The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-06-08
A


township md diytdod INTO SECTIONS ny
WIN. Dewey IN the winter OF islI45,
Although We have no definite knowl-
edge as 20 the origin OF the name, Il
Is generally conceded that this town
ship was named for Thomas Jefferson,
the third president Of the United
States, the author az u decimal sys.
tenn on coinage and the writer Of the
Declaration Of independence. II Is the
southwest corner township, and was
for a number Of years after its settle
ment isolated by the Des Moines riv'
err. Moses Knowles, Hiram Convey and
E. Flanders were among the first set.
tiers in jefferson. They came In
April, 1s43, and each staked of his
claim on the memorable FIRST day Of
May OF that year. For several years
they reached Oskaloosa, the nearest
~postofice, by swimming their horses
across the river and taking the wagon
and Its load across In a ano Mr..
Knowles introduced the first tanning
min into the county, having II brought
up the river from Keokuk by boat.
For n number Of years tho settlers
did not aim to raise any grain but
corn. When wheat became a part OF
the annual crop 10 was treaded out by
horses on tho threshing floor, or beat1
en- out with the fail in the hands Of
the hardy frontIersman, and cleaned
by pouring out the grain while the
rapid motion Of a sheet In the hands
Of two wonor winnowed the chaR
from the wheat, when the breeze was
not sufficiently strong TO DO that
work. This tanning mill was a great
boon IN the neighborhood,
The first school was taught by Mr..
Geo. w. Baer, on section three In n
log school house. II was a subscrlp-
tion school, and taught about 1886.
Jefferson township had rich lands and
grew in population rapidly. Among
the settlers who cams later were
Robert Wharton, who has been school
treasurer Of the township for forty
years; Horace Lyman, r. q. Butler,
John way, John Eveland, Henry Eve.
land, j. H. Evans. A. Rogers, Nelson
Cone and Emanuel Hites. Besides
the Des Moirns river, Coal Creek, Blnif
Creek and other small streams afford
a good water supply, In April 1843,
Just prior to tho opening OF the new
purchase, Edward Davis and his eldest
ron, coming from Illinois, crossed the
Des Moines river near where EDDY
vile rs now located, and camped for
a time at the mouth Of tho FIRST creek
flowing into the Dies Moines on the
vest side Of the river. On account Of
its high bluffs, they named II Bluff
Creek. Going some miles further he
discovered coal In the bed Of the sec
ond creek, which they called Coal
Creek. Accommodating sim further
north along the river, they came 10 a
third small stream which, from the
cedar trees growing on It's banks, was
called Cedar Creek. These streams
have always borne tho names given
them in That early day. Mr.. Davis De-
termined 10 locate on Bluff Creek, and
returned 20 Ito banks and awaited the
opening day. Before the day had
dawned he had gtaked off two hundred
acres Of land which became his home
while no lived. Like many Of the
pioneers, the attachment 10 the farm
became 40 strong that himself and
wife could think Of no spot more love
IN 10 them, and chose 10 be buried in
the soil that had pourishcd them In
their lifetime.
Simon Coyey, q o Of Hiram COyey,
was fifteen years Of ago when ne came
and In now living In Oskal0osa. He
recalls many interesting renlnls'
cenceg of frontier life, In 1916 his
father and A. Flanders took n raft Of
logs down the Des Moines river IN
Bonaparte 70 r~epienish their supply
on -four ana meal He was sent over
land with d twOywhceled cart and an
Ok team 10 bring back tho proceeds
N the venture. The home supply Of
food was very short, and before he got
~ his destination his keen young ap.
petite had doyoured the last morsel,
leaving him 10 make the last days
journey on an empty stomach. Ac.
cording 70 the custom OF the time, he
logged On without thinking much
about no common q thing as running
short " something to eat, until about
noon a fellow traveller shared his din
ner with him They brought back
with them ns the proceeds Of the sale,
sixteen bushels Of corn meal and two
hundred pounds of -four. Mr.. Covey
says that both his father and mother
were teachers in New York, their ma.
tive state, and his mother taught the
1rGt school In Scott township, az
Rochester Their home was only q
short distance across the river, and
enc took her children with her for the
day, crossing the river In q canoe.
she gave her family a fair education
around the bone Preside. Mrs. A.
FLANDERS IN stIil living with her daugh.
Ter, Mrs. Daniel Mattox, On The home
farm which her husband gtaked out
On May i, 1Sf3.
Mining lnterpgtg IN Jefferson town.