USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 51
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Denison papers contain some interesting comments on the growth of Vail. The Review of Nov. 8, 1871, says "Two years ago Vail consisted of a sign board and one or two houses occupied by railroad hands." In the spring of 1873, the list of Vail's business men was given as follows, "McHenry, hotel; Mooney and Coleman, store; J. F. Power, furniture store; Strong and VanDeusen, general store; E. B. Bannister, hardware; J. DeWolf, P. M .; Wm. Familton, land
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
agent ; and Chas. Anderton, harness." In November, 1873, The Bulletin notes that Vail, "though young, is making rapid strides toward claiming the title of city. New buildings are going up almost every week, and the land surround- ing is almost entirely sold out to actual settlers. J. S. Riggs and Co. are doing a good drug business. Jack Lyddle is kept busy blacksmithing. The efficient road master, T. Ryan, is keeping the section in excellent condition. Vail has three lumber yards and two grain dealers, Messrs. Stone, DeWolf and Young. Moloney Bros. expect to build a two-story building next to Mr. Powers. Mr. Bannister is doing a thriving trade in hardware and Mrs. Bannister is the mil- liner."
The role of honor for the Vail schools for December, 1873, gives the names of Jennie Young, Julia Mill, Mary Watson, Susie Crisp, Fannie Watson, Maggie Taylor, Clarence Molten, George Coleman, Alvin Coleman, Robt. Crisp, Erastus Brink, Robt. Young and James DeWolf, Jr. Freeman Knowles was the teacher.
By 1874 the business houses of Vail had been largely increased. In addition to those businesses already mentioned, there was a boot and shoe store, another drug store, barber shop, lunch room, two saloons, meat market, another blacksmith shop, two carpenter shops, and three dealers in agricultural implements. The Methodist and Presbyterian churches were organized but neither had houses of worship, and services were held alternately each Sabbath in the school house. Strong and VanDeusen erected a new store building in 1874. James Wood and John Wilson of Vail started a brick yard three miles south. Dr. Walker is also mentioned as having a large practice. The fourth of July was observed at Vail and the following is a list of toasts: Home enterprise, by Col. Wright; Town- ship Toasts, Milford, by J. C. Robinson; Denison, by L. Cornwell; East Boyer, by Hugh McWilliams; Hayes, by J. Dempster; West Side, Robt. Hope; Jack- son, by J. Maynard; Stockholm, by C. J. Starr; Iowa, by John Hilsabeck; Ot- ter Creek, by James Jones.
In 1875 the Methodists erected a church 30 by 45 feet in size. It was in 1875, also, that Vail was incorporated. The proposition to incorporate had been twice defeated at Denison and was a burning issue at the county seat at the time that Vail acted, so that it has the honor of being the first incorporated town in Crawford county. An item dated March 31, 1875, in the Denison Re- view, tells that "Justice DeWolf came to town Monday with a petition signed in due form praying for the incorporation of Vail." On October 6, the same paper congratulates Vail upon its recent incorporation. The first election followed in a short time and the first officers were as follows: Mayor, J. McHenry; Re- corder, J. F. Powers; Assessor, E. B. Bannister; Trustees, J. W. Strohm, James McAndrews, W. W. Anderton, A. B. O'Connell, W. VanDeusen. Another item states "Vail, the first incorporated town in Crawford county, is putting on city airs. All its business men are wide awake and full of vim. Its steam mill, erected by John Short, is almost completed. A brewery will shortly be in op- eration. Ed Ainsworth taught the school in 1875, and had 75 pupils."
The centennial year, 1876, showed rapid growth. Mr. McHenry for mayor, and all the old incorporation officers were reelected. The mill and brewery were in operation, many new side walks were added, $2,500.00 was voted for a new school house, and ten to fifteen houses were erected during the spring. One of
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF VAIL
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
the first sad accidents of the many the county has since known, occurred when Mr. Michael McAndrews was killed by a fall from a fractious horse. This oc- curred in the main street of Vail. The Vail Catholic Benevolent and Library society was organized March 28, 1876, with A. B. O'Connell, President; Phil Foy, Vice President; M. P. Stephens, Secretary; James McAndrews, Treas- urer ; A. B. O'Connell and D. F. Lucey, Librarians. Under the heading, "A Trip to Vail," dated August 13, 1879, we find mention of Mr. Leland, who had purchased an interest in the Rigg's drug store, of John Smith, city weigh master, and of Mayor Anderton. Others mentioned are Messrs. Powers, Strong, Fitch, Barrett, Casey, Cornwall and McHenry. In November, 1879, W. J. McAhren purchased an interest in the drug store and the firm was known as Leland and McAhren.
The importance of Vail as a shipping point is shown by the following com- parative statistics from August I to December 15, 1879:
Vail
Denison
Grain, Carloads shipped
722
484
Stock, Carloads shipped
36
64
Lumber, Carloads received 147 102
The mayors of Vail from the time of its incorporation are as follows: Jo- siah McHenry, 1876; W. W. Anderton, 1877; A. D. Young, 1879, J. M. Huck- step, 1881; Ed Darling, 1883; A. S. Tailor, 1885; Dr. DeWolf, 1886; W. W. Anderton, 1887; Ed Darling, 1889; John Nesbit, 1890; M. J. Keane, 1891; Emil Kruger, 1894; C. E. Price, 1895; Morris O'Connor, 1900; Richard Mc- Guire, 1908.
The present officers are: Richard McGuire, Mayor; W. A. McGuire, J. J. Dugan, M. R. McGrath, E. Chamberlin and R. Brockelsby, councilmen; J. P. Duffy, Clerk; F. J. Etzel, Day Police; Thos Fitzgibbons, Night Police.
The financial standing of Vail is shown by the fact that it owns water works valued at $12,000 and a gas plant worth $5,800.00, and that the present indebted- ness for these items is $3,000. In 1911 $8,000 additional water bonds were voted for an extension of the water system.
It would be impossible to mention all the early settlers of the eastern part of the county. Mr. Tracy Chapman, of Dunham's grove, was undoubtedly the first settler to remain in that vicinity. W. W. Rodenbaugh and Mathew and Rice Miller came before the war, but the bulk of the settlers came after the building of the railroad. Among the early families (although we must insist again that this is not a complete list), were the McAndrews; the Langans, Bar- ney, Hugh and James; Henry Keller; the Mundy Bros .; the Forests; Shorts; the John Thompsons; the Molseeds; the McAlpins; the Brogans; Dugans ; Costellos; Jas E. Walch; Chas. McCollough; Albert Chamberlin; John Har- rington; Thomas and Frank Wood; Nick Nelson; John Strohm; Wm. Wat- son ; Wm. Anderton; Columbian Alberts; A. D. Young; Rev. Father Mo- loney, who purchased one thousand acres in Hayes township for the benefit of his nephews; Mr. Hayes, after whom Hayes township was named; Wm. Kortum, who later returned to Davenport; Wm. Jahn, who came direct from Germany representing a syndicate which purchased land near the five mile house in Hayes township, and who was the fore-runner of the large German popula-
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
tion of Hayes and Iowa townships; Wm. Familton, representative of the Iowa railroad land company ; his assistant, Harry Runyon; Dr. M. Fitzgerald, M. J. Keane, both of whom came in '75; Dan Doherty; the Ginns; Matthew and James King, J. C. Robinson, who were pioneers in eastern Milford; Wm. Fitz- simmons; the Dempsters; Thomas Adams, who settled near the present town of Boyer, and afterward moved to Vail; the Maynards, who made Jackson township their home; the Kral brothers; the Slechtas; the Brockelsbys of Hayes; the O'Connors of East Boyer and a host of others.
One of the most prominent and enduring mercantile establishments was that founded by Barrett Bros., of Dunlap, in 1875. A history of the ownerships of this store will recall much of interest to Vail people. The ownerships were as follows : Barrett Brothers, 1875; Casey and Barrett Bros., 1876; Casey Bros. and Ryan, 1878; Barrett and Ryan, 1880; E. T. Ryan and Co., 1884; Ryan and Ratchford, 1893; and Enenbach Bros., 1910.
Vail has always held a unique and independent position in the county. It has had a trade which was all its own and has manifested a stronger spirit of town loyalty than any other village in the county. Whether in business or of baseball the Vail rooters have always been on deck, ready to expend their last bit of lung power or their last dollar for the benefit of their beloved town. In some respects the business part of Vail is unfortunately located. The town is surrounded by high hills and after extremely heavy rains the main business street has been badly flooded. There has been some talk of moving the business sec- tion a block west in order to avoid floods. The improvements are of such a per- manent and expensive nature, however, that this does not seem practical and the people of Vail are seeking other remedies for this evil, among which remedies is a new bridge, built by the Northwestern which, if kept clear of obstruction, will afford better drainage. Vail has shown considerable public enterprise. The buildings of the Catholic society are especially fine. There is a good system of water works owned by the city. This consists of a wind mill, a steam pumping station, and a large tank reservoir. Fire protection is afforded by an excellent volunteer fire company provided with hose cart and other necessary apparatus and with fine water pressure. The city owns its lighting plant which is giving good satisfaction. The fun-loving spirit of Vail has found its outlet chiefly in baseball. It has a good ball team every year, has the reputation of being the best ball town of its size in western Iowa and from the ranks of its amateurs have come a number who have won league honors.
Vail has a number of pretty residence streets and the new school building which it is erecting at a cost of $20,000 is very fine and will meet the needs of the town for years to come.
The business of Vail is represented by the following lines, two banks, news- paper, three general merchandise stores, two elevators, two lumber yards, two hardware stores, two drug stores, three restaurants, three saloons, three barber shops, two millinery stores, two telephone exchanges, two real estate agencies, two garages, hotel, harness shop, livery, two cream stations, one meat market, jewelry store, flour mill, one furniture store, weigh master, auctioneer, photog- rapher, shoe maker, several cattle buyers, two blacksmiths, three physicians, den- tist, veterinarian, lawyer. The churches are the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyte-
W ...
SCENE ON MAIN STREET. VAIL
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
rian, and Episcopal, further mention of which will be found in chapters devoted to these sects. The school history of Vail is splendidly outlined by Prof. Z. T. Hawk in another chapter.
There is no reason why Vail with its solid foundation of years of prosperity, with its enterprising business men and with the splendid agricultural country trib- utary, should not continue to be one of the best trading points in Crawford county.
WHITE OAK CAMP,, NO. 72, WOODMEN OF THE WORLD.
This camp was organized September 14, 1895. The charter members were,, Patrick Cody, M. Conroy, J. M. Glynn, W. T. Kealey, Patrick Lynch, James McAndrews, Daniel Manning, O. Rowley, John Thompson, Patrick Breen, Pat- rick Gallagher, Patrick Bierne, Patrick McNamara. The first officers were, J. Thompson, C. C .; O. Rowley, A. L .; James McAndrews, Clerk; Dr. Glynn, Banker and Physician; D. Manning, Escort; Patrick Cody, Watchman ; W. T. Kealey, Sentry; Messrs. Thompson, Manning, and Rowley, Managers.
Since its organization the camp has lost three members by death: Orville Rowley, Patrick Breen and Patrick Gallagher. The chief officers of the camp at present are, John Thompson, C. C .; M. R. McGrath, Banker; J. F. Barton, Clerk. This camp now numbers eighteen. It has erected handsome monuments to deceased members and has been of much value in times of sickness and dis- tress.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
The youngest order in Vail is the newly organized branch of the Chas. Car- roll Council of the Knights of Columbus. The council is located at Carroll, Iowa, but the Vail branch is growing rapidly and will soon be able to become independ- ent. The branch was formed in April, 1911, with a membership of fifty-five. More than a score of members will have been added before this book reaches its readers. The present officers of the branch are, J. M. Glynn, G. K .; J. M. Duffy, Secretary; Jas. O'Reilly, Treasurer. The Knights of Columbus is a great and uplifting order composed entirely of members of the Catholic church and the founding of a Council at Vail will do much for the social and intellectual life of the citizen.
DIAMOND LODGE, NO. 422, A. F. & A. M.
Diamond Lodge, No. 422, A. F. & A. M., received its dispensation from Grand Master George B. Van Saun, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on the 9th of March, 1882, at which time the following officers were installed: Ed Darling, W. M .; C. E. Price, S. W .; and H. Robins, J. W. The charter members were G. W. Birch, W. L. Leland, O. S. Retan, J. E. Edgar, Ed Darling, L. P. Mooney, B. H. Lee, M. Fitzgerald, C. M. Priest, C. E. Price, D. A. Myers, J. W. Maynard, W. M. Anderton, J. F. Long, A. B. Andrus, A. Trinkle, H. Robins, J. C. Robin- son, H. Shirtcliff, J. I. Ferron, and N. R. Buckley.
The charter was issued to the lodge on July 5, 1882, and under it the follow- ing officers were elected: Ed Darling, W. M .; C. E. Price, S. W .; H. Robins, J. W .; J. F. Long, Treasurer; J. E. Edgar, Secretary ; T. W. Butler, S. D .;
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
C. M. Priest, J. D .; A. B. Andeus, S. S .; L. P. Mooney, J. S .; and N. R. Buck- ley, Tyler.
At present the lodge has a membership of fifty-four, and in addition to these fifteen of their members have passed away, namely : A. B. Andrus, J. F. Long, W. W. Anderton, T. W. Butler, E. Bagley, E. B. Bannister, J. C. Robinson, A. M. Tanner, J. W. Maynard, E. M. Lewis, A. J. Moore, D. Tempest, R A. Nich- olson, Bert Nelson, and A. Trinkle.
They own their own building, free from all indebtedness, where their assem- bly room is handsomely fitted up, and the lodge may be 'said to be in a flourishing condition.
The present officers are: Henry Stuck, W. M .; Ed Darling, S. W .; W. E. Mason, J. W .; Ben Olson, Treasurer; L. L. Hoffman, Secretary; G. E. Ding- man, S. D .; Jno. Nelson, J. D .; Frank Wulf, S. S .; Jno. Stagleman, J. S .; W H. Lawton, Tyler.
VAIL HOMESTEAD, NO. 659, BROTHERHOOD AMERICAN YEOMEN.
Vail Homestead, No. 659, B. A. Y., was organized on December 28, 1900. by H. F. Parsons, with the following charter members: Ed C. Weir, C. W. Day. R. C. Evison, James S. Watson, R. C. W. Mier, W. H. Brockelsby, Charles Roan, W. F. Shove, Albert Pound, H. E. Bowman, Maurice O'Connor, J. R. Brockelsby, C C. Vail, L. L. Hoffman, Loren Imes, A. B. O'Connell, E. W. Chamberlain, Jno. A. Mccutcheon, George Novotne, William Kimes, and M. G. Allbrook. The officers elected were, Maurice O'Connor, Foreman; C. C. Vail, Master of Ceremonies; L. L. Hoffman, Correspondent; W. F. Shove, Master of Accounts; H. E. Bowman, Chaplain; Albert Pound, Sentinel; Charles Roan, Guard.
From the beginning the Homestead has enjoyed a steady growth and although it is the youngest fraternal order in the city it ranks next to the largest in mem- bership. They now have one hundred and twenty-five members and have been very fortunate in losing only two members by death since the date of organiza- tion, these being Mrs. Lulu Brockelsby and William W. White. Deputy G. B. Conklin. of Sioux City, Iowa, visited the Homestead last winter and through his efforts the membership at that time was increased from sixty-three to one hundred and twenty-five, its present number.
The officers now are, E. W. Chamberlain, Foreman; A. E. Chamberlain, Correspondent; M. J. Monaghan, Master of Ceremonies; S. A. Kral, Master of Accounts, Mrs. Alice Chamberlain, Chaplain; B. A. Wahlin, Overseer; Mrs. A. J. Adams, Rowena; Miss Alice Brockelsby, Rebecca; A. J. Adams, Sentinel ; Jess Rasmussen, Watchman; Vincent O'Donnell, Guard; Mrs. Rose Maynard, Currier; and Helen Kral, Organist.
VAIL CAMP, NO. 3057, MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Vail Camp, No. 3057, Modern Woodmen of America, was fathered by J. P. Smith, Dr. J. M. Glynn and Dr. W. T. Wright. On the evening of June 27, 1895, they met in the Masonic Hall to organize. Deputy Peter Stephany of
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
Manning had charge and those who met with them were Simon Lawler, G. L. Dieter, J. P. Duffy, M. E. Ryan, M. P. Ryan, J. W. Spitzbarth, C. E. Winans, P. J. Portz, A. Short, L. W. Kinyon, and M. O'Connor. The officers chosen were M. O'Connor, V. C .; A. Short, W. A .; M. E. Ryan, Banker; L. W. Kin- yon, Clerk. The present membership is 117 beneficial, and 19 social members. The present officers are, C. C. Wood, V. C .; John Duffy, W. A .; J. M. Duffy, Banker; W. A. Maguire, Clerk; J. M. Glynn, Physician. The camp has lost by death the following members, H. Ahrenkiel, M. McCombs, J. H. Alfson, M. E. Ryan, James Mangan, Thos. Burk.
The Modern Woodmen is the strongest fraternal organization in Vail. It owns a hall which is rented for various kinds of entertainments, the proceeds going to pay the dues of the members. The Woodmen also have a fine uniform band of twenty-three pieces which was organized in 1908, and which is the pride of the city.
1
CHAPTER XLIII.
WEST SIDE.
The station at West Side was established soon after the building of the Chicago Northwestern railway. The first sign of habitation was the section house and railway station. James Gillespie was the section foreman and H. C. Newton the station agent. It was not long, however, until settlers commenced to come in; among the first arrivals being Isaac and Robert Patterson, who bought lands near the present town of West Side paying $4.00 an acre for the sections which they purchased through Morris McHenry, the land agent. J. J. Woolhiser was another early arrival and M. Smith and F. J. Gary were among the first business men. The Denison Review of October 23, 1869, says that "West Side is now a town-or of town lots at least." In 1871, the wheat acreage of West Side township is given as 1003 acres. In November the num- ber of persons of school age is given as 42 males and 28 females. T. E. Lamp- man was the first to engage in the mercantile business. In 1872, is reported that "a blacksmith shop and store have recently sprung into existence in West Side-ditto one or two residences." In 1873, appears the following description of the town and its business men.
The town of West Side has an excellent location, situated in the extreme eastern part of Crawford County in the midst of a thriving farming com- munity, and yet its growth appears to be very slow. Here it is that the railroad company has a turn-table and two large water tanks, it being the evident in- tention of the railroad company to make this place the location for an extra engine to assist heavily loaded freight trains over the summit.
The railroad business for this year to June Ist, as furnished us by Mr. Chas. B. Smith, station agent, is $7,205.99. The postoffice is located at the depot under charge of the agent.
Judge Lampman was the first to engage in the mercantile business here ; recently he disposed of his business to Mr. Carl Weidling, a thorough-going and enterprising merchant.
E. House is doing a wholesale business in the hardware and agricultural implement trade, running in connection therewith an extensive blacksmith shop.
Messrs. Smith and Gary are the lumber and grain merchants of the place, and are also dealers in agricultural machinery and have desirable business quar- ters.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
West Side is also the home of Freeman Knowles, who is by profession a lawyer, by trade a carpenter, and for recreation a telegraph implement manu- facturer and operator ; in fact he is an adept at most anything with the exception of white-washing. Freeman has a comfortable and nice looking residence and is plying the carpenter trade with diligence. He has the contract of building a schoolhouse at that place for the sum of $1,300.00, to be completed by the Ist of October. In size it will be 24x30 feet and an undoubted ornament to the town.
It appears to be the prevailing opinion that the slow growth of the place is materially retarded by the selfish action of the Iowa Railroad Land Com- pany. If we are correctly informed it is almost impossible to purchase busi- ness property at any price, the most valuable lots being entirely withdrawn from the market. A suitable lot could not be secured for school purposes and in order to obtain it recourse to law was necessary. It strikes us that such a course is suicidal to the best interests of the place and we can see no object in it unless it be to retard the growth of the place in order that Vail may be built up. If we are in error in any of our premises we are perfectly willing to be corrected. Every true citizen desires to see all sections of the county advance, and if it is true that a corporation is conspiring to retard the growth of any place that fact should be generally known.
'A few miles to the southeast of here is a flourishing German settlement who are said to be the best of citizens and that they are literally making the prairie to bloom.
From the outset West Side promised to be quite an important railroad town and for many years it was a freight division, making it the home of a number of railroad employees. The increased capacity of locomotives, in time made this division unnecessary and deprived West Side of this source of income.
Among the other West Side notes during 1873, we find the following: "E. W. Sargeant, an attorney at West Side, has formed a partnership with J. D. Miracle of Denison." In November, 1873, there is the following :
West Side can boast of having the neatest looking schoolhouse of any town of its size along the railroad. It reflects credit upon the liberality of the people and merit for the ability of the contractor.
C. B. Grace presides with good grace over the railroad business of this place (West Side), plays with the chained lightning, handles Uncle Sam's mail matter and sees to it that the express seals are not illegitimately broken and is also ready to consider matrimonial proposals.
Messrs. John Cranny & Co. in a few days will engage in the lumber and coal business.
That startling young merchant, C. Weidling-German by birth but American all over in energy and spirit, has moved into new quarters.
Mr. House has in Mr. Laub of Denison a partner ; and the firm is now rush- ing business as rapidly as it can be rushed.
Freeman Knowles is now "slinging lightning," Mr. Head being away on a vacation.
CITY HOTEL
VIEW OF MAIN STREET. WEST SIDE
WES SIDE.
IT
-
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN DEPOT, WEST SIDE
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
Mr. M. Hale Smith has engaged in the auctioneer business and is also real estate and insurance agent and has his office with J. F. Powers.
In December of the same year the railroad water tank at West Side was completely destroyed by fire entailing a loss of $4,000.
That the community was growing rapidly is shown by the school report for the term ending Feb. 2nd, 1874. The number of pupils enrolled was 32 and the average daily attendance 18. In the spring of 1874, Mr. House, who had formed a partnership with H. C. Laub of Denison erected the largest build- ing then in West Side. This structure was two stories high and the dimen- sions were 40x50 feet. The lower floor was used as a store room while the upper part was divided, one part being used by Mr. House for a residence, and the other part being finished off for a public hall. In 1874 also, Mr. A. Hartney built the West Side hotel, a building which is still occupied for hotel purposes. Other new enterprises in this year were a meat market, and a steam flouring mill.
The rivalry ,between West Side and Vail began early, not only in business 'but in sports, and the West Side people were highly delighted when their "Free and Easies" defeated the Vail ball players on the West Side grounds by a score of 45 to 44. West Side did not escape the prairie zephyrs of those early days as is shown by the fact that in June, 1874, Smith and Gary's lumber yard suffered considerable damage from a wind storm and a new house four miles southeast belonging to E. A. Dexter, was completely wrecked.
The little village thrived through the succeeding years and in April 1875, a West Side correspondent reports "Fifteen carloads of household goods have arrived during the past ten days and our streets have been filled with strangers who will soon be numbered amongst our neighbors. Several hundred of acres of land have been sold during the same period betokening further accesses to the population to the vicinity, whilst in town three new buildings are in process of erection and several more will soon be under way." E. P. Savage was one of the new business men added during 1875, and S. S. Burlingame, who pur- chased the hardware and grocery departments of the House and Laub store, was another.
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