History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 53

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 53
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 53

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).

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

burg. The building has since been moved to Main street.

The mercantile business of N. T. Man- ley & Son was established by N. T. Man- ley in 1867. In 1872 the present partner- ship was formed, C. I. Manley joining his father in business. N. T. Manly was one of the earliest merchants of Parkersburg; the business which he established is the oldest in town. Mr. Manley was born in Essex county, New York, in 1820. He received a good education, and when a young man was engaged for some time in teaching. He went from the State of New York to Northampton county, Penn- sylvania. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss U. M. Insley, a native of New Jersey. They removed to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, about 1851, where they lived till 1864, when they removed to Plainview, Minnesota, coming to Parkersburg in January, 1867. Mr. Manley built a store, and engaged in busi- ness, the same spring; this was the second store in the town, Jackson & Tanner hav- ing a small store at that time. The town then contained eleven buildings and about thirty inhabitants. Mr. Manley has not confined himself to mercantile pursuits, but has dealt considerably in real estate during his residence here. He purchased a farm on section 19, near the village, in 1867, paying six dollars per acre, which he still owns. The father of Mr. Manley was a Congregational clergyman, a native of the State of New York, where he died at the advanced age of 92 years. Mr. Man- ley has been twice married. He lost his first wife in 1857. His present wife was Miss M. L. Cahart. He has three children

by first marriage-Ella E., wife of Dr. M. I. Powers; C. I. and Edward I.

C. I. Manley, who is engaged with his father in business, was born in Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, in 1850. He was engaged for many years in the store with his father before the present partner- ship was formed. His wife, Mary E. Howenstein, was a native of Ohio. They have had two children -Insley H., (deceased), and Jennie E.

Edward I. Manley was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1855. He carried on the homestead farm, on section 19, for eight years, but is now engaged in the store. He married Miss M. D. Strout, daughter of Benjamin Strout. Mrs. Man- ley is a native of Massachusetts. They have one child-Howard I.

Mr. N. T. Manley has two children by his second marriage-W. E. and Lewis H.

In 1865 the depot was completed and Mr. Joseph Demmick officiated as the first, agent. He put up a little building across the track, in which he kept the post office -being postmaster-where he kept a gen- eral line of yankee notions, together with a meat-market, grocery, paint shop, wagon works, and, in fact, everything you could think of. He bought the first grain, stor- ing it in the depot. He was soon followed in the grain buying business by B. F. White and Mr. Buswell, who succeeded to the business of grain buying.

"Jake" Young and Frank Shaffer fell into the line of progress, and put up what is now the Eagle House, a building 28 x 30 feet in size. It has since been enlarged and improved, and is now run by Mr. Stone, who makes a most accommodating host. Jake Young, the first mentioned

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

partner, erected a little building, 16 x 24 feet, near the hotel, in which he opened a restaurant or saloon, soon after the hotel was completed, and kept a general stock of liquors. In 1868, Edward Bigelow bought the concern, and in 1869 moved it to where it now stands, on Depot street, near the drug store, at present occupied by Thomas Conn for a grocery store.

Jonathan Goodale came to Parkers- burg in the fall of 1868. He built a store the following spring and engaged in general merchandising. He built a resi- dence adjoining his storc, both of which were destroyed by fire in March, 1878. Mr. Goodale sustained a loss at this time of $10,000. He rebuilt on the site of his former store the following summer, and now has one of the most extensive general stores in the county. Excellent business qualities and strict integrity have made him successful. He was born in the town of Oppingham, Herkimer county, New York, in 1821. He was cducated in the trade of farming and merchandising. His parents were David and Charity (Shaffer) Goodale, natives of New York State, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Goodale was employed in merchandising before he came west. He came to Iowa in March, 1865, and bought a farm in Grundy county, where he engaged in farming till he came here in 1868. His wife was Almira J. Hough, also of the State of New York. They have one daughter, Jennic, born in the State of New York.

Not long after Mr. Goodale had con- nienced business, and during the same year (1868) Charles Charnock started the first lumber yard with W. M. Howenstein. The latter gentleman, however, did not

remain long in the lumber business. In company with Dr. Powers he started a drug store, which business he now runs alonc. Charnock remained in the lumber business until 1880, when he sold to E. W. Babcock, who had been running an oppo- sition yard, who soon after sold to the gentleman who now represents the lumber interests, John Voogd. In 1881 another lumber yard was started by a Dubuque firm, which is still doing business.

The first hardware establishment was started in 1866 by James Parker, father of the present postmaster, who put up a building twenty by sixty, on Depot street below the drug store, and put in a stock of hardware. Melvin Dees was associated with him. After a time Joseph Kellogg became interested in the store, and finally purchased the interest of the other partner and removed the stock to a building erected by him on Main street. After changing hands twice-to Parker Bros. and Mr. Nye-it was purchased by the Parris Brothers, who are yet proprietors. Within the last few years Foote & Mott started and still carry on this linc of busi- ness, as stated further.

Parris Brothers, dealers in hardware and boots and shoes, succeeded Joseph Kellogg in October, 1875. Mr. Kellogg succeeded J. Kennedy & Olmstead, who established the business. George and Fred Parris are natives of England. Their father emigrated from England in 1842 and settled in Stephenson county, Illinois. The brothers came to Parkersburg in 1872 and engaged in the grocery business, which they continned till 1881, when they were succeeded by Sam Norris. Their brother Henry came to Butler county in

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

1875 and engaged in farming in Monroe township. The wives of George and Fred are natives of St. Louis, Missouri. Fred has four children-Aehsah, Willie, Fred and Grace.

Foote and Mott are general hardware dealers. The partnership was formed in the fall of 1878. S. A. Foote, of this firm, is the son of George A. Foote, a native of Delaware county, New York; he removed to Riehland eounty, Wiseonsin, with his family in 1856. He was a blacksmith by trade, but engaged in farming in Wiseon- sin; eoming to Butler county in the spring of 1868, he settled on seetion 13, in Mon- roe township. He died November, 1877. His wife survives him and lives in Park- ersburg, though still owning the home- stead farm. S. A. Foote was born in the State of New York, in 1849. He engaged in the live stock business here in 1877, changing to the hardware trade in 1878. His wife was Hattie S. Burnham, born in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Foote have two children-Dotha and George, both of whom were born in Parkersburg. ,C. L. Mott, of this firm, is one of the early set- tlers of Parkersburg; his residenee here dating from 1869. ... He was born in Kala- mazoo, Michigan, in 1842, where he lived till nineteen years of age. In 1861 he went to Galena, Illinois, where, with his father, he engaged in keeping a hotel. Ilis parents were Elter and Margaret Mott. In 1868 the family removed from Illinois to this eounty, and settled at New Hart- forl. The family removed to Colorado in 1879, where the father died in the fall of 1881. Mr. C. L. Mott went to Ackley, Hardin county, in 1867, where he engaged in the livery business; from Aekley he

went to Marietta, eoming to Parkersburg in 1869. He established himself here in the mercantile business, which he eontin- ued for eight years. While living in Miehigan, Mr. Mott had an experience of two years in the banking business, and while in Illinois was engaged in hotel keeping, farming and milling. He mar- ried Flora, daughter of George E. Fiteh, a prominent early settler of Beaver town- ship. Mr. Mott is the only member of his father's family now living in Butler eounty.

In 1865 Charles Gleason started the first boot and shoe store, and did the first eob- bling. This was in a little house which he rented, east of the Commercial House, and from there he moved to Main street, and continued in business until 1875 or 1876, when he sold to . Henry Perry, who sold to Mr. Hiller; finally the business eame under the management of Mr. Bohall, who erected the substantial building now oceupied by him.

W. N. Allen opened a stock of boots and shoes at an early day in the history of the village, and still continues to run one of the most extensive stores in town.

Henry Ballhousen, in 1877, commenced business, and is still in the boot and shoe .. trade.

The first harness shop was started in the fall of 1867 by Henry Frank, who em- ployed Val. Lahr as his assistant. Mr. Frank still holds forth in this line. Val. Lahr afterwards started a shop of his own in 1868, and still does a thriving business.

Willis M. Howenstein is the proprie- tor of the pioneer drug store of Parkers- burg. The business was established in 1868, by Dr. M. I. Powers, who condueted

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

the business alone for a short time, when he took as a partner, H. L. Gibbs, who remained in the firm about one year, wlien Dr. Powers was again alone for a short time. Mr. Howenstein bouglit one-half interest in the business, November, 1870, and has been connected with the business since that time. After abont six months partnership with Mr. Howenstein, Dr. Powers sold his interest to A. J. Whitfield; then the name of the firm became Howen- stein & Co., by which it has since been known, though several changes have been made since that time. In 1874 J. D. Burt became the partner of Mr. Howenstein; his present partner is F. P. Ray. Mr. Howenstein was born in Ohio, in 1835. When twenty-one years of age he went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he read medicine for a time. He traveled over- land to California in 1858, and returned in 1865. He came to Parkersburg, Novem- ber, 1868, and was for some time in the employ of C. Channock, who started the first lumber yard in Parkersburg. Mrs. Howenstein was formerly Carrie E. Tenent, a native of Wisconsin. They have one daughter, and lost two sons. The drug store now being run by Frank Ray, was established by Mr. Eno Renken, and is now doing a thriving business.

In 1868 Mr. Babcock opened the first furniture store in a building now used for an agricultural warehouse by the Beaver Valley Bank. Mr. Babcock was not very successful, and finally gave up the busi- ness. The next one started was by A. S. Burnham. The business is now carried on by Burnham & Bass. One or two others have been started which were of short life. About 1870 Clark Mott rented the

Perkins' building and opened a general merchandise establishment, which was run but a few years. Mahanke & Co. started a few years since, and do a large business.

The first blacksmith shop was opened and run by Charlie Dunham, a son-in-law of Mr. Wemple. He only remained here two years, removing to Illinois. The next was by a man called "Rollo," who has long since gone.

The first bank was opened by the Gibbs Brothers, in 1868. They continued for a few years, then sold to J. B. and M. I. Powers, who continued the business until bought out by Wolfe & Son, who are still bankers. The next established was ·

the Beaver Valley Bank, in 1876, by the present proprietors-Parker & Richards.

In 1869 Mr. Benedict erected a building and opened a stationery store. After con- dusting the business a short time he rented the building to W. W. Cartner, who opened a confectionery store in it; but after a year or more, Mr. Schoolcraft buy- ing the building, the business was discon- tinued. This line is now represented by D. C. Monte.

About 1869 William Wallace erected a building and started a meat market. This business finally was purchased by Martin Cartner, who still runs it, in company with Mr. Demorest.

The first livery stable was started by Charley Reynolds, in the spring of 1867, in a stable near the Eagle House, but he remained in the business only a short time. Maxwell & Downs commenced the second and carried on the business during one summer. In May, 1869, J. T. Burt opened a stable on a large scale, which he ran for thirteen years. The business is now rep-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

resented by Otis Baker and Williams & Bailey.

T. J. Burt has resided in Parkersburg since 1868. He was born in England in 1838, and came to this country with his parents when thirteen years of age. His father, William Burt, settled with his fam- ily in Carroll county, Illinois, and still lives in that State. His mother is de- ceased. Mr. Burt came here from Illinois in 1868. He and a sister-Mrs. James Chapman, who resides in Linn county- are the only members of his father's fam- ily in Iowa. Mr. Burt was engaged in the livery business here for many years. IIe built a livery stable on Main street in 1869, which was removed in 1881 to make place for a store. In 1875 he erected the building now used as a drug store, on the corner of Main and Market streets. He also built the structure now used by Sol S. Werner as a clothing store. He built his dwelling house in 1869. Mrs. Burt's maiden name was Mary M. Funk, a native of Maryland. £

Otis Baker, proprietor of livery stable, came here November 2, 1870, succeeding Frank Shaver to the present business. . Ile built his present stable in 1875, at a cost of $900. He also built the store now occupied by D. C. Monte, in 1875, and his dwelling house in 1877. He has recently built an ice-house, 26x40 feet, costing about $300. Mr. Baker was born in the town of Hawley, Franklin county, Massa- chusetts, August 12, 1836. When ten years of age he removed with his parents to the township of Bristol, Dane county, Wisconsin. His father, Ephriam Baker, was born in Massachusetts, in 1807; he still lives in Dane county, Wisconsin.

Mr. Baker removed to .the village of Floyd, Floyd county, Iowa, in 1867, com- ing here in 1870. His wife was Harriet Crowell, a native of the town of Hawley, Franklin county, Massachusetts.

A place known for years as the "Robber's Roost" was put up in 1866 by Jake Yonng and Frank Shaffer. It was a low flat roofed building covering about a whole lot, where the white residence of Otis Baker is now situated. Many wild and improb- able stories cling to the remembrance of this den, about strangers being fleeced and leaving the place penniless; but it is conceded that the manipulators never "went through" any of the citizens. It was a saloon, billiard hall, and gambling house, where all cronies of this "ilk" made head- quarters, and was run for seven or eight years. It is said that whenever it rained the billiard tables had to be moved, as the roof only made the water come down in streams.

The first lawyer in Parkersburg was John Beemer, of Floyd county, who ar- rived here in 1868, and remained until the time of his death, in 1878. The legal pro- fession is now ably represented by Messrs. N. T. Johnson and O. B. Courtright. The first member of the medical fraternity, to practice in the village, was Dr. M. I. Powers. The medical profession at present is represented by Doctors Powers, Strout, Parker and Ensign, the latter representing the homeopathic side of the profession.

Renken & Tammen, general merchants, established their business February, 1878. They have a general stock, including dry goods, boots and shoes, and clothing. R. G. Renken, of the above firm, was born

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

in Germany, in 1853. His father, R. G. Renken, Sr., died in Germany. Mr. Renkin came here with his brother, Eno Renken, who carried on the drug business here for several years. He is now at Spirit Lake. Mr. Renkin was engaged in selling goods for. Mahanke for several years. Mr. Tam- men was also born in Germany. Messrs. Renken and Tammen completed, in the fall of 1882, a fine brick store on Main street, at a cost of about $4,500. They are build- ing up an extensive trade. In 1871 Mr. Tammen was married to Miss Mate Ren- ken. They have one child, born in Decem- ber, 1882.

D. W. Schoolcraft is one of the earlier business men of this place, and has done much toward building up and advancing the interests of the town. He located liere May 6, 1869. Mr. Schoolcraft was born in Tioga county, New York, in 1842. His parents removed to Boone county, Illinois, in 1846, where they died. Mr. Schoolcraft came to Iowa in 1866, stopping at Waverly and Monticello, Jones county, for about two years, coming here in the spring of 1869. He was the first to engage in the pro- duce business at this place. After about two years he started in the grocery trade, which he continued two years. He was in the live stock business for several years, also in the grain and coal trade. He is a real estate and insurance agent. He has erected several business houses, the first be- ing the building which was occupied by W. N. Allen, as a boot and shoe store. He built what is known as the Schoolcraft block, in the fall of 1870, at a cost of about twenty- five hundred dollars. His fine residence .he built in 1877. Mr. Schoolcraft's wife was formerly Fannie A. Howenstein, a

native of Ohio. They were married May 1, 1873. They have two boys-Frank H. and D. Willis. .

James M. Groat has been engaged in the grain and coal trade here since August, 1882. He has resided in Butler county since December, 1869, when he settled in Monroe township. Mr. Groat was born in Wyoming county, New York, in 1842. His father, Herman Groat, was a native of Delaware county, New York, where he was born in 1812. He now lives in Wyo- .

ming county, is a cabinet maker by trade, and is in business at Attica. James M. Groat went to Carroll county, Illinois, in 1867, and worked at the carpenter's trade. He came to Butler county in 1867, pur- chased a farm of E. Y. Royce, in Monroe township, section 27, which he still owns. He married Vira Swan, daughter of Z. Swan. They have two children-Luella and Flora. Mr. Groat was a justice of the peace in Monroe township from January 1, 1879, till he came here. He was elected county supervisor in the fall of 1882.

Thomas W. Conn, grocer, is the son of Samuel Coun, an early settler of Monroe township. He was born in Canada in 1852. Married Sarah J. Anderson, daugh- ter of Benjamin Anderson, an early settler of Pittsford township. They have one son-Earl Clarence. Mr. Conn engaged in business here with Robert Smith, suc- ceeding Nanna Rave. He has been alone in trade since February 10, 1881.

Robert Norris was born in Scotland, and came to this country when twelve years of age. He was brought up in Portage, Wis- consin, where he went with his parents in 1849. His father, G. W. Norris, still lives in Portage City. Mr. Norris was engaged

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

on the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, as a captain, for about five years. He came to Butler county in 1876, and kept a hotel at Butler Center for about one year. He purchased the Commercial House here in 1877, which he conducted for a time, and still owns the hotel. Mrs. Norris was formerly Mary J. Morrison. They have eight children -Rebecca A., wife of Charles H. Huntington, of Rock Rapids, Wisconsin; Samuel, Martha J., Ettie, Mary I., Robert J., James T. and an infant son. They lost their eighth child, George. Their oldest son, Samuel, is in the gro- cery, crockery and glassware trade, suc- ceeding Parris Brothers, in Angust, 1881. He was born in Portage City in 1859.

O. Byerly, photographer, located here in June, 1882. He was born in Chilli- cothe, Ross county, Ohio, June 29, 1836. He went to Dubuque, Iowa, when a boy, learning the business of photography, in that city, with Frank Pickerel. He en- gaged in business at Potosi, Wisconsin, for a time, but has spent the greater part of his life in Iowa and Illinois. Mr. Byerly began the business of photography when that art, which has now reached such per- fection, was in its infancy. He has kept pace with the improvements that have been made from time to time, and is well in- formed in all the branches of his profession. A visit to his rooms and an examination of his work proves him an excellent artist. His wife is a native of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Byerly have two children-Lilly and Frederick. They lost their oldest daugh- ter at Farley, Iowa.

James D. Cramer was born in Upper Canada in 1814, where he lived till the fall of 1860, when he came to Butler

county and settled on section 33, Albion township, on the farm now owned by W. H. Billings. Mr. Cramer kept hotel at his farm house for a number of years. He re- moved to Parkersburg in 1867, and was the first to open a meat market in that vil- lage. He has been engaged in various kinds of business since coming here. He was married to Jane Dixon, born in Scot- land in 1825. Her mother died in Scot- land. She came to America with her father, James Dixon, about 1833. Her father lived in Canada, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer were married in 1844. They have six children-Amanda, now Mrs. Edward Kemmerer, who was the first station agent on the Iowa Central Railroad at Ackley, and a resident of that place for eleven years; James D., Mar- . garet, now wife of W. H. Wilson; Robert, Jessie and Lilly. They have lost two children-Charles, who enlisted in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, in the war of the re- bellion, and died during the war, from in- juries received, in his twenty-first year- and Jane S.

A. M. Spencer, at present engaged in running the elevator of Mr. Kennedy, has been in Butler county since 1869. He was born in Yates county, New York, in 1842. He removed to Wisconsin with his parents in 1850; enlisting in 1863, in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and served two years; settled at New Hartford in 1869; came here in 1871. His wife was Clarissa Otterburn, a native of New York. They have six children. His father, Daniel Spencer, came to Iowa, in June, 1878, and died in Osceola county, August, 1881.

Joseph Collins came to Iowa and settled in Grundy county, about three miles south

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of New Hartford, in 1855, where he took up a farm of government land, which he owned till 1868; since that time he has been a resident of Butler county. In 1860 Mr. Collins went to what is now Leadville, then known as California Gulch, and engaged in mining. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier when a young man, but has generally followed the occu- pation of farming. In 1868 he purchased a farm and saw-mill in Beaver township, where he lived for several years, and then purchased a farm on section 18, in Albion township, which he still owns. He re- moved to Parkersburg, December, 1880. His wife was Mary A. Benson, born in Ashtabula county, Ohio. Her parents were William and Caroline (Collins) Ben- son. Her father was a native of New York; her mother was born in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have five sons and one daughter - William A., Edward. E., Walter H., Joseph A., M. R., wife of S. Conn, and E. B. Mr. Collins' father was born in Vermont; his mother in Mas- sachusetts. His father was in the Revolu- tionary War, being at that time sixteen years old. He was known as an old Revolutionary Soldier. He died in Illi- nois at the age of eighty-four.

Recellus R. Horr, one of the early settlers of Monroe, was born in Denmark, Lewis county, New York, April 25, 1837. In 1855 he left home and came to Iowa, locating in Butler county; bought eighty acres of land of L. P. Hazen, who had pre-empted it for him, as at that time he was too young to pre-empt land. He mar_ ried March 5, 1863, Miss Lena Townsen d a native of Ohio. They were blessed with five children-Charles W., Arthur T.,

Harry W., Lena May and Irena May (twins) Mrs. Horr died when these twins were but eight days . old. He married his second wife, Mrs. George Hoey, Septem -. ber 6, 1878, daughter of Raby R. Parriott. They have two children-Jenny and Eva. In 1881 he bought a house and lot in Park- ersburg, and now lives there. He has a farm of 320 acres which he rents. He is now living in retirement, except that he speculates in real estate.

PARKERSBURG FLOURING MILL.

This mill was erected in 1879 by Mr. E. Hiller. In June, 1881, it was purchased by the present proprietor, J. R. Russell. The mill building is 50 by 60 feet in size, and is equipped with one set of rollers and three run of stone, giving it a capacity of 75 barrels per day. The mill is propelled by a good water power, obtained from the Beaver river.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 53

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