USA > Iowa > Story County > A history of Story county, Iowa: Carefully compiled, from the earliest settlement to the present, March 1, 1887. > Part 36
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We now have five flouring mills of good quality making good flour. We have some others, but of inferior quality. We have now seven or eight tile factories; we have six or seven creameries. We have a good foundry, doing an extensive business. We have now in Story County a population of about 20,000 persons. We also have good schools, probably no better in any county in Iowa. We have a county of good and productive soil. For stock raising and shipping our products of all kinds, we are at home. We have an enterprising and happy people. We have a county that is loyal to our laws with but few exceptions. We gave on the twenty- seventh of June, 1882, 1,921 votes for the "Prohibitory Amend- ment to the constitution of Iowa," and only 553 votes against it. This vote would seem to indicate something of our moral standing. Good for Story !
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But now I will connect this prosperous condition with the hard- ships of 1853 to 1860 we had to undergo, and it will make a complete contrast in our history. As already said in this chapter, and elsewhere, we've seen the bleak prairies, the wolf, the "Injun" and the "Elephant," (or that other animal,) but will enumerate some things we done in the early times. We eat up our money, what little we had, by sending teams and our money for corn, flour and bacon to Oskaloosa, Pella, Iowa City and elsewhere. The teams, after sloughing down many times, would get back with something to eat, but the money did not return. So we eat our money in that way when we had any to eat. Why those who came here since the war commenced and who are complaining of hard times, such know but little of hard times such as the early settlers can tell what we had to endure then. We had in 1854 a population of 836 per- sons-403 of them females. In 1860 we had 4,051 population, 1,955 were females. In 1870 the population was 11,651. In 1880, 16,906. At the present time it will nearly or quite reach 20,000.
But I will get back to 1853 and to 1860. We then had trouble to get away with teams, and trouble to get back again. You would
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
think so to hear those who tried it to tell about getting sloughed (slooed) down nearly a dozen times, and have to unload the best they could, getting to Marietta, Marshalltown, Newton or Des Moines; for we had but few or no bridges then, and yet we had bad roads. Now all our streams have good bridges and lots of them, and the roads are being made good. No trouble now, or but little.
The doleful story given refers to the time we were living under the "Old Dispensation." We will refer to the present prosperous condition of our people as under the "New Dispensation."
Just think back and compare then and now. Think of what we had to undergo from 1853 to 1860 with our present situation (1887) and then complain of hard times! In 1853 no railroad had crossed the Mississippi river. In 1856 the nearest railroad to us was 115 miles off. Now we have seventeen railroad stations in the county, and all around us. We who have seen the "Injun" and other animals, and can see the difference! We will be content with the past, and are willing others should try the adventurous curiosity in the future.
The description I have just given of hard times in the early times of our county I will strengthen my statement by saying that in the Story County Advocate of February 9, 1859, I find seven sheriff sale notices and three marshal sales in Story County, and yet the paper is nearly half gone at that. I have just examined some of our papers and find one sheriff sale for November, 1886. Ten in 1859, and ONE in 1886. And the population in 1859 was about 4,000; now, January 4, 1887, it will be from 18,000 to 20,000 per- sons. Turn to pages seven and eight of this history and you will learn the cause for an excited meeting of some of our best citizens of Story County, held January, 1858. O, let us not mur- mur so m-u-c-h now of hard times! Ask the old veterans of our early settlers if I have drawn the picture too dark.
Before closing I will say a little more as to the present. Our towns did more beautifying and painting houses and barns, with some exceptions, than any former year; but less valuable and substantial buildings than usual. There are, however, many new and valuable barns, and some fine dwellings, that were built in 1886 in different townships. I was pretty well over many of the townships and write from what I saw and gathered. I visited twenty-three cemeteries-all in the county except ten or twelve small ones. I presume the total dead of the county will reach 3,100. Yes, we go, one-by-one!
I will again say it is probable, very probable, there is no other county in Iowa, (age considered) to excel Story County in grand, substantial and valuable improvements. With a very productive soil, healthful climate, stirring farmers, and stock dealers, good mechanics, good schools, such as are number one anywhere, a mag- nificent Iowa Agricultural College and Farm, and several brick High School buildings, and one of the most beautiful Court Houses in the state; with four railroads and seventeen railroad stations, and eighteen post-offices, how is it possible we can be excelled.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Every. citizen has a market near his residence for anything he wishes to sell, or to buy; and we have a business firm in our midst of very great value to the whole county, and it is the business firm of
BOARDMAN BROS., OF NEVADA .-- A SUCCESS IN BUSINESS.
By referring to page 212 we find in 1882 the Boardman building and business very minutely described-a building exactly adapted to their extensive business. The business done by Boardman Bros. in the buying, packing and shipping poultry, eggs, butter, and other ship- ments, is very extensive, and is the means of giving employment to a large number of teamsters, buyers, pickers, packers, etc., and makes a big market for all such business all over the country, and is the means of bringing into our county an enormous amount of money per annum, when the business of Wingert & Riddlebarger and others are considered also in this traffic.
What other business is so full of relief to the masses of the peo- ple as this business for the amount invested ? Boardman Bros. are having constantly a large number employed, and are themselves energetic, thorough-going men-men who mean business. They are making a big business for Story County beyond question, and it is to be desired at the same time that they are doing well for Boardman Bros. This traffic has become a very important factor in the business of the country, and standing out so independently from any other, it has no competition from any other business of the farm products.
FIFTY OF THE LARGEST RESIDENT AND NON-RESI- DENT LAND HOLDERS OF STORY COUNTY.
The following list of names is of those who own or did own, four years ago, 400 acres or over in one or more townships of the County, as shown by Plat Book in the Auditor's office, in 1882. Some now own less, others own more than they did four years ago. Some new owners, doubtless, have come to the front since 1882. Some of those in the list are not residents of the County. A few of the largest land holders will be given, viz .; Hon. T. C. McCall, 2,587 acres; Mr. H. E. J. Boardman, of Marshall County, 2,570 acres; Ole Apland, (now dead), 1,586} acres; J. W. Ambrose, 1,380 acres, in 1882. Mr. Ambrose now (1887) owns about 1,297 acres in Story County; Judiah Ray, 1,177 acres; F. A. McLain, 1,200 acres; T. E. Alderman, 1,200 acres; J. D. Lahman, 1,070 acres; D. F. Lahman & Co., 1,045 acres; J. C. Mitchell, 1;083; James Dillon, 960 acres; W. K. Wood, 925 acres; M. C. Allen and M. E. Hix, 651 acres; J. H. Sinclair, 1,415; Wm. Fertig, 820 acres; A. Foust, 800 acres; S. Hix. 880 acres; G. W. Sowers, 770 acres; John Scott, 730 acres; John Waugh, 720 acres; E. Furnas, 711 acres; S. C. Wilkins, 719 acres; Wm. Golden, 680 acres; Rogers & Spinning, 751 acres; Tor-
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
kel Henryson, 740 acres; W. R. Doolittle. 720 acres; Robt. Rich- ardson, 780 acres; Abel Olsen, 663 acres; Jas. Smith, 640 acres; G. B. Richards, 600 acres; Addie Grimard, 600 acres; A. M. Norris, 680 acres; J. Feghtly, 589 acres; J. W. R. & J. C. Mason, 640 acres; J. L. Dana, 572 acres; Dan'l McCarthy, 560 acres; W. C. Huntington, 545; S. X. Oaks, 520 acres; Paul Thompson, 520 acres; Moses Dean, 501 acres; O. Briggs, 520 acres; W. H. Golley, 480 acres; M. Wilson, 494 acres; D. Danskin, 440 acres; R. H. Mitchell, 436 acres; Jas. Hawthorn, 414 acres; Nelson Perry, 480 acres; Frank Curtiss, 401; O. Shedahl, 400 acres.
TILE FACTORIES-ALL IN THE COUNTY.
The Nevada Tile Factory, run by Messrs. Lockridge & Beaty, is doing an extensive business. They make the estimate of the num- ber of tile that will be made from May 1st to December 1, 1886, at 600,000 tiles. This seems to be a big figure, but they are doing a big business.
Mr. Lyman and son are manufacturing extensively also, and esti- mate not less than 200,000 for the tile season. These two facto- ries make a good showing for Nevada in tiling.
Mr. R. R. Thompson's tile factory is a short distance east of Maxwell, and the reports from its yield in tile are surely very good. Mr. T. is one of our stirring men-full of energy. It is under- stood that he turns out not less than 250,000 tiles during the tiling season each year. This, for convenience we call the "Maxwell Tile Factory."
"The Clear Creek Tile Works," just west of the Agricultural College, seem to be doing good work. C. F. Mount is proprietor, but J. M. Stark is the manager. They manufacture about $4,000 worth during the tile season, and some 200,000 brick. "Clear Creek" is a misnomer. The true and original name of the creek on which this factory is situated is "Luther Creek." Many years ago. Mr. W. J. Graham, who resided where Mr. P. L. Porter after- wards lived, sometimes called it "Spring Creek." But "Luther" is the original name. We have a Clear Creek in Collins Township, and a Spring Branch in the southeast part of Grant Township. This mistake in the name will not affect the quality of the tile.
The Kelley Tile Factory, C. S. Giddings, proprietor; the first 500 brick made was on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1886.
Roland Tile Factory, near the southwest edge of town, is owned by Swenson, Thorson, & Co., and is doing a lively business in tile and brick manufacturing. They report 200,000 tile and 150,000 brick made during the season. This indicates thrift and stir in business.
Story City Tile Factory, by Butler & Peterson, but did not get a report from it.
382
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA. HISTORY OF THE MILLS OF THE COUNTY.
MILLS-FLOURING.
A good flouring mill and two elevators at Nevada.
During the summer and fall of 1867 there was an effort made to secure a good grist or flouring mill at Nevada. The writer hereof spent considerable time in working up a bonus of $2,000 subscribed to be given to any safe and responsible party who would guarantee to build a good flouring mill, and to be put in good running order. The time given in the offer expired, I think, at the end of one year from the time the offer was first made. A committee was ap- pointed at the following meeting for carrying out the proposition, as follows:
"MILL MEETING.
"The public who are interested in building a good grist mill in Nevada are requested to meet at the Court House this evening, August 5th, at the ringing of the bell, to consult on the matter. Two gentlemen from Marshalltown, practical millers, will be with us at the meeting. Let the people turn out."
Here follows the action of the meeting:
"Resolved, That W. G. Allen, Chairman; T. C. McCall, H. F. Murphy, J. H. Talbott and I. A. Ringheim be appointed by the donors as a committee to contract with any person or persons giv- ing satisfactory guaranty for the building of a good flouring mill at any point in Nevada, Story County, Iowa, where a sufficient quantity of water can be had at all times for the use of said mill.
* Said committee is hereby authorized to propose to the party building said mill a bonus not to exceed $2,000."
Well, the proposition was not accepted; but, but very soon after the offer expired, J. H. Talbott and E. G. Day added to their eleva- tor a set of burrs, which made very good flour; also for grinding corn. From that our excellent flouring mill of to-day had its ori- gin, now owned and operated by E. W. Lockwood & Son, and who have had control of it for many years.
AMES-FLOURING.
The flouring mill at Ames was built about 1873-was burnt in 1881, and rebuilt in 1882 by Haverly & Lanning, its present own- ers, assisted by citizens.
COL. SNYDER'S MILL AT SHELDAHL-STEAM POWER.
This flouring mill is said to have been a good mill and cost probably $4,000. It, however, was destroyed by fire about the twenty- fifth of December, 1886, and was surely a heavy loss to Col. Snyder. It is understood he is rebuilding it; in this he ought to have the assistance, (and perhaps he has,) of the citizens of Shel- dahl and the community.
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IOWA PRINTING CO'S OFFICE AND STEREOTYPING ROOM.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
CAMBRIDGE MILLS.
A good flouring mill and saw-mill combined, run by steam power, was erected in, or about, 1855. This was a very good and useful mill to many of us early settlers; and it is still a good mill-though some thirty-one years old. Dr. Grafton and Mr. J. Chandler had this mill erected. It is said to have cost, when fully completed, about $13,000. This mill was the best in the county. No other mill in Story County probably cost $13,000. It is claimed the Story City Mill cost more.
IOWA CENTER MILLS.
The first mill built here was by Messrs. Nathan Webb & Wood a short distance northeast of Iowa Center, at what was once called "Webb's Point." It was run by steam, and was erected in 1856. Was a flouring as well as a saw-mill. These mills were of great value. It finally passed into the possession of H. O. Ayers & Brother. It did a great deal of grinding and sawing, and was a special advantage to many in the early times. About 1869 it was taken down and moved away. The flouring mill in the south part of town is still doing a fair business. It was erected about the year 1856 or '57, and was a steam power mill. It was a flouring mill and a saw-mill combined-mostly a flouring business now.
I. Walker Corey built a corn cracker mill, to be run by water, on East Indian Creek, west of Iowa Center, and a short distance north of the bridge across the creek. It was a failure, and never done but little if any grinding.
A good flouring mill was built at Ontario about the year 1870, by I. B. Nelson & Seymore, and was run by steam power. It did excellent work; but Mr. I. B. Nelson, who owned it when it was moved, took it down in June, 1874, and took it to West Side, Iowa, where he put it up again; and at last account it was doing finely.
HANNUM'S MILL.
(Miller's in earlier times,) situated on Skunk River, on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 23, township 84, range 24, was a water and steam power mill, and did a great deal of work as a flouring mill and corn grinding. The main mill was moved in the year 1882 to Odebolt, Iowa. What was left of it is not of much value compared with what it had been. It also did considerable sawing as there was fair timber near by.
SOPER'S MILL.
Situated on Skunk River near the north quarter section corner of section 7, township 84, range 23, was built about 1862 by Thomas Hughes, and it did considerable business for a time in sawing. When first built it was a water power saw mill; and was for a time, when first built, called "Hughes' mill." This mill was
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386
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
first built about 1862, and it was re-modeled, or re-built, in 1871, by Mr. Soper. It is doing but little or nothing at this time. The dam is mostly gone, and seems to be neglected. This mill after being re-modeled did good work in making an excellent quality of flour for a considerable time, but it is now doing nothing.
SAW-MILLS.
Saw-mills were once abundant in Story County-some fifteen or eighteen in all, scattered over the south half and western part of the county. The water power saw-mills were as follows: one on East Indian Creek, built in 1855-6 by Samuel McDaniel, on the northwest quarter of section 23, township 83, range 22. It did not do a great deal of sawing, and yet it was quite an advantage to those improving in that vicinity. It finally became useless.
"CHANDLER'S SAW MILL"
was on Skunk River in, or at, the northeast corner of Cambridge, and was built in early times, 1853 or 1854, by Mr. Jairus Chandler. it was a water power saw-mill, and was built before the Grafton & Chandler flouring mill.
M'COWAN'S STEAM SAW-MILL
was in the western part of Iowa Center, but has been moved to Mingo Jasper County, Iowa. It was moved in April, 1886.
There was a steam saw-mill for a time on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 7, township 83, range 22; also one in the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 7, township 83, range 22, but remained only a short time, and did but little work.
THE ESQ. ROBINSON STEAM SAW-MILL
was situated on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29, township 83, range 22, and did quite a business for a year or two.
John Parker had a steam saw-mill near the east quarter section corner of section 14, township 83, range 22, which done a very fair business; but it was finally taken to the northeast quarter of sec- tion 6, township 82, range 23, at Womach's. It was placed on the west side of Skunk, and very close to the river in the northwest. corner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 82, range 23. It now is of the past; but in its time did a great deal of sawing.
The Hiestand Mill, a "Tread Mill" with an effort to use water power, was on Squaw Creek, and on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 33, township 84, range 24. It was built probably about the year 1855. It did only a small business-a "carding mill" and a saw mill. The dam washed out and the water power was a failure.
387
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
Thurman's Saw Mill, one-half a mile south of New Philadel- phia, was built July, 1856, by D. and H. McCarthy, and moved away, in 1864, and used as Burger's Mill, described elsewhere. The engine was brought from Fairview, in 1855 or 1856. It was placed on Luther Creek, and did a great deal of sawing while Thurman Bros. run it. It was steam power. D. & H. McCarthy, and Ross and Latham, run it a while before Thurman Bros. took it.
T. McNaughton's saw mill was about eighty rods north of the southeast corner of section 30, township 84, range 24, but did but little business. It was located on Onion Creek, and was run by water power. The impression is that it was taken to Ames by McNaughton and others about the year 1873, and changed into a flouring mill at Ames.
Burger's steam saw mill was on or near the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32, town- ship 84, range 24. It was built about 1864, but did not remain very long; but it done some sawing. The engine and machinery of this mill is said to be the same the Thurman Bros. had used. And it was the same used by Thos. McNaughton, after Burger had used it, on Onion Creek.
Guy's steam saw mill, near the east quarter section corner of section 26, township 82, range 21, did some sawing.
A water power saw mill at Fairview, (now recognized as Story City), was built by a Mr. Brown, but remained a very short time as the water power was not sufficient to run it. A steam saw mill was built by a Mr. House, in 1856. Remained a few weeks, and left in a hurry.
Scott and Stevens steam mill at Ames, was at the foot of the hill at the southeast side of Ames, and did a great deal of sawing while it remained. Was built about the year 1867 or 1868.
Corey's Mill, on Squaw Creek, was water power, and was on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 83, range 24. It was an early settler and did but little work.
The renowned "Smith's Mill" was situated on Long Dick's Creek, very near the interior center of section 18, township 85, range 23. For a full and amusing description of it see Ballard's account given in his "Early History of Howard and Lafayette Township."
We now notice Mr. Nellis' water power saw mill, on the west side of Skunk River, below the railroad crossing and only about one-third of a mile southeasterly from the Cambridge Depot. This mill now does considerable work in sawing. No others in tlie County, known to me, are doing a sawing business at this date, 1887, except Nellis' Mill-a regular sawing business is meant. .
388
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
GROVES.
There are about nine groves of native timber named in this county, viz., Center Grove once covered parts of sections 15, 22, 23, 25. 26 and 36, but much of the larger timber is gone; all in Union Township.
Ballard's Grove originally covered parts of sections 18 and 19 in Union Township; and parts of 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24 in Palestine Township. Ballard's Branch runs through the entire length of the grove. The timber once in this grove was, much of it, pretty good. It was named in honor of Mormon and Daniel Ballard, who were among the first settlers of Story County.
Walnut Grove originally covered parts of sections 1 and 2, in Palestine Township; and parts of sections 34, 35 and 36, in Wash- ington Township. This Grove also in earlier days had some valu- able timber; but some of it, it was said, as well as timber of other groves, emigrated to other countries. Walnut Creek runs through its entire length.
Worrall's Grove originally covered parts of sections 16, 17 and 18, in Washington Township. This Grove was named after an old and good citizen, named Shadrick Worrall, who was elected, April 4, 1853, as the first Coronor for Story County. This Grove in com- mon with the others shared a loss of timber. Worrall Creek passed through it and entered the flats of Squaw Fork.
Luther's Grove originally comprised parts of sections 4, 5 and 6, in Washington Township. Luther Creek passes through this grove. It once had some good timber in sections 4 and 5. This Grove and the Creek were named for a Mr. Luther, who in very early times lived in the grove, or owned a part of it.
Bear Grove covers part of the west half of section 28, in Howard Township. It received its name from the circumstance of a Mr. Smith, in early times, killing a black bear in or near it.
Spring Grove is or was a small patch of timber in the northeast quarter of section 5, township 84, range 23, on Bear Creek.
Johnson's Grove originally covered parts of sections 12, 13 and 24, in Richland Township. Much of the best timber, as in other groves, is gone. This Grove commences the head or upper timber of East Indian Creek.
Deer Grove once occupied some of sections 21 and 28, in Indian Creek Township. This grove never had a great deal of timber. I was in it 1854; and about the time the post-office was at Goshen where old Mr. Corey lived and who, I believe, was the postmaster at Goshen. The office was moved to fowa Center sometime after- . ward.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IOWA.
There were other projections and bodies of timber that might have been named "Groves," as well as some that were named. When looking on the County map you will find these groves as above named. A great deal of our large native timber that this County once had is now missing, and on the same lands in many places a valuable young growth is growing up. Our prairies are at this time being beautifully and profitably dotted over with many, many, artificial groves which, by the way, are not only beautiful but are very useful in many particulars.
STONE QUARRIES.
There was a quarry years ago about thirty rods southeast from the west quarter section corner of section 4, township 83, range 24, Washington Township.
Franklin Township is the best township for quarries. There is a good one on the west side of Skunk River on the southwest quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 13, township 84, range 24.
Quarries are found on sections 23, 25 and 26. There is a pretty good one about eighty rods east of the west quarter corner of sec- tion 23. Near the center of the northeast quarter section 26, and elsewhere in sections 23 and 26, township 84, range 24, quarries are found. It is thought there is a very good one on the southeast quarter of section 26, owned by Pressly R. Craig.
It is understood there is a quarry on the east half of section *32, or the west half of section 33, probably in the northwest quar- ter of section 33, township 84, range 24, is more definite.
In Milford Township there is one or more quarries in sections 6 and 7. At or near the north quarter corner of section 7 (and at Soper's Mill ) there is rock, and up the river sixty or one hundred rods north or northeasterly from the mill is the Sowers quarry; or it may be about 100 rods northwesterly from the Pleasant Grove church.
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