USA > Iowa > Benton County > History of Benton County, Iowa. From materials in the public archives, the Iowa Historical society's collection, the newspapers, and data of personal interviews > Part 29
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About the time of the organization of the pioneer fire company with some forty members, Rescue Hook and Ladder Company was formed. W. D. Reynolds was its foreman for many years and the first hook and ladder wagon was built by J. M. Crandall at his home.
In 1877 the council appointed Mr. Stedman as chief engineer of the department and Mr. Reynolds, his assistant. In that year the building for the housing of the apparatus, which had been erected in 1873 on the northwest corner of Main and Market streets. was moved to the city lot, southwest corner of Washington and Concord streets.
Vinton's department now consists of a modern engine. hook and ladder, three hose carts and a wagon, and an efficient force of about ninety men.
WATER WORKS.
The Vinton Water Works comprise two artesian wells, 1.287 and 1.425 feet in depth. The former, which has a capacity of sixty-two gallons per minute, was sunk in 1889 and the latter. with a supply of fifty gallons, was bored in 1892. In the spring of 1908 the casing of the larger well so far crumbled away as to threaten the city's supply, and. after a local contractor had failed to repair the damage, the services of an expert Chicago concern were en-
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gaged. Since the fall of 1909 the wells have both been in good order, and an air lift has been added to the plant to assist the natural flow of water.
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
The City Electric Light plant was completed and accepted March 20, 1896, at a total cost of $17,000. It furnishes some nine are lights in the business center and about 150 32-candle incandes- cent lights in the business portion of the city. Improvements are under way by which the plant will be so increased as to furnish commercial and street light generally. The plans, if completely carried out, involve a virtual remodeling of the power house.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
More than forty years ago -to be more exact. September 29. 1869-the citizens of Vinton organized a library association, with Rev. W. R. Chamberlain, president, and Dr. J. C. Traer. secretary. A few days afterward another meeting was held at which these gentlemen. with T. S. Palmer and M. Meredith, were appointed & committee to draft a constitution and by-laws. As is quite likely to be the case, as the years passed it was the women of Vinton who kept the library idea alive, and on the 4th of July. 1897. those especially connected with the churches gave a union dinner and raised the first money for a free city library. Finally, in 1902. the Federation of Women's Clubs transferred the nucleus of the present library to the city of Vinton.
The Vinton Library Association celebrated New Year's day of 1902 by opening reading rooms over Bill's jewelry store, and the first books were issued on March 1st. In the same month the city election was held which assured a two-mill tax, or $1.400 annually for the support of the library. S. S. Lichty had already opened negotiations with Carnegie, who had agreed to donate $10,000 toward the erection of a building, provided the city raised at least $1,000 a year for maintenance expenses and furnished a suitable site. The latter requirement was met by C. Ellis and W. (. Ellis, father and son, after which a building committee was appointed consisting of the latter. J. E. Marietta and Hon. G. W. Burnham. On August 25. 1904. the handsome edifice now occupied was formally dedicated. Its total cost was $15.000. Among the most liberal donators to the collections were George Horridge, who
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presented the books on United States history; Mrs. Virginia Gay, . who specialized on literature, and the Smithsonian Institution which donated zoological specimens.
The Vinton library has now more than 7,000 well selected volumes, as well as all the standard periodicals of current litera- ture. The rooms are open week days, afternoon and evening, and
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FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, VINTON.
Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30 P. M. The librarian is Miss Mae E. Williams, daughter of one of Vinton's most prominent pioneer bankers. business men and citizens.
THE TELEPHONE COMPANIES.
In 1884 the Towa Telephone Company, whose headquarters were at Des Moines, established a branch office at Vinton. Its business was absorbed by the Bell interests in 1905 and in October, 1907, its lines were completely abandoned.
In the meantime (January. 1899). S. S. Lichty, of Waterloo, Iowa, had looked over the Vinton telephone field with the idea of determining the feasibility of opening a second exchange. In
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February the outlook seemed to warrant the incorporation of another enterprise, and the Vinton Telephone Company came into existence. Its charter was granted by the city March 27 and the first poles were set April 20th. Mr. Lichty became first manager of the company, its other incorporators being F. G. Ray, A. S. Chad- bourne, W. P. Whipple, G. M. Gilchrist and W. S. Goodhue.
In September, 1906, the company was reorganized as the Vinton and Benton County Telephone Company-S. S. Lichty, president; G. M. Gilchrist, vice president and Gleun M. Averill, secretary. Mr. Lichty continued as the active manager and, within a year from the reorganization the line was extended from Vinton so as to include many of the farmers of the county. In 1909 a consolidation was effected with the Corn Belt Telephone Company, which also anticipated a similar arrangement with the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
On March 31, 1902. the Farmers' Telephone Company's fran- chise was carried at the city election held at Vinton, and John Bunton was chosen first president. Soon afterward he was suc- ceeded by Milo Whipple, the present incumbent. Its vice presi- dent is Wilmer Burke; secretary, John Beatty; treasurer John Lorenz, and manager, Charles Parcell.
"BOOSTER" CLUB OF VINTON.
In its name The Booster Club of Vinton fully expresses its objeets; and it has been the best organized promoter of the city. It was founded in November, 1906, and there has been virtually no change in its officers from the first, viz: M. J. Tobin, president ; S. S. Lichty, first vice president; Dr. B. F. Schwartz, second vice president ; George N. Urice, secretary, and Arthur B. Allen, treas- urer. The club has raised $75,000 to furnish Vinton with another railroad, vigorously pushed an electric interurban company; im- proved sewerage and paving conditions and otherwise "boosted" the city. The railroad scheme involves the building of thirteen miles of railroad connecting Vinton (now included in the Rock Island railroad system) with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line to the south. Electric connections with the city are being promoted by the Booster Club through the Iowa Power and Trac- tion Company, which for a number of years has been extending its system from the south, via Fairfield and Marengo.
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WORLD'S LARGEST CORN-CANNING FACTORY.
The largest manufacturing enterprise in Benton county. and the leading plant of its kind in the world, is the Iowa Canning Company which puts upon the market an average of eight million caus of corn per year. It was organized in 1892 by W. C. Ellis. Frank G. Ray and II. B. Kelley, as the Kelley Canning Company. The raw material is grown on a thousand acres of land near Vinton. and the company has branches at La Porte City. Garrison and Shellsburg. these being founded soon after the reorganization of the company under its present name in 1895. Dr. C. C. Griffizi is now president; W. C. Ellis, vice president; George Knox. treas- urer, and Frank G. Ray, secretary.
The Vinton plant was the first factory for the canning of corn west of the Mississippi river. and it is mainly responsible for the growth and development of the canning industry in Iowa, most of the plants being practically outgrowths of this one. The product of the factories controlled by the company is distributed through- out the middle and western states, little being shipped east of the Mississippi. Besides the factory. the Vinton plant contains fine and well managed ware-rooms, this being an important feature of the enterprise, and in the canning process the most modern and best improved machinery is used. This venture has been most success- ful from a financial standpoint. and has been managed in a most business-like manner. The company owns three fine farins and rents other land, amounting, as stated. to about one thousand acres
in cultivation. The building site and other necessary space re- quires some fifteen hundred acres more. A regular force is em- ployed throughout the year and during the active canning season some two hundred to two hundred and fifty are kept busy. Thus the enterprise is of importance from an industrial point of view. The management of the institution is such as to inspire confidence. and the business is constantly growing in proportions. Most of the men connected with the business are also interested in other financial enterprises and are men of influence and prominence in the community.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS NOT REALIZED.
Vinton participated in the great expectations of wealth to be realized from the industrial utilization of the pearl products ob- tained from the fresh-water mussels of Jowa. S. S. Clark organ-
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ized a company to establish a factory at that point in 1898, plan- ning to put in operation the largest plant in the state, capable of turning out 3,000 gross of finished buttons daily. The factory was built, although not on as large a basis, as originally contem- plated. It was not fairly installed until July of 1904, the business having been incorporated as the Vinton Pearl Button Factory in the previous April. In September, 1906, the enterprise was abandoned, so far as Vinton was concerned, and moved to Amsterdam, New York.
MINNE ESTEMA PARK.
Vinton is a pretty place, but, like others which have grown to considerable proportions, must have its special summer resort. This is known by the romantie Indian name of Minne Estema (Sleeping Waters) Park, and comprises forty acres of land, pictur- esquely wooded or richly grassed on the eastern shores of a beanti- ful lake; has a good summer hotel, cottages, fishing, boating and bathing conveniences, as well as grounds for archery and out-door games, dancing pavilion, ete. It was platted as a town by George R. Knapp, Vinton's veteran abstractor and real estate man, in May, 1897, and he has since been improving the property to good purpose.
THE MASONS OF VINTON.
Vinton Lodge No. 62, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under dis- pensation granted May 11, 1854. The first officers were: Elijah Evans, worthy master; W. C. Conrad, senior warden; JJohn Mc- Cartney, junior warden; H. Berry, treasurer; J. S. Epperson, secretary; A. Jolmson, senior deacon, and H. J. Burley, junior deacon. The first report to the grand lodge embraced the names of James Wood, Jacob S. Hunt, John Ferguson and William Jones, master masons. Under the charter of June 6, 1855, the first officers were: Elijah Evans, worthy master; William C. Connell, senior warden ; John S. Epperson, junior warden ; Harrison Berry, treasurer; James Woods, secetary; William Jones, senior deacon; Jacob S. Hunt. junior deacon; John Ferguson, tiler. Master Masons whose names appeared in the first annual report: Alexan- der Johnson, John McCartney. S. P. Brainard, N. M. Wilson, James Sullivan, Robert HI. Wilson, Peter B. Smith, Sanford Moberly. Robert Downs, Payton B. Culver. Samuel Osborn, James Hankins.
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Charles M. Hare. Hugh B. Jones. Elias H. Bowen. James Thomp- son, William Kellison. Rev. John Wright. Thomas S. Palmer and Wesley Whipple. The present number of members is about. 150. with W. C. Hulse, worthy master; F. G. Bryner, senior warden ; E. E. Strait. junior warden, and W. E. Bickel, secretary.
Adoniram Chapter No. 15. R. A. M., was organized July 22. 1856. and chartered June 1. 1857 : original charter members. W. R. Lathrop (high priest). Elijah Evans (king), J. M. Spafford (seribe). W. C. Connell. C. M. ITare. W. C. Stanberry, R. M. Forsyth. E. P. Forsyth and A. G. Green. The chapter. as now organized. numbers 110 members with officers as follows: I. M. Reeve, high priest: F. G. Bryner. king: W. C. Hulse, scribe, and W. E. Bickel. secretary.
Cyphus Commandery No. 37, K. T .. was organized October 6. 1880, with Edwin A. Hewes, eminent commander; Abram Rose, generalissimo, and Marion Meredith. captain general. Its in- corporators were Governor B. R. Sherman. Marion Meredith. Edwin A. Hewes, J. A. Coleord. J. A. Bills. D. M. Withrow. W. B. Reynolds, W. C. Boggs. W. A. Tewksbury. Dr. C. C. Griffin. I. N. Chenowith and S. S. Reynolds. W. E. Bickel is now serving as eminent commander: W. H. Thompson as generalissimo; Arad Thompson. captain general. and J. E. Marietta, recorder. Strength of the commandery, about ninety.
Vinton Lodge No: 90. Order of the Eastern Star, was organ- ized September 11. 1890. with E. S. Ibhard as worthy patron; Mary Whitney. worthy matron. and Myra Gaasch, associate matron. Its charter members were E. B. Felker. J. C. Traer. George W. Speers. B. M. Bills. Tilla Hoover. S. P. and Mary E. Van Dike. A. B. and Antoinette Forrester. J. B. Crane. T. G. Mallory. J. B. Bunten. D. D. Johnson. T. F. Tobin. M. Gaasch. E. Felker. Mary Speers. F. M. Hoover. and Mattie Jenkins. The lodge has a membership of about 100. with J. M. Reeve. worthy patron : Blanche Watson, worthy matron. and Cora F. Bowman. secretary.
THE ODD FELLOWS.
Vinton Lodge No. 83. J. O. O. F .. was organized February 6. 1856, and chartered October 8th of that year. According to the minutes in the lodge record book. entered under the former date. "Deputy District Grand Master L. H. Keyes. agreeable to appoint- ment. appeared and duly instituted Vinton Lodge. No. 83. I. O. O. F. Immediately after the institution, M. D. L. Webb was elected
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
noble grand ; J. W. O. Webb, vice grand; J. Il. Shutts, secretary : G. W. Sells, treasurer. All were duly installed into their respect- ive offices by the deputy grand master, assisted by Samnel Jack. as grand marshal. " As stated the charter bears date of October 8. 1856, and the charter members were: M. D. L. Webb. J. W. O. Webb. Geo. W. Sells. J. H. Shutts. Thos. S. Palmer, Hugh Jordon. H. B. Smith, J. L. Panley, Jesse Amburn, S. F. McCoy and M. Lathrop. Vinton Lodge No. 83 has always been one of the strong- est secret and benevolent bodies of the city. Its officers are now : S. B. Tilson. N. G .; H. A. Grant. V. G .; E. M. Garn. secretary : F. S. Jameson, financial secretary: J. A. Bills, treasurer; C. E. Gerber- ich, warden : A. P. Rose. con .; W. D. Scott. I. G .; J. E. Marietta. R. S. N. G .: I. M. Garn. L. S. N. G .; JJ. K. Spike. R. S. V. G .: M. Nissen, L. S. V. G .; A. R. Fellows, chaplain ; V. W. Aikley, R. S. S .; C. E. Bowen. L. S. S .; and W. Stripple. O. G. J. A. Bell has the distinction of having continuously served as treasurer of the lodge since 1863.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Fidelity Lodge No. 47. K. of P .. was instituted May 23. 1879. and chartered February 11. 1880. Its original members comprised Henry Berharen, JJohn Kuapp, T. R. Williams, J. L. Tinkbam. M. Stern, A. B. Moon. John G. Edmonds. C. B. Rose. G. D. Bacon. Wm. Murphy, Wm. Wilson. R. H. Rickel. J. A. Kemp. M. Shockley. W. T. Seward, W. C. Boggs. A. A. Wentz, John Furry. C. L. White. C. B. Kimball. J. W. Smock. C. W. Miller, W. J. Taylor. F. M. Baker and Frank R. Ralyea, the five last mentioned being still residents of Vinton. John Knapp was the first chauvelor com- mander and T. R. Williams, vice. Mr. Miller was keeper of records and seals, Mr. Taylor master-at-arms and Mr. Sinock master of the exchequer. The present officers of the lodge, which has a membership of nearly 200. are as follows: E. T. Bryant, chanceler commander ; R. T. Dunham, vice commander ; E. E. Strait, prelate : F. C. Waterstradt. master of work; F. L. Gerberich, keeper of records and seals; George D. MeElroy, master of exchequer; M. J. Silverman, master-at-arms; M. J. Smetzer, inner guard. and I. Bruce, outer guard. Bernard Murphy is past grand commander and supreme representative of the state.
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MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
The Modern Woodmen of America have a strong lodge at Vinton (No. 56), consisting of about three hundred members. It was organized March 2. 1889, with officers as follows: S. A. Wagner, counselor: H. Wileox, adviser: F. J. Sanders, banker ; Joseph Eastwood, clerk; J. C. Haines, escort ; D. M. Farnsworth, watchman ; H. S. Snyder, sentry; and Dr. J. P. Whitney, physi- cian. The present officers are: E. H. Bassett. counselor; I. M. Garm, banker: F. S. Jamesou, clerk: J. H. MeAndrews, escort; H. A. Grant, watchman; H. Starbird, sentry. and Dr. C. C. Griffin, Jr., physician.
The Royal Neighbors lodge (anxiliary to MI. W. A.) was insti- tuted in April. 1899, has a membership of fifty and the following officers: Mrs. Eugene Garns, oracle: Mrs. Leone Lockman, vice oracle; Mrs. F. S. Jameson, past oracle : Mrs. Call Thompson, sec- retary. and Mrs. I. M. Reaves, treasurer. The first officers were Mrs. J. F. Allen. oracle ; Mrs. James Bauman, vice oracle ; and Mrs. Ed. Sanders, secretary.
THE EPWORTH LEAGUE.
The Epworth League at Vinton, which now numbers seventy- five members, was organized in 1889. Present officers: Charles Reed, president : C. C. Hitchcock, vice president : Mrs. E. M. Bardo. second vice president ; Mabel B. Miller, third vice president ; Mrs. E. E. Strait, fourth vice president : Elizabeth Jameson. secretary ; Fae Mossman, treasurer; Constance Blair, pianist : F. G. Bryner, .Tr .. superintendent.
CHAPTER XVIL
LEADING VINTONITES.
JAMES F. YOUNG. MIL.FR-ELIJAH EVANS, EARLY OFFICIAL -- MARION EVANS, EX-MAYOR-CYRENIUS T. WHIPPLE, WEALTHY LAND OWNER-W. F. WILLIAMS. BANKER AND CITY PROMOTER- JOHN KNAPP AND HIS LUCKY NUMBER-CORNELIUS ELLIS. PIONEER LUMBERMAN-PAUL CORRELL. OLD-TIME MERCHANT-GEORGE HOR- RIDGE, LEADING BANKER-C. O. HARRINGTON, EARLY BANKER ---- FIRST TO MARRY IN VINTON -- J. J. LOIZEUX. SETTLER OF '54- ROBERT A. HARPER, ALSO OF '54 -- THE YOUNGS OF '55 -- OCTOGE- NARIAN'S IN RETIREMENT --- LEVI S. MILLER, VETERAN BUSINESS MAN -- PALMIER BROTHERS. OLD DRUGGISTS- JOUN O. BILLS, PIONEER JEWELER-DEAN- OF INSURANCE MEN-"RALYEA" STANDS FOR ".HOTEL"-CAMPBELL, THE CONTRACTOR -- W. W. MEANS, OLD CITY MARSHAL.
JAMES F. YOUNG, MILLER
James F. Young was one of the earliest and best known millers in Benton county : also a prominent business man generally and a citizen of public spirit. generosity and kindly heart. Born in Johnson county. Indiana, he first care west to lowa in 1848. when he was twenty-three years of age. He spent the winter of this year in Cedar Rapids and in December. 1549. located in Big Grove. Benton county, the first settler in that township. After engaging in farming for six years, in 1855 be located at Vinton, and built the first grist mill in that county that would grind wheat. It was one of the best known mills in this section of the state, and an ilhis- ration of it. as it appears in its later years. is here given. Mr. Young also engaged in the furniture business, being well known as senior member of the firm of J. F. Young and Company: he also held varions town and school offices and was one of the citizens of Vinton who really assisted the place in its early growth.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
In the summer of 1848, when Mr. Young came to Benton county from his Indiana home. he entered sixty acres of land in Round Grove and one hundred and sixty in Big Grove. The next summer he returned to Indiana on horseback; was married to Mary Bergen, and with his bride came to this new country in a lumber wagon and settled in Round Grove in a log cabin. Two
After the death of his first wife in 1855 he left his farm and came to town. At the earnest request of many citizens and with the promise of financial aid, he commenced in 1856 the erection of a
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YOUNG'S OLD FLOUR MILL. VINTON.
three-story flouring mill at the north end of Benton street. The hard times coming on prevented much of the promised help mater- ializing. With one exception this was the only mill this side of Cedar Rapids. A large business in grain and flour was carried on. Later he added a saw mill. where many thousand feet of oak. black walnut and some red cedar were sawed. Mr. Young built the first elevator and when the railroad was completed to this place the company was furnished room in it for station free of cost until a depot could be built. In 1873 he bought a half interest in the furniture business of G. W. Freeman. He remodeled the store and added a steam manufacturing plant, where the lumber from Vol. 1-22
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
his saw mill was made into furniture. In these various enterpris- es he furnished employment to many men and kept a large amount of money in circulation, thus doing more for the building up of the town in the first thirty years of its existence than any other person. He gave hearty encouragement and financial aid to whatever would benefit the town.
He was a charter member of the first fire company and served ten years as an active member. When the war broke out he de- sired to enlist, but there was no one to take the mill off his hands and no other mill near. Whenever he heard a man say "I would enlist if my family could be cared for." Mr. Young would answer. "Go on, I will care for them;" in that way he made it possible for many to volunteer. In 1850 he built the modest home where be still resides. Mr. Young was a charter member of the First Presby- terian church. and one of its first elders, which office he filled over forty years. He subscribed for the first issue of the Vinton Eagle. which has been a regular visitor at the home from that day to this.
Miss L. L. Fellows was born in New York, September 26, 1829. Her father. Rev. L. II. Fellows, was for thirty years pastor of the Congregational church. in the mountain home where the first quarter century of her life was spent. In June, 1855, she landed in Vinton, coming by stage from the Mississippi. She taught a
school for girls in the little building, which has been erected where Mr. Cesner's house afterward stood. This building was also used for church services on the Sabbath by the Presbyterians in the morning and the Baptists in the afternoon. In September, 1857, Miss Fellows was united in marriage to J. F. Young. Three children were born to them.
ELIJAH EVANS, EARLY OFFICIAL.
Elijah Evans was one of the prominent and sociable men of Harrison township and Vinton from 1848 to 1870. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1815. In 1836 he went to Indiana to live. remaining there till 1842. when he removed to Marion, and in 1846 onto his farm in Harrison township, this county, where he lived till the spring of 1853. when he moved to Vinton and went into the mercantile business. He was engaged in this till the spring of 1858, when he sold out and moved back to the farm in Harrison township. HIe came to Vinton again in the spring of 1861 and engaged in the harness and saddlery business.
In May, 1870. Mr. Evans moved by team to Southern Kansas.
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locating at Independence. Three years later he moved to Welling- ton, where he lived till his death, which occurred June 30, 1883. In 1838 he was married to Anazette H. Forsyth, a daughter of John S. Forsyth, who was the first county judge of Benton county. They had nine children. Mrs. Evans died at Wellington Decem- ber 2. 1881. Five of their children are still living.
Elijah Evans held many official positions during his life, such as commissioner's clerk of Linn county. when Benton county was also included ; police judge of both Independence and Welling- ton; probate judge of Summer county, Kansas, as well as smaller offices, such as justice of the peace, school director, ete. Mr. Evans and wife were active members of the Methodist church. He was'a man of strong convictions and always had the courage to stand by them. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were always known as generous enter- tainers and it was a rare thing to find the family alone at home, such was their desire to have their friends come and visit them.
MARION EVANS, EX-MAYOR.
Marion Evans came to Benton county with his parents in 1846 and for a number of years, before coming to Vinton, lived in Harrison township. He was married to Miss Sadie Merritt, of that place, December 31. 1868. and the following year they moved into the home which they still occupy. Mr. Evans was mayor of Vinton from 1899 to 1904.
CYRENIUS T. WHIPPLE, WEALTHY LAND OWNER.
Cyrenius T. Whipple. father of Hon. William P. Whipple. entered 210 acres of land in Taylor township during the winter of 1850. He was then twenty-three. a resident of Indiana who had been engaged for some years in the Mississippi river trade with New Orleans. Mr. Whipple located permanently on his land in August. 1854. having also entered land for his parents who accom- panied him. Cyrenins T. married into the pioneer Cline family in 1856. He became the father of five children. the youngest of whom. Cora J., is the widow of Lieutenant Guy Kellogg, a typhoid fever victim of the Spanish-American war. At his death in 1900 the father left one of the largest landed estates in Benton county, con prising nine hundred aeres in Taylor township.
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