The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-08-19
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Spring Greek and Crydal Townships.

HISTORICAL SkETCHE
Spring Greek and crystal Township
The first SETTLER in these townships WI
Mr.. fsy~a,ers, at Union Grove, wi
came from Ohio, and settled at that poi
in 1859.
MIR. Frede lex came the next year, an
became his neighbor without sound
trumpet or noise of battle. These SC
Tiers broke up the sod, and fnrmcd, tefol
there was another settler within ten n ile
with the exception of the Dodson's ;
IeGrand.
Mr. Bywater sold ont and went to Kan
.sas in 1855, Mr.. W. Ii. King, the first ju.
sicc in Spring Creek township becomin
she purchaser,
Jonas Wood, the county Surveyor, an
Mr.. Kitchener did not bufia their mill O
Wolf Creek until 1856, so That the earl
pioneers were obliged to haul all tn,
humber and flour from Cedar Rapids an
Iowa City. 1t was GO miles to the forme
place, and IS to the latter. The first mil
in the county was built at Indiantown
CelianliEe Gray the proprietor. -s,,.
MIR. Shu'tz and J. S. Bishop settled il
the township, the latter at Bishops Grove
Nelson Felter settled on the south banl
of Wolf Greek in Crystal township abou
miles from Traer. There were a. few
settlers at Buckingham, n. l.. Osborn
Woods, Kitchener, Baker, at Baker
"Srerc, Barright, ard some others. Thi
family lived among the Indians ant
wolves, without seeing white woman TO
six months.
The first white child born in Crysta
township was Lyman. Feltcr in 1855.
The first wedding hcreabouts wa
Elizabeth Quinn who married Abran
Rceder, scalawac that deserted her in
day ortwo for fairer face.
The next year, Miss Mary Mann wed
ded John B. Smith.
The Indians were not often trouble
some, only in begging, ard Mrs. Felter
who has great kind heart used to Civ,
them lots to eat Mr.. Felter built cabir
2oxls and lived quite comfortably
Strangers going from Vinton to Marshal
County and westward would often come
in and cover the floor with beds.
A Mrs. Davis, who had romantic MINI
named the township Crystal from tho
beauty Of Sky and water. J. G. Hull set
tied on Wolf Creek June 1854. Mr.. Hui
piled mp some sods, drove down som,
crotchcs of wood, took off his Wagon
cover, and after building II camp fire OF
THE outside, the family had Il home in the
lIawkeve State.
The Hulls like the Feltcrs wrought in
dustriously and were very hospitable. MI
Hull now owns $40 acres, Mr. Felter about
800 acres, which shows the energy of the
pioneers in this section.
Ok teams were common, ladies rs vel
rs men, rode behind the patient oxen
with the same grace that they look out OF
railroad car
Brincker's family also moved into Carroll
township, II miles south of Wolf Creek
about the same time
The first election held in Lincoln, Car
roll and Spring Creek townships took
place at Anthony Brinckers-the ballots
dropped into glass box. This was in
April 1855. All the Dobson's voted.
Crystal township held her first election
at the house of Johnathan s. Bishop Apr
1856. There were sixteen voters present
among them the Wilcy's, Guilford, and
the Wilson's.
JOHN WILSON
the father of Hon Jas. Wilson, settled in
1855 over the line in Perry township and
was known as among the most intelligent
of her people Andrew Wilson tho genial
wheat buyer of Traer was little lad who
drove the cows home at "dewy eve," and
learned those lessons at his fathers knee,
that marks the man to-day. Our Con-
gresham studied his lessons by the mid
night lamp at that time, and was laying
the foundation of his fine character, SO
, creditable to himself and the people of
Iowa.
WEST WILSON
was the second Justice elected in Crystal
township, an office he,has held for over
twelve years, Mr.. Wiley was the first
Rev Samuel Kerr was the first Presby-
terrain clergyman in the reighborhood. A
Fourth of July celebration was held at
Union Frovc in 1857. Ok teams poured
in by the scorc--there was basket din
ner, and a few speeches. Flags were not
used to any great extent until after the
war at country celebrations.
Before Mr.. Hull's family came to his
sod house on Wolf Creek, he lay sick five
days with chill fever. The water in the
cup by his bedside gave out and he lay a
day or two without water, or anything to
seat, but some Musquakies came along
when tic squaws with real
kindness waited on him as tcnderly as a
white woman. Credit to whom, credit is
due. The only murder ever committed in
,:lris section was Il. at of an Irishman who
killed his .eife, living in Crystal township.
IOrpheus King. Vim. Merrill, Webster
named Knapp moved to
Union G1nr4c lin 1856. The last two
named ii.al'.n'ru .sery in full blast at an
early tiavtthesc.
.Amunyttir- fl ~ marriages in Spring
Creek was IIanlaih King, who married a
young man 'hunun as Judson Hall. The
neighbors warealll present at the wedding
and Mr.. Orpheus King made the roof
vibrate with his hearty welcomes to his
friends on the s.arpy day.
One of the first deaths recorded here,
was that of man named Hartwell from
Narshtlltown, who started with a load
for G. NJ. Woodbury. to carry to Dubuque,
hut Mr. H. tripped on some weeds, fell
down, and the wagon passed over him.
He was two miles from any house, but
finding strength to crawl on his hands and
knees, he, finally, in weak condition,
reached Il cabin but died soon after.
Rev. Mr.. Upton, Congregational
preacher used to dispense gospel services
all through the pioneer settlements.
The Presbyterian Church in the Wilson
was organized in 1860.
Mrs. Wilson, wife Of West Wilson, was
one of the first deaths in the church. The
church building was erected in 1869.
The Wolf Creek valley is one of the
finest portions of Iowa. The country
which was raw prairie. twenty years ago,
now blooms like the rose.
HON JAMES WILSON
-. 400 nnros nndnr culfivati0n. three