USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 24
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The old store burned down in 1899, and the present building was erected by James F. McAninch.
About 1858 a one-story building, about sixteen feet square, was built by Judge Harris for a shop, on block 8, and used by him for an office a short time. It was sold to the county and moved to the east side of the public square, where it was used for the county offices, and where the county records were kept until 1874. The county then owned no other building, and the courts were held in the school house.
On September 1, 1873, A. B. Hanston, John A. Hallock, A. Campbell, Charley Van Gorder, John D. Bush and P. I. Whitted executed a bond to Audubon county in the sum of five thousand dollars binding themselves to furnish a building for courts and county offices free, so long as the county seat should remain at Exira. Early the next year the Exira Hall Company was incorporated, and sold its stock sufficient to erect a building to be used for court house and county offices, which was built on the southwest corner of block I, at the cost of over two thousand two hundred dollars. The same building is now owned and occupied by the Knights of Pythias lodge. It was occupied by the county until the county seat was removed to Audubon in 1879.
PROPOSED COURT HOUSE.
On September 1, 1871, the board of supervision appropriated six thou- sand nine hundred and forty-eight dollars for the erection of a court house at Exira, and a tax of four mills was levied for that purpose. Plans were gotten out and brick were bought from Van Gorder and heaped up in big piles on the public square preparatory for erecting the building. Then a court house fight began. The supervisors were enjoined from building the house, and on January 18, 1873, the case was settled, the injunction acquiesced in, and the court house tax refunded, all of which involved several law suits, and which ended the building of a court house at Exira.
H. F. Andrews, in 1873, built the first brick building erected in Audu- bon county. It was built for an office and was eighteen by forty feet in size, and was located on block 6.
In 1876 the trees were planted in the public park, being donated by Alfred E. Bartlett and Thomas Walker. The plan was laid out by H. F. Andrews and Samuel D. Harn.
John A. Hallock was admitted to the bar in 1863, but never practiced. In 1868 John W. Scott, a lawyer, came here from Bloomfield, Iowa, and, in connection with the office of clerk of the district court, to which he was
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elected in 1868, practiced his profession. In IS71-2 he was in charge of the Hamlin Town Company, and put up a vigorous fight to change the county seat to Hamlin, but met with signal defeat. In 1869 Daniel W. Scribner and John M. Griggs were admitted to the bar in Exira and formed a partnership with H. F. Andrews in the law and real estate business. Scribner withdrew from the firm the same year. In 1870 H. F. Andrews was admitted to the bar and a law partnership formed by Andrews & Griggs, which continued until October, 1873; during which period they established a lucrative business and had an extensive acquaintance.
In 1872, J. M. Rendleman, M. D., came here from Atlanta, Ga., and at once established an extensive practice. He still resides here, but lived several years in Audubon. Charles H. Andrews, M. D., a popular physician, settled here in 1875. He died in 1896, regretted by a wide acquaintance. John Riley, M. D., came in 1880, and John C. Newlon, M. D., in 1893. Both live here at present, in regular practice. Charles Van Gorder, Esq., is deserving of more than passing notice. (See sketch of him elsewhere in this work and in the chapter on political parties.) He came here by way of Missouri, in red hot abolition times, during the Kansas-Nebraska troubles. He was an utter stranger and some speculation was indulged as to his business in coming here. "Uncle Natty" Hamlin was suspicious and did not fancy him, and volunteered the opinion: "I can tell what he is; he is a ganned nigger stealer, sir!" But Charley was clear of any such impu- tation. He found employment with "Billy" Nelson in the brick yard at Exira.
AN UNAPPRECIATED JOKE.
Perk Smith tells of a good incident which happened at that time. Nel- son was burning a brick kiln, and some of the boys met there one evening, John R. Thacker among them. It was suggested that the fires in the kiln offered a fine opportunity to roast chickens. Thacker was in for it, and suggested that Deacon Bush had some chickens which would be just the thing. He proposed that some of the boys should procure the chickens and that he and Van Gorder would prepare the mud for roasting them. The process consists in covering the chicken, feathers and all, with a casing of soft clay, and placing the mass in a hot fire until cooked. It is then removed from the fire, the crust of clay, feathers and skin removed, leaving a toothsome morsel, which can hardly be excelled by any other style of the culinary art. The boys returned with a sackful of chickens, which were cooked a la proper, and the feast was enjoyed. Thacker was merry over
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it, and wondered what the deacon would say in the morning upon missing his chickens. But the event never happened. When Thacker went to his own chicken house it was empty! He considered himself the victim of a dirty, unpardonable trick, and treated his late companions with unmitigated scorn and contempt. He failed to see the beauty of the joke.
In 1862 Van Gorder enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry as a private, and served in the Western Army. He participated in the battle of Altoona Pass, under the gallant General Corse, where he was wounded. He filled all offices up to captain in his company, was discharged at the close of the war, and returned to Exira in 1865. In 1866 he made a freight- ing trip to Denver with ox teams and returned. Afterwards he was a brickmaker in Exira on his own account. During 1867 to 1869, inclusive, he was clerk in the store of John D. Bush, at Exira.
After serving four years as county treasurer, 1870-3, he organized the Audubon County Bank at Exira, the first banking house in the county, and has continued in the business to the present time.
MUNICIPAL ITEMS.
Exira was incorporated on December 13, 1880. These have been may- ors of the town: John R. Ridge, 1881 ; David L. Anderson, 1881; Erwin Watson, 1881; Richard W. Griggs, 1882; John B. Connrardy, 1883-4; A. B. Houston, 1885; Joseph E. Toft, 1886-9; Charles T. Wilcutt, 1890-1 ; James P. Lair, 1892; Isaac L .. Statzell, 1893-4; Van B. Hellyer, 1895; Charles T. Breniman, 1896-8; C. A. Marlin, 1900-1; George F. Kapp, 1902-3 ; Leroy J. Oldaker, 1903; H. F. Andrews, 1904-5; Charles E. Nichols, 1905; John O. Howard, 1906-7; Nels Hansen, 1908-9; John H. Rendle- man, 1910-II; T. M. Rassmussen, 1912-15.
Houston's addition was laid out by A. B. Houston on September 2, 1878, on lot 15, section 4, Exira township.
West Exira was laid out by H. F. Andrews, William F. Stotts, Henry B. Houston, John M. Griggs and L. C. Van Hook, on March 29, 1879, and is situated on lots 5, 6, 11 and 12, in section 4, Evira township.
Exira Heights was laid out by U. S. Herrick, James F. McAnnich and Edwin Delahoyde, on March 13, 1894, on lot 12, section 3, and lot 9, section 4, Exira township.
Gates' addition was laid out by J. E. and J. G. Gates on July 9, 1894, on lot 13, section 3, Exira township.
On May II, 1887, a big fire destroyed the buildings on the south side
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of block 3. Exira, the main business street, which was rebuilt with remark- able rapidity and replaced by brick business houses.
SCHOOLS.
The schools of Exira, from the beginning, have been justly celebrated for excellence. Their early equipments, while not equal to present condi- tions, were up to the standard of neighboring pioneer facilities. The first school house, twenty-four by thirty feet in size, was built in 1858. The seats, of different lengths, were clumsy furniture, made of stout, dressed walnut plank, with open rail backs of the same material. The desks, of the same material, were huge, four-posted boxes, with hinged tops, and were not fastened to the floor. The manufacturers were supposed to have been Judges Harris and Houston, and, like the fellows dancing, if not pretty, they were strong. The house was remodeled and has been used as a dwell- ing for many years, on its original site.
In 1871 four thousand dollars had been appropriated for a brick school house at Exira. But, by some kind of shuffling on the part of the school officers, the first warning that Exira people had, a contract was let to John Cannon for the erection of a frame school house at the cost of two thou- sand three hundred dollars. It was clear that Exira had been tricked out of their brick school house. A two-story, two-room pine box was erected on the present school house premises. It was not a thing of beauty, nor a joy.
In 1884 the school house was enlarged by the erection of an impos- ing two-story edifice of six rooms, adjoining and in front of the for- mer building, at the cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. It was
fairly suitable for the town schools until recent years. It was torn down and removed in 1915, after the erection of the present new school house.
During the year 1914-15, additional ground was procured, and a new: brick school house, fifty-nine by ninety-nine feet, two stories and basement, was erected and equipped, at a cost of thirty-eight thousand dollars. It is modern in every detail; equipped with steam heating system, thermostatic ventilation, waterworks, and fire hose. fire escapes, fire alarm and electric lights, telephone, sanitary drinking fountains, bath rooms, closets and ward- robes. It contains boiler room, with coal and ash bins; engine room; a gymnasium in the basement, thirty-two by sixty feet, eighteen feet high; domestic science room, with dining room and pantry attached : manual train- ing room; assembly room; seven grade class rooms and three recitation rooms ; superintendent's office, library, laboratory, rest rooms and lunch
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rooms. The school grounds are ample, with agricultural building in the rear. Also there is a septic tank in the rear for receiving the sewer drain- age from the building. School experts pronounce it the best-appointed and equipped school house of its size in the state at this time.
The corps of instructors consist of a superintendent and nine subor- dinate teachers. The payroll for the present year is $6,500. In addition to being a fully accredited high school, it has been designated a teacher's training school by the state superintendent of public instruction, and, as such, receives state aid of seven hundred and fifty dollars a year. Non- resident pupils are in attendance annually. The number of such pupils for 1914-15 was thirty-seven. The total number of pupils enrolled for the cur- rent year is two hundred and sixty-five.
The independent district of Exira embraces the west half of section 2, all of section 3, all of section 4, except the south half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section IO, all in Exira township.
About 1879-80, Professor Wilcutt, who was then principal of the school, prepared a plan for grading the school and a course of study appli- cable to the work. The school board, then consisting of George Harden- brook, William J. Harris, Dr. James M. Rendleman, Hon. John A. Hallock and H. F. Andrews, made the proper order establishing the various grades for the school, also the course of study, in harmony with the recommenda- tion of Professor Wilcutt.
The teachers employed from the first have been usually of good ability and their efficiency advanced in harmony with the public demand. Those who have been in charge of the school have been: Louis Harvout, Edwin S. Hill, Mary Crane, David B. Beers, George S. Montgomery, Benjamin F. Thomas, John A. Hallock, Beulah Sylvester, Samuel E. Smith, Daniel W. Scribner, John M. Griggs, Charles H. Andrews, Charles D. Gray, George Lindsey, A. E. Clarendon, Harmon G. Smith, George I. Miller, - Curtis, Charles F. Wilcutt, Carl Ross, David P. Repass, Elva Thompson, W. H. Fort, William H. Brinkerhoff, John M. Crocker, Louie Sorensen, Charles W. Johnson, John L. Conger, P. M. Hersom, Fred A. Sims, B. J. Gallag- her, Helen Carson, J. L. Harper, William H. Hoyman.
It is impossible at this time to even nanie the subordinate teachers. Among them were Mrs. Beulah Slyvester and Mrs. Margaret J. Roseman, who should be remembered with affection and gratitude for their untiring efforts to assist the boys and girls who attended under their instruction.
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THE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI.
For most years beginning with 1889, the high school has graduated a class, to whom regular diplomas have been issued. The following is a list of graduates to the present time :
1889. Jessie M. Shaw.
1891. Thomas Dustin, Frank Shranger, Fred Gates, Verna Croy, Rosa Powell.
1892. Walter Marietta, Roxie Huyck, Charlie Gates, Louie Welch. I893. Ross Hardenbrook, Anna Carpenter, Gertie Gates, Trola Born, Beth Henry.
1894. Anna Hanson, Margaret McNally, B. F. Kreamer, Will An- ders, Edna McAffee, Charles Kommes.
1895. Nettie Bruner, Cecelia Peterman, Edith Davis, Stella Master- son, Florence Rathburn, Florence Hill, Chalmer Sturgeon.
1896. Hattie Huyck, Ola Williams, William Deweese.
1897. Albert Guidinger, Samuel Hicks, Connaught D. Hunter, Frank Guidinger, Peace Hayes, Kittie Jobes, Charles Fulton, Randall Hunter, Grove Rathburn.
1898. Harriet Jenkins, Jennie Bennett, Ella McNally, Lee McAninch, Will Wissler.
1899. Ethel Riley, Ethel Hicks, Rose Faust, Lucille Connrardy, Myr- tle Hellyer.
I900. Maude Campbell, Amy Conger. Eva Tulbert, Berta Gano, Susie Huyck, Lester Peterman.
1902. Martha Bruner, Lillian B. Dyer, Kathryn Connrardy, Florence E. McAnnich, Gretchen Delahoyde, Zilpha M. Gault, Otto Born.
1903. Elizabeth Jones, Grace West.
1904. Kathleen Delahoyde, Charles E. Herrick, Harold Sturgeon.
1905. Mertie Bruner, Gertie Bruner, Bessie Ide, Grace Hensley, Ber- tha Young, Lucile Herrick.
1907. Grace Huyck, Elsie Hunt.
1908. Delia Hicks, Mabel Hall, Ruth Statzell.
I909. William A. Nelson, Charles I. Ide, Pluma Freeman.
1910. Carrie Gault, Mary Powell.
I9II. Dena Hensley, Muriel Koob. Ora Hicks, Ellowene Dimick, Ethel Bisom, Winnie Heath, Florabelle Houton, Frank Hall.
1
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OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, EXTRA, BUILT IN 1858; REMODELED FOR DWELLING.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE, EXIRA, 1915.
DEACON LYMAN BUSH HOUSE, EXIRA, BUILT IN 1857. MAIN BUILDING IS THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
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1913. Flora Rendleman, Geraldine Rendleman, Dena Nelson, Vivian Heath.
1914. Mary Lamsen, Kathleen Hunt, Alice Hay, Kathryn Thielen, Harvey Jensen, Norman Hensley.
1915. Mabel Ide, Leila Kline, Goldie Chase, Agnes Nelsen, Madea- line Essington, Mrytle Grinyer, Genevieve Wright, Marie Freeman, Frank Dimick, Henry K. Petersen, Theodore Nelsen.
EXIRA NOTABLES.
Some of the prominent people who have lived in Exira, not otherwise mentioned in this work, have been: Jacob Andrews, Nathan W. Andrews, Will E. Andrews, Albert C. Andrews, Free Anders, L. E. Born, Henry T. Bush, W. H. Bowman, Jo. Chase, George Chase, A. L. Campbell, William Carpenter, Enoch Croy, John Crane, Samuel Crane, John G. Gates, Stephen Gano, Henry B. Houston, John Hicks, Urbane Herrick, Julius M. Hubbard, Charles O. Hunt. George Hunt,, Hans P. Hansen, Nathaniel D. Hamlin. Charles C. Hawk, Samuel D. Harn, J. D. Herrick, Perry Hansen, Nels Hansen, Charles Houston, A. W. Harvey, V. B. Hellyer, W. E. Brinker- hoff, N. P. Christensen, George W. Guernsey, Frank Gault, Richard Gault, John Gray, Xerxes Knox, Peter Kommes, Charles Kommes, William Kommes, Luke Knapp, Noel Jobes, W. J. Lancelot, John Mertes, Daniel W. Miller, James F. McAnninch, Bryant Milliman, Charles Milliman, John Noon, George Paige, Ernest D. Powell, Theodore Patty, John Peterman, James B. Rendleman, William C. Sturgeon, Isaac Statzell, Samuel Smith, Hendrick R. Smith, Thomas Walker, William Walker, Otto Witthauer, Fred Wahlert, George Wahlert, William F. Stotts, Jo. Gearheart, Andrew J. Leffingwell, Nick Thielen, Francis J. Shranger, John S. Toft, James Holli- day, James Willox, John Nelsen, Erwin Watson, Lester Gransberry, Perry Bateman, George W. Bailey, W. R. Bruner, Joseph H. Bell, W. R. Cope- land, Hiram H. Dimick, William H. Seavey, Peter Tharnish.
Some of the best residences in Exira are those of Eugene C. Wilson, Ed. Cotton, James Channon, Mrs. Alice Connrardy, William H. Voss, Ernest B. Voss, Fred H. Cotton, Dr. Leroy J. Oldaker, John I. Hensley, John M. Dimmick, Edwin Delahoyde, William Bintner, Henry and Lena Bush, John H. Randleman, Otto Witthauer, Hans P. Petersen, Dr. John Riley, Lars P. Christensen, William E. Varney, Chris. Jacobsen, Dr. J. C. Newlon, Perry Hansen, P. M. Christensen, Mrs. Lissa Gault, Mrs. Charles Klever, Mrs. Jens Jepson, Nels Hansen, George Milliman, Frances L. Voss.
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OFFICIAL AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 1915.
Population, eight hundred and thirty-seven.
Mayor, T. M. Rasmussen; town clerk. George C. Corl; marshal, Roy McLain; assessor, Robert C. Watterson; justice of the peace, James P. Lair; constable, John C. Coe; postmaster, Frank A. Kreamer; mail car- riers, Frank Basham, Ad Seibert, James Hicks, Harry Hockenberry, An- drew C. Jensen; principal of school, William H. Hoyman.
Attorneys-H. F. Andrews. T. M. Rasmussen.
Clergymen-Catholic, Rev. Father John Mayer; Congregational, Rev. Jessie Getty ; Methodist, Rev. Henry P. Grinyer ; Christian, Rev. Charles S. Linkletter; Lutheran, Rev. Peter Rasmussen.
Physicians-J. M. Rendleman, John Riley. John C. Newlon, Robert A. Jacobsen ; dentist-Leroy J. Oldaker; railroad agent-W. O. Griffith; Iowa Telephone-Ola Willis; electrician-Louie Petersen ; veterinary surgeon- Roy A. Lantz. Banks-Exchange Bank, Edwin Delahoyde, cashier; First National Bank, James MI. Carlson, cashier; land agents-John H. Rendle- man, J. B. J. Lohner, Lawrence Hansen, Lee McAnninch ; insurance agents -Theodore Patty. A. W. Harvey; life insurance-Albert C. Andrews; druggists-Nels Hansen, Exira Drug Co .; general stores-Ed Cotton, Hans P. Petersen, Erke Brothers, A. L. Hamon; grocer-Fred H. Cotton ; hard- ware-John Nelson, William E. Varney; variety store-Peter R. Jorgen- sen : meat market-Peter Hassenfeldt; grain elevator-Herman Barnholdt; creamery-Exira Creamery Company, Chris Petersen; produce-Exira Produce Company, George W. McNary ; agricultural implements-Kommes Brothers; harness makers-Jack W. Alsup, Hans Miller: livestock dealers -Hensley & Dimick; Livestock and grain-Exira Co-Operative Co., W. F. Williams; oil-Standard Oil Company, Mike Harned; hotel-Park Hotel. Mrs. D. V. Wright; boarding houses-Mrs. Stella Gearhart, Noel Jobes ; restaurant-Mrs. Susan Spoo; cafe-Wagner Brothers; jeweller- Peter M. Christensen; lumber-Green Bay Lumber Company, Merle R. Terhune, manager; Fullerton Lumber Company, H. P. Hansen, manager : liveryman-Daniel Branstater; garage-Hans P. Hansen, Wesley Donald- son, Johnson & Westphalen: auto repair shop-Nelson & Phillips; machin- ists-Exira Auto and Machine Works, P. K. Jensen; blacksmiths-Andrew A. Andersen, Nels L. Beck; lightning rods-John Miller; contractor and builder, and planing mill-George C. Voss; Palace Theater, Joe Meurer : undertaker-George L. Gore; billiard hall-Hunt Brothers; dressmakers-
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Amber Kelsey, Mrs. Cannon; pantitoriam-Earl Thomas; shoemakers- David Workman, Gerald Hensley, Hans Miller; coal dealers-George B. Gill, Mrs. Keziah Pesing, Peter Goode; masons-Joseph Gearheart, Jack Hinckle, George Leffingwell, Frank Leffingwell; carpenters-Robert C. Watterson, Ad Watterson, Grant Jones, William H. Voss, Charles C. Johnson, William Fulton, Thomas Murphy, Willis Hinkle, J. W. Kline; painters and paper hangers-Kirk Knox, William O. Scott, Frank Schmidt, A. M. Larsen, Walter Larsen, M. W. Nelsen, Robert L. Houston; barbers -Hugh Smith, Bishop & Statzell; popcorn-Roy Bolton; bus drivers- George Milliman, Joseph Shaw; draymen-Frank B. Heath, George Chase. L. H. Watson ; house movers-Joe Chase, George Chase ; Commercial Club, L. J. Oldaker, secretary; Exira Lady Boosters, Maude Oldaker, secretary; Thursday Club, Mrs. Dolly Newlon, president; Treble Clef, Mrs. Hattie Witthauer, president ; Dressmaking College, Mrs. Alice Connrardy; tailor, A. Wolcott.
AUDUBON.
The town was laid out by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, on the southwest quarter of section 21, Leroy township, Septem- ber 23, 1878. This land was claimed and squatted on as a homestead by one Edward Robinson. The growth of the town was phenomenal. It was promoted not only by the prestige of the railroad company, but also, among others, by the influence of Ethelbert J. Freeman and Capt. Charles Stuart, public-spirited gentlemen, who devoted their energies to building a town in the then wilderness. It started with an auction sale of its town lots on October 15, 1878; and the first day's sales aggregated six thousand one hun- dred and ninety dollars. Before night work was begun building business houses, which continued vigorously through the winter; and for several years afterward, and even to the present time, periodically.
Alex H. Roberts, who has since continuously lived at Audubon, and who attended that lot sale and then bought the lot upon which his store is now situated, on December 16, 1878, wrote to his home paper at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, an account of the new town of Audubon, describing its progress, con- ditions, prospects, etc. It is the best account of Audubon at that period yet found. Mr. Roberts wrote :
"When I first visited this place, October 15, the day the lots were first offered for sale, there was not a completed house in the place, and but three or four in course of erection. Today we have over fifty houses and the different businesses are represented about as follow : One bank, five general
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stores, one jewelry store, two hotels, one restaurant, three meat markets, three blacksmith shops, one harness shop, one livery stable, two coal yards, two lumber yards, one elevator, three grain dealers, etc. A school house, twenty-two by thirty feet, was completed ten days ago, and school opened last Monday, with fourteen scholars and Bob Hunter, teacher.
The county seat is located at Exira, a village thirteen miles from here, near the south end of the county, and will, I think, without doubt, be removed to this place next fall. (Which proved to be prophetic.) Although it is now mid-winter and the mercury lingers near zero, yet the sound of the saw and hammer is to be heard on all sides, and only last week three large business houses were commenced, and I understand another banking house and hard- ware store, two-stories high, besides many smaller ones, are to be built this winter. The railroad was completed December 6, and since that time not less than ten thousand bushels of corn have been hauled in here, and four carloads of wheat shipped. A depot twenty-four by one hundred feet is now being built."
A month later a local newspaper contained a flaming description of the new city :
"THEN AND NOW.
"Don't it beat the royal star spangled American! But a few short months ago, in the place where we now sit, encircled by all that exalts and embellishes civilized life (perhaps), the rank thistle nodded in the wind, and the wild polecat flipped his caudal appendage in the prairie grass, or words to that effect. Pshaw! We thought we were running a Sunday school paper in Exira! It is not often that we get sentimental! But what we started out to say is this : Less than four months ago we roamed around over this town plat, trying to trace out the streets and alleys by the short stakes planted a short time before in the high prairie grass. Not a building had been erected, and in fact there were no signs that any would be erected for some time to come. The grass had already been killed by the autumn frosts, and the cold wind betokened winter at hand. . Nearly every one predicted that nothing would be attempted in the way of building until springtime. Today (Janu- ary 22, 1879,) we are sitting in a handsome two-story building. In the rear room two presses are running, and their incessant click! click! click! an- nounces that the 'art preservative' has found its way to the 'new town,' as it was then called. Around us are papers and books, in profusion, and sev- eral persons-strangers to us then-some reading, some talking; but all here to make a home. In front is a fine street, and scores of teams and busy people
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hurrying to and fro; the iron horse is snorting and puffing beside a magni- ficent depot, and passengers are leaving the train and hurrying to hotels and other places. Half a dozen dray teams are hauling goods up the streets; the hotel bells are ringing to call the many new-comer guests to dinner ; the sound of the tools used in nearly all trades can be heard ; upward of a hundred build- ings, many of them magnificent ones, adorn the town plat, and we see Audu- bon, then a naked tract of prairie, now a veritable and flourishing young city, the liveliest of its age in Iowa-as hundreds who see it every day freely admit. WVe venture the prediction that in one year from today the population of the place will reach nearly one thousand. And why not? It is tributary to, and will command, the entire trade of as beautiful country as the sun ever shone on, for a distance of fifteen miles, east, north and west, and about half that distance south."
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