Allamakee County, Iowa

Part 1 of this article was published in the Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin no. 243 (Winter 2007). It was presented before the Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa, Thursday, August 30, 2007. Permission to reproduce it here has been given by the author, Brother Leo V Ryan. C.S.V. and by Dr William Dall, Editor Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin.

Allamakee County historian, Ellery M. Hancock, tells us that “The present Allamakee County was included in the two counties of Clayton and Fayette by the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin in its first session on Iowa soil, at Burlington December 21, 1837.”[1]

The first General Assembly of the new state of Iowa convened at Iowa City, November 30, 1846 and adjourned on February 25, 1847. Among the laws enacted by this assembly and approved by Governor Ansel Briggs on February 20, 1847 was Chapter 66.

Chapter 66 was “An act to establish new counties and define their boundaries in the late cession from the Winnebago Indians.” This act refers to the treaty dated October 13, 1846 and signed in Washington, D.C. November 1, 1837 in which the Winnebagoes ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi River. That treaty specifically provided that the Winnebagoes would “relinquish the right to occupy, except for the purpose of hunting, that portion of the Neutral Ground included between that river and a line twenty miles distant there from to the west; and to remove to the west of such line within eight months after the ratification of this treaty.”[2] Much of that Neutral Ground included land in the present Allamakee County.

Chapter 66 of the first General Assembly of 1846-1847 specifically named two counties, Allamakee and Winneshiek, and defined their boundaries. Both counties were taken from Fayette County which had been established by the 1837 Territory of Wisconsin Assembly. There was an exception for a small triangle in the Southeast comer of Allamakee County which was assigned to Clayton County. Clayton County also received a similar, small portion of land from within the Neutral Ground to square its northwest comer.[3]

Even before William F. Ross arrived in 1850 and even before Jefferson Township was established (April 1, 1852), the area in the south half of the Section 23 was a historical landmark in the new Allamakee County.

In 1849, the General Assembly of Iowa appointed commissioners to locate the county seat of the newly constituted Allamakee County which had been approved in the January 1849 session of the General Assembly.

Hancock tells us that the Commissioners “looked over the ground and fixed upon a point in the south central part of the county, in the second half of Section 23, in now (1913) Jefferson Township, which has since been known as “The Old Stake.” At that time, there were no settlers in the area of “The Old Stake.”[4] Hancock further adds: “Just why this point was selected may never again be known, although doubtless they had their
reasons, some of which we may surmise.”[5]

The most logical “surmise” is suggested by Ellery Hancock, in his history of Allamakee County.

One good reason for this selection was the fact it was located on an old trail, evidently traveled by whites for many years, running from the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Yellow river, and followed the ridge or divide between the latter stream and Paint creek, avoiding the tributaries as much as possible, and extending on to Winneshiek county and the northwest. This old bridle path was in all probability one of the “through routes” from Fort Crawford to Fort Snelling, followed by the early mail carriers mentioned in an earlier chapter of this volume. By this pathway the selection was readily accessible from the Old Mission, which continued to be virtually the headquarters of our county officials until the county seat was relocated at Columbus by the election of 1851.[6]

What about early settlers in the vicinity of “The Old Stake”? Hancock notes that “Where the stake was driven the lands were entered as soon as surveys would allow by parties who did not become permanent settlers.”[7] The assertion does not seem entirely accurate based on Hancock’s own testimony.

“The Old Stake” was established in 1849. While Hancock notes (p. 258) land was occupied by “parties who did not become permanent settlers.” He wrote on the previous page in his “History of Jefferson Township” (p. 257), “The first settlers were in 1849 in the following order: Patrick Keenan, Richard Cassidy (Spring 1849); William Niblock (June 1849), Carlisle Beeman and Harmon S. Couper (Summer 1849). Patrick Keenan, relocated from Makee Township in Spring 1849 to “his new location a mile or two northwest of that point”, (“The Old Stake”).[8]

William F. Ross now enters the picture. W.E. Alexander in his History of Winneshick and Allamakee Counties 1882 writes about Rossville that “The first settlement here was made in 1850 or 1851 by Wm. F. Ross.”[9] Hancock writes:
“Wm. F. Ross is said to be the first settler on this town site in 1850 but others followed very closely.”[10] Darlene Leas notes that “William F. Ross was the first settler in Rossville in 1850.”[11]

What W. E. Alexander wrote in his 1882 history is interesting for its brevity.

Rossville, the first settlement here was made in 1850 or 1851 by Wm. F. Ross. It was laid out May 31,1855 by David and Catherine Skinner, Wm. F. and Sarah 1. Ross, Elias and Mary A. Hatfield in accordance with survey made by Joel Dayton, County Surveyor, May 15, and acknowledged before Jackson Mitchell, J.P. This village was at one time an aspirant for county seat honors, but failing therein its prospects were blighted. A steam sawmill was among its notable features in the early days. There are now church buildings -Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist, –a good schoolhouse, hotel and two stores.[12]

County historian Ellery M. Hancock suggests that Wm. F. Ross may have settled in Rossville “in view of the possibility of making this the county seat as was attempted a few years later; but this place did not figure in the first county seat elections in 1851.”[13]

However, Rossville challenged the third county seat election of April 4, 1853 in which Waukon was selected by 245 votes over Columbus. In the March 1856 term of County Court a petition was presented by Rossville to remove the county seat from Waukon to Rossville. The petition was granted. A similar petition was asked for Whaley and Topliff’s Mill in Center Township. That petition was also granted. These petitions provoked the Fourth County Seat Election of 1856.

Rossville made its only real attempt to be chosen as Allamakee County Seat in the Fourth County Seat Election of April 4, 1856. The three way contest pitted Whaley and Topliffs Mill in Center Township and Rossville in Jefferson Township against the then County Seat, Waukon. Waukon won the election. The votes were Waukon 717, Whaley and Topliffs Mill 314 and Rossville 144. Waukon retained the county seat. [14]

The earliest places of business in Rossville appear to have been the general merchandise emporiums of J.M. Ross and Company. Dr. D. H. Bowen attended to the health needs of the area. “W.W. Pardee, pioneer hotel keeper, has done a large business since he has been at Rossville. Although business in his line is not very rushing now, he is prepared to give you a good square meal at all times.[15]

The places of business in 1913 at Rossville included: F. E. Graham, feed mill and blacksmith shop; W. Ross Koontz, general merchandise; Albertus Leas, pumps and implements; and Mrs. J. D. Woodmansee, millinery. [16] Both Ross Koontz and Albertus Leas had served as postmasters before 1913. Koontz (1910 -1911) and Leas (1894¬1897). In 1989, Rossville business persons included: “David Switker (who) operates a farm equipment and feed store with his son. Jack and Arlene Beisker own (a) supper club and lounge. Shirlee Livingood operates the Sportsman Club and Vivian Huffman the filling station. [17]

Vivian Hoffman, here present, operated the Huffman Shell Station 45 years (1935 1980) with her husband, Vernon and five years alone (1980 -1985). Vivian was very helpful in the preparation of this presentation and a source of most of the Rossville photos which illustrate this lecture. Published pictures of Rossville contributed by Neil and Darlene Leas illustrate the Rossville pages of the Pictorial History of Allamakee County, Iowa. [18]

Today Rossville consists of several vacant buildings, a-half dozen homes, a beautifully maintained Presbyterian church.[19] The old two story school is serving as a Parish Hall for St. Pius Church (Cherry Mound). Two car repair shops and the thriving Rossville Market, a lounge and restaurant operated by Josh Roe.

W. E. Alexander does not mention the Rossville post office. Ellery Hancock writes that the “Rossville post office had been established in February, 1852, presumably Mr. Ross was the postmaster.”^[20] The post office was established January (not February) 15, 1853 and William F. Ross was named postmaster. He was to serve as postmaster five years and six months until July 12, 1859. Hancock identifies W.F. Ross as one of the charter members of the first Masonic Lodge in Allamakee County. Parvin Lodge 85 was chartered to L.B. Adams, T.H. Beaver, W.F. Ross and nine others, June 4, 1856. The last report to the Grand Lodge was for 1858 and listed W.F. Ross as an officer of the lodge.^[21]

This same unidentified writer cited earlier wrote: “Rossville was named after W. F. Ross, who settled on that beautiful ridge in 1851. In the fall of 1852 there were but two log cabins. In 1859 Mr. Ross went to Pike’s Peak and was never heard from since.”^[22] The author does not say in this ominous statement whether it was the Iowa or Colorado Pike’s Peak!

The following is a list of postmasters and their years of service.^[23]

About John B. B. Baker little biographical information is available. He was not buried in Allamakee County which precludes locating obituaries in the county papers. He appears by name in Ellery Hancock’s History in the chapter on “The County Bar.” Hancock writes that, during the regular term of the District Court when the county government was first established at Columbus, “The following named have at one time or another been admitted to the bar in this county.” Under Waukon John B. B. Baker is listed. ^[24] Hancock also names the lawyers still practicing in 1913 at the time of his History. Baker was not listed. However, he served as postmaster ten years 1868 – 1878.

Jackson Mitchell would have been one of the very earliest residents in Jefferson Township, even before those early settlers previously identified. His obituary indicated he was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and “in the year 1843 the family came to Iowa, settled in Jefferson Township where the home has been ever since.” ^[25] Nathaniel Mitchell, presumably is father, is recorded as an early settler in Section 26 of Jefferson Township.

Jackson Mitchell was a farmer “just on the outskirts of the village.” He was the Jefferson Township Justice of Peace “for many years”, including when the survey for Rossville by Joel Dayton, County Surveyor, was acknowledged before him May 15, 1855. He was postmaster for 12 consecutive years until the year before he died November 8, 1891. (1878 -1890)

Dr. S. C. Myers was born in Ohio and “came to Rossville in this county (Allamakee) a number ofyears ago where he practiced medicine and conducted a drug store.” Later he practiced at Lansing for several years and moved from there to Waterloo. ^[26] Darlene Leas identifies him in her 1869 listing of Rossville businesses. ^[27] His obituary makes no mention of his service as a postmaster (1890 -1894 and again 1897 -1906). He is the only Rossville postmaster to serve two separate appointments. An M.D. as a postmaster would be unusual, but since he operated a drug store, the store would be a logical place for a post office.

Dr. Myers was the father of Mrs. Charles Colsch of Waukon. The funeral service was conducted at the Colsch home. He was buried with Masonic rites in the IOOF Cemetery in Rossville.

*Ross Koontz served only one year (April 28, 1910 – April 24, 1911) thus missing the September biannual fiscal year reports of 1909 and 1911.

The Official Register of the United States ceased reporting Postmaster Compensation in 1912. Rossville Post Office was discontinued January 15, 1914. Mail was transferred to Waukon, Iowa.

I wish it were possible to write more about these early postmasters, but very little information is available. The Dale Woodmansee compilations of Allamakee County Iowa Burial Grounds, 1845 -1988 is a source of potential burial sites. ^[28] The birth and death data, especially the later, gives a lead to a possible obituary in the county papers.

Silas C. Myers was postmaster August 4, 1890 until July 13, 1894. He was succeeded by Albertus Leas (July 14, 1894 – July 11, 1897) at which time Silas C. Myers again became postmaster July 12, 1897 and served until August 30, 1906. He was the only postmaster to serve two non-consecutive terms. (1890 – 1894 and 1897 – 1906)

Silas C. Myers served a total of thirteen years. (Four years during his first appointment and nine years during his second appointment.) We know he was born in 1851, died in 1915 and is buried in the International Order of Odd Fellows (lOOF) Cemetery in Rossville.

Postmaster Albertus Leas appears first in Volume 2 of Ellery Hancock’s History in the biography of his father, Jeremiah Leas. Albertus Leas is listed as the first of nine children of Jeremiah and Susanna (Henderson) Leas. He was born April 24, 1855. ^[29] Darlene Leas, in her account of Rossville, identifies “Albertus Leas, pumps and implements.” ^[30]

Albertus Leas served as postmaster (1894 -1897) between the two Silas C. Myers appointments. In the United States Postal Archives his nomination as postmaster July 14, 1894 erroneously spells his name “Albertus.” He died May 17, 1935 and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Arthur D. Emerson became postmaster September 4, 1907. There is no record of his burial in Allamakee County. There is a Rossville photo of the Emerson (general) Store, which I understand was destroyed by fire. It is safe to assume the post office was in the D. Emerson Store since that was the custom of the time.

Ross Koontz succeeded Arthur Emerson as postmaster April 28, 1910 for one year until April 24, 1911. His obituary identifies him as son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Koontz of Rossville born October 26, 1860 and died June 2, 1946 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The obituary noted that “In his young manhood he was employed in his father’s store in Rossville, later going to Grand Rapids where he since resided.” ^[31] His father’s store was the W. Ross Koontz general merchandise emporium. Again it was natural that the post office might have been in the Koontz store. The obituary does not mention his service as postmaster.

The last Rossville postmaster was Ezra W. Stanley who succeeded Ross Koontz on April 25, 1911 and served until January 15, 1914 when the post office was discontinued. The mail was transferred to Waukon.

Ezra W. Stanley was born September 8, 1853 near Beloit, Wisconsin and “came to Allamakee County when a boy and has lived here ever since”, so noted his obituary in the Waukon Democrat. ^[32] He clerked in the Koontz (general merchandise) Store “for many years.” This circumstance without doubt played a role in his appointment to succeed his long time employer. Mr. Koontz had served only one year as postmaster (April 1910 -April 1911). It might also be reasonable to assume that the post office continued to remain in the Koontz general store. Such a situation would eliminate the necessity of a physical move to a new post office location which was always done at the expense of the incoming postmaster.

End Notes

This article was published in the Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin no. 240 (Winter 2007). Permission to reproduce it here has been given by the author, Brother Leo V Ryan. C.S.V. and by Dr William Dall, Editor Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin.

Along Iowa State Highway 9 between Waukon and Lansing, Iowa, along the Lansing Ridge, the traveler comes to a village, never platted as a town, but announced by a road sign as “Churchtown”. It has always been called Churchtown by locals and on the Allamakee County maps.

Churchtown is located seven miles west of Lansing and ten miles northeast of Waukon (NE Sec 32, Lansing Township, 99N, R4W). The founding father of . Churchtown was Isaac Bechtal who sold off portions of his forty acre holdings for building lots for dwellings and business establishments.

Churchtown consisted primarily of a church (1864), a school (1878), the Calhoun Creamery (1898) and Decker’s General Store (1903). The United States Post Office Department recognized this village as “Church, Iowa” when a post office was established here on December 28, 1897. George Turner was the first postmaster. He served from December 28,1897 until February 15, 1899.

By then Churchtown consisted of several businesses including a blacksmith shop (William Lentz), a store featuring confectionery and notions (Mrs. Wm. Buege) and a general store. George Coppersmith opened his general store in 1899. That general store was to become the center of community business activity and also the Church post office for the next 47 years. The post office was discontinued June 30, 1947.

George Coppersmith succeeded George Turner to become the second Church postmaster (February 16, 1899 -July 12, 1903). The post office was located in his general store. In 1903, Coppersmith sold his general store to Benjamin (Ben) Decker, son of John A. and Mary (Eichhorn) Decker. John A. Decker was a Civil War veteran, a sawmill engineer and later a prosperous French Creek farmer. He was known by his middle name Adam. Benjamin (Ben) was born at Churchtown June 25, 1877. He farmed locally. On March 25, 1903 he married Anna Englehom and in July 1903 he purchased the Coppersmith General Store.

Continue reading →

This article was published in the Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin no. 238 (Fall 2006). Permission to reproduce it here has been given by the author, Brother Leo V Ryan. C.S.V. and by Dr William Dall, Editor Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin.

Dorchester, Iowa is located in Section 14 of Waterloo Township, the northwestern most township in Allamakee County. Waterloo Township contains an area smaller than any other Allamakee County township, except Fairview on the Mississippi. Waterloo Township consists of 30 full sections and a narrow strip to the north of only six sections south of the Minnesota state line. Waterloo Township was organized from Union City by an order of the Allamakee County Court, March 3, 1856.

Ellery M. Hancock in his history of Allamakee County notes that “The earliest settlement seems to have been made in the Northeast corner, in 1851, by Mrs. Jas. Robinson and her sons, on Portland Prairie.”^[1] Hancock also wrote that “In the northern part of the (Union City) Township, G.W. Carver was among the earliest arrivals, moving on what is called Portland Prairie in May 1852, and securing a large claim.”^[2]

In 18S2 the township population was 157 persons. In 1882 the population of Dorchester was 101. Dorchester has remained unincorporated all these years. The National Census does not record the population of unincorporated communities. The 2000 census records the Waterloo Township population at 322. The zip code for Dorchester is 52140. In 2006 that zip code served 594 persons. Diane Johnson, the present Dorchester Clerk-in-Charge, estimates the 2006 town population at 30 residents.

Dale Ahern writing in The Cedar Rapids Gazette rhapsodizes as following over Dorchester:

As northeast Iowa’s dramatic color pageant kindles bonfires of red and orange among the maple-clad hills here, venturesome tourists leave the beaten path to seek out more secluded displays.

Here in “Peaceful Valley” – a narrow cut in the steep bluffs along the meandering course of Waterloo Creek – nestles the picturesque old village of Dorchester. ^[3]

Two Ohio natives from Mercer County, Ohio, Edmund and Harvey Bell homesteaded government land in the area of the present town of Dorchester in June 1853. They erected a gristmill, a store, a blacksmith shop, wagon shop and sawmill over time. However, Dorchester was not platted until November 27, 1873. Originally the present Dorchester was the site of Haines’ Mill, owned by S.H. and Elise T. Haines, and was simply identified as Haines’ Mill. This mill was important to the growth of the village since settlers in the Portland Prairie area could come here rather than go to Lansing or Bellow’s Mill at French Creek. Continue reading →

This article was published in the Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin no. 237 (Spring 2006). Permission to reproduce it here has been given by the author, Brother Leo V Ryan. C.S.V. and by Dr William Dall, Editor Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin.

Willison’s Ford, Allamakee County qualifies as one of the most obscure and elusive of the 50 DPO’s (Discontinued Post Offices) of Allamakee County. Willison’s Ford was located in Taylor Township, (Sec. 30 97N R3W) four miles southeast of Waterville and five miles southwest of Harpers Ferry. Waterville and Harpers Ferry are two of the seven present post offices in Allamakee County. The others are Dorchester, Lansing, Postville, New Albin and Waukon.

The post office at Willison’s Ford was established June 18, 1856. John Welliver was appointed postmaster by President James Buchanan. In 1861, he was reappointed postmaster by President Abraham Lincoln.

In Postmarked Iowa Guy Reed Ramsey (Crete, Nebraska: J-B Publishing Company 1976), records the postmaster at Willison’s Ford as “John Williver” (p. 15). The Register of Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States (Washington, D.C.: A. O. P. Nicholson Public Printer, 1857, p. 374) and thereafter identify the spelling ofthe postmaster’s name as “John Welliver”. It is my conjecture that the difference in spelling is simply a typographical error in the Guy Reed Ramsey book.

Drawing on the United States Postal Service Archives, with the assistance of Megaera Ausman, Historian, and examining the Bi-Annual issues of The Register of Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States for 1857, 1859, 1861 and 1863, I have been able to determine years of Welliver’s service in terms of his compensation and postal revenues forwarded to the government during the period 1856 -1863. All calculations were based on the 30th of September of the year indicated.

The post office at Willison’s Ford was closed on May 11, 1863. Nine years later on May 8, 1872 the Willison’s Ford post office was reopened. Francis Torgerson was appointed postmaster by President Abraham Lincoln. A year later on May 14, 1873 the post office was again discontinued. The Register of Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States for 1873 is missing from the United States Postal Service Archives so neither the postmaster compensation nor the net postal revenue for 1872-1873 are available.

Willison’s Ford covers are scarce to nonexistent. There were no Willison’s Ford covers in the Allamakee County Collection of Lloyd Clark nor of “Chet” Barr and none in my own. Perhaps some IPHS member has this elusive cancellation in their collection. Otherwise the search continues!

This article was published in the Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin no. 234 (Summer 2005). Permission to reproduce it here has been given by the author, Brother Leo V Ryan. C.S.V. and by Dr William Dall, Editor Iowa Postal History Society Bulletin.

Before the United States became a country (July 4, 1776) and before Iowa was a territory (February 6, 1838) or a state (December 28, 1846) and long before Allamakee County was established (January 15, 1849) Capoli existed. Capoli (CAP-oh-li) was the name given to an important riverboat and explorer landmark along the Mississippi River. Capoli designates an unique, geologically dramatic, two mile angled bluff rising 420 feet above the Mississippi, just below present day Lansing, Iowa.

Capoli village and post office took their name from this neighboring bluff. Capoli was settled on a small tract of land on the south side of Paint Creek at the point where the Creek empties into the Mississippi.

Capoli was small, once-promising, briefly-important but now a village lost in county history. The Capoli post office was established February 16, 1852, four and one half months before the village was formally surveyed and platted on June 30, 1852.

Capoli Bluff exists today as a permanently protected 170-acre strip of bluff line known as “The Buckmaster Conservation Easement”. The Capoli Bluff Easement represents a voluntary land protection agreement between the owners, Raleigh and JoEllyn (“Joey”) Buckmaster, and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The Buckmaster Easement keeps the land in private ownership while restricting uses like construction or grazing that could damage its natural resources.

Cathy Engstrom, Communication Director, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation wrote the following about Capoli Bluffs in Iowa Natural Heritage: “Prehistoric cultures thought this place was sacred and left archeological traces of their presence. Early white explorers like Major (Stephen H.) Long, noted its landmark bluffs in their journals and drawings.” Major Long, U.S. Topographical Engineer wrote in 1817 “Just above this… is Garlic Cape (Cap a’l'ale which has been yankcerized into Capoli) remarkable from the singularity of its appearance.” (Engstrom, Cathy, “Agreement Protects Bluffs, History” Iowa Natural Heritage, Winter 2005, p. 4.) Continue reading →