USA > Iowa > Guthrie County > Centennial history of Guthrie county, Iowa > Part 11
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If we are ever inclined to be homesick, it is Saturday eve- ning, when the week's duties are done, and we have a moment to give to the indulgence of reveries, wherein child-
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hood's home, absent loved ones, and far away scenes take the place of reality. Thus indulging, we were leisurely tracing our way homeward, when "Home, Sweet Home " in the very style to suit our mood, came floating gently down to us from the Silver Cornet Band. This band was organized in 1872, the citizens subscribing from $150 to $200, brass instruments being purchased at the time. In 1875 the band purchased silver instruments, at a cost of from $600 to $700. Upon the organization of the band J. T. Montgomery was elected leader, which position he has ever since held. At the outset, not one of them, unless it was the leader, could play a tune correctly; now they fur- nish music for the neighboring towns, going as far, upon one occasion, at least, as Illinois. To illustrate the pro- ficiency they have made in so short a time, as their invita- tion to Illinois would indicate, we will tell you a little story. The next day after the burning of the flouring mill, two suspicious looking men were arrested and tried before 'Squire Moulton; Captain Stuart acting as prosecutor. It was alleged they were seen lurking near the mill the eve- ning previous, and they were trying to prove an alibi. They asserted that they were in the grove north of town, at the time indicated, and the Captain asked them who else was there. They answered, "the band." "What were they playing?" queried he, "Coming Through the Rye," promptly answered the witness. "That's so; I've no more questions to ask." Some one wanted to know of Mr. S. why he accepted that answer as final. "Oh, I know its true, for that's all they can play."
Monday morning we went to school, to the new school house, a fine brick building, 48x54 ft., two stories high, besides a high basement, with five ordinary school rooms and two recitation rooms. It was built in 1875 by Mr. Corry, and is the best building in the county, and much better than those usually built by towns, the size of Stuart. Cost of the building, $11,000. Stuart was made an inde- pendent district in the spring of 1872, and the first school
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board elected was J. W. Hayes, president, J. E. Gharrett, J. Wolfinger, C. Green and Wm. Leach. To go back to the early times, the first school house built here was in 1870, by Kenworthy and Stuart, and when this sub-district was organized, the school district bought it of them. Be- sides this house, we had a school over McCann's (now Ryan's) store, and finally we used the Christian Church for another school room, and when they all "ran over " we built the present house of which we are justly proud. We have two hundred and seventy-four pupils enrolled, five teachers, with Prof. J. T. Marvin as principal. Mr. Marvin is a native of Oneida county, New York; was educated at Grinnell and at the University at Iowa City.
In room No. 4, we found Miss Eva Blanchard, surrounded by a happy little group, who seemed perfectly at home-a good sign in a school room. Miss Blanchard was born at Ft. Covington, New York, and educated at Ft. Covington Seminary.
Miss Ellen P. Hall, a native of Osceola, Stark county, Illinois, and educated at Rockford Seminary, presides, with a graceful dignity, over No. 3.
Miss E. J. Decker, in No. 2, was born at Aurora, N. Y. and educated at Aurora Seminary.
Miss Ida B. Crockett, in No. 1, is a native of Kittery, Maine, and was educated at the Illinois Normal at Engle- wood. Miss Crockett is a daughter of J. G. Crockett, fore- man of the railroad shops, and has been a resident of Stuart for the past five years, except when away at school.
The present is a very efficient corps of teachers, and are doing a good work for Stuart. They have the encourage- ment so necessary to teachers, in the knowledge that their efforts are appreciated. Prof. Marvin has, with the assis- tance of his pupils, started a nice library, having already between twenty and thirty volumes. The present school board is comprised of the following named gentlemen: W. P. Moulton, president, O. B. Ward, M. Ryan, James Laird,
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and J. E. Sidebotham. Charles Berner, treasurer; D. Felgar, secretary.
Speaking of teachers, we found three music teachers; Mrs. Wick, Miss Piper, and Miss Savage, of Elmira, N. Y., a sister to A. H. and A. A. Savage.
We next interviewed the Lecture Association. B. S. Adams, president; D. Felgar, secretary; W. P. Moulton, J. B. Blanchard and J. Tennant, executive committee. This Association was organized in the fall of 1875, and has fur- nished Stuart with entertainments she otherwise would have lacked.
Next, in perfect Madam Grundy style, we sought to acquaint ourselves with the antecedents and business of our physicians. We first called upon Dr. Le Roy, he being our oldest acquaintance in the fraternity, having known him for the last seven years. The Doctor came to Guthrie county in the fall of 1869, locating at Panora, but removing to Stuart in 1870, having previously practiced his profession in Buffalo, N. Y., and Davenport, Iowa. Since his removal to this county he has twice had the western fever, and has lived (engaged in the practice of medicine) in Council Bluffs, Iowa, St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Deigo, Southern California. Iowa appeared to be his destined home, and he has, at last, permanently located in in the town of Stuart, where he has erected one of the finest brick drug stores in Western Iowa. The Doctor was born in Ohio, and studied his profession in the city of Dublin, Ireland. His experience in the treatment of all classes of diseases, is quite extensive, having had sixteen years prac- tice in various towns and cities in the United States.
The first physician in Stuart was a Dr. Horton, who practiced here a short time, when he sold out to Dr. Dosh, who came here in May, 1870, from Davenport. The Doctor was born in New York, and was educated in his profession at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He commenced the practice of his profession in Stuart, where he has resided ever since; he is our pioneer doctor. In October, 1875, Dr. Dosh
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associated with himself in the practice of medicine, Dr. J. H. Kersey, who is a native of Hendricks county, Indiana, and received his academic education at Spring School, In- diana; his medical education at Ann Arbor and Bellevue, New York. The Doctor came to Dallas county in 1869, and to Guthrie in October, 1875.
Dr. W. H. H. Crandall commenced the practice of medi- cine at Windsor, Brown county, New York, in 1840. In 1843 he went to Pennsylvania where he continued in con- stant practice until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he went into the United States service. In 1863 he was dis- charged on account of disability, caused by over-work in the field. The Doctor came to Des Moines, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1864, and to Stuart in 1874. He is a thorough reformer, having been one of the first members of the United States Reform Association. The Doctor has manufactured as well as used the "new remedies " for thirty years.
Dr. D. Beach, a native of Ohio, was educated at Keokuk, Iowa. He came to Des Moines in 1859, where he practiced medicine for fifteen years. He came to Stuart in 1874, and expects to remain here. Previous to his coming to Des Moines, he spent six years in California. The Doctor's office is on Nassau street, between Division and Tremont.
Dr. James E. Roper was born in Edgefield district, S. C .; was educated at S. B. M. College, at Macon, Georgia. Came to Iowa in 1869, and to Stuart in 1874. The doctor has practiced his profession for thirty-three years.
Our researches among the attorneys of Stuart, elicited the following information: Charles Haden, Esq., whom we found at home, up stairs, one door east of the post-office, was born and educated on Nantucket Island. He came to Guthrie county on the 4th of October, 1875, in a most violent rain storm. At that time there was but one other lawyer in the county, Col. Nichols. In 1860, when the county seat was removed to Guthrie Centre, Mr. Haden fol- lowed it, and when it returned to Panora, in 1862, re-
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turned with it; where he remained until 1857, when he came to Stuart. Previous to his coming to Iowa, he practiced law in Indiana. Mr. Haden, coming to Guthrie county in her infancy, identified himself with her interests, and he is entitled to much credit for the persistency with which he has worked for her good.
E. R. Fogg was born at Stetson, Maine; was educated at East Maine Conference Seminary ; came to Panora in August, 1865. In 1867 he was married to Miss C. Mount. In 1872 he went to Council Bluffs, where he remained but a short time; in the fall of the same year he turned his face eastward, and stopped at Stuart; where he has remained ever since. Mr. Fogg is Stuart's oldest lawyer, and practi- cally her first. A man whose name I have forgotten and cannot learn, came here to practice law, but for some unac- countable reason, left town clandestinely. This was previ- ous to Mr. Fogg's coming.
C. S. Fogg was born at Stetson, Maine; was educated at Bucksport, Maine, and also graduated in the law depart- ment of the Iowa State University. Mr. Fogg practiced his profession a short time in Panora, and came to Stuart in September, 1872. His office is on Division street.
B. S. Adams is a native of Pennsylvania ; was educated at Davenport, where he commenced the practice of law. He came to Guthrie county in 1868, settling at Panora, where he remained five years. He came to Stuart in 1873.
West of J. P. McQuistion's dry goods store, there was built in March, 1876, a new office 16x40 feet, one and a half stories high. This is the office of the new law firm-Messrs. Tait & Failor -- who came here from Newton, January, 1876. Mr. Tait, a native of Ohio, was educated at Mount Union College, Ohio. Mr. B. F. Failor, also a native of Ohio, was educated at Wettenburg, same State.
" Well," exclaimed my friend Isaac, as we came down from this last office; "I enjoy these visits, but I'd like to
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know how many more lawyers we are going to see?" "We have but one more-Col. Raney-but we will see him when we go the Register office." " We've not been to the black- smiths' yet." "Well, we will go and see one of the old settlers first; I mean D. Hardy, on Division street, who came to Guthrie county in 1855. In May, 1855, he started a black- smith shop in Panora, and with the exception of the time he was in the army, (of which we will speak in another chapter,) he has plied his trade and is said to be one of the best mechanics in the business. Mr. Hardy came to Stuart in 1871.
On the same street, south of Nassau, we found Mr. Nel- son, blacksmith and wagon maker, who came to Stuart in November, 1874. Mr. Nelson runs a steam emery wheel for polishing plows, &c.
Mr. Williams, on west Division street, and F. Orbit, on Nassau, commenced business, respectively, in 1874 and 1875.
Mr. Middleton, on the south side, and Messrs. Rodecker & Pearson, finish the list of blacksmiths. I believe we have been everywhere but to the printing offices and the cemetery. We will first go and visit the Locomotive office on Division street, south side. The Stuart Locomotive was founded in January, 1871, by H. O. Hall, and sold to Capt. Stuart in the fall of 1872. The first year of Mr. Stuart's proprietor-
ship, Chas. Morris edited the paper. In November, 1873, J. J. Flynn took editorial control of the paper. The Loco- motive has a circulation of 1,000; is the official paper of Adair county, and has a large circulation in Guthrie county. The office is supplied with good newspaper and job presses. Another fixture of the office is Mr. John Thode, foreman, who commenced with the foundation of the paper and has faithfully " staid by " ever since. Mr. Flynn, editor, was born at Saratoga Springs, New York; was left an orphan at the age of three years. At thirteen years of age he went to live with the Hon. John Conklin, cousin to Hon. Roscoe, with whom he commenced his education, having the advantage
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of an extensive library. He continued his studies at Ver- mont Conference Seminary; came west and taught school one year, and finally graduated at North Western Univer- sity, Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Flynn came to Stuart in the spring of 1873, taught school during the summer and fall, and while his school was yet in session, took editorial con- tol of the Locomotive. He is also editor of the Greenfield Transcript, of which Chas. Stuart is proprietor.
My friends began to think me quite rude for quizzing people so, and had started down stairs while I stood gazing, transfixed, upon a genuine live curiosity. It was two huge objects, about the same size, connected by something that looked like a large wire, or stem, and surrounded by a halo -- no, that's not the word; let me see, it was an aura- no, that is not it either; well, it was a misty something, any way. I gave it a glance and involuntarily took a step backward, toward the door; I looked again and took another step; then I whispered to the editor: " Are you a materializing medium?" "Oh, no indeed; why?" "I thought the Siamese twins were dead." "Oh, yes; they've been dead a year or two." "Well, isn't that their ghost?" " That? oh, no; that is the old meerschaum and Jack Thode." It occurred to me just then, that our friends wanted to see me down stairs.
Our next " quizzing " place was the Register office. The Register was established in 1872 at Fontanelle, by Col. J. Raney, editor and proprietor, and moved to Stuart in October, 1875. Though the paper has been running here but six months, it already has a circulation of seven hund- red. A little historical sketch of the hand press used in this office, may not be uninteresting. In 1832, Rev. E. P. Lovejoy, brother to Hon. Owen Lovejoy, established at St. Louis, the St. Louis Observer, a religious paper, which was fearless and out-spoken, against all wrong-doing; the injustice and impolicy of slavery, received its full share of attention, and the paper was consequently called by its enemies, an abolition paper. In 1836,-St.
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Louis having become a very uncomfortable place for him --- he went to Alton, Illinois, and continued the publication of the Observer (changing the name to " The Alton Observer"). Amid the revilings and insults of his enemies, and the per- sonal violence of infuriated mobs, he continued to edit the paper until the 17th of August, 1837, having, during this time, had three presses destroyed by pro-slavery mobs. He went to Cincinnati and purchased another press, which arrived at Alton on the 6th of November, and was guarded that night by the mayor and others; but on the night of the 7th, the warehouse wherein it was stored, and which was guarded inside by Mr. Lovejoy and a few friends, was sur- surrounded by a mob, who, seeing no other way to accom- plish their fiendish purpose of destroying the press and types, set fire to the building, murdered Lovejoy and several others, by shooting, and threw the press into the river. This same press was afterwards fished out of the river, cleaned, up and brought to Washington, Iowa. It has changed hands a great many times, and finally "brought up" in the Adair Register office, and was brought to Stuart by Col. Raney when he moved the paper here in 1875. Besides possessing historical interest, it is the oldest press in the State. Col. Raney was born in Tennessee, and educated at Wabash College, Indiana. He followed the trade of carpenter and builder for several years in New York, and finally moved to Joe Davis county, Illinois; where, in May, 1861, he enlisted in the United States service, as Captain of Co. E., 15th Ill. Inf. For meritorious conduct at Pittsburg Landing, April 6th and 7th, 1862, he was promoted to Major. In November, the same year,he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and to Colonel by brevet in September, 1865, having served during the entire war. The Colonel came to Adair county in 1866, practiced law two years, was- chosen Clerk of the Court, which position he occupied four years. In April, 1876, he sold the Register to Mr. Charles R. Wright. Mr. Wright was born near Hagerstown, Md., in October, 1844. In December, 1860 he removed to Ohio,
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and in 1861 enlisted in the United States service in the 25th Ohio Infantry, and served in the ranks until the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863, at which battle he was wounded and remained in hospital until December, 1863. On the 25th of December, he was commissioned by President Lin- coln as A. Q. M., and ordered to duty on Morris Island, S. C. In March, was ordered to Jacksonville, Florida, where he remained until February, 1865. In 1872 he came to Davenport, Iowa, and for nearly a year worked as a com- positor in the Gazette office. From Davenport he removed to Adel, Dallas county, in 1873; since which time he has been employed as mechanical manager of the Dallas County News and Dexter Herald. Mr. Wright has been engaged in the printing business nearly eighteen years, in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa.
Through the kindness of Mr. Corry we were shown what he calls his den, but it looked to us more like an artist's studio. There were ranged singly and in groups the fated family of Mr. J. T. Montgomery, done in oil, by Mr. Mont- gomery himself. That of his father is is a very good like- ness, while the expressive features of his lovely wife, gaz- ing admiringly upon her baby boy, are so true to life, you cannot but make her doleful fate seem a horrid nightmare, while you gaze through a misty veil at her real self. Mr. M's. master piece is the cluster of fruit in the corner. He has genuine talent, but lacks the opportunity to improve it. What he has done he has done unaided by masters, and in moments snatched from his hours of rest and recreation.
We have too, in Stuart, a poet and an elocutionist, of whom we will speak in another chapter.
As we are so near the Sheriff's office we will go up and ask him to furnish us the census of Stuart for 1875 and 1876. In 1875 the number of males was, 654; No. females, 504. Total, 1,15S.
In 1876 the No. of males was, 873; No. of females, 801. Total, 1,674. No. of children born in Stuart, 144. Total
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No. on the North Side, 1181. Total on the South Side, 493. Gain over census of 1875, 516.
Mr. J. Tennant, who furnished us these census items, came to Stuart in 1870, and was employed as fireman on the railroad. In August, 1872, he went with Wm. Maxwell to Texas, where he remained a short time. He, with the rest, who went at the same time, came home broken down in health, and did not recover from the Texas that he inhaled, imbibed and absorbed generally, for two or three years.
In 1876 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, with head- quarters at Stuart. In whatever place or occupation found, none more steadfast in principle, or truer to a trust assumed, than Judd Tennant.
As the Cemetery is the last place to which any of us wish to go, we drove out there after everything else of interest had been seen. We found it one mile northeast of town. in a beautiful grove of oak trees, high and dry, and a most lovely location for the purpose for which it is designed. Lovely, did I say ? Yes, lovely; for here in winter, the scraggy boughs, with their brown leaves, hold the pure mantle of snow, from "trailing" in the earth, and when spring time comes, the wild flowers spring up and teach us a lesson of the universal resurrection. Here too, the happy wild birds may come and sing to us in our humble homes, and who may say we cannot hear them.
The Cemetery was named Oak Grove, from the oak trees which cover its gently sloping knolls. The first interment was that of Mr. A. P. Booth, who died in August, 1874. Mr. Booth was a native of England, and had been, for several years previous to his death, employed by the C., R. I. & P. Railroad Company.
In a short time after this the first grave was made in Oak Grove, another grave was made, and one of nature's love- liest children rests therein. Mrs. Clara, wife of Tommy Holmes, in her beauty and purity, with her life-work just begun, was called from love and duty, from wifehood and
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motherhood, from all that makes life grand and noble, and mourned and beloved by all who knew her, she rests in peace in her beautiful home. There are a great many graves here now, and while we wandered from one to another, we related the sad occurrences connected with the removal of some of these silent ones.
Never shall we forget the thrill of horror which ran through our community, on Saturday night, July 3, 1875, when messengers brought the news of the drowning of Mrs. J. T. Montgomery and two children, her father-in-law and a Mr. Baker. They had all been to a Fourth of July celebra- tion (the Fourth coming on Sunday, it was celebrated on Saturday) at Greenfield, Adair county, and were returning in the evening. They arrived at Middle river, just at dusk, and as they had had no trouble crossing in the morning, supposed it perfectly safe. There was no bridge at this place, so the river had to be forded. The terrible rain of the night previous had so swollen the stream as to make it extremely hazardous crossing, but Mr. Montgomery being fearless and rather daring, attempted the perilous feat. When midway of the stream, the wagon bed became de- tached and floated down stream, with all its precious freight, and all were lost save Mrs. John Montgomery and one of Mrs. J. T. Montgomery's children. J. T. Montgom- ery, husband of the unfortunate lady, had remained at Greenfield with the band, of which he is leader. The bodies were not recovered until Tuesday evening, when they were followed to Oak Grove by the largest concourse of people ever gathered together in the county.
Speaking of drowning reminds us; there have been four deaths by drowning in the railroad pond, west of town. In 1874 a boy by the name of Millis was drowned while bath- ing; in the summer of 1875 Sherman Smith was drowned in the same manner. Late in the autumn of 1875 two brothers-Sidebotham-were drowned while skating. The elder brother, a lad of fourteen, broke through the ice, and in his efforts to rescue him, the younger brother also went
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under, and both were drowned. It has been Mr. Thomas Hubbard's lot to assist in recovering each of these bodies. As this seems to be a recital of horrors, we will tell you of one more. In the fall of 1870 a Miss Jennie Swanson, while in a temporarily deranged state of mind, threw herself be- fore an approaching train, and was horribly mutilated, her head being severed from her body.
I think of still another, which however, did not terminate fatally. In the summer of 1872 Johnny Hayes was struck by a ball club, which slipped from the hands of Arthur Piatt, a school-mate. Though a severe surgical operation was had, and a three month's sickness followed the acci- dent, yet the little fellow bore it all bravely, recovered, and is now living in Chicago.
Lest I have overlooked any one, I will recapitulate and see. There are in Stuart, 2 hotels; 5 boarding houses; 1 bank; 2 lumber yards; 2 hardware stores; 4 drug stores; 7 grocery stores; 3 meat markets; 2 bakeries and restau- rants; 2 shoe stores; 2 clothing stores; 3 milliners; 3 jewel- ers; 2 carriage and wagon shops; 5 blacksmith shops; 2 harness and saddlery stores; 2 livery stables; 2 elevators; 1 steam flouring mill; 1 furniture store: 3 music stores; 2 sewing machine rooms; 3 agricultural implement ware- houses; 5 dry goods stores; 1 feed store; 3 carpenters and builders, with about 50 assistants; 2 coal dealers; 2 tailors; 1 barber; 1 gunsmith; 5 billiard and other saloons; 5 drays and express wagons; 3 laundries; 1 boot black; 1 veterina- ry surgeon; 1 auctioneer; 2 brick makers; 4 live stock dealers; 2 telegraph offices; 2 halls; 5 churches; 1 school house; 3 ministers; 6 lawyers; 7 physicians; 1 dentist; 5 real estate dealers; 3 insurance agents; 5 school teachers; 3 music teachers; 2 secret societies; 2 news papers; 2 libra- ries; 1 silver cornet band; 1 photographer; a lecture asso- ciation; post office, and cemetery. We have besides a deputy sheriff, a poet, a painter and elocutionist. The railroad shops; several coal banks near town, which furn- ish a very fine article of coal, 2 milk wagons and a brew-
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ery, I believe complete the list. This, when we consider that it is but just seven years since the first house was built in Stuart, is an excellent showing.
Note .- Stuart was " written up " in February and Marcli, and there have been several changes in the business houses which I will note briefly.
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