The first settler in Spring Grove township was Leonard Austin, who with his family settled in section one of our township in the spring of 1845, and erected the first building from rough unhewn logs taken from the timber surrounding his building site. Mr. Austin was followed by A. J. Ward, who with his family settled near Mr. Austin during the fall of that year. Two years later, in 1847, Josiah Walton and Rev. Wm. Phillips settled as near neighbors to these hardy pioneers. These were soon followed by the Reeces, Holmans, Longs, McPikes, Peytons, Carsons, Whisenands, McKees, Fays, and Waltons, who settled in the northern part of our township and in the southern part of Newton township in Buchanan county, and who are remembered as the early pioneers.
The early settlers of the southeastern part of the township were the Bices, Andersons, Saxtons, Leathermans, Plummers, Swaims, Frank Dorr, E. B. Fisher, Bumgardners, Benedicts, McBurneys, Nutting, Carpenters, and Jordans. These settlers formed part of a settlement that extended into Jackson township. They located there during the early part of the '50s. About the same time the western part of the township south of the Wapsipinicon river was settled. Those early settlers were Edwin Jeffreys, A. G. Kibbe, Elmer and J. E. Atwood, father and son, Chas. Cook and sons, Edwin, Enos, George, and Charles, and George Parkhurst. All these early pioneers took an active part in helping to develop the new country.
In regard to religious worship the people of Spring Grove may be likened to the Puritans of the early colonial period, as among the earliest settlers came Rev. Wm. Phillips, a minister of the gospel who at first conducted meetings in his own home, and later became a "circuit rider," holding meetings every Sunday either in some private house or in a school house. The Christian organization that is now at Troy Mills was organized by Henry Holman during the summer of 1853 in John W. McKee's house near what is now Troy Mills. Mr. Holman preached the first sermon and continued as pastor until the organization was strong enough to secure a minister to take charge of the work. Isaac Holman, now a resident of Troy Mills, and a son of Henry Holman, was the first superintendent of the Sunday school organized in the township. Rev. N. A. McConnell, of Marion, was one of the ablest ministers of the early period, and would face the worst storms of the season in order to keep his appointment. The people living in the southeastern part of the township at first held services in private houses until the West Prairie school house was erected, where for several years they had a place for worship. They now have a splendid church near the West Prairie school house.
The first justice of the peace of Spring Grove township was John Plummer, but the best known justices of the peace of the early times were Elmer Atwood, Josiah Walton, and Wm. Bleakley. While the people of those days were not free from strife among themselves, yet they were obliged to band together to free themselves from a worse evil—the horse thief. The people finally with the help of the neighboring settlers took the law in their own hands and dealt summary justice to the offenders. One of these thieves was followed by a posse to his camp on the Buffalo creek in Buchanan county, and on his refusal to surrender he was shot to death. This put a stop to the stealing.
In politics the people of Spring Grove always took an active part, and for a long time claimed to be the banner republican precinct of the state. During the Civil war the republicans of West Prairie erected a flag pole on the bare prairie near where now stands the West Prairie church and raised the Stars and Stripes aloft and kept the flag there until long after the war closed. At one election during the Civil war not a democratic vote was cast. It was said that there were a few democrats in the township but they chose to stay at home rather than stand the jeers that were sure to assail them if they voted.
Troy Mills, the only village in the township, was founded in 1853, when a dam was built across the river at that place and a saw mill built. This mill continued to run about ten years when the present mill was erected. The mill did a flourishing business grinding all kinds of grain, but of late years has only been used as a grist mill. Jordon Long brought the first stock of goods to Troy Mills, amounting to ten dollars. Meeting with success in selling these, he turned all his attention to carrying on a general store which he conducted for more than forty years. Dr. John Dix and E. C. Downs started the first drug store in the town but soon sold out. E. N. Beach, one of the best known men in the northern part of Linn county, came to Troy Mills at an early day and started a drug store and has conducted the same to the present time. Dr. E. Wilson was the only doctor in our township for several years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. The first blacksmith shop was started by Elmer and John E. Atwood in 1854, who conducted the same for nearly thirty years.
Only a few of the old settlers remain who helped to transform the wilds into what it is today. Those now living here, who came in the early '50s, are David Reece, Isaac Holman, John E. Attwood, Mrs. Edwin Jeffries, Isaac Bice, Enos and Charles Cook. The others have either moved away or passed into that great beyond from which no traveler returns.
Washington township was early settled, for it is stated on good authority that Bartimus McGonigle settled near what later became Center Point in 1839. Some of the early settlers were Dr. S. M. Brice, John Osborn, Tom Lockhart, W. A. Thomas, James Down, Sam Stewart, E. B. Spencer, Alex Nevin, D. S. Way, Milt Squires, Will Cress, Jacob Thomas, Robert Osborn, Jonathan Dennison, Alex Thomas, Jas. Chambers. These came as early as 1842, a number coming in in 1839 and 1840. The following came before 1846: Thos. Fee, Isaac Berry, J. L. Benham, Levi Martin, L. Hollenbeck.
The town was laid out in 1848 by Andrew Bottorf. A re-survey was later made as of 1854, and done by J. McArthur for Dr. S. M. Brice and J. R. Grubb.
Most of the buildings in the town date from the time of the second plat, when the place began to thrive in earnest. Dr. Brice ran a store which was later sold to A. A. Adams. In 1855 Dr. J. P. Wilson opened a drug store. L. Hollenbeck also opened a general store in 1854. J. M. Bartleson, W. S. Bliss, and John Carr were also early settlers, Carr and Bartleson running a store for many years.
The locality in and around Center Point, then, is one of the first settled in the county. The early settlers were enterprising and the newcomers were made welcome. No doubt the close proximity to the river and the abundance of timber in this locality made the place inviting to the new settlers who needed above everything else timber for use in building and for fuel. The railroad which the people had expected many years did not get into town till in 1873, and was continued the following spring. For the purpose of securing this railroad Washington township voted $16,000, being about a five per cent tax.
In Washington township lived and died many years ago John Osborn, a revolutionary soldier, who is buried in Center Point cemetery.
In narrating the history of Linn county mention must be made of that body of devoted men and women who early laid the foundations of the United Brethren church in this portion of what sixty years ago was the far west. The members of this christian body have had an important and conspicuous part in the history of our county. Their leaders have not only been men of piety, but they have also been men of ability, builders of commonwealths. Their work has been of a permanent character, and the descendants of these pioneer people are today doing grandly the work so nobly begun seventy years ago.
We cannot do better here than to quote largely from the Historical Souvenir of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ at Lisbon, Iowa, 1836-1904, by Rev. Cyrus J. Kephart, published in 1904 by the Lisbon Herald:
The work of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa began, as far as known, with the labors of Rev. Christian Troup, a member of the Wabash Conference, who came to Iowa as a missionary in 1836,[N] and settled upon what is now a part of the site of Mount Vernon. He afterwards traded his 160 acre claim for a yoke of oxen, and settled near the Cedar river, on what is now known as the Horn farm. Here he passed through all the privations of a frontier life. His daughter, Mrs. Pate, states that for a considerable time he and his family ground the corn for their bread on an old-fashioned coffee mill nailed to the side of a tree.
Rev. Troup's field as a missionary extended from the city of Dubuque to Henry county. His preaching places were wherever he could find an opportunity to speak to the people. Thus he sowed the seed that afterward ripened into many an active Christian life.
One of his appointments was near Ivanhoe, in a log house of only two rooms. Here standing in the low doorway he would speak first to those gathered in one room, then stooping, for he was a tall man, he would pass his head into the other room and speak to those there.
He died in 1850 and was buried in the cemetery that then occupied the lot where the house of Mrs. Mary Hoover now stands in Lisbon. When the cemetery was changed his remains were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery.
In 1838 Rev. John Burns, a local preacher, settled in Lee county, and began preaching at various points. Rev. Christian Troup and he seem to have been the pioneers of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa.
The first society was organized at the home of "Father" Edington, probably somewhere in Henry county, in October, 1841. This, however, was several years after Christian Troup began his work in the community in which Lisbon now stands.
The first United Brethren quarterly conference west of the Mississippi was held at the home of Mr. Gibson near the present site of Lisbon, May 10, 1842. It was attended by Christian Troup, F. R. S. Byrd, Ira B. Ryan, Lewis Hoffman, "Father" Edington, and others. Ira B. Ryan was licensed to preach, and Christian Troup was chosen presiding elder.
Another similar meeting was held in Henry county on September 10th of the same year. Considerable annual conference business was transacted at this meeting.
A third meeting of the same character was held, probably in the southern part of the state in March, 1843, there being present a presiding elder of the Wabash Conference, of the territory of which Iowa at that time was a part. At this meeting there were reported thirteen organized societies, with one hundred and ninety-four members in Iowa.
The first annual conference of the United Brethren in Iowa, and the first west of the Mississippi, convened at Columbus City, May 19, 1844, Bishop Henry Kumler, Jr., presiding. It was called the Iowa Branch of the Wabash Conference.
The next annual conference convened at the home of Wm. Thompson, in Louisa county, August 14, 1845, Bishop John Russell, presiding. At this session the Iowa conference was formally organized.
Other early conferences were held as follows:
At Columbus City, August 31, 1846, Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, presiding.
At the home of Wm. Thompson, Louisa county, August 24, 1847, Bishop Wm. Hanby, presiding.
At the home of John Shively, Henry county, September 1, 1848, Bishop Wm. Hanby, presiding.
At the Hershey school house near Lisbon, August 23, 1849, Bishop David Edwards, presiding.
During these years the preachers in charge of the territory including Lisbon were:
Writing of the Iowa conference of 1845, Bishop Russell said: "Myself and wife left the state of Maryland in a carriage for Iowa. A tedious journey indeed. All went well until we got between the two rivers—Mississippi and Iowa. In the high prairie grass our trail ran out, and of course we were lost. How to get on the right course was the trouble.
"I went before, parting the grass, which was much higher than myself. After I had gone a certain distance, I put my hat on my cane to guide my wife to the spot. Thus I continued for some time till we got right again."
Our life and work at Lisbon date back to the faithful labors of Rev. Christian Troup, who began preaching in this vicinity as early as 1836. Hence the church at Lisbon had its beginning with the very beginning of our church in Iowa.
The work here grew slowly, however, for several years, Bro. Troup often advising his converts to join other churches on account of the weakness of the United Brethren in Iowa.
In 1847 Rev. Christian Hershey led quite a large colony, chiefly his own relatives, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, and settled in Yankee Grove, the section of country surrounding where Lisbon now stands.
This colony, being largely composed of United Brethren, made quite an addition to the United Brethren forces of this vicinity.
In August of the same year Rev. Luther McVay was appointed to the Yankee Grove circuit. During the summer of 1848 he held a camp-meeting on the knoll now occupied by the Washington school building of Lisbon, with good results. He then organized "the United Brethren class in the Pennsylvania Settlement of Linn county, Iowa," with a charter membership of about forty, as nearly as can be determined from the original class book. About twelve names were afterward added, the year closing with a membership of 52. The effecting of an organization was strongly opposed by many of the older persons who took an active part in the camp-meeting; not because of opposition to the church, but feeling that it was not right to formally organize and put the names on a class book.
Of these charter members, two are yet members of the church, Mr. Michael Blessing, and Mrs. Nancy Neidig.
On August 23, 1849, the Iowa annual conference was held here. Lisbon had just been platted, and homes were scarce. To meet the difficulty occasioned by the coming of so many ministers, a camp-meeting was planned; tents were built on the camp ground, and the conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting. There were a number of conversions, and at the close of the camp-meeting twenty-five persons were baptized in the Cedar river near Ivanhoe, by Rev. Josiah Lindsey.
Rev. Christian Hershey and Rev. D. Wenrich were received into the conference at this session upon their transfers. Rev. John De Moss, assistant pastor of Yankee Grove circuit, reported $26.55 received as salary and presents for the year.
The Lisbon class proper, at first called North Yankee Grove class, was organized September 5, 1850, by Rev. S. W. Kern, pastor. The original record shows 36 members of this class, many of whom belonged to the "United Brethren Class in the Pennsylvania Settlement in Linn county, Iowa," and several were new members. That there existed some difficulty in connection with the work at this place at that time is manifest from the following from Rev. D. Wenrich in an article in the Telescope relative to the conference session of 1850: "On account of a peculiar state of things on Yankee Grove circuit it was asked that a good disciplinarian be appointed to the charge. The selection of Rev. S. W. Kern and the adjustment of the difficulty proved the wisdom of the choice." Just what the difficulty was, whether it was among members of the church of a personal character, or whether it was something in connection with the administration of the affairs of the church, there is no record to show.
The annual conference of 1852 chose Lisbon as the place of meeting for the next annual session. Rev. Christian Hershey, who had been in an important sense the father of the Lisbon church, looked forward to its coming with great expectations. When the time arrived for making necessary local preparation, he joined most heartily in the work. After cleaning the church and putting everything in readiness, he proposed to a friend who was with him to go into the church and offer prayer for the conference. He was in great joy. But on August 3d, the day before the assembling of conference, very suddenly the death angel called, and Father Hershey passed away. His death cast a gloom over the entire session. Rev. George Miller was chosen to preach the funeral sermon. The conference in a body marched before his corpse to the church and to the grave. His remains were buried in the cemetery beside the church and afterwards were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery, where they now rest.
The growth of the church following the year 1849 was quite rapid. But it is impossible to determine what the total membership has been, on account of the mutilation of the early records. So far as we can learn the number of persons received between 1840 and 1870 was fully five hundred. Since 1870 the accessions have been quite numerous. A number of very successful revivals have been held. From 1870 to the present time, as nearly as can be determined, the number of accessions has been about 790, thus showing a membership of nearly 1,300 since the organization of the church in 1849.
The Lisbon charge has been favored with a number of most excellent pastors. So far as the records show, the largest increase of membership was during the pastorate of Rev. William Cunningham. During his service of eighteen months there were eighty-four additions to the church.
Among those who have assisted largely to the development and growth of the church, the following seem to deserve special mention: Christian Hershey, Michael Hoover, Sr., D. Runkle, John Neidig, Jacob Kettering, A. A. Sweet, Samuel Long, John Eby, Lawrence Easterly, J. E. Kurtz, D. Dorwart, Henry Meyers, John Ringer, Sr., Elias Hahn, D. Buck, John Turner, George Graul, D. G. Zeigenfus, Thomas Runkle, C. H. Neidig, Abram Runkle, Adam Runkle, Amos Runkle, W. S. Furnas, Elizabeth Perry, Nancy Neidig, Sr., Mother Bressler, Anna Bitzer and Elizabeth N. Runkle. The list could be greatly enlarged with perfect truthfulness. But these are among the number who seem to have stood out with special prominence in the work of the church.
We would make special mention of Rev. S. E. Long, Rev. A. B. Statton, and Rev. M. S. Runkle, who were raised as members of our church and have gone into the ministry of the gospel.
Also Mrs. G. K. Little, daughter of Bro. J. Bittinger, whose sweet voice and loving life are living epistles for Christ, greatly assisting in the evangelistic work of her husband, Rev. G. K. Little, who for years was a faithful member here.
Rev. I. L. Buchwalter and his devoted wife, who have made Lisbon their home since he retired from the active ministry, have been active and liberal in their devotion to the interests and work of the church.
In 1850 Rev. Christian Hershey built in Lisbon, chiefly at his own expense, the First United Brethren church west of the Mississippi river. This church, which still stands just north of Mrs. Mary Hoover's residence, was soon outgrown. In 1855 it was sold, and the proceeds were used in building the second church on the site occupied by the present edifice. This building served the church for twenty-six years.
During the pastorate of Rev. T. D. Adams and the early part of the first pastorate of Rev. I. K. Statton, the need of a more modern church became apparent. At the session of the quarterly conference on April 7, 1880, the first official steps were taken toward the erection of a new building. During the following summer the old church was torn down, and the present structure begun. It was completed at a cost of $9,200.00, and on January 23, 1881, was dedicated by Bishop Milton Wright. Great credit is due to the ever earnest and faithful labors of the pastor, Dr. I. K. Statton.
During the building of the new church, the congregation was favored in being granted the use of the Methodist Episcopal church for all its services.
The church during its history has owned three parsonages. The present building is an elegant frame structure of eight rooms, furnished with furnace, electric light, and city water. It was purchased during the summer of 1903 for $2,400, the old one being sold for $1,000.
The Sunday school was organized early in the history of the Lisbon church, probably in the spring of 1853. It was first conducted as a union school, and so continued for a number of years, its development into a United Brethren school being the result chiefly of the organization of other schools in town.
At the first it was divided into male and female departments, with five male and seven female classes; among them were one female and two male spelling classes, and one female infant class. Among the first scholars were Henry C. Kurtz, and Solomon Kettering, who are yet living. The record of 1854 shows three infant classes, one male and two female. In the male class were two of our present members, Henry C. Meyers, and Jacob E. Meyers, with their father Henry Meyers as teacher.
The first secretary's record that is preserved begins with July, 1857. The enrollment was 121, the attendance 118. The superintendent was A. A. Sweet. May 27, 1860, is named as "the first day of the administration of B. [Benjamin] Hoover as superintendent, to which office he was elected last night." Other evidence states that Adam Runkle had served as superintendent, one year before this election. Following this the record shows nothing as to who was superintendent till April 2, 1865, when it states, "Had our annual election last evening for officers. Adam Runkle was re-elected superintendent, D. Dorwart, secretary, D. Buck, librarian." I. Scoles is the first secretary named, his election occurring May 2, 1858. The next named following him is J. E. Kurtz, who served a number of years, his term of office terminating with the election of D. Dorwart as above noted.
The enrollment did not increase rapidly, owing in part no doubt to the organizing of other schools. On January 1, 1860, it was 144; on January 6, 1861, 145, with 140 in attendance.
The record from 1857 to 1865 is rendered quite interesting by the recital of current events of the town and community. A few are here quoted:
July 26, 1857. "A stranger bathing last Sabbath in the Cedar river was drowned. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy."
December 15, 1857. "Officers and teachers agreed to have a teachers' meeting monthly."
April 11, 1859. "The Lutheran church organized a Sunday school in the old church today."
July 9, 1859. "The school was opened at eight o'clock on account of the Methodist quarterly meeting in this house at nine o'clock."
November 6, 1859. "Small attendance on account of wedding in town, Mr. Joel Ringer and Miss Barbara Kurtz."
July 29, 1860. "Bishop Glossbrenner was here yesterday, and went to Western."
September 9, 1860. "We hear for the first time two bells ringing in town."
October 28, 1860. "Mrs. Easterly married to David Zeigenfus."
November 11, 1860. "Old Abe elected."
September 21, 1861. "Yesterday great military demonstration; young men leaving for the army."
November 1, 1863. "Yesterday all the liquor destroyed by the sheriff."
November 29, 1863. "No school in consequence of the Evangelical dedication."
January 16, 1865. "Large school, as both schools are united." "Both schools" seems to refer to our own and a Sunday school conducted for a short time by the Presbyterians. Enrollment 129; attendance 166.
April 16, 1865. "Our church was draped in memory of the death of our late President, Abraham Lincoln."
May 7, 1865. "The Missionary Board met with us. Bishops Edwards, Markwood, and Kumler, and Revs. S. VonNeida and J. W. Shuey were present."
Reference is frequently made to deaths that occurred in town. The burial of several soldiers is noted. The secretaries of later years recorded but little of such general events. The record of June 6, 1880, says: "On account of tearing down the church, school met in M. E. church at 2:00 p. m." On May 26, 1878, I. K. Statton, Mrs. T. D. Adams, J. Bittinger, Amos Runkle and wife and Miss Sue Fletcher were appointed delegates to the township and the county conventions.
The superintendents have been A. A. Sweet, Benjamin Hoover, Adam Runkle, J. Bittinger, W. H. Runkle, J. S. Smith, U. D. Runkle, and the present incumbent, Amos K. Runkle, who has served the school continuously for sixteen years, and has just been reelected.
The Woman's Missionary Association of the United Brethren church of Lisbon, was organized October 27, 1878, with the direction and assistance of Mrs. A. L. Billheimer. Mrs. T. D. Adams was appointed temporary secretary. The following officers were elected: Mrs. Mary Shaler, president; Mrs. A. K. Runkle, vice president; Mrs. Addie Eby, secretary; Mrs. Lizzie A. Runkle, treasurer; solicitors: Mrs. E. N. Runkle, Mrs. Holderman, Mrs. Nancy Neidig, Miss Maggie Houser, Mrs. Katie Kurtz.
The first regular meeting was held at the parsonage and was opened by devotional exercises by Mrs. Charlotte Davis (wife of Rev. Wm. Davis).
The earliest camp-meeting of our church in this vicinity, as far as can be learned, was held in 1848 on the site of the present school building. It was followed by the second in 1849, and a third in 1852. Similar meetings were held at various times and places for several years.
At a quarterly conference held July 7, 1879, a camp-meeting committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. T. D. Adams, and brothers J. Bittinger, D. Runkle, C. H. Neidig, A. E. Kurtz, A. K. Runkle, George Rupert, Sr., and J. S. Smith. The committee organized on July 11, electing Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and Rev. I. K. Statton, secretary. A plot of ground of about twenty-five acres, lying one and one-fourth miles southeast of Lisbon was purchased, and a camp-meeting planned to begin on August 26 following. At this time the temporary organization was succeeded by a permanent one, with Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and J. Bittinger, secretary. On September 3d, the grounds were dedicated by Bishop Milton Wright, Rev. T. D. Adams, Pastor, Rev. I. K. Statton, presiding elder, and a number of other ministers assisting.
The ground was a nicely wooded tract, with two good springs, and was fitted up with a number of neat cottages, a boarding house, chapel, speakers' stand, and seats, and was enclosed with a substantial fence. Among the prominent men who at different times took part in the meetings were, Bishops Weaver, Kephart, Hott, Mills, and Wright, President W. M. Beardshear, and Dr. J. W. Etter. Interesting meetings were held each summer up to and including 1893. Some hindrance at length arose, and at the annual meeting held on August 27, 1894, the association voted to sell the grounds and disorganize.
It has been stated that the first election in the county was held at Westport in 1838 when thirty-two votes were cast in the county. This is said to have been the most quiet election on record. Gradually the people located claims, as more lands were thrown open to settlement, and politics began to cut a figure at an early date. While many of the settlers came from the south, a majority, however, came from Ohio, from the middle states, and from New England. Thus it would appear that the population of Iowa was a part of the free state movement which had peopled the central states. The foreign population did not come to Iowa until the early '50s, when the Germans, Scandinavians, Scotch, and Irish came in large numbers to take up the cheap lands which were offered to the settlers.
The early settlers were for the most part democrats, with a sprinkling of whigs and abolitionists. Some of these voted for Taylor for president in 1844, nearly all of whom supported Fremont later.
Thus in Brown township Ed Crow, Horace Brown, and the Butlers were democrats, while the Plummers, Yocums, Hamptons, Stanleys, and Dewees families were originally whigs, who joined the republican party in 1856. In Franklin township the members of the United Brethren church in and around Lisbon, and the Methodists around Mount Vernon were stanch abolitionists, joining the republican party when that was formed. Around Bertram a large number affiliated with the democratic party, which was true of the settlers in and around Center Point. In the northern part of the county, James Nugent, A. C. Coquillette, Joe Whitney, Peter Henderson, and many others were republicans, or joined the party later. In Maine township the Jordan families were divided in politics, some belonging to one party, others to another. These men were a sturdy lot of pioneers and did much in a political and financial way to build up the county.
In Rapids township and Cedar Rapids, many of the old settlers were democrats, such as N. B. Brown, D. M. McIntosh, the Bryan boys, E. R. Derby, William Harper, the Weares, J. J. Snouffer, Hart brothers, and many others. Judge Greene was one of the most prominent democrats who joined the republican ranks in the Greeley campaign. The Weares joined the republican party during the Civil war period. Some of the prominent republicans of an early day were E. N. Bates, the Carrolls, Elys, Leaches, Higleys, J. S. and T. Z. Cook, Isaac Cook, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, Dr. E. L. Mansfield, Gabriel Carpenter.
In Marion township, which was then and for many years afterwards the political center of the county, the whigs, who later became republicans, were such men as N. M. Hubbard, R. D. Stephens, Joseph Young, William Cook, William G. Thompson, James E. Bromwell, William Smythe, Robert Smythe, Robert Holmes, the Herveys, and the Daniels family.
Among the democrats were such prominent men as Colonel I. M. Preston, S. H. Tryon, S. W. Durham, H. W. Gray, Dr. T. S. Bardwell, T. J. McKean, J. C. Barry, James Green, L. M. Strong, C. T. Williams, and James Brown.
During the territorial days Robert Lucas was a democrat, while John Chambers was a whig, succeeded by James Clarke, another democrat. During these early territorial days Linn county cut very little figure in the affairs of the newly organized territory, as the river counties had most of the settlers and otherwise controlled political affairs in general. In the first assembly which met at Burlington, November 11, 1838, this county was represented by Charles Whittelsy in the council, and by Robert G. Roberts in the house. The district then was composed of Cedar, Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties.
The second assembly met at the same place November 4, 1839, this district being represented in the council by Charles Whittelsy, and by George H. Walworth in the house. The district this year was composed of Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties.
The third assembly convened at Burlington November 2, 1840, and now, for the first time, Linn county was represented in the council by a resident of the county, in the person of George Greene. In the house sat George H. Walworth and H. Van Antwerp.
The fourth assembly convened at the newly selected capital at Iowa City, and in the council or upper house sat again George Greene, and in the house were Thomas Higginson and Thomas Denson.
In the fifth assembly sat J. P. Cook in the council and George H. Walworth and J. C. Barry in the house, the latter being a resident of Linn county.
In the sixth assembly sat J. P. Cook in the council, George H. Walworth and Robert Smythe in the house, Smythe being a resident of the county. For many years he was a prominent politician in Iowa, and sat in the lower and upper houses for many years.
In the seventh assembly, which convened at Iowa City in May, 1845, sat William Abbe in the council, and Joe K. Snyder and John Taylor in the house. William Abbe was the first actual settler in the county and one of the best known persons in eastern Iowa in early days. Mr. Abbe also sat in the assembly which met at Iowa City in December, 1845.
Linn county was also represented by able men in the constitutional conventions, and no doubt the members from this county did much in the adoption of our constitution. In the first constitutional convention which convened October 7, 1844, there sat as members from this county the following persons: T. J. McKean, L. M. Strong, and S. W. Durham, all democrats. This convention numbered fifty-three democrats and seventeen whigs. In the second constitutional convention, which met at the seat of government May 4, 1856, Linn and Benton counties were represented by Socrates H. Tryon, of Marion. In this convention, which was smaller than the first, the party vote stood twenty democrats and ten whigs.
In the third constitutional convention, which met January 19, 1857, there sat H. W. Gray, of Marion, as a member of the convention, and Ellsworth N. Bates, of Cedar Rapids, as assistant secretary, a young man of brilliant parts.
The first governor of the newly made state, Ansel Briggs, was a democrat, as was Stephen Hempstead, his successor. James W. Grimes, who had located at Burlington in 1836, was nominated for the office of governor at the whig convention in 1854, and made a memorable canvass. His well known anti-slavery views rendered him acceptable to all who were opposed to the extension of that institution. While many conservative whigs agreed with the democrats on the slavery issue, still all classes who favored free soil united in the support of Grimes, who was favorably known and had been a member of the legislature, and who had made a favorable impression upon the new settlers who had come into the state to find homes. Grimes was elected, and this was the first defeat of the democrats since Iowa was organized as a territory.
In January, 1856, Governor Grimes wrote the call for the convention, which met at Iowa City on February 22d, which founded the republican party. In this convention there sat a number of Linn county persons who later became noted men in the party, and well known in the state.
The first presidential vote in Iowa was in the election in 1848, when Cass, the regular democratic nominee, received 12,083 votes, Taylor, whig, 11,084 votes, and Martin Van Buren, free soil democrat, 1,126 votes. In the election of 1852, which was quite exciting all over the country, and not least in Iowa, the popular votes for president were as follows: Franklin Pierce, democrat, 17,763, Winfield Scott, whig, 15,856, John P. Hale, free democracy, 1,704 votes. This vote would indicate that the democratic party still held the balance of power in the state, but the change in old party lines was apparent.
During the years up to 1856, a large number of pioneers had come into the state from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as from the New England states, and bitter party feeling ran high. Many of the party leaders took the stump, and speeches were made in nearly all these settlements. Newspapers were established and an active campaign brought about. Politics was the topic of conversation at the country store, at the grist-mill, and at the country postoffices, and everyone felt that a change along party lines would be apparent. The vote in Iowa for president in 1856 was: John C. Fremont, republican, 43,954, James Buchanan, democrat, 36,170, Millard Fillmore, American party, 9,180. James W. Grimes, the candidate for governor on the Fremont ticket, was re-elected.
In this campaign the question of slavery was the main issue, and on this ground the newly organized republican party carried the day in Iowa. Iowa from this time was lost to the democrats, and they were unable to regain the lost ground by attempting to get away from the slavery issue. During the summer and fall of 1860 the campaign surpassed even the excitable campaign of four years previous. At the fall election Lincoln received 70,409 votes, S. A. Douglas, democrat, 55,111 votes, John Bell, 17,763 votes. J. C. Breckenridge, the regular democratic nominee, who aimed to carry slavery into the territory at any cost, received in this state only 1,048. The Douglas wing of the party "aimed to throw the responsibility of the slavery question upon the supreme court or upon the territories, or anywhere else, except upon the democratic party." Douglas had many admirers in this county, and he visited, in this campaign, Marion and Cedar Rapids, where people flocked to hear him, many of whom admired him, but there were few who could support his visionary schemes and many who doubted the outcome of his dubious platform. This year the republican state ticket received on an average a plurality of 13,670 votes. In this election the state had become one of the solid republican states, and has so continued. In the state campaign of 1861 S. J. Kirkwood carried the state in an exciting campaign over William H. Merritt, the regular democratic nominee. Mr. Merritt had become a resident of this county, and hence received a large vote in his old home. Kirkwood had won over A. C. Dodge by a majority of 3,000 two years before, and was a popular candidate, a man of many strong traits of character. The Civil war was on and the people felt that they must sustain the policies of the party in power, and hence, perhaps, the popularity of the prospective candidates cut but little figure.
During one of these campaigns as Perry Oxley and Ambrose Harlan were seated discussing politics at the county seat one day, Harlan in his wrath accused Oxley of being a traitor to the government. This was too much for the irate Kentucky-born democrat, and he knocked Harlan down with a savage blow aimed at the fellow's head. There was a trial for assault and battery, to which Oxley pleaded guilty, and later Harlan brought an action for damages in the district court, which damages were paid pro-rata by the democrats over the county. Col. I. M. Preston defended Oxley and the outcome of the verdict in fact made the issues for the next campaign.
At commencement exercises at Mt. Vernon a general free-for-all fight occurred on account of some girls wearing copperhead pins. This matter also came into the courts, and county politics at least changed conditions, as party feelings ran high, and perhaps the ultimate motives of party politics were lost sight of, in these hand to hand contests waged near at home.
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During the early days Joel Leverich was a prominent political character in Linn county. He was called the "Bogus Coon," as it was claimed that he belonged to a gang of counterfeiters. However true that may he, no one knows, as he called himself a fellow who could make counterfeit money which would pass muster even in the land office. Leverich was a bright and intelligent person and wielded a great deal of influence as a sort of ward heeler before wards were organized in an early day, and it was frequently stated "that as Joel Leverich went, so went the county." Joel was not perhaps as interested in the political views of the candidates as he was in getting pay for his services and in having a promise of a pull with the officers if elected.
Bill Brody also wielded more or less influence in an early day in the county, and sometimes lined up with one party and sometimes with another. It was generally true, that if Leverich and his followers were all on one side, Brody and his companions would generally be opposed, and it was very seldom that both gangs were enlisted to work for the same political party in any one campaign.
At one time just preceding a county election, members of the two gangs met at the Joshua Glover saloon in Marion. All had been drinking, and it was not long until the street was full of people, there being fifteen to twenty on a side all engaged in a general free-for-all fight. No one tried to interfere, and blood flowed freely. While Bill Brody was the leader and perhaps the most active, his chum and follower, Barry Way, was the most powerful fighter, and is said to have cleaned out the entire gang and won the day. His political party was in power for a day at least.
While there was much disorder, and trouble arose on account of lack of enforcement of law and order, it would be apparent that if men were elected to office by the assistance and help of men of this type it was not surprising to hear that officials could not, or would not always carry out the provisions of the law. Ambrose Harlan, well known in an early day as a person who had nerve and considerable fight in him, came out as a candidate for sheriff on a platform all his own, claiming that "he would catch horse thieves, and would even serve a warrant on Bill Brody himself, leader of the notorious gang," referred to in these pages.
Harlan became an imaginary hero in the eyes of the people, and was elected by a large majority. For a long time after he had assumed the duties of his office there did not seem to be anything doing in his particular line. In fact the sheriff's office was the most deserted place at the county seat. It resembled a summer resort in winter time, and Harlan was about to resign for want of anything to do, for if there was anything Harlan loved it was a fight to a finish or a wordy contest with a political opponent. As sheriff there was nothing to do in either line, for people seemed for once to mind their own business.
At last, one morning a warrant was brought to the sheriff to be served on Brody, who had been charged with grand larceny of a team of horses. Harlan's moment had come, and he prided himself on the fact that he would lodge Brody in jail before the next sun set. A few inquiries were made, and Brody was located in the Way cabin, some five or six miles east of Vinton. At Vinton Harlan organized a posse and started early next morning to catch the culprit before he would leave for the day.
They surrounded the cabin, Harlan fearing that the fellows had already escaped, but he ascertained that the smoke issuing from the cabin was only an indication that Mrs. Way was getting breakfast ready. He found Bill Brody and his chum Barry Way in bed. He was not long in making his errand known, and Brody replied. "Do you want me naked or will you give me time to put on my duds?" To which Harlan replied that as it was still early and he had all day, he would wait till the fellows dressed. The men took considerable time in arranging their morning toilet, saying to one another that it might be a long time before they would get back, and that the trial court could do nothing without their presence, so there was no hurry. Harlan sat on a home-made rickety chair in one corner of the room, with a gun in his left hand and a hickory stick in the other, watching the two culprits, and recalling the old refrain, "Weep no mo' me lady," as he watched the poor mother Way walking about the room with tears in her eyes, wondering what her wayward son had been up to this time. Harlan kept special watch on Way, who was the athlete, not fearing Brody, who was a small person. As Harlan looked out at the tiny window to detect a certain noise he heard, Brody, nimble as a cat, was at his side in an instant. He wrung the hickory sapling out of the sheriff's hands and struck him a savage blow on the head so that the Linn county official was "dead to the world" for at least thirty minutes. The crowd outside were in hiding near a straw stack, and when they saw the two desperadoes come out of the cabin alone without any sheriff following, they took to their horses and rode away as fast as they could, never looking around till the town of Vinton was in sight.
When the sheriff realized what had happened, he was invited to breakfast by Mrs. Way, who said it might be a long time before her boarders would return. The sheriff would not accept the invitation, but asked instead for bandages for his head.
Harlan was asked on his return to the county seat, minus his prisoner, "Why didn't you take Bill when you had him?" Harlan replied, "How could I, when I had a gun in one hand and a hickory stick in the other, which he took away and rapped me over the head with, and when I came to my senses he wasn't there."
It was needless to say, that at the next election no one cared to enter the race on a strictly horse thief catching platform.
One of the most remarkable political contests ever waged in the county was that of N. M. Hubbard and William Smythe for congress in 1868. Hubbard had been a sort of political dictator since the organization of the republican party. He had held the office of county judge for a short time, and had been appointed attorney for the Northwestern railway, and for this reason was a powerful factor in financial as well as in political circles. Hubbard was quarrelsome, impertinent, and out-spoken, and used to say, that he "loved a nigger more than he did a democrat." In his aspirations for office he was backed by many friends and admirers, such as the Weares, Elys, Carrolls, and Higleys in Cedar Rapids, and by most of the prominent Marion men, such as the Herveys, the Daniels families, Captain Rathbun, Major Thompson, and Bob Holmes.
The people of Marion were bitter against Hubbard, especially R. D. Stephens, who had been Hubbard's partner for some time, which partnership ended in a row, the last formal dissolution of the partnership being to the effect that Hubbard said to Stephens that "he would not attend his funeral," to which the partner replied, "neither will I attend yours or ever darken your threshhold in any capacity."
Stephens by this time was a financial factor in the county and had many friends. It was thought that he should make the run against Hubbard, who had removed to Cedar Rapids, but the leaders of this faction of the party thought that a candidate must be selected who had been in the war, and thus the opponents of Hubbard selected William Smythe, who was a brother-in-law of Stephens, as the logical candidate to make the race. Smythe was an Irishman who had been an officer in the Civil war; was an eminent lawyer, a most affable gentleman, who had made a reputation for himself as a conservative and safe political leader.
In this canvass Smythe was also backed by Robert Smythe, an older brother, who had been in the legislature, and was favorably known throughout the county. Stephens was the financial backer and the organizer of the Smythe faction. He was far-sighted, wielded considerable political and social influence, and used his money freely in this campaign to get even with Hubbard, if for no other reason. In this fight Stephens enlisted the service of a number of prominent democrats who were unfriendly to Hubbard. Everyone expected that Hubbard would win hands down, and carry Cedar Rapids and many of the county precincts. Smythe enlisted in his cause such men as Colonel Preston, Dr. Thos. Bardwell, J. H. Preston, S. W. Durham, James Brown, and many other democrats who were on the inside of this movement to dethrone the republican county boss. Smythe carried Marion township much to the surprise of the local leaders who had thought up to that time that everything was cocked and primed for Hubbard.
The county went about half and half; both parties, of course, had expected a small majority. When the officers were selected and a contest came up to a show of hands, the convention stood a tie. The old court house was filled to overflowing, and many wordy contests took place outside as well as inside of the old dingy court room.
The afternoon passed and neither side got ahead. Stephens was the active leader on the floor of the convention and knew more about parliamentary rules than anyone else. Still there were others in the convention on the Hubbard side who were no novices at the business of packing a convention.
An agreement had been made that the winner should select his own delegates, and it was conceded that whoever carried the county would carry the district. Neither faction dared to adjourn, and so the fight was kept up on motions of one kind and another with voting now and then to ascertain if the members had changed. They all "stood pat," and it has since been suggested that this must have been the first time the word standpatter was used in a political sense.
In the evening Dr. Thomas S. Bardwell moved about in the convention hall shaking hands with his professional brethren and others. He invited a stanch supporter of Hubbard from up the county, and a professional brother, into his postoffice and into a back room where he lived. They got into conversation and Bardwell knew that the man wanted a little for his stomach's sake, for he had traveled a long ways that morning and had had nothing to eat all day. Bardwell fully agreed with the country doctor that the air of a dingy court room was bad for the lungs, and that a life of that kind would certainly ruin the health of any man, however strong he might otherwise he. The country doctor took one and then another drink from the city man's private supply, and the Marion man was not one of the kind that refused even to take a drink with his country friend. The conversation moved much easier and more pleasant after the first few drinks, and Bardwell, to show that he was a good fellow, brought out a variety of liquor, such as would have made the mouth of a true Kentuckian smack in anticipation. It was not long till the country practitioner forgot all about the convention and was "dead to the world." He was placed in the doctor's bed, the doors locked, and Bardwell hurried back to the court house, sending a note to Stephens to the effect that he must put the vote at once. Stephens did not know whether Bardwell was putting up a scheme on him or not, but he was about at the end with his objections and thought he would try just another vote and risk everything on a democrat's advice. Stephens withdrew his motion then pending and called for a vote by ballot. The Hubbard faction was glad of this opportunity, and as there were no objections the seesaw affair of balloting once more began.
When the votes were counted it was found that the Hubbard faction was one short. They counted and re-counted, and made the air blue with dire threats, wondering who had sold out, but no "Judas" could be found. Finally it was discovered that the country delegate aforesaid was missing. It was thought that he had gone home or had been called away on professional business, but such was not the case. The aforesaid country delegate was not made aware of the real condition of things till the next morning when he awoke in the back room of the doctor's office wondering how he had gotten such fine quarters without any assistance from either side, as far as he knew.
The convention went wild over Smythe's victory and the city of Marion, regardless of party, was caught in this wave of enthusiasm, and the only topic of conversation for a long time afterwards was "how William Smythe won the fight."
The newspaper which gave the best write-up of this political contest, and the paper which did more for Smythe than any other political organ in the county, was the Linn County Signal, edited by a nephew of S. W. Durham, by the name of Williams. The editorial writers, however, were such men as Dr. Thos. Bardwell, James Brown, S. W. Durham, Colonel I. M. Preston, and Judge J. H. Preston, who was just then beginning to learn the inside workings of politics. A tramp printer by the name of Tompkins came along some time before the convention occurred, out of money and out of work, and was employed on the paper. Tompkins looked and acted like a fool, but was in fact a genius. He could write better than the best of them, and knew shorthand as well. He reported the proceedings of this unique convention, and it is stated by all, regardless of party affiliations, that this write-up was the best of any political write-up of any convention before or since.
After Smythe had been duly nominated for congress, the democrats of Linn county refused to support the republican candidate any longer, as they were only acting in the capacity of beating Hubbard. William E. Leffingwell, of Clinton, one of the silver-tongued orators of the west and an eminent man in many ways, was selected as the standard bearer of the democratic party to oppose Smythe. As Hubbard and his friends knifed Smythe on account of the action taken by Smythe's followers in the county convention, there was hope that a democrat might be elected. The county democrats challenged Smythe to a joint debate, hoping that he would refuse to debate with a person much his superior. But Smythe accepted the challenge and it was decided that there should be three joint debates in the county, at Center Point, Marion, and Cedar Rapids. The first joint debate was to be held at Center Point—a democratic stronghold—and Smythe and his followers drove over from Marion in large numbers, for they wanted to protect their candidate in case any trouble should arise. Leffingwell and his party also started from Marion, made up of the most influential democrats in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Dr. Bardwell, one of the leaders of the democracy, and who had laid out the Hubbard supporter at the time of the convention, sat in the back seat of the buggy with Leffingwell and carried the same kind of wet goods along on this evening and for the same purpose that the candidate should take something for his stomach's sake. This time Bardwell was in earnest and really wanted to instill into the candidate a little of the spirit which would brace him up to a greater effort. He did not figure that Leffingwell's only fault was his love for the bottle. When they arrived at Center Point more liquor was added, and when Leffingwell sat in the stuffy room listening to Smythe's opening arguments half an hour, the liquor took effect, and he became so drunk that he could hardly stand up, and made a rambling sort of a speech as only one under the influence of liquor could make. Smythe replied to the rambling remarks of his opponent in a most masterly way and in such a telling manner that even the democrats got disgusted with their own candidate, and the Marion contingent felt that hanging would have been too good for Doc Bardwell.
This first meeting ended the joint debates with Leffingwell. Later in the fall the democrats secured another debater from southern Iowa in the person of Martin Van Buren Bennett, a rabid partisan and a fiery orator, who, perhaps, surpassed Smythe in oratory, but who failed to make any special gains for his party as he was an outsider who dwelt on past history and did not confine himself to present conditions.