Still standing: Henry County Civil War properties

Editor?s note: This is article is a follow-up to the two-part series on the businesses, schools, churches, and homes which stood in Mt. Pleasant in 1865. It is a listing of historic Civil War era buildings which are still standing in the greater Henry County area. The listings are by town and township. Jefferson Township including Wayland and Coppock; Marion Township; Canaan Township including Mt. Union; Tippecanoe Township including Rome; and Wayne Township, including Olds and Swedesburg have no identifiable Civil War-era buildings currently recorded.

By Pat Ryan White

Henry County, at the onset of the Civil War, had a population of about 18,700, with nearly a quarter of the population residing in the county seat of Mt. Pleasant. The remaining population lived primarily in the southern half of the county. The railroad and telegraph had arrived, several mills operated on the Skunk River, and the Old Military Road crossed the county. What evidence of that time period remains today?

Following is a list of Civil War era properties around Henry County: the location, indication of listing on the National Register of Historic Places [NRHP] and additional comments.

Baltimore Township

and Lowell

Dennis Melcher House and Pottery ? 22982 Agency Road. 1850s. NRHP.

The large, stone pottery building is located southwest of Danville and east of Geode State Park, on the Henry ?Des Moines County line. In the 1990s, the building housed a restaurant, the Olde Melcher Inn. The Melcher House sits across the road. Dennis Melcher and younger brother, Edward, were both born in Baden, Germany, where their father had been a potter. By the early 1850s, both Dennis and Edward were in southeast Henry County and had built homes and opened potteries, located less than one-half mile from each other. The two Melcher potteries, each with their own unique mark, produced crocks, churns, kitchen jugs, canning jars, bean pots and flower pots.

Edward Melcher House ? 2782 Salem Road. 1850s

Located less than one-half mile to the west of the Dennis Melcher House and Pottery is the Edward Melcher House. The Edward Melcher pottery building, no longer standing, was located across the road to the north. By 1879, Edward Melcher retired and turned the pottery business over to his sons-in-law, who operated it under the name Beck Brothers.

William and Ellen Lyle House - 3162 Nebraska Ave. 1864

Located northwest of Lowell, on the south side of the Skunk River, this ?grand farmhouse was erected by Mr. Lyle in 1864, and is one of the best farm residences in the county, costing over $4,000 at the time of its completion.? By 1888, Lyle?s son-in-law, William J. Francy, owned the property. The house remains in the Francy family to this day.

Center Township, outside

of Mt. Pleasant

The following three properties, all located at the south edge of Mt. Pleasant, date to the Civil War period but additional historical information is unavailable at this time: 2431 Iowa Avenue was built in 1865, 2497 Iowa Avenue and 112 W. South Street.

Jackson Township

Hugh and Matilda Boyle House ? 3225 Lexington Ave. Circa 1850. Nominated to NRHP.

This impressive stone house was built by Hugh Boyle, who once owned and operated a mill at this place. Boyle died in 1854 and is buried in the nearby Boyleston Pioneer Cemetery. In the 1860-70s, a store and post office occupied the lower level of the house, which is located 4 miles west of Lowell and 6 miles east of Salem.

Joseph A. and Lydia A. Edwards House ? 1735 Salem Road. 1860-1866. Nominated to NRHP.

Located one half mile west of Highway 218, this large stone house stands as a landmark on this route across southern Henry County. Joseph Edwards, of New York, was one of the earliest settlers in Jackson Township, arriving by 1840. The house was originally built with a cupola in the center of the roof.

New London Township and New London

James Cramer-Dr. J.H. Philpott House - 207 E. Washington, New London. 1850s

This two-story brick house is located on the northwest corner of Oak and Washington. The inside walls of the house are said to be three bricks thick. The first sidewalk laid in town ran in front of this property to the train depot and was made of planks from the Plank Road.

McClellan?s General Store ? 107 E. Main, New London. Circa 1865. NRHP.

James McClellan and his wife, Adeline, arrived in Henry County in 1856. This two-story building was constructed to house his mercantile business. At one time, the second floor of the building served as the McClellan family residence.

Solomon Dover House ? 2667 Quincy Ave. 1843

Located just south of town, this brick residence is covered with siding and has been remodeled several times. Abraham Dover, Solomon?s brother, platted the original town site of New London in 1837 and named it Dover.

John and Lavina/Luvenia Bangs House - 2759 Old Highway 34. Circa 1865. NRHP.

This house is the second dwelling to occupy this site. The two story brick Italianate style seems to indicate that John Bangs was a prosperous farmer, and it may have been built as a wedding gift for his bride. The lock on the front door was patented in 1863; the walls are three bricks thick with a dead air space.

204 N. Maple ? 1860s?

This single-story house probably dates to the Civil War, though more research is needed.

Salem Township, Salem and Hillsboro

Henderson Lewelling House - 401 S. Main, Salem. 1840. NRHP.

The Lewelling family was known for their nurseries, and in 1847, the family moved to Oregon, taking part of their nursery stock with them. The Lewellings helped lay the foundations for the great fruit industry of the Pacific Northwest. The stone house in Salem became known as a ?station? on the Underground Railroad and a haven for fugitive slaves. The Lewelling House is currently home of the Lewelling Quaker Museum.

Collins-Bond House ? 402 S. Main, Salem. Circa 1840s-1850. NRHP.

Located across the street from the Lewelling Quaker Museum, Peter Collins purchased this property from William Lewelling in September 1842. In 1851 the property was transferred to Eli and Mary Bond. It is believed that runaway slaves found shelter in the Collins-Bond House.

Crew Family House and Farm - 1353 Agency Rd. 1850s

In 1849, Walter Crew [1784-1857] sold his Virginia homestead and with his family, consisting of 14 children, made his way to Salem. Walter Crew was a great lover of books, and passed this interest on to his children. The Salem Crew Public Library is named in honor of this family. The Crew Family House is located northwest of Salem.

Lamm-Pollmiller Farmstead District? 1584 335th St. Circa 1849. NRHP.

This property is located southeast of Salem, near Jackson Township on the east and near the Lee County border. The house was built by Henry and Elizabeth (Cook) Lamm about 1849 and was purchased by the Pollmiller family in 1905. The Military Road that ran through this portion of the county from Lowell to Hillsboro passed along the north edge of Henry Lamm?s land. This house was once a stagecoach stop.

Cook-Johnson House ? 3091 Franklin Ave. Circa 1850. NRHP.

This large, two story brick house, currently painted yellow, appears to have been built around 1850 by Jonathan Cook. However, Henry W. Johnson could have built it a few years later. Both men were early Quaker settlers in Salem. The house is situated at the north edge of Salem.

Paton/Payton and Hannah Wilson House ? 1360 280th St. Circa 1838. NRHP.

This house may be the oldest brick house in the township. Payton Wilson served as County Commissioner in 1838 and from 1840-42 represented Salem in the Territorial legislature. He also served in the state legislature for the 1850-52 term.

Scott Township and Winfield

Patterson-Smiley House - 313 S. Locust, Winfield. 1864-65

Adam Ritchey House ? 1084 Marsh Ave. 1840s

Adam Ritchey (1797-1848) is believed to be the first white settler in Washington County, in 1835. Before he built the Scott Township house that remains today, Ritchey lived in a little house near the pioneer cemetery where he is buried.

James McCulley House and Barn ? 2450 105th St. 1844-48

James McCulley (1787-1858) first settled this property. By 1870, his son, James Pomeroy McCulley [1833-1917] was the owner. The big barn was built about 1844; the house dates to 1848-49.

Trenton Township and Trenton

Jacob Morrison Building - 301 Birch Avenue, Trenton. 1850s?

This two story brick building, located in the heart of Trenton, was probably built by Jacob Morrison. It was used as a post office, general store and residence for the family. From the ?History of Henry County Iowa, 1879?: ?Mr. Morrison has been engaged in the mercantile business in his present location for 25 years; has been postmaster for 12 years.? (This building was recently demolished but is well-remembered by the Trenton community.)

Special thanks are extended to the members of the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission from around Henry County and Bill and Carol Klopfenstein of Winfield for assistance with this article.