|
Pioneers of Marion County Knoxville Township Knoxville Township Histories - Page 256 Chapter XX. Knoxville - Geography and Early History - Names of First Settlers - John M. Jones - Wooden Bowls - An Indian Visitation - John Conrey - Fight with Wolves - Landon J. Burch - A Rough Experience in Pioneer Life. At a called session of the commissioners' court, in November, 1846, it was ordered that town. 75, and all of 76, lying south of the Des Moines river, both of range 19; also towns. 75 and 76, range 20, be declared a township, to be known as Knoxville township. This included, besides all of the present township, all of Polk on the south side of the river, all of Union up to the south line of 77, and all of the present township of Pleasant Grove, included in town 76, range 20. Elections to be held at the county seat.* At the organization of Polk in '48, and of Union in '50, the township was reduced to its present size. It is a large township, embracing mostly upland timber and prairie, of about equal area. The only considerable streams running through it are White Breast, English and Cedar. The first runs through the east and north-east part of the township, the second through the south-east, and the latter rises in the north part, runs northward to the Des Moines. Abundant evidences of coal are to be seen in the banks of these streams, and also along the smaller creeks in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville City. Several productive veins have already been opened, principally eastward of town; and according to the report of a geological survey, recently made, the city stands over an extensive coal field of from three to ------------------ Knoxville Township Histories - Page 257 five veins to be reached at various depths. Fire and potter's clay also exist in the township. Among those who settled in this township at an early date, (besides those mentioned in the general history of the county,) we note the names of the Jones family, John, Sen., John, Jun., Isaac, George and William; Elias Fuller, L. C. and John Conrey, Tyler Overton, J. R. Welch, Conrad Walters, R. S. Lowry, John Essex, M. Willcut, Michael Livingston, Lossen G. Terry, Christopher Cox, Smith Hanton, Lauden J. and William Burch. Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 265 Chapter XXI. Knoxville Township Continued - Conrad Walters - First Church Organization - First Preaching - Sleepy Hearer - First School Teacher - Knoxville - First Steam Saw Mill - A Scene in the Early History of Knoxville City - John Shearer - A Pioneer School - A Critical Situation - Another - Tyler Overton. The first religious society that was organized in this township, was by Rev. Mr. Neur, of the M. E. Church, in 1844 or 1845, and the first regular house of worship was erected in Knoxville City, in 1850 or 1851, during the pastoral charge of Rev. A. W. Johnson, of the same denomination. Rev. Mr. Neur is remembered as among the first, (if not quite the first) minister that broke the bread of life in the then wilderness of Knoxville township. An anecdote is related of him in connection with one of his first discourses here. Having become acquainted with a young man named Willis, who was at work for John Conrey, and who was also a member of his church, Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 266 Mr. Neur sent an appointment by him to preach at Mr. Conrey's cabin, on a certain night. When the time came the congregation consisted of Mr. Conrey, his wife, and five children and Brother Willis. During the sermon the latter, perhaps overcome by fatigue, fell asleep and soon began to manifest his condition by some loud snoring. Observing this the preacher raised his voice a key higher, but in a kindly tone, said, "wake up, Brother Willis, I'll soon be through." This roused the sleeper, and the preacher went on with his sermon as though nothing out of the way had happened. The history of the city of Knoxville, it being the county seat, has already been related in connection with the general history of the county, and we scarcely need transcend the limits of this work by noting its progress and present wealth. Suffice it to say that it is a place of average proportions and population for an inland city; and, being situated in a healthy locality, and in the midst of a rich agricultural and mineral region, its advantages are inferior to few other inland towns, and will soon be made superior to many by the addition of one or two important railroad connections. Knoxville is now supplied with several kinds of manufacturing establishments, a lumber yard, numerous churches, two newspapers and a large city school, all of which attest the enterprise, moral status and intelligence of the people. In contrast with the above we note one or two incidents that may be well remembered by many citizens: In the fall of 1854, Geo. Calvin and Ira Curtis purchased a six horse power steam engine, in Washington county, brought Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 267 it to Knoxville and put up the first circular saw mill in what is now the south side of town. When the mill got into operation it proved to be quite a curiosity to the people, crowds of whom came to see it work. Now all the modern improvements that have been attached to this powerful agent for the operation of almost every kind of machinery, scarcely calls forth the wonder of an individual. In 1850, a Mr. Henry kept a hotel near the northwest corner of the square, and during a session of the district court, the small house was crowded. One night a peddler came to lodge there, and for want of room took up his lodging in the barroom, which place was presided over by one Eph Henby. During the night two persons named Walters and Dunham, feeling funny with liquor, pulled the peddler out of his cot by the legs, and dragged him into the kitchen. In this operation the prostrate but struggling itinerant merchant kicked one of his assailants in the breast, which was the signal for fight. The uproar now became so intense that every lodger in the house was roused, and the fighting propensity of a large pugilistic individual, named Kaufman, was stirred up. He coolly got up, dressed himself and went down stairs, declaring his intention to put a stop to the fuss or whip somebody. Finding Dunham he went about his mission at once and gave that disturber a good thrashing. At this moment Henby, the barkeeper, anxious to restore order, but afraid of getting into the muss, thrust his head down the stairway and called out a command to keep the peace. As a reward for this unlucky interference, Walters hurled a boot at Henby, that struck him in the face with such violence as to cause blood to flow pretty freely. For this breach of good manners, Kaufman, the peacemaker, deemed it his duty to thrash Walters also, by which peace was finally restored. Early next morning the parties atoned for their fun by going to a justice's office and paying a fine. Such scenes are now remembered as things of the past. Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 268 As this chapter would be a short one, if ended here, we may venture to add a few miscellaneous items that may not be wholly without interest to some who remember them. Just previous to the flood of 1851, Nelson Butcher built a corn mill on a small tributary of White Breast, which was Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 269 resorted to from quite a distance, and the grain accumulated so rapidly that there was not enough room for it in the small mill house, and the proprietor had to stow away at least a hundred bushels of it in his cabin near by. One night the flood came so rapidly that there was no time to save the corn, nor even any of the household property, and the family could only think of saving themselves. Escape to the uplands was impossible, and they had to climb to the loft. This was almost floorless, only two or three narrow boards being laid across the joists. On these Mr. and Mrs. Butcher, their five children, and Mr. Shearer, who happened to be there, perched themselves as best they could and passed the remainder of the night in a painful state of apprehension for their safety, as they listened to the roar of the rising flood and felt the frail building tremble. But for one providential circumstance they would have in all probability found a watery grave. A great log came down and lodged in such a position just above the cabin as to protect if from a large amount of heavy drift-wood that must otherwise have swept it from its foundation. When the welcome daylight dawned, the besieged could more fully realize their perilous situation and be thankful for the preservation of their lives and for the relief that came by friendly neighbors. As may be supposed the corn was totally ruined. In those days corn was not so plentiful but that a small amount was deemed worth raising. In this connection we may relate an anecdote of one Billy Williams, who got himself into an embarrassing situation in consequence of his efforts to prevent a bushel of the valuable grain from going to waste. A wagon load of it had passed near his house and by some means a quantity of it was dropped along the road. Billy happened along soon afterwards and thought he had better gather it up for his own use than let it quite go to loss. But not having any basket or bag to put it in, he was for moment uncertain how he should manage it. But presently an original Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 270 idea came to his aid. He could make a bag of his pants. Being in an unfrequented place, he had no expectation of being discovered in the execution of this new idea, so he took off his pants, tied the lower ends of the legs and stuffed them as full as they would button with the ears of corn. Now being ready to bear away his prize, he looked up the road and saw two women coming toward him. They were evidently coming to his house. Mortified as he was, he shouldered his load and rushed for a haystack that stood within calling distance of his dwelling. Here he took shelter, and as no time was to be lost, he called energetically for Jemima, his wife. "What do you
want?" queried the latter, a little surprised if not alarmed at
the earnestness of his tone. Of course she flew to obey the command, fearing that Billy might somehow be in a bad fix, but was happy to find his case no worse than it was. Billy got dressed as soon as he could and went to the house, hoping he had escaped the notice of the visitors, who were now there. But somehow the joke soon got abroad without the aid of Billy or his wife either. Knoxville Township Histories continued - Page 271 Population of Knoxville township by the U. S. census of 1870: Native - 4609 Index of names mentioned in Knoxville Township histories section Burch, Lauden J.
- Knoxville Township page 257 Calvin, Geo. - Knoxville
Township page 266 Dunham - Knoxville Township page 267 Essex, John - Knoxville Township page 257 Fuller, Elias - Knoxville Township page 257 Hanton, Smith -
Knoxville Township page 257 Johnson, Rev. A.
W. - Knoxville Township page 265 Kaufman - Knoxville Township page 267 Livingston, Michael
- Knoxville Township page 257 Neur, Rev. Mr. - Knoxville Township page 265, 266 Overton, Tyler - Knoxville Township page 257 Shearer, Mr. - Knoxville Township page 269 Terry, Lossen G. - Knoxville Township page 257 Walters - - Knoxville
Township page 267
|