Elk Township was organized in 1853 and is congressional township 90, range 4.  It lies in the northern tier, with Clayton County for the northern boundary line.  On its west line is Honey Creek Township, on the south Oneida boundary line.  On its west line is Honey Creek Township, on the south Oneida Township and on the east Colony Township.
     In its primitive state this township had considerable timber, principally along the streams.  Plum Creek, the largest tributary of the Maquoketa in Delaware County, has a number of ramifying branches in the southern part of the township.  The northeastern part is drained by branches of the Turkey River or Elk Creek.  Thus the land conditions, in so far as water and drainage are concerned, are very good.  Alluvial plains, but of no great width, border Elk Creek and its branches, which make for fertile fields.  And there are many of them here, as the fine buildings, fences, roads, bridges and other improvements attest.
     It definitely has not been determined who was the first settler in Elk Township, but as far as can be learned Richard T. Barrett was located here about 1840 or 1841.    

     Squire Stancliffe, one of the township's first justices of the peace, came as early as 1842 and located on section 1.  Benjamin Lakin was also here about this time and was one of the pioneer justices of the township.

     Herman E. Steele was accompanied by his son of the same name, to this county from the State of New York, in 1845, and settled in this locality, where there were but few white men but plenty of Indians, as well as an abundance of game and wild animals of all kinds.

     Jerome Baker was one of the first, if not the first, wagonmaker to locate in Greeley.  He, like so many of the early settlers in Elk Township, was a man of character and lived an honest upright life.  He married a Miss Witter and the daughter of this worthy couple married A. B. Holbert, the noted importer of horses and the present candidate for state representative.  Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. Holbert are still residents of Greeley.

     Amos Wood, one of the first settlers in this section of the county, came here in 1845.  A daughter, Julia, was married in 1845 to James H. Robinson, who came here in 1845.  He met his death in 1874 by being gored to death by an infuriated bull.

     About the year 1846, James Stalnaker and ___ McLain located on section 29 and Stalnaker erected a cabin on the land, near the future Town of Greeley.  Both settlers remained but a short time and disposed of their holdings, in 1847, to Samuel Lough.  About this time Grant Stebbins and one Balch located in the neighborhood.   Then came Elias Hutton.

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     John Grant became a citizen of the township in the "forties," and donated land for burial purposes, now a part of Grantview Cemetery, at Greeley.

     John Corell settled in Elk township in 1849, coming from the State of New York.  His death took place at Greeley in 1860, and his widow, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Risden, followed him to the grave in 1878.

     Henry C. Drybread was the first blacksmith to permanently locate in Greeley.  He was not only a good horseshoer, but he was one of the splendid citizens that helped to make Delaware County an ideal place in which to live.  Every old settler in the vicinity of Greeley has only good words for Henry Drybread.

     Samuel Penny and his wife, Elizabeth Le Lascheur, came to Delaware County on Christmas day of 1850, and settled near Greeley.  Mr. Penny died in 1860 and his widow married John Harris in 1864.

     Robert Hunter and his wife, Mary H. Hunter, came with his father, James Hunter, to Illinois in 1845.  At Rockford, Illinois, Robert enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth United States Regular Infantry for the Mexican war and served in the Army of the Rio Grande under General Taylor until mustered out at Newport, Kentucky, in August, 1848.  He came to Delaware County in 1850 and located on a quarter section of land on section 25, Elk Township, where he resided for more than fifty-seven years.  The land warrant entitled him to 160 acres of land, which was offered and received in part payment for the farm upon which representatives of his family still reside, under the original patent for the same issued by the Government and still an honored possession of the Hunters.

     Eli W. Le Lascheur came from Prince Edward Island in May, 1850, and with him was his wife, son Elisha, and daughter, Elizabeth, who married Samuel Penny.  The family settled in this township near Greeley.

MALLORY'S TAVERN.

     In the early history of Delaware County one of the central lounging places in Elk Township was Mallory's Tavern, located on the stage road about three miles east of Greeley.  It was owned by Elder Mallory who was a preacher as well as landlord.  The four-horse stages running between Dubuque and West Union made Mallory's Tavern the half-way house, and as a rule this tavern in those early days was crowded to the roof every night by passengers who came in on the stage.  Elder Mallory had two sons, Ira and John, all of whom have gone to their reward and the old tavern was long ago put to other uses.

     Augustus Davis came from Ohio to Iowa in 1851 and settled in Elk Township.  He was one of the charter members of the Christian Church, organized in a log schoolhouse near the Robert Hunter home, in 1857.  Mr. Davis died Sept. 16, 1913.

     Among the first settlers of this township was James Martindale, who came in 1851.  He proved to be one of the leading farmers in this community, as was also John Martindale, who arrived in 1851.  John Martindale was a clergyman of the Christian Church and was a valiant expounder of its tenets for over a half century.  He settled two miles northwest of Greeley.  He organized the

FOUNTAIN SPRING MILLS, ON ODELL'S BRANCH OF ELK CREEK

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Christian Church at Greeley and was instrumental in erecting the building there.

     Job Odell settled in this township in 1851, coming from Ohio in that year.  He built a residence on his land, which was the only one between Greeley and Delhi on the main road.  A son, G. H., was one of the sheriffs of Delaware County and William Odell was a leading farmer of this township.

     Samuel Lewis was an early settler in Elk Township, coming from Dubuque county in 1852 or 1853 and settling here.  He married Catherine Overocker in 1854.  Mr. Lewis became prominent in the township.

     Thomas J. Armstrong came to Delaware County in 1852.  He married Lucy M. Bellows, a daughter of Ira Bellows, who was one of the first settlers in Elk Township.  Mrs. Armstrong still resides at Greeley and is unusually active for a woman of her age.

     Zebina Snow immigrated to Iowa from Massachusetts in 1853 and settled here in the brush, where he opened a farm consisting of 164 acres.

     Henry Millen had reached the venerable age of ninety-one years at the time of his death in August, 1913.  UP to that time he had been a resident of Delaware County sixty-two years, having settled in Elk Township in 1853.  He joined the Advent Church at Greeley soon after his arrival and was one of its leading spirits.  H. G. Millen of Marion, once superintendent of schools for Delaware County, and W. I. Millen of Earlville, are sons of Henry Millen.

     William Stoner came to Delaware County as early as 1853 and settled on a farm in Elk Township north of Earlville, where for many years he resided.  He was a good farmer, thrifty and industrious, and died in 1913, regretted by a large number of friends.

     John S. Drybread came to this county in 1853 and settled on a farm on section 21, near Greeley.  Mr. Drybread or "Uncle John," as he was more familiarly  known, was for many years prominent in the county as one of its leading farmers and business men, having bought and sold grain at Greeley for many years.

     Father John Trowbridge, as his neighbors called him, with Philander Dawley, his son, and their families, moved from Solon, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to the eastern part of Elk Township in 1854.

     Father Trowbridge was born in 1790 and died in 1884.  The forty years of his life in the West were nearly all spent in Elk Township with his son Dawley, as he was familiarly known.  Both of these men were physically strong, were also men of strong convictions and ardent Methodists.  They not only preached, but practiced the Golden Rule.

     In 1906 P. D. moved to Holtville, in the Imperial Valley, California.  In 1911 he died and his remains were brought to Earlville.  His wife, one of the noblest of women, died at Holtville, Sept. 27, 1914, and her remains were also brought to Earlville and now these two worthy people who lived together so many years in Elk Township, sleep side by side on the same lot in Fairview Cemetery, Earlville.

     John Winters belongs in the ranks of Elk Township's first settlers, coming here in 1850 and entering land on which he located and improved.  The elder Winters died that spring and John's mother then built a log cabin on the

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farm, which gave way to a frame house in 1857, still standing on the (now Lillibridge) place.

     Ira Bellows built a log cabin on his land 1½ miles from the present Corell schoolhouse, in 1852.  With a large family he had left "the old home in Ohio," and made his way by ox team to the blooming Iowa prairies, in the year above mentioned.  A heavy snow falling made the journey from Dubuque long and tedious; four days were consumed.

     William Cattron made his first stop in Delaware County after his arrival in May, 1854, in Elk Township, and in the following year opened a store in Greeley.  Mr. Cattron continued to live on his Plum Creek place until 1860, when he removed to Earlville and became prominent in all the activities of that community.  From Earlville he moved to Manchester and until the time of his death was engaged in the mercantile business.  He was one of God's noblemen, an honest man.  To him and his wife, Judith, were born three daughters.  Mary, Emma and Eva.  Mrs. Cattron, at the age of ninety, in still vigorous, and resides with her eldest daughter, Mary, at Tacoma, Washington.  The second daughter, Emma, married Capt. John Merry in 1866, and died Jan. 18, 1903.  The youngest daughter, Eva, married Capt. W. T. Rigby, chairman of the National Military Park Commission at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where they now reside.

     Duane and James M. Jenkins located here in 1856, upon land entered from the Government.

     Horace C. Merry was one of the men who assisted in building up Elk Township from its early days.  He was a native of New York and in 1853 removed to Ohio.  The far West attracted his notice and in 1857 he found his way to Iowa and became a citizen of Delaware County, first locating in Elk Township.  In 1866 Mr. Merry became a resident of Oneida township, settling on a farm in section 23.  Capt. John F. Merry, supervising editor of this history, was a son.  For several years the elder Merry was a justice of the peace for Elk Township, and during this period of his official activities there lived at  "Yankee Settlement" two brothers named Peet - Schuyler and Cornelius.  It chanced that two of

Squire Merry's neighbors had a disagreement which brought them into the justice count and, as was quite common, the Peets figured as opposing lawyers.  The trial came on during the winter, when the farmers had more time to spare than anything else, so that 'Squire Merry's court room (the sitting room of his residence) was more than comfortably filled by the neighboring farmers.  Captain Merry was then but a lad in his teens, and was well supplied with curiosity, an attribute always to be found in boys.  Therefore, it was not strange that he hurried home from school on his particular day, to hear what the lawyers had to say in the case before his father.  The captain, now a boy of seventy years, still has clearly in his memory how those lawyers lambasted each other, using language such as only the bitterest enemies were expected to call up; but what surprised the callow youth most, after the vitriolic tongue lashing had ceased, was to see these brothers, who had so violently reviled each other, get into the same seat of their conveyance after the trial, and ride home together, a distance of twelve miles, in amiable and brotherly converse.

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     The pioneer has never been slow to realize the inestimable virtue of knowledge, and their immediate efforts, after building a habitation, have always been to devise plans for the education of their children.  To this end subscription schools were the initiative and when too poor to provide a schoolhouse for pupils and teacher, a room in the cabin of a settler always could be found for the purpose.  The Elk Township settlers were no exception to the rule.  Provisions early were made for the children's education and in the later '40s a modest cabin was built by subscription, on the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 30,  and Miss Emma Wood was introduced as the first teacher.

     The Poultney schoolhouse stood on the northeast corner of the present Wulfekuhle farm, and children of the community gathered in this old log house to be taught the rudiments of an education.  Mrs. Robert Hunter taught here in 1855, Addie Oreut in 1856 and Martha E. Merry in 1857.  And the crude structure performed an important part in other interesting historical events of Elk Township, for within its homely walls religious meetings were held, that brought in the men, women and children from far and wide, to hear the Gospel expounded by the circuit rider, who was then in the heydey of his popularity.  As a matter of fact, a resident minister-was a little too much of a luxury in those days even to be thought of.  But they soon came.  Spelling schools, singing schools, political meetings, festivals, all had a place in this primitive temple of learning.  The Christian Church of Greeley was organized in the Poultney schoolhouse.  Rev. F. X. Miller, a Methodist clergyman, first appeared here on horseback with his saddlebags, containing a Bible, a change of linen and a song book, in 1857, and expounded the Word to the satisfaction of an appreciative audience and the glory of the cause.  In a letter recently written by this veteran of the church militant to Capt. John Merry, he portrays, in a measure, the scenes of the early days brought to mind by the little old Poultney schoolhouse: "I was sent to Delaware circuit in the year 1857.  The circuit then included 'Yankee Settlement,' now Edgewood, Greeley, Eads' Grove, and York.  Poultney schoolhouse was then built of logs, if I remember correctly.  A man by the name of Hiram Cooper was postmaster at that time.  My first work as a circuit preacher was to preach at 'Yankee Settlement,' 10:30 A. M.; Greeley, 3 P. M.; and Poultney in the evening.  The schoolhouse was usually full, mostly of young people.  They gave me a good hearing. At close of service all would start in their wagons across the prairie, led by yourself (Captain Merry) singing 'Rain, Rain, Lord, Send It Down Among the People.'  It sounded good, I assure you, for it gave me an inspiration for my work.  Brother John Cattron took me home that night and treated me like a kid.  That was the beginning of my ministry, fifty-seven years ago this fall.  My impression is that Father Trowbridge was classleader, but I am not certain.  I remember him well as a grand, good man, and very active.  I was a single man at that time and remained so until 1864.  As you stated in your letter, you remember me as a boy, which is true.  I was not quite twenty-one years old.  *  *   *  I remember very distinctly that I enjoyed preaching at Pultney very much, for the reason that the brethren were very responsive.  That was a great year for me all over the circuit.  I was sent from conference.  Reverend Churchill, who worked with me that year, was a supply under the presiding elder.  We held revival meetings in every schoolhouse on the circuit an

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also in the church at 'Yankee Settlement.'  There were somewhere near two hundred conversions.  Much of my time was spent at the home of A. R. Loomis, Manchester.  Mrs. Loomis assigned me a 'prophet's' room, and Mr. Loomis a stall for my horse, showing me the bin containing the oats and telling me to see that the animal was well fed.  I have never forgotten their kindness.  The children were all small then, but were always at the gate when I returned from my trip around the circuit, to open it for me.  I do not forget the treatment received from the William Cattrons of Greeley and James Prestons and Isaac Prestons of 'Yankee Settlement;' and the Watsons, at Greeley.' '

GREELEY.

     The Town of Greeley is quite an important business center of the northern portion of the county.  It was laid out on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29, the survey being made Aug. 28, 1854, by A. G. Noble, and plat recorded Feb. 24, 1855.  Samuel Lough owned the land and projected the town giving it much assistance in its infancy.  The post-office was established in 1854 and named Plum Spring, but in 1863 this was changed to Greeley.  The reason of the first name was that a splendid spring of water was near the Lough residence, near the town site.

     In the fall of 1854, Charles S. Taylor built a house one-half mile east of the Lough home and was the first building to be put up in Greeley.

     Early in March, 1855, William Cattron purchased the Taylor property and also lot six of Lough.  On lot six he put up a building, stocked it with merchandise and at once opened the first mercantile establishment in the place.

     The next persons to build and enhance the importance of Greeley were J. B. Taylor, H. C. Drybread and Miss Lizzie White.  Soon their activities in this direction were followed by others, who engaged in business.

     It is probably not generally known in Delaware County that the Village of Greeley is the home of one of America's most famous song writers and talented vocalists - J. F. Martindale was born Mar. 7, 1851,and that same year his father settled in the vicinity of the present Village of Greeley, where the young man spent his childhood and youth.  He was a musician from infancy, although he never took a lesson in his life, his father being opened to children receiving any musical training.  His first song was entitled "Baby's Kiss," written in 1878, and met with public favor.  This was followed by "Still Far From Me."  Then in 1882 appeared "Pansy Blossoms."  Everybody sang that, and the author's next sons were "When the Robins Nest Again,"  "I'll Await May Love,"  "Sweet Alpine Roses,"  "Howard's Cradle Song,"  "Sweet Heather Bells;" and the "Springtime and Robins Have Come,"  "Veneta,"  "A Faded Pansy,"  "The Sailor Boy's Return,"  "Two Little Ragged Urchins,"  "Only Blue Bells," and others of less popularity.  Mr. Martindale sang for two years in the Coliseum at Chicago, and in 1874 was with Happy Cal Wagner's minstrel troupe, one of the popular organizations of its day.  He then joined the Barlow, Wilson, Primrose & West Company, and it was during his

OLD POULTNEY SCHOOLHOUSE, ELK TOWNSHIP

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engagement with this company that he brought out and sang for one season "When the Leaves Begin to Turn."  His next engagement was with Thatcher, Primrose & West, with whom he traveled three years.  He also was with Dockstrader's Twenty-ninth Street and Broadway minstrels in New York City.  Retiring from the state, Mr. Martindale took up his residence at his old home in Greeley, giving his attention to farming in a small way, and to the breeding and developing of trotting horses on a somewhat extensive scale.  He owns a farm of 200 acres adjoining the site of Greeley, which is well improved and has a splendid stud of thoroughbred horses, containing some notable purse winners, among which he be mentioned "Happy Medium,"  "Membrino Medium" and "Saxony."  His brood mares were all of the Hambletonian and Membrino breed.

     Greeley did not amount to a great deal until the coming of the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad in 1873.  Then outsiders began to take notice of the coming little village, and the population grew apace, until now there are about four hundred souls within its corporate limits, 10 less than in 1900, however.  In 1872 Horace White contributed to the advance by building a hotel, which received the traditional name of the "White House," and was Greeley's premier hotel.  Previous to this event, however, a tavern had been kept for some time by Abram Parliman, at his house on the Lough farm.
     Greeley's equipment for educating its children is of the best.  The Independent School district of Greeley was organized Apr. 11, 1875, at which time H. C. Drybread, L. H. Keyes and George Griffith were elected directors; the board then selected H. C. Drybread for president of the board, L.  H. Keys secretary, and James Wilson treasurer.  In the fall of 1875 a schoolhouse was a two-story brick, was immediately built to take its place.  This is a graded school and employs four teachers.
     The postoffice was established in 1863.  S. N. Talcott received his commission as postmaster Apr. 28, 1863.  The names of those who succeeded him follow: Jerome Baker, Dec. 7, 1863; Job Gildersleve, Apr. 7, 1871; Milo Blodgett, Aug. 8, 1876; E. H. Cummings, July 24, 1881; Milo Blodgett, June 15, 1883; B. E. Farwell, Dec. 3, 1885; Timothy W. Hatfield, Dec. 3, 1901.
     Greeley claims the largest creamery in the county.  It has been established a quarter of a century, and is operated on the cooperative plan.
     Another claim Greeley boasts of is its market for imported draft horses, A. B. Holbert has long been in the business of going to Europe and bringing back with him large strings of big horses for breeding purposes and claims to have the largest stables of them in the United States.  The many large and

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splendidly appointed buildings on his farm near town, filled with the choicest and handsomest of big, splendidly built Percheron and Belgian horses, go a long way to confirm the position the people here take in regard to this great industry.  The firm of Lang & Co. also is extensively engaged in the importation and sale of horses.
     The Security Savings Bank is an outgrowth of the private banking concern of Thomas Cole, founded in 1890.  This was a year or so after William Millen attempted to found a bank in the village and failed.  The Security Savings Bank was incorporated Sept. 15, 1908, after taking over the Cole interest, by J. U. Rector, J. D. Chase, I. C. Odell, William Odell, William Odell, W. P. Harris, G. L. Baker, Gertrude G. Cole, H. Wilson, D. W. Clements and W. H. Norris.  The capital stock was $15,000, and officials: W. H. Norris, president; J. D. Chase, vice president, who died February, 1914, and was succeeded by I. C. Odell; F. B. Wilson, cashier.
     The Christian Church was organized before the founding of Greeley, at a meeting in the Poultney schoolhouse, three miles east of the town, June 15, 1851.  Rev. John Martindale and H. C. Drybread and wife, James Roe and wife, David Martindale, Robert Overocker and Job Gildersleve established this society.  After additional members had been admitted, Job Gildersleve and John Fosselman were chosen elders, and E. Hutton and S. Talcott, deacons.  The first services of the society were held in the schoolhouse and private homes of members until 1867, when the present church building was erected.  For over a quarter of a century John Martindale ministered to the spiritual welfare of this congregation and then resigned, when the pulpit was occupied in their turn by Rev. W. M. Roe, John Eucell and John Smith.  For some time past there has been  no resident minister.
     St. Joseph's Catholic church building was erected in 1874.  The first services were held by Rev. M. Quirk, in May, 1875, in the new structure.  He remained until October, when he was succeeded by Rev. B. Coyle, who was followed by Rev. John Hackett.  For many years past there has been no resident priest in Greeley, the church being attended by a priest from Strawberry Point.  The present pastor who visits here from the place  mentioned in Rev. Father Erdland.
     The Methodist Episcopal Church of Greeley, was founded in the old Poultney log schoolhouse in the early '50s and became a part of the church at Greeley, organized in 1883, by Rev. L. L. Lockland, then pastor of the charge at Edgewood.  Among the members at that time were Jesse Perkins and wife, James Rutherford, Sr., and wife, Mrs. Alvira Wilson, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Henry Box and daughter, Charlotte Box, Mrs. A. A. Strong and daughter, Jennie Strong.  Under Reverend Lockland's faithful pastorate, the membership increased in number and soon a Sunday school was established.  The first meetings of the society were held at Greeley, in the Universalist Church.  In 1886 Reverend Lockland, by request, returned to Greeley for the third time.  He was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. E. J. Lockwood, under whose administration a house of worship was built and dedicated.
     In 1913 Rev. B. A. Alexander came to this charge and during his stay remodeled the church.  The following pastors, in addition to the ones already mentioned, have presided over this charge:  Revs. John Gammons, DeWitt C.

I. O. O. F. BUILDING, GREELEY
Erected in 1904.

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Perry, E. R. Leamon, Jesse Smith, Robert Lusk, Charles Blake, W. A. Gibbons, John Dunson, under the pastorate and parsonage was built: J. B. Metcalf, H. C. Crawford, Elmo Keller, Earl Carnahan and B. A. Alexander.

     There was a Universalist Church here at one time.  It was established Dec. 28, 1865, at the residence of J. Baker.  In 1868 the society built a house of worship and Rev. Joy Bishop was the pastor.  This church lost its local identity a number of years ago.

     Tadmor Lodge, No. 225, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under dispensation.  Nov. 15, 1867, and received its charter June 3, 1868.  The first officers elected and installed were J. H. Nietart, W. M.; D. W. Jenkins, S. W.; John Drybread, J. W.; John Corell, Treas.; Luther Keyes, Sec.; Jerome Baker, S. D.; Timothy Noble, J. D.; Lewis Wells, Tyler.  The lodge has 121 members.

     Rob Morris Chapter No. 208, Order Eastern Star, was organized Oct. 28, 1891, with twenty-nine members.  The above lodge of Masons has an autograph letter hanging on the wall of its lodge room which it prizes very highly.  It was sent to the lodge April 15, 1901, by the Marquis Landsdown, acknowledging receipt of a letter by him, in which the lodge expressed the regrets of its members upon the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria.

     Greeley has a very strong and enthusiastic lodge of Odd Fellows, the membership now numbering 140.  It is Greeley Lodge No. 418, organized Oct. 21, 1880.  In the year 1904 this organized body of men erected a splendid two story brick business and lodge building, having a frontage on the main street of the town of fifty feet, and extending back eighty feet.  The cost was about twelve thousand dollars.

     Elk Encampment of this body, No. 141, was organized Oct. 20, 1891, and has eighty members.

     Maple Degree No. 227, Daughters of Rebekah, was organized Oct. 18, 1895.  It now has 150 members.  The names of the charter members follow: N. Griffith, Nancy Griffith, Q. M. Taylor, Kittie Taylor, S. B. and Sarah S. Sloan, R. W. and Annie C. Fishel, May Fishel, J. M. Fishel, Ida V. Fishel, L. Matthews, C. Matthews, J. M. Lillibridge, Mary Lillibridge, Ed and Louisa Corell, Charles and Belle Kellogg, Cyrus and Etta McKinnis, Etta McRichard, M. C. and Jennie L. Way and Henry and Lolee McGarvey.

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