(This is the 1875 Amity Twp. Plat) Page County was eight (formed 1850) years old when Amity Township was first created from Buchanan Township, as a Congressional Township, on Sep. 01, 1858, which consisted of some 59,754.02 acres of Township (67) North, Range's 37, 38 and 39 West of the 5th. Principal Meridian. The only town in this township, first formed as the village of "Amity" in 1856, the next year was renamed to "College Springs", after the discovery of a large, never failing spring on the "Plate". Amity Village was platted on the corner sections of 7, 8, 17, and 18. In 1890, besides those connected with the "Amity College" there were about 400 inhabitants in the Township. Two months later Ranges 38 and 39 were reformed into Washington Township and Amity Township has remained the 19,9002.85 acres, 36 (640 acre) Sections with Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 "Fractional Sections" from the "Correctional Line" along the south line of the township. Colfax Township is located on the West, Harlan to the North, Buchanan Township on the East. The Page County line as well as the Missouri State line is along the South. [1.] PUBLIC LAND DISPOSAL This area was part of the "Missouri River Land District" with the Public Land Office opened on 02 Aug. 1852, located at "Kanesville", (later called Council Bluffs. The first public auction came on 06 Jun. 1853. This office closed on 31 May 1873. EARLY SETTLEMENT Based on W. L. Kershaw (1890) the first settler in what is now Amity Township was DANIEL SEVERS, 1 who located on the SE 1/4, SW 1/4 of Section 20, in a Grove 1 1/2 miles, south the village of Amity (now College Springs) in 1854 (Note Andreas did NOT list him as a "Early Settler" in his 1875 publication....prs) along with his brother-in-law Mr. (Unknown) WADE who cleared land on the SW 1/4, SW 1/4 of Section 20. "No others came until the "Amity College" lands were surveyed in 1856." (This is not true..See below ...prs) This writer found [2.] that the next year (1855) Mr. D. M. SCOGGAN, a "Merchant" from Johnson County, Indiana, settled on the SW 1/4, SW 1/4 of Section 8 and Mr. THOMAS BENTON 3 on 09 Feb. 1855, filed for 40 acres on the NE 1/4, NE 1/4 of Section 20 (a neighbor of DANIEL SEAVERS) as well as 66.77 acres on the irregular section (Lot 1 & 2) of Section 35 (1 mile West of Braddyville). One of the biggest "Land Speculators" of Iowa was JOSHUA F. ATKINSON, he was at the "Public Land Bid" in "Kanesville", the U. S. Land Office on the 1st. of March 1855 and bought 1,382.47 acres of public land for $ 1.25 an acre. That same day he bought 240 acres in Colfax Township, 360 acres in Grant Twp., and 80 acres in Tarkio Twp. Some Early Land Abstracts: The following 28 records, show persons filed claims for land in Amity Township, at the "Public Land" office: (Compiled from Counsel Bluffs Land Records - 1853-1858) Name Date Township Sec. Part of Acres ANDERSON, THOMAS 04-Apr-1857 Amity 4 E 1/2, SE 1/4 80 ANDRESS, SAMUEL 04-Oct-1855 Amity 2 W 1/2, NW 1/4 79.28 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 32 LOTS 1 & 2 130.7 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 29 SW 1/4, NW 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 15 NE 1/4, NW 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 15 NE 1/4, NE 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 10 S 1/2, SW 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 10 N 1/2, SW 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 10 S 1/2, SE 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 10 N 1/2, SE 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 8 N 1/2, SW 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 8 NW 1/4, SE 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 8 E 1/2, SE 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 8 NW 1/2 160 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 7 SW 1/4, SW 1/4 40.89 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 7 NE 1/4, SW 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 01-Mar-1855 Amity 7 N 1/2, SE 1/4 80 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 03-Mar-1855 Amity 33 LOTS 1 & 2 130.8 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 24-Oct-1855 Amity 20 SE 1/4, SW 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 26-Oct-1855 Amity 20 SE 1/4, SE 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 26-Oct-1855 Amity 17 NE 1/4, SE 1/4 40 ATKINSON, JOSHUA F. 26-Oct-1855 Amity 17 NW 1/4, NE 1/4 40 BENTON, THOMAS 09-Feb-1855 Amity 20 NE 1/4, NE 1/4 40 BENTON, THOMAS 09-Feb-1855 Amity 35 LOT 1 & 2 66.77 BRADDY, JAMES 25-Apr-1855 Amity 36 LOT 1 68.97 BRADDY, WILLIAM 09-Feb-1855 Amity 23 NE 1/4, SW 1/4 40 BRADDY, WILLIAM 09-Feb-1855 Amity 23 NW 1/4, SE 1/4 40 BRADDY, WILLIAM 09-Feb-1855 Amity 23 NE 1/4, NE 1/4 40 About 1856, my Gr-GrandParents ROBERT and SARAH (PUGH) WILSON removed from the East River Twp. area to the rural area of Amity Township, NOTE: (the exact Section location is Unknown). The 1st. village of Amity is with in three miles to the south of the current post office, now called College Springs. Some other first settlers in the Amity Township area were: [6.] JOSEPH CORNFORTH, J.P. DONALDSON, ARRON DOW, JABEZ FICKLING, EILJAH GIBBS, Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS, J.B. LAUGHLIN, W.R. LAUGHLIN, M.S. MARROW, O.R. STRONG, W.J. WOODS. NOTE (no record of the above persons, as purchasing property in Page County, prior to 1856, SOURCE: "Partron's of Page Co. 1875..prs) [2.] The following persons were settled in Amity Township, prior to the start of the Civil War (1861) [[6.] ARMSTRONG, Mr. AUSTIN, ALLEN AUSTIN, PETER BABCOCK, GEORGE CARVER, A. CORNFORTH, JOSEPH CORNFORTH, LINTON DONALDSON, J. P. DOW, W. C. FLICKLING, JABEZ GIBBS, ELIJAH GIBBS, DANIEL (Son of Elijah) GIBBS, GEORGE (Son of Elijah) GIBBS, BENJAMIN (Son of Elijah) GREEN, CHARLES JOHNSON, Mr. (father of MEED JOHNSON, harness maker 1890) KEMPTON, JOSEPH (and father) LAUGHLIN, JAMES LAUGHLIN, JOHN LAUGHLIN, WILLIAM LUMERY, ANDREW McCORD, B. McCORD, DAVID McCORD, MORRIS McCULLOUGH, GEORGE McINTOSH, JACOB McKINLEY, J. W. MODDY, CHARLES MORROW, M.S. NELSON, FREDERICK "Fred" NOE, E. RUSSELL, JOHN RUSSELL, WILLIAM SEARCY, ALLEN SHORT, JAMES SMITH, AMI SNODDERLY, JOHN (brothers & father) SNODDERLY, THOMAS (brothers & father) WOODS, W. J. Patrons of Page Co., Andreas Plat Book - 1875 LName FName P.O. Township Sec. Acres Occupation Came to IA. From Sta. BEDWELL , W.S. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 8 180.0 FARMER 1857 ROCKINGHAM CO. HH BLACK , J.M. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 4 85.0 FARMER 1869 FLOYD CO. IN BLAIR , M.G. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 15 205.0 FARMER 1869 BEAVER CO. PA CORNFORTH , L.C. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 7 100.0 MAYOR 1859 KENNEBEC CO. MO FLEMING , Thomas COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 21 80.0 FARMER 1867 FULLTON CO. IL GIBBS , Daniel C. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 6 240.0 FARMER 1856 FRANKLIN CO. NY LAUGHLIN , James G. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 7 103.0 FARMER 1858 PENDLETON CO. SC PREST , T.A. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 9 160.0 FARMER N/A N/A N/A REID , Joseph A. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 19 385.0 FARMER 1857 GREENE CO. OH SCOGGAN , D.M. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 8 40.0 MERCHANT 1855 JOHNSON CO. IN TUTTLE , George A. COLLEGE SPRINGS Amity 22 60.0 FARMER 1857 DeKALB CO. IL The town of COLLEGE SPRINGS BUSINESS, COLLEGE SPRINGS - 1890  BANK: McLean Brothers  BLACKSMITH: Anderson  BLACKSMITH: Renigher  CHEESE FACTORY: Austin & Stanton  DRUGS: Bagnal Brothers  GENERAL MERCHANT: McLean Brothers  GENERAL MERCHANT: Henderson Brothers  GROCERY: Thomas Case  HARNESS SHOP: MEED JOHNSON  LIVERY: Henderson Brothers  MEAT SHOP: Renigher BUSINESS, COLLEGE SPRINGS - 1902  BANKER: J. L. McLean  CHINAWARE & HOUSEFURNISHINGS:  Stevensob & McCullough  COUNTY BRIDGE BUILDER: W. J. McGinnis  CREAM CHEESE MFG.: J. H. Laughlin  DRUGGIST: Dr. S. E. McClymonds  GENERAL MERCHANT: J. L. McLean  GENERAL MERCHANT of HARDWARE, BUGGIES & WAGONS,; PAINTS, FURNITURE,  HOTEL & LIVERY:   T. J. Hawthorn  LIVERY & FEED: Richard Lloyd  RETIRED FARMER: J. W. McKinley  RESTAURANT: Harry Walker, Proprietor of Up-to-date Restaurant. CHURCHES of COLLEGE SPRINGS: In 1890 there were Five religious denominations in College Springs; the Congregational Church, Free Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, United Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Methodist Church. At one time their also was a Baptist and an "Old School Presbyterian Society" Church. (NO records found...prs) See "Those Who Officiated, Page County, Iowa", Published by Paul R. Sarrett, 1989. Some 700 Pastors listed with Churches, dates of service, etc. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Located middle of the block on Iowa Ave. north of Locust and south of Page Street, (Book 55, Lots 4 & 9) one and a half block North of the Square on Iowa Street. Was first organized on 17 Dec. 1865 by 27 charter members. Three years later a wood frame church was built at a cost of $2,500. This new church was first used on 15 May 1869, but was completed and dedicated on 13 Oct. 1870 a year and four months later. The first Pastor was C. C. HUMPHREY. The 1890 membership was 70, with a Sunday School of 70 pupils. The 1890 Officers were:      Rev. W. H. HILTON, Pastor;      Deacons:      E. F. BADGER;      JAMES BIRCHARD and      LYMAN SHERMAN;      Trustees were:      G. H. LOWERY;      F. NELSON;      J. B. SHORT;      Chorister:      G. A. NOE;      Organist and Church Clerk:      G. A. NOE THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH Located at the SWC of Iowa Ave. and Spring St. (Book 102, Lot 11 & 12), 2 blocks South of the Square on Iowa Ave. Was formed about 1853. The first meetings were held in tents, for 32 years until 1885 a wood frame church was built at a cost of $1,700. In 1890 the membership was 35, Sunday School Superintendent was Mrs. EMILY WHITE with 35 pupils. The 1890 Local Preacher was GEORGE STEWART; Officers were: Rev. F. H. SMITH, Pastor; Mrs. MAGGIE WOODMANSEE, Class Leader; Trustees were: G. S. BOWER; THOMAS HENRY; ASA TURNER; L. WATERS and THOMAS WOODMANSEE THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Located at the SWC of Spruce Street and Omaha Ave. (Book 73, Lots 1,2 & 4), one block West of the Square on Spruce St. Was organized in 1876, by 20 charter members. In 1873 a wood frame church was built at a cost of $1,800. In 1890 the membership was 98, with Sunday School Superintendent E. B. SKINNER with 110 pupils. 1890 Officers were: Pastor A. B. BUCKNER; Class Leader GEORGE DAVIDSON. Stewards were: JAMES DAVIDSON; J. S. BEALS; C. B. McCLELLAND; S. B. SEELEY; A. B. MILNER. Trustees were: C. W. FETCH; J. S. BEALS; GEORGE DAVIDSON; C. B. McCLELLAND THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Located at the SEC of Iowa Ave. and School St. (Book 44, Lots 1 & 2), three blocks North of the Square on Iowa Ave. It was formed in the month of June 1857. The 11 original Charter members were: P. M. HOAG; JOHN LATTA, and wife; JOHN McKISSICK, and wife; ROBERT McLEAN, and wife; EDWARD MONZINGO, and wife; J. S. MOUGHLIN; THOMAS MOUGHLIN. Ten years after organization, in 1867 the society built a wood frame church, at a cost of $2,500, it was enlarged at a cost of $1,000. In 1890 the membership was 330, and Sunday School Superintendent ROBERT COULTER with 250 pupils The 1890 Officers were: Rev. WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Pastor and the following Deacons: J. C. BLACK; J. A. BLAIR; J. W. McKINLEY and WILLIAM McLEAN THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH Located at the NEC of Spruce St. and Iowa Ave. (Book 63), on the Northeast corner of the Square. Was organized in 1860, with 20 original Charter members. Rev. O. F. PAGE was this 1860 organizer. Ten years later in 1870 a wood frame church was built, about 26' x 32' at a cost of $1,000. In 1890 the membership was 90, with Sunday School Superintendent Mrs. LIZZIE A. RICHARDS with 4 classes and 50 pupils. The 1890 Stewards were: GRACE COX; WILLIAM ELLSWORTH; WILLIAM FOLLETT The Rev. AMI SMITH a charter member, and one of the founders of town College Springs, was also instrumental in the establishment of "Amity College", which was original established as a "Wesleyan Methodist School" and afterwards was chartered as an "Undenominational College". [6.] NOTE No record found of this "Statement" See "Amity College" this Section....prs SOME FIRST EVENTS: First Birth: IDA DONALDSON, b. 1858-9 (Later married J. C. LESLIE) First Death: Unknown DOW, d. __ Jul. 1857 First School: Was taught in the fall of 1857 First Church Service: a "Union" service, fall 1857 First Church: "United Presbyterian, built 1861-5, lumber from St. Joseph, Missouri. First Merchant: A. OPPENHIEMER, in 1858 First Doctor: Dr. R. H. LYMER, was the pioneer physician First Mill: N. C. STORRS & Co, in 1859-60 built a steam Saw-Mill on the town side, it was blown to atoms, killing one man and badly injuring others. (date Unknown..prs) GENERAL ELECTIONS In 1860, the Amity Township Presidential "General Election" was held and 71 votes were polled. The President elect ABRAHAM LINCOLN, received all but 2 votes. In the ANDREW JOHNSON, "General Election" of 1864 almost 3/5th's of the voters were in the "Union Army" and only 68 votes were cast. POST OFFICE The U. S. Post Office was established an any early day, and has been in many different hands. (meaning Unknown date and persons..prs) In July, 1875, it became a "Money Order" office. The first Money Order issued was sent by J. B. LAUGHLIN to SMITH & WHITE Co. of Hamburg, in the amount of $25.00. The College Springs Post Office issued from 1875 to 1890, some 12,302 Money Orders and 4, 120 Postal Notes. In 1890 Mail's are received daily from Clarinda, via Coin, Lincoln Twp. SCHOOLS The very first settlers at once erected a School and Church building, (location and by whom unknown...prs). In 1890 Amity Township had 8 sub-districts and one independent, the enrollment was nearly 200 children. AMITY COLLEGE This early photo of Amity College operated from 1855 to 1914, students going here after 11th grade to get normal training for teaching. It's been reported that the town of College Springs was named after this College and the springs which fed "Crystal Lake.") The survey work (Book 64, Lot 18) for Amity College, began in May of 1856 and were completed by July. At that date J.P. DONALDSON owned a little log cabin southwest of the village of Amity. He boarded many of the surveying party. Two sets of hands were employed in the survey; among the sworn "Chairmen" were: FREDERICK NELSON, and FRANK M. MOORE; MESSRS. FORRY, PIERCE and Mr. WOODS. Mr. FRANK MOORE did not continue long, but "FRED" NELSON had more genuine pluck and continued the business of wading through the tall grass until the last stake was stuck.. "FRED" NELSON followed the role of "stick, stuck, stick, stuck!" as a faithful chainman, who had just came to America, and located on Section 7. On July 4, 1856, the papers, plats and field notes were turned over by Mr. WANZER and ELIJAH MILLER, to the committee members MARK MORSE, W. J. WOODS and JOSEPH CORNFORTH at a board shanty, near CORNFORTH'S property, some 2 miles northeast of Braddyville. [6.] NOTE (no record of the above persons, as purchasing property in Page County, prior to 1856, SOURCE: "Partron's of Page Co. 1875..prs) [2.] In 1853 the Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS, became interested in founding a colony of Christian families, and to bring out this end a circular was issued, headed: "A Plan for a Colony of Reformers". Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS was very successful in interesting various other influential persons in this enterprise. Individuals who where interested purchased "Shares" which cost $100 each. In March 1854, $7,000 Shares had been subscribed and a committee was formed of W. J. WOODS, JAMES McQUINN and the Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS. This committee was challenged to explore those portions of Iowa which they deemed most desirable for the location of such a Colony. In Black Hawk County, Iowa they met Mr. AARON DOW, who agreed to buy $1,000 shares if the committee would change the stipulated appraisement of lands from $5.00 to $2.50 per acre, which was done at the next committee meeting. In Feb. of 1855 the capital of the "Colony of Reformers" was increased to $30,000 and the name was changed to the "Western Industrial and Scientific Association" (WISA) At the Feb. 1855 meeting officers were elected, and two months later April 1855 the Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS, W. R. POWERS and J. E. BRANSCOM were appointed to explore the Kansas Territory, Northern Missouri and Southern Iowa. They reported of favor of the southern Iowa, and a new committee located land in Amity Township, Page County, they filled articles of incorporation and made the name "AMITY COLLEGE" The 1855 Trustees of the WISA were: JOSHUA T. ATKINSON; JOHN CROSS; AARON DOW; Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS; MARK MORSE; WILLIAM R. POWERS; W. J. WOODS The next year 1856, four more Trustees were added: C. ADAMS; W. A. BATES; SAILAS THOMAS; ANDREW TURNEY The 1856 Officers were: SILAS THOMPSON, President Rev. BENJAMIN F. HASKINS, Secretary MARK MORSE, Treasurer of the Board By 1859 the Western Industrial & Scientific Association owned nearly 7,000 acres of land. 1,665 in Page County, Iowa; 680 in Cass County, Mo. and other parts in Missouri their were some 4,600 acres. The only building they owned at this time was a wood frame structure of 22' x 28", one story high. One of the "Trustees" JOSHUA F. ATKINSON bought for himself some 2,062.47 acres at $1.20 per acre from the "Public Land Sales" in Council Bluffs.3 It was not un-common for a few "Land Speculators" to buy lands at the Public land office and sell them to the settlers" at a small advance, on a credit from one to five years". The unsury laws forbade interest in excess of 7 per cent, but 35 per cent was offered and the laws were circumvented in order to procure still high rates. "Speculators" would enter the land for the settler and agreed to deed the land to him at a later date upon payment of twice the original price of the land. [6 pg 101] NOTE See Public Land Disposal, Iowa by Paul R. Sarrett, Pub. 1989 for Continuation. The first class of the Amity College, Academic Department was organized in 1857 (2 years before the first building in 1859..prs) by Prof. GEORGE P. KIMBALL, with 30 students, 21 males and 9 females. Prof. KIMBALL was succeeded by Prof. ARMOUR, in 1860. Prof. AMOUR organized a "Select School", and soon drew many pupils for the College. He remained two years, then with failing health he returned to New York state in 1862, at this time college academic ceased. From 1862 to 1865 the Amity College was absorbed in the Public School Districts. In 1865 a new plan was adopted and the property leased for 5 years by a company of men, but it proved unsuccessful. In 1871 the College was again organized under the control of Trustees, with HAMILTON WHITE as President, another change was made that winter, the Rev. A. T. McDILL, A.M. became President of the College Trustees and at once re-organized the College. Scholars came in rapidly and demanded the services of Prof. GRIMES of Iowa College. In 1876 more building room was needed and the North and South wings were added, which were 23'x30. In 1876-7 the attendance was 106, the Rev. S. C. MARSHALL took over as President of the College and then in the spring of 1883, Rev. S. C. MARSHALL resigned and Rev. T. J. KENNEDY took charge on 01 Sep. 1883. Under his administration Amity College made progress and widened her influence every year. By 1883 new college buildings were erected and large additions were made to the Museum, which now (1890) numbers 4,000 specimens, classified and neatly labeled and the college Library numbers 2,000 volumes. The 1890 faculty was selected with the greatest care and each Professor and Teacher was a specialist in his/her own department. The 1890 College maintained 6 departments: Classical, Scientific, Normal, Commercial, Musical and Art, which was patronized by 300 students. In 1976 a "History of College Springs & Amity College" was written and Published by the town, bringing their history up-to-date.     AMITY TWP. - SOURCE NOTES & REFERENCE  [1.]  BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY, IOWA - 1890, by W. L. Kershaw, 1st. Published in 1890, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 854 pages.  [2.]   ANDREAS'S ATLAS and BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES - 1875, Published by Mr. Andreas in 1875.  [3.]   EARLY LAND ABSTRACTS - Council Bluffs Early land records from 1853 to 1858.  [4.]   IOWA - PUBLIC LAND DISPOSAL, by Roscoe L. Lokken; Published in 1942 by The State Historical Society of Iowa.  [5.]   THE UNITED STATES AT LARGE, Vol. 10, pp. 26, 714, 715. The western boundary of the Chariton District was moved two ranges west in 1855 ...prs  [6.]  PAGES FROM THE PAST, Page Co., Quarterly, Published from 1976 to 1982.

These records are part of the "Genealogy Computer Package" *** PC-PROFILE *** Volume - II. DUNCAN & Related Families© Compiled and self Published in Oct. 14, 1993 by Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. with the assistance of my late mother Mrs. M. Lucille (WILSON) SARRETT. (1917-1987, age age 70yrs) & My Grandmother: Mrs. Vera B. (DUNCAN) WILSON (1896-1988, age 92yrs) The "Work-Books" were compiled by listing the various families, born, married, died, and a history of that family branch. In 1996 I started "Up-Loading" this material on the now called Friends of Page Co., site...prs

Would like any corrections of additions on thes Families!

E-Mail: Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., Auburn, CA.  Friends of Page County, President