clivities, the desire to enjoy the luxury and elegance of the highest type of civilized life all act as levers to impel men to union of interests and homes. For long years the settlements in this county hardly deserved the name. A few families had collected, and had built themselves homes which they did not intend to be permanent; but the laying out of an extensive city had not occurred to them. Where these settlements were and who composed them the reader may learn from another chapter. It is intended here to present merely an epitome of the history of the several villages and towns in the county.

GLENWOOD.

The city of Glenwood is beautifully located among charming vales and glens, surrounded with an abundance of native forests that lend both protection and artistic effect. Nature has here done her best. Stretching away in the distance the valley of Keg Creek may be seen from most of the prominent points in the city, while over and far beyond it rises hill after hill lending a roughness to the landscape that accords well with the city's general surroundings. It is but a few miles to the westward of the geographical center of the county. Six miles away the Missouri may be seen in the west, an occasional glimpse of which lends a charm to the view in that direction. Mostly on the hill-side and in the glens, the city may best be seen and its beauty appreciated from the southern aspect, across the valley of the stream. The site of the town seemed attractive to some of the Mormons who had located at Rushville in 1846, and when about to change their residence they fixed upon this beautiful spot. In the spring of 1848 they first came to the site of the present city of Glenwood, and located Coonville, a village so-called from Libeus T. Coon. He came with William Britain, Silas and Ira Hilman, G. N. Clark, J. Everett, and many others who afterwards became prominent in the early history of the city. But these men were not the first to note the beautiful scenery and recognize the opportunities the site presented. Long ages before an older race, perhaps an autocthonous people, had here lived and carried on the occupations of their primitive civilization. It is an instructive fact that Glenwood is on the site of an old town, once covered by the habitations of that mysterious race called the mound-builders, and the remains of which are even yet to be found in almost any part of the city. Fragments of pottery, hunting and war implements, shells used perhaps as a medium of exchange, domestic articles of various kinds are of frequent occurrence in various parts of the city, and at points in the country circumjacent. They did not build dwellings as do the later denizens of the town. Their houses appear to have been excavations in the peculiar soil of the loess, circular in form, from six to eight feet in depth, covered with

poles and bark and earth, and entered from above by means probably of ladders of wood or thongs.

On the site of some of these, extremely interesting relics have been found. In one excavation an article of pottery was found, placed in the center of the lodge or dwelling, with charred wood about it, indicating that the occupant had taken a sudden departure never again to return to his home.* The discoverer long years afterwards entered his dwelling by means of the spade, and rescued from oblivion the story of his haste and perhaps death. Whether some dire calamity befell him alone of all the village, or whether the destruction of homes and perhaps of life was universal at the hands of an invading horde shall never be known. It is not with feelings of an ordinary character that one walks the streets of the modern city and knows he is treading where, ages ago, men of another race may have thronged. Could they return to the scenes with which they were once familiar, how would they start with amazement at the presence of a civilization far beyond their ken!

To a site so replete with prehistoric associations did the early residents of Coonville come. The first house was built in the summer of 1848, on the northeast corner of the town site, and remained a monument of progress and enterprise, until the summer of 1861, when it was destroyed by fire. The next house was completed a few days after the erection of the first one, and is still standing in the town-a log cabin, some ten feet by twelve, now rapidly going to decay. There are associations of another character than domestic connected with this building, for in it the first school ever opened in Glenwood was taught, by D. H. Solomon, afterwards, and still a prominent attorney in the county.

J. W. Coolidge moved to Coonville from beyond Keg creek, where he had built the first mill in the county, in 1848 or 1849, and opened a store, the first in the place, in which he carried a general stock of merchandise. Mr. Coolidge lived for many years, an honored and respected citizen of the town, among the first in every enterprise of a public nature. He is one of the few to whose energy Glenwood owes its existence. He was the first postmaster, and held that position for many years. His son William, was the first white child born in Glenwood, in December, 1849.

After the town had fairly started accessions to its population were extremely numerous and valuable, for the men who came were of the class that lead to lasting results, and build for definite purposes. Many came from other parts of the county, most of the older residents from old Rushville, while many more were new-comers to the county and to the west. In 1853 a great impulse of emigration seemed to pervade the *For many of these facts in the archaeological history of Glenwood the writer is indebted to S. V. Proudfit, Esq., of that city, whose intelligent interest and enthusiasm has led him to a careful study of these remains. R. E. C.

eastern states and many thousands of the staunch farmers, lawyers, clergymen, business men, and men of no business came to the west. It was at this time that Glenwood began to erect more substantial business houses and dwellings, which spoke not only of prosperity but of permanency.

The name of Glenwood was given to Coonville by an act of the general assembly approved January 12, 1853, when the place was selected as the location of the permanent seat of justice. Four years afterward the city was incorporated, and in the same year, 1857, the court-house was built. The first mayor was J. A. Donelan, and the recorder was C. G. Hayes, as is gathered from the official record by which the wards of the city were divided and bounded. The record is as follows:

AN ORDINANCE regulating the number of wards in the city of Glenwood and defining their boundaries:

Be it ordained by the city of Glenwood: SECTION 1. The city of Glenwood shall, for all municipal and election Purposes concist of three wards and three alderman in each ward the boundairie shal be as follows.

SEC 2 all the territory Lying South of the center of Sharp St Shal constitute the first ward.

SEC 3 All the territory lying north of the center of Sharp st and west of the center of Walnut St shall constitute the Sec ward.

SEC 4 All of the territory lying north of the center of Sharp St and east of the center of Walnut Shal constitute the third ward.

SEC 5 All ordainances or parts of ordinances heretofore Passed conflicting with any of the Provisions of this ordinance, are hereby repealed.

SEC 6 This ordinance to be in force from and after its Publication according to Law. Passed Jan 17th 1857

C. G. HAYES Recorder.

JA DONELAN Mayor.

During the year previous to its incorporation Glenwood received its greatest influx of population. In that year business interests gathered a new impulse, emigration to and beyond the county contributed to this end, buildings went up in every direction, there was a scarcity of labor and lumber, and all things were promising fairly. Up to this time the structures were all frame buildings, but in this year several brick yards were opened near the city and a new class of business houses and dwellings put in an appearance. The building of the new court-house in the year following contributed largely to this industry, which has from that day to this, been a most important one in the county.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

With the settlement and growth of towns a hundred necessities spring into being, demanding each its appropriate share of attention, and promising each its own measure of good. By far the most important of all these is the common school. In direct proportion to the attention paid to it, does the common school add to the sum of human happiness by in

creasing the sphere of human usefulness and duty. The more earnest the spirit that prompts to action, the broader and grander are the results attained. The scope of the educator has been enlarged; he partakes very much of the relation of an advisor as well as instructor of youth. Recognizing that youth cannot be driven, and that under proper guidance each may find his own sphere of labor and usefulness, he has ceased turning the undivided attention of the student to the "three R's," and called him into far wider and grander fields of study. At best he may only lay the foundation of an education, then the leading branches of human knowledge become various departments of valuable training under the title of individual self-culture. The great mass of human information in its purest and most valuable type is obtained when school days have been ended and the text-book and teacher are replaced by the stern activities of life and that harsh old pedagogue-experience. This much is a recognized fact in modern education, and the common school adapts itself to the needs of the hour, To-day it is educating statesmen and leaders of public opinion; those who plead for human rights and those who present eternal spiritual truths. It is the educational factor of the age, the moulder of the nation's future, and in its recognition the city of Glenwood has cause for self-congratulation. It is a proud feature that it has good schools and able teachers-made more effective far by an enthusiastic and liberal minded board of education. The school building that makes so promising a feature in the city is well suited to the purposes of education. It is a splendid brick structure, which complete, cost the city not less than twenty-five thousand dollars. For the statistics of the city schools the reader is referred to the chapter on education. The brick school-house erected in 1856 was superseded by the present one erected in 1866, exactly ten years later.

CHURCHES.

The moral interests of the community have been always carefully subserved. From the earliest days of its history Glenwood has enjoyed the ministrations of the gospel of peace, and listened to the eloquence of capable men. The earliest services of this character were held in the homes of citizens. Later, when the city's population increased and accessions to the churches became more considerable, houses of worship became necessary, and were accordingly erected.

In

GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is the oldest organization in the city and dates from the year 1852. The membership was then very small, and no records exist to show either the number or the names. 1854 a frame church was built at a cost of nearly fifteen hundred dollars, evidencing the prosperity which attended the society. In 1876 this was

replaced by the present brick structure, costing the society some six thousand dollars. It was dedicated in the same year by Bishop E. G. Andrews, formerly of Des Moines. Since its organization by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, who was its first pastor, the church has been ministered to by the Reverends Isaac Kelley, Woolsey, Bunn, Peter Fish, Conger, H. H. Oneal, J. W. Todd, W. P. Golliday, Israel Mershon, A. H. Shaffer, Peter St. Clair, A. P. Hull, J. M. Beck, Fred Harris, W. C. Martin, H. S. Curl, and the present pastor, J. C. Eckles. The present membership is two hundred strong, demonstrating that the society has been prosperous in a marked degree, and faithful to the trust imposed on it.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of this city was organized October 18, 1856, by the Rev. John Todd, now of Tabor, and an early comer to the neighboring county of Fremont. The membership was originially composed of D. C. Briggs, Catherine Briggs, William Hopkins, Mrs. Clara H. Bosbyshell, Mrs. Bannau, and Cornelia Williams. After four years of successful operation this second society in the city built a church edifice, of brick, at a cost of some five thousand dollars. The structure was begun in the year 1857, but was not completed until 1860, and dedicated in the same year. The pastors who have ministered to its audiences have been the founder, the Rev. John Todd, who supplied the pulpit mainly, until 1860; Rev. Mr. Tingley from 1860–1861; A. V. House, from 1863-1865; O. W. Cooley, from 1865-1867; S. D. Storrs, from 18681869; J. K. Nuttings, from June 1869 to March 1873; John Alexander, from 1873-1877; A. Rogers, from 1877-1880; and the present pastor, Rev. J. B. Sharp, who began his labors October 1, 1880. The church has been very prosperous during all these past years, and now has a membership of one hundred and fifty-six. The deacons at present are Daniel C. Briggs, I. A. Sprague and J. K. Sheldon.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, of Glenwood, dates its existence from July 4, 1857, at which time it was organized with the following persons as members: O. N. Tyson, Catherine Tyson, William Hobson, Sarah Hobson, Lucinda Brown, Jacob Adams, Rachel Adams and Catherine Wickham. Eleven years after its organization, or 1868, the society built a brick house of worship, costing nearly six thousand dollars. The building was dedicated in September of that year by J. C. Otis, who was its first pastor. In addition to that gentleman the following persons have served the church in the capacity of pastors, Edwin Cady, S. C. Sale, T. F. Borchers, and the present pastor Rev. F. W. Parsons. The membership is now one hundred forty. Since the organization of the church there have been received, by baptism and letter, three hundred sixty-five persons. Many have gone to their reward, others have removed to different fields of labor, and a few have lost their interest in matters eternal, and left the good old ways of faith and salvation. But the career of the