Lone Tree Community School - Elm Yearbook (Lone Tree, IA)

Page 8 text:

The Lone Tree Even before white men came to this vicinity a stately elm, standing alone on the vast prairie between the Iowa and Cedar Rivers, reared its sturdy branches against the sky as a guide to the Indians crossing Iowa and served as a landmark to direct the early settler as he traveled across the wide green plain. Later, the pioneers came to know this white elm by the name of the lone tree , because it was the only tree for many miles. An unsolved mystery surrounds the origin of the tree. According to estimates in various publications the tree is approximately 160 years old. (In 1924, after discov- ering that the tree was rotting, the Searchlight Club of Lone Tree raised funds to hire a tree expert from Ames. He cleared the rotted material from the tree and filled the hollow with cement. The $400 cost was paid from contributions of the townspeople to the Searchlight Club fund.) In spite of the prairie fires, windstorms, droughts, and many other hardships, the tree has survived. It is logical that this tree, with its deep roots and stable composure was able to withstand the droughts and windstorms. Prai- rie fires were unable to destroy the ‘‘lone tree , due to the fact that the cattle and horses of the Indians used it for shade and kept the grass around it trampled down to the extent that fires couldn’t take effect. This historic landmark provided the name for a town laid out by John W. Jayne in 1872. John W. Jayne, the founder of Lone Tree, born in 1820 in Broome County, New York, moved with his family in 1854 to Scott County, Iowa. After 2 years the Jaynes changed to a farm in Muscatine County. John devoted his summers to agriculture, and his winters to teaching school until the Civil War. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, 8th Iowa Infantry, and served in the Civil War until the battle of Shiloh, when he and his entire regiment were captured and imprisoned. After his return (1862) from service, he was elected clerk of courts of Muscatine County and served for 6 years. In 1870 he settled on a large farm in Johnson County where he continued farming until 1889, when he retired. Then he was appointed postmaster of Lone Tree and served 4 years. After his term as postmaster, he took up the business of fire insurance which he followed successfully until July 23, 1 908, when he was injured by a runaway team. He died from these injuries the same month. After the Civil War, John W. Jayne purchased 1,200 acres from a kinsman, William H. Jayne, who was a New Yorker. It was on this land that he platted the original town of Lone Tree. This part of town extended north from the school building to the rail- road tracks and west from Main (Devoe) Street. It was one of the few small towns of the time that was planned before it was platted. JOHN w. JAYNE 4

Page 7 text:

Introduction Most of you probably know that ••Lions is the nickname for the Lone Tree school and I am here in this book to represent the school and to present to you this 1955 annual. Did you notice the sketch of the lone elm tree on the title page of this yearbook? It was from this tree that my town took its name. I have been resting under this elm tree through the 1954 and 1955 seasons and have observed the activities of the school. I hope you will enjoy reliving them with me. The first thing I would like to introduce to you is the highlight of this year’s annual-- THE HISTORY OF LONE TREE. The Seniors' interests in their home town have in- spired them to write this history. They have compiled the history from history books, newspapers, atlases, and information obtained from interviews with many people from the community. The following people were of great help to them in checking the facts in the his- tory: H. C. Buell, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, V. Smid, and Charles Doerres, Sr.

Page 9 text:

Mr. Jayne had strong anti-liquor feelings. According to H. C. Buell, there was a stipulation in the original platting of Lone T ree that the buyer could never sell any intoxicating drinks on the property bought. It was further provided that, if on the new premises, the new owner or any of his heirs or assignees violated the contract, Mr. Jayne would bring action and recover the property. After Mr. Jayne’s death some prop- erty owners disregarded the original stipulation made by this pious Baptist pioneer. Taverns have been and are located on what was once Jayne property. Railroad The growth of the town and the railroad were parallel. In 1872 the B.C.R. N.R.R. replaced the old stage coach line between Muscatine and Montezuma. The B.C.R. N.R.R. was later purchased by the Rock Island line which has continued to operate it to the present time but at a much slower pace than in the early days. The first depot was situated on the north side of the railroad tracks where Harold Krai's coal bins now (1955) stand. Later a new depot was built on the present site south of the tracks. The old depot burned, probably after the new one was built, according to H. C. Buell. Cemetery What is now known as the Lone Tree cemetery was first used by the George Amlong family as a burying ground. In 1875 J. W. and H. D. Jayne bought 1 acre of this land. By May, 1876, they completed a cemetery stock company organization for the purpose of paying for the land and improvements. Receipts from lots sold were spent on the improvement and ornamentation of the cemetery. Churches. The first church in Fremont township (where Lone Tree is located) was organized in 1854 and was known under the general name of the Church of God. (It was also known as the Christian Church.) The members first held services in a schoolhouse but later erected a church building in Lone Tree across the street and east on the corner from the pres- ent (1955) Reformed Church. The original members were Daniel S. Ball and wife, the families of Joseph Hamilton, R. V. Smith, William Hill, Delates Groves, Joseph Holland, Mrs. David Drosbauch, C. M. and John Holland, and others. This church later discontinued its services aid the building was sold at an auction. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Fremont Township, with the assistance of Rev. A. W. Strycker and the original members, held services in King's schoolhouse which is ABOVE: Methodist Church. BOTTOM: St. Mery's Church, Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church, Church of God (No Longer Standing) 5