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

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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

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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

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TOP: Methodist Church (1955). BOTTOM: Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church (1955). located miles south and l£ miles west of town. In 1868 they built a church 2 miles south of Lone Tree and later the same building was moved to town and rebuilt at some increased cost. The original members were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson, Sidney Potter, A. W. Leonard, George Sanders, Clement Wood, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Huskins. In 1864 the Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church of Fremont township was organized with the following members: A. P. Ellen, and Mary King, Mr. and Mrs, McNeal, Lottie McNeal, Adam Kichner and wife, Charles Fernstrom, James Lutz and wife, and James Allison. These original members first held their meetings in King's schoolhouse. Their place of meeting was changed several times until in 1887 the first church was built in Lone Tree on the present site an Jayne Street (1 block east of Main (Devoe) Street.) The Baptist Church of Lone Tree originated in 1873. In 1874 they constructed their first build- ing in the town on the lot north of Earl Rife's Barber Shop (1955). Rev. Charles Brooks and wife, W. E. Alyworth and wife, Charles H. Ayl- worth and wife, O. N. Aylworth, Martha J. Ayl- worth, John W. Jayne and Annie B. Jayne were the original members. By 1 900 the Baptist Church was discontinued and later torn down. The St. Mary's Church of Lone Tree was or- ganized in 1874, under Father Emmonds of Iowa City. A new building was completed on May 24, 1913, and still stands on Jayne Street, 2 blocks west of Main (Devoe) Street. A list of the original members could not be obtained. However, it is known that on November 13, 1919, Rev. F. A. Kottenstette moved from Hills to Lone Tree to become the first resident pastor. It is known that a Lutheran Church was once located in Lone Tree north of the present site of the Grace Evangel- ical and Reformed Church. The date of origin is not known, but three of the men who helped organize the church were John K. Doerres, F. H. Lenz, and Peter Freyermuth. Public Schools In the summer of 1877 the building on the right was erect- ed in Lone Tree at a total cost of about $1800. It was then considered a fine structure and was the pride of the resi- dents of Lone Tree. Not only was it used for school pur- poses, but also as a voting pLace and for township meetings. 6 First School (1877).