USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 17
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Dr. George Hinkle started the first store and conducted it for three years. Greenville Watson started the second store and after- wards moved to California. Jeff Gardner started the third store. He died after the war in Mercer County, Mo. A. Works after- wards had a store and Joel Painter kept the first hotel. The village blacksmith was William Snook whose daughter afterwards married Dr. E. C. Maey. A. W. Moffett mended shoes. Tom Majors, after-
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wards candidate for governor of Nebraska on the republican ticket, had a large stock of goods in 1859.
Some time during the war a two story frame building was built by private subscription for educational purposes. It was generally known as the College. In June, 1865, it was destroyed by a cyclone which blew down and unroofed thirteen buildings.
Several persons have lost their lives by violence in Pleasanton and vicinity. The first was Edward Purcell who was shot and killed on the street in 1864 by Dike's Missouri militia. Purcell was required to hurrah for Lincoln but he refused to do so and was fired on with fatal result.
Dr. Parmentus Mullinnix was killed in 1866 at a dance seven miles southeast of Pleasanton in Mercer County, Mo. John Crawford was charged with the deed, but was tried at Princeton and acquitted. At the preliminary Joe Warner of Leon represented the prosecution and Judge Orton of Princeton and Judge Forrey of Leon the defense. Crawford afterwards moved to Kansas and became a county treasurer.
James Allfrey, a school teacher and lawyer, was shot and killed in 1867 by Jake Williams, about three miles southwest of Pleasan- ton. Williams immediately disappeared and never was tried. He is now dead. Allfrey was a dead shot and had two Colt's revolvers with him when killed, but was taken unawares.
At the breaking out of the Civil war the spirit of patriotism per- vaded the entire community. Much of the spring of 1861 was occu- pied in drilling and preparing for war. The drill master was Capt. Jeff Miller, a veteran of the Mexican war, and who was afterwards wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. There was no draft in Hamil- ton Township and the people responded patriotically to every call for troops. Pleasanton and vicinity supplied soldiers to the Federal Army and the following is the roll of honor:
J. W. Allfrey, Thomas Acton, W. H. Acton, Jesse Batchel- der, Alfred Brant. B. F. Bard, Manson Bird, G. W. Blakesley, Burr Brown, Bird Brown, Wesley Cavanaugh, Stephen Crouse. Henry Collins, James Crawford, James Dunleavy, M. J. Dale, J. M. Gammill, Lieut. E. Horn, David Horn, John Holden. Peter J. Ham- ilton, W. H. Harrison, M. V. Helton, Henry Houk, Jr., J. B. Har- ris, George B. Kelley, Marion Marks, Benjamin Marks, David Monk, W. H. Mills, George W. Mills, Lieutenant Maxwell. James May. John McIntosh, William McIntosh, Elijah Newell. Dan Ockerman. F. M. Peterson, George W. Rutherford, Seth Roe. C. II. Sullivan,
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David Snook, Ira Steward, Ross Scott, T. D. Scott, Ed Seymour, John Seymour, Robert Snodgrass, Frank Turpen, Byron Waldrup, Leslie Works, J. S. Wilson, James Wakefield, Burr Watson, Abe Vandel, John Alexander, James Acton, Aaron Acton, Asa Bur- rell, W. H. Barnes, Abe Blakesley, Jerry Blakesley, Howard Brown, J. M. Broadbrook, T. J. Brant, Henry A. Cowles, W. J. Clark, John W. Crawford, Henry Craig, W. H. Dunleavy, Fleming Dale, James Dunham, Capt. J. C. Gammill, T. J. Graves, George Hedrick, F. M. Hamilton, James Holden, W. H. Hatfield, James Humphress, Henry Houk, John H. Helton, John Hutchinson, John May, John Marks, Ezra Marks, C. E. Macy, Lewis Mills, Capt. J. F. Miller, William May, Henry Morris, Aaron McIntosh, M. C. T. Newell, Pompa Niles, Eph Pardun, Thomas Perkins, James Reynolds, W. J. Sullivan, John Snook, William Snook, Brison Scott, Allen Scott, John D. Scott, Willard Seymour, W. H. Snodgrass, Harrison Swander, W. D. Wilson, Orville Works, Gardner Works, W. S. Warnock, Green Watson, Joe Vandel.
VAN WERT
Van Wert is an old town on the Humeston & Shenandoah, now the Burlington, and is located on section 12, Long Creek Township. It was first settled about 1853 and was called Florence. On June 29, 1855, the town lots were sold at public auction. George W. Big- ford built the first store about the same time. A steam mill was con- structed by George Douglass. The original town contained fourteen blocks and additions have been added from time to time. The name was afterward changed to Prairie City, then to Prairieville and on April 1, 1880, to Van Wert.
The village possessed but one store, that of John Gimmel, until 1880, when the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad was built to that point. The western portion of that road was sold to the Humes- ton & Shenandoah, and they extended the line westward to Shenan- doah. This gave the town an impetus and stores were erected by W. E. Stone & Company, D. Tharp & Company and M. R. Sanger. The Des Moines & Kansas City Railroad was built to this town in 1882.
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This was made an independent school district in 1872 and a frame building, 22 by 28 feet in size, was erected at a cost of $465. The building soon proved too small for the needs of the district and it was sold in 1885 and a fine two-story frame costing $2,700 was built. It contained three rooms.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. VAN WERT
CHURCH OF CHRIST, VAN WERT
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The Methodist Church was built in the summer of 1861 by the members. The Christian Church was first built in 1886 at a cost of $1,700.
The town was incorporated fifteen years ago with P. K. Hall as the first mayor.
Several newspapers have been published in Van Wert with indif- ferent success. C. S. Fulmer established the Van Wert Record in 1905 and made of it an excellent publication. There are no papers published here at the present time.
Another authority on the early history of Van Wert states that the first store was opened by J. Irving in the east end of his own dwelling house, in the year 1853. The second venture was claimed to have fallen to the lot of Paul Ord and the next to George Bick- ford, followed by Jehu Blades. W. E. Stone was in business for himself for about a year and a half, after which he took J. C. Fletcher into partnership. They continued in business for two years when they dissolved partnership, Stone continuing alone until 1886 and then selling out to Tallman & Blair. This latter partnership broke up after six months, Tallman retaining the business and entering into another partnership later with Ed Hall.
In 1875 a novel and unsuccessful attempt was made to operate a gristmill by wind. By the application of steam this mill was after- wards made a success.
THE PRESENT TOWN
The Town of Van Wert, with the latest improvements neces- sary to a town of its size, such as telephones, railroads. good mail service, etc., has grown into a prosperous and enterprising community. The citizens of the town have used every effort to make the commun- ity a substantial one and have formed several organizations with this purpose in view. The lodges and clubs are also engaged in the work of civic betterment. The railroad is the means of making Van Wert an excellent trading point, quite an amount of grain and stock being shipped to the markets from here.
The first bank was organized in 1898. It was called The Farmers & Merchants Bank. Mark M. Shaw was the cashier. In 1900 the Bank of Van Wert purchased this institution and on December 10. 1900, organized with W. F. Blair as president, E. O. Stearns as cashier and Mrs. Ada L. Stearns as assistant cashier. The capital was first $10,000. Those interested in its organization were: W. F.
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Blair, Morris Brown, G. S. Barr, G. A. Hamilton, F. L. Hall, J. Stearns, M. F. Thompson, E. O. Stearns, William Goodman, Lester Gould.
The capital stock at present is $10,000 and the deposits $100,000. L. Gould is vice president and A. E. Blair, assistant cashier.
Van Wert, like many other towns in the county, has been the victim of destructive fires at different times. In September, 1903, a fire consumed everything on the west side of Main Street and north of the tracks. In February, 1915, another bad fire occurred in the business section of the town, practically a whole block being consumed.
Van Wert Post No. 205, Grand Army of the Republic, was mustered in July, 1883, with thirty members.
GRAND RIVER
Grand River is located about a half mile from the west bank of Grand River, on section 33, in Richland Township, on the Burling- ton Railroad which was formerly known as the Humeston & Shenan- doah Railroad. It is in the heart of a fine agricultural district, in- habited by the most substantial and progressive farmers of Southern Iowa. The soil in this district is very rich. Also, as a trading point, Grand River is of considerable importance.
This town was laid out in 1881 by E. C. Perkins for a corpora- tion then known as the Town Lot Company, a company organized for the purpose of laying out towns along the route of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad. The first business house was constructed by the firm of Bosworth & Milligan and was known as the Blue Front. It was used continuously as a general store until the build- ing was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1905. G. W. Bradshaw started the first store, according to account, and later entered partner- ship with Mr. Lamb. S. C. Jennings started a general store in 1886. A school building was constructed in the town in 1876 and a union church building in 1881.
Some of the first residents of the town were Schuyler Jennings, C. H. Chapman, A. R. Taylor, John Burham, Dr. H. C. Bone, Doctor Landes, W. J. Beck, H. C. Jennings. Several of the above assisted in selecting a name for the new town in its early days. At a public meeting held in 1881, Beulah, Westerville and other names were proposed and rejected in turn. A motion made by C. H. Chapman, later proprietor of the Chapman House, to call the town Grand River prevailed and so the town was named.
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Soon after the town was started lots were offered for sale and were taken very rapidly. Dwellings, store rooms, hotels, etc., were at once erected and soon the community had the appearance of a fast growing city. During the first year the presence of the hands who were at work on the extension of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad from that place westward aeross the state, helped to give the merchants of the place a good trade until the business of the town could be built up from the surrounding country. The new town, however, had a good trade from the very start. One thing which at first very materially retarded the growth of Grand River was the difficulty in crossing Grand River at that point, there being no bridge and the river having to be forded. This tended to cut off' a large part of her legitimate trade. In the summer of 1887, though, an iron bridge was constructed across the river one-half mile east of the town, and the difficulty was removed.
Among the early improvements was a fine church building. erected by the Presbyterians, but which was open to other denomi- nations when not in use by the builders.
The State Savings Bank at Grand River was originally estab- lished in 1889 by Patrick Griffin who conducted it as a private insti- tution under the name of Bank of Grand River. Ten years later Mr. Griffin disposed of the business to A. L. Ackerly who conducted it as a private bank under the same name until July 1, 1900, when it was incorporated under the title of State Savings Bank of Grand River. This is now known as the First National Bank. A. L. Ack- erly is president: Patrick Griffin, vice president: J. C. Brothers, cashier: and Charles Kelley, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $25,000 and the deposits amount to $118,000.
The Farmers Bank was established in 1903. J. Switzer is the president and A. R. Switzer is cashier. The capital is $10,000 and the deposits amount to $128,000.
DECATUR CITY
Decatur City, another of the county's substantial towns, is lo- cated very nearly in the center of the county. As a trading point it is an important one with many natural advantages. Decatur City is one of the oldest settlements in the county and was first designated as the county seat. Two years later, in 1853, the county seat was moved to Leon.
A common school district was maintained at a very early day. In 1864 it was made an independent district and a frame building.
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32 by 40 feet, was built at a cost of $3,000. This building was burned in 1885. The structure was insured for $1,000. The next building was erected in 1885 and cost $3,200. It was 30 by 60 feet and was divided into two rooms.
Several newspapers have been published in Decatur City at dif- ferent times. The Commoner was published from 1859 to 1861 by F. A. C. Foreman; the Decatur Enterprise in 1866-7 by C. S. Wil- son. Foreman went to Chicago from here and later died at Marengo, Ja. Wilson afterwards became editor of the Des Moines Daily News.
The Des Moines, Osceola & Southern Railroad was built to De- catur City in 1882 and then on to Leon and thence south. The name of the road was afterwards changed to the Des Moines & Kansas City, under which it operated until acquired by the Keokuk & West- ern and made a standard gauge road. The road is now owned by the Burlington Route System.
The first church built in the town was in 1856 and was dedicated by the Methodists. Later there were four societies here and all used this one church for their services.
AN EARLY DESCRIPTION
The following description of this town was published in the Decatur County Journal of March 4, 1869, and gives a correct idea of the town at that time:
This place is situated on a high prairie in Decatur Township, 21/2 miles east of Grand River, and on the line of the Leavenworth & Des Moines Railroad. It contains three general stores, one drug and grocery store, one family grocer, one stove and tinware store, three hotels, one milliner, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one chair maker, two cabinet makers, one wheelwright, one harness maker, two shoemakers, and three physicians.
The following are prominent and leading citizens of the place: Dicken & Mechem, S. W. Johnston & Company, P. S. Dicken and A. Miles & Son, general merchants; A. Gill, dealer in drugs and gro- ceries and also proprietor of the Decatur House; Hogue & Caldwell, dealers in stoves and tinware; Sam Schenck, wagon maker and post- master; J. H. Horner, harness maker; Thomas Waller, military and general claim agent; C. Schenck and J. W. Laney, physicians; Wil- liam Kew, shoemaker; Col. H. W. Peck, chief engineer, I. & M. Railroad.
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Decatur City being on the main road east and west, enjoys the advantages of a daily mail, with a semi-weekly mail south via Eagle- ville, Bethany and Gallatin to Cameron on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad.
There is a Masonie Lodge and a lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows.
BANKS
The Citizens State Savings Bank of Decatur City was organized in the year 1892. At the present time James Creswe is president; H. T. Rauch, vice president; E. W. Townsend, cashier; and O. F. Walker, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $20,000; the de- posits are $173,000.
The Decatur State Savings Bank was established in 1908 and at the present time has a capital stock of $25,000 and in deposits the sum of $180,000. W. H. Loyd is president: F. J. Euritt, vice presi- dent; James C. Cozad, cashier; and L. D. Shoemaker, assistant cashier.
Both of these banks are doing an exeellent business in that see- tion of the county and both have a reputation for strength and in- tegrity.
WELDON
This is another town whose existence was begun by the advent of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad. In the summer of 1880 about July the railroad company purchased of J. P. Kline seventy aeres of fine farm land adjacent to and south of the railroad for a town site. On August 3d it was laid out in streets and lots which were rapidly purchased. The proprietors of the town were formed into a company composed of L. P. Sigler, J. L. Young, of Leon. Drake and Hill of Centerville. Doctor Mitchell built the first house in the town; Merritt French and family were the first to begin house- keeping. Doctor Wall also constructed a house about the same time. A railroad depot was soon put up and became headquarters for many of the town people. L. G. and F. M. Jamison moved their store building and stoek of goods from Smyrna and were the first business firm in the town. After some delay a postoffice was established. the delay being over the name of the town. L. G. Jamison was appointed postmaster and to accommodate the office he constructed an addition to his store. This building, with all its goods, was destroyed by fire several years later. The second general store was that of Ledger- Vol. 1-12
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
wood & Hodges. The first lumber yard was that of Baldwin and Williamson. The former member of the firm soon sold to John Bul- lard of Fort Madison. Mrs. Wolever who had kept a boarding house at Greenbay for several years soon built a hotel near the depot and did a good business. Weldon was incorporated in 1902.
BANK
The Bank of Weldon was organized in the spring of 1881 by the Decatur County Banking Association and conducted by it until January 1, 1886, when it was sold to a company consisting of Thomas J. Eals, Cyril C. Wood, A. E. Chase, S. O. Hingston, Oscar Judd, J. Z. McAllister, E. L. Chase.
The Weldon Savings Bank was organized in 1901. H. E. Stevens is president; W. R. Warren, vice president; F. L. Hall, cashier; C. T. Newell, assistant cashier. The capital is $20,000 and the deposits amount to $127,000.
OTHER EARLY BUSINESS
M. Hughes, before the first holiday season came, had put up a two story business house on the east side of Main Street, using the upper story for living rooms and the ground floor for hardware and agricultural implements. A. L. Dilsaver was the first on the ground with an exclusive stock of groceries. His family living rooms were back of the store. Doctor Wall soon saw that a drug store was a necessity and set one going under the firm name of Wall & Fippin, but soon sold out to C. B. Chase & Company. Dr. George A. Stuart who had located here for practice had his office in this store. John Metier owned the first livery barn, selling out to Howard & Rudd, and with Lee Matheny went into the hardware and implement busi- ness. In the early spring of 1881 John Barnard moved his shop from Smyrna and became a blacksmith of Weldon. William Baker con- structed a large store room at that time and stocked it with general merchandise. The Rogers sisters opened a millinery establishment. T. L. McVay and Ol Mayer had charge of the market; Frank Doo- little, jeweler; Dick Murphy, furniture; Dick Murphy, G. W. Hester, M. French and Joseph Coffey, carpenters.
NEWSPAPERS
On May 26, 1881, the first newspaper in the Town of Weldon was issued. It was called the Weldon Witness and was edited by
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WELDON
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WELDON
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
Ed Burleigh. The paper was a newsy little sheet, but was short lived, passing into the hands of S. L. Daily of Humeston in March, 1883. The paper was printed in a store building which then stood on the present site of the Christian Church, but which was moved later. Three terms of school were taught in the same building before a schoolhouse was constructed.
After the demise of the Witness the Weldon Hornet was pub- lished and edited by J. R. Crichfield. Then came the Weldon Mes- senger, edited by G. M. Smith. F. W. Durnal next published a sheet, also called the Hornet. The next paper was the Expositor by W. R. Boardman. He left town in 1893 under a cloud. Next was the Weldon News by E. E. Graham. The Weldon Bulletin was then started by H. J. Reger, assisted by his daughter, Blanche.
SCHOOLS
W. E. Morrow taught the first term of the above mentioned school; Doctor Mitchell taught one term, as also did Mr. Witmarsh. In 1883 the first schoolhouse was built in East Weldon. J. H. Jami- son probably taught the first term in the new building. Ira Condit. Roy, Wingett, Cozad, Palmer, Ratcliff, Latta and Hill were other teachers. As the years passed and the number of school children increased a new building, an elegant two story modern structure, was built.
CHURCHES
Until the beginning of the second year of the town's existenec Sunday school and all religious services were held sometimes in the waiting room of the depot, sometimes in the bank parlor, or wherever a room large enough could be' had. Early in 1882 both the Methodist and Christian Church peoples united their efforts and built the Methodist Episcopal Church which was dedicated in August of the same year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by President Park of Simpson College, Indianola. Rev. D. O. Stuart was the first pastor of the new church. The members of the Christian Church decided after a time that they were strong enough in numbers. as well as financially, to build a chapel. Consequently, in May, 1886. they dedicated their church building, L. L. Carpenter preaching the dedicatory sermon. In 1902 an annex was built to the structure. A heating and lighting plant was also added. Both of these churches now have a substantial membership.
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
LODGES
At one time Weldon was called the city of lodges. Some of them flourished for a day and then died. Jacinth Lodge No. 443, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was chartered June 5, 1884. Weldon Lodge No. 441, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized in December, 1881. Doctor Greenlee who came here in the spring of 1882 was instrumental in organizing a Grand Army of the Republic Post in 1883. Other lodges which have existed here are the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Good Templars, W. C. T. U., W. R. C., and Rebekahs.
FIRST VITAL STATISTICS
The first child born was John Lewis Mitchell, son of Rev. G. E. Mitchell and wife. The first marriage was that of C. B. Chase and Blanche Roach.
LEROY
Another of Decatur's prosperous towns is Leroy. It is located on section 11, Garden Grove Township, and is but 41/2 miles from Garden Grove. The town lies in the center of a good agricultural district.
Leroy was laid out in 1880 upon the building of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad, now the Burlington, as were several other towns in the county. Maj. J. L. Young, L. P. Sigler and E. S. Buffum established the town on land owned by Buffum. Some time later they disposed of their interests, or a part of them, to ex-Gov- ernor Drake and his business associates. Mr. Buffum still owns considerable of the town site.
The first business house erected in Leroy was built by Flannigan & Perrin, who conducted a general store therein. Other business houses followed, residences were built and the little town began to show sturdiness and progress. The town has made much gain during the past few years and is one of the best trading points in the county. As a shipping point it is also excellent. The country surrounding this town is well adapted for stock raising of all kinds.
A modern schoolhouse was erected in the summer of 1904.
The Leroy Exchange Bank was founded in 1896 by F. E. and C. S. Stearns of Garden Grove with B. D. Barger as cashier and Mrs. Barger as assistant cashier. C. S. Stearns acted as president
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
and F. E. as vice president. On the first of March, 1903, J. W. Stearns of Garden Grove succeeded Barger as cashier. E. H. Blair is president at this time; H. E. Stevens, vice president: D. C. Thur- low, cashier; and Edna Thurlow, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $5,000 and the deposits amount to $50,000.
NEW BUDA
The following description of this extinct town appeared in a county newspaper in 1868:
This place is located on the west side of Grand River, on a beau- tiful second bottom, about a half mile from the river. It was laid out in November, 1855, by Ernest Drahos. It was the center of a settlement of Hungarian exiles, who landed in this country in the year 1852, under the leadership of General Ujhazy, one of the con- panions of Kossuth. Seeking a refuge and asylum in this far land of the West, they could not forget the associations of the land of the Magyar and so called their adopted prairie home New Buda and gave to the public park in their village the name of Kossuth Square, while one of their streets they christened Magyar Street. The village con- tains sixteen blocks of eight lots each. There are two general stores, one blacksmith shop, one hotel and a good schoolhouse. The popula- tion is about one hundred.
TERRE HAUTE
This is another village which has disappeared. An early account describes it thus:
This is a primitive looking village on the west bank of Grand River, some five miles southwest of Decatur City, at the point where the survey of the I. & M. Railroad crosses, and on the road leading to Eagleville and Bethany, Mo. It has two stores, one black- smith shop, one hotel, one shoe shop, one cooper shop, schoolhouse and postoffice. Its population is abut seventy-five.
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