USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 40
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Schools
Teachers. Male. Female.
Pupils between 5 and 21 years.
Enrollment.
and Value.
Arnold's Park (C) 1
6
221
162
1 $31,000
Lake Park (Ind.) 3
12
384
280
6 29,000
Milford (C)
2
9
406
340
1 30,000
Orleans
1
34
23
1 5,000
Okoboji (C)
6
150
95
1 25,000
Spirit Lake (C)_ 3
16
551
523
1 90,000
Superior (C) -
1
6
181
171
1 40,000
Superior Tp. (C)_ 2
3
119
83
1 21,000
Terrill (Lloyd
Tp. (Con.)
1
8
309
276
1 47,000
Total of Consol-
idated and In-
pendent Dists. 13
67
2345
1953
19 $308,000
Diamond Lake
1
7
148
129
6 1,700
Excelsior
14
. 198
150
9 4,800
Lakeville
6
134
94
8 4,400
Milford
1
6
122
129
7 2,050
Richland
1
5
113
113
5 2,700
Spirit Lake
-
3
60
46
3 1,500
Westport
1
8
206
150
9
3,695
-
Total of Cities
and Towns
Rural
4
49
981
811
47 20,845
St. Joseph's Catholic parochial school at Milford has 4 teachers and 118 pupils.
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THE PRESS
THE SPIRIT LAKE BEACON
The Spirit Lake Beacon was the first newspaper established in Dick- inson County. The first number of the paper was issued on September 6, 1870, the writing and editing being done at Spirit Lake and the printing at Estherville. In the issue of December 9, 1875, the following account · was written by J. A. Smith, one of the early editors:
"Five years ago the people of Spirit Lake and Dickinson County made up their minds that a newspaper was necessary to promote their interests. The county then contained about twelve hundred inhabitants. Spirit Lake boasted of a dozen buildings and Milford had just been platted. Not a very promising field truly, but the project was discussed pro and con and finally decided in the affirmative. The question then arose as to who would stand sponsor for the literary fledgling. The responsibility was a grave one. It entailed much labor without remuneration and the chances were about nine in ten that the publisher would sink his money.
"Finally Messrs. Orson Rice and R. L. Wilcox agreed to make the venture, Mr. Rice to attend to the financial arrangements and Mr. Wilcox to do the editorial work. Another important problem was the choosing of a name for the embryo journal. This took some hard thought and was for several days the subject of grave deliberation in the Crandall House bar- room, George Bellows' boot and shoe shop and Roscoe Brown's saloon, which were the three principal places of public resort. It was the general feeling that there is everything in a name, and common titles, such as Gazette, Times, Journal, Reporter, etc., were unanimously and indignantly rejected. Who was the first to suggest the 'Beacon' cannot be satisfac- torily determined, for at least half a dozen different persons claim the honor. However, the name 'took' as being remarkably appropriate. Why it is so appropriate we cannot explain better than to give the language of an enthusiastic gentleman who had a hand in the parturition. Said he, 'The position which Dickinson County occupies geographically, being the most elevated portion of the state, together with our facilities for naviga- tion,' here he paused and wet his throat with some of Roscoe's distilled lake water, 'makes it particularly fitting and meet that we should have a Beacon to shed its light upon the world and serve as a guide to the weary emigrant seeking a homestead, and by the way, I will show a man a devilish good claim for ten dollars.'
"This last sentence, however, is foreign to the subject, and is only introduced for the sake of euphony. The management and name being settled, the question of ways and means was left to the newly installed journalists who decided to commence by getting patent outsides and hav-
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ing the inside printed at the Estherville Vindicator office. Accordingly the arrangements were thus made and in due time the Beacon appeared in seven column folio form with about three columns of home advertising and some two hundred subscribers, including exchanges and deadheads. In a few weeks Mr. Wilcox retired, leaving the whole burden on Mr. Rice. Dur- ing the balance of the first year the editorial work fell upon the broad shoulders of A. W. Osborne, Esquire, who performed the onerous task faithfully and well. At the end of the first volume Mr. Rice found the balance on the wrong side of the ledger. The cost of having the printing done was greater than the income and he was obliged to have a new deal or give up the game altogether. So he took the other horn of the dilemma, bought a second hand outfit of Warren, of the Algona Upper Des Moines, and after several vexatious delays, the Beacon commenced its second vol- ume with the outside printed at home.
"From the commencement of the second volume the concern began to be self-sustaining and in May, 1872, Mr. Rice sold out to O. C. Bates, the founder of the Estherville Vindicator. In October, 1872, Mr. Bates dis- posed of the office to Lamborn & Owen. During the succeeding winter they made extensive additions and improvements. In April, 1873, Mr. Lamborn disposed of his interest in the Beacon and was succeeded by J. A. Smith. In April, 1874, Mr. Owen retired and was succeeded by A. B. Funk."
The firm of J. A. Smith & A. B. Funk conducted the Beacon until the fall of 1870, when Mr. Funk retired. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Funk re- turned to activity and bought the paper from Mr. Smith. In turn he disposed of a half interest in it to E. G. Blackert in 1886. On November 1, 1910, the firm of Funk & Blackert sold out to O. E. Smith, who has con- ducted the Beacon continuously since that date and earned a well-merited patronage by issuing a sheet of editorial and mechanical excellence.
DICKINSON COUNTY HERALD
The Dickinson County Herald, in Spirit Lake, was started by the firm of Reycroft & Flower in July, 1894. By February, 1895, Flower had dropped out of the management and his place was taken by William Hay- ward. The latter later purchased Reycroft's interest in the paper, but he himself sold out, on July 1, 1896, to H. Van Steenburg. Van Steenburg, inexperienced in the conduct of a newspaper office, employed J. L. Dunham as editor. He operated the paper as an independent republican sheet until March, 1898, when he sold out to L. F. Stowe, who leased it to Mr. Dunham for one year. G. A. Taft then came into possession of the Herald and con- ducted it until the spring of 1901. Since 1901 the Herald has passed through many hands, being upon the verge of succumbing several times. Vol 1-24
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However, the paper is still published weekly and is a creditable paper. The present editor of the Herald is O. B. Congdon.
OTHER SPIRIT LAKE NEWSPAPERS
Several times there have been attempted the publication of other papers in the city of Spirit Lake, but for diverse reasons these attempts have been unproductive of success.
The first attempt at instituting another paper after the Beacon was established was in 1880, when Carl Eastwood started the Dickinson County Journal. It was a republican sheet. In 1884 the Eastwood brothers, then proprietors, sold the plant to J. O. Stewart. Mr. Stewart made the paper an editorial success, but a financial failure, and in 1885 the paper went into the hands of C. H. Ayers and A. F. Heath, who changed its name and politics, entitling it the Spirit Lake Democrat. Heath was at that time postmaster. The paper, notwithstanding the fact that it had the support of the administration, soon became heavily in debt and was sold at sheriff's sale. The paper later came into the hands of G. A. Getchell, familiarly known as Huckleberry. He conducted the paper under the name of Huckleberry's Paper. He acquired the paper in the summer of 1887 and suspended in the fall, a sufficient proof of the financial difficulties expe- rienced by a second paper here.
Near the year 1890 V. B. Crane purchased the outfit which had been used by the Democrat, Journal and Huckleberry's Paper and established the Spirit Lake Pilot. After a year's precarious existence in Spirit Lake he decamped to Jackson, taking the plant with him.
In December, 1891, Messrs. Caswell and Clark brought a new press and type to Spirit Lake and attempted a revival of the Spirit Lake Dem- ocrat. At the end of four months they called quits and suspended.
MILFORD NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper in the town of Milford was the Milford Mail, the first number of which was issued December 29, 1882, by J. A. Smith, formerly of the Spirit Lake Beacon.
Before Mr. Smith had issued a complete volume of the Mail he sold out to R. B. Nicol, who held it until 1886, then disposing of the plant to E. G. Blackert. After a short time Blackert resold the paper to Nicol. In May, 1898, George Sherburne and W. T. Davidson purchased the Mail from Mr. Nicol and operated the paper until September, 1899, when David- son sold his interest to E. E. Heldridge.
A newspaper called the Milford Sentinel was started by the firm of Bryant & Smith in 1896. The paper suspended publication in May, 1898. In September, 1898, R. B. Nicol started the Milford Monitor, which he
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published until September, 1900, when the Mail bought the subscription list and the material was transported to Fostoria, where it was used in the starting of the Fostoria Record.
LAKE PARK PAPERS
The Lake Park News was established in 1890 by A. B. Chrysler. The first number was issued on September 1 of that year. In 1897 J. D. Flint and H. C. Darland bought the newspaper plant and operated it for about two years, when they sold it back to Chrysler.
TERRILL TRIBUNE
The Terrill Tribune was established in 1899 by E. Taylor and John Hayden. At the end of the first year Hayden bought out Taylor's interest in the paper.
SUPERIOR NEWS
The Superior News was established about 1890 by F. Finch. The paper was published until the year 1897, when the plant was destroyed by fire.
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CHAPTER XXVIII
CHURCHES OF DICKINSON COUNTY
THE FIRST MEETING-SPIRIT LAKE CHURCHES-MILFORD CHURCHES CHURCHES OF LAKE PARK AND TOWNSHIP-OTHER CHURCH SOCIETIES.
THE FIRST MEETING
To the Methodist Episcopal denomination belongs the honor of having been the pioneer in the religious field of Dickinson County. A circuit was established here in 1859, with headquarters locally at Okoboji in charge of Rev. Cornelius McLean. It is said that the very first settlers were Con- gregationalists, but later were outnumbered by the Methodists. Doctor Prescott and several other men had held brief services prior to the coming of a regularly appointed pastor.
The first religious services in the county were held at the old Gardner cabin on West Okoboji Lake on Sunday, May 11, 1857. Rev. J. S. Prescott conducted the meeting. In the history of Dickinson County (1902), the following is said in regard to this first meeting: "Prescott was a speaker of extraordinary ability and one to whom it was a pleasure to listen, no matter what a person's particular religious ideas might be. But that fact was not known then. It became patent later on. On the evening preced- ing that Sunday morning, word was sent around to the different cabins that there would be religious services at the Gardner place, the following day. Accordingly at the appointed hour the crowd assembled to the num- ber of fifteen to twenty. It was an unique sight, especially to those who had just come from the East, to see those rough looking, hardy pioneers on their way to church, come filing along, either singly or in parties of two or three, dressed in their red shirts, without coats or vests and with their rifles in their hands, their ammunition slung from their shoulders, and leather belts around their waists, from most of which dangled re- volvers. Singular as such a spectacle would be at the present time, it was strictly in keeping with the surroundings on that occasion. As the parties arrived they disposed of their arms by standing them in the most con- venient corner and then arranged themselves about the room on stools and benches or anything else that would do duty as a seat. The parties were mostly strangers to each other at that time, and whether they were
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about to listen to the wild harangues of a professional 'Bible whanger,' as a certain type of frontier preachers were then designated, or to be treated to an intelligent and interesting discourse on some live topic, they did not know, nor did they much care. It was a change, and the novelty was enough to bring them out. Promptly at the appointed hour the exer- cises were opened by Prescott reading the hymn,
"'A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify; A never dying soul to save And fit it for the sky.'
"Wheelock led the singing, assisted by C. F. Hill and Lawrence Fur- ber. Next was prayer by Doctor Prescott. And such a prayer. After the dangers, hardships and privations that little party had endured for the last month, it certainly was a spiritual and intellectual treat not soon to be forgotten. He made a fervent appeal that the divine blessing be vouchsafed there and then on this first attempt to establish and foster the growth of a true and genuine religious sentiment, that should broaden and deepen as the settlement that was then being founded should grow older and stronger.
"After prayer a second hymn was sung, and then the text announced, 'Be strong and show thyself a man.' The sermon was one long to be re- membered by everyone who heard it. It was a plain, simple and direct appeal to everyone present to realize the position which he at that moment occupied. They were reminded of the importance of asserting there and then the principles and practices which should govern them in the future. They were reminded that 'like seeks like' in emigration as in other things, and that in the moral, intellectual and religious tone of the society which they then inauguated they would see the counterpart of the emigration they would attract. If the first settlers adopted a high plane of moral and intellectual development, the emigration that woul follow would be of the same high character. On the other hand, if the standard were made low, it would be the low and depraved class that would be attracted by it. In conclusion he appealed to all present to use their best endeavors to build up in this frontier country such moral and social conditions as they would wish to have their names associated with by future generations. The entire discourse was delivered in that plain, simple and yet dignified and scholarly manner that always commands respect and admiration. After the close of the services the parties all filed out as they came, and it is not recorded whether any luckless ducks or chickens fell victims to their marksmanship on their return to their cabins, but considering the scarcity of provisions at that time, such a violation of the Sabbath would
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have been deemed excusable if not justifiable." So transpired the first religious service in Dickinson County.
Doctor Prescott is given credit by all authorities for inducing the Methodist Conference of 1859 to send a preacher to the frontier settle- ments. There were four counties in the circuit at that time-Dickinson, Emmet, O'Brien and Clay. The circuit was made every three weeks. Fol- lowing Reverend McLean came Reverends J. A. Van Anda, J. W. Jones, W. Hyde, Seymour Snyder, W. A. Richards, W. W. Mallory, G. Brown, William Preston and J. E. Cohenour to this circuit.
During the pastorate of Rev. Seymour Snyder the first camp meeting in northwestern Iowa was held in a grove at what is now known as Fort Dodge Point. This was in 1864. Reverend Lamont of Fort Dodge was the presiding elder at this meeting. Every year for a time these meetings were held at different places, including Dixon's Beach, Omaha Beach, Gilley's Beach, Pillsbury's Point and near Spirit Lake. In the early '80s these camp meetings were discontinued.
When Reverend W. A. Richards took charge of this circuit the first religious revival in Dickinson County was held during the winter. In January a series of these revival meetings was held in the old Center Grove schoolhouse. The school was a small log building and was literally packed with people at each meeting.
SPIRIT LAKE CHURCHES
During the pastorate of Reverend Cohenour the first church build- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Society was erected at Spirit Lake; this was also the second church building in the county. The courthouse had been the scene of all their meetings prior to the erection of the house of worship. The new church was dedicated on September 1, 1878. From that time until the present the following pastors have served in Spirit Lake: Rev. P. H. Eighmy, W. H. Drake, Bennett Mitchell, F. J. McCaffree, G. W. L. Brown, W. T. Cole, H. B. Green, Joel A. Smith, F. Saunderson, F. E. Day, W. D. Phifer, W. T. McDonald, W. M. Todd, E. E. Lymer, Todd, Gerkin, Kettle, Brown, Lorry and S. H. Turbeville, the present incumbent. In 1892 the church building was remodeled extensively and used until 1914 when the beautiful new home of the society, costing $30,000, was dedicated. The old church building, which was used then for other pur- poses, was burned in the summer of 1916.
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The Baptists first were in Dickinson County in the winter of 1872-3, under charge of Rev. W. A. Dorward. The society erected a church building in the summer of 1874, which was the first erected in this county. It was dedicated July 26, 1874. Rev. J. L. Coppoc was the next pastor of the Baptist church. One of his brothers was executed for sharing
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SOLDIERS' MONUMENT Lake View Cemetery, Spirit Lake.
THE DRIVE, SPIRIT LAKE
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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in the John Brown raid on Harper's Ferry. Another escaped to Canada. Reverend Coppoc was succeeded by Revs. W. H. Whitelaw, B. H. Brastead, W. H. Dorward, Charles Andrews, Broadbridge. After this for a time the church was used by the so-called Church of God, first under Reverend Guenter, then Revs. J. W. Ault and William Megan. In the sum- mer of 1902 improvements were made on the church structure.
At one time a society of Congregationalists existed in Spirit Lake, services being held at the courthouse most of the time. Rev. J. R. Upton was the leading figure in the work of the denomination here, remaining · something over twelve years. His departure left the society in bad cir- cumstances and most of the members joined other churches.
The Presbyterian Church of Spirit Lake was first organized December 11, 1881, by Rev. A. K. Baird, and G. N. Luccock, with seven members. W. H. Bailey, Thomas Cousins, D. R. Chisholm and Moses Thompson were prominent early members. The first pastor was Rev. G. N. Luccock, and was followed by supplies until 1901, namely: Revs. J. R. Crosser, R. A. Paden, J. H. Carpenter, A. M. West, C. E. Freeman, H. J. Froth- ingham, W. H. P. McDonald. Rev. Bert A. Rayson, who came in 1901, was the first regularly installed pastor of the Presbyterian society here. Then came Revs. E. Winslow Brown, H. M. Bell, F. H. Gamel, A. S. Wight and M. E. Lumbar.
During the first few days the church services were held in Beacon Hall, but during the winter of 1885-6 steps were taken toward the erec- tion of a building. On July 26, 1886 the cornerstone of the building was laid with fitting ceremonies. The structure was first used for services December 12, 1886, and was dedicated July 24, 1887.
In connection with the history of the Presbyterian Church now existent in Spirit Lake, it will be interesting to note the facts of a Presby- terian Church society which once existed here, but which disappeared- no one knows where. At the spring meeting of the Presbytery of Fort Dodge, Synod of Iowa North, held at Jefferson, Iowa, April 28, 1871, a Presbyterian Church was organized for Spirit Lake with twelve mem- bers. The report was received and enrolled. No elder or regular pastor was named. At the fall meeting of the Presbytery at Boone, Iowa, Sep- tember 3, 1873, Revs. A. M. Darley, W. H. McCaskey and G. R. Carroll were appointed to supply the pulpit from October, 1873, until April, 1874. Then the society is mysteriously dropped from the Presbytery roll and no further mention is made. All that is known is that the church has gone.
.
On December 8, 1886, a society known as the Guild of the Good Shepherd was organized with the following charter members: Mrs. D. F. Van Steenburg, Mrs. Leroy Davis, Mrs. W. W. Stowe, Mrs. J. W. Cory, Mrs. Henry Thompson, Mrs. William Vreeland and Mrs. G. P. Hop- kins. Reverend Walker was the first pastor of this society. The services
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were held in Beacon Hall, the Baptist Church building or in an empty store room until the chapel was constructed. The cornerstone of this latter building was laid August 7, 1894, and the completed house was opened for use October 28, 1894. The building cost about $3,000. John Cravens, W. W. Stowe, William Hayward and A. W. Osborn had charge of the building operations.
The German Lutherans first came into Dickinson County in 1869 and 1870, locating northwest of Spirit Lake, in Spirit Lake and Diamond Lake townships. Among them were: P. Bergman, C. Britch, C. Horn, Peter Vick and Henry Bibow. A meeting was held in the cabin of P. Bergman in 1871 and preaching given by Rev. T. Mertens, a pioneer cir- cuit rider of the denomination. Rev. E. H. Scheitz succeeded Mertens. Other early pastors were: Revs. C. W. Waas, E. W. Mensing and John Becker. After a time meetings were discontinued in the private resi- dences and held in the new Swailes schoolhouse; in 1879 the first church building was constructed at Spirit Lake, followed by a second one in 1895. In 1884 the charge was made to include Spirit Lake, Estherville and Jack- son, and was first in charge of Rev. A. Goppelt.
The first Catholic services in Dickinson County were held in 1873 at the home of Oliver Sarazine. This meeting was conducted by Rev. J. J. Smith of Emmetsburg, who held services at long intervals until 1881, when Rev. M. K. Norton took charge of the mission. Norton and Oliver Sarazine procured about $1,500 in the spring of 1882, with which to pay for the erection of a church building, which was accomplished the following fall. Rev. L. Carroll followed Father Norton here. Until 1898 the church in Spirit Lake was in charge of the pastor at Spencer, and then was placed in the hands of the Estherville pastor, Rev. J. R. Daley, and later Rev. Joseph Murtagh. The new $10,000 Catholic church was dedicated October 13, 1907, with an address by Father O'Conner of Oel- wein.
MILFORD CHURCHES
The upper room of the Case House in Milford, in the early days, was fitted up with a stage, etc., and utilized for all kinds of meetings, includ- ing religious services. Rev. J. R. Upton, sent to the frontier settlements by the Home Missionary Society of the Congregational Church, first preached in this old hall. He was a homesteader in Excelsior Town- ship and extended his .religious efforts over the entire county. He organ- ized a Congregationalist Society in Milford about the year 1872, but was not the regular pastor. Not until June, 1883, was a regular pastor sup- plied to this church, this being the Rev. T. W. McHoes, who worked at both Milford and Lakeville settlements. The two societies were practi- cally one at this time. The Home Missionary Society of the Congrega-
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tional Church had supported the church for several years at the start, but eventually withdrew all assistance and the young society was left to fight its own battles, a fight none too easy for the young organization. In 1888 the Home Missionary Society dispatched another pastor to this county-Rev. N. L. Burton, and a reorganization was effected. Prominent among the members at this time were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tinkham, Mrs. T. S. Seymour, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mrs. W. A. Cook, Mrs. C. A. Bunker and others. This reorganization had the effect of removing the growth and prosperity of the society and many new members came into the church. The first resident pastor was Rev. L. R. Fitch, who came in 1890. Revs. Arthur Weatherly, Gardner and Webber were immediate successors of Fitch.
The first steps toward the erection of a church building were taken in 1890, when the Home Missionary Society contributed the sum of $400 . and the members of the church supplied the remainder. The church was begun in 1890 and finished and dedicated in 1891. An addition to the building was erected in 1901.
In the new town of Milford Rev. H. L. Smith was the first preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He spoke at Milford, the Bennet schoolhouse, the Pillsbury schoolhouse, Westport schoolhouse and Davis schoolhouse. The first church building in Milford also was erected by the Methodists, which structure was dedicated October 28, 1883. Rev. J. T. Crippen had charge of the dedication, assisted by Presiding Elder Gleason and Revs. Mitchell, Keister and Smith. Reverend Crippen was from Mason City. Reverend Smith was followed in this charge by Revs. M. Keister, King, Shoemaker and Pendell. During the summer of 1901 many improvements were made upon the old church building.
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