Mills County, Iowa

Anderson Township History

Source: History of Mills County Iowa 1985 and the History of Mills County 1881.

When Mills County was organized in August of 1851, it was divided into five townships. In 1853, another township was added lying east of the Nishnabotna River and was called Montgomery Township. This township was divided in 1856 with the northern part being called Nishnabotna, now Anderson Township.

The first village in the township was Potter. Later after the Burlington and Northern Railroad was built about 1880, Potter became Henderson Crossing.

Early Settlers of Anderson Township

• James Boileau
• Watson Cooper
• Jacob Coppock
• Henry Darnell
• David Kayton
• J.P. Kayton
• Edward Slump
• Simeon Triplett
• A.S. Paul
• R. George Parker
• H. Pierson
• George Plumb
• John Plumb
• Valentine Plumb
• Joseph D. Robbins
• Robert Sowers
• William B.Wilson
• Joel Woods.

Early Services

The first schoolhouse in Anderson Township was built in 1854. No money was expended, the material being logs and the labor furnished without pay. The school was known as the Big Mud School and was located on the west side of the creek near where the old wagon trail forded the creek. The eroded trail is still visible in places. This wagon trail was one of the routes used by the Mormons, by fortune hunters, and by home seekers from the east.

Early services available in the township in the Big Mud community were the Noah Cotton water-powered shingle mill, the Warnke blacksmith shop, and a branch post office known as the Benton Post Office. The rock quarry near Henderson provided foundations for many early homes and other buildings.

Other early landmarks in Anderson Township were the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and the Wesley Chapel Cemetery. The Cotten/Granteer Cemetery, the Box Elder School, the Farm Creek Branch of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Farm Creek School and Cemetery, the Pickerill School and the town of Henderson.

Reminiscense of Fifty Years
by Mrs. A.E. Wilson

Source: The Illustrated Historical Atlas of Fremont and Mills Counties, Iowa, 1910. The Anderson Publishing Co. Chicago IL

W.B. Wilson was born in Denton, Lincolnshire, England, August 5, 1819, died at Malvern, Oct 2, 1893, and was married to S.E. Watson of Upper Sandusky on Oct. 21, 1856. He with Valentine Plumb came to Mud Creek, Iowa, in the spring of 1856. Each bought some land, Wilson of Richard Kelley at six dollars per acre. Plumb bought of Dr. Elder just south of us.

To look forward fifty years seems a long way in the future, but when it is past how short it seems. We think of the friends who long since left us lonely. We were married and came to Big Mud Creek, as it was then called, to begin housekeeping and make a home. We meant it to be a Christian home, thinking we might improve the morals of the country while improving the country. We had kind, considerate neighbors. I speak of a few of them, on the north were Mr. Shank, Mr. McKnown, on the south, Mr. Noah Cotton, Samuel Lookabill (who still remains), J.P. Kayton and David Kayton. On the east were Mr. Russel, H. Hulick and Devore. On the west, John Creamer; J.C. Hicks was justice of the peace.

Soon after came Hicks, Kelly, Warnkies, Moore, and the Plumbs. Here were children that needed a school. The directors learning that I had been teaching in Upper Sanduskey came to see if I would take the school. Not having entered into housekeeping very deeply, I consented (mother was with me to help with the care of the house), For twenty dollars per month I began a three months' term with thirty-two pupils enrolled.

Church

So far we had no religious services except for the Latter Day Saints. We went to Silver Creek for preaching services. We invited the minister to preach for us, and we soon had a small class organized. David Kayton and son and myself, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, not long after more were added, W.B. Wilson, V. Plumb and others. Then we wanted a Sabbath school so we raised ten dollars and with a donation of ten from the Methodist Book Concern, we procured a twenty dollar library. Some of the Wearins helped us with money, they were neighbors farther south, and would come to our spelling school.

Some of our ministers were Mr. Cooper, who lived at Stone Quarry, Old Father Good, Tipton, Burnes, Laidley, H.H. O'Neil, and W. T. Smith. Our church grew in numbers and we built a good-sized church between Big Mud and Little Mud Creek. E.W. Sage was the minister when this church was dedicated: this was about 1873. All of our family belonged to this church, five sons and four daughters. About ten years ago this church was replaced by a more modern one, called Wesley Chapel.

J.P. Kayton was superintendent of our Sabbath School. This was called the "hard winter of '56" The snow was very deep and crusted over. Deer would sometimes break through and be caught by dogs and killed. We could live well as game was plenty, and my husband had more time to hunt that winter than he ever had afterwards. He would shovel a path for me to get to school and keep up the fires and hunt. Some trapped prairie chickens, then shipped them to market while frozen.

Agriculture

It was once thought that fruit could not be raised here, but we had plenty of wild fruit, crabapples, plums and grapes. We were saving in those days. We raised broom corn and made our own brooms, and sometimes made shoes. Raised cane for sorghum syrup and sometimes stirred off some for sugar. Farm products were cheap. Chickens were a dollar per dozen, eggs and butter as low as four cents, but money was scarce. It could not be borrowed for less than 25% per annum.

Glenwood was our nearest post office and trading place. In 1863 W. B. Wilson was appointed postmaster of Benton Post Office. We kept the office for twelve years, when it was then moved some three miles north.

Surrounded by beautiful homes, many of the children of the old settlers living in them, it seems but a short time since we started on life's journey together, and we think of the poet who wrote.

"Oft in the stilly night,
Ere slumbers chain has bound me,
Fond memory brings the light
Of other days around me.

Excerpts from, "The History of Mills County Iowa 1985", Mills County History Book Committee, Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, TX.

Early Settlers of Anderson Township were:

• James Boileau
• Watson Cooper
• Jacob Coppock
• Henry Darnell
• David Kayton
• J.P. Kayton
• George Parker
• A.S. Paul
• R.H. Pierson
• John Plumb
• George Plumb
• Valentine Plumb
• Joseph D. Robbins
• Edward Slump
• Robert Sowers
• Simeon Triplett
• William B. Wilson
• Joel Woods

Several of these pioneers had served in the Civil War.

The first school in the township was Big Mud School, soon to be called Benton, built in 1854. Following close after came churches. Big Mud Church, which later became Wesley Chapel, was built in 1873.

Early services available in the township in the Big Mud community were the Noah Cotton water powered shingle mill, the Warnke blacksmith shop, and a branch post office known as the Benton post office.

Henderson

Henderson is located in Anderson township, on a portion of section 10. It was platted by Joel Woods in April, 1880. It enjoys good railroad facilities being on the Avoca and Hastings branch of the C.B.& Q. R.R. It is in the very heart of the best grain producing portion of Mills county. Business interests are growing daily in importance and value. No one can say what may be the future of this place.

Source: History of Mills County, 1881.
The Beginning

In 1881, Joel Woods and wife gave to "The Public" 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 10, Township 73, Range 40, where the "Village of Potter" was located. The name was later changed to Henderson. In 1893, Henderson was incorporated and the following officials were elected:

• Mayor, A.S. Paul
• Treasurer, M.C. Harover
• Recorder, Dr. Art Folsom
• Assessor, Tom Phillips
• Councilmen:
  • Joel Woods
  • E.M. Schafer
  • R.M. Atkins
  • James Bone
  • C.E. Irwin
  • H.F. Wilson

The C. B. & Q. Railroad came to Henderson in 1880 bringing growth to the area. Within five years (1880-1885) the town had expanded from 4 dwellings and 18 inhabitants to 45 dwellings and 214 inhabitants.

Businesses

A lumber business was established in 1885 by Thomas Phillips, Sr., who died in 1895. Other businesses included: livery service, Ralph Creamer; harness business, J. H. B. Gordon; blacksmith shop, E. S. Evans; general merchandise, Richard Thomas; general store, C. S. Swaney; hardware store, H. F. Wilson; stock dealer, A. S. Paul; grain and coal business, W. H. Harbor and C. E. Irwin; butter, eggs and poultry business, A. H. Harbor; physician, Dr. W. D. Craig; Carse's implement business, and Maynes' and Parker's meat market.

The Citizen's Bank began operating about 1890. The new Farmer's National Bank opened in 1904.

By 1910 more businesses were established: windmills, pumps and tanks, L. W. Triplett; hotel, C. M. Rose; restaurant. J. C. Goss; barber shop, U. G. Hockenberry; meat market, O. E. Farrington; real estate and notary public, E. M. Duke; automotive repair shop, George Wilson; dray and transit line, Clyde Edmondson; hardware, Sturgeon Bros., Workman & Co.; physicians, Drs. Gowdy and Perley.

A rural free delivery mail route was established in 1901.

Anderson Township Churches

Source: Standard Historical Atlas of Mills and Fremont Counties Iowa, The Anderson Publishing Co., Chicago IL 1910

Farm Creek L.D.S / R.L.D.S. - SW corner Section 1 Organized 1859 with 23 members. Some of the names which carried on the church included A.J. McClenahan, G. Fred Skank, Amazon Badham, Daniel Hougas, T.A. Hougas, Milton Oliver, J.R. Badham (father of Amazon), Polly Badham, Frances Liles, Bill Gifford and Calbin Beebe. Disorganized in 1866.

Wesley Chapel United Methodist - SE corner Section 24 - Organized 1856 by the William B. Wilsons, the Thomas Kaytons and the David Kaytons. In 1873 the first chapel was built. Trustees at that time were Valentine Plumb, W. B. Wilson, John Plumb, James Boileau, George Plumb, George Parker and James H. Wing.

Henderson Christian Church - Organized in 1877 in the Kilgore schoolhouse, 3 miles west of Henderson. First members included Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Newton, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Stonebraker, Mrs. J.A. Carse, Mrs. H.F. Maxwell, Miss Alice Newton, W.W. Myers, R.J. Myers, J.E. Storrers, W.H. Gonser, Mrs. James Conns and Mr. York.

Henderson United Methodist Church - Organized in 1881.

Anderson Township Schools

• Anderson - NW corner Section 29
• Benton - Center of Section 26 West
• Box Elder - SE corner Section 2 West
• Fairview - SW corner Section 5
• Farm Creek - SW corner Section 1
• Oaks - SW corner Section 25
• Pickerill / Pickeral - SE corner Section 28
• Union Valley - SE corner Section 15