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History of the Town of South English

Information from "A Brief History of Keokuk County" by Walter S. Athearn, Principal of Public Schools, Delta, Iowa 1897.

Land Purchases

First Purchase -- October 21, 1837 a treaty was signed with the Sac and Fox nations which gave to the whites a large tract of land west of the Mississippi river. Nearly all of Richland township and small portions of Clear Creek, Jackson and Lafayette townships were included in this purchase. This part of our country is still called the "Old Strip."

Second Purchase -- On the eleventh day of October, 1842, the representatives of the government met in conference with the chiefs of the Sax and Fox Indians, among whom were Keokuk and Wapello, at Agency City, Wapello county. After much discussion, they agreed on a treaty by the provisions of which the whites were given the right to settle on a tract of land comprising the greater portion of Iowa. All of Keokuk county except the portion included in the purchase of 1837, was included in this second purchase. For the land included in this purchase the Indians received $800,000 in state stocks, which drew 5 per cent interest. By the various treaties made with the Sax and Fox Indians, the government paid them $80,000 per year. By the provisions of this treaty the Indians were to be given three years in which to leave the territory. When Keokuk signed the treaty, he remarked that if it was changed by even so much as the scratch of the pen it would not be observed by the Indians.

Treaty of 1842 Ratified -- The treaty of 1842 was sent to the senate and that august body, being reminded of Keokuk's remark, ratified the treaty without changing it even by so much as "the scratch of the pen," and on March 23d, 1843, the president of the United States officially announced that the treaty had been ratified. This is said to be the only treaty made with the Indians which was never changed or broken by either party.

The New Agreement -- It was finally arranged to have the Indians give possession of all the lands lying east of the Red Rock river in Marion county on May 1, 1843. This then, is the date when Keokuk county was finally thrown open to settlement. In commenting on this treaty and the New Agreement the "History of Keokuk County" says: As a result of this peaceable arrangement and the earnest efforts of the government to carry out, to the letter, the provisions of the treaty, the early settlers of Keokuk county experienced none of the hardships which fell to the lot of the early settlers in the other parts of the country, where misunderstandings about the ownership of the soil gave rise to frightful massacres and bloody wars. The Indians gave no serious difficulty and seldom, if ever, disturbed the early settlers of the county after they had rightfully come into possession of it.

In the General election held August 5, 1844, the voters of this area were assigned to the German precinct of Keokuk County, which comprised all area north of Skunk River in townships 75, 76, 77, Range 11 and the east halves of township75, 76, 77, Range 12.

In April 1845, the township of English River was organized and comprised all of Liberty, English River and Adams. The three townships seem to have organized individually before 1850.

The first settlement was made near the present site of South English by James Mehaffee and Jacob Bowers, in the year 1844. The first family to arrive came in 1845, that of James Thomas, and located on the northwest quarter of section twenty-two. John Houston came that same year and located on section twenty-four, near the present site of South English, and this place was known as Houston's Point. James Chambers and H.H. Rodman settled soon after on section thirty. Thomas Morgan came in 1847.

March 27, 1846 -- First white child born in English River township, Martha Rodman, daughter of M.C. and Rebecca Rodman.

Billy Houston was the first baby boy born in English River township. The first death was a child of James Thomas.

First marriage, Lem Briner to Dinah Houston, June 1852. First double wedding, George Huxford and Maria Rodman, and Peter Parnell and Louisa Trimble.

First frame house built in 1852 by S.M. Slate. The lumber was hauled from Washington by wagon.

First burial in South English Cemetery: Dorcas (Doscie) Downs, sister of Mrs. Wm. Sloan, 1861.

The township officers elected in April, 1852, were Trustees - Joel Slate, H.H. Rodman and James Thomas; Clerk - Henry Fawel; Justice - W.S. Slate.

The first school we have any account of was taught by S.M. Glandon in 1851. There were no windows in the room used for the school.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized in 1851. The Baptist was organized in 1855. The Christian was organized in 1856.

A Union Sunday School was organized in the fall of 1857, by a Baptist preacher from Iowa City, with the following officers: superintendent, Joel Slate; secretary, M. Slate; librarian, S.M. Glandon. It had a library of two hundred volumes.

The town of South English was laid out in March, 1855. The first store was started shortly after it was laid out, kept by Ethan Post.

A South English Business Directory is shown on the plat of the town 1874.

We quote the following directory from the 1880 History of Keokuk County: J.F. White, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general merchandise; C.F. Crosby, dealer in groceries; W.T. Coffman & Co., drugs; W.T. Platt, drugs; W.M. Shepherd, hardware; Geisler & Garlick, lumber; J.F. Mead, blacksmith; J.Q. Lewis, saddlery; N.C. Miller & Son, livery. There is a first-class hotel kept by U. Younkin. The following are the leading physicians: W.W. Newsome, A. Hale and Dr. Cocklin. The Western Herald is a newspaper, J.F. White, proprietor and G.J. Brown editor and publisher.

The town of South English was incorporated in 1892. The first election was held on August 22, 1892. Officers elected were: Mayor W.W. White; Recorder, J.W. Newsome; Trustees, Newton Horn, J.M. Black, Wm. Sloan and J.E. Van Aukin. 

BASKETBALL

1927 - 1928
Coach - Gerald Faust

Boys - A winning team played in Round Robin County tournament at Sigourney. Three teams tied for first place. In the toss-up South English cam in third with Keswick 1st and Hedrick 2nd. Players: Howard Spivey, Clyde Coffman, Homer Kerr, Robert Fitzsimmons, Chester McLain, Vernon Coffman, John Cox, Jr., Lawrence Spivey, Roy Grove, Frank Bollinger, Lewis Powell, Max Sheaffer, Renals Roberts.