Jasper Co. IAGenWeb
Past and Present of Jasper Co.

CHAPTER XIX
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP

Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa
B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912


Buena Vista Township was organized in February 1857, by the order of the then presiding judge. The record shows that the order was, that there be a new township formed by the name of Buena Vista, bounded as follows: "Commencing at the northeast corner of section 25, township 80, range 18; thence west on the section line to the northwest corner of section 30, same township and range; thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 30, township 79, range 18; thence east on the section line to the southeast corner of section 25, said township and range; thence north to the place of beginning by the range line."

This refers to original Buena Vista Township. There have been some changes in its boundaries since then, however.

This sub-division of Jasper County derived its name doubtless - from the Mexican city in which our American army entered in the war with Mexico that had just closed when this county had got fairly well organized and had among its pioneer band many who had taken part in that war.

It is situated to the south of Kellogg, to the west of Richland, to the north of Elk Creek and Palo Alto, and to the east of Palo Alto Townships, this county. It is six miles square. Among its chief watercourses may be named Little Elm Creek. The northwestern portion of this township has, or did have at an early day, considerable natural timber. The population of the township in 1905, according to the Iowa state census reports, was 873. It is one of the most excellent farming sections of the county.

Its pioneer settlers were thoughtful and enterprising men and women whose characters have left their impress upon the present populace. Among the first persons to enter government land in this township were: William Smith, in the west half of the northwest of section 20, August 12, 1847; Evan Adamson, east half of section 18, August 14, 1847.

In 1874 occurred the death of pioneer Henry Hammer, Sr., who settled in Buena Vista Township in 1848. He was a native of Tennessee and reached the ripe old age of seventy-three years. He was an anti-slavery man all of his eventful life.

In 1878 the records show that Buena Vista Township had personal property to the extent of $82,718, including 670 horses, eighty mules and 1,780 head of cattle. In 1877 the books show that this township had property valued for assessment purposes to the amount of $336,000. The tax on this property brought to the treasury of the county $5,072. See Educational chapter for the public schools of this township.

CONCERNING THE SETTLEMENT

A settlement was made on Elk creek, this township, as early as 1845 in what is styled the Hixon and Adamson groves. Moses Lacy, of Illinois, took a claim in the southeast quarter of section 18, in March 1845, built a cabin and later sold to Evan Adamson, who moved to the same in the spring of 1846. Adamson immigrated from Missouri.

Nathan Williams settled in the northwest quarter of section 20 in the autumn of 1845, sold to Bill Smith, known as "Fool Bill," in the spring of 1846. He sold to Enos Adamson, he to James Robb, and he in turn to William Robb, who owned the farm in 1900.

David Adamson took a claim in the northwest quarter of section 18 in March 1846, and the following April sold to Abraham Adamson. He had seven sons and from this large family the grove took its name.

M. D. Springer took a claim later known as the Sam Squires farm, moving to the same in January 1846. He sold to Elijah Hammer. On section 20, Ira Hammer claimed land and the date of this entry was 1846. There pioneer Hammer lived and died. Farther to the east, William Cheneqoth, from Ohio, and later from Missouri, settled either in 1847 or possibly the year before. He died there ten years later.

Henry Smith claimed land in 1846 where John Wells lived a few years ago. He sold to Moses Darling in 1857.

On Elk Creek Ballinger Aydelotte claimed land in section 8, locating there in March 1845, as an original entry man. In 1851 he sold to Samuel McDaniel and later it passed to the ownership of Milton Vanscoy.

James Plumb, Jr., settled in a log cabin near where the J. W. Murphy residence now stands in 1848. In this rude cabin home the Rev. James Plumb first saw the light of day. Mr. Murphy purchased this farm in 1856.

John H. Franklin claimed land in the southeast corner of section 6, in the early days of the spring of 1845. His cabin stood near the present school building on section 5.

William M. Springer took a claim on the northwest of section 7, in the, fall of 1845.

David Edmundson settled exactly where now stands the county poor farm, in the spring of 1846.

Jacob Bennett took land in the northwest of section 6 in 1845; he kept a house of entertainment for travelers.

James Pearson settled in section 5 in 1845; this property a few years since was owned by Daniel W. Murphy.

Pioneer Pearson came into the county on foot, made a fire and prepared his meal and then laid him down to rest, for he was very weary. He slept by the side of a huge log, and when he awoke in the early morning he discovered a large wolf on the opposite side of the log and he too had been too weary to look for game or to molest the stranger. Both were surprised and alarmed-the wolf ran away and for the time Mr. Pearson forgot he had a gun and let the animal go. Pearson weighed fully two hundred and fifty pounds and it has often been related of him that when he viewed the beautiful prairie and forest landscape all about him, that he climbed a big, high tree and exclaimed in a very loud voice, "I pre-empt all the land in sight.".

Between 1850 and 1856 the settlement was greatly augmented in this and many parts of Jasper County. Among those who entered lands in this township may be recalled now the names of: G. T. Saum, in section 1, in 1851; James Fenwick, in section 21, in 1852; Leonard Lickens, in section 27, in 1852 or 1853; Levi Cook, in section 3, 1854; he erected a frame house which for many years was known as the "steep-roofed house."

It was about this time that the first post office east of Newton, on the Iowa City road, was established. This office was kept on section 35 of what is now Kellogg Township.

FIRST EVENTS

It seems quite certain that the first child born in this township was Allie Springer, son of William M. and "Aunt Sally" Springer, he having been born in the winter of 1846-7.

The earliest marriage was that of Jesse Rickman (later a judge) and Nancy Pearson. At the same time, and both ceremonies being performed at the cabin of Thomas Pearson, were united for better or for worse, John Wilson and Josie Pearson, Ballinger Aydelott tying both marriage knots. This was in March 1847. The wedding supper consisted of cornbread, crabapple pie, crabapple sauce, roast chicken (both prairie and tame), cabbage, slaw, roast pork and vegetables.

The first sermon preached in Buena Vista Township was that delivered by Joab Bennett, a Methodist minister, in March 1846. Five persons made up his audience. In the autumn of 1846 William Ferguson formed a Christian Church Society at the house of pioneer Ballinger Aydelott and this was doubtless the first of this denomination in Jasper County.

WILD TURKEYS

It has been related of pioneer Jacob Bennett's good wife that she met with the following fate by a wild turkey: In the spring of 1845 Bennett planted a patch of corn in the edge of the brush; in the fall he cut and shocked it up. The wild turkeys proposed to get a share of his labor, so they came to pick corn. Mrs. Bennett proposed to be their equal, so she hid herself in a shock. A large turkey gobbler climbed on the shock she was in. She caught him by the leg, held him fast and he lacerated her hand terribly with his spurs, but she took him in and cooked him.

VILLAGE OF MURPHY

In 1890 there was a post office established at this point, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 17, township 79, range 18, but it was discontinued January 15, 1911. J. W. Murphy, an old pioneer, was the only person who ever served as postmaster. The business of 1910 only amounted to about forty dollars. Three mails were received each way daily while the office was in existence. The people of the vicinity are now supplied with mail by the rural free delivery from Newton route No. 7. There is a small store located here, but aside from it's being a station point on the railroad, there is no business transacted there.

VILLAGE OF KILLDUFF

The only real village in this township is Killduff, located on section 35, ten miles to the southeast of Newton, on the Iowa Central Railroad. It had in 1900 about eighty inhabitants, a post office, two good stores, a lumberyard and a blacksmith shop. It had a population of one hundred and fifty. Its business in 1910 consisted of the following: The live-stock dealer was Henry W. Ager; blacksmithing, by O. H. Carnahan; hardware and hotel were being conducted by William B. Coe; barbering, William Harvey; general dealer in merchandise and banking in a small way, Frank W. Swearingen; restaurant, by William C. Korff, who was the postmaster at the date given above.

There are two churches, the Methodist Episcopal and the Reformed; the latter denomination have no regular pastor at this writing.

Transcribed by Ernie Braida in July 2003