cultural implement dealers, 4; grain dealers, 5; stock buyers, 3; machine shop, 1; blacksmith shops, 4; tin shop, 1; carpenters and joiners, 4; wagon makers, 3; harness shop, 1; shoemaker shops, 3; elevator, 1; grain houses, 2; corn shellers, 4; teamsters and draymen, 4; milk dealer, 1; and saloons, 6. There was shipped from Oxford station on the C. R. I. &. P. R. R., from Sept. 1, 1880, to Sept. 1, 1881, as follows: Live stock, 121 cars; corn, 436 cars; wheat, 21 cars; other grain, 59 cars. And in addition to this large quantities of potatoes, butter, eggs, seeds and miscellaneous articles aggregating many car loads.

The area included in the region for which Oxford is the commercial point is not confined to Oxford township, but extends several miles in all directions, notably to the south, and southwest into the finest agricultural regions of Johnson and Iowa counties.

CHAPTER X.-PART 3.

CHRONICLES OF CLEAR CREEK.

BY MRS. MARY A. HAMILTON.

[Compiled and written especially for this volume:]

To those worthy pioneers and good citizens, Messrs. Bryan Dennis, J. M. Douglass, J. J. Shephardson, Geo. Dennison, J. D. Calony, E. Abrams, J. R. Willis, Hon. Rolla Johnson, Hon. Geo. Paul, Elder Ragan, Rev Pugh and to Mesdames Dennis, Sarah L. Douglass and Ellinor Colany, are due the grateful thanks of the writer for their generous aid and co-operation in preparing these sketches.

REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.

Jonathan Sprague staked out his claim on the piece of land as the farm now owned by Bryan Dennis, Esq., and built for his family his little home of logs in the grove adjoining the cultivated fields on the west, which was then, and for years after known as the Sprague Grove settlement, from Bloomington [Muscatine] on the east as far west as emigration reached. He came here in 1839, from Ohio; was father-in-law of Mr. John Hartwell, now living in Oxford, and who, with his wife and family lived for some time in this grove. Sprague's claim was on section 29, range 80 north, 7 west.

James Douglass came from Ohio in 1839; settled in Oxford township, just west of the township line, where he resided until he died, and was buried in Tiffin cemetery. His wife survived him a number of years, living on the same farm till a short time before her death. She moved to Oxford, where she died, and was buried beside her husband in Tiffin cemetery.

In the last of May, 1839, Ebenezer Douglass, wife and family, from

...

and

Ohio, settled on a claim adjoining this township line on the west, now constituting the farm owned by Hezekiah Hamilton, whose wife is a daughter of Ebenezer Douglass. Mr. Douglass died was buried in Tiffin cemetery. His wife, "aunt Sarah," as she is affectionately called by the neighbors, many of whom have known and loved her during her sojourn of forty-three years in this vicinity, is still living in an honored old age, making her home with her son, J. M. Douglass and family.

John N. Headly and Sam'l Hueston came together on April 6, 1839, from Ohio. Headly settled on a claim on Sec. 27, Range 7, where Wm. Wolf now lives, and Hueston settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Perry Tantlinger, Sec. 28. Mr. Hueston now lives at Koszta, Iowa county. Mr. Headly is dead and his wife is married again and now lives. near Koszta.

Joshua Switzer came to Liberty township, Johnson county, in 1838; to this township in 1839: lived here four years; moved back to Liberty township.

David Switzer (his brother) came from Indiana in 1838, and took up a claim on Sec. 1, Township 80 N., 7 W. It was there that the first dam in the county was built and first mill erected, in the spring and summer of 1839, and was in successful operation in October of the same year. The dam is now known as the Strickler Woolen Mills, although this latter property has been removed to Nebraska.

Mrs. M. A. Dennis (now McConnell) and her three children, Bryan Dennis, I. V. Dennis and Adaline Dennis, now Mrs. A. J. Bond, from Ohio settled in this township April 6, 1839, on the farm now known as the John Porter farm. She was subsequently married to John McConnell, who died April 19, 1846, and she has since made her home with her son, Bryan Dennis. She still lives [Sept. 20, 1882,] at the honored old age of 85, loved and respected by all who know her.

Bryan Dennis came to this township with his mother in 1839; was married to Agnes J. McConnell, October 30, 1844, in Iowa City, by W. R. Talbott. Bought the Sprague claim, moved his young bride thereon, and there established a home noted for its comfort and hospitality far and wide. Mr. Dennis was a man of note among the early settlers, aiding in public counsel and objects of general welfare from his boyhood-a position of honor, trust and usefulness he has never abandoned.

George Dennison came from Illinois with his family April 12, 1839, and settled in Penn township, which was then in Clear Creek precinct. Moved to where John Brant now lives in 1840; moved to Bloomington (Muscatine) 1846; moved back to Penn township, 1850; to where he now lives in 1852, and where, after so much moving, they-he and his wife-expect to end their days. Sturdy and independent, they cling to the customs and traditions of other days. To them we are deeply indebted for facts and reminiscences of early times.

Henry Springmeyer came from Germany to Iowa City in 1838 or '39; was married in 1842 by a Catholic bishop at a private house, as there was no Catholic church erected in Iowa City at that time. Came to their present homestead in what is now Clear Creek township in 1851-at that time part of Union township. They reared a family of eight children, two of whom still reside here, Mrs. Robert Anthony, and Henry J. Springmeyer. The latter now lives at Linn Grove farm, near his old home. He was married to Miss R. W. Denney, September 16, 1866. They have a family of eight children-the only family in this township with seven successive sons. Of course the seventh son is destined to be a physician (?).

The Denny family came to Iowa in 1861, being driven from near Memphis, Missouri, by rebel guerrillas. Escaped with sick wife and children, left all else to be destroyed. The wife and mother died soon after her

arrival, from effects of excitement and the journey, but was greatly comforted to leave her family in a free country, and that she could be buried in a state where the chains of slavery were never felt.

Hon. Geo. Paul came to this township in 1843; married a daughter of H. H. Winchester. Full particulars concerning his notable career will be found elsewhere in this volume.

George Dennison; 1839 in the county; in the township in 1843.

Jackson Sanders, 1842.

Samuel Lovejoy and James Stone, both young men, came in 1840.
Joe Brown, 1841.

James Montgomery, 1842.

Jarvis and Jackson Frost, 1841.

Lyman Frost, senior, uncle to Frost Bros., 1840; Lyman Frost, junior, (son), 1842.

Henry Usher, blacksmith, with first shop in Sprague's grove, 1841. Tom Spicer and family, 1841.

In 1843 came the Keelers and the Kings, and two Shepardsons (J. J. and N.) came in 1842 to Penn township,

Virgil Lancaster, 1848, a widower with a large family of girls-inuch appreciated in the new settlement.

Wm. Lancaster, 1843.

Yale Hamilton and family, and son-in-law and daughter, and Wm. Massey and family came to Liberty township in 1845, also to this township, 1845.

Wesley Reynolds and wife, a son-in-law and daughter of Yale Hamilton, settled here the previous year on the farm on which they have since lived.

J. R. Willis came to this county in 1841; settled in the township, 1845. He was a man of unusual strength, and was remarkable for feats of activity. He could hold 100 pounds with one hand stretched out horizontally, and could jump 16 feet at a stand-still jump. He was married in Febru

ary, 1841, to Rebecca Lancaster, who died in September, 1854. He married again, and this second wife dying, was married the third time, the lady still living. He had three children by his first wife, one of whom, Mary Alice Gruwell, is now living in Kansas.

Constantine Evans, from Kentucky, in 1843.

John McConnell, a widower with family of 8 children, mostly grown, came in 1840, and bought a claim just east of the Abrams cheese factory; still known as the John McConnell farm. Mrs. Bryan Dennis is a daughter of his; also Mrs. Wm. K. Talbott, whose labors as one of the first teachers in Iowa City are well remembered as are those of her husband, the founder of Snethen Seminary at Iowa City in 1844.

He

Isom Holler, in 1845; quite a rough and disreputable character. had a reputation for being quarrelsome, and kept it up by beating his wife and family on any or no provocation.

Spicer Jones, now living in Louisa county, settled here in 1839.
James Hollowell from Michigan, 1840.

John Conns, father-in-law of Wash. Hulburt, 1843.

In the fall of 1839 Archibald Gilliland first came to Clear Creek township, leaving his family behind until he prepared them a home. He bought a large claim in four sections, but built his home in section 26, township 80, range 7, on the site where G. W. Watson now lives. He came from Illinois directly, but from Pennsylvania originally. He boarded at Mrs. Dennis'-now McConnell-for some time and worked at his trade. Moved his family to Iowa City from Illinois in 1840, where he remained for two years to give his family the privileges of schools, then settled on his claim in 1842, where he resided until he died. His claim embraced a farm of 500 He was county commissioner for

acres a large farm for those days. three years, and justice of the peace for quite a number of years; and it was then considered remarkable that in all that time he never had a suit brought before him, spending days at a time to reconcile disagreeing parties, rather than neighbor should go to law with neighbor. He was an active politician, of the democratic school of politics, but took earnest sides in favor of "no license," during the agitation of that subject. He died in 1852, leaving to his family a handsome property, accumulated by his thrift and economy. His wife survived him thirteen years. His family consisted of nine children, six of whom are now living. These are James Gilliland, living in Madison township, blind by accident. For thirty-three years he has, with unequaled industry and ingenuity, made his way in the world and provided abundantly for his family. He guides and directs farming operations for others, and does much work by the wonderfully acute sense of touch that would seem almost impossible, such as hoeing garden, pitching on or off a load, repairing fences, trimming trees, &c., &c. His farm has one of the largest and finest orchards in that section of the country, and abounds in all manner of small fruits. His family consists of his wife, two sons and adopted daughter.

Mrs. Elenor Colany, wife of Charles Colany, who with their family of seven children, mostly grown, constitute a family of whose merits the least is the fact that Mr. Colany pays the heaviest tax in the township.

Freeman Gilliland lives in Shelby, Shelby county-five children.

Mrs. Millie Colany, wife of J. D. Colany-two sisters married two brothers-citizens highly esteemed for their integrity and moral worth; five children.

Mrs. Ettie Brown lives in Greene county; five children.

Andrew Gilliland, Poweshiek county; one child. These are the descendants of Archibald Gilliland and wife-worthy descendants of worthy ancestors.

Nathaniel Scales, from Tennessee, came to the county in 1840, in the township in 1844 or '45; still resides on the same place, in the eastern part of the township; a man of much means and influence.

John McConnell was born in 1785, in Virginia; came to Iowa in 1839; to this township in 1840; was a widower with eight children, mostly grown. Staked out his claim on land still known as the John McConnell farm, where he lived till his death, April 19, 1846.

He was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Dennis in 1841. Those of his children now living are Mrs. Jane Westbrooke, Joliet, Ills., Mrs. H. A. Talbott, Woodhull--her husband, Rev. Wm. K. Talbott, a Presbyterian minister. The Medley, published in Iowa City, Iowa territory, June, 1846, contained the following notice of Mr. John McConnell:

DIED.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

In Johnson county, April 19, after about three days' illness, Mr. John McConnell, aged 61 years. The deceased was one of the first settlers and a regent of the Iowa State University. He had performed the office of Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church for twenty-five years past in various places in which he had resided."

May 10, his daughter, Miss Isabella McConnell, also died, aged 24 years. She yielded her life a voluntary sacrifice to her watchful and untiring care over the sick beds of her father, brothers and sisters.

Mr. A. J. Bond is daughter of Mrs. M. A. McConnell, and one of the early settlers in this township, where she has married and is at present residing. April 3, 1851, Miss Adaline Dennis was married to Mr. A. J. Bond, Rev. Hardy, officiating.

Wesley Reynolds came to this township in 1840; bought the land where he now lives, which was then a claim owned by Ebenezer Douglass. Mr. Reynolds entered the land when it came into market. He has a fine orchard of over 100 trees-mostly apple-and all variety of choice small fruit. His family consisted of twelve children, eight of whom are now living-Wm. Reynolds, Shelby; John N. Reynolds, Kansas; I. P. Reynolds, Bryan Reynolds, Charles Reynolds, Mrs. Mary Dawson, Mrs. Lydia Hudson, all of whom live in this township-and James Reynolds in