USA > Iowa > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 14
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It has been an exceedingly difficult task to get a statement of the losses. In the first place it is impossible, without referring to books and details, for our merchants to do more than approximate the value of the stocks on hand, and then the amount of salvage is not as yet definitely ascertained, except in a few instances. We make this explanation in order that our readers may understand that the figures are not strictly accurate, but only the nearest possible approximation. Commencing on the south side of Fourth street the first building injured is Guthrie & Bowman's office; the west end was on fire and the damage will not exceed twenty dollars. The next west of this
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was a grain warehouse belonging to F. M. Cowie of New York. It was entirely destroyed, but being old, dilapidated and leaky its value was merely nominal, possibly $100. It was full of barley and rye belonging to Jones & Parsons, a portion of which was saved in a damaged condition. Their loss is probably $500, with no insurance. Cooke's new building next was a large two story frame which was just being finished. It was worth about $1500 and was entirely destroyed. No insurance. Thomas F. Barbee, an attor- ney, occupied an office in the upper story and lost a part of his personal property, value not stated, and no insurance. Cooke's warehouse was con- siderably injured, perhaps to the amount of $200. It was insured for $600 which will more than cover the loss. The railroad water tank was consid- erably injured, perhaps to the extent of $25. This completes the loss on the south side of Fourth street.
On the north side of Fourth street was a small frame building occupied by H. Lueck-with all the others on that side, down to Adams street it was destroyed. Loss about $750. Next was a two story frame owned by Wm. Gilley, occupied by Mr. Starr as a barber shop. Loss on building, $500. Mr. Starr succeeded in saving most of his personal effects, losing perhaps $75. A restaurant run by Eli Griffith came next; loss in stock light. The building belonged to J. M. Drees, and was worth about $100. Anderson's harness shop was next. Mr. Anderson succeeded in saving most of his ready made harness, but lost most of his stock. He resided over Efferts' store and succeeded in saving most of his household goods. Seventy-five dollars in money made up a portion of his loss which will probably reach $900. He was insured for $500. Efferts' general store was in a building worth about $700. It belonged to Mr. Efferts who also had a stock of goods worth about $2,500. A portion of the dry goods was saved, the loss on the stock being about $1,500 or $2,000, or altogether nearly $2,500 without insurance. The building belonged to Henry Schapman and extended through to Fifth street. The south end was used by him as a saloon and here it was that the fire was first discovered. Little if anything was saved from the saloon. Mr. Schapman estimates his entire loss at $2,700 without any insurance. B. H. Drees' saloon came next. The building was owned by Mr. Zimbleman of Boonesboro and was worth about $1,000. Mr. Drees estimates his loss on saloon fixtures at about $1,200. The next building was owned by J. C. Kelly. John Brechwald occupied it as a butcher shop and residence and Thomas B. Reese with his drug store and also his residence. The building brought in a fair income, and taking that into consideration might have been worth $1,000. A portion of Mr. Reese's stock was saved, but he places his loss at $2,000, upon which there was $500 insurance. Nick Schaub's saloon was the next building, a small frame worth about $300. His loss on fixtures was slight. W. J. Bohnenkamp had a building occupied with agricultural implements and as an office. His loss will probably reach $800; insured. Proceeding west we then come to Staak's billiard saloon worth $500 and insured for that amount. Most of the contents were saved. On the corner of Fourth and Adams street was a building owned by Mr. Thompson, Sr., occupied by his son, James Thompson, as a grocery and resi-
MAIN STREET, BREDA
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dence ; worth about $1,000 and not insured. Mr. Thompson had only about $2,500 in stock. There were considerable goods saved and it is probable that the insurance carried, $1,300, will cover his entire loss.
Having completed the tour of Fourth street we will commence with Hoyt's building, corner of Fifth and Main streets, and again take each build- ing in detail, proceeding thence to Adams street on the west. The large two story frame of Hoyt Brothers had just been rebuilt throughout. The upper story had just been fitted up in four rooms used by Mr. Burke as a part of his hotel. The lower story was filled with a fine stock of gen- eral hardware. The building was valued at a thousand dollars and the stock at four or five thousand. The total salvage is very small, not over $200. The total loss to these gentlemen will hardly fall below $5,000 and may exceed that amount considerably. Fortunately the business lots could not burn. They are among the best in town and very valuable. Near this building, fronting on Main street, was a small frame occupied by Bailey and Fisher's law office. It was worth about $100. The building owned by William Gilley and occupied by the law office of H. W. Macomber came next. The building including bank vault was worth about $800. Mr. Ma- comber saved all his books and papers and about all his furniture. He lost about $35 worth of hard coal and other things which would make his loss run up to about $100. The large frame building belonging to J. M. Drees and occupied below by Kentner's grocery store and above by Mr. Drees as a residence, extended to Fourth street and was worth about $2,500. His loss he estimates at $3,000 with insurance of $2,000. Mr. Kentner had a stock of groceries worth in the neighborhood of $3,000. He saved only a small portion. His loss on the stock was about $2,000, insurance $1,000. The next building was a double frame, owned by Mrs. Kniest and occupied below by a restaurant and millinery store, while above lived Mr. Snart and S. P. Hart. Mr. Snart owned the restaurant and saved a portion of the stock, losing $100 upon which he carried no insurance. The millinery store was owned by Mrs. Bemis. Her loss will reach about $150. The families in the building lost a portion of their household goods, perhaps $50 each. The building was worth about $500 and was insured for the full amount. The next building, as has been stated, belonged to Henry Schapman and ex- tended through to Fourth street. The north two-thirds were occupied by Brooks & Holmes, clothiers and merchant tailors. A limited portion of their stock was saved. Their loss will probably reach $2,500, upon which they have $1,500 insurance. The boot and shoe store of E. L. Haff & Co. came next. The building was worth $450 and was insured for $300. O. A. Kentner had purchased it only three days before and the loss above $300 comes on him. He also lost about $50 worth of lumber which he had hauled up preparing to build an addition. The next building, occupied by Mrs. W. R. Mills, milliner, was owned by J. C. Kelly as was also the one ad- joining occupied by S. Walz, shoemaker. Loss on both $500; not insured. Mrs. Mills lost $600 worth of goods upon which there was no insurance. The large two story frame owned by Mr. Herman of Boone was worth per- haps $1200 upon which there was $1,000 insurance. Pohlmann's elegant Vol. 1-8
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drug store occupied the lower story. Mr. P. loses stock to the value of $2,500 upon which there was $2,000 insurance. This is the second time within nine months that Mr. Pohlmann has been burned out. The upper story was occupied by the Masons and Odd Fellows Lodges. These orders had each an insurance of $500 upon furniture, jewels, paraphernalia, etc. It is probable that the loss is thereby covered fully.
The adjoining building belonged to D. F. Gifford of Sac City, and was worth about $400; probably not insured. It was occupied by G. E. Ander- son as a restaurant and residence. He saved very little of his household goods and none of his stock. His loss will reach $1,000-not insured. Stevens & Ludwig, general merchants, owned and occupied the next build- ing. Their loss on stock and building will not be less than $1,800, upon which they carried $2,000. L. Schoeppe occupied the next building as a harness shop. The loss was trifling, the building being worth but little.
The large general store of C. Mark was the last to burn on this side of the street, it standing on the corner. The building was worth about $600 and was insured for $500. Mr. Mark had a large stock of goods, probably amounting to $8,000. A good portion of these was saved by the exertions of his clerks, Mr. Mark himself being absent in Chicago at the time. They were favored in this respect by the slowness of the fire in reaching them. He lost about $3,000 on his stock, upon which he had in- surance to the amount of $1,500.
On the north side of Fifth street, commencing at the corner opposite the public square was the large frame with brick addition known as Burke's hotel. The building contained kitchen, dining room, office, parlor, sample room, besides 21 bed rooms. The frame was old and somewhat dilapidated but the brick addition was good. The loss on the building was about $2,500. It belonged to William Gilley and was not insured. Burke lost largely on carpets, furniture, etc., but as considerable was saved it is not possible at this time to make an accurate estimate of the amount of the loss. It will hardly fall below $1,200, but the insurance carried was $1,750. At the time of the fire the hotel was doing a fine business, and was deservedly one of the most popular houses in the state. Mr. Burke will doubtless suffer more from suspension of business than from actual loss by fire, above insurance.
Dr. Lane's building was a two-story frame built a couple of years ago, worth about $600, insured for $400. It was occupied above by Dr. Lane and George W. Bowen, attorney. These gentlemen saved most of their per- sonal belongings, their joint loss amounting to about. $150. Mr. Bowen's notes were burnt, but his collection register was saved. H. F. Flinn, jew- eler, occupied the lower story. He saved the greater portion of his goods and tools. His large safe and a number of other articles were ruined. His loss may reach $400. Nockels & Betzer's building was a large two story frame. J. W. Scott, attorney and justice of the peace, and E. M. Betzer. attorney, occupied the upper rooms and saved most of their books and furniture. The building was owned by Messrs. Nockels and Betzer and was worth about $1,000; insured for $700. John Nockels, merchant tailor and clothing merchant, occupied the lower floor with his clothing store, and
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part of the upper with his tailor's workshop. A portion of his stock, in- cluding most of his piece goods, was saved. Mr. Nockels estimates his stock at $14,000. He thinks his loss will reach $8,000 upon which there was $2,000 insurance.
Wetherill's hardware store occupied a well built wooden one story frame with a large warehouse in the rear. Both buildings were worth about $1,500 with insurance of $700. The stock of hardware, belonging to Jolin L. Wetherill, was valued at $7,000. Less than $500 was saved. There was $2,000 insurance on the stock. Kuen & Christen, druggists, occupied a building belonging to Wetherill Brothers. This was insured and the loss has been satisfactorily adjusted by the payment of $307, which was the first loss paid. Kuen & Christen had an elegant store, well stocked. Their loss will probably reach $2,500 upon which there was insurance of $1,000. Scott & Beall, merchants, occupied a two story frame owned by J. W. Scott. It was worth perhaps $600, insured for $400. The loss of stock is estimated; insured for $1,000. Mrs. White's building was worth prob- ably $700, not insured. She was solicited to insure the day before the fire. But remarked that the building had stood for seven years, and she guessed it would stand a while longer. It stood less than 18 hours longer. J. A. Rohner, photographer, occupied the upper story of the White building. His loss, about $400, is not covered by insurance. Hatton's drug store was noted throughout this part of the state as a model establishment. Most of the show cases with the goods they contained were saved, but not much else. His loss on stock will reach $5,000, with insurance of $1,750. Mr. Hatton owned this building and the one adjoining it. The loss on both was about $1,600, with insurance of $750. Dr. Wright's office and resi- dence was over Hatton's store. He saved a good portion of his medical library and most of his furniture. His piano and fine set of surgical in- struments were destroyed. His loss may reach $1,000, with only $500 insurance. W. R. Mill's grocery was the next establishment. His loss was $2,000, complete on stock, and was insured for $1,000. The policy would have expired in two days. He lived up stairs and lost most of his household goods, including a valuable library. His loss was quite $1,000. Atkinson's hardware store was in a building owned by F. E. Dennett. Loss on building $2,000, insured for $1,000. Mr. Atkinson estimates his loss at $2,000, insured for $1,000. Mr. Dennett succeeded in saving a good portion of his household goods, but will probably lose $500 on them. D. Wayne & Co. succeeded in saving quite a quantity of goods. Their loss on building is about $1,500, insured for $1,000. Loss on stock $1,225, fully insured. The corner building was owned by F. E. Dennett and occupied by him in his agricultural implement business. Loss about $1,000; not insured. Mr. Dennett's loss on other goods, including buildings, will probably reach $5,000.
On Main street, adjoining Burke's hotel, was Culbertson's bank of Car- roll. Loss on building $1,000, not insured. Mr. Culbertson saved all his books and papers. The vault contained a large number of books, includ- ing complete abstracts of real estate in Carroll county, also a burglar proof
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safe with time lock worth $1,100, and containing $7,000 in currency. The vault was opened Sunday morning and everything was found intact. The paint in the safe was not even blistered nor was the smell of fire to be de- tected in the canvas covered books.
The next building north belonged to E. R. Hastings, and was formerly occupied by the Herald printing office and the postoffice. It was used as a school room; the loss on building was $500; insured for $400. The inde- pendent district loses furniture to the extent of $200, with no insurance.
A small frame building owned by J. H. Underhill came next. Loss $300; not insured.
John D. Schmidt's carpenter shop and residence burned next. Value $300; insured.
Hamilton's blacksmith shop was not worth to exceed $100.
The wagon shop and residence belonging to Jacob Dacewitz were both destroyed. His loss is about $1,500; insurance $480.
Whitman's livery stable was the last building to burn on Main street. All the stock and carriages were saved. The loss on building, feed, etc., may reach $800 and is divided between M. Hunter of Exira and Mr. Whit- man. There was no insurance.
On Adams street a small frame building belonging to W. T. Minchen and worth $100 was destroyed.
August Staak lost his house to which he was building an addition. His loss is not far from $500. Mr. Jensen, tailor, lost a small house. He says that $200 would replace his loss.
The Presbyterian church cost between $2,500 and $3,000. It was hand- somely furnished and well finished. The organ, pulpit and pulpit chair were saved through the efforts of Mr. Bailey, the pastor. The bell fell from the steeple, but is uninjured. There is an insurance policy on the building in favor of the Church Erection Board, which advanced that amount, and will doubtless reappropriate it toward rebuilding. It is thought that the foundation is not materially damaged and that a portion of the brick can be used inside of the new walls. The loss will be $1,600 above insur- ance and possibly will be more.
The above, we believe, covers every important loss by the fire. It is possible, however, that some may have been overlooked. In the confusion following a fire like this anything like collecting authoritative data has been the work of great difficulty. But mistakes and omissions may be corrected later.
Then the writer goes on to say where firms driven from business by the fire have relocated for the continuance of their business. After men- tioning the number that had already begun to erect buildings for immediate use, it was stated that the following firms had located in places named :
George Efferts, rebuilt.
E. M. Betzer, in the court house.
Dr. Lane, at his residence.
O. H. Manning, in court house.
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C. M. Lueck, shoeshop rebuilt.
W. R. Mills, Cooke's building.
Cyrus Mark, in Sutton building. J. W. Hatton, Cooke's building. G. E. Anderson, Cooke's building.
Seb Walz, shoeshop, in Keckevoet's.
Nic Beiter, new building, in old location.
James Thompson, in Jones' lumber shed.
Scott & Beall, rebuilding in old location.
H. F. Flinn, in Griffith & Deal's bank. Brooks & Holmes, in Griffith & Deal's.
T. B. Reese, next door west of postoffice.
L. T. Anderson, in Patty's basement. Bank of Carroll, in Bowman & Guthrie's office.
Mrs. C. M. Mills, next door to lowa House.
Dr. Wright, in Herald editorial rooms.
C. S. Whitman's livery, opposite Colclo house. D. Wayne & Co., next south from Colclo house.
M. A. Hoyt & Brother, in Guthrie & Bowman's office.
J. R. Atkinson, in building back of Iowa house.
Mrs. Bemis, millinery, in R. K. Town's furniture store.
J. L. Wetherill, hardware, next door to Griffith & Deal's bank.
After the Carroll fire a meeting was held by the city council, and an ordi- nance passed, as follows:
"That the building or use of any building, the outer walls of which are not composed of brick and mortar or of iron or all stone and mortar, and the roof of which is not of metal or slate is hereby prohibited, declared un- lawful upon the following blocks of said town: Blocks No. 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, in the official plat of said town, except under a permit granted by the council, and said blocks are hereby decreed to be known as the fire limit within said town, and all buildings within the said fire limits except permitted otherwise by the council shall have iron shutters on all openings, doors and windows towards adjoining buildings in the same block. No license for the sale of beer or wine bought or kept by the pool hall or bowling alley shall be granted except the same is to be in a building, the outer walls of which shall be of brick and mortar. Any permit excepting to this ordinance sliall state the time for which it is granted, and shall not be granted for more than fourteen months, and shall be only issued upon filing with the recorder an agreement binding the person to whom it is issued to remove said building out of the fire limits on or before the ex- piration of said permit, and giving to the authorities of said town all right to so remove at his expense in case of his failure so to do and waiving the right to claim any damages occurred through or by reason of said re- moval."
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A week later Mr. Hastings writes :
"It is entirely within bonds to say that most of our people having lost in the fire were most agreeably surprised at the manner in which they were met by the adjustors of the various insurance companies. Up to that time it had been common talk that the insurance companies would try and cut down losses to the lowest possible figure, but it proved that the adjustors used their efforts very properly to ascertain the actual amount lost and mak- ing payment on policies to the amount ascertained to have been lost. Nearly all of the losses have been settled, and the amounts received from the in- surance companies in the neighborhood of $40,000 to $50,000."
Marvin Hewitt of the C. & N. W. Ry. on learning of the fire wrote a letter to O. H. Manning, in which he says :
"Our company will undertake to transport stone and brick to be used in the erection of buildings on sites destroyed by the great fire at Carroll at one half the existing rates for such material."
This is a large concession. The regular rate from Boone to Carroll is $17 for a car of 10 tons, and the reduction will make the cost of shipping $8.50. Material will be hauled at regular rates, and one half the amount refunded on certificate of the agent at Carroll that it has been used for the purpose stated. It is also ascertained that Station Agent Town has been ordered to make a reduction of 25 per cent on all freight shipped during the month of October on stocks to replace those destroyed by fire.
The rapidity of Carroll's recovery from the calamity is told in a later newspaper account as follows :
"It is not quite seven weeks since the fire swept out of existence nine- tenths of the business portion of Carroll destroying completely that portion of buildings and the stocks they contained. It will be of interest to learn how much has been done in the way of repairing damages, and restoring business to its former condition. Permanent buildings have been put up by the following :
"Thos. F. Barbee, C. M. Luck, Eli Griffith, restaurant; L. T. Ander- son, harness ; Geo. Efferts, dry goods and groceries; Henry Chapman, saloon ; B. Drees one story brick saloon; Nich Shaub, saloon; A. Staak, J. E. Thompson, M. A. Hoyt & Bro., H. W. Macomber, O. A. Kentner, Mrs. Beman, milliner; Mrs. W. R. Mills, milliner ; G. E. Anderson, res- taurant; Stevens & Ludwig, Burke's hotel rapidly pushing toward com- pletion ; H. F. Flinn, John Nockels, John Wetherill, Knew & Christian, druggists; J. A. Rohner, photographer ; J. W. Hatton, W. L. Culbertson, Hamilton & Daczewitz, C. S. Whitman. It is probable that never before did a town meet with such disaster and recovery therefrom so general and rapid."
CHAPTER X.
1880-1885.
THE INDICTMENT OF GEO. EFFERTS AND PETER NEW FOR STARTING THE CAR- ROLL FIRE OF 1879-THE NEW RAILROADS FROM CARROLL TO KIRKMAN AND AUDUBON-THE 1880 DEBT STATEMENT OF CARROLL COUNTY-REMOVAL OF HIOYT BUILDING FROM CARROLL FIRE LIMITS-NARROW ESCAPE OF C. C. COLCLO FROM DROWNING ORGANIZATION OF JEFF C. DAVIS POST AT CAR- ROLL-INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF MANNING-DISASTROUS FIRE AT MANNING-NEW TOWN OF TEMPLETON-DEDHAM-COON RAPIDS-THE MURDER OF THOMAS MAIIER AT ARCADIA BY THOMAS FAY-TIIE BIG GLID DEN FIRE OF CHRISTMAS EVE-COL. COOKE ELECTED DEPARTMENT COM- MANDER OF THE G. A. R .- LYNCHING OF TEXAS DESPERADOES AT HARLAN -FIRE CAUSES LARGE WASTE OF ARCADIA PROPERTY-THE HANGING OF OLD MAN JELLERSON AND ITS RESULTS-DEFALCATION OF COUNTY TREASURER W. R. RUGGLES-GRADUAL TREND OF CARROLL COUNTY FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRATIC PREDILECTIONS-RUGGLES' BONDSMEN MUST PAY.
1880.
November 2-At the general election Carroll county cast the follow- ing presidential vote: Garfield, 1,189; Hancock, 1,169; Weaver, 104. P. M. Guthrie of Carroll, who was this year nominated by the democrats for congress, received 1,261 votes against 1,102 for Carpenter. Wm. Lynch, Jr., was re-elected clerk of courts. For recorder, John Messer- smith received 1,274 votes against 1,098 for J. P. Hess. Other officials elected : Surveyor, R. Hill; coroner, D. Wayne; supervisors, Geo. E. Rus- sell, James Thompson. With the exception of Lynch and Thompson the republicans elected their ticket.
November 21-James McVay's livery stable at Glidden broken into and a pair of horses, buggy, double harness and fur robes stolen. Value of the property $400. The outfit was the property of A. W. Dawson.
November 21-Major A. E. Anderson has resigned as district attor- ney and is succeeded by E. B. Eaton of Sidney by appointment of the gov- ernor.
November 24-An examination by the grand jury of the county jail results in the condemnation of the building as unfit to harbor prisoners on
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account of the filthy condition. Carroll county prisoners are sent to Council Bluffs for safe keeping. The body recommends a new jail.
December 6-A new fire company with eighteen charter members is formed at Carroll and the following officers elected: Chief, James Thomp- son; assistant, Sam Todd; 2d assistant, F. Sprague; secretary, C. Casher ; treasurer, C. S. Whitman; engine keeper, Wm. Miller.
December 8-Engineers are surveying a line to run from the first sta- tion south of Carroll on the Harlan branch to Audubon.
December 12-Arcadia with one-fourth of the population of Carroll has seven saloons while Carroll has six. The saloons at Arcadia run with- out license, the town not being incorported. Glidden requires saloon keep- ers to give a bond of $500 in addition to the license and has but one saloon.
The stations on the new railroad southwest from Carroll are now being located and named. The first, on the northwest quarter of section 18, Roselle township, between eight and nine miles southwest of Carroll, is called Halbur. This is the only town on the new line in Carroll county. The second station, being in Iowa township, Crawford county, just across the county line, is called Manning. The expectation was that this town would be in Carroll county but it was not possible to procure the land where the company desired at a reasonable price. [It was afterwards located in Warren township, Carroll county.] The third station is nine miles from Manning in Shelby county, called Irwin. The terminus of the road will be at Kirkman, seven miles from Harlan. The price of business lots in the new towns are $100 to $200 with liberal reductions to those who build: Residence lots, $100 to $150. The survey of the C. M. & St. P. road from Marion to Council Bluffs runs directly through the town plat of Manning. Should the road be built there Manning will make one of the best towns in this part of Iowa. It is expected that trains will be run- ning on the Carroll-Kirkman branch by the first of next July.
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