MOSS, Nathaniel W.
MOSS, CARDWELL, HAMILTON, FRAUNCE, KERR
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 12/30/2009 at 11:11:46
Nathaniel W. Moss came to Iowa in May, 1854, first locating in Delaware county, where he was instrumental in naming the township where his farm was situated, Oneida, after the county in New York whence he emigrated, and in September of that year his family followed him to the new western home. The journey from New York state consumed several days, being made from Utica to Buffalo by rail, thence down Lake Erie to Toledo, Ohio, by boat, from Toledo to Chicago by rail, and by rail from Chicago to Scales Mound, Illinois, from which latter point stage was taken to Delhi in Delaware county, Iowa. He came to Jenkins township, from Delaware county, in December, 1855, thence removing his family in April, of the following year, and locating on section 30, township 99, range 15, where he preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land, June 27, 1856. The trip from Delhi to Mitchell county was long and tedious, being accomplished with vehicles drawn by two teams of horses and one ox team.
Mr. Moss was born in the city of Quebec, Lower Canada, August 16, 1815, the son of William and Eliza (Hamilton) Moss, youngest born son of their seven children. His father, born in north Ireland, and his mother, sister of a noted Scottish physician, came from Edinburgh, Scotland, where they were married April 12, 1796, to Canada, his father being in the British overseas military service. His father died at sea when he was eight years of age, and at the age of twelve he was apprenticed to learn the tailor trade. His mother having died in 1831, he came, at the age of eighteen, to New York city as a journeyman tailor, making a return visit to Quebec the following year where on September 16, 1834, he married Margaret Cardwell, the love of his boyhood, and thenceforth his lifelong faithful companion and helpmate. In 1838, with his family, he removed from New York city to Utica, Oneida county, New York, where he engaged in the merchant tailoring business, thence removing to Waterville, in the same county, at which latter place he carried on for fourteen years the business of a manufacturing clothier, employing nearly fifty operatives. While residing at Waterville he owned the celebrated trotting mare Flora Temple, and which he sold before removing to Iowa.
At Utica the family resided next door to the residence of Horatio Seymour, mayor of Utica, afterward governor of the state of New York (and democratic candidate for president in 1868) and from the acquaintance thus formed, and from appreciation of Mr. Seymour's high character and great abilities, resulted in large part that devotion to Mr. Seymour's political fortunes, and to his political party, which characterized Mr. Moss's political affiliation throughout his lifetime.
At Delhi, in Delaware county, Iowa, he conducted his farm and carried on a tailoring establishment in the town, and having formed acquaintance with General George W. Jones of Dubuque, noted in the early history of Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, he was through his recommendation appointed in June, 1857, postmaster at the newly established postoffice of Doran, in Jenkins township, Mitchell county. The postoffice was conducted at his new log house on section 30, built by himself and sons, in a glade near Beaver creek, on the main traveled road, he thus being probably the first appointed postmaster in the township. This of course refers to the township as at present constituted, and after it had been set off from the territory of Wayne in 1857, and given its present name, Jenkins. The first regular mail is stated to have been brought to the office by the Frink & Walker stage line, July 4, 1857.
During these early years in the forest he continued his tailoring business, his books showing clothes made for Arad Hitchcock, N. C. Deering, G. F. Loring, H. I. Stacy, Cyrus Foreman, Peter Morse, William Woods and a great number of other pioneers, prominent in the history of Mitchell, Worth and Howard counties. After the expiration of President Buchanan's term Mr. C. Carpenter was appointed postmaster, and this postoffice removed to the home of the latter on section 34.
Mr. Moss was elected justice of the peace soon after Jenkins township was organized and held the office almost continuously until the beginning of the illness which terminated in his death. Some of the largest lawsuits in that part of the county were tried before him, and his books show nearly all the prominent attorneys of the county as having had business before him. His continued tenure in the office of justice was, however, not due to the number of suits tried or proposed to be tried before him, but due rather to the number of differences that he composed by common-sense methods, and litigation discouraged where only pique or misunderstanding existed, and where no sacrifice of vital principle was imminent. Old settlers have often recounted to the present generation instances of the value of his advice and counsel, beside testifying to his hospitable spirit, his geniality and generosity.
The growth of nearby cities and towns, with their exclusive merchant tailor shops, cut off much of his town patronage and he gradually discontinued the tailoring business, establishing a general merchandise store in a portion of a new frame building erected by him at the same location, and known as Mossville (Jenkins school district No. 3 being known as the Mossville school district) during the '60s, later converting the upper part of this building into a Masonic lodge room where Relief Lodge No. 211, A. F. & A. M. met for many years, he being repeatedly elected worshipful master of the lodge. He also carried on his farming, exchanging work with his sons who had nearby farms, and with other neighbors, J. B. Ryndes, H. Fesenmeyer, A. Jameson, S. T. Doyle, James Hills and others. Farming during much of the time was not profitable, his diary disclosing the fact that frequently only fifty-one cents to fifty-eight cents per bushel was obtained for wheat, the principal crop, at the markets of Mitchell, Osage, and Leroy, while in earlier days, when it was hauled to McGregor, frequently enough was not realized to cover the expenses of the trip. He owned one of the first McCormick reapers in the township, a huge bulk of machinery requiring four or six horses to draw when cutting grain, and having no self-raking attachment, the grain falling upon a wooden apron from which at intervals one of his sons, perched astride a wooden saddle projecting from the rear of the machine, would, with a hand rake, sweep off bundle quantities to be bound by the other harvesters following on foot.
Mr. Moss was a member of the first board of supervisors of Mitchell county, which met January 7, 1861, and chairman of the board during the second year of its existence. He was again a member and chairman of the board of supervisors in 1870.
N. W. Moss was one of the charter organizers of Relief Lodge, No. 211, A. F. & A. M., at Riceville, in Jenkins township, and its first worshipful master. The gatherings of this lodge were bright spots in the lives of the pioneer members, and its public functions, installations and St. John's Day festivals, with feasts of good things, and music and dancing, were events eagerly looked forward to and cherished among the happiest recollections of the early day men, women and children. One of the grandchildren remembers well a lodge festival in the winter of 1868 at Riceville, at which W. R. Mead, for many years editor of the Cresco Plain-dealer, made the address. Mr. Moss was made a Master Mason at Utica, New York, in 1839, made a Royal Arch Mason there in 1842; a Knight Templar in Commandery, No. 3, of that city in 1843; and in 1847, in the city of New York, received the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite or thirty-second degree. He assisted in organizing the Royal Arch Chapter, and the commandery of Knights Templar at Osage in 1870.
His devotion to Freemasonry was deep and abiding, all his sons were made Masons, his wife and his daughters-in-law and nieces were made members of the Eastern Star. One of his most cherished possessions was a watch, still kept and cherished in the family, its case bearing an embossed representation of the working tools of the craft, and inscribed "Presented to N. W. Moss, W. M., in token of respect, by Relief Lodge No. 211, A. F. & A. M. June 24th, 1872." He made with his own hands, for he was a skillful cabinetmaker as well as tailor, the stations, desks, wardrobes and regalia-boxes for Relief Lodge, No. 211, when it was located in his hall at Mossville. His diary records the fact that at the 4th of July celebrations at Osage in 1868 he was marshal of the day for the Masons. He helped to lay the corner stone of the Central building of Cedar Valley Seminary on that occasion. Before the railroads came into northern Iowa he made long journeys by stage to attend meeting of the Iowa Grand Lodge of Freemasons, of which he was a member.
White residing at Waterville, New York, he held commissions under Governors Washington Hunt, and Horatio Seymour, in the military service of the state. He was captain of the local company of National Guard at Waterville, and during the Civil war taught the manual of arms and rudiments of drill and tactics, to Union recruits at Brownville, near his home in Iowa.
He was baptized and brought up a member of the Episcopal church, as was also his wife. In 1854, when they came from Oneida county to Iowa, came also from the neighboring city of Rochester, New York, their friend the Episcopal Bishop Lee, newly appointed to the diocese of Iowa, and to reside at Davenport. In consequence of their acquaintance, and correspondence with this good man, who was godfather to their first grandchild, they endeavored to establish a church of that denomination in the township and, failing in this, maintained a Sabbath school at the 'Mossville schoolhouse, its modest library being furnished by the church authorities, and kept at his home. This Sunday school was afterward merged into a union Sunday school of all denominations, and his diary records the fact that he made for them a handsome banner for a celebration and picnic held by the school in July, 1872, at Mossville.
His grandchildren remember him as the ideal grandfather; of impressive presence, six feet in stature, well proportioned, with large head and strong features, blue-gray eyes and brown hair, he inspired affection and commanded respect. His physical strength was impaired by early privation and overwork, resulting in frequent recurring periods of illness after coming to Iowa, and which culminated in his taking to his bed in December, 1875, and death at his home at Mossville April 5, 1878. His funeral was conducted by the various Masonic bodies of which he was a member, and he was buried in Osage cemetery, where he rests among relatives and friends of the early days when Mitchell county was in the making.
A history of the county published thirty-five years ago states of him: "Nathaniel W. Moss was one of the earliest, most respected and influential citizens of Mitchell county. In politics he was a democrat and a stanch Union man. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian, and a consistent member of that denomination. He had a clear head, a more than ordinary mind, and his opinions were universally respected by all who knew him. Socially he was humorous, genial and kind, and by his presence made every circle where he moved better and happier."
His wife was born in Montreal, Canada, October 12, 1815, daughter of Charles and Jane (Fraunce) Cardwell. She removed with her parents to Quebec, where her father was in government employ as superintendent of the King's works. She was a true Christian, a devoted wife and mother, an unfailing helpmate through all the bright and dark days of pioneer life, beloved by her family and respected by all who knew her. She survived him until February 22, 1887, when she passed away at the old home at Mossville and lies buried beside him in the cemetery at Osage.
Seven children were born to Nathaniel and Margaret Moss, some of whom are mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this history. The eldest, William C., was born in New York city June 17, 1835, came to Mitchell county in 1856, was a clerk in the government land office, county treasurer in 1882 and following, and died at Osage, October 13, 1903.
Edward N., born in New York city, January 28, 1837, came with his parents to Jenkins township in April, 1856, followed farming and filled positions of local trust in the community, and now lives at Riceville, surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, at the advanced age of eighty-one. John T., born at Utica, March 4, 1839, came with the family to Jenkins township, became interested in the Indian tribes which camped nearby, learned their language and customs, being much beloved by them, and by the Indians generally in after-life, went to California about 1857, was a pony express rider, became a noted scout and Indian pacificator, entrusted with important government missions, well-to-do mine owner, member of the first Colorado legislature, and died at San Francisco April 11, 1880, in consequence of a bullet wound, not intended for him, but received some years prior in the Indian country while endeavoring to save the life of a brother Freemason who signaled him when menaced by a revengeful Indian. He was known among the Indians of the southwest as Narraquinep, signifying "Never Die," and believed by them, in consequence of his coolness in danger, and miraculous escapes from death, to bear a charmed life.
Nathaniel J., born at Waterville, New York, May 6, 1841, came with his parents to Jenkins township, attended the schools in Osage, followed farming near his father's farm, made numerous trips to the California and Colorado gold and silver fields, became well-to-do, retired, and died at Waterloo, Iowa, November 30, 1916. His funeral was conducted at the Episcopal church in that city and his body brought to Osage cemetery, where it was interred with Masonic ceremonies.
Eliza Jane, born October 7, 1844, at Waterville, New York, came with her parents to Jenkins township, attended the school in Osage, married Archibald F. Kerr of Brownville, October 4, 1861, died there March 26, 1863, and with their babe of three days is buried in the Brownville cemetery.
Margaret Amelia, born at Waterville, February 26, 1849, died there February 7, 1852.
Francis Wellington, born at Waterville, New York, October 30, 1853, baptized in Grace Episcopal church of that city September 3, 1854, died at Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa, September 30, 1854.Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, pages 124-130
Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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