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 31
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As near as can be ascertained. the business interests of Belle Plaine in the fall of 1863 were represented by E. G. Brown, who had purchased Mr. Isham's general store; Andrew Hale, grain and stock dealer: James Smart. lumber dealer; Carter Buckley and George Watrous, grain buyers; J. B. Daniels, harness maker. William Shaffer was the first station ageut.
EARLY GROWTH OF BELLE PLAINE.
The selection of Belle Plaine as the terminus of the Clinton division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad soon had its effeet in stimulating the growth of the town, and at the close of 1868 it had seven general stores, eight groceries, four agricultural implement houses, three hardware stores, five lumber dealers, two furniture stores, three drug stores, one book store, two millinery shops, five tailors, six physicians, six attorneys, two jewelry stores, one music store. three dentists, four wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, three hotels. one livery stable, nine saloons, four boarding houses, four shoe shops, three harness shops, two auctioneers. one flonring mill, one planing mill. two painters, one bakery. two dozen carpenters, one tobacco store, five drays, one newspaper and several grain buyers. Its first bank was established in July, 1869. In 1885 the population of Belle Plaine was 2.002; in 1890, 2.623 : 1895. 3.256 : 1900. 3.283 ; 1905. 3.322 : 1910. 3,500 (estimated)
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
FIRST FOUNDRIES.
There were four blacksmith shops at Belle Plaine in 1869. but no establishments up to that year which could be dignified as foundries. Messrs. Chase. Fletcher, Hale and Palmer ( Albert) started the first foundry in that year. and in 1877 the firm of A. Palmer & Son was formed-the son being Eugene Palmer, of Palmer Brothers. Belle Plaine foundrymen of today. C. J. Palmer came to Vinton in 1884 and soon afterward became a part- ner of Eugene. The present foundry of Palmer Brothers, em- ploying fifteen or twenty men. is the only establishment of the kind in Belle Plaine. its specialties being radiation boilers and heat- ing apparatus (steam and hot water).
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN PLANTS.
The round house of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company at Belle Plaine was completed in 1884. It has thirty locomotive stalls. and one hundred and twenty workmen are em-
TH
CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN DEPOT, BELLE PLAINE.
ployed in the shops and yards-seventy-five on the day force and forty-five on the night shift.
The fire of July. 1894, burned the old Northwestern Railroad depot. the structure now occupied being completed in the following
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December. It is of red brick. two stories and basement, the general offices being in the second story. and well built and arranged.
CORPORATION OF BELLE PLAINE.
Belle Plaine was incorporated as a city of the second class in 1868, the municipal officers chosen at the organizing election of May 22d being as follows: D. A. Kennedy, mayor : J. P. Henry. treasurer : J. F. Roberts. marshal ; E. A. Bird, E. G. Brown. D. C. Twogood and J. Fohls. councilmen. The council held its first meeting at Howard & Johnson's office. June 26, 186S. and after perfecting its organization passed ordinance No. 1 providing for the election by the council of a marshal, street commissioner and treasurer. At the same meeting K. D. Shugart was elected treas- urer and Joseph Daniels, marshal and street commissioner. Ordi- nance No. 2, prohibiting stock from running at large and ordinance No. 3. concerning licenses, were then passed; after which Belle Plaine's first conneil adjourned.
The present municipal officers of Belle Plaine are: J. H. Irwin, mayor: Harvey Slack. clerk; I. W. Van Nice. treasurer : J. E. Livings, chief of the volunteer fire department; J. A. Ruhl. city marshal: J. W. Leimberer. street commissioner. The two aldermen-at-large are James A. Williams and Luther Fisher, while the first. second and third wards are represented respectively by W. D. Barnard. G. W. Blanche and J. W. Rneker.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first meeting to organize Pioneer Hook and Ladder Com- pany No. J was held June 24. 1873. when James Collister was elected foreman : C. H. Schnoor, first assistant : W. P. Tuttle, see- ond assistant: S. S. Sweet. treasurer: Tom Lawrence, secretary. By the 14th of the following July twenty-seven of the thirty mem- bers had purchased uniforms, without which the average "fire laddie" does not consider he is a regular member of his company. In June. 1877. occurred the first death in the department. the company attending the funeral of Mr. Schnoor on the 19th of that month.
One of the first fires which Pioneer Hook and Ladder was called upon to attend was that which started in the law office of A. F. Bell (July 16, 1874) and burned several small buildings before it
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
was controlled. Two or three buildings were torn down to stay the progress of the flames.
The Belle Plaine fire department is still purely volunteer and consists, as to apparatus, of one engine, one hook and ladder and two hose carts.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1894.
Belle Plaine's most destructive fire occurred on the late after- noon and the evening of July 28. 1894. sweeping up and down First street and for nearly two blocks east of the round house from Second street to the railway. About two solid blocks of brick and frame buildings were consumed in a few hours; eighty business firms were made stockless and homeless and the half a million of dollars which went up in smoke and flames was not insured for more than $200.000. It was a terrible blow to the advancement of Belle Plaine, but, like other phicky western towns, she fully re- covered and replaced the ruins with a far better class of buildings than the old.
At 5:30 Robert Liddle, the blacksmith, was setting ties on wagon wheels. on Beech street near Second. At the same time C. II. Kroh was raising a bale of rye hay into his feed and sale stable near by. With the unaccountable perversity of those inani- mate objects to be attracted to each other whose union will cause the most mischief, a spark from a red hot tire shot into the dry bale of hay which was being pulled into Mr. Kroh's loft. and when that gentleman turned over the bale it burst into flame so quickly that he was driven away.
The fire then spread rapidly and vigorously to the City Hall and Wheeler's livery stable, and thence in four directions. To the west it raced through residences. warehouses, offices and a $30.000 opera house. Like mad. it swept up and down First street, taking in its path the best brick buildings in the city. At this stage of the fight both the depot and Henry's lumber yard. on the south side of First. were burned to the ground, as well as "Old Rescue. " the fire engine, which seemed transformed into a human hero. 1 hose cart was also lost to the enemy before assistance arrived from Blairstown, Tama and Cedar Rapids.
At 7 o'clock in the evening the wind changed from the north- west to the east. The Burley House was saved but the hook and ladder companies were forced to tear down several dwellings on
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Second street which menaced the balance of the buildings on First street.
The heaviest losers in the fire-those who suffered a loss of $10,000 or over -- were as follows: Opera House Block (T. F. Green- lee), main building occupied by Shaw & Bowman as a department store. $25,000: Shaw & Bowinan. $30.000: W. H. Burrows & Com- pany. clothier. $17.000; J. D). Bine, dry goods merchant, $14,000; Van Metre & Cox. druggists, $13.000; Robert Nicholson. grocer, $12.000: Hartman Grocery Company, $10,000; J. J. Mosnat, build- ing and law library. $18,000; Sol. Wertheim. clothier, $18,000; L. Grossman. dry goods merchant, $16.000; Wm. P. Hanson, Opera House, jeweler and hardware dealer. $29.000; Nichols & Marr, $16,000: and T. Lawrence, building and dry goods stock, $23,000. The Knights of Pythias and Masons also were burned out and the Herring Hotel was also destroyed at a loss of $8.000.
LIGHT AND POWER PLANT.
A plant to furnish Belle Plaine with light and power was erected in 1881. William A. Hunter being its proprietor. In
"JUMBO" WELL IN ACTION, BELLE PLAINE.
August, 1884, a larger building was completed, and under the management of S. S. Sweet the enterprise progressed until 1894. In that year G. D. Thayer became a partner, and in August. 1899. Vol. I-23
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G. R. Ahrens and IT. W. A. Mahl purchased Mr. Thayer's interest in the plant. The parties now in interest are the Sweet estate and. Messrs. Ahrens and Mahl, the last named being active manager.
ARTESIAN WATER WORKS.
In June, 1901, the citizens of Belle Plaine voted $30,000 bonds for an artesian system of water works and in January, 1906, the contract was let to the Miller Artesian Well Company, for the construction of works capable of supplying 200,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. Belle Plaine is the center of one of the most noted artesian belts in the west, whose remarkable natural features and practical development for water-supply purposes are fully described in the chapter on the physical aspects of Benton county.
THE TELEPHONE SERVICE.
In 1890 the Belle Plaine Telephone Company was organized by S. H. Walters and Otto Wettstein. Its capital has remained at $9,000. It has sixty subscribers and the following officers: Sol. Wertheim, president : C. A. Blossom, treasurer; Edward Nichols, secretary.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A well assorted collection of about one thousand volumes is housed in the basement of the Congregational church and com- prises the public library of Belle Plaine. Miss Mayme Fisher is librarian.
THE BELLE PLAINE OPERA HOUSE.
In 1895, the year after its destruction in the great fire, Belle Plaine's opera honse was rebuilt by Francisco Guthrie at a cost of $24,000. The auditorium is tastefully decorated and furnished and seats about eight hundred people. J. C. Milner has been manager of the opera house since 1897.
HERRING COTTAGE.
The Herring Cottage is the leading hotel of Belle Plaine and is one of the most home-like places of public entertainment in Jowa.
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Its proprietor. Will P. Herring. is the father of the cottage. Twen- ty years ago he was running the old Tremont House near the round house. He was one of the vietims of the 1894 fire, but was so instinctively a landlord that he commenced renting cottages
THE HERRING COTTAGE.
around town and letting them out to transients. The scheme and the man "took. " and in 1899 he erected the Herring Cottage, which now has a wide reputation for hospitality and good service.
THE BAILEY ITOUSE.
This hotel. erected by one of Belle Plaine's pioneers, is the oldest publie house of entertainment in the city. Its proprietor is Mrs. F. A. Armstrong, daughter of its builder and original pro- prietor. The hotel is now largely patronized by railroad men.
FOUR LEADING ESTABLISHMENTS.
Belle Plaine has two lumber and coal yards. J. P. Henry started the first lumber yard in the place during 1865. He was alone in business until 1899 when his son. F. H. Henry. became associated with him. The "Eclipse" coal and lumber yard was established about five years ago by C. W. Burnham.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
The so called Tappan & Crawford elevator, with a capacity of 25.000 bushels, has been under the present management since February, 1000.
In 1907 the Belle Plaine Broom Company was organized by J. HI. Trwin, J. E. Graf. C. J. Snitkay. I. W. Van Nice, W. J. Guin, Eugene Smith and C. W. D. Suyder. Mr. Snyder controls the business which amounts to about $20,000 annually.
MASONRY IN BELLE PLAINE.
Hope Lodge No. 175, A. F. & A. M., of Belle Plaine, held its first meeting at Blairstown, under dispensation, March 11, 1865, at which time William C. Smith sat as worthy master; H. C. Rider, senior warder, H. Guinn, treasurer. J. W. Filkins. secretary ; S. A. Wilcox, senior deacon ; John A. Dudgeon, junior deacon and Philip Parks, tiler. K. D. Shugert. James Collister and John Caltron were also present as charter members. A charter was issued in June, 1865, by E. A. Guilbert. grand master, and the lodge was constituted by James MeQuinn, special deputy for the occasion. A new Masonic hall was dedicated October 29. 1873, the ceremonies being conducted by A. R. West. deputy grand master. The Masonic Temple of the present was completed in the later portion of 1894 to replace the building destroyed by the great fire of July. Hope Lodge has a membership of 135 and the following officers: James Park, worthy master; D. E. Cox, senior warden ; C. A. Schrimgeour. junior warden : J. D. Wilson, senior deaeon; L. Grossman, junior deacon ; C. A. Sweet, secretary.
Mount Horch Chapter No. 45. R. A. M., Belle Plaine, was or- ganized. under dispensation, by D. H. Hemenway. grand high priest, on the 11th of July. 1968. E. A. Bird was named as high priest : James McQuinn, king: and E. W. Stocker, seribe. The chapter was constituted by P. C. Wright, grand high priest. Novem- ber 7th, of that year.
ODD FELLOWSHIP IN BELLE PLAINE.
Belle Plaine Lodge No. 151. J. O. O. F., was organized July 11. 1867. by Benjamin Rubert. of Dubuque, grand master, assisted by M. A. Newcomb, of Tama City, and A. A. Lindley, Cedar Rapids. E. M. Dodge was elected noble grand: J. C. Kirkwood. vice grand ; S. Wyman. recording secretary : J. J. Daton, permanent sceretary : J. B. Marston, treasurer. An address was given before the lodge
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by W. A. Tewksbury July 2, 1869, on the occasion of the installa- tion of officers at Wilson's Grove, two miles northeast of Belle Plaine. For some time the German Odd Fellows attached them- selves to the Luzerne lodge as well as with the so called Berlin lodge of Belle Plaine, but these bodies are now consolidated under the Belle Plaine organization.
The first exclusive Odd Fellows Hall was dedicated June 1, 1876, delegations being present from the lodges at Blairstown, Luzerne and Chelsea. The Odd Fellows block, where the different bodies of the order now meet, was erected in 1907. The assembly hall is large and well furnished, and the adjoining rooms comfort- able and convenient. Present membership of Lodge No. 151, 200; Charles Kratoska, noble grand; John Pecenka (one of the charter members) vice grand; J. A. Ruhl, recording secretary; A. W. Moderwell, financial secretary ; G. R. Ahrens, treasurer.
On April 26, 1887, the Odd Fellows of Belle Plaine formed the uniformed rank of their order, known as Patriarchs Militant. This was largely through the influence and work of M. A. Raney, long among the leading Odd Fellows of Benton county and for several years past the generalissimo of the entire order.
Home Encampment No. 48, I. O. O. F., was organized April 20, 1870, and instituted October 16, 1872, with fourteen members. Its charter members were Wesley Camp, E. A. Stocker, J. B. Marston, J. J. Dayton, A. J. Gwinn, W. P. Hanson, D. A. Kennedy, E. S. Johnson and R. H. Petter.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
The Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 147 was chartered October 7. 1886, with twenty-three members. li has now a membership of 104 and officers as follows: A. J. Keyser, chancelor commander ; A. W. Byers, vice commander ; C. D. Douglass. master-at-arms; J. II. Welch, prelate; J. A. Wheeler, keeper of records and seals and master of finance; I. W. Van Nice, master of the exchequer; J. N. Hodson, inner guard; J. A. Ruhl, outer guard. Dr. James Me- Morris and John Montgomery are charter members who have passed through all the chairs of their lodge. The Grand Temple (women's auxiliary) was organized August 11, 1892.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
THE "GRAND ARMY" POST.
The John B. Hancock Post No. 314. G. A. R., Belle Plaine, was originally chartered April 21, 1881. It consisted of twenty mem- bers of whom the following still reside in Belle Plaine: John Montgomery, S. C. Leavell. S. R. Ferree, J. P. Henry, Joe Harbert, Thomas Brand. C. Wenz, and M. V. Foote. E. E. Blake lives in Chicago; J. C. Mattox, H. H. Greenlee, M. L. Prentiss, J. R. Cruson, A. Vosburg. J. G. Walker and C. C. Sullenberger are, so far as known, still alive, and James Rucker, Noah Winslow, F. E. Mc- Curdy and J. J. Chown are dead. The post now has a membership of thirty-four with the following officers: M1. J. Athey, comman- der; S. C. Lavall, chaplain; S. R. Ferree, quartermaster; and Myron Hartwell, adjutant.
LEGION OF HONOR.
Belle Plaine Legion of Honor No. 51, which was founded in the winter of 1879, had the following original officers: Rev. H. A. Brown. president ; H. A. Bickford, vice president; George Swinney, recording secretary ; R. M. Bailey. financial secretary. Some 150 members now belong to the Legion, which has paid about thirty thousand dollars in beneficaries since its organization. Present officers: George A. Ferree, president ; C. II. Bailey, vice president : A. J. Keyser, secretary. and Dr. C. J. Snitkay, treasurer.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Modern Woodmen of America, No. 795. was organized in November. 1883. and has now more than 120 members, with the following officers: A. Carlson, vice commander; G. E. Westman, worthy adviser; M. D. Dodd, banker; J. A. Ruhl. clerk; W. T. Antrim, escort.
The Royal Neighbors of Belle Plaine (auxiliary to the Modern Woodmen of America) organized in March, 1907. They number about twenty and their officers are: Mrs. Laura Schmitz, oracle; Mrs. Alice Lyons, vice oracle; Mrs. Cora Crittenden, recorder; and Mrs. Myra Black, receiver.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.
Minnehaha Tribe No. 33, of Belle Plaine, Improved Order of Red Men, is officered as follows: W. W. Livings, sachem; Andrew J. Keyser, senior sagamore; W. A. Crawford, junior sagamore; George R. Ferree, prophet, and S. Ferree, keeper of records. The tribe was organized September 12, 1891, by forty-four charter members, including the following: E. M. Ealy, J. N. Greenlee, E. M. Kolb, J. W. Miller, James Mattox, F. H. Milner, William O'Neill, Claus Peters, W. A. Rusk, F. P. Stephen and G. D. Waltron. The first sachem was E. M. Berger.
The Haymakers Association (Minnehaha Lodge No. 33 1-2), comprising members of the Red Men who have reached the third degree, was formed August 24, 1908. It has thirty-five members ; Frank Hadima, chief haymaker.
BOHEMIAN SOCIETIES.
Belle Plaine has a large Bohemian element and it is thrifty, substantial and eminently social and helpful. Perhaps the strong- est of the Bohemian societies of Belle Plaine is Zapadni Cesko Bralrske Jednoly (Western Bohemian Benevolent Society), which was organized May 31, 1903.
Cesko Slovanskych Podporujicich Spoiku (Bohemian Slavon- ian Benevolent Society) was organized at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854. The Belle Plaine lodge (Rad Kruh Bratrstva No. 186) was formed some years ago. It now has a membership of thirty and these officers: Joseph F. Cerny, president; M. Bender, Jr., vice president ; Auton Despiva, recording secretary; Joe Pech, financial secretary, and Charles Kratosky, treasurer.
RAILROAD UNIONS.
Because of the Northwestern round house and shops at Belle Plaine, the local railroad unions are quite strong. These include brotherhoods of trainmen, carmen, conductors, firemen and en- gineers. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen has also an auxiliary, organized by the women in April, 1899. The first union of the railroad men to be organized in Belle Plaine was the Brother- hood of Railway Trainen, No. 212, May 4, 1886.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
WOODMEN OF THE WORLD.
Big Four No. 220, Woodmen of the World, was organized August 19, 1895. and reorganized March 9. 1907. It has a mem- bership of about sixty and the following officers: J. F. Miller, council commander: J. H. Ortscheid, advisory lieutenant; W. Le Quette. clerk; F. B. Cerny, banker; S. R. MeCune, escort; John Veverka, watchman; Dr. George W. Yavorsky. physician; J. F. Cerny. local deputy ; W. A. McCune and M. Benda, trustees.
MODERN BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICA.
The Modern Brotherhood of America organized February 28. 1898, with A. K. Smith as president and Anna Bangs, secretary. The lodge has a membership of about ninety. Mrs. H. Edwards is president ; E. M. Ely, vice president : Anna Bangs, secretary ; and Mrs. W. D. Barnard, treasurer.
HIGHLAND NOBLES AND C. C. C.
In 1905 the Highland Nobles and the Court of Columbian Cirele consolidated their interests. They are now known as the 3 C order and have their society home in C. C. C. castle.
(EDITOR'S NOTE -- Should the reader of this chapter be spec- ially interested in the schools or churches of Belle Plaine, he is referred to the chapters which cover those topics in detail.)
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
WOODMEN OF THE WORLD.
Big Four No. 220, Woodmen of the World, was organized August 19, 1898, and reorganized March 9, 1907. It has a mem- bership of about sixty and the following officers: J. F. Miller, council commander; J. If. Ortscheid, advisory lieutenant; K. Le Quette. clerk; F. B. Cerny, banker; S. R. McCune, escort; John Veverka, watchman; Dr. George W. Yavorsky, physician; J. F. Cerny. local deputy; W. A. MeCune and M. Benda, trustees.
MODERN BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICA.
The Modern Brotherhood of America organized February 28, 1898, with A. K. Smith as president and Anna Bangs, secretary. The lodge has a membership of about ninety. Mrs. HI. Edwards is president ; E. M. Ely, vice president ; Amma Bangs, sceretary ; and Mrs. W. D. Barnard, treasurer.
HIGHLAND NOBLES AND C. C. C.
In 1905 the Highland Nobles and the Court of Columbian Circle consolidated their interests. They are now known as the 3 C order and have their society home in C. C. C. castle.
. (EDITOR'S NOTE-Should the reader of this chapter be spec- ially interested in the schools or churches of Belle Plaine, he is referred to the chapters which cover those topies in detail.)
CHAPTER XIX.
BLAIRSTOWN AND SHELLSBURG.
BLAIRSTOWN FOUNDED -- FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES-SUPPORT- ER OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-THE FIRST BLACKSMITH-THE TOWN IN 1862-THE TOWN IN 1868 -- CHAMPION OF THE SOUTH SLOPE-BLAIRSTOWN AS A CORPORATION-ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT -- BLAIRSTOWN ELEVATORS-LODGES OF BLAIRSTOWN -WHY SHELLSBURG ?- A STAGE STATION-FIRST LANDLORD-CAN- TONWINE'S PLACE-FIRST SHELLSBURG CHURCH-GETS A RAILROAD -INCORPORATED AS A VILLAGE-AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIS- TRICT -- SHELLSBURG'S FIRST MAYOR -- THE FIRST BANK-FARMERS' MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY-MASONS OF SHELLSBURG-INDE- PENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-THE G. A. R. POST-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS -- MODERN WOODMEN.
Blairstown, a place of about 650 inhabitants, in the eastern part of LeRoy township. is situated almost midway on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad as it passes through the southern tier of townships. It is about twenty-two miles south of Vinton and lies on a high and healthful rise of ground just south of Prairie creek. Originally, a fine body of timber skirting the Iowa river came up to within a mile of Blairstown, and this fact largely determined the location of the town.
BLAIRSTOWN FOUNDED.
In November. 1861. the Chicago and Northwestern road was completed to this point. A portion of the site was laid out in February, 1862, with Isaiah Morris and Eli Hill as proprietors, and somewhat later the survey was made by the railroad company, John I. Blair appearing in the records as proprietor. Mr. Morris donated a number of lots to those seeking a location. The first house erected after the plat was surveyed was that of Philip Buck, a plasterer, and not long afterward G. R. Dickinson erected a store
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
and established himself as the first merchant of Blairstown. H M. Hanford erected the second business building and that was quickly followed by the grain warehouse, built by W. T. Watrous and J. J. Suouffer. Mr. Morris, one of the proprietors of the town, kept the first hotel, the Howard House. Bryant and Green were the first blacksmiths and L. B. Watrons was the first station master, express agent and post master.
FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The first religious services were held by the Christian denomi- nation. Revs. Hugh Beardshear, Luther Keller, Steenbarger and Bradshaw holding forth at various times in the log school house. Miss Eunice Ranstead taught the first school in the summer of 1862, and was succeeded the following year by Hiram Black. But the particulars of the establishment of schools and churches at Blairstown, with the progress of subsequent years, are given else- where in the special chapters devoted to such topics.
SUPPORTER OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
George Herring contributed much to the educational and religious well-being of Blairstown and vicinity. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1822. and when ouly thirteen years of age joined the Evangelical Association, remaining a faithful mem- ber of that denomination until his death in 1877. He came to Towa in April, 1863, and was among the first settlers in the vicinity of Blairstown. After being here some thne he was licensed as a local minister, in which capacity he served the church faithfully until his death. He not only contributed liberally toward the building of his own church, but gave to the extent of his abilities toward the organization and maintenance of the Blairstown Semi- narv. Notwithstanding his philanthropy and generosity. he ac- enmulated a large property through his real estate dealings, but failure of health obliged him to remove to Texas in the spring of 1875. Failing to realize any benefits from this change in climate, he returned to the north and located at Alton, Illinois, where he remained until May, 1876. He then returned to Blairstown, where he died August 8, 1877.
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