USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 30
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A few years later Mr. Stover informed the postoffice depart- ment that he desired to remove to some other place and requested the appointment of another postmaster. He was directed to inform the patrons of the office to select a postmaster by ballot. An election was called and held at the house of Mr. Stover. There were two candidates, James Harlan and W. R. Jamison. The contest was quite an exciting one and would have resulted in a tie had it not been that Mrs. Stover decided the matter by casting a ballot for Mr. Jamison, who was declared duly elected post- master at Union Ridge. This may be considered the first instance of woman's suffrage in Butler county. Mr. Jamison held the position of postmaster at Union Ridge for some time, carrying the mail, or having it done. at his own expense. Later Samuel Jamison, Isaac Stover and James Harlan were in turn postmas- ters at Union Ridge. James Harlan was appointed in 1862 and
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held the office until 1868. At that time a regular mail route had been established and mail was delivered at Union Ridge twice each week.
In 1868 a general store was established by J. H. Playter at Jamison's Grove, in section 20. Mr. Harlan resigned the post- mastership and secured the appointment of Mr. Playter, who held the office until about 1870. Ross Jamison was then appointed postmaster and held the position until April 28, 1875, when he was succeeded by W. R. Jamison, who served his second term as postmaster until some time in 1877, when he resigned in favor of James Harlan. There were other aspirants for the office, how- ever, and A. L. Bickford was appointed postmaster and removed the postoffice to the town of Dumont, about four miles to the southeast of Union Ridge.
The population of the township, as shown by the records of the census, is as follows: 1860, 246; 1863, 272; 1865, 341; 1867, 349; 1869, 385: 1870, 512; 1873, 479; 1875, 528; 1880, 730; 1890. 782; 1900, 1,202; 1905, 1.183 ; 1910, 1,286.
GENERAL ITEMS
Hannah Boylan, a daughter of Isaac Boylan, was the first child born in Pittsford township. This birth occurred in the fall of 1853.
The first death was that of a man by the name of Calkins.
The first sermon in the township was preached by Rev. Rich- ard Merrill, a Presbyterian minister.
VILLAGE OF DUMONT
In the southern part of Pittsford township, on section 28, a village was laid out and platted in 1879 for Samuel Beekman Dumont, a prosperous business man of Dubuque who had with his family come here in 1864. The land originally had been entered by a man named Young, in 1856, but no effort had been made to improve it. Mr. Dumont, upon taking up his residence on the property at once began putting the soil in order for plant- ing and employed his time and that of his son, T. A. Dumont. in farming until 1879, when he engaged in handling lumber in the town which he had established.
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The plat of Dumont contained eighty acres of land, lying upon a beautiful knoll, between the West Fork of the Cedar river and a tributary. The outlying country, blessed with soil of the high- est fertility, presaged a flattering future for the new trading point which, in a measure, has been realized by its pioneer citi- zens. The new city was named in honor of its founder, Samuel B. Dumont, who became its leading citizen, always to be remem- bered as a man of the utmost probity and of sterling virtues.
Shortly after his arrival on section 28, Mr. Dumont built a pretentious residence on a spot which now faces the northern terminus of the town's main thoroughfare and here he passed a life of activity and enterprise. About the year 1899, all that remained of the founder of Dumont was taken to the local burial ground for interment. Some six or eight years later his wife's body was laid in a grave beside him.
It was in the year 1879 that the Dubuque & Dakota Railroad, now the Chicago Great Western, reached the town site of Dumont. and no little credit must be given Mr. Dumont for making this happy consummation possible. He also was first in the local field as a business man, building that fall an elevator and making the initial move in buying and storing grain. This first elevator was sold to A. A. Robertson, of Iowa Falls, in 1882, who managed its affairs for many years and then handed the property down to several successors.
Samuel B. Dumont, it seems, was determined that his infant town should grow and secure a place on the map, even though it became necessary that he should engage in a multifarious line of industries. To further his purpose, he also secured a stock of lumber and in the fall of 1879 sold one hundred carloads of the material to his neighbors, who were constantly accumulating in numbers.
At the close of the year that brought Dumont into existence the village consisted of a group of thirteen buildings, the founder having furnished a major portion of the means and material for their construction. Among them was one in which a stock of drugs was installed by young Dumont, now Dr. T. A. Dumont, a practicing physician of the place.
In the late fall of 1879 or early in the year following, the firm of Smith Brothers opened the first store with a stock of general merchandise.
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The earliest hardware establishment was opened for business by Samuel B. Dumont, in a building erected by Martin Griffith.
S. McMannes built a small store room in the fall of 1879, and here O. A. Chambers had the first grocery in Dumont. That same autumn Mr. Chambers put up for himself and family a dwelling house. Later, he removed to his farm in Franklin county.
Others who were active in town building in the fall of 1879 were William Schulenborg, a carpenter; John Ryan, J. Kruse, A. N. Arnold and James Stewart, all of whom erected residences for themselves.
One Nicholas Huss put up a building for saloon purposes, and A. L. Bickford, son-in-law of S. B. Dumont, erected a house to be used as a store.
The year 1880 was a notable one for the growing town, the advance being very gratifying to all concerned. In the early spring, William Francher moved to the place from Waterloo an elevator and presided over its destinies several years. S. Me- Mannes opened a furniture store. S. B. Dumont erected the first brick building, two stories in height and having a frontage on the main street of eighty feet. This he arranged for a hotel and public hall and it is still known and designated as the Dumont block. All during the year carpenters and masons were busy and the establishment of another important trading point in But- ler county was assured.
By the year 1882 there were permanently engaged in business the following: Patterson & Cole ; Dr. T. A. Dumont, drugs : Smith Brothers, general merchandise: S. B. Dumont, humber; S. Mc- Mannes, furniture ; W. T. Scott, meat market ; A. A. Robertson, grain and live stock : D. W. Williamson and Philip Pfaltzgraff, hardware; I. M. Nichols, farm implements; A. L. Bickford, live stock : D. Richmond, shoes ; Moses Barnes and S. E. Allen, black- smiths: Charles Coryell, livery : Robert Schmitz, collection agent and justice of the peace; M. S. Needham, hotel; Nicholas Huss and William Schulenborg, saloons.
The first lawyer to locate in Dumont was W. R. JJamison, but when he came to the town the records do not show. That is not the case of the first physician. T. A. Dumont, for he made his entry with his father, founder of Dumont, in 1864, and was then a lad of fourteen years.
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The first birth to occur in Dumont was that of a child, of which Nick Huss, the saloon keeper, was the father. This addition to the population was in the year 1880.
The first death in the village took place January 3, 1880. On the day mentioned, Mrs. Sarah F. Townsend passed away, at the age of eighty-nine years.
DUMONT INCORPORATED
While the onward move of Dumont was not in any way rapid or sensational, the growth was steady and substantial, so that by the year 1891 the population was estimated to have reached 350. Then it was that certain of the leading citizens determined on a movement to separate the village from the township organization and to further the new departure circulated a petition, to be pre- sented to the district court, asking for articles of incorporation of the town of Dumont. The petition was quite generously signed and in the year 1896 the prayer of the petitioners was granted. An election for municipal officers thereupon was held and John Barlow chosen by the electors as the first mayor, and Richard Pecht, clerk. However, doubts soon arose as to the legality of the incorporation of the town and in order to avoid uncertainty and troublous litigation the matter was taken to the State Legis- lature, which august tribunal passed the following act:
CHAPTER 187. H. F. 227 .- An Act to legalize the incorpora- tion of the Town of Dumont, Butler County, Towa; the election of its officers and all acts done, and Ordinances passed, by the Council of said Town, from March 27. 1896, to January 1st, 1898.
Whereas, Doubts have arisen as to the legality of the incor- poration of the Town of Dumont. Butler County, Towa, the elec- tion of its officers and the Ordinanees passed by the said Council of said Town; therefore
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Towa :
SECTION 1 .- Valid and binding .- That the incorporation of the Town of Dumont, Butler County, Iowa; the election of its officers, and all official acts done, and Ordinances passed by the council of said Town up to January 1st. 1898, are hereby legalized. and are hereby declared to be valid and binding. the same as though the law had in all respects been strictly complied with in the incorporation of said Town, and in the election of its officers;
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provided that nothing in this act shall in any manner affect pend- ing litigation.
SEC. 2 .- In effect .- This act, being deemed of immediate importance, shall be in force and take effect from and after its publication in the Iowa State Register, and the Butler County Tribune, newspapers published respectively at DesMoines, and Allison, Iowa, without expense to the state.
Approved March 19, 1898.
I hereby certify that the foregoing act was published in the Iowa State Register March 22, 1898, and the Butler County Tribune March 24, 1898.
G. L. DOBSON, Secretary of State.
Unfortunately, for the town of Dumont and the continuity of its corporate history, the ordinances which the above legislative measure purported to legalize, were destroyed by fire in 1901, together with the first minute book recording the official acts of the council and the several elections held up to that period of time. However, a list of the mayors and clerks since the year 1901 is available and is as follows:
1901-02, mayor, C. R. Martin: clerk. A. L. Gillett; 1902-03, mayor, M. St. Peter; clerk, D. Pecht: 1903-04, mayor, M. St. Peter; clerk, D. Pecht: 1904-05, mavor, D. W. Williamson; clerk, D. Pecht: 1905-06, mavor, C. R. Martin; clerk, F. J. McGreevy; 1906-07. mayor, H. Z. Babcock; clerk, F. J. McGreevy; 1908-09, mavor, F. P. Finn: clerk. W. E. Thomas: 1910-11, mayor, Fred Linde: clerk, J. A. Barlow: 1912-13, mavor. Fred Linde; clerk, J. A. Barlow.
The town of Dumont does not, as vet, own what is usually called a city hall. It has, however, a good waterworks building where the council holds its meetings. The fire department is of the volunteer order and practically every able-bodied man in the place is a member and as a rule there is no shirking of duty when an emergency call is sounded. One police officer, termed the city marshal, is sufficient. for the people are of an orderly class and law-abiding.
WATERWORKS SYSTEM
Recognizing the virtues of pure water and plenty of it, from a standpoint of sanitation and convenience, the council made pro-
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visions for a special election, which was held October 12, 1911, when the electors decided, by a large majority, that a system of waterworks should be built. To meet the cost of the improve- ment the legislative body was also granted authority to issue bonds in the sum of $7,000. To be more exact the vote for water- works was 147; against, 25. Before the year expired the citizens of Dumont were being served with a splendid quality of water, pumped from a group of six wells having an average depth of twenty-two feet. These wells have six-inch casings and are prac- tically inexhaustible. The water is conveyed to two underground tanks, whence it is forced through the mains by an air pressure system. The pumping station is constructed of cement blocks and here is installed a double-stroke Union pump. The suction pipe is 4 inches: discharge pipe, 3 inches in diameter. Two tanks as reservoirs have been constructed, each 8 feet in diameter and 36 feet in length. One is used for domestic purposes and the other in cases of emergency. Their combined capacity is 22,000 gallons; 7,000 feet of 4-inch street mains, 13 double fire hydrants, complete the system. The domestic pressure is 60 pounds; fire pressure, 80 pounds. It might be well to state in this connection that a very disastrous fire overtook Dumont in 1901, which wiped ont almost every business house in the place. The fire started in a livery stable in the night time and by morning the main street was a scene of ruins and confusion. Nothing dannted, every man who had lost his business place and stock of goods-grocery man, hardware. dry-goods merchant, druggist, lumber dealer, banker and others- began at once removing debris left by the conflagration and it was but a short time until Dumont arose, phoenix-like, from its ashes and presented a newer and thrice better town than before. The loss by the fire was probably $60,000; more than that amount of money was expended in new buildings alone. Today Dumont is a well set up little trading point, with a whole block of new and modern briek buildings and several frame business houses that have some clain to pretentiousness. Transportation facilities are excellent, as there are two lines of railroad, the Chicago Great Western and the Chicago & Northwestern.
The hotel, or Dinont building, escaped the ravages of the big fire. Its south room on the ground floor was remodeled in February, 1914, and became the home of the Farmers Trust & Savings Bank, but recently organized.
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THE SCHOOLS
The school building, a frame affair, was built early in the his- tory of Dumont and within its walls many children have been taught by able and conscientious instructors. In 1905 the build- ing was enlarged by the addition of a high school room and another room, which necessitated the employment of two additional teach- ers, making the corps number six. The structure was also remod- eled and the entire improvement brought the expense account up to the sum of $7.000.
FINANCIAL
The farming district contributing to the business activity and prosperity of Dumont is not surpassed by any in Butler county, and the bank reports support this statement. The State Bank of Dumont was established in 1896 as a private institution, by John Barlow and Ion Atkinson, and during a period of five years gained the confidence and support of a large and widely distributed clientele. About the year 1901, Mr. Barlow secured the Atkinson interest and alone managed the business until 1905, when E. O. and D. C. Slaid entered the firm as associate partners. In the year 1908 John Barlow, E. O. Slaid, A. Austin, A. E. Hartson, H. C. Brown and W. W. Ahrens incorporated the State Bank of Du- mont, with a capital stock of $30,000. A board of directors was selected and that body elected the following officers of the bank: President, E. O. Slaid; vice president, A. E. Hartson; cashier, John Barlow. The directors were: W. W. Ahrens, E. O. Slaid, A. Austin, A. E. Hartson and H. C. Brown.
In 1901 Mr. Barlow erected a handsome two-story brick home for the bank, on the main street, joining six others, who all con- formed to plans drawn for a continuous row or block of buildings having the same design, to take the place of the business honses destroyed by the big fire. In this building the bank has its count- ing rooms, modern vault, sates and other appointments demanded by patrons of the present day. The original capital of $30,000 is still maintained, and in its last statement, called for by the state banking laws, deposits to the amount of $293,983 were reported.
The Farmers Trust & Savings Bank is a new financial con- cern that has yet to prove its worth and the necessity of its being in the field of local finance. This establishment was organized
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January 15, 1914, and capitalized at $20,000. The incorporators are O. J. Irwin, of Omaha, and Dr. J. W. Cunningham, of Dumont. Charles Borneman, a well known farmer and large landowner of the vicinity, is the president; Dr. J. W. Cunningham, vice presi- dent: O. J. Irwin, cashier; Fred Armiburst, assistant cashier. The bank commeneed business in March, 1914, in a room specially fitted and arranged for its purposes in the Dumont building, now owned by a member of the concern, and started out into the finan- cial world under very favorable auspices ..
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The first services of the Methodist society of this place were held in a little schoolhouse by "the Willows," back of the German Evangelical church, by Rev. Sproul, in the winter of 1871-2. This minister was employed by Samuel B. Dumont and J. N. MeMan- nes on their own motion, who paid him $50 for his services. The first pastor sent by the conference to this charge was Rev. W. A. Pottle. At one time this appointment and Allison were voked together and Rev. F. E. Day presided over its spiritual needs and desires. Prior to the erection of the church building, about the vear 1892, Rev. James A. Chulow, then pastor, called the congre- gation together for services in the German Evangelical Associa- tion church. At this time the appointment consisted of four societies-Union Ridge, Hansell, Four Mile Grove and Dumont. The parsonage was at Hansell, but becoming unfit as a habitation, the residence of the pastor was changed to Dumont, where a com- fortable rectory was built in the fall of 1898, at a cost of $1,200, and paid for by subscriptions of members residing in the various places mentioned. As has been stated, the church edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. Clulow, a frame structure cost- ing $3.000. The plans for the building were designed by Mrs. Caroline F. Dumont and her son, Dr. T. A. Dumont, and the site was a gift from the Minnesota Loan & Debenture Company, Charles Nichols, president: Robert Wright, secretary. There were then forty members; now the membership has reached one hundred and forty. In the Sunday school an average attendance of seventy-five is reported. A list of pastors of this church follows :
Revs. J. R. A. ITanner, October, 1883-October, 1884; S. M. Davis. October, 1884-October, 1885: William E. Ross, October,
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EVANGELICAL CHURCH, DUMONT
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PUBLIC SCHOOL, DUMONT
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1885-October, 1886; Edward Lee, October, 1886-October, 1887; Horace Foote, October, 1887-October, 1890; James Clulow, Octo- ber, 1890-October, 1892; O. W. Weeks, October, 1892-October, 1893; W. W. Robinson, October, 1893-October, 1895; R. M. Acker- man, October, 1895-October, 1897; J. G. S. Meyers, October, 1897- December, 1898; F. T. Heatly, January, 1899-October, 1900; E. B. Downs, October, 1900-June, 1901; W. C. Keeler, June, 1901-Octo- ber, 1903; W. F. Albright, October, 1903-October, 1904; M. A. Goodell, October, 1904-October, 1906; W. N. Chaffee, October, 1906-October, 1908; W. A. Gibbons, October, 1908-October, 1911; J. B. Metcalf, October, 1911-October, 1913; M. L. Hill, October, 1913-
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION CHURCH
The history of this church is reproduced from a sketch appear- ing in the report of the Iowa Conference, April 7, 1910:
In the early '70s several of our members, H. Ahrens, J. J. Baumgartner and others, settled in the neighborhood of Dumont. Brother H. Kleinsorgn commenced to preach at the home of the first named in 1876, but soon transferred the appointment to a schoolhouse south of town. In 1878 Brother Kleinsorgn organized a class. He was followed by Rev. F. Berner, whom Rev. O. Ball succeeded. In 1882 this class was added to Hampton circuit. Then came Rev. W. Kolb, who was followed by Rev. L. Scheurer, who commenced his labors at Dumont in 1884. A revival resulted in more than twenty conversions, among which were many of the church's present leaders. This established the north class, and in 1886 Rev. V. Griese found it possible to build a spacious house of worship and consolidate the two classes. The following clergy- men continued the work: Revs. H. Butz, H. Sassman, F. Benz, L. F. Smith, H. Schmidt, G. P. Cawelti, J. H. Engel, C. Hillman, and in 1911, the present pastor took charge. The church is in a very prosperous condition, both physically and spiritually. A mem- bership of one hundred and twenty communicants composes its present strength in numbers and an average attendance of sixty in the Sunday school is the gratifying report. The church build- ing, a frame structure, cost $2,500: the parsonage, $2,000.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
In the year 1893 Jolm Boots, Lyman Hall, J. H. Marken, Will- iam Titus and W. R. Straight, gathered together and organized
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the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and had for their first pastor Rev. A. King. The first meetings were held in the Evangelical church.
In the fall of 1895-on September 7th-the board of trustees met and let the contract to William Schulenburg for the construc- tion of a church building, which was finished late in the year and dedicated January 13, 1869, at a cost of $3,000. The par- sonage was built in 1900, the outlay being $1,400. The church society is in good shape financially and in point of membership, having on its rolls at the present time eighty names. Attendance at the Sunday school will average sixty. The pastors who have served this church follow by name: Revs. A. King, W. Fawcett, W. P. Taylor, William Stice, W. A. Smith, Sweezy. D. F. Dickensheets, M. L. Tibbetts, G. W. Emerson, Eugene Richard- son, Harper Krieser, I. E. Hartman, II. S. Cooper, Ernest L. Shaffer.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH
St. Francis Catholic church was built during the pastorate of Father Kelley, then stationed at Parkersburg, and had for its earliest communicants the Bannons, Doyles, Augstmans and others, whose names are not obtainable at this time. For many years prior to the erection of the church building in 1890, the people here were attended from Ackley, mass being said at inter- vals in the prairie homes of stanch defenders of the faith, many of whom hailed from Canada, some from the banks of the Rhine, and others from the land of destiny, the beautiful green isle of the sea, "auld Erin." Two of the most worthy members have passed to a well merited reward-James Bannon and Joseph Augstman. The names of the priests from Ackley who came here to hold mass were Revs. Fathers O. Doud, Murphy (deceased). Burns, MeCormack and Meagher. For some time past the church has been served by pastors from Hampton ; for the past six years by Father J. C. Wieneke, or his assistant, Frederick W. Mc- Kinley.
THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH
There is quite a sprinkling of the natives of Holland and of what is known as "platt Deutsch" in Dumont and vicinity and
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they determined to have a church of their own. To this end the Dutch Reformed church was organized in 1912 and the society now has a membership of thirty-five. A fine piece of property was secured, including a residence, which is now the pastor's home. On a lot to the rear of the parsonage and facing the south, a fine church building was immediately erected and dedicated in 1913.
FRATERNAL ORDERS
Dumont Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1885, and now has a membership of seventy-five. The lodge has a taste- fully furnished hall and appropriate paraphernalia. An auxiliary body, the Daughters of Rebekah, organized October 18, 1893, tak- ing the name of Columbus Lodge, No. 178.
West Fork Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, No. 1416, was established some years ago, with the following named char- ter members: W. H. Bannon, Len Baudy, John Hogan, Herbert J. Horner, William Jamison, J. D. Leroy, Norman Long, M. H. Perry, George B. Sutton, Moses St. Peter, Jr.
A lodge of Mystic Workers of the World was organized at Dumont September 2, 1903. It is known as Dumont Lodge, No. 551.
The Fraternal Bankers Reserve Society came into existence at this place as a local lodge, December 21, 1901.
CHAPTER XXVIII
RIPLEY TOWNSHIP
The township of Ripley is one of the four central townships of Butler county, situated south of West Point. It is bounded on the east by Jefferson, south by Albion, on the west by Madison township. The township is divided almost equally from east to west by the West Fork river, which enters in section 7 and flows in a southeasterly direction across the township, emerging on the east side of section 24 and then doubling back and reentering the township and emerging again near the northeastern corner of section 25. This portion of the West Fork is bordered by a belt of natural timber, varying in width from a few rods to a mile or more. The valley is bordered on the north side by steep bluffs. On the south side, however, the banks of the stream are compara- tively low and there is some land which is still liable to anmal inundation. The two branches of the West Fork also flow through the township: Mayne's creek flows into the West Fork almost in the center of section 7 and Kilson's creek in section 23. The land is sandy in the neighborhood of the river but the rest of the township has the same rich alluvial soil that is characteristic of the best farming land of this section of the state.
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