of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 239-246
WILTON TOWNSHIP. The history of this township is contemporaneous with that of the town of Wilton, which is situated on section 6, township 78, range 1 west, and township 78, range 2 west, on the Wilton branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. The township was organized in 1853. Across the three northwest sections of the township the main line of the Rock Island road crosses, passing through Wilton. Here the junction is formed with the line running south to Muscatine. This township has good schools, six of them, which are open about nine months in the year. The average attendance to a school is sixty-three and the average cost per pupil is $3.67.
WILTON. The first man to erect a home within the present limits of Wilton was Christian Marolf, who settled here in 1849. At that time there were large herds of deer in this district. On the 19th of May of that year two entries of land were made, one by Henry Strohm and one by Benjamin Kauffman, each for eighty acres, and located where the town now stands. In 1850-51 Benjamin Maurer and Peter Marolf also settled here. In July, 1853, Franklin Butterfield pur- chased of B. C. Kauffman some land at $2 per acre. Prior to this time the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad had been built through this land, and in August, 1854, Messrs. Greene & Stone, bankers of Muscatine, made a proposition to Mr. Butterfield to buy the whole or a portion of this land, their plan being the agitation of a branch road from this point to Muscatine, they desiring an interest in the junction. Mr. Butterfield considered their proposition, agreeing to sell a one-fifth interest in his two hundred and five acres, at $10 per acre, providing they would purchase forty acres of Mr. Marolf, which they did, at the same price.
In September, 1854, Messrs. Butterfield, Greene & Stone platted the original town on the forty acres of land owned by the latter firm, lying south of the railroad. After much deliberation as to a name for the town, it was finally decided to call it Wilton, in honor of Mr. Butterfield's native town in Maine.
In 1854 the first lot in the town was sold to Henry S. Giesler, for $40. In the following year Mr. Giesler erected a house on his lot, the front rooms of the lower floor being used as a store by Tuthill & Hull, who put in a stock of dry goods and groceries and became the first merchants of this place. In the winter of 1856-7 a great many lots were sold and buildings erected, both dwellings and business houses. However, on the 20th of August, 1874, the town was visited by a disastrous fire.
Since that time the town has been growing steadily but not rapidly, and one of the evidences to which the townspeople point with pride is the Warner Arc Lamp Light Company, organized in 1909, which opened its factory in March of that year. The town has two blocks of business houses and it is claimed that Wilton has no rival in the state for the amount of business transacted for a town of its size. It owns an electric lighting system and water works plant that affords adequate fire protection.
The late John P. Walton, pioneer resident of Wilton, who died in 1908, and who was well known to the farmers of the vicinity of Wilton, told on the occasion of his golden wedding anniversary of how he dug up a wolf's nest and took out the young wolves on the spot where now stands the Methodist church in the main portion of the town. He also related how, when a boy seeking to satisfy his curiosity, he went to his father's barn, opened the door and found the floor within covered with Indians.
Wilton has a public library, maintained through the successful movement launched by those interested therein, and a well selected list of books is in charge of a librarian in one of the buildings on Water street. Several of the young women of Wilton alternate in the capacity of librarian. The churches are : Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, two Lutheran, Baptist and Congregational. Besides these there is a Reformed church.
As early as 1855 or 1856 the Presbyterians held services in Lyceum Hall, in the schoolhouse and various places, the meetings being conducted by Rev. John Hudson. May 14, 1860, members of the church at Sugar Creek organized themselves into a society, the charter members being: J. H. Hobert, D. Burk, J. H. Robinson, B. Kelley, J. Cooper, P. Heinley, R. A. McIntire, Mesdames Hobert, Pomeroy, Burk, Harker, Robinson, Cooper, McIntire, Passmore, Parish, Kelley, Heinley and Mason. In the fall of 1866 a brick church was erected at a cost of $3,000. This was destroyed by fire and in 1875 a new church was erected.
The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in December, 1856, by John Kiesel, and a small frame building was erected. In 1867 this building was replaced by a brick structure but the latter was destroyed in the fire of 1874. The following year a new church was erected.
The Methodist church originally formed a part of Muscatine circuit but in 1856 it became a separate organization, Wilton at that time being made a station. Meetings were held in various places until 1860, when a church was erected. In 1878 this building was replaced by a more modern structure, at a cost of $4,000.
The Wilton Methodist church was burned to the ground January 12, 1901, and the present edifice was built and dedicated the same year. It is of brick, the main audience room being 40x58 feet, with a choir loft addition 25x12 feet. On the north is an addition 25x50 feet, which is used as a lecture and class room. On the east is a circle, containing five windows and on the southeast corner is a tower. In all there are three towers. The cost of the entire structure was $12,000.
February 20, 1864, the Baptists organized themselves into a society, consisting of eleven members, with Rev. I. Dotson as the first pastor.
The Congregational Society was first organized by Rev. James Berney, in Sugar Creek township, Cedar county, July 9, 1854, at a meeting held in a schoolhouse, and was to be known as the First Congregational church of Sugar creek. On the 29th of October of that year, Rev. D. Knowles was called as pastor. On the 3d of August, 1855, the location of the church was changed to Moscow but was soon changed to Wilton and at a meeting held at the home of Rev. Knowles, June 20, 1856, new articles of incorporation were submitted and adopted and the name of the society changed to that of First Congregational Church of Wilton. July 13, 1856, steps were taken to erect a church building, which was completed and dedicated August 30, 1857.
The German Evangelical Society erected their church in the fall of 1876 but previous to that time occasional preaching services had been held by different ministers. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Jacob Knocher.
During the summer of 1858 the Catholics built a church in Wilton, which was planned and erected by Rev. Peter Mahn. In 1867 this frame building was replaced by a brick edifice, which has since served as the place of worship for this society.
Wilton has a net work of cement sidewalks. Some of the finest homes of the town were erected during the last two or three years. Both the walks and the street crossings are of cement. Councilman Nelson, who was a member of the Wilton volunteer fire department for ten years and chief for ten years, during his service inaugurated the practice of training the members of the hose and hook and ladder companies to fight fire. Each member is familiar with every building in the town and with the location of every water plug. At specially called meetings the members of the department discuss the different conditions which they might be confronted with, if any particular building caught fire and of the way such a fire should be fought. It has been the practice of each volunteer to learn the location of doors in the business buildings of the town, the location of hydrants with respect to the buildings, the location of partitions, walls, exposures, windows and interior arrangements. The saving of adjoining property and particularly stock, was emphasized at such meetings. The motto was, "Don't destroy a thousand dollars worth of property to put out a fifteen cent blaze."
At the tournament in 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888 the Wilton volunteer team won first prize in the hook and ladder running event.
Wilton has a genuine, public-spirited man in the person of Dr. John R. Latchaw, who owns the Wilton College property, an extended sketch of which is given in another part of this volume.
The Wilton Fair occurs annually, which is the event of the year and each fair is quite a rousing success. Wilton boasts of one of the best fair grounds in this section. The grand stand holds 2,500 people. The population of the town is now 1,157.
Wilton Lodge, No. 167, A. F. & A. M., was instituted April 21, 1863, and received its charter on the 3d of June of the same year. The first officers were: James H. Leech, W. M.; C. P. Reynolds, S. W.; A. B. Yeager, J. W.; A. L. Healey, Treas.; W. N. McNaghten, Sec.; W. H. Baxter, S. D.; J. S. Addes, J. D.; C. M. Macomber, tyler.
Pulaski Lodge, No. 107, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted June 5, 1857, and received its charter on the 15th of October following. The charter members were: J. D. Walker, William M. McNaghten, P. D. Dale, Isaac Wise, P. S. Corey, F. P. Hubbert and George Dale. The first officers were: J. D. Walker, N. G.; William N McNaghten, V. G.; F. P. Hubbert, recording secretary; P. S. Corey, treasurer.
Security Lodge, No. 100, A. 0. U. W., was instituted February 16, 1877, with the following charter members: David Agnew, George P. Arnell, Henry C. Bell, Winslow Blanchard, William A. Cooper, Thomas Curtin, F. C. Conant, L. F Creitz, A. A. Cooling, C. H. Dow, J. G. Ellis, C. J. Edinborough, J. H. Graaf, R. M. Hiley, George R. Hancock, E. S. Hoover, B. C. Ludlow, David Lynn, A. N. Lindsay, J. E. Myers, Henry McDaniel, M. C. Ott, J. S. Ring, 0. B. Strong, William B. Stephens, B. F. Tufts, S. H. Wise, A. L. Williams. The first officers were: J. S. Ring, P. M. W.; B. F. Tufts, M. W.; R. M. Huey, G. F.; C. J. Edinborough, 0.; W. F. Stephens, recorder; C. H. Dow, financier; A. A. Colling, receiver; W. A. Cooper, guide; T. Curtin, I. W.; D. Lyman, 0. W.
Wilton has three strong, substantial and prosperous savings banks, the Farmers, the Union and the Wilton.
WILTON COLLEGE. The history of the school is a lengthy one and the origin and development of the institution is interesting. When the movement for the erection of a school was started is not known. The abstract of title shows that on May 1, 1866, B. Maurer and his wife, Elizabeth, deeded the land which now constitutes the west half of the college campus to trustees of Wilton Seminary Association of North Wilton, with the provision that the said trustees shall erect a good and substantial seminary building on the land thus conveyed, within a year from the date of conveyance, under penalty of forfeiture of title.
The presumption is therefore that the present building known as the college or seminary building was constructed in 1866-67 and in the execution of their agreement to build, the trustees seem to have borrowed money at different times and divers amounts of Frank Butterfield, giving mortgage security and paying interest at ten per cent. August 14, 1873, the trustees of Wilton Seminary Associqtion for some reason deeded the property to Franklin Butterfield. He seems to have held the property until August 21, 1876, when it was conveyed by warranty deed given by F. Butterfield and wife, Laura F., to trustees of Wilton Collegiate Institute, with certain stipulations designed to prohibit the property from being sold for any indebtedness, past or future, and obligating the Freewill Baptists to sustain a good school according to the provisions of articles of incorporation, or in case of their failure to do so for a period of five years from date of conveyance, the premises were then to be sold and $1,500 of the proceeds were to be given to the Freewill Baptist church of Wilton, provided said church should erect a church building in Wilton in three years from the date of said sale, otherwise to revert to his heirs.
In August, 1868, the east half of the present campus on which stands Norton Hall, was secured by deed from Elizabeth Maurer to trustees of Wilton Institute, and soon thereafter the present boarding hall was constructed. It was probably money borrowed to aid in the construction of this valuable building and ten per cent interest that resulted in the east half of the property being sold as shown by record of deed from the trustees of Wilton Collegiate Institute to Lyman Alger, in September, 1874. But November 2oth of the same year an article of reconveyance from Lyman Alger to Wilton Collegiate Institute contains the interesting clause that, "If the said Wilton Collegiate Institute shall cease to operate as a Freewill Baptist institution within five years from the date of this instrument, then in such case the aforesaid property shall revert to the said party of the first part, for the recovery of the sum of $9,767.04, with interest. It being the intention of the party of the first part to donate to the said institution the sum of $9,767.04; provided that any surplus, after satisfying the aforesaid claim, or donation, go to the treasurer of the institution; provided also that if at the expiration of the aforesaid five years, the said institution shall be a living operative institution, then in such case all claim herein mentioned by the party of the first part shall cease."
Articles of incorporation of the Wilton Seminary were filed January 5, 1866, and show the object to be "to build and maintain for the period of six years, a school or educational institution. The affairs of the corporation to be run by a board of trustees of nine members. If the corporation is not renewed by April 1, 1872, the officers in charge sball at once proceed to wind up the affairs."
But before so drastic a culmination of its brief history appeared, in fact, as early as July 22, 1867, new articles of incorporation were filed, the corporation being known as "The Trustees of Wilton Institute." The affairs to be managed by nine trustees. The incorporation to last for a period of twenty years unless sooner dissolved, and renewable at the end of that time forever."
To extend the powers of the corporation, four years later, or September 5, 1871, new articles of incorporation were taken out under the title "The Wilton Collegiate Institute. The object to establish and maintain an institution of learning at Wilton, Iowa, which shall have power to confer such degrees as are usually conferred by other colleges. The affairs shall be managed by fifteen trustees. The association assumes to itself all the rights and privileges which are now, or which may, durIng the existence thereof, be conferred on associations of similar character."
Again, August 3, 1880, the school was reincorporated under the title of "Wilton Academy. The academy to be under the management and control of the Davenport Association of the Congregational Church of the State of Iowa. The affairs of the institution to be under the control of a board of five trustees to be elected annually. The institution assumes to itself all the rights and powers, privileges and immunities which are now conferred upon, or which may during its existence, be conferred upon institutions of a similar character."
By warranty deed, September 12, 1884, the trustees of Wilton Academy conveyed the entire property to Wilton German-English College. Articles of incorporation were filed for record, September 15, 1894, and the new organization began business September 12, 1894, the purposes set forth being educational, to be managed by not less than nine or more than twenty-one trustees, who shall have power to perpetuate themselves by the election of their successors, and at least two-thirds to be members of the German Congregational church.
The institution remained under this management until June 10, 1904. It seems that the school was in a fairly flourishing condition but the German Congregational constitution was largely in the Dakotas, and for merely prudential reasons those in control concluded to quietly remove the seat of empire from Wilton to Redfield, North Dakota. An injunction and remonstrance on the part of the people of Wilton served the purpose of keeping all the appurtenances, apparatus, furniture and college equipment intact. And to indemnify Henry K. Brameier, a trustee, who became responsible for an indebtedness of $4,346.12, the property was deeded to him June 12, 1904. The school was thus practically abandoned except the commercial department, which was kept alive by Professor J. B. Harris.
Dr. John R. H. Latchaw, the present owner of the property and manager of the school, was a student of the institution in its palmiest days as Wilton Collegiate Institute in 1870-71 and 1873. He has always felt a kindly interest in the school and in the community, but by a chance visit to Wilton when the institution was practically idle, he was induced to look into the conditions and possibilities of it, and at once found his interest in it growing and finally decided to purchase the property 0£ Mr. Brameier. This he did and the title by warranty deed passed to him February 20, 1907.
COLLEGE BUILDINGS. Two substantial and well equipped buildings are situated in the northeast part of the town, and at opposite ends of a lot containing eight acres, in the shape of a rectangular parallelogram, surrounded by a street sixty feet wide. Beautiful trees of a half century's growth surround and intersperse the grounds. The old academy building is well preserved and, with the improvements that are contemplated, will be admirably adapted to the work of the school. Large and comfortable recitation rooms, well equipped physical and chemical laboratories, a large chapel on the ground floor, a gymnasium suited in size and equipment to indoor exercises, and a library of several thousand volumes, constitute a nucleus for growth and large proportions in the future, and are prophetic of good results under wise application and well directed methods of study and work.
Norton Hall is a three-story brick building, on a substantial stone basement, finished throughout and utilized for culinary and other purposes. The hall is designed to be a home for members of the faculty and students. The department of domestic economy will be installed in this building so far as its practical workings are concerned, and the general supervision of the home will be in the hands of the dean of the domestic science department, and when once fully installed and equipped, the practical outcroppings of domestic science Will be best seen in the sanitary, economic and artistic arrangements and conditions of the college home life. For there is small educational value in our system and methods of education if they fail to contribute to the health, happiness and moral and spiritual elevation of our homes. When to live as we should, comes to be recognized as the finest of the fine arts, society will have moved up a notch in the scale of being. It will take some time and means and much attention to details to work out even our present poor ideals of what such a home should be; but the end will be kept steadily in view and the assistance and cooperation of all the occupants of the hall will be required to accomplish the end. Norton Hall is an ideal home for the student and will accommodate about sixty girls, to whom rooms will be assigned in the order of their application; and all non-resident lady students will be expected to room in the hall, unless to roOm elsewhere special permission is obtained from the dean of the domestic science department.
The chemical and physical laboratories are well located, with ample room and apparatus for chemical biological research. There are two large and well equipped rooms, supplied with water and gas, and with appliances for distillation and analysis, chemicals and chemical apparatus, balances, combustion furnace, mortars, pumps, tanks, etc.
The department of geology has a large collection of specimens in lithology, mineralogy, besides a liberal collection of Indian relics and other material illustrative of archaeology and structural geology. The museum contains several thousand specimens representing the different departments of science.
In biology the department is well equipped with microscopes, a large number of botanical slides, stuffed and mounted specimens in ornithology and other parts of zoology, and specimens preserved in alcohol. Courses in taxidermy will also be offered to students desiring to pursue the science and art of preserving and mounting the skins of birds, reptiles and animals.
The library consists of several thousand books and magazines, covering fields of literature, biography, history, fiction, science, philosophy, lexicography and general books of reference. While not large, the library is well selected and when necessary may be supplemented by references to the large and well selected private library of the president and other members of the faculty. A reading room supplied with the best magazines, weekly and daily papers, and other current literature, is accessible to members of the school in any department of the college.
The campus provokes favorable criticism on the part of all who see it. A small ravine courses its way through the grounds in a southeasterly direction, giving a natural relief to what would be otherwise a dead level, and besides aiding drainage and sanitation, contributes materially to the aesthetic appearance of the grounds. The college building is situated on the west side of this ravine and is overshadowed by large maples and elms of more than a half century's growth. At the opposite end of the campus, surrounded by maple, elm, pine, and spruce trees, stands Norton Hall, rising to the height of three stories and a basement. The whole eight acres are enclosed in a neat fence and surrounded by a street sixty feet in width. It is an ideal spot for study, in one of the most beautiful and quiet, yet thrifty, villages in one of the greatest states in the Union.
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