History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 136

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 136
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 136

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first school taught was by Charles Ensign, now of Butler county, in the old log house of Ellsworth and Harmon's, near the bridge.

The first religious services were held in the old log cabin erected by R. J. Ells- worth, the preacher being Rev. James Burley, a Methodist Episcopal circuit rider.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

The first store started in Waverly was by Porter Earle, who also sold the first goods.

The first election in Waverly was held at the house of Frederick Cretzmeyer. .

Dr. Fisher was the first doctor, and Dr. O. Burbank was the first regular grad- uate.

Porter Earle erected the first stone store in Waverly, in 1854.

William B. Hamilton erected the first frame building in the fall and winter of 1853, hauling the lumber from Independ- ence.

Fred Cretzmeyer erected the first log cabin on the site.

A man named Barclay was the first circuit preacher to locate in Waverly.

P. W. Earle was the first postmaster.

The first school building in town was a stone one erected in 1855.

P. B. Foster erected the first brick store in town, in 1855.

The first hotel in the town was erected by Harmon and Ellsworth, in 1853, and stood where the Bremer county bank now · stands. It was first run as such by John J. Smith.

The first bridge across the Cedar was erected in 1857, by subscription. It was a free bridge.

In 1855 P. B. Foster erected a brick block on Bremer avenue which was the first in the city. About the same time the stone school house in the first ward was built.

The contract was let this year to George LeValley and H. F. Beebe for building the court house, and in the same year the walls went up.

A safe belonging to S. H. Curtis, was blown open during this year and a consider-

able amount of money was taken from it. The burglars escaped.

In 1858-on the 26th of January-the free bridge was swept away by a freshet. In July another freshet created havoc through this region. The Waverly Re- publican described it as follows :

"Early in the morning the quiet town was startled with the cry that the river was overflowing its banks and rising rapidly.' Not much rain had fallen for a few days in the town, and no one thought of a freshct, and at first the news was scarcely credited. A sight of the raging Cedar, however, confirmed all, and more. Before sunrise the water had risen nearly to the second floor in the large flouring mill of Messrs. Harmon & Reeves. Large quantities of wheat were stored on this floor, and a crowd of willing men soon were there hurrying everything perishable and movable to the third story and on shore. Men went in boats, or swam, as the only means of reaching the mill. Very little flour was injured, but quite a quantity of wheat got wet before it could be removed. By 8 o'clock A. M., the water was two feet deep on the second floor. Meanwhile, Mores Bros., with their cabinet shops, were in trouble. Messrs. Harmon, Reeves & Ellsworth had a saw mill, lumber and logs to look after. Messrs. Carr and Neff were in a similar fix. Messrs. Brow- nell & Oberdorf's mill had been swept clean by the freshet of 1st and 2d of July, hence there was but an empty mill for them to care for. At 10 A. M. the carding machine of W. P. Harmon was under water. The houses of J. C. Hazlett, H. J. Hoffman, S. Goddis, Hopkins, Buck- master and McClure, (Jack and Queen of

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Clubs) were in water from one to three feet deep, and by 12 o'clock M., four feet four inches above the second floor in the flouring mill. At 12 o'clock A. M., we crossed Bremer avenue in a boat, from the stone store to Hazlett's grocery. East and West Water street were nearly submerged. Cellars were filled, wells overflowed, and many houses were in water to the windows. Damages to the amount of hundreds of dollars was experienced, and it was some time before people could recover their equilibrium from the effects of the terrible freshet."

THE LOST CHILD. By a Local Writer.

On Wednesday evening, May 1, 1856, a little boy five years old, the son of George Case, of Waverly, went out to play with his dog, as he was accustomed to do, and not returning at supper time, his parents commenced searching for him and re- turned unsuccessful.

The shades of night were approaching and they became alarmed, and the cry of " Lost Child " immediately spread through the town, and our citizens turned out to prosecute the search, in which I partici- pated until about 11 o'clock, when we found his foot-prints in the sand along the creek, about 100 rods from his father's house, where we traced them in different directions to the bank of the river, when they could be traced no farther.

The bank bearing his foot-prints plain and fresh, as well as being disturbed by the scratching of the dog, led us to believe that he had found a watery grave, and, as the dog had returned home an hour or two before, it confirmed our belief. The night

was dark, it thundered and lightened and while we were preparing to search the river, the rain commenced falling in tor- rents and continued to pour very hard dur- ing the night. After searching for some time along the bank and edge of the river, we returned to the house of Mr. Case. It was a little past 12 o'clock when, after re- lating discoveries, the child's parents sank in despair. After fixing the residence of Mr. Case as the place to meet next morn- ing, to renew our search, we returned home to await daylight.

As soon as light the next morning I re- turned to the place which I left but a few hours before, when I saw the foot-prints of the boy's mother to and fro along the bank and heard her exclaim, "Oh, my child, my child!" which called forth our strongest sympathies.

. Before they had collected at the place agreed upon to resume the search, in a moment of quietness, when the family were all seated in the house, they were suddenly aroused by the well known foot steps of their lost boy, at the door, who was affectionately welcomed by his father's embrace, when the boy said, "Oh, Pa, didn't you know that I was out all night in the rain?" It would be useless for me to undertake to describe the feelings of the family. They were too much for the mother to undergo. She sank down senseless. After the child was stripped of wet and muddy clothes, and partially recovered from his chill from the cold and wet during the night, I sat down by his bed side and he related to me how he got lost, and how he managed up to the time he returned home, which was as follows:

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He said when he went out to play with Fido, Fido found a rabbitt, and he sct him on, and followed Fido to catch: the rabbit, and when he tried to come home he could not find the way, and he went back. Then he tried again and went back and liad a great mind to cry, but did not. He called his Pa and Ma, but they did not come, and then he called the Lord, and asked him why he did not take him home. He then sat down on some dry grass by two large trees, and laid his head on Fido, and Fido wanted to get away but he held onto his legs and kept him as long as he could, but when Fido left, he laid his head on the ground and pulled his cap over his face, and put one hand in his pocket and one under him to keep them warm. He saw the lightning and heard it thunder, but was not afraid because the Lord knew where he was and he would take care of him, and lie was not going to try to go home till the Lord made it light in the morning. He said he did not sleep very well, and was cold and shook in the night, and in the morning when he got rested a little, he started home.

The first church was built by a Baptist organization in 1856. It is now occupied by J. B. Barber for a residence,

In July, 1856, three men waiting in the old log pen for the next term of the dis- trict court, concluded to save Officer Hay- den and his deputies the trouble of any further watching, and accordingly, one Sat- urday night they broke up the old floor, that had been very insecure for some time past, and dug out. It appears that thicy had some kind friends out side to assist them in making a start in the world, as two iron bars were found in the jail. They

objected somewhat to their boarding house arrangments, as appcars from the follow- ing letter they left by way of explanation for their absence:

" Mr. Hayden :- We, the undersigned, do not consider ourselves guilty of any crime whatever, and we are losing our health and liberty by staying in this dun- geon, besides getting the leavings of a Dutch boarding house, which not a dog in Dubuque would eat unless starved to it. It is our intention to appear at the next term of court, if not before.

C. F. FOSTER, JACKSON MORGAN, JAMES FAY."

In October, 1856, the citizens ' coll- structed a foot bridge across the river, and a ferry was run to accomodate teams.

In June, 1859, Waverly was incorpor- ated as a town, and officers were elected. October 30, 1859, the first teachers' insti- tute convened at the court house, under the auspices of the county superintendent, Rev. A. K. Moulton. The lecturers were Rev. A. K. Moulton, Dr. O. Burbank, L. W. Thickstun, and E. C. Moulton.

In 1860 the second bridge was constructed across the Cedar river.

In 1861, the war broke out, and a mili- tary company was organized at Waverly on the 22d of April. There were about forty men, the officers being, G. W. Rud- dick, Captain, and H. F. Becbe, First Lieutenant. For names of volunteers sce war chapter.

On the 29th of December, 1861, the post office and Republican office were destroyed by fire. This caused the suspension of the newspaper for several months.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

The brick school house in the second ward was erected in 1861.

In August, 1864, the depot of the Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad was located.

Another church building in Waverly was erected in 1864, the St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal. Rev. H. Townsend was the rector in charge of the Parish. In 1865, the church was ready for use. About this time the Congregational, Baptist, Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches were built.

In December, 1864, the first train of cars ran into Waverly and from this time the city grew rapidly.

The bank of Johnson & Leavitt was es- tablished this year, being opened in No- vember.

In 1866, the Cedar Falls and Minnesota R. R. was extended to Charles City.

In 1868, the school houses in third and fourth wards were built.

In June, 1870, the Bremer County Bank was organized and in a short time the fire proof county offices were erected.

In August the Bank of Waverly, then known as the bank of Bowman & Burr, was opened.

Thomas Lashbrook and Aldrich & Goes, erected brick blocks.

The school house in the first ward was erected in 1870.

On the 26th of February, 1871, the sec- ond bridge across the Cedar was swept away by ice and high water. The present iron bridge was erected the same fall.

The High school building was commenc- ed this year, and finished, costing $22,000. In 1872, H. K. Swett, David Clark and the Hermann Brothers erected commodi- ons brick stores.

In 1873, J. B. Barber, erected his brick store on the corner opposite the Bremer County Bank.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS.

In 1853 the first step was taken in the direction of mercantile trade. Porter W. Earle was the first merchant, erecting his little log store building upon the cor- ner now occupied by the stone store of J. P. Olds. Earle put in a stock of gen- eral merchandise. William B. Hamilton opened the next general merchandise store upon the corner now occupied by the brick block in which is the Independent office. Hamilton died about 1861. The next general merchandise dealer was John Haz- lett, who is now of Nashua. His brother, Theodore Hazlett, succeeded him in the trade. He enlarged the business and kept a general variety store. For a number of years this was the principal store in the village. Hazlett, or, as he was usually called, " Thede," after remaining a few years, went to Cedar Falls. H. J. and Samuel E. Hoffman were about the next in the field. H. J. is now in the hardware trade, in partnership with Mr. Foster. Jeremiah Farris was in the general mer- cantile trade for a few years in early days and there are others whose names have been forgotten.

As trade increased and the business of Waverly began to assume city proportions, the general merchandising began to sepa- rate, and the various stores handled one line exclusively. The dry goods branch has passed into the hands of George P. Ellis, upon the south side of Bremer avenue, who also handles boots and shoes, hats and caps, ctc .; Rogers & Riner, who

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occupy the next door, and handle about the same line of goods; John and Henry Eifert, in the store opposite the Indepen- dent office; Herman Brothers, R. A. Busby, on the west side of the river, and H. L. Ware, upon the north side of Bremer avenue, on the cast side of the river Mr. Ware is one of the most extensive dealers in the place.

H. L. Ware was born in Castleton, Rut- land county, Vermont, November 21, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Sarah A. (Gould) Ware. When he was eight years of age, his parents emigrated to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he was raised and received a liberal education. In 1861, having developed a taste for newspaper life, he entered the office of the Grant county Herald as an apprentice. He re- mained however but a short time, when he removed to Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa, where he was employed in the Re- publican office, under J. K. L. Maynard. He remained in this occupation until 1865, when he entered the general mercantile establishment of C. B. Parson, as sáles- man. With him, however, he remained but one year, when he decided to embark in the mercantile business on his own ac- count. . Starting as he did with a very small capital, he has by strict attention to business, honest and upright dealings, steadily increased until he now stands at the head of the dry goods trade, having the largest and most extensive business in that line, of any house in Bremer county. Mr. Ware is truly a self made nr an, having by his own energy and integrity, worked himself up from very limited circum- stances, until he is now one of the leading and most influential men of this county,

and a business man in whom Waverly takes a just pride. He was married in 1863, to Miss Eudora C. Downing, a daughter of Thomas Downing, Esq., one of Waverly's pioneer merchants. They have one child, Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Ware are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Waverly.

Among the first to establish a store ex- clusively devoted to groceries, was James F. Brown. He erected a two story build- ing of brick, upon the corner where now stands Thomas Downing & Sons store. Raymond Brothers were also in the same building with a grocery store, and it was finally destroyed by fire. The present dealers in groceries and provisions are the following named : Thomas Downing & Son, who occupy a building where former- ly stood the Brown building ; J. B, Bar- ber, on the corner, one block further west ; William Fritz, who succeeded the Ray- mond Brothers ; Mr. Waite and R. A. Busby.

Thomas S. Downing, one of the pioneer business men of Waverly, was born on the 7th day of March, 1821, in Bartholomew County Indiana. When eight years of age his parents emigrated to Mercer County, Kentucky, where he was educated in the common schools. In 1838 he returned to Indiana, remaining there until 1840, when he removed to Linn county, Iowa, locating at Marion, where he embarked in the tai- loring business, with a brother. He was afterwards employed as a clerk in a store. In February, 1843, he married Miss Caro- line Keys, by whom there was one child. Eudora C., now the wife of II. L. Ware, of Waverly. Mrs. Downing died in Ma- rion, in 1845. She was a member of the

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Congregational church and highly respect- ed by all who knew her. Mr. Downing afterwards married Jane Morton, of Ohio. By this union there were four children- two of whom are living-Fred and Willie. Mr. Downing came to this county in limit- ed circumstances, but went to work to make a home and to-day is one of the pros- perous business men of the county. Mr. Downing, in politics, is a republican, has held the office of school fund commission- er for two terms, with other local offices of trust.

The first hardware dealer in Waverly was Sidney H. Curtis, who is yet in the trade. He erected a two story frame building on the same spot now occupied by his three story brick block, and used the lower part for his store; the upper story was used as a newspaper office, and also by George W. Ruddick, as a law office. Theodore Hazlett also handled a little hardware in his general store. David Clark, about )872, erected the brick block at present occupied by Herman Brothers' store, and opened a large stock of hard- ware. For a time he was in company with another gentleman under the firm name of Clark & Morgan. They finally went out of business. In 1861, II. J. Hoffman be- came a hardware dealer, and is still in the trade in company with Mr. Foster. At present the hardware firms are S. H. Cur- tis; Hoffman & Foster, and D. S. Sitger; the latter being on the west side of the river.

S. H. Curtis, one of the pioneer business men of Bremer county, was born in Oneida county, New York, October 19, 1829. He is a son of Ezra and Lucy Ann (French) Curtis, natives of Connecticut. When S.

H. was fifteen years old he was apprenticed to the trade of a tinner, in North East, Erie county, Pennsylvania. He was mar- ried in Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1853, to Miss Harriet N. Dean, a daughter of Samuel Dean. Mrs. Curtis died the same year. In 1854 Mr. Curtis came west in search of a location. He finally returned to New York, and in the following July came to Waverly, where he embarked in the hardware trade, and to- day has one of the largest establishments of the kind in this section of the country. In 1856 he married Miss Sarah A. Crouse. She was born in Otsego county, New York. By this union there are ten children-Har- riet D., now the wife of H. L. Mosher; Mil- lard H., Charles H., Edward H., Ezra H., George F., Lucy L., Peter C., Abbie B., and Martha W. In politics Mr. Curtis is one of the staunch republicans, who has always stood by the old ship. He was elected to the office of county supervisor, and served with credit for eight years. He has also held other local offices of trust in the gift of the people. Mr. Curtis is not a member of any church, but has always donated liberally in building up the differ- ent churches of Waverly. He has been identified with the business interests of Waverly for over twenty-seven years, and is one of the representative men of the county.

H. J. Hoffman, an enterprising hardware dealer of Waverly, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1828. When he was fifteen years old, the family removed to Stephenson county, Illinois, and there he received a part of his educa- tion. It was, however, completed at an academy in the city of Freeport. During

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a visit to Bremer county in the spring of 1854, Mr. Hoffman purchased some prop- erty in Waverly, and two years later set- tled here. The same year he opened a store of general merchandise, in company with a brother, S. E. Hoffman, who is now President of the Valley National Bank, of St. Louis, Missouri. The succeeding sum- mer Mr. Hoffman "sold out," and became proprietor of the Bremer House. There he continued for a few years, and then embarked in the grocery business. In 1861, he became a hardware dealer, and to-day is the owner of an extensive and complete line of heavy and shelf hardware. Mr. Hoffman's first wife was Miss C. De- nio, of Beloit, Wisconsin, who bore him five children; four of whom are now liv- ing-Alice, Kate, Frank and George E. The latter being a teller in the Valley Na- tional Bank, of St. Louis. Mrs. Hoffman died February 20, 1866, and the following year Mr. Hoffman was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Peter B. Foster, of Waverly.

The first drugs sold in town were prob- ably from the store of Porter Earle. The first regular drug store was started by Richard Currier, who erected a little frame building just east of the court house, upon Bremer avenue, and remained in the busi- ness fora couple of years. He also erected the building which is now known as Bode- ker's saloon, although it has since been moved to its present location. E. H. Woodruff succeeded him, and kept the store in a little building which stood where Frank A. Lee's store now stands, and then in the little stone building.

A man named Kissell, from Dubuque, was also in the drug trade here, and was succeeded by Dr. Samuel Jones, upon

whose death, was succeeded by his son, Samuel Jones.

The next drug store was started by Dr. J. C. Pomeroy and Philip Rudemann, in the east side of the building now occupied by Hoffman & Foster. Dr. Pomeroy now runs the store alone.

Sidney Covert erected a building on the west side of the river, and is still in the drug business.

Frank Ball opened a drug store where G. P. Ellis is now. He married a daugh- ter of John Goes, and a partnership was formed, as Ball & Goes. Before it was discontinued, John Wiedemann had charge of it for a time.

About 1872, Dr. Oscar Burbank started a drug store, and was succeeded by Bur- bank & Lee, and finally, Frank A. Lee purchased the entire store. The building now occupied was erected by Dr. Burbank.

H. K. Sweat was about the first merchant to deal exclusively in boots and shoes. About two years after Sweat opened his store, Louis Casc liad a boot and shoe es- tablishment in a building now a part of the Centennial hotel. It then stood where Frank A. Lee's drug store now stands. At present this line is represented by Julius Goodman and C. N. Morse.

The confectioncry line at present is represented by Billy Martin and Barber Brothers.

The first bakery was opened by August Miller.

The first clothing store was opened by M. S. Graham.

The second clothing store in Waverly was started by Mr. Israel, about 1858, and stood where George P. Ellis' store now stands, but afterward removed to the

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Smith & Shepard building. He finally left for Waterloo. A brother-in-law of his, Mr. Geismar, was also in the clothing business here for a time. The line at present is represented by Smith & Shep- ard, who succeeded Israel; Levi & Hiller, Herman Brothers, L. S. Hanchett and H. L. Ware.

About the first shoe shop started in Wa- verly was by Lorenz Selbig, and was kept near where the Bremer county bank stands. He is now engaged in running the cigar factory. A. Starr was among the first to start, and he is still in the busi- ness. There are others who have, at dif- ferent times, had shops. The present shoe- makers are: William Quimby, Mr. Fos- selmann, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Colby, Lud- wig & Buesing and A. Starr. Starr is among the oldest business men of Waverly, and the oldest in his business. A sketch of him is subjoined:

A. Starr, one of the pioneers of Bremer county, was born in Berks county, Penn- sylvania, on the 29th day of October, 1812. He is a son of Anthony and Christina (Wortz) Starr, and one of the three sur- viving children from a family of eight. He was educated in the district schools of his native State, and had to travel three miles, morning and evening, in going to and from school. In 1838 he was married to Miss Mary Smith, who bore him six children, two of whom are now living- William L. and John H. During the fall of 1855 he removed, with his family, to Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa, which, at that time, was a small village of twenty- seven houses. Mr. Starr came here with- out money, furniture or even a cup to drink coffee from, but, by hard work and

perseverance, he is to-day one of Waver- ly's well-to-do business men. Mrs. Starr died in September of 1882. She was a member of the M. E. church, and had lived the life of a christian woman for many years. Mr. Starr has been a life-long democrat, and cast his first vote at the re-election of President Andrew Jackson.

The first harness shop was opened by James W. Wood.

The second harness maker was Gilbert Hamilton, who came at an early day and opened a shop near where the Waverly Bank stands. He was a brother of Wil- liam B. Hamilton, and long since went to California. Another early harness maker was Cyrus Blossom, who is still here, and in the business. This industry is at present represented by D. W. Bigelow, U. C. New- comb and Cyrus Blossom.

The first tailor in Waverly was Amoa Behman. About the next to make it his sole business was J. R. Smith. J. R. Smith and Wm. Cody are at present in this business. ,

The first blacksmith shop was started by Demus Buckingham, in 1854, as stated elsewhere. He remained about twelve years. Among those who have at various times since been in this business here, are the following: M. J. Neilsen, Shane Brothers and Hiram Lampson. The present ones are: William Mooney, Adam Broadie, Bigelow, Henry Christiern and Hill Brothers.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 136

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316