CHAPTER VI.
CASS TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).
INDIANTOWN.
Indiantown was located on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, and was founded by V. M. Conrad and W. N. Dickerson. Mr. Conrad was the original owner of the land, but sold it to Mr. Dickerson, who laid out the town in the summer of 1853, filing the plat for record on the 10th of October. Mr. Conrad opened the first store in the new town in 1854, and kept a general stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes. Naturally he felt very much disappointed that the commissioners did not select the embryo village for the county seat, instead of locating it where there was no town or settlement; but he continued his business for several years after the town had been absorbed by Lewis. He then returned to farming, and in later years became prominent as a county official and in the municipal affairs of Lewis itself.
John Cooper, the next merchant, also established a general store in 1854, it being a branch of a like establishment in Rockport, Mo., which was in charge of Mr. Cooper's partner, a Mr. Rudisell. The enterprise evidently was not profitable, as the store closed within a year and Mr. Cooper returned to Rockport. Horatio Ferrell made a feeble attempt to start a general store, at about the same time, but he soon sold out to Mr. Conrad, who apparently had engaged in teaming, in 1859 drifted to Colorado, but returned to Indiantown, where he died and where several of his children were married.
Jacob Selzer, who was the blacksmith of the town, came from Ohio in 1855. After two years' experience in the place, which was already hopelessly on the down-grade, he gathered his large German family about him and moved to Nebraska.
Among other settlers who followed regular trades there were Philander and H. K. Cranny, who appeared at Indiantown in 1853 as professional shingle makers. As building operations were rather slack they fell back upon outside sources of revenue. Philander, as one might suspect from his name, was adapted to shine in society, having among his other accomplishments Mr. Conrad's house, and there met with such success that he extended his operations to Iranistan, where he finally located and taught dancing at Wilson Smith's house.
H. K. Cranny was not accomplished, but he was practical, and when he found that shingle making was not a trade upon which to rear a family, located on a farm between Indiantown and Iranistan and thrived for several years as a tiller of the soil. Being a man of somewhat solid attainments, he also filled the office of clerk of the district court for the fall term of 1854. But by 1859 both H. K. and Philander had become wearied at the slow growth of the community and started for the farther West. Instead of the gay Philander, it was the substantial H. K. Cranny who deserted his wife in Nebraska and went to Logan, Utah, where he took three helpmeets unto himself and commenced the practice of medicine.
In the fall of 1855 R. C. Gordon came to Indiantown, bought a house and lot, and for years busied himself in the locality as a freighter, teamster and farmer. He removed to Southern Kansas, with his wife and family, in the spring of 1871.
Besides those mentioned above as chiefly identified with the business of other activities of Indiantown and vicinity, Messrs. Brewster & Krewson kept a store in the town during a part of 1854, and Messrs. Cook, Sargent & Haycook had a real estate office. The latter parties were from Des Moines and Davenport, and soon returned whence they came.
Like Iranistan, Indiantown went chiefly out of existence when Lewis was laid out as the county seat, in 1853, and within a few years had disappeared even from the maps.
WILLIAM W. HAWORTH AND SAMUEL UPSON.
William W. Haworth and Samuel Upson, who afterward became prosperous farmers and well-known citizens near Indiantown, visited the place in the 'fifties when they were locating their homes in Cass township. Mr. Haworth was an Illinois farmer, who, with his family, came to the county in 1854. He reached Indiantown on the 10th of June, of that year, and spent some time in looking for a location. At length he bought a claim on section 17, with ten acres already broken. There he built a rude log cabin, which the family occupied until 1863, when he erected a frame house on the same grounds, this remaining the homestead residence until his wife's death in 1873. He then moved onto section 20, where he purchased over 800 acres of land, including a large tract of timber, and gave his attention to the raising of cattle and other fine stock. Mr. Haworth here built a fine residence, carefully and tastefully improved his property, served his township as school director, justice of the peace and in other official capacities, and was long placed among the most substantial and useful members of the community.
Samuel Upson, who was born in Ohio and brought up on an Illinois farm, came to Cass county in 1858 and purchased a fine residence in what was left of Indiantown. At first he bought forty acres of land on section 4, and afterward added seventy acres on section 14, and fifty-eight acres on section 9. He brought with him his young wife, whom he had married three years before, and set to work to improve his property. Mr. Upson prospered, raised a large family and was honored with various township offices, such as treasurer and trustee.
"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 91-93.Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.
