Page 51

The Parr Family

Editor's Note: The source of information for most of the story above was taken from an article written by Ruby Pancratz and published in the January 31, 1932 Cedar Rapids Sunday Gazette and Republican. The article was made available for this book by Louise Pauls.

Picture of Log Cabin Built by Reason Parr
    This log cabin, which is in the process of being torn down and already minus a roof, was built by Reason Parr on the southeast part of the intersection that is formed by the crossroad about a mile south of Lowden. Later Harvey Parr erected a stone house on a spot about 80 rods north from the log cabin. The log cabin was also moved to the new location and used as a hog house. This is the present location of the farm buildings that is part of the farm now owned and operated by Mr and Mrs Dorance Scheer.

    In 1932, a log cabin built ninety-five years before and hidden for many years beneath a covering of boards, was brought to light when the Pauls Brothers, who lived about three-fourths of a mile south of Lowden, began to tear down a building that had been long used as a hog house. The roof had already been removed when a picture of it was taken.

     In 1837, Reason Parr, his wife, and family, together with several brothers and their families came from Ohio in covered wagons and took up homesteads in this vicinity. It was not until 1857 that the village of “Louden” was laid out and about a year later that the first railroad known as the Chicago, Iowa, and Nebraska Railroad was built to the town.

     The farm of Reason Parr contained 275 acres and was purchased from the government, the deed being signed by President John Tyler. All but twenty- . . .

Page 52

. . . five acres was later enclosed with a rail fence. A sheltered spot between the hills about a fourth of a mile south of where the cabin was being torn down was the original site for the Parr home. This site was on the southeast part of the intersection formed by the crossroads about a mile south of Lowden. This is the spot where the county building now stands.

     These early settlers depended for their lives on the products of the immediate territory in which they located and every possible means had to be employed to make the best economic use of the natural resources for their building material and their food. The logs of the cabin were cut from the huge oak trees of the dense woods, which almost surrounded their future home. One of the largest logs used in the cabin measured 16 feet 12 inches by 8 inches. Clay was used as mortar to fill the cracks between the logs. Later, when the cabin was moved to its second location, each log was numbered so that it would be easier to put the building together again. The door of the cabin did not open by turning a knob but those who wished to enter pulled a latch string, which raised a bar on the inside. When the latch string was not on the outside, no one could enter.

     Bands of counterfeiters and horse thieves made their headquarters along the stream known as the “Yankee Run” and the little band of settlers were kept in constant terror as raids were made and the posses searched for the criminals.

     Reason Parr and his son, Harvey were both badly wounded during an attempt to capture a horse thief who had taken refuge on the farm. Another time, the horse thieves, Alonzo Gleason and Ed Sloper, were taken by a mob from the courthouse in Tipton, brought to the Martin Henry farm*, adjoining the Parr farm, and hanged.

     Harvey Parr, son of Reason Parr, also made his home in the log cabin after his marriage, and here his six sons were born. Accustomed to larger quarters, how would a modern family of six manage to entertain guests when they came as they did in those days, bringing their families and staying for days at a time. One son recalls many such times, when he and the rest of the family slept on the floor so that the guests might occupy such beds or bunks as the cabin afforded. Distance and means of travel prohibited shorter visits but no one complained.

     In 1861, Harvey Parr erected a stone house on the east side of the road across from where the present farm buildings stand. William Parr of Garwin, Iowa, son of Harvey Parr, related how his father, unable to purchase an additional window in Lowden for the new house, walked to Davenport, a distance of forty miles, to procure the needed article. This method was faster than the only other means, the ox-team. The stone house contained six good-sized rooms.

     In 1805, the farm which still contained 275 acres, was sold to Kossuth Pauls and later operated by his sons, Emil, Herman and Matthiesen, and his two daughters, Mary and Louise. A wing was added to the front of the stone house which was finished in imitation stone to correspond with the stone on the old part. Before the Pauls family sold the farm to Mr and Mrs Dorance Scheer in 1962, . . .

Page 53

. . . the stone house was replaced with the present house.

     The farm is presently owned by the Scheers, but now contains only 240 acres. Thirty-five acres of timberland to the south were sold.

     *The area of the Martin Henry farm where the hanging of the two men took place is now owned by Mr and Mrs Jerold Jensen. The incident took place on the north side of the road, about one-fourth of a mile southeast of the intersection that is located a mile south of Lowden.

Picture of house

The center portion and also the part to the right of this home was built of stone and was first used by Harvey Parr. The wing to the left was added after Kossuth Pauls purchased the farm. Before the farm was sold to Mr and Mrs Dorance Scheer in 1962, this house was torn down and the present one was built.