Overview of the Auburn to Fayette area of Fayette Co, Iowa, 1875 Atlas

Hiram and Sarah Eastman Belknap
of Auburn village, Fayette Co, Iowa

Hiram Beklnap Family Overview

In 1863, Hiram Belknap age 55, (b. 1808, d. 1873) brought his family across the Mississippi River from Wisconsin to Auburn village (4+mi NW Knob Prairie or West Union) on the Little Turkey River in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. By 1863, the Auburn valley was a booming frontier village for the times, with a significant flour, grist, saw mill operation and various supporting craftsman, mechanics, builders, merchants, doctors, pottery, etc. Hiram's wife was Sarah Rosella Eastman (b. 1810, d. 1892). They would have nine children all born in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY.  Two of the children would die young.  Seven of the children would come with them to Wisconsin before moving on to the Auburn valley in Iowa.  One can speculate that  family or New England friendships and contacts brought the Hiram Belknap family to Auburn village There was another Eastman line already in Auburn, but I have found no apparent direct link to Sarah.  Hiram was a shoemaker and located in a cabin home at the foot of the hill side to the east and across the Little Turkey River from the Auburn village plat, in the area close to where shortly a brewery would go into production. Both Hiram and Sarah were considered cripples.  Hiram lost a leg early in life.  Sarah had suffered a paralytic stroke when sixteen and physically never fully recovered.  Hiram died in 1873, after falling on the ice, probably crossing the river, likely hitting his head, while returning home from an Auburn store.  Hiram was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery at Auburn, the only known Belknap burial at Oak Ridge.  After Hiram's death, for about 20yrs, his wife would live in the homes of their children (probably most of the time in  Edward's farm home just south of Auburn), until Sarah died in 1892, at the home of her daughter Edith, in Ramona, Madison Co, SD.  The adult children of Hiram and Sarah except for Edward would move on to other states to include Minnesota and to pioneer in Kansas and Dakota Territory (South Dakota).  Only son Edward would remain in Auburn for any length of time, to run a farm and trade in livestock and commodities, on the southern outskirts of Auburn village and just across the Little Turkey River near Falling Springs.

In 1890, Hiram's son Edward would move to an 80a farm just SW of Fayette village so that his five sons could attend Upper Iowa University.  Clark would become a banker and involved with real estate in SD.  Ray, a teacher, County Superintendent of Schools and lawyer and remain in Fayette Co, Iowa.  Arthur, a teacher and County Superintendent of Schools in Clayton County, Iowa, at Strawberry Point, ending up in the insurance business at Tripoli, Bremer Co, Iowa.  Allen would moved to Virginia and farm near Richmond.  Ruel became civil engineer and build roads throughout the upper Midwest and especially in Pennsylvania.  All five sons did graduatedwith degrees from Upper Iowa University and had very successful careers.

Personal thoughts:  The only member of Edward's family that I personally met/remember/knew was Arthur/Art.  However, my mother, uncle, grandparents and Genevieve Strayer did talk about the family as they farmed and grew up close by the Ed Belknap farm, plus attended high school and UIU with them.  I remember almost nothing from the conversations due to my age at the time and the number of years since. I do remember there was always a fondness for the memories of the families, and never any antagonism.  I did know the Edward farm well as walked the land to and from hunting/fishing, and went to school with the children of the farm owner at that time. Clark married my gAunt Geneveive Strayer, but died when I was very young, not traveling back to Fayette, Iowa, that I could remember.  Art, however, lived to 1972 and would visit his sister-in-law Genevieve at my grandmother Winnifred Strayer Hunt's farm in Fayette, where I grew up until about my high school years.  We visited Art often at his home in Tripoli, Bremer Co, Iowa.  Art was very educated, articulate, friendly and active, which I assume was a trait of his four other brothers.

Hiram, Sarah and their Children

- 4 BELKNAP, Hiram b: 03 Sep 1808 in Galway, Saratoga Co, NY d: 14 Dec 1873 in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Burial: Oak Ridge Cem, sec 26, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. Note 8: 1856 Moved NY to Wisc. Note 14: 1863 Moved Wisc. to Auburn, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA. Note 15: 1863 Set up shoemaker trade in Auburn. Note 16: Located on hill to east of Auburn village. Note 19: Had lost a leg in early life. Note 22: Dec 1873 Fell on ice returning from Auburn store, died.
---- +EASTMAN, Sarah Rosella b: 09 Jan 1810 in Rupert, VT d: 06 Oct 1892 in Dau Edith's home, Ramona, Madison Co, SD Burial: Ramona, Madison Co, SD m: 1836 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Father: EASTMAN, Justin Maxhaur Mother: MAXHAM, Azuba Note 1: Age 16, suffered paralytic stroke, never recovered fully. Note 2: Aft. 1873 Lived with children. Note 3: Age at death, 84y.

Children of Hiram and Sarah Eastman Belknap
-- 5 BELKNAP, Charles Hiram b: 25 Aug 1837 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: Aft. 1929 Note 1: Civil war vet. Note 2: 1910 Resided, Rapid City, SD. Note 6: Abt. 1930 Running livery in Rapid City, SD
-- 5 BELKNAP, Justin J. Died in infancy. b: 21 Jan 1841 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 06 May 1841  Died in infancy.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Sarah Janette b: 22 Feb 1839 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Petaluma, CA. 
-- 5 BELKNAP, George William b: 21 Nov 1843 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 24 Apr 1931 in Hot Springs, Fall Riiver Co, SD Burial: Graceland Cem, Madison, Lake Co, SD Note 2: Blue eyes, 5'9". Note 5: 06 Jul 1861 Enlisted, 17y, Co I, 15th ILL Reg; discharged May 14, 1862, typhoid. Note 6: 05 Jul 1862 Enlisted, Co H, 95th ILL Reg; discharged Aug 2, 1863, severe wounds. Note 7: 23 Sep 1864 Re-enlisted Co H, 95th IL; mustered out Aug 17, 1865, Camp Butler, IL. Note 8: Bet. 1861 - 1865 Action, western campaign, battles of Shiloh, Corinth; severly wounded in siege of Vicksburg. Note 10: 1870 Census; farm laborer, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 13: 1880 Census; farm laborer, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 14: Mar 1882 Moved to Lake Co, Dakota Territory. Note 16: 1910 Census; Madison, Lake Co, SD Note 20: 1930 Census; Madison, Lake Co, SD
----- +DYKINS, Mary Ann b: 13 Aug 1839 in Freeport, Stephenson Co, IL d: 13 Jan 1925 in Residence, Madison, Lake Co, SD Burial: Graceland Cem, Madison, Lake Co, SD m: 04 Jul 1866 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA Father: DYKINS, Elias Satterly Mother: BENNETT, Emily |
-- 5 BELKNAP, Alvin I. b: 02 Oct 1845 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY. d: 11 Jul 1853 in NY.  Died age 7yrs.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Stepehn Edgar b: 25 Mar 1848 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Waterville, MN.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Riley Rosell b: 12 Dec 1849 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: Civil war vet. Note 2: 1910 Resided, Dexter, KS.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Edward Eastman b: 18 May 1851 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 19 Aug 1939 in Fayette area, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. Note 3: 1856 Age 5, parents moved family NY to Wisc. Note 4: 1863 Age 12, parents moved family, WI to Douglas area, Auburn Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 7: 1871 Bought farm land near parents in Auburn, Fay.Co.IA. Note 8: Aft. 1875 Age 24, set up housekeeping, log house, south side of Turkey R. in Auburn. Note 10: Dec 1878 Moved into stone house build behind log house at Auburn. Note 11: 1878 History; farming, 75a, $700, sec 35, P.O. Douglas, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: Jun 1885 Barn struck by lighting and burned. Note 13: 1885 Census; farming, Auburn area, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 14: 1895 Census?; merchant, dealer, Auburn, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 15: Farmed, thresher, wood dealer, store keeper, stock dealer, etc. Note 17: Abt. Sep 1890 Moved to 80a farm just SW of Fayette so UIU to 5 boys. Note 18: Boys all attended Upper Iowa U, Fayette, IA; met & married UIU/Fayette girls. Note 19: Aft. 1890 Farmed 80a, N1/2 of NE1/4, sec 32, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 20: 1890 Farmed near bro's. W.E. & R.W. Hunt, S. of Grandview Cem. Note 22: 1910 Census; dealer, stock/feed, Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA Note 26: 1925 Census; Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA
----- +CLARK, Betsey Leadorska b: 04 Mar 1850 in Dodge Co, Wisc. d: 22 Jun 1929 in Fayette, Fayette Co, IA Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. m: 12 Dec 1875 in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Father: CLARK, Kendall Peabody Mother: WICKER, Betsey L. Note 10: Mar 1873 Visited Uncle Ruel Parker in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Note 12: Aft. 1873 Taught at Auburn, met and married Ed Belkap.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Edith Esuba b: 23 Jan 1854 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Oldham, SD.

Overview of the Belknap/Belknapp line leading to Hiram

Overview of the Eastman line leading to Sarah Eastman Belknap

Several Generations of Hiram's Belknap Line

Possible living individuals were excluded. Living and/or collateral surname info may be shared with researchers. Clark Hiram Belknap (son of Edward, grandson of Hiram) married Genevieve Strayer, the sister of my grandmother Winnifred Mary Strayer.  In 1890-1910+, Fayette, Iowa, the Strayer, Belknap, Hunt families farmed just S and SW of Fayette, and Grandview Cem, thus farmed, socialized, went to school and UIU together. 

Descendants of Samuel Belknap
1 BELKNAP, Samuel b: Abt. 1703 in Haverhill, Essex Co, Mass d: Bef. 08 Jun 1757 in Windsor, Hartford Co, Mass
- +DICKINSON, Mary b: 08 Nov 1703 in Rowley, Essex Co, Mass m: 09 Jul 1723 in East Winsor, Father: DICKINSON, James Mother: WOOD, Mary
2 BELKNAP, Samuel b: 13 Jun 1731 in Enfield, CT d: 18 Jun 1775 in Bunker Hill, Mass
-- +NEWTON, Mary b: 08 Nov 1737 in East Windsor, Harford Co, CT m: 19 Jun 1754 in Boston, Suffolk Co, Mass
3 [2] BELKNAP, Stephen b: 28 Jun 1769 in Belchertown, Hampden Co, Mass d: Dec 1814 in Burinigton Bay, Ontario, Canada Note 3: Scotch-Irish, immigrated with brother Pilgrim. Note 5: Settled in NY state. Note 7: Drummer in Continental Army.
--- +UNKNOWN, Mary Burial: Cato Cem, Meridian, Cayuga Co, NY
- 4 BELKNAP, Claracy b: 1791
- 4 BELKNAP, Pilgrim b: 1794 d: 1869
---- +COLVIN, Anne
- 4 BELKNAP, Minerva b: 1795 d: 08 Jun 1821 in Syracuse area, NY
---- +STANTON, Rufus m: 1815
- 4 BELKNAP, Mary Ann b: 1797
- 4 BELKNAP, Unknown b: 1799
- 4 BELKNAP, Lavina b: 1803
---- +DEGROFF, Uriah
- 4 BELKNAP, Stephen b: 1804
- 4 BELKNAP, Hiram b: 03 Sep 1808 in Galway, Saratoga Co, NY d: 14 Dec 1873 in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Burial: Oak Ridge Cem, sec 26, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa. Note 8: 1856 Moved NY to Wisc. Note 14: 1863 Moved Wisc. to Auburn, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA. Note 15: 1863 Set up shoemaker trade in Auburn. Note 16: Located on hill to east of Auburn village. Note 19: Had lost a leg in early life. Note 22: Dec 1873 Fell on ice returning from Auburn store, died.
---- +EASTMAN, Sarah Rosella b: 09 Jan 1810 in Rupert, VT d: 06 Oct 1892 in Dau Edith's home, Ramona, Madison Co, SD Burial: Ramona, Madison Co, SD m: 1836 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Father: EASTMAN, Justin Maxhaur Mother: MAXHAM, Azuba Note 1: Age 16, suffered paralytic stroke, never recovered fully. Note 2: Aft. 1873 Lived with children. Note 3: Age at death, 84y.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Charles Hiram b: 25 Aug 1837 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: Aft. 1929 Note 1: Civil war vet. Note 2: 1910 Resided, Rapid City, SD. Note 6: Abt. 1930 Running livery in Rapid City, SD
--- 6 BELKNAP, Charles Talbort
--- 6 BELKNAP, Ann Jennette
--- 6 BELKNAP, James Edward
--- 6 BELKNAP, John W.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Justin J. Died in infancy. b: 21 Jan 1841 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 06 May 1841
-- 5 BELKNAP, Sarah Janette b: 22 Feb 1839 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Petaluma, CA.
-- 5 BELKNAP, George William b: 21 Nov 1843 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 24 Apr 1931 in Hot Springs, Fall Riiver Co, SD Burial: Graceland Cem, Madison, Lake Co, SD Note 2: Blue eyes, 5'9". Note 5: 06 Jul 1861 Enlisted, 17y, Co I, 15th ILL Reg; discharged May 14, 1862, typhoid. Note 6: 05 Jul 1862 Enlisted, Co H, 95th ILL Reg; discharged Aug 2, 1863, severe wounds. Note 7: 23 Sep 1864 Re-enlisted Co H, 95th IL; mustered out Aug 17, 1865, Camp Butler, IL. Note 8: Bet. 1861 - 1865 Action, western campaign, battles of Shiloh, Corinth; severly wounded in siege of Vicksburg. Note 10: 1870 Census; farm laborer, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 13: 1880 Census; farm laborer, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 14: Mar 1882 Moved to Lake Co, Dakota Territory. Note 16: 1910 Census; Madison, Lake Co, SD Note 20: 1930 Census; Madison, Lake Co, SD
----- +DYKINS, Mary Ann b: 13 Aug 1839 in Freeport, Stephenson Co, IL d: 13 Jan 1925 in Residence, Madison, Lake Co, SD Burial: Graceland Cem, Madison, Lake Co, SD m: 04 Jul 1866 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA Father: DYKINS, Elias Satterly Mother: BENNETT, Emily
--- 6 BELKNAP, Jennie E. b: 24 Mar 1868 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA
--- 6 BELKNAP, Cora b: 02 Sep 1872 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 21 Jan 1956 in Sioux Falls, SD
--- 6 BELKNAP, May Rosella b: 07 Feb 1876 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 20 Jun 1954 in Madison, Lake Co, SD
--- 6 BELKNAP, Clyde Henry b: 24 Dec 1878 in Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 12 May 1968 in Spokane, Spokane Co, WA
-- 5 BELKNAP, Alvin I. b: 02 Oct 1845 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY. d: 11 Jul 1853
-- 5 BELKNAP, Stepehn Edgar b: 25 Mar 1848 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Waterville, MN.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Riley Rosell b: 12 Dec 1849 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: Civil war vet. Note 2: 1910 Resided, Dexter, KS.
-- 5 BELKNAP, Edward Eastman b: 18 May 1851 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 19 Aug 1939 in Fayette area, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. Note 3: 1856 Age 5, parents moved family NY to Wisc. Note 4: 1863 Age 12, parents moved family, WI to Douglas area, Auburn Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 7: 1871 Bought farm land near parents in Auburn, Fay.Co.IA. Note 8: Aft. 1875 Age 24, set up housekeeping, log house, south side of Turkey R. in Auburn. Note 10: Dec 1878 Moved into stone house build behind log house at Auburn. Note 11: 1878 History; farming, 75a, $700, sec 35, P.O. Douglas, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: Jun 1885 Barn struck by lighting and burned. Note 13: 1885 Census; farming, Auburn area, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 14: 1895 Census?; merchant, dealer, Auburn, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 15: Farmed, thresher, wood dealer, store keeper, stock dealer, etc. Note 17: Abt. Sep 1890 Moved to 80a farm just SW of Fayette so UIU to 5 boys. Note 18: Boys all attended Upper Iowa U, Fayette, IA; met & married UIU/Fayette girls. Note 19: Aft. 1890 Farmed 80a, N1/2 of NE1/4, sec 32, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 20: 1890 Farmed near bro's. W.E. & R.W. Hunt, S. of Grandview Cem. Note 22: 1910 Census; dealer, stock/feed, Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA Note 26: 1925 Census; Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA
----- +CLARK, Betsey Leadorska b: 04 Mar 1850 in Dodge Co, Wisc. d: 22 Jun 1929 in Fayette, Fayette Co, IA Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. m: 12 Dec 1875 in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Father: CLARK, Kendall Peabody Mother: WICKER, Betsey L. Note 10: Mar 1873 Visited Uncle Ruel Parker in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Note 12: Aft. 1873 Taught at Auburn, met and married Ed Belknap.
--- 6 BELKNAPP, Clark Hiram b: 17 Sep 1876 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA. d: 09 Oct 1945 in McIntosh, SD Burial: Grandview Cem, sec H, Fayette, Fayette Co, IA. Note 3: Born in log house, at Auburn. Note 4: He added the extra "p" to Belknapp Note 7: Attended Fayette High School and UIU (grad. 1898) Note 8: 1898 Marriage license lists as 'tiller of soil.' Note 9: Was a banker in McIntosh, SD; wife Gen, an abstractor of real estate titles. Note 10: Was Co. Supt. of School, Kossuth Co, IA. Note 12: 1910 Census; practicing law, McIntosh, SD Note 32: Cause of death; heart attack.
------ +STRAYER, Genevieve Elizabeth b: 01 Aug 1875 in Calmar, Winneshiek co, IA d: 04 Mar 1972 in Rest Home, Sumner, Bremer Co, Iowa Burial: Grandview Cem, sec H, Fayette, Fayette Co, IA. m: 27 Sep 1898 in Fayette, Fayette Co, IA Father: STRAYER, Valentine Eugene Mother: PARSONS, Mary Elizabeth Note 4: Called 'Gen.' Note 12: Attended Fayette High School and UIU (grad. 1898) Note 13: Bet. 1899 - 1910 Taught Calmar & co. sch. N. of Fayette. Note 17: Bet. 1910 - 1938 McIntosh, SD Note 18: In McIntosh, Gen was abstracter of real estate titles. Note 22: Aft. 1945 SD to Chatsworth, CA.
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Jamieson Ray b: Feb 1899 in Fayette area, Fayette Co, Iowa? d: Sep 1982 in Phoenix, AZ Note 3: Called Jamie. Note 6: 1919 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA. Note 8: Graduate work, law at U. of Wisconsin Note 9: Met wife at the U. of Wisc. Note 12: 1955 Madison, Wisconsin
------- +MCWATTY, Della Marie b: in Oregon, Wisconsin d: 1983 m: 25 Jun 1927 in Madison, Wisconsin
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Hugh Strayer b: 08 Mar 1901 in Fayette,IA or McIntosh, SD. d: 1987 in North Hollywood, California Note 1: No children Note 2: 1979 Lived in North Hollywood, California. Note 3: Worked for Lockeed.
------- +DODD, Alberta b: Abt. 1905 d: 1980 in North Hollywood, California m: 1935 Note 4: Given analogs; Robeta, Alberta.
--- 6 BELKNAP, Ray Hiram b: 08 Aug 1878 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA. d: 10 May 1918 in West Union, Fayette Co, iA. Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. Note 6: Born, sec 34, log home, just S. of Auburn, Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: Attended Fayette Grade & High School, & UIU (left jr. yr. to teach). Note 13: Began teaching in Auburn Twp. Note 14: 07 Apr 1902 Appointed Fay.Co.IA surveyor. Note 15: H.S. principal at Westgate, Chelsea and Hawkeye. Note 17: 01 Oct 1905 Living, Westgate, Fay.Co.IA, appointed Co. Supt. of Schools. Note 18: Oct 1905 Moved to West Union as Co. Supt of Schools. Note 19: 1910 Census; Co. Supt. of Schools, West Union village, Fay.Co.IA Note 23: Bet. 1912 - 1914 Law student, U. of IA. Note 24: Bet. 1914 - 1918 Practicing law, city attorney, West Union, IA. Note 25: Mar 1915 Mayor of West Union, IA. Note 30: Active Free Mason & community leader throughout life. Note 32: 1918 Cause of death; heart attack.
------ +MCGOON, Edith Laura b: 21 Mar 1879 in Sec 17 farm, Bethel.Twp, Fay.Co.IA d: 1952 in Fayette Co, IA Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. m: 26 May 1902 in West Union, Fayette Co, IA Father: MCGOON, Richard F. Mother: PIERCE, Ruth Note 3: 1897 Graduated from Hawkeye H.S., Fay.Co.IA. (1st grad. class) Note 4: Bet. 1898 - 1899 Attended UIU at Fayette, IA. Note 5: Bet. 1899 - 1902 With sick mother until her death, Dec 19, 1901. Note 8: 1902 From Hawkeye, Windsor.Twp, Fay.Co.IA, at time of marriage.
---- 7 [1] BELKNAP, Betty Beatrice b: 01 Mar 1903 in Hawkeye, Windsor Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 3: Called Betsy. Note 5: Attended UIU, Fayette, IA. Note 6: Met husband as UIU students. Note 7: Abt. 1921 Left UIU to gake position as stenographer, Fay.Co. Nat.Bank, West Union, IA Note 10: 1994 Living Murray, KY.
------- +TATE, William B. m: 10 Jun 1923 in Congregational manse, Manchester, Delaware.Co.IA Father: TATE, Ray Note 3: Served in WWI; returned to UIU at Fayette, IA Note 5: 1925 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA. Note 6: UIU athlete; entered teaching.
---- *2nd Husband of [1] BELKNAP, Betty Beatrice:
------- +BARCKHOFF, John m: 23 May 1952 in Greensburg, PA
---- 7 BELKNAP, Ruth Imogne b: 21 Jul 1904 in Fayette, Fayette Co, IA
------- +WILLIAMSON, Blake m: 30 Aug 1927 in Edwardsville, KS
--- 6 BELKNAPP, Arthur Aldrich b: 16 Mar 1883 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 06 Feb 1972 in Tripoli, Bremer Co, IA Burial: Bethel Cem, sec 3, Bethel.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 6: 1908 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA. Note 7: Bet. 1908 - 1910 Teacher in Fayette, IA, schools. Note 8: Oct 1910 Took job, Supt. of Schools, Strawberry Pt, Clayton Co, IA. Note 10: 1915 Living in Strawberry Point, Clayton Co, IA. Note 12: 1925 Census; living Eden Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 15: 1926 To Tripoli, Bremer.Co.IA, as Supt. of Schools. Note 22: Abt. 1950 Insurance business, Tripoli, IA.
------ +FINCH, Sadie Rubena b: 29 Jan 1883 in Alpha, Eden.Twp, Fay.Co.IA d: 15 Nov 1957 in Hospital, Sumner, Bremer.Co.IA Burial: Bethel Cem, sec 3, Bethel.Twp, Fay.Co.IA m: 31 Aug 1908 in Parents home, Alpha area, Eden Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Father: FINCH, Amos A. Mother: PATTERSON, Isabella A.
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Amos A. b: 13 Aug 1913 in Alpha, Eden Twp, Fay.Co.IA d: 14 Jan 1939 in Waverly, Bremer Co, IA Burial: Bethel Cem, sec 3, Bethel.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 8: 1930 Graduated Tripoli, IA, high school. Note 10: 1934 B.A. from State Teacher College, Cedar Falls, IA. Note 11: 1938 Law degree, U. of Iowa. Note 12: Also attended college at Wartburg and UIU. Note 13: Numerous educational honors. Note 16: Abt. 1938 Set up law practice in Waverly, IA. Note 19: 1939 Cause of death; drowned, Cedar River.
--- 6 BELKNAPP, Allen Edward b: 15 Sep 1884 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 21 Oct 1932 in Farm, Richmond area, VA Burial: Virginia. Note 10: 1910 Resided, Canada. Note 12: 1915 From LaHarpe, IL.
------ +BERQUIST, Hannah Kristina b: 18 Feb 1892 d: 29 Jul 1980 m: 1914 in Burlington, IA
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Myrtle b: Jul 1911 in Adopted
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Raymond Larson b: 17 Apr 1915 in LaHarpe, IL d: 1985 in Tuscon, AZ
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Bernice b: 15 Aug 1916 in LaHarpe, IL
------- +ALLEN, Unknown
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Grace b: 10 May 1918 in LaHarpe, IL
------- +BAILEY, Unknown
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Edith Fanny b: 1919 in Richmond area, VA d: 1921 in Richmond area, VA
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Irene b: 1921 in Richmond area, VA
------- +CONWAY, Unknown
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Edward Allen b: 1924 in Richmond area, VA d: 1944
--- 6 BELKNAPP, Ruel Kendall b: 23 Jun 1889 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA d: 01 Mar 1961 in Catalina Island, CA Burial: Grandview Cem, sec H, Fayette, Fayette Co, IA. Note 4: Namesake; mother's uncle, Ruel Parker & father. Note 7: 1912 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA; debated & played baseball. Note 8: 1915 Living in LaHarpe Co, IL Note 9: Degree in civil engineering. Note 11: Supervised road building; upper Penn & upper Midwest.
------ +CAUDLE, Inez Jane b: 07 Jan 1891 in Fayette Co, IA? d: 26 Jun 1971 in Long Beach, CA Burial: Grandview Cem, sec H, Fayette, Fayette Co, IA. m: 13 Jun 1913 in Caudle farm, Smithfield Twp, Fayette Co, IA
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Elizabth b: 28 Jun 1914 in Darlington, WI d: 10 Jun 1929 in Somerset, PA Burial: Somerset, PA
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Genevieve b: 21 Dec 1915 in South Sioux City, Neb Note 5: 1936 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA. Note 7: Raised children in Decorah, Winneshiek Co, IA.
------- +BAKER, Carleton m: 03 Jul 1938 in Huntington, PA Note 5: 1934 Graduated UIU, Fayette, IA.
---- 7 BELKNAPP, Jane Margaret b: 14 Jul 1914 in Atlants, IN
------- +BOWMAN, Ezra m: 04 Dec 1944
-- 5 BELKNAP, Edith Esuba b: 23 Jan 1854 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY Note 1: 1910 Resided, Oldham, SD.
*2nd Wife of [2] BELKNAP, Stephen:
--- +MIDDEAUGH, Eleanor Ellen b: Abt. 1798 in Penn
3 BELKNAP, Mary b: 08 Nov 1754
--- +KENTFIELD, Rufus
3 BELKNAP, Chloe b: 03 Jan 1757
--- +SHUMWAY, Levi m: 27 Jan 1780
3 BELKNAP, Jonas b: 19 May 1759 d: 16 Feb 1824 in Hart Co, KY
--- +PARKER, Esther m: 17 Jan 1783
3 BELKNAP, Susanna b: 03 Jun 1761 d: 13 Apr 1781
3 BELKNAP, Jospeh b: 13 Dec 1762 d: 13 Aug 1854
3 BELKNAP, Seth b: 19 Apr 1767
3 BELKNAP, Jonathan b: 10 Apr 1774 d: Oct 1838
--- +SHEDD, Sebra

-- 5 BELKNAP, Edward Eastman b: 18 May 1851 in Ellisburgh, St. Lawrence Co, NY d: 19 Aug 1939 in Fayette area, Fayette Co, Iowa Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. Note 3: 1856 Age 5, parents moved family NY to Wisc. Note 4: 1863 Age 12, parents moved family, WI to Douglas area, Auburn Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 7: 1871 Bought farm land near parents in Auburn, Fay.Co.IA. Note 8: Aft. 1875 Age 24, set up housekeeping, log house, south side of Turkey R. in Auburn. Note 10: Dec 1878 Moved into stone house build behind log house at Auburn. Note 11: 1878 History; farming, 75a, $700, sec 35, P.O. Douglas, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: Jun 1885 Barn struck by lighting and burned. Note 13: 1885 Census; farming, Auburn area, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 14: 1895 Census?; merchant, dealer, Auburn, Auburn.Twp, Fay.Co.IA Note 15: Farmed, thresher, wood dealer, store keeper, stock dealer, etc. Note 17: Abt. Sep 1890 Moved to 80a farm just SW of Fayette so UIU to 5 boys. Note 18: Boys all attended Upper Iowa U, Fayette, IA; met & married UIU/Fayette girls. Note 19: Aft. 1890 Farmed 80a, N1/2 of NE1/4, sec 32, Westfield.Twp, Fay.Co.IA. Note 20: 1890 Farmed near bro's. W.E. & R.W. Hunt, S. of Grandview Cem. Note 22: 1910 Census; dealer, stock/feed, Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA Note 26: 1925 Census; Fayette village, Fay.Co.IA
----- +CLARK, Betsey Leadorska b: 04 Mar 1850 in Dodge Co, Wisc. d: 22 Jun 1929 in Fayette, Fayette Co, IA Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. m: 12 Dec 1875 in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Father: CLARK, Kendall Peabody Mother: WICKER, Betsey L. Note 10: Mar 1873 Visited Uncle Ruel Parker in Auburn, Fayette Co, IA. Note 12: Aft. 1873 Taught at Auburn, met and married Ed Belknap.
 

Below:  Edward Belknap came to Auburn in 1863 with his parents when 12 yrs. old.  By age 20 in 1871 he was farming just south of Auburn.
In 1890, Edward Belknap moved to a farm just south of Fayette so that his five sons could attend Upper Iowa University.

1928 Photo of second generation pioneer offspring of Fayette Village and Co. at the Danny Parker home in Fayette.

View across Auburn village area looking southward.
The Edward Belknap farm was in the bottoms across the Little Turkey River.
The farmstead would have been behind the 'hump' of land on the right side, and today gone.

View down the valley south of Auburn toward Falling Spring.

Falling Spring in section 35 would be in the hill area on the left side of the picture.  The spring water
came falling about 20 feet over rock and into the pool below formed by weathering.

--- 6 BELKNAP, Ray Hiram b: 08 Aug 1878 in Auburn village, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, IA. d: 10 May 1918 in West Union, Fayette Co, iA. Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. Note 6: Born, sec 34, log home, just S. of Auburn, Fay.Co.IA. Note 12: Attended Fayette Grade & High School, & UIU (left jr. yr. to teach). Note 13: Began teaching in Auburn Twp. Note 14: 07 Apr 1902 Appointed Fay.Co.IA surveyor. Note 15: H.S. principal at Westgate, Chelsea and Hawkeye. Note 17: 01 Oct 1905 Living, Westgate, Fay.Co.IA, appointed Co. Supt. of Schools. Note 18: Oct 1905 Moved to West Union as Co. Supt of Schools. Note 19: 1910 Census; Co. Supt. of Schools, West Union village, Fay.Co.IA Note 23: Bet. 1912 - 1914 Law student, U. of IA. Note 24: Bet. 1914 - 1918 Practicing law, city attorney, West Union, IA. Note 25: Mar 1915 Mayor of West Union, IA. Note 30: Active Free Mason & community leader throughout life. Note 32: 1918 Cause of death; heart attack.
------ +MCGOON, Edith Laura b: 21 Mar 1879 in Sec 17 farm, Bethel.Twp, Fay.Co.IA d: 1952 in Fayette Co, IA Burial: West Union Cem, Add2, Bk2, Row2, Fayette Co, IA. m: 26 May 1902 in West Union, Fayette Co, IA Father: MCGOON, Richard F. Mother: PIERCE, Ruth Note 3: 1897 Graduated from Hawkeye H.S., Fay.Co.IA. (1st grad. class) Note 4: Bet. 1898 - 1899 Attended UIU at Fayette, IA. Note 5: Bet. 1899 - 1902 With sick mother until her death, Dec 19, 1901. Note 8: 1902 From Hawkeye, Windsor.Twp, Fay.Co.IA, at time of marriage.
 

Auburn Village
Douglass Post Office

Known as the West Auburn Mill, in 1909, one of the two flour or grist mills in the Auburn valley.

Chronological Information, Notes, Speculations

The portion of Fayette County in the Neutral Ground opened for the 'white tide' as the Indian population was once again permanently displaced in the 1847-49 time frame.   In 1849-1852, numerous water mills sprang up on the major streams and creeks in the non-glaciated hill country along the flowages of the Volga and Turkey Rivers of Fayette County.  All early mills attracted other craftsman, merchants, farmers, residents and as pioneer neighborhoods developed, a school, perhaps church, doctor, etc.  In 1851, Hiram Hoagland built a cabinet shop with a turning lathe and made chairs, tables, beds, etc., supplying furniture for incoming pioneer families.   Wood workers, wheel wrights, smiths, coopers were often called 'mechanics' and located near the early water mills as their services and crafts were intertwined with each other.  Water mills would often be utilized to supply power through leather belt systems which could drive wood and metal working tools.  By 1851-1852 John A. Griffith in connection with the Earll families started a general mercantile near the mills.  The families of  James, Morris B,  and Hiram Earll, Hull and Hiram Hoagland, John A. Griffith, Samuel Hull along with others listed on the 1852 Iowa Census were early entries into the Auburn valley.  Mills were good locations to sell products and services as nearly all the local settlers would bring grain and logs to the mill sites.  Mills were the major gathering and socializing locations for pioneer cultures.  Within a couple of years Auburn would have a general store, inn/hotel, drug store, machine shop, plow factory, brewery, pottery.    By 1853-1854 Z. McJunken built a hotel, the "Iowa House,"  A. L. Dunn & Brother started a drug store, Torode & Eastman began manufacture of the "Childs Separator."  The Earll's started a small plow factory near the mill.  McJunkin and Crawford started the first pottery in northern Iowa.  Isaac Bilger built a brewery. Other mechanics, craftsman, merchants and occupations were flowing into the Auburn valley and supplying the needs of the rapidly expanding farming population.  One needs to keep in mind that general farming is the major occupation of most families.  Often families with other occupations were still farming or involved in other endeavors to some degree.  Livelihoods for heads of households of are listed in the early census data, some of which is near the end of the page.

Where did the Auburn area Earll family come from?  Ireland > NY > Nova Scotia > NY > OH > IL > WI > IA>MO
Raulf Earll > Ralph Earll > Ralph Earll > William Earll > Nathaniel Earll > Daniel Earll > Nehemiah Earll > James Earll > Morris B., Hiriam W, Nehemiah, and others.

Nehemiah Earll, b. 1771/Nova Scotia, d. 1839/Crawford Co, OH; married Rebecca Danforth, b. 1777/Worcester, MA, d. 1842, OH or Tippecanoe Co, IN.  Nehemiah would live in Onondaga Co, NY (mid-northern portion) much of his life.  He would have ten children in Onondaga village from 1775 to 1812.  Sometime around 1815-1817, he would remove the family to Crawford County, Ohio (mid-northern portion), and have five more children from about 1815-1821. 

James Earll, son of Nehemiah, was born May 18, 1799 in Onondaga village, Onondaga Co, NY.  I have not been able to determine when/where he died.  He may be buried in an unmarked grave in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Auburn or at the location of one of his sons after the moved to SW Missouri, pre 1870.

1847
In 1847, Fayette County, was included in Hewitt Twp, of Clayton Co, Iowa, under the governess of Clayton Co.

1848
Morris B. Earll and Jacob Oory settled on a bank of the little creek on the NW 1/4 of sec 16, West Union Twp, and erected a cabin (Knob Prairie or West Union village) or cabins in Fall of 1848.  Today, this would be within the city limits of West Union in the E x NE area, near the road leading out of town to Clermont/Elgin.

1849
Auburn, the first Fayette Co. Township, was created Oct 1, 1849, by order of the Clayton County Commissioners, with the first election at Morris B. Earll's cabin at a newly platted village known as Auburn.

The first mill in Auburn was started in 1849 by the Earll's
In 1849, James Earll, father, and probably Hiram W., brother, of Morris Bl,  removed from Wisconsin to the Auburn village, Fayette Co, Iowa.  The Earll families started to built a first generation water driven saw and grist mill on the Little Turkey River, reportedly downriver of what would become the Auburn/North Auburn plats.  This would have been about two miles down river or northward of the location of the major flouring mill they would start building by 1850.  The flouring mill was upstream of what would become Auburn village, on the location of the a plat known as the Missillon Mill Lot and shown in the 1909 mill picture included on this page.  The first mill site apparently remained a sawmill operation and the area become eventually became known as the Musser Mill by the late 1800's, early 1900's, as the water power was abandoned for the first mill, David Musser, son of John, would operate a steam powered sawmill nearby on the Musser farm to the east of the river area.  Land transactions need to be examined to plat the exact  time frame/duration and locations of the Auburn area mills and business.

Musser Family Information, condenses from 1976 History:  Nichlaus Moser settled in Gary, Indiana from Switzerland, with his wife Sophia Suzanna who was French.  Their son Johanas (John) Moser (Musser) b. Oct 1, 1826, and migrated through Chicago to settle in Elgin and operated a sawmill.  Elgin had a sizeable Swiss immigrant population in the 1850-1870's.  In 1883 John moved to Bloomertown and operated a sawmill.  In 1886, John Musser bought land on the NE side of North Auburn. and set up another sawmill operation on his farm.  John Musser died Aug 22, 1893. John had six sons; John Jr., Charles, Samuel, Daniel, David William, Fried; and four dua. Julie, Lucinda, Ann, Mary.  David William, son of John, married Jan 19, 1884, Josephine Billmeyer the dau. of Ellis Billmeyer.  David purchased the family farm which was known as Musser's Mill,  in 1894, after the death of his father John, continuing the families steam engine sawmill, threshing and shredding business with his brother Fred.  David also practiced as a watchmaker, carpenter, furniture maker.  David Musser died in 1932, the sawmill closed and steam engines sold.  His wife Josephine Billmeyer Musser died in 1943 in Waucoma at the home her daughter Mrs. Blaine (Tille) Danks.  Arthur Musser operated the family farm until 1958 when it sold.  Musser burials in Oak Ridge Cem;  Archie, David, Florence, Fred, John, Josie, Rittie, Samuel, Susan.

James Earll, 50yrs old in 1849, is generally given credit for building the first mill at Auburn, the saw/grist mill downstream of the Auburn plat or in what would be the North Auburn plat.  This may be the case but with the assistance of sons Morris B. and Hiram W.  It is likely son Morris B., age 30 in 1850, was the driving force/organizer/backer behind the building of the major flouring mill, as later census and tax data would indicate he was in control of the resources.  On the 1855 Tax Roll, Morris B. Earll and Co. had the third largest tax in Fayette Co.

1850 Census, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
Earll, James, farmer, $400, b. May 18, 1799/Onondaga, Onondaga Co, NY; wife Dorcus (nee Lindsey?) b. 1800/NY.
Earll, Morris, miller, $2000, b. 1820/OH; wife Julia A., b. 1817/NY; Almira, b. 1840/IL; Mariah, b. 1841/IL, Alonzo, b. 1844/Wisc; Fonda, b. 1848/Wisc; brother Hiram Earll, blacksmith, b. 1826/OH; Ebenezer Piper, b. 1824/NY, millwright; Lysander Hopkins, b. 1815/NY, sawyer; John Eddy, b. 1828/NY; James Wilson, b. 1810/NY, laborer; Alfred Doolittle; b. 1827/PA, laborer; Elizabeth Hopkins, b. 1826/NY.

1850 The Auburn flouring mill is being built:
The census would indicate that by 1850, Morris B. Earll, age 30, had started  building the flouring mill and dam on the Massillon Mill Lot.  Father James was living in dwelling next to son Morris, thus it is likely the all of the Earll families were involved in working on the flour mill on the Missillon Mill Lot in West Auburn, and using the first generation mill downriver for lumber and timber production for mill building and other uses.  Enumerated with Morris as head of household and miller are his brother Hiram, listed a blacksmith, plus a millwright (mill builder), sawyer and laborers.  Thus the flouring mill was started by the second season after the Earll's came to the Auburn valley and built their first generation mill in 1849.

1850, May 28, Douglass (Auburn) Post Office was established, the second in Fayette Co, Iowa.

The First Fayette County, Iowa, Post Offices, those formed 1850-1854:
West Union, Jan 1850, the first P.O. in Fayette Co; Douglass Post Office (Auburn village/valley); established May 28, 1850, the second P.O. in Fay.Co.IA, closed Jan 31, 1911, service moved to West Union;    Clermont, Jun 1851; Louisville, Jun 1851;  Illyria (S. of Elgin), Jul 1851; El Dorado (Eldorado) Aug 1851; Gamble Grove (NW of Fayette),  Sep 1851; West Field (name changed to Lima), Nov 1851; Elgin, Jun 1852; North Fairfield (NW Fairfield Twp), Aug 1853, Mill Grove (S. of Wadena) , Aug 1853; Taylorville, Aug 1853;  Windsor, Dec 1853; Lima (formerly West Field), Jan 1854; Westfield (changed to Fayette), Dec 1854.

1850, July 24, the first land deed recorded in Fayette Co, was made by William Wells and J.W. Rogers, conveying town lots in West Union to Jacob LyBrand.  Gabriel Long and Hiram Earll were witnesses (Hiram was county sheriff in West Union at this time as well as working on the flour mill building in Auburn village.  This transaction was made before James B. Earll, Justice of the Peace.  Since Auburn was the first organized township and the transaction involved the Earll's, this location would have been in Auburn village rather than in West Union (which would eventually become the county seat, bz/2007).

1850
April 1850, Morris B. Earll was appointed supervisor for the road district of Auburn Twp.
Fayette Co's population was 835 IN 1850.

The first land was deed recorded July 24, 1850, in Fayette Co, was made by William Wells and J.W. Rogers, conveying town lots in West Union to Jacob LyBrand.  Gabriel Long and Hiram W. Earll were witnesses, with the transaction made before James B. Earll, Justice of the Peace.

1851, September, The Morris Earll and Company Flouring Mill becomes operational:
The Morris B. Earll and Company Flouring Mill became operational.   Until this time, the settlers in Fayette and southern Winneshiek Counties had to go to the Motor Mill, in Clayton Co, east of Elkader, for flour milling.  The Earll's would apparently have run the first saw/grist mill during at least the latter part of 1849 to near the end of 1851, or for three seasons.  A flouring mill was usually a large structure of three or more floors and not built from logs like the first cabins and farm buildings and small first generation mills.  The early second generation mills were usually built from timber/lumber sawed at the first generation mills, or later by steam powered sawmills.  The Motor Mill near Elkader was a large five flour operation built of limestone, as was the mill on Brush Creek just east of Garnavillo.

The Earll's would have been making timber/lumber at their first mill to build their second mill, the larger flouring mill.   Early sawmills also usually ground grain into course 'grist' but did not produce fine flour which required bolting, or screening.  Thus flour mills were producing various kinds of flour and timber was sawed by the less complex saw mills.  Steam engines were brought into Fayette County stating by the mid/late 1850's and often used for the sawmills as they were portable to locations away from water power.  Steam engines were often set up near water mills to supply power when there was not enough water available.  If all went well, water was free power, but dams and mill runs required significant maintenance.  Mills were often damaged by yearly flooding. 

The Earl Mill has been reported being the only flour mill operation between the Minnesota line and Elkader for a number of years.  There were other pioneer milling operations built in the same time frame but they were sawmills/grist mills.  The Auburn flour mill was a major operation, drawing many farmers, craftsmen, merchants and families.  In the very early years of Fayette and Winneshiek Counties, Auburn was on the main overland trail from Dubuque to St. Paul, becoming a very popular pioneer settlement.

Overview, 1851-1856+
Hiram Hoagland started a cabinet shop in 1851, with a wood turning lathe, reportedly the first in Fayette County.  Cabinet shops with turning lathes in this time frame often were turning out legs for chairs, bedsteads, tables, etc.  They basically were furniture manufactures.  John A. Griffith, in connection with the Earll families started a general store probably about 1851 and close the newly constructed flouring mill on the Massillon Mill Lot, and to supply commodities to settlers and farmers coming for milling.  Z. McJunken built the 'Iowa House,' a hotel and likely had it operational by 1854.  A.L. Dunn & Brother Drug store opened.  Torode & Eastman began manufacturing the "Childs Separtor."  Numerous other businesses, craftsman, mechanics came to the Auburn valley.  The Earll's started a small plow making fatory.   Hiram Earll was known as a blacksmith, brother Morris as a miller and builder and father James as a millwright and miller.  Issac Bilger built and ran a brewery on the east bank of the Little Turkey, near lot 17, on the south end of the North Auburn plat.  McJunkin and Crawford started the first pottery in northern Iowa, with the Hobson family soon starting a second before moving south of Fayette village by 1856/57.  Auburn was a very industrial place on the northern Iowa frontier in the 1850-1875 time frame, before the coming on the rails to NE Iowa in the mid 1870's.  The milling, pottery, lime quarry, blacksmithing, furniture, etc. pioneer industries, made Auburn a very active farming village. Further time line items follow below in relative sequence.

1852

1852, April 5, David Downs and Samuel Lewis were elected Auburn Twp. Justices of the Peace; Israel C. Gregory and S. Finch, Constables; David Cross, John Bowman and Hiram Hoagland, Trustees.

1852 Census Auburn Township, Fayette Co, Iowa:
(Only heads of households were enumerated, with no family members or occupations listed.)
William Stauffen?, David H. Dowad?, J. D. Helm, Cayman? Elliott, Winthrop Haugland, Charles Smoolt, Alex Winston,  James L. Sawyer, E. Pooles, I.C. Longony?, Chancy Lionch?, Samuel Hull, George Lents?, David Crop?, Charles Smith, Lyons? Blimes?, David Folp?, John Griffith, Abraham Haugland, , J. Maxon, Willima Take?, James Quiory?, James Jameson, Morris B. Earl, James Earl, Lyman Nash, C.R. Bent, James Austin, Jsoeph Shanky, Amansh? Curtis?, Archilsla? Pooles, Reubin Hickman?, Oorison? Hickman, Oorson, Newman?, Isaac Emders? Issac? King, Smith Buskink?, Simon Giffard?, Joseph Strong, David Murray, Robert Audip?, Lewis? Gifford?, Silais? Sitchill?, Willaim Olson,  ? Lykins?, Losing? Murry, Abraham Bosman?, Gilbert Blackman, Miles Lewis, Samuel Johnson, Soloman Finch, Samuel Lewis, Lyanders? Hopkins, William Steffens?, Robert? Eddy, ? Kirpatrick, Antony Kettle?, Edwin Waters, John Lawrence?, Samuel Miller, Joseph Myers?, Mathias Douglass, John Wescot?, Lewis Selazine?, Austin Whitcmb, Sylvester? David, Amayl? Sexton?, Hiram Hoagland, John Boales, Oliver Brown, Marttin Mullens?, John Bowman?, Henry Hull, Issac? Robinson, George? W. Campell?, John S. Pines?, James? Boswell, David Smith, Nathan H. Hackett?, Charles Boll?, John Hendonshott?, Caleb D. Carlton, Edwin Rhodes, Francis Wood, Charles Sawyer, Joseph McCavis?,  ? ?, George Henderson, Thomas Henderson, Erwin? Eastman? Oley Johnson, James Fillsman?, Carson? Flannagin? Andrew Martin?, ? ?, A. C. Sawyer, William Johnson, Edwin Butters/Buttler?, John Adnerson, C. ?. Darling, P. F. Roland, James? Nutting, Joseph Bartlett, M. Adams, Sylvester Underwood, John Bemis?, Samuel Cawmus?, James Camwus?, Matthias Camwus? Charles Hagles?, Thomas Armstrong, Joseph A. Lyons, Henry Peters, J. R.? Fisher, Abraham Peters, William Peters, B. Casmus?,  J.M. Albrgiht, J.W. Coolsy?, Charles Miller, Soloman Howard, Adolson? Howard, Joseph Fisher?, Medes? Chapman, J.B. Stephenson, Bosy? Desmond?, J.S. Lott, E. Elrod, James G. Kinger?, Lewis Bush?, Horatio? Namis?, Edwin Stedman, James Craft, Thomas Palmer, William Sampson?, Jonathan? Churchill,  ? Holbrook, Albert? Palmer, A. A. Misad? Samuel Holton?, M. Matticks?, Thomas Shipton? William Robinson, Omin? Bier?, George Morrsion, Thomas Conner, James McAats?, A. Finch, John Wilson, James Woodlow?.   268 males and 239 females, 112 voters, 111 militia, total population of 1852 Auburn Twp, 498 whites.

1852 Several miles upstream from the Earll mills, in 1852, on the very western edge of Auburn Twp, in section 30, at the point Crane Creek entered the Little Turkey River, Solomon Gould built a mill and had plans for a village  A stored was established that operated until the mill was sold at sheriff's sale in 1881 and probably went out of business.  Gould had sold out to his partners years earlier.  The Gould Mill had trouble getting enough business to operated, likely due to the mills in Auburn being larger and more competitive.  The final story of water mills is generally they weather away and disappear or the materials are scavenged for building material.

Bet.  the 1852 and 1854 area Census
Nehemiah B. Earl apparently joined father James and brothers Morris and Hiram at the mill in Massillon (Auburn village), as he did not appear in the 1850 Census of Fayette Co, Iowa.
 

1852/1853 
The first school at Auburn was taught by J.S. Pence during the winter of 1852/53.

1853
1853-1855, Hiram W. Earll, Fayette Co, Sheriff.
1853, June, District Court, first regular term, held in the Methodist Church in West Union, Hiram W. Earll, Sheriff.
1853  A saloon was started in Auburn in 1853.  The 1878 History states;  at the beginning of 1854, a meeting was held to deliberate the means to suppress evil of activities at the saloon.  An association was formed that met weekly the rest of the winter.  Samuel Hull presided with Wm. Winston and Rev. John Bowman elected VP's and Rev. Samuel D. Helms, Secretary, with 71 people signing  a 'pledge.'  An old settler described the early days of Auburn were characteristic of the snap and stir of 1856.  Being on one of the main trails from Dubuque to St. Paul, the village was 'as ambitious and important in the estimation of tis people, as Chicago itself.  The whole countryside would gather to swap horses, exchange slang, litigate, drink and sometimes fight.

1853, Mar 7, road districts were established.

1854
Auburn erected a brick school house which was reported in the 1878 History, as 'eclipsing anything done by other towns in the county for educational purposes.  The school building was utilized for years by the Methodists and United Brethren's for church services.

The brick Auburn school was exceptionally well built for the times and location.  The location was east of the river and north of Bilger's brewery.  This would be in the southern portion of the North Auburn plat, which is shown near the bottom of this page.

1854
1854 Census, Auburn village/town area (likely to include Massillon Mill area and North Auburn), Fayette County, Iowa:
(handwriting too difficult to read in many cases and time not wanted to be taken to study spellings).
David Oliver, Ebeneser Stickland, Aretus Whitmore, Amos Dexter, David Mury, Ira Retter, Henry Holingshead, Charles M. Leuce, Ozro Hill, W.B. Brown, J. Brown, David Strickland,  Lysander Hopkins, Lester Gifford, Lewis Delesene?, Sylvester David, E. Strickland, Gardner Waters, Jacob Hobaugh, Anthony Stolte, Matthias Douglas (Douglass Post Office), Mervent? Faver?, Henry Weaver?, Theadores? Dorikes?, John Myers, Isaac Hwig?, Robert Audis (Auld)?, Simon Gifford, Sylvester Gifford, Reuben Wickham, Joseph Strong, Simon Gifford,  J.B. Earll (James), M.B. Earll (Morris) N.B. Earll (Nemiah, Nehemiah)  H.W. Earll (Hiram) Earll Co. Mill,, J.A. (John A.) Griffith (merchant with the Earll's) , J. G. Webb (John Webb), Erwin Dukens?, L. Nash, J. H. Maxon, Z. Aber? Jenkins, James Boall/Boale, Reuben Eastman, James B.? Shank, L. R. Ware, William A. Mason?, I?. B. Gregory, J.S. Pener?, Hiram Tibbets,  George N. Neff, Samuel Hull, Frances Truman, Charles L. Smith, James Borroughs, Mathias Woodruff, Leonard Curtis, James L. Sawyer, James Williams, William Stokes, William Buck, George Brown, Cyrenos? Elliott.  Lyvander? Wood, Winthrop Lovlin/Covlin?, Nathaniel Ware, Henry Craft, Rufus C. Eastman, Abraham Barnam?, Abraham Halon, Stephen D. Helms, Ensign Pooler, John Lear?, John Arbuckle, William D. Barker, Oren Rice, Syrus Bliven, John Matheson, J. M. Bliven, Calven Gitchel?, Charles W. Torode.  William B. Winston, Samuel Chamberlain, Alexander Winston, David Smith, David Craft,  Charles Winston, Clark Turner, Andrew Martin, J. P. L. Rowland, John   Population of Auburn village, which would include the area from the Massillon Mill lot area, downriver to Auburn 'town' and on to what would be North Auburn.:  total 247;  130 males, 117 females, 60 voters, 54 militia.

1854 Census, village of West Auburn:
(Area to the N x NW of the east/west trail through the area or near westward of the lime kiln area).
Dorland, Levi Smith, Daniel Dorland, Jared Nutting, L. S. Nutting, Elin? Benham, Silas Benham, William Ketchem, George Henderson.  Population of West Auburn: total 34; 17 males, 17 females, 10 voters, 11 militia.

Population dynamics in 1854:
Population in Auburn village valley: total 281; 147 males, 134 females, 70 voters, 65 militia.
Population in the country:  total 350;  182 males, 168 females, 62 voters, 35 militia.
Population in Auburn Twp:  total 631;  329 males, 302 females, 132 voters, 100 militia, 46 aliens.

1854 Census, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
J.B. Earll (James), M.B. Earll (Morris) N.B. Earll (Nemiah, Nehemiah) , H.W. Earll (Hiram),  The four Earll families are living next to each other in the Massillon Mill lot (toward the west side of West Auburn, about a mile from where an East Auburn mill and bridge would be built a few years later).  All of the Earrll's were involved in running the Earll flouring mill.

1854, April 4, Lyman Nash and Hiram Hoag, elected Justices of the Peace; A.M. Quivey and Aretas Whitcomb, Constables; Jerome Boswell, Assessor; James Boale, Clerk; A. Winston and A. Whitcomb, elected two of the Trustees.  John R. Bailey elected Justice.  Hiram Tibbits and Amri Curtis, Constables; Morris B. Earl, J.H. Williams and George Brown, Trustees; William B. Winston, Assessor; John J. Arbuckle, Clerk.  Road District #5 was established in April.

1854
Auburn celebrated July 4th, in 1854, one of the first major gatherings of the area.
A school house was erected in Auburn.  The school was also used for years by the Methodists and United Brethren Churches.

1854 (The July 4th, 1854 Celebration mentions heads of numerous pioneer families)
    Among the prominent events in the early history of Fayette County, Iowa, was a grand celebration of the birthday of the nation at Auburn.  The citizens commenced to make arrangements on Saturday evening, May 20, 1854, when a public meeting was held "for the purpose of taking measures to celebrate the coming anniversary of American Independence."  Samuel Ull was Chairman and A.L. Dunn Secretary.  At this meeting, John A., Griffith, James Boale, and A.L. Dunn Secretary.  At this meeting, John A., Griffith, James Boale, A.L. Dunn, James Moore and Morris B. Earll were appointed a Committee of Arrangements.
    The Officers of the Day were Samuel Hull, President; Rev. S. D. Helms, Chaplain; John A. Griffiths, W.A. Chase and C.L. Smith, Marshals; A.L.. Dunn, Toast Master; George Brown, M. Woodruff and J.C. Gregory, Committee on Fire Works.
    A tall liberty pole was raised for the occasion, from the top of which gracefully and proudly floated the Stars and Stripes.  The oration proper was delivered by Jacob W. Rogers, Esq., of West Union, followed by William McClintock, Esq., and C.A. Newcomb, Esp., in short speeches. The dinner prepared for the occasion by Griffith and Pooler, was more elaborate than had been seen or eaten in Fayette County up to that time.
    The Hoaglands, Henry Hull and other enterprising citizens of Auburn had organized a military brass band, which is said to have been on of the best in the State at that time.  A military company, called  the "Fayette Guards," properly uniformed and under command of Capt. George W. Neff, with the band, added very materially to the interest to the occasion.
    Among the toasts on that memorable occasion were:  The day we Celebrate--May it never by desecrated by acts of tyranny and oppression.  America--The land of the free and the home of the brave.  Out National Honor--May it never remain unsullied.

1854, 29 Nov,  The Auburn Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized and was still operating into the early 1900's.  The first officers were Dr. W. A. Chase, J.A. Griffith, James Boale, H.W. Earll, M.B. Earll.  The Odd Fellows had their own two story building with the first floor used for Lodge and public meetings and the upper story furnished as a Lodge lounging room.  In 1878, the officers were John Biddinger, N.G.; W.H. Canfield, V.G.; Henry Alton, Rec.Sec.; L. Irving, Treas.

1855
Winter 1854-1855, Fay. Co, Agricultural and Mechanics Institute/Society was organized, James B. Earll, from Auburn, was one of the Vice-Presidents.

1855, April, Elected were John L. Carson, Justice; J.L.Sawyer, T.F. Curtis, I. Utter, Trustees; R.E. Burlingham, Clerk; J.S. Lame, Assssor.

1855, May, District Court, Hiram w. Earll, Sheriff.

1855, Sept, North Auburn was surveyed/platted, E1/2 of SE1/4, sec 26, T95N, R9W, J.B. Earll, M.B. Earll, H.W. Earll, N.B. Earll propietors.

1855
By 1856, Auburn, being on the main early land trail from Dubuque to St. Paul, for a few years would become a main gathering area of the local population to barter and sell commodities and stock plus socialize.

About 1855 second mill would be built in the Auburn area with both mills operating well into the late 1800's.  This second mill was build about 1855, 4-5 years after the Earll Mill became operational,  just downriver from the Earll's flouring mill in East Auburn (Auburn) close to the location of the river crossing in Auburn shown on the 1875 Atlas map below.  That mill however, is not shown on the Atlas.  What does appear is a second mill on the 1875 Atlas of Fayette Co near the Eall's mill in Massillon, and the mill does not show on the 1868, 1879 or 1896 plats. It was noted that the severe flood of 1866 injured (the mills) by a high freshet, the water reaching the highest point than ever before known by white settlers.'  An examination of the land transactions is needed to pinpoint the exact location due to distance and time in presently not in the scope of this project, bz/2008.  With the success of the mills, Auburn attracted and supported examples of most pioneer 'industries of the time.   Auburn became a principal trading location in the 1850-1875+ time frame, the pre-railroad era.  The Iowa House, saloons, brewery, merchants, craftsman, etc., did consistent business as the mills attracted settlers/farmers and the village developed. 

The 1878 History mentions that in 1855 a second mill was built in Auburn (East Auburn).
The 1875 Atlas map above does show a second mill near the Earll Co Mill at Massillon. 
However, on the 1868 plat below does not show this second Massillon  mill, but does show the East Auburn Mill.
The 1879, 1896 and newer plats do not have any mills marked, thus land transaction study would need to be made for locations.

Some surnames of early Auburn who were part of the mercantile and mechanical industries were James and Morris and Hiram Earll, mill, merchantile, blacksmith;  Hull and Hiram Hoagland, John A. Griffith, Samuel Hull, James Boale, Rev. S.D. Helms, Z. McJnkin, I.S. Lane, the Irvings,  Hiram Belknap and sons including Edward,  F.G. Carter, J.S. Pence, A.L. Dunn and Brother's Drug Store, Torode and Eastman, Augustus Turner (killed while undermining earth bank), the Billmeyer's, McCleery's, etc.

1855 Fayette Co, Iowa Tax Roll:  Morris B. Earll and Co. was assessed:  on 350a of land, valued at $1115;  on 5 1/2 town lots, valued at $700; and personal property valued at $6500.  Total tax for Earll and Co., was $76.62.  The State received $10.12, Fayette Co., $49.89, schools $8.31, roads $8.31.  The Morris B. Earll  Milling Co., was the third largest tax payer in Fayette Co.  Robert Alexander of Westfield village (in 2000, the area to the west of the the Hwy 150 Bridge to Klocks Island Park)  was assessed $24,065 on 5,370a and $5,430 of personal property.  Robert Alexander had also started a mill at Westfield village (just upstream from today's Klock's Island Park) about the same time as the Earll's in 1849.  Alexander had acquired significant funds before moving to the Wilcox cabin/settlement just south of Fayette village in the early 1840's and was basically a land speculator waiting for the Indians to be removed from the area and the Neutral Grounds opened to the 'white tide.'  He would remain the rest of his life as a resident of Fayette village, while the Earll families from the Auburn area would move on by the 1870's.  Robert Alexander's total tax of $257.33, was the highest in Fayette Co in 1855. Samuel H. Robertson of Westfield village had the second most assessment.  Fayette had not been platted in 1855, so the village area was still referenced as Westfield.  Samuel was living in the SW portion of the today's/2000's, Fayette village.  Samuel was assessed $11,540 on 1,1518a, including the town of Fayette which was being platted about that time.  Samuel was assessed $355 on personal property, and his total tax was $109.15.  The 'investment' in time and resources of the Earll family in the Mills at Auburn were basically responsible for the village development at this location.  Likewise the location of the related Robertson/Alexander families at Westfield/Fayette had the most significant impact on the early village and UIU development.

1855, Feb 9, Augustus Turner, blacksmith, was killed near Auburn while with undermining a bank with others, that gave way and fell on him, 'splitting his skull open, crushing him to the ground, a mangled corpse.'  1878 History.

1855 The Auburn area militia is mustered.
Displaced Indians in the Clear Lake area, Iowa, area killed Indian traders in 1855.  Much of the following is as written in the 1878 History, which the 'lavor of the writing and culture of the day.  A few days later, Capt. Neff (of the militia) received a letter at Auburn from Gov. Hempstead which commanded him to have his militia company notified and ready to march to Clear Lake for the 'purpose of exterminating or otherwise punishing the bloodthirsty savages. Capt. Neff summoned his comrades, who voted to a man to offer up their lives for their county  The next day, the Captain found he could not be spared, for he was employed in the mill.  Another could not die and leave his little children orphans, but his wife's father, a veteran of the Black Hawk war, nolby stepped into the ranks to save his son-in-law's life. Still another could not possilby leave home, just then, for his wife was in such a situation that if he perished on the frontier, his next child would be a posthumous one.  Several others were equally unready for glory and death, but the majority kept up their courage exceeding well.  A few days after, another order came from the State, notifying the militia company that the Governor would be at West Union to inspect the command prior to their setting out on their perilous march.  The boys came, but Gov. Hempstead did not.  Burning for glory, the volunteers, in the absence of their offices, charged upon and captured the "Black Warrior," (saloon in West Union) which the held until near nightfall, to the terror of its proprietor.  The stock (liquor) on hand was effectually cleaned out, but before leaving, the boys settled their score with gratifying liberality.  A few days afterward, another order relieved them from the necessity of leaving home to maintain their country's honor in the grassy prairies of Cerro Gordo county. 

1856 Census, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
This census represents the boom time in Auburn as it was being built up and offered opportunities for a livelihood.
Heads of dwellings and occupations are listed further down the page in order from the 22 pages of images posted on Ancestry.
Auburn was one of the very first successful milling sites west of Elkader.
There was an abundance of timber and need for local lumber and grist/flour milling.
Auburn became major pioneer commerce site in 1856 Fayette Co, Iowa.
With mill, home, outbuilding and farmstead construction, there were numerous 'mechanics' in the area.
Mechanics could be considered blacksmith, carpenters, furniture/cabinet makers, coopers, etc.
Sawyers were needed to supply the mills.  Farmers also harvested timber from their land. 
Merchants, druggist, physicians, teachers, teamsters, churches were supported by increased migration and activity.
Auburn had its 'hay-day from the mid 1850's into the late 1870's.
Being left off the rail routes which started functioning in the mid-1870's, Auburn would be stable for a short time and then decline.
One can note in the 1856 Census of Auburn Twp, that most of the population is clustered closer to the mills in the Auburn village valley. 
In 1856, Auburn village could be considered one of the most active locations in Fayette County.

Occupations listed in 1856 for heads of families in Auburn Twp:
Most are in the Auburn valley. In 1856, Auburn was thee booming pioneer village of the area.
The trades list shows it was a production/making economy utilizing early grain and timber production.
The most important aspect of 1850's Auburn involved production of lumber, grist/flour, lime/brick, and as a trade/social center.
Auburn would have been an 'exciting' location for prospective new farmers, craftsman, merchants.
Nearly all produce and products would have been moved in and out of the valley by oxen and horses, using wagons and sleds, going to Mississippi River ports such as McGregor and Dubuque, or to nearby developing villages and neighborhoods.
Millwright  3  (some of very first in Fayette Co)
Miller 5  (some would be considered millwrights)
Sawyer  8
Carpenter 24
Blacksmith 6
Cooper  4
Mason 4
Wheelwright 1  (wagonmaker)
Machinist 1
Manufacturer 1
Moulder 1
Teamster 1
Hostler 3 (stablemen)
Potter 2 (first of very few potters in the area)
Shoemaker 4
Sadler 1
Merchant 6
Tailor 1
Hotel 1
Clerk 1
Physician 5  (unusual number for a pioneer area)
Farmers were the remainder of the occupations,
However, many families worked at multiple trades as well as farming.

1856 Census, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
Earle, James B., b. 1799/NY, miller, in Fay.Co, 8yrs; wife Dorcus, b. 1800/NY.
Earle, Morris B., b. 1820/OH, miller, in Fay.Co. 8yrs; wife Julia A., b. 1817/NY; Elmira (Almira), b. 1840/IL; Maria, b. 1842/WI; Lorense (Lawrence?) , b. 1845/Wisc; Leander, b. 1848/Wisc; Francis, b. F/1852, IA.
Earle, Hiram B., b. 1826/OH, blacksmith; wife Mary, b. 1831/OH; Dorcus, b. 1853/IA; Warren, b. 1855/IA.
Earle, Nemiah.B., miller, b. 1830/OH;; wife M.A., b. 1826/VA; S.J., b. 1849/IL; Mary, b. 1851/IA; Adeline, b. 1855/IA.

1860 Census, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa
Earll, James B., millwright, $1000/200, b. 1800/NY; wife Dorcas, b. 1795/NY.
Earll, Nemiah B., laborer, $1000/200, b. 1826/NY; wife Mary A., b. 1832/VA; Sarah A., b. 1850/IL; Mary E., b. 1852/IL; Adaline, b. 1854/IL/ John L., b. 1856/IL; Joseph, b. 1858;IL
Earll, Morris B., b. 1820/OH, farm laborer, $1000/100; wife Julia A., b. 1818;NY; Maria, b. 1839/Wisc; Alonzo E., laborer, b. 1844/Wisc; Leander, b. 1848/Wisc; Francis, b. 1852/IA.
Earl, T.L., mechanic, $400/600; b. 1834;NY; wife Cathrine, b. 1840/Penn; Ida A., b. 1859/IA.

1856 (Extractions from the 1878 Hist. of Fay.Co., with additions)
The early days of Auburn, being on one of the main thoroughfares from Dubuque to St. Paul, the locals felt the town was ambitious and important, where the whole countryside would gather to swap horses, exchange slang, litigate, drink and sometimes fight. The first dwelling erected in the township was that of James B. Earll and sons Morris B. and Hiram, who in 1849 began the erection of a sawmill on the bank of the Little Turkey River at Auburn.  Actually in the area of the North Auburn plat just downstream and northward from the Auburn village plat. It is likely that son Morris B. was the head of the Earll mill projects.]Two years later, in 1851, Morris B. Earll, with his father James and brother Hiram built a flouring mill on the Massillon Mill Lot plat, which which was nearly a mile upstream from their sawmill location. Later the mill area would be referred to as in West Auburn or just upstream from the Auburn plat.  The Morris Earl and Co. Flouring Mill was operational by Sept 1851, and a great boon to the the inhabitants of the entire area as the only other flouring miles were in Clayton Co, the nearest being Elkader. 

1857
1857, May, District Court, Methodist Ch, in West Union.  Hiram W. Earll, admitted to the Bar, to practice in the courts of Iowa.

1860
1860 March  A Good Templar Lodge organized in Auburn, but declined and was re-organized in 1878 by Rev. D. Shaffer of West Union, but also declined in a few years.

Occupations listed in the 1860 Census for heads of families in Auburn Twp:
1856 numbers are in parenthesis for comparison.
Occupations listed in both 1856 and 1860
Millwright  1, (1856, 3)
Miller 6, (1856, 5)  (some would be considered millwrights)
Milling 1
Sawyer  2, however numerous farmers were also sawyers (1856, 8)
Carpenter  8, (1856, 24)
Blacksmith 2,  (1856, 6)
Cooper 2, (1856, 4)
Mason 3, (1856, 4)
Wheelwright  0, (1, 1856, wagon maker)
Wagon maker, 4
Machinist  (1856, 1)
Manufacturer  (1856, 1)
Moulder  (1856, 1, may be involved with woodworking or a moulder with the potters)
Teamster (1856, 1)
Hostler (1856, 3, stablemen)
Potter  (1856, 2, first of very few potters in the area)
Shoemaker (1856, 4)
Sadler  (1856, 1, saddle and harness maker)
Merchant 2, 1 retired (1856, 6)
Tailor  0, (1856, 1)
Hotel  0, (1856, 1)
Clerk 0, (1856, 1)
Physician 1, (1856, 5, unusually high number for a pioneer area)
Occupations added in the 1860 Census
Brewer 2
Chair Maker 2
Tinner 1
Basket Maker 1
Brick Maker 6
Lime Burner 1
Brewer 2
Teacher 4
Shingle Maker 1
Druggist 2
Shoemaker 2
Minister 1
Census data often overlooks numerous occupations of individuals as in 1860
the hotel was in operation, as were eating places/saloons, other merchants and craftsman.
Farmers were the remainder of the occupations,
However, many families worked at multiple trades as well as farming.

1862
1862 Sept, Morris B. Earll, made a flag presentation speech in Auburn to Civil War recruits.

1863
1863, Oct,  elected trustees were A. Biddinger, J.C. Williams, M. Duclos; Hull Hoagland, clerk; J.P. Blakeney, John L. Carson, justices.

1865
1865, elected justices were Barney Foreman and J.M. Bemis; Samuel Garner, Wm. B. McCleary, John Witte, trustees; Hull Hoagland, clear; J.S. Lame, assessor.

1866
1866 April  Both mills at Auburn were severely damaged by the worst flash flood to that date The bridges were washed out, roads and lowlands damaged all along the Little Turkey, Turkey and other rivers in the area.  In August of 1966, four people drowned crossing the Little Turkey at West Auburn in a skiff, Charles Hathaway, Mrs. Eliz Lame and her two children.  The major rivers and creeks in NE Iowa had much more water running in them in the early decades of settlement as the natural habitat and water shed was not yet severely destroyed by agriculture and settlement activity.  Note, bz/2008:  the Earll's leave Auburn by the 1870 Census, with the three son's of James, Hiram, Morris, Nehemiah moving to SW Missouri counties.  The flood of 1866 and damage to the mill and dam may have been the motivation to move to Missouri.  James, their father, has not been found in the census data.  He may have died by this time and be buried in an unmarked grave in either Oak Ridge Cem at Auburn or one of the cem's near his sons in SW MO.

1866, Feb 10,  in a special election of Fayette Co. school district one voted to establish the Independent District of Auburn.

1866, elected justice was W.H. Austin; M. Duclos, J.T. Edson and Jacob Cloyer, trustees; Hull Hoagland, clerk; J.S. Lame, Assessor.

1866, Aug 13, a party consisting of Charles Hathaway, Mrs. Elizabeth Lame, here 15y old dau, and a babe of 15m, undertook to cross the Turkey above the mill dam at West Auburn.  Hathaway lost control of the skiff and it floated over the dam, where all four were drowned. 1878 History.

1866  The Methodist Episcopal church was dedicated May 13, 1863, with exercises conducted by Rev. Dr. Kynett, assisted by Pastor, Rev. Mr. Smith. Construction had started in 1863. 

1866  Elected justice was W.H. Austin; M. Duclos, J.T. Edson, Jacob Cloyer, trustees; Hull Hoagland, clerk, J.S. Lame, assessor.

1870

1870 Federal Census:
The Earll families have moved from the Auburn Mill area, Auburn Twp, Fayette Co, Iowa to the SW corner of Missouri between 1863-1866.  Since many northern Iowa men enlisted very early in the Union Army, which was sent into Missouri at the start of the Civil War, to control and occupy the population centers, railways and waterways and chase local confederate troops, it is quite possible the sons of James Earll where gone from Auburn and the holdings in Auburn were lost/sold about that time.  One might speculate that being in the Union Army marching/riding around Missouri, the Earll's were familiar enough to move out of Iowa into Missouri at the close of the Civil War or between 1865-66. Or new land had opened, or they had family/friendship contacts in the area.  Or the 1866 flood damage and loss to the mill and dam in Auburn encouraged or forced them to move on to another location.

Missouri, Barton Co, Larmar Twp, Barton P.O. (from SW corner of MO, 4 Co's north.)
239 Earll, Morris B., 49y/OH, $400/400, carpenter; Julia, 51y/NY; Rodney, 22y/Wis, carpenter.
240 Earll, Alonzo, 25y/IL, $960/365, IL.

Missouri 1870, Webster Co,  Findley Twp, Hazlewood, P.O. (from SW corner of MO, 4 Co's east, 3 north.)
080 Earl, Nehamiah, 46y/OH, $250/215, farmer; Mary A., 46y/VA; Sarah A., 20y/IL; Casandra?, 16yF/IA; John L., 14y/IA; Joseph C., 12y/IA.

Missouri, Jasper Co, Marion Twp, Carthage, P.O. (from SW corner of MO, 3 Co's north.)
049 Earll, Hiram N., 43y/OH, $0/205, working on farm; Mary, 40y/OH; Dorcas, 17y/IA; Alpheus N., 15yM/IA; Electa G., 14y/IA; Willis 9y/IA; Jessie N., 8yF/IA; Cora?, 4y/MO. 

1877
The United Brethren Church was dedicated Sept. 30, 1877, conducted by Rev. E.B. Kepart of Western, Linn County; Rev. A. W. Drury of West Union and Rev. Thornton, of Castalia.  Indebtedness against the church of $250, was fully provided on the same day.   From about 1855-1877, services were held at the school house. 

United Brethren Church, Auburn, Fay.Co.IA

The U.B. Church in Auburn, still standing in 2000+, was built in 1859 near Eldorado, dismantled and moved over the ice on the Little Turkey River several miles upstream to Auburn, probably in the winter of 1876/77.  In 1918, the U.B. Church deeded the building to the Auburn Community Church.  The Auburn Church Community Organization formed in 1869 and restored the old church as a historical landmark of Auburn.  Some of the old trustees on the record included Ellen Bopp Billmeyer, J.J. Eastman, Frank Hull, David W. Musser, Elmer Pitts, J.M. Tope, John Herschinger, Clare Shepard, Alta Tupper, Archie Musser, Mrs. Ed Chapman. 

1878 Jan, River View Lodge, No. 342 of the I.O. of G.T. was organized by Rev. D. Sheffer (Shaffer) of West Union.  The officers were Dr. Branch, W.C.T.; Mrs. Henry Miller, P.W.V.T.; Henry Miller, B.W.C.T.; R. (Raul) Belknap, Marshal.

1894  The wooden bridge across the Little Turkey River was replaced at Auburn village.  In the early 1960's a concrete bridge was built about a half mile downstream or northward and when the county road (B44) was resurfaced in 1865, eliminating the gravel, Auburn's Main St. was by-passed by nearly all traffic.

1910
By the time of the writing of the 1910 History of Fayette Co, Iowa, by Fitch, little commerce and residency remained in the Auburn valley.  The people had moved on to other villages, back to the farms or left Fayette County.  The P.O. was retained as the Douglass (Douglas post office was closed closed Jan 31, 1911, with mail delivery being moved to West Union).  Two small stores remained open, the hotel had been abandoned in the late 1800's.  As rail transportation increased in the Midwest during the late 1800's and early 1900's, the mills ceased to function and villages such as Auburn diminished rapidly in importance.  Businesses and population left the villages much as what happened in the 1960+ time frame with coming of corporate power expansion.

1911
Jan 31, 1911, Douglass (Auburn) P.O. closed and the service moved to West Union

View westward through West Auburn. 

View SW from the Oak Ridge Cemetery hill, across the Little Turkey River valley.

Above: Westward across the Auburn bridge and through the old Auburn plat. 
West Auburn, Massillon Mill Lot, Massillon, Clark-Wade Addition plats are at and over the crest of the road. 
North Auburn plat is off the right side of the picture.

View across old Auburn village in the tail-water of thee Auburn Mills several hundred yards upstream.

Road/trail down into the southern portion of the old Auburn plat.

View south across old Auburn.

l

Surnames Buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Auburn, Fayette Co, Iowa
There are numerous unmarked graves in Oak Ridge.  The burial listing is from a walk-through by the Fay.Co.Hist.Soc.  Email iowaz@hotmail.com for cemetery lookups.
Atwell, Bailey/Doan, Hiram Belknap, Bemis, Biddinger, Bilger, Billmeyer, Bissell, Boales, Brimmer, Brooks, Burroughs/Miller/Wagner, Chapman, Clawson, Cook, Danks, Downs, Eastman, Fels/Schwantes, Gardner/Hoyt, Gifford, Goode, Gray, Haege, Hall/Burch, Hathway, Hawkins, Helgerson, Herriman, Hoagland, Hofferlin, Hoyt, Huck, Johnson, Johnston/Henderson, Ishman/Hoyt, Klinger, Knapp, Korder, Lame, Lee/Miller/Farley, Limbeck, McCleery, McElree, Mays, Maze/Humberland, Mercer, Miller/Ostrander, Morton, Musser, Nyberg, Ober, Parker, Pitts, Prouty, Schmitz, Smock/Kels, Snyder, Spurr, Stamp, Stebbins, Strickland, Suter, Terwilliger, Thompson, Tope, Townsend, Tripp/Bailey, Tupper, Van Brocklin, Vermilya/Haagland, West, Whitbeck, Williams, Wilson/Billmeyer, Woodruff/Burroughs, Woolsey.Zimmerman

Since Auburn valley and area was a major destination point for early 1850's pioneers coming to Fayette Co, many of the surname/families removed in a short time to other areas of the county, if they remained.  Thus burials may be in other cemeteries, especially West Union, which was only a few miles to the SE.

Pan from west side of Oakridge Cem, north to south.

Hiram Belknap burial

Earll Genealogy

Census

Heads of Dwellings and/or Occupations for the 1852, 1854, 1856, 1860, 1870

1852

1852 Census Auburn Township, Fayette Co, Iowa:
(Only heads of households were enumerated, with no family members or occupations listed.)
William Stauffen?, David H. Dowad?, J. D. Helm, Cayman? Elliott, Winthrop Haugland, Charles Smoolt, Alex Winston,  James L. Sawyer, E. Pooles, I.C. Longony?, Chancy Lionch?, Samuel Hull, George Lents?, David Crop?, Charles Smith, Lyons? Blimes?, David Folp?, John Griffith, Abraham Haugland, , J. Maxon, Willima Take?, James Quiory?, James Jameson, Morris B. Earl, James Earl, Lyman Nash, C.R. Bent, James Austin, Jsoeph Shanky, Amansh? Curtis?, Archilsla? Pooles, Reubin Hickman?, Oorison? Hickman, Oorson, Newman?, Isaac Emders? Issac? King, Smith Buskink?, Simon Giffard?, Joseph Strong, David Murray, Robert Audip?, Lewis? Gifford?, Silais? Sitchill?, Willaim Olson,  ? Lykins?, Losing? Murry, Abraham Bosman?, Gilbert Blackman, Miles Lewis, Samuel Johnson, Soloman Finch, Samuel Lewis, Lyanders? Hopkins, William Steffens?, Robert? Eddy, ? Kirpatrick, Antony Kettle?, Edwin Waters, John Lawrence?, Samuel Miller, Joseph Myers?, Mathias Douglass, John Wescot?, Lewis Selazine?, Austin Whitcmb, Sylvester? David, Amayl? Sexton?, Hiram Hoagland, John Boales, Oliver Brown, Marttin Mullens?, John Bowman?, Henry Hull, Issac? Robinson, George? W. Campell?, John S. Pines?, James? Boswell, David Smith, Nathan H. Hackett?, Charles Boll?, John Hendonshott?, Caleb D. Carlton, Edwin Rhodes, Francis Wood, Charles Sawyer, Joseph McCavis?,  ? ?, George Henderson, Thomas Henderson, Erwin? Eastman? Oley Johnson, James Fillsman?, Carson? Flannagin? Andrew Martin?, ? ?, A. C. Sawyer, William Johnson, Edwin Butters/Buttler?, John Adnerson, C. ?. Darling, P. F. Roland, James? Nutting, Joseph Bartlett, M. Adams, Sylvester Underwood, John Bemis?, Samuel Cawmus?, James Camwus?, Matthias Camwus? Charles Hagles?, Thomas Armstrong, Joseph A. Lyons, Henry Peters, J. R.? Fisher, Abraham Peters, William Peters, B. Casmus?,  J.M. Albrgiht, J.W. Coolsy?, Charles Miller, Soloman Howard, Adolson? Howard, Joseph Fisher?, Medes? Chapman, J.B. Stephenson, Bosy? Desmond?, J.S. Lott, E. Elrod, James G. Kinger?, Lewis Bush?, Horatio? Namis?, Edwin Stedman, James Craft, Thomas Palmer, William Sampson?, Jonathan? Churchill,  ? Holbrook, Albert? Palmer, A. A. Misad? Samuel Holton?, M. Matticks?, Thomas Shipton? William Robinson, Omin? Bier?, George Morrsion, Thomas Conner, James McAats?, A. Finch, John Wilson, James Woodlow?.   268 males and 239 females, 112 voters, 111 militia, total population of 1852 Auburn Twp, 498 whites.

1854

1854 Census, Auburn village/town area (likely to include Massillon Mill area and North Auburn), Fayette County, Iowa
(handwriting too difficult to read in many cases and time not wanted to be taken to study spellings).
David Oliver, Ebeneser Stickland, Aretus Whitmore, Amos Dexter, David Mury, Ira Retter, Henry Holingshead, Charles M. Leuce, Ozro Hill, W.B. Brown, J. Brown, David Strickland,  Lysander Hopkins, Lester Gifford, Lewis Delesene?, Sylvester David, E. Strickland, Gardner Waters, Jacob Hobaugh, Anthony Stolte, Matthias Douglas, Mervent? Faver?, Henry Weaver?, Theadores? Dorikes?, John Myers, Isaac Hwig?, Robert Audis (Auld)?, Simon Gifford, Sylvester Gifford, Reuben Wickham, Joseph Strong, Simon Gifford,  J.B. Earll (James), M.B. Earll (Morris) N.B. Earll (Nemiah, Nehemiah) , H.W. Earll (Hiram), J.A. Griffith, J. G. Webb (John Webb), Erwin Dukens?, L. Nash, J. H. Maxon, Z. Aber? Jenkins, James Boall/Boale, Reuben Eastman, James B.? Shank, L. R. Ware, William A. Mason?, I?. B. Gregory, J.S. Pener?, Hiram Tibbets,  George N. Neff, Samuel Hull, Frances Truman, Charles L. Smith, James Borroughs, Mathias Woodruff, Leonard Curtis, James L. Sawyer, James Williams, William Stokes, William Buck, George Brown, Cyrenos? Elliott.  Lyvander? Wood, Winthrop Lovlin/Covlin?, Nathaniel Ware, Henry Craft, Rufus C. Eastman, Abraham Barnam?, Abraham Halon, Stephen D. Helms, Ensign Pooler, John Lear?, John Arbuckle, William D. Barker, Oren Rice, Syrus Bliven, John Matheson, J. M. Bliven, Calven Gitchel?, Charles W. Torode.  William B. Winston, Samuel Chamberlain, Alexander Winston, David Smith, David Craft,  Charles Winston, Clark Turner, Andrew Martin, J. P. L. Rowland, John   Population of Auburn village, which would include the area from the Massillon Mill lot area, downriver to Auburn 'town' and on to what would be North Auburn.:  total 247;  130 males, 117 females, 60 voters, 54 militia.

1854 Census, village of