GOEWEY TOWNSHIP.

The chapters below are from the 1914 book, Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties of Iowa and contain histories of the towns and townships of the county.

Section 1. Nels Madison is an enterprising and thrifty farmer.

Section 2. On this section settled J. F. Jones, or "Fundy" Jones, as he was commonly called. He proved to be a steady and thrifty citizen, who made money slowly but surely. Some years ago he moved to a small town near Spokane, Washington, and a few years since sold his farm for a good price. He died in April, 1914. Here also was Joshua Stevens. He died many years ago, but his widow, who remarried, still lives on and owns the land. Here O. B. Harding drove a stake and remained many years as one of Goewey's foremost farmers. He always handled stock, and with the exception of a grasshopper years, made money and bought more land. Thus he waxed rich. Finally he retired to Morningside, Iowa, to give his children the advantages of a college education. Lieutenant-Governor Harding, who was born in this county, is one of his children. A few years ago he returned to Sibley, enjoying the fruits of his early industry and enterprise, and is now one of Sibley's most public spirited and enterprising citizens. Thomas L. Jennings settled on this section, but left early. Eldridge E. Morrison entered eighty acres on this section and later moved to Sibley, where he died a few years ago.

Section 4. Henry A. Francisco, who was one of the settlers on section 4, was a well-known character. He made a living for himself and family through the trying years following the first settlement of the county by breaking prairie for his neighbors, who were able to pay for it, and by swapping horses as a side issue. He was known as the most successful horse trader in the county. Albert Romey gained a livelihood by untiring industry and economy. He was always one of the influential citizens of his township and, until he moved to Sibley, was continuously holding some township office. He still lives in Sibley, conducting a successful grocery business. He is now city assessor, He served several years as postmaster of Sibley. He is a veteran of the Civil War and is still lively and industrious. Andrew Meeser and Samuel Hixon were not well known beyond their own neighborhood and left early.

Section 6. On this section settled John H. and William Dagle, whose special crops have been grain and stock, in the production of which the Dagle brothers have been eminently successful. They came with the first and have demonstrated in a marked degree how men can become wealthy in this county by clinginig to the land and farming exclusively. They held no office, received no aid, did not speculate, but devoted their entire time to farming and stock raising. Each raised large families of industrious children and were as hard pressed as their neighbors the first few years. When times improved they began to buy more land, to feed more stock, to buy more land, and now their combined wealth is estimated at near the half million dollar mark and still increasing. They.are among the few in this county who still reside on their original claims. They are veterans of the Civil War and enjoying reasonably good health. Herman C. Lyman settled on this section, but not having been in the army, could enter only eighty acres. When the hard times passed he found himself with an increasing family and not enough land, so he sold and bought in Baker township, on the Little Ocheyedan, where land, on account of its long distance from market and some hills on part of it, was very cheap. There he exercised his energies in raising stock very successfully. He has been one of Osceola's most extensive stock raisers and feeders. He usually ships his own stock. A well-improved section farm and a long list of personal property now appears as a result of his tireless industry. Last year, wishing to withdraw from active hard work, he erected a comfortable home on a part of his land and has retired on his own farm instead of moving to town, as is the custom. George A. Graves came and went with many of his class without impression. Peter Sherbondy was always a steady, thrifty fellow, who did not try to make much show, but kept steady at it all the time, always making a little money, and is now well fixed. He still owns his. farm but is now, and has been for several years, the merchant at Cloverdale and doing a good safe business.

Section 8. This was the home of Henry C. Alien, who was always active in township and county affairs and held several township offices. He was county supervisor many years. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent Grand Army man. He sold his land and moved to western Nebraska, where his wife died some years ago. Being left alone and having some property near Hot Springs, he arranged with the institution of the Soldiers' Home of that place for a home. He likes the climate, surroundings and water of that place, and is enjoying his declining years in comfort and contentment. While here he was a good neighbor, an honest and painstaking official and public spirited citizen. He visited Sibley and his old friends last summer. Anna Hanslip and James Hanslip located land here merely for what they could get out of it and were never active in affairs in any way. Christian Thompson and Knute Thompson entered land on this section, made some improvements, planted groves and sold while land was very cheap. John Gray was an old soldier, entered a quarter section here and lived on it many years. As the infirmities of old age came creeping on him, he sold his land and moved to Ashton, where he died a few years ago.

Section 10. William Mitchell settled on this section and was as full of pluck as a nut is full of meat. He was poor, but hardy as a knot and blessed with a large family. His only team was a yoke of oxen. The oxen and an old wagon were about his only asset as far as property was concerned; he and his ox-team worked an overland freight route between Cherokee and Roger's store in Sibley. Through fair weather and foul, he went over the road, walking beside his team. He and his oxen might easily have perished had they been caught out in a bad blizzard. Like a fatalist, he kept plodding along and proved that it was not ordained that he should die that way. However, he sold and left the county before land was worth much and thus lost the reward that was in store for him. The last heard from him he was a stone mason in Mankato, Minnesota, and had acquired a comfortable home. He deserves all the good luck that is likely to come his way. G. L. VanEaton came from southwestern Wisconsin and was a hustling and enterprising citizen from the start. When the Chicago, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad came through the county he moved to Little Rock, in Lyon county, and engaged in the lumber and grain business. He bought more land near that place and, although still living in Little Rock, has retired from business. He recently celebrated his seventieth birthday with a banquet. He is an old soldier and is enjoying good health. George E. Perry and Clark A. Perry filed on this section and lived on it many years. They sold and moved to Sibley when land was worth about one-half its present price. However, they bought more land and received the benefit of the advance. They were both in the Civil War. George E. Perry later moved to Sioux Falls, where he died recently., Clark is still living in Sibley and is quite deaf. They were quite active while they lived in Goewey.

Section 12. Here was A. Waldo, Oscar Barnett, Andrew Meisser and Isaac N. Porter. A. Waldo had a son, Byron Waldo, who attracted some attention. He was a good neighbor and fine fellow. However, he tired of farming early and went to railroading and eventually died of consumption while yet a young man.

Section 13. Jake Brandt, on section 13, has made a successful farmer. Section 14. Leonard Meisser was one of the claimants on this section. John I. Perry was a brother of George E. and Clark A. of section 10. He remained on his claim until the county was pretty well developed and then sold and moved to Sanborn, where he died many years ago. His widow is still living and makes her home with Mrs. Alva Harding, a married daughter, in Clark county, South Dakota. Elias Johnson and George R. Garwin left early. Titus E. Perry was the father of the other Perrys mentioned, and being an old man, remained quietly at home and made a good farm of his claim. He died on his claim many years ago. His widow survived him several years.

Section 16. This school section was sold to J. T. Barclay in the early days and he sold it to actual settlers.

Section 18. Andrew Christionson, Frances Allen, August Thompson, John Henderson, Chris Anderson and Samuel Y. Denton were all well known at the time they were here, but none of them took any active part in affairs, and all sold out early and left without making much impression.

Section 19. Charles Bangert bought the east half of section 19 in the year 1885, paying therefor the sum of three thousand eight hundred and forty dollars. He put on a fine set of improvements and could sell now for more thousands than he paid hundreds, and his land is still advancing in price. After serving on the board of supervisors several terms, he declined to be a candidate again. While on the board he was one of its most useful members. He recently retired and moved to Ashton.

Section 20. Here settled William R. Foster. He came from Canada and was a man of sterling qualities, a hard working, industrious fellow and good neighbor. The afternoon of January 12, 1888, was fair and warm. The teacher, a Miss Reeves, taught the school in that district and boarded at Foster's. In the afternoon Mr. Foster drove over to the school house after the teacher and his children and then thought of an errand to attend to at Charley Hoffman's house, a distance of perhaps eighty rods. So he walked over there without an overcoat. While stopping there to visit a few minutes, they heard the wind, and looking out, discovered a full fledged blizzard raging. Hoffman insisted on his taking an old overcoat to throw over his head to protect his face and neck from the driving snow. Foster took the coat reluctantly, saying he could go that short distance regardless of the storm. He started out bravely, and although there was a row of trees and a plain track, so bewildering, stifling and benumbing is the influence of a blizzard, that although he afterwards remembered seeing his own trees and hearing his own dog bark, He passed his house and became completely confused and lost, all within a few rods of his home. In his wanderings he ran or stumbled against a hay stack and had just enough life and strength left to dig a hole in the leeward side of the stack. He burrowed in as far as he could and remained there in a benumbed condition all night. Foster was a strong man, and by the exercise of his will to the limit, he was able to crawl out in the morning and resume wanderings more dead than alive. He finally ran up against the house of Alexander Gilkerson, on section 28, about two miles from his own home, where he received care and attention. As a result of this blizzard he lost all the fingers on both hands. Notwithstanding this handicap, he continued on the farm, and years later he told the writer that he got along better and made money faster after the loss of his fingers than he did before, assigning as a reason that not being able to work in the field, he had plenty of time to look after all the little things about the place. He died some years ago on the old homestead, and his wife and daughter still live there. Edward Keenan, James Heathman and George Lees also entered claims on this section, but were not stayers. Mathew Attall was also here and stayed longer and was better known.

Section 22. Willard Perry was not strong physically and consequently was not able to make much impression. Deloss M. Quiggle located on this section, and left early. Bennett Heathman, Steven Higgins and Deloss Cramer sold and left before reaping much benefit.

Section 23. C. M. McDougall, on section 23, is one of Osceola county's most thrifty farmers.

Section 24. David J. Spencer sold early and the last known of him he was janitor of a building in Sioux City. Lymon Garman did not remain long. Wallace A. Spencer remained several years on his claim before he sold and moved to Sibley. Later he moved to Sioux City, where he died a few years ago. His widow, who was a Perry, still lives in Sioux City. Jacob B. Lent was sheriff several terms and county treasurer three terms. He saved a little from his salary as county officer and bought a farm in Roberts county, South Dakota, where he now resides, and is prosperous. James Ford married a daughter of H. C. Alien. He owns and lives on his homestead. By thrift and economy he has won a competence. Lewis Fol som located here and was on the main trail between Cherokee and Sibley. Although he had only a small house and stable, he and his good wife never turned away those who traveled between those places and found it necessary to stop midway, over night, or for a meal. Mrs. Folsom suffered all the inconveniences and privations of those times, yet her kindly and helpful hospitality will always be remembered by those who traveled that trail during that period.

Section 26. Here was found Albert H. Lyman, who was a well-known character in his way. He was such a big talker that he was nicknamed "Windy Jake." He was an enthusiastic defender of the homesteaders in their rights. If any one attempted to contest a homesteader's claim, he had "Windy Jake" to consider, and it would be a pretty brave man that he could not bluff off. He died on his claim many years ago. Adam Batie was a successful cattle man. Benjamin F. Mundorf and William C. Bell did not remain long after proving up.

Section 28. On this section was Alexander Gilkerson, who was a model farmer, a public spirited citizen and splendid neighbor. He stayed on his claim until recent years when, being afflicted with a distressing cancer, he moved to Sibley and died in great distress. His wife moved to Melvin. Here was also Henry Hoffman, a well-known character all over the county. He was a successful farmer and a good neighbor. Wherever he went he was heard from. In recent years he retired and moved to Sanborn. He died on the road, from heart failure, while hauling a load of grain from the farm. On this section were located Byron F. Hoskins, Mary E. Hansonhart and Frank O. Messenger, all of whom left soon after proving up. Mr. Messenger was an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff several times, and there were those cruel enough to say that that was the main reason for his early going. The reason he gave for leaving was that the wind blew too much to suit him.

Section 30. George W. Carter, George Barker, George W. Barrager and E. D. VanHorn settled here. Barrager is the only one on this section who remained long enough to be called a permanent settler. He improved his farm and erected a good set of buildings, but finally sold and moved to Sheldon, where he died February 7, 1914. He served as county' supervisor of Osceola county with credit several terms.

Section 32. Here settled James Hollman, a native of England, locating in Goewey township in 1871. Before settling in this county Mr. Holland had a varied experience in this country. About the year 1860 he walked to Pike's Peak in search of gold. He remained out there about three years, the most of the time prospecting, although he made some investments. He at one time owned eighty acres where the city of Denver now stands. Finding that all was not gold that glittered he returned to Wisconsin in time to enlist in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Regiment and served nearly to the close of the war, when he was discharged on disability arising from a wound received at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. About thirty years ago he sold his farm and bought fourteen lots in Chase addition to Sibley with a residence on two of the lots. During the remaining years of his life he spent many contented hours in his big garden. November 8, 1873, Sylvia Holland was born, said to be the first white child born in Goewey township. James Holland was married to Hulda Atall in 1863. George L. Spaulding also located on this section. He was. one of the first survivors, and while he was led to believe the actions of the board were for the best interests of the county, he never received any benefit from the proceedings of those troublesome days. He was considered an honorable and useful citizen in Goewey township and was nearly continuously in some township office, either on the school board or serving as justice of the peace. He died on his claim many years ago. Sidney C. VanHorn and David F. Curtis left the county in an early day.

Section 34. Willhelm Elling died in Sibley Hospital recently. John A. Haas and William C. Coats left the county during its early history. J. C. Inman and Samuel N. Daggett died on their claims some years ago.

Section 36. Henry W. Mumford, Elisha Daggett, William Daggett, Barnard Ellis and Enoch Ellas were all good worthy citizens, but Elisha Daggett and Enoch Ellis were the only ones to remain permanently. The others drifted away in an early day. Mr. Daggett and Mr. Ellis, who remained, died on their claims not many years ago. Some of their descendants are in the county yet. Cyrus M. Morris also settled on this section, but could not stand the pressure of the hard times and went back to the state of Maine.

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