USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 14
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GRAND
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GRAND OPERA HOUSE, SPENCER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
127
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Frank Richardson came to Spencer in 1883 and formed a partnership with A. C. Parker. Mr. Ricardson read law in the office of Hon. J. J. Morgan, of Independence, and was admitted there to the bar. He was a clear, logical lawyer. a brilliant counselor, a close student and gifted with a good voice. He was elected city recorder in 1888. He has since removed from Spencer.
E. E. Snow became a resident of Spencer about 1871 and practiced law there until about 1890, when he retired and went to New Jersey. He accumu- lated large tracts of land in Clay county and has visited Spencer in late years. Mr. Snow had entered into partnership with his younger brother, Sumner S. Snow, who died in the summer of 1892. The latter's widow is the wife of Franklin Floete, one of the most prominent business men in Spencer.
One of the present members of the Clay county bar to attain prominence here is John W. Cory. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, February 21, 1855. In 1871 he graduated from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He taught several terms of school and at one time was principal of the Estherville public schools. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and lived in Estherville until 1874, then he removed to Spirit Lake and began the practice of his profession. He removed to Spencer October 1, 1896. He is an able lawyer and has a large practice, both in Clay county and Dickinson county, where he maintains an office at Spirit Lake. His practice extends into other counties of northern Iowa.
The present members of the Clay county bar are as follows: Fred Kirkpatrick and Harlan J. Buck, members of the firm of Buck & Kirkpatrick (Mr. Kirkpatrick is the present county attorney ) : W. W. Cornwall, now Supreme Court reporter ; John W. Cory; George A. Heald, who came to Spencer in 1907 ; W. E. Barnhart; Orville A. Hammand ; W. S. Bemis, retired, and J. E. Steele.
Guy H. Martin was county attorney and practiced in Spencer about ten years and was in partnership with J. E. Steele about two years. He became a very fine trial lawyer. He removed to Spokane, Washington, in 1907. He is now living at Sand Point, Idaho, where he is practicing his profession. Sketches of other attorneys of Spencer will be found in the biographical section of this work.
THE CENTRAL HOTEL.
The Central Hotel has been in operation for several years. It is conveniently located on Main street, near the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul depot. and has good patronage. The Commercial Hotel is another one of Spencer's well-kept hostelries, as is also the Merchants. Spencer is well supplied with good hotels and resturants, which are liberally patronized.
SPENCER FOUNDRY.
This branch of industry is one of great value and is almost indispensable to Spencer. It not only gives employment to a number of artisans, but transforms the rude and crude material into articles of utility. While it is true that it does not rank with many institutions of a similar kind in the state, and has not all the necessary machinery required, notwithstanding all this, the work it does turn out is of a superior kind. Messrs. Maurer are men thoroughly conversant with CLAY S.
128
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
the business and are skilled mechanics. They give their time and personal attention to all work done, and are endeavoring to build up a reputation by the character and durability of it. They have produced some work which for quality and workmanship cannot be excelled in the state. They are now manufacturing a number of hay presses, machines for making fences and are filling numerous other orders.
SPENCER MILITARY BAND.
Spencer has a brass band of which its people are proud. It was organized in January, 1906, with the following officers: President, D. . \. Thompson ; secretary, Benjamin Martin; treasurer, Robert Anderson ; manager, E. M. Horner ; leader, Peter Sarlette. Members: D. A. Thompson, Arnold Anderson, E. R. Pruitt, cornet ; E. M. Horner, II. Johnson, G. Taylor, clarionet; A. C. Schuneman, Thoral Thompson, Gust Strondberg, bass; Peter Rhode, Robert Anderson, Arthur Anderson, slide trombone; Julius Bicksen, Leonard Stair, F. Buck, Archie Ewing, alto: Charles Carter, small drum; Harry Pinneo, bass drum.
THE NEW COURTHOUSE.
In 1900 it was decided by the people of the county to erect a new court- house-a temple of justice-and one that should evidence the character of the community and its wealth and progress among the many great commonwealths of the state. To further this end bonds were issued and bids advertised therefor ; and to show the importance of Clay county and her financial standing, it may here be stated that many money centers bid on the bonds and they were finally sold-$50,000 worth-to a Cincinnati, Ohio, firm, at a premium of $1,117. These Fonds draw four per cent interest and the last series of $6,000 become due in 1910.
The old frame courthouse had long outlived its usefulness and capacity for the growing needs of official business. It was of frame material and had become an eyesore to the provident but progressive farmer and business and professional man. They felt the need of a better, more modern and convenient courthouse, and but few, if any, criticised the amount expended for the beautiful edifice that took the place of the old one.
The new courthouse was completed and the first term of court held in the beautiful court room in September, 1901. There were no frills or flourishes in the way of dedicatory exercises. The doors were simply opened, the office rooms were tenanted by the various officials, and the precious records and moneys of the county placed in the fireproof vaults prepared for them. That was the dedicatory exercises of the new courthouse of Clay county.
The building is massive and sits in the center of the beautiful plot of ground formerly the site of the old courthouse. It has an imposing, majestic appearance and is a credit not only to the bailiwick but to the great state of which it is an integral part. And when the layman views it critically and when he sees the handsome and substantial appointments in the interior, with the labor-saving devices and fireproof arrangements, the wonder to him is that but $60,000 was expended for it all.
The front of the building faces on Fourth street and while the architecture
129
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
is not elaborate, it gives cne the idea of harmony in its general appearance. The most noticeable features are the four immense columns of Portage Entry red stone, capped with terra cotta capitals. These support a beautiful architrave, in the center of which is a bronze tablet from which an American eagle stands free with outstretched wings, in a laurel wreath circlet. On either side of the national bird of freedom is a bunch of six arrows and two American flags. Approaching the building is a cement walk, from which one notices a flat dome at each corner of the roof of the building. These are covered with bronze, as is the tall central dome. The front steps, constructed of stone, are of immense width, and lead above the basement to the first floor. There are two entrances to the building, the main one facing on Fourth street and the other at the east side.
On the first floor the northwest corner room is occupied by the clerk of the district court ; in the southwest corner is the recorder's office ; the treasurer's office is in the southeast corner of the building, and midway between the clerk's and the auditor's offices is the board of supervisors' room. The whole west half of the second floor is. consumed by the court room, while on the remainder of this floor are rooms for the county superintendent of schools, county attorney, the judges' chamber, witnesses, grand jury and trial jury rooms. In the base- ment the sheriff has his office, and three rooms are made use of by the Woman's Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic. Here also are the excellent heating apparatus and coal bins, also fireproof vaults for overflow of documents.
The wood finishings of the interior are of oak. The floors of the hall on the first floor are tiled, as are also portions of the offices on this floor. The steps in the building are of slate and the wainscoting about the hall and stairways is of Italian marble. The cost of the slate and marble alone was $3,000.
The court room is very pleasing to the eye. The walls are of rough plaster finish, frescoed with plaster of Paris decorations. The ceiling is dotted with these decorations, while in the center of it are allegorical figures done in oil. The beautiful effect is added to by delicate tinted paint. The seating capacity of the court room, outside the rail or inclosure for the members of the bar, is two hundred.
This edifice in its entirety is second, scarcely, to any built for a similar pur- pose in the state of Iowa, outside of the largest county seats, and stands in its splendor as a monument to the progress and the prosperity of Clay county and her people.
THE COUNTY JAIL.
The county really has little use for a jail, and the size of the present building devoted to malefactors is equal to the demand upon it. Constructed of wood, with iron cells, it looks like the calaboose usually in vogue in the country towns. But as diminutive as it is, it more than fills the requirements of such institutions. For months at a time the jail is devoid of a tenant. In fact, during the summer of 1908 there was not one prisoner within its walls. Nothing could go farther to show the character of the people of Clay county. With not a saloon in the county, and a law-abiding, moral and cleanly people, this condition, almost perfect, is made possible ; and the better element is so strong, numerically,
130
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
in the county that the probability is this condition of things will be made perma- nent. That, at least. is the intention and determination of the present generation.
THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.
The old saying that "The poor ye have with you always" applies to Clay county as well as to other communities, but luckily, not so much so, to use an expression. Humanity, with its frailties, improvidence and misfortunes, always pleads for and secures the sympathies of the more fortunate and those whose benefits are substantial and means of livelihood secure are called upon to lend the helping hand to the poor and needy. The county, has its poor, its aged and decrepit, its freaks of nature (human), and mentally weak. These become a charge on the community, and it is well that a fitting home and asylum be pro- vided for their comfort and welfare out of the public funds. Such a home was established in Clay county in 1895.
The supervisors of Clay county bought a tract of land, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, in 1881, of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail- road Company, paying for the same $7.50 per acre. This land was intended for a "poor farm." Later, in 1895, twenty acres purchased of Herman Kraus, were added to the original tract.
No attempt was made to erect buildings on this farm until 1894, and in the meantime sundry persons attended to the needs of the indigent and were reimbursed by the county, on presentation of their bills. Before the building was erected the farm was rented by the year "on such terms as shall seem for the best interests of the county, the party taking said farm to keep the poor who are a county charge."
In 1894 provisions were made for the erection of suitable buildings on the farm. But the board of supervisors struck a snag in the way of the county attorney's opinion, the same being that the board had failed to take the necessary legal steps to establish a "poor farm" and that nothing could be done in that regard, nor could buildings be erected for that purpose, except by a vote of the people of the county. So the matter was deferred until the fall election of 1894. when the question, "Shall a poor house be established and erected at a cost not to exceed $8,000?" was voted upon. The answer of the taxpayers of Clay county was strongly in the affirmative, the vote being: For the . proposition, 987 ; against, 382.
On April 1, 1895, the contract for the buildings was let to S. B. Taylor for $4,175, and J. A. Platt, A. W. Sleeper and J. F. Lundy were appointed the building committee. September, 1895, saw the completion of the poor house, at a cost of approximately $8,000. J. H. Eckley was the first steward. He was succeeded by J. H. Doty, and for the past six years Earnest Goedicke has been the incumbent of that responsible office.
The buildings are of frame, but modern, and have many of the conveniences of similar institutions in other counties. The farm is fertile, well kept and pro ductive, and for some time past a herd of shorthorn cattle has been a chief feature of the farm. In October, 1906, a dispersion sale of these animals was held and forty-seven head were sold, bringing an average of $92.62 a head. The total sum was $4,355.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
FREE RURAL DELIVERY OF MAIL.
For several years past Clay county has had a free delivery of mails. This is a blessing and a convenience not dreamed possible of attainment at one time. It gives the farmer his mail at his gate or crossroad almost as soon as the mer- chant receives his in the town, and as a consequence, the daily paper in the rural districts has now become the vogue as much as the weekly. One can easily reason from this that the farmer can now keep abreast of all that is going on in the world, as the news of each day comes to him before the day is gone. And when you consider that he has the telephone and not unlikely an auto- mobile and the means to maintain it, who can say but that the Clay county farmer is prosperous and enjoying the comforts and many of the luxuries of a fruitful soil and persistent energy and industry bring forth.
TELEPIIONE FACILITIES.
Clay county is abreast of her neighbors in the matter of rapid means of communication. There are three telephone companies doing business in the county and the patronage of these concerns is of such extent that one can easily reach almost any farm, residence or place of business in the county with the expenditure of a little time and expense. The companies now owning lines in the county arc: The Western Electric Telephone Company, the Iowa and Nebraska Telephone Company, and the Spencer Telephone Company. Recently telephone companies have been organized at Peterson, Webb, and one in Meadow township-a farmer's line, entering Spencer.
ASSESSED VALUE OF LAND AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR 1887.
As a matter of course, the personal property and the value of the real estate would necessarily increase in a degree in proportion as the population increased. We have, therefore, prepared a tabulated statement of the assessed valuation of personal and real property for the years 1887 and 1907, thus showing the wonderful increase in the past twenty years.
1887
Value of Real Estate $163,935
Value of Personal Property $19,238
Value of Lots
Herdland
Douglas
III,802
20,170
Ind. District of Peterson.
44,442
25,238
.Peterson
20,186
24,661
Clay
22,523
25,033
Lincoln
21,910
19,816
Gillett Grove
21,812
17,029
Logan
25,972
4,438
Freeman
20,417
40.587
Lake
19,290
10.372
Meadow
21,723
19,262
Spencer
19,297
35,173
Ind. District of Spencer
3,438
102,013
$154,499
Riverton
20,618
45,676
Lone Tree
21,807
39,196
7,108
Waterford
22,439
3,997
Summit
21,882
35,217
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
ASSESSED VALUE OF LAND AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR 1907.
No. of Acres.
Value of Land.
Value of Personal Property
Lake
20,360
$ 548,092
$ 54.420
Meadow
21,689
906,800
90,100
Meadow lots
9,196
Summit
22.077
903.500
147,624
Summit lots
24,904
Waterford
22,279
856,728
97,496
Lone Tree
18,560
727,986
74,536
Everly (Ind.)
2,917
106.476
12,744
Everly (Inc.)
506
30,276
101,944
Everly lots
20,481
818,536
102,796
Sioux
19,185
725,688
84,844
Spencer (Ind.)
2,399
110,872
15,088
Spencer (Inc.)
658
84.340
456,976
Spencer lots
1,241,868
Freeman
20,47 I
687,900
84,216
Dickens (Ind.)
2,463
110,412
60,012
Dickens lots
39,008
Logan
22,502
760,392
72,716
Gillett's Grove
22.373
831.360
135,426
Gillett's lots
32,552
Lincoln
22,316
880.796
138,984
Lincoln lots
18,272
Clay.
19,983
802,580
103,088
Royal (Ind.)
2,434
98,716
54.836
Royal lots
165,880
Peterson
19,657
767,544
75,320
Peterson (Ind.)
2,163
83,808
7,616
Peterson (Inc.)
127,032
Peterson lots
152,172
Douglas
22,215
884,220
121,488
Herdland
17.422
623,044
69,284
Herdland lots
3,540
Garfield
14,170
514,620
46,812
Webb (Inc.)
257
11,780
35,808
Webb lots
376
Webb (Ind.)
12,076
441,592
41,620
DRAINAGE DISTRICTS.
The drainage of swamp and overflowed land has come into vogue but quite recently, and in the western states especially, the husbandman is awakening to the fact that money expended in tiling and in big drainage ditches is well spent and the returns more than compensate for the outlay.
Vast tracts of land have been reclaimed, in recent years, in Illinois and Iowa, that were considered worthless. By the system of establishing drainage
41,168
Riverton
133
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
districts and assessing the land benefited by the drains or ditches, swamps and overflowed land, to the extent of millions of acres-lands looked upon with contempt-have been drained by the building of big ditches and now make the most fertile fields in the communities where the drainage districts have been established. In one county in Illinois, Ford county, within the past ten years, over $600,000 has been spent in drainage canals. This vast sum of money is but a mere bagatelle, however, when compared to the millions of dollars added to the appreciation in the value of the land reclaimed.
In 1905 a movement-the initial one-took place in Clay county, to establish a drainage district. Henry Achenback and others were the prime movers in a petition for drainage district number one, to be established in Sioux and Riverton townships. Immediately following this petition came one from John Adams and others for the establishing of drainage ditch number two, in Water- ford, Lone Tree and Riverton townships.
These ditches, or canals, have been completed, at a comparatively small outlay of money, probably $10,000, but the benefits derived, both from a com- mercial and sanitary viewpoint, more than compensate those who were called upon to pay the cost.
Drainage districts are established under a law passed by the Thirtieth gen- eral assembly, the first section of which reads as follows :
"Section I-The board of supervisors of any county shall have jurisdiction, power and authority at any regular, special or adjourned session, to establish a drainage district or districts, and to locate and establish levees, and cause to be constructed as hereinafter provided any levee, ditch drain or water course, or to straighten, widen, deepen or change any natural water course, in such county, whenever the same will be of public utility or conducive to the public health, convenience or welfare, and the drainage of surface waters from agricultural lands shall be considered a public benefit and conducive to the public health, convenience, utility and welfare."
GRAIN AND FRUIT.
The soil and climate are well adapted to the production of wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, flax, buckwheat, potatoes and other vegetables. In an early day, and in fact for a number of years, wheat was the principal crop, but of later sears it has not produced so well. Farmers have, therefore, turned their atten- tion to other cereals. Flax has yielded well and being easily cared for and a crop that can be realized on in a short time, besides always commanding a good price and is such an excellent thing for new land, that acres upon acres have been seeded in years past. It is never a drug on the market and brings a handsome sum. It has been demonstrated that tame grass does well, especially timothy, and there are a large number of acres seeded down to it. There are a number of orchards in the county which have been yielding for a number of years and others planted later which give promise of future success. A great deal of attention is paid to fruit culture. There are several farms where a large amount of ground is taken up with small fruit such as blackberries, raspberries, straw- berries, currants, and they are growing luxuriantly and producing excellent varieties. Very few sections are devoting more attention to horticulture than
134
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
the farmers of Clay county. There is a healthy rivalry existing, each determined to raise the very best. The dry pure air of the climate gives to trees and plants a healthy growth and the fruits and vegetables are solid and delicately flavored. The productiveness of Clay county is noteworthy, notwithstanding the fact that there have been many detractors. The average yield of corn is from thirty-five to forty bushels to the acre ; average yield of wheat, ten to fifteen ; average yield of flax, twelve to twenty bushels. This is with fair cultivation, seasonably sown and properly cared for. No fancy farming but just plain and careful attention. Oats, for years past, has been one of the principal crops of the Clay county farmer, and on which he can, as a rule, expect a splendid return. The season of 1908, in all crops, oats, corn, and hay, was especially gratifying, and the prices being greater than at any time since the war, the Clay county husbandman's bank account was considerably swollen. For the past ten years every product of the farm has brought a top price and a ready market has been eagerly waiting to consume all that might be offered for sale. Cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, and wool, rarely at any time before, have brought the farmer such magnificent returns on the labor and expense of their raising and preparation for the market.
STOCK.
Perhaps few if any counties in northwestern Iowa excels Clay in character and class of stock raised. Some counties may have a larger number of head, but none better bred or a greater number of them. It has been the aim and object of a number of breeders to purchase the very best blooded stock that could he had, and if Clay surpasses her sister counties in this respect it is because she has men who are willing to invest in this kind of animals. A well-bred animal always commands a greater value than a poorly-bred one. Farmers appreciate this fact and are raising the grade of their stock. Stock raising is yearly increasing as it succeeds well. The country being unsurpassed for pas- turage and hay, stock can be kept with very little expense and grow sleek and fat on the nutritious grasses.
The wild grass, known as blue-joint, is sweet and the best for food for stock. With an abundance of grass, hay and corn, it is not marvelous that stock growing is a prolific source of revenue.
There are a number of fine herds of cattle of the Short-Horn, Jersey and Holstein breeds and a large number of grades of these various classes. In the horse line there is everything from the Shetland pony to the large and powerful Norman. Hogs and sheep are also of the very best breeding. There has been a large growth in the numbers of head of stock during the past ten years, par- ticularly in cattle.
MORALS OF THE COUNTRY.
The moral and upright class of people that Clay county is inhabited by is well attested by the fact that the records show that there have been but few bad and dishonest characters. Up to 1885 there were none of any consequence. There was, of course, the usual amount of technical violations of the law, but no particular overt acts committed. During that year A. B. Van Dee, an
135
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
excitable man, and D. C. Palmer had a little difficulty over a piece of land. They met one day when, without a word of warning or a word passing between them, Van Dee took from his wagon a shotgun and fired upon Palmer. The wounds inflicted necessitated the amputation of a limb. Van Dee surrendered to the sheriff, and, pending his trial, was adjudged insane and sent to an asylum. Beyond this there have been no criminal cases worth mentioning. Litigations have been infrequent and criminal cases few, demonstrating that Clay county's citizens are peaceable, quiet and respectors of the law and have the fear of God, man and the powers that be before them.
CLAY COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Twenty million dollars does not cover the amount invested in the state of Iowa on school buildings and equipment, and the annual expenditure for the support of these schools reaches the stupendous sum of over $10,000,000. This gives proof of a loyalty to the cause of education that is beyond question. In addition to this vast outlay for the benefit of more than 540,000 children enrolled annually in the public schools of the state, may be added the money spent in the support of numerous parochial schools, academies, business colleges, private normal schools, colleges and universities -- institutions employing in the aggre- gate 2,000 professors and teachers and enrolling annually more than 40,000 students. Vast as is the amount spent annually in supporting the schools of the state, of all classes and grades, no retrenchments would be tolerated. The problem before each of the 4,948 school boards of Iowa is not how to run the school with the fewest dollars, but how the school can be made the most efficient.
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