1914
Delaware Co., IA History Vol. 1
CHAPTER XIX
This township was early settled. It was organized
The German element largely predominates here. Being
adepts in husbandry, their
holdings cannot be surpassed anywhere in
the state. Large, modern
homes, huge barns, neatly-kept and highly cultivated fields all attest the industry, thrift and
progress of this people. The production of corn, oats, wheat,
cattle and dairy products add yearly
to the ever increasing wealth of the people, in the central and southern
parts of the township there is an area more than usually level and the soil is very fertile. It is adapted to
a great range of crops, and ranks with
the best known anywhere in the great fertile Northwest.
Bear Creek has its origin in a number of small branches, draining the central part of the township and flowing
southward. The northeastern part of
Colony is drained by branches of
The first person known to have built a cabin in
this township was Henry Teegardner, a
trapper and Indian trader,
who was here about 1838. It is not known to a certainty that he ever brought
his family to this western home but he did reside for several years
just over the line in
The first actual settler in this
township was Silas Gilmore who located in the north part of the township early
in the spring of 1839. In May, 1839, David
Moreland, William McMillen, William McQuilkin, Benjamin Reckner, with their families, and P. C. Bolsinger arrived
in this township from Pennsylvania and
located in its northern part near Gilmore's claim and where Colesburg
was afterward laid out. Bolsinger shortly after went back to
Missouri Dickson and
family came in July, 1839, and settled at
White Oak Grove about four miles southeast of the Morelands' claim. Samuel
Dickson came about the same
time. The Dicksons had many adventures as hunters and trappers, one of which is illustrative, as told
by a neighbor: "A short distance from the mouth of the
History has it that the first religious
services in
The Moreland colony started to increase in the year
1840. Among others who came that year were Leonard Wiltse and family, John Melugin
and family, Drake Nelson, Matthew Springer,
Amasa Wiltse and William and
James Montgomery.
During the year 1841 there came in Jared and
Ezra Hubbard, Horace Pierce, Allen Fargo, Robert Torrence, William and John
Burnham, Amos Williams, Patrick Hogan and others, who settled near the Moreland
colony.
Archibald Montgomery came in May, 1842, with his
family. At the time of his death in
1875 he owned 1,200 acres of land. John D. Klaus immigrated
from
Lawrence McNamee was early a member of the colony in this township, coming from the State of
Liberty Cole settled in
In the spring of 1843 John Platt and family came
from
In 1844 William Gillam and family
immigrated from "Hard Scrabble”
Joseph Grimes was an early settler of
George Griffith, unmarried, located here in
1845. That same year a man by the name of Gamble, with two
children, also located in the neighborhood. In 1846 and 1847 there was a
large increase in the population of the township. Herman H. Klaus was a settler
in this township as early as 1845. In May of that year he settled on a farm, a
part of which he entered at Government price. Eventually he became the
possessor of about seven hundred acres, most of which was improved. Mr. Klaus
was a leader in the Methodist church, a steward for twenty-eight years and
local preacher twenty-six years.
Hezekiah Hubbard was born in
One of the earliest and most prominent settlers
of
Wellington Wiltse, James Cole, Albert Baker, A.
J. Blackmail and James Rutherford settled in the township soon after the colony
had been set up.
William H. Graves was born in
George W. Ray came to the township in
1848. He at once built a home and before many years had a farm of 160 acres
under a high state of cultivation.
John C. Wood was born in
Charles Simons was a native of the State of
Henry Bush and his wife Elizabeth came here from
Jacob Landis, Sr., came to
James Dickson, a native of
Thomas
J. Conner settled near Colesburg in 1852.
Daniel Partridge was an active and
industrious farmer, who arrived in this county
from the State of
Chester Coonrod came to
David Roberts was born in
The first Methodist camp meeting in the
county was held at the "Colony" in the summer of 1844.
The first school was taught in the summer of
1840, in a log cabin built for the purpose on a spot
three-quarters of a mile north of David Moreland's house. Before this
cabin was "chinked," Preacher Clark held services within its
primitive walls (?). As soon as
completed the first school in Delaware County was held in this crude structure,
having been opened in the fall of 1840 by Mrs. McCleland. Two months afterward
the building burned to the ground and teacher and pupils removed to the home of
James Cole, where the term was completed. The building was replaced by another,
which stood on the edge of Colesburg. The
Moreland, Mallory, McNamee, Wiltse and Landis children were enrolled
here in 1842, and Maria Phillips was the teacher. The young lady became the
wife of Silas Gilmore, who
kept "batch" in a log cabin, 1 1/4
miles from Colesburg.
The first
school established in the Dickson
settlement was taught by Abbie Hall in 1844, in a small log building designed
for a smoke house, which stood on the farm of her brother Thomas Hall.
In the year just mentioned the settlers
built a hewed log schoolhouse on the farm of John Platt, Sr., and in
1845 a select school was taught there (subscription)
by John Humphrey.
In the year 1847 there were
two schools in full running
order. District No. 1 had thirty-six
pupils and No. 2, forty-one. In 1848 there were
three schools, all
supported by subscription, and the
teachers "boarded round."
Lawrence McNamce and John Platt Sr., were the
first persons elected justices
of the peace in
Jacob Landis built and operated a
sawmill, on a branch of the Little Turkey, about
two and one-half miles
southeast of Moreland's in 1848.
The
Town of "Coles Burgh,"
now Colesburg, was laid out
by Hiram Cole and
Lawrence McNamee,
Lawrence McNamee, who
located here in 1842, purchased the forty-acre claim of Wellington Wiltse, on section 4, for which he
gave $1,000. Joining with Hiram
Cole, whose land adjoined his, these two men became the founders of this
old town. South of Colesburg the Town of
The first building erected on the site of Colesburg was built by Hiram
Cole in 1846, in which he opened the second store in the place. But David Bierer was the first merchant in the place,
opening a small general store in 1843, which is said to have been the first in
the county.
The postoffice here
was established in 1846 and named Colony. David Moreland was the first
postmaster and received his commission August 15, 1846. On the 3d day of April,
1849, the name was changed to Colesburg. The names of Moreland's successors in
this office follow: Perry Perkins, April 3, 1849; Thomas Cole, January 20,
1852; J. B. Moreland, April 6, 1853; H. T. Wright, April 20, 1860; J. M. Potts, December 5, 1866; S. G.
Knee, March 23, 1869; George F. Potts, December 1, 1884; James Chapman, May 25,
1889; George P. Potts, June 28, 1893; Joseph Chapman, June 1, 1897; Emma J.
Chapman, December 7, 1905.
Jacob B. Moreland put up a building in Colony (now Colesburg) in 1851, and opened up a
general line of merchandise. He became
prominent in the business.
Richard Wilson located in Colesburg in 1851 and
at once engaged in business as a tinsmith and hardware dealer.
P. C. Bolsinger was an energetic business
man and made a success as a merchant at Colesburg. He opened a general store in
1852 and in 1860 erected a large stone
building to accommodate a large stock of goods and his numerous
patrons.
One of the earliest
merchants was Hiram Cole, who began business in a log cabin that stood on or
near the site of the Bolsinger stone business building.
Col. Samuel G. Knee
was born in
The mill still running in
Colesburg was built in 1857 by Bolsinger & Moreland.
The mill had steam power and was operated by the builders until 1867, when
James Caskey and James Cole purchased the property. Cole later sold his interests to Michael Stegner, who died in 1874
and Caskey became sole owner. It
was known as a two-run mill and had a capacity
of fifty barrels of flour a day.
Nothing but feed and corn meal is now the
product of this old industrial concern.
The Colesburg pottery, still in operation, was
built by David Roberts in 1857. The
building was destroyed two years later,
but restored when E. Jones became the owner. It was afterwards purchased by the firm of
Stegner & Stillinger, who sold
to F. A. Grimes and R. C. Currie. The excellent
potter's clay found in this vicinity furnishes material for the manufacture
of various earthen vessels, principally flower pots, milk jars, jugs, etc., which arc
still made at this factory. Here
also is made a good quality of building
brick. Colesburg also has a creamery that has been in operation all of twenty-five years. Prior to this Dr.
R. Stedman opened a cheese factory in 1873 and
run it about four years.
COLESBURG INCORPORATED
Colesburg was incorporated as a town and the
first election was held for municipal officers
SCHOOLS
The first school in
FARMERS SAVINGS BANK
This bank is the outgrowth of a private banking
concern, established by A. W. Rea, in a little frame building two doors north
of the present building about the year 1891, and operated until 1907. Articles
of incorporation were issued for the Farmers Savings Bank,
The capital stock of the Farmers Bank was increased
to $18,000.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
This church was organized in the
schoolhouse near where Colesburg now stands, in the fall of 1842, by Rev.
Barney White, assisted by Rev. Simeon Clark. Thomas Cole was the first
class-leader, and John Nagle and Missouri Dickson, stewards. The first board of
trustees was George Gilmore, Henry Klaus, William Bragg, Hezekiah Hubbard and
Perry Perkins. In 1849 Rev. John L. Kelly was pastor. The church building was
erected in 1849 and dedicated in the
fall of that year by Rev. George B. Bowman. Rev. George Larkin became pastor at
this time.
Among the first members, in addition to those already mentioned,
who joined the church in the '50s and '60s, were: William Admire, Dora A. Lang,
Emily McNamee, M. C. Nichols, R. T. Jewell, Esther Gilmore, Ellen Gilmore, L.
A. Huffsmith, Laura Simpson, Cynthia M. Fosler, Melissa A. Mills, Mehitable
Conrad, Emma A. Walker, Martha A. Annis, Orline Smith, Cynthia B. Smith, Eliza
Walker, Mrs. J. Martin, Mrs. Steward, Miss Warnock, Isabella Rea, Maria
Carrier, Charles Boardrnan.
The succeeding pastors to Reverend Larkin were
the following: George L. Garrison, C. L. McNamee, Reverend Hillman, C. W.
Copeland, W. G. Moore, N. H. Sparling, William Young, J. A. Ward, C. W.
Burgess, S. Goodsell, C. F. McLean, L. U. McKee, E. Will, T. N. Cook, J. H.
Thompson, James Hankins, E. L. McNamee, G. S. Roberts, T. W. Potter, J. F.
Webster, C. F. Paine, B. D. Alden, G. W. Dunham, Herbert M. Chambers, C. W. Rogers,
I. R. Sanford, F. C. Witzigman, J. C. Erb, Reverend McBride, F. P. Cassady, R.
F. Webster, George A. Harvey and Oliver J. Feller, the present pastor.
The membership is now fifty, and the attendance at Sabbath-school,
sixty.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
This church was organized
The Catholic people
held mass here as early as 1855, and during the pastorate of Rev. Michael Lynch a church building was erected, in
1857. The present one was built in 1877, under the pastorate of Bernard Cole.
This church is now attended by a priest from Elkport.
A Cumberland
Presbyterian Church was organized in 1859 and a building erected the
same year. Rev. P. H. Crides was the
pastor. This society went out of existence all of thirty years ago and the
church building is now used for other purposes.
INDEPENDENT
ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
Colony Lodge, No. 50, I. O. O. F., was
organized
Colesburg Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah,
No. 428, was organized
MASONIC
Constellation Lodge,
No. 67, A. F. & A. M., was organized
Minnehaha Lodge, No. 344, Order Eastern
Star, was organized on the 19th day of October, 1903, by Mesdames Ida
Bolsinger, Lou Bush, Belle Currie, Effie Jacobs, Ida Knee, Lucia Lockridge,
Mollic Landis, Len Moreland, Mary Rea, May Rea, Mate Walker, Blanche Wilson, J.
K. P. Bolsinger, J. A. Bush, R. C. Currie, C. H. Jacobs, C. F. Knee, W. E.
Lockridge, A. L. Landis, A. W. Rea, A. M. Rea, W. S. Shaker, George W. Walker,
F. C. Wilson and Miss Belle Landis.
GRAND
ARMY OF
THE REPUBLIC
S. G.
Knee Post, No. 517, G. A. R., was organized August 25, 1896, by the following
veterans of the Civil war: George F. Potts, George H. Walker, W. S. Adams,
Frank Thayer, James Knee, A. W. Rea, George T.
Barnhart. James McMahon, August Imscher, J. K. P. Bolsinger,
Eli Wingston, George W. McKinney, John S. Merton.
There are also organizations here of the Modern
Brotherhood of America, Modern Woodmen of
America and Gleaners.
Becky
Teubner, Contributor