USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 42
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The lodge has two hundred names enrolled on the list of members who signed the constitution, among them many who were well known and prominent in the early days of Clayton county, men like Captain R. Read, after whom Read township was named; Judge Reuben Noble, Captain Andrew W. Drips, killed in the battle of Pea Ridge, and who was postmaster at Garnavillo before the war; Thos. G. Drips, former sheriff of Clayton county ; Dr. Frederick Andros, John W. Gillett, Dr. John Linton and many others. The lodge has a hall of its own and regular meetings are held every Saturday evening. At present the membership numbers thirty, and their officers are: N. G., Adam C. Oelfke; V. G., Chris F. Kregel; Recording Secretary, Wm. A. Kregel;
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Treasurer, J. Fred Schumacher ; W., T. J. Krasinsky; I. G., Albert Peterson.
Garnavillo Lodge No. 29, I. O. O. F., is the oldest fraternal organ- ization in Clayton county, Iowa, and its first officers were: N. G., Thomas G. Drips; V. G., Frank Smith; Recording Secretary, Benjamin F. Fox; Treasurer, Ezra Hurd; W. Allen; I. G., E. P. Atkins. The deceased members are: B. F. Fox, R. R. Read, L. W. Buhlman, R. C. Drips, H. L. Scheutte, J. A. Ready, D. B. Dawson, Peter Manrer, J. M. Hagensick, Harrison G. Smart, Christian Rover, George Sigg, William Kreuger, E. Ruchdashel, John Linton, James McGuire, Sr., Wm. Ahlers, Fred Cook, Jacob D. Maurer, I. C. Cammock, Otto Brumm, G. Henry Schulte, Henry Bothmer and Helmuth Brandt.
GARNAVILLO LODGE NO. 90 A. F. & A. M.
Garnavillo Lodge No. 90 A. F. & A. M. was organized by dis- pensation on the 25th day of May, 1855, and the first officers were: W. M., Elijah Odell; S. W., John M. Alton; J. W., Israel McWilliams; Secretary, John H. Dunkin ; S. D., B. F. Forbes ; J. D., Andrew W. Drips; Tyler, George S. Renshaw. The above named seven Masons were the petitioners for a dispensation, to open the first Masonic lodge held at Garnavillo, and the first meeting, as aforesaid, was held on the 25th day of May, 1885, and in June the next year, the by-laws were adopted and a charter was granted to Garnavillo Lodge No. 90 A. F. & A. M.
The charter members were: Elijah Odell, Benjamin F. Forbes, George S. Renshaw, Andrew W. Drips, Israel McWilliams, John M. Alton, John J. Dunkin, Benjamin F. Fox, Ezra Hurd, S. R. Scott, Thomas Updegraf, Reuben Noble, J. L. Hagensick, H. C. Oelkers, and John H. Nietert. The Worshipful Masters from the time of organiza- tion to the present time are: Elijah Odell, Reuben Noble, Thomas Updegraf, J. H. Nietert, David G. Rogers, Alvah C. Rogers, George W. Beach, and Benjamin F. Fox, Harrison G. Smart, James McGuire, Sr., Fred Cook, Jacob D. Maurer, C. W. Duffin, William A. Kregel, Dr. Arthur A. Schmidt, Henry P. Kreuger, Realto O. Schumacher. The time of regular meeting is every Tuesday, on or before full moon, and the present membership numbers thirty-two. The present officers are: W. M., R. O. Schumacher ; S. W., H. H. Kuhlman ; J. W., H. P. Krueger ; Treasurer, J. F. Schumacher ; Secre- tary, Wm. A. Kregel; S. D., H. H. Baumer ; J. D., V. C. Schumacher, and Tyler, H. W. Fritz. There are thirty-three deceased members.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
Cotton Camp No. 3004 was organized on the third day of May, 1895, with fourteen charter members. The following officers were elected : V. C., Dr. A. A. Schmidt ; W. A., H. Luehsen, Jr .; Ex Banker, H. Limbach ; Clerk, Glendor Brandt ; Esc, C. F. Kregel; Watch, Albert Wagner ; Sentry, Chas. Rantzow; Camp Physician, Dr. A. A. Schmidt; Managers, J. E. Fritz, Chas. Hedeman, and Louis Hevill.
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REBEKAHS
Josephine Rebekah Lodge No. 7, was organized at Garnavillo on the 13th day of February, 1869, with the following charter members: James Schroeder, Jenny Schroeder, Henry Huntemann, Anna Hunte- mann, B. Boder, Elizabeth Boder, Gus Beutel, Charlotte Beutel, W. Brumm, John Pohlman, C. Pohlman, C. Swalter and D. Swalter. The first officers were. James Schroeder, Noble Grand; Vice Grand, Sophie Behm; Secretary, Davis Walter; Treasurer, Katherine Frey, and the present members are : Noble Grand, Helen Behrens ; Vice Grand, Edna Scholz; Secretary, Selma Class ; Treasurer, Clara Friedlein.
The meeting of Josephine Rebekah Lodge is in the Odd Fellow Hall, every first and third Tuesday of the month. For many years the lodge work was conducted in the German language. The present mem- bership is thirty-six.
GARNAVILLO SOCIAL TURN VEREIN
The Garnavillo Social Turn Verein was organized on the 23rd day of August, 1869, with the following charter members: Peter Maurer, Henry Schumacher, Helmuth Brandt, Diedrich Schroeder, J. H. Kuenzel, John D. Meyer, Wm. Ahlers, Wm. Kuhlman, Joseph Limbach and Fritz Walter, U. U. Stratemeyer, William Logier, Fritz Harberg, Adam Brauer, G. U. Stratemeyer, Fritz Schoelerman, Sr., U. L. Schutte, Wm. Harberg, John Marberg, Henry Oelke, Louis Meyer, and Stephen Wenschal. The first officers were: President, Dr. Wm. Logier; Vice President, Peter Maurer; Secretary, Helmuth Brandt ; Treasurer, Wm. Ahlers. Their meetings are held the second Monday of each month in their own hall.
GIARD
Named after the owner of the first Spanish grant, Giard was at one time an important stopping place on the overland route to McGregor. In those earlier days when the great military road was filled with an endless procession of immigrants moving westward and heavily laden ox teams bringing the wheat from the interior, places of rest and refreshment were necessary every few miles, for the ox, though powerful, travels at a snail's pace. Giard was the first stopping place on this great highway and it did a good business for many years. The railroad changed all of this, and on account of the grade, it was found impossible to go through Giard, and the once busy town is now but a pleasant settlement where the homes of prosperous farmers nestle about the church which has for many years been the center of the community's life.
The Giard German Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the old- est institutions in the county, having been organized by Rev. John Mann of Sherrill, Iowa, in 1848. Among the charter and pioneer members were Daniel Bickel and wife, Adam Berg and wife, Henry Hellwig and wife, Conrad Hellwig, Henry Froelich and wife, Conrad Hartwick, Herman Schneider, John Bernhard, John Hartwick,
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William Allart and Geo. Wickersheim. The first church was built during the pastorate of Rev. Frederick Heinz. It was a very modest frame structure located on the Elkader road about one mile southwest of Giard. This was replaced later by another frame structure of larger proportions. The present handsome brick church was built in 1902 and the congregation also owns a handsome and commodious parsonage. The present pastor is Rev. A. W. Gauger. Both English and German are used in the services and the church is in a thriving con- dition in every way.
GUTTENBERG
In 1900, Guttenberg voted an electric light franchise but this was allowed to default and it was proposed that the city would use gas. Guttenberg was organized under a special charter just as were many of the cities of the early day. Later legislation, however, gave cities regularly organized greater advantages than were held by the cities of the special charter and in 1902, Guttenberg abandoned its old charter and became as other Iowa cities. As a result of municipal controversies a second newspaper was established at Guttenberg in 1903, with S. L. Gage as editor. This was, however, but a short lived affair. It was sought to improve the channel of the Mississippi at Guttenberg but Glen Haven on the Wisconsin side objected to the clos- ing of the channel and Senator Allison, for Iowa, and Senator Spooner for Wisconsin argued the case at length on the floor of the U. S. Senate. A frightful accident occurred in November, 1905, when J. Baumgaertner and Ben Walter were killed by the bursting of a boiler at the flour mill, the mill being totally wrecked. Guttenberg was won- derfully immune from the major accidents or fires, the only fires of importance being the one which occurred in September, 1900, when the hotel, which was crowded with guests, was burned. Fortunately no lives were lost, although there were many narrow escapes; and the fires in September, 1913, when the planing mill of the Meuser Lumber Company was destroyed with no insurance. Guttenberg benefited by the pearl button industry almost as much as did McGregor and a suc- cessful factory was established. The excelsior factory started by citi- zens was also a success. Guttenberg has always been a conservative community but with all its quietness it has steadily maintained itself and is today the largest town in Clayton county and one of the wealthiest.
Guttenberg is a remarkable town. It retains the traditions of the old and grasps the advantages of the new. In many ways it reminds one of a village of the Fatherland, but in the midst of the quaint old buildings one is startled by all the evidences of modernity. The river front is beautiful. There is no finer in all Iowa. The view from the bluffs as the road rises steeply is one of superb beauty. The town itself is a perfect picture of quiet content and widespread pros- perity mingled with the spirit of nervous American activity.
The present officers of the city are mayor, Robert Scholz; clerk, Henry Beermann; councilmen, M. Gilbertz, L. H. Beermann, Chris Frommelt, A. O. Hamann, Carl Ohm. The city has an excellent sys- tem of water works with high pressure. A contract has been entered
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into with Schmidt Bros. of Elkader for electric power. For this the city pays at the rate of two and one-half cents per kilowatt, charging twelve cents to consumers, leaving a handsome margin of profit which will go to the city. Two button factories employ between one hundred and fifty to two hundred people. A canning factory employs many during the corn packing season. The excelsior factory normally employs from fifteen to twenty people. The Ed. P. Eberhart Lumber Company operates a sawmill for hardwood and Mueser Lumber Com- pany has a planing mill of good capacity. The city has a building of its own for its administrative offices and there is an efficient volunteer fire company with M. Gilbertz as chief. There are two large brick school buildings, a high school whose graduates are admitted to the University of Iowa without examination. Special courses are given in Domestic Science, Agriculture and Manual Training. There is a library of one thousand volumes. The school property is valued at $30,000. Chas. Adam is president of the school board and E. L. Charlesworth. secretary. The schools open in September in charge of Superintendent Hoffman, who succeeds G. W. Hunt. The high stand- ard of the school is in large measure due to D. D. Murphy who was at their head for many years.
The Guttenberg Press is an independent and readable newspaper. It was established by Sumner Miller, January 6, 1897, who sold it January 1, 1908, to Z. G. Houck. On May 15, 1911, the paper was purchased by Louis C. and Harry J. Muschewske, its present publish- ers. The paper is eminently successful and has a well equipped office.
Among the churches there are the Methodist Episcopal of which Rev. W. T. Smith is pastor ; the Catholic church, dealt with in another chapter ; and St. John's Lutheran Church. This church was organized January 1, 1854. The first officers were A. Weimer, H. Fahling, C. Niemann, J. Wehrkamp, H. Hunteman, J. Dittmer and Theo Aulwes. The church was built in 1854 and Rev. Mueller of Garnavillo was the first pastor. Succeeding pastors were Reverends P. Seisting, P. C. Adams, Theo. Hushmann, P. Gessler. Wm. Beckman, P. Kleinlein, F. C. Bazil. On June 30, 1899, Rev. J. Janzig took charge and he has continued since that time doing good work among his people. The church building is modern, has pipe organ and excellent choir. The value of the church property, including parsonage, is about $10,000.00. There is a confirmation school of seventy-five members, a Ladies' Aid Society of ninety-five members, Young People's Society and Sunday School.
The Community Club was organized November 8, 1915, and although young, it has already been a benefit to the city by creating a better feeling of cooperation and by the establishment of a rest room for visitors to the city. Dr. F. R. Cutler is president and G. W. Hunt, secretary of this club. Another excellent feature of the civic life of Guttenberg is
THE INGLESIDE CLUB
The Ingleside Club was organized by a number of ladies of Gutten- berg in the year 1902 as a social club. In 1908 it joined the Federa- tion of Women's Clubs and then took up literary work. In 1910 it
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dropped the literary work and devoted its entire efforts to the laying out, planting and caring for the New River Front Park at Guttenberg.
The charter members were Olive Pye, Jessie Beyer, Gertrude Pohle, Lottie Ihm, Yetta Purnhage, Augusta Friedlein, Lulu Schroeder and Emma McErlain. The first president was Jessie Beyer.
Since then the club has increased its membership until there are now fifteen members. The present officers are: President, Margaret Miller; vice president, Amanda Beerman; secretary, Minnie Muschewske; treasurer, Ellen Scholz.
The club is now devoting its entire time to the development of the new river front park, which has really not been formally named. It extends a length of about three and one-half blocks along the high banks of the Mississippi river. It is beautifully laid out with gravel walks, flower beds and various kinds of shade trees. It will in time, be one of the most beautiful parks along the upper Mississippi river. The club developed this park out of a wild tract which annually grew up to weeds.
Among the lodges are the following:
ODD FELLOWS
Guttenberg Lodge No. 126, I. O. O. F., was founded in 1859 with seven charter members. The first meeting was held at the home of John Friedlein. The first officers were Henry Lake, N. G .; Henry Huntemann, V. G .; Leonard Heine, secretary ; M. Goetz, treasurer. The other charter members were D. E. Meyers, William Woodworth and Henry Bultmann. In 1904, a handsome new building was erected, and in 1909 the lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with appro- priate ceremony. August Friedlein is the present Noble Grand.
PRAIRIE LA PORTE LODGE NO. 147, A. F. & A. M.
Prairie la Porte Lodge No. 147, A. F. & A. M. of Guttenberg, Iowa, held their first regular meeting on the thirteenth day of August, 1859. The charter members were: C. P. Goodrich, G. H. Bonomann, Charles Falkenheiner, R. M. Wilson, John Sixbey, John McBride, Frederick Eisfelder, Jonathan Kauffman, Willard Knight and Elipha- let Price. The first officers were: W. M., C. P. Goodrich ; S. W., John McBride ; J. W., Jonathan Kauffman ; treasurer, Willard Knight; secretary, G. H. Bowman ; S. D., John Sixbey ; J. D., Fred Eisfelder.
The present executive officers are: W. M., Charles Scholz; S. W., Dr. F. R. Cutler. The present membership is seventy-two. Regular meetings are held every Thursday, on or before full moon, at the Masonic hall. A building fund has been established and it is hoped at some future time to be able to have a new hall.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
New Leaf Camp No. 537, was chartered March 28, 1888, and its first officers were: Consul, George H. Smart ; adviser, H. J. Schirmer ; clerk, William Hoffbauer, Jr .; banker, William A. Seibel; delegate, P.
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H. F. Hinsch ; physician, Dr. H. J. Schirmer. The charter members were: H. Eppens, P. H. F. Hinsch, William Hoffbauer, Jr., J. Kords, C. C. Niemeyer, Ed H. Prior, J. M. Prior, W. A. Seibel, E. Schrempf, George H. Smart and H. J. Schirmer and at present the total number of members is 85. The present officers are: Consul, O. E. Gray, clerk, Charles E. Scholz. Meetings are held every second and fourth Monday.
The deceased members are: John Kords, Henry Eppens, Bernard Leuch, John Rau, William Retwisch, J. S. Cassutt, George H. Smart, John Dent, Heinrich Flentje, William H. Fahling, Philip Kirch, Henry Schutte, Ernest Geuder, John Koch, Willie Friedlein, Horace G. Jen- kins, August Kahle, Edward J. Madden and Herman Schroeder. The total amount that this camp has contributed to the benefit fund up to the present time is $20,977.65, and the total amount of death claims paid to beneficiaries, $31,000.00.
EASTERN STAR
Pearl Chapter No. 143 was organized on the twenty-second day of September, 1893. The first officers were: Worthy matron, Ida G. Miller ; worthy patron, G. H. Smart ; associate matron, Sophia Eckhart ; secretary, William Nolte; treasurer, Mrs. S. J. Kauffman ; conductress, Mrs. Lizzie Duffin; associate conductress, Ella Block; chaplain, Alice Harvey ; Adah, Hattie Smart; Ruth, Nettie Thomason; Esther, Mrs. Emily Kennedy; Martha, Edna Kauffman; Electa, Emma Horsch; warder, Anna Frey; sentinel, John Luther. There were twenty-four charter members.
Meetings are held every Thursday evening, after full moon, at Masonic hall. There are eighty-eight members. The deceased mem- bers are: Ella Block, Matilda B. Goetz, G. H. Smart, Mrs. Emma Horsch, S. W. Bowman, Dorothy E. Penfold, Jessie Beyer. The present executive officers are : Worthy matron, Mrs. Rexy Chase ; sec- retary, Addie Jacobs.
BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YEOMEN
Valley Homestead No. 61 was organized on the twenty-third day of December, 1897, and the charter was issued on the third day of February, 1898, with twenty-one charter members.
The first officers were: Foreman, Frank J. Limbach ; master of ceremonies, Charles W. Jenkins; correspondent, Robert J. Bonce; master of accounts, Sarah Jenkins; physician, John Ruthop; overseer, Bertha Bruce; watchman, Alice Jenkins; sentinel, Peter P. Tonnar. The present officers are: Foreman, Richard E. Bull; correspondent, C. Mitrucker.
There are at present one hundred benefit members and one social member, and meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the I. O. O. F. hall. The deceased members are: Henry Reyer, John Fricke, Hans Studt, Samuel Hine, William H. Heine, Bertha Deifel, Emma Horsch, Hattie E. Kords, Dr. W. L. Duffin, Har-
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riet Friedlein-Mckinley and H. G. Jenkins, Charlotte M. Scholz and Henry Daacke.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS
Golden Rule Camp No. 973 R. N. F. A., was organized on the thirtieth day of April, 1898. There were twenty-two charter members, all but six of whom were benefit members. The camp now has a membership of fifty-five members of which forty-five are beneficiary and ten are social members. The meetings are held every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
The first officers were: Oracle, Hattie Smart; vice oracle, Effie Lewis ; past oracle, Etta Beutel ; chancellor, Harriet Friedlein ; marshal, Frances Lorenz ; assistant marshal, Lizzie Saeugling; recorder, Emma Rau; receiver, Louise Tuerste; inner sentinel, Hattie Kords; outer sentinel, Emma Kohle; physician, Charles Duffn. The present officers are: Oracle, Etta Beutel ; recorder, Lena Tuerste. The outer sentinel, Emma Kohle, has held her office from 1898 up to the present time except two years. The deceased members are: John Dent, Hattie Schrunk, Margaret Solton, H. B. Scheutte, Ida Werb, Hattie Kords, Lottie Scholz, Harriet Friedlein, Eliza Kuempel, Horace Jenkins and Julia Needham.
MYSTIC WORKERS
The Mystic Workers Lodge No. 774 was organized on the fourteenth day of November, 1906, with the following charter mem- bers : William Nolte, Julia Nolte, A. F. Beyer, Karl Ihm, John P. Eckart, August H. Borman, Wilhelm Schnell, Emma Cassutt, Lizzie Cassutt, O. H. Lake, W. E. Friedlein, Thomas J. Cassutt, Calvin P. Luther, William Lindroth and John P. Stoeffler. The membership of this lodge has increased to forty-four members, and the present officers are as follows: C. W. Petters, perfect; O. H. Lake, monitor ; A. H. Borman, secretary ; John P. Eckart, banker; A. E. Beyer, physician ; R. H. Schola, marshal; William Lindroth, sentinel; O. B. Eckart, supervisor. The meetings are held on the second and fourth Friday of every month.
LITTLEPORT
Littleport was incorporated November, 1907, along the line of the Volga Valley Railroad between Volga City and Elkport. The first officers were: Mayor, C. C. Pust ; clerk, S. M. Stalnaker; council- men, E. Enderes, William Reichert, E. L. Gifford, A. Keffer and Henry Pust. The town has long been established, however, and was a con- siderable hamlet for more than fifty years prior to its incorporation. It is now a village of more than two hundred population. There are three general stores, bank, blacksmith shop and a creamery owned by the Farmers' Co-operative Company and built in 1915. This creamery, according to the state dairy commissioner, ranks as one of the best in Iowa. The present mayor is J. C. Miller and S. M. Stalnaker is still the clerk. The independent school district was organized in 1906 and S. M. Stalnaker was the first principal, holding this position for five years. The present principal is R. Luers while Miss Louisa Luers
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teaches the primary department. G. H. Meyer is the postmaster. There are two churches, Catholic and Lutheran, both of which are served from Elkport. The Frauen Verein is a society of ladies of which Mrs. E. L. Gifford is president, and Mrs. A. B. Zapp is at the head of the M. B. A. order. Other fraternities are as follows :
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
Littleport Camp No. 1723 was organized July 30, 1892, with eleven charter members. First officers were: F. J. Wagner, V. C .; Mathew Feeney, advisor ; Henry Pust, banker ; F. T. Pilkington, clerk; Emil Pust, escort ; Ernest Enderes, watchman ; Charles Peick, sentry ; H. L. Gifford, F. J. Wagner and A. J. Mading, managers. C. C. Pust is now at the head of the order and J. J. Brich is clerk. The membership is seventy and deceased members are: George Scheer, George Meyer, J. J. Liedy, William Reiner, Joe Whipple and J. E. Davis.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA
Fern Leaf Camp No. 1665 was organized March 16, 1889. The first officers were: Oracle, Louisa Pust ; vice oracle, Laura Reichert ; chancellor, Julia Nading; recorder, Caroline Pilkington; receiver, Minnie Brich ; marshal, Jennie Whipple; I. sentinel, Minnie Nading; O. sentinel, Sophia Pust; managers, Joseph J. Brich, Lillian J. Meder and Bertha Krieg.
The camp is headed at present by Martha Towle, oracle, and Minnie Brich, recorder. The membership is fifty-three and there has been but one death in the lodge, that of Bertha Krieg.
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Lutherans of Littleport have had a church organization since 1860, the first pastor having been Rev. Vollmer. At present the charge is served by Rev. Paulsen of Elkport, who holds services in Littleport every two weeks. The church has twenty-five members.
LUANA
Luana is a thriving little village of 175 population, located on the C. M. & St. Paul railway some five miles west of Monona, and is the most western town of the county. It early attained prom- inence through the large creamery interests located there, a business which is still in a prosperous condition. The city officers are as follows: Mayor, George R. Englehardt ; clerk, W. J. Splies ; treasurer, W. J. Mitchell; councilmen, W. Doerring, H. Rekow, C. Russell, F. Haffa and B. Overbeck.
To Luana must be given the credit for its splendid pioneering in the line of a consolidated school district, made possible under the new law. As a result a fine new school building was opened in June, 1916. It is a three-story brick building, containing sixteen rooms, with modern gymnasium, shower baths, lunch rooms and assembly room;
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while the campus of ten acres contains tennis courts, base ball grounds, swings and a cinder path for the athletes. The building cost $35,000 and may be considered as a great experiment in advance educational work to include rural districts. Prof. H. B. Smith is in charge, and it is expected that the attendance will be at least 160. Instruction will include eight grades and a four-year high school course and there will be courses in manual training, domestic science and agriculture. The membership of the school board, which has made itself conspicuous by its advanced ideas, is as follows: President, Henry Palas; sec- retary, George Englehardt; treasurer, W. J. Splies; and members, Louis Englehardt, Henry Berger, Louis Schultz and H. Gruel. The school district embraces twenty-six square miles.
MONONA
Monona is one of the thriving towns of Clayton county, situated in the northeast corner, in the center of the finest farming community in the state. It is fourteen miles from the Mississippi river, just at the top of the Mississippi river bluffs and is sometimes called the "City on the Hill." It has a population of a thousand inhabitants, a large per cent being retired farmers who have sold valuable farms nearby and have moved to town, erecting handsome modern homes in which to spend the remainder of their days in ease and comfort. It is prob- ably true Monona possesses more beautiful private homes than any town of its size in the state. It has fine schools and churches, a beau- tiful public park, two hotels, two banks with a combined deposit of $500,000.00. All lines of retail business are well represented and there is an iron foundry, two grist mills, opera house, a farmers' commission company, a union farmers' creamery company, a community club of thirty-three members, electric lights, with day and night current, gas plant, municipal water works, two telephone lines and a group of live business men and citizens that are putting forth their best efforts to make it a town one can feel proud to live in, and they are ready with a warm welcome to any who chance to come their way.
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