USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 21
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The first plat surveyed contained nine blocks; the second one added several blocks to these, three on the north side and four on the west, making a total of sixteen blocks. The third survey added six- teenth blocks, making a total of thirty-two blocks in what is known as the original plat of Madrid. The fourth survey did nothing more than drop off one-half of the south tier of blocks, and added four half blocks to the north side of the town. Since then there have been seven plats added to the original ones. Although the first plat
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Old People's Home
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Madrid Viadutet
High Bridge. Looking South
The Mill
SCENES IN MADRID
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was made and the lots surveyed in 1851, it does not appear that any lots were sold until 1853.
The first merchant to embark in business here was William Hopkins, who opened a small store on Main Street near where the bridge on that street now spans the Milwaukee Cut. This was in the summer of 1854. In the following year came John Hannah and George Hornback, who both became merchants of the town. Mr. Hornback erected a store building on the corner of Market and Second streets, where the residence of John Lundahl now stands. Mr. Hornback conducted a store in this building from 1856 to 1876, a period of twenty years. The old store building now stands on the rear of the lot, being used for a barn. In 1856 came Jospeh Bernico, who commenced business in a building which he erected on the southwest corner of the schoolhouse square. Mr. Bernico died about fifteen years after commencing business here, but his widow and son continued in business until 1885, when the stock was closed out.
About the year 1870 Mr. Aldrich kept a store and hotel in what is now the A. T. Moyers property. Soon after this William Johnson embarked in the mercantile business, and continued in it the re- mainder of his life. He died in 1901, a much esteemed citizen.
Andrew Erickson engaged in the mercantile business a short time after Mr. Johnson, but his career in that line was cut short by a robbery which took place about midway in the '70s. While passing from his store to his residence, only a few steps away, one evening after the close of business, he was knocked down with a bludgeon and robbed of $350. The wound he received came very near termi- nating in death. Two young men, William Jarnagan and Isaac Radcliff, were indicted by the grand jury. They asked for separate trials and Jarnagan, who was tried first, was convicted. Radcliff was not tried until the next term of court, and, although he was tried on the same charge as was Jarnagan, he was acquitted. This ac- quittal gave Jarnagan his freedom. Mr. Erickson recovered and moved to Kansas.
Henry Hutton went into the drug business some time in the '70s, and continued in the business until 1887, when he sold out and moved to Colorado. Mr. Hutton was postmaster most of the time while he was in business in Madrid.
When work began upon the construction of the railroads leading into Madrid, new people came, new enterprises were entered into and Madrid started out on a new era of prosperity. Its growth has not been rapid, but it has been solid and substantial. The first three Vol. 1-15
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brick buildings were erected in 1883 by G. A. Young, Keigley Brothers, and E. B. Hepburn. Since then twenty-five more have been erected. There are now no less than forty places where busi- ness is carried on and a large volume is transacted from year to year. Among the business interests are four grocery stores, two hardware stores, two drug stores, three clothing stores, two bakeries, five res- taurants and confectioneries, two banks, one harness shop, one shoe shop, one shoe store, one electric light plant, two lumber yards, one implement store, one wagon box factory, two grain elevators, one cement block factory, two jewelry stores, two meat markets, two billiard halls, one garage, one printing office, two livery barns, three real estate offices, one millinery store, one hotel, one boarding house, four blacksmith and wood shops, one flouring mill, one furni- ture store, two barber shops, telephone office and system, one picture gallery and one icehouse.
Madrid has four church organizations and four church build- ings. The Swedish Lutheran Church is the largest one in the city. It now has a membership of 375 and a Sunday school enrollment of 160. The church was organized in 1859; Rev. F. M. Hokanson was the first pastor. Since then the church has had as pastors, Revs. O. J. Silverstrom, A. Sundberg, O. A. Landell, J. E. Holtz, C. E. Benson and C. O. Morland, the present pastor. They have a good frame church building. Although this church was not organized until 1859, its originators and forerunners were the first body of worshipers to meet together for that purpose, here or elsewhere, in the county. As early as 1849 and 1850, the few Swedish settlers met at the house of Mrs. Anna Dalander to sing songs and offer prayers, and one of them would then read a sermon from a book of sermons, which they brought across the ocean with them.
The Christian Church was organized in 1856 by Rev. A. D. Kelison, who was its first pastor. The church now has a member- ship of 250 and a Sunday school enrollment of 270. They have a good frame church building, in which services are held every Sun- day. Among the pastors who have had charge of the church may be mentioned, Revs. W. B. Golden, James Ackley, A. B. Burnham. F. G. Coffin, J. E. Stockley, M. A. Hamer. W. H. Harward and R. A. Lewis, the present pastor.
The M. E. Church was organized in 1857, by J. F. Westwood. who was its first pastor. At that date the territory in charge of the pastor was coextensive with the county. This church has erected two church buildings. One of these was destroyed by fire in 1906
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and on the same site the present brick church stands. The church has a membership of 125 and a Sunday school enrollment of 150. The following pastors of this church are still well remembered : Reverends Elliott, Todd, Stratton, Thompson, Golden, Cain, Doug- las, and Stephenson. The Rev. W. H. Harvey is the present pastor.
The Swedish Mission Church was organized in 1872 by C. J. Bjorkman, who was the first pastor. About the year 1882 this church built a house of worship which was used until 1912, when a new and more pretentious building was erected, which is now the home of the church. It now has a membership of seventy-five and a Sunday school enrollment of sixty. Reverends Hedlund, Anderson and Cole- man have been pastors of this church; but at present they have no regular minister.
The first school building in Madrid was erected in 1855, and it stood on Lot 2, in Block 18. The first teacher was Rollen Niles, who came from the State of Massachusetts, and began teaching here in 1855. Our townsmen, George Kearby and Isaac Stover, were among his pupils. This continued to be the village schoolhouse until about the year 1869, when a new building was erected on Lot 3, in Block 6, which is now used for a poultry vending establishment. This building had two departments, one occupying the first floor, and the other the second floor. When the railroads were built and Madrid became a railroad town, this building was no longer large enough to accommodate the children and youths desiring to attend school.
In 1884 the necessary steps were taken to erect a new building, and in the following year the east division of the present brick school building was erected. It had four departments, which accommo- dated all for a number of years. In 1901 the necessity for still more room and better accommodations led to the erection of the west division of the building, which since then has furnished room for all the scholars. The chances are that it will not be long before the question of erecting another school building will be before the people of our city. Thus it will be seen that Madrid has had three school buildings, beginning in 1855 and extending over a period of fifty- nine years, which if equally divided would make an average of about twenty years for each of them.
In the first of these houses can be recalled the names of teachers as follows: Rollen Niles, J. Madison Williams, M. Pettibone, James Chapman and Lucy Cottrel. In the second one: M. T. Har- lan, Z. T. Sullivan, Charles Tucker and W. M. Wilkins. In the
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present one : C. Scoonover, John Miller, A. Luce, S. A. Darland, R. V. Venaman, H. C. Graves, R. R. Cobb, G. E. Huton, E. L. Meek and C. T. Reed. The present enrollment is 315 scholars. The present teachers are: Principal, Merle S. Templeton; teachers, Gladys L. Snyder, Laura D. Frick, Frankie M. Murray, Edith Norris, Alice Crank, Amanda Peterson, Edna Boyer, Edna New- man and Bertha Mahaffie. The present enrollment is the largest in the history of the school. The following is a list of the graduates of the Madrid High School to the present date:
1895, under Prof. A. Luce: John Stover and Earl Crabtree.
1896, under Prof. S. A. Darland: Nova Barnavelt, Thamer Noggle and Sada Murpha.
1897, under Prof. S. A. Darland : Belle Todd, Daisy M. Hut- zell, Gertie Anderson and Nellie Dennis.
1898, under Prof. R. V. Venaman: Viola Hornaday, Edwin Carlson, Blanch Halsey, Bessie Warden, Harvey Hutton, Ada Barnavelt, Arthur Johnson and Dollic Norris.
In 1899 there was no class graduated.
1900, under Prof. E. L. Meek: 1da Crank, Ralf Oldridge, Edith Norris, David Eckenbom, Lois Stover, Ada Wheeler, Iva Lee and Lula Helms.
1901, under Prof. E. L. Meck: Edna Miller, Frank Simmons, Walter Wheeler, Frank Hutzell, Della Kenison, Ethel Taber, Veta Hepburn and Golde Young.
1902, under Prof. E. L. Meek: A. Roy Thompson, Ida E. John- son and Nannie Thompson.
1903, under Prof. E. L. Meek : Milton Wallace, Bessie Norris, Walter Miles, Betta Berry, Roy Carlston, Alta Vestal, Jacob Farlien, Mae Williams, Robert Breakfield, Olivia Miller, Frank Kenison, Hannah Southerland, Edwin Sundberg, Goldie Luther, Fred Gran- dall, Mattie Wheeler, Lennie Miller, Mattie Stover, Elzie Caskie and Blanch Simmon.
1904, under Prof. E. L. Meck: Hattie Wyeth, Willie Murry, Lillian Adams, Clifford Luther, Gertrude Ackley, Marion Berry, Clara Heath, Clarence Miller, Rena Barnavelt, Emil Eckenbom and Clara Jacobson.
1905, under Prof. E. L. Meck: Imogena Farr, Mabel Acton, Myrtie Kenison, Clarence Carlson, Mina Mougin, Carl Bundy. Ellen Sundberg, Ray Noland, Jennie Miles, Mark Boyd and Mary Graves.
Swedish Free Church
Madrid Public School
Lutheran Church Christian Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
MADRID CHURCHES AND SCHOOL
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1906, under Prof. Charles T. Reed: Carl Anderson, Ethyl Cas- per, Clayton Peterson, Edith Latta, Sevena Hardy, Orma Hutton, Edith Yearnshaw, George Berg, Amanda Peterson, Eva Williams, Fay Williams and Durock Norris.
1907 under Prof. Charles T. Reed : Joshua Van Zant, Libbie Newell, Clairie Keigley, Alice Crank, Harold Peterson, Lilian Godfrey, Ed Jacobson, Milden Farr, Edna Mason, Chads Godfrey, Golda Field, E. Wheeler, Alice Peterson, Raymond Miller, Mada- line Miller, Margaret Blaine, Earl Blaine, Blanch McBride, Mar- jorie Nash, Ina L. Hutzel, Edna Miller, Eula Farr, Bessie Davis, Maud Metcalf, Laura Patterson, Leland Ransom, Elmar Carlson, Bertha L. Hillis, W. Luther, Hazel Davidson, Violet Skortman, E. F. Cassel, Helen Hopkins, Willie Carlson, Edith Bryant and Otto Scott.
1908, under Prof. Charles T. Reed : Sarah Olson, Agnes Ander- son, Nella Latta, Jessie Reed, Edna Peterson, A. Ringstrand, A. Anderson, Carl Lundall, Marjorie Hillis, Lola Stover, Harvey Wheeler, Orvil Anderson, Therisia Anderson, Paul Anderson, Ruth Peelstrom, Paul Anderson and Willie White.
1909, under Prof. Charles T. Reed : Trace Swanson, Lois Camp- bell and Hannah Jacobson.
1910, under Prof. Charles T. Reed : Alma Kinsey, Myrtle Boy- ers, Olga Peterson, Selma Seaburg, Ester Sundberg and Helen Hoover.
1911, under Prof. Charles T. Reed: Faye Farr, Eda Birdsal, Martin Dalander, John Hubby, Edna Anderson and James Bowen.
1912, under Prof. Charles T. Reed: Flo Williams, Myrtle Kel- lison, Pearl Johnson, Roy Hubby, Pearl Alsin and Zylph Godfrey. 1913, under Prof. Charles T. Reed : Harold Jones, Edna John- son, Ethel Jenkins, Esther Peelstrom and Elenora Cassel.
1914, under Prof. Merle Templeton: Irene Taylor, Edna C. Hook, George F. Crank, Ida F. Alquist, Hester H. Howard, Mabel Bowen, John W. Wheeler, Robert G. Kinsey and Katherine S. Howell.
The first doctor who opened an office in our city of Madrid was Dr. A. S. Pendleton. He commenced the practice of his profession here in the summer of 1855, and remained about two years. He then removed to Homer, Iowa, where he died three years later. The next disciple of Æsculapius to locate here was Dr. M. C. Wood, who practiced here for a number of years. While in Madrid Doctor Wood was largely instrumental in organizing the Masonic lodge,
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which is still in a prosperous condition. He moved away about the year 1865. In the year 1867 Dr. E. L. Gilbert came from Wisconsin, and he made such a favorable impression upon the people of Madrid and vicinity that he soon obtained a large practice. A little over three years after locating here he took sick and in a few days passed away. He was succeeded in the practice by Doctor Palmer, whose career was cut short in about the same length of time as that of Doctor Gilbert. After him came Doctor Guynn, who soon built up an extensive practice. From 1877 to 1884 he was so constantly engaged in the arduous work of his profession that his health failed and he also passed away while in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness. Doctor Mason located here in 1873, practiced about ten years and then moved to Kansas. Doctors Hueling, F. L. Rogers and A. M. Rogers have also practiced medicine here and moved away. Doctor Rawson located here in the spring of 1913, but his health failed and he died in February, 1914.
Of the present medical men of Madrid Dr. Hermon S. Farr and Dr. Q. A. Sturgeon were the first to locate here. Then came Dr. Ernest C. Brown, Dr. M. M. Shaw and Dr. E. Earwood. They are still with us. There are also two lady physicians, of the Osteo- pathic school, Dr. Mrs. Sylph Sturgeon and Dr. Mrs. Ida Kenison.
Madrid has two dentists, Dr. C. E. Anderson and Dr. R. G. Boothe.
There is one veterinarian, Dr. R. E. Larimer, who has an office and a place to care for any animals left in his charge.
There were no lawyers in Madrid prior to 1881, but the town always had a justice of the peace. Phillip Snyder, of Snyder Point, Dallas County, practiced law before the justices of the peace in the early days. His wife did his reading and writing, as he was unable to do either. Some time in 1857 Doctor Wood sued a man named Bailey for a bill. Bailey was a citizen of Dallas County, and the suit was brought before 'Squire Holcraft, who lived at Madrid, in Boone County. Bailey had some counter claims to set up against Doctor Wood's claim. He employed Phillip Snyder as his attor- ney. Mr. Snyder told his wife to get the code and read the law defining the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace. When she came to that section which says, "No process can go from a justice of the peace from one county into another, except upon a written contract to pay money in the county and township where the justice resides," he exclaimed : "That is the law I wished to find. Now," said he, "get a pencil and a piece of paper and write the number of the page
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and section of that law." This being done, he put the slip of paper in his vest pocket and on the morning of the trial he arrived at the justice's office just as the case was called. The court asked him if he was ready for trial. "No, sir," said he, "but I wish the court to enter in the docket this motion : 'That the pending case be dismissed because the court has no legal jurisdiction to try it.'"
"Where do you find that law, Mr. Snyder?" asked the court.
Taking the slip of paper from his pocket, Mr. Snyder handed it to the court, saying: "Read the section there referred to, your Honor."
The court did so and was much astonished to find that Mr. Snyder was entirely correct. The motion was sustained and the case dis- missed. Mr. Snyder's native sagacity triumphed.
At another time Phillip Snyder was defending a client before a justice of the peace in Madrid. This time there was no question as to the jurisdiction of the court. A member of the Boone County bar had charge of the case for the plaintiff. Mr. Snyder made some dilatory motions, which so aroused the ire of this lawyer that he applied some rather unbecoming epithets to him. When he had exhausted his vocabulary of abuse, Mr. Snyder, who was an expert tongue lasher, replied to him in such a way that his anger was again aroused to the highest pitch, and rising to his feet he seized the Code of lowa, which was upon the table, intending to knock Snyder's head off with it, but instead of doing so he brought it down upon the table with such force that the binding flew off of it. The justice became so much excited that he ran out of his office and across the street to the office of the township clerk and there wrote and filed his resignation. This ended the case and Snyder was again vic- torious.
R. B. Likes was the first lawyer to locate in Madrid. He came in 1881. Although he had considerable practice he had no office other than his family residence, and few law books. He remained less than two years and then moved to Kansas.
Charles G. Moberg was the second one of the legal profession to locate here. Like unto Mr. Likes, he did not open a law office and had not many law books. Still he had some cases in the justice courts and a limited number in the District Court. He remained in Madrid but a short time, moving from here to Boone. Mr. Moberg was the first Swedish lawyer in the county.
A. K. Webb came in 1882. He was the first lawyer to open an office in Madrid and furnish it with a law library. He started out
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well, but had the misfortune to incur the disfavor of a portion of the citizens. One night, while he was absent, these displeased citi- zens banded together, pulled his office down and destroyed his library. This lamentable affair was much regretted. Mr. Webb, soon after this, moved to Kansas, but later returned to this state and began practicing law at Cambridge, Iowa.
J. W. Near came in 1884, opened a law office and practiced the remainder of his life. He was here longer than any other of the Madrid lawyers.
Attorneys M. C. Creighton and H. W. Hull came near the same date, about 1901. Mr. Creighton's health failed in a few years after coming here, which made it necessary that he should go west, where he died shortly afterward. H. W. Hull was here about ten years, but bad health often interfered with his business, finally result- ing in his death.
C. J. Cederquist is now the only lawyer in Madrid and he enjoys a monopoly of the legal business of the place. He came here in 1910 from Boone, having held the office of county attorney two terms.
The first mill in Madrid was built in 1855 by C. J. Cassel and the Dalander brothers. It was used for manufacturing lumber only and supplied a long felt need. In a little less than two years the proprietors sold the mill and in 1858 it was moved to Dallas County. In 1857 C. J. Cassel and the Dalander brothers built the first steam flouring mill, not only in Madrid, but in the county. An immense amount of work was done with this mill, for it saved the citizens from many long drives to more distant mills. In 1868 it was sold to other parties, who moved it to Boone.
The flouring mill, now operated in Madrid, was erected by Messmore and Stover, about the year 1870. From that date to the present the mill has changed hands many times and is now owned and operated by the Madrid Milling Company, which is doing a good business. The engine used to run the machinery of this mill was hauled on a wagon from Keokuk to Elk Rapids in 1855. After being used there a period of fifteen years, it was moved by Mr. Mess- more to Madrid, and is still in fine running order. It has been in constant use fifty-nine years. This is certainly a very historic engine.
The first newspaper published in Madrid was called the Madrid Pilot. The first number was published in August, 1881. Edward Lunt was its editor and manager. The Pilot flourished only a short time. In about three months its publication was suspended and the
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press was moved back to Perry, from whence it came. The Pilot died for want of financial nourishment, having insufficient patronage.
In 1882 M. N. Tomblin shipped a printing press and outfit to Madrid and in the fall of that year commenced the publication of the Madrid Register. Mr. Tomblin continued the publication of the Register until 1887, when he sold the paper to D. B. Davidson. In September of the same year Mr. Davidson was nominated for state senator and in that month sold the paper to Clint Scoonover. Mr. Scoonover was not at that time an experienced newspaper man and continued in the business only a little over a year. January 1, 1889, the paper was sold back to D. B. Davidson. After another year in the newspaper business, Mr. Davidson sold the paper to J. W. Lucas and R. M. Keigley. In about a year Mr. Keigley sold his interest to Lucas & Company, who continued to publish the paper until March, 1894, when they sold to C. S. Lawbaugh.
A few months prior to this time D. V. Smith had commenced the publication of the Madrid News. The two papers were con- solidated under the name of the Madrid Register-News, and the firm name of Smith & Lawbaugh. This firm name continued for a little over a year, when Mr. Lawbaugh sold his interest to his part- ner, who became sole editor and proprietor of the paper. Mr. Smith continued to edit the paper until February, 1897, when his health failed, and he died soon after.
In April of that year the paper was sold to G. B. Heath, who continued to occupy the editorial chair until September 15, 1899. when he transferred the paper to C. A. Silford. For about five years Mr. Silford gave to the people of Madrid a good local newspaper. In December, 1904, he disposed of the paper, with the supplies and fixtures he had added to it, to J. G. Lucas, the present editor and proprietor.
Northwest of Madrid about three miles, near the breaks of the Des Moines River, on Section 15, is the home of David E. Allyn, in whom are combined the qualities of writer, publisher and trapper. During the time Mr. Allyn has lived in Madrid and Douglas Town- ship he has been the editor and publisher of two magazines. One of these was the "Trapper's World," which he sold to other parties and which is now published elsewhere. Since locating where he now lives, in Douglas Township, he has established and is now pub- lishing a monthly magazine under the name of "Gameland," which is devoted entirely to the trapping interest.
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J. Filmer Post, No. 347, Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in Madrid July 30, 1884. Out of the twenty-four charter members only six are now living. For a num- ber of years the membership increased until there were at one time ninety active members, but time, death and change of location have diminished their numbers until only twenty-four now answer the roll call. The post has a nicely furnished hall and meets once a month for the transaction of business. The first commander was A. Lansing, and the present one is G. H. Simmons.
The Madrid postoffice was established March 28, 1856. Marcus B. Rutherford was the first postmaster. "The office was established under the name of Swede Point and it continued under that name almost a year before it was changed to Madrid. The name of the town was changed from Swede Point to Madrid May 25, 1855. Why the postoffice should have retained the name of Swede Point for nearly a year after the name of the town was changed to Madrid is very strange. Those who drew up the petition for the postoffice must have been opposed to the change in the name of the town. From a small beginning the office has grown until it is now a presi- dential office. E. P. Dalander is the present postmaster.
Star Lodge, No. 115, A. F. and A. M., of Madrid, was organized June 2, 1858, and fully admitted November 27, 1858. The first officers were as follows: M. G. Wood. worshipful master; senior warden, R. K. Keigley; junior warden, Jacob Soart. There is no record of the full number of charter members to be found. The minutes of the first meetings, it seems, have been lost. The present membership is 119. The lodge has a nice, well furnished hall, in which regular meetings are held. None of the charter members are now living. The present officers are as follows: Worshipful master, J. H. Hillis; senior warden, C. S. Adams; junior warden, M. M. Shaw; treasurer, J. M. Carlson ; secretary, H. C. Graves.
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