The old family home of Geo. Bishop and family about 1900. Mrs. Geo. Bishop, Walter and Dewey.

marriage in the township was John Denway to Miss Mary Burnside; they were married at Climax in 1856 by Elder Hunt of the Protestant Methodist church. The first birth in the township were twins of Mrs. Oliver Gilbreth, one died when one week old and the other one when three months old. They were buried in Section 20. The first preaching was at Mr. Glanden's house by Elder Hunt. The first school taught on section 29 by Miss Sarene Dean from Rock Island; she had seven pupils, received $8.00 per month, taught eleven months and boarded around with the scholars. The first two school houses were built in 1858 on sections 4 and 30 both by a man named Bundle, and each cost $537.00.

   The first weaving of cloth was done by Mrs. Annie Glanded, but Mrs. Lucinda Wax also wove about the same time.

   Frank Norris, who was 81 in March, reports that he was born in Ohio in 1872. He came to Climax in 1881 with his parents and settled on the farm there, which is now owned by Mrs. Harry Faunce and operated by N. W. Settell. Mr. Norris recalls that the only bridge (iron) across Walnut Creek at that time was in Climax. His father was a farmer and the men with covered wagons would stop there for the night. When they asked for hay for their horses, Mr. Norris would tell them that they could have all they could carry for ten cents. He had six acres of board fence on his farm and people would come from miles around to see it because there were no fences in those days. The first wire fence was just a single smooth wire with posts about three to five rods apart.  Frank Norris recalls the Maytag auto Steve Shields owned and says they could hear him climb every hill on his way to Red Oak. Though there was once a blacksmith shop, store, telephone office and many homes in Climax, all that remains now is one house, the farm and the church.

   Although a sawmill had been in operation on Walnut Creek since 1866, the Grist Mill (a mill for grinding grain) was not built until 1875 by Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Bridge, former West township residents, who now live in Emerson.  It was first a saw mill but later burs were added to grist grain. Folks would sometimes have to wait two or three days for their grain, so Climax was a busy place.  It was on Walnut Creek and was run by a water wheel and operated by W. A. Grover. In 1875 they ran more days a year than any mill in , grinding seventy bushels of wheat and one hundred bushels of corn per day.

   T. J. Birbeck, who no doubt is the oldest resident of West township, for he will soon be eighty-two, has contributed pictures for this edition.

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Farm Bureau

  The first agriculture organization originated in Red Oak in August, 1912. and was called the Farm Improvement Association.

   A number of interested farmers met at the close of an afternoon session at the Red Oak Chautauqua Park and proceeded to form an organization of farmers. Directors for many of the townships were named and Frank Iddings was elected president.

   Through the efforts of Judge H. E. Deemer and Mrs. E. P. Milner, Sears Roebuck Co. offered to give $1000.00 to aid the new farm organization and the Burlington Railroad gave $200.00 to assist in the work. Later the Bureau received the allotment provided by legislative act.

   It is interesting to note that Rex J. Davidson was named the first county agent in 1912, and that only the following four men have held that position since: Frank Barker, George Dillion, Vince Anderson and Stann Dunn.

The old Grist Mill on Walnut Creek at Climax in 1888.