USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 24
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 24
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About the same time the first merchants came in and erected the necessary buildings to carry on their business, they were:
Green & Lovejoy, drugs and groceries.
Ed Casey, hardware.
Parkhurst & Barnes, dry goods.
Blake & Menz, groceries.
D. R. Kerby, hardware.
·Jno. Lynch, general merchandise.
H. B. Lawrence, general merchandise.
D. G. Goodrich, agricultural implements.
James McKone, has the honor of being the first wagon maker, and Patrick Burns, the pioneer blacksmith. The first shoemaker who took upon. himself the labor of looking after the "soles" of the Lawlerites, was H. Duryee, and A. I. Mason, Geo. Fisk, J. M. Cailiff and - Greenleaf, were the first carpenters; all these came in the fall of 1869.
259
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
In a small red building, in the northeast part of the town,in the summer of 1870, Mrs. Sullivan taught the first school, teaching in one small room, and residing in the balance of the house. Mrs. Frank Fletcher succeeded her, the following year, thus were in- structed the earlier schools, but in 1871, a greater number of pu- pils, compelled the erection of larger and more convenient build- ings. A frame school house was erected, containing two rooms, but was afterwards enlarged to four rooms, and now stands, quite an ornament to the town; the value being placed at $4,000. Prof. Oscar A. McFarland is the present principal, and Miss Delia Con- ley, assistant. The enrollment of scholars has been, until within a year, as high as 160, but owing to the establishment of the school, presided over by the Sisters of the Presentation, the number has fallen off very largely, as quite a majority of the citizens are mem- bers of the Roman Catholic faith, who naturally patronize their own schools. The number enrolled now is about sixty,
This is a graded school, and consists of three grades, viz .: pri- mary, intermediate and grammar. The text books used are a lit- tle different from the ones endorsed by the county superintendent of schools, and hence we give the list: Kirk and Belfield's arith- metic and reader; Appleton's geography, introductory and test speller; Swinton's United States and General history; Brown's physiology; Swinton's word analysis, &c.
In this connection we must remark, that the records, relating to the organization of the school district, and all the school boards, prior to 1877, were destroyed, in the great fire of that year, and nothing remains from which to gather any data, but, beginning at that year, we give the names of the gentlemen who have served on that board: Wm. H. Parker, elected September, 1877, for one year; R. J, McHugh, Jno. Cronin, P. O'Reilly, Jno. A. Green, all elected Sept, 1877, F. E. Baker and Michael Martin, elected March, 1878, to serve for three years; R. F. Hedrick, elected March, 1878,. for one year; Geo. Evans, O. A. Taylor, and C. Springer, elected October 17th, 1878, to serve three years; P. O'Reilly and C. Springer, elected March, 1879, for one year; A. J. Kucker and H. S. Blackett, elected March, 1880, for three years; M. Martin and S. A. Potter, elected March, 1881, for three years. The above comprises all the records of the school board, now remaining, for which we are indebted to C. N. Husting, the present secretary.
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260
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Lawler, was first incorporated about the middle of the year, 1871, but, here the the same calamity steps in and deprives us of any reliable data, as the greater part of the town records were destroy- ed, with the school records, in the fire of 1877. But tradition hath it, that J. W. Vanauken was the first mayor, Jno. McHugh, re- corder, and that D. R. Kerby was a member of the first council, the balance we could not get at, with any reasonable degree of ac- curacy. However, at a meeting of the council, held September 17th, 1871, L. P. Hawley was appointed treasurer, and Jno. Phil- lips, marshal.
The council, present at a meeting held in June, 1872, we find H. E. Doolittle, H. B. Lawrence and J. A. Green, and a notice that L. P. Hawley resigned the office of treasurer, to take effect Sept. 17th, 1872.
Sept. 18th 1872, the new officers sworn in were:
John McHugh, mayor.
J. A. Green, councilman.
W. H. Parker
H. E. Doolittle, . Geo. Hemstock, 66
Dr. I. K. Gardner, =
C. Seeber, recorder de facto.
This council appointed Thomas W. Thompson, marshal, Septem- ber 21st, 1872, and after organizing, John Mc Hugh, resigning the position of mayor, J. W. Van Auken, was elected to fill the vacancy, and John McHugh, to fill the place of recorder.
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The officers of the city, elected March 3rd, 1873, were C. Seeber, mayor; John Mc Hugh, recorder; H. S. Blackett, H.W. Parker, P. H. Leonard, H. E. Doolittle and P. P. Barron, members of the council; who after being sworn in, appointed, John A. Green, city treasurer; C. M. Stone, city marshal; John Phillips, street com- missioner; E. Casey,assessor; and E. C. Walker, poundmaster, John Fitzsimmons, C. W. Harvey, I. K. Gardner, E. C. Crane and J. S. Fletcher members of the council, who appointed John Phillips, to fill the positions of marshal and street commissioner.
An election was held March 2nd,1874, with the following result: C. Seeber mayor; John McHugh, recorder; H. S. Blackett, James McKone, P. H. Leonard, W. H. Parker and E. Hurlbut, members
261
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
of the council, who immediately appointed John A. Green, city treasurer and John Phillips, marshal.
At a meeting of the council, held September 17th, 1874, a resolu- tion was passed, for the erection of a city jail, and the contract was accordingly let, but to whom the records are silent.
Mayor Seeber resigned, October 1st, 1874, but the vacancy was filled by pro tem. appointments,from time to time, until March8th 1874, when at the election held then, Wm. Lawrence, was chosen mayor; E. Casey, recorder; John A. Green, treasurer.
There having been some informality in the first incorporation,early in 1876, the legislature was applied to, for an act to legalize the incorporation, on receipt of which an election took place, under the new act of incorporation then adopted. The said election took place March 6th, 1876, and William Lawrence, chosen mayor; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; H. C. Geeting, recorder; C. W. Harvey, E. C. Crane; John A. Green and I. K. Gardner, members of the city council, and John Phillips was continued in his dual office of marshal and street com- missioner. However, after January 25th, 1877, J. Mc Kone's name, appears upon the records, as a member of said council, perhaps, as substitute to fill some vacancy.
At the election held March 5th, 1877, there were one hundred, and fifteen votes cast within the the corporation, of which I. K. . Gardner, received seventy-four, C. Seeber, fifteen, and J. W. Van Auken twenty-six, for the office of mayor; for recorder, H. C. Geeting, received sixty-six votes, I. K. Gardner seven, and I. N. Barker forty; for marshal, (now made an elective office) R. D. Parker had fifty votes against F. M. Phillips sixty-two; for street commissioner, F. M. Phillips, received fifty-seven votes, R. D. Parker, thirty, and C. W. Harvey, nineteen.
D. R. Kerby, polled eighty-two votes, J. S. Fletcher, twenty-six, and James Carter, three, for the office of city treasurer; for assessor, J. M, Lynch, received thirty-six votes, P. H. Leonard, sixty-three and John Nicholas fourteen. The vote on Councilmen stood, W. M. Morton, sixty-tour. James McKone, ninety-two, D. C. Mc- Farland,fifty-three, T. Cronin, fifty-nine, H. S. Blackett, fifty-seven, P. O. Reiley, fifty-four, C. Stringer, fifty, Joseph Binns, eleven, W. H. Parker, eleven, John Fitzsimmon, thirty-six, John Reiley,thirty- five and J. M. Lynch, one.
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262
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
In according with the above vote,the officers and council for 1877 stood, I. K. Gardner, mayor; H. C. Geeting, recorder; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; F. M. Phillips, marshal and street commissioner P. H. Leonard, assessor; with W. M. Morton, James McKone, T. Cronin, P. O'Reilly, and H. S. Blackett, as council.
Mayor, I. K. Gardner, resigning the office May 1st, 1877, J. W. Van Auken, was chosen to fill the vacancy and entered upon the duties of the office, May 3rd, of the same year.
At the election held March 12th, 1878, Wm. Lawrence was chosen mayor; F.E. Baker, recorder; D. R. Kerby, treasurer: D. C. Mc Farland, R. T. Hedrick, R. J. McHugh, Wm. King and James Mc Kone, members of the council; C. W. Harvey, street commissioner and P. H. Leonard, assessor.
March 4th, 1879,an election was held, J. W. VanAuken, recei ved sixty-four votes for mayor, being a majority over all votes, cast for R. T. Hedrick and F. Clarkin, his opponent, and was declared elected.
For recorder, A. J. Kucker, received sixty-nine votes and J. M. Lynch, fifty-four.
D. R. Kerby, was elected treasurer, by one hundred and twenty votes out of one hundred and twenty-one cast. The council elected were as follows: C. Springer, Wm. King, Connor Cooney, D. C. McFarland, P. O'Reilly and H. S. Blackett. W. M. O'Brien, was elected assessor, and O. A. Taylor, street commissioner.
April 12th,1878,a special election was held, in Lawler, to determine the question, whether fifty per cent of the state tax, for 1878, should or should not be appropriated for the roads outside of the corpora- tion. The whole number of votes cast was thirty, and all in the affirmative.
March 1st, 1880, O, A. Taylor, was elected mayor; J. H. Lovejoy, was treasurer; C. N. Husting, recorder; J. M. Lynch, assessor; and H. J. Ditmars and D. C. McFarland, to serve as councilmen for three years, and J. W. Van Auken, for one year.
P. F. Kirk, was appointed the same time by council, to fill the position of street commissioner.
At the election, held March 7th, 1881, C. Seeber, was chosen may- or; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; C. N. Husting, recorder; A. J. Kucker, assessor; The street commissioner, elected at the same time, was O. A. Taylor; and F. Clarkin and C. Springer, as members of town
263
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
council. April 16th, 1881, A.J.Kucker had the duties of the office of marshal laid upon his shoulders.
The present officers, of Lawler, were elected March,1882, and con- sist of C. N. Husting, mayor; Andrew S. Frink, recorder; D. R. Kerby, treasurer; A. J. Kucker, assessor; J. W. Lewis, marshal.
The present council consists of J. W. Van Auken, G. Miller, F. Clarkin, H. J. Ditmars, C. Springer and A. P. Johnson.
The Catholic church in the town of Lawler, was the first one built in the township, as we are credibly informed. It was built in the year 1872 and is a frame structure, 40x80 feet, with the usual steeple-common to the church edifices, of this denomination, the main building was erected at a cost of $ 5,500, and in addition to it there has since been added, a sacristy, 24x30 feet, built at a cost of $2.000.
The bell, which hangs in the tower,that is used to call the worshipper to its holy shrine-to ring out the Angelus-to toll for the burial of the dead, is one of the finest in this section of the country, weighing some 3,200 pounds and cost, in the neighborhood of $500. Some one hundred and eighty families contribute, directly, to the support of the church and a fair, gotten up for the benefit of it, is sure to be well patron. ized and realize a handsome amount, as did one held in January, 1883, when the receipts exceeded $2,500.
Father Harrison was the first pastor the church had,and in fact,it was mainly by his efforts the church was built. He was succeed- ed by Father P. F. Farrelly,in 1875, who was, himself replaced by Father Bryne, the present incumbent. The society also possess in addition to the church a parsonage, or residence for the priest, a fine frame building, erected at a cost of nearly $5,000,and is large, roomy, and convenient, and evidences the watchful care bestowed by the congregation upon the comfort of their spiritual guide. The house stands close by the church, and on the same grounds; a parochial school was erected during the year 1882, and, under the charge of the Sisters of Presentation (whose mother house is at Dubuque), has prospered. The building cost to erect about $1,200, without the furniture, and the attendance is quite large, one hundred and fifty scholars being enrolled.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This society was organized some time during the winter of 1871-72, but, in the absence of records the exact date cannot be given. In 1872 they erected the building in which they worship, a neat frame one. The first pastor was a Mr. Frey, who came to the pastorate from Frankville; he was succeeded in about a year and a half by Rev. Manwell, who died, while pastor, in the year- 1874; his successor was Rev. A. V. House, who came to Lawler in August, 1874, and died, while officiating shepherd of this flock, on the 27th day of May, 1875. The Rev. C. A. Marshall succeeded him until 1878, when, on that gentleman's removal to New Hamp- ton, Rev. Thos. Kent was called to preside over the church, and remains, to-day, to minister to the spiritual wants of the congrega- tion. The society is very small, numbering properly only about fifteen members, but the other Protestant denominations, having no church of their own, worship with them. There is a Sunday school attached to this church, of a union sentiment, however, of which Mr. A. J. Kucker is the superintendent.
A small number of German Lutherans in the community, how- ever, hold occasional meetings in the Congregational church, but. is, however, very thinly attended, and appears to have no regular organization as far as we could get at.
These are all the religious societies that the town can boast of, and with the exception of the Catholic church, does not seem to be very largely attended.
The first physician, who located in town, was Dr. E. Neil, whose advent was in the year 1870; he remained, practising his profession, until 1873, when he died.
Bryan J. Castle and Orville Potter were the first lawyers, and the date of their settlement was, almost, co-existent with the building of the town. The former, after starting the Lawler Gazette, in the year 1870, and running it, in connection with his legal business, about one year, gave it up in disgust and left the town. The latter, Mr. Potter, continued until 1872 the practice of law, when he, too, left for pastures new. H. C. Geeting commenced the practice of law in Lawler, in 1872, and his brother, John, in 1875, but in 1882, they discontinued the same, the former removing to St. Paul, Mr. C. Seeber being the only lawyer left to fill the wants of the litigiously inclined.
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
The postoffice was first established in Lawler in the summer of 1869, and Mr. John M. Green was the first postmaster, and con- tinued to hold that position until 1879, when his known ability and integrity caused him to be elected to the office of county treasurer, and he removed to New Hampton. He was succeeded by J. H. Lovejoy, who held the place for two years, and was followed, in 1881, by William H. Parker, the present incumbent,. who was formerly one of the prominent merchants of the town, dealing largely in agricultural implements, and who is one of its. pioneer citizens, having located at this point in February, 1870.
In the early days of the town's history there was no bank properly so-called, but D. R. Kerby, then in the merchandising business, did somewhat of a banking business, which, as the needs of business grew, expanded until in October 1, 1875, Kerby and McHugh (consisting of D. R. Kerby and Jno. McHugh), opened a regular banking business and carried it to a successful issue. In 1881, Jno. McHugh retired from the firm, and it has been carried on ever since by Mr. Kerby, and enjoys the entire confidence of the whole community.
The town of Lawler boasts of a circulating library, which is well patronized by the general public. It contains about 400 volumes, and is owned by Francis Clarkin, another of the "oldest inhab- itants." The number of volumes and the class of literature read speak highly for the general intelligence of the town, and evidences a thirst for the right kind of knowledge by the rising generation.
Whilst speaking of the general businesses of the town, we must. not overlook one of its most prominent ones, viz: The Chickasaw County creamery, owned and operated by P. O'Reilly, one of the foremost merchants. It was established in 1878, and occupies a building 50x24 feet, with an engine and boiler house in addition. of 36x12 feet, and is fitted up with all the most modern machinery for the business carried on. It also has a bored well of 20 feet depth, from which is drawn an inexhaustable supply of pure water. This creamery is said to have been the first one erected north of West Union, and is the largest in this county. About four or five hands are kept constantly employed inside, and from eight to seventeen wagons gather the cream from the sur- rounding country; the number varying with the season of the year. The books of Mr. Reilly show that during the year, 1882,. there were handled at the creamery 181,486 inches of cream, and
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the amount paid out for that item and for expenses generally, was $41,181.17. We were favored with the sight of the following document, which the proprietor was making out:
HON. G. B. LORING, Commissioner Agriculture,
Washington, D. C .:
The average number of cows supplying my creamery,
for nine months. 1,050
Number pounds butter made in nine months 161.894 Of which the value was $40,807.44
Value buttermilk, estimated 500.00
There are fed from the buttermilk, etc., one hundred hogs and thirty calves. from the sale of which considerable income is derived.
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I. O. O. F.
Crane Creek Lodge, of the Independent Order of, Odd Fellows was organized, at Lawler, on the evening of February 5, 1878, with fifteen charter members, and has been quite successfully run ever since. There are now thirty-four members in good standing, and the interest is well kept up. The lodge holds its meetings in Oakley's hall.
A. O. U. W.
A lodge of the Ancient Order of Workmen was instituted on the 9th day of April, 1878, with eleven charter members, but the membership has increased to 21 at the present. This lodge is in a most flourishing condition, and is reported to be one of the most prompt in paying its assessments, and singular to say, there has never been a death in the lodge since its organization. In the dispute between the State Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of the United States, they have held with the former.
MILITARY.
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The Lawler Battery was organized in May, 1878, by Lieut. D. G. Garvey, but it expired more than a year ago, although the gun still remains in town; C. H. Husting being the last commanding officer.
In the town's earlier history there existed a Roman Catholic Total Abstinence Society, which, in 1872, was in a healthy condi- tion, and of which John McHugh was a prominent member, but at present it seems to have been disbanded and the records gone to "no-mans-land."
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
. FIRES IN LAWLER.
We are indebted to the New Hampton Tribune, of September 26, 1877, for the following account of the first great conflagration that desolated with relentless fury the town of Lawler.
"On the morning of the 21st of September, 1877, a fire broke out and destroyed the entire business part of Lawler. The fire originated in the drug and grocery store of Green and Lynch, about 3 o'clock A. M., from which it spread throughout the entire block. When it reached the billiard hall of John Doyle it leaped across the street and attacked Mrs. M. F. Binns' dry goods and millinery store, from which it spread through the block on the north side of the street, and from thence to the grain warehouses, by the railroad track. By a vigorous and determined effort the flames were arrested before they crossed the street, at G. Miller & Co.'s, where all who were engaged stood to their post with un- flinching zeal, notwithstanding the flames were rolling around them and threatening instant destruction. Had it not been for their unceasing and faithful efforts, the entire length of Main street would have been burned. Below we give the losses and insurances:
Loss.
Insurance.
Green & Lynch, drugs.
$12,000
$3,000
Kean Bros., Times office
1,000
D. G. West, law library
800
E. A. Erwin, jewelry
4,800
Miss E. Lawrence.
1,500
300
Jno. Doyle, billiard hall
2,500
J. M. Cailiff, carpenter tools
200
Fitzsimmons Bros., saloon
1,000
400
J. Fitzsimmons, groceries
5,000
3,000
F. Clarkin, books.
1,000
200
M. Martin, groceries
2,500
800
Pat. Lewis, house
600
J. A. Real, butcher shop
100
W. M. O'Brien, confectionery
750
P. O'Reilly, dry goods, etc.
5,000
1,500
Jno. Nicholas, dry goods.
6,000
3,200
Lovejoy & McFarland, dry goods
6,000
6,000
Orson Ober, household goods
400
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Mrs. M. F. Binns, milinery, etc. 4,500
800
M. W. Martin, household goods.
1,500
600
Genshow & Co., hardware.
3,500
800
H. Ditmars, household goods
400
Padden Bros., house.
1,000
A. P. Johnson, bakery
1,000
Jeff. Woodward, household goods
300
I. N. Baker & Co., drugs
2,400
Lawler Library
500
Kerby & McHugh, bankers.
6,000
2,500
H. Duryea, shoemaker.
500
Bassett, Hunting & Co., grain ware- house
2,500
2,000
Gilchrist & Co., grain warehouse.
1,000
1,000
S. A. Potter, grain warehouse.
800
Argall.& Leonard, grain warehouse
1,000
Mrs. Chas. Argall, household goods
700
Robinson & Co., grain warehouse
1,600
600
C., M. & St. P. R. R
100
W. J. Cramer
200
King's Hotel
100
T. H. Kosten
500
Jno. Reilly
100
F. E. Baker.
500
Miscellaneous items in sums less than $100.
2,650
Total
$83,500 $26,450
The conflagration left many without a home for the coming winter, but they were provided for as best could be. Jno. Fitz- simmons bas purchased the building of Jno. Reilly and has opened a saloon.
The town will be rebuilt, or a part of it, this fall, with brick, will retain its former business, and add nearly as much more. A relief committee has been appointed to distribute the donations that have been sent in. The gentlemen are Messrs. Kerby, Blackett, Hedrick, McKone, and Martin; John McHugh, treasurer, and H. C. Geeting, secretary. At present writing Nashua has sent in
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
forty sacks of flour and some groceries, which came in time of need."
Again, on February 15, 1879, the demon of fire waved his torch over the town, and ruin, as usual, followed in his footsteps. We give the account of a correspondent of the New Hampton Tribune, of February 19th, who signs himself, "One who was there."
"About 1:30, on Sunday morning, February 15th, the fire was first discovered climbing the north wall of John McNevin's saloon. The alarm was sounded at once, and exertions were made to arrest the flames in their incipiency, but without effect, and the fire soon enveloped the entire building, and in less than an hour the build- ings of R. D. Parker, John McNevins, King's hotel, Wolf's barber shop, and the Exchange bank were in ashes.
Men and boys worked with a will and desperately to subdue the flames, and had action been taken a little earlier in the pulling down process the bank might have been saved. The losses are about as follows:
R. D. Parker, building and stock
Loss. $2,500
Insurance. $1,500
J. McNevins, building, billiard tables, and stock.
1,500
500
Wm. King, hotel.
2,500
1,000
Wolf, barber shop.
250
Exchange bank building -
1,200
Total.
$7,950. $3,000
There was no insurance on the Exchange 'bank building, as the policy had just expired.
No one will ever know how the fire originated, but it is supposed that one of the side-lamps exploded and set the building on fire. Yet, it seems doubtful that the lamp was the cause, from the fact that they had, at about 12 o'clock at night, scrubbed out the saloon, and are certain that the lamps were properly' extinguished when they left. But they might have been mistaken, and the lamp being low it heated and caused the explosion, if there was one.
Too much praise cannot be given to certain bold men, who risked their lives, at several critical turns of the fire-especially Charles Jones, to whose indomitable pluck we may attribute the saving of
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HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the buildings east of the bank. None of the parties burned out are despondent, and before long new and better buildings will occupy the sites now vacant. No one was seriously injured and the furniture was nearly all saved except that of Mr. Parker, who lost everything, including a large amount of salt pork and beef in his cellar.
The bank saved everything except the big safe, which was not much injured, and was doing duty again in about twenty-four hours."
We find, once more, that the fire-fiend visited this doomed town of Lawler and wrapped it in his mantle of flames, and again the smoke of the sacrifice arose on his altar, and the best part of the business portion of the town was laid in ashes, and blackened piles of half burned timbers, and rank desolation brooded in the midst of what was the most flourishing part of it. On the morning of Saturday, November 17, 1881, about one o'clock, fire was dis- covered issuing from the rear of the store of H. S. Blackett. The alarm aroused the citizens, but facilities for extinguishing the flames being wanting, they soon became masters of the situation and devoured, with greedy maw, many of the best buildings with their contents. We collate the following losses as carefully estimated by the citizens:
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