Iowa County, Iowa
Lenox TownshipCharacteristics Lenox township, next to the smallest in Iowa county, occupies the extreme northeast corner. It is peculiar in many respects: in the class of people living there, in the character of its surface and soil, in its position with reference to the two great lines of railroad, the Rock Island and the Northwestern, in its longitudinal extent—being eight miles long and two and a half wide. Statistical It is bounded north by Benton county, east by Johnson county, south by Amana and west by Washington township. Its area is just 20 square miles, or 12,800 acres. There are 119 polls and at the general election for President of the United States, November 2, 1880, James A. Garfield received 42 votes, Winfield S. Hancock received 37 votes, and James B. Weaver received 12 votes. The following amount of stock is owned and fed in the township: Cattle, 792 head; horses, 310 head; mules, 10 head, and swine, 1,564 head. The real estate is valued at $123,433; the personalty at $39,679. This is the wealthiest township in Iowa county when compared with its area and population. The population of Lenox and Washington taken together according to the United States States census of 1880 amounts to only 998, being less by 66 souls than they were in 1870. Physical The surface is generally level or gently rolling, though in some places there are hills of small height. There is very little timber in the south and west. Price Creek with two small branches constitute the only water-courses. Price Creek rises in Benton county and flows south through the township, thence through Amana, and empties into Iowa River. The surface of no township in Iowa county is better adapted to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. It gently slopes to the north and all of it may be considered high prairie of superior agricultural capacity. Early Settlers Frederick Maumann, C. O. Vette, E. H. Schloeman and one Kestfeldt were among the earliest settlers in that part of Iowa county which is now called Lenox. Maumann, Vette and Kestfeldt were chosen by a party of Germans to select a site where they intended to locate as a colony. They erected the first house in the township on Price Creek, section 8. Mr. Maumann died in the year 1852, two years before the township was organized. Mr. Schloeman came from Prussia in 1847. He lived three years in St. Louis then came to Iowa county. In the year 1851 he settled on the southwest quarter of section 5, and there lived in a log house till his present large and imposing residence was built on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 6. He has a large and highly respected family, and a fine property which are the merited reward of honest and diligent purpose. The first minister who came to Lenox was the Rev. Deckhoner. The first Sabbath school was held in District School-house No. 3, and it has been kept up since it was first established. Early Experiences of Pioneers The pioneers suffered for the first few years for want of the ordinary comforts of life, and from cold and exposure, because no suitable house at that time could be built. The first wheat and corn raised was hauled to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids with oxen, fording the creeks and rivers, for there were no bridges. Sometimes a party would take a load of wheat over frozen ground and ice, through the mud and sloughs, being gone from home a week or more, while their families, impatiently waiting for their return, were compelled to grind buckwheat in a coffee-mill to furnish themselves sustenance. Some of the settlers cut all their hay and grain with the scythe. Their hogs were driven to Iowa City in the winter. Organization The organization was effected on the first Monday of April, 1855, the order for the same having been given March 12, previous. The first election was held at the house of A. H. Fox, and the following were the first officers: trustees, Henry Thomas, John Hasley, Cornelius Jones; clerk, Rolla Johnson; assessor, George H. Thomas. The first meeting of the board of trustees was held as the house of Alonzo Fox. Present officers:
Trustees—E. H. Schloeman, Isaac Riley, H. F. Burmeister.
Assessor—J. W. Duro.
Clerk—Aug. N. Schloeman. Church New German Church—Situated in the extreme southeast corner of section 6, is the first and only church in Lenox township. The church was virtually organized in March, 1880. The following are among those connected with the church: Henry Schloeman, E. H. Schloeman, William Schloeman, John Schloeman, Ernest Schloeman, George Bussman, Henry Miller, David Miller, Casper Bockhorst, Henry Uthoff, Charles Uthoff, Frederick Brockschink, Herman Biermann, Christopher Voltz, William Junker, Bernard Vette, Henry Schleuter, Henry Groth, William Upmaer. The present neat and comfortable church edifice was completed in the fall of 1880, at a cost of $1,500. The church is provided with a good bell, is well seated, has a good pulpit, stove and other necessary furniture. Rev. Geo. Bussmann is the present pastor, and C. O. Vette is superintendent. Henry Schloemau conducted the meetings for this people for several years when they were held in the school-house. He died April 25, 1875. Cemetery The first cemetery in Lenox was the one located in the northwest corner of section 8. The first person buried there was Charles, a son of Gasper Uthoff, in the fall of 1851. This cemetery now contains about seventy graves. There is another cemetery located in the northwest corner of section 3; it is said to contain about one hundred graves. Schools The first school-house was the one erected on the southeast corner of section 2, and built by the neighbors. There are now four school sub-districts and a good house for each district. Daring the past year school has been in session seven months, and the average monthly salary was $27. The total enrollment in the four schools was 117, with an average daily attendance of 69. One dollar and sixty cents was the average cost of tuition per month for each pupil. The present list of teachers is:
Davis school, Albert Medley;
Empire school, Miss Edith Vette;
Excelsior school, F. A. Junker;
Hazell Dell school, Miss Bridget Carroll. Among the many well-to-do farmers with good houses and well tilled farms might be mentioned: E. H. Schloeman, C. O. Vette, J. F. Schlueter, F. W. Brockschink, J. W, Duro, H. Hodgerr, J. D. Hagea, D. Leonard. [History of Iowa County, Iowa, 1881, submitted by Cathy Danielson] |
