HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

THE PRESS.

So little has been left of numerous papers that have risen, flourished for a time under different managements, and died, that to give an authentic history is a pretty difficult proposition.

It is generally conceded that the Frontier Guardian, edited by Orson Hyde, a Mormon elder, and assisted by A. C. Ford, was the first newspaper published in this county. Politically this was whig, religiously Mormon. This had a life of some four years.

The next appears to have been the Bugle. This was owned and controlled by Alman W, Babbitt, was politically democratic, religiously Mormon. After conducting it for a year or two he sold it to Joseph E. Johnson.

Shortly after, Dan Carpenter, a practical printer, purchased an interest and for a time was run by them. During 1856 L. W. Babbitt bought out this firm, but Johnson continued to edit the paper until 1857, when he transferred his activities to the rising town of Crescent and started a paper there called the Oracle. This left L. W. Babbitt in full control of the paper, which was issued as a daily after '63.

In 1864 Charles H. Babbitt took an interest and it was conducted by Babbitt and son until 1866, when it was purchased by W. T. Giles, the elder Babbitt retiring and the younger entering the army, and at the close of the war located permanently in Washington city. During the life of the Bugle it was intensely democratic, so much so that it was classed as a copperhead sheet. But however much Mr. Babbitt differed with the party in power, his integrity was never questioned and morally and socially no one stood higher than he. With great opportunities for accumulating wealth in office, he knew no such thing as "graft."

Mr. Giles also started a German paper called the Council Bluffs Press, but soon sold it, and after passing through several hands it finally was purchased by F. S. Pfeiffer, who came from Oregon with his family in 1879. He continued to publish it until his death July 16, 1899. Alois Becker is the present editor and proprietor.

During 1868 Alf Kierolf started a paper called the Democrat. He was a disciple of Brick Pomeroy. In the fall of that year B. F. Montgomery bought the concern and Kierolf continued to run it until October 31, when it suspended, and on December 12 the press and material were sold to satisfy a mortgage held by M. M. Pomeroy.

In 1871 the Globe was established by S. W. Morehead. The following year Jacob Williams became editor and in 1879 Mr. Morgan bought a half interest and it continued under this management for some time.

During the early '80s the Evening Herald was launched, with S. T. Walker as president, F. E. Spencer, secretary and editor, and R. E. Ingram as treasurer. This was a prohibition paper, and after a short run was suec-

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ceeded by the Independent Republican from '85 to '88, and edited by H. W. Linchard.

This was succeeded by the Eagle, with W. R. Vaughan, proprietor, who, after a short trial here, took it to Omaha where it was finally closed out by sheriff.

The Globe continued as the democratic organ under different managements until 1900, when it went into the hands of a receiver.

For a time the Inland Christian Advocate was published by Rev. J0seph Knotts. This was a Methodist organ, but was of short duration.

With the birth of the republican party it became necessary to have an organ, and as such the Nonpareil was launched more than a half century ago. The first issue was on May 2, 1857, by Maynard and Long. These men were brothers-in-law, the latter was a practical printer and the former was undoubtedly the ablest editor that has yet appeared here. The first home was in what at that time was the Palmer block, on the northwest corner of Broadway and Scott streets.
After the death of Mr. Long, which occurred during the winter of '57-8, Mr. Maynard conducted the paper alone until the spring of '64, when he sold out to W. S. Burke and A. J. Bell. Previous to this, on the 28th of January, 1863, the first issue of the Daily Nonpareil appeared, but after a short trial was suspended, but in July, 1864, came out as a daily, tri-weekly and weekly. After Mr. Maynard's retirement from the postmastership, John W. Chapman became interested with him, and were together in the business until Mr. Maynard's death, February 26, 1876.

After the death of Mr. Maynard, Mr. Chapman took the editorial chair. He soon became recognized as one of the strong editorial writers of the state.

The following year Thos. P. Treynor, then postmaster, and John C. Schermerhorn purchased the interest of Messrs. Gray and Mill, and the office was moved into the old two-story brick on the south side of Broadway that was in an early day the banking house of Green, Ware & Benton. The next move was into the building between Main and Pearl streets, now occupied and owned by/the Metcalf Company. About this time the Nonpareil Printing Company was incorporated, with Thos. P. Treynor, J. W. Chapman and Spencer Smith as stockholders, and the following year bought the three-story brick at the corner of Broadway and Scott skeet, and the Nonpareil found itself back to its first home, though much enlarged and improved. While here several changes in the ownership occurred. Mr. Treynor sold to Spencer Smith, Mr. Chapman sold a part of his stock to O. Lefferts, and the remainder to J. J. Steadman and Spencer Smith, who became president and editor-in-chief.

Mr. Steadman and Mr. Lefferts sold to the Snyders, of Red Oak, and Mr. Smith to General E. F. Test.

In the latter part of 1894 a company was organized under the name of the New Nonpareil Company, which took over the entire plant, including the Daily and. Weekly Nonpareil and the building it occupied.

Ernest E. Hart became president, J. H. Purcell, secretary and business manager, and Victor E. Bender assumed editorial charge of the papers. Mr.

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Purcell remained with the paper but a few months, and was succeeded as manager by Mr. Bender, a position he has ever since held. In 1900 removal was made to the present quarters in the Odd Fellows' building.

For five years from 1897 to 1902 Howard Tillon was editor.

During this year Mr. Bender purchased the interest of E. E. Hart, and is the present president of the company.

Other papers of the county are noticed in the part of this history relating to the cities and towns where they are published.

BELKNAP TOWNSHIP.

This township is composed of twenty-four sections and named in honor of W. W. Belknap, an Iowa soldier, who became secretary of war during administration of President Grant. What it lacks in size it makes up in fertility.

It was set off for organization by an order of the county board of supervisors September 6, 1872, on the petition of W. Henry Mann, D. W. Hays, Wm. Lyman, and twenty other citizens of Center township, out of which the new township was carved.

As near as can be ascertained the first settler was Orin Belknap, who came from Ohio in 1854, and settled on section 10, township 75, range 40, the same tract of land which he sold to Judge W. C. James.

G. A. Slocum was another early settler. He was born at Pompey, Ononaaga county, New York, on the 10th day of May, 1811, and became one of the early settlers in Huron county, Ohio. Of a roving disposition, he returned to New York, but in 1844 removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin. In 1847 went to Marquette and from there emigrated to this county, settling in what is now Belknap township, coming with an ox team.

His first residence was constructed by himself and was peculiar, being partly under ground, partly log and partly sod, but was very comfortable, being warm in winter and cool in summer.

The first white child born was Samuel George Slocum, son of G. A. Slocum, November 7, 1854.

The first marriage was that of Sylvadoy Slocum and Marilla Belknap.

The first postoffice in the township was established in 1854. George
Reed was appointed postmaster and while he held that position he was killed by a kick from a horse, and was succeeded by Wm. Lyman, father of the boy that tramped into the Bluffs when the war commenced, enlisted in Company B, Fourth Iowa (Dodge's) regiment, was promoted to adjutant of the Twenty-ninth, became major, and after the war studied law with Clinton (and Sapp, became judge of circuit court and was elected to congress in 1884.

The first death was that of Michael Beard, August 29, 1854. The first postoffice was located about a mile east of Oakland in Mr. Reed's dwelling, and in 1863 was transferred to the residence of Wm. Lyman, a short distance from the west side of the river.

M. T. Palmer started a store about two miles north of Oakland at the north end of the grove in 1860. He also practiced medicine. Although

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not a regularly educated physician, he practiced for a time, until Dr. Tobey, the first regular practitioner, arrived, the first one who settled in the township, being in 1856. His first store was in a building that had been used as a schoolhouse. The first mail to these offices was carried by Jas. A. Sinclair on horseback, the route being from Macedonia to Newtown.

The first school taught in the township was by Wm. Lyman, Sr., and was supported by voluntary contribution by the little community.

J. L. Fetter was the first school director, and let the contract for the first schoolhouse for $690. The house was finished in 1861, and when completed payment was made, all in silver, the contractor being Cyrus True, of Newtown.

The first house in Big Grove, now Oakland, was built in 1856 by Wm, Walker for a store room.

The first bridge across the Botna was begun in December, 1855, and finished in March, 1856. The abutments were timber cribs filled with earth. It was one hundred and twenty feet long, roadway fourteen feet wide, and consisted of three spans. Previous to this the settlers had to go to Macedonia, the river not being fordable here.

No money was paid for building of this bridge. G. A. Slocum procured the settlers to sign a contract to furnish material or labor, and in this way it was built, G. A. Slocum, Samuel Dey and Orin Belknap, who were mechanics, doing most of the work.

One of the notable events of early days was the murder of Edward M, Benton by James Vest in October, 1868. Benton was in the employ of the Western Stage Company, who had a station at Big Grove. Vest was a farm hand in the employ of W. M. West. The scene of the murder was a little log cabin kept by three women of bad, repute, and Vest boarded with them. Benton called in the night and, being refused admittance, broke down the door and made an attempt to get in, when Vest grabbed a hatchet and struck Benton twice on the head with the blade and cut him so badly that he died before morning. Vest made his escape and no effort was made to capture him, nor was any inquest held.

In 1860 a young man named Albert Griffith was plowing in a field of J. L. Fetter's with a yoke of oxen when one of them became entangled and in trying to extricate him, he was kicked to death. He was buried in Big Grove cemetery in section 10. Others buried there were Peter S. Johns, one of the soldiers drafted from James township; Wm. Elliott, a soldier of the civil war, who died while undergoing the amputation of a wounded leg; an unknown emigrant of 1857, who was drowned while bathing in the Botna river; and the eldest son of J. R. Cook, who, in trying to reach the upper Batna bridge when the river was out of its banks, missed the bridge and was drowned March 28, 1875.

Goods were sold on the present site of Oakland before the town was laid out. Mr. Slocum had a store room and stock of groceries, when Jacob Cohn came from Council Bluffs to start a general store at Big Grove, and the groceries in stock were transferred from Slocum to Cohn. W. H. Freeman put up a new building in the Grove and Cohn moved to that. He soon be

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came a bankrupt. D. B. Freeman took charge of the assets and he and W. H. Freeman opened up in the same place an their awn account.

J. B. Matlock afterwards acquired W. H. Freeman's interest and again that of D. B. Freeman, after which D. B. Freeman became sale owner by purchase from Matlock. Through successive changes rapidly made the business finally came into the hands of Potter and DeGraff.

The building of a branch railroad of the Rock Island Railroad dawn the Botna valley from Avoca changed the character of the hamlet of Big Grove, standing in the primeval forest, to an important town. The town of Oakland was laid out by Thomas Tostevin and Samuel Denton, surveyors. The first residence on the new site was erected by Dr. S. Stewart and the first store building by J. C. Norton, J. M. Estes and E. H. Wineland in the upper part of town.

The plat of the lower part of the town was made September 13, 1880, on the lands of W. H. Freeman, David Freeman, John Bates, Ambrose Bates and Thomas Tostevin. The next spring, 1881, Thomas Tostevin platted a portion of the town in the upper part on the lands of John T. Baldwin.

The town was incorporated under the laws of Iowa by the circuit court of Pottawattamie county an the first of May, 1882. An election having been held on the 26th of April at which W. H. Freeman was chosen mayor; S. S. Rust, J. L. Caldwell, John McDonald, Austin Goff, L. F. Potter and Charles Bryant, councilmen; E. G. Barley, recorder; B. F. Freeman, treasurer; D. H. Morrison, marshal, and W. W. Begler, city attorney. A newspaper, the Acorn, was started by John C. McMannima and John G. Julian May 1, 1881. The first issue was dated May 5, the same year. In August following A. M. Lewis became editor and proprietor, and on the 1st of March, 1882, A. M. Lewis sold to A. T. Cox. It has been independent in politics, working for the interest of the town and surrounding country, and its efforts are appreciated by the business public.

Oakland Lodge No. 442 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was established at Oakland on the 13th of January, 1882, with the following officers: T. C. Alexander, N. G.; N. Young, V. G.; A. M. Lewis, secretary; W. D. Johnson, treasurer.

The Big Grove Grange of Patrons of Husbandry was instituted by General William Duane Wilson, editor of the Iowa Homestead, in the spring of 1871. The charter membership was twenty, and increased to sixty, while the grange continued to act as such.

For the establishment of a Masonic lodge the first meeting for organization was held at Big Grove in March, 1874, and the lodge instituted as Ark Lodge No. 335, under dispensation from the grand lodge, upon the recommendation of Mt. Nebo Lodge of Avoca.

J. C. Chapman was grand master at that date. The dispensation is dated 10th of June, 1874, A. L. 5874, the year of the grand lodge 32, and is signed by J. C. Chapman as grand master and T. S. Parvin as grand secretary, and evidenced by the seal of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

The dispensation constituted Fletcher Dunham master of the lodge; W.

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H. Freeman, senior warden; H. H. Gillette, junior warden. With these the lodge was duly constituted, and at the ensuing meeting of the grand lodge the subordinate lodge was properly and regularly clothed with power to work under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

The Big Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ was organized August 11, 1861, with the following as members: Jacob Rust, Eda E. Rust, Susan Huff, Margaret J. Reed, Eda McGee, M. T. Palmer and Caroline Palmer, seven persons in all. The society was organized under the counsel of the Rev. E. W. Hall, pastor of the Baptist church at Lewis, in Cass county, and James W. Brown, clerk of the church at Lewis. The first meeting was held in the dwelling which now constitutes the residence of John Bird, the building then being used for a schoolhouse. On the second Sunday in November, 1861, George L. Reed and Abnas Huff were received as members, and in December Mr. Reed was baptized, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper administered for the first time.

A preliminary meeting was held at Big Grove September 16, 1881, for the purpose of organizing a Congregational church society.

The confession of faith as laid down in the authorized manual was accepted, articles of faith and a constitution were drafted by a committee composed of Messrs. Norton, Snyder, Shepard and DeGraff. The following persons became. members by signing the same: J. C. Norton, Susie Norton, Sarah Lyman, H. C. Snyder, C. R. Johnson, Lottie Shepard, W. L. Nokes, H. B. Shepard M. J. DeGraff, L. B. Shepard and Frank Shepard.

Rev. John Todd, of Tabor, preached to the congregation in the store room of J. B. Estes on the 19th of October, 1880. The first .officers were H. C. Snyder, clerk; Mrs. Sarah Wyman, treasurer; A. Johnson, L. B. Shepard and J. C. Norton, trustee, and J. C. Norton, deacon.

Work was begun on a new church in September, 1881, and was so far completed as to be suitable for use in the winter of 1881. The cost was $1,500, and the same was furnished and dedicated.

The peculiar situation of Oakland is favorable for building up a large local business, being far enough from larger towns to prevent local trade from being drawn away to them, and being surrounded by as fine an agricultural country as the world can show, the town has made steady progress, and an old timer, on going here in this year of 1907 would look in vain for the old land marks of the days when the western stage crossed the Botna and wallowed through the mud bottom and wound around the south end of the grove and up the hill to Reed's station, who also kept the postoffice.

On stepping from the cars now he finds himself on a well graded street with cement walks and lined with up-to-date business houses, most of which are of brick.

Among these are the three department stores that would be a credit to any town of ten thousand inhabitants, one exclusive grocery store, one boot and shoe store, two drug stores, two furniture stores, two millinery stores, one hotel, two restaurants, two meat markets, three barber shops, three coal yards, two cement block factories. There are two lumber yards carrying

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heavy stocks, two elevators with one of which is connected a feed mill, three livery stables, three agricultural implement houses. Among the trades are three blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one tailor shop, three harness shops.

In addition to the stores above named are two exclusive dry goods stores, two billiard halls. The city has two banks. The religious element is represented by one Methodist, one Congregational and one Christian church. In schools the city is constituted an independent district and is provided with a graded school in charge of a superintendent and ten teachers. Four doctors look after the health of city and surrounding country, while but one attorney is required for to keep legal matters straight. This may be owing to the fact that Oakland has no saloon. It has a very neat little opera house, and a jail for rent. The city has its own waterworks, the supply being supplied from wells and the pressure obtained from a standpipe.

In addition to other improvements it has miles of cement walks.

The fraternal organizations are represented by one Masonic lodge, one
of I. O. O. F., one of the K. of P., one of Woodmen of the World, and one of Maccabees.

Mayor, L. S. White. Population one thousand two hundred. Persons of school age in city according to the state census of 1905, three hundred and six; township outside of city, one hundred and ninety-two; total, four hundred and ninety-eight, of which two hundred and thirty-nine were males and two hundred and sixty-four females. Directors: President, Frank Zentmire; secretary, W. R. Frantz; treasurer, E. P. Denton.

Compensation, first-grade teachers, $40; second-grade, $35.

Township trustees: R. H. Carse, Clark Fickel and E. P. Denton.
Township clerk, F. A. Nash. Justices of the peace; W. C. Davis and W. B. Butler. Constables, J. E. Forsythe and W. D. Ball. Assessor, M. H. Parks.

BOOMER TOWNSHIP.

The order to constitute Boomer was made June 8, 1858. It formerly was a part of Rockford. It is a full congressional township, being bounded on the north by Harrison county, east by Neola, south by Hazel Dell, and west by Rockford townships.

The first election under the new organization was held on the 12th of October, 1869, at the house of Samuel Bateman, and township officers were chosen. There were nineteen votes cast, of which eighteen were democratic and one republican. This one was that of Z. Remmington, referred to in part of history of Neola.

The first township officers chosen were Samuel Diggle, Wm. Fouts and Joseph Mohat, as trustees; Henry Gittings, clerk, and Samuel Bateman, Sr., and Joseph Bardsley, justices of the peace. There is no record of constables having been elected.

The first settler was Lee Bybee, a Mormon, who, with a number of families, established a camp and built cabins as was their custom during their temporary sojourn while enroute from Nauvoo to Salt Lake. In two or three

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years these moved on and their camping ground was later included in the farms of L. S. Axtell and George Drake.

The names of the first births and deaths are not known, but the first wedding was a double one, the parties in one being William McKeown and Miss Eliza Jane Hall, and in the other, Ezekiel Cheeny and Miss Lucy Hardy. This was in 1848. The latter couple subsequently went on to Utah and were 1ost sight of.

The first school opened was in Bybee's camp in the winter of 1847-8. J. L. Deforest was the teacher, who afterward died in Harrison county.

The persons mast active in securing the organization were Judge Hall and I. M. Sigler. The latter being the strangest kind of a democratic and something of a wag proposed the name of Bloomer as a joke on D. C. Bloomer, who was equally as strong a republican. But Judge Sherman spoiled the fun by leaving out the "l," making it Boomer, which was adopted.

The first highway laid out was what is known as the Harris Grove and Council Bluffs road, laid out by Edward Latham, as commissioner, in 1853, and the first bridge a wooden one across the North Pigeon near William McKeown's. Nearly all the first settlers were English and accustomed to reaping with the sickle. Ike Sigler had the only grain cradle, which was as much a wonder to them as the McCormick reaper to us a half century ago.

The first fanning mill was owned by Robert Kent and he charged his neighbors tall for using it. I. M. Sigler was for many years a prominent citizen. He died about 1888 in Nebraska from the effects of a fall, and his remains were brought home for interment. He was a soldier of the Mexican war and a native of Indiana.

Mr. L. S. Axtell has always been a highly useful citizen, was a school teacher in Council Bluffs in the early days, where he married a Miss Wade; he represented Pottawattamie county in the legislature and was for several years county superintendent of schools.

Boomer has been at a disadvantage compared with her neighbors in having neither a railroad near town. It has as good soil, however, as the sun shines up on, well adapted to grain or stock raising. It also has groves of native timber that have been a wonderful help to the settlers.

The township officers at this writing (1907) are C. M. Axtell, J. H. Page and G. H. Darrington, trustees; and Nels Christianson, clerk; J. M. Axtell and Geo. H. Darrington, justices of the peace; C. L. Thomas, assessor; and G. P. Page and Wm. Wright, constables.

The school board consisted of Joseph Mackland president; secretary, Geo. H. Darrington; treasurer, Lewis Peters. Pay of teachers, first grade, $40; second, $35 per month, respectively.

According to state census of 1905 there were four hundred of school age in the township, of which two hundred and twenty were males and one hundred and eighty were females.

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CRESCENT TOWNSHIP.

From February 12, 1853, Crescent township formed a part of Rockford. At the latter date a petition, signed by A. J. Williams and thirty-seven other citizens of the territory comprising Crescent township, asking that the territory be set off as a new township, and it was granted. This territory consisted of congressional township 76, range 42, and township 76, range 43, also a fractional part of township 76, range 44. This included its present territory as well as that of Hazel Den and part of Norwalk. It was also ordered that an election for township officers be held at Crescent City in April, 1857.

The first settlers were Mormons that came with the great exodus that halted at Council Bluffs and overflowed into the adjacent territory.

Some of these renounced allegiance to Brigham Young though still adhering to the faith as expounded by Joseph Smith. These remained here and have proved to be some of our best citizens.

Among the number were David Wilding, an Englishman, William Strong, Robert Kirkwood, Scotch. H. A. Terry, S. M. Hough and Joseph McCoid were natives of New York.

No citizen is better known that H. A. Terry. For years he has devoted his time to demonstrating that fruit of all kinds adapted to this parallel of latitude could be profitably grown here, and he has succeeded in proving it, and in his old age is reaping the benefit of his earlier labors. He was among the first to organize the first agricultural society of which L. M. Kline was president; D. S. Jackson, vice-president; J. E. Johnson, treasurer; and H. A. Terry, secretary. This was in 1856. For many years his seed business extended from St. Joseph, Mo., to Fort Pierre, Dakota.

Mr. Kirkwood was a plain farmer and desired no office, but the people insisted on his representing them on the county board of supervisors, to which they elected him a number of terms, and, further, his party wished to send him to the legislature, but he declined the honor.

The first highway opened was the road from Crescent City to Council Bluffs through the valley of the Little Pigeon, and in the crossing of that stream the first bridge was built.

The first schools were probably kept by the Mormons and taught at some of the residences.

In September, 1855, Reuben Barton, David Dunkle, Wm. McMullen, Henry McMullen and Solomon McMullen met and organized the school township of Little Pigeon, district No. 7.

L. J. Goddard was elected president of the board, David Dunkle, secretary, and Reuben Barton, treasurer. L. J. Goddard was employed by the other members to teach at $30 per month until a schoolhouse could be built.

A log schoolhouse was soon built and fitted up near the line between Crescent and Hazel Dell townships. The floor was of puncheons, smoothed by an adz, with earth roof. The seats were slabs with flat side up, with holes bored and pins put in for legs.

These are the germs from which the great universities, with their be

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quests of millions, have grown, and the foundation upon which the greatest nation of earth was laid.

The next summer Miss Sophronia E. Whitcomb, now the venerable wife of Rev. Henry DeLong, was the teacher, and the house was crowded. For several years this was the only school within a radius of seven miles.

The second building was erected on Pigeon creek, near the site of the Parish mill. From this time on the interest increased with that of the population until before the division by detaching Hazel Dell, Crescent contained eleven subdistricts, all with comfortable houses.

In the division Crescent retained five of the houses, to which two had been added previous to 1880. At this date ten teachers were employed, four male and six female.

The first postoffice was at Ellisdale farm, two miles south of what was destined to be Crescent City. This was in April, '56, and the first postmaster was L. J. Goddard. On Crescent City coming into being it was moved to that place. It will be remembered that Crescent City is older than the township, it having been organized in the spring' of 1856.

The original proprietors were Joseph E. Johnson, H. A. Terry, S. M. Hough, Samuel Eggleston, L. O. Littlefield, L. J. Goddard, O. H. Dutrow, D. S. Jackson and R. W. Steele. Joseph E. Johnson erected the first business house in 1856, and Mr. Johnson opened a general store the same year in that building. Samuel Eggleston soon followed with another. The third was built by a Mr. Piper, who built a large one but a short distance from the other two. Business not requiring so large a building, it was converted into a town hall. In 1857 few towns away from railroads presented greater activity than Crescent City.

A little newspaper was started called the Rock Bottom, but was short lived. Its principal business was to urge the bridging of the Missouri river between this place and Florence on the west side, five miles above Omaha. The dream that haunted the people of both these towns was that there being rock bottom here, it would be the only practical place to locate a bridge; that the first railroad would come down the Pigeon valley, and that Crescent would supersede Council Bluffs and Florence should do likewise to Omaha.

Crescent was laid out, platted, the streets named, a newspaper started called the Crescent City Oracle. It was quite ably edited by Joseph E. Johnson.

Florence also made great strides. A newspaper was started there, and also a bank, and for quite a while it looked as if there was something in it, but in the fall of '57, when the great crash came, only the strongest of the young cities (there were no towns or villages) survived.

Many houses in Florence were moved to Omaha and out onto farms, and from Crescent, both business houses and dwellings were moved to the Bluffs as well as sold to farmers. Among these was that of G. F. Smith, the father of Hon. Walter I. Smith, present member of congress. He had a neat dwelling in Crescent which he brought down to Council Bluffs, and after living in it some years, sold it to the late Colonel W. F. Sapp, who finally died in it. So that little house had the honor of housing two mem-

Broadway, West of Glen Avenue
(click on image for larger size)

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bers of congress, and still at this writing is standing on Oakland avenue, but it was while yet in Crescent City that the Hon. Walter 1. Smith was born in it.

It is a long reach from 1856 to 1907, during which time great cities have risen and some of the embryo cities disappeared. In the meantime, however, the little hamlet backed by the township has maintained its individuality and, in fad, grown with the township, of which it is a part. At this writing (1907) it has a graded school of four rooms, a neat two-story frame, with Miss Mary Schrot as principal, with Margaret Johnson and Nettie Hutchison, assistants. The members of the board of education are J. R. Lapworth, president; J. A. Pratt, secretary; and Warren Hough, treasurer. The Latter Day Saints have a neat church building; also the Methodists. Rev. Mr. Baldwin is pastor of the latter.

The Odd Fellows have a lodge of over seventy members, of which Dr. A. A. Robertson is noble grand. The Modern Woodmen also have a lodge with G. B. Hampton as head consul.

Crescent City has two stores of general merchandise, two hotels, a lumber yard, livery stable, and, besides the nursery of H. A. Terry, previously mentioned, is an extensive one known as the Crescent City Nursery, owned and operated by a joint stock company, of which T. G. Turner is president; E. D. Menary, vice-president; R. D. M. Turner, secretary; and F. W. Menary, treasurer. It has extensive salesrooms in Council Bluffs, with office at 3101 Avenue A.

It is interesting to a person who saw this beautiful country a half century ago and revisits it to note the difference. In place of the rude robin and its equally rude outbuildings we see the comfortable house of the prosperous farmer, with the box for reception of his daily mail at his front gate, and, on entering, find the piano or organ, while the telephone is waiting your bidding.

Occasionally we meet those whose life has spanned the long interval that reaches from the little log schoolhouse nearly hid in the grove down to the present time with all our modern conveniences and comforts.

An interesting case of this kind is to meet the following named persons, now past middle age, viz.: J. A. Boren, Mrs. H. A. Terry, Warren Hough and C. L. Barret and hear them tell of the time when, as little kids, they were pupils of Miss Whitcomb, now Mrs. DeLong, in the little log schoolhouse a half century ago, and we wonder if the next will show as much progress. The little boys and girls must answer this, as we shall not be here.

The township officers at this writing (1907) are: Trustees, James R. Lapworth; Fred Miller and P. J. Moran; Walter Hough, clerk; Justices of the peace, J. A. Pratt and L. S. Jones; constable, James Kinney; assessor, H. W. Miller; school board, president, J. R. Lapworth; secretary, J. A. Pratt; treasurer, Warren Hough.

According to the state census there are three hundred and eighteen children between five and twenty-one, being one hundred and fifty-nine of each sex.

190

HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

CARSON TOWNSHIP.

The early history of Carson township is identical with that of Macedonia, of which it was a part. The egg from which both the township and town was hatched was Loshe's mill. With the opening up of the branch roads from Hastings and Avoca bath township and town rapidly gained importance. The township is small, having but twenty-four sections, twelve of which were detached from Macedonia and as many from Belknap. Both are named in honor of a prominent railroad official. The township is of the same quality that obtains all along the Botna valley, than which the world has no better. The farmers are largely engaged in stack raising and becoming wealthy, while the town is assuming the dignity of a city, although it has been twice tried by fire.

The town was incorporated in 1881, and the first mayor was W. W. Gardner, and the first council consisted of the following persons: Dr. F. S. Thomas, Wm. H. Graff, A. J. Anderson, Isaac Culberson, James Ellis and S. P. Hardenbrook. The present city government is as follows: Mayor, E. T. Osler; marshal, J. C. Bradley; recorder Frank Gallaway; city council, F. A. Bigalow, W. M. Haltze, W. D. Landon, E. W. Rowe and Wm. B. Bodyfeldt.

The city has five churches, Methodist, Christian, Presbyterian, Catholic and Latter Day Saints. It also has a graded school with principal and five teachers, three general stares carrying heavy stocks, two of hardware and furniture, one lumber yard, two drug stares, two livery stables, one flouring mill, part of which is the old Loshe to which an addition has been made and steam power applied thereby furnishing power for the electric light plant in addition to the manufacture of flour. It also furnishes power for the water service in the business part of the city. It has also two barber shops, four physicians, two lawyers, one machine shop, one blacksmith shop employing a number of hands, a printing office with weekly newspaper, the Carson Critic, with F. G. Week editor and publisher; State Savings Bank, J. R. Chalaupka, cashier and manager.

The fraternal orders are represented by one Masonic lodge, with Eastern Star, one of Modern Woodmen, with Royal Neighbors.

During 1889 the town was visited by a destructive fire that swept the entire north side of Main street, and again in 1894 a second made a clean sweep of the south side, which was followed by rebuilding with brick as had already been done an the north side. The people here have been to great pains and expense in constructing good cement walks that add much to the appearance and to the comfort of the public.

In addition to the railroads the wagon roads of this part of the county are in splendid condition, the road drag being much in evidence.

On coming here after years of absence one misses the kindly faces of the old pioneers, both fathers and mothers, but their work is done. They have opened up one of the mast lovely spots on earth and are now resting in a pretty little city of granite and marble on a lovely spot overlooking the Botna valley, about a mile from town.

191

HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

The township officers are as follows: Trustees, Claus Hartz, C. H. Coyl and A. F. Stone; clerk, F. G. Weeks; assessor, T. W. Dungan; justices of the peace, D. McMillan and Z. F. Linville; constables, A. A. Faley and Thos. Brack.

According to the state census of 1905 there were in Carson township, exclusive of city, one hundred and ninety-one persons of school age, of which ninety-two were males and ninety-nine females. In town of Carson there were one hundred and eighty-one, of which eighty were males and one hundred and one females.

The school board consists of J. H. Galloway, president; C. Hartz, secretary and P. F: Schoening, treasurer. Pay of teachers, $40 and $35 for first and second grades respectively.