Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
AVERY TOWNSHIP
TOWN OF BRADGATE
FEATURES
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Historical features
Avery Township Township
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Town of Bradgate 1896
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From History of Kossuth
and Humboldt Counties, Iowa.
Published by Union Publishing Co., Springfield, Ill., 1884, pp. 722-724
BRADGATE
This village, which is located upon the Toledo branch of the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad, was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company in
the winter of 1881-82, and the plat filed for record on the 7th of
March, 1882.
The first store was opened prior to the platting of the
village by C. N. King, in the fall of 1876. This he operated until the
spring of 1883 when he closed it out.
The present general merchandise business is represented
by Lyman Booth.
The building now owned by E. D. Dolby was built by J.
S. Langloss, in 1881, who rented it to Lyman Booth.
J. H. Queal & Co. opened a lumber yard and operated it
for about a year, when they abandoned the enterprise and shipped the
stock to Paulina. This business is represented at present by Hollis &
Co., who commenced here in August, 1883. They are also large dealers in
all kinds of stock, coal and produce, and are among the enterprising men
of the place.
The first blacksmith shop was put up by P. H. Mead, in
October, 1883. He came here from New Hartford, Butler county.
In the summer of 1863 there was a great scare
throughout all this part of the county. It seems that a party of
Indians, in all their savage panoply of war paint, came into Avery and
encamped in the grove. There were forty-nine red men in all, and their
mission was not peaceful. One of them went to the house of Mr. Harvey,
and as that gentleman's wife was alone, she became somewhat frightened
and fled to her husband for protection.
The settlers now became warned
of the presence of this body of savage foes, and determined to scout
around to see what were the plans of the Indians. Gathering up their
wives and little ones, they placed them for protection in the court
house at Rolfe, and at the residence of O. F. Avery, and then
started off "on the scout." Among this band, were, of course, many who,
as they marched along, loudly explained what they would do if they came
in contact with the savages. As time wore on and the cavalcade
approached the timber near Lizzard Lake, these vaporings grew less and
less, and each man seemed determined to walk behind every body else. On
coming close to the grove, and seeing the signs of Indians all about,
these brave men immediately beat a masterly retreat. But four men, and
they the ones who had said the least, entered the timber. Here they
found a deserted camp and not an Indian near. Mr. Metcalf, seeing a
white crane near by, raised his gun and shot it. Scarce had the
explosion sounded upon the air, when the brave boys who had acted as the
reserve, upon the outside of the grove, were seen to fall back
with more regard to haste, than order. This war party proceeded from
here into Nebraska, or Dakota, where they were cut off by a band of
savages, with whom they had some feud.
Job Metcalf, son of Thomas and Ilannah (Belcher)
Metcalf, was born Nov. 13, 1822, in Lincolnshire, England. When he was
about six years old, his parents emigrated to Canada, where they
remained about fifteen years. He went from there to Daysville, Conn.,
and lived several years. He enlisted July 24, 1862, in Company H, of the
18th Connecticut, Volunteer Infantry, and while in the service,
participated in several important battles. In June, 1863 he was taken
prisoner and detained in Libby prison a short time, then removed to Bell
Island where he remained six or eight weeks. In the spring of 1866 he
came to Humboldt county and bought 174 acres of land on section 17, of
Avery township, which he lost, it being railroad land. He has since
purchased eighty acres on section 20, of the same township. He was
married Sept. 4, 1871 to Harriet Thompson, daughter of John and Harriet
Thompson. They have five children--Jessie, Millie, Bertie, Guy and
Clyde. Mr. Metcalf is a member of the republican party.
George P. Brown was born in Stockbridge, Mass., Jan.
23, 1830. In 1836 his parents moved to Rochester, N. Y., and remained
about eight years. He then went to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where he lived
on a farm until the spring of 1870. At that date he came to Humboldt
county and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Avery township, section 26,
where he still resides. He is engaged in farming and stock raising: also
breeding all leading strains of pure bred poultry. He was married Feb.
12, 1856, to Mary A. Heathcote, daughter of Giles and Mary Heathcote,
and a native of England. They have had eight children, seven of whom are
living--Emma L., Carrie M., Walter, H., Giles H., Nelson G., George N.
and Grace M. Their eldest son, Charles C., dies Dec. 9, 1881, and is
buried in the Rutland cemetery. Emma L. was married Nov. 23, 1881, to
Rev. James A McGlone, rector of St. Marks' Episcopal Church, in
Milwaukee, Wis. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr.
Brown belongs to the democratic party.
H. E. Stephens, a prominent farmer of Avery township,
is the son of Perry and Harriet (Sloan) Stephens, born Oct. 13, 1842, in
Kane Co., Ill. At the age of seventeen he attended school at Pompey
Hill, Onondaga Co., N. Y., one year, then returned to Illinois and
worked upon his father's farm until the war broke out. He then enlisted
in company D, of the 15th Illinois regiment, win which he served three
years, after which he re-enlisted in company F, 2nd regiment of the
United States Veteran Volunteers, and served till the close of the war.
He returned to Kane Co., Ill., and in company with his brother engaged
in buying and selling stock. In June, 1867 he sold his farm but
continued to buy grain and stock until October of that year, when he
went to Mineral Point, Wis., and remained until February, 1868. He then
went to Elgin, Ill., where he was in partnership with a Mr. Beckwith,
continuing his former business until March, 1869. In that year he went
to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled upon some land which he has purchased
two years previously. In 1874 he sold his farm and went to St. Joseph
Co., Mich., and lived on his father's farm until August, 1875 when he
returned to Kossuth county and engaged in buying stock. In March, 1876,
he came to Humboldt county and bought a farm on section 14, Avery
township. It contains 300 acres of rich land. Mr. Stephens was married
Dec.4, 1873, to Lizzie A. Bates, of Oakfield, Genesee Co., N. Y. They
have six children--Emma, Grace, Luther Hl, Perry, Mary Ann and Baby.
Mrs. Stephens is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Stephens has
been director or secretary of the school board since 1877. He also held
the office of township clerk from 1881 to 1883. At present he is county
supervisor of Avery township. He belongs to the republican party, and is
one of the most popular and enterprising citizens of the county.