Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Dickerville Story

A former Dickerville School building purchased by Joseph N. Sanborn about 1870 and moved to this spot for a dwelling. It was moved on pole skids from about sixty-five rods north of Dickerville corner to about fifty rods east. Since it was built of native oak it was very heavy and required eight teams of horses to move it.  The building was 18 x 24 or larger. In those days they were concerned that the native trees were being used up too rapidly so the lumber measured 1½ inches thick rather than the standard 2 inches. The house was not boxed but had lath and plaster. The weather boarding was sawed thin like the white pine siding on the older houses of today and was oak. Men in the picture (taken about 1910) are: Bert Sanborn, Reece Davis and Lester Colver. The house was torn down about 1934. Joseph Sanborn died in 1919 and this was his home at that time. The trees surrounding the home are maple and weeping mulberry.
 
THE DICKERVILLE STORY

Very few people outside of the County Superintendent of Schools office knew where Cedar Grove No. 5 was but nearly everyone could direct you to Dickerville.
In the time era of the Civil War there was an early settler (farmer, blacksmith) whose shop doors opened upon the edge of the road. He would rather trade in the local commodities of that time than work at his custom blacksmithing. Anyone who stopped in his shop or perhaps was only passing by, would be stopped by the settler who would proceed to barter with him for anything. His expression was “try to get a dicker out of them.”
 
His shop and possibly his dwelling was approximately thirty rods east of the Cedar Grove No. 5 school corner and must have been sort of a central gathering place for the neighborhood. It is understandable how from his eccentricity that Cedar Grove No. 5 was always known as Dickerville School. Like many schools, the nickname was known and the official name appeared only on teacher contracts, tax levies, pupil certificate awards, etc.
 
It is quite likely that this farm, (blacksmith’s) name was John Maydole and the blacksmith shop apparently disappeared about that time. Mr. Maydole could well have been the first settler on that tract. We wonder about the name, Dickerville, how much longer will it survive since there are no more visible signs of a building or of Cedar Grove No. 5 on that corner.
 
NOTE: the above is from the Lucas County History Book of 1978.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

John P. Sellers, Lucas County's Oldest Settler

Lucas Counties Oldest Settler Here for Homecoming
J. P. Sellers of South of Chariton Was Born 84 Years Ago in Cedar Township.
Is Still Hale & Hearty

From the Russell Union Tribune of Oct. 10, 1935

Click on picture to enlarge
An interesting visit with Lucas County's oldest native citizen, J. P. Sellers of Benton Township was our privilege during Homecoming.  Mr. Sellers was born in Cedar Township on the farm now operated by his nephew, Mark Sellers, about ½ mile from the original Lucas County home of Wm. McDermitt, the first settler.

Mr. Sellers, a well-preserved old man, will be 84 on his next birthday and the oldest living resident born in Lucas County.  Fifty-five years ago he married and moved to the farm in Benton Township upon which he still resides.  Mr. Sellers was accompanied to our office by Mr. Bill Woodall, the originator of Lucas County’s Old Settlers Picnic that was held south of Derby. The picnic, which was held each year until the last few years and which he hopes to reestablish as soon as conditions will warrant.

Mr. Woodall lived south of Russell on the Isaac Wiltsey farm known later as the Bob Lewis farm. Thirty-eight years ago and moved to his present location south of Derby which he has made into one of the picture farms of Southern Iowa.  Both gentlemen were thoroughly enjoying the renewal of acquaintances at the Russell Homecoming here.

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John P. Sellers
Long Life Ended – Had Lived in Lucas County All His Life
Prominent Farmer Dies at Home South of Chariton – Saturday, Rites Are Held Monday
Born in Log Cabin – He Helped Build Otterbein Church in Benton Township.

From the Chariton Leader – Feb. 23, 1937
John P. Sellers, 84, prominent Lucas County farmer, died Saturday at his home in Benton Township, south of Chariton.  For years he had been recognized as the oldest native resident of Lucas County.  Born in a log cabin in Cedar Township, October 16, 1852, he grew to manhood on his father’s homestead. 

Following his marriage in 1880 he established the home in Benton Township where he lived until his death.
Funeral services for Mr. Sellers were held Monday afternoon at two o’clock at the Otterbein Church, conducted by Rev. Talbott. Burial was in the Chariton cemetery.  At his request the scripture lesson for the rites was read from the ninety-first Psalm, and the text was taken from the third and fourth verses of the twenty-fourth Psalm.

Before his death John P. Sellers requested that the text for his funeral sermon be taken from the third and fourth verses of the twenty-fourth Psalm. 


The verses are:
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Surviving Mr. Sellers are his wife; three sons, Clifford and Harris Sellers, both of Benton Township and Thomas Sellers of Des Moines; three brothers, including Nathan Sellers of Norfolk, Va., a twin, William Sellers of Des Moines and Thomas Sellers of Lucas County; 17 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mr. Sellers became a member of the United Brethren Church in 1885. He helped build the Otterbein Church, not far from his home, and was absent from service only when poor health prohibited attendance.  Mr. and Mrs. Sellers celebrated their golden wedding anniversary seven years ago and the observance still holds a prominent part in the history of the community.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Citizens Bank Safe

Linda Wycoff of Chariton looks at a large old safe at the Lucas County Historical Society Expo.  This safe was once used at the Citizens Bank in Russell.  From the mid 1920's to 1983, it was used at the Lucas County Treasurer's Office from the mid 1920's to 1983.