USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
363
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Livingston, George W. Larson, L. R. Lackey, John
Larson, Rasmus Larson, E. R. Logan, Robert Larrabee, Wm.
M
McDaniel, Lewis
McKee, H.
Moore, D. A.
McKee, Thomas
McCoy, Daniel
McDaniel, Ira
McCoy, Win
McDaniel, Louis
Mount, N.
McCauley, Samuel
Mckenzie, Ed
Mason, Morris
Mercer, Lewis
McBarnes, John
May, John
Miller, Henry
Marks, Ives
McCain, Wm.
Marks, Jerry
McCain, Alex
McGuire, Wm.
McCain, John H.
McConnell, John
McCain, Wm. H.
McConnell, Alex.
Mathews, James
Mood, Mr.
Mathews, Mr.
Myers, Jonathan
Miner, N. C.
Maxwell, G. M.
Marsh, Mr.
Maxwell, J. W.
McDonald, Geo.
McCartney, Robert
Moore, Lot
McDaniel, Sam
Mitchell, Isaac
McCarthy, Daniel
Maxwell, Daniel.
McCarthy, Henry
Maxwell, T. V.
McCartney, Milo
Maxwell, David
McCartney, John
Martin, Peter
McLain, J. H.
Martin, Seph
McLain, Russel
McCowan, Sam
McLain, Jesse
Morgan, John
McLain, Frank A.
McMichael, Wm.
Miller, Isaac
Madison, Mr.
Miller, W. O.
Munden, Wm. L.
Miller, John, Sr.
Mullen, J. N.
Miller, J. H.
Minton, D.
Miller, Rev. I.
Marshall, Peter
Miller, Thomas J.
Marshall, A. J.
Miller, James
McCord, C. P.
Miller, E. L.
Moore, Simon
Margason, Wm.
Moore, James N. McGee, James
Moss, J. C. Mitchell, R. H.
McQuistion, Silas
May, Richard Mullen, Am. Mullen, Guilf.
McQuistion, P.
Mitchell, Ira
Mitchell, Henry
Murphy, H. F.
Mitchell, Mr., Sr.
364
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Murphy, W. C. Monahan, Thomas
McNerney, Peter Mooning, Mr.
N
Neilson, Mr. Norris, D. J. Ned, David Nirskern, Charles Nugent, Daniel
0
Osmun, S. G.
Osborn, Lewis Olinger, Christ. Oglesvie, John Olson, Brit
P
Person, A. G.
Pressnal, Jer.
Parish, S. W.
Prime, George
Parker, Wm.
Prime, Daniel
Phillips, Henry
Pettibone, Mel.
Prouty, Adolphus
Pedlar, George
Prouty, Austin
Pike, F. M.
Potter, E. B.
Pocock, Elias
Parker, John
Perigo, R.
Price, Nathan
Pierce, Mr.
Pool, J. P.
Perry, Nelson
Parish, G. B.
Peterson, Henry
Page, C. P. Purvis, Elijah Pearson, Wm.
Picard, Warren
Phipps, J. B.
Postgate, Thomas
Q
Queal, Paul A. R
Rich, John
Robinson, R. H.
Rich, Samuel
Robinson, J. M.
Robinson, J. P., Jr.
Robins, C. D.
Russell, O. D.
Rubar, Sebastian Ross, T. J.
Rees, I. H.
Ross, M. M.
Rhoads, F. W.
Robinson, R. A.
Ross, Calvary Ross, Granville
Rynard, Jacob
Ross, James
Russell, A. T.
Rich, Jacob Randeau, W. Reischauer, F.
Romaine, I.
Newton, Frank Nourse, U. G. Netterfield, B. Neerness, Ole. Nellis, Levi
Olinger, John B. O'Brien, S. P. O'Neil, Owen O'Neil, John
365
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Ross, Wm. Ross, Jesse Ray, Jud
Ray, Jacob
Ritland, John Rhoads, J. A.
Richardson, G. H.
Ring, George
Ream, Philip H.
Runyon, C.
Robinson, Charles P.
Rogers, Perry
Roe, Mr. (of Franklin.)
Rynard, Wm.
S
Stultz, D. L.
Smith, Jesse
Spring, W. W.
Smiley, George
Shenkle, B. R.
Spurgin, Aaron
Spurgin, Wm.
Shields, W. H.
Stratton, Al.
Shope, David F.
Speaks, George
Swarm, Daniel
See, John, Sr.
Scott, George, Sr.
See, John
Scott, Hiram
See, Jonathan
Scott, George
See, Missouri
Scott, Bar
See, Michael
Scott, E. F.
See, Earl
Scott, John Col.
Shearer, E. W.
Scott, Andrew
Shearer, Robert B.
Sowers, G. W.
Shaw, A. D.
Shaw, P. H.
Statler, Jonathan
Statler, S. S.
Sheldahl, O.
Stevens, John, Sr.
Straw, W. P. Spangler, Henry
Schoonover, Ed
Schoonover, Charles
Schoonover, Levi
Sheldall, E. R.
Swan, Giles Smith, Carl
Switzer, M.
Squire, T. A.
Snell, Jasper Summers, Philander
Strait, Wm.
Switzer, Sol. Stafford, Mr. Seal, Joseph
Raff, Peter Rigby, Henry Rood, Adol.
Richardson, W. H.
Robinson, W. R. Robinson, Joseph P.
Smith, Samuel
Swaney, W. B. Sinclair, J. H.
Smith, James C. Smith, James Smith, John
Simmons, Henry Simmons, Amos Simmons, Cyrus
Shearer, S. I.
Scott, Thomas
Sowers, J. W. Sheffield, N. N. Severson, John Stevens, D. L.
Stewart, B. F.
Stevens, Isaac Stevens, Elias Stevens, Benjamin Smith, W. K. Smay, Absolem Smith, C. G. Spencer, Mr. Spring, L. H.
366
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Seal, Moses
Sladden, J. C.
Stratton, E.
Sheldon, M. D.
Sorter, James
Sellars, James.
Seal, John
Sellars, John
Seal, Wm.
Sellars, Wm. Y.
Sunday, Wul.
Smith, J. W.
Shockley, W. C.
Smith, J. W., Jr.
Smart, Sylvester
Smith, W. V.
Stewart, D. W.
Smith, Ephraim
Sharkey, John
T
Tallen, Patrick W. H.
Tanner, Jo. G.
Thompson, Frank
Talbot, J. H.
Thatcher, Mr.
Thompson, F. D. Thompson, James
Tichenor, W. E.
Tichenor, Joseph
Thrall, R. R.
Taylor, Joseph
Tritts, Henry
Taylor, Hiram
Thomas, G. W.
Turtle, Thomas
Thomas, John S.
Thorlton, James
Templeton, Wm ..
Taylor, Wesley
Templeton, George
Taylor, Mr., Sr.
Thurman, Charles
Thurman, Enoch Thompson, Paul Thompson, Knute
Thomas, Mr .- (Escaped from the Spirit Lake massacre.)
Tisdall, Louis U
Utterback, W. W.
V
Vincent, Hiram Vincent, W. S. Vincent, David Vest, G Van Stewart, Peter
Vance, Mr. Van Fossen, J.
Vest, Thomas
Vest, C. M.
Vest, John
W
Wickham, H. C. Womach, W. B. Warren, John Williams, Mr. (of Cambridge.) Wheatley, Allen
Woodward, W. W. Woodward, Mr. (of Collins.) Webb, Nathan
Welton, X. A. Waltz, George Wise, G. W.
Wise, W. A.
Walters, Caleb
Westlake, Thomas
Whitaker, Mr. White, S. M.
1
Tomlinson, V.
Tanner, J. M.
Shenkle, Benjamin
Thompson, Wm.
F
1
1
MILLS A COS DES MOINES.
THE RIVER.
NINTH STR. ENTRANCE PROSPECT PARK, DES MOINES, IOWA.
SYLVAN LAKE.
369
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Webb, A. K.
White, Mr., Sr.
Webb, Granville
Whorton, John
Wood, W. K.
Whorton, George
Wood, J. R.
Whipple, B. S.
Wood, C. C.
Wood, A. G.
Wood, J. G.
Whitehead, Job
Wood, J. S.
Wells, Chester
Wood, J. H.
Watkins, Sol.
Walker, Isaac
Wheeler, John
Willey, Dr. A. J.
Willhide, J. A.
Wier, W. A.
Wier, Francis
Wilkinson, D.
Wolf, Mr.
Wilkinson, Lyman
Wheeler, Tip
Wilkinson, John
Wilson, Wm.
Worrall, Shadrick
Wakefield, H. C.
Webb, S. S.
Wakefield, Mar.
Wheeler, Jacob
Weeks, Wier
Wheeler, George
Williams, Wallace
Wolfsburg, H. J.
Wiltse, W. B.
Y
Young, Sol. Y'azel, Mr.
Yazel, David Yelton, J. G. Yocum, G. P.
Z
Zenor, John Zenor, Wm.
Zenor, George B.
Zenor, Michael Zenor, Eli Zenor, J. J.
Zenor, James
HAVE WE PEAT IN STORY COUNTY?
Hon. H. M. Thompson, a former Superintendent of the Iowa State Agricultural Farm, a man of close observation, and was a Scotchman by birth, cut out and dried in blocks some of the loose rooty and mossy soil which he found on the Farmi on flat spongy land, and reported it, when dried, to burn equal to peat in Scotland. Mr. T. was a close observer of the Farm and its interests and was, I presume, correct in his conclusion in regard to peat. If his views were correct we have hundreds of acres of it in Story County. Mr. Thompson was from Scott County, Iowa, and had represented it in the General Assembly. If we have coal, timber and peat in Story County, what more do we need for fuel?
24
370
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
POPULAR AND ELECTORIAL VOTES FOR PRESIDENT FROM 1824 TO 1884, INCLUSIVE.
Yr.
Candidates.
Party.
Vote.
Elect'l Vote.
1824 Andrew Jackson.
Democrat.
152.872
99
1824 John Q. Adams.
Federal.
105,321
84
1824 W. H. Crawford
Republican ..
44,282
41
1824 Henry Clay . ..
Republican.
₹46,587
37
1828 Andrew Jackson.
Democrat
647,231
178
1828 John Q. Adams .
Federal
509,097
83
1832 Andrew Jackson.
Democrat.
687,502
219
1832 Henry Clay
Whig
530,189
49
1832 Win. Wirt.
Whig
7
1832 John Floyd ..
Whig.
11
1836 Martin Van Buren
Democrat
761,549
170
1836 W. H. Harrison.
Whig.
73
1836 Hugh L. White
Whig.
736,656
14
1836 W. P. Mangum
Whig.
1840 W. H. Harrison
Whig.
1,275,017
234
1840 Martin Van Buren.
Democrat.
1,128,702
48
1840 James G. Birney
Liberal.
7,059
1844 James Knox Polk.
Democrat.
1,377,243
170
1844 Henry Clay. .
Whig
1,299,068
105
1844 James G. Birney
Free Soil.
62,300
1848 Zachary Taylor. . .
Whig
1,360,101
163
1848 Lewis Cass. .
Democrat
1,220,544
127
1852 Franklin Pierce.
Democrat
1,601,474
254
1852 Winfield Scott.
Whig.
1,386,578
42
1852 John P. Hale.
Free Soil.
156,149
1856 James Buchanan
Democrat.
1,838,169
174
1856 John Charles Fremont.
Republican
1,341,262
114
1856. Millard Fillmore ..
American
874,534
8
1860 Abraham Lincoln ...
Republican
1,866,352
180
1860 Stephen A. Douglass.
Democrat.
1,375,157
72
1860 John C. Beckenridge.
Democrat.
845,763
39
1860 John Bell. ..
Union
589,581
12
1864 Abraham Lincoln.
Republican ...
2,216,067
212
1864 Geo. B. McClelland.
Democrat.
1,808,725
21
1868 U. S. Grant.
Republican.
3,015,071
214
1868 Horatio Seymour
Democrat.
2,709.613
80
1872 U. S. Grant. .
Republican
3,597,070
286
1872 Horace Greeley
Liberal
2,834,079
1872 Charles O'Connor
Democrat
29,408
1876 R. B. Hayes.
Republican.
4,033,950
185
1876 Samel J. Tilden.
Democrat.
4,284,885
184
1876 Peter Cooper
Greenbacker
81,740
1876|Green Clay Smith
Prohibition.
9,522
1876 Scattering.
1880 James A. Garfeld.
Republican
4,441,233
214
1880 Winfield S. Hancock.
Democrat.
4,443,325
155
1880 James B. Weaver
Greenback.
314,324
1884 James G. Blaine.
Republican
4,848,334
182
1884 Grover Cleveland
Democrat ..
4,911.017
219
1884 Benj. F. Butler.
People's.
133,825
1884 John P. St. John.
Prohibition
151,809
26
1836 Daniel Webster
Whig
11
1848 Martin Van Buren
Free Soil
291,263
1872 James Black :
Temperance
5,608
2,636
Pop.
371
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
SALARIES OF OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES.
President, per year
$50,000
Vice-President .. 8,000
Secretary of State 8,000
Secretary of Treasury 8,000
Secretary of Interior 8,000
Secretary of Navy
8,000
Secretary of War. 8,000
Postmaster General . 8,000
Speaker House Representatives
8,000
United States Senators .
5,000
Representatives in Congress.
5,000
UNITED STATES MINISTERS TO
Peru
$10,000
Venezuela
7,500
Turkey
7,500
Norway .
7,500
Netherland
7,500
Denmark
5,000
Greece.
5,000
Uruguay
5,000
Portugal
5,000
Switzerland
5,000
Siberia .
4,000
England
17,500
Germany
17,500
France
17,500
Russia
17,500
China
12,000
Brazil
12,000
Spain
12,000
Japan 12,000
Mexico
12,000
Central America
10,000
Chili
10,000
JUDGES.
Chief Justice United States Supreme Court. $10,500
Associate Judges . 10,000
6,000
United States District Judges
to
5,000
Judge United States Court of Claims
4,500
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.
Superintendent Signal Service $ 4,000
Director of the Mint 4,500
United States Circuit Judges
3,500
372
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Superintendent Nautical Almanac 3,500
Commander of Marine Corps 3,500
Director Geological Surveys 6,000
Auditor Railroad Accounts.
5,000
Commissioner of Patents.
4,500
Commissioner of Pensions
3,600
66
Agricultural
3,000
Indian Affairs 3,000
Education 3.000
Superintendent of Census. 5,000
66 Naval Observatory 5,000
Commissioner General Land Office ..
4,000
FIRST STEAMBOAT AND LOCOMOTIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The first steamboat plied the Hudson in 1807, and was built by Robert Fulton. The first use of a locomotive in the United States was in 1831.
REMEDIES FOR BURNS AND SCALDS.
Every family should have a preparation of linseed oil and lime water, about the consistency of thick paint, constantly on hand for burns and scalds. The best application in case of burns and scalds is a mixture of one part of carbolic acid to eight parts of olive oil. Lint or linen rags are to be saturated in the lotion, and spread smoothly over the burnt part, which should then be covered with oil silk or gutta percha tissue to exclude air.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF MASON AND DIXON'S LINE.
A name given to the southern boundary line of the "free State of Pennsylvania," which formerly separated it from the slave States of Maryland and Virginia. It was surveyed-with the ex- ception of about twenty-two miles-by Charles Mason and Jere- miah Dixon, two English mathematicians and surveyors, between November 15, 1763, and December 26, 1767. During the exciting debate in Congress, in 1820, on the question of excluding slavery from Missouri, the eccentric John Randolph, of Roanoke, made great use of this phrase, which was caught up and re-echoed by all, or nearly all, the newspapers in the country, and thus gained a celebrity which it still retains.
-
373
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
At end of first year, the cotton wedding.
At end of second year, the paper wedding.
At end of third year, the leather wedding.
At end of fifth year, the wooden wedding. At end of seventh year, the woolen wedding.
At end of tenth year, the tin wedding.
At end of twelfth year, the silk and fine linen wedding.
At end of fifteenth year, the crystal wedding.
At end of twentieth year, the China wedding.
At end of twenty-fifth year, the silver wedding.
At end of thirtieth year, the pearl wedding.
At end of fortieth year, the ruby wedding.
At end of fiftieth year, the golden wedding.
At end of seventy-fifth year, the diamond wedding.
NICKNAMES OF STATES AND CITIES.
Bayou State-The name sometimes given to the State of Missis- sippi, which abounds in bayous or creeks.
Bear State -- A name by which the State of Arkansas is some- ‹ times designated, on account of the number of bears that formerly infested its forests.
Badger State-A name popularly given to the State of Wiscon- sin.
Bay State-A popular name of Massachusetts, which, previous to the adoption of the Federal Constitution, was called the Colony of Massachusetts Bay.
Creole State-A name sometimes given to the State of Louis- iana, in which the descendants of the original French and Span- ish settlers constitute a large portion of the population.
Diamond State-A name sometimes given to the State of Dela- ware, from its small size and great worth or supposed importance.
Excelsior State, or Empire State-"Excelsior" is the motto upon its coat of arms; a popular name of the State of New York, the most populous and wealthiest State in the Union.
Freestone State-The State of Connecticut, sometimes so called from the quarries of freestone which it contains.
Green Mountain State-A popular name for the State of Ver- mont, the Green Mountains being the principal mountain range in the State.
Granite State-A name for the State of New Hampshire, the mountainous portions of which are largely composed of granite.
Hoosier State-The State of Indiana, the inhabitants of which are often called Hoosiers. This word had its origin from "husher," formerly a common term for a bully, and throughout the West.
Hawkeye State-The State of Iowa; said to be so named for an Indian chief, who was once a terror to voyagers to its borders.
374
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Keystone State-The State of Pennsylvania; so called from its having been the central State of the Union at the time of the for- mation of the Constitution. If to arrange the thirteen original States in the form of an arch, Pennsylvania will occupy the place of the keystone.
Lumber State-A name sometimes given to the State of Maine, the inhabitants of which are largely engaged in the lumber busi- ness, cutting and rafting from the pineries.
Lake State-A name given to the State of Michigan, which bor- ders on the four lakes, Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie.
Lone Star State-The State of Texas; so called from the device on its coat of arms.
Mother of States, Mother of Presidents, Old Dominion-A name sometimes given to Virginia, the first settled in the United States, and sometimes called "Mother of Presidents," as it has furnished six Presidents to the Union.
Palmetto State-The State of South Carolina; so called from the arms of the State, which contain a palmetto.
Peninsular State-The State of Florida; so called from its shape.
Pine Tree State-A name given to the State of Maine, the cen- tral and northern portions of which are covered with extensive pine forests.
Prairie State-A name given to Illinois, in allusion to its exten- sive and beautiful prairies.
Turpentine State-A name given to the State of North Caro- lina, which produces and exports immense quantities of turpen- tine.
Nutmeg State-A name in the United States given to Connecti- cut, the inhabitants of which have such a reputation for shrewd- ness that they have been jocosely accused of selling wooden nut- megs for the genuine.
Old Colony-A name given to that portion of Massachusetts included within the original limits of the Plymouth Colony, which was formed at an earlier date than the Colony of Massachusetts Bay.
Old North State-A popular name for the State of North Caro- lina.
NICK OR POPULAR NAMES OF CITIES.
City of Churches-A name given to the city of Brooklyn, New York, from the unusually large number of churches in it.
Bluff City-A name given to the city of Hannibal, Missouri.
City of Brotherly Love-Philadelphia is sometimes so called, this being the literal significance of the name.
City of Elms-A familiar name of New Haven, Connecticut. Many of the streets are thickly shaded with lofty elms.
City of Magnificent Distances -- A name popularly given to the city of Washington, capital of the United States, laid out to cover a space of four and one-half miles long and two miles and a half wide, or eleven square miles.
375
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
City of Spindles-A name given to the city of Lowell, Mass., the largest cotton manufacturing town in the United States.
City of the Straits-A name given to Detroit, Mich., which is situated on the west bank of the river or strait connecting Lake St. Clair with Lake Erie. Detroit, a French word, means "strait."
City of Notions-Boston, Mass., the metropolis of Yankeedom. City of Rocks-A descriptive name given to the city of Nash- ville, Tenn.
Crescent City-A name given to the city of New Orleans, the older, portion of which is built around the convex side of a bend of the Mississippi River.
Empire City-The city of New York, the chief city of the United States.
Fall City-Louisville, Ky .; so called from the falls which at this place impede the navigation of the Ohio River.
Flour City-A name given to the city of Rochester, N. Y., a place remarkable for its extensive manufactories of flour.
Flower City-Springfield, Ill., the capital of the State, which is distinguished for the beauty of its surroundings.
Forest City-1. Cleveland, Ohio; so called from the many orna- mental trees which border the streets of the city.
Forest City -- 2. A name given to Portland, Maine, distinguished for its many elms and other beautiful shade trees.
Gotham-A name for the city of New York.
Hub of the Universe-A burlesque name on Boston, Mass., originating with the American humorist, O. W. Holmes.
Garden City-A popular name for Chicago, a city remarkable for the number and beauty of its private gardens.
Garden of the West-A name sometimes given to Kansas, some- times to Illinois, and sometimes to Iowa, and other parts of the West.
Gate City-Keokuk, Iowa; so called from its situation at the foot of the lower rapids of the Mississippi River.
Iron City-A name given to Pittsburg, Pa., for its great iron manufactories.
Monumental City-The city of Baltimore, so called from its monuments.
Mound City-A name sometimes given to St. Louis, Mo., on account of the numerous artificial mounds on which it was built.
Puritan City-A name sometimes given to the city of Boston, Mass., in allusion to the character of its founders and early inhab- itants.
Railroad City-Indianapolis, Indiana, is sometimes called by this name as being the end or terminus of many railroads.
Smoky City-A name sometimes given to Pittsburg, Pa., an im- portant manufacturing city in iron, nails, etc., etc.
Quaker City-A name given to Philadelphia, Pa., which was planned and settled by William Penn.
376
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Queen City-A popular name given Cincinnati; so called when it was the commercial city of the West.
Queen City of the Lakes-A name sometimes given to the city of Buffalo, New York, from its position and importance.
THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
Pyramids of Egypt.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Tower, Walls and Terrace.
Statue of Jupiter Olympus, on the Capitoline Hill, at Rome. Temple of Diana at Ephesus.
Pharos, or Watch Tower, at Alexandria, Egypt.
Colossus of Rhodes, a statue 105 feet high, overthrown by an earthquake 224 B. C.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a Grecian-Persian city in Asia Minor.
THE FIRST STAKE ON THE COLLEGE FARM.
About the year 1860, the College Farm House site was fixed by Mr. Suel Foster, of Muscatine County, and Daniel McCarthy, of Story County. Mr. Foster was one of the locating Trustees and had desired to meet Mr. E. G. Day, also a locating Trustee, on the Farm so they could select the site for the Farm House and the barn. Mr. Day did not appear. Mr. McCarthy, I. believe, had a compass and met with Mr. Foster, and they scared up a surveyor's chain or tape line and went to work fixing the site for the house. It became the arduous duty of Esq. Daniel to drive the first stake on the Farm, looking to its improvement.
I was acquainted, somewhat, with the surveyor who gave the bearings for the foundation wall of the College building. Also am acquainted with the surveyor who fixed and recorded the corners of the Farm by request of Hon. H. M. Thompson, of Scott County, superintendent of the Farm.
Mr. McCarthy is one of those who aided the Farm location by donating seventy-five dollars for that purpose. He was far from being alone in the donations. (There were lots of us in that boat.)
The County gave $10,000; citizens of Boone and Story counties gave in money and subscriptions $5,340; the citizens of the two counties gave 981 acres of land, deeded, and bonds, making, at five dollars per acre, $4,905. The total loomed up to $20,245. This was surely liberal. Boone shares with us in this liberality. Hon. John A. Hull, Hon. J. L. Dana, Mr. W. J. Graham, Hon. G. M. Maxwell and others were active and energetic workers. Dana was, perhaps, the most energetic except Graham.
About the time Squire Daniel McCarthy secured the honor of driving that "first stake on the Farm," Mr. Foster secured the honor of beating the mail hack to Nevada, from Des Moines-both
377
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
leaving Des Moines about the same time. Mr. Foster, of course, was on foot. The roads were nearly impassable. But Suel Foster had the grit and nerve to undertake just such a trip, when business called, and did not scare at a little mud on his boots. Foster and Day voted for the location of the Farm in Story County. They were good men; but both have left us and have " passed over the river."
CLOSING REMARKS.
NOW AND THEN.
There are many excellent improvements all over the County that I did not get to see. I have not any doubt of this fact .- None at all. It is true, however, that what I did see far exceeded my ex- pectations. Just to think of the changes made since 1853-4-5, and up to 1860! Why, it is marvelous!
The writer hereof is one of many others in the County who have been permitted to gaze on the wild expanse of prairie, thirty and thirty-four years ago, when there was nothing to disturb the grass but wolves, cranes, geese, ducks and prairie chickens. True, there were a few straggling Indians, and the business of some of them was to herd or drive away the few deer and elk we had then on the prairies. But now what is our situation in the close of 1886? The prairies are now changed to magnificent grain fields, pastures, orchards, hedges, etc. Fine dwellings and splendid barns, good churches and good school houses are seen in every direction. In- numerable cultivated groves of timber are now found to dot the prairies in every direction.
We now have in Story County four good railroads-three run- ning east and west and one running north and south through the County, giving us seventeen railroad towns in the County, and eighteen postoffices-all on railroads except Iowa Center. We have two Presidential postoffices-Ames and Nevada-in the County. Such postmasters are nominated by the President and confirmed or rejected by the United States Senate. Postmasters not receiving $1,000 per year are appointed by the Postmaster-gen- eral.
We now have trading points all around us, and we ship large quantities of grain, live stock, poultry, eggs, butter, etc., from our County. We have ten money order offices in the County, viz .: Nevada, Ames, Collins, Cambridge, Colo, Maxwell, Roland, Shel- dahl, Story City and Zearing. The postoffice now at Sheldahl really is in Polk County, but has been in Story County.
We have two steam-power presses in the County-one used by the Highway Press, of Nevada, the other by J. E. Duncan, of the
378
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Ames Intelligencer. We have in all seven presses, and have seven papers published, weekly, in the County; one at Maxwell, one at Cambridge, one at Ames, one at Story City and three at Nevada. We now have a postoffice at Sheldahl Crossing-April, 1887. Of the postoffices that are of the past, I will name: Camden, Goshen, Johnson Grove, Point Palestine, Willow Grove, New Philadelphia, College Farm and Boardman.
We now have near or quite forty-one church buildings in the County, and a membership of nearly or quite 4,000 members.
We have about seventy organized Sabbath schools. We have 135 or more school houses, besides the nine High or Graded school buildings and the "Iowa State Agricultural College." There are several common school buildings, substantial brick structures.
The High School buildings at Nevada, Ames, Cambridge, Max- well are substantial houses, built of brick. The High School build- ing at Nevada, cost $22,000; the one at Ames cost $16,000.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.