Adair County Iowa History

Summerset Township

The territory known as Summerset comprises all of congressional township 75 north, range 32 west of the fifth principal meridian. The surface is rolling, with some considerable ravines in the vicinity of the streams. The soil is a rich dark loam, that promises an abundant fertility, amply borne out by the immense crops usually garnered. The township is well watered. The east branch of the Nodaway river enters it on the northwest quarter of section 1, and intersecting sections 2, 11 and 14 in a southerly course, it changes to a southwesterly direction and crossing sections 15, 22, 21, 28, 33, and passes into Richland township on the south line of section 32. This stream with its numerous tributaries, Rutt branch of the middle Nodaway river, and numerous smaller creeks and rivulets, drain this section and supply an abundant amount of water for stock purposes. There is but little native timber in this township. A small grove on section 2, one on 22 and another on section 7 are about all there is, the land being mostly prairie. Fine groves have, however, been planted around their homes by many of the inhabitants, and the landscape begins to lose the dead, drear monotony of the interminable prairie, which it bore but a few years ago. The township is settled by people from every clime, and among them a large number from Pennsylvania, They are an industrious, enterprising class of citizens, having good farms, comfortable homes and well improved lands. The Oreston and northern branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad crosses the larger part of this township, entering first on the northeast quarter of section 25, and looping back into Lee township in the section north of it. It enters again on the east side of the northeast quarter of section 13, crosses that and sections 12, 14, 15, 22, 21 and 17 in its tortuous way, stopping at Fontanelle on the last-named section.
SETTLEMENT. The first person to settle in this township was a man by the name of Collins, who settled on section 2 in the spring or early summer of 1854. He did not remain here very long, but the grove in that vicinity was named after him and long bore his name. He had signed a note with some parties in Madison county prior to coming here, and the others having fallen out with him, out of sheer malice entered a suit against him for forgery, and sent Otho Davis, the sheriff of Madison county, after him and arrested him, and taking him over to that place incarcerated him in jail, where he remained six months, when the district court sitting he was found not guilty and discharged. On coming home he found that his wife had left him and was then living with another man. He then left the country, and his present whereabouts is unknown.
James 0. Gibbs was the first to make a permanent settlement within the boundaries of the township. On the 18th of June, 1855, the sale of lots in the town of Fontanelle was commenced, and Mr. Gibbs purchased the lots on the northeast of the square, where he at once put up a large log-cabin. In August, of the same year, he brought his family here and they settled down to the hard life of pioneers. Mr. Gibbs ran the first hotel in this building, this log-cabin, for a few years, and was the pioneer landlord of the town of Fontanelle.
About the same time D. M. Valentine, purchasing the lots immediately west of those of Mr. Gibbs, put up a dwelling and became the second permanent settler. Mr. Valentine, who was a prominent attorney, is now upon the bench of the supreme court of the state of Kansas. A sketch in full detail of this gentleman may be found in the “Representative” chapter, he having filled the position of county judge of Adair county at an early day.
Gorton N. Bennett came to Adair county August 17,1855, and was employed until 1857 by J. 0. Gibbs as a farm hand, at which time he was united in marriage to Hulda Lee, the first school-teacher of the town of Fontanelle. She was a native of New York, born in 1837, and a daughter of William D. Lee, originally from Connecticut. In 1855 she removed to Madison county, Iowa, She died March 14, 1869, and was buried at Maxburg, Madison county. They had four children, all of whom are living—James G., at Maxburg, Madison county; William L., in Valley county, Nebraska; Walter, in Fontanelle; Alice P., in Maxburg, Madison county. He was married the second time June 13, 1869, to Lovey J. Wright, a native of Indiana. Her people were from North Carolina, and early settlers of Madison county, Iowa. Three children were the result of this union—Sylvester, George and Martha J. Mr. Bennett was born August 9, 1832, at Norway, Herkimer county. New York, and was the son of Josiah and Mercy (Poleman) Bennett. His father was a native of Vermont and his mother a native of Herkimer county. New York. She lived at one time on the ground where the battle of Birmington was fought. His wife’s parents were natives of Connecticut and emigrated- to Adair county, Iowa, in March, 1865, and purchased land near Fontanelle. They died in the town of Adair and were both buried in the cemetery near that place. Mr. Bennett worked in a cotton factory from the time he was nine years of age until he was thirteen. After he was married he rented land a few years and being successful in his business transactions now owns considerable land, besides two residences in the town of Fontanelle.
John Lockhart was the next to make a settlement, coming in the fall of 1855. He located on section six, where he lived but about a year or two, when he went to Kansas. He came here from Ohio, of which state he is believed to be a native.
Azariah Root located in Fontanelle in 1855, where he lived for some time. He was postmaster of this town for some years. A sketch of Judge Root can be found under the head of county judges, in another part of this work.
J. K. Valentine came from Vigo county, Indiana, in 1855, and made a settlement in the town of Fontanelle. In 1856 came Cal Ballard, who, renting the building now used as a post-office in Fontanelle, put in a general merchandise stock, which he moved here from Winterset. This building was built and owned by J. K. Valentine. The next year Mr. Ballard built the store now occupied by Dr. McDermid, and moved, into it with his merchandise stock.
In 1859 he sold this out to J. C. Gibbs and moved to Winterset, where he remained two or three years, when he went back to his former home in Indiana, but after two years spent in that region, he returned to Winterset, where he is at present engaged in the dry goods’ business. When George B. Wilson was elected, in 1857, to the office of clerk of the court, and refused to serve, the judge appointed Cal Ballard in his place, who filled that office until the ensuing election.
The next to make his appearance was J. D. Nichols, who located at Fontanelle in August, 1856. He was a carpenter by trade, and a native of Massachusetts. He resided here for about three years, when he removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, from which place he enlisted during the great civil war, and as a reward for gallant conduct, was placed in the regular army at the close of hostilities, and is at present a captain in that branch of the public service.
About the same time, Theodore Smith and his brother-in-law, Rev. James Walker, came from Connecticut and took up their residence in the village. Mr. Walker was the first minister of the Gospel to make a home in this county. After living here three or four years, they left this locality, Mr. Walker going to Michigan, Mr. Smith to New York.
W. B. Hall settled in Fontanelle in the autumn of 1856. He afterward was elected to the office of clerk of the court, and served ten years. He is now in Seattle, Washington territory. A sketch of him may be found under the head of clerks of the court, in the "representative” chapter.
A. B. Smith, a carpenter by trade, came to Fontanelle in the winter of 1856-7, and lived in that town until 1860. In the spring of 1858 he was elected clerk of the courts, and held that position until the fall of the same year. He left here and went to Winterset, where he subsequently died.
Samuel Marquart came from Wayne county, Indiana, in 1857, and made a settlement in the town of Fontanelle, where he still resides.
William Lytle made a settlement in what is now Summerset township, on section 17, in 1857. He was a native of Ohio. In 1861 he removed to Madison county, from where he enlisted in the army, and during his campaigns was stricken down with disease and died.
About the year 1857 Samuel W. Armstrong settled at the embryo town of Fontanelle. He was a native of Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and in the year 1856 had come to Adair county from Des Moines, and had stayed for a couple of years at Greenfield. He was a lawyer by profession, and being elected to the position of county treasurer, served in that office for four years. He died by his own hand about 1866 or 1867. He married a daughter of W. H. Brainard, an old settler.
J. J. Crittenden came to this township and settled in the town of Fontanelle, in 1857, and was made postmaster. In 1858 he was arrested for robbing the mail, and on being tried and convicted, was sent to the penitentiary for five years. He was pardoned out by President Lincoln, after he had served two years, on account of his good behavior, and came back to Fontanelle, remained about three years, when he removed to Missouri.
Abram Miller in the winter of 1857-8 located in the rising village of Fontanelle, where he lived for several years. He returned to Indiana, from whence he had come, and of which state he was a native.
Alden Smith came to the town of Fontanelle in 1857, and remained there several years, when he removed to Winterset, and is now numbered with the dead.
Abram Piatt located in Fontanelle in 1857, and built a house, which he afterward sold and went to Missouri.
Rev. Joseph Mather, a native of West Virginia, came to Fontanelle in the spring of 1878 from Marion county, Iowa. He was the first Congregationalist minister in the town, and organized a church in the village.
The next settler was Dr. T. M. Moore, who came in 1858, and settled in the village, where he is still a resident, in the practice of his profession of medical attendance upon the sick and suffering.
John Lentz, a native of South Carolina, came from Indiana, in 1860, and made a settlement near the village of Fontanelle, where he now resides.
OTHER CITIZENS.
Among the more prominent and intelligent people of Summerset township, outside of the town of Fontanelle, are the following named individuals, who are fair representatives of the class of population of this beautiful township:
Almeron L. Stewart came to Adair county and settled upon section 25, in May, 1875, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, all under cultivation and fence. He is township trustee at present, and has held the offices of school director and road supervisor. Mr. Stewart was born in Chautauqua county, New York, and was the son of Robert and Minerva (Bemis) Stewart, who also reside in this township at present. He removed to Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1866, soon after his marriage, and remained there until the fall of 1868, when he came to Kane county, Illinois, and from there to his present location in the spring of 1875. He was married at Gary, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1866, to Charlotte E. Hubbard, daughter of Jonas L., and Elmira E, (Brown) Hubbard. They have one child as the result of this union—Freddie 0.
Robert Stewart was born in .Cayuga county, New York, March 30, 1805, and was the son of David and Ephemia w. (Whitman) Stewart. He was married January 3, 1830, in the same county, to Minerva Bemis, daughter of Stephen and Clarissa (Huntley) Bemis. Have seven children—James, Oalista, David, Emily, Almeron, William, and Marvin R. Emigrated to Kane county, Illinois, in 1866, coming to his present location on section 12 in June, 1875, where he owns eighty acres of land.
Thomas C. Heacock was born October 1, 1844, in Mahoning county, Ohio, and was the son of Edwin and Hannah (Barber) Heacock. He was married in that county December 14, 1869, to Rachel Mather, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Barber) Mather. They have four children—Alverda J., Leona R., Oscar E., Rachel L. He came to Summerset township, March 21, 1882, and a year later settled on his present location in section 35. He is a member of the Friends’ church and Mile Branch, No. 933, Grange, of Columbiana county, Ohio. He pays considerable attention to stock-raising, having at the head of a herd of shorthorns a thoroughbred animal—Knight of Rose, 2d, No. 39,552. He also owns an imported Norman horse, Paul, No. 1,252, American stud book, and a Clydesdale—Eagerness, imported, 2,755, No. 1,800, American stud book, and registered in sixth volume Scottish Clydesdale stud book, and also in American Clydesdale stud book, second volume, No. 1,800. These cost Mr. Heacock some $5,000, which he has owned about six months. He has just started a cattle ranch, in connection with a cousin, in Chase county, Kansas, of about three hundred head, and contemplates putting about that number more on the ranch soon. The hogs raised by him are of the Poland-China grade. He has one hundred acres of pasture in section 35.
William D. Frost, a native of Knox county, Ohio, was born October 16, 1848, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Frost. He emigrated with his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, in April, 1871, his parents coming to Adair county in June of the same year, but he remained until September, 1872, where he farmed and taught school in the winter, after which he came to Adair county, and settled in Lincoln township. He was married April 7, 1878, in Penn township, Guthrie county, to Anna M. Jones, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Tansy) Jones. They have three children—Mary E., Arabel and Cora D. In the spring of 1880 he came to his present location on section 34, where he has two hundred and ten acres of land. He taught school eight winters after coming to this county. He is road supervisor at present. His parents still reside in Lincoln township.
James Franklin Cooper, a native of New York, came to Summerset and located on section 27, in March, 1879. He is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and an officer of that society. He has held the offices of school director, road supervisor and assessor. Mr. Cooper was born in Saratoga county, New York, December 6, 1845, and was the son of Robert and Amelia (Aldrich) Cooper. He learned the trade of carpentering and joining, which he has followed more or less ever since. In 1867 he removed to Chautauqua county, New York, where he worked at his trade and taught school in the winter. From here he went to Savannah, Missouri, where he was married January 17, 1871, to Mary A. Hardin, who died September 7, 1872, in Savannah. In the fall of 1875 he came to Greenfield, where he worked at his trade, and while a resident of this place was married the second time, at Redfield, Dallas county, March 5, 1876, to Kate Mitchell, daughter of Rev. Matthew and Sarah (Dyson) Mitchell. They have three children—Pearl A., Robert M. and Charles P. In the winter of 1877 they removed to a farm in Orient township, where they lived until they came to this township.
Albert E. Renner was born September 18, 1853, in Tazewell county, Illinois, and was the son of David and Christiana (Miller) Renner. His parents both died in Tazewell county, Illinois, leaving him an orphan at the age of five years. After their death he went to live with his cousin, Simon Renner, in Carroll county, and was married there February 17,1878, to Caroline V. Clay, daughter of William and Eliza (Fickas) Clay. They have one child—Ray N. A. He came to Thompson township, Guthrie county, March 16, 1880, and in the spring of 1881 settled on section 22, Summerset township, where he owns seventy-one acres of land, most of which is under cultivation, and pays particular attention to the breeding of hogs. He spent seven months at the Lanark, Illinois, high school in 1875, having previously received a common-school education.
David A. Renner, a native of Tazewell county, Illinois, was born February 28, 1850, and was a son of David and Christiana (Miller) Renner. After the death of his parents he lived with his cousin, John Renner, in Carroll county, Illinois, remaing with him until he was twenty years of age, when he returned to Tazewell county. He remained here about eight years, when he again took up his residence in Carroll county, after which he came to this township in the spring of 1883, where he is engaged at farming with his brother.
Robert Warren was born in 1837, in Devonshire, England, and was the son of Robert and Betsey Warren. When nine years of age he went to South Wales, where he remained eleven years, engaged at mining. He was married at this place, November 3, 1865, to Mary Hewett, daughter of James and Agnes (Rottenberry) Hewett, who have seven children— Lillia, Eliza, May, Emma, Fannie, Anna and Leonard. In 1865 he crossed the ocean to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in 1866 went to New York, after which he went to Steubenville, Ohio, and from there to Cumberland county. West Virginia, where he remained some ten years, when” lie removed to Polk county, Iowa. After a residence in Dallas county, he located on section 33, this township, in March, 1883, where he follows farming and stockraising, keeping the Durham grade of cattle and Poland-China breed of hogs. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land well improved, eighty acres of which is meadow and pasture.
Robert N. Jones, a native of Mason county, Kentucky, and the son of Jesse and Rachel (Wood) Jones, was born May 6, 1826. He removed with his parents to Putnam county, Indiana, in 1833, and in 1844 went to Menard county, Illinois. While there he enlisted at the first call of the Mexican war, and served one year, being honorably discharged May 6, 1847, at New Orleans. After his discharge he returned to Menard county, Illinois, where he was married November 28, 1849, to Mary A. Barry, daughter of James and Jane 0. (Rutledge) Berry. She died April 13, 1875, leaving six children— Rachael J., James B., Mayo P., Harvey N., John B., Samuel A. He removed to Neosho county, Kansas, in 1869, and in 1874 came to Madison county, Iowa, where he was married September 12, 1875, to Sarah 0. Robinson, daughter of James and Hannah (Robinson) Robinson. He came to his present location April 14, 1876, settling on section 10. He owns eighty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, well improved, and under fence. There are two acres of timber, and a fine orchard of one hundred trees.
Titus Sullivan came to Adair county, Iowa, and settled in Washington township on section 16, March 1, 1855. He was a native of Monroe county, Indiana, and was born September 19, 1829. He was married in that county November 3, 1851, to Christina Lents, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kindreck) Lents. They have five children—John, William, James, Zella and Charley. They removed to Clark county, Iowa, in the winter of 1854, and from there to Washington township, this county. Mr. Sullivan died September 29, 1872. He was in the Mexican war.
James Sullivan was born February 10, 1862, in Washington township, Adair county, and was the son of Titus and Christina (Lents) Sullivan. He came with his parents to this township when but two years of age. At present he owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Washingtown township, sixty of which is under cultivation.
Ernest Funke, son of Ernest and Louisa (Beivers) Funke, was born April 8, 1847, in northern Germany. He emigrated to New York City, in 1864, and in 1868, removed to Bureau county, Illinois, where he was married, October 12,1871, to Katie Erbes, daughter of Daniel and Kundeunde (Kauer) Erbes. They had seven children—Benjamin, Henry, Edmund, Mary, Lizzie, Philip and Frank. He came to his present location, on section 2, Summerset township, in 1871, where he engaged in farming and stockraising, his stock being of the Durham and Poland-China grades. He has four hundred and ten acres of land, most of which is under cultivation and is well improved. There is also a nice grove which he has raised from the seed. Samuel C. Vance, a native of Darke county, Ohio, was born December 25, 1825, and was the son of William and Rebecca (Mills) Vance. In 1835 his father having died, he went with his mother to Adams county, Indiana, and when about twenty years of age attended Wabash college, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. In the spring of 1845 he moved to Fayette-county, Ohio, where he engaged in the stock business. Here he remained until August 25, 1855, when he was married to Mary A. Myers, daughter of Isaac B. and Elizabeth V. (Vance) Myers. Mrs. Myers was in Greenfield, being an old resident there. They have three children—Kate L., Ralph 0. and Thad M. They came to Winterset about the 1st of October, 1853, and in the spring of 1856 removed to Lewis, Cass county, where they engaged in farming. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Vance went to Pike’s Peak, and returned the fall of the same year. He returned to Pike’s peak in the spring of 1860, where he remained until the winter of 1861, engaged in mining, when he came back to Greenfield, where his wife and family had remained with her parents during his absence. He resided in Greenfield about twenty years, and about two years on his farm just east of Greenfield, coming to his present location on section 20, Summerset township, in the spring of 1884. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Greenfield. He was school director of Greenfield for fourteen years, and also a member of the state board of education, under the old law of 1862, having been elected in October, 1862, and holding the office two years. He has always taken an active interest in promoting the educational interests of this county. He was a member of the board of supervisors of this county from 1861 to 1869, and has been secretary or treasurer of the county agricultural society for the past twenty years, and is secretary at present. He owns two hundred acres of land under cultivation.
John Erbes settled on section 2, Summerset township, March 10, 1875, where he owns two hundred and forty-five acres of land, all under cultivation, and is engaged in farming and general stockraising, his cattle being of the short-horn grade. Mr. Erbes was born October 13, 1839, in Hess, Germany, and is a son of Henry and Charlotte Erbes. He emigrated with his parents to America, and settled in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1845, and in 1863 went to Lee county, Illinois, where he was married in April, 1865, to Amelia Politsch, daughter of Henry and Catharine Politsch. They have nine children— George, Caroline, Mena, John, Amelia, Andrew, Lizzie, Louis and Katie.
Frederick Kreis was born April 20, 1850, in Duke of Hesse, Germany, and was the son of George and Minnie (Musenheimer) Kreis. He emigrated to Neponset. Bureau county, Illinois, in March, 1868. He was a resident of Bureau, Henry, La Salle and Lee counties, Illinois, until 1874, when he settled near Fontanelle, this county, and in 1876 located on section ten, this township. He married at Neponset, Illinois, April 11, 1874, to Augusta Miller, daughter of John and Fredericka (Sternberg) Miller. They have two children: Mary and Herman. He is a member of the Fontanelle German Lutheran church and leader of the band at that place, having organized the same. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land all under cultivation.
Marvin R. Stewart, son of Robert and Minerva (Bemis) Stewart, was born in Chautauqua county. New York, July 4, 1849. In March, 1866, he removed with his parents to Kane county, Illinois, and in 1875 came to Summerset township, settling on section 12. He returned to Illinois where he was married January 1, 1878, to Lucretia Edgerton, daughter of Gilford and Elizabeth (Clegett) Edgerton, of Newark, Kendall county, Illinois, and immediately returned to his farm on section 12, this township. He owns forty acres on section 12 and one hundred and twenty on section 25, all under cultivation and fence. He has seeded most of his land to grass with an idea of engaging quite extensively in stock raising. During his residence in Kane county, Illinois, he taught a number of terms of school. At present he is road supervisor.
Lucien M. Kilburn is a native of Boscawen, New Hampshire, and was born January 20, 1842. He is the son of Eliphalet and Mehitabel F. (Foster) Kilburn. His father died at Webster, September 8, 1863. In the spring of 1867 he went with his mother to Massachusetts, and in the fall of 1868 came to Fontanelle, Iowa. During the year of 1869 he came to his present location on section 21, in this township. He was married in Richland township, October 19, 1870, to Lizzie H. Peet, daughter of Rev. Josiah W. and Louisa (Rich) Peet. Three children have been born to them—Charles W., George G., and Mary L. He is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and has been president of Rustic lodge of Fontanelle of this order. He enlisted as corporal in Company E, 16th New Hampshire volunteers, under Captain J. P. Sanborn, October 10, 1862, for nine months’ service, at Concord, New Hampshire. He was in Banks’ Teche campaign and took part in Buttea- la-rose engagement and the siege of Port Hudson, remaining after the expiration of this term of service till after its capture. He was discharged August 20, 1863, and afterward taught school in New Hampshire, being superintendent of schools at Webster, in that state. He also taught a couple of terms at Fontanelle, after coming to Iowa, since which time he has followed farming and stockraising, keeping a good grade of stock. He is also engaged quite extensively in rearing Italian bees.
Daniel W. Veirs, son of Brice W. and Hannah (Patterson) Veirs, was born July 15, 1817, in Harrison county, Ohio. When twenty years of age he went to Highland county, Ohio, where he was married December 10, 1840, to Sarah D. Stevenson, daughter of John and Nancy (Odle) Stevenson. They have eight children— John B., James P., Helen N., Kate, William N., Robert L., Edwin D., Eva M. He came to Washington, Iowa, in May, 1855, after which he removed to Fontanelle in 1868. March 13, 1883, he came to section 30, this township. He learned the tailoring business at Cadiz, Ohio, in 1834, at which he worked about thirty-five years. At present he is engaged at farming and stock-raising, and is improving on his cattle to Durham. Although he gives his attention to cattle principally, he raises considerable hogs and other stock. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land, ten of which is in pasture, and all but about twenty acres is finely improved and under cultivation.
Matthew T. Sexsmith was born in Delaware county. New York, March 14, 1842, being the son of Matthew and Jeannette (Kinmouth) Sexsmith. He was married there on the 15th day of April, 1874, to Miss Lizzie Donnelly, a daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Moore) Donnelly. They have three children — Thadeus, Gertrude and an infant. In the fall of 1866, Mr. Sexsmith came to Greenfield, and bought the farm on which he now resides, in the spring of 1867, and in the fall of 1868 built his present comfortable house. From 1863 to 1866 he was a member of Company I, New York State militia. He held the office of justice of the peace in Greenfield for two years. At present he is engaged in stock-raising and farming, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred acres of which are under cultivation, and sixty acres in timber. When Mr. Sexsmith first went to Greenfield there were not to exceed seven families living there. At present he holds the honorable position of school director.
FIRST THINGS.
The first marriage in the township of Summerset occurred on the 15th of June, 1857, upon which date Homer Penfield and Miss Martha Campbell were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. The first death was that of Justice A., a sou of James C. and Phoebe L. Gibbs, who died on the 29th of September, I860.” This was the first person interred in the Fontanelle cemetery. The first school was taught by Miss Hulda Lee, in Fontanelle, in 1857. The first sermon was preached in the fall of 1856, by Rev. James Walker, at his own house, now the residence of Judge Taylor. The first child born was a son of Daniel M. Valentine and his wife, born in April, 1856, in Fontanelle.
ORGANIC.
The township of Summerset was organized in the spring of 1856, and the “first election held on the first Monday in April of that year. This election was held at the house of D. M. Valentine, on the north side of the square, in the village of Fontanelle. The first officers were the following named: Jacob Eby, Alfred Jones and Joshua E. Chapman, trustees; D. M. Valentine, clerk; J. 0. Gibbs and Azariah Root, justices; Abraham Rutt, assessor; Gorton H. Bennett, road supervisor; James S. Ewing and G. N. Bennett, constables. The first meeting of the board of trustees was held on the 15th of March, 1857, according to the records, but this is doubtful. The present officers are: L. M. Kilburn, A. L. Stewart and R. N. ^ Jones, trustees; H. T. Newell, clerk; J. F. Cooper, assessor; J. S. Sherdeman and James Raney, justices; W. H. Simmons and William Salisbury, constables.

Taken from "History of Guthrie and Adair County Iowa, 1884", transcribed by Carlyss Noland