USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa: a record of settlement., Volume 1 > Part 33
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The patrons and taxpayers of the schools in Shell Rock town- ship have never been niggardly in their expenditures for school purposes. As a result they have a corps of teachers whose ability and efficiency is of a high degree. The records of the school town- ship of Shell Rock have disappeared and the limits of this work do not allow us to go into detail as to the history of the individual districts. There is no doubt that if the people of this township continue to maintain their schools upon the same plane that they have in the past and to show the same progressive spirit in dealing with the problems that have confronted them, the future of the schools in this township will assuredly be a brilliant one.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
POPULATION
1856, 373; 1860, 438; 1863, 523; 1865, 626; 1867, 952; 1869, 1,063; 1870, 1,142; 1873, 1,358; 1875, 1,408; 1880, 1,524; 1890, 1,482; 1900, 1,547; 1910, 1,461.
TOWN OF SHELL ROCK
The land originally platted for the town of Shell Rock con- sisted of forty acres, which was purchased of Alexander Glenn by George W. Adair in the spring of 1853. Early in the year 1855 Adair caused the land to be platted into town lots, which made up twelve blocks. The plat was filed in the recorder's office and reads as follows, to-wit:
"March 29, A. D., 1855.
"On this day George W. Adair and Elizabeth Adair presented the plat of the town of Shell Rock, in the county of Butler, situ- ated on the northwest quarter of section 11, in township 91, range 15, west of the fifth principal meridian, and having acknowledged the same as required by law, it was ordered that the whole be recorded as the law directs.
"JOHN PALMER, County Judge."
When George W. Adair set up his little log cabin on the "Forty" now comprising the principal part of the town of Shell Rock, the land was covered by an almost impenetrable growth of timber and underbrush. But the irrepressible pioneer and home- seeker with axe and torch made all this disappear in a compara- tively short space of time and as the years passed rapidly by, where once stood the giant oak, a settler's residence or merchant's store building took its place, and gave evidence of the march of civilization, that was inevitable in a country magnificently endowed with fertile soil, abundance of clear, running water and other resources, the gift of kind Nature, ready for the many seek- ing them.
The first settlers in this beautiful locality were Harrison and Volney Carpenter, as already mentioned. They came in 1851. The following year Alexander Glenn appeared, also Daniel Myers. George W. Adair, founder of the town of Shell Rock, arrived in the settlement in the spring of 1853. Not long thereafter came the Newcombs, the Sweitzers, Cram, Eastman, Hitchcock, Hiram Ross, John Leveridge and John L. Stewart. The latter was an
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Illinoisan by birth and removed with his parents to Iowa in 1839, finally locating in Johnson county. Mr. Stewart remained here until 1848, when he removed to Linn county. The year 1853 found him in Shell Rock, working in the Adair sawmill, where he con- tinued employed until 1870. In the latter year Mr. Stewart opened a wagon shop, in which his activities continued for many years.
O. L. Eastman, above referred to, was born in the State of New York and moved with his parents to Will county, Illinois, in 1838, where he became apprenticed to a blacksmith. In October, 1855, he removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and in the spring of 1856 to Shell Rock. Here Mr. Eastman as soon as possible took up the tools of his trade and probably opened the first blacksmith shop in the ambitious and growing little town. In 1867 he added a stock of farm implements to his growing business and became one of the prosperous and influential men of the community.
The first hotel erected in Shell Rock was put up by a man named R. D. Cram, who not only entertained the traveler, but also kept a stock of merchandise. He should, therefore, be considered as the first merchant in Shell Rock.
It is highly probable that O. S. Newcomb was the next settler who elected to go into business at Shell Rock. He in an early day had on display a stock of goods in a building on the east side of the river which he erected in October, 1855. Mr. Newcomb con- ducted a general store in this building until the spring of 1859, when he removed to the west side of the river and opened a general store in a log schoolhouse. In the fall of the same year he moved into more commodious quarters and had for a partner T. G. Cope- land until 1860, when J. H. Carter purchased the Copeland inter ests and the business was then and for many years afterward conducted under the firm name of Newcomb & Carter.
EARLY EVENTS
George W. Adair built the first house-a log cabin-the first dam and the first mill in Shell Rock. Elias Walter erected the first frame building in the town.
R. D. Cram was Shell Rock's first merchant, opening a general store in the fall of 1855. Frank Walter, son of Elias Walter, was the first white child born in Shell Rock. The event took place in January, 1855.
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PORTION OF MAIN STREET, SHELL ROCK
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The first marriage was that of Elias Walter and Miss Rachel Billheimer.
John L. Stewart was the first wagon maker. He opened a shop in 1854.
John S. Robbins located in Shell Rock in the fall of 1854 and opened the first blacksmith shop. He sold out to George Hawker in 1855. The latter died in 1863. T. G. Copeland is given credit for being Shell Rock's premier shoemaker. He commenced work at his trade in Newcomb & Copeland's store in 1859, remaining one year. Mr. Copeland then removed to Willoughby, a hamlet in Butler county.
L. F. Bristow established the first furniture store in Shell Rock and the first drug store was opened by Dr. E. L. Thorp. The first hardware store in Shell Rock was opened by Philip Bemler. Mr. Bemler remained here two years and then removed to Cedar Falls.
The growing town was without a photograph gallery until 1875, when Henry Apfel set up a gallery here and established a good business. He became an important personage in the town's list of citizens.
O. L. Eastman, one of the early blacksmiths, established an agricultural implement concern in 1867. A harness shop was opened here in 1868 by T. S. Walter. Fairfield & Phillips opened a lumber yard in 1871, and the same year erected an elevator, with a capacity of 10,000 bushels of grain. In 1872 J. P. Bement went into the market and bought grain. W. E. Eastman opened a boot and shoe shop in 1872 and soon became one of the leading mer- chants of the town. D. J. Gould commenced making and repair- ing shoes in a little shop in September, 1874. That same year J. R. Clawson entered the hardware trade and his business soon grew to large dimensions. A drug store was opened in 1875 by E. H. Dudley and A. G. Sheaker under the firm name of Dudley & Sheaker. In 1876 J. H. Carson opened a general store and event- ually became one of the town's leading merchants. C. W. Bishop's jewelry store came into existence in 1876, and in the spring of 1878 Mrs. H. Apfel opened a millinery store. J. H. Paley's boot and shoe store was opened in 1878, and in 1880 J. E. Patten began making harness for the trade. That same year Graham and Jero- laman formed a partnership and began buying live stock. In 1881 E. J. Young's furniture store was opened, also J. B. Kelsey's grocery store. The following year J. M. Longfellow had a hard-
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ware store here and Graham & Jones a general merchandise estab- lishment, also W. F. Stoddard.
The Hawkeye Creamery was built and began operations in the winter of 1878 by W. W. Murray and Charles Austin, under the firm name of Murray & Austin. In July, 1881, Austin retired from the firm but came back in November of the same year, hav- ing secured W. W. Murray's interests therein. In April, 1882, Samuel Kennedy purchased a half interest and the firm became Austin & Kennedy. This creamery was run for many years, then came a new one in its place, which was built in 1896 by a stock company, of which George Adair is president, Robert Hunter vice president, Ed Holland, secretary, and Frank Rice, treasurer. The capital stock is $3,000. This concern manufactures butter alone and during the year ending December 21, 1913, 4,017,478 pounds of milk, and 10,000 pounds of cream were received. The concern is on a paying basis and absorbs the dairy products of the farmers of a territory comprising several miles.
Shell Rock has had several hotels. The first was built by R. D. Cram in the spring of 1856 and conducted by him in connec- tion with his store. The property later went into the hands of W. R. Cotton, who called the hostelry the Butler House. George W. Adair opened the second hotel in 1867 and named it the Shell Rock House. He was the host to many travelers for about thir- teen years, when health failing him, he went to Kansas, where he died in the early '80s.
The Central House was erected in 1878 by Boomer Brothers & J. W. Phillips. Phillips finally became sole owner, and sold to John Speaker. The latter was the landlord for many years.
The Wabeek, a low two-story brick, standing on a prominent corner of Main street on the east side, has gained considerable favorable notoriety in the past two years through its excellent cuisine and luxurious beds. The landlord is a Swiss, John Hohl by name.
Shell Rock as early as 1855 had its lawyer in the person of Orson Rice, who remained about five years. Soon after his departure came William Norville, and since his advent there have been intermittently lawyers who have located in the town. For a number of years past George A. McIntyre has been a member of the Butler county bar located here. Mr. McIntyre is the pres- ent chief executive of Shell Rock.
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WABEEK
THE WABEEK, SHELL ROCK
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PUBLIC SCHOOL, SHELL ROCK
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Dr. John Scoby is the first person mentioned in the History of Butler County, published in 1883, as having located in Shell Rock. According to that publication he came in May, 1856, and practiced here until 1875, when he retired from all business activities. He has had a number of successors in the field of medicine.
THE SCHOOLS
The town of Shell Rock has always had good schools. The first was taught by Mrs. Nancy McAllister, in a room at the home of. Ebenezer Walter, in the summer of 1855. The children to receive instruction afterwards assembled in the Methodist church, where Ozro R. Newcomb taught them the elements of an educa- tion. In 1899 a new and modern school building of brick and stone material was erected, at a cost of $15,000. The structure is three stories and basement, and has every appointment to be found in a modern building of this character. The high school and grammar rooms are on the third floor. On the fourth are the laboratory, domestic science and manual training rooms. On the second floor are located the primary and intermediate depart- ments and on the first, the primary department and toilet rooms.
POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was established in the town of Shell Rock in the summer of 1855, with George Hawker as the first appointee by the Government as postmaster. He kept the office in a building later owned and occupied by J. W. Stewart as a residence. At that time mail matter was not received regularly; probably at first about every two weeks, then weekly, and later semi-weekly, and when the railroad began operations mail came daily. The first mail was brought overland by carrier, who made his trips on horseback from Janesville. Afterwards it was received at Cedar Falls and brought overland to Shell Rock. Postage stamps were then not in vogue and the recipients of letters were compelled to pay as high as twenty-five cents in advance before letters were placed in their hands. O. S. Newcomb was appointed postmaster in 1856 and some of his successors follow by name: John Smith, James Leverich, William C. Cotton, J. H. Carter, William Mullen, James Leverich, E. L. Thorp, A. G. Stonebreaker, James W. Stewart, James Jerolaman, L. E. Sherwood. Following the death of Mr.
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Sherwood, his widow, Mrs. Belle Sherwood was appointed. She was succeeded by the present incumbent, Frank L. Witt. This office began to issue money orders July 2, 1877. The first order was drawn July 2, 1877, for Dr. E. H. Dudley and the first order paid was to Minerva Wellman.
SHELL ROCK IS INCORPORATED
The municipality of Shell Rock became separate from the township of like name and was incorporated as a town under the special laws of Iowa of 1873. The first election under the new dispensation was held in 1875, when the following officers were elected: Mayor, Ephraim Town; recorder, R. D. Prescott; treas- urer, J. W. Phillips; trustees, R. McDonald, J. G. Rockwell, C. Sweitzer, Orville Jones and A. G. Stonebreaker. As this manu- script is being prepared for the press, the intelligence has reached the writer of the death of Mr. Town, the first chief executive of Shell Rock. His death occurred February 2, 1914. A complete sketch of this old pioneer will be found in the second volume of this work. In 1880, five years after Shell Rock was incorporated, the census for that decade gave the population as 719. The census of 1910, thirty years later, shows but a small growth. The figures for that year are 741. However, the community has progressed in other respects to a most gratifying degree. The character of the buildings has changed for the better, many beautiful resi- dences have sprung up here and there in different sections of the town. Brick business structures have taken the place of primi- tive frame affairs. Steel bridges now span the streams where formerly old wooden structures crossed them. The main business thoroughfares have been vastly improved and several miles of cement sidewalks have taken the place of the old board walks. A beautiful city hall adorns the main street and adds very much to the convenience of the city's legislators and officials. It also adds largely to the safety of public records. A good hotel enter- tains and provides for the comfort of the traveling public, and a handsome modern brick school building adorns the east side of the town. All in all, Shell Rock takes a place in the front rank of Butler's many little municipalities.
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CITY HALL
Shell Rock's city building is a two-story structure, built of concrete blocks, and was erected in the fall of 1910. The first floor is devoted to offices for the mayor and as a council chamber, also for the use of the fire department. The second story was paid for and is owned by the Masonic lodge. This building stands on the main street of the town and is an important addition to the general make-up of that thoroughfare.
Shell Rock has a municipal system of waterworks, which was built in the summer of 1898. The question of issuing $5,000 in bonds for the purpose of building waterworks was presented to the voters of the town in 1908 and was carried by a generous majority. The water is secured from the Shell Rock river and is pumped into a tank which stands upon a steel tower, 100 feet in height. This tank has a capacity of 50,000 gallons of water. The pumps are operated by power secured from the electric light com- pany, and the water flows through about one and one-half miles of mains, and is used only for emergency purposes. None of it goes into the homes of the residents for domestic uses. The plant, however, cannot be surpassed by any other of similar size in the State of Iowa and answers its purposes to the utmost satisfaction of all. The cost was about eight thousand dollars.
SEWERAGE
There is also a system of sewerage in this well put up little trading community consisting of eight-inch and six-inch sewer pipes. The outlet is below the intake of the waterworks, or in other words, below the dam. The sewers were built about the same time as the waterworks and make for complete sanitation in the territory drained.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
An electric light plant was built here in 1901 by W. C. Wilson, and in 1902 the utility was in complete operation. The power house was built on the site of the old woolen mill at the rear of the west side mill. This improvement with the water rights cost about fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. Wilson operated the plant for some time and then sold it to William Toll and Ray
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Betts in 1910. The firm of Toll & Betts disposed of the property to Uri and W. W. Richards, March 1, 1912. Uri Richards, father of W. W. Richards, died in the fall of 1913. Since then W. W. Richards has been in charge of the utility and is giving his patrons good service, which, by the way, is not continuous.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS
Shell Rock has two strong banks, which are conservative in their methods and give to the patrons ample security of their funds. The Shell Rock Banking Company is the oldest institu- tion of its kind in the town. It was established in 1888 by F. M. Mansfield, J. H. Carter and O. S. Newcomb, with a capital of $15,000. Jim Carter was also one of the initial members of the concern and first filled the position of assistant cashier. This concern does a general banking business and now is capitalized at $25,000. Its president is Jim Carter; cashier, R. S. Stoddard; assistant cashiers, Carl Hummel and Carl Mansfield. The three senior members of this bank have died since it was first organ- ized, and O. S. Newcomb retired as an official. The present owners are Jim Carter, Mrs. Carrie Mansfield, Mrs. Kate J. Carter and R. S. Stoddard.
The Farmers State Bank was organized in 1907, capitalized at $25,000. The promoters of the enterprise were J. A. Graham, O. L. Mead, A. F. Yarcho, and J. B. Kelsey. The first officials were: J. A. Graham, president; J. H. Hutchins, vice president; M. F. Green, cashier. Mr. Hutchins died in the winter of 1912-13 and was succeeded in the vice presidency by O. L. Mead. In 1909 Mr. Green resigned as first cashier and was succeeded by F. C. Harmon. In the winter of 1909 the bank erected its present home -a two-story brick structure. It does a general commercial bank- ing business and is strong in the confidence of its patrons. The capital stock is $25,000; deposits. $105,000.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
As soon as three or four families could be gathered together at Shell Rock, religious meetings were held at the homes of the settlers. The first services were administered at the home of G. W. Adair, in the fall of 1854, by Reverend Mr. Burley. A sec- ond religious meeting was attended by the pioneers of this local-
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ity at the home of Hiram Ross in 1855. Reverend Mr. Burley delivered an interesting discourse on this occasion.
The Methodists organized the first religious society in Butler county, filing articles of incorporation June 26, 1855. This society held its first meeting at the home of Hiram Ross in 1855, and in February of that year Reverend Burley conducted a series of revival meetings, assisted by Reverends Kendall and Abram Myers, which resulted in the society acquiring thirty more mem- bers. A church building was erected in 1856 on the east side of the river on the site of the present structure. Meetings were held by the people of this faith as a class until 1871, when the society was reorganized.
Rev. J. W. Gould, who came in 1869 and remained two years, was the first regular pastor. He was succeeded in 1871 by Rev. L. S. Cooley, whose term of service covered two years. His suc- cessors in the pastorate were: Revs. Eugene Sherman, one year; Timothy Anderson, six months; A. Critchfield, one year; W. S. Skinner, two years; S. Knickerbocker, one year; G. L. Garrison, two years; S. Sharon; J. O. Dobson, 1883-85; C. H. Taylor, 1885- 89; J. H. Davis, 1889-92; G. H. Brindell, 1892-95; W. H. Slinger- land, 1895-98; Daniel Sheffer, 1898-99; Walter Piper, 1899-1904; D. S. Stabler and J. E. Johnson, 1904-06; George B. Shoemaker, 1906-10; John Dawson, 1910-13; and Thomas Carson, the present pastor, who took charge in 1913.
The old church building was destroyed by fire in June, 1898. Immediately thereafter work on a new edifice was begun, and the same was dedicated in the following November by Rev. J. C. Magee, presiding elder, assisted by the pastor of the church, Rev. Daniel Sheffer. The church building is valued at $10,000. The present membership is three hundred and seventy-five, while the enrollment in the Sunday school is three hundred and fifty.
BAPTIST CHURCH 1
The Baptist Church was organized in Shell Rock, January 18, 1864, by Rev. Samuel Sill, assisted by Rev. William Wood. The first members were Mary E. Sill, Menzo Best, Emily L. Best, Roxy Couch, Minerva Couch, James Chaffin, Deborah Chaffin, J. W. Whittaker, Nancy Whittaker, Serepta Copeland and Fannie Helason. The first regular pastor of the local Baptist church was Rev. Samuel Sill and services were first held in the stone
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building on Main street, now the property of O. L. Eastman, by Rev. I. R. Dean, who was the second county superintendent of schools for Butler county. Mr. Dean came from Kalamazoo,. Michigan, and went from here to Pike's Peak, and while on his way back lost his life. The successor to Reverend Sill as regular pastor was Dr. J. Hall, founder of the Kalamazoo Baptist Col- lege, and afterwards president of Granville (Ohio) College.
After the society had been fully organized and during the win- ter of 1868-9, very interesting and enthusiastic revival meetings were held, which meant forty-two additions to the church enroll- ment. The lots upon which the church stands and most of the labor for its construction were secured by the Ladies' Mite Society, in the numerous ways they had of obtaining money for church purposes. A church edifice was built at a cost of $5,500, a frame structure, 35x60 feet in dimensions. The present membership of the church is one hundred and thirteen, with an enrollment in the Sunday school of one hundred.
Those who have served in the pastorate from 1882 to the pres- ent time are as follows:
Revs. J. J. McIntire, November, 1882-May, 1884; J. B. Edmonson, April, 1884-February, 1886; A. Whitman, December, 1886-November, 1889; D. L. Clouse, November, 1890-July, 1892; C. H. Hands, July, 1892-July, 1893; N. E. Chapman, December, 1893-March, 1895; J. G. Johnson, June, 1895-October, 1897; O. P. Sonner, October, 1897-October, 1898; Fletcher E. Hudson, December, 1898-May, 1903; George Frederick Reinking, July, 1903-September, 1904; C. H. H. Moore, December, 1904-Sep- tember, 1905; Russell D. Robertson, December, 1905-December, 1906; A. B. Bush, September, 1907-June, 1910; N. H. Daily, September, 1910, until his death, November 22, 1912; D. E. Kil- loren, August, 1913.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The Congregational Society was organized in the spring of 1892 and before the close of the year a good substantial frame church building had been erected and dedicated. Among the first members of this society are remembered H. K. Porter and wife and W. H. Dryer, Charles Austin and wife, S. J. Gould and wife and Mrs. F. W. Remington. In all there were about forty charter members. At first services were held in the opera house
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and the first pastor was Rev. J. D. Wells, who remained three years. It was Reverend Wells who planned and assisted largely in building the house of worship. The Congregational church now has about sixty communicants and a good attendance in the Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. P. H. Fisk.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
In the territories contiguous to the town of Shell Rock there has been for many years quite a sprinkling of people of the Roman Catholic faith. In 1891, through the instrumentality of Father Coyle, a church was established here and a building erected for the convenience of its members. Among those who first assisted in the formation of St. Mary's parish were Mr. and Mrs. James Heery, the John Drumms, Michael McCormicks, Patrick Drumms, Peter Heery, John Heery, Albert Heerys, Dennis Hollands, Wil- liam Leary, Martin Gleason, Thomas McCarty, Joseph Walker, William Rafferty, Patrick McNamara, Nicholas Pray, John Flynn, Joseph Cantwell and Dennis Evans.
Father Shields held the first mass in the home of Michael McCormick, and for some time thereafter the members were unable to secure the services of a priest but about once a year. This was during and immediately after the Civil war. Then came Father Flavin, who held mass at the homes of his parishioners until 1891, when a priest was supplied regularly from Waverly. Since 1891 the following priests have attended this church: Fathers Murphy, Scanlon, McMahon, Smith, Ryan, O'Farrell, Comerford, Murphy, Coyle, O'Reilly, Sullivan, McCauley, Gil- christ, Grady, Doherty, Fitzpatrick, Mulligan and Dennis Lun- don. Services are held here about once a month and there are about twenty-three families in the parish.
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