USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 10
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
This completes the list of buildings, eleven in all, not very large in size, but all within the fire limits and cannot be replaced except with brick. It swept the whole block on our main street except two on the corner owned by W. S. Waldron, and M. L. Borgen's brick manufacturing shop. The side of Mr. Waldron's next to the fire and only about twenty feet from it, was veneered with a four inch brick wall. By the aid of that and keeping the roofs wet these were saved, although the roof of one was several times on fire. The occupants, Mrs. Burgess, with millinery and dress mak- ing, Mr. Dayton, with jewelry, clocks, &c., &c., and Mr. Erickson, with tailoring, moved nearly everything out of the buildings, caus- ing considerable damage, but no great loss other than that.
Messrs. Otis Briggs, Goldsberry, S. J. Mills and D. F. Whipple are the heaviest actual losers. The loss to others was the result of moving stock, and in breakage.
This is Mr. Nelson's, Carhart Bros. and McCall & Thompson's second burning out in little over a year.
Carhart Bros have rented the old post-office building of Mr. Beatty and moved their stock into it.
Mr. Whipple moved his stock into the building just south of the Presbyterian church.
D. D. Briggs takes Otis Briggs old drug store building, next to Mr. Ringheim's.
The express office, which Mr. Mills kept in his building with Mr. Nelson's drug store, experienced some loss, but as he happened to have the books home with him for the purpose of making monthly settlement, it was not great.
The origin of the fire is not definitely known, but the best judg- ment seem to indicate that it was the result of a defective chimney in Mr. Mill's express building. If not that, it must have been set on fire, but as yet no one knows of any cause for incendiarism.
The whole west side of the street of the business part of town, excepting Alderman's and Waldron's buildings, have now been burned in a little over a year.
Where will it strike next?
Railroad engineer McCormick on a freight train going west stop- ped his train on the track and whistled until he aroused all of the north side of town.
Mr. R. G. Nelson, we understand, will probably not open out again in town but return to Eddyville.
The fire company was out, but for want of water were unable to stop the fire's progress till the block had been consumed.
The express office will be at the depot till Superintendent W. J. Hancock arrives and re-locates it.
Among the incidents may be mentioned that of Henry Arm- strong getting a small piece cut off of the end of his thumb.
In recapitulating, the various losses may be put as follows, besides the damage in moving :
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Total loss.
Insured
Goldsberry
$2,500.00
$ 700.00
Mills ..
3,500.00
1,000.00
McCall & Thompson.
500.00
Whipple. .
4,500.00
2,500.00
Borgen.
1,500.00
D. D. Briggs.
1,000.00
1,000.00
Highland ..
100.00
Otis Briggs
2,700.00
$17,300.00
$5,200.00
(January 25, 1882.)
MAIL AWARDS.
No. 27,432, asks for bids to carry the mail between Nevada and Maxwell, thirteen miles, three times a week and back, leaving Max- well, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Nevada on Mondays, Wednesdays amd Fridays. Bond required with bid, $400. Pro- posals will be received at the contract office until January 3, 1883, and decision to be rendered March third, award by May nineteenth and service to commence in July.
The above mail ceased to be carried January 1, 1887, any further than from Maxwell to Iowa Center and back three times a week; but about July 1, 1887, it will be carried through, as at first, from Maxwell to Nevada three times a week and back .- (November 17, 1882.)
THE AGES OF THE PRESIDENTS.
The occurrence of President Arthur's birthday, last Friday, sug- gests a glance at the ages of the other twenty Presidents. Death has made four Presidents, John Tyler, in 1841, when he was fifty- one; Millard Fillmore, in 1850, when he was fifty; Andrew Johnson, in 1865, when he was fifty-seven and Chester A. Arthur in 1881, when he was fifty-one. Of the four Presidents who have died in office, Garfield was the youngest when inaugurated, being but fifty; Harrison died a month after his inauguration in 1841, at sixty-eight; General Taylor sixteen months after his inauguration in 1849, at sixty-six; and Lincoln four years and a little more than a month after his first inauguration in 1861, at fifty-six. It is interesting to notice that while Lincoln and Garfield died tragic deaths, Presi- dent Harrison's death was the result of a cold he caught while going to market, and General Taylor's the result of eating cherries and drinking cold milk, after setting in the hot sun an hour dur- ing the Fourth of July exercises at the Washington monument.
Washington was fifty-eight when first inaugurated in this city, ninety-three years ago; John Adams, the first college-bred Presi- dent, was sixty-one when inaugurated; Thomas Jefferson, who was
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
educated at the College of William and Mary and in range of knowledge is thought to compare favorably with Burke, was fifty- eight; James Madison, a graduate of Princeton, was. fifty-eight; James Monroe, who left the College of William and Mary to join the Revolutionary army, was fifty-nine; John Quincy Adams, who, like John Adams, was a Harvard graduate, was fifty-eight; Andrew Jackson was sixty-two; Martin Van Buren was fifty-five; James K. Polk, who graduated at the University of North Carolina, was fifty; Franklin Pierce, who graduated at Bowdoin College, was forty-nine; James Buchanan, a graduate of Dickinson College, was sixty-six; General Grant, the only man West Point has trained for the White House, was forty-seven and Rutherford B. Hayes, was fifty-five. Thirteen of the Presidents, including Garfield, a gradu- ate of Williams College, and Arthur, who graduated at Union Col- lege in 1848, have been college-bred men, but they reached the goal of their ambition no earlier in life than the Presidents whose edu- cational advantages were more limited. President Harrison gradu- ated at Hampden Sidney College, and President Tyler at the Col- lege of William and Mary.
General Grant was the youngest of the Presidents at the time of inauguration, although he is now about six months older than ex-President Hayes, and eight and a half older than President Arthur. If he lives as long as the elder Adams, he has almost thirty years before him. Five Presidents have lived more than eighty years, John Adams dying at ninety; Jefferson at eighty- three; Madison at eighty-five; John Q. Adams at eighty-one and Martin Van Buren at eighty. Polk is the only President who died a natural death at less than sixty years of age, reaching but fifty- four. Lincoln was cut off at fifty-six and Garfield at fifty-one. The former would be but seventy-three were he now living. It is evident that the office of Chief Executive is not unfavorable to longevity .- New York Mail and Express. (1882.)
Sheriff Banks took Willie Richardson, of this city, to the Eldora Reform School, Monday. He reports the new building a fine one and the whole institution, now under the care of Superintendent Mills, in first-class order .- (November 29, 1882.)
The following named persons have been elected to attend, as dele- gates, to the Woman's Suffrage Society, to be held in Des Moines this week, Thursday: J. B. Fenn, N. G. Hambleton, M. J. Bixby, H. J. Robinson, Mrs. H. F. Murphy and Mrs. K. Child .- (Novem- ber 22, 1882.)
T. F. Talbot, the gentleman chosen to distribute the fund col- lected for cyclone sufferers, visited Mount Pleasant last week. Here is what the Free Press has to say on the subject:
"The amount disbursed in October was $6,514.84, making the whole amount distributed in Henry County $7,284.84, being within a trifle of one quarter of the whole State fund contributed, which was a little less than $30,000. Of this amount Poweshiek County,
-
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
in which is located Brooklyn and Malcom, has received $12,415.37, Iowa County, $735, Clay County, $1,040, O'Brien, $875, Sioux, $150, Story, $4,005, Boone, $1,215, Marshall, $100, Humboldt, $200, and Mitchell, $1,320. (Damages for an October storm,) Green County $300 and Henry $7,884.84 .- 1882.
George W. Hemstock, who some time since received $500 from the cyclone fund in the hands of Governor Sherman, has just received $700 additional from the same source. Mr. Hemstock was one of the greatest sufferers by last summer's tornadoes, and the aid is worthily bestowed .- (November 29, 1882.)
Colonel Scott has accepted an invitation to give an address before the State Short Horn Breeder's Association, of Michigan, at. Lan- sing, December 21, 1882.
Colonel Scott left Monday for Atlantic to be early on the ground for the meeting of the Stock Breeder's Association, which met in that city Tuesday evening, and of which the Colonel .is president .- (December 13, 1882.)
A self-helpful little five year old, in trying to light a lamp in his- bedroom, in the City Hotel, at Story City, Thanksgiving morning, set fire to the papers and other combustibles in the room. The timely arrival of assistance saved the child's life and prevented a conflagation .- (December 13, 1882.)
The extreme cold weather of last Wednesday and Thursday suc- ceeded in bursting about five hundred feet of the steam heating apparatus at the school building. In consequence of this state of things the schools have been adjourned until the second day of Jan- uary, 1883, when it is thought the apparatus will be in running order again .- (December, 1882.)
Nevada is not the only place in which the steam heating appa- ratus of the school building was frozen up during the cold snap. Webster City and Ames, we understand, are in about the same fix. -(December 13, 1882.)
Torkel Henryson, of Story City, expects to build a fish pond in connection with his fine artisian well. Colonel Scott has furnished the plans and takes a lively interest in the enterprise .- (December, 1882.)
The Edenville band, assisted by Miss Florence Dana, of this City, rendered the operetta, Olivet, for the entertainment of the Eden- villians, Friday and Saturday evenings; and thereby replenished its treasury to the amount of fifty dollars .- (December 20, 1882.)
E. D. Fenn has taken preliminary steps to bring suit to recover damages for injuries received at Des Moines last spring. There is some prospect that the city will settle without further proceedings. -(December 20, 1882.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
The Davenport liquor case involving the validity of the prohibi- tory amendment was argued before the Supreme Court at Des Moines last week, beginning on Tuesday and ending on Friday. The arguments against the amendment were made by J. C. Bills and Judge Wright; and for it, by Attorney General McPherson and J. A. Harvey. The Court having adjourned, its decision will not be rendered until after its re-assembling. January 16th .- (December 20, 1882.)
IN MEMORY OF LEONA C. THATCHER.
No longer pillowed on my bosom, Rests Leona's darling head; The angels softly came and took her, And she's numbered with the dead. My heart cries out for thee, Leona; Let me fold thee to my breast. As my tears for joy are falling On my darling's quiet rest.
While softly pillowed on my bosom Rests Leona's little head,
I start and wake; 'tis but a vision, For Leona now is dead.
Yet brightest sunbeams seem to linger All around that hallowed spot,
Where grim death with icy finger Closed the eyes that see them not.
The grass will soon grow green above her, Where she lies in silent sleep, And the birds their song will warble, While the flowers their vigils keep. The clouds will oft drop tears of sadness, When by zephyrs they are borne O'er the grave where sleeps Leona, Whose bright sun went down at morn.
While we grieve for dear Leona Standing on time's fearful shore, Life's sad waves to us keep singing, "She is gone forevermore." Shall we meet her on that morning, When we wake from our last sleep? Is that day for us now dawning When we shall no longer weep?
MRS. R. M. BECKNER. Palmer, Kansas, November 25, 1882.
1
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Lockwood & Son shipped three cars of cattle, and a car of hogs on Monday .- (December, 1882.)
Nevada, Iowa, 1883 .- A letter, to be found in this issue, from our old and respected citizen, W. G. Allen, contains suggestions which are entitled to candid consideration. There is no doubt a general desire among the voters of the county to know the posi- tion of the respective legislative candidates on the prohibition question; and to give or withhold their support according as such position shall be satisfactory or otherwise. In view of this fact, it might be well for the several candidates for legislative honors, in either House, to gratify this desire by stating, in this or some other county paper, their proposed solution of the prohibition problem.
George H. Wright, a prominent practical farmer, and one of the trustees of the State Agricultural College, has devoted considerable time and money to the raising of black walnut timber, and he is decidedly in favor of it. He has sold 1,000,000 young trees to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, to be set out along that road. He says the trees will begin to pay in six or eight years, and will do well on the high or average prairie. Plant five or six feet apart, and in five years it will be necessary to cut out some, and in eight years they will be large enough for fence posts; in ten years would be eighteen to twenty inches in diameter. The first cutting would pay all the cost of cultivation .- (December, 1882.)
THE FIRST CONGRESS.
Some antiquarian has dug up these figures as the pay received by the first Congress : "The Continental Congress met on the 16th of May, 1775 ; the number of members was sixty-four. At this time a member appeared from St. John's Parish, Georgia, and afterward the colony of Georgia sent an entire delegation. Each colony paid its own delegation. New Hampshire allowed to each all expenses, a servant, two horses, and a guinea a day ; Massachu- setts, expenses and $3 a day ; Rhode Island and Maryland, forty shillings a day and expenses ; Virginia, a half Johannes per day ; North Carolina, £50 per annum ; South Carolina, £300 per annum ; Georgia, £100 per month while in session."-(August 16, 1882.)
QUARTERLY CONVENTION.
The first quarterly convention of the Story County S. S. Asso- ciation will be held at Zearing, Sunday, August 20, 1882.
All persons interested in Sunday school work are cordially in- vited to attend and participate in the exercises of the meeting. S. S. PAXTON, Pres't Co. Association.
August 16, 1882.
The family dog ran under the barn at Moscow, Iowa. A boy threw a lighted cracker after him to scare him out. The dog's gone-so is the barn .- (August 25, 1882.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
ELEVENTH DISTRICT SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION.
The Eleventh Sunday School District of Iowa, comprising the counties of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Green, Hamilton, Story and Webster, will hold its first convention in the M. E. church at Ogden, commencing Tuesday evening, October 24, 1882, and closing Thursday evening the 29th.
A program second to none in point of interest, is being arranged, comprising names of some of our best district workers, and two or more from other districts. To those who have never attended one of these conventions, especially a Sunday-school teacher, we wish to say that the methods presented and knowledge gained at these meetings will be of incalculable help to you in your future work. We wish each of our 110 townships represented, and recommend there be two delegates chosen by each township con- vention held before October 15. Programs will be in the hands of all township secretaries whose townships are organized, by Sep- tember 30th.
The good people of Ogden will welcome and entertain all who attend to the mutual profit of all interested.
All delegates will return at the usual reduced rates on railroads. C. A. CRAWFORD, Pres't, Boone.
MRS. S. A. ERICKSON, Sec'y, Grand Junction.
August 16, 1882.
FUEL AND TIMBER-SHELTER AND SHADE.
The past winter has been such as to set every thinking man at work to devise ways and means for the better care of his stock, as well as comfort for the family, especially those having chores to do. We can get some idea of the advantages of a grove when passing over the country. How soon we notice the difference when we pass from an open prairie to a shelter of timber. Then as a measure of self-defense and protection in the near future, every farmer should plant a belt of timber about his dwellings, barns, and sheds, in proportion to the size of his farm and amount of stock kept. He should also plant for fuel and posts. Who can calculate the amount of suffering in many parts of our country on account of the scarcity and high price of coal? Who can calculate the loss and suffering of stock for want of shelter-say nothing about the extra feed necessary to sustain life? Who can tell when another winter like this will be ours to endure? Then plant groves-build sheds-build barns, save your straw, cut up corn- in 1881 .- ( Iowa City Republican.)
BE HONORABLE.
Boys and young men sometimes start out in life with the idea that one's success depends on sharpness and chicanery. They im- agine if a man is able always to "get the best of a bargain," no matter by what deceit and meanness he carries his point, that his prosperity is assured. This is a great mistake. Enduring pros-
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
perity cannot be founded on cunning and dishonesty. The tricky and deceitful man is sure to fall a victim, sooner or later, to the influences which are forever working against him. His house is built upon the sand, and its foundation will be certain to give way. Young people cannot give these truths too much weight. The future of that young man is safe who eschews every shape of double dealing, and lays the foundation of his career in the endur- ing principles of everlasting truth.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-NOVEMBER SESSION, 1882.
The poor farm and Infirmary was awarded to Jacob S. Horst, at a salary of $1,000.
A list of twenty-three school-fund mortgages made by the auditor were approved.
The auditor was instructed to erect an addition to the jail, 10x12 feet, one story high, and otherwise repair it, and a sum sufficient to pay the bill was authorized.
The auditor was instructed to issue warrants as allowed, etc.
SOLDIERS RE-UNION.
On Friday afternoon last the old soldiers of Story County met on the fair grounds, at Nevada, for their annual re-union. The program was carried out with the usual success and the night wore away as has been the case heretofore. The program of Saturday was also carried out. The number present at one time on Saturday is estimated at from 1,200 to 1,500 persons. The roll shows 226 enrolled.
Cambridge was selected as the place for the next annual re-union, and the time the third Friday and Saturday of August, 1883.
The officers for the ensuing year were chosen as follows: Colo- nel, A. P. King; lieutenant colonel, Richard May; major, John ('Neil; adjutant, J. M. Brown; quartermaster, - Wayne; chap- lain, Rev. E. R. Mills; quartermaster sergeant, H. J. Hamlin; ser- geant-major, P. H. Ream; surgeon, Dr. A. Patton; drum-major, Doty; fife-major, A. O. Hall.
The assemblage was addressed as per announcement by Governor Sherman, in well chosen language, and by other gentlemen.
Among the things that caused a ripple was the introduction of Mr. French, a soldier of the war of 1812-'15, who made a few remarks and was received with three cheers and a tiger.
The crowd dispersed in good shape on Saturday evening, and will look forward to the annual meeting next year with anticipa- tions of another good time, at the chosen place of rendezvous. -( April 25, 1882.)
A NEW COUNTY MAP.
Messrs. Warner & Foote, of Minneapolis, Minn., well known county map surveyors and publishers, propose to issue a new map
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
of our county. There is hardly a county, outside of Story, in the state of Iowa, but that has had a map. The question is, shall we secure one for our homes? In order to do this it will take the united support of our citizens. Let us see to it so far as we can that this company receive the encouragement necessary to complete this work. Messrs. Warner & Foote some months ago commenced the survey of our county with the view of publishing a complete farm map. Besides their own work they have secured of W. G. Allen all the information he had collected. They have shown us a sample of their work in the shape of township plats of several townships in our county compiled from their actual surveys, which are by far the finest plats we have ever seen. The firm comes to our county with the best of recommendations from other coun- ties where they have published similar works and they have that reputation to sustain. In view of this fact the people of Story County may rest assured that in the course of a year, when this map is published and put before them, they will have the pleasure of examining one of the finest maps ever published in any county, and one that will do justice alike to the county and to the company .- ( November 29, 1882.)
The supreme court of the United States by a vote of five to four has restored the Arlington estate to the heirs of Robert E. Lee. The estate was confiscated during the war and used as a national cemetery for Union soldiers, and for other national purposes. This case as a precedent will doubtless be followed in due time by an endless troop of other rebel claims .- ( December, 1882.)
STORY COUNTY IMPROVEMENTS-JANUARY 10, 1883.
With the assistance of the gentlemen in the several townships who have kindly aided us, we are able to make the following sum- mary of the building improvements made in the county during the year just closed.
The improvements in Lincoln foot up nearly $14,000; nearly $2,500 of this amount has been expended in the township at large, the balance in Zearing. The record is a good one. We hope to publish soon an itemized account of these improvements in Lincoln and some other outlying townships.
The buildings of various kinds in Warren foot up $5,000 or more. To this record we are able to add the interesting items that 350 acres of pasturage have been made at a cost of $1,000, that nearly the whole township is under cultivation, and that during the last ten years its population has increased from 75 to 900.
We have received no estimate from Howard; but are quite cer- tain that improvements therein have been made to some considera- ble extent. We hope for a reliable summary by next week.
Our estimates of improvements in Lafayette are not as full as we would like, still we are able to note for Story City a $5,000, school house, the fine depot and stock yards of the I. C. & N. W
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
R'y, the rebuilt and enlarged American House, and two fine dwel- lings by Messrs. Eshe and Larson. In the farming community large and commodious barns have been built by Jens Flatibo, J. W. Palmer and James Leedwig.
The total improvements in Franklin foot up $15,000; one-half of this amount was expended in Gilbert Station. Of the whole expenditure nearly two-thirds were put into town and country res- idences. This fact indicates a prosperous community.
The building improvements in Milford, so far as we have been able to ascertain, are a $2,000 barn by Ole Christian, and additions to dwellings amounting to $1,000. These figures will no doubt be much enlarged by a supplemental estimate.
We have not been able to get returns from Richland, but look for an estimate next week.
The building improvements in Sherman consist of two houses and several barns, and some additions to houses and barns, and amount in all to about $5,000.
The 1882 improvements in Washington, including the build- ings in Ames and on the college grounds foot up at least $50,000. This outlay speaks well for the Washingtonians.
Grant puts $13,500 into a good class of buildings, six of which cost about $1,000 each. A $900 school-house is numbered among them. One building cost $3,000.
The building improvements of Nevada, city and township, including the city hall, addition to the school building and the new blocks of Boardman Bros., and of White & Bamberger will not foot up much less, if any, than $40,000. This record, made so soon after the extended improvements in the wake of the fire of 1880, and which in reality were not completed until the present year, is one with which our city and township may well be gratified.
New Albany has sent in no estimate. We hope to get a report in time for our next issue.
The building operations in Palestine during the year have not been extensive, only one new house being reported. There are, doubtless other improvements not noted. It will be safe to value the whole at one or two thousand dollars.
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