USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 50
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The grounds were surveyed and platted as soon as the frost was out of the ground. A pathetic incident relative to the starting of this cemetery associa- tion was the anxiety and push of James Bell in getting the neighbors to take hold and organize. He was the chief promoter and it seemed that he could not rest until the organization was effected and the grounds made ready. Within four months after the accomplishment of this cherished plan, Mr. Bell was taken ill and died and his was the first interment in the new cemetery. The grounds are nicely located one mile south west of the village. Three acres have been added and the grounds have been kept in beautiful condition. A plot was donated for the use of the Grand Army and a substantial monument to the soldier dead has been erected. Through the influence of the late Sen. J. P. Dolliver, a cannon was secured from the government which adds greatly to the monumental effect of the cemetery.
Mr. George Rae was one of the chief men in promoting this good work as was also G. W. Huntington, Robt. Bell, and Thos. Rae, who has been secretary since 1885.
The present officers are G. W. Huntington, Pres .; Thos. Rae, Sec'y .; Robt. Bell, Treas .; Henry Young, Frank Henry, G. M. Talcott, Directors, M. H. Blandon, Sexton.
The re-organized church of Latter Day Saints was a strong factor in this section from its earliest days. In 1872, we find that it had 48 members at Dow- ville, with Geo. Montagne, presiding. The name of the post office was not changed from Crawford to Dowville until April, 1872, at which time L. E. Hardy was appointed postmaster, vice Judge Dow resigned. The railroad business at Dowville for 1871, averaged $355.00, per month. The Review of May 22, 1872, notes that "Judge Dow is to build a brick mansion and that Wood Bros. are to commence manufacturing brick for him this week." G. C. Lawson writes in '73; he says: "Dowville is but three years old. In morality it is a model for any town. It supports both a Methodist and Presbyterian min- ister and has Sunday School regularly. Friday evening is devoted to Lyceum
CITY PARK. DOW CITY
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
privileges and the weather must be very boisterous if the school house is not filled. There is no better locality for a grist mill or a grist and woolen mill combined. One farmer has about one thousand head of sheep. Judge S. E. Dow offers the most liberal inducement to settlers. The future is bright for Dowville and we expect to see it one of the most important business towns in this section of the country."
In 1873, Dowville started a movement for a cheese factory, the building for which was erected in that year. Among the other improvements for that year, we note that "another store is to be opened up immediately, that the school house is in. process of graining, that Mr. Jordan has established a livery stable, that Mr. Hardy expects to build a store, and that Drs. Satterlee and Patterson contemplate building a large drug store." The presence of Dr. Middleton is noted. The new firm of Cook and Lewis, general merchants, enter business and we find the interesting note that Mr. Thornton, the oldest settler in this part of the country, and who was robbed in Lost Grove many years ago by the Indians, "past through Dowville last Saturday enroute for Nevada." During 1874, also, there was much excitement as to the discovery of coal. This did not amount to anything, but the savages of the grasshoppers were very real. Dow City held a grand 4th of July celebration in 1874. The celebration was held near the cheese factory. There was ice cream, lemonade, speaking, and two bowery dances. Mr. Frank Tabor was the orator of the day. The year 1874 was also memorable on account of the most violent hail storm ever known there. The width of the storm was about one and one half miles, hail stones or more correctly ice, fell in every conceivable shape and size. The newspaper correspondent continues : "This is the second time in three years that these farms have lost their corn crops by hail. Mr. Grace has lost six crops in twenty-two years by water, grasshoppers, drouth and hail."
The continued prosperity of the village is indicated, however, by the erec- tion of an elevator by Dow and Graves, the building of a millinery store, for Talcott and Hammond, and the erection of a drug store by Boyd and Manning of Dunlap. Another business house spoken of is a harness shop, owned by E. B. Guard.
The township officers in 1874, were Clerk, Ben Heath; Trustees. C. F. Buss, John Pett, B. Wilder; Assessors, E. L. Hammond; Justices, A. Graves, Geo. Rae; Constables, Jos. McColl, Andrew Bell; Road Supervisors, A. J. Henderson, G. W. Huntington, Wm. Pett, T. Binnell, and S. Young.
Showing the unsettled condition of the country and the rigors of the winter season, we quote the following from a correspondence of G. C. Lawson in the Denison Review, under date of February 17, 1875, as follows :
"We have just had a visit from Mr. A. L. Palmer, of 'Pretty Prairie,' who took care of the Green family on Wednesday, February 3d. The following is a true account of the sufferings of this family.
"On Tuesday, February 2d about 4 o'clock, a family of six started from Dunlap for their home in Pretty Prairie, in Union township, a distance of six- teen miles. Hardly had they started before the terrible storm commenced. While they were traveling among the timber, they were reasonably comfortable, but when they struck the open prairie the snow came with such terrible force Vol. I-29
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that both horses and driver were blinded. The driver, although not twenty years of age, saw that the safety of the family depended greatly on him. The storm increased. The horses became more unmanageable, but the noble youth held onto the lines like a true hero. But night came on and nothing but animal instinct could save them and take them home. The thermometer had fallen to twelve degrees below zero at this time. Who can tell the agony of the two mothers, each clasping a babe to her breast, when the horses stood still at a straw pile and refused to move. The truth came upon them that
They were lost.
"Although not a mile from home, they were unable to tell where home was. The mother of the two ladies who had each a babe, whose respective ages were four and eight months, took charge of the whole matter. The whole family laid down in the sleigh and covered themselves up as well as possible with the covering they had, and resigned themselves to their fate. As we heard Mr. Palmer tell of the terrible feelings of the mothers and their babes we thought of the song of the 'Snow Storm,' where the mother with her babe was found; the mother was dead, but when the man
'Unwrapped the robe from off the child, The babe looked up and sweetly smiled.'
"At three o'clock in the morning, Mr. Green attempted to find a house. He did not succeed in finding one, and the noble young man was terribly frozen. As daylight approached, the old lady, Mrs. Green, informed her daughters that she saw a house not far distant and would try and reach it. 'God bless you, and spare you my children,' were the words of the mother as she left. The house was Mr. Palmer's, but the old lady gave out before reaching it. Some of Mr. Palmer's family saw her and hastened to her assistance. She told them the story of their sufferings as they carried her to the house. Soon the nearly frozen horses with their burden were at Mr. Palmer's house. All were badly frozen but the babes."
In 1876, the Council Bluffs Nonpareil contains the following brief mention of Dowville: "Dowville is located in Crawford county on the North Western railroad and was founded by S. E. Dow, Esq., one of the oldest settiers of the county. He came there twenty years ago. The town has one fine school house, one hotel, one flouring mill, one elevator, agricultural warehouse, cheese factory, lumber yard, three dry goods stores, drug store, harness shop and many fine residences. Among the latter is the splendid brick residence of S. E. Dow, the finest in the country. He built in 1874, at a cost of over $11,000. It has 20 rooms, and is finished and furnished in fine style. He is the owner of over 1500 acres of farm land. He also owns the elevator, lumber yard, agricultural house, and cheese factory. He ships a large amount of stock annually."
Among the other Dow City items for 1876, we note that the school board is about to invest $230.00 in a public library, and that the spring term of school opened with Mrs. Scofield, of Dunlap as teacher. Further mention is made that Major Heath, the rail road station agent, is to put in his leisure hours publish- ing a semi-monthly paper, and that a $100.00 printing press and outfit are to be purchased.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
There are many other notes of new residences during this and succeeding years. By 1879, the name had been changed from Dowville to Dow City, and the growth of the town is shown by the following item: "Mr. Lewis, the post master tells us that the room has been found altogether too small for the demand of the public and that his brother is about to finish a two story building on the opposite side of the street, 22 by 36, with a town hall above."
There is no data from which a detailed history of Dow City can be given for the years since 1880 and it will be necessary to briefly summarize the more important events. As we have seen Dow City gave much promise in its earlier days and while these hopes have not all been fulfilled it has held its own as a trading point and as a place of residence in spite of more discouragements than have been the lot of any other town in the county.
The firm of Dow and Graves was the all important one during the first decades of Dow City's history and the financial embarrassment of this firm brought with it distress to many others and was a blow to the prosperity of the entire western portion of the county. Dow City recovered from this blow only to sustain others. In June 1891 a fire destroyed the flour house of the Dow City mills and caused severe property loss. In January 1895 fire destroyed the furniture store owned by J. U. Wise and hardly had he removed his damaged stock to another building when a second conflagration swept away his store, to- gether with the hotel and several other business houses. It was supposed that this was an incendiary fire. During the same year Mr. W. C. Hillas, then the prominent merchant of the town, committed suicide while in a state of despon- dency caused by ill health. This was another blow to the business of the city.
When the Sioux City branch of the Chicago and Milwaukee railroad was constructed the line passed about two miles to the east of Dow City. At the crossing with the Northwestern the town of Arion was established and this made a competing market and business point very close at hand. There was some talk of the removal of Dow City to the new site just as was done when Astor moved to Manilla and when Old Kiron moved to New Kiron. But Dow City was too well established and had too much invested for this to be done. At the outset Arion was a "boom" town and this prevented the growth of Dow City just at the time when the other towns of the county were forging to the front.
Twice during the past few years has Dow City been the victim of expensive fires, once when the hotel owned by R. A. Slocumb was burned to the ground and still later when the postoffice and several business houses were consumed. A well built brick block has taken the place of the frame buildings, destroyed in this last fire and a new hotel has been erected but these repeated disasters have seriously impeded growth.
The greatest reverse of the plucky little town has had to meet came with the failure of the Exchange Bank owned by H. S. Green. This was an old es- tablished institution. It had weathered the financial storms of the nineties, its proprietor was well liked and had the confidence of all. The news of the fail- ure was almost unbelievable among the people who had trusted so implicitiy in the institution and when the rumor was verified it brought consternation and despair to many hearts. Scores of people found the savings of a life time
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
wiped away, farmers who thought their mortgages had been paid, found that their agent had not made the payment and that the debt still hung over them. The loss to depositors was $60,000 and in the final settlement they were repaid but thirteen cents on the dollar. The loss sustained through trust funds, etc., was even greater and it is estimated that the people of Dow City and vicinity lost more than $100,000 in addition to the loss to the depositors. Soon after the failure Mr. Green was indicted for fraudulent banking but he left before being placed under arrest. For several years efforts to locate him were un- successful. He was finally located in California but the confiding local officers allowed him to escape before the Iowa officer arrived with papers for his ex- tradition. Later, some of the poorer depositors received small amounts in re- payment and in 1910 Mr. Green returned to the county and voluntarily gave himself up to the authorities. He was released under bond and the matter is still before the courts. The sentiment of Dow City is largely divided between those who wish the matter pushed and those who feel that Mr. Green was the victim of circumstances, that he is now trying to make restitution as far as possible and that he should be allowed his liberty. It is not the part of the historian to express an opinion about a question which is still before the courts and it is alluded to simply as a part of the history of the town.
Dow City is now upon a solid business basis. It has good trade territory and a loyal constituency. Its business men are reliable and enterprising. After the failure of the Exchange Bank the Bank of Dow City was established by the McHenry family, owners of the First National Bank of Denison. This bank did very much to help the people of Dow City weather the storm consequent to their great losses and it has the entire confidence of the community. In De- cember 1910 the safe of this bank was blown open by burglars and nearly $5,000 was stolen from the vault, such were the resources of the bank, how- ever, that no concern was felt as to its solvency and the business was continued the following day without interruption.
Dow City contains a number of very pretty homes and it boasts of the most beautiful park in the county. Its schools have for many years maintained a high standard of excellence and have attracted students from all the country side round about. The school building was erected in 1875 but a large addition was built at a later date and it has been kept in the best of repair, while its grounds, occupying an entire block, are ideal for school purposes. The schools occupy six rooms and during the past year the teaching force consisted of Supt. C. C. Bunch, Assistant, Miss Grace King, High School and Music teacher, Miss Helen Hayes and grade teachers, Miss Hilda Turnland, Miss Helen Goddard, Miss Mildred Wiggins and Miss Jenna Strahan. The school property is valued at about seven thousand dollars.
The many fires have taught Dow City a lesson as to fire protection and it ·now has an excellent system of water works which were put in at a cost of six thousand dollars. The air pressure system is used and the town owns a suitable brick pumping station equipped with good machinery and a satisfactory engine. There is a well drilled volunteer fire company with E. P. O'Meara as chief and the city own good hose cart and other fire fighting apparatus.
AFTER THE FIRE. DOW CITY
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. DOW CITY
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
The present Mayor is Mr. S. A. Dow, son of the founder of the town and that his administration is progressive is shown by the civic improvements now under way. The religious interests of the town are represented by strong and active congregations of the Methodist Episcopal, the Baptist and Latter Day Saint denominations. These organizations all occupy handsome and comfort- able churches of their own. The fraternities are the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Redmen, The Royal Neighbors and the Rebekahs, brief histories of which are appended. At present the business in- stitutions and the business men are as follows: Bank of Dow City, W. E. Fishel cashier, E. G. Wiggins Assistant; A. H. Rudd, editor Dow City Enter- prise ; D. E. Bremser and H. Lazerus, general merchants; W. H. Wiggins, furnishing goods and groceries; E. R. Brake, groceries and bakery; W. C. Rolls. restaurant; J. R. Best and Stewart Lumber Co., hardware and imple- ments ; Anderson Drug Co .; A. L. Brown, jeweler ; C. L. Rudd, hotel ; Ahart and Roberts, meats; R. W. Houston, livery; F. W. Berka, photographer ; V. Vaughan and M. C. Morris, barbers; Miss Lucy Healey, milliner ; E. H. Swasey, lawyer; R. T. Van Metre and L. B. Toon, physicians ; N. R. Wilder, A. L. Jackson and S. A. Dow, real estate and insurance; Stewart Lumber Co., lumber ; Jos. McColl, flour and feed mill, Nelson Bros., harness ; J. A. Scott and T. A. Baber, blacksmiths ; E. V. Goddard, wagon maker ; John O'Meara, saloon ; Chas. Rook, pool hall; Miller and Williamson, cement contractors ; W. E. Dow, C. O. Miller and C. L. Rudd, carpenters ; G. H. Huntington and G. M. God- dard, painters and paper hangers; J. U. Wise, postmaster; J. G. Graul, agent Northwestern ; O. J. Judd, agent Illinois Central, C. Vollersen, grain and stock buyer. The population of Dow City is 464, something less than it was in 1900, but this loss it shares with many of the other cities of the state. Considering its many adversities Dow City has much of which to be proud. It is a patriotic little town and its celebrations of Memorial Day and July Fourth are always memorable events. It has great civic pride and is withal a contented and pros- perous community.
The post office at Dow City was established in 1867. As near as it is possible to obtain it, the list of postmasters is as follows: Mr. Shafer, L. E. Hardy, Ben- jamin Heath, M. B. Lewis, W. B. Evans, A. H. Rudd, M. G. Wiggins, and J. U. Wise. The post office is now pleasantly located in a substantial brick building. The receipts for the past year being $1,661.80.
A. F. & A. M.
The Masonic lodge at Dow City was founded March 14, 1901 by a dispensa- tion granted by the Grand Master Willard L. Eaton to John Creagon, J. W. Sinyard, D. L. Houston, C. W. Carr, T. J. Phillips, George Iverson, J. T. Sher- man, M. H. Blanding, D. Webster, E. N. Chamberlain, G. L. Caswell, Ira Springer, George Richardson, Levi Noll and George Rae. A meeting for the purpose of organization was held April 1, 1901 and John Creagon was appointed as W. M .; E. N. Chamberlain, S. W. and J. T. Sherman as J. W .; W. Houston, treasurer; D. Webster, secretary; Ira Springer, S. D .; T. J. Phillips, J. D .; George Iverson, S. S .; C. W. Carr, J. S .; and M. H. Blanding, tyler.
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The lodge recently passed its tenth birthday and has progressed since its or- ganization slowly but carefully and has at present a membership of 34. Of the charter members three only retain membership in the lodge, Messrs. Creagon, Iverson and Chamberlain. The lodge has lost two members by death, Mr. George Rae and Mr. J. T. Phillips. The worthy masters of the lodge have been John Creagon, E. N. Chamberlain, L. B. Toon, E. H. Swasey, F. C. Howorth, S. E. Goddard. The present officers are: R. T. VanMetre, W. M .; G. M. Goddard, S. W .; H. Lazerus, J. W .; E. N. Chamberlain, Treasurer ; O. J. Judd, Secretary ; E. H. Swasey, S. D .; R. W. Houston, J. D .; J. A. Rule, S. S .; H. B. Fishel, J. S .; W. M. Jordan Tyler, J. G. Graul, Chaplain.
I. O. O. F.
Globe Lodge, No. 280, I. O. O. F., a progressive, up-to-date organization and one of the best subordinate lodges of the great fraternity of Odd Fellow- ship was instituted at Dow City, Iowa, October 23, 1890. This lodge meets every Friday evening and consists of energetic, enthusiastic members whose in- terest is manifested by the fact that there is always a quorum present. The charter members were Thos. Simms, H. B. Hart, Thos. M. Sharp, P. D. Cramer, and David Walter. On the night of organization, the following class was ini- tiated: T. W. Swatman, W. V. Whaley, H. F. Bolton, J. W. Cramer, Amos Weatherby, J. B. Holliday, R. A. Slocumb, H. P. Smith, and A. A. Fishel. Thomas Simms was the first to fill the chair of Noble Grand and filled the office for two terms. Brother Simms was an active worker and while he remained in Dow City was always a consistent exponent of Odd Fellowship. Of the found- ers of the Odd Fellows in Dow City, J. W. Cramer, T. W. Swatman, and W. V. Whaley are still members and continue an interest in its welfare which has never relaxed during the twenty years of its existence. At present the lodge has a membership of 84.
It is incorporated and owns property valued at $6,000. Although greatly damaged by fire in April, 1909, the building has been replaced and the lodge now has a property which earns a good income.
.
The Ladies Auxiliary, the Rebekah Lodge has a membership of fifty-two and is in fine condition. Charter Oak encampment, No. 142 the only encamp- ment in Crawford county, was instituted at Charter Oak, Iowa, October 20, 1891, and was transferred to Dow City in March, 1902, and the name changed to Dow City encampment, No. 142. The encampment meets semi-monthly and has a membership of 42.
THE RED MEN.
Swastika Tribe, No. 136 of the Improved Order of Red Men was organ- ized in Dow City, April 22, 1909. The charter members were W. B. Gib- son, M. A. Persall, W. C. Rolls, L. H. Goddard, S. E. Rudd, D. G. Howarth, E. H. Swasey, E. P. O'Meara, John Ahart, G. C. Rule, L. B. Thompson, C. L. Rudd, C. H. Miller, J. H. Persall, T. A. Sterrett, O. A. Cooper, Jess Justice, H. H. Malone, M. C. Norris.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
The first officers were, W. C. Rolls, Sachem; E. H. Swasey, P .; C. L. Rudd, S. S .; E. P. O'Meara, J. S .; S. E. Rudd, C. of R. The present officers are, L. H. Goddard, Sachem; J. H. Persall, S. S .; H. H. Malone, J. S; F. C. Buss, P .; W. C. Rolls, K. W .; O. A. Cooper, C. of R; Representative to the Great Council, W. C. Rolls. The present membership is 42.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Mineral Springs Camp, No. 1183, M. W. A. was organized October 10, 1889. The first officers were, F. S. Stone, V. C .; E. H. Swasey, W. A .; H. S. Green, Banker; N. B. Crowell, Clerk; C. E. McIntosh, E .; N. R. Wilder, W .; C. W. Underhill, S .; W. B. Evans, L .; Henry Bell, E. C. Totman and E. E. Nichols were also charter members. The present officers are Thomas Munson, C .; M. 'A'. Riley, V. C .; J. H. Persall, B .; L. H. Goddard, Clerk. The member- ship is very large, there being now 145 in good standing. This is perhaps the strongest social factor of the town and it has done much good both in village life and as a helpful fraternity in time of need. Associated with it is the Auxil- iary organization of the Royal Neighbors of America.
The local camp is known as Mineral Park Camp, No. 2043 and was or- ganized March 8, 1900. The first officers were, Della Chamberlain, O .; Tillie Hollowell, V. O .; Luella Davis, Recorder. The present officers are, Bessie Bin- nall, O .; May Odell, V. O .; Maud Persall, P. O .; Thena Fritz, Rec. The mem- bership is 44.
CHAPTER XLII.
VAIL AND VICINITY.
Thomas Ryan was the first citizen of Vail; big, genial, straight, with scarce a wrinkle in his face, he does not look the part. Nevertheless, he came to Vail in the employ of the Northwestern railroad in 1867, having charge of the section and living in the section house built at the place where it was hoped to locate a town and which was given the name of Vail in honor of a Northwestern of- ficial. Mr. Ryan was born in good old county Tipperary, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1852. He led a life of adventure and hard work, spending several years steam-boating on the Mississippi. During the war he lived in Michigan, and after the war entered the employ of the Northwestern. He tells us that when he first came west he staged from Chicago to Dixon, Illinois, as there was no railroad. When he took charge of the Vail section there was no house in sight except the one in which he lived. In 1869 he helped the surveyors lay out the town of Vail, and the first sign that it was to be more than a name was the coming of Dr. Jas. DeWolf, who erected a one and one-half story build- ing, which he used as a grocery store and residence. He also operated a lumber yard. Dr. DeWolf was the first postmaster, the first merchant, and the first physician, and he was for many years the leading spirit of the town.
Western towns grew quickly in those days. Among the first comers were, J. F. Powers, who put in a stock of furniture; E. B. Bannister, hardware; Mooney and Coleman, general merchandise; Josiah McHenry, who erected the hotel; Jack Liddle, blacksmith; and many others. At a little later period Mr. A. Smutney established a brewery and John Short erected a mill. Among the other pioneer merchants were A. L. Strong, general merchandise ; McAndrews and Lucy, hardware; Barrett Bros., general merchandise; John Strohm, elevator; Watson and Greenough, cattle buyers; T. J. and Theodore Hoffman; A. D. Young, and Columbian Alberts, lumber dealers; Wm. Anderton, Wm. Familton, real estate dealers; Dr. E. Darling, now the old time physician.
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