Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Part II, Chapter XXVII

Perry Township - Geography and Early History - Lead Ore - Names of Early Settlers - Asa Hughs -
The Brans Family - A Wild Cat Adventure - Hezekiah Gay - Bennington - E. H. Baker -
Some of his Peculiarities - Lucky Duck Shooting - A Woman’s Adventure with a Deer -
First Preachers and School Teachers - Census

At a session of the county commissioner’s court, January 6, 1847, it was ordered that town. 77, range 21, be called Perry. This name was in honor of Commodore Perry, of the Lake Erie victory notoriety. It was suggested by some of the citizens that it should be called Cincinnati, but this name was not adhered to after the township was organized.

As above defined it included all of the present township of Perry and all that of Swan, except two sections and four half sections belonging to town. 76, range 21, since added to Swan. The place of holding elections was at the house of Wm. Markley.

At this election about fourteen votes were cast, and Dan. Kiger and Hezekiah Gay were elected justices; James M. Brans and Joshua Linsey, constables; Asa Hughs and Joshua Linsey, trustees, and James M. Brans, clerk. The first precinct election was held at the house of Asa Hughs, April 7th, ‘46, 13 votes cast.

This and the next election were held north of the river, and the two following south of it; but the flood of 1851 caused a dissatisfaction among the people, owing to the inconvenience of crossing the river, and so, at the July session of the commissioners’ court, 1852, it was ordered that that portion of town. 77, range 21, north of the Des Moines river, constitute the township of Perry. Election to be held at the town of Bennington. At this election Harrison Freel was elected justice, but we have no record of any other officers.

Perry is the northwest corner township of the county, and is bounded on the north by Jasper county, on the east by Red Rock, on the south by Swan, with the Des Moines river as its boundary line, and on the west by Warren county.

The township is mostly timbered, and, with the exceptions of the bottom lands on the river, somewhat hilly. Coal is abundant along the north bank of the Des Moines river, and on the small streams. Lead ore has also been found in the bank of the river; and, at an early day, the remains of furnaces were discovered in the vicinity of the ore, supposed to have been used by the Indians in smelting it. Walnut Creek is the largest stream running through the township.

The following are the names of those who settled in the township at the earliest dates: Hezekiah Gay, Joshua Linsey, Dan. Kiger, Chas. Owen, Asa Hughs, Robert Alison, Alfred Vertice, and Mordia Yearns, in ‘45; Peter Brans, and his two sons, James M. and Benjamin, Thomas Car, Wm. Hughs, Wm. Gregory, Samuel Waterman, and Joseph McWilliams, in ‘46. Numerous other names might be added of persons who settled at a still later date, had we space to admit them. Of the above named but three still live in the township, six went to California many years ago, one to Missouri, five are dead, and one’s whereabouts is unknown.

Asa Hughs first moved from Indiana to Iowa in ‘36, and settled in Marion county, on Lake Prairie, in ‘44, from whence he moved to Perry in ‘45, and made a claim on Walnut creek, in what is now section 12. Here he lived, surrounded by a numerous family till the date of his death, Feb. 13, 1863.

The Brans family were natives of Pennsylvania, from whence they moved to Ohio in ‘25, and from thence to Mahaska county, Iowa, in ‘45. In the spring of the year following, James came and took up his residence on the place now occupied by Mrs. Mullins, in the northwest corner of Red Rock township, where he remained till he had put up a cabin on his own claim, where he still lives. His father, Peter Brans, died November 4th, 1860.

Perry township being a rough, timbered region, wild game was quite plentiful at an early date, and even within the past few years wild cats and lynxes have existed there. We many relate a little wild cat adventure, of which J. M. Brans was the hero. It occurred in the spring of ‘46, when Mr. B. was employed in making rails some distance from his house. Observing a large elm stump, about twenty feet high, with a hole in it near the ground, he incautiously put his head in it to see what discoveries he could make. And the discovery he did make caused him to withdraw his countenance as speedily as possible; for, within a very short distance of it was a great mother wild cat and her three kittens. Mr. B. had no gun, so he closed the hole securely, went for help, and soon the old cat was ousted from her den, killed by dogs, and the kittens captured. After being retained a short time they were not deemed a safe breed to adopt as a part of the domestic circle, and were dispatched.

Hezekiah Gay was a bachelor, and is well remembered for his eccentricities. For some time after his settlement in the township, he lived by himself in a rude shanty near the present site of Bennington, and was much occupied with speculative ideas of manufacturing machinery to be operated by the water power of the Des Moines river. Full of his plans of constructing an immense woollen factory, he was often seen with a miniature trough filled with water, taking the level of the river, to ascertain what height he should build his dam to have sufficient power. But there was other power needed than water, and this Hezekiah had not, either in purse or in credit; so the water power was never brought into service. He then became interested in a shingle machine; and this involved him to an extent that subjected the property to an execution. About this time Hezekiah was seen on his way to “Tool’s Point,” (now Monroe,) to procure a rope as he stated to a neighbor, to serve as a belt for his machine. This was the last seen of him in Perry, and to this day his whereabouts is unknown.

In August, from the 10th to the 14th, ‘48, Wm. Gregory and E. H. Baker caused a town to be surveyed on the north bank of the Des Moines river, on the east half of section 9, and called it Bennington. Stanford Doud, surveyor. Gregory was the owner of the claim, and Baker had it surveyed, sharing equally the profits on the sale of lots. Baker then put up a store room and dwelling together, and in the fall following moved his goods from Red Rock and began business. He also secured the appointment of P. M.

Shortly before Bennington was laid out, June 14, Hezekiah Gay caused a town to be laid out on the north half of section 9, and called it Perryville. This was done in competition with Baker’s and Gregory’s contemplated town. But neither of the places prospered, and, in process of time, were abandoned by their proprietors, leaving no more of them than their names. Two or three small houses occupy the town plat of Bennington, and one of the citizens keeps a ferry, which is on the main road between Pleasantville and Prairie City.

Gregory opened a farm in the country, where he died many years since, and Baker moved to Prairie City, and from thence to Colfax station, where he still lives.

Baker will always be remembered by many old settlers as one of the most eccentric characters that ever existed in Marion county. Many stories might be told to illustrate this fact, a few of which we give. He sometimes took a whim to sell no goods on certain days, and his best customers could not move him from his purpose. On another day he would be extremely accommodating to everybody. Then he would positively refuse to sell coffee on a certain day, or would accommodate only certain customers with it, refusing even those who had come quite a distance, and were prepared to pay for it, however promising to supply them liberally on the day following.

In his transactions as postmaster, he was at one time known to retain letters when called for by their owners, so as to give him opportunity to advertise them. Their appearance on the list was clear proof that they were in the office when called for.

At one time a customer called at the store and found Baker at work in his garden. And here his oddity was so conspicuously manifest that if he had thereafter been tried for murder and convicted, he could have pled insanity with some plausibility. He was at full length on his abdomen, and bareheaded, his bald crown glistening in the hot sun, as it bobbed up and down to the motion of his work; and as he hoed to the length of his hoe-handle he would drive the blade deep in the ground and pull himself forward. Thus he toiled away as though his life depended upon it, and would not stop a moment to talk to or wait upon a customer.

But the most heartless instance of his whimsical behavior is the manner in which he received his aged mother, whom he had not seen for many years. She had come from Illinois to make him a visit, and had brought him a valuable present. It was late in the evening when she arrived, and a neighbor accompanied her to the house of her son and knocked for admittance. Baker asked who was there, and, on being informed that it was his mother, he informed the visitors that he was in bed, that he would not get up to admit even Jesus Christ, that she might go to John Young’s that night, and he would see her in the morning. And no pleading of the old lady or her escort could move the unworthy son to open the door. Mortified and grieved beyond expression, she retired and resolved not to see him. So, early next morning, before breakfast, she set out on her return home. Baker, on hearing of her departure, was pricked to the heart, mounted a horse and went in pursuit of her. After a hot chase of several miles, he came up with her. He apologized for his want of civility in not admitting her, stating that he was not in a condition to receive her just then, and asked her to return with him. But Mrs. B. was exasperated beyond conciliation, and no pleadings of her son seemed to have any effect upon her purpose only to make it stronger. So she went on her way, and he returned to his bachelor home, conscious that he had made a grievous mistake.

Among those who settled in Bennington at an early date was a family named Moon. During their residence here they were victims to the ague, which reduced them so much in strength and finances that they were at one time on the point of starvation, and probably would have perished but for one little circumstance that seemed a direct interposition of Providence in their behalf. Mrs. Moon went down to the river to try to do some washing, when she saw four wild ducks swimming in still water near the shore. She immediately returned and informed her husband of the discovery. He was too weak to carry the gun, but proposed to do the shooting; so his wife took the gun and he followed. Coming within easy shot of the game, Mr. Moon took rest against a big tree and fired. The shot was effectual, causing one duck to turn on its back. It was to be supposed the other would have taken flight, but not so; they merely fluttered away a few yards and then returned to their dead companion. Taking advantage of their want of discretion, the gun was soon re-loaded and another duck killed; and in like manner the others clung to the fatal spot, and likewise perished. Mrs. M. then fished them from the water with a stick, and the large family of Moons made the first full meal of them and proportionate share of grated corn bread that they had enjoyed for some time. The next day they shook easier than usual.

Mr. Moon afterwards made a claim a few miles north-east of Bennington, where he still lives. Here Mrs. M. had another adventure worth relating. One day, during her husband’s absence, word came to her that the pups were playing with a deer, in a clearing a short distance north of the house. Taking one of the two guns - a heavy piece - she went out and got upon a log that was elevated upon a stump some ten feet from the ground, the better to see over the tall weeds. From this elevated position she spied the game within easy shot, confronted by the brave young dogs; and, taking deliberate aim at it, fired. But she had no time to see what effect the shot had upon the deer; for the treacherous gun shot both ways, and its reverse shooting sent Mrs. M. backwards to a horizontal position on the ground. Not being much hurt, she got up and went to look for the game; finding it down and evidently dead, she went to give it a close inspection, when it instantly roused up; and ere she had time to think of her danger, or make her escape, the enraged brute sprang upon her, knocked her down and tore off a portion of her clothing, compelling her to roll under a log near at hand, to escape further injury. From this narrow retreat she emerged in a short time, re-loaded her gun and put an end to her adventure by shooting the deer through the head.

The first preacher of the gospel that labored in this township was a Rev. Mr. Kline, of the M. E. Church. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Rainer, of the same denomination.

The first person that taught school was Patience Drouylard, at her own house, in 1850. She had from fifteen to twenty scholars. The next school was taught by James M. Brans, near his present residence. He had an attendance of from twenty to thirty scholars.

The first school-house was built in sub-district number one, in 1851. It was a roughly-hewed log-house, built by William Cowman at a cost of $100.

The population of this township, by the U. S. census of ‘70, was as follows:

Natives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer, 12/06, reformatted by Al Hibbard 12 Oct 2013.