West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
SOUTH PRAIRIE

The first white settlers arrived at what is now West Liberty in Wapsinonoc Township in 1836. At this time the land southwest of West Liberty now known as South Prairie, was all prairie land. Within a few years many had located here, taking a homestead and paying the government $1.25 an acre for the land. The new settlers experienced many privations and hardships in this pioneer community. Oxen were used to break up the early prairie. The summers were hot and there were no trees. Wild animals were very numerous. Some sod houses and some log cabins were built.

Among the early settlers on South Prairie were James Barclay, Chas. and Franklin Barnes, Thomas Birkett, Daniel Crane, John Gibson, Mercer Hall, Gad James, Isaac and John Purvis, D. A. Phineas, Ira Pliny, and George Nichols. The first school house built on South Prairie was Plum Grove. The first teacher of Plum Grove School, of which there is any record, was Mrs. Hannah Mosher Barclay who taught there in 1854. Some of the pupils at this time were James William, and Clark Marsh, Crawford James, Preston and Mary Ellen Barclay and Clark, Marie, Louis and Amanda Romaine.

Union and Federal Hill schools were built in the early '60s. A Mr. French taught Union school and had thirty-five pupils, some of whom were boys who had just returned from the Civil War.

In the early '60s, Ira Nichols purchased two and one half acres of land, which is the South Prairie cemetery and church ground, of William McMillan and generously donated it with the deed to the South Prairie M. P. Church for church and cemetery purposes. The South Prairie church was built about 1864. Previous to the building of the church, Sunday School was held in Federal Hill school house. William Purvis was the first pastor in the new church and also helped with the carpenter work during the building of the new church.

The first grange on South Prairie, organized in the early '60s, was held at Federal school house. School was dismissed in the afternoon, so the grange meeting could be held there. The present South Prairie Grange was ornganized in October, 1911, and has been holding meetings since its organization.

The first singing school teacher here as far as can be determined, was Samuel Pennell. In later years Mr. Swain had charge of a singing school and still later a Mr. Fletcher had a class at Federal Hill school.

As early as 1864, men of South Prairie served on committees for the West Liberty Fair. Among them were Ira, George P., and Phineas Nichols. From 1873 to the present time the South Prairie women have served on committees also. Some of the women who served in 1873-75, were Mrs. Ira Nichols, Mrs. James Barclay, Mrs. John Miller, Mrs. Russell Wood, Mrs. Frank Barnes and Mrs. Isaac Nichols. South Prairie is still well represented on the West Liberty Fair committees.

Early in the '90s, the Good Templar Lodge was organized. Mr. Walley, pastor at the South Prairie M. P. church, helped organize the society. Their meetings were held at the Federal Hill school.

August 15, 1900, the rural mail routes were started, delivering the mail daily to the country homes.

The first rural telephone line from West Liberty was line 50, built in 1901 from West Liberty to the Gibson farm five miles west, and from the Birkett corner three fourth of a mile south. Ten farmers were on the line.

The Central school house built in 1907 still stands and although no school has been held there, it has served as a meeting place for Sunday school, Grange, institutes, plays, parties, and as a residence for a family for several months, after their home was burned. The South Prairie Grange is holding meetings there now.

The ladies embroidery club was organized in 1908. The meetings are held at the homes of the members. It is a social organization and any women in the community is welcome. During the World War the women laid away their embroidery and did Red Cross sewing. The name of the club was then changed to Red Cross Society. After the war the name was again changed to South Prairie Ladies Social Club, which still meets.

The Muscatine County Farm Bureau which includes South Prairie, in Wapsinonoc Twp., was organized in 1913, celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary last January at the Farm Bureau banquet. F. D. Steen and J. I. Nichols of this community were active in the organization of the Farm Bureau. Institutes and short courses were held accasionally, and in 1921 the present institute was started through the Grange, developing into a two-day affair, with premiums paid.

The R. E. A. has built lines to furnish electricity to the rural communities, and the electricity was first given to the farmers in this community the last of March, 1938.

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