USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 103
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Guards, and was taken into the hundred day service. In September, 1863, he was discharged, and in the spring of 1864, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Nine. ty-seventh Ohio, and served in that regi- ment until the close of the war, in 1865.
Thaddeus Prall is among the prominent representative men of this county. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born Octo- ber 22, 1826, his parents being Gabriel and Mary (Heaton) Prall. When Thad- deus was twelve. years old the family removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where his youth was spent, and where he was engaged as mail carrier and in various occupations, about eight years. When about twenty-one years of age, he removed to Clark county, Indiana, where, December 27, 1849, he was married to Rebecca J. Prather, a native of that county. They have had six children, five of whom are now living-Rosella; born March 26, 185], now living in Atlantic; Columbus, born March 6, 1854, now a resident of this county; Leander A., born December 1, 1862, now living at home; Thaddeus Edmond, born January 28, 1868, now living at home; Elizabeth Arabell, born Angust 14, 1859, now living in Cass county; a son, Walter, was born Novem- ber 17, 1856, and died March 9, 1875. In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Prall went to Adams county, Illinois, where they continued to reside about sixteen years. In 1869, he came to this county and located on sec- tion 26, Atlantic township, which has since been his home. At that time this section of country was an unbroken prairie, the virgin soil was yet almost unvexed by the plow, the undulating prairie was one vast plain and to the
casual observer there was nothing to - encourage one to make a settlement, with the intention of securing a desirable, per- manent home. Yet here Mr. Prall, guided by an unerring judgment, characteristic of the man, comprehended the possibili- ties for the future of this county, and the certain returns from the soil, when prop- erly managed. His selection of land, and its present condition, show that he was not mistaken, and demonstrate what a true man, with pluck and energy, can accomplish. His farm consists of two hundred and forty acres of good land. He is now building a fine residence in the city of Atlantic, and intends to soon remove thither, where he can spend his declining years somewhat relieved from the more active duties of business life, in peace and happiness, and in the enjoy- ment of a home fairly won-a compe- tence honestly gained. In the political affairs of the township, Mr. Prall has been quite prominent. Although some- what reticent, and not at all inclined to push himself forward, yet he is a man whom the historian delights to honor, and one whose name must necessarily appear in connection with a true history of this county, among those who have aided most substantially in its development. He adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party.
J. H. Stowe, who is one of the promi- nent citizens of Atlantic township, has one of the finest places in the county. His residence is located on the Chestnut street road, about three-quarters of a mile directly south of Atlantic. It was built in the summer of 1871, and is one of the neatest in the township. The grounds
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
are of the most elaborate kind, having two rows of large evergreens on either side of the house, extending to the road. He also has two orchards, one of five hundred trees and the other of four hun- dred trees, and a vineyard of eight hun- dred to one thousand vines. Mr. Stowe was born on the 7th of November, 1822, in St. Lawrence county, New York. He is the son of Christopher and Lucretia Stowe. His ancestors settled in Massa- chusetts, in 1635, and in 1872 the family held a re-union at Connecticut, and there were over one thousand present. His father was of English descent and served in the war of 1812. Mr. Stowe was mar- ried to Mary H. Johnson, a native of Cass county, Illinois. They have been blessed with five children-Charles J., Mattie L., John Franklin, Asa D. and Emma R. Mr. Stowe is a charter member of the Odd Fellows' lodge of Cass county, and was a member of the first organization of the Sons of Temperance.
Leonard H. Soper is a native of Upper Canada, and was born on the 21st of Sep- tember, 1846, and is the son of Harley and Parmelia (Bullis) Soper. He attended school in his native county until about twelve years of age, when he came to Knox county, Illinois, and located on a farm near Galesburg. In 1859, he came to Iowa and located in Franklin town- ship, Cass county. He was married in June, 1867, to Elizabeth Headley, a native of Bureau county, Illinois. Their union has been blessed with five children -Lenora, Addie, Ira, Myrtle and Maudie. Soon after his arrival in Iowa, Mr. Soper came to Cass county and settled in Atlan- tic township, where he purchased a farm
of one hundred and twenty acres and began raising stock. His farm is now under cultivation, and he is now raising cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Soper is at present school director and is presi- dent of the board of supervisors. The family are strict members of the Metho- dist church.
Lewis C. Bishop came to Cass county in the spring of 1863, locating on section 26, Atlantic township, on the then open prairie. He was born in Brookville, Indi- ana, June 8, 1818, his parents being Lewis and Mary, both of whom died in Edin- burg, Indiana, in 1828, within three days of each other. Lewis C. came to Burling- ton, this State, in October, 1846, where be remained one year. In 1847 he removed to Warren county, Indiana, and was one of the first settlers in that part of the country. In the spring of 1863, as before stated, he came to this county, where he has since resided. Hc was married, in 1838, to Sarah Ann Whitehead. By that marriage there were nine children. Of the boys, three enlisted in the army, and one died of small-pox while in the service. In 1859 he was again married to Lucy Brannen, a native of Maine. By that union there were four children-Esther, Emma, Lewis and Sherman. He has a farm of eighty acres, which is well im- proved. He is also extensively engaged in raising Poland-China hogs. In politics he is Republican. He has been township trustee one year. Mr. Bishop is the in- ventor of a machine which saves much of the labor about the house. By means of it, the family washing can be done in half an hour, and three gallons of cream may be churned in ten minutes. It also has
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
an attachment for turning a grindstone, emery wheel and lathe. It is also capable of being put to other uses, and would be an indispensable adjunct to every farm if properly introduced and brought to the publie notice.
George Voorhies owes his nativity to Hunterdon county, New Jersey, where he was born on the 16th of June, 1855. He remained in New Jersey until about six- teen years of age, when he came to Cass county, Iowa, and located at Anita, and there clerked in a drug store for five years, when he returned to New Jersey, on a visit. In the spring of 1875 he came to his present location, on section 19, of Atlantic township, where he now owns 186 acres of good land, nearly all under cultivation, and nicely adapted to raising stock. Mr. Voorhies was united in mar- riage, in 1877, to Miss Lizzie Shuart, who is a native of Ohio. By this union, three children have been born-Henry S., Mary Eliza and Hattie May. Mr. Voorhies' father is now living in New Jersey. His mother died in 1857. Mr. V. is a.young man of industry and integrity, and quite successful.
Andrew Gardner, is a native of Green county, New York, and was born on the 27th of March, 1841. When twelve years of age, his parents removed to Waupacca connty, Wisconsin, and there Andrew re- ceived his education. He came to this county in March, 1881, and bought a farm on section 9, Atlantic township, where lie now owns one hundred and twenty acres of good, cultivated land, and raises some of the finest cattle and hogs in the coun- ty, and has several fine Norman horses, which are of great value. His father was
a Presbyterian minister in his younger days, but in his declining years he resides with his son Andrew. The latter was united in marriage, in 1869, with Ann E. Rice, a native of New York. Their mar- riage has been blessed with four chil- dren-Alfred R., Erwin B., Leonard B. and James Willard.
GROVE CITY:
In 1856 Grove City was surveyed and platted by J. R. Kirk, Albert Wakefield, D. A. Barnett, A. G. McQueen, A. P. Thayer, V. M. Conrad, J. P. Wheeler and E. W. Davenport. It was situated about three miles east of Atlantic, on a beauti- ful and level elevation of land, and bade fair to be a prosperous and thrifty city at no distant day, with broad streets, public square and park, but was cut off in its infancy by the Rock Island railroad, which passed through one corner of the plat, but made no station, and established a depot and other buildings on their pres- ent site, which now forms a part of the prosperous young city of Atlantic.
At the March term, 1857, of the county court, E. W. Davenport acting as county judge, A. G. McQueen, R. D. McGeehon and one hundred and twelve others, pre- sented a petition praying the court to submit to the voters of Cass county, at the April election, 1857, the question of the removal of the county-seat from Lewis to Grove City, according to provisions of chapter forty-six of the session laws of the General Assembly of Iowa, for the year 1855. At the same time came S. M. Tucker and one hundred and sixty-three others, with a remonstrance asking that the question be not submitted to a vote of the people. Judge Davenport refused to
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
grant the prayer of the petioners, because the remonstrance contained the greater number of names.
The Grove City folks stuck to their text, however, and in 1858 they petitioned ยท the county judge, Lorah, who ordered a vote on the question of removal. The vote occurred in October of that year, and Grove City was defeated.
In 1868, when the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad was being built across the county, it was the general impression that Grove City would be a station, and a good one. Believing this, a number of business houses were opened in the place that year. Among the new comers, were J. W. Winslow, dealer in dry goods, G. W. Norton, P. Kirby, dealer in boots and shoes , P. Carney, liquor dealer ; Kauf- man and Co., clothiers ; Montgomery and Wynkoop, druggists; J. H. Barn well, phy- . sician ; C. F. Loofbourow, attorney-at- law. All of these citizens removed to Atlantic when it was demonstrated that Grove City was not to be made a station on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. They, however, joined with the land owners, about the place, in making resistance to the establishment of a sta- tion where Atlantic is, and only suc- cumbed when all hope of a station at their town was gone. During the pro- gress of the work on the railroad, and before the road had passed the place, Grove City was a lively village.
Grove City, at present, has no business houses, all her business men having re- moved to Atlantic as soon as the fate of their own town was known, in 1868. There are, however, at the town site, a
Methodist church and a good school house.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
During the year 1856, A. T. Drake kept a small stock of goods in a building at this point. He soon afterwards disposed the stock and engaged the hotel business. Mr. Drake erected a hotel which was torn down in 1880, and now apple trees are growing where it stood.
The first general store established at Grove City, was by George Conrad, now a resident of Atlantic, during the year 1860. The first stock of goods was purchased at Council Bluffs, and cost about $50. During the first year he carried an average stock of $200 or $300. He erected a walnut slab for a counter, and the first article sold was a paper of soda, for which he received fifteen cents. When Atlantic was started he removed thither, and for a number of years con- ducted a dry goods store on a large scale, being very successful.
R. D. McGeehon engaged in business in 1862. He conducted the same success- fully until the establishment of Atlantic, when he removed the stock to the new railroad point and opened the second general store in Atlantic.
James Jarvis established the first black- smith shop at Grove City.
POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established at Grove City in 1857. As there was already an office by the name of Grove City, in Iowa, it was christened Turkey Grove postoffice. Mrs. D. A. Barnett was the first postmis- tress. She was succeeded by William Curry, who afterwards removed to Des-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Moines. During the years of the rebel- lion R. D. McGeehon had charge of the office. When the office was discontinued 1870, Mrs. Albert Wakefield was postmis- fress.
HOTEL.
During the year 1856, John R. Kirk erected the principal hotel at Grove City and it was conducted by him about a year, when he was succeeded by A. T. Drake, who was succeeded by D. A. Barnett. After Mr. Barnett came a man by the name of Leech, who was followed by A. C. Thorp, now conducting the Whitney Hotel, at Wiota. Mr. Thorp disposed of the building to James Tumbleson, who moved the same to Atlantic in 1869. The building is now known as the City Hotel, which is now conducted by Eli Spry.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician to locate at Grove City was Dr. D. Findley, now a successful practitioner of Atlantic. He located at "this place in 1861, remaining but a short time, when he removed to the town of Lewis. He remained here until 1873, when he changed his location to Atlantic, where he has since remained.
The second physician was Dr. Morris Iloblitt, who has since died.
Dr. G. S. Montgomery was the next to settle at Grove City, locating in 1863. He remained here until Atlantic was established when he followed the tide and removed thither, engaging in the drug business. At present he is the senior member of the drug firm of Montgomery and Jones.
EDUCATIONAL.
Rev. William Douthat, an aged Pres- byterian preacher, started a select school
at Grove City, sometime in the year 1859. It was his intention to try to build up a college at that point. He sold scholar- ships in the usual way, and many promi- nent citizens of the county, Samuel L. Lorah, D. A. Bar nett, John R. Kirk, R. D. McGeehon, and K. W. Macomber, among the number, purchased scholar- ships, and aided the venerable educator as far as [they could. Mr. Douthat was a man of finished education, a good teacher but was somewhat eccentric in manner. He conducted his school, or embryo col- lege, two years and a half, when he be- came discouraged and abandoned the project, and returned to Pennsylvania, where he has, from that time to the pre- sent, preached the strictest Presbyterian doctrine, unmixed with the popular mild- ness in touching up erring sinners, which has prevailed to some extent. While Mr. Douthat conducted the school at Grove City, he very often -preached in that place and in other parts of the county, but he talked to the unregenerate, in language, too plain to be popular. The room in which he conducted his school was a small log cabin that stood on D. A. Barnett's farm. James S. Barnett, and Henry K. Macomber, mere lads then, were among the old.professor's pupils.
Miss Mary Curry (now Mrs. Seaman) taught the first school in Grove City set- tlement in 1857. She taught in a little house on John R. Kirk's farm, and that little house still has an existence.
ATLANTIC.
The city of this name, the most impor- tant town on the line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, be-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
tween Des Moines and Council Bluffs, was laid out in October, 1868. The site, at that time, was the property of Frank- lin H. Whitney, B. F. Allen, John P. Cook and others, and the plat of the same was filed for record, in the office of the county recorder, in the latter part of the same year. The first addition to the new town was made by F. H. Whitney, B. F. Allen, Job Walker, and was by them filed for record May 4, 1869. Dickerson and Keyes made another addition in May, 1871, and Job Walker and F. H. Whitney another in March, 1875. Several others have been added to the rapidly growing city.
The town is beautifully situated on the sides and tops of several knolls, and sur- rounded by timber. Since the inception of the town, it has rapidly risen in popu- lation and commercial importance, until it is not too much to claim for it the title of being one of the most important and prosperous cities in the south western part of the State. In 1870, the city had a population of one thousand two hundred souls; in 1875, this had risen to one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-two, and in 1880, to three thousand six hundred and sixty-two, and is now not far from five thousand.
THE BEGINNING.
On September 9, 1868; Henry Miller commenced the erection of the first house in Atlantic, for a home for himself and family. Its location was the present site. of the Park Hotel. He had four men at work on it, and they got it completed with such celerity that they were able to move into it on September 15th, just six days after its erection was commenced.
Its dimensions were sixteen by twenty- four feet, and it was two stories in height. When the erection of the Park Hotel was commenced, this house was removed to the southwest part of town, and it is now owned and occupied by Romeo Lawrence.
Mr. Miller's house was the only place where a meal could be obtained for a time. As soon as he finished his own house, he commenced the construction . of the Atlantic House (now the Reynolds House), for the Town company. Mr. Miller employed some twenty hands on its construction, and they boarded at. his house until it was finished. The first work on the Atlantic House was done on the 20th of September, and it was ready for the plasterers on October 16th. The hotel was opened about the first of November, with some two hundred boarders.
The grading of the railroad had then been about finished, but the Botna bridge had not been built, and the track-laying force was still far away.
When Mr. Miller was building his home, the large body of location-seekers who were quickly coming into the vicinity, would gather round the scene of opera- tions, and ply him with questions as to where the town was going to be located. So he informed Mr. Whitney of the facts, telling him that it was almost impossible to accomplish anything amid so much bother. The latter told him he would at once stake out the town, and ordered two furrows, one hundred feet apart, ploughed from Mr. Miller's house to the railroad grading. Lots were at once in great demand, and then the boom commenced,
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which has resulted in giving to Iowa the present beautiful city of Atlantic.
B. F. Allen, the DesMoines banker and one of the town owners, and a member of the railroad company, wanted the new town called Atlantic, but Mr. Johnson, the civil engineer who made the plat of the town'at DesMoines, placed on it the name "Avoca," and said he wanted it called so. The plat accordingly came down that way. A man named 'Eggle- ston, a painter by trade, had just come in from Grove City with a stock of goods, and painted a sign for himself and one for each of two other merchants, all of which bore the word "Avoca." His own was the first one he completed, and he hung it up over the sidewalk; it read, "The Avoca Store." But before the others were put up, Mr. Whitney had gone down to DesMoines, and on return- ing, announced that he had succeeded in having the name changed back to At- lantic. As a consequence, the two other signs were never put up, at least, as they were at first painted. It will undoubtedly be a surprise to most of Atlantic's people at the present day, to learn that but four- teen years ago, their town was for several days named Avoca. But it is a fact, nevertheless.
Eggleston's store was the first in At- lantic. IIe came from Grove City. He tore down his store there one Saturday in the first half of October, 1868, and re- moved it to the new town; on Sunday he put it together again, on what is now Chestnut street, the next lot south of where Whitney's elegant business block stands. It was fourteen by sixteen feet in size, built of pine lumber, and con-
tained a fair stock of groceries and pro- visions. The building was burned in the fire which destroyed that row of buildings.
The next store after Eggleston's, was the drug store of McFadden and France; their store was located on the northwest corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets; the next store was that of Southwick, who kept dry goods and groceries, on the southwest corner of Fourth and Chestnut; the next store was a drug store, kept by Montgomery and Wyncoop, across the street east from McFadden's; a black- smith shop was put in by Tharp, where the implement store now stands, across the street from Martin's hardware store, about the same time Eggleston's store was started.
The first boot and shoe store was put up by a man named P. Kirby, at the side of McFadden and France's store.
The first jewelry store was erected by the side of Kirby's store, and was kept by Jacob Schneider, from Mansfield, Ohio.
All these men had families except Mc- Fadden and France.
France did not remain long; his health was bad, and he went back to Des Moines, where he underwent medical treatment, and was compelled, on account of his sick- ness, to take a great deal of medicine. Mistaking some bed-bug poison for one of his medicines one night, he took a dose of it, and died from its effects.
John Bennett and Son, who came from Ohio, were the first to run the Atlantic House; they continued the business until December 21, 1869, when J. R. Reynolds purchased the building and business.
Parker had commenced and finished a boarding house while the Atlantic House
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
was building, and commenced taking in travelers and regular boarders. This building is now Haven's store.
MUNICIPAL.
The town of Atlantic was incorporated early in January, 1870. The first council met January 22, 1870, and was composed as follows: D. F. Hawks, mayor; A. S. Churchill, recorder; trustees, S. F Mar- tin, W. W. Parker, John R. Reynolds, S. W. W. Straight, and Joseph C. Yet- zer. This council chose Isaac Dicker- son, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, corpora- tion counsel; P. Carney, marshal. In February of the same year, S. S. Ford was elected marshal, to fill a vacancy occa- sioned by Mr. Carney's resignation. An- other town election was held March 1, 1870, when the officers above named were chosen again, with the exception that S. W. W. Straight was chosen recorder, in- stead of Mr. Churchill, and V. O'Bryan was chosen trustee instead of Mr. Straight. Mr. Whittam was re-chosen attorney. At the Jannary meeting, 1871, Harvey Yea- man was elected assessor. The council of 1870 gave way to the new council of 1871, March 7th of that year, but before break- ing up passed a resolution of thanks to Mayor Hawks and Recorder Straight. March 1, 1871, the same officers were re- elected throughout. The council selected H. T. Sharp, as town attorney; William Waddell, city engineer; S. S. Ford, mar- shal; H. C. Johnson, city printer; Samuel Harlan, assessor.
In March, 1872, the following officers were chosen: Charles Kelly, mayor; R. G. Phelps, recorder; trustees, A. D. Boyd, G. W. Barber, C. B Osborn, S. M. Childs and P. D. Tobie. This council elected A.
G. Conley, marshal; Lafe Young, printer; C. F. Loofbourow, attorney. Mr. Conley served as marshal but a short time, and when he resigned, James Pugh was se- lected. I. N. Hammond was elected assessor. W. Warwick was chosen treas- urer.
At the March election, 1873, the follow- ing officers were chosen: James W. Brown, mayor; C. B. Osborn, recorder; S. M. Childs, S. J. Applegate, Byron Lamson, J. A. McWaid and R. G. Phelps, trustees. The council selected the fol- lowing officers: II. E. Griswold, attor- ney; H. C. Johnson, printer; James Pugh, marshal. The two cisterns in the middle of Chestnut street were ordered built by this council.
In March, 1874, the following officers came into possession of the town govern- ment: G. W. Norton, mayor; I. N. IIam- mond, recorder; H. E. Bacon, D. Findley, J. A. McWaid, L. C. Sanborn, J. B. McGrew, trustees. The council selected the following officers: Julian Phelps, attorney; James Pugh, marshal; A. H. Copeland, assessor; W. Warwick, treas- urer.
The council of that year sent a petition to the Iowa Legislature, asking that the incorporation of the town be legalized, and in accordance with that petition a legalizing act was passed by the Fifteenth General Assembly. The Cap Sheaf was was selected as the official paper, the bid offered by the proprietor of that paper being lower than all others.
In March, 1875, the following officers were selected, by the sovereign voters of the town: Isaac Dickerson, mayor; J. M. Emmert, recorder; I. L. Dudley, treas-
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