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.

VIOLA TOWNSHIP.

This township was set off from Horton in the seventies and the homesteaders were as follows:

Section 8. Obed Averill, Alonzo Averill, Elmer Mulinex, David Aver-ill. Alonzo Averill later moved to Sibley where he lived many years and then moved to southern California where he died a few years ago. His widow now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Section 10. Here settled William Rubow, who about thirty years ago sold his farm and moved to southwestern Iowa where he now resides. Charles Bennett remained only a short time. E. S. Bennett remained on his claim many years and finally retired from farming and moved to Sibley. Mr. Bennett is one of many others who have always been satisfied with northwestern Iowa.

Section 12. On this section was Charles C. J. Ball, whose stay was short. Emaline Scribner and J. F. Scribner were also transients. Peter Shaw later retired to Sibley, and when the Burlington Railroad came into the county, he went to the new town of Melvin and established the first pool hall and lunch counter in that town. A few years ago he returned to Sibley and is now enjoying a retired life of ease.

Section 14. Here was Charles A. Shaw, who remained in the county until the time of his death many years ago. J. F. Ramsen left early. Charles C. Ogan lived on his claim a few years and then moved to Sibley where he remained a few years and then moved on. It is reported that he died last year. John H. Douglass was closely identified with the early history of this county. He was sheriff several terms and won the reputation of guarding the interests of the homesteaders against agents who attempted to enforce collection of machine debts, a fact which made him very popular. He belonged to no political party, but always ran for office as an independent candidate. He called himself a Mugwump. He earned much money as sheriff and in working for the Iowa Land Company. Besides he received a pension, but he spent it all as fast as earned. He was generous to a fault and would give away his last dollar as freely as though he was a millionaire. He looked for every one to do the same by him with the result that he died a few years ago in destitution. It was his philosophy of life to spend his money for himself and family as he went along and who will say he was wrong. That was his choice.

Section 18. Here again appear Alonzo Averill, Elmer Mulinex, Sidney Beckwith, A. B. Graves and Abigail Beeman. During the grasshopper scourge Sidney Beckwith drove his team over to Pierre, South Dakota, and hauled freight to the Black Hills until the distress here was over. He then returned to his claim and settled down to general farming and stock raising. As his stock increased he bought more land and waxed rich. Recently he retired from the farm and moved to southern California where he is enjoying life to the fullest, still holding his land.

Section 20. Here settled Edward Smith, J. H. Smith, Samuel B. Smith, John Tann, a brother-in-law of the Smiths, and Cornelius Collison. J. H. Smith is dead, Samuel B. Smith, at last report, was living in Minnesota. Edward Smith lived on his land until about twenty years ago when he moved to Little Rock and engaged in the hardware business and prospered. He bought more land and still holds it, but is now leading a retired life in Little Rock.

Section 22. Here settled M. D. Hadsell, John Joseph, J. H. Hart and John P. Hawxhurst. Of this number only Mr. Hawxhurst remained to make a permanent citizen and he early took up his residence in Sibley. He married Miss Thomas, a sister of Will Thomas. He was editor of the Sibley Gazette for many years and later clerk of the district court several terms. He was prominent in the Masonic order and died in Sibley a few years ago. He was a good and useful citizen.

Fred Attig and L. H. Morse each own a half section on 22 and were quite early settlers and first-class farmers and good money makers. They still live on their farms, both drive automobiles and appear prosperous and happy.

Section 24. Here was Lyman Clark, George W. Ketcham, Merritt R. Winchester, Jeremiah Burgh and N. Irwin Wetmore, all of whom remained long enough to be well known, but sold and left the country before realizing much benefit from the material prosperity of the country. Mr. Ketcham will be particularly remembered for his peculiarities and eccentricities.

Section 26. E. Headley did not become a permanent citizen. J. S. Patterson remained on his original claim until the time of his death a few years ago except two or three years in Sibley just before his death. He was an old soldier and a highly respected citizen. His widow survives him. Jackson Blair was a stirring and influential citizen who sold about twenty years ago and moved to Nebraska. He visited in Sibley during the summer of 1913 and is looking well and prosperous. Willis H. Gates lived on his claim until he was elected to the office of county recorder and then moved to Sibley and made a popular and efficient officer several terms. He died in Sibley a few years ago highly respected. His widow survives him and lives in Sibley.

Section 28. George Carew settled on this section, but early moved to Sibley and bought the Sibley Gazette and managed it many years. John P. Hawxhurst was his editor. Mr. Carew died in Sibley many years ago. David B. Wood also settled here. About thirty years ago he sold and moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he died recently. R. J. Willy was a transient. Hugh Jordon was an attorney in the early history of Sibley and, being an old soldier, filed on a quarter section for what there was in it, a customary procedure during those early times. Mr. Jordan remained in Sibley and practiced law until the time of his death many years ago. His widow survives in Sibley. Henry Hall came so early he should be mentioned with the early settlers. He was street commissioner in Sibley for many years.

Section 29. J. P. Walbran settled on section 29 and engaged exclusively in general farming and has prospered.

Section 30. This section was settled by Henry Gresham, A. G. Vanblerscum, Charles Nulton and Theodore J. Stage. Mr. Stage proved to be the only stayer on this section. The rest were well known but could not stand the pressure of the hard times and sold for a trifle and left. Mr. Stage is now leading a retired life in Sibley and is a useful and respected citizen. Frank Chase should also be recorded among the early settlers of this section. He commenced working for Mr. Walbran when a mere boy and he proved to be a faithful farm hand. He married the daughter.of Mr. Walbran and set out farming for himself on section 30 and now is one of the prosperous farmers and land owners of Viola township.

Section 32. George S. Downend was a prominent man in public affairs and an able county supervisor several terms. Some twenty-five years ago he sold and moved to southwestern Iowa and later to Missouri where he still resides.

George W. Turk died early and his family are scattered. One of his sons lives in Little Rock. Abram Shapley filed as an old soldier on the southwest quarter of this section and early bought the northwest quarter. The last year of the grasshopper scourge he had nearly all of this half section in flax. About the time it was all up and looking fine the hoppers hatched out on the whole half section so thick that the ground was literally alive with them. Of course that looked extremely discouraging and Mr. Shapley spent considerable time and money trying to sell at ten dollars an acre. He had a fine grove started and good buildings and although his offer was very cheap yet he could not find a buyer. Fortunately as soon as the hoppers gained a little strength they hopped off without doing the crop very much damage and Mr. Shapley harvested his flax and realized the ten dollars per acre for all his land. He kept the land until it brought a good price, when he sold it and retired to Sibley, where he died a few years ago.

P. L. Piesly was a hard worker and for many years was the principal stock buyer and shipper in this vicinity. He died on his home farm some years ago. His widow now lives in Sibley and his son manages the farm.

Section 33. Peter Rhemes is on section 33.

Section 34. J. F. Bough and M. M. Horton did not stay long. William E. Ripley was an old soldier and received a liberal pension on account of his defective vision, incurred as a result of the service, and shortly after proving up moved to Sibley where he died many years ago. His widow still resides in Sibley. John F. Stamm held the office of sheriff three terms and made a faithful officer. He also was an old soldier and died in Sibley a few years ago. His widow survives him and resides in Sibley. James F. VanEmburg left early.

Section 36. Charles C. Torry was a carpenter and early moved to Sibley and worked at his trade a few years and left the country. Joseph Ferrin lived and worked his claim a good many years, but about thirty years ago sold out and moved to Wisconsin where he died two or three years ago. He was a single man and farmed at a disadvantage. David Watt was a transient and little known. Levi Shell, being a veteran of the Civil War, filed on a quarter of this section and still owns the same. It is now a well improved farm worked and managed by Mr. Lehman, a son-in-law of Mr. Shell. Mr. Shell was one of the first lumber merchants of Sibley and still resides in Sibley and is the senior member of. the Shell Lumber Company, which is doing an extensive business in building material and cement.

Among the more recent arrivals of prosperous farmers are H. C. Conradi, J. G. Groenewald, Thomas Giken, S. Gardas, E. A. D. Nachtigal, H. J. Onken, Henry, John J. and Peter J. Onken, C. H. Slocum, and C. C. and William Truckenmiller. William Truckenmiller is building in Sibley this year preparatory to living in town. There are many other thrifty farmers in this township 'but space will not permit mention of them all. Viola township is one of the garden spots of the county. The land is good and it is. thoroughly handled.

This township supports six public schools and there is a German church on section 22. The present township officers are Herman Groth, John Onken and E. A. D. Nachtingal, trustees; Lamber Duis, clerk; M. F. Olson, constable and Jake Redinius, assessor.

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