Blackmore Corner, Monroe Twp.

HEATON, BENNETT, OLIVER, DRAKE, BLACKMORE, FORD, DOLECHECK, LONG, MORROW, CARNEY, LAY, GEASLING, ZWICKBEADLE, DERSCHEID

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/14/2010 at 22:43:29

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
July 21, 1977

The Blackmore Corner
Community in Monroe Twp.

By E. B. HEATON as written in 1872
with interpretive remarks by Charles P. BENNETT

Our history, as we promised, will be rather rambling in its construction yet these need not detract from its interest - rather may add to the welcome it may received in various parts of the county. This week we find ourselves in one of the eastern townships of the country - a township with perhaps rather more area of arable land than the majority of townships due to the fact that less streams are to be found at its surface than other parts.

This locality that we first describe is familiarly known as Prairie View and is one of the oldest communities in the county. The first settlers were Isaac OLIVER and James A. DRAKE who located here in the spring of 1855.

Mr. DRAKE improved this farm now owned by Alex BLACKMORE and his father but subsequent to this sale he died leaving a widow and children. His son, John P. was the first white child born in Monroe twp.

This was known at first as Sand Creek Twp. In a subsequent division it was designated as East Fork and when formed by congressional lines it received its present name which transpored, we believe, in 1867.

This farm owned by Alex BLACKMORE is well improved and consists of 160 acres, a nice residence, a barn and a first-rate orchard which for its age is very productive of most excellent fruit. A large amount of hedge is on the place and also a beautiful young grove. At the S.E. corner two well traveled roads cross running along section lines.

Although this is a very desirable farm (Larry FORDS live here now). South of this place, across the road, is the farm of Wellington LONG. It consists of 80 acres all under improvement, a frame house, thrifty young orchard and osage hedge. Mr. LONG has lived here some 13 years and during the rebellion bore arms in defense of his country (Cecil DOLECHECKS live here). His brother, Lewis LONG, lives across the road on the east on a farm of 160 acres, half of which is under fence. The house is frame and substantial. He has 100 rods of osage and 80 rods of will. Mr. LONG also served as a soldier and is one of our most respected citizens having filled the office of Justice of the Peace and has also been County Supervisor. (Ivan DOLEHECKS live here now.)

North of Alex BLACKMORE is the farm of his father, Samuel BLACKMORE, which is 80 acres in size. His house is better than the average and the barn is most excellent. Mr. BLACKMORE is by trade a blacksmith and can occasionally be found at work in his shop.

Prairie View school house is across the road from this place. The school has an attendance of 50. The M.E. church has started services here every 3 weeks. This forms a part of the Caledonia Circuit. Rev. MORROW is pastor.

It may be well in passing to note that at the first election in these parts in 1855 but 3 votes were cast, whereas now in Monroe township alone there are about 70 voters registered.

The farm on which the school house stands is owned by Mr. Robert CARNEY and consists of about 40 acres, all improved. Mr. CARNEY is noted for owning a premium stallion which at the last county fair was but two years old and weighed 1210 pounds. With the exception of this farm which is all new, all that we have described has splendid young groves of forest trees which are lifting their heads toward the sun and are courting admiration.

N.W. of Samuel BLACKMORES is the farm of another son, Samuel C. BLACKMORE, which is 80 acres in size and all cultivated. Mr. BLACKMORE has 320 rods of willow hedge, the greater proportion of which is doing duty as a fence. (Wilbur LAYS, we believe, now live here.)

The last three farms mentioned are without orchards which is somewhat singular when they have an occular demonstrating of the profit and pleasure there is in raising fruit as the luscious apples grown by Alex BLACKMORE. Indeed we inquire what men are thinking of to persist in purchasing apples when they can, in a few years, have all the peannans and winesaps they can desire with so little trouble and expense.

Continuing north up the road from Mr. CARNEY'S at a distance of one-half a mile we arrive at the farm of Mr. Robert GEASLING. This is 80 acres, half of which is improved. Mr. GEASLING has planted a young orchard and 80 rods of osage. Adjoining this farm at the north is the farm of C. E. ZWICK, also 80 acres and also improved. He has 160 rods of osage and a nice young orchard. Around his house is a young grove of cottonwood, maple, Lombardy poplar, mulberry trees and service bushes.

Mr. ZWICk has a snug little frame house and keeps things around him in good shape. The farm joining Mr. ZWICK on the north belongs to Thomas BEADLE and is 120 acres in size and in cultivation.

(The ZWICK, BEADLE, and GEASLING land is now, I believe, owned by the DERSCHEID family.)

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010