USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 28
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 28
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The first election of officers of the corporation of New Hampton was held May 21, 1873, when the following were elected to the several offices: James F. Babcock, mayor; E. P. Sheffield. recorder: A. E. Bigelow, C. H. Clough. W. IV. Birdsall. M. C. Ayers and John Mays, trustees.
OFFICIALS UNDER TOWN INCORPORATION
Following is a list of those who have served as mayor of New Hampton as a town incorporation :
Gideon Gardner, 1874: H. M. Mixer. 1875 and 1876: S. J. Kenyon, 1877 and 1878 : A. E. Bigelow, 1879; F. D. Bosworth, 1880 and 1881 : Hiram Shaver, 1882; George E. Stowe. 1883; E. P. Sheffield. 1884; J. F. Woolsey, 1885 and 1886: E.
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CARNEGIE LIBRARY, NEW HAMPTON
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H. Yarger, 1887; J. F. Woolsey, 1888 to 1890; John Foley, 1891 ; W. J. Springer, 1892: J. W. Sandusky, 1893 to 1896; T. C. Clary, 1897; D. W. Cotant, 1898 to 1900; C. W. Levis, 1901.
In February, 1901, an ordinance was adopted, in accordance with a previous vote of the people, changing the town into a city incorporation. The city was divided into four wards, with one member of the council chosen from each ward, and two councilmen at large.
OFFICIALS UNDER CITY INCORPORATION
The following have served as mayor of New Hampton under the city incor- poration :
C. W. Levis, 1902 ; J. F. Wilkin, 1903 to 1906; W. G. Shaffer, 1907 to 1910; F. D. Griffin, 1911 to 1917; J. E. Garmen, 1917-
The present city officers are : J. E. Garmen, mayor ; F. B. Strike, clerk ; M. F. Condon, city attorney ; William Kruger, city marshal; C. M. Ransom, street commissioner ; councilmen, A. F. Schwarzenstein, ward No. 1 ; F. E. Reich, ward No. 2; J. N. Schilling, ward No. 3; C. H. Kenyon, ward No. 4: Fred Larson and J. W. Kreiger, councilmen at large. Dr. Paul E. Gardner, health officer.
F. B. Strike has held the office of city clerk since 1902, an unusual record of continuous service. His long tenure of office is due to the fact that the people recognize his business ability and efficiency in the management of city affairs and register their approval at each succeeding election.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
An electric light plant was established in New Hampton in the early '90s by a private corporation. Under this management the plant did not prove a financial success, and .in about two years the plant went into the hands of a receiver. In February, 1903, the entire equipment of the light plant was purchased by the city of New Hampton for the sum of $5,605.34. The city then secured ground on East Court Street, on which a building was erected for the purpose of install- ing a modern light plant, in connection with a waterworks plant which the city had previously established. The old building and ground on which it was erected cost $11,940. The total cost of building, ground, equipment and machinery of the light plant, including the amount paid for old plant, was $38.301.02.
The New Hampton electric light plant is equipped with modern machinery and ranks as one of the best in the state. There are few towns of the size of New Hampton that equal it in the way of well lighted streets. The principal streets are lighted with boulevard standard lights; seventy-five of these are five- light globes and twenty are three-light. In addition to these there are 115 60-candlepower lights distributed throughout the residence portion of the city and some well out in the suburbs. The main street, which is the business street. is lighted its entire length and presents a real citified appearance.
THE WATERWORKS
At the meeting of the city council, 1890, an ordinance was adopted providing for an election to take the sense of the people on the question of issuing bonds
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for the establishment of a system of waterworks. The question was decided affirmatively and the council proceeded to carry out the proposition. After con- siderable delay in the investigation of a sufficient water supply, a satisfactory test was found in the location where the plant was established. Two 10-inch wells were sunk, one 237 feet and the other 260 feet, from which an abundant supply of water was furnished. This has been sufficient for all purposes since, not only for domestic use but also for the great quantity of water used by the Chicago Great Western Railroad.
The steel tank and tower was built in 1907 at a cost of $4.594. From the first, there has been expended for the water system $34,180.70. A comparison of receipts and expenditures shows that in 1910 the receipts were $3,160.83; in the year ending March, 1917. the receipts were $3.989.57 ; the expenditures or disbursements average about two thousand dollars per annum. At the close of the financial year, March, 1917, the books show a balance on hand of $18,135.59. The waterworks and light plant are combined in one building.
All the water service is by meter, the rate being from 30 cents per thousand for the first 10,000 gallons to 9 cents per thousand for all over 150,000 gallons.
New Hampton has an extensive sewerage system, with mains covering all the business and residence parts of the town, and a well constructed and modern septic tank, located a short distance south of the city limits.
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
New Hampton has an organization that may be classed as unique in the way of a volunteer fire company, an organization that has had an existence for about forty years, and its members have not only served without salary or other com- pensation, but have by their energy and enterprise given to the city two of its finest public edifices. New Hampton may safely challenge any other town in the state to show a civic organization that will compare with her volunteer fire company in gratuitous work for the welfare of the city.
This organization had its inception as a hook and ladder company, organized in 1877. In 1880 an engine company was organized and the two were combined and incorporated in 1896. For some time they had their equipment and place of assembly in a little frame building on the courthouse square. In the meantime the question of erecting a permanent building was agitated. The idea was to erect a building large enough to accommodate the fire department, and also to provide for an auditorium with capacity for public assemblies. With a view of securing funds sufficient to carry out this enterprise, the company began, in 1878, to give dances and other public entertainments. These were held in a large skating rink and were well patronized. The first of these was given by the old hook and ladder company in 1878, and in 1879 the engine company gave one.
In 1897 a fund sufficiently large had been secured through these entertain- ments to justify the contemplated undertaking. The ground was secured and the contract let for the erection of an auditoriuni, a two-story edifice, with annex for housing the fire department equipment, consisting of hook and ladder wagon, two hose carts and a chemical apparatus. An auditorium capable of seating at least three thousand people occupies the greater part of the ground floor of the main building, with reception and office rooms below, and office rooms above.
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FIREMEN'S AUDITORIUM, NEW HAMPTON
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FIREMEN'S THEATER, NEW HAMPTON
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This building was completed in 1897, leaving the company with a debt of $1 1,000, which was in due time liquidated. One of the peculiar features of this auditorium is that it has capacity sufficient to comfortably seat every man, woman and child in the city of New Hampton, and a few from the out townships.
The equipment of this volunteer fire company is all handled by hand power, and the company is so well organized that they are capable of doing efficient work. The present membership is ninety.
Having successfully financed the auditorium, the fire company decided to build an opera house, several years later. From the same source of revenue they car- ried out that purpose and completed this building in 1916, which opened in the early part of 1917. This is known as the Firemen's Theater, and is one of the most complete in all its appointments to be found in any town of the state. This building was constructed at a cost of $40,000.
The New Hampton Public Library originated in an association of public- spirited citizens with a view of affording an opportunity to attain a variety of literature, and to cultivate a taste in the younger people of the community for reading and research in books by standard authors. The library was started by donations of books and books purchased by funds obtained from membership fees. Quite a collection of books was secured in this manner, and later a perma- nent organization was effected and the library was opened to the public November I. 1899. This library was managed by a board of trustees, consisting of four officers and three other members.
In 1908 the question of providing for the support of the library by the levy of a tax, rather than by individual contributions and membership fees, was agitated, and an election to take the sense of the people was held June 12th of that year. The purpose of this election was to determine whether the city would provide the required guarantee to meet the conditions of a Carnegie library donation. The result of the election was 515 votes in the affirmative and 194 in the negative ; the affirmative result being largely because of the activity of the women voters.
Following this decisive vote, a correspondence with the agent of Carnegie began, and on August 15th assurance was given that if the citizens would agree by action of the council to maintain a library at a cost of not more than one thousand dollars per year, and provide a suitable site for a building, that Mr. Carnegie would donate $10,000 for the erection of such building. Final agree- ment was made as to style of architecture, and other preliminaries, by March 30, 1909. In the meantime a local committee had been appointed to solicit funds for the purchase of a lot on which to erect the building. This committee was com- posed of R. H. Fairbairn, G. M. Bigelow and F. A. O'Connor, who in a short time reported that the sum of $1,890 had been secured. The ground was pur- chased from H. R. Worrall for $1,850, leaving $40 of the solicited fund as a surplus.
The building was completed in the early part of 1910 and was dedicated in February of that year. It is a substantial structure, modeled after the style of classical architecture and interior appointments of modern libraries.
The present library board is composed of the following citizens: Tim Dona- van, E. M. Olmsted, A. F. Kennedy, Mrs. R. H. Gurley, Dr. N. Schilling, Mrs. O. M. Landon, Mrs. W. J. Springer, J. E. Garmen and Miss Tillie Kempendorff.
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There are three librarians, Angeline Grimsby, Isabella Powers and Bessie W. Porter.
A comparison of the last report of the old library with the 1916 report of the present library shows the following :
December 31, 1909:
Number volumes in library 1,772
Number volumes added during year 279
Total circulation 4,500
December 31, 1916:
Number volumes in library. 5,109
Total circulation 12,282
Total expenditures for year $1,502.74
Leaving balance of. 209.73
THIE GRACELAND CEMETERY
Nothing reflects so much the true character and finer sentiments of the people of a town or community as the provisions made for the resting place of their dead. This does not appear in the fine public buildings and stately residences, nor in the finely paved streets and brilliantly lighted boulevards, but is found in the manner in which they give expression to their regard for those who have passed from these scenes of life and luxury, and have taken their place in "Those low green tents whose curtains never outward swing."
In this respect the people of New Hampton have nothing to their discredit in the provisions they have made for the care of their dead in Graceland Cem- etery. This cemetery was established in 1863, but for many years was indifferently cared for. It was left to such care as lot owners might be disposed to give, which means that there was no attempt to beautify the grounds and they soon were overgrown with weeds. In 1892 the women took hold of the matter and organized an association which was later incorporated and made permanent. Improvements were begun and have continued since that time, and now there is no more beautiful cemetery to be seen anywhere.
THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY
The Catholic Cemetery is located about half a mile from the city, in a very beautiful location. It goes without saying that it is well kept, as it is a charac- teristic feature of the Catholic Church to hold in sacred regard the ground con- secrated for this purpose, and to hold in respectful reverence the resting place of their dead.
CITY OF NASHUA
Nashua. one of the most important and prosperous towns of Chickasaw County, is located on the Cedar River, in Bradford Township. The advantages of the excellent water power afforded by the river has made Nashua a splendid . location for manufacturing industries.
POWER PLANT OF THE CEDAR VALLEY ELECTRIC COMPANY, NASHUA Built in 1916. It is one of the most complete and up-to-date plants in the state
MAIN BUSINESS BLOCK, LOOKING SOUTH, NASHUA
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The city was incorporated in 1869. The first officers were: T. S. Bradford, mayor ; O. F. Herron, recorder; M. Rosenbaum, J. Vance, James A. Webster, A. L. Flint and W. A. Fleming, councilmen; A. Herron, marshal; George Wood, street commissioner.
One of the first movements for the promotion of the interests of the newly incorporated town was to make an effort to secure the location of a railroad. A proposed road from Ionia southwest through Nashua to some place farther west, known as the Milwaukee & Nashua Railroad, asked for aid in its con- struction. And the Nashua people, by an election, voted to give them the aid. But the road was never completed, and only a small part of the tax was collected. In 1868 a division of the Illinois Central Railroad built a line through Nashua, giving that place an outlet for its products and giving the town an important place on the railroad map.
FIRST SETTLERS
Among the first to settle on the present location of Nashua was John Hall, who came in the summer of 1854. About the same time, or a little later, several more families moved in, among whom were: James Helms, George O'Donnell, H. Hall, J. D. Hall, Jacob Hall, Edward Hall, Owen Teeney, John O'Donnell, Hugh O'Donnell, James Welch and Enoch Woodbridge. The land on which the town was platted belonged to Andrew Sample, but Enoch Woodbridge became part owner of the land, and together with Sample, the town was laid out. It was first called Bridgeport, shortly afterward changed to Woodbridge; later the present name was given as a compliment to E. P. and C. Greeley, who hailed from Nashua, New Hampshire. It was largely through the influence of the Greeleys that Nashua secured the location of the Illinois Central Railroad rather than Bradford.
Among the early business men of Nashua were Smiley Sample and E. P. Greeley, who each started a store about the same time, the former dealing in groceries and liquors and the latter in general merchandise. Among those who were doing business in Nashua in 1857 and 1858 were: Veter & Ripe, general merchandise ; Trott & Green, dry goods and groceries .; George T. Butterfield, Enoch Woodbridge, Elihu Hall, George Fountain and James A. Webster. The first grist mill in the town was erected by Andrew Sample. A steam saw mill was built by Charles Greeley in 1858. It was operated a few years and then sold to another párty, who removed the machinery to another town. The first hotel was built and conducted by J. D. Hall, in 1857.
THE CHURCHES
Several denominations are represented by organized churches in Nashua, and the most of them have neat and comfortable houses of worship. The Congre- gational Church was organized in 1866, with the following charter members: P. F. May and wife, W. R. Cheney and wife. H. Fountain and Mrs. Hannah Fountain, Mrs. Edward Hall, Mrs. Enoch Hall, Mrs. Alice Stocks, Mrs. Selah Billings, Henry Baker and wife and Ira Mead. Their first pastor was Rev. R. J. Williams, who was succeeded in 1870 by Rev. M. B. Page, who died during his
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pastorate. The first church edifice was erected in 1870. It has been enlarged and improved in later years and is now one of the attractive public buildings in the city. The congregation is comprised of a membership of substantial people, who are actively interested in the welfare of the church and in the promotion of every cause that has for its object the upbuilding and betterment of the community.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1878, and was considered at the time of its erection to be one of the finest church buildings in the county. It stills holds that distinction with the improvements that have been added since. The congregation is composed of a live, active membership who not only con- . tribute liberally of their means and efforts for the promotion of the interests of the church, but exert a beneficent influence in the moral and educational affairs of the community.
The Catholic Church effected an organization in Nashua in 1873, and a neat and substantial church building was erected the same year, Rev. Father McGrath, of Charles City, having spiritual oversight of the congregation.
· NASHUA PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Nashua Public Library was founded in 1902 as an association or mem- bership library, by the citizens of the community. In 1905 a new library building was erected, at a cost of $6,000, from a donation received from Carnegie. This is a modern library building, attractive in architecture and in its interior finish.
The librarian is Fannie V. Eastman, and the report of the librarian for the year ending December 31, 1914, shows the following :
Number volumes in library. 3,253
Number volumes added, 1914. 226
Circulation for the year. 8,903
With its fine schools and school buildings with every modern appointment, its public library, and with the two splendid newspapers, Nashua takes front rank among the towns affording the best educational advantages, as it does in meeting the requirements for business and industrial enterprises.
LAWLER
Lawler is an important shipping point on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and its importance, growth and prosperity is chiefly due to the fact that this railroad did not pass it by when the company was establishing the right of way. Before the coming of the railroad Little Turkey was the commercial center of that section, and had ambitions of becoming a real town, and the place where Lawler now is was then cultivated fields or open grazing grounds.
The town was named for John Lawler, who was one of the early settlers and one of the active members of the committee who interested the railroad company to locate their line through that section. The original proprietors of the town plat were Patrick Lynch, Matthew Konzen, George Benz, Martin Green, Patrick Green and Peter Pitts. These were all primitive settlers and had located in log cabins upon the site of the future town. The railroad company was not slow
NASHUA WOD LEN MILLS
NASHUA WOOLEN MILLS, NASHUA
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to realize the possibilities of a trading point in the center of this rich agricultural section. In July, 1869, the railroad established a depot here and Lawler imme- diately experienced a boom. The emigrants from the East who were flocking to the western prairies seeking homes were attracted to this place of flattering prospects, and they came in such numbers that one of the first needs was a hotel to afford shelter and entertainment for the prospectors. This need was supplied by J. Nicholas, who moved here and opened a hotel which he conducted for several years. It was destroyed by the fire of 1877. The same year C. Bolton moved the American Hotel from Jacksonville to this place. Between 1876 and 1880 a number of business houses were erected and various lines of business were con- ducted. Among the first merchants to establish themselves in Lawler were: Green & Lovejoy, drugs and groceries; Edward Blake & Metz, groceries; D. R. Kirby, hardware; John Lynch, general merchandise; H. B. Lawrence, general merchandise; D. G. Goodrich, agricultural implements. James McCune was the pioneer wagonmaker, and P. Burns the first blacksmith, and H. Duree the first shoemaker. Before these necessarily came the carpenters, who were: Green- leaf, A. I. Mason, George Fisk and J. M. Caniff. They came in 1869 and found plenty of work in the building boom that set in at that time.
Lawler was incorporated in 1871 and it is said that J. W. Vanauken was the first mayor, but this is based on memory only, as the records were destroyed by the fire above mentioned. The record shows that the following were qualified as town officials September 18, 1872: John McHugh, mayor ; John Green, W. H. Parker, H. E. Doolittle, George Hemstock and Dr. I. K. Gardner, councilmen ; C. Seeber, recorder ; Thomas W. Thompson, marshal.
The first postoffice in Lawler was established in 1869, and John M. Green served as first postmaster continuing in that service until 1879, when he was elected to the office of county treasurer and removed to New Hampton.
LAWLER FIRE LOSSES
Lawler seems to have suffered more severely from the visitation of the fire fiend than usually falls to the lot of small towns. The following account of the first of these visitations, which occurred in 1877, is found in the New Hamp- ton Tribune of the 26th of that month :
"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 & Lynch, about 3 o'clock, from which it spread through 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 & Company's, where all who were engaged stood to their posts and with unflinching zeal, not- withstanding the flames were rolling around them and threatening instant destruc- tion. Had it not been for the unceasing and faithful efforts of these men, the entire length of Main Street would have been burned."
The list of persons who suffered loss in this fire is given, numbering about fifty and totaling $83,500, of which $26,450 was covered by insurance. Many
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of these were homes and several were left without a place of abode. It is noted in this account that there was a ready response to the call for relief for the homeless, among others that Nashua sent a donation of forty sacks of flour.
THE SECOND FIRE
Within two years Lawler was visited by another fire. Although the loss was not so great as the first fire, it was severely felt because the victims had exhausted. their resources in the effort to reestablish their business. Quoting again from the New Hampton Tribune, of February 19, 1879:
"Again, at 1:30 Sunday morning, February 15th, the fire was first discovered climbing. the north wall of John McNevins' 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. In less than an hour the buildings of D. R. 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 total losses by this fire are given at $7.950, with $3,000 insurance.
THE THIRD FIRE
If the frequent visitations of the fire fiend were accepted as an omen, Lawler . in the early days of its history would be considered a doomed town. It was on the morning of November 17, 1881, when the third of the succession of fires occurred. Quoting from a newspaper account :
"Fire was discovered issuing from the rear of the store of H. S. Blackett. The alarm was sounded and the citizens were aroused, but the facilities for extinguishing the flames being wanting, the flames soon became masters of the situation and devoured, with greedy maw, many of the best buildings with their contents."
The losses given on account of this fire were a total of $32,300, with $12,600 insurance.
Lawler has had other fires since but none that struck the town so hard a blow as these three that came in its early history, following each other at such short intervals.
The enterprising spirit of the people of Lawler, and fixed determination to succeed, counted against the losses sustained by these several successive fires. The burned buildings were replaced with structures of more enduring material and better adapted for the required business. Ofttimes it is said that fires come as blessings in disguise, in that the destruction of the fire results in better rebuilding. In many cases this may be true, but whether applicable to Lawler or not, the town has had a sufficiency of that kind of blessings.
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