USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 55
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The Mendelssohn CInb held meetings once a month at the homes of the mem- bers, and many tine programs were produced, the different composers and their works were studied and much profit, as well as pleasure, was the result. Every year a Mendelssohn program was a special feature on the anniversary of that great composer's birthday. Several public concerts were given, some by home talent, and some by ont-of-town artists, among them Mlle. Linne, the noted brilliant Chicago vocalist, Mrs. Watson, the sweet singer and composer from Cedar Rapids and the Wendall Heighton concert company.
Owing partially to laek of interest, and so many of the members leaving town, the club did not continue its regular meetings in 1910, but reorganized on January 10, 1911, at which time the following officers were elected: Presi- dent, Mrs. Minnie Logan ; first vice president, Miss Jessamine Harmon ; second vice president, Mrs. Katharyn Chappell; secretary and treasurer, Miss Carrie Wackerbarth. Meetings have occurred at irregular intervals ever since and the society, although not particularly active, is not dead, but in a comatose state, and while it was an active organization, it was interested in, and contributed to, all publie enterprises.
The organization has had enrolled each year, abont fifteen to forty members.
INDEPENDENCE MUSICIANS
That Independence has always been a musical center is attested not only by the splendid musical societies and high-grade concerts which have been produced here by home talent, but the many musical organizations which have started
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out from Independence and the musicians and singers who have occupied posi- tions abroad and met with success. It would be impossible to name all who have made a reputation in the musical world who have at one time lived here, but these few are familiar to the present generation.
The Smale Sisters Concert Company was one of the first Independence organizations to try their fortune as a traveling institution. This company was composed of the Misses Smale, Lulu, Della and Nell, all gifted artists, and very versatile, giving a fine program and one of extensive repertoire. Miss Lulu was the soprano and pianist of this company, Miss Della, reader and vio- linist, Miss Nell, as soprano, soloist and violinist. With them at different times went Miss Lillian Donnan, contralto; Bertha Trask, reader; Miss Bess Toman, alto; Clara Agatha Slotterbec, reader; and Mable J. Delaney, soprano.
The Gaylord sisters also started out with a company composed of Misses Fannie and Jessie Gaylord, both elever and versatile artists-Miss Fannie as pianist and alto, Miss Jessie as violinist-Miss Elizabeth Darling, soprano; and Miss Leta Holman, musician.
The Holman family were a particularly gifted and versatile family in a musical way, and had several different organizations of their own. Miss Grace IIolman traveled with the MeGibney Concert Troupe and married Hugh MeGib- ney, a fine violinist. She traveled as a reader and impersonator; Miss Leta as musician, Miss Maybelle as violinist and Mrs. Holman as leader and vocalist.
Mr. Frank Martindale, composer of "Only a Pansy Blossom," and numer- ous other popular and beautiful ballads and a member of the famous Howard Male Quartette, shortly before he moved away from Independence started out with a fine company of his own, known as the Frank IIoward Concert Com- pany.
George Backus, a fine pipe organist, for many years played in the leading churches of Chicago and went abroad as accompanist for King Clark, the noted singer, and remained in Paris for several years.
Miss Marion Chapman, a pipe organist of note, taught at Oberlin Conserva- tory of Music.
Mr. Will Delaney for many years has been with numerous musical organi- zations, on the Chautauqua and other Lyceum platforms, and the tenor soloist of some fine male quartets. Miss Mabel I. Delaney, now Mrs. Frank McPike, for years occupied the position of soloist with the Schubert Concert Company, and has occupied many prominent church positions in the different cities where she has lived.
Miss Mary Davis, now Mrs. Frank Barker, also was a member of the Schu- bert Concert Company for several years as contralto soloist, and has occupied the position of pipe organist and soloist at the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city for many years.
Miss Anna Rosemire was another gifted soprano who left this city as a concert singer, traveling with the Schuberts and other organizations and her brother, Will Rosemire, was also a member of different musical organizations.
Miss Elizabeth Blamer, a soprano traveled with the Eugene Cowles Con- cert Company and the Herbert Butler Concert Company, and was soloist in several city churches.
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Miss Ida Thompson was soloist in Des Moines, Chicago and Brooklyn churches, and her sister, Miss Nellie Thompson, has held prominent positions as choir and concert singer.
Miss Ethel Jones, soprano, is now occupying a fine position in the Ravens- wood Congregational Church in Chicago, as soloist.
Miss Marion Ransier has gained an enviable reputation as a pianist, study- ing under the very best teachers in both Chicago and New York and finish- ing in the famous Damrosch Conservatory of Music, and now occupies a posi- tion as instructor in the Waterloo Conservatory of Music.
Mrs. Elsie Travis Miller is another singer who had made an enviable repu- tation with her beautiful voice, and occupied a fine church position in one of the leading churches of Clinton.
Mrs. Herbert Watrous, formerly Miss Elizabeth JJayne, probably is our widest known musician, having scaled the heights to grand opera. For several seasons she has been with the Aborn Grand Opera Company, taking the leading part in several operas.
. Besides this long list of artists who have made an enviable reputation abroad, we have as numerous a list of gifted artists who have never been mem- bers of a traveling organizations, but have graced the platform in Independence and surrounding cities many times.
THE INDEPENDENCE BAND
In September, 1904, was organized another city band, with E. W. Raymond as leader. The band numbered twenty-seven pieces. Band concerts were given every Saturday night. Overtures, popular and classic music constituted the programs.
This article can be supplemented with ditto marks at least several times. Since Mr. Raymond's advent to the city, over a quarter of a century ago, he has probably organized more musical organizations than Sousa or Hi Ilenry were ever guilty of.
Scarcely a year, and never more than three passed without a band of some kind or description being organized out of raw material by this tireless enthusiast ; and that the people appreciate the effort is attested by the liberal patronage at all their free concerts, and the applause unstintingly given their rendition of "Home, Sweet Home," and other classical compositions, besides the fact that, periodically, the merchants are called upon to donate toward securing this promisenous band prodigy uniforms. And to be just to Inde- pendence gratitude, the numerous orchestra and band concerts, with ticket attach- ments, have been liberally patronized and highly commended.
Independence has had fully as many, if not more, bands than most cities of its size, even before the baton of Mr. Ed Raymond began doing business. This notice in the May 9, 1888, Conservative proves interesting reading. Friday evening a number of our publie-spirited young musicians of Independence met and organized a brass band to do duty as required during the coming season, embracing as it does, besides the usual holidays, a presidential campaign.
The eleven members were: Jacob Wackerbarth, president ; J. F. Lekel, sec- retary and treasurer; Laut Pond, leader; Albert Leytze, Joe Limbert, Will
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Leytze, Ed Pleins, E. Romig, Richard Bushgens, Frank Megow and M. S. Car- ver. These were all musicians of more or less experience and the public would not have to go through the painful "one-an', two-an,' three-an' " stage. The boys were worthy and received the public patronage and encouragement.
THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Independence High School Alumni Association dates its origin from the year 1889.
Prof. L. W. Parish, then superintendent of publie schools, encouraged and assisted those who were interested in its formation, and to him can be attributed much of the success of those early meetings.
In the spring of that year a meeting was held at the home of Dr. H. C. Markham which resulted in the election of the following officers: Mary G. Slotterbec, president ; Anna Deering, vice-president; Nathan M. Evers, secre- tary ; Haven Harter, treasurer; Annie P. Tabor, historian.
The first meeting of the organization was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Purdy on the night following the annual commencement, a banquet at Burris' following the reception.
For several years the alumni meetings were entertainments at the homes of the members, and the banquets were held at Burris', but the membership became so large that a private house could not comfortably accommodate them, so in 1895 the Gedney was selected as the place of meeting, and, with the excep- tion of four times, they held their reunions there. The entertainments at these meetings always include a very fine musical and literary program, consisting of the usual alumni class exercises, addresses of welcome and response, elass poem, prophecy and history and banquet followed by toasts, an "Auld Lang Syne" social hour and sometimes dancing.
Six hundred and five students have graduated from the Independenee High School and are enrolled on the alumni roster. The first elass that completed the course was in 1877, with three graduates, the smallest class in 1882, con- sisting of only two members, and the largest in 1906, with thirty-two members, and an average of sixteen in a class. Although the first elass graduated in 1877, the high school has only thirty-seven classes to its credit, there being no grad- mates in 1887.
In 1890 Gradus Honorius diplomas were granted W. M. Woodward and Robert E. Leach.
Members of the I. H. S. Alumni are scattered all over the United States and are represented in every profession and walk of life; many names are connected with big business concerns; some have won distinction and honor ; twenty-four have died; the majority have married; and about two hundred of the alumni still reside in Independence; sixty-five of this number were members in classes from 1889 to 1900.
Among those prominent in the work of the association in the early years of its existenee and who were largely responsible for its continued suceess may he mentioned : Mrs. C. E. Purdy, Mrs. R. G. Swan, Mr. A. H. Wallace, Miss Minnie Markham, Mr. Milton Smith, Miss Harriet Lake, Mr. George Steinmetz, Dr. J. H. McGready and Mr. Jacob Steinmetz.
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CAMP FIRE GIRLS
On September 15th a competitive examination was held, open to girls of the high school of Independence for membership in prospective camp fire organi- zations.
As a result, the twenty girls were deemed eligible and of these, ten girls grouped themselves together on September 17th for organization, and adopted the name of so much local significance, Wapsipinicon. The guardian of this fire is Myrtle V. Sunderlin.
A few days later the second group organized' under the name of Yelth, which means the raven-a friend to man-with Ocea B. Norris as guardian.
The demand soon became so great for a third group that Miss Jean Thomp- son became guardian of a camp fire of younger girls, which adopted the name Wampadeska, which signifies "White Eagle's Camp."
BOY SCOUTS
In the fall of 1913 John b. Cherny and II. C. Chappell proposed to organize a troop of Boy Scouts, and on October 6th, a meeting was ealled which elected Prof. John L. Cherny, president ; Rev. Theo. Morning, vice president : Dr. E. A. Schrader, secretary and R. B. Raines, treasurer. An executive committee com- posed of George Blamer, E. E. Everett, H. C. Chappell and Rev. M. J. Locke were chosen, who on October 7th elected Theo. Morning, H. C. Chappell and Prof. 11. L. Fogler, seont masters.
Messrs. Morning and Chappell each organized a troop consisting of from twenty-five to thirty boys. This movement is still in a flourishing condition and is proving both pleasant and profitable to the members.
Leslie Worley of Rowley, who was a member at Independence, organized a troop at his home town in the winter of 1914 and Dr. C. B. Rentz of that place is the seont master.
At Winthrop is another troop, under the supervision of Rev. A. E. Jewett, seout master, and at Hazleton still another, with Rev. C. F. Boetler, scout master.
BUCHANAN COUNTY PYTIIIAN ASSOCIATION
In 1896 the Knights of Pythias joined in fraternal union as the Buchanan County Pythian Association for the purpose of inaugurating an annual Pythian picnic. The meeting of organization was held at Independence May 3, 1896. Delegates from all the Knights of Pythias lodges were present. The permanent officers elected were: H. A. Allen, president, Independence; J. A. Kinney, secretary, Aurora ; H. S. Searles, treasurer, Hazleton.
The first meeting was held in a beautiful grove on the bluffs near the Hazleton mill pond. Excursion trains carried the Independence people, and the weather being unusually fine over six hundred people assembled. All kinds of sports and athletic contests were indulged in, besides a program of speeches and music.
The dinner tables were laid in triangular form and were sufficient to aceom- modate the entire crowd.
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The association was composed of the several lodges of the county-Inde- pendence, Jesup, Aurora, Lamont, Hazleton, Fairbank and Stanley. The inten- tions to keep up this association annual pienie were good, but the necessary stimulus was lacking, so some years have elapsed without a recurrence of the happy event. The Masonic fraternity also had a county organization, likewise the Odd Fellows; and both these organizations were extremely active and popular for at least one day of the 365, that was when the annual pienie brought together all the nabobs and high chiefs of lodgedom and their better halves and offspring at one of the publie parks at the county seat or at some beautiful grove or picnic ground at one of the other towns to enjoy real fraternal inter- course and the regulation pienie program, big "eats," big talk and big stunts.
Both of these annual festivities have been discontinued of late years, un- doubtedly due to the fact that pienies are so numerous and so many other means of enjoyment take up the time and attention of even the most staid and unpro- gressive patriarch lodge man. In fact, the automobile has taken the place of all other recreations to a large extent.
THE OAKWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
Thursday eve, April 4, 1901, members of the Rebekah, Eastern Star and P. E. O. societies met at the C. F. Herriek home for the purpose of uniting and effeeting an organization to improve and care for Oakwood Cemetery, which was in a dreadfully neglected condition. The following officers were eleeted : President, Miss Kate Leytze; viee-president, Mrs. J. O. Littlejohn; treasurer, Mrs. L. C. Fiester; recording secretary, Miss Alice Herrick. Com- mittees were appointed to attend to the various needs of the grounds, solicit patronage of resident lot owners and to correspond with non-resident lot owners and to get up an entertainment for the purpose of raising funds. A consti- tution and the name, "Oakwood Cemetery" were adopted at the second meeting. Meetings were held once a month during the spring and summer, from March to September, at the Y. M. C. A. rooms. At the annual meeting, in April, 1902, a change in the constitution was made whereby anyone interested might become a member instead of confining the membership to the three charter societies.
Immediately upon organization, the women began improving the place. Men were employed to rake, mow, seed and grade lots: many beautiful flower beds were made, and hardy plants and shrubs planted ; the thick, seraggy under- brush was cut down, trees trimmed, baskets provided for rubbish, numerous water hydrants put at convenient places, the walks and driveways leveled and cleaned, and a general air of beauty and order soon prevailed. The society attended to all graves not otherwise eared for. In July, 1904, the association was incorporated. During the years of the association's activity, the women employed various means to raise money, and were unusually fortunate in every undertaking.
Suppers, dances and some very novel entertainments were given for this purpose, among them two horse shows. The first one was held at Rush Park race track, September, 1902. Mr. A. G. Rigby acted as chairman of the occasion, and made it such a decided success the society cleared $200. The affair was
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repeated the next year with still greater snecess, the net receipts aggregating $525.95. This was held at the county fair grounds, and A. G. Rigby again acted as chairman. Silver enps and money prizes were given to the prettiest flower- trimmed carriages. A more detailed description of these affairs appears in the "History of Independence."
At one time the association was in such a prosperons condition that they had $500 out at interest. The association has worked hard and faithfully to accomplish their object and have expended their money judieionsly and with decided results, as a view of Oakwood Cemetery will testify. A comparison between the disreputable looking grounds which they found in 1901 and the clean, orderly and beautiful place which it is today is a satisfactory testimony to their labors. The association has not been particularly active for the past few years, there being no special need for it, and the general well-kept appear- ance of the grounds is an incentive for everyone owning lots there to keep them m order.
The last annual meeting was held in October, 1905, when officers were elected and other business transacted.
The grounds are still looked after by the association, but no regular meetings are held.
THE FARMERS MUTUAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY
A Farmers Mutual Protective Society was formed in Quasqueton in Febru- ary, 1862, and elected the following officers: Captain, James Rees; lieutenant, John Neidy : president, James Biddinger ; vice-president, James Rees; treasurer, Morris Todd ; secretary, George W. Heath. A riding committee of sixteen was one of the features. There were other organizations of this nature in the county, one a mutual protection and detective society, organized in Independ- ener and vicinity, and had over a hundred members, of which G. B. Parsons was president ; E. J. Pratt, secretary ; and J. II. Campbell, treasurer. They had a vigilance committee of twelve members. G. B. Parsons was captain; J. M. Westfall, first lieutenant ; and W. A. Jones, second lieutenant. The objeet of these organizations was to protect themselves against horse thieves. Throughout the entire western country these depredations were constantly taking place. In this county many valuable horses had been stolen and no very concentrated or systematic efforts had been made by the county officials to recover the animals, and without telegraph and telephones or other means of communication, it was almost futile to try. So the farmers in sheer desperation formed these societies and determined to administer justice as they saw fit. All honest men were invited to join this mntnal protection society. Another mutual protection society was formed in 1862 by the citizens who had suffered loss from the railroad company.
There being no fences the stock wandered onto the railroad tracks and great numbers were killed and the railroad company refused to pay a just compen- sation, so their mutual grievances indneed them to organize to defend their rights.
THE GRANGE MOVEMENT
Granges are secret societies organized among the farmers for social enjoy- ment, instruction and protection from the monopolies and trusts which have
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proved deleterious to their interests. No discussions that involved religious sectarianism or party polities were allowed. Their meetings and whatever political power the granges exerted were not generated and directed by machinery operated in their lodge rooms. The "Patrons of Husbandry," as the order at large was called, was first organized in 1867 by O. H. Kelly, of Boston, and William Saunders, of the agricultural bureau of Washington, D. C. For three or four years the order increased slowly, but from 1871 to 1874, inclusive, it spread over the country like a prairie fire.
In the early '70s there were many granges throughout the state which were in a flourishing condition and did much to protect and encourage the farmers. This movement has gradually died out and we know of no grange yet in exist- enee, although there are other societies of similar purpose.
The first grange was established in Buchanan County in 1873 or 1874. No grange could be established within five miles of another and at one time there were thirty-five in this county. In 1881 they had decreased to twelve. There was formerly a county grange which sent delegates to the state grange, as that organization did to the national. The county grange ceased to exist about the year 1877 or 1878, but the granges in the county continued to send delegates to the state organization.
Membership in the grange was restricted to practical farmers or horticul- turists, together with their wives and children over fourteen years of age.
The officers of a grange were the master, overseer. the chaplain, lecturer, steward, assistant steward, gatekeeper, secretary, and treasurer. Any or all of these offices could be occupied by women, but there were four offices which none but women could fill, namely, those of Ceres, Pomona, Flora, and stew- ardess. A deputy grand master for each county was appointed by the grand master, namely, the master of the state grange, who had the general oversight of all the granges, settling all questions of order, jurisdiction, organizing all new granges, etc.
In 1881 S. Cameron, of Otterville, was the deputy grand master for Buchanan County. At IIazleton the patrons owned a warehouse for handling grain and shipping direct from the producers. The upper story was a hall in which their meetings were held. The granges elsewhere throughout the county met at the schoolhouses or private dwellings. At Otterville they had a store at which goods (mostly groceries) were sold only to members of the order at first cost. Members of the grange were compelled to buy goods of mereliants who were members of the order.
The principal object of the grange was to eut out the middlemen's profits and ship produce direct to the consumer and to receive goods in a like manner, but their interests were not confined to purely selfish motives, for many times they were called upon to help the poor and afflicted and always responded liberally. After the big fire at Independence in 1873, several of the granges in this vicinity passed resolutions of sympathy, gave financial aid and promised the discouraged business men their patronage and support to help them retrieve their fortunes. The granges were also a very social organization, and most places in the county took charge of the Fourth of July and other public cele- brations, held numerous pienies and social meetings. The papers were full of accounts of their proceedings, both festive and business.
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As late as in February, 1897, Independence Grange No. 799 was organized by Deputy E. L. Hale, of Ohio, with fifty-four charter members. W. H. Miller was elected master and II. II. Miller, secretary.
What this grange accomplished we are not prepared to state.
For several years the granges were a most dominant feature politically, socially and economieally, and although the political policy of the granges pur- ported to be entirely non-partisan, yet were strong enough as an organization, to compel the existing political parties to present only sneh men for election as would honestly and justly represent their interests and those of a farming community, and the political parties catered to their demands as best they could, and if representatives did not fulfil their expectations, the grangers were not slow to announce that laet and bring the recreant to an accounting, as was dem- onstrated in the case of our representative.
On June 4, 1873, the Patrons of Husbandry held a grand mass meeting and pienie in Independence, probably the largest pienie ever held in the county, at which, notwithstanding the heavy rains the day before, which practically debarred several granges in the east and north parts of the county from partici- pating, 1,500 grangers were in council. Before 7 A. M., delegations began to arrive from different parts of the county, dressed in the regalia of the order, and bearing banners decked with ribbons and hearing inscriptions of various significance. Every wagon was filled with its freight of provisions as well as human freight.
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