History of NeolaTownship, 1907
This is a full township with thirty-six
sections. It is bounded on the north by Harrison county,
east by Minden, south by Norwalk and west by Boomer
townships. June 10, 1872, a petition signed by H.G.
Fisher, George Remington, Fielding Steele and seventy-eight
other citizens was presented to the board of supervisors,
asking that a new civil township be formed. G.W. Henderson
claimed the honor of being the first permanent white
settler in the township. He came from VanBuren county,
Iowa, in March 1855, pre-empted the southeast quarter
of section 12 and began at once to build a shelter
for his family and to break ground for a spring crop.
Mr. Henderson's first neighbor in Neola township was
Mr. Norman Abbott, who settled on section 19 during
the latter part of the same month. Mr. Abbott remained
a resident of the township until 1865, when he sold
his farm to Thomas Cellars, who in turn sold it to
a man named Hillsworth. William Tidwell came to the
new country and settled in section 18, near Mr. Abbott.
Joseph Balsley and Joseph Mecklin settled on Pigeon
creek in 1855. John O'Brien settled on section 23.
Prominent among the early settlers was Mr. Z. Remmington
and family, who settled on section 33. In 1869 the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was built
and the town laid out on lands owned by Messrs. Withrow,
Wright and Allen. The first house where the city now
stands was built by D. Little about 1868, who kept
a store in the building. The second was Mr. Kuhl,
a harnessmaker. Mr. Norris was the first blacksmith,
and in the loft of his shop, Mrs. Doane taught the
second term of school. In 1870 a postoffice building
was erected by Mr. Duncan who was also the first postmaster.
Daniel Flynn opened a saloon the same year, and Mr.
C. Dillin engaged in the grain trade as early as 1873.
In 1882 the town received its charter and became a
city, and elected the following officers: J.P. Organ,
mayor; C.M. Crippen, recorder; O.L. Davis, marshal.
The city council was composed of T. Rishton, W. Downs,
J.W. Butler and R.F. Lovell. The principal businesses
were: Grain, C. Dillin and J.A.Hamilton; general merchandise,
H. Mendel, B. Rishton, J.W. Butler, F. Rishton, Eggleston
Brothers, and Bradley & Burton. Druggists were
Vanness, C.F. Robbins and B.A. McKay; hardware, Reichart
Brothers, C.M. Witt, and C.B.Stone; clothing, Remmington
Brothers and C.M. Crippen; stock buyer, G.W. Rogers;
newspaper, Neola Tribune, E.P. Innes, editor; real
estate, H.L. McWilliams and D. Tostevin; hotels, Commercial,
S. Burgess, proprietor; Neola House, McKinney, proprietor.
The Bank of Neola was presided over by Mr. Henry,
president; Mr. Lodge, cashier. Meat markets, Haggerty
& Reichart and Handbury & Sills; livery stables,
A. King and Downs & Mott; insurance, H.L. McWilliams
and Riley Clark; millinery, Mrs. F.M. Gallup; carpenters,
Purcell & Rogers, Eli Vickery, Wm. Schierbrook
and Mr. Fulgen; physicians, Drs. Barton, Vanness,
Harvey, Todd and Lawrence; attorneys, H.L. McWilliams
and J.P. Organ. On the 22d of March 1880, a church
was organized by the Presbytery of Council Bluffs
by a committee consisting of Revs. G.M. Lodge, F.H.
Cleland and Elder J.S. Love. Members were John Buchannan
and Jessie, his wife, and their children, Katie, Jennie,
Kennedy and David; Lawrence Hunter and wife; Mrs.
Anna Remmington, and Dr. Harvey and wife. John Buchannan
was elected as ruling elder and Lawrence Hunter a
deacon. As of 1907, the city government consisted
of Mayor, Fred Foss; council, Ed Rattigan, George
Remmington, N.B. Chrisman, A. Ransom, H.S. Watkins
and G.W. Giese; marshal, George Murphy, and James
Hayes, deputy. The township officers are: Trustees,
J.D. Porter, John R. Willmott and Frank Spencer; clerk,
J.S. Hermsen; justices of the peace, Riley Clark and
Thomas Kennedy; constables, C.J. Maxfield and Ed Ratigan;
assessor, W.C. Wilmott.
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