Garnavillo Township History, Clayton County, Iowa Transcribed by Roxanne Barth and Cinda McNeal Crosley and for the IAGenWeb Archives. Submitted August, 2000, by Roxanne Barth , IAGenWeb Clayton County Coordinator. Township history from History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co., 1882. Reproduced by the sponsorship of the Monona Historical Society, Monona, Iowa, reproduction Evansville, Indiana: Unigraphics, Inc., 1975, p. 786- 791 ****************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ****************************************************************** CHAPTER XXVII. GARNAVILLO TOWNSHIP The township of Garnavillo is bounded on the north by Farmersburg and Clayton Townships; on the east by Clayton and Jefferson; the south by Jefferson and Volga, and on the west by Read. It contains thirty-three sections in ranges 8 and 4, township 93 north. It is mostly a beautiful rolling prairie, well watered, and stains some of the finest agricultural land in the county. It is drained on the east by Buck Creek, which flows to the Mississippi, and on the west by tributaries of the Turkey. The population of the township is 1,174, mostly Germans. The township is capable sustaining a large population. EARLY SETTLEMENT The first settlement of Garnavillo was made by immigrants from Eastern States, and the German population came in later. The first settler in Garnavillo Township was Dr. Frederick Andros, to located on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20, township 93 north, range 3 west. He was a native o f Massachusetts, and came here from Dubuque and built his cabin January, 1836. He removed to McGregor in 1865, and is now in Mitchell, Dak. John W. Gillett came about the same time from Maryland, sting a farm on south half of section 7. He broke the first soil Garnavillo on section 18, northeast quarter of the northeast quarter, in June, 1836, and raised the first crop of wheat. A man named McMaster came with Gillett, and the two were in partnership three years, when they divided. In March, 1876, Gillett sold his farm to Henry Dettmer for $19,000, and went to Atlanta, Cass County, where he died early in 1880. In the following year, 1837, came Andrew S. Cooley, who settled section 31, and moved to Mendon Township in 1868, and a Mr. Davis, who settled on section 12. George W. Whitman settled on section 17, in 1838, and went to Minnesota in 1855. About 1843 several came to Garnavillo, among whom were Reuben Noble, Samuel Murdock and Elias H. Williams, all afterward distinguished as Judges. James Watson came at an early date, settling first on section 17, and afterward on section 18, on what is now the G. M. Porter place. Mr. Watson gave the site for the town, when the county seat was located at Garnavillo. Other early settlers were A. C. Rogers, afterward a Judge, who came in the spring of 1848, and kept a store at Garnavillo five years; William H. Stevens, who came the following fall, and still lives in Garnavillo. William Schoulte, who settled on sections 24 and 25; Gerhard Kregel, still living with his sons in the southern part of the township; B. F. Schroeder, Dietrich Sehroeder, Robert Drips, Levi Angler, John Hochhaus and Samuel Holmes. The first birth was either that of Storrs Andros, son of Dr. Frederick Andros, or that of Noah Cooley, a son of Andrew S. Cooley. The first school-house was of frame, and is now used as a shoe shop. It was built about 1844, as a Congregational church: it was situated in the western part of the village, near the cemetery. Here the first regular religious services were held, though occa- sional services had been held in private houses by that pioneer preacher, Henry Gifford. There are now seven school-houses, and the school property is valued at $7,000. There are now four churches in the township three of which are in the village of Garnavillo, and one of which is at the place called Ceres, on the southern line of the township. There are at present two postoffices in the township, Garnavillo and Ceres. The former was established very early about the time the village of Jacksonville was surveyed. There are two mills in the township, of which the following are brief histories: MILLS The Garnavillo Mill, located on Buck Creek, on the Clayton road, was built about 1857 by John Tangeman. He owned it till 1872, when he sold it to Augustus Wehler. After a year or so Diedrich Benter became proprietor, and in 1873 it was bought by Geo. W. Kennedy, who is now sole owner. It is of brick, 26 x 37, three and a half stories in height. It cost about $9,000. It has three run of stone, of which Mr. Kennedy put in one. It first had but two. The "Valley Mill" was built as a saw-mill in 1850 by Watkins & Corning. Watkins soon sold out to Corning. In 1853 B. F. Schroeder and J. H. Kuenzel bought an interest in the mill, and he three ran it about six months, Then Messrs. Schroeder & Kuenzel bought out Mr. Corning and put up a stone grist-mill bout 40 x 60, two stories and a basement in height. It contains two run of stone. In 1867 Mr. Schroeder sold his interest to J. C. Kuenzel, a brother of J. H. Kuenzel, and the mill is now owned and operated by Kuenzel & Bro. It is located on section 6, southeast quarter of southeast quarter. GARNAVILLO BREWERY This brewery was built about 1855, one-half mile west of the village of Garnavillo, by J. C. Kuenzel, who operated it for some me and sold it to H. C. Meyer. The transfer was made Nov. 12, 1863. At that time the brewery consisted of only one part of what now stands, the other part having been built later. Mr. Meyer, in February, 1867, sold the property to Henry Schumacher. Mr. Schumacher moved with his family into the residence adjoining the brewery and there lived and operated the same until his death, which occurred Aug. 11, 1881. Mrs. Schumacher still lives there and manages the business. The second part of the building as put up by Mr. Schumacher in 1869. The first building is 22 x 60, two and a half stories in height. The second part is 22 x 48, and of the same height. The malt-house is 20 x 24:. The fomenting house 12 x 24. This establishment brews on an average 600 to 700 barrels of beer a year, and has produced as much as 800 barrels in a single year. The beer is supplied Garnavillo, Clayton, Clayton Centre, Ceres, Motor and other places. About 2,000 bushels of barley and over 1,000 pounds hops are used annually. This grain is raised all in the neighborhood. The brewery and land on which it is built cost about $18,000. Henry Schumacher was born in Hanover, Dec. 1821. His father, Carsten Schumacher, was a blacksmith trade, and Henry learned this trade as he grew up, and he had also a full training in the schools of Hanover. He worked at his trade in Germany till he was twenty-four years of age, and then emigrated to America. He was four months on the voyage and landed March 4, 1846. Landing at New Orleans, he worked at trade with his uncle for a while, and then came north, arriving at Garnavillo, July 3. Here he worked for a farmer named Burkhardt a few months. Then he was in the employ of William Schulte for a short time. Then he worked for Reuben Noble, in Garnavillo. The Hearold, of Elkader, said, at the time of Mr. Schumacher's death that "Rueben Noble never had a truer friend then Henry Schumacher." After leaving Mr. Noble he entered a farm in Read Township, now owned by a Mr. Buckman. This was in 1849. Here he remained until 1854. He then bought a farm near Clayton Center, owned by Henry Wilkes. On this farm he remained until 1865, when, in company with J. L. Hagensick, he built the brewery at McGregor. In November, 1866, he bought a farm near Postville, and remained there till February, 1867, when he bought the brewery near Garnavillo, where he remained until the time of his death. Mr. Schumacher was married Dec. 24, 1852, to Margerethe Hagensick. By this union there were ten children, of whom seven are living--Mary (Mrs. Tangeman), Christian W., John F., Maggie (Mrs. Roebken) Amelia, Henry and Bertha. Mr. Schumacher was always a Republican. He was for many years a Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He had hosts of friends in Clayton County, and was universally respected for his sterling integrity, his business capacity, and his eminent social qualities. THE HORSETHIEF DETECTIVE ASSOCIATION This useful organization, in Garnavillo Township, was formed April 29, 1868, at the school-house in Garnavillo. It had an informal existence as early as 1850, and had been a very efficient agent for the protection of the farmers. The officers for the first year were: President, B. F. Fox; Vice-President, J. Meyer; Secretary, G. W. Beach; Treasurer, Matthew King; Captain of Riders, Henry Schumacher; Lieutenant, H. Schroeder. Besides these two last, there were ten riders, making a full company of twelve. The membership at the start was about thirty. A formal constitution was adopted, in which the objects of the association are set forth as follows: "The objects of this society shall be the recovery of horses or mules stolen from its members, and the detection oand punishment of the thieves." From the regulations we make the following ectracts: Any person living in the townships adjoining the township of Garnavillo of good moreal character may become a member of this society by signing the constitution and paying the initiation fee of $2. There shall be elected annually twelve riders, of whom one shall be captain and one lieutenant, and whose duty it shall be when a horse or a mule is stolen from a member of this society to pursue and use due diligence for the recovery of the horse or mule and the arrest of the thieves. There shall be an annual meeting of this society on Whitmonday of each year for the election of officers and the transaction of business. It shall be the duty of any member of this society having a horse or mule stolen to immediately inform the president, whose duty it shall be to notify the captain and riders. Said riders shall immediately report to the captain and proceed under his direction to pursue the horses or mules thus stolen. Said captain and riders shall each furnish their own horses, adn shall each be allowed the sum of $5 per day, calling twelve hours a day. In case of the recovery of a horse or mule stolen from a member of this society, the owner thereof shall pay into the treasury of the society ten per cent of the cash value of such animal, over and above his required assessments, said valuation to be determined by three members of the society. In case of the arrest of the thief by any member or members, he or they shall be entitled to a reward of $50, to be paid out of the funds of the society. The present officers of the society are: President, F. Cann; Secretary, Helmuth Brandt; Treasurer, Henry Brandt; Captain, C. G. Stickfort; Lieutenant, W. H. Boals; Riders, Henry Hill, Wm. Beck, James Uriell, X. Schaffer, F. Schumacher, Fritz Bruns, Elwin Torry, Ludwig Mueller, Wm. Moellering and Henry Ruder. The organization is a great benefit to the members, adn while it has never made but one ride after a thief, its existence has undoubtedly prevented horse-stealing. The thieves have a wholesome dread of the "riders." Township Officers The present township officers are as follows: Trustees, L. C. Meyer, G. H. Bierbaum and L. A. Sackett; Clerk, W. F. Meyer; Assessor, A. C. Rogers; Justice of the Peace, Theodore Krasinsky. Ceres Ceres is a postoffice on the southern line of the township, established within a few years. There is a German Lutheran church there, on section 34, which was built in 1858. It is a stone structure. The first pastor was Rev. Paul Stockfeld, who organized the church, Nov. 9, 1874. He removed to Plymouth County, Neb., and since then the minister at Garnavillo supplies the pulpit. At its first organization the church contained about twenty-five members, but by removals and deaths its membership has been reduced to fifteen. ###