of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 420-422
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. On the evening of February 9, 1856, a number of the first settlers of the county met in the lecture room of the Congregational church and organized "The Society of First Settlers of Muscatine County, Iowa." A constitution was drafted and adopted and the following officers were elected: President, Joseph Williams, Sr.; vice president, Thomas Burdett; secretary, Theodore S. Parvin. From that time until the present the association has held annual meetings and through its members and others have preserved much of the history relating to the early settlement of the county and its pioneers through papers read before the society, by those who were on the spot and could speak by the card.
There were fifteen pioneers who met and organized the society and Joseph P. Walton, some time before his death, prepared a short sketch of each one of them, as given below:
JOSEPH WILLIAMS. Joseph Williams was a native of Pennsylvania. He came here as one of the United States judges. He was a prince of a good fellow. He lacked the dignity that one would expect to find in a supreme judge. He was connected with many of the early Bloomington projects, such as the ferry, etc.
T. S. PARVIN. To the late T. S. Parvin is said to have belonged the credit of effecting the organization. He was a native of New Jersey, studied law at or near Cincinnati and came here as private secretary to Governor Lucas, July 4, 1838. He lived in Muscatine until 1860, when he removed to Iowa City and later to Cedar Rapids. He was grand secretary of the Grand Masonic lodge of Iowa at one time and had charge of the Grand Masonic Library.
PLINY FAY. Pliny Fay was a native of New England. He came here in 1837. He was known as a quiet, modest man and regarded as too much along this order for a frontiersman. In spite of his nature, however, he was one of the active forces in the building up of the community until he was compelled to go to California for his health. He died in that state a few years later.
JOSEPH BRIDGMAN. Joseph Bridgman was a native of Massachusetts. He came to Bloomington in 1837 and for many years was engaged in the mercantile business here.
SUEL FOSTER. Suel Foster was also a New Englander. He was the best sample of a Yankee ever seen in this section. Always outspoken, he was ready to share anything for the public good and was always to be found at the head of all important public improvements.
J. Q. JENNISON. J. Q. Jennison was an eastern man and came here as a civil engineer. He also engaged in mercantile pursuits here but after a few years' residence in Muscatine county moved to Colorado.
H. H. HINE. H. H. Hine was one of the earliest carpenters in the state and was credited with coming here in 1837. He worked at his trade the greater part of his life but found time to serve in the office of county sheriff for one or two terms and in other positions of trust.
MYRON WARD. Myron Ward was a stone mason and worked at his trade here for many years. He was a large man, gruff in actions and appearance and one who was a leader among the common people. After his residence here he went to Oregon and became very successful, living on the interest of accumulated money which he loaned at fancy rates.
ZEPHANIAH WASHBURN. Zephaniah Washburn was the first mayor of Muscatine. It is said that he was elected as much for a joke as for any other reason but when in office made a good official. He was the leading man at the Methodist class meetings and an earnest temperance worker. He was a carpenter by trade but did not work closely at his occupation.
WILLIAM CHAMBERS. William Chambers was a native of Indiana and came to Iowa in 1836. He settled with his father on a farm near Pine creek and after a few years' residence there, came to Muscatine. Here he was engaged in the sawmill business.
G. W. HUMPHREYS. G. W. Humphreys came to Muscatine in 1838 and engaged in the mercantile business. He is given the credit of being sheriff of the county from 1844 to 1876.
J. S. ALLEN. Concerning J. S. Allen, another of the pioneers, no data can be secured.
GILES PETTIBONE. Giles Pettibone had an unfortunate career. Coming to Muscatine in 1836. He tried farming, an undertaking which was not marked by brilliant success. Selling out, he came to Muscatine, where he engaged in the ferry boat business. In this occupation he again failed to get rich and finally spent all of his savings in remodeling his ferry boat into a packet. Taking his packet he went into the south and there a few weeks later his new possession was sunk. This was the last heard of Giles.
A. T. BANKS. A. T. Banks, who was a native of New England, came to Muscatine in 1838. He served as county treasurer from 1851 to 1855. In 1856 he was engaged in the livery business under the name of Banks & Morgan.
JOSEPH P. WALTON. Joseph P. Walton was a native of Connecticut, born February 26, 1826. He was a resident of Muscatine from 1847 until the time of his death and for five years previous to locating in this city engaged in farming on Muscatine Island. For fifteen years he was president of the Muscatine County Old Settlers' Association and during that time he acquired a broad knowledge of pioneer Iowa history. Mr. Walton was a public-spirited man and never slighted an opportunity to assist in any movement promising betterment for Muscatine.
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