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 85
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695
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
1869, a number of railroad officials were taking dinner at Lewis Beason's house (which stands on an eminence right in the town) when the subject of the new station and its probable name was being dis- cussed. The railroad men proposed to call it Beason, but that gentleman, out of modesty, objected. Mrs. Beason suggest- ed that the town be called Anita, in hon- or of her niece, Anita Cowles, of San Francisco. The subject was then dropped, but soon afterward Mr. Beason was in- formed by the railroad officials that Mrs. Beason's suggestion had been adopted and the town had been christened Anita. The name is Spanish, and should be pro- nounced as though spelled with an e in- stead of an i, thus: An-e-ta. Translated it means "little Anna."
The present busy town owes its incep- tion and present prosperity in a large measure to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, which came through here in 1868. The following year it was de- termined to put in a station at this point, and the town was laid out as above men- tioned. For beauty of situation, and neatness of surroundings it has no peer in the county. Comfortable residences crown the gentle knolls or hillocks upon which the town is built, and are surround- ed by beautiful lawns and gardens, while thousands of trees rest over the whole.
MUNICIPAL.
The city of Anita was incorporated on the 10th of June, 1875, and the following were elected the first officers of the new city: Edwin Cate, mayor; Martin Bach, J. P. James, H. C. Saunders, Charles Young and George Todd, trustees; Martin
Bach, treasurer and collector. The first ordinance was passed on the 1st of July, 1875, and was in relation to sidewalks. The present officers (1884) are as follows: H. C. Lighter, mayor; C. M. Myers, treas- urer; J. E. Bruce, recorder; J. P. James, A. S. Culver, J. Leasure, C. D. Bartlett and Edwin Cate, councilmen or trustees.
FIRST HOUSE.
The first dwelling house erected on the the town site, after the laying out of the plat, was put up by C. D. Bartlett, in the spring of 1869. This he ran as a boarding house for about a year and a half, when he built the hotel,as mentioned in another place.
BUSINESS MATTERS AND MEN.
The first general merchandise store in Anita was opened by Keith, Cate and Company, on the 20th of June, 1869, with a stock of goods in all lines, in a building on the corner of Chestnut and Main streets. In the following year, the firm name was changed to that of Cate and Hamlin, and in 1874, they removed to the building now owned by E. Cate. In 1877, Mr. Hamlin withdrew from the firm and the business has been since continued by Mr. Cate alone, who carries a large and complete stock of goods, in all the lines usually kept in general merchandise stores.
Edwin Cate, the pioneer merchant and one of Anita's most influential citizens, is a native of the "Empire State," having been born on the 6th day of November, 1831, in Orleans county, New York. Ile is the son of James and Margaret (Stancil) Cate the former a native of New Hamp- shire, the latter of New York. Soon after
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
his marriage, James Cate located in Or- leans county, where he resided until 1838, when he emigrated to Van Buren county, Michigan, being among the pioneers of that region. Edwin was at the time of this removal about seven years of age, and spent his early life among the woods of the, then, alnost pathless wilderness. He grew to manhood and saw the country settle up, until, what they had found in a state of nature in the wildest mood, had grown into a state of highest cultivation. In 1852, Edwin was united in marriage with Martha Fuller, a daughter of Cyrenus Fuller, a native of New York, and one of the early settlers of Michigan. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Cate came to Iowa, bringing with him his widowed mother, his father having died in 1858 or 1859, and located at Hamlin's Grove, in Audubon county, where he entered into the mer- cantile trade. On the laying out of the town of Anita, in 1869, Mr. Cate removed thither, and in company with O. C. Keith, opened the first general merchandise store in the place, and has ever since held the position of leading merchant in that town. He was honored by his fellow citizens by being elected the first mayor of Anita, and has held other local offices of trust and responsibility. When Mr. Cate came here this was a wild country and perhaps there is not one other man in the eastern part of Cass county who has done so much to develop the resources, and lend a help- ing hand to those who have made Cass county what it is. Truly it may be said, without flattery of Mr. Cate, that he has been identified with the interests of Anita, with the interests of Cass county, from the time of his settlement here, and is
considered as one of the most prosperous and trusted citizens. He has had seven children, three of whom are living-Frank, May and Harry.
In the early part of 1869, John More- land opened a small grocery store, where he remained a few years, when he became financially embarrassed, failed, and left the county.
The next who adventured in business, at this point, was John Morrison, who opened a store of the same general char- acter, in 1871. He remained in business for some years, when he disposed of it to Gates Bros.
Previous to his misfortunes, John More- land opened a general merchandise store, but in a very short time, he disposed of it to Cormack and Mosher, who in turn sold out to Mr. Davenport. They afterwards sold to Lattig Bros., and it has since be- came P. Lattig and Sons. The general merchandise trade is represented at pres- ent by the following firms: Edwin Cate, Gates Bros., P. Lattig and Sons, Worth- ing Bros. and Leasure.
The grocery business is well represent- ed in Anita by J. B. McGrew and L. M. Bosely. They both carry a large stock of groceries, which would do credit to places of much greater population.
J. B. McGrew, grocer, was born in Jef- ferson county, Ohio, December 9, 1829. His parents were Jacob B. and Martha (Davis) McGrew, natives of Montgomery county, where they were married in 1818, and two children were born to them. From Pennsylvania they removed to Jef- ferson county, Ohio, where eleven more children were born. Jefferson county was then a wilderness. There they took
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
up land, and made a farm. They were Quakers, and lived and died in that faith. Jacob B. McGrew was an old line Whig, and took an active interest in the under- ground railroad, assisting many a poor colored man to gain his liberty. He went to Canada to assist in opening schools for the colored race, in which laudable enter- prise he was aided by his son J. B. In the spring of 1848 he removed to Knox county, and in 1859 to Marshall county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred September 27, 1871. His wife died in Legrand, Feb- ruary 26, 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared in the wilderness, receiving his early education in the pioneer schools of his native county. He was a school. mate and personal friend of William Windom. In the spring of 1858 he was married to Harriet Loofbourow, a daughter of John W. Loofbourow. Eight children were born to them, five of whom are liv- ing-Frank P., Mary E., James L., Nellie G. and C. Arthur. In 1858 he came to Iowa, entered a farm in Marshall county, and engaged in farming. In 1869 he came to Cass county, and embarked in mercan- tile business in Atlantic, which he contin- ued five years, and then engaged in ship- ping stock. He remained in Atlantic until 1879, when he purchased a farm in Grant township, this county. In April, 1884, he commenced the grocery business in Anita, where he is at present engaged in trade. He carries a stock valued at twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. McGrew came to the State in limited circumstances, but by industry and wise management has acquired a large property, and to-day ranks among the well-to-do business men
of the county. He is politically a Re- publican, and his first vote was cast for John P. Hale, the Free-soil candidate for the presidency. Mrs. McGrew is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
I. M. Bosley is a native of Alleghany county, Maryland, and was born March 1, 1825. He is a son of John and Rebecca (Rice) Bosley, natives of Maryland. They were the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. They resided upon a farm in their native State uutil . their death. L. M. Bosley, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Maryland. His parents' death occurred when he was a small boy, and he was brought up by a man named Frederick Rice, with whom he remained until eighteen years old. In 1843 he was married to Louisa Welch, a daughter of William Welch, of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Bosley have six children-William, Clara, Mary E., Lor- enzo, Elmira and Bertha. In 1862 Mr. Bosley went to Lee county, Illinois, near Amboy, where he lived four years, then went to Iowa City. He came to Anita in August, 1874, since which he has been a resident of this city. He is engaged in the grocery and restaurant business. In 1876 he met with a serious accident, his team running away with him and breaking his left arm in two places, crushing his ankles and otherwise injuring him. He has never, since then, fully regained his health.
The pioneer drug store was established in the fall of 1870, by Doctor V. D. Rood, at that time, as at present, a practicing physician of the town. This he sold out to John Sherman, who disposed of it to J. E. Sansom and Company.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
This line of trade is represented, at present, by the firms of J. E. Sansom and Company, and Elverton E. Major.
The first hardware store, exclusively devoted to that line, was instituted by S. C. Rood and Company, who are the present proprietors of the largest store of this kind in the place. The business has also representatives in the firms of W. G. King, and H. M. Clark and Company.
Mrs. S. J. Moseley opened the first mil- linery and dressmaking establishment in Anita.
Beason and Calkins opened the first lumber yard in Anita, in 1869, and ran the same for two years, when they sold out to J. P. James. The business, now, has able representatives in the persons of R. D. Vernon and E. S. Hoyt.
Beason and Calkins were also the first dealers in agricultural machinery in the. town, entering into that line in 1870. The business in machinery for the uses of .agriculture is divided among three houses, viz: S. C. Rood and Company, H. O. Ilull and Company, and W. G. King.
H. O. Hull was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, February 20, 1842. He is a son of H. O. Hull, of Monroe county, Illinois, who was born in 1800, and Char- lotte (Owens) Hull, a native of Ohio, born in 1818. By this union there was a family of six sons and five daughters. They settled about 1840, in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in mining. They remained in the mining districts of Galena and Dubuque nine years. In 1849 they removed to Delaware county, Iowa, where he was killed by a runaway team in 1870. The subject of this sketch went to Delaware county with his parents
and was there reared upon a farm. His education was obtained in a log school house, with puncheon floors and slabs for seats. He was married in the fall of 1862 to T. M. Scovel, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living- Lillie, wife of C. L. Calkins, of Anita; Mary, Nancy, Thomas and Arthur. Mr. Hull settled, after his marriage, in Clay- ton county, Iowa, and remained until 1868, then removed to Polk county. In the fall of 1876 be settled in Anita and embarked in the stock business, which he has since followed. Soon after his arri- val, he purchased a half interest in the business of G. W. Chafa. This firm pur- chased from one hundred and fifty to two hundred car loads of stock yearly. Mr. Hull commenced business in very limited circumstances and has by hard work acquired a competence. He handles Walter A. Woods' and McCormick reapers, J. I. Case threshers, Moline and Studebaker wagons, buggies, and every- thing that is generally to be found in a first-class agricultural house.
The wagon and carriage building estab- lishment of Seaborn Moore, the principal industrial work of the village, was opened by their present owner in 1880, and by ability, skill and strict attention to bus- incss, has worked up a large and con- stantly increasing trade. He manufac- tures all kinds of vehicles; among others, farm and Inmber wagons, Dexter twin- spring buggies, etc. Mr. Moore is the inventor and patentee of the Anita iron wagon stake, one of the neatest and best applications of that metal for the pur- pose, in use, and will entirely supercede the old wooden contrivance, now used.
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699
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Seaborn Moore is a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and was born August 10, 1833. His parents, Seaborn and Rachel (Stubbs) Moore, were natives of North Carolina. During the war of 1812, Sea- born Moore, Sr., was drafted, but was unable to go. They were married in Ohio, and about 1832 removed to Wayne county, Indiana. Eleven children were born to them, ten of whom are living. In 1839 they removed to Tazewell county, and in the spring of 1846 to Jones county, Iowa. They afterward removed to Dallas county, where both parents afterwards died. The subject of this sketch, in early life, learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company K, of the Twenty- fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Soon after enlisting, he went to Muscatine, Iowa, and thence to Helena, Arkansas. He participated in the engagements at Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg and others. In June, 1863, be was taken sick and sent to the hospital, at Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained three months. He then received a thirty days' furlough, at the expiration of which time he went to Davenport, Iowa, and there served the balance of his term. After the war he went to Jones county and soon after took up the wagon maker's trade. He remained there two years, then went to Anamosa, where he re- mained one year, then removed to Mount Carroll. He resided in the latter place ten years. He was married to Emma Christman, a daughter of Lewis Christ- man, of Mount Carroll. They have three children-Viola, Hiram and Erastus.
John B. Allen was the first stock buyer
of Anita, commencing in that line of trade at this point, at the beginning of the vil- lage. The business is represented, now, by D. W. Faulkner, Henry O. Hull, John- son Brothers, and John B. Allen.
Lewis Beason shipped the first car load of stock, at Anita, in 1869.
John B. Allen shipped the first car load of wheat from the place, and received the first car load which was ever shipped to the town. The car was loaded with salt.
S. J. Applegate, of Atlantic, built the first grain warehouse in Anita in 1870-71.
The grain business of Anita is repre- sonted at present, by the following firms: Denton and Son, T. T. and J. L. Dow, Gilman and Hancock, and R. Davis and Son.
Jobu Waters established the pioneer livery stable in Anita, in 1875, and the following year it was purchased by H. C. Lighter, the present owner.
II. C. Lighter, mayor of Anita, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, July 12, 1844. He is a son of Andrew and Nacy Padgett, who were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters. In 1842 or 1843, they left their home in Kentucky and located in Morgan county, Illinois, where they engaged in farming. In 1846 they removed to Iowa, and settled in Ma- haska county. The subject of this sketch received a common school education. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, of the One Hundred and First Illinois Infantry, and was detailed at Grant's headquarters, as messenger boy. He was at Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain and Pea Ridge. He was taken sick and sent to Holly Springs, where he, with thirteen hundred others, was taken prisoner. Soon after he was
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
paroled and sent to St. Louis, where he was exchanged. In the spring of 1864, he was discharged on account of disability. He returned home and for one year was confined to his bed. Mr. Lighter was married in 1869, to Hattie Libby, daugh- ter of Jerry Libby, of Mahaska county, and one of its earlies settlers. By this union there were three children-Effie May, Edwin C. and IIenrietta. In 1870, Mr. Lighter came to Cass county and lo- cated in Franklin township, where he took up land and made a farm. He removed to Anita in 1876. He has held many local offices of trust and is the present mayor of the city. He is a member of the Obe- dience Lodge, No. 380, and a Master Mason.
BANKS.
The bank of Anita was established in July, 1876, by C. M. Myers, as sole pro- prietor, and has been continued by him ever since. He does a general banking business, having correspondents in New York, Chicago and DesMoines, and buys and sells excharge on all foreign coun- tries. For the security of the funds en- trusted to him,and his own protection, he has one of the best vaults in this section, and a Hall fire and burglar-proof safe. Mr. Myers is a thorough business man and highly respected by all who know him.
EXCHANGE BANK.
This monetary institution was estab- lished in October, 1883, with J. B. Hen- shaw as cashier. It was only operated. until February 15, 1884, when it was re- moved to Manning.
HOTELS.
The old stage station of Lewis Beason, was kept as a boarding house by Jonathan
Gates, in 1870 and 1871, and was the only house of entertainment in the village. C. D. Bartlett, came here from Illinois, in 1869, and in 1871 put up a hotel, which he called the Anita House, and which he ran for many years.
C. D. Bartlett is a native of Franklin county, Massachusetts, born March 5, 1828. He is a son of Chester and Sophia (Pulsi- fer) Bartlett, were also natives of Frank- lin county, and the parents of three chil- dren, two danghters and one son. Ches- ter Bartlett was a shoemaker by trade and followed that business for many years. In 1843 he left Massachusetts for the, then, far west. He located in Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois, where he engaged in the boot and shoe trade. He died in that county in 1850, aged sixty-one years. He was a firm supporter of the Democatic party and cast his first vote for Jackson, for president. The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the common schools of his native State. He was mar- ried March 17, 1850, to Mary J. Sandham, who died in 1865, at Hennepin, Illinois. By this union there were two children-Mary A.,now the wife of A. K. Cassel, of Lawn Ridge, Marshall county, Illinois, and Liz- zie, of Hennepin, Illinois. Mr. Bartlett was again married in the spring of 1867, to Mrs. Araminta (Boone) McMahon, widow of James McMahon. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Bartlett came to Anita, Cass county, and built the first bouse in the place after the location of the town. He kept a boarding house one and a half years, then built the Anita House, which was the first hotel of the town. He is at present engaged in the insurance business. He has held the office of justice of the
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
peace eight years and is also a notary. Mr. Bartlett came to the county at an early day, when the country was new and the prairie unbroken, and has witnessed its transformation into a populous and wealthy community.
The Whitney House was built during the summer of 1878, by Frank H. Whit- ney, the proprietor of the town plat, and the present banker of Atlantic. It is in size thirty by seventy feet, three stories high, and is a well finished frame struct- ure. F. M. Buckles was the first land- lord. He has been followed by M. Bach, E. A. Stone and the present host, D. O. Flint.
The pioneer physician of Anita, was V. D. Rood, wlio located at that place in 1870. There are now in the town, besides the doctor, several other physicians, all of whom are mentioned in the chapter devoted to the medical fraternity of the county.
The pioneer blacksmith shop was opened by H. C. Sau ders, a native of Pennsylvania, who is still a resident of this barg, although engaged in other busi- ness. This shop was the second building erected in the town, and the forge was lighted in 1869. This business is now represented by J. C. Williams.
Mr. Williams is a native of Erie county, New York, born in 1840. He followed farming in his native county until twenty- three years old. In 1854 he came to Iowa, and located in Jones county, where he be- came acquainted with Margaret Cartright, to whom he was married, January 23, 1861. By this union there were six chil- dren-Mary, Jennie and Lena, who died young; Warner, who was known as the
"Iowa Giant baby," weighing at birth, seven pounds, and who died at the age of six years, seven months and three days, weighing two hundred pounds, and was four feet, ten inches in height, and forty- eight inches around his breast. He was an active boy and always healthy. His death was caused by a bad cold settling on his lungs. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have but two children living-Harry and How- ard. In 1878 Mr. Williams settled in Atlantic, Cass county, and engaged in blacksmithing. He came to Anita in 1881, and has since been a resident of that city. Mr. Williams is one of the pioneers of the State, and a man of per- severance as well as genius and ability. He patented the diamond harrow in 1875, also the Eureka reversible harrow, both of which have come into general use.
Jersey Spring Creamery, Cate Brothers proprietors, situated one-half mile west of Anita, on their farm. They commenced operations in the spring of 1881, and built a creamery, eighteen by thirty-six. feet, and have it finely equipped. The cost of this, including the machinery, was $500. The capacity is one thousand five hundred pounds per day, but as they do not buy any cream, they only manufacture two hundred pounds per week, but this is the product of their own Jersey cows, and their make of butter cannot be sur- passed by that of any creamery in the country. Cate Brothers own stock farms, one of one hundred and six acres, one-half mile west of Anita, and the other ninety- six acres, a little north. These farms are well adapted to the rearing of stock, both having running water and under a high state of cultivation. John and B. C.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Cate, in 1879, bought the land and com- menced the enterprise, and in 1881, S. M. Cate bought in and gave the business more of a basis and impetus, so that they raise now, and ship two car loads of cattle each season, of their own raising. In 1880 they purchased a Jersey bull in Earl- ham, Dallas county, with which they bred the grades, and afterwards a Holstein bull, at a cost of $300, one year old, weighing nine hundred pounds, with which they are producing some of the finest stock to be found in the country. They are making rapid strides to furnish to the people here a quality of cattle, whereby they need not be compelled to go to a foreign market for these breeds. Their buildings are convenient and roomy and will be enlarged as their future use may require.
Benjamin C. Cate was born in New Hampshire, in Merrimac county, sixteen miles north of Concord. The date of his birth being October 18, 1849. He is a son of Miles H. Cate and Sarah (Sergeant) Cate. His first removal was to Henry county, Illinois. Settling here, he took charge of S. F. Gilman's stock farm two years, which gave him ideas of western stock raising, however before coming he had been engaged in stock extensively in New Hampshire. Upon coming to Cass county, he found the opening here a good one, and is one of Cass county's stock men and enterprising citizens. He was united July 4, 1872, with Ella T. Robin- son, a native of New Hampshire, and daughter of E. W. Robinson, a farmer in that State. He is a member of the Con- gregational church, and in politics, he favors the Democratic party.
STEAM FLOURING MILL.
The Pearl grist mill, at Anita, was erected by Jacob Kuhn, in 1877, at a cost of about $5,000. It consists of a main building 24x40 feet on the ground, to which are attached two additions, each twelve feet square. It is equipped with machinery of the most improved kind, and has three run of buhrs. It has the capacity of turning out eighty barrels of first-class flour, every twenty-four hours. The power is derived from a first-class en- gine, of thirty horse power. The mill is now owned by S. C. Rood and company, but is under the management of A. S. Culver, who has had charge for the last four years. The mill is doing a most ex- cellent business, both in custom work and merchant grinding, and is one of the leading industries of the town.
A. S. Culver, miller, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, October 3, 1841. He is a son of Lemuel and Pa- tience (Simonds) Culver, natives of Ver- mont, who located in St. Lawrence county where they reared a family of five chil- dred, three sons and two daughters. Lem- uel Culver was a farmer and remained in St. Lawrence county until his death, which occurred in 1879. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist church. A. S. Culver was reared upon a farm, and when seven- teen years of age, was apprenticed to a miller to learn the trade. He served three years and received for his services two hundred and fifty dollars. In 1863 he enlisted in the United States navy under the command of Commodore Parker. He served until the close of the war. In 1866 he was married to Celesta Rose, daughter of D. P. Rose of St. Lawrence
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