USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 18
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VILLAGE OF PARKERSBURG
Parkersburg lies in the Beaver valley and is located on sec- tion 30, in Albion township, and section 25, in Monroe. The greater portion, however, lies in Albion township and the cor- poration is mainly treated as properly belonging to the latter. The town is one of the most important and enterprising trading points in Butler county and its growth is steady and substantial.
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The site upon which Parkersburg stands, while in its prim- itive state, was covered with a heavy growth of brush, that was almost impenetrable to man or beast, and this condition led the pioneers of the locality to call it "the brush bed of the Beaver." But these impedimenta soon disappeared, after the surveyors had laid out a town upon the land and platted it. This land was pur- chased from the United States by a speculator in 1854, who gave it no further attention other than to dispose of the property in 1857 to John Connell and his son, William H. Connell, who erected a small cabin a short distance south of the future village.
In making its preliminary survey in the early '60s, the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company had overlooked the importance of the coming town of Parkersburg and while New Hartford and Aplington had been considered, the line was so run to those points as to leave Parkersburg "out in the cold." But the builders of the road changed their plaus, to the lasting ben- efit of Parkersburg; made of it a station and, in 1866, together with Augustus S. Smith, caused two hundred and forty acres to. be surveyed and platted by one of their engineers, and named the place Parkersburg in honor of P. P. Parker, an early settler of the locality. The plat was filed for record February 5, 1866, by Platt Smith, vice president of the Dubuque & Sioux City Rail- road Company; Louis Boisot, its secretary, and Augustus S. Smith, into whose hands the land had been diverted.
Before the year 1865 had closed the railroad was operating its trains through the new town and had completed a depot. Thomas Williams had erected a house by that time, opened it as a tavern and named the hostelry the Williams House. The Wil- liams House later became known as the Commercial, which had many landlords.
Benjamin Needham built the first store building and was the first merchant in Parkersburg. In the summer of 1865 he put up near the depot a large frame building. 30x40 feet. in which he placed a stock of general merchandise and served his patrons until the time of his death. For many years after the building was used as a tenement house.
One R. T. Jackson, late in 1865 or early in the following year. put up a store building in the place, a frame structure, two stories in height, with ground dimensions of 20x30 feet. In this build- ing Jackson placed a stock of general merchandise, but before the building was finished he began selling goods temporarily in Vol. 1-14
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the Williams House. About the time Jackson got his store run- ning N. T. Manley & Son put up a building on Depot street and installed the most complete line of general merchandise attempted up to that period. The building was years after moved to Main street.
The depot was completed in 1865 and Joseph Demmick occu- pied an office here as agent for the railroad company. He was commissioned postmaster and, erecting a little building across the track from the depot, he put in a small stock of goods, kept a meat market, sold paints and several other things; at the same time he bought grain and attended to his duties as postmaster and railroad agent. The reader of the present day might imagine that Demmick had a pretty stremous time of it. But in the '60s the population of the county was small, Parkersburg was in her swaddling clothes, mail was received at infrequent intervals, money was scarce; the Civil war was on and the country new. The present agent or postmaster of Parkersburg has more duties to perform in one day than Mr. Demmick, with his multifarions lines of business, had in a week. In the grain trade B. F. White was a close second to Demmick.
Jacob Young and Frank Shaffer put up the second hotel build- ing here, a structure 28x30 feet. Mr. Stone opened the building as the Eagle Hotel and continued as the landlord for many years, giving great satisfaction to his guests. Jacob Young erected a small building near the hotel soon after, where he kept a res- taurant and saloon. In 1868, Edward Bigalow bought the build- ing and moved it on to Depot street.
Jonathan Goodale, who located in Parkersburg in 1868, put up a store building in the spring of 1869 and became one of the local merchants. Some time afterwards he built a home adjoin- ing the store and both his properties were destroyed by fire in 1878, by which he sustained a loss of $10,000. Mr. Goodale was not discouraged, but rebuilt store and residence. He became one of the prosperous, substantial and influential citizens of the place.
The first lumberyard in Parkersburg was started in 1869 by Charles Charnock and M. Howenstein. Retiring soon after, Mr. Howenstein and Dr. M. I. Powers opened a drug store. Char- nock sold the humbervard to E. W. Babcock in 1880, who sold to John Voogd about a year later.
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The first hardware store was established in 1866 by James Parker, who put up a frame building for the purpose on Depot street. Mr. Parker had as a business associate in this enterprise Melvin Dees.
The firm of J. Kennedy & Olmstead established a hardware and shoe business here in the late '60s and sold their interests to Joseph Kellogg. The latter disposed of the stoek to the firm of Parris Brothers in 1875; George and Fred Parris had located in Parkersburg in 1872 and engaged in the grocery trade. In 1881 they sold the grocery to Samnel Norris. Henry Parris, another brother, located on a farm in Monroe township in 1875.
The hardware firm of Mott & Foote was formed in 1878. C. L. Mott located in the town in 1869 and S. A. Foote came in 1877. taking up the live stock business as a vocation.
Charles Gleason opened the first shoe store, in 1865, and was the town's first cobbler. He began operations in a little build- ing near the Commercial House. From there he moved to Main street and continued in the trade until 1876, when he sold out to Henry Perry. W. N. Perry was the next shoe dealer. He became prominent in this line of business and for years had one of the largest establishments in the place. Henry Ballhousen was also early in the field with a shoe store, commencing business in 1877.
Henry Franke was Parkersburg's first harness maker, opening a shop in 1867, with Val. Labr as an emplove. In 1868 the latter started a shop in competition with Franke.
The Babcock furniture store was the first in Parkersburg, but was not a success. The successor to this was the store of A. S. Burnham, who began selling furniture in 1868. Another general mercantile establishment was started by Clark Mott in 1870.
The first blacksmith shop in the town was opened by. Charles Dunham in the '60s and ran about two years, when Dunham removed to Illinois. His immediate successor was named Rollo. He soon left.
A stationery store was opened in 1869 by a Mr. Benedict, which lasted but a short time. Then W. W. Cartner opened a stock of confectionery in the store room.
William Wallace, in 1869, had a meat market in a building he erected for the purpose. He finally sold the market to Martin Cartner.
Charles Reynolds was the first person to engage in the livery business, opening a stable near the Eagle House in 1867. Max-
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well & Downs was the next and both concerns were in existence but a short while. The most successful of the early liverymen was J. T. Burt, who opened a large stable in 1869. Otis Baker bought Frank Shaver's livery stable in 1870 and became suc- cessful.
John Beemer came to Parkersburg from Floyd county in 1868 and engaged in the practice of law. He remained a member of the Butler county bar until his death, which occurred in 1878.
Of the medical profession Dr. M. T. Powers was the first to establish an office here. Other carly practitioners were Drs. Stront, Parker and Ensign.
R. G. Renken and Fritz Tammen, under the firm name of Renken & Tammen, established a general store here in 1878. In 1882 the members of the firm erected one of the leading brick business houses on Main street and both were men of fine busi- ness sagacity and rectitude.
John D. Cramer, a native of Canada, located on section 33, Albion township, in 1869, where he kept a hotel for some time. He moved into Parkersburg in 1867 and opened the first meat market in the town.
Tn 1879 E. Hiller erected the Parkersburg Mills on the bank of the Beaver river, where good water power was secured. The building's ground dimensions are 50x60 feet: it was originally equipped with one set of rollers and three run of stone, giving a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. The mill is still in operation, grinding meal and feed for the farmers and dealers.
INCORPORATED TOWN OF PARKERSBURG
By the year 1874 Parkersburg had become one of the leading trading points in Butler county and her citizens were anxious to have a separate government from the township. To further this desire preliminary steps were taken, a petition was signed by a large list of the electors, which was presented to the district court and in the year 1874 Parkersburg was granted a charter as an incorporated town.
Soon after the town received authority to act as a municipality an election was held and the following officers were the choice of a majority of the voters: Mayor. C. S. Lobdell ; recorder. M. T. Johnson : treasurer, J. F. Parker; marshal, W. I. McLean : street commissioner, D. W. Schoolcraft: trustees, N. T. Manley, Joseph
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, PARKERSBURG
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SCENE ON MAIN STREET, PARKERSBURG
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Kellogg, Jurgen Renken and F. L. Dodge. From that time until the present, the following named persons liave filled the offices of mayor and clerk :
Mayors-C. S. Lobdell, 1874-7; N. T. Johnson, 1877-80; C. S. Lobdell, 1880-1; William H. Burdick, 1881-2; C. S. Lobdell, 1882-9; W. H. Owens, 1889-92; J. W. Arbuckle, 1892-4; M. F. Edwards, 1894-7; W. H. Owens, 1897-8; M. F. Edwards, 1898- 1900; Robert F. Camp, 1900-02; C. J. Fitzpatrick, 1902-03; F. F. Voeltz, appointed to fill vacancy by reason of resignation of Fitzpatrick; F. F. Voeltz, 1903-08; R. S. Blair, 1908-14.
Clerks-N. T. Johnson, 1874-7; F. H. Rix, 1877-8; M. J. Dow- ney, 1878-80; Wilke A. Smith, 1880-1; A. N. Ferris, 1881-2; R. G. Renken, 1882-90: M. F. Edwards, 1890-94; J. W. Arbuckle, 1894-7; S. C. Mangans, 1897-8; C. F. Franke, 1898-1900; S. R. Bird, 1900-01; J. G. Irwin, 1901-02; W. T. Evans, 1902-14.
CITY HALL
Prior to the year 1913 the mayor and city council held official meetings in various places. But in the year named a handsome one-story, vitrified brick building was erected on the main street, at a cost of $5,000, on a lot which cost the town $633. The interior arrangements make the city hall convenient for the council, vot- ing booths and apparatus of the fire department.
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
The character and proclivities of Parkersburg's own people are of that excellence as not to require espionage or regulation by the police department. The tramp, burglar, sneak thief and housebreaker are given little countenance here, and one police offi- cer-the city marshal-can very well look after and maintain the. peace and quietude of the town. So, little, if anything, is to be said of the police department, which is a one-man bureau of the city's government. The marshal's duties are to police the streets during the later hours of the day and patrol the business district. up to midnight.
Since the establishment of waterworks the citizens rest com- paratively fearless of conflagrations. Fire plugs are within con- venient distances of the business and residence districts. A volunteer fire company has a supply of apparatus, consisting of
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1,200 feet of hose, a hose cart, hose wagon, and a hook and ladde: wagon, and with every able-bodied man ready to respond to al emergency call, the town's property is comparatively safe.
WATERWORKS SYSTEM
Since the year 1894 Parkersburg and her citizens have enjoyed the blessings of a good and efficient waterworks system. In the year mentioned the question of building waterworks and issuing $6.500 in bonds was submitted to a vote of the citizens at a spe- cial election. The approval of a large majority of the voters in the undertaking was made manifest when the poll was counted; in the autumn of that year the improvement was completed and in operation. A sufficient supply of pure water is obtained from a well 80 feet in depth and 6 inches in diameter. The water is pumped into a tank twenty-four feet in height, having a capacity of 40,000 gallons. The tank rests upon a steel tower sixty feet in height, which assures ample pressure for ordinary purposes. A power house and two and one-half miles of mains add to the cost of the improvement, the total amount of which was about ten thousand dollars.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM
A sewerage system was inaugurated in the year 1908. The main drains are laid with vitrified pipe. 18-inch, 12-inch and 8-inch in diameter. Something over three miles of mains and laterals have been laid and the refuse finds an outlet at Beaver creek. Up to the year 1914 about fifteen thousand dollars had been spent on this work.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Parkersburg is the best lighted town in Butler county, hav- ing during the holidays of 1913-14 installed a series of five-globe electroliers, fourteen in number. This system illuminates the business district so that it is as light as day. The lamps were placed and paid for by the merchants. Electric light and power are furnished by the Parkersburg Electric Light & Power Com- pany, composed of local capitalists, who built a plant in 1898, at
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a cost of $10,000. The chief promoter of the industry was W. S. Meade. Continuous service is furnished.
POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was established here in August, 1855, and P. P. Parker, after whom the town was named, was placed in charge by the Washington authorities. Mr. Parker distributed the mail from his residence on section 13, which at first was not an onerous task, as he received scarcely a dozen letters a week, which came to him by carrier on horseback by way of Cedar Falls and Fort Dodge. Mr. Parker was the postmaster until some time during the Civil war, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Stephen Morse, who removed the office to his log cabin, one-half mile east of the Parker residence. This was inconvenient for those living in Parkersburg and rather than move into town, Mr. Morse resigned his position. Thomas Russell was then appointed and failed to improve matters when he established the office at his home a half mile still farther east. P. P. Parker again took the office to ease the situation. After a few years his son, James Parker, received the appointment and kept his office in the Beaver Valley Bank building until 1883. The names of his successors follow: W. J. Baker, O. B. Courtright, John Knapp, John Bird and the present incumbent. E. E. Schrack.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
In 1904 C. C. Wolf, one of Parkersburg's wealthy, influential and generous-hearted citizens, donated a large sum of money toward a fund for the building of a new Methodist Episcopal church edifice. To this beneficence he added the sum of $2,000, the same to be applied to a library fund, on condition that the library be permanently established in rooms to be specially arranged for its reception in the proposed church building. The wishes of Mr. Wolf were fully carried out in the premises and when the magnificent house of worship was planned, the north half of the ground floor was set apart for the library. Here spacious rooms, shelves and other appurtenances were prepared and when the building was finished the library, now containing some three thousand volumes, was installed by the Parkersburg Library Association, organized in November, 1905. The library
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is under the supervision and management of a board of trustees, consisting of nine members selected by the citizens of the town. Mrs. Lulu Slight is the librarian. The institution is supported by popular subscriptions and is open two days in the week. The headquarters of the library cost nothing for rent; heat and light are furnished by the church authorities at a nominal price.
FINANCIAL
The first effort at banking in Parkersburg was by the firm of Gibbs Brothers, who opened a private bank in 186S. In 1869 the interests of the Gibbs Brothers were turned over to J. B. and M. I. Powers, who did a general banking business until 1873, when Aaron Wolf and sons became their associates. In 1892 Aaron Wolf, C. C. Wolf and others incorporated the institution under the state banking laws. assuming the name of the State Exchange Bank. The capital stock was $50,000 and surplus $50,000. Aaron Wolf was the first president; S. A. Foote, vice president; C. C. Wolf, cashier. In 1899 Aaron Wolf died and by reason thereof S. A. Foote succeeded to the presidency. Several years later, upon the resignation of Mr. Foote, his place was filled by the election of R. G. Renken. The present officials are: President, R. G. Renken; vice president, George Frey; cashier, C. C. Wolf. Several years ago the capital was increased to $100,000. The last official report showed deposits amounting to $400,000.
The home of the State Exchange Bank was first in a little frame building that stood on the site of a one-story brick build- ing that took its place, and where the bank continued in business until 1895. Since then this building has been in use by the post- office department. In the year last mentioned a new bank build- ing was erected on the opposite side of the street from the old one. The structure is built of brown stone and brick and cost $15.000. As being worthy of note the statement may be here added that C. C. Wolf has been cashier of this bank for forty years. ITe is one of the substantial and most generous citizens of this splendid little city.
Citizens of Parkersburg refer to their banks with consider- able pride, for they are upon a sound basis and hold the full con- fidence of the people. The Beaver Valley Bank is especially strong in the sterling character of its officials, its resources and the confidence of a host of friends and patrons. It was organized
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in 1882, with a paid-up capital of $50,000. B. B. Richards, of Dubuque, was the first president, and James F. Parker, cashier. The bank was the outgrowth of a private bank, started by Rich- ards & Parker in 1877.
In December, 1892, upon the resignation of James F. Parker, S. S. Striker was elected to fill the vacancy. Striker remained two years and then made way for John Voogd, who retained the position until Jan. 10, 1899, when he was succeeded by H. W. Wilhelms. Upon the latter's elevation to the presidency in 1907 T. R. Tammen became cashier.
B. B. Richards continued in the office of president from the establishment of the bank until 1899. From that year until Jan- uary, 1907, H. J. Merlien held the responsible position. From the latter date to the present time H. W. Wilhelms has been chief executive officer of the bank.
The parent bank of Parker & Richards was kept in a small frame building that stood on the site of the handsome new Tem- ple building and was destroyed by fire about 1904. After the fire the present home of the bank, a large, two-story briek build- ing, was erected on one of the most prominent corners of the business center. Capital, $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $67,504; deposits, $524,204.
The First National Bank was organized in 1910 by C. F. Franke, E. V. Franke, G. N. Clark, Sander Ludeman and others, with a capital of $50,000, and is the outgrowth of the Farmers , & Merchants State Bank, established and incorporated by H. J. Merlien, G. Ludeman, A. K. Smith, Mrs. H. J. Merlien and others. The First National's initial officers were: Sander Ludeman, president ; C. F. Franke, vice president ; H. E. W. Kaiser, cashier. Kaiser resigned in October, 1912, and was succeeded by R. A. Ludeman. The bank is doing business on the main street of the town in a briek building and recently increased its capital stock. The last statement showed the following figures: Capital, $60,- 000; surplus and undivided profits, $4,300; deposits, $90,000.
THE SCHOOLS
Parkersburg became an independent school district in the spring of 1871. M. T. Powers was selected as president of the school board. R. L. Chase, secretary, and William Howenstein, treasurer. The other members of the board were J. Goodale. W.
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A. Allen and L. D. Davis. In 1872 the question of expending $2,500 was voted upon favorably and a frame building 24x24 feet and two stories in height was erected on the south side. Pupils increasing made the addition of a wing necessary in the year 1878. This building disappeared in flames in 1893 and in the following year a modern, three-story brick structure, costing $16,000, arose under the hands of skilful workmen, and is a structure convenient in arrangement and imposing in appearance. It contains nine or ten rooms, including the superintendent's office and high school assembly room, and has a corps of eight instructors, including the city superintendent.
CATHOLIC CHURCH
In the early days of Albion township there were quite a num- ber of families whose religions tenets were those of the Roman Catholic church. To them were first offered the sacrament of the mass, at the pioneer homes of Daniel Downey and James Ken- nedy in 1861. and at other places in the future parish. Father John Shields was the first priest to minister to this people; in fact, he traveled hundreds of miles in those early days laboring for his church and its members. He remained about six years and then gave way to Father T. F. Gunn, whose pastorate cov- ered a period of four years. Following him was Rev. Peter O'Dowd. Father Mahoney came next and was followed by Father Lynch who, while living in the old priest's house, built the present residence, in 1897, which stands on the hill near the church. Father Molloy was next to be placed in charge and stayed two years. His successor was Father Baxter, whose administration covered a period of two years. The next pastor, Father Quinn. was here six years. The present priest is Father O. Leary, who took charge late in 1913 shortly after his arrival from his native country, Ireland. The church edifice was built in 1874.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The history of the Methodist church of Parkersburg was pre- pared for the dedication exercises of the new church edifice and published, together with a description of the beautiful building, in the Eclipse. The article cannot in any way be improved upon. hence it is reproduced here verbatim et literatim :
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The pioneer Methodist preacher found his way occasionally to the scattered neighborhood of what is now the city of Parkers- burg as early as the year 1851 or 1852, preaching in the log cabin of a Methodist family, the first of which we now have record being held in the log house, the dimensions of which were 14x16 feet, belonging to W. F. Younker, who resided four miles east and one mile south of Parkersburg.
The first services were conducted by Rev. Elijah Kendall in in the fall of 1854. The Methodist class was organized, consist- ing of the following persons : Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kemmerer, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Daniels, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Younker and Michael Niece.
The Methodist Sunday school was soon after organized. About a year later, in the fall of 1855, J. L. Kemmerer, having built a log house somewhat larger than that owned by Mr. Younker, the preaching service and Sabbath school was carried on at his place, where they were continued until the schoolhouse was erected near by.
According to the Beaver valley circuit record, Rev. Jolin Con- nell seems to have been one of the first regular preachers on the charge. In the winter of 1855 and 1856, Father Connell, as he was familiarly called, held a revival meeting in the home of Rich- ard Daniels, which proved to be a great blessing. Rev. George Murphy, a local preacher who lived at Swanton, often preached in various homes and schoolhouses in that early day. In 1857 Richard Daniels was ordained as a local deacon in the Methodist church and from that time until near the close of his life fre- quently preached the gospel. Rev. John Dawson is remembered as one of the pioneer local preachers in Beaver valley circuit.
For some years this was a three weeks circuit and extended from West Union, Fayette county, to Hampton and Maysville. Franklin county. This was the beginning of the work of God among the people called Methodists, and many a season of rejoie- ing can be remembered by the few still living, who attended those early services.
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