History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 65

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 65
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 65

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 present school board is composed of the following gentlemen, who repre- sent their various districts, commenc- ing with one, and in sequence up to seven: John M. Hart, J. R. Shaw, A. Wilson, R. W. Crabtree, William Moore, Henry Kohlhaas, William C. Martin; pres- ident, A. Wilson; secretary, W. A. Grif- fith; treasurer, William Moore. Meetings are held in the school house of district one. For the year 1882 there were 219 scholars

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of school age reported to the secretary. The total value of school property in the township, including Greene, is about $11,- 950.

TOWN OF GREENE.

This is one of the first towns of impor- tance in Butler connty and surrounding country, lying on the banks of the attract- ive Shell Rock, and is the headquarters of the northern division of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway. Its location is on section 1 of Coldwater town- ship, and is surrounded by one of the rich- est and most wealthy farming districts in Northern Iowa. The location. is all that could be desired. The Shell Rock fur- nishes ample and steady water power, which has already been improved to some extent, though but a mere fraction of the power is as yet utilized.

IN EARLY DAYS.

The people of this township almost des- paired of railway facilities, as there was a line running north and south both east and west of it, and the probabilities were for a long time unfavorable; but in 1869 prospects of the now flourishing B., C. R. & N. Railway were whispered around and soon brought to a matter of reality by the enterprising managers of that road, which was then called the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad. The tax of five per cent. levied to aid in its con- struction was paid on the completion of. the road into the township, which was. in the latter part of September, 1871.

The land upon which the town now stands was purchased in the summer of 1854 by John W. Miller, who died in No-

vember, 1856. He put up a log cabin on the bank of the river, near the springs, and kept a "Home for Travelers." He was appointed postmaster, and recom- mended the name of "Elm Springs," by which name the town site was formerly known, there being some half dozen springs issuing from the roots of as many elm trees. Here many a weary traveler quenched his thirst from the clear, crystal water, and the gypsy-like emigrant went into camp surrounded by scenery nnsur- passed. The land finally passed into the hands of the Messrs. Eikenberry (Ben- Jamin and J. E.). The farm house of Benjamin Eikenberry stood where the Ball Hardware Building now is. When the railroad was a substantial reality the company purchased the farm of Benjamin Eikenberry, 120 acres, and 40 acres of J. E. Eikenberry, making 160 acres in all, which they at once laid out into lots and blocks, and recorded as Greene, in honor of Judge Grecne, the president of the road. This was done in September, 1871, the purchases having been made in June. The company also purchased a large tract of land on the west side of the river of Mr. Replogle and expected to make a metrop- olis in this part of Iowa. They had already determined to make this the sec- ond division of the road.

The first lots sold by the company were purchased by G. L. Mills, where the Mills store now stands, and O. D. Barnum, where now stands the "Stone Store."

: The first preparations for building, was- the cellar of G. L. Mills, dug about the 20th of September.

The first building upon the site for busi- ness purposes, was the dry-goods and gro-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

cery store of Moss & Sturtz, which was moved from near the school house of Dis- trict No. 1, Lower Grove, where it was built, and a stock of goods moved in the year before. But before they were pre- pared to sell the Thomas Brothers, who. liad in the meantime commenced the erec- tion of a hardware store, were selling . goods, not waiting for the completion of their building, and they paid the first freight bill, receiving goods on the first day of October.

These were soon followed by the gro- cery and drug store of Trimble & Spauld- ing. The stook for the dry goods and grocery store of the McClure Brothers was shipped from Waterloo, on the first day of October, and in one week's time was opened for business. The first store fin- ished in Greene was that of G. L. Mills.

C. T. Sampson erected the first grain warehouse, hauling lumber from Clarks- ville, before the railroad was completed. Barnum &, Case were on the ground at the same time, purchasing the barn of J. E. Eikenberry, to store their grain in. E. S. Case purchased the first produce, and before tlie cars reached Greene the large barn on the Eikenberry place was well filled with wheat: Mr. A. H. Bell pur- chased; of the railroad company, the former residence of Mr. Eikenberry, and. converted it into a boarding house, Mrs. Bell being the first lady in the village. At this time, says the Press, Messrs. Ohmert & Schofield had the contract for building the round house, and employed a good many laborers. It will be remem- bered that at this time the iron on the railroad was only laid to Clarksville. Those who were here at the time no doubt

distinctly remember where the laugh came in, as one after another shook himself from straw-stacks, piles of ties, or out of dry-goods boxes on a cold, chilly morning, slowly and sadly treading their way to Bell's breakfast tables. Mr. Shook, Mr. Earnest, Jesse Ohmert, and E. S. Thomas, together with Bell's boarding house, fed the strangers bountifully, but could fur- nish no sleeping accommodations.

F. W. Smith put in the first lumber yard. The wagon bridge across the Shell Rock was built in 1871, by A. Spaulding, at a cost of $7,000. The county appropri- ated $5,000, the railroad company $1,000, and the citizens $1,000.

The first hotel was the Gault House, which was completed about the time the railroad iron was laid. Bradley & Farrell won a high reputation for the house. Thisis now known as the DeGraw Hotel, and is in every way worthy of patronage. Im- mediately after its completion, the Bank of Greene, a branch of the bank of Cedar Falls, was opened here, with J. L. Spauld- ing as cashier. This institution failed in 1875, and the worthy cashier left for parts -"unhung." J. H. Cooksey opened a harness shop ; Baughman Brothers,. a. grocery and fruit store; Gould, a black- smith shop, and John Reed, a boot and. shoe store. A man by the name of Rob- erts erected a saloon and commenced sell- ing what was extensively recommended as "forty-rod lightning or poison whiskey," but he became disgusted and left. The first millinery store was opened by Mrs. Charles Heath.

Thus the growth of the thriving town commenced, and it was substantial, as will be shown by the following article, clipped

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

from the first issue of the Butler County Press, and dated August, 1873:

"We now have a town with five hun- dred inhabitants, one church, a good school house, one drug store, one boot and shoe store, one planing mill, one wagon factory, four dry goods and grocery stores, two harness shops, two hotels, two milli- nery stores, two banks, two agricultural warehouses, two blacksmith shops, three . grain warehouses, two lumber yards, two saloons, and one restaurant. We have a town library containing one hundred and eighty volumes, and constantly increasing. Our freight received during the year 1871, [This is probably a typographical error, and means 1872,] amounted to $13,277.69. Our freight forwarded during the same year, $21,980.73. From January 1, 1873, to August 25, freight received, $13,076.97. Freight forwarded, $16,887.29, and our grain trade not yet fairly commenced. We have one of the finest water-powers in the country; it is now owned by the Cedar Rapids Mill Company. We expect soon to see them at work putting up a three- story mill, with four run of stone. Sur- rounded as we are, by the best farming country in the northwest, we look forward with great anticipation to the future of our town."

· The store building which Moss & Sturtz moved to Greene is now known as the Gates' House, and run by the Gates Brothers. McClure's building was the one which is now occupied by the store of Isaac Russell. The store erected by Trimble & Spaulding was occupied by them for a number of years, then by the firm of Trimble & Strannahan, and was finally purchased by J. W. Osier, who yet

continues to handle a large stock of drugs.

The business was established, as already stated, by Trimble & Spaulding in the fall of 1871. They conducted the busi- ness about two years, and were succeeded by Trimble & Stranahan. This firm was succeeded by Stranahan & Co .; and they by A. T. Trimble, who was succeeded by the present proprietor, Mr. Osier, Septen- ber 18, 1881.

Mr. Osier was born in Vermont, in 1857. His father was Joseph Osier. The family removed to Wisconsin, in 1865, and to Coldwater township, Butler county, in the fall of 1874. The father of Mr. Osier now lives in Floyd county. Mr. Osier was engaged as clerk in the drug store of J. S. Cole for five years, beginning with 1876. His wife was Emma J. Burbank, a daugh- ter of Dr. Jerome Burbank, who settled in Waverly in 1865. They were married April 26, 1881. They have one daughter -- Maud M.

The hardware store started by Thomas & Co., underwent a number of changes. They run it until about 1875, when it was purchased by M. Ball, who had also been in the field early with a hardware stock. In about one year Mr. Ball sold to P. N. Dellinger, and from 'him after passing through the hands of Bently & Thomas, and Mr. Barnum, was finally, in 1881, purchased by W. F. Ellis, who still runs it.

J. L. Cole came shortly after Mr. M. Ball, and renting a building of Frank Hotchkiss, opened the large drug store which he still continues.

`In 1873, the Butler county Press was established, and a history of it will be found in another place.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

In 1874, M. A. Gordon made his appear- ance and opened a general merchandising store, which he continued until 1881, when he moved his goods to Albia, Iowa, and Mr. Feyereisen's large stock now fills the same shelves. .

F. D. Mabee, in 1872, opened a restaurant, and is still in the business. He is num- bered among the earliest settlers of Greene, locating here in March, 1872. He bought his building, and engaged in his present occupation at that time. Mr. Mabee was born in Canada West, in 1836. He re- moved to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1860, where he engaged in the insurance business. He was married there to Miss Sarah Tuck, a native of New Hampshire. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1865, when he located at Independence, and engaged in farming, coming here, as before stated, in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Mabee have tive children-Mary Abbie, Charles, Fred, Ella and Myrtle.

At various times since J. A. Yager, Henry Wasley, J. W. Soesbe, P. Bagley, William Wilson and Charles Gates and brother have been represented in this line, and the last named firm still do a thriving business.

Mrs. C. Fowler. is the pioneer milliner of Greene, having opened her store in 1872. Since then a number have come and gone, among whom we notice the names of Mrs. Charles Heath, Miss Feely, Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Luce, Mrs. M. Ball and Mrs. Holstead. Mrs. S. M. Boller opened a stock of this line of goods in 1875, and still does a lively business.

The following list of advertisers in the Butler County Press will show to what extent the village had developed at the

time of publication-August, 1874-and will furnish a pretty complete directory of Greene at that time, to-wit:

Physicians-C. C. Huckins, V. C. Bir- ney, and W. H. Nichols.

A. Hardman-Drayman.

R. F. Graupner-Barber.

John Collins-Boots and shoes.

J. L. Cole-Druggist.

Charles Northfoss-Door and sash man- ufacturer.

. C. H. Baughman-Architect. E. Wilson-County recorder.

Theo. Coley-Blacksmith.

Henry Feyereisen-Dubuque Hotel.

Mrs. M. Ball-Millinery.

William M. Foote-Lawyer ..

J. W. Gilger-Lawyer. George W. Long-New hotel.

A. Bradley-Gault House.

S. W. Soesbe-Real estate.

J. M. Wegand-Painter.

E. W. Soesbe-Machines.

S. T. Hotchkiss-General merchandise. Morris Ball-Hardware.

Bank of Greene-J. L. Spaulding, cash- ier.

Barnum, Case & Co .- Lumber.

Young & Pope-Furniture.

A. W. Collins-Architect.

W. R. McClure-General merchandise.

J. Pennock -- Boots and shoes.

S. Thomas & Co .- Hardware.

L. A. Boller & Bro .- Jewelry.

N. W. Thomas & Co .- Agricultural warehouse.

Johnston & Hill-Wagon and carriage works.

Trimble & Stranahan-Drugs.

D. E. Shook-Machinery.

C. Snyder-Harness.

Frank L. Jackson.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

F. D. Mabee-Restaurant.

Trimble & Barney-Livery. Charles V. McClure-Land office.

E. Jordan-Real estate.

George L. Mills --- General merchandise. T. F. Heery-Lumber.

F. M. Root & Co .- General merchan- dise.

Andrew J. Burlett, general merchant, also one of the earliest business men of Greene, was born in Switzerland, in 1840; he came to the United States with his pa- rents in 1843. The family settled first in Ohio, and removed thence to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, finally settling in Indiana. His father was Joseph Burlett and resided in LaPorte county, Indiana, at the time of his death. Mr. Burlett came to Iowa in 1871, and to Greene the following year. He was for some time engaged in the stock and meat business, engaging in merchan- dizing in 1879. He is an active and suc- cessful business man. He keeps a general stock, including-clothing, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc. His wife was Clarrisa A. 'Shippy, born in Indiana. They have three children-Mary E., Sarah F., and Mildreth E.

Richard Miner, furniture dealer, estab- lished business here, May, 1872. He is the only furniture dealer in Greene. Mr. Miner was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1846. His parents were John W. and Rebecca (Dudgson) Miner, and were na- tives of Ohio. The family came to Shell Rock, Butler county, in the spring of 1865. His father died April 29, 1882. The pa- rents of Mr. Miner had thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, and all but two of whom are residents of this county. Richard went to

Clay county, in this state, from Shell Rock, where he learned the trade of cabinet making, and engaged there in the business for two years. His wife was Miss Maggie Nary. They have one daughter-Mary D.

GREENE AS A MUNICIPALITY.

Green was incorporated and attained the dignity of a municipal organization in 1879, the town records commencing with the first meeting of the board, on the 20th of Sep- tember, 1879, the following appearing as the first entry on the books:

"At the meeting of the council of the town of Greene, the following officers elected were sworn in by Justice Riner, to-wit: Mayor, C. T. Lamson; trustees, J. L. Cole, S. W. Soesbe, G. L. Mills, Henry Feyereisen, W. H. Rupert, and R. Miner. On motion, O. D. Barnum was appointed to fill the office of recorder."

The council then adopted twenty-eight rules of order to govern their body, which are yet in force. C. Crocker was elected marshal and street commissioner, and G. L. Mills acted as clerk of the first meeting.

The next session of the council was held on the 22d day of September, 1879, at which various committees were appointed, and William Soesbe was elected treasurer and G. W. Gilger solicitor. At a subse- quent meeting it was resolved that both recorder and treasurer be required to give bonds, in the sum of $1,000, each. But at a_still later meeting this was reduced to $500.

On the 6th of October, 1879, the propo- sition of the Butler County Press, offering to publish ordinances at fifty cents per square, and the proceedings of the board free, was accepted.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

At a session on the 13th of October, 1879, the Mayor appointed a committee, consist- ing of Messrs. Mills, Rupert and Feyereisen, to see what would be the cost of erecting a "lock-up," and this committee reported on the 20th of the same month, which re- port was accepted, and they were instructed to proceed to build as soon as possible, let- ting the job to the lowest bidder. The con- tract was accordingly let to William Moss; and of furnishing lumber, to Bruce & Co. It consisted of two cells in the back, and the council room in front. 'Squire Foote was allowed the use of the latter for one dollar per month, he to furnish stove, fuel, desk and lights for the use of the council, free of charge.

On January 8th, 1880, a committee of three, Mayor Lamson and Messrs. Mills and Rupert, was appointed to build a ferry- boat. This boat was for the use of the public crossing the Shell Rock, while the bridge was in process of erection.

On the 4th of March, 1880, it was re- solved that the mayor, council members, recorder and marshal, receive the sum of fifty cents, for each meeting, as compensa- tion for their services.

The officers for the year 1880 were as follows: Mayor, C. T. Lamson; council, G. L. Mills, J. L. Cole, R. Miner, Henry Fey- ereisen, S. W. Soesbe and W. H. Rupert; assessor, William M. Foote; marshal and street commissioner, C. Crocker; recorder, O. D. Barnum; treasurer, William Soesbe; solicitor, J. W. Gilger. As Mr. Crocker did not qualify, Mr. Barnum was appointed street commissioner, and H. H. Barnett marshal. In May, W. H. Rupert resigned, and F. D. Mabee was elected to fill his place in the council.

In 1881, Dr. C. C. Huckins was appointed health officer.

The officers in 1882 were as follows: Mayor, C. T. Lamson; trustees, G. L. Mills, J. L. Cole, R. Miner, Mr. Stober, A. J. Burlett, and S. W. Soesbe.

THE POST OFFICE.

As early as 1855 the luxury of a "post office was attained by the pioneers of Coldwater, and an office established under the name of "Elm Springs," about this year, with John Miller as postmaster, and headquarters at his residence, just south of the present town of Greene. Later- about the year 1859-a village was platted and recorded under the same name as the post office. A few years later Samuel Earnest was appointed as the person to distribute mail, and the office was removed to his house, south of where the round house now stands. Following him, in 1870, came Jesse Ohmert, who had his office moved to his house, still south of Earnest's. Here it remained until 1871, when the name was changed to Greene post office, and in 1872 it was moved to the Russell building and S. W. Soesbe commissioned. Mr. Soesbe held it for a few months, when E. S. Thomas succeeded him and the office was moved to the hard- ware store, where it remained until Febru- ary 10, 1876, when the present affable offi- cer, W. W. Riner, received his commis_ sion and removed it across the street to the building it now occupie 3, adjoining the Gates House. The business of the office for the last year amounted to about $1,600, and the postmaster's salary is $800:

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

The territory now comprising this edu- cational sub-division was set apart by the trustees of the district townships, in 1866, as District No. 4, and a short sketch of its early history while under the jurisdiction of these officers, has already been given.

In 1873 it was re-organized as an inde- pendent district, with the following gen- tlemen as officers: Directors, A. Glodery, president; C. T. Sampson, treasurer; T. F. Heery, secretary. Prior to this time the district had erected two frame school houses, each about 24x30, and at a total cost of about $1,600, which accommodated the one hundred and fifty scholars very comfortably for a time. But the school kept increasing until in 1877 it had out- grown the accommodations, and, in an- swer to the demand for more room, the present school structure was erected. It is an imposing looking building, standing high on the hill, and overlooking the town from the east. O. D. Barnum had the contract for building. It is two stories, frame, with brick vaneering. The cost was $6,000.

The first corps of teachers to instruct the youthful mind, after the district be- came independent, consisted of J. R. Wag- ner, principal; Emma J. Burbank, inter- mediate, and Miss M. F. Petty, primary; their salaries being $65 per month for the principal, and $30 for the remaining two. The principals who have officiated from that time until the present are, J. R. Wag- ner, C: M. Greene and A. H. Beals. The present efficient corps of teachers consists of: Principal, A. H. Beals; assistant, Emma L. Cole; intermediate, Carrie B. Mills; primary, Flora McCurdy. The sal-

aries have not been altered materially. The report of the 20th of September, 1882, shows two hundred and seventy-six schol- ars of school age in the district. The pre- sent officers are as follows: Board of di- rectors, S. W. Soesbe, president; S. Thomas, W. W. Riner, W. F. Ellis, A. J. Burlett and F. D. Mabee; treasurer, A. Glodery, secretary, William M. Foote.

The principal, Arthur H. Beals, has had the management of these schools since September, 1881. He is a native of How- ard county, Indiana; came with his parents to Franklin county, in this State, to Butler county in 1861. Mr. Beals was educated at Cornell college, in this State; began teaching in the winter of 1874-5, in Bre- mer county. Has taught continually since. He had charge of the grammar depart- ment of the Waverly public schools for three years. Mr. Beals is a successful teacher, and devoted to his calling. Heis thorough in discipline and his methods of. instruction have proved to be the best. The public schools of Greene, under his supervision, have taken an advanced posi- tion. His father is a resident of Wash- ington township, Bremer county.

GREENE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Greene library is one of the institu- tions to which the citizens point with more or less pride. The organization was effected on the 1st of February, 1873, with about fifteen charter members, an annual mem- bership fee of $2.00 was charged. Many of the members and citizens contributed books, and public entertainments were given, and other means employed to raise the requisite funds, they were quite suc- cessful, and a goodly number of books

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

were procured. The first officers were: C. T. Lamson, president, and C. S. Strana- han, secretary. The society grew rapidly, and its library had increased to about 150 volumes, when Judge Greene, of Cedar Rapids, after whom the town was named, donated them $1,200 of stock in Union Savings Bank, of Cedar Rapids, which was to be invested in real estate, · and the interest applied to the purchase of books. The association has been unfortu- nate in some respects, as they were at one time swindled out of $150; but they soon rallied from this, and now have over six hundred volumes -- fifty of which have been added this summer-of standard and popu- lar works, and they are extensively read. The yearly membership fee is $1.50, with a membership of about thirty. Books are let to any responsible party, at ten cents per week; yet the rule is not to let books go out to non-members, except on deposit of the worth of the same. The present officers are S. W. Socsbe, president; W. W. Riner, secretary, and Andrew Godery, treasurer. Headquarters at the postoffice.

C. T. Lamson, the first president, was one of the earliest settlers of the town, having located here in September, 1871. No man is more prominently connected with the history of the town than he, having been one of its most active busi- ness men, and intimately connected with all enterprises which had in view the best interests of the town

Mr. Lamson was born in Essex county, New York, in 1823. In the spring of 1844, he removed to Jackson county, Iowa. He was interested in the early history of Maquoketa, and assisted in laying out that town. For many years he engaged in

teaching, having prepared himself for col- lege before coming west, intending to enter Middlebury College, Vermont, but circumstances were such that he was obliged to give up the idea. He engaged in teaching before coming to Iowa, and continued in the business after coming west, teaching several terms in Maquoketa, also engaging in farming, having pur- chased a farm near that village. In 1855, hc removed to Anamosa, Jones county, where he taught a graded school four years. He also engaged in the grain busi- ness at Anamosa. In fact this has been his principle occupation for many years. Mr. Lamson has always manifested a deep interest in educational matters, and the public schools and the public library of the town owe much of their excellence and success to his influence. He has been mayor of the town ever since its incorpor- ation. Mrs. Lamson was formerly Miss Martha Crane, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of Roswell Crane, of Anamosa. They have adopted two children, both deceased.

Andrew Glodery, general merchant of Greene, was one of the early business men of the town. He engaged in the lumber and coal trade, in 1874, which business he continued until January, 1882. When he first engaged in the mercantile trade he was associated with D. H. Sessions, but has been alone in the business since Janu- ary, 1882. He was born in France, in 1831; came to this county with his father when a child. The family settled in the State of New York; afterwards he removed to Washington county, Wisconsin. Mr. Glodery came to Floyd county, Iowa, from Vernon county, Wisconsin, in 1872, and

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 65

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