miles distant, which she taught through the winter. She taught her family by the cabin fireside. She was a constant student herself and her home became the literary center of the neighborhood. Her spirit still lives in the second generation of the well known Brown families in the community. Two of her grandchildren, Justin Brown and Ethel Brown Garrett, son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Brown, are missioriaries in China, and Bruce
Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Brown, is a preacher of national reputation in the Christian church.

INDIANAPOLIS.

This village was laid out by Willis Baker in 1845. Mr. Baker named it for the capital of his native state, Indiana. James Bridges opened the first store in the place, bringing the goods from Burlington. He was the first postmaster. Mr. Bridges secured a land warrant in Indiana for $2.50 and turned it in on his 160-acre claim. Land warrants issued to the soldiers of the war of 1812 were quite plentiful and could be had at very moderate prices. Mr. Bridges says that so hungry were the settlers for a trading point that he sold half his stock the day they were unboxed.

Up to twenty-five or thirty years ago Indianapolis was an attractive country village. The decline came when business went to the railroads. It still maintains good schools and churches and is the center of a thoughtful people. The township has a population of 1,000; has 209 farms whose value is $241,614. The value at its personal property is $41,801.