Pocahontas County, IA USGenWeb Project

Center Township

Center township was named for its central location in the county. The north branch of the Lizard creek flows through it in a southeasterly direction.

Center township came into being when Warren Price, a banker, employed Fred Hess to make a survey and plat for the new town of Pocahontas Center. Warren had purchased large amounts of land in the area. He had hoped the town would become the county seat and donated his land to the town.

Pocahontas was platted in 1870 and was chosen as the county seat on October 12, 1875, but became the county seat on October 1, 1876, when the records were removed from Old Rolfe.

William A Hubel, son of Wenzel, in 1871 was a temporary resident of the township. He was engaged in breaking with Frank Langer. The family of B F Brown (a wife and six children) were living in a building which is referred to as a hotel. It was 16 x 36 and one and a half stories in height. It was erected by a land company in 1870 and was first occupied by Albert Davy, and his family of six children. He moved to Old Rolfe in the middle of 1872, and three years later to Dakota.

In 1871 Bonifacio Erne (see also Grant township), located in section 17 in the spring of that year. He and his wife lived in a sod shanty for about five years, then in Pocahontas, then finally homesteading in Grant township. (he homesteaded in Grant in 1874 according to the history of Grant township). Another source indicated he entered his homestead in Grant township on May 31, 1873. He received the patent on November 5, 1878. He later moved to Lincoln township, but returned to Center township in 1895. He died there in 1899. After his death his family of four children moved to Minnesota. He had a brother named Valentine Erne, who was born in Germany in 1850. He bought a farm in Grant township in 1881 where he lived, and had two children.

The only other building besides the hotel was a blacksmith shop operated by a Swede, and he remained only that year. In the spring of 1871 a small store was built north of the blacksmith shop by Nicholas Kieffer, who was from Pomeroy. His daughter Mary ran the store, but it soon closed and the building was removed.

Nicholas Kieffer was the first merchant in Pomeroy. He came to the state with the families of Bernard Stegge and John Kruchten, in wagons drawn by oxen.

The first permanent residents of Pocahontas Center was the family of Wenzel Hubel who arrived in 1872 from their homestead in Tama county. Wenzel took over as the local land agent. His wife and four children moved into the original land office and also purchased the ten acres it sat on. His children were Frederic (who stayed in Tama county), William, Mary, Annie and Cedora. They erected the fourth building in town, which was a real estate office in the fall of 1872 which he enlarged later on. Wenzel was appointed postmaster and his son William carried mail on horseback from Pomeroy, once a week. Wenzel was born in 1823, and was a native of Bohemia. While in Bohemia he married Mary A Kerska in 1843. They came to America in 1851, and one of their children died during the journey. He also had an elder brother named Fred Hubel who lived in Tama county. They were both in the civil war.
His eldest son Frederic, who stayed on the old family homestead in Tama county married Mary Benish. In 1878 Wenzel and Mary returned to their old homestead to live with their son. Wenzel died there in 1885.
Information about his children:

1. William A - who was born in Iowa on January 16, 1853. He was a carpenter. In 1870 he married Mary Ann Julius (born 1860). While living in Pocahontas he built many of the first buildings in the town, including the Catholic church. He also built the Presbyterian church in Plover. He also served as intrepeter for the new arrivals from Bohemia. They had six children (1) Mamie (2) Frederic (3) William (4) Josephine (5) Wenzel (6) Albert
2. Mary E - who married James Smith. In May of 1883 he was appointed and served five years as the first station agent of the C R I & P railroad at Plover. He built the first house in Plover, which was in a cornfiled. Their children were William, James and Albert
3. Annie - who married Vencil Drahos in 1886. He was an attorney in Cedar Rapids. Their child was Vlasta.
4. Cedora - who married James Calhoun in 1882. They removed to Plover where he became the first dealer in coal and lumber in 1883. James died in 1887 leaving three children; Thomas, James and Grace. In 1891 Cedora married Albert Eggspuehler, who was a merchant in Plover. Their children were Florin and Gladdis.

Those noted as arriving in 1872

• Langer, Frank - section 19, moved to Dover, then back to Pocahontas. He died the first breaking in the township along with Willam Hubel. First on his own farm, then on the Stoulil farm. He moved to Dover township in 1882, then back to Pocahontas in 1899. His wife's name is not mentioned, but he had three children: Frank, Anna and Mary. (note: the census lists his wife as Rosa, and son John is not mentioned in the biographical source)

  The 1880 US census lists the Langer household as follows:

  • Frank, age-30 born-Bohemia occupation-Farmer parents born-Bohemia
  • Rosa, age-28 born-Bohemia occupation-Keeping house parents born-Bohemia
  • John-son age-4 born-Iowa
  • Mary-daughter age-2 born-Iowa
• Stoulil, Joseph - section 21, then to section 19

  The 1880 US census lists the Stoulil household as follows:

  • Joseph, age-50 born-Bohemia occupation-Farmer parents born-Bohemia
  • Antonie, age-45 born-Bohemia occupation-Keeping house parents born-Bohemia
  • Joseph-son age-22 born-Bohemia occupation-Farmer
  • Wenzel-son age-18 born-Iowa occupation-Farmer
  • Mary-daughter age-12 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Josephine-daughter age-10 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Frank-son age-8 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Frances-daughter age-6 born-Iowa
  • Emeline-daughter age-2 born-Iowa
  • Edgar-son age-8 months born-Iowa
• Stverak, Joseph - section 21, then to Dakota.

Those noted as arriving in 1873

• Berryman, D - section 2
• Case, Seymour - died on his land in 1873, in section 32. He had six hundred acres which he left to his sisters - Mrs Sophia Rose, Mrs Luna Beach, Mrs Lavina Beach and Mrs Maria Holcomb. They divided the land amongst themselves in 1876. Luna Beach later sold her land to Morgan Beach. Luna moved to Bristol, Maine, and the other three to Granby, Connecticut. At the time of the biography their ages ranged from 76 to 88 years old.
• Eral, James - section 27 (see John Eral, father, below) He married Anna Payer (see Vit Payer)
• Mott, Fred - who later removed to Boone in 1880.

Those noted as arriving in 1874

• Bartak, Joseph - established a harness shop
• Bartosh, Michael - located in Section 29
• Bilsky, Thomas J - (arrived 1874) erected a grocery store (mercantile business) on the east side of the street. After two years he moved to Estherville. He sold his store to Louis Brodsky (see below).
• Eral, John - located in Section 23. He was a native of Bohemia. He participated in the organization of the township. His wife's name is not mentioned in the article. They had six children:
  1. James W - born in Illinois in 1862. In 1873 he located on the SW 1/4 of section 27. He married Anna Payer in 1883. They had four children-Anna, William, Louis and Harry.
  2. Frank R - also born in Illinois. In 1889 he married Fannie Zieman, who was from Tama county. Their children were Agnes and Joseph.
  3. Mary - born in Illinois. She married Charles Pashek and removed to Winnesheik county.
  4. Joseph
  5. Rosa
  6. John
• Hronek, Frank (Sr) - who was on the E 1/2 of section 19. He was born on September 22, 1822 and died September 5, 1899. He was a pioneer of the township and a native of Tabor, Pazov county, Bohemia. While there he married Anna Mares on February 17, 1846. Frank and Anna, with their four children came to America in 1862. They eventually had ten children:
  1. Rosa - was born in 1858. She married Martin Puduska in 1876. He was born in Bohemia in 1852. They lived on his farm in section 29, which he lived on since 1876. They had six children.
  2. Frank E - who was born in Bohemia in 1860. He came with his father in 1874. He married Antonia Moravec in 1882. She died in 1891, leaving three children: William, Walter and Sadie. In 1893 he married Melinda Winegardner.
  3. Paulina - was born in 1862. In 1870 she married Joseph Kryce and removed to Andrews, South Dakota.
  4. Anthony - who was born in Iowa in 1864. He married Mary Vodruska in 1883. They had five children.
  5. Emmanuel - was born in Iowa in 1867 and married Anna Vodruska in 1885. They lived on section 19 and had six children.
  6. James - who was born in Iowa in 1869. He married Mary Prochaska in 1889. They also live in section 19 and have three children.
  7. Frances - born in Bohemia in 1849. She married Vance Zeman in 1868 and lived on his farm near Chelsea, Tama county, and had eleven children.
  8. Mary - born in Bohemia in 1851. In 1869 she married William Wright who worked in a shoestore, and lived in Mason city. They had three children.
  9. John - was born in Bohemia in 1853. He married Anna Skorda in 1874. They moved to Center township in 1881. They had ten children.
  10. Josephine - was born in Bohemia in 1858. She married Frank Musel and had seven children while living in Marshalltown.

  The 1880 US Census lists the Hronek household as follows:

  • Frank, age-53 born-Bohemia occupation-Farmer parents born-Bohemia
  • Anna, age-50 born-Bohemia occupation-Keeping house
  • Frank-son age-19 born-Bohemia occupation-At home
  • Anton-son age-15 born-Bohemia occupation-At home
  • Emanuel-son age-12 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Wenzel-son age-10 born-Iowa occupation-At home
• Machovec, Joseph - who also built a building and was there a year
• Nemick, Joseph - built a hotel called the Center House (later, Bissell House)which, for ten years, was the first good hotel in Pocahontas. He ran it from 1874-1880. He was a native of Bohemia, was married and had two children. It is noted that he built a saloon next to the hotel, and "many ludicrous and some ridiculous event occured during the period he took charge of it" (Flickinger, p. 473). He, his wife and their four children later removed to Ackley, then to Minnesota.

Those noted as arriving in 1875

• Brinkman, David (Deiderick) - on section 24. He was born near Hamburg, Germany in 1843. He came to America on a sailboat voyage that took 72 days. He located in Michigan, where he married Anna Wiegman on February 28, 1871. In 1873 he located in Clinton township, Pocahontas county, then moved to Center township. David and Anna had 12 children:
  1. Hattie - born in Michigan. Married Morris Ives and removed to Clinton township.
  2. Caroline - was a school teacher before she married Henry Oelrich on Marcy 8, 1899. They resided on one of her father's farms.
  3. Henry - who was a teacher
  4. Dora
  5. Jessie
  6. John
  7. William
  8. August
  9. Anna
  10. May
  11. Glide
  12. Idella

  The 1880 US Census lists the Brinkman household as follows:

  • Diedrich, age-37 born-Hanover occupation-Farmer parents born-Hanover
  • Anna, age-27 born-Michigan occupation-Keeping House parents born-Hanover
  • Hettie-daughter age-7 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Caroline-daughter age-5 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Diedrish-son age-3 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Dora-daughter age-2 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Vichman, Henry-nephew age-20 born-Hanover occupation-Farmer parents born-Hanover
• Lukes, Albert - a Bohemian from Winneshiek county
• Lukes, Joseph - also a from Winneshiek and from Bohemia
• Mikesh, Joseph - born 1859. He came from Winneshiek and was from Bohemia. He arrived during the time of the grasshopper infestation and there was no farm work. He became a trapper and a well sinker in order to support himself. By 1889, when Sheriff Pattee died, he was appointed sherriff to complete the term of the previous sheriff. In 1889 he also married Mary Hickey, who was the widow of James Murray. The children of Joseph and Mary were Joseph, Sadie and John. The children of James Murray and Mary were Mollie Murray, Michael Murray and James Murray.
  It is interesting to note that while sinking wells he reported two layers of wood are frequently found in a fair state of preservation at the depths of 60-80 and 160-170 feet. On the farm of Gus Boog there was found in one layer sea muck of sand, coral, snail and clam shells. The lower layer of wood was in better shape than the upper and resemble cedar and grape vines. In 1898 some good specimens were sent to Buena Vista college for research.
• Shimon, M - noted as being a Bohemian from Winnesheik county, in section 36
• Shimon, T - noted as being a Bohemian from Winnesheik county, in section 36
• Sobereik, Joseph - also a Bohemian from Winneshiek county.

It is noted that in 1876 the new courthouse was built in Pocahontas and the following individuals moved into town.

• Brodsky, Louis - took over the mercantile business of T J Bilsky
• Garlock, A O - moved to town when the courthouse was built
• McEwen, W D - moved to town when the courthouse was built
• Payer, F J (Vit) - located in section 28. He was a native of Bohemia. He arrived with his wife, Mary Brodsky, and their four children: Frank, Jacob, Anna and Joseph. Mary Brodsky also brought her son, Louis Brodsky. Vit was a trustee of the township in 1880 and died in 1881. Their children were:
  1. Frank J - who was born in Iowa in 1861. He married Mary Remesh in 1899. She died leaving two children, Frank and Frances. He then married Rosa Masek in 1895. He was township clerk from 1885-1888.
  2. Jacob - who married Julia Shimon in 1889. She died in 1891. He remarried in 1894 and had two children.
  3. Anna - who married James W Eral in 1883.
  4. Joseph - who married Elizabeth Bartosh and lives in the township.

  The 1880 US census lists the Payer household as follows:

  • Vit, age-47 born-Bohemia occupation-Farmer parents born-Bohemia
  • Mary, age-47 born-Bohemia occupation-Keeping house parents born-Bohemia
  • Frank-son age-19 born-Iowa occupation-Farmer
  • Jacob-son age-17 born-Iowa occupation-Farmer
  • Anna-daugher age-13 born-Iowa occupation-At home
  • Joseph-son age-11 born-Iowa occupation-At home
• Poduska, Martin - 280 acres in section 29. He married Rosa Hronek. (see Frank Hronek)
• Wallace, John William - moved to town when the courthouse was built in 1876, having lived in Lizard township and old Rolfe. He was born June 17, 1845 and died in Pocahontas on May 22, 1899. He was a native of Northuberland county, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of David and Mary (nee Bagdad) Wallace, who were both of Scottish descent, and natives of the north of Ireland.In 1866 he located in Lizard township. This was one year before the arrival of his father. He married Mary Elizabeth Riley on May 28, 1872. She was born in Ireland in 1851. She became a resident of Lizard township in 1869. He served in many offices and was a very popular official of the county. He was so popular that upon his death the flags of the schools flew at half mast and many business houses closed for his funeral and burial at Rolfe. They were seven children: (1)Rosa, who died as a child (2) Ella, who married George Bruce (3) William D, who was born June 14, 1876 and elisted in the war in 1898 (4)Bessie, who married Fred Southworth of Pocahontas (5) Amanda Melvina, who was a milliner (6)Blanche (7) Genie E

The history notes another group of Bohemians, this time from Chicago, moving to Pocahontas in 1877.

• Dives, John
• Jelenek, Albert
• Murphy, Peter - who located in Section 7
• Nemeck, Charles - noted he is not related to Joseph Nemick
• Sernett, Frank
• Votlucka, Ignac

In 1878 another group of Bohemians arrived from Chicago. Those noted as arriving are:

• Marketan, Joseph
• Sinek, Joseph - section 28
• Veterna, John
• Vodreska, Frank
• Vodreska, Wenzel

The town of Pocahontas was growing nicely. There were many Bohemians who organized the first Catholic church in the spring of 1875. However, settlement of the town was slowed by the grasshopper infestations of 1873-1874 and 1876-1877 and because of its great distance from markets and roads that had no bridges.

However, settlers were encouraged to move there by Warren Price, who offered purchasers of 160 acres one lot in town, and 2 lots for those who purchased 320 acres. The town really began to grow in size from 1885 to 1893.

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Information transcribed, compiled and arranged by Tim Meyer, copyright 2003 - 2004