Lake Township
Lake township received its name because it included several small lakes. The largest of these, Lizard Lake, is located in sections 22 and 27. It is about 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide. There are also lakes in section 10 and section 20. There were no homesteads in this township.
In September of 1860 Lake township, then a territory, was assigned to Clinton township. By December of 1862 the south row of sections was assigned to Lizard township. By 1870 the rest of the township was assigned to Lizard.
In 1877 the township was established as Burke township. Later that year, in September the name was changed to Lake. The township was organized October 9, 1877 at the home of Uriah Elliott. The election judges were James Cook, Joseph S Thurber, and John Mulholland. There were 12 votes cast in the election. The following were elected as trustees: John Mulholland, Charles Elsen, and Uriah Elliott. H.A. Chipman was elected to be clerk. J.S. Thurber and James Cook were elected as justices, and James Cook was also elected to be assessor.
In 1894 the township was divided into two voting precincts. They were called Lake Number 1 and Lake Number 2. Lake Number 2 included only the East 1/2 of section 1, on which the west half of Gilmore City is located.
Early residents and settlers
In 1856 Caspar H Brockshink and his wife located in section 36. Their pre-emptor claim of section 36, the SW 1/4 was the first in the township. In 1857 he built the first home in the township. In 1857, Caspar's brothers Frederick and William moved to Lake township and lived with Caspar and his family. For about 2 years, the Brockshinks home was the furthest north of any settlement the Lizard settlement. In the fall of 1858 the Brockshinks leased their land to Patrick Forey. The Forey family occoupied it for about 6 years, and in 1865 Dennis Mulholland bought the land from Henry Brockshink for $1,500.00. The Brockshinks then moved to Clay county, and then to Webster City.
Early residents arriving in 1858. All of the odd numbered sections were assigned to the grant to the Dubuque & Pacific railroad. Almost all the remaining lands in the township were bought by non-resident purchases during the months of July and August, 1858.
Early residents 1858
Forey, Patrick - pre-emptor. Moved on his claim in 1858, which was the E 1/2 of the SE 1/4 in section 36. Later that year he leased the Brockshink property as they had removed to Clay county. He resided there until 1865 and then moved to Section 2 in Lizard township. From about 1859 until 1865 the Patrick Forey family were the only residents of Lake township.
In 1865 the Forey family moved to Section 2 in Lizard township. Patrick was well known to the residents of the township, as he was a man of intelligence and influence. He participated in the first election in the county and in 1860 assisted with the organization of Clinton township, in which he was included. He was one of the first elected justices of Clinton township. He also served four years as one of the first trustees, from 1861-1862 and 1864-1865.
- Martin, John - pre-emptor. W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 and the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of section 36. He and his wife lived there a few years, until his wife was harassed by native Americans. They so terrified her they moved for Fort Dodge where they ran a boarding house. The land was later purchased by Michael Fitzgerald.
- Quinn, Edward - pre-emptor. Section 36, the S 1/2 of the SE 1/4. He was the brother of the wife of Patrick Forey. He came from St Louis in 1856, and was one of the few men who had a team of horses. He received a patent for this land, but lived on it a short time. He moved to Fort Dodge and ran a hotel. About three years later he and his wife moved to Colorado. It is believed that on their return to Fort Dodge in 1865 he and his wife were murdered by the Native Americans on the plains. He had graduated from Dublin college and was a good performer on the violin and piano.
- Rea, Marselaer - purchased land, didn't reside on it
- Russell, John W - pre-emptor Section 34, SE 1/4. Lived mostly with his brother Philip in Lizard township. He enlisted in the civil war and died soon after.
- Samuel, ?
- Thompson, ?
- Whedon, H M - purchased land, didn't reside on it
Residents arriving in 1865
As noted, the Patrick Forey family were the only residents of Lake township from about 1859 to 1865. In 1865, Dennis Mulholland bought the Brockshink farm. The Forey family had been renting it previously. For the next five years the Mulholland family were the only residents of the township.
Information about Dennis Mulholland
- Dennis is a native of Ireland. When he was young he came alone to Massachusetts, and worked in the iron industry. While there he married Margaret McEwen. They later moved to St Louis, and in 1857 they moved to a farm in Allamakee county, Iowa. When they located on the Brockshink farm it is noted they had six children. Dennis still lived on the farm when he died in 1873. His wife died in 1892, at the age of 72. Five of their children lived to adulthood.
Children of Dennis and Margaret:
- John J - a trustee of Lake township. Later in life he became an invalid and died in St Louis in 1897.
- James J - he married Mary J Nolan, daughter of Nicholas Nolan. He lived on, and later owned, the "old farm". He later moved to Gilmore City where he worked in hardware and general merchandise. His children were William, Frank and Christopher.
- Mary E - who was a teacher, and later a dressmaker in Dubuque, Iowa.
- David - who became a real estate agent. He married Maggie Condon. Later, he became the owner of a general store in Gilmore City. He owned 320 acres in sction 11. He was one of the leading business men in Gilmore City. They had four children, Matthias, Mary, Emmett and Clement.
Residents arriving in the 1870's
1870
- Bendixen, Peter H - born 1837 in Denmark to Niels and Martha M (nee Buck) Bendixen. He married Petra Alberta Svendson in Denmark in 1863. He had lived in the United States from 1861 until 1863. In 1864, he, his wife, a sister and his parents moved to McHenry county, Illinois.
In 1870 he purchased 80 acres in Lake township in section 33. His father Niels bought 80 acres in section 28. Peter also purchased 80 acres in section 27, the date is not noted. Niels Bendixen died in 1881 at the age of 81. His mother died in 1898 at the age of 87. They are both buried in Rolfe.
After his fathers death Peter became the owner of 240 acres. He occupied this land until 1893 when he moved to Missouri. The next year he moved again, this time to Ellington township, Palo Alto county, Iowa. In 1898 he moved again for a farm in Lake township, and three years later he moved again to his current property, a farm which adjoins Gilmore City. For 30 years he served in public service in Clinton township. Peter died February 11, 1902 just three days after reading his biography in the Fonda Times.
Peter and Petra had 11 children:
- Erasmus Nelson - born 1864 in Illinois. He married Elizabeth Christenson, and they lived on a 160 acres farm in section 28, Clinton township. They had six children.
- William - born 1866 in Illinois. He married Minnie Thompson and had one son. They lived in Minnesota.
- Charles B - born 1868 in Illinois. He married Carrie Kennedy and lived on 80 acres in section 32, Clinton township.
- Maggie - born 1870 in Pocahontas county. She married Peter Hendrickson, who was a farmer and they had five children.
- Alice B - who married Charles Borg and has two children. They lived in section 32, Clinton township.
- Matilda B - who married Anton Peterson and lives in Gilmore City.
- John - who was born in 1876. In 1901 he married Emma Hanson and moved to Minnesota. John was a proprietor of a blacksmtih and wagon-maker shop in Westbrook, Minnesota.
- Minnie B - who married the farmer John Lynch.
- Albert G
- Peter Hansen
- Nellie B
Fitzgerald, Michael - arrived 1870, born in Ireland, 1837. He purchased the farm of John Martin,
in the NW 1/4 of section 36.
Thurber, Joseph S - arrived 1870. He was one of the first justices, teachers and school directors of the township. He owned 80 acres in section 17 from 1870 to 1884. He had lived in Strawberry Point, Iowa. He had a wife and one son. They later removed to California.
1871
- McCormick, Michael - born in Ireland 1857. Resided in section 22.
1872
- Dickinson, George - born in New York, 1852. Located in section 30.
- Donahoe, John - born in Ireland, 1828. Located in section 25.
- O'Keefe, John W - born in ireland, 1848. Located in section 34.
- Oldaker, John - born in Ohio, 1839, settled in section 6. He and his son Andrews later became the owners of all of section 7 and 80 acres in section 6, for a total of 720 acres. He was highly esteemed as a citizen of the township. The large family later moved to Geddes, South Dakota.
1875
- Elliott, Uriah - he held the public meeting in his home at the time the county was organized. He had 40 acres in section 22 from about 1875 to 1883. He was married with two children. He was a sucessfull trapper and spent much of his time around Lizard Lake, where he lived. He served two years as trustee, was township clerk and secretary of the school board in 1880. In 1882 he served as president of the school board.
1876
- Buckner, John - was a professional trapper and fisherman. He was also a squatter. He never owned land in the township. He did build a shanty on Lizard Lake where he lived for seven years, from about 1876 to 1883. He caught and sold fish to the early settlers. He also sold large amounts of fur. He was a man of much influence and served as chairman of several meetings when the issue of township was discussed. He was first president of the school board and served for two years. He later served two years as a justice.
- Chipman, H A - born in Vermont, 1843. Located in section 17.
- Dunn, Edwin D - born in Ireland, 1847, resided in section 26
- Rahdhol, Charles - in section 3.
1877
- Elsen, Charles - was born in Germany in 1855. He had an adjoining farm with Gerd in section 33. Son of Henry Elsen of Bellville township. He assisted with the organization of the township and and served as a trustee from 1878-1879. He served at least six years as a member of the board of county supervisors. In 1879 he married Caroline Kron and they had eight children; Mary, Henrietta, Louisa, Annie, Carl, Bertha, Lena and Gerhard.
- Elsen, Gerd - was born in Germany in 1852. He had an adjoining farm with Charles in section 33. Son of Henry Elsen of Bellville township. He owned about 738 acres in the township. He was one of the most sucessful men in the township. He was a treasurer of the school funds for seven years. He was also an active member and a trustee of the German Lutheran church in Lizard township. He married Louisa Redman in 1877, who was a native of Wisconsin. They had thirteen children, eight of whom lived. They are Charles, William, Gerd, Harmon, Emma, Henry, Louis and Bernhard.
Residents who arrived in the 1880's.
1880
- Lotz, John - born in Michigan in 1851. Located in section 8.
1881
- Beers, F E - located in Gilmore City.
- Garlock, Levi - located in Gilmore City.
- Nolan, Thomas - located in Gilmore City.
- Whittlesey, E S - born in New York 1853. Settled in section 34.
1883
- Campbell, Will E - on section 15. He became known as a breeder of Polled Angus cattle and English draft horses. He later removed to Gilmore City.
- Ovens, Hugh - born in Ireland, 1824. Located in section 6.
- Weaver, John - born in Ohio, 1843 and located in section 14.
1884
- Guernsey, A - located in section 12.
- Jordan, George B - section 24
- Landmesser, George - section 35
- Osborn, E H - section 24
- Tedford, G H - located in section 8.
1885 - a large number of residents are said to have arrived in 1885, and a few of them who were listed are:
- Daniels, Emmet Abram - born 1860. In 1885 he purchased the SW 1/4 of section 21. He was born in Webster county to David M and Sarah Daniels. Me married Ida Hayes in 1884. He served for seven years as secretary of the school board. Emmet and Ida had five children-Martin F, Emmet G, Joel V, Clinton D and Frederic J.
- Doeringsfeld, Ludvig
- Mullen, Richard
- Rohl, Albert
- Schnug, J H
- Schnug, George
- Steele, James
- Wallace, J W
- Wallace, Samuel
Residents who arrived prior to the formation of the township, but don't have much information about them.
- Cook, James - he acted as chairman during the organization meeting, held at the home of Uriah Elliott.
- Rifenstahl, George - noted as being with Frederick Brockshink for hunting.
Early officers of Lake township
Trustees of Lake township
- Mulholland, John: 1878 and 1888
- Elsen, Charles: 1878-1879
- Elliott, Uriah: 1878-1879 and 1883
- Chipman, LaFayette: 1879
- Elsen, Gerd: 1879-1884 and 1897-1902
- Thurber, J S: 1879-1883
- Hallock, D B: 1880
- Weber, R J: 1881 and 1884-1885
- O'Keefe, J W: 1882
- Oldaker, John: 1884-1888
- Melsen, J: 1885-1887
- Mulholland, David: 1886-1887
- Schnug, George: 1880-1890
- Minkel, William: 1889-1890
- Sinnott, M T: 1889, and 1891-1893
- Weber, Henry: 1890-1892 and 1895-1897
- Pahre, William: 1891-1892
- McCormick, George: 1893-1894
- McCormick, John: 1894-1896
- Doeringsfeld, William: 1896-1902
- Donnelly, Denny: 1898-1900
- Wiegert, Herman C: 1901-1902
- Daniels, E A: 1902
Clerks of Lake township
- Chipman, H A: 1878-1879
- Elliott, Uriah and McCormick, John: 1881-1884
- Dunn, Edward D: 1885 and 1892
- Lotz, John: 1893-1894
- Cook, Aaron: 1895-1899
- Bendixen, Peter H and Stamper, R E: 1901-1902
Justices of Lake township
- Thurber, J S: 1878-1879
- Chipman, Seymour: 1879-1880 and 1883-1885
- Leahy, M: 1879
- Buckner, John 1882-1882
- Dickinson, George: 1885-1886
- Beers, F E: 1883-1890
- Lotz, John: 1887-1892
- Mulholland, D: 1891-1893
- Shine, M and Wiegert, Herman: 1894-1898
- Jordan, H C: 1895-1898
- Daniels, E A: 1895-1896
- Oldaker, John: date not in source material
- Whittlesey, E S: date not in source material
- McCormick, John: date not in source material
- Jordan, H C: date not in source material
- Forey, E F: date not in source material
- Bendixen, P H: date not in source material
- Crowell, John: date not in source material
- Resh, J M: date not in source material
- Calligan, T J: date not in source material
Assessors of Lake township
- Cook, James: 1878
- Chipman, H A and Buckner, John: 1880-1881
- Beers, F E: 1882-1883
- O'Keefe, J W: 1884-1886
- Nolan, William: 1887-1888
- McCormick, P H: 1889
- Cain, Chris: 1897-1898 and 1901-1902
- Fargo, E G: 1899-1900
Teachers in Lake township
- 1878
- Sinott, J
- Chipman, Lillie
- Walsh, Mary
- Mulholland, Mary E
- 1879
- Fitzgerald, M
- Thurber, Joseph S
- Griffin, Mary
- Conley, Mary C
- Chipman, H A
- Teachers employed during the 1880's
- Cain, Addie B
- Calligan, M H
- Condon, A B
- Condon, C E
- Condon, Mary
- Ford, B F
- Kelly, Annie
- McCormick, Annie
- McCormick, Mary
- McLarney, Maggie C
- Mulholland, W F
- Nolan, William
- Porter, W F
- Ryan, Lizzie M
- Thurber, Florence M
- Torpy, Mary
- Weaver, Mary J
- Teachers in the Gilmore City Independent district
- Alexander, Mattie - assistant
- Beers, Captain F E: 1882-1883
- Beguin, Mrs - assistant
- Blake, Mrs E
- Connor, Miss - assistant
- Cowie, Miss - assistant
- Eversole, Harriet - assistant
- Garlock, Ida
- Harrison, Mrs - assistant
- Jackson, Angeline
- Jenson, Miss - assistant
- McCormick, Miss
- Melson, Kate - assistant
- Porterfield, Ida - assistant
- Sargent, Charles
- Stell, B J
- Wagner, Mrs - assistant
- Wallace, Ida - assistant
- Woolman, Miss - assistant
Information transcribed, compiled and arranged by Tim Meyer, copyright 2003 - 2004
