Union Township Cemetery Folklore
By Beth Annis Freese
The Union Cemetery was started as a private cemetery by my grandfather,
Albert Bush Frink, who wished to be buried on his own farm. He died
December 16, 1891 and was buried, according to his wishes, in the area
designated. My grandmother was soon informed that this could not be, and
so she sold the ground to Union Township for a cemetery.
However, the deed for out family lot was dated September 5, 1896. In the
same month four others were recorded and one of those was to Charles
Gutzell, who was one member of the Nomadic Tribe. Frank Jenkinson often
told that he had to go help make out the lot “for a man with a long, flowing
beard”. His fee for the service was 25 cents – which, by the way, he never
received.
February 20, 1912, another lot was sold to Charles Gutzell. There is no other
record of sale, but the cemetery plot shows a lot purchased by H. and E.
Jeffrey. About this time all the lots purchased by the Gutzells and Jeffreys
were enclosed with a cement base and a foot or so higher cement railing.
There was a small ornated gate as an entrance into the lots.
This story, which has piqued the interest of Iowans for many years, had its
beginnings back in 1896 when Alanzo Gutzell, a young man in a wandering,
dark-skinned group of travelers, died of tuberculosis in Union Township,
three miles north and one and one-fourth miles east of Algona, just east of the
entrance to the Norton farm now rented by the Melvin Alts.
The Gutzell group generally camped about a mile south of the Norton place
near a stream in the woods on the Frank Thompson place. This would be a
few rods south of the D.A.R. marker for Gopher College. They probably
camped there that night, but when they realized the boy was dying, moved
him to a clump of willows east of the Norton place because of the superstition
they may have had about death occurring at their usual camping ground.
All night they carried on in their weird ceremonial customs – yelling,
moaning, singing and dancing, to which was added the constant barking of
dogs – and all to the great discomfort and annoyance of those living in the
neighborhood.
It was my father who heard the weird cries as the boy was dying. We lived
approximately two and a half miles west and a mile and a half north from the
place were Alanzo was, so my father did not hear the voices.
In the morning the wagons made ready to move on, leaving the body of
Alanzo on a mattress in the road. It was Frank Riebhoff, who lived just south
of the Norton place, and not my father, who stopped the lead wagons and
tried to make the drivers understand that Alanzo must be buried. However,
the law enforcement agencies from Algona had to be called out before the
people would do a thing.
The “Old Queen”, as we always called her, claimed they were Catholics, but
the priest refused to allow burial in their cemetery, mainly on the grounds
that Alanzo was not given last rites. Just why they chose to purchase a lot in
the Union Township Cemetery is not entirely clear, unless it was that the lot
was much cheaper and in a remote place.
And so in August 1896, Alanzo was buried in the Union Township Cemetery.
However, it was some years later before the usual monument appeared to
mark his resting place.
The GUTZELLS continued their semi-annual visits to the cemetery on their
trips north in the spring and back south in the fall. On some of these spring
trips they set out flowers. One Mrs. Henry Tjaden recalls five small tubs of
pansies were placed just outside the fence for the five graves.
The children of Frank Riebhoff recall their father telling in the early days of
these visits to the cemetery by the Gutzells. They would camp at their usual
places in the Frank Thompson woods. Early in the morning some of the
Riebhoffs would see a few of the buggies or wagons go by, the ladies in their
best and all seated seriously.
On these trips some remained at the camp and no dogs were allowed to
accompany any of the wagons. In the late afternoon they would return – and
the Riebhoff family would remark, “Well, they have been over to visit the
graves today.” There was always a quiet seriousness about the ones who
made these trips. During their ten-day camping period they often made a
couple trips to the cemetery.
In July 1911, Oliver, a brother of Alanzo, was brought back for burial. This
was when the second lot was purchased in the name of Charles Gutzell, the
fence was added, and perhaps another tree or two set out.
Soon the “Old Queen” died, and with her passing the number who came back
each year grew less.
On October 1, 1912, Albert Jeffrey, the 10-year-old son of H. and E. Jeffrey,
and a grandson of the “Old Queen”, was buried in the family lot. The late
Rev. A.H. Wood, then pastor of Good Hope Church, had charge of services.
Each fall Mr. Jeffrey would bring a box containing a hair wreath to be stored
at tour house during the winter months. In the spring he would call for it,
and again it would be placed among the stones and shells which had been
some of the playthings of little Albert.
Once or twice we accompanied father to the cemetery to visit the Jeffreys, but
I can’t recall that Mrs. Jeffrey and the little girl ever said much. The little
girl was about our age and except for her very dark skin and the fact that her
skirts were longer than ours, she was much like us.
There was a fifth grave, which may have been a child killed by a man grading
the road. Since there is no one living that was an eyewitness, the name of the
supervisor must be omitted, as there are descendants who could be sued. The
story is the children began to swarm over the machine and so the driver
stopped. The children wouldn’t get off. When the driver started up the
horses, a child was thrown before the grader and killed.
On Sunday, March 11, 1923, a sensational prize-winning story written by an
Algona girl appeared in the Des Moines Register. It was well-illustrated and
a couple of photographs were also used. Soon the Jeffreys returned, very
highly-incensed, and took strong exception to the story, claiming they were
not and never had been gypsies.
The author was supposed to have contacted the postmaster in the town where
the Jeffrey’s little daughter was reported to have been in school, in order to
verify her story and the things she quoted as facts.
It must have been at this time that the Jeffreys went to the W.C. Nelson home,
south of District 5 school, as Mr. Nelson was then township clerk. Mrs.
Nelson does not recall what the men discussed, but probably he came to Mr.
Nelson to protect the story. Mrs. Jeffrey, who did come to the house, was
dressed much as any neighbor might be. She was, however, extremely angry
and kept repeating, “She called my Mother an old Gypsy Queen and she
wasn’t”.
One day my father noticed that a great flock of crows kept hovering over the
cemetery, so he went to investigate. He thought a lamb might have been
killed, or some animal caught in the fence. It was then he discovered the open
graves. The markers, shells, and stones were all gone.
He inquired of all the neighbors, but no one had seen or heard a thing.
Unfortunately neither my father, or anyone else jotted down the date. Since
the story appeared in March 1923, and my father died in November 1926, it
had to be in the years between those two dates.
In the spring of 1924 or 1925, Mrs. Henry Tjaden recalls seeing marks of
many heavy trucks when she went to the cemetery shortly before Memorial
Day to take care of her parents’ graves. She said either side of the cement
rails were down but the gate was standing and shut. She wondered if there
was a superstition connected with the closed gate.
Many interesting stories were told about the “Old Queen”, but probably the
most amazing one centered around a call at the Bob Vincent home, the place
just south of the cemetery now owned by Fred Kent. She went into the yard
to beg, and needless to comment, she was very proficient in the art. When she
saw Ora Vincent, who was a cripple sitting in a wheelchair, she gave her 25
cents and left not to return for many years. When she finally did return she
rushed up to Mrs. Vincent and greeted her warmly, jabbering in a strange
language. It would have been worth a great deal to see the look on Mrs.
Vincent’s face when this happened.
One time the “Old Queen” went to Charlie Cook’s home, our neighbor to the
north, just as Mrs. Cook was getting supper on the table for her family of six.
On seeing a platter of meat the “Old Queen” asked for a piece. That story
ended by one piece of meat being left on the platter for the Cook family. It
was also from Mrs. Cook that she begged all the ingredients, one at a time, to
make biscuits. She began by asking for salt, when she got that she’d ask for
another until she had it all.
Our only experience, which might have been unpleasant but wasn’t, was one
very dry fall when they brought their big drove of horses in, to water at our
stock tank. My father had to insist that they go to the stream north of us as
he was afraid our well would go dry. However, it was not long before the
horses were replaced by fine automobiles as the means of transportation.
I have tried to contact the Jeffreys family but so far all has been in vain. I
have written to postmasters in towns in Minnesota which they have
mentioned as having lived in, but the replies all convey the thought that the
writer is an “Old Timer”, he never heard of them.
I have visited towns to the north where the Gutzells and Jeffreys were known
to have camped, but without finding the desired information. A mortuary
that was supposed to have prepared one of the bodies for burial lost all its
records in a fire and so could not verify what I had been told.
If a re-burial permit could be found, that would establish what the State
Historical Society needs to know, but so far none has been reported. It is, of
course, possible that the bodies were placed in some wooded area known only
to the descendants of the family.
Time may yet be able to tell whether this is to be written as history or
folklore, but whichever it becomes it still remains one of the interesting
stories of Kossuth County, and especially Union Township.
Interesting as it is, people must remember this one thought – that the Union
Township Cemetery is not and never has been a “gypsy” cemetery just
because five bodies were there for a few years. It is an unfortunate
connotation, which must be forgotten instead of publicized.
Just because they did purchase lots in the Union Township Cemetery did not
make it a “gypsy cemetery” anymore than the purchase of a few lots in any
city cemetery anywhere in the state would give people the right to call it a
gypsy cemetery instead of its original name.
The trees have grown tall with the passing years, but they and the uneven
ground enclosed by the original railing and the closed gate are all that are left
to bear mute testimony to the story of the Gutzell and Jeffrey families, who
claimed not to be gypsies, but did once roam this area.
(This article originally appeared in the Kossuth County Advance, July 27, 1962, and was
reprinted in the Advance, June 25, 1979 and again The Algona Upper Des Moines, July 8,
2004)
Postscript:
In the center of the east side of the Union cemetery there is a
concrete fenced in area where it is told of a “Gypsy” family buried
there. They were found in the Emmetsburg Cemetery two years
ago by a person doing research. I believe the story is true about
them being moved because the family insisted they were not
“Gypsies” because the dates found in the Emmetsburg burial
records coincide with published stories and “hearsay”. The
headstones located in Emmetsburg are the same ones pictured in
a Des Moines Register story about the families and their removal
from Union Township Cemetery. The area was “probed” by a
local funeral director employee and no remains were
located. Submitted by Ron Dodds (8-30-2011) Union Twp Sexton
At the End of the Gypsy Trail
by Gladys Tribon
(using her sister’s name Ruth Tribon)
Excerpts from the Des Moines Register on March 11, 1923
Beginning in 1896, a caravan of nomadic travelers (often called gypsies)
would camp near a stream in the woods north of Algona. This site would be
north of the current River Road Golf Course and south of the D.A.R. marker
for Gopher College. A member of this wandering band, a young boy by the
name of Alanzo Gutzell, was dying. Based on superstition that gypsies had
about death occurring at their usual camp grounds, the young boy’s body
was moved to a site one half mile north of the Frank Riebhoff farm. All
night the nomadic group carried on in a ceremonial custom of singing,
moaning, yelling and dancing. In the morning their wagons made ready to
move on, leaving the body of Alanzo on a mattress on the ground. Frank
Riebhoff stopped the wagons and made the group understand that by Iowa
law, Alanzo must be buried. A lot was purchased in the Union Township
Cemetery in August of 1896. Alanzo Gutzell was buried in the western
portion of Union Township Cemetery. The Gutzell family would visit the
grave twice a year on their semi-annual visits to Algona in the spring and
fall.
In July 1911, a brother of Alanzo (his name was Oliver) was brought to the
cemetery and buried next to his brother. A short time later, the mother of the
boys died and she was buried next to her sons.
On October 1, 1912, Albert Jeffrey, the 10 year old grandson of Mrs. Gutzell
was buried in the Union Township Cemetery. A fifth grave came later when
a child of the nomadic group was killed in the area by a man grading the
road.
Algona Upper Des Moines – Wednesday, April 17, 1929:
Gypsies Pass Through The City Monday.
Ten automobiles loaded with gypsies landed in Algona Monday. They were
met at the gates of the city by Officers Newville and Green and escorted
through the city with an invitation not to return. They were west ward
bound and most of the cars were Cadillacs. It was estimated that nearly a
hundred men, women and children were in the cars, some of which bore
New York and Illinois number plates.
Early Settlers of Union Township
Early History – as written by Mrs. Floyd R. (Ethel) Gardner in May
of 1954
Union was a part of Algona township. Then in October 1869 a
colony from Darien, Wisconsin came to Fenton and being ambitious for
distinction succeeded in having a part set off with the name Darien.
This was Fenton, Lotts Creek, Burt and Union townships. That was
annulled in September 1870.
Then the Farmer township was
established in June 1882 which was Burt and a mile and half of the
north part of Union, but in September that was blotted out of existence.
Union was created in February 1883 and a mile and half of Cresco was
added except the city Algona. In January 1884 Union was established
as it is now with first election at the Frink schoolhouse on the Frink
place in the SW ¼ of section 10. The judges were William Fletcher
Hofius, (1830-1909) William T. Bourne (1837-1923) and Morris B.
Chapin (1841-1908).
D.E. Stine and William Ingham (1827-1914) came in November
1854. Mr. Stine took a claim on what is now the C.S. (Jim) Shipler
place, which was the E ¾ of section 24. The men returned to Cedar
Rapids. Mrs. Stine refused to come here so he transferred his claim to
Mr. Ingham who returned with A.L. Seeley as a companion in January
1855. They built the first cabin in Union, which was a few rods south of
the permanent home. Mr. Ingham named the creek the “Black Cat”
after a creek in New York where he formerly lived. Mr. Ingham and
Mr. Seeley stayed there the winter of 1855-1856. The next summer two
men, Charles E. Putman and Thos. C. Covel, from Cedar Rapids joined
them. They had no neighbors west of the river.
May 2, 1855 August Zahlten (1817-1912) came to Algona from
Humboldt and worked for Judge Call in Algona. In the fall he bought a
claim of 160 acres, the NE ¼ of section 36, from Mr. Gates. It’s now
known as the Dickinson place. (2003 – Gilbert Buscher) Swan Peterson
lived there before him. He sold a year later to James Roan (1816-1886)
and then he bought south of there from Mr. Graw. This became the
permanent home and his grandson, August Slagle (1884-1973) now
owns the place. Mr. Zahlten married Margaret Riebhoff (1837-1903)
daughter of Michael Riebhoff (1806-1898, he fathered 20 children).
June 4, 1956 Horace Schenck (1822-1894) took a small claim on
the SE ¼ of section 23. (2003 – Ken O’Leary lives there, the land is owned
by Schenck Heirs) In 1864 he joined the second calvary. Mrs. (Elizabeth
Orvis) Schenck (1818-1889) was given great credit for her sacrifices for
the soldiers and ranked second in the presentation of the prize flag
presented to the Sanitary Fair at Dubuque in the summer of 1864. In
March 1868 the two story log house was destroyed by fire, burning two
little boys, Alfred and James, eight and six. The lilacs, at the home
place west of the permanent house, is where they were burned. Three
generations have worked the place. Alfred Schenck (1897-1979) owns
the place now.
W.B. Moore (1804-1870) came a little later than Mr. Schenck and
bought the quarter on which Mr. Ingham had built the cabin on SE ¼ of
Section 24. (2003 – Brian Murphy owns the land) His brother Robert
Moore purchased the SW ¼ of section 24 (2003 – Melvin Alt owns the
land) where Thompson lived, later Michael Riebhoff bought part of NE
¾ of section 24 where his son Frank lived for years and now is owned by
Dr. L.R. Potter (1890-1969). Mr. Riebhoff was married twice, had six
children by his first wife and fourteen by the second wife. With the
coming of Mr. Riebhoff, the Moores and Mr. Schenck this made four
neighbors on the west side of the river.
Joseph Thompson (1831-1901) first settled east of town. He came
to Kossuth in 1856. He went to Idaho for four years in the gold rush
then returned, living on the place east of town for one year, selling, and
buying the Robert Moore place and making it a permanent home until
his death. There have been three generations working the place.
In June 1855 Edward Putnam took a claim. The NE ¼ of NW ¼ of
section 14, (2003–Victor Garman owns the land) the old F.M. Taylor
(1840-1915) place, now owned by the Western Buyers. In 1856 he sold
to a Rev. McComb (1817-1888) a Presbyterian Missionary.
In 1856 John James settled on the SW ¼ of section 13, (2003 –
Michael Elbert owns the land) later the Thomas Sarchett and now Walter
Rich (1917-1973) place. Alpheus Lawrence settled on the west half of
SW ¼ of section 11 (2003 – Victor Garman owns the land) which is now
the Vic Garman place back of the old Sarchett place, and on time the
W.T. Taylor place.
Jonathan Callender came about the same time, 1856 and took two
claims on being on section 14 around the Brophey territory. He was the
first teacher aa “Gopher College” just below Riebhoff place in section
24.
John Love claimed the SW ¼ of section 10 (2003 – Scott and Jean
Rath own the land) and had his cabin in section 9 on the creek. This later
was the A.B. Frink place. Mr. Frink (1822-1891) came in 1868 and
bought several acres of land. He married Bethsheba Wagner (18351922) after losing his first wife (Mary J. 1882-1856) and one child. Mrs.
Frink was one of the organizers of the Mothers’ Club. Later the
daughter Kate (1864-1962) and husband Will Annis (1857-1926) took
over the place. This is now the Glen Jenkinson place. A plot of land on
the Frink place was sold to the township for a cemetery in 1893.
(Union Township Cemetery is located in section 10, the SE ½ of the SW ¼ )
At one time Samuel Reed of Irvington had the title to some land in
section 10 which he gave to his three sons. John had the W ½ of the NE
¼ but lived on the east half, (2003 – Shey owns the land) which was a part
of the Tjaden place later. Albert had the N ¼ of the SE ¼ which is a
part of the Casler place. Black now lives there. South of Mr. Reed, the
Butterfields and Dave Wade had homes. Ben Reed the third son had
the E ½ of NW ¼ which is now owned by W.H. Reidel.
In 1857 M.D. Blanchard located on the NE ¼ of section 26. He
was county superintendent of schools and treasurer for the county at
one time. His son-in-law, Andrew Barr (1857-1907) owned the place
later, now it is owned by Louis Nitchal. Mr. Barr married Elizabeth
Blanchard.
In 1858 Eli Ferris claimed the SE ¼ of section 14 (2003 – Elmer Alt
owns the land) which is the Herman Dau place owned by son Clarence
Dau (1895-1962) and Joe Miller lives there. Ferris and Jonathon
Callender batched together while holding claims. One time the other
neighbors were away and they had to fight fire for two days and nights.
Elias Weaver (1834-1913) took a claim in June 1858 which is a
short 30 acres in the middle of the S ½ of section 36. This was the father
of Mart P. Weaver (1872-1959) of Algona. He sold to H.F. Watson
(1829-1914), then the Calls and Lars Jensen bought from the estate in
1888. Mr. Jensen later had his name changed to Lars Johnson (18361910). The place was put up for taxes in 1889. There have been four
generations on this place.
In 1859 W. Fletcher Hofius (1830-1909) took a claim on the NW ¼
of section 25 (2003 – Hoover owns the land) and lived there during the
summer. During the Indian scare in 1862 they lived with Joseph
Thompson east of town. Mrs. Hofius was Joseph Thompson’s sister.
Later he moved to his claim and stayed there until his death. His three
sons, Charley, Jim and George (1865-1915), lived on the place at various
times. Some say there was a brewery on the east end of the place next to
the river on what was later called the Swanson bayou.
E.P. Schaad lived on the NE ¼ of section 35 which was known as
the J.B. Hofius place and now the Wm Kuhn (1900-1985) place. Joseph
Zanke came in 1870 on the first Milwaukee train into Algona with Theo
Chrischilles and Mr. Stebbins. Mr. Zanke bouth the place from Mr.
Schaad. The home was located about half way between the two roads.
This is where Joe N. and Mamie Zanke were born. Mr. Zanke was a
miller by trade and worked at the old mill on the river north of Algona.
Later Mr. Zanke sold this place and bought the NE ¼ of section 34
(2003 – Harold Hunt owns the land) where Peter Erpelding lives now.
Mamie Zanke married Jacob Winkel and lived on the NE ¼ of
section 33, (2003–Dean Dodds owns the land) across the road from her
folks. Mrs. Winkel’s daughter, Mrs. William (Frances) Dodds and her
husband (William “Bill” 1914-2006) now own the place.
Pat McClarney built a shanty on section 2 in 1857. M.W. Thayer
claimed a part of section 36 just north of Algona. He joined the army
and later lost his life.
Immigration nearly ceased from 1859 to 1864 on account of the
war.
In 1864 Uriah Health located on the SE ¼ of section 31, (2003 –
Ronald Frideres owns the land) which is a part of Ed Rich’s place. A sonin-law of Mr. Health settled on the ¼ west of him. The Health place
became the home of A.D. White and owned by Agnes Gilbert (18331902), sister of Thomas Gilbert of Plum Creek and now known as the
Sabin place.
Judson Chapin came in 1864 located on SE ¼ of section 29 (2003Johnson owns the land) where Walter Heerdt now lives and the land is
still held by the Geilenfield estate. Chapin’s son Morris (1841-1908)
lived on the NE ¼ of section 29 (2003-Loren Johnson owns the land)
owned by Herman Hauberg (1878-1965). Morris was on of the judges
that helped to organize Union township.
Arthur Gilmore was on the SE ¼ of section 17, where Harvey
Reid now lives. The land is owned by his mother, Mrs. John (Ida) Reid
(1880-1973). (2003-Ida Reid still owns the land)
Israel Schryver (1819-1901) in 1864 settled on the E ½ of the SW
¼ of section 11. Vic Garman owns the place now. (2003-Kenneth
Garman owns the land) This was also the Presley Sarchett (1858-1946)
place, Mr. Sarchett had married Minnie Schryver. Presley had
formally lived on other parts of section 11.
Albert Wheeler came and settled on the NE ¼ of section 12 in
1864. This is now the Reiken place. John Brown built the first sod
house for Wheeler and then he located in Burt township.
In 1865 several settlers came with families. Tom Burt and Tom
McArthur (1829-1922) camped near the Blackford bridge before they
located their homesteads. The Burts chose the NE ¼ of section 18 and
McArthur were on the adjoining ¼ west, the NW ¼. (2003-Jerry
McArthur owns the land) They were brother-in-laws. They camped in
wagons while building homes and working the soil. That winter
McArthur was caught in a blizzard and froze his feet so that he lost
eight of his toes. The Burt place is owned by Clarence Riebhoff (19001963) and the McArthur place by his grandson, Durwood McArthur
(1912-2000) and granddaughter, Mrs. Wm (Lillian) Broederson.
David Pollard (1816-1880) settled on the SW ¼ of section 1 (2003Bradley owns the land) where the schoolhouse was later but it has now
been removed.
In 1866 Norman Hartwell and Peter Martin (1831-1874)
proceeded to make their home in section 8. Mr. Hartwell took the N ½
of NE ¼ of section 8 (2003-Marvin Hackbarth owns the land) which is now
the Ed Hackbarth place. Peter Martin the N ½ of SW ¼ (2003-Laura
Kent owns the land) which is now the daughter’s Mrs. W.A. (Sadie)
Knoll (1881-1957) and where the granddaughter, Mrs. Arthur (Minnie)
Baker (1907-1991) lives.
(2003-40 acres remain in a Baker Trust)
In 1866 Perry Ward Stow (1814-1879) located on a timber lot
south of the Riebhoff place on top of the hill near the “Gopher College”
in section 24. A son, Hamilton Stow had a broom factory across the
road. C.P. Stow (1848-1925) another son know as “Comp” lived on the
Carroll place which was the N ½ of the NE ¼ of section 13 (2003-Jame
Merryman owns the land) until 1884 when he moved to Burt. His
daughter, Mrs. Charley Phelps (Mary Agnes Stow 1875-1960) is still
living.
In the same year, 1866, Widow Burgess and her father settled
north of the Albert Wheeler place on S ½ of SE ¼ of section 1, (2003Walter Campney owns the land) which is now the Herald Campney place.
It was one time the Thomas Godden place.
William Pollard lived on the NE ¼ section 2 across from Floyd
Bacon. Later Mr. Knight located on the Pollard place.
J. Wheeler (1860-1922), son of Albert Wheeler (1829-1925),
located on the SE ¼ of section 2 (2003-Lindhorst owns the land) which
Quinton Bjustrom now owns. Myndret Gordner lived there at one time
before moving away. He married Ann Moore, daughter of W.B. Moore
(1804-1870).
N.C. Kuhn (1831-1916) had a farm in the location of section 2 but
did not settle on it for several years. He later located on a part of
section 35 (2003-Clara Keith owns the land) on what is now Sue Keith’s
place. N.C. Kuhn is Wm Kuhn’s grandfather.
In 1867 Dr. W.T. Bourne (1837-1923) located on the SE ¼ of
section 6 (2003-Rath & Heifner own the land) where the schoolhouse was
located but the school has now been discontinued. He later sold this
place to Ed Donovan (1849-1933) and bought the W ½ of section 5.
(2003-Opal Bourne owns the land) He was Dr. Melvin Bourne’s
grandfather.
Horace Wheeler (1840-1896) located on the NW ¼ of section 8.
With Peter Martin (1831-1874) south of him on the N ½ of SE ¼ of
section 8 and Joseph Martin in a cave on W ½ of SE ¼ of section 6
(2003-Marjorie Rath owns the land) and W.T. Bourne on the E ½ of the
SE ¼ of section 6 (2003-Marilyn Heifner owns the land) and a southern
man by the name of “Devil” King on N ½ of SE ¼ of section 8. (2003James Dodds owns the land) This made quite a few neighbors.
In 1869 Fred Pompe (1846-1922) located on the W ½ of section 20
(2003-McEnroe owns the land) which now is owned by Mr. Bickert. E.A.
Spear (1825-1910), a grandfather of Bertha Sarchett, worked the S ½ of
the SE ¼ of section 35 which is now owned by Mark Elmore. Mr. Spear
lived in Algona at the time. George Simpkins lived on the NE ¼ of
section 3, (2003-Michael Scott owns the land) now owned by Delos
Gardner (1883-1954). The Simpkin’s were the parents of Mrs. Hugh
(Nettie) Herman (1872-1946), Fred Koepke (1834-1924) lived on the NW
¼ of section 3. (2003-Ferstl owns the land) The daughter Mrs. Doege now
owns the place and the granddaughter, Mrs. Clarence (Eunice) Reibhoff
(1905-2003), lives there.
John Koepke (1837-1921) lived on the N ½ of the NE ¼ of section
2, where the daughter, Mrs. Anna Marlow and son live. Ed Donovan
(1849-1933) lived on the W ½ of the SW ¼ of section 6, (2003-Doris
(Wagner) Holst owns the land) where Mr. Woods recently lived. Later he
bought the south half of section 6 and gave it to his three sons. Mr.
Donovan was the first secretary of Good Hope Church.
James McMahon located south of the church on the S ½ of the NE
¼ of section 8. Later his son Hugh lived there and William “Bill”
another son lived across the road on the N ¾ of the NW ¼ of section 9,
(2003-Marvin Broesder owns the land) which Fred Plumb (1893-1985)
now owns.
S.D. Patterson (1841-1920) lived on the S ½ of the SW ¼ of section
9 (2003-Dennis Swanson owns the land) where Henry Steinman (18691922 lived at one time but now is where Walter Weisbrod farms.
Patterson sold out and moved to Algona and went into the grocery
business.
Ed Patterson (1868-1905), son of S.D. Patterson (1841-1920) lived
on the N ½ of the SW ¼ of section 9 (2003-Marvin Broesder owns the
land) on the Ed Broesder estate where William Broesder lives.
John McDonald (1846-1882) settled on the S ½ of the SW ¼ of
section 8. (2003-40 acres is still owned by Baker Trust) It was later owned
by William Dodds but now is Arthur Bakers (1903-1984). John
McDonald (1846-1882) married a McArthur girl. Alex McDonald, a
brother of John’s lived west on the SE ¼ of section 7 (2003-Joe King
owns the land) on the place from which Floyd Long just moved.
Thomas Hanna (1838-1912) bought the N ½ of section 6 (2003-Still
owned by Robert, Dorothy, Phyllis Hanna) but had more land across the
road that was in Burt township and where the house was located. There
have been three generation working the land. A daughter of Mr. Hanna
is still living, Mrs. Sadie Schenck (1866-1954). (2010Gene Hanna’s
Robert’s son is farming the land)
In 1875 Rochus Hartman settled on the N ½ of the NE ¼ of
section 17. (2003-Delores (Dodds) Thilges owns the land) Pinkeny Ward
(1877-1925) bought the place in about 1884. It is now the Homer Dodds
place, but farmed by his son, Robert (1885-1918).
Joe Osterbauer settled in the NE ¼ of section 7. (2003-Shey owns
the land) Matt Osterbauer in the NW ¼ of section 7. (2003-Darlene
Bollinger owns the land) He was Mrs. Ann Fleshner’s father.
Christian Dau (1834-1903) came in 1876 settled on the NE ¼ of
section 23 on what is now the Scholte place and where Carol Willrett
lives. Mr. Dau’s son Herman (1867-1946) lived north of his father on
the SE ¼ of section 14 and this is now owned by his son Clarence Dau
and where Joe Miller lives. Another son Max was on the N ½ of the SE
¼ of the NE ¼ of section 14 which is owned by Brophy. August Dau
(1864-1921), another son, lived on the NW ¼ of section 13 (2003-Priebe
owns the land) now the DeGraw estate.
Conrad Herman owned the SW ¼ of section 15 (2003-Angeline
Dearchs owns the land) which is now the Henry Dearchs (1882-1959)
place. Hugh, a son lived across the road on the NW ¼ of section 22 and
Ernest, another son, was on the NE ¼ of section 22 and John had the E
½ of the SW ¼ and W ½ of the SE ¼ of section 21, which is now the
George Kohl place.
About 1876 four Salisbury brothers came from Wisconsin.
Marion came first and settled in a log house on the NW ¼ and ¾ of the
NE ¼ of section 15. This is the Harry Bates (1877-1955) place on which
the son Earl (1901-1956) lives. Later Marion Salisbury moved across
the road on the SE ¼ of section 9. Then John (1828-1889), the older
brother, moved on the place Marion vacated. He died shortly before the
family moved to the SE ¼ of section 4 in 1889. In 1890 the sons, Grant
(1865-1928) and Linn bought the NE ¼ of section 11 (2003-Donald
Lickteig owns the land) from Bill Strickler. This is now the Frank Hofuis
place. In 1897 Grant (1865-1928) married Lizzie Reid (1873-1955)
daughter of Henry Reid (1848-1926). He soon bought out Linn. The
brothers, Marsh and Earl lived around various places but soon left for
Oregon with Marion. The mother died in 1904.
Others coming later were G.L. Carroll (1854-1938) on the E ½ of
the NE ¼ of section 13. This is now the daughter, Helen Vogel’s place,
where Mr. Wiggins lives. Wm Dodds came in 1885 located on the SE ¼
of section 8, (2003-James Dodds owns the land and lives there) There has
been four generations living on the place. (1954)
John Cook settled on the S ½ of section 17, where Thomas C.
Covel lived before. Mr. Cook was better known as “Cap” Cook. He
was the father of Mrs. Melvin Dutton, and Russell Cook (1827-1894).
Elliot Cook moved in 1889 on the W ½ of the NW ¼ of section 10 where
Mr. Angle now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Cook were the parents of
Mrs. Tom (Cora) Reid.
S. H. McNutt (1854-1938) lived on the W ½ of the NW ¼ of section
35.
(2003-Dirk Hoover owns the land)
H.H. Turnbaugh (1840-1918) was on the NW ¼ of section 28
(2003-Mary Weydert owns the land) where Matt Weydert now lives. He
was Myrtle Turnbaugh’s father.
Robert Leason (1858-1937) owned the NW ¾ of section 11 and
which is still owned by his wife Anna (1866-1955).
Clark Peck (1843-1927) had the SW ¼ of section 18 (2003McEnroe owns the land) where the son Harvey (1881-1967) lived for
sometime but the land is now owned by his son, Bert (1869-1955), and
Mr. McEnroe.
Stephen Tjaden (1840-1914) located on NE ¼ of section 10.
August Doering was on the NE ¼ of section 7 on what is now the
Jessie Turner Reid (1897-1980) place and where Arden Hovey lives.
(2003-Maurine Hovey owns land in Section 7 SW ¼ )
W.T. Taylor (1844-1907), better known as Trac, lived on the W ½
of SW ¼ section 11. (2003-Vic Garman owns the land)
D.D. Kenyon had the SE ¼ of section 34 that Harold Hunt owns
now.
(2003-Harold Hunt owns land in section 34 the NE ¼)
W.H. Bailey (1856-1900), father of Chester, bought the W ½ of the
NE ¼ of the SE ¼ in 1885. This place now belongs to W.C. Taylor
(1873-1955) of Algona.
C.E. Walker (1853-1937), a cripple, lived on the Judson Chapin
place, the SE ¼ of section 29. This is where Walter Heerdt now lives
and is the Geilenfeld estate.
C.D. Ward (1858-1936) bought the E ½ of the NE ¼ and ¾ of SE
¼ . The north part was bought in 1884. Mr. Ward married Fannie
Schenck (1862-1930) in 1887 and moved to Plum Creek for a few years.
Then he bought the rest of the place with a house and moved there. His
daughter Ethel Gardner owns the place. The south part was once
owned by Chauncey Taylor and Frank Jenkinson (1857-1935) lived
there after his first wife died leaving his with a small boy. He later
married Kate Palmer (1856-1934) and the three older children were
born there. After a time he bought ¾ of the SE ¼ of section 27 where
Richard Leigh now owns.
George Taylor (1836-1863), son of Chauncey Taylor (1805-1876),
bought the NE ¼ of section 36 which Frank Harrison (1825-1918)
bought later. Mr. Harrison built the first frame hotel in Algona. W., the
son took over the place and it is now owned by Mr. Pugsley.
Henry Reid (1848-1926) came to Union township in 1887 and
located on the SE ¼ of section 16 (2003-Fred Freese owns the land) after
he had taken claim in Burt township. The granddaughter, Mrs.
Raymond (Dorothy) Vigdal lives on the place.
Gevert Keuck bought the NW ¼ of section 5 (2003-Opal Bourne
owns the land) from the railroad company about 1879 and the son Henry
lives there. A cheese factory had been on the place before he moved
there.
James Hutchinson lived on the SW ¼ of section 4, (2003-Howard
Hoenck owns the land) which later was the son David’s place. Mrs.
Robert (Mary) Sarchett (1895-1981) was the granddaughter. The place
is now owned by Dr. Lichter of Burt.
B.F. Sroufe (1855-1942) lived on the W ½ of section 12, now the
Western Buyers property.
Charles Bishop (1906-1933) owned the E ¾ of section 13, which is
now the F.S. Norton (1865-1931) estate and farmed by Melvin Alt.
W.B. Carey (1819-1903), who lived in Plum Creek, owned about
½ of section 25, which he bought from Frank Jarbek in 1877. M.C.
Carey was the father of Bertha Carey Gilbert one time county
superintendent.
Charley Anderson lived on the S ½ of the SW ¼ of section 25,
Carriers, McFadden, Krieps and now Herald Mosher have lived there.
Juluis Mittag (1849-1909) owned the E ½ of the NE ¼ of section
21, which was later purchased by McEnroe.
Milton J. Moore bought the W ½ of section 20 (2003-McEnroe
owns the land) in 1902. He did not move on to the place the first year as
he could not get possession until a year later. He reared and educated
his eleven boys and one girl on this farm. He was supervisor of this
district.
W.A. Taft owned the NW ¼ of section 2 later James Hanson,
father of Mrs. Lloyd (Luella E.) Schenck (1896-1968) lived there. It is
now owned by Floyd Bacon.
J.F. Schoby (1866-1915) bought the SW ¼ of section 34 in 1902
which is now owned by Robert Loss.
(2003-Owners of the land, Alice Loss 60 acres & Joe Garman 70 acres)
John Ricker (1848-1893) came to Kossuth in the early 1890’s,
located in Irvington township and later moved to Union township on the
SW ½ of section 26 (2003-Shey owns the land) where the two older sons,
Joe (1873-1961) and Will (1876-1963) have farmed since the father died
in Irvington township in 1893.
May 25, 1954 - By Mrs. Floyd R. (Ethel) Gardner
To Whom It May Concern:
Penny is the daughter of Jim & Helena Dodds. She was moved
from East Lawn Cemetery in Algona to Union Township Cemetery
on August 29, 2011 per Jim’s wishes is my understanding. I don’t
believe I would make a public record of this as I don’t have the
families’ permission.
In the center of the east side of the cemetery there is a concrete
fenced in area where it is told of a “Gypsy” family buried there.
They were found in the Emmetsburg Cemetery two years ago by a
person doing research. I believe the story is true about them
being moved because the family insisted they were not “Gypsies”
because the dates found in the Emmetsburg burial records
coincide with published stories and “hearsay”. The headstones
located in Emmetsburg are the same ones pictured in a Des
Moines Register story about the families and their removal from
Union Township Cemetery. The area was “probed” by a local
funeral director employee and no remains were located. I have
pictures of some the people moved along with burial records from
Emmetsburg along with other information about these families.
To my knowledge there are no unmarked burial sites.
I will keep you updated with any burials occurring in our
township cemetery. Best regards, Ron Dodds (8-30-2011)
THOUGHT IT LOST CHILD.
Gypsies Mistakenly Arrested For Kidnapping Marlow Child,
of Lone Rock, Are Released.
GRAVITY, Iowa, July 17, 1912—A little child found in the possession of a
party of gypsies near here today was believed to be the small son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. D. Marlow of Lone Rook who is thought to have been kidnapped
several weeks ago, but this was soon dispelled when it was found that the
description of the child did not tally with that of the missing Lone Rock
baby. After being held for several hours the party was released.
The child found here was but 14 months old, while the lost child is said to be
about 28 months old. Rumor that a small child had been kidnapped near here
stirred the town into the country to intercept the party. The child was found
in possession of a man and woman, both of whom claimed it as their child.
A description of the child was telegraphed to the Marlows, but when they
replied that the child was not theirs the party was turned loose. Rumor
reached here that the party had been held up again at Bedford, and that
positive identification had been made, but this story is discredited here.
Rewards totaling over $3,000 have been offered for the recovery of the
Marlow child, which is supposed |to have been run over by an autoist and
the body hidden to hide the crime or else kidnapped by a band of gypsies.