THE PIONEERS.

     Enterprise township was settled about the same time that other portions of the north part of the county were settled, which was in 1838, 1839, and 1840.  Among the first pioneers who made it their homes was Greenberry Summers, who came from Indiana in October, 1839, and settled on section twenty-four, of township sixty, range twenty.  He struck the timber on Long Branch, and about one mile south of the village of Enterprise.  Mr. Summers was the earliest arrival in the township, and was monarch of all he surveyed for nearly a year.  He had occasional calls from the Indians who, in hunting parties from Iowa, used to roam the woods at will, and made friendly calls on the white settlers who had made homes on what was once their exclusive hunting-grounds.  The following year James Reed moved on to section twenty-six, township sixty, range twenty.  He came from Boone county, and his claim was only about one mile southwest from Mr. Summers, which made them near neighbors.  Benjamin Phillips came in 1842, but after building a house, sold out to Edmond P. Wells, who came from Illinois.  This location was on section twenty-three, which was in the same neighborhood, only about one mile west of Mr. Summers.  Then came Francis Kelley, from Kentucky, but direct from the kingdom of Callaway, or Callaway county, and Lockhart S. Nevans, from the same county.  The former staked his claim on section thirty, township sixty, range twenty.  A. J. Buler, from Germany, settled on section eighteen, township sixty, range twenty.  In fact, from 1838 until 1845, the settling of Enterprise township continued very steadily, and although now but four and one-half miles square, as before stated, the settlement seems to center on Long Branch, which nearly equally divides the township east and west, and spreads out up and down on both sides of it.  Farms increased in size and it seemed as if the pioneers who had gathered there were gaining more rapidly in wealth than in other sections of the county.

THE NATURAL COURSE OF EVENTS.

     The first marriage of record in the township was that of John Bunch to Miss Cynthia Ann Summers, which happy event took place in December, 1842.  Judge Rooker, now a resident of Sullivan county, but at one time one of the county judges of Linn county, performed the ceremony at the residence of the bride's parents.
     Miss Nancy Summers was born June 8, 1842, and was the first child born in Enterprise township.  She was the daughter of Jesse and Margaret A. Summers.  This child married Brice P. Collins, and the latter was killed at Fort Donelson, during the late unpleasantness.  His widow and the child above spoken of are now residents of Sullivan County.  The infant son of James Reed, born in 1843, is believed to have been the first male child born, but it lived but a short time and was buried on the home farm.
     Among those who practiced the healing art and who is claimed as the first resident physician, was Dr. Stephenson.  But probably the first one to prescribe for the sick in the township was Mrs. Nancy Summers, the wife, we believe, of Greenberry Summers, the first resident of the township.  This old lady had considerable medical skill, and she exercised it for quite a number of years for the benefit of her neighbors and with great success.
     The earliest teachers of the gospel of Christ in this township were the Rev. Thompson, of the Christian Church, and the Rev. John Means, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Services were held by these ministers as early as 1844, sometimes at private residences and again at school-houses, but at these latter places not sooner than 1848, which was about the time of the first erection of any kind of a school-house in the township.
     The first school was taught in an abandoned log house in 1847 or 1848, but only continued one month.  This school was on section twenty-four, township sixty, range twenty, and was taught by Adoniram Robinson.  Private schools were kept here and there as the pioneers could afford, but the first school-house built in the township was about 1852, and on section twenty-five, township sixty, range twenty.  Still there is very little known or remembered of this school, but is remembered by William T. Gooch and his father and several other persons.
     The next school-house erected in the township was on section eighteen, township sixty, range nineteen, northeast of Enterprise village, and on the northeast quarter of section, something like a mile, or a little more, from the village.  It is now known as the Dickerson school-house, and is in district number two.  The building was of hewn logs.  Jesse Summers, George Long, and Mr. Dickerson contributed the material, Ransom Gent gave the land, and other neighbors did the work.  It has flourished to this day and last winter Mr. William Poster taught a six months' school.
     District number five school-house, on section twenty-six, township sixty, range twenty, known as the Gooch school-house, was erected some ten years ago.  This is a frame, costing some $400, with a term or terms of six to seven months of schooling.  Its present school board, or directors, are John Gooch, George Dodge, and William J. Gibson.  The school is a large one as there are about sixty children of school age within its limits, and about forty in regular attendance.  Miss L. J. Joyce, an educated young lady and an accomplished teacher, taught the past winter, 1881 and 1882.
     The first school-house built in the vicinity of Enterprise village was but three years ago; but school was kept many years previous in an old log school-house.  One of the incidents of this school period was in the winter of 1864 and 1865.  The school that winter was kept by Mr. William T. Gooch, and one morning, soon after arriving at the school-house, the weather took one of its sudden changes, the mercury dropping until it seemed to be going out of sight.  Mr. Gooch found it necessary to do something else besides teaching; in fact wood was brought into the old log house and Mr. Gooch commenced cutting wood and piling it on the fire to keep the children from freezing.  It didn't take long for the farmers to find out that it was terribly cold, and anxious mothers hurried off to the school-house with extra raps to bring their loved ones home before they froze to death.  Mr. Gooch was not sorry, and before noon the last one had left.  For two hours he had swung the ax and the children had huddled together, but the cracks were wide and badly chinked, and old Jack Frost walked in without hindrance.  Mr. Gooch received the thanks of all, when they found that he had been equal for the occasion, and had protected his scholars so well from cold, as well as teaching a successful school.
     Among those who spun and wove in those days were Miss Nancy Summers, Mrs. Philip Wells, and others, and in fact the wives of the pioneers were all at home with the spinning wheel, and most of them with the loom as well.

THE TRAVELED.

     For the first three years of pioneer life, it was, so far as the necessaries of the kitchen were concerned, rather slow work.  Brunswick and Glasgow were the principal markets, and also for their grinding until 1841, when Bowyer's horse-mill was erected.  Supplies of every description were purchased at the above named places, and it was no small job to take a trip of sixty to eighty miles and back with an ox team.  Still it had to be done and the load was corn, skins of all kinds, venison hams, honey, etc., and the returns were a little tea and coffee, a few yards of calico, perhaps a log chain, a wedge, and some medicine in a jug.  These things were the winter supplies which were necessary.  But time soon changed all of this, and when the years of 1841 and 1842 came along Linneus had grown to the size of a core of houses, stores were on hand, and Bowyer's mill under way, and the ten or twelve miles of travel was a decided improvement over the trips to Brunswick and Glasgow.
     Enterprise township all this time was mostly Benton township, with the exception of a mile on its eastern border which belonged to Baker, but within the territory here described, is and was the ground of which Enterprise township is composed.  The township grew until it became large enough in population to seek for an independent municipal division, but as before remarked, just why this "baby" was born has never been satisfactorily explained.  The population of the township in 1870 was 322, and notwithstanding a portion of the south part of the township was set off to Grantsville in 1871.  Enterprise township, in the past decade, just exactly doubled its population, it being, according to the census of 1880, 644, against 322, in 1870.  This shows the largest gain of any township in the county, the next to it being Jackson township, which gained during the same time nearly eighty-five per cent.  This gain of Enterprise township, when its location and size is considered, is something wonderful.

VILLAGE OF ENTERPRISE.

     This is rather an old village, and being only about four miles from the railroad and also from Browning, an important station on the Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City Railroad, has not many chances to become a village of size and note.  In fact Browning has very perceptibly interfered with the growth of the village, as all its merchants have left for that thriving town and railroad communication with the outside world.
     The village of Enterprise was first laid off in the year 1857 or 1858, on land owned by B. F. Northcott, and he and A. D. Christy were the founders.  The post-office was named at the time "Northcott," after one of the founders.  The village grew until it reached near the population of a hundred souls, and has remained somewhere in that neighborhood for a good many years.  On December 21st, 1869, a portion of the town was vacated as it became evident that the town plat was larger tan was over likely to become necessary.  There is not much improvement going on, and its future is not a very promising one.  There is no doubt but that it will be a convenience to the farmers in the immediate vicinity, and it will always equal a cross-roads town, which is composed of a country store and a blacksmith shop; but beyond this, or a population of a hundred or two, Enterprise village will not in this generation have a greater future.
     There is a small congregation of Methodists who have preaching once a month.  They have no church, but use a school-house for services.  The Rev. Henry Crampton officiates.  B. F. Northcott, J. T. Fleming, and George Crump were among the first members of the organization.  Mr. Northcott is now a resident of Browning, while Judge Fleming proposes to assume the role of the only merchant of Enterprise, he having commenced arrangements to that effect.  At present there is no general store at Enterprise, the last one having a few months since removed to Browning.  As the Judge is an old settler, and a popular citizen he is likely to prove successful.

SCHOOL-HOUSE AND CEMETERY.

     The school-house of the village is a good frame building and well furnished with all the appliances necessary for a thorough common school education.  It cost about $900, and is located on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section thirteen, township sixty, range twenty, just on the edge of the town, and has an average attendance of from fifty to sixty pupils.  The last session was one of the seven months, and the teachers were Chas. W. Northcott, principal, and Miss Maggie Kinman, assistant, the former having a salary of $40 per month and the latter $20.  The house was completed in 1878.  The present directors are J. W. Thompson, president, J. P. Hardy and J. A. Anderson, the latter acting as treasurer.
     The Enterprise cemetery contains an acre of ground and joins the school lot.  It was laid out in 1869 by Mr. Swisegood, and the first interment was the remains of Mr. Ira Porter.

BUSINESS.

     Elwood Doane is justice of the peace, and Charles Van Wye, physician and surgeon.  The hoop-pole business is carried on by Samuel P. Bailey, who does a large business, and Judge Fleming has his store about completed to commence business.  There are no lawyers there and no saloons, and a case of litigation of any kind has not appeared within the past three years.  When it is added that this village is strong in its temperance views, it is not to be wondered that it is a place of quiet and that law-breakers are few, and their exploits, if any, unheralded.  On the east side of the township a Mr. Thomas Standifer owns and runs the only sawmill in the township.

ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, AND CRIMES.

     There are not many of the above roll to be called in this township.  Enterprise is too small a township, and her people walk so close to the paths of peace, that there are but few of each that is worthy of record.
     One of the curiosities of the township was a wagon made entirely of wood, by a Canadian, named Hiram White.  The wheels were very broad and the wagon would stand a pretty heavy strain, and large loads were hauled on it.  Mr. White had more time than money, and he put his mechanical genius to good use.  This wagon was made in 1867.
     Away back in 1843 or 1844 a man named Lynch peddled all through that section and North Salem township, with a horse and wagon.  He suddenly disappeared, and was last seen near the forks of Yellow Creek.  There was talk of foul play, and that bones were found afterward in Yellow Creek, which had caused those who believed that he had come to a violent end, that he had been murdered and his body thrown into the creek.  Some persons were suspected of being capable of committing the crime, but as nothing absolutely was known, no one seemed justified in proceeding against them, who, while being suspected, might prove themselves innocent.  The disappearance of Lynch was talked of long afterward, and at the time created considerable excitement.
     The shooting scrape between Jacob Ross and W. D. Southerland, Apr. 12, 1877, was another affair which made a ripple of excitement pass over the township.  Mr. Southerland was wounded and Mr. Ross was bound over, but our informant stopped right there.  It is well enough to mention in this connection that Mr. Southerland is still alive, but whether Ross broke his bond and escaped, or whether he was released or convicted we do not know.
     One of the saddest accidents, however, that ever happened in Enterprise township, was the sudden and sorrowful death of Miss Malissa Browning, Nov. 12, 1879.  Miss Browning was visiting at Mr. George Beswell's, and one afternoon started to go  to her brother-in-law's, living on the other side of Long Branch.  This stream was somewhat swollen and perhaps caused the log which was used as a crossing, to become unsteady.  However, nothing is positively known how the accident occurred, but it is supposed that in crossing, and the swaying of the log, she lost her balance and fell into the stream.  She was missed the next day as she was expected at her sister's, and search being made her body was found in the branch.  A careful examination and a coroner's inquest decided it was accidental drowning.  The young lady lived in Sullivan county and had many friends that mourned her sudden and untimely end.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ENTERPRISE TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM BROWNING
JAMES WASHINGTON GOOCH
MRS. RACHEL GOOCH
GEORGE LAING
JOHN C. LOUTHAN
HENRY BATEMAN PATTERSON
MATTHIAS PENHALL
JESSE JAMES SUMMER
JAMES CAMERON TAYLOR
 

< RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS >