USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 14
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128
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Wm. Fultz, Tuesday, sold Dunklebarger & Son twenty hogs which weighed 6,950 pounds, one of the twenty weighing 550. He received the goodly lump of $229 for the lot .- (Dec. 11, 1885.)
D. M. Ruth has been appointed postmaster at Maxwell, and will soon be in a position to help Uncle Sam in good shape. Shake 5 .- (Dec. 11, 1885.)
SOME CORN .- In 1881 was the year for large loads of corn. It will be remembered that several tried to see who could bring the largest one to market. On the 31st of January, Milo Warner brought in with one span of mules, on bobs, 144 bushels and ten pounds; on February 1st, S. D. Tooker, with one span of horses, brought in 149 bushels and fifty pounds, and on February 4th, M. Warner brought in 159 bushels and sixty pounds. Several other large loads were brought in, but these were the largest. The ques- tion is who will bring in the big loads the present year .- (Decem- ber 11, 1885.)
Geo. Baeschlin has laid 4,000 rods of tile the past summer. A large part of it was put down on the farms of Alderman & Son, Nevada, and B. E. Wells, McCallsburg .- (Dec. 16, 1885.)
Curt Wood shipped a car-load of cattle and one of hogs last Tuesday. This is the first car of cattle shipped since last spring. -(Maxwell Tribune, Dec. 16, 1885.)
Geo. W. Dyer went to Zearing yesterday to complete the process of closing the saloon at that place and condemning the liquor seized last week. The Zearing people, with the assistance of Mr. Dyer, will succeed, without doubt in suppressing the illegal and disreputable traffic .- (Dec. 16, 1885.)
People who dislike to have their windows frosted in cold weather can prevent it by rubbing the glass inside and outside with glycerine .- (Dec. 16, 1885.)
Arrangements to have coal prospected for in the immediate vicinity of Nevada have been nearly perfected, and there is strong hope that the prospecting will be successful. The movement should receive, and does, the hearty encouragement of the business men of Nevada .- (Dec. 16, 1885.)
The library at the Agricultural college is said to contain 5,540 books, running in all lines, history, biography, novels, etc .- (Jan- uary 29, 1886.)
A. Patton Post, G. A. R., Zearing, chose the following officers at their last meeting: M. R. Bump, C .; B. F. Paisley, S. N .; C. N. Thatcher, J. N .- (Jan. 1, 1886.)
Mr. Dana shipped a car of young cattle to Laramie, Saturday night, consisting of sixty-five head, on which he expects to realize a good thing .- (Jan. 1, 1886.)
129
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
The coldest weather known for years was reported at Galveston, Texas, where ice formed from three to five inches in thickness Friday night. In the South Atlantic region, as far south as Tampa Bay, Florida, freezing weather was also reported .- (Jan. 13, 1886.)
ONTARIO.
Christmas eve, just as people were taking their leave from the Christmas tree, a fire was discovered in the south part of town, and the news was soon spread that Wm. Trembly's house was in flames. People hastened to aid, but it was then too late. The fire was burning rapidly; there was no hope. There were a few things taken from the kitchen such as the cook-stove, cupboard, cooking utensils, and other articles, but the fruit, flour and such articles were put away in a cave, which saved them from the fire. The carpets, furniture, beds, bed-clothing and other articles which were in the bed-room and front room were all burned. The mystery was not explained until Monday, when 'Squire Shockley, from Ames, arrived and searched the house of J. W. Johnston and found some of Ida Harris' things who was boarding with Trembly. Clothing, jewelry, books and other articles were found before the search was begun. Mary Johnston, a girl of thirteen, rolled something under her apron and started but was caught with some of the stolen goods. She then confessed that she had taken the goods and then set fire to the house. She said she had taken most everything out of Ida Harris' trunk when the bed-clothes caught on fire. She could not smother the flames and was obliged to escape through ยท an open window through which she had broken in at. She will be taken to a reform school.
Mrs. Annie Jones, who died Saturday night, has been ill but one week. It has not been a year since her husband died. Now four children are left to mourn the loss and to be orphans; it is strange that both parents should die while so young.
After all, Ontario has not witnessed a Merry Christmas, but we hope for a Happy New Year .- (Jan. 1, 1886.)
There are too many small boys running our streets after night- fall. It is the very worst place for a boy to be. Parents should see that their children are furnished with reading of a wholesome kind, and some innocent games, and then a love for home and that which is good will early in life be instilled into their minds, and they will grow up better qualified for the duties of life, than if they are allowed to take all their lessons on the streets, and loafing about the stores.
Dunklebarger & Son, and T. W. Kelley, shipped a car-load of hogs, each, yesterday .- (Jan. 27, 1886.)
Mr. D. G. Ferguson started a car-load of hogs from here last Thursday evening, but they only got as far as Ames, where they were overtaken by a snow storm, and had to be unloaded and cared for until Saturday evening, when they were again sent out on their journey .- (Jan. 27, 1886:) 9
130
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
The Message, Bro. Everly's new monthly, has made its appear- ance. The editor says in his salutatory that "the object in sending the Message" is "to help you in your Christian life." We hope the Message may prove itself helpful to all who receive it, and a financial success to its enterprising publisher .- (Jan. 28, 1886.)
Messrs. G. W. Sowers & Son shipped two cars of stock from this place, and one from Story City on Tuesday of this week, and we sincerely hope they will not meet with a snow blockade .- (Jan- uary 28, 1886.)
Several Nevada ladies mourn the loss of treasured house plants by freezing, while the heads of the households mourn the loss of potatoes and other vegetables from the same cause .- (Jan- uary 29, 1886.)
Wm. Moran is again purchasing horses and expects to ship two cars the coming month .- (Jan. 29, 1886.)
Coal has been a scarce article during the past two weeks and much suffering may yet result from it .- (Jan. 29, 1886.)
The weather is quite moderate at this writing and we may look for the backbone to be broken .- (Jan. 29, 1886.)
The Story County jail had no boarder on Wednesday. Long may it remain so say the taxpayers .- (Jan. 29, 1886.)
L. McKim, of Milford township, shipped a car of cattle the last of the week, of his own raising. May there be many more just such farmers in Story County .- (Jan. 29, 1886.)
The greatest industry to-day in this locality is chicken picking. All can get work, and plenty of it, and make good wages .- (Jan- uary 29, 1886.)
The supreme court last week decided in favor of T. J. Ross in his suit to get hold of the Des Moines property of the sewing machine agent Helyer, whose bond he had been on to his sorrow. -(Feb. 3, 1886.)
Those that use coal for fuel have been obliged to economize a little in that direction. It seems almost impossible for the Max- well coal dealers to get coal, and the roads are blockaded so badly. we can't haul from the banks; and unless there is a change in the weather for the better and the roads become passable, I fear we will suffer for the want of coal or be obliged to visit our more for- tunate neighbors who burn wood .- (Feb. 3, 1886.)
Duea & Son shipped more hogs to-day and two cars to-morrow. They keep the hog market booming .- (Feb. 2, 1886.)
Boardman Bros. are cutting and hauling their ice to-day and filling their ice house .- (Feb. 3, 1886.)
1
131
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Fred. Eckard, residing three miles north of Ontario, was one of the earliest settlers of Story County, having lived here over thirty years. He says he spent nearly all his early life on the frontier, and claims he " never was in a school room in time of books."-(Feb. 4, 1886.)
Yesterday morning the thermometer indicated twenty-eight to thirty-two degrees below zero according to location. That is quite comfortable, particularly close to a red hot stove .- (February 4, 1886.)
The Mississippi river, for sixty-five miles in the vicinity of St. Louis, is blocked with ice .- (February 5, 1886.)
John Thompson, president of the Wolf Creek Coal Company, Collins, was in town Monday, and reported the coal prospects good. -(February 10, 1886.)
GROVES FOR STOCK.
This winter is bringing home to the minds of thoughtful far- mers the necessity of groves. Many farmers in the Northwest are provided with natural groves, and these men are fortunate in having this natural protection for stock in the severe storms of the present winter. But even then there would be a great improve- ment if the north and west sides of every stock yard were lined with a good grove of evergreen trees. It is a matter of astonish- ment that these have not been long since provided. It can be accounted for only on two grounds-one the impression that ever- greens were hard to raise, as well as high priced, and the other that their value as windbreaks has not been appreciated until the stock interest obtained its present development. But whatever may have been the mistakes of the past, there is not a year to be lost. The stock interest will develop every year. Severe winters and heavy, snows seem to have come to stay. The work of protecting our stock in this way is a work, in the language of the catechism both of "necessity and mercy." The quicker we set about it the better. -(February 10, 1884.)
The tax of the North western Railroad in Story County for the year 1885 amounted to $8,122.34 .- (February 10, 1886.)
We have the change at last. Mr. M. Swartout took charge of the Post-office on Monday February 1, 1886 .- (Story City, Febru- ary 10, 1886.)
Extremes of the weather for the season have been experienced during the past week. Thursday morning was perhaps the coldest of the season, the thermometer, at eight o'clock, registering thirty
132
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
degrees below zero. Since Friday, weather has been spring like; the sleighing is getting demoralized, and wagons are again run on the streets .- (February 10, 1886.)
J. C. Lee has already delivered, at this place 7,000 bushels of corn .- (February 10, 1886.)
Charles Fish is shipping four car loads of hogs a week .- (Febru- ary 3, 1886.)
Charles Mead shipped six car loads of stock this week .- February, 1886.)
ROLAND.
Thursday morning of last week, the mercury dropped to thirty- three degrees below zero here, but Friday was warm and pleasant, the first pleasant Friday for about six weeks. Trains were about on time, which was quite a novelty.
E. J. Evenson went to Morris, Illinois, and brought back a wife. She is not very large, but I suppose he thinks of two Evelis choose the least. We congratulate him and wish him any quantity of joy .- (February 10, 1886.)
Miss Mary A. Scott has been appointed clerk of the Senate com- mittee on horticulture and public buildings .- (February 10, 1886.)
The twelve saloon keepers who were occupying the Marshalltown jail yesterday, are beginning to discover, that perhaps, prohibition does prohibit after all .- (February 10, 1886.)
Judge Henderson levied $3,500 in fines against Webster County saloon keepers at his recent term of court in Fort Dodge. Prohi- bition is doing very well up there .- (February 17, 1886.)
Wm. Clark shipped a car of horses to Minneapolis Monday, which makes the third car load of equines he has purchased and shipped since the first of the present month .- (March 18, 1886.)
We have shipped fifteen cars of live stock from our station so far this month and still they come .- (March 18, 1886.)
Whispering in church during the delivery of a sermon is a pas- time our young people are liable to indulge in very much to the annoyance of those around them, and frequently to the disgust of the entire congregation. But whispering during prayer time or while the benediction is being pronounced is unmistakable evi- dence of ill breeding .- (March, 1886.)
E. F. Farrington has the ill fortune to lose the greater portion of his hogs by some disease that nearly makes a clean sweep .- (March 19, 1886.)
133
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
W. R. Mason, of Grant, shipped thirty-five head of cattle to Chicago, on Wednesday of last week. Their average weight was 1,423 pounds in Chicago, and sold for five dollars and forty cents. Mr. Mason fed them and has a number more of the same kind .- (March 19, 1886.)
There is nothing purer than honesty; sweeter than charity; warmer than love; richer than wisdom; brighter than virtue; more steadfast than faith; more beautiful than friendship .- (March 19, 1886.)
If there are fence corners or other places about the farm where weeds are growing they should be mowed out to prevent the seeds from being scattered to adjoining fields. Farm fences afford one of the most common sources for weed distribution, and it is poor policy to allow the seeds to mature and become scattered to the det- riment of the adjoining land. Pasture land, too often produces heavy growths of noxious weeds which should be cut before matur- ing their seeds .- Country Gentleman .- (March, 1886.)
The City of Boone has been adjudged to pay $4,500 for personal damages incurred by a defective side walk. There is a warning in this to all municipal corporations to keep the public ways in safe condition .- (February 24, 1886.)
The Iowa Agricultural College opened Tuesday. Every room in the main and other buildings have been engaged, and several appli- cants have been turned away for want of acommodations. The present college year promises to be a very successful one .- (Febru- ary 25, 1886.)
Mr. S. H. Smith, of Kelley, had two colts killed by the cars a couple of weeks ago. A colt belonging to Mr. Newheart had a leg broken at the same time .- (February 25, 1886.)
Mr. Ed. Patton recently shipped three car loads of hogs and cat- tle of his own raising. Mr. Patton takes great interest in improv- ing his stock and always realizes the highest market price .- (Col- lins, March 3, 1886.)
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Story County Teachers' Association will meet at the School House in Nevada, Saturday, February 20th, 1886.
PROGRAM.
1:30 P. M.
1. A Professional Standard for Teachers, W. H. Wier.
2. The training of the Senses, Miss Anna G. McConnon.
3. Literature in the Schools, Frank Shutts.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
4. Practical Education, Miss Anna E. Henry.
5. The Average Pupil, Ole O. Roe.
6. School Government, W. F. Chevalier.
Topics for general discussion: Reading Circles, Care of School Property, The Text-book Problem, School Exhibits.
Teachers and others interested in the cause of education are cor- dially invited to attend the meeting and take part in the discus- sions. C. F. CURTISS, President.
-(February 17, 1886.)
Colonel Scott has been chosen by the Senate as President, pro tem., and will make a magnificent presiding officer .- (February 18, 1886.)
NEVADA.
POULTRY .- The past month has been a grand one for poultry raisers, and the prices being paid to-day indicate as to what the probable result will be in this County and State. It has become one of the best paying productions of the farm, and readily com- mands cash. Car load after car load has been shipped from the county and still the supply is plenty. Corn is a staple article and much time is devoted to its cultivation, yet more clear money is made from the poultry of the county, according to the amount of work devoted to it. It is only as a pastime that it is raised, but the winter receipts indicate that it has become one of the staples of a great and growing State. From it many of our best farmers real- ize hundreds of dollars, and from an expense really trifling as com- pared with other products of the farm. To see the teams engaged in bringing in the poultry and the number of men plucking and packing chickens and turkeys one would infer that it has become one of the staples of the locality. Our dealers ship east in car lots and sometimes two or three cars at a time, and nearly every town in the county has a chicken ranch or two within its borders. We are certain that we are correct in saying that more money has been paid out for poultry during the last two months than has been the case for cattle and hogs combined. If any one is inclined to think different let them visit either of the chicken houses in this town and they will see a sight that they will long remember, and admit our theory is correct. What is done with it is another question. We know it is shipped from here, and that the trafic has become one of the largest in Central Iowa. This is all that is necessrry for us. It is shipped to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, where it is held or placed upon the market as circumstances dictate. Our farmers can do no better than to arrange for raising chickens and turkeys by the thousands instead of the hundreds as at this time, and will undoubtedly find it profitable. The expense is but
135
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
trifling compared with the receipts. The returns are sure and immediate, and there is no waiting for a market, or for fattening, as they run loose until late in the fall and at comparatively little ex- pense and are only fed a month or two before being turned off. Look up the matter and turn Story County into the greatest poul- try county in the Nation .- (February 5, 1886.)
PREVALENCE OF FIRES:
As usual with every exceptionally cold spell, especially when accompanied by a high wind, as has been the case during the intense cold which has marked the past six weeks, fires occurred with extraordinary frequency during the time the cold and storm lasted, and many of these, we regret to say, were of farm buildings, stock and other property. The question of fires is, perhaps, more serious to farmers than to any other class in the community. The means of relief are the least accessible, and the amount at stake, usually involves the farmer's almost entire property .- There is no other man, according to the business methods of to-day, whose entire property is exposed to destruction by a single fire, yet this is the case with the farmer whose dwelling, outbuildings, granary, and its contents, live stock and farm implements are all exposed to the same conflagration. Many times a farmer finds himself, as a result of a fire, bereft of all he possessed except his land, the con- sequence being a heavy mortgage and years of trouble and anxiety, unless indeed he carry a full line of insurance. This is rarely the case, and even then the insurance only indemnifies for the cash loss, even when they pay it and promptly, which in many cases is not the fact, and nothing can repair the loss of time involved in putting up new buildings and collecting a new herd. As the win- ter goes on the danger grows, owing to the continued use of the stoves, the dryness of all interior wood-work in proximity to stoves, pipes, etc. We speak these words of warning not as alarmists, but hoping to induce greater care in the use of lanterns and lamps, the careful examination of stoves and pipes, and the immediate rectifi- cation of any arrangement, dictated, perhaps, by temporary con- venience, but attended with even the slightest risk of fire. We have frequently seen in many farm houses arrangements of stoves and stove pipes which were a constant menace of fire, and becom- ing more and more hazardous as each succeeding week of winter passed by, and rendering the danger positively imminent whenever a cold wind storm caused the stove to be run at its full capacity. in such cases the old adage of "a stitch in time," etc., is immi- nently applicable. See to these matters and take advantage of the first mild spell to thoroughly over haul your stoves and stove-pipes. -(February 5, 1886.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
INVENTORY OF CITY PROPERTY. MARCH 1, 1886.
City Hall . $3,000.00
City Library Building. 725.00
City Tool House and Lot 100.00
City Pound .
25.00
City Cemetery Buildings cost.
175.00
City Hook and Ladder Trucks.
700.00
City Fire Engine and Hose Cart.
750.00
City Force Pump.
93.00
City Road Scraper.
200.00
City Tools and Scrapers
150.00
City Books and Library
1,200.00
City Park Seats
60.00
Total
$7,178.00
All of which is 'respectfully submitted.
H. C. BOARDMAN,
WILLIAM GATES,
Finance Committee.
R. J. SILLIMAN,
STORY COUNTY.
According to the returns of the census tabulated in the office of the Secretary of State Story County has a population of 17,527, of which number 3,473 are of foreign birth. The number of foreign born [Norwegian] in Palestine, including Sheldahl is given at 528; How- ard 500; Lafayette, including Story City, 379; Milford 131; Union, including Cambridge, 172; and Warren 165. There are 6,425 mar- ried (how about the odd one); 10,593 single; 476 widowed and thirty-three divorced; the number of births in 1884 were 392; sub- ject to military duty 3,012; entitled to vote 3,866 .- Of the aliens 119 have taken out first papers and 372 have made no application. The number of families in the county is given at 3,510; number of dwellings 3,410. Of the native population 1,673 were born in Illinois; 7,952 in Iowa; 1,100 in Ohio. The number of pupils in attendance upon the public schools is given at 5,741. These few statistics will give something of an idea as to how Story County stands in several quarters and will explain some things that may have puzzled many .- (January 29, 1886.)
THE PAST YEAR.
The year 1885 is past and gone. Like all things of this earth it has had its day, and we can only look to it from the record. The question now arises how has it left Story County? Let us see. In
137
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
most towns and villages there has been a steady growth, slow but sure. The pressure of the hard times has showed itself by a lack of creation of more buildings for mercantile purposes. Nevada has erected not one; Ames one, the Cook building; Story City one, by Mr. Swan for his bank and in Maxwell Mr Ruth is erecting one, and one by another for a drug store. In Zearing, Mr. Steelsmith has been overhauling and rearranging a store building. In the majority of the towns a number of substantial residences have been erected during the year, which will go far towards helping out the general average. As a whole the growth of our towns have not been so satisfactory as we could desire. Yet the general improve- ment has been fair, showing that our citizens are still advancing in material prosperity and wealth. Many of the residences of the past year's build will reach as high as $2,500 each, and in a couple of instances over $3,000. Business changes throughout the county have not been numerous, and failures the exception, thus indicat- ing that our merchants and business men generally are in a flourish- ing condition and all trust the coming year may be one of pros- perity to all.
The county shows to far better advantage and new residences, barns, and improvements in general conclusively show there has been a large advance in the financial circumstances of the great majority of our farmers. Of the new dwellings quite a number are costly ones, and are made for the use of those building them, and from their saving of the past. Such men have rarely run in debt for such things, having laid the money by for the purpose and used it as contemplated. The amount of cattle and hogs yet in the hands of the farmers is quite large, and those who claim to know say that only a limited number have been marketed, and that they will soon be placed upon the market. Corn is being fed to their stock, and the open winter has been a good thing in assisting them to realize a large per cent upon the amount fed. To be sure, in some localities, hogs have died of a scourge. Yet it has been confined to individuals or localities and has figured but lightly in the general sway. The corn crop has not realized as anticipated it would, but it has answered for home feeding as well as for better grade, and, per- haps, it has been of more value than would have been the case had it been shipped. As a whole our farmers are considerably better off than last year, and far ahead of their brethren in the town. This is shown conclusively by their improvements and general appearance of thriftiness, which manifests itself to one that may go through the county. The striking of coal in paying quantities in Collins Township will also assist in making the general average throughout the county, for the year just passed, better, and now coal is found in the two extreme corners of the county, thus indi- cating this to be in the coal belt and as a consequence far more val- uable than has been generally thought.
As a whole, the county may be said to have been prosperous and far ahead of one year ago. Our business men are financially able, and few failures have resulted, and none are anticipated. Our
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