USA > Iowa > Guthrie County > Centennial history of Guthrie county, Iowa > Part 3
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
31
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
and Chas. Zinn, who were succeeded in 1867 by Zinn and Thompson. In 1872, Mr. Thompson went to St. Joseph; Mo., and returned to Panora in 1874, where he now is, engaged in the same business, which has increased largely, and is now in a very flourishing condition ; stock kept fully up to the time, and goods sold at popular prices.
In 1869, Chas. Woodworth succeeded V. M. Lahman in the dry goods business. In 1872, he erected a substantial brick building, and in 1873, took M. Woodworth as a part- . ner, and added to their stock hardware, groceries, clothing, and millinery. They then occupied three store rooms. In 1876, sold the grocery department to Trent Bros. They also sell agricultural implements.
J. J. Jones came to Panora in 1856, and went into the dry goods trade with Judge Bryan. He has alternated the business with farming ever since ; has been in the store since 1872.
In 1854, A. Saltzman came to Panora from Indiana, and commenced the manufacture of boots and shoes, which he continued until 1867, when he established a grocery store. In 1872, he was succeeded by Lahman and Saltzman, and retired for a short time, when he again went into business, which he expects to continue.
Lahman and Saltzman, grocers, on the corner of Main and Union streets, succeeded A. Saltzman in 1872 ; have built up a large grocery trade, and merit their success.
Trent Brothers, grocers, succeeded Woodworth Brothers in April, 1876. The Messrs. Trent are old settlers, having come to the county in 1856. Having been engaged in farm- ing, they are entitled to their share of credit in the develop- ment of Guthrie county.
The only furniture store in Panora is that of W. H. Burns, successor to the Panora Furniture Company, which he bought out in 1871, and built the house he now occupies. He carries a good stock, and is doing a good business. He also owns a farm of a half section two miles northeast of town. Mr. Burns, during the late war, served in the Ninth
32
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
N. Y. Regiment-Zouave-was wounded at Antietam, after which he was appointed lieutenant of a reserve corps.
Jackson and Garlow, hardware dealers, successors to J. L. Grace. This store was established in 1863 by William Maxwell, who was succeeded in 1865 by Maxwell and Brumbaugh, who in turn were succeeded by J. L. Grace, who sold to the present firm in 1875. Mr. Jackson is one of the long settlers. He came with his father, W. T. Jackson, in November, 1852. Mr. Jackson bought the present J. Cline farm of Judge Bryan. In 1853, he bought of Marshall Craig the farm where he now resides.
Panora has two drug stores. That of Pentecost and Hayden was established in July, 1868. In 1871, they built a good two story and basement frame building, 20x60 ft. They make use of the entire building, carrying the largest stock in the county. In the rear of the store they have an office, nicely fitted up, and which communicates with the bank. This is the oldest drug firm in the county.
In March, 1875, S. M. Curtis succeeded Dr. Gustine in the drug trade. The doctor opened the business in 1872.
Hart Roberts commenced manufacturing boots and shoes in 1868 ; put in a stock in September, 1875. Mr. Roberts came to Panora in 1856 with his father, Andrew Roberts, who was a Methodist minister. The building occupied by Mr. Roberts was put up in 1855 by A. Saltzman, and used as a shoe shop and dwelling ; size 16x16.
J. E. Wagner, boot and shoemaker, commenced business in 1869.
Jno. Wiedman came to Panora in December, 1868, and commenced the manufacture of boots and shoes : keeps a shop on the southeast corner of Main street.
A. McGrew, grocer, commenced in 1869, second door from the corner of Vine, on Main street.
Woodworth and Fountain, dressmakers, since May, -1876.
Mrs. S. J. Chase, millinery and notions, west of Court
33
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
House square, commenced in the fall of 1871. This is the only establishment of the kind in Panora.
Panora has one jeweler, A. G. Peck, who commenced in 1873.
She has four blacksmiths, L. Hogelin, already spoken of, Sylvester Jasinsky, who began in 1869 ; E. Warner, in the old Presbyterian church, in 1874 ; and I. Warner, carriage- maker and blacksmith, on the corner of Main and Vine street, in 1873.
WVm. Fisher, wagon maker, since 1867.
I. Deardorff, harness and saddlery, commenced in July, 1873.
The Roberts house was opened in the spring of 1864, by Philip Roberts, the present proprietor, and is the only hotel in town. This is head-quarters for all the hack lines-to Stuart, Guthrie Centre, Jefferson, Carrolton, Adel, and Perry. Mr. Roberts also keeps a livery and feed stable and several fast horses, the finest of which is Bashaw, or Guthrie Boy.
J. R. Powell, real estate agent, came to Panora in 1855, and opened a general store, in which he continued for three years, when he removed to Dallas county and went to farm- ing. In 1866, engaged in the real estate business ; came back to Panora in the spring of 1876, and continues in the same business.
Lewis Harvout, also a real estate dealer, came to Panora in May, 1854. The same year, was appointed Treasurer- and Recorder, to fill a vacancy. At the same time he taught the school (the second ever taught in Panora) at the enormous salary of $12.50 per month. He attended to the duties of the treasurer's office mornings, noons, evenings, and Saturdays (I am not informed how late he worked Saturday nights.) He taught the school for two or three years.
The Guthrie County Bank was organized in January, 1875, with S. D. Nichols, president ; L. J. Pentecost, cash- ier ; Geo. H. Moore, E. J. Reynolds, and O. B. Hayden,
34
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
directors. This bank is doing a prosperous business on a " solid basis." When a dividend is declared -- which is done every six months-the dividend at once becomes capi- tal. Nothing is ever taken cut, each member having ample means besides the bank. The president, Col. Nichols, was born in Middlesex county, N. J. Came to Guthrie county in 1857, and has practiced his profession-that of law. In 1866, he was elected District Attorney of this district. In the late war he served four years in the Fourth Iowa In- fantry, entering the service as lieutenant, and going through all the promotions up to colonel, which rank he held at the close of the war. He is our present State Senator, the first Guthrie county has had. By his untiring industry and close attention to business, he has acquired a large amount of property.
L. J. Pentecost is a native of Indiana ; came to Panora in 1868. Mr. Pentecost, too, served in the war of the rebel- lion, enlisting in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry in 1861 ; was wounded at the battle of Stone River. After he fell, the enemy fought over him all day, and supposing they "had him " any way, paid no particular attention to his removal. They left him a little too long, however, and our boys picked him up when the rebels were driven back. After this he was retained in the medical service in Nash- ville.
O. B. Hayden was born in Indiana, and educated at As- bury University ; came to Panora in July, 1868. He served in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry; enlisted as a private in 1863. In 1864, he was promoted, for meritorious service, to the rank of captain, which rank none filled more gallantly than Capt. Hayden.
E. J. Reynolds came to Guthrie county, from Indiana, in 1852, and has been engaged in farming. He is serving his third term as treasurer of the county, which speaks well for Mr. Reynolds, as, if he were not an efficient officer, looking well to the people's money (if you touch my money you touch me,) he would not be so long retained in office.
35
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
George H. Moore was born in Virginia, in 1827; moved to Ohio when six years of age; came to Guthrie county in 1865. Mr. Moore owns a fine farm of seven hundred acres of land, over three hundred of which are improved and well cultivated. He has a nice home, and is one of Guthrie's substantial citizens, and said to be her wealthiest.
The first physician that ever lived in the county was Dr. R. H. Rust, who came to Panora in the autumn of '53. He is now living in Redfield, Dallas county. In the winter of '54, came Dr. Curry; in the spring of the same year, Dr. Jno. W. Gustine, who practiced here (with the exception of a short time, during which he was in the drug business, in Des Moines) until the fall of 1875, when he removed to Car- roll county, where he owns a large farm, and is engaged in stock raising.
Physicians practicing in Panora and vicinity at present are Drs. Reynolds, Shreeves, and Drumeler.
Dr. Reynolds is an old settler, having come to the county in '53. He was born in Owen county, Indiana, and educated at the Eclectic Institute, Cincinnati; has been in practice for thirteen years.
Dr. T. J. Shreeves, a native of Illinois, was educated at Rush Medical College. The doctor has practiced his pro- fession for twenty years. He came to Panora in March, 1875.
Last, but not least, is Dr. C. M. Drumeler, a native of Virginia, who came to Panora in May, 1876. He was edu- cated at the State University of Missouri, and St. Louis Medical College.
As stated in another place, the first school house was built in Panora in 1853, and the first public school in the county taught in the fall of the same year, by a Dr. Sloan. The same year, the first Sabbath school -- Union -- was organized by Rev. John De Moss, and was held in the school house.
The M. E. Church Society was organized in 1852, with a membership of twelve. Service was held at the residence of
36
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
the members until the completion of the school house. Their first church building was erected in 1857, on Church street, being the house that now does duty as a residence for J. Swartz. Their first minister was a Mr. Mason. In 1869, the society erected a good brick building on Main street. Present membership, seventy ; minister, Rev. - O'Flyng.
The U. B. Church was organized in 1852; the house built in 1861.
The Church of Christ, at Panora, was organized in 1854, under the evangelistic labors of Elder Clayborn Wright, of Green county. Benj. Mitchell and Alex. Wasson were chosen elders, and Wm. C. Jones, deacon. About the year 1858, the church was divided, and the place of holding meetings was changed to McClaran's school house, for a time, when it was changed back to Panora. In 1874, they erected a building 32x52, which is the only church-this being the only society of this faith -- in the county. They commenced with but few members, but have steadily in- creased to a membership of one hundred and sixty-seven. This is the new branch of the Christians, or Campbellites.
The Presbyterian Church was organized under the mis- sionary labors of Rev. Mr. Harmon, in 1856.
The Baptist Church was organized August 21, 185S, by Elders J. A. Nash, of Des Moines, and T. S. Griffith, of Dubuque, with twenty two members. In 1871, the society commenced the erection of a church edifice in Panora; but the hurricane of that year injured it to such an extent that the society-being small and financially weak-was unable to repair and finish it, so they sold it to the Cumberland Presbyterians, who now own it. There are five Baptist so- cieties in the county, with two church buildings-one at Guthrie Centre; and one three miles east of Panora- both supplied by the Rev. Mr. Fish, of Guthrie Centre.
Most of the above religious societies have flourishing Sabbath schools.
The public schools, under the supervision of I. Miller,
37
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
principal, with Mr. Hemphill and Mr. Chase as assistants, are also in a flourishing condition, and fully up to the de- mands of the times.
The first white child, born in Panora, was John, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Harris, born in '54.
The first marriage was that of James Harris and Nancy Ritz, same year.
Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 145, was organized October 17th, 1867.
Pioneer Lodge, No. 121, A. F. and A. M., was organized, under dispensation, October 18th, 1857. Petitioners, Bro- thers M. F. Gerard, Thos. Roberts, S. E. Zinn, Levi Wil- liamson, Richard Gilbert, Jos. Roberts, Nathan Goslen, N. B. Linbach, and Theodore Parrish.
M. F. Gerard was elected WV. M.
Thos. Roberts . ( 66 S. W.
S. E. Zinn
J. W.
Jos. Roberts Treas.
Nathan Goslen
.
S. D.
Levi Williamson
J. D.
Richard Gilbert 66 Tyler.
Was organized, under charter, June 2, 1858, by electing the following officers :
Thos Roberts, W . M.
S. E. Zinn, S. W.
Nathan Goslen, J. W.
Jos. Roberts, Treas.
N. B. Linbach, Sect.
Daniel Hardy, S. D.
Theo. Parrish, J. D.
Phil. Roberts, Tyler. Richard Gilbert, Steward.
This is the first lodge organized in the county. Present membership, fifty-eight.
Panora rejoices in an Anti-Profanity Association; some- thing that every town and neighborhood might profit by, as profanity, and especially " slang," are largely on the in- 3
38
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
crease. We read and hear so much of it, that even ladies are tempted to emphasize their opinions by an occasional " slang" word, or phrase. The anti-Profanity Association of Panora numbers forty-five members, with Miles Wood- worth as President ; I. Miller, Vice-President; O. B. Hayden, Treasurer; Lew Apple, Secretary. Of the fifteen articles of the constitution of this association, I select the following:
Article 1st. "This association shall be known as the ' Panora Anti-Profanity Association,' and shall have for its object the inculcation of a language, purified of oaths and expletives, and the dissemination of tracts for that pur- pose.
Art. 2d. "The members of this association shall be citi- zens of the State of Iowa, and between the ages of fifteen and one hundred years, who shall have signed the constitu- tion and by-laws and subscribed to the confession of faith, herewith attached.
Art. 9th. " As soon as profanity is no more in the land, this association will be without a mission," etc.
By-Laws .- Article 1. All expressions are prohibited wherein the name of Deity is used in any than a reverential sense, and with the homage due from man to his Creator. The following expressions are prohibited : "Darned," "Darn it," "Dern," "Dern it," "Holy cats,' "By gad," " Holy Moses," "By George," "By Godfrey," "Dog on it," "By jingo," "Jumping Jehosaphat," etc., etc.
Since its organization, the society has contributed over one thousand tracts.
Panora has the oldest newspaper in the county, "The Vedette," a history of which is given elsewhere. Its editor, Lew Apple, was born in Elk county, Pennsylvania; came to West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, in 1857, where he remained until the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, when he enlisted, serving, in the Twenty-first and Twelfth Indiana Regiments. He came to Panora in 1868, since
39
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
which time he has edited "The Vedette" without change or intermission.
The early history of the Post Office is given elsewhere. As stated, it was first kept by Mr. Jno. Anderson at his cabin; then by Judge Bryan, at his cabin. The first build- ing, used exclusively for a Post Office, was the little frame that stands on the south side of Dr. Gustine's lot; in size, SxS.
This was made a Money Order Office August 1st, 1870. The average annual amount of money order business is from $28,000 to $30,000; is the separating office for six different routes-two daily and four semi-weekly ; supplies twelve different offices. D. Brown, the present pleasant and accommodating Post Master, came to Panora in 1866. He worked at the tailor's trade till 1867, when he was appointed to his present position. Though ever ready to oblige a friend or neighbor, none sticks more closely to his own business.
Panora was incorporated in 1872. Its present officers are: Mayor, J. D. Lennon; Recorder, O. B. Hayden : Treasurer, W. H. Burns; Councilmen, Lew Harvout, T. Henderson, J. A. Thompson, Isaac Warner, John Wiedman.
Though Panora is without railroad facilities, she has the advantages-from a moral standpoint-over some of the other towns. She has no saloons, which is, indeed, a " feather in her cap." She has the High School, the ad- vantages of which are so fully appreciated by every intelli- gent reader, that enumeration here would be superfluous. And for a basis (if I may use the expression), she has the products of one of the finest agricultural regions in Iowa.
John Anderson, father of Rev. Samuel Anderson, built the first mill in the State, west of Des Moines, in the autumn of 1852, sawing the lumber therefor with a whip saw. The same year, it was converted into a flouring mill, and as soon as it was put in operation, and the water in the streams had fallen sufficiently to be forded, teams, to the number of five or six at a time, came from Council Bluffs
.
40
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
and the " Fort," from Jefferson and from neighborhoods, for many miles around, being frequently obliged to remain several days before they could be served.
They now had a mill, but they did not always have wheat or corn, especially during the first year of their resi- dence here. To illustrate the necessary economy and man- agement practiced in the early days, I will tell you how Mr. Vanorder obtained his " bread." He made shingles and hauled them to Mr. Boone, near Booneville, and traded them for wheat; and previous to the erection of the Ander- son mill. he took his wheat to Griser's mill, ten miles below the Fort, to have it ground.
The Anderson mill is now owned by Hanyon and Nichols; at least the site is. The mill has all been changed, to suit the demands of the constantly increasing population.
As this chapter will, necessarily, be somewhat miscel- laneous, the reader will excuse me if I make a hodge-podge of grist mills and churches: beer saloons and school houses; politics and religion, etc., as, were I to make such division or separation as would be desirable in a History, I would have more chapters than ideas or incidents. It is true, sudden transitions of emotion are not always pleasant; but if I should jump suddenly from a wedding to a funeral, you must blame circumstances, not me.
Having obtained your permission to garble the doings of the old settlers, I will begin by explaining that though Scott had but four votes in Guthrie county, in the election of '52, he had more admirers, as I will prove to you. A hickory pole had been raised in Court House square to celebrate the election of President Pierce. Lydia Cox, who a short time previous, was married to Walter Tuttle, was so piqued at her husband's assisting at the "pole raising," that she de- termined to have revenge. She went at midnight, accom- panied by her little brother Henry, and borrowed an auger of Henry Brumbaugh, with which to fell the obnoxious pole. They arrived in safety at the pole, and she had bored three holes through it and started in with the fourth. The
-
41
IIISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
' certainty of success made her strong, and the fear of detec- tion made her nervous. Her cumulated " nerve force" was too much for the anger, and it broke. Ye who have had the " cup " dashed suddenly from your parched lips, can appre- ciate her feelings. Mortified and angry, she returned home without having accomplished her object.
When the depredation was discovered, a reward was offered for the discovery of the offender. He was never dis- covered. However, suspicion fastened upon Felty Schell- hart, poor fellow, who, though not proven guilty, was unable to prove his innocence, and many were the cold looks he got-all for a woman's political enthusiasm; and she didn't want to vote, either.
Among the first settlers, not already spoken of, are: Richard Gilbert, who came to Panora in September, 1853. He was then a widower, and, with his two little boys for companions, traveled, by wagon, from Indiana, weary, hungry, and travel worn. He stopped at the cabin of Mr. Campbell, and asked if they could let him hare something to eat. "Yes," said the good lady; "come in and sit while I grate some corn and bake it." She grated the corn up on a raddish grater.
Mr. Gilbert entered the E. } of sec. 3-79-30, and forty acres in sec. 9.
Judge James Henderson came to the county in the fall of '53. In August, 1854, he was elected County Judge to fill a vacancy, and removed to Panora, the county seat. He has ever been an upright and mind-your-own-business sort of citizen, much respected by his friends and neighbors. He is still living in Panora, though in feeble health.
Rev. D. W. Harper, who came, as stated, in '53, settled where he now resides, on the south side of Panora, where he has one of the best orchards in the county. He is a class leader and exhorter in the M. E. Church, in which he has ever taken a deep interest, and for the advancement of which he has labored assiduously.
Mr. Hugh Campbell, with his family, came on the 10th of
42
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
September, 1853. They went into a house belonging to Judge Bryan, on the Batchelet place. (This house is now used as a stable by George Campbell, four miles southeast of Panora.) In November, they removed to the place where Mrs. Campbell now resides. In June, 1854, Mr. Campbell died, leaving a wife and eleven children. A stranger in a new, wild, lonesome country, bereft of a husband's love and counsel, rare must have been her fortitude and courage to remain and rear, unaided, save by her noble boys, so large a family. In the rebellion, she gave the first sacrifice (from this county) on the altar of patriotism, in the person of her son Hugh, a mere boy of eighteen, who gave bright promise of a noble and useful manhood. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and on the 5th day of October, 1861, he departed this life at Rolla, Mo.
In the same regiment were eight Campbells, but one of whom-Wm. H., brother to Hugh-returned. William H. Campbell enlisted as a private, and was promoted to the rank of captain. He was educated at Mt. Pleasant, gradu- ating in 1869. In 1870, he represented Guthrie county in the Legislature. He is now practicing law in St. Joseph, Mo. Placed in whatever situation, the Hon. William H. Campbell will never be found wanting in integrity and true courage. Mrs. Campbell has several other sons, all well- to-do and respected citizens.
In October, 1853, Abram and Robinson Hosier came to the county. The former purchased the farm of Jno. Hen- derson, and the latter, in 1859, succeeded Mr. Martin in the hotel business. ' They all went to Oregon in 1865. Mrs. Abram Hosier is still living in Panora.
Peter Batchelet came in '53, and purchased of Judge Bryan the place where he is now living. He has a comfort- able home, a fine orchard, and pays some attention to stock raising. He is hospitable and good natured, and is always ready to have " fun with the boys."
Among those who came in 1854, are, Dr. Gustine, Peter.
43
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
and John Boblett, Robert Wasson, Jos. Dyson. James and Thompson Cline, and others.
Dr. Gustine came in July; had long, dreary and labori- ous rides in Guthrie, Dallas, Green, Carrol, Adair, and Anderson counties. The population was then scattered over the country in sparse settlements, with immense terri- tory between. The order of architecture, in those days, was designated by no special name, but was noted for its simplicity. Log walls, puncheon floors, clap-board roofs, old-fashioned log fire places, with mud and stick chimneys, constituted its important principles. Some cabins had not even floors or chimneys; others were destitute of " daubing and chinking."
The first case of sickness the doctor attended was that of a boy in Carroll county, who had hemorrhage of the bowels. He died the same night the doctor was called, and he (the doctor) rode eight miles to secure the assistance of a man, and also to get lumber, and the two constructed a rude coffin, or box, for the remains. They also dug the grave, and the doctor assisted in covering the coffin with " the clods." Eight persons, including the family, followed the remains to the grave. It was a dark, gloomy day, and the feelings of our friend were as sombre as the occasion.
The doctor was educated at Pittsburg and Philadelphia, in each of which cities he had practiced his profession, pre- vious to his coming west. Coming from the city to the very confines of civilization, he found novelty enough in his all- night and all-day rides to satiate the desire to see nature in all her primitive glory.
I remember a story that used to be told of the doctor's visit to a man who was suffering from nervous prostration, or something of the sort. In diagnosing the case, among other things, he said: "Mr. - , you have been overdoing; yon are a very energetic man, and-" " Oh, yaas, I know, doctor; I've had 'em for five or six years." "Had what ?" "W'y, the energetics." I do not think the doctor laughed at all; but I do know he wished himself out on the prairie
44
HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
" all by himself." He has passed through many laughable as well as many sorrowful scenes, and yet he agrees with the rest of the old settlers in saying they were all quite con- tented and happy.
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.