HISTORY: More towns, Greene County, Iowa ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Submitted by Deb December 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Greene County, Iowa Please visit the Greene County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/greene/ ________________________________________________________ This is from the book "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa" by E. B. Stillman, 1907 ANGUS. This town with a purely Scotch name, was born to die. To one who had traversed its busy streets, observed the army of miners engaged in delving for coal, made a note of the numerous stores filled with merchandise and the busy artisans plying their various trades, such a fate would have seemed beyond the reach of possibilities. Briefly stated, it was a child of the coal mines. While they prospered and their output was great, it flourished and grew in size and population, when the crop of "black diamonds" were all above the earth's surface, the town collapsed like an egg shell--its occupation and need of existence was gone. Angus was only partially in Greene county, but enough of its territory paid taxes in Jefferson to warrant notice in this volume. There was a collection of shanties built about the opening mines in 1880 and in 1881 the hamlet was named "Coaltown" and two years later, when it began to assume city airs, named "Angus." The town was platted in 1881, and later it received annexes in the form of eight additions. The Climax Coal Company bought property in 1880 amounting to nine hundred and sixty acres more, and when business was at its best, mined one thousand four hundred tons daily, and their shipments for 1885 was two hundred thousand tons, employing five hundred miners. The Eagle Coal Company employed one hundred miners, producing about three hundred tons daily. The Standard Coal Company owned five hundred acres of land, employed two hundred and fifty men and elevated about fifty thousand tons annually. Besides these, there were several smaller shafts, supplying a local demand for coal the year round. All at once the supply began to fail, and realizing that the supply was exhausted the companies began to remove their machinery, the miners sought labor elsewhere, the stores without supporting patronage and the merchandise was transferred to more hopeful fields, houses were deserted and moved away and today there are not a dozen buildings of any sort to mark the place where a busy, bustling little city, with two good newspapers and a population of four thousand people once stood. The multitude of lots, forty by one hundred and fifty, as originally laid out, have been swallowed up in a productive quarter section farms. Possibly there is not another instance of the rise and decay of such a town as Angus once was and now is, to be found in the state of Iowa. It once boasted of an opera house seating eight hundred; a school system with prinicipal and four assistants and a roster of three hundred and sixty pupils; four churches and seven civic societies. What a dream! SURREY. This was the name of a small mining town on Snake creek in Washington township, really in the Angus district. It grew to the dignity of a hamlet with store, shops and a postoffice, but has been literally wiped off the map. Two mines, the "Keystone" and the "Buckeye," are still operated in a small way, supplying neighboring farmers with winter fuel. There are, doubtless, good veins of coal awaiting development in this section. COOPER. This is a pleasant little village in Franklin township, located within three miles of the Guthrie county line, making it the southernmost town in Greene county. Its site is one of the best of the entire list of towns, being located on ground susceptible of good drainage, and is surrounded by a fine farming section and good farmers. Located six miles nearly due south of Jefferson, on the C. M. & St. Paul railway, its ambitions to be a large town have not been developed. It hoped to be, in a modest way, a manufacturing center, but the projects started within its limits were either moved elsewhere or failed to make good. But the men who have made the village what it is, have loyally adhered to its destinies and had faith in its future. The village was located and laid out by Polk & Hubbell, in 1881, about the time of the advent of the (then) narrow gauge railroad, and was named after Mr. Hubbell's father-in-law, Isaac Cooper, a Des Moines pioneer. The first merchants were Hiddleson & Wright, who commenced business in the fall of 1881, the last named being the first posmaster. The following year S. W. Wiggins bought out the firm and he has been continuously in the business of merchandising ever since. He was appointed postmaster soon after. During the year 1882, G. J. Pearson opened a store for the sale of general merchandise, which he conducted until 1884, when he sold out to Mrs. R. P. Morden, who disposed of the stock the same year to J. Doran. He managed the business for two years and then sold to R. R. Robbins, who removed the stock to Herndon the following year. Thomas Lynch started a blacksmith and wagon shop in 1883, and is still in business at the same stand. In 1887 the Farmer's Co-operative store opened its doors for business and enjoyed a good trade until 1893 when it closed out. In 1887 G. J. Pearson built the residence where Dr. Cooper now lives. Later the house was built where he now resides, and where himself and family have conducted a boarding house for many years. During the year 1891, P. M. Vest, of Jefferson, built an elevator, with S. W. Wiggins as agent. McFarlin, Regur, Bowen & Co., were the first grain dealers, John Hatcher being their local buyer. They built an elevator in 1907. W. C. Anderson started the first lumber yard, in 1894, and closed out in 1896. The M. E. church was built in 1892, and Uncle "Web" Henderson was the first preacher. The school house, a good two story edifice, was erected in 1899. D. Milligan & Sons established a grain business here soon after the beginning of the new century, and are still buying grain and selling lumber and coal. C. H. Harshbarger is their manager. The Neola Elevator Company also buy grain. John Knodel is their agent. Lawton & Mass are manufacturers of cement blocks, sewer pipes, posts and tile, and find a good market for their goods. The Bank of Cooper was established in 1902, with George P. McBurney as cashier, and the Heads, of Jefferson, owning the most of the stock. This monetary institution is located in a convenient building of its own. In addition to the business interests named, Cooper has the following: James Crouse, general merchandise. W. K. Martin, druggist and jeweler. Hansen Lumber Company, F. D. Linder, manager. C. H. Ingham, blacksmith. C. F. Johnson, barber and pool hall. W. A. Cooper, physician. Thomas A. Lynch, rural mail carrier. Two telephone exchanges: The Greene County Company, with switch boards at Martin's drug store, and the Farmer's Mutual, with Miss. Nellie Lynch, operator. Cooper has good schools and enjoys a fine local trade. THE COOPER CIRCUIT. M. E. CHURCH, of Cooper, was organized in 1891, and has been an active religious organization. About the beginning of the new century a fine house of worship was built, a credit to the liberality of the people. It is cruciform in shape and will seat an audience of two hundred and fifty. The following pastors have served the church: D. W. Henderson, 1891-'93; E. H. Wilson, 1893-'94; L. F. Brown, 1894-'96; A. M. Elliott, 1896-'98; W. W. Steck, 1898-'99; James Buchanan, 1899-'00; N. G. Zimmer, 1900-'01; W. B. Cox, 1901-'02; C. W. Hohanshelt, 1902-'07, now on the field. The membership is fifty. Sabbath school membership, ninety. James Anderson, superintendent. PLEASANT HILL CHURCH.--A. M. E. class was organized on what is now known as the Pleasant Hill charge, by D. M. Mallory, in 1873, but the church was not formed until 1882, when the edifice now in use was built under the supervision of Rev. G. M. Hall, at that time pastor. Since that time the society has had alternating periods of depression and prosperity. The pastors have been as follows: Revs. W. A. Weller, 1883-'84; D. U. Parker, 1885; G. W. Rawlings, 1886-'87; A. M. Elliott, 1888-'89; Joshua Jester, 1890; S. Farlow, 1891; E. Wilson, 1892; D. W. Henderson, 1893; L. F. Brown, 1894-'96; A. M. Elliott, 1896-'98; W. W. Steck, 1899; James Buchanan, 1900; U. G. Zimmer, 1901; W. B. Cox, 1902; C. W. Hohanshelt, 1902-'07; now in charge. The membership numbers twenty-five; Sabbath school, thirty; Mrs. S. E. Coon, superintendent. This church has suffered much by reason of deaths and removals. PIONEER CHURCH.--Washington township. An M. E. class was organized in this neighborhood (rural) more than forty years ago, and very few remain of the original members. For a quarter of a century the meetings were held in private houses and at the district school house, but in 1893 a neat and commodious house of worship was built under the pastorate of Rev. Martin. It was built to accommodate a large section of country, which, owing to bad roads for quite a portion of the year, was too remote from Jefferson or Rippey. The different pastors have been as follows: Revs. S. E. Brown, 1894; F. L Stevenson, 1895; Charles Bentley, 1896; A. M. Elliott, 1897-98; W. W. Steck, 1899; James Buchanan, 1900; W. G. Zimmer, 1901; W. B. Cox, 1902; C. W. Hohanshelt, 1902-'07; now in charge. The membership at this date is sixteen. Sabbath school numbers twenty, with Mrs. C. Jackson as superintendent. Centennial Church, Grant township, is the fourth church in the Cooper circuit. As stated elsewhere, it was for many years the Jefferson circuit, but it was located so near Jefferson its maintenance under a local pastor was difficult, hence the alliance that was made a few years ago. The membership is small, but the society has a nice house of worship. Rev. C. W. Hohanshelt has been the pastor for the past five years. FARLIN. The twelve miles of territory between Jefferson and Churdan, naturally pre-supposed an intervening town at some point nearly equidistant from them, but the village thus forecasted was slow in finding its proper place on the map. In 1884 an attempt was made to create a center of trade just north of the farm of Patrick Minnehan, and the embryonic hamlet was called Forbes, located about four mile northwest of Jefferson. The project was a failure, and one of three reasons caused its death a couple of years after it was staked out: it was too near the county seat, or the location was bad—low wet land— or the roads leading to it were in no condition for hauling loads over for about five months in a year. Two years later a new attempt was successfully made to establish a town nearer the center of Bristol township, the new site being named Farlin, in honor of Mr. McFarlin, a prominent grain buyer of Des Moines, who was then operating extensively along the line and who gave the citizens a long to be remembered oyster supper to christen the naming of the town. The location was far from ideal, by reason of the flat, badly drained territory immediately surrounding it, a condition drainage has greatly improved. The growth was slow during the first years of the village, but it was situated in the midst of a community of first class farmers, who brought their products to its stock yards and elevators for shipment, and bought freely of the local merchants, hence it has developed into a bright, prosperous village, with churches, a good schoolhouse and a score or more of earnest business men. Never having been incorporated, it is under the regular township government, the trustees looking after its interests. A well stocked dry goods store is conducted by Will J. Banning for the D. Milligan has a good grocery and hardware store and is postmaster of the village: J. E. Snively is the hotel keeper, and runs a restaurant in connection: the elevator and lumber business is conducted by Will J. Banning for the D. Milligan Company, of Jefferson. The usual complement of barber, blacksmith, shoe shops, etc., are successfully carried on. A bank was established in the town about four years ago and is doing a prosperous business. Its capital is $10,000, and it is conducted by T. C. Williams; George Messenger, president. BRISTOL LODGE No. 191, was organized March 31, 1905, with eleven charter members, and the night of institution there were thirty-two initiations. The following named served as the first officers of the lodge: O.O. Long, N.G.; Thomas Morrison, V. G.; E.A. Cairns, secretary; Charles Try, permanent secretary; J.B. Smeltzer, treasurer. The lodge is in a flourishing condition and the present membership is fifty-three. FARLIN CAMP, No. 19,449, M. W. of A., was organized February 3, 1902, and has enjoyed a healthy and vigorous growth. The present membership is forty- three. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST at Farlin was organized June 28, 1891, with the following charter members: Peter Mosteller, wife and Ruth Mosteller, Elizabeth Morlan, Mary Hurley, John and Melinda Allstott, Mr. and Mrs. D.R. Toliver, Sarah Toliver, Minnie Carter, Nettie Dickerson, Julia, Nettie and Frankie Wright, Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Seaman and Hattie Seaman, Alice Mosteller, Mary Beebe, William Hurley, Mary Hurley. The church building was dedicated, clear of debts, June 28, 1896, by Rev. B.B. Burton of Jefferson. The following have served as pastors of the church: Revs. Laurence McCray, W.H. Bybee, J.W. Vanderwalker, L.E. Huntley, L.E. Deweese, J.D. Forsyth, J. Golden, W.F. Post, Samuel Gregg, E.C. Park, L.G. Parker. The value of church property is $2,000; salary paid pastor, from $700 to $1,000 per year. The present membership is one hundred and twenty-five, and a good Sunday school is maintained. THE BAPTIST CHURCH, Farlin, was organized October 26, 1890, and in less than a year — August 23, 1891, the society had completed the erection of a neat, commodious church building. The value of the property is $2,000. The present membership is forty-eight. A Sabbath school and B.Y.P.U. society are maintained. The following named pastors have supplied the pulpit of this church: Revs. L.A. Lovelace, the organizer; E.E. Empey, J.F. Gallagher,. J. McColl, S.E. Enos, R.H. Morehouse, C.U. Harter, E.M. Rex, E.O. Rogers, who is the present pastor. A commodious two-story school building was erected in 1898. The average attendance of pupils is sixty. A co-operative creamery association was organized March 20, 1894, and the enterprise started off under the brightest of prospects. A large building was constructed, filled with the most approved modern machinery, and the day of its dedication was one of the most notable in the annals of Farlin. For a time it did a large business and its product had a ranking place in eastern markets, but disaffections crept in, the supply end was not kept up, and after three years it went out of business. The losses were fairly well scattered among the stockholders. The postmasters of Farlin have been: Charles Try, Mrs. Elfa Hastings and John A. Snively.