Re: Poweshiek Co. Genealogical Query:
RUTAN, ROTAN, RATAN, RHOUTAN, ARNEL, ARNEL, ARNOLD, EATHERTON, BEKKER
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email) In Response To: Poweshiek Co. Genealogical Query: (Lola Weber)
Date: 10/26/2013 at 13:54:56
John T. Rutan appears to be enumerated with his mother, Sarah, and his stepfather George W. Arnel in the 1870 Census in Victor, Warren Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa. The census lists the surname as Arnold, but it should be Arnel.
1870 Federal Census: Warren Twp., Poweshiek, Iowa
M593, Roll 417; Page: 422B;Geo W Arnold, 31, born Indiana, White, Male
Sarah Arnold 30, born Pennsylvania
John T Arnold 13, born Pennsylvania
Carlena Arnold 11, born Ohio
A P Arnold 9, born Iowa
M W Arnold 3, born IowaAccording to the 1870 census, they did not own the land on which they were living.
A. P. Arnold is Alfred Peter Rutan who was born 31 March 1863 in Johnson County, Iowa. M. W. Arnold is Minnie W. Arnold, born 21 December 1866 in Victor, Poweshiek, Iowa. Sarah Rutan apparently married George W. Arnel between August 1864 and 1866. August 1864 date is based on possible presumption that the John Rutan killed in the Civil War in 1864 listed below is their father.
In 1880, the Arnold/Arnel family was enumerated in Niobrara Precinct, Knox County, Nebraska
1880 Census, Niobrara, Knox, Nebraska; Roll: 751; Page: 63C; Enumeration District: 107;George Arnold, 41, a mason, born in Kentucky;
Sarah Arnold, wife, 40, born in Pennsylvania;
John Rutan, stepson, 23, farmer, born in Pennsylvania;
Alfred Rutan, stepson, 19, farmer, born in Pennsylvania;
Minnie Arnold, daughter, 13, born in Iowa;
James Arnold, son, 10, born in Iowa;
Orie Arnold, son, 7, born in Iowa;Obituary for Alfred Peter Rutan
March 31, 1861 -- November 2, 1945[The Chamberlain Register - Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota; November 8, 1945]
Rites for Peter Rutan Tuesday
Funeral rites were held at the McColley Funeral home for Peter Rutan who passed away at the hospital, principally from shock received in the auto crash occurring the first of last week near the White Eagle Station, in which he and his wife drove into the trailer of a passing truck. He received injuries in the crash as well as did Mrs. Rutan, who is still in the hospital, but due to his advanced age, coupled with the fact that his lungs were affected, he was unable to rally from the shock, according to Morris Eatherton, his son-in-law.Alfred Peter Rutan, 84, was born in Iowa City, Ia, moving to Lyman county from Niobrara, Nebr., where he lived for a time, in the 1890 when he filed on a homestead on which he has since lived. He and Mrs. Rutan were a thrifty couple and despite the hardships endured, were quite independent, with friends and the myriads. And one can not erase from memory's picture, their coming to town in their car and driving slowly and cautiously - Mr. Rutan's vision poor and Mrs. Rutan assisting him in steering the car or telling him which way to turn. Apparently, however, the vision of both were bad, or they were excited when crashing into the trailer. Raising stock and doing a little farming was their principal occupation. But in earlier days, Mr. Rutan worked on a boat then operating on the river. Besides the widow, now recovering from injuries, at the hospital, Mr. Rutan is survived by three children: William of Platte (SD), Mrs. Morris Eatherton of Chamberlain, and Mrs. Bekker of Los Angeles, to whom the sincerest sympathy is extended by their many friends.
The following is a possibility for John Rutan:
John Rutan
Rank: Private
Unit: Iowa 11th Infantry, Company B
Born: Ohio
Death: 14 or 18 August 1864 near Atlanta Georgia [records give both dates for death]
Cemetery: Marietta National Cemetery, Cobb County, Georgia
Notes: J-42; enlisted 16 Apr 1861 age 22 res Iowa Twp; wounded slightly hand 06 Apr 1862 re-enlisted 29 Feb 1864 killed in battle;From Findagrave posting for Marietta National Cemetery:
Jno. Rutan
Aug. 14, 1864Rutan, John. Co B 11th Iowa. (Veteran.) Age 22. Residence Iowa Township, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Sept. 16, 1861. Mustered Oct. 1, 1861. Wounded slightly in hand April 6, 1862, Shiloh, Tenn. Re-enlisted and re-mustered Feb. 29, 1864. Killed in battle Aug. 14, 1864, near Atlanta, Ga. Buried in National Cemetery, Marietta, Ga. Section J, grave 42. Source: -Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers...
RUTAN, JOHN
BURIED AT: SECTION J SITE 9710George W. Arnel died on 24 February 1902 and Sarah Arnel on 20 October 1890, both buried in Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Chamberlain Register Newspaper - Chamberlain, South Dakota
November 6, 1890Mrs. George Arnell, after a long illness, died yesterday
Mrs. George Arnell died Wednesday afternoon, and the funeral took place Friday. She had been an invalid for several years, and was a lady who was highly esteemed by her neighbors and friends. The bereaved husband and other members of the family have the sympathy of the whole community in their sad affliction.
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Victor, Iowa is actually in Iowa County adjacent to Poweshiek County, Iowa. Warren Township where they lived in 1870 is in Poweshiek County. Brooklyn, Iowa is about nine miles west of Victor. Perhaps they lived between Brooklyn and Victor since they were enumerated in the township with the post office being out of Victor.
Victor, Iowa
Source: History of Iowa County, Iowa And its People, By James C. Dinwiddie, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Chicago 1915, pages 251-255;The Town of Victor was originally called Wilson, in honor of George W. Wilson, the man who entered the land and took a very active interest in the affairs of the town. Joseph A. Blackburn was the man who founded the town on May 5, 1863, and caused to be laid out the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 19, township 8o, range 12. Other additions have since been made at different times.
In the autumn of 1865 Mr. Hunt erected a grain elevator. In the fall of the previous year R. C. Boughton came to the new town. A short time after his arrival he went into the meat market business and later opened a grocery, which he successfully managed for several years. In the fall of 1865 John H. Funk, having erected a building, established himself in the mercantile business. Later, with J. W. Garrett, he engaged in milling. Senaea Townsend was the first physician. I. S. Richards, a native of Virginia, came with his family about 1865. He taught school in the vicinity of Victor for several terms and then entered the land agency business here. William A. Patrick came from Ohio in 1867 and became a Victor merchant, also dealt in the grain business. J. C. Gridley established the first hardware store.
INCORPORATION
In the year 1869, under the Iowa law providing for the incorporation of towns, Victor was incorporated. Under the direction of G. W. Wilson, the town was laid off into lots by the surveyor, Charles Shotwell, in 1861, eight years prior to incorporation. The change of the name from Wilson to Victor occurred in 1865. The first officers of the town were: A. H. Simpson, mayor; H. M. Wilson, recorder; F. P. Hutchins, marshal. Following Simpson in the office of mayor have been: William A. Patrick, H. F. Garretson, E. P. Hall, J. E. Wilkins, J. P. Englebeck, R. C. Broughton, H. Howard, Lewis Clark, D. W. Phillips. Dr. G. F. Bott is the present mayor.
NEWSPAPERS
The first weekly paper in Victor was called the Victor Sun and was edited by D. B. Eaton in 1871. Then G. W. Rutherford took the paper and called it the Index, after which it was edited by W. Clapp, and after his death in the spring of 1875 his widow became the editor. E. E. Merritt and Charles Kelsey followed, then J. A. Shanks. The latter had established the Labor Herald at Ladora on November 21, 1878, and was continued there until the latter of February, 1880, when it was removed to Victor and was then called the Victor Herald. This paper died in the '90s. The Victor Record, the present weekly newspaper in Victor, was established in 1906.
VICTOR NOTES
The post office was first established 1-1/4 miles south on the state road in July, 1854, with Samuel Drummond as postmaster. It was called Victor from a town by that name from New York State and when removed to near the depot in March, 1862, still retained the name. After Mr. Drummond some of the first postmasters were: Wesley Hunt, F. C. Smith, John Ledwich, Melvin Wighton, Dr. D. J. Hussey. The railroad was built through the town in 1862. A Mr. McEckley built the first house and store on the present site of Victor. The settlers came from Ohio, Indiana and Maryland, principally Irish and German, and later a few Belgians. Arnold Soer was the first Belgian settler and is now a retired farmer living in Victor. The City of Victor owns its own waterworks and gas plant. The city seal was adopted in 1868. Victor had its first election in March, 1869. The first additions to the town after it was platted were called Giffords, Martin and Murphy's first and second addition.
George W. Wilson entered 1,000 acres of land in the spring of 1854 and in order to do this he obligated himself to his father in law, one Joseph Blackburn, back in Ohio. He enlisted in the army and after the close of the war he stopped off in Ohio and paid his father in law the $600 obligation. Mr. Blackburn was sick at the time and did not give Wilson a clear deed to the land, but promised to do it as soon as he was able. In the meantime Blackburn died and the obligation still stood against Wilson in the way of a mortgage on his land. Blackburn's sons, John and Theodore, instituted proceedings to recover the father's share of the land and much litigation resulted. Mrs. George W. Wilson is living in Marengo at this time, and celebrated her eighty ninth birthday June 17, 1915. Mr. Wilson died at his home in Marengo where his wife now lives, a few months ago. They have two daughters and one son living: Mrs. Mary Gunckel, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mrs. Jennie M. Simpson, of Upland, Cal., and William H. Wilson, of Marengo. George W. Wilson donated the right of way to the Rock Island Railroad, built the first depot and was the first station agent. Later he became county recorder.
Some other first settlers in the town were: Mrs. West Barker, J. S. Richards, Mrs. Tillie Nace, William A. Patrick, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mussetter, J. W. Garrett and Horace Mussetter. Westley Hunt had the first store and post office. Theodore Smith had the first drug store; N. P. Huntoon the first restaurant; James Gainzley was the first blacksmith. The mill at Victor was constructed by McEckley, who also built the first house. The first lumber yard was built and owned by Walters and Hamilton in 1866. The first church was constructed by the Methodists and was on the present site of the Methodist Church. John Wallick sold cattle and hogs in 1865; Charles Wallick sold grain in the same year; Phillip Oel sold grain in 1868; William A. Patrick sold grain in '68; John Hunt sold grain in 1865. Dr. Eli Eastman was the first veterinarian in the town. John Funk established the first general store in 1865. The first death in the city was that of Julia Wallick. Charles Comstock came to Victor early and his son, L. B., was the first white child born in the town.
The first section foreman was Mike Kilcoin, also Thomas Carroll, in the spring of 1863. The first hotel was run by a Mr. Nagley on the present site of the Victor Savings Bank. Jesse Gwinn aided Wilson to build the first depot for the railroad in 1862, with timber taken from Wilson's land and sawed into boards by them. Wilson rented some of his land to John Keller.
BANKS
The Farmers Savings Bank of Victor was organized in January, 1891, with a cash capital of $25,000. The first officers were: James Simpson, president; C. H. Bartlett, vice president; H. L. Mussetter, cashier; J. M. Rumple, James Simpson, Thomas Leader, Levi Lewis, John Kraft, C. H. Bartlett and William Hakeman, directors. The present capital of the bank is $50,000; the deposits $509,000 and the surplus $17,000. The following are the officers in 1915. J. C. Engelbert, president; Phillip Mohr, vice president; H. L. Mussetter, cashier; J. C. Engelbert, Phillip Mohr, H. L. Mussetter, James P. Lawlor, M. C. Wentland, D. P. Lanning and Max Speck, directors. The Victor Savings Bank was organized and began business on July 6, 1905. The amount of the first cash capital was $25,000, which remains the same at present. The first officers were: D. B. Connelly, president; A. C. Bender, vice president; J. A. Rouse, cashier. The first board of directors consisted of the following men: D. B. Connelly, A. C. Bender, L. H. Rinehart, A. A. Rouse, H. Hughes, T. T. Osborn and J. M. Dower. The present officers are: Louis Feller, president and J. T. McGuire, cashier. The deposits at the present time average $172,000. Through efficient management the bank has, in the last seven years, gained strength with every month, until the present excellent standing was gained.CHURCHES
The Methodist denomination was the first to erect a house of worship within the city limits. George H. Blodgett drew up the plan of the building and James Miller did most of the construction. Another structure was erected in 1878 at a cost of $3,000. The first class was organized in 1853; among the early members were: Mary Ann Drummond, Mr. and Mrs. Griswold, Charles Comstock, W. Rosecrans and wife, Isaac Rosecrans and wife, McBurney and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Switzer and John Gwin and wife. The first Presbyterian Church of Victor was organized September 28, 1867. This church is not active in Victor at the present time. The Catholic Church was organized in 1875 and now has a large church building and parsonage. There are 150 families in the congregation. The German Lutheran Church was started four years ago; that is, regular services were held in the church constructed that year. Prior to this time services were held in the Congregational Church building. Rev. Otto Kitzmann of the Lincoln Township Church also has charge of this society. The Congregationalists have an organization here, dating from about 1885.
LODGES
Victor Lodge No. 287, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered March 15, 1870, with the following as charter members: R. C. Broughton, J. Huston, George L. Ostrum, John Elrod, J. P. Hunt, D. L. Lyon, A. Young and S. Boden. The lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized in March, 1870. The A. O. U. W. at Victor was organized in April, 1877, with eighteen charter members. The U. S. Grant Post, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in 1887 and the following were the first mustered in: H. F. Garretson, H. Howard, D. B. Atkinson, A. McAdam, J. T. Harper, H. H. Sheldon, J. J. Ashley, W. F. Hunt, J. R. Helmstreet, W. K. Nace, Lewis Wigton, Samuel Rogers, Benjamin Lyman, T. R. Smith, A. Emory, Charles Walick, J. S. Funk, S. A. Hibbs, S. F. Donaldson, G. W. Hyter, J. Genzeley, S. Urfer, J. E. Sanders, Thomas Whitworth, A. C. Best, P. H. Burke, D. H. Campbell, G. W. Weatherby, John Forney. H. F. Garretson was the first commander. Other lodges in Victor at the present time are: Knights of Pythias, Knights of Luther, Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Rebekahs, Eastern Star and Pythias Sisters. The first school in Victor was held in a blacksmith shop which was built and owned by L. W. Hunt. This was in the spring and summer of 1864. Eliza Gwinn, now Mrs. W. C. Barker, taught the first school at this time. The building stood just east of where the new creamery now stands. Addie Turley taught the second school in the summer of 1865 in a room used at one time as a blacksmith and repair shop. John G. Simpson, Melvin Wigton, Philip Uhl and John H. Funk were chosen as the first directors of the independent school district of Victor. In 1870 the district erected a building and in October, 1873, it was destroyed by fire. The first grading of schools was done in 1869. Another authority places the first teacher in Victor as Addie Turley. The facts in favor of Miss Turley or Miss Gwinn are about equal, and it is impossible at this time to determine just who the first teacher was, but it is certain that it was one of the two. School was also held in the old Catholic Church building, which is now the town hall of Victor. A new school was built in 1870, of frame, two stories in height. There were two rooms on each floor, those on the upper not being finished. This was burned, as mentioned before, on the morning of October 6, 1873. William H. Wilson, who was then a boy, related the following about the fire: "On the morning of October 6th, in company with a young fellow named Washington Hunt, I went out to a grove to pick hickory nuts. We had run away from school and while picking nuts, Hunt remarked that he wished the darned old school would burn down. A few minutes later as Hunt was up in a tree shaking the nuts dawn, he looked over in the direction of the school and saw that it was burning." This school was located at the south end of what is now Main Street. The second school house was also burned, and the district is now occupying the third school building. It is a brick structure and supposed to be fireproof.
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