USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 41
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 41
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The Baptist Church in Milford was organized in the summer months of 1882, by Mr. and Mrs. Roswell Osborn, A. K. Turneaure and others. The first meetings were held in the old schoolhouse in the old town of Milford. Reverend Braistead preached to the members, also hold- ing meetings at Spirit Lake. Reverend Andrews next supplied the pulpit here and was followed by Rev. J. E. McIntosh, the first resident pastor. Rev. T. E. S. Lapham came next. A church building in the new town was started and finished in 1891.
The first Catholics in the vicinity of Milford were residents of the township outside of the town. The first services of this denomination were held at the home of Daniel Ryan, about three miles southeast of Milford, in the summer of 1884. Father Norton, of the Spencer and Spirit Lake circuit, had charge of the meetings. The schoolhouses and the hall over the Ellis Store were also used as meeting places. Reverends
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Carroll and McCauley were also rectors at this time. In 1889 a church was built in Milford. The church is known as St. Patrick's.
The Lutherans erected a church in the southern part of Okoboji Township in 1890.
CHURCHES IN LAKE PARK AND TOWNSHIP
The first religious services in Silver Lake Township were conducted by Rev. J. R. Upton in 1870 and 1871. Rev. G. Brown, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also held a series of meetings at the home of J. B. Drew. D. W. Lounsberry, of no particular denomination, also held early services. The building of the schoolhouse in 1873 provided the settlers religiously inclined with a place of meeting, and the practice of using the various homes declined. Rev. J. B. Edmunds, a homesteader him- self, is known as one of the first preachers to hold meetings in the school- house. The early services were largely union affairs, no denomination predominating. This condition continued until 1883, when the Metho- dist Episcopal Church established the Lake Park Circuit, Reverend Hild in charge. The Methodists also built the first church in the town in 1891. Reverends Cheney, Keister, Woolery, Olds, Barnes, Clearwater, Shoe- maker were some of the circuit preachers here.
The organization of the Presbyterian Church in Lake Park was consummated in 1893, with eight members. Reverend Clapp was the first preacher. A church was erected in 1895. Reverends Ramer, Valier, Mapeson and Hoyt have been pastors of this church.
OTHER CHURCHES
The pioneer church in Superior was the Baptist, being established soon after the town was started. The church building, the first one in the town, was built in 1890. Braistead, of Spirit Lake, first held services here. The Methodist Episcopal Church began shortly after the above, using the schoolhouse and the Baptist Church building until the society erected their own structure in 1901. The German Lutherans, Methodists and Congregationalists established themselves in Terrill soon after the opening of the town and all erected buildings in the early years of the twentieth century.
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CHAPTER XXIX
DICKINSON COUNTY SOCIETIES.
THE FIRST SOCIETY IN THE COUNTY-LODGES IN SPIRIT LAKE-MEMORIAL TABLET AT SPIRIT LAKE-MILFORD LODGES LAKE PARK LODGES- OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
One of the first societies organized in Dickinson County was a literary society. This was the Okoboji Literary League, established in the fall of 1863. It is said upon good authority that as early as 1861 other literary societies had flourished at both Okoboji and Spirit Lake. Mrs. Buckland's poem, which serves as an introduction to this volume, is an example of the work of this society.
Perhaps the strongest fraternal order in Dickinson County at the present time is the Masonic. The Twilight Lodge No. 329, Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons was organized under dispensation from the Iowa Grand Lodge on September 18, 1873 and a charter was granted to the chapter on June 3, 1874. The first officers elected were: Alfred Davis, worshipful master; C. H. Ayers, senior warden; A. L. Sawyer, junior warden; A. M. Johnson, secretary; and Zina Henderson, treasurer. A chapter of the Eastern Star, the ladies' auxiliary, was established at Spirit Lake in the winter of 1876-7; Mrs. Fannie Jemer- son was the first worthy matron, Mrs. Anna L. Rice, associate; Mrs. Jane Ayers, secretary ; and Mrs. F. I. Pillsbury, treasurer. The charter was granted to the chapter February 26, 1880, and the first worthy matron under this was Mrs. Anna L. Rice.
The Spirit Lake Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, was organized at Spirit Lake under dispensation May 15, 1901. The first officers were: Charles I. Reigard, high priest; Dr. Q. C. Fuller, king; T. E. Burt, scribe; J. W. Cravens, treasurer; W. A. Sidall, secretary; L. H. Farn- ham, captain of the host; W. P. Stone, principal sojourner; A. B. Funk, royal arch captain; H. A. Miller, master of the third vail; P. E. Narey, master of the second vail; C. T. Chandler, master of the first vail; O. Crandall, tyler.
An interesting sidelight upon the Masonic history of Dickin- son County is the securing and building of Templar Park on the shore of Spirit Lake. The first move toward securing a park in this vicinity
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was made by the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar, in conse- quence of a decision to start a resort somewhere upon the lakes to serve as a summer outing ground for the members of the order. A commit- tee was appointed to select a suitable site and after investigation this committee decided upon a spot on West Okoboji Lake since known as Fort Dodge Point. This report was presented in due form, but owing to a strong opposition developing from the officials of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway, it was defeated. A second committee was then appointed. This body viewed and selected about twenty acres of land on the southwest shore of Spirit Lake. The tract of ground was bought from A. Kingman by the people of Spirit Lake and the railroad and donated to the commandery. The improvement of the park was begun in 1885 and is now one of the principal and most attractive places in the lake region.
Minnie Waukon Lodge No. 274, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized at Spirit Lake March 5, 1874. The first officers were: A. A. Mosher, noble grand; L. E. Holcomb, vice grand; William Helms, treasurer; N. J. Woodin, permanent secretary; R. D. Owen, recording secretary. A Rebekah lodge was organized in conjunction with the above on September 5, 1876.
Winget Post No. 226, Grand Army of the Republic, was granted a charter on November 24, 1883. The first officers elected were: C. C. Perrin, commander ; D. L. Riley, senior vice commander; E. L. Brownell, junior vice commander; H. Wood, chaplain; Isaac Tucker, quartermaster; S. B. Miller, officer of the guard; Peter Flemming, quartermaster sergeant; E. L. Brownell, surgeon; J. O. Stewart, adjutant.
Summit Lodge No. 86, Knights of Pythias, was organized at Spirit Lake on October 18, 1882 and the charter was granted October 26th, the same year. There were just sixteen charter members. The first officers were as follows: G. P. Hopkins, past commander; W. A. Siddall, chancellor commander ; W. B. Brown, vice commander; D. L. Riley, pre- late; E. F. Newell, keeper of records and seals; William Hayward, master of finance; F. E. Hopkins, master of archives; C. S. Fletcher, master of exchequer; S. P. Fisher, inner guard; J. F. Olmstead, outer guard.
Spirit Lake Camp No. 4479, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized at Spirit Lake on January 21, 1897, with the following first officers : Charles I. Reigard, venerable consul; A. D. Gray, worthy advisor; H. E. St. Clair, banker; A. H. Jemerson, local clerk; D. C. Wells, escort; J. B. Stair, physician ; R. S. Miller, watchman; E. Kephart, sentry ; D. N. Guthrie, W. F. Beerman and H. H. Buck, managers.
Spirit Lake Lodge No. 254, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was organized at Spirit Lake August 1, 1893. The first officers were: C. B. Fountain, P. M. W .; George S. Tuttle, M. W .; R. F. Gruhlke, foreman;
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James P. Miller, overseer; C. W. Price, recorder; Wilbur Evarts, finan- cier; S. B. Miller, receiver; B. W. Blanchard, guide; O. Sterner, J. W .; A. Hartley, O. W .; T. H. Price, A. Hartley and E. Kephart, trustees.
Spirit Lake Homestead, No. 273, Brotherhood of American Yeoman, was organized at Spirit Lake on October 18, 1899, with the following first officers elected: W. T. Davidson, foreman; A. F. Merrill, corre- spondent; H. E. St. Clair, overseer; Henry Arthur, master of cere- monies; James Crowell, watchman; Frank Ellston, guard; Hattie Farn- ham, Rebecca; Mrs. Clara Jones, Rowena; and C. P. Soper, physician. There were sixty-two charter members.
Prominent among the organizations of Spirit Lake is that of the Daughters of the American Revolution. On August 29, 1916, under the auspices of this local chapter, there was formally dedicated at Spirit Lake a boulder and bronze tablet marking the site of the stockade and old courthouse, where people were sheltered during the uprising of 1861-2.
In Spirit Lake, as in other places, there was at one time a grange. This was Spirit Lake Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, organized March 17, 1874. The first officers were: W. B. Brown, master; S. E. Evans, over- seer; C. E. Abbott, lecturer; Isaac Ames, steward; H. C. Owen, assistant steward; William Helms, chaplain; George Hilbert, secretary; James Cousins, treasurer; James Evans, gatekeeper. This organization con- tinued with decreasing success until 1886, when it became a thing of the past.
A lodge. of Good Templars, the champions of prohibition, was in- situated at Spirit Lake in the early '70s, but did not continue more than eight years. G. S. Needham, A. W. Osborne, J. L. Coppoc and C. H. Ayers were prominent members.
MILFORD LODGES
Gloaming Lodge No. 482, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Milford, was organized under dispensation granted July 7, 1886. The first officers were: A. Case, worshipful master ; C. Stuart, senior warden ; Frank McDonald, junior warden; T. S. Seymour, treasurer; R. B. Nicol, secre- tary. The charter for this lodge was granted June 3, 1887, and A. Case, B. Pitcher, W. B. Jones, W. A. Meek and R. B. Nicol filled the offices of worshipful master, senior and junior wardens, treasurer and secretary, the first officers under this charter. There were seventeen charter mem- bers enrolled in the lodge.
A chapter of the Eastern Star was organized at Milford in 1895, with these first officers: R. F. Price, worthy patron; Mrs. W. H. H. Myers, worthy matron ; Mrs. E. F. Miller, associate matron; and Mrs. E. A. Case, secretary.
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Monitor Lodge No. 491, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mil- ford, was first organized in April, 1886.
Wallar Post No. 223, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized September 13, 1883. It has the distinction of being the first society, fra- ternal or civic, to be established in Milford. The charter members of the post were: R. B. Nicol, Daniel Bennett, James Heldridge, Thompson Emerson, A. D. Inman, William Chase, Horace Bennett, Charles A. Dar- row, R. R. Wilcox, D. H. Cole and Ira Foster. William Chase, H. H. Ship- man, Zina Henderson, A. D. Inman, James Heldridge, R. R. Wilcox, R. B. Nicol, W. H. H. Myers and Daniel Mead were some of the early com- manders.
Okoboji Lodge No. 429, Knights of Pythias, was organized in May, 1895, with thirty charter members. C. H. Perry was the first chancellor ; C. A. West, vice chancellor; H. S. Abbott, clerk; E. A. Case, master of archives; James McElroy, master of exchequer; L. C. Miller, master of finance; George Paton, keeper of records and seals.
Live Oak Camp No. 2567, Modern Woodmen of America, was organ- ized in 1892 with fifteen charter members. D. L. Van Housen was vener- able consul; L. H. Miller, worthy advisor ; J. J. Lee, banker ; C. H. Perry, clerk.
Goldenrod Homestead No. 250, Brotherhood of American Yeoman, was organized in March, 1899. C. E. Blackert was foreman; Mrs. C. M. Coldren, master of ceremonies ; H. H. Burch, physician; G. M. Sherburne, master of accounts; W. A. May, overseer .; Mrs. Alice O'Farrell, Lady Rebecca ; Mrs. Jennie E. Price, Rowena; R. F. Price, correspondent; Mrs. May Hemphill, guard; William Paton, watchman. There were thirty- two charter members.
LAKE PARK LODGES
Silver Lake Lodge No. 527, Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under dispensation April 15, 1893. The charter was received in August of the same year. The first officers were as fol- lows: Theodore Strathman, worshipful master; John Linder, senior war- den; Frank Buffum, junior warden, John Buffum, treasurer; J. M. Buffum, secretary; G. A. Triggs, senior deacon; W. W. Harris, junior deacon ; A. A. Kingsley, S. S .; J. W. C. Salyard, J. S .; J. M. Dunlap, tyler.
A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized at Lake Park in October, 1895, with the following first officers: W. B. Highbee, noble grand; M. D. Green, vice grand; C. W. Flint, secretary, and H. F. Asmessin, treasurer. There were seven charter members of this lodge, which quickly increased to thirty-two members by the first meet- ing. In 1899 a Rebekah lodge was instituted, with fifty-six members to start.
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In the '90s a lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen was es- tablished in Lake Park, but did not prosper. However, in February, 1900, a reorganization was accomplished and the lodge was placed on a solid basis. H. C. Knox, G. A. Stouffer, G. W. Palmer were chosen as officers after the reorganization.
The first officers of the camp of American Yeoman, organized in Lake Park in 1897, were: W. B. Hignee, foreman, and J. G. Chrysler, cor- respondent.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
In December, 1875, a musical association was formed in Spirit Lake, the following account of which appeared in the Beacon: "An organiza- tion was formed last Monday night in town under the name of musical association, with the following officers: President, S. L. Pillsbury; vice president, C. H. Ayers; secretary, J. A. Ellis; treasurer, Miss Dena Bark- man. About forty names were attached to the articles of organization and a lively interest seems to be taken in the matter. The object of the association is to keep up a musical interest in the community and to fur- nish an opportunity for advancement in the art by continued practice and mutual instruction. Meetings will be appointed once a week and strict rules will be adopted to insure the attendance of the members."
In 1878 there was also organized in Spirit Lake a cornet band. The Beacon had the following to say of it at the time: "There is a series of commonplace events that occur uniformly and mark epochs in the history of a town. The first church, the first lodge, the first sidewalk, the first railroad, all these things come and form, in their turn, starting points in the ordinary system of chronological mnemonics that serve to guide us in remembering our daily transactions. Coming in the regular order with the numerous improvements that mark the progress of our town, sounding brass and tinkling cymbal unite in harmonious effort to proclaim our met- ropolitan yearnings. A full set of instruments in the latest style and with all the modern improvements arrived here last Friday. The previously organized band was waiting to receive them, and after the trial they were distributed as follows: W. F. Pillsbury, E. flat cornet ; S. P. Middleton, E flat cornet; T. J. Francis, B flat cornet; A. W. Middleton, B flat cornet ; Carl Blackert, tenor; T. L. Twiford, alto; J. A. Ellis, alto; S. L. Pillsbury, baritone; J. A. Smith, E flat bass ; C. W. Bowne, snare drum; J. S. John- son, bass drum. The instruments are from the well known house of Lyon & Healy of Chicago, and give perfect satisfaction. After a few weeks' practice the boys will be ready to discourse sweet music. For the present, they have retired to hidden recesses and practice their lessons under the rose."
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About 1892 a Pioneer Girls' Club was formed in Spirit Lake. Chief among the women who started this organization were: Mrs. Ella Arnold Stevens, Mrs. L. H. Farnham, Mrs. E. L. Brownell, Mrs. A. B. Funk, Mrs. E. G. Blackert, Mrs. H. A. Miller, Mrs. J. S. Everett. Mrs. Stevens was the first president. Annual banquets were held, special attention being paid to all the old settlers and the children of old settlers. Meetings were held weekly and a program offered, generally of a literary nature, remin- iscent of the early days in Dickinson County. Time, however, has passed its effacing hand over this club and the active work is no longer continued.
The Spirit Lake Chautauqua, now a thing of the past, but popular in its day, may come under the head of organizations. The Chautauqua idea had its inception in 1892, when the Spirit Lake Park Association was organized. An auditorium was built on the shore of East Okoboji, between the town and Spirit Lake. E. C. Whalen, superintendent of the Chautauqua at Lake Madison, South Dakota, stopped here shortly after and found that the site would be a good one for a local Chautauqua. He advanced the subject to local people, with the result that the Spirit Lake Chautauqua Association was formed from the Spirit Lake Park Associa- tion. F. W. Barron was president and E. C. Whalen was chosen secretary and superintendent. Stock was issued at $100 per share. The first assem- bly was held in July, 1893, and for quite a time meetings were held every year. The first meeting brought forth such notable men as Rev. Frank Gunsaulus, Rev. Joseph Cook, Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, Rev. Russell Con- well, Henry Watterson and others. A large debt hindered the progress of the association in the earlier years, and eventually caused the meetings to be held intermittently. After about ten years the association was per- mitted to decline and nothing was done to maintain it. An attempt at a revival of the Chautauqua was made, but was not successful, so the audi- torium was sold and the association disbanded.
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CHAPTER XXX
MEDICINE, LAW AND COURTS
THE FIRST DOCTORS-FIRST PHYSICIAN IN MILFORD-FIRST DOCTOR AT LAKE PARK-UPPER DES MOINES MEDICAL SOCIETY-LAW-FIRST ELECTION UNDER NEW CONSTITUTION-FIRST TERM OF DISTRICT COURT-THE JUDGES OF DISTRICT COURT-PRESENT BAR.
The two professions-those of Law and Medicine-have been well represented in Dickinson County since the first settlements in 1857. Nat- urally, in the first years, there were few doctors and few lawyers, but the services of one or two of either were adequate for the sparse settlements around the lakes. Personal troubles and disputes were more often decided among the parties involved or else submitted to the seer of the community. Medical attention often came from some member of the family or a neigh- bor who kept a store of simple remedies in his cabin.
The first doctors, though perhaps crude in comparison with the pres- ent day methods of the physician, must be commended. Their knowledge and practice were necessarily restricted .. Frequently they had no profes- sional education to speak of, their training having been gained through apprenticeship to older physicians. They followed the tide of emigration westward and built up their practice with the new country. In the face of biting winds and chilling rains, in the darkest hours of the night, the doctor made his calls; fording streams, crossing sloughs and pushing his way across the trackless prairie. The pioneers, as a class, were in financial straits and the doctor's fees were small, generally in the form of flour, meat or corn, or whatever commodity the settler could afford to give. Blue pills, senna, quinine, bone-set tea, burdock or snake root bitters, decoctions of wild cherry or hickory bark, and various poultices and plasters, and Spanish fly, constituted the physician's available remedies. One pioneer physician remarked that after the patient had reached a convalescent stage, if indeed such a stage were ever reached, generous doses of castor oil were given to work out of the system the deleterious effects of the initial course of treatment. Blood-letting was also considered an efficient means of com- bating disease, the doctors believing that by letting a copious amount of the life-giving fluid from the veins thereby the tenement of the demon disease would be destroyed. Duncan, in his "Reminiscences of the Med- Vol. 1-25
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ical Profession," says: "The first requisite was a generous supply of English calomel." To this were added jalap, aloes, Dover's powder, castor oil and Peruvian bark. If a cruel cathartic, followed by blood-letting and a fly blister, did not improve the condition of the patient, the doctor "would look wise and trust to the sick man's rugged constitution to pull him through."
What would be this pioneer doctor's thoughts were he to see the com- plicated array of medical apparatus, the technique of the modern surgeon with his many operations a day, the use of serums and antitoxins, and learn the theories of medical science as they are now? But even as his art would be considered primeval and practically useless now, just so much did his labors and sacrifices pave the way for all these splendid wonders-without him they could not have been created. Of the history of medicine itself and its practice, more can be read in the chapter on Law and Medicine in the History of Emmet County.
The first physician to practice his profession in Dickinson County, Iowa, was Dr. James Ball. Doctor Ball was a native of Newton, Jasper County, Iowa. He settled in Dickinson County in the year 1858. Upon the opening of the Civil war in 1861 he went into the government medical service as surgeon, first at Sioux City, and from there to some of the up- river posts. 1
The first practicing physician in the town of Milford was Doctor Everett, who came here in the fall of 1872. He was a young man, of ex- cellent ability, and would undoubtedly have made a reputation had not ill health compelled him to return to his Illinois home, where he died soon afterward. Dr. W. S. Beers had practiced a little prior to this time, but did not engage in the profession regularly. Dr. H. C. Crary came to Milford in the autumn of 1874 and remained until 1880, when he moved to Spencer. Doctor Crary and his wife were both interested in education work during their stay in Dickinson County, the doctor having served as superintendent of the Milford schools and Mrs. Crary as a teacher for several terms. In the new town of Milford C. T. Fox was the first physi- cian to locate. Dr. J. E. Green followed shortly after Fox. Doctor Green also engaged in the drug business.
The first physician in Lake Park was Dr. Beebe, who came in 1885. Dr. C. E. Everett, formerly of Spirit Lake, started a drug store and en- gaged in professional practice a few years later.
The Upper Des Moines Valley Medical Society was organized on August 3, 1897, with the following officers: Dr. E. L. Brownell, presi- dent; Dr. E. E. Munger, vice president; Dr. C. S. Shultz, secretary and treasurer. The members of the society at that time were: A. E. Burdick and R. C. Mollison of Graettinger; A. E. Rector, Lake Park; R. J. and R. G. Hamilton, Ocheyedan; C. B. Adams, Estherville; C. M. Coldren and Q. C. Fuller, Milford; J. B. Stair and C. B. Fountain, Spirit Lake.
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LAW
In the practice of law there have been many able men in Dickinson County. Just where law had its beginning is difficult to explain. Un- doubtedly it began in social habit or custom, the regulation of the people's association and cooperation for the benefit of the whole community. Early law was tribal and the individual was subject to its authority and also entitled to its benefits because of his membership in a tribe. The practice of law has had many phases, religious, national, sectarian, civil and so on for innumerable instances. The attorney of today is a person of prom- inence by virtue of his profession, generally a man of leadership and judicial mien, but the same cannot be said for the lawyer of the ages past. During the Middle Ages he was a person not of the best standing, that is, he was regarded as a nuisance and a man of ill repute by the people. Many of the writers of the Elizabethan and Victorian periods refer to the man of law with the utmost cynicism and caustic criticism. Later, however, he was to reach the standard of popularity and dignity of the present day.
The first election in Dickinson County under the new constitution was held in the fall of 1858. A. W. Hubbard of Sioux City was elected judge of the fourth judicial district which embraced Dickinson County and O. C. Howe was elected district attorney.
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