USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 35
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In 1877, the rails were laid as far as Shell Rock. Later con- struction was completed to Clarksville. In the spring of 1879 a special election was held in West Point township and a five mill tax was voted for the aid of the new railroad on condition that the road be completed through the township by the following fall. The company fully lived up to its agreement and the first train of cars was run into Allison on July 4, 1879, and into Bristow on July 12.
On April 11th, 1879, Messrs. F. D. Stout, John R. Waller, and Mr. Knowlton of Dubuque surveyed the town plat of Allison. On August 19th, Harry Daggett, the first station agent arrived and took charge of the interests of the railroad and the traveling and shipping public at this point. In the fall of this same year, a three-story frame hotel was completed by the town company, the members of which were John R. Waller, Gen. C. H. Booth, R. E. Graves, Frank D. Stout and James Stout, all of Dubuque. The hotel building was constructed by M. M. Flick of Dubnque in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by F. D. Hyde of the same city. Its size was originally 32x36 feet, three stories high and cost approximately five thousand dollars. On the 2nd day of January, 1880, the new hostelry opened its doors
The Hotel Main Street, looking north
Seene on Main Street
A Residence Street SCENES IN ALLISON
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to the public by Manager C. W. Corwin. In August, 1881, an addition 32×50 feet in extent and three stories high was con- structed, thus more than doubling the capacity of the building. At the same time a kitchen 20x28 one and one-half stories high was built on the rear. The total cost of the building and equip- ment was in excess of thirteen thousand dollars. When com- pleted it gave Allison the most commodious and best equipped hotel between Dubuque and the western terminus of this line of railroad. This building stood and under various managements continued to serve the traveling public until the winter of 1909- 10 when it was burned to the ground. At the time this disaster was considered as almost a death blow to the prospects of the town. Later, however, through the enterprise of the Ray brothers, W. F. and F. J., the present magnificent structure was erected for hotel purposes, modernly equipped throughout and again Allison enjoyed the distinction of possessing the finest hotel on the line of the Great Western railroad between Dubuque and Fort Dodge.
The town company also erected an elevator in 1879 which com- menced operations in January, 1880, under the management of George Woodward, who came for the purpose from Minnesota.
The first settler in the new town was George E. Martin, who had been living on a farm in the vicinity. In September, 1879, he moved his family into a house which he had built on the new town site and opened a livery business which he continued to carry on until his retirement in favor of his son, A. T. Martin, some years ago. Mr. Martin is still a resident of Allison, serv- ing at the present time as deputy sheriff.
The second settler was Charles Waters who opened the first lumber yard and erected a number of the first buildings in the town.
Frank Elliott, J. J. Cleaver and L. E. Lincoln, respectively a mason, a painter and a carpenter and builder were the other arrivals in the town during the remaining months of 1879.
In 1880 the settlement continued with a reasonable degree of rapidity. C. B. Bishop, J. K. Winsett, Michael Wieres, Louis Pharo, James Gillan and Sweeley being among the settlers at this time.
As noted fully elsewhere in the fall of 1880 by decisive vote of the people of the county the county seat was located here. This naturally was the cause of a marked business boom and eventu- Vol. 1-27
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ally resulted in the practical movement of all the population and the most of the buildings from Butler Center, the former county seat, to Allison. Among those who came here from Butler Center were G. M. Craig, W. A. Lathrop, James W. Davis, John Barlow and Mrs. F. Digman. George M. Dopking came from Shell Rock to Allison in 1880 to engage in the livery business with George E. Martin. He is still a resident of the town although for several years the state of his health has been such that he has not been able to engage actively in affairs.
Fletcher Moore opened the first mercantile establishment in Allison in January, 1880. J. K. Winsett, J. A. Riggs & Company, C. D. Williams and Birkbeck Brothers were other pioneer mer- chants. Dr. J. S. Riggs was the first physician here. He later sold his interest in the drug store conducted by his brother JJohn A. Riggs to Dr. S. E. Burroughs, whose period of active practice in this community closed only a few months ago with his removal to Holland, Iowa. Dr. Jerome Burbank was the second physician to locate in the village and opened the second drug store on the cor- ner where the Allison Furniture Company is now located.
The first blacksmith in the town, Michael Wieres, is still at work with forge and anvil. Of recent years he has been chiefly engaged in the manufacture of the Wieres Steel Safety Evener, an article of his own invention and patenting. A stock company composed of Allison citizens are associated with Mr. Wieres in this enterprise.
In the fall of 1881, the Digman Hotel was moved from its former location in Butler Center to Allison and was relocated on its present site of Main street. For many years it continued to be used for hotel purposes, ceasing to serve the public in this capacity only after the opening of the New Hotel Allison in Feb- ruary, 1912.
INCORPORATION AND OFFICIAL RECORDS
The town of Allison was incorporated in 1881, the first elec- tion being held on August 13, 1881, when the following officers were elected to manage the affairs of the community: W. A. Lathrop, mayor; George A. McIntyre, recorder, and W. W. Pat- tee, George E. Woodward, Louis Pharo, J. K. Winsett, G. M. Craig, and D. K. Harbert, trustees. Fifty-seven votes were cast in this first election. W. A. Lathrop received forty-nine votes
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and I. E. Lucas eight votes for mayor. George A. MeIntyre received an unanimous vote for the office of recorder. Twenty- one candidates received from one to forty-four votes for trustee, G. M. Craig receiving the highest number.
I. E. Lucas was appointed the first town treasurer, S. S. Bur- roughs, street commissioner, and James W. Davis, assessor.
The first case in the mayor's court was that of John Huss, who was fined the sum of $10 on January 2, 1882, for violating the ordinance on saloon licenses by keeping his saloon open and sell- ing beer on Sunday.
The first telephone line into Allison was constructed by the lowa and Minnesota Telephone Company in accordance with per- mission from the town council in June, 1882.
The matter of fire protection engaged the attention of the mayor and council from an early date. In the summer of 1883 three wells were dug on Main street for the purposes of supply- ing water for fire protection. In May, 1884, a hand fire engine was purchased together with 400 feet of fire hose at an agreed cost of $900. At a meeting of the volunteer fire company this engine was named "W. B. Allison" and the hose cart "Mam- brino Boy."
In May, 1884, Dr. S. E. Burroughs was appointed the first health physician.
Plans and specifications for an engine house were drawn up in the summer of 1884, and the contract for its construction let to L. E. Lincoln for the sum of $439. The building was erected on a lot leased free of charge by M. Wieres for ten years just west, of his shop. The building was completed and accepted on Sep- tember 1. The first fire alarm was a piece of railroad iron which was used as a gong. M. Wieres was the first fire chief.
In April, 1885, the present Allison cemetery site was purchased from E. W. Kester for $325 cash and other considerations.
The town possessed at its outset no adequate highways leading ont into the surrounding country. On June 1, 1885, H. L. Stout deeded to the town a highway leading south from Main street to the southern line of section 25. In the following year the road leading west from the courthouse square was secured from the town company, and Elm street was extended north to the north line of the section. This gave the town its present excellent sys- tem of highway avenues of transportation.
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The minutes of the meeting of the council on December 6, 1886, contain resolutions of respect in memory of the life and services of James W. Davis. Mr. Davis has been noticed at length in connection with the history of the county which he served long and faithfully in various capacities. His death was felt as a per- sonal loss to every citizen of the town with which his later years had been identified.
WATERWORKS
The question of a city water system began to be agitated as early as 1887. No definite steps were taken to secure such a sys- tem, however, until December 5, 1898, when a petition signed by ninety-cight citizens was presented to the council calling for a special election to decide the question of issuing waterworks bonds. This election was held on January 9, 1899, and resulted in seventy-one votes for and five votes against the issuance of these bonds. In February an agreement was arranged with the county board of supervisors whereby they were to allow the pump- ing station to be located on the courthouse square, were to sink the well and pay the cost of the pump from the county funds on condition of being allowed the use of the water in and around the courthouse. The contract for the construction of the system of waterworks was let to Fremont Turner for the sum of $3,911.50. Michael Wieres was the first superintendent of the waterworks.
The work was completed with dispatch, accepted and put into operation at once. It was found, however, that a mistake had been made in the quality of mains used. After an infinite amount of tinkering and repairing and trouble of various sorts a contract for the laying of new mains was made with the National Con- struction Company of South Bend, Indiana. This contract was ratified by the voters in a special election in April, 1904, when by a vote of sixty-four to four, bonds in the sum of $2,500 were voted to be issued by the town for this purpose.
Since that date the well has been redrilled and at present the system is giving satisfactory service both for purposes of ordi- nary use and fire protection.
STREET LIGHTING
The first provision for lighting the streets of Allison was made by the purchase and erection of a number of kerosene lamps on
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posts in 1891. In 1896 fifteen gasoline street lamps were pur- chased from Albert Lea, Minnesota. These failed to give satis- factory service and, after several other experiments, the present lights were installed. They in turn are about to give way to a . modern system of municipal electric lighting, the installation of which will place Allison on a par with any town of its size in the state in the matter of conveniences.
In 1892 a lot was purchased on Main street and the engine house moved to its present location. At the same time the con- traet for the erection of a calaboose was let to L. E. Lincoln.
In the spring of 1900 the community suffered the loss of one of its most prominent citizens in the person of W. A. Lathrop. Mr. Lathrop was one of the first citizens to move to Allison from Butler Center, was its first mayor and continued to occupy this office with honor for a number of years. The town council hon- ored itself and the community which they represented by causing resolutions of respect to be entered on their minutes in commemo- ration of the services which Mr. Lathrop had rendered this town and the surrounding community.
Permanent cement sidewalks were provided for by act of the council in 1904. Since that date practically every foot of side- walk in the town has been reconstructed on a permanent basis. Today these sidewalks form one of the chief evidences of the pro- gressive spirit of this community.
In 1904 G. Hazlet, who was then serving as mayor, resigned his office. The town council filled the vacancy by the choice of S. W. Burroughs to the position. At the same time they filled several vacancies existing in the council itself. It having appeared that the action of the council was somewhat irregular and in excess of its powers, action was brought in the district court for the removal of the officers so appointed. By decision of the court in the May term of 1905 these offices were declared vacant and N. W. Scovel was appointed mayor in the place of Mr. Burroughs. Some little feeling was engendered over the occurrence at the time, but it soon died away.
At different times projects looking toward the construction of a north and south railroad through Allison have been put forward. Most of them have never progressed beyond the stage of diseus- sion. In December, 1903, though, a franchise was granted to a corporation known as the Marshalltown Street and Interurban Railway Company for the construction of its lines through this
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town. The road was not constructed, however. It is altogether probable that such a line of road will eventually be constructed through this section. It would undoubtedly greatly facilitate the means of reaching Allison at present rather inconvenient for many residents of the outlying parts of the county.
Allison has no public system of sewers. However, the con- struction of several private lines with the privilege of allowing other property owners to make connections therewith has pro- vided so far for the needs of the community in this line. There are a number of these private lines now in operation.
MATERIAL GROWTHI
Allison has witnessed a remarkable growth in a material way in the last five years. In this time two fires destroyed the Alli- son House, a three-story frame building, built by the town com- pany for hotel purposes in 1879, and the west side elevator. On the sites of these buildings new structures have been erected, the new elevator amply filling the place actually and commercially occupied by its predecessor, and that of the old hotel having been taken by the commodious two-story double brick block erected by Arnold Brothers to house their large stock of general merchan- dise. In addition to these there have recently been built a new modern schoolhouse, costing $15,000; a new hotel building, erected at a cost of approximately ten thousand dollars; a sash and door factory : a brick drug store, and a new church building for the German Lutheran denomination. These with a large number of private residences, ranging in cost from fifteen hun- dred to twenty-five thousand dollars, aggregate an amount of investment in permanent improvements that in proportion to the actual value of real estate in the town is a remarkable and most convincing evidence of the firm basis of prosperity under- lving the business of this community.
The list of the mayors of Allison from 1881 to date is as fol- lows: W. A. Lathrop, 1881-1886; G. M. Craig, 1886-1890; W. A. Lathrop, 1890-1895; W. F. Ray, 1895-1899, resigned : G. M. Craig, to fill vacancy ; G. M. Craig, 1900-1904; G. Hazlet, 1904, resigned ; S. W. Burroughs, to fill vacancy, removed by order of district court; N. W. Scovel, to fill vacancy, 1905-1906; W. C. Shepard, 1906-1908, resigned; N. W. Scovel, to fill vacancy, 1908-1910; E. C. Trager, 1910-1912: 7. Elliott, 1912, resigned : O. F. Missman, to fill vacancy, 1912 -.
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Methodist Episcopal Church New Public School
Old Public School High School
A CHURCH AND GROEP OF SCHOOLS OF ALLISON
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
EDUCATIONAL
When Allison was incorporated the nearest school was that in the Maudville district of West Point township with a school building located about one mile southwest of the corporate limits of the town. Here the children of the town were accommodated for several years until the growth in population made it neces- sary to make some more convenient provision for their educa- tion. Accordingly in 1883, what was then a commodious brick veneered building two stories in height, was erected in the western part of town, which continued to be used for school purposes until 1912.
At first only two departments were maintained, the upper story being left unfinished. Later a third department was estab- lished and the upper floor fitted up for school purposes. The edu- cational ideals of the community grew with its growth and while the increase in population was inconsiderable, new and better facilities for the training of the children were constantly added. A high school department was organized with an assistant, and later a new grade room provided by partitioning off a portion of the high school assembly room.
With these rather inconvenient conditions the school was car- ried on for a number of years until in 1912 the people of the dis- triet by a decisive vote decided to tear down the old structure and erect a modern building in its place. The contract was let to R. Burbridge, who removed the old building and built the present one in the summer and fall of 1912. During the period of con- struction, school was held in the old Digman House and in the Congregational church.
The new building was first occupied and used for school pur- poses immediately after Thanksgiving in 1912. The structure is two stories in height with a full basement. It is constructed of brick with slate roof. The basement contains manual training and domestic science rooms, together with furnace and fuel rooms and toilets. The first floor contains three grade rooms and the upper floor one grade room, high school assembly room, recita- tion room, library and superintendent's office. The building is unilaterally lighted. is heated by steam and ventilated by the gravity system. It is unquestionably the finest building erected for school purposes to date in Butler county.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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The Methodists of Allison and vicinity met at MeCleod's Hall on the 15th of August, 1880, and organized a class under the lead- ership of Rev. Laban Winsett. The members at this time were D. Bruce, Flora Bruce, F. Moore, C. B. Bishop, Hattie Bishop, Catherine McCleod, Christian Mc Williams and Mary Cleaver. For some time services were held at MeCleod's Hall by Reverend Mr. Winsett, who was followed after a period of three months by Rev. W. H. Records. The latter remained one year. Then came Rev. J. M. Hedes. During the administration of Reverend Mr. Hedes in 1881 the present church building was erected by the people of the community without regard to church affiliation at a cost of $2,200.
At a later date the building was remodeled and an addition built on the south to furnish an extra room for the Sunday school. The Methodist Sunday school was the first organization of this character in the town, having been established in May, 1880. with C. B. Bishop as superintendent.
The church building was originally dedicated on May 14, 1882, Rev. L. D. Parsons officiating.
A complete list of the early pastors of this church is not avail- able for publication. Since 1890 the following have served this church in the capacity of pastor: J. M. Hartley, W. Ward Smith, L. D. Stubbs, C. A. Peddicord, J. W. Bacheller, Edward A. Lang, C. A. Thompson, J. A. Dearing, J. D. Perry, Will A. Piper. A. A. Hallett, C. R. Disney, E. H. Free.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
The church with the above name was established in Allison in June, 1884, Father Bernard Coyle officiating at the first ordinance of mass, which was celebrated in the dining room of the Digman House. Services continued to be held until the year 1891 and were attended by the Digman, Mullarky, Me Manus, Doyle, McGee, Marlow. Wieres, Franke, Hyde, Huss and Lee families.
The first resident priest was Father Shields, who came in 1891. Under his administration the church edifice was built. The dedi- cation took place December 8, 1891, Dean MeGrath delivering the address. Mass was held for the first time in this building by Father Lewis Kirby of Greene, now of Sioux City. About this
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period of its existence the church had a membership of about thirty families. Through removals, deaths and other unforeseen causes, this number has dwindled to about fifteen families.
Father Shields remained here about one year and was fol- lowed by Father James Ryan, whose pastorate covered a period of eight years, during which time the parsonage was built. This house was sold by Father Ryan against the protests of some of his parishoners, which caused some ill feeling to arise. Father Ryan retired from the service of this parish and took up the work at Hampton, from which place the church has been supplied sinee 1902. The present priest at Hampton, Father J. C. Wieneke, holds mass in the Allison church every alternate Sunday.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
In the spring of 1884, Rev. A. D. Keinzer, pastor of the Con- gregational church at Hampton, was invited to spend a Sabbath here and occupy the pulpit of the Methodist church, as their minis- ter did not have services every Sabbath. Reverend Mr. Keinzer accepted the invitation and preached the first sermon deliv- ered in Allison by a Congregational minister on April 24, 1884. In the summer of 1885, Rev. T. O. Douglass, state home mnis- sionary, sent Mr. W. H. Dumin, a student in Yale Theologieal Seminary, to preach for the summer here and at Parkersburg. Mr. Dumm's first sermon was on June 7 and his farewell on August 30, 1885.
After this there were no more Congregational services held here until the fall of 1886 when Rev. John Gray came to take charge of the church at Parkersburg and arranged to preach at Allison once every four weeks. He urged the organization of a church and on July 21, 1887, Rev. T. O. Douglass and other pas- tors of neighboring towns joined with the few Congregationalists in a council for the organization of the church. Seventeen per- sons were enrolled on the list of charter members.
The Methodists deciding that they desired to use their build- ing every Sabbath, the Congregational Society found it necessary to find another place for their meetings. A hall was rented over the Dodge building, which was thenceforward used as a meeting place for Sunday school and preaching services. A church choir was organized with W. A. Lathrop as leader and Mrs. Ethel A. Levis as organist.
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In various ways, by managing an eating tent at the county fair and by holding an old fashioned "Deestrict Skule" money was raised to purchase an organ and provide the beginning of a fund for a church building. The gentlemen of the Allison Town Com- pany donated a desirable lot for the site of the church on Main street. By the spring of 1889 enough had been raised and pledged to justify the building of a church edifice. The men of the society hauled the stone for the foundation and the contracts for mason work and carpentry were let to Messrs. Frank Elliott and Vince Franke.
On December 8, 1889, dedicatory services were held by Rev. T. O. Douglass. At the same time the load of indebtedness rest- ing upon the organization was largely lifted through the munifi- cence of certain of its members who pledged large sums for the payment of the cost of construction still unpaid.
Later it was decided to purchase the lots adjoining the church property on the south and erect a parsonage thereon. The lots were purchased through the instrumentality and partly with the assistance of I. M. Fisher. The present parsonage was built in 1900 at a cost of something over one thousand dollars. The several pastors who have occupied this charge are: Revs. John Gray, C. H. Calhoun, J. S. Norris. W. B. Sandford. H. C. Brown, W. G. Little, W. D. King, F. A. Slyfield, V. B. Hill, W. H. Hotze, W. H. Walcott, and W. U. Parks. The last named has served the congregation as pastor since 1909 in a manner so entirely accept- able to the people that in 1912 they extended him an indefinite call.
In 1911-12 the church was raised and a basement constructed beneath it to furnish rooms for Sunday school and other purposes. These improvements in all aggregated an expense of about two thousand dollars.
ST. JACOBUS LUTHERAN CHURCH AT ALLISON
St. Jacobus Lutheran congregation was organized in 1892. The organizing pastor was C. Weltner of Vilmar, who has since served this church. The first members were: Chr. Hilmer, Paul De Bower, L. Hummel, H. Pleis, John Buerkle, John Droege- mueller. For over twenty years the congregation held their sery- ices every two weeks in the Methodist Episcopal church. In the summer of 1913, the congregation built their own church- a fine
ST. JACOBUS LUTHERAN CHURCH, ALLISON
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frame building on the main street. The dimensions are 34x60x16 with a steeple 12x12x86 and a basement for a heating plant. In the steeple is a well-sounding bell. The interior of the church is furnished with a Gothic altar, pulpit, reed organ and very com- fortable pews. The value of the church is about $6,000. The congregation at present numbers twenty-three members or ninety- seven souls.
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH AT VILMAR
The St. John's Lutheran congregation was organized in 1876. The organizing pastor was the Rev. H. Schlutz, an old mission- ary-pioneer of Iowa. The names of the first members were: H. Maass. William Martzahn, William Heuer, Fr. Kramer, Fr. Deber, Fr. Edeker, Fr. Kroemer, H. Voigts, William Kam- meyer, Fr. Nichaus, H. Vahlsing, H. Reinking, William Folkers, D. Kramer, G. Harms, William Koellmann, H. Busse. During the first six years the services were held in a district schoolhouse. In the summer of 1883, the congregation bought five acres of land and built their first church and parsonage on it, both frame build- ings-the church 30x48x18 with a small steeple upon it, and the parsonage 16x24x14 and 16x20x10. At the same time the con- gregation resolved to call a pastor, and when Rev. H. Schlutz, the organizing pastor refused the call, they sent it to C. Weltner, a young pastor at Glenville, Minnesota, who accepted it. On the third Sunday of Advent, 1883, he was installed in the congrega- tion of Vilmar and has since worked in their midst. The new pastor, when he entered into his duties, recognized immediately that a good parochial school was a necessity for his growing con- gregation. So he taught, beside his pastoral duties, about forty children for nine years, five days weekly, from fall to Easter, in a small schoolroom 16x20x10-a task that later was an impossibility. Consequently the congregation erected in 1892, a new schoolhouse 20x36x16-again a step in the right direction, for a good parochial school is the nursery of an active congrega- tional life. Ten years later, when the church was too small, the congregation enlarged their original church edifice with an addi- tion of 30x48, an apsis of 12x30 and a steeple of 10x10x86. In the steeple was placed a bell, weighing 2,000 pounds. The interior of the church was furnished with a Gothic altar, pulpit and pipe
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organ. In 1906, the parsonage was enlarged and the latest im- provement is a roomy basement under the church for a heating plant.
Besides the church property the congregation owns two ceme- teries. The whole property of the congregation represents a valne of $14,000. At present the congregation of Vihar numbers one hundred eighteen members and six hundred souls.
FRATERNAL BODIES
Opal Lodge, No. 417, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under dis- pensation September 1, 1881. The charter members comprised II. Farmum, James Scofield, A. I. Smith, A. G. Fellows, I. E. Lucas, J. W. Spencer, G. M. Craig, together with the following officers: W. W. Pattee, W. M .; E. S. Thomas, S. W .; J. W. Ray, J. W .; C. H. Ilgenfritz, treasurer; J. M. Daggett, secretary : Levi Baker, S. D .; JJ. W. Davis, J. D. : G. M. Dopking, tyler.
At the first regular meeting held October 6, 1881, the follow- ing became members: J. K. Winsett, J. S. Riggs, George A. Me Intyre, John A. Riggs, G. E. Franklin, W. A. Lathrop, Frank Baker, C. W. Levis and E. Burnham. In Jume, 1882, the lodge received its charter and the members were called together by A. 1. Smith who was appointed by the Grand Lodge D. G. M. July 6, 1882. This meeting completed the organization and the following named officers were elected: W. W. Pattee, W. M .; E. S. Thomas, S. W .; J. W. Ray, J. W .; C. HI. Igenfritz, treasurer; J. M. Daggett, secretary; L. Baker, S. D .; J. A. Riggs, J. D .; J. K. Winsett and C. W. Levis, stewards; Frank Baker, tyler.
This lodge has had a continuous existence from that date to the present. Its lodge room is still in the Lathrop building where its meetings are held at regular intervals.
LIEUTENANT BRADEN POST. NO. 356. G. A. R.
A post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Allison in the late '80s and was named in honor of Lient. John Braden. The post has kept up its organization and its member- ship in the state department to the present time although in recent years so many of the members have answered to the last roll call as finally to make it impossible to muster a sufficient number at the post headquarters to enable them to hold regular
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH. VILMAR
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meetings. No regular meetings have been held for a number of years past. The present membership is about ten. The com- mander is George M. Dopking; adjutant, L. J. Rogers.
VALLEY KING CAMP, NO. 2419, M. W. A.
The only other active fraternal organization in Allison is that of the Modern Woodmen. This organization was first formed in June, 1894, and has since that date maintained a continuous existence.
The present officers are: Geo. A. Buerkle, V. C .; F. J. Ray, secretary.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The first bank in Allison was a private concern, organized by N. B. Ridgeway, Jeremiah Perrin and A. Slimmer, in 1881. Isaae E. Lucas was the first cashier, and continued in this position until the spring of 1882. At that time W. A. Lathrop and John W. Ray, whose term as county treasurer had just expired, became associated with the institution. The firm name was changed to Lathrop, Perrin & Company. R. E. Lucas retired as cashier and J. W. Ray took up the duties of that position. The Bank of Allison, when it first started in business, was capitalized at $15,000. Under the change last mentioned the capitalization was $25,000.
This partnership continned until the death of N. B. Ridge- way, at which time his interests were acquired from the estate by the surviving partner. A few years later W. A. Lathrop with- drew from the firm and started a private bank in the building now orenpied by Lincoln's barber shop. Later the home of the bank was removed to the building now occupied by the postoffice. This was in 1892. Associated with Mr. Lathrop were S. N. Good- hue, George W. Wild and I. M. Fisher, who assimned the name of the Citizens Bank for the institution, and the firm name of Lathrop, Goodhue & Company. This concern continned in opera- tion about three years, when it was sold to the Ray Banking Company. It should here be mentioned that during the exist- ence of the Citizens Bank Herman F. Wild was its cashier.
After the retirement of Mr. Lathrop from the Bank of Allison, the firm name became Slimmer, Perrin & Company. J. W. Ray
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
remained as cashier and active manager until new arrangements. became necessary by the dissolution of the partnership, when the firm name was changed to that of J. W. Ray & Sons. This partnership continued until the year 1901, when the members of the firm incorporated as the State Bank of Allison, with a paid-up capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $10,000. The first officials were: J. W. Ray, president : W. F. Ray, vice president; F. J. Ray, cashier; H. F. Wild, assistant cashier. Upon the death of JJ. W.
Ray, on September 7, 1907, W. F. Ray was elected his successor as president; H. F. Wild, vice president; and F. J. Ray, cashier. This is the present personnel of the official staff, with the excep- tion of the addition to it of Ernest Speedy, who was appointed assistant cashier in November, 1912. The capital stock is $50,000; surplus and undivided profits, $12,000; deposits as shown by the last statement, $450,000.
When the parent bank first began doing business in Allison it made its home in a little frame building, afterwards used by the Citizens Bank. and now occupied by the postoffice. From this building the bank moved into another little frame structure, which stands immediately north of the New Allison Hotel. This was the home of the institution until 1892, when the present bank building, a two-story brick structure, was built and ocen- pied.
The Farmers Savings Bank was organized in 1902, with a paid-up capital of $25,000. It had for its first officials: N. B. Baldwin, president; J. C. Carter, vice president; L. E. Bourquin, cashier; A. L. Peterson, assistant cashier. The latter retired in 1904, and was succeeded by H. Folken. Mr. Baldwin was super- seded in the summer of 1904 in the presidency by J. C. Carter, at which time W. R. Jamison was elected vice president. Mr. Bour- quin continued as cashier until the spring of 1906, when II. Folken assumed the duties of that position and Edward Marlow became his assistant. Marlow was succeeded by Ernest Speedy in 1907. In October, 1912, the stockholders voted in favor of going into voluntary liquidation. The assets of the bank, inelud- ing a modern, two-story, brick building, were taken over by the State Bank of Allison. Subsequently, the building was sold to Leo A. Spengler, who now occupies the business room as a drug store.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
POSTOFFICE
The postoffice was established here in the winter of 1879-80, and was kept at the depot. J. M. Daggett, father of the station agent, Harry Daggett, was the postmaster. The office was removed to the Williams building, diagonally opposite to Bur- bank's corner building, in May, 1881. On the 1st of November, of that year, E. S. Thomas was appointed to preside over the office and removed it into the old office of the clerk of the court.
With the advent of a democratic administration, in 1885, S. W. Burroughs was appointed postmaster and the office moved to his drug store on the east side of Main street. Mr. Burroughs also served as postmaster during Cleveland's second term. W. J. Bur- bank was postmaster during the Harrison administration. At the conclusion of S. W. Burroughs' second term of office, G. Haz- let succeeded him. His successors in order are: L. J. Rogers, J. H. Hunt and the present incumbent, Andrew Mullarky, who was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, and is the second demo- crat to hold this office in Allison. Since the appointment of L. J. Rogers the postoffice has been located in the old bank building on the east side of Main street.
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