Abington Township

Abington Township

Abington Township is a rich agricultural district and produced large quantities of grain and large numbers of live stock. The soil is very fertile and in places seems almost inexhaustible. The first settlement was made about 1832 and thereafter the settlers came in quite rapidly, first reaching Keithsburg and then moving back into the interior. Among the first were Joseph Glancey, William T. Jackson, John W. Ditto, Frederick Frick and Thomas Green. Mr. Glancey located here in 1834. It is said that he turned the first sod in the township on what became the Gates farm. The first schoolhouse was built in 1839. Other early settlers were William Pepper, brother of John C., the Francisco family, Andrew J. Douglas, who arrived before 1848; William Logan, Job Heath, William Bullock, Abel Heath, Ferdinand Van Eaton. Joseph Glancey had a mill on Pope Creek at an early day. It was located on section 8. His son, Theodore, became editor of the Keithsburg News. It is said that the first marriage in the township was that of a couple who were on their way through the township from Indiana to their new home in Iowa. Their names are not remembered. The second marriage was probably between Robert Pence and Eliza Glancey.

The first bridge of any consequence across Pope Creek in this township was built in 1837 anc^ st0°d a few rods below where Pope's Mill afterwards stood. It was erected by Rumley and Thomas B. Cabeen was the carpenter. Mr. Rumley boarded the hands who worked on the bridge. The first sawmill in the township was built in 1838 or 1839 by Isaiah Brown and was located a mile and half east of Pope's Mill. William Willits was the miller. The first sewing machine in the township was owned by Mrs. Eveline C. Swafford. It was a Wheeler & Wilson and was purchased in 1858 in Chicago by Theodore Glancey. The first postoffice in the township was kept in the residence of Frederick Frick. The first justice in the township was probably Frederick Frick. He was elected in 1839". After him came Orla C. Richardson, George Jay, S. G. Wright, Frederick Frick, William P. Strong, M. R. Gushee, William Willits, Ernest J. Glancey, Lewis Sponsler, John W. Landers and others.

In 1858 Glancey's Mill on Pope Creek was still in operation. On that date the bridge near by was in bad condition. In 1881 the Abington Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized and covered the following townships: Ohio Grove, Abington, Keithsburg, New Boston, Millersburg and Mercer. R. J. Cabeen was president; Robert Candor, treasurer; J. M. Candor, secretary. L. Sponsler, James Feather, William Kiddoo, J. S. Mathews, W. A. Winchester, W. P. Yule, R. J. Cabeen and Robert Candor were directors. In early years this company did a large business and served the excellent purpose of protecting the property of its members from fire losses.

The Town of Seaton had its origin June 28, 1883, with the construction of the Iowa Central Railroad, which passed through the southern part of Abington Township. It was laid off bv George Seaton, proprietor, and was surveyed by W. B. Frew, then county surveyor. Since that date several additions have been made to the town. The town was located on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 13 north, range 4 west. G. C. Henry & Company, merchants, opened business there in the fall of 1882. They kept a general store, which was patronized by a large section of country. The town was first called Sully, but after being laid out was officially named Seaton. By December, 1884, the Mutual Fire Insurance Company had in force ninety-seven policies, covering property worth $97,680. The Seaton Hotel was started in the '8os by John Conner. Early in 1890 the Seaton Creamery was established and for some time was active and prosperous. In January, 1893, they made 747 pounds of butter and bought 18,232 pounds of milk for 85 cents per 100. They put up their butter in 1 -pound boxes. Samuel Brewer & Son started a wagon factory there about 1890. In the early '90s the Seaton Butter and Cheese Association sold all of its lots, buildings, machinery, etc., at public auction and retired from the business. N. C. Ranny was president and J. M. Candor secretary. Why they quit business is not clear because from appearances they were making money and should have continued. J. P. Yarington had a general store at Seaton about this time. Josh Cabeen was also a merchant there, as was also Duncan & Son.

feet. The hall cost about twenty-four hundred dollars and the whole building about seven thousand dollars. At the dedication Rev. D. C. Westfall, J. U. Roberts and R. M. Whitham were the principal speakers. They enjoyed in the hall a splendid banquet on this occasion.

In the '90s Abington Township Mutual Fire & Lightning Insurance Company had out 129 policies, covering property worth $187,403. At this date George Seaton was president and J. M. Candor secretary. Late in the '90s the State Bank of Seaton was established, with a capital of $25,000. J. F. Humbert was cashier. The deposits at the close of 1897 were $33,864.32.

The business houses of Seaton in 1900 were as follows: Bank, State Bank of Seaton; boots and shoes, E. L. Elrick; brick and tile, George Seaton; blacksmiths, E. E. Bower, E. H. Brewer, E. L. Bower; dry goods and clothing, Josh Cabeen; druggist, Palace Pharmacy; contractor and builder, J. T. Harper; groceries and general merchandise, Greer & Logan, Gavlor & Wright, W. H. Robb; grain and lumber, A. L. Duncan & Son; harness, J. H. Wheatley; hotel, Conner House; hardware and furniture. Mclntyre & Dalrymple; jeweler, B. L. Seybold; livery and feed barn, George Laird; merchant tailor, Fred Nagle; meat market. Robert Swearingen; mill, Seaton Flour & Feed Mill; millinery, Ora P. Holmes; physicians and surgeons, T. C. Hainline, V. A. McClanahan; poultry buyer, W. T. Hawkins; painter, J. S. Ellison; restaurant, Charles Amy, J. M. Ellison; stock buyer and shipper, William Burns; woodworker, S. C. Brewer.

In August, 1901, a destructive fire occurred at Seaton, the loss amounting to about thirty-five thousand dollars. During a dance in the evening in Elrick's Hall a lamp in the ticket office was accidentally turned over and the flames spread so rapidly that an explosion occurred, after which the fire secured such headwav that it could not be put out. In the store room under the hall was the Green & Logan grocery and hardware stock and their farm implements were in a shed in the rear. These were all destroyed. A line of buggies kept therein was also burned. On the second floor of the building were the mechanical headquarters of Riley & Swearingen, telephone builders. Their building, as well as the remaining part of the business block, owned by J. H. Elrick, was destroyed, the loss to them being $10,000. The other losers were: The postoffice building; Nelson Brothers' restaurant; the Seaton Independent, a newspaper conducted by Mr. Duncan; Gayler & Wright's grocery stock; E. L. Elrick, shoe store; Robert Swearingen, ice

In November, 1909, Seaton was visited by another destructive fire, the loss being about the same as the previous one. The heaviest losers were the grain elevator, mill and store owned by A. L. Duncan & Sons and the poultry establishment of J. P. Yarington. There were destroyed during this fire 12,000 bushels of corn, 15,000 bushels of oats, and 1,200 bushels of wheat.