Pilot Grove's Past and Present

Page 44

 
 

because of transportation and expense each district kept its own building instead of having a centrally located one. District No. 3, near Elliott, was taken into the Elliott Consolidated district at that time. In 1945 because of fewer children and scarcity of teachers some schools were closed and with better roads and transportation children are now taken by busses to nearby towns. In 1953 District No. 9 will be the only one of the original school districts having school.

 

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Pilot Grove Church

 

   Much of any community life centers around the church and the first record of religious meetings i that of a circuit rider. A. P. Gilmore, who held meetings at the original Pilot Grove school house.  In 1870 Mr. Yockey located on a farm near the center  of the township and organized the Pilot Grove Center Methodist Church. The first meetings were held in the schoolhouse with Mr. Yockey, Martha Yockey, Thomas Pettit, George A. Pettit, and Rachel Pettit as members.  In 1881 there were 65 members. In 1886 pledges were given to start the construction of a church which was dedicated the summer of 1887.  The stone for the foundation was hauled by team from Red Oak. The original church consisted of the central part of the building as it stands today and the aisle was so narrow that at funerals the casket had to be lifted over the pews to be carried. Between May 1893 and June 1894 the part to the south was built and in 1922 two Sunday school rooms and a basement were added. The first Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1887 and continued to operate until 1904 when it was reorganized. The first records of Sunday school is dated January 1893, before that the Ladies Aid served as a place for Bible study. The first person buried in the Pilot Grave Cemetery was Mrs. John King. Today, although many rural churches have disbanded, it is a thriving church and extensive improvements were made during the past year.

  

   In 1878 the United Presbyterian Church of Pilot Grove was organized. This church was built on Section 35 in District No. 7 and cost $1,200. The original members were John Askey and family, J. Y. Martin and family, Isaac Barr and family, and J. A. Deming and wife. This church disbanded several years ago.

 

   It is hard to realize the changes that have taken place since those early days. The population increased until 1880 when it reached its peak of 880 people, but by 1950 it had decreased to 489. Practically all farming is done by machinery. Electricity has made it possible to have modern conveniences in the home eliminating much of the hard laborthat the early settlers had to endure.  With good roads, many of which are graveled, automobiles, radio and television, Pilot Grove is an up-to-date and thriving community.    

  

 

   

Pilot Grove Ladies Aid,

1923

 

 

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 Red Oak River Ferry

 

   In 1864 David Cook obtained a license for $5.00 to operate a ferry across the river at Red Oak until a passable bridge could be built. A two horse team and wagon was charged 50 cents and a man on foot 10 cents.

 

 

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Early Political Parties

 

   In 1854 there were the following political parties: "The Know Nothin" party, the "Silver Grays," the "Seward Whigs," the "Hunkers" and the "Barn Burners." The Democratic party this year met its first defeat.

 

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    The name Tarkio, for which Tarkio Creek is named, is believed to have been an Indian name for wild turkey, but no good authority was found for it.

  

   

District No. 1, Botts School, Pilot Grove

1893