USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 25
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" 27 Way Freight 4:55 P. M.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
GOING SOUTH.
No.51 Night Express 1:50 A. M.
" 55 Passenger 5:00 P. M.
" 53 Passenger 11:40 A. M.
" 57 Passenger 8:05 P. M.
" 59 Freight for Des Moines 6:45 A. M.
GOING NORTH.
No. 1 Passenger. 10:55 P. M.
" 54 Passenger .. 11:35 A. M.
% 52 Passenger .. 8:20 A. M.
No other trains will carry passengers.
M. C. JONES, Agent.
TWENTY CHANCES TO LEAVE EVERY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS.
It seems by the time card there are eighteen to twenty chances every twenty-four hours to get away from Ames by railroad.
There is no other town in the county that has such facilities for getting away .. Good for Ames!
The College library is said to contain 5,540 books of various. kinds.
PALESTINE TOWNSHIP.
A HISTORY OF PALESTINE TOWNSHIP FROM ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION TO MARCH, 1887 .- CONTAINING, ALSO, A NOTICE OF MANY OF ITS CITIZENS.
POPULATION-TOWNSHIP 1,201, SHELDAHL 164-1,365.
Elsewhere will be found, also a history, in part, of the early . settlement of the Township. The Township was named "Pales- tine" in remembrance of the ancient Palestine as recognized in Holy Writ. The Township was organized in 1858, comprising now only township 82 north, range 24 west.
Of the brief items a few were culled from our county papers.
A Rev. Mr. Ives Marks had a seminary building erected about the year 1855 or 1856, for a kind of religious institution on a site
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
included in the town plat of the town of Palestine, which plat comprised the south three fourths of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 14, township 82 north, range 24 west. Mr. Marks never completed the building, but it has been for many years used as a barn. The structure in part remains to the present day but in a very dilapidated condition.
SHELDAHL ITEMS.
From the Sheldahl Cyclone, August 23, 1882.
We understand Madrid will have another newspaper called the Register.
Pilgrimages to the High Bridge is a daily occurrence, picnics almost a daily one.
Mr. Charles Mead, of Collins, our old and respected friend, was the first who subscribed for the Cyclone when in town some five weeks ago.
In the new arithmetic one reads: "In one lot there are four calves, and in another two young men smoking a cigar with their hair banged, and a hat on one side of their heads. How many calves in all?"
From the Northern Light, August 23, 1882.
The telegraph wire is up. Ed. Allen is to be the depot agent at this place.
A paper has just been established at Sheldahl, called the Iowa Cyclone. It is published by Willie D. McTavish, is three columns to the page, and well printed. It is the third effort to maintain a weekly paper at that point, and we hope will this time meet with success.
Business in Sheldahl is brisk in every department .- (Decem- ber 13, 1882.)
Last Thursday our stock dealer, G. W. Strong, shipped a car- load of hogs to Des Moines. Having delivered them to the slaugh- ter yards, he took passage on the switch engine back to the North- western depot. On the way the engine upset and Mr. S. came near being seriously injuried. As it was, his hair, whiskers and one ear show marks of fire. It was only by his coolness and fore- thought that he saved his life .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Sheldahl was laid out as a town in August, 1874. Was incorpo- rated on the 28th of June, 1882.
The Iowa Cyclone (a newspaper) commenced about the twentieth of August, 1882, and discontinued sometime afterward.
Palestine was laid out as a town in October, 1857.
Huxley was laid out in February, 1882, on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 26, township 82, range 24.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
SHELDAHL BRIEFS.
The snow blockade has been broken and trains are running on time again. People can get to town now and business is looking up again .- (Jan. 31, 1883.)
R. A. Eastman has sold the Avenue House of this place to J. N. Scott and gave possession Monday morning. The new proprietor will endeavor to take good care of all who patronize him .- (Jan- uary 31, 1883.)
Messrs. Bagwill & Freed are shipping from eight to ten car-loads of stock per week now-a-days. Not bad we think for our town. Mr. G. W. Strong buys and ships stock also .- (Jan. 31, 1883.)
Coal became very scarce here last week, but the supply is suffi- cient again .- (Jan. 31, 1883.)
The snow blockade is ended and we have regular mails once more .- (Feb. 21, 1883.)
Business is looking up .- (Feb. 21, 1883.)
Farmers are disposing of their surplus cattle, hogs and corn, and are getting ready, they say, to raise the biggest crop of corn that . has ever been raised in Iowa. We hope they may not be disap- pointed .- (Feb. 21, 1883.)
Mr. G. W. Strong has bought and brought to our village the fine Clydesdale stallion formerly owned by H. C. Martindale. -(May 2, 1883.)
Mr. Gust. Reinins has just completed the upright portion of his dwelling, which gives him as good a house as is in the town. -- (May 2, 1883.)
Jacob Harpol, near town, has put up an upright to his farm dwelling .- (May 2, 1883.)
The Rev. O. Sheldahl and his little congregation are building a church on block number two .- (May 2, 1883.)
Corn planting began last Monday morning in this locality with the ground in good condition. With good weather the people say that nothing less than a number one crop will do this year. -(May 2, 1883.)
The bridge gang of the Northwestern have been taking their meals at the Avenue hotel the past week while repairing the bridges on the Des Moines branch of the road .- (May 2, 1883.)
Osmund Sheldahl is erecting a church building in the north part of town, which, when completed, will be a very handsome structure. Then the parson can " worship under his own vine and fig tree." -(May 2, 1883.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Andrew Mickelson was found dead near Huxley last Sunday about noon. Tuesday, the tenth of this month, Mr. Mickelson left town to go to his farm to build fence for a few days, and his wife thought nothing wrong until he failed to come home Friday night. Saturday she sent some parties to look after him; but after looking all day they failed to find out anything of his whereabouts. Sun- day there was a turn out of 150 men with the above result. -(Nov. 18, 1885.)
Mrs. W. P. Viland died of consumption last Saturday night Her funeral and Mr. Mickelson's were both attended yesterday -(Nov. 18, 1885.)
SHELDAHL CROSSING .- The first dwelling house at the Crossing is completed by Mr. E. Freed, where he is permanently located.
Last Sunday morning while one of the freight trains of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. was doing some switching at the Crossing one of the brakeman had one of his hands so badly smashed that amputation was necessary .- (Nov. 18, 1885.)
W. H. Porter was appointed P. M. at Sheldahl on the first instant. This is a worthy compliment to a disabled citizen of our county .- (Sept. 4, 1885.)
All soldiers desiring passes to enter the State Fair on "Soldier's Day," Tuesday, Sept. 8, can be accommodated by calling on Au- ditor McCarthy .- (Sept. 4, 1885.)
Mr. S. W. Snider has taken a temporary residence in Colfax for the benefit of his crippled son who has been suffering with rheu- matism for the past eighteen months .- (Oct. 4, 1885.)
The new elevator at the crossing of the C. M. & St. P. & C. & N. W. R. R's is now ready for business, with a fair prospect. -(Oct. 4, 1885.)
A little son of W. B. Mill fell from the roof of an old stable last Saturday and hurt his face very badly .- (Oct. 4, 1885.)
A little girl of E. F. Mill, about two years old fell from a baby cab standing on a porch breaking its left collar bone .- (Octo- ber 4, 1885.)
We had the first speech of the campaign last Saturday evening by Dr. Hutchins, of Des Moines .- (Oct. 4, 1885.)
SHELDAHL ELECTION .- The town election came off Monday with the following results: Mayor, C. B. Owens; recorder, S. W. Shep- herd; treasurer, E. F. Miller; assessor, L. G. Johnson; councilmen, Swert, Houge, and Gust Reinuer .- (March 1, 1886.)
Palestine Township has some flat, wet land in it, more particu- Iarly in parts of sections 7, 8, 17 and 18. Many years ago before tile draining was introduced in Story County, it required experts
250
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
in wading well so as to survey some of these lands. The soil is good and draining may make it very productive.
Some of the early settlers were, viz: Mormon Ballard, Daniel Ballard, Isaac Atkinson, J. H. B. Kerr, A. G. Person, Wm. Tem- pleton, W. B. Hopkins, Ives Marks, John May, Jacob Horner, G. W. Kelley, O. Sheldahl, E. Sheldahl, Ole Apland, W. W. Hall.
There are two streams of water I will name in Palestine Town- ship, but there are other smaller ones: Ballard's Creek with its several branches and Walnut Creek. The last named passes very cautiously through the northeast part of the northwest of the northeast quarter of section one, and crossing through the more central part of the northeast of the northeast quarter of sec- tion one. Ballard's main stream commences in or near the wet lands named above and passes through the northwest quarter of section 21, and across the southern part of the southeast quarter of section 16, and through the south half of sections 15, 14 and 13, leaving the township near the southeast corner of section 13. Ballard's Creek runs through the whole length of Ballard's Grove; and Walnut Creek passes through Walnut Grove. See index for " Groves." See index for "Mills." See index for " Cemeteries."
Palestine having the good old Scripture name, has in its borders the site of the town of Palestine laid out in October, 1857, and was recorded.
Many years ago there were several families in it. Mr. Ives Marks by stir and energy had a kind of religious seminary built, but was never completed entirely. I believe it was never used as a seminary but may have been used as a dwelling for a time, but am not sure. Of late years it has been used as a barn and stable.
There was a post-office there prior to and during the war, and that excellent citizen of the township, W. B. Hopkins, was post- master, and his daughter (now Mrs. P. W. Hopkins, of Colo) was his deputy.
The town was laid out on the south three-quarters of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 14, but is now in the past.
Huxley is situated on the north part of the north half of the northeast quarter of section 26, and is on the C. M. & St. Paul railroad. It is a place of some business, and was laid out as a town in 1882. It has a post-office and depot. The present post- master is Jacob Stenson. See Directory for its business men.
There is a creamery at Sheldahl controlled or owned by Board- man Brothers. J. N. Scott is manager and may own a part of the creamery.
The town of Sheldahl is situated in three counties-Story, Polk and Boone. The post-office is now in Polk county. That part in Story was laid out in August, 1874. It was attached, by vote of its citizens to the Polk county incorporated part in June, 1882, just prior to the prohibitory amendment vote.
For the business of Sheldahl see index for the Directory.
Sheldahl was visited by its first fire about the twenty-fifth of
251
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
December, 1886, which resulted in the destruction of S. W. Sny- der's flouring mill. The loss is estimated at $4,000 without any insurance. It is supposed Dr. W. H. Grafton, of Cambridge, will share in the loss. A good flouring mill destroyed makes a seri- ous loss to the whole community.
C. B. Owens, mayor at Sheldahl.
Sheldahl Crossing is near one and a half miles north of Sheldahl, and has an elevator, no post-office, but passengers can get off and get on trains here. E. T. C. Wells, agent at the Crossing. LATER- April, 1887 .- A post-office just fixed at the Crossing called Slater. S. Ashland, postmaster.
Mr. E. Freed has the credit of building the first dwelling house at the Crossing.
There are several cemeteries in the township; one in section 1, one in section 18, and one in section 36, and the Fieldburg ceme- tery in the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25, township 82, range 24.
There are four church buildings in Palestine Township as described below:
The Fieldburg Lutheran church is in the southwest corner of section 25.
The Palestine Lutheran church is in the southeast corner of section 25, township 82, range 24, being near a mile from the Field- burg Lutheran church.
There are two Lutheran and two Methodist churches in Sheldahl. One Lutheran church in Polk, and one in Story County; one Methodist church in Story and one in Boone County. The town being in three counties each county shares in the churches.
The school-houses seem to be centrally placed in their two miles - square idstricts, except one, and that one is not far from its center. The first frame school house, as claimed in Story County was located in the northeast corner of section 1, township 82, range 24 (now Palestine township), and was known as the renowned Walnut Grove school-house, and was built in 1854-5 of native lumber.
Sheldahl has a high or graded school building.
FIRE'S DOINGS .- Mr. Edwards, who lives a few miles west of Sheldahl, had the misfortune to have his house burned to the ground Wednesday last. There was an insurance of $800 on the house. -(Intelligencer, Jan. 27, 1887.)
Col. Snider is rebuilding his flouring mill at Sheldahl. The numerous friends of the old veteran hope that he may be blessed in business and recover all his recent loss before another hair turns gray on his venerable head .- (Intelligencer, Jan. 27, 1887.)
From a brief acquaintance with Col. Snider we think he is a very worthy man and such as should receive not only the sympathy but financial aid in his effort to rebuild his mill. A good flouring mill is of great value to the community in which it is situated. He has our sympathy at least.
252
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
RAILROADS .- The D. M. & M. railroad passes through Sheldahl from Des Moines northward, crossing the C. M. & St. Paul railway near the interior center of section 30 at Sheldahl Crossing, and crossing the C. & N. Western road at Ames. This road also crosses the north line of section 5, about eighty rods west of the northeast corner of section 5. The C. M. &. St. Paul enters the township near or at the southeast corner of section 24, passing westerly through the township and crosses the west line of the county about forty rods south of the west quarter section corner of section 30.
A few who engage in shipping stock and grain will be named, viz: Messrs. Bagwill & Freed, about December, 1882, were lively shippers of stock,-they may still be doing a lively business; Miller & Freed, G. W. Strong, A. L. Kloster & N. J. Thompson, merchants; H. Hendrickson, hardware.
Stock and grain raisers, farmers and others of energy, etc., etc., of the township are about as follows: John V. Kalsem, S. V. Kal- sem, A. K. Olson, John Johnson, J. Severid, A. G. Person, Lars Frowick, H. Klongeland, Eric Sheldahl, Henry Ersland, Amos Thompson, Thor Olson, Peter Kjelsvig, H. O. Hendrickson, W. P. Viland. C. Person, John Severtson, R. Richardson, Eric Erickson, John Amfensen, K. B. Thompson, John Storing, Nels N. Sydnes, A. Lande, J. Steenson, O. S. Hegger, Nels Highland, J. W. Lyttel.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
A HISTORY OF UNION TOWNSHIP FROM ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION TO MARCH, 1887 .- CONTAINING, ALSO, A NOTICE OF MANY OF ITS CITIZENS.
POPULATION, 1885-TOWNSHIP 894, CAMBRIDGE 473-1,367.
Elsewhere will be found, also, a partial history of its early set- tlers. "Union" being a short name, as well as a favorite name, was given the township when organized. I presume this to have been the case; It was organized in 1855, comprising now only township 82 north, range 23 west.
The brief items were partly culled from our county papers.
A DAY WITH UNION TOWNSHIP SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORKERS.
CENTER GROVE, May 9, 1875.
On arriving here in company with O. Hambleton, I. H. Mathews and P. Williams, we found the large brick school-house filled with little and big old and young folks, from the surrounding country.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
At 10:30 A. M., Rev. D. O. Stewart, of Cambridge, preached a very able discourse, it being his regular appointment.
At 11:00-In the absence of President Paxton, convention was called to order, opening remarks, plan of work, etc., by the writer.
At 11:45-"Object of Sunday-school," etc. Presented by O. Hambleton, followed by Mathews, Wm. Allen, and R. R. Payne.
At 12:15-Adjourned to 1:00 P. M.
During the recess a heavy thunder storm came up which pre- vented our meeting at the hour appointed ..
At 3:30-Prayer by I. H. Mathews. The following officers were then elected:
Union Township Association-For president, Dr. W. H. Grafton; for vice president, Robert Richardson; secretary and treasurer, Morris Snider.
At 4:00-"The Lesson, How Prepared to Teach," etc., presented by Rev. I. Reid.
At 4:30-" Relation of Teachers' Meeting to the School." Pre- sented by O. Hambleton, followed by Payne.
At 5:00-" Duties of Parents to the Sabbath-school." Presented by I. H. Mathews, followed by Reid and Miller.
At 6:00-Adjourned to 8:00.
At 8:00 P. M .- Prayer by Rev. I. Reid, followed by Sunday- school workers experience meeting. In this the time was well oc- cupied and, we trust, profitably spent. The interest kept up until quite late, closing with benediction by Rev. Reid.
The meeting all day was well attended although the rain made it very muddy afternoon and evening, but the friends turned out nobly.
We found here a school organized on the evergreen plan, and doing a noble work, and we expect a good report from their town- ship association, as their officers mean business.
J. C. MILLER, Secretary.
CENTER GROVE, UNION TOWNSHIP, Jan. 2, 1878.
MR. EDITOR :- We wish you a happy New Year, any amount of new subscribers and all the old ones coming up and toeing the mark and paying up. May you have plenty of good things to eat and lots of good clothes to wear. Good-bye old year, we will remember all the good things that you gave us, and in view of good crops, forget the muddy roads. How are you, New Year? Hope you are well. Give us less mud and good roads because we cannot get to town. Give us a new suit of clothes and new overcoat for we need these things bad. Give us good crops, plenty of work, and by all means good roads. Give the young folks some snow and good sleighing pretty soon, they look so lonesome. Give us liberal candidates in the fall so that cigars will be plenty and smoking cheap, but by all means give us good roads. Well, New Year, we had better stop asking and go to work, but don't forget the roads. X.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
A CARD.
CAMBRIDGE, IOWA, Dec. 13, 1878.
We take this method of tendering our warmest thanks to those persons, men and women, who so nobly assisted us, even to the extent of risking their lives, during the burning of our store on the night of December seventh, 1878.
All did nobly, and their efforts in our behalf will ever be grate- fully remembered.
We would also take this opportunity to correct some erroneous stories, put in circulation, probably by some thoughtless persons in regard to goods being stolen during the fire. We do not believe that one dollar's worth of goods were stolen and think the stories originated without any foundation in fact.
MAXWELL, KING & Co.
CAMBRIDGE ITEMS.
Mr. Wm. Jones lost four head of cattle, twenty-two of hogs, and two of sheep; cause unknown. Also, Mr. C. Tillotson lost four head of cattle and many hogs .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Our town rejoices over having a new mayor, Mr. John Breezly. That's only four in less than a year. We trust the members of the council who have not enjoyed the honor of holding said office will not be discouraged. Their turn will come soon. We hope our council will have back bone enough to enforce its ordinances. If we are legally incorporated they can and should be enforced, and if we are not it is time we are finding it out .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Sylvanus Chandler, one of the oldest citizens of this town died last Thursday. He had lived four score and three years. He was buried in the cemetery northwest of town .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Our editor, C. Dolph, has returned, and the Reporter will be published regularly hereafter .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
We are to have a circulating library. Already we have shares sold to the amount of $120. Shares are three dollars each; one share entitles the shareholder to the free use of any one book for two weeks. Shares are transferrable. Books may be received in payment of shares, but the committee on selection of books shall have authority to decide as to the price and suitability of said books .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
We are to have a Christmas tree .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Boardman Brothers are buying poultry .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
A. P. King has a new clerk, O. W. Hill .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Business was booming Saturday. The merchants report very heavy sales .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
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WALLACE TODES MOINES.IO.
DRAKE UNIVERSITY.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Briggs, of Nevada, sold furniture here Saturday to the amount of $800. It is safe to say that our furniture dealers would have sold furniture just as cheap .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
To the enthusiastic debater who said at our literary that "No legislation on the liquor question is necessary," we would say, go down to our saloon and stay just one evening and see if you do not change your mind. -- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
Why have we not a marshal to look after such men as were on our streets Saturday night .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
The thermometer indicated twenty-one degrees below zero Wednesday morning .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
One of our drug firms has a permit to sell liquors for medicinal, mechanical, and culinary purposes. Judging from what we saw Saturday there must be a great many very sick men in this community .- (Dec. 13, 1882.)
The near approach of the railroad has had a tendency to make things quite lively in Cambridge, and on every hand may be seen the work of the various artizans. Quite a number of residences and some store buildings are in course of erection. New business firms are springing into existence and everything points to a most suc- cessful summer. Among the buildings nearly completed is one twenty by sixty, two stories, by Green & Bryant, to be used by them as a hotel and restaurant. The location is a good one, and there is no reason why the business will not be a profitable one. -(Sept. 23, 1881.)
Dr. Grafton and Livingston & Rodearmel have nearly completed a large store building forty-six by eighty, two stories. One room is to be occupied by dry goods and the other by Livingston & Ro- dearmel as a hardware store. They are already engaged in opening their stock. This building would be an honor to more pretentious towns, reflects much credit on the parties referred to. Messrs. L. & R. will have a large stock and one that it will not be necessary to go elsewhere for hardware, stoves, nails or any other articles in their line .- (Sept. 23, 1881.)
Among the prospective buildings is one by Brown & Cronk, who will erect a commodious building for their drug store soon. -(Sept. 23, 1881.)
Mr. Southwick is also building a neat room for the post-office and other business .- (Sept. 23, 1881.)
Mr. Goodnow has charge of the mill and turns out a number one article of flour, which is in demand all through that country. -(Sept. 23, 1881.)
The future of Cambridge looks bright and there is no reason why she shall not grow and prosper .- (Sept. 23, 1881.)
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
(Nevada Representative Correspondence.)
CAMBRIDGE, Iowa, Jan. 23, 1882.
As this pleasant place opens up with the new year, we find our- selves on a railroad with trains running every day, if they are only construction trains. Regular trains, they say, will be running before long. We can then step on the cars and go east or west, and we hope soon to be able to say either north or south. Cam- bridge has the most favorable show of any of its neighboring towns for a branch road to Des Moines, and for a division. It is not permanently located yet but Cambridge feels secure all the same. The track is now completed to the junction of the C. & N. W. one mile north of Sheldahl.
Cambridge is now a point of telegraphic communication, where you can step into the office and send a message to Europe if you have any friends there to read it.
The railroad company is putting up two water tanks, a large coal house and a depot second to none in Story County. It is a building thirty by sixty feet, two stories. Where is there another depot of that size?
The community feels sorry to lose their first lumber merchant, Mr. B. T. French, for he was a good boy, but have a good man in his place, Mr. Bartlett, of Nevada, formerly with Mr. Lockridge.
P. Goodnow, our miller, has relatives visiting him, who think some of locating here as this is a good point.
The next thing needed is a bank-a coal bank.
The first load of stock shipped from this place was on Sunday last by Lockwood & Co., they will ship again on Wednesday.
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