USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 21
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in the building of the present court house. The great executive ability of the officer and the geniality of the man are well marked by two acts closing his terni as mayor, that of the consummation of the plans for the Farley street viaduct, and the passage of the joke marriage ordinance.
In 1909 Mr. Bennett was again elected mayor, serving for a term of two years; at the close of the term he was talked of for reelection, but on account of ill health it was not deemed advisable for him to again enter the race. Mr. Bennett died at his home in Fort Dodge, May 24, 191I.
A. H. NORTHRUP-1903-4
A. H. Northrup was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., January 22, 1857. Follow- ing Greeley's advice, he came in 1877 to Minneapolis, where he worked for the MI. & St. L Railroad as fireman and engineer. With the building of the road into Fort Dodge. he became a resident of this city and has ever since been rec- ognized as one of its safe, conservative citizens. He served in the city council for eight years, 1888-91 and 1898-1901, being elected twice from the Third ward, and twice from the Second ward. While on the council he served on the claims, and streets and alleys committees. In politics he has been a democrat.
CHARLES F. DUNCOMBE-1907-08
Charles F. Duncombe served the city as mayor during the years 1907-08. He is the grandson of the first mayor. Like his grandfather, who was the first postmaster, he also held the office of postmaster, serving during the years 1894- 98. Although in politics Mr. Duncombe has always been a democrat, yet his election as mayor was due to a non-partisan movement. At present he is also a member of the school board.
Charles F. Duncombe was born in Fort Dodge, February 20, 1864. He attended school at Racine College, Racine, Wisconsin, and later at the Univer- sity of Iowa. He intended to become a lawyer, but before he could finish his course, he was compelled by ill health to give up his school work He then began work as reporter on the Fort Dodge Chronicle, then a weekly. On May 6. 1884, he changed the paper to a daily. Having acquired the ownership of the paper he retained it until 1887, when he sold one-half interest to his brother, W. E. Duncombe. He then went to St. Paul. and with two others started the St. Paul News. This he sold in 1890 and returned to Fort Dodge to take charge of the Duncombe Stucco Company plaster mills. The mills being sold to the United States Gypsum Company on February 1, 1901, Mr Duncombe became district manager for the latter, which position he held until November. 1903. In all he was connected with the gypsum business fourteen years.
Mr. Duncombe on leaving the gypsum business purchased complete control of the Chronicle, and has since devoted his entire time to newspaper work. While circumstances compelled him to take up the work against his wish. vet it has been the one work which he has liked best.
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JOHN F. FORD-1911-12
John F. Ford was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, November 25, 1864. When six years of age, he with his parents moved onto a farm in Jackson township. Part of this farm was in Webster county, and part in Lizard township. Poca- hontas county. Here he lived for twenty-one years, when he returned to Fort Dodge, which has been his home ever since. During the time that he lived on the farm, Mr. Ford taught district school during the winter monthe for ten years. In 1893, he was appointed deputy auditor under T. A. Cunningham, serv- ing six years. At the end of that time he was himself elected auditor and served six years. He then became interested in the business of the Berryhill Com- pany, books and stationery and news stand. In March, 1911, when the city of Fort Dodge adopted the commission form of government Mr. Ford became a candidate for the office of mayor, and at the election received a majority of the votes. thus becoming the first mayor under the new form of government.
CHAPTER XIII
EARLY TRADES AND TRADERS
MAJOR WILLIAMS' STORE-FREIGHTING IN AN EARLY DAY-UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE OPENED-WAR TIMES-A SHOEMAKER POET-ARNOLD'S MILL-THE "COLBURN VEIN"-GYPSUM AS A BUILDING STONE-"JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES". THE PIONEER NURSERYMAN.
The first store in Fort Dodge was opened in 1855. Since that time the mer- cantile life of the city has grown until now there are over one hundred and fifty retail stores alone, to say nothing of the wholesale establishments and manu- facturing plants.
In the early spring of 1855, Major William Williams, who was at that time sutler to the United States troops stationed at Fort Dodge, came to the fort and opened a grocery store in the block just west of where the Wahkonsa school now stands. His first clerk was George B. Sherman, who began working for him April 10th and continued in his employ for three months. Mr. Sherman then began to build a store for himself. James B. Williams also helped in his father's store, and when his father was appointed postmaster, took entire charge of the store. Later he was associated in business with John Lemp. When the Civil war broke out, the young storekeeper, James B. Williams, answered the call for volunteers, and became first sergeant of Company I of the Thirty- second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. When he returned home after the war, how- ever, he did not return to the mercantile business, but opened the first abstract office in Fort Dodge and continued in this work until his death.
The stock of the first store was by no means an exclusive grocery stock, but was made up of a general merchandise stock. In addition to the staple provisions, there was calico, muslin and denim cloth for clothing, a few tools and hardware, some household utensils, and a little patent medicine. There was generally, too, something kept for "snake bites." There was but little ready- made clothing.
There were no clubs to go to in those days, so the thrifty housewife made not only her own clothing, but those of the family. Some even wove their own cloth and spun the yarn of making the stockings and mittens. Fur used for caps and other articles of apparel was procured by trapping, for the woods were full of small fur-bearing animals. Beaver, otter, coon, fox and muskrat were found in abundance, while deer, bear and wolf were not uncommon. All the merchandise kept in stock was freighted from Keokuk, which was at that time the nearest railroad point. The freight was three cents a pound, and there was no interstate commerce commission to adjust rates. When to this was
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added the railroad charges, even the staple articles of food became expensive. and necessities became luxuries.
The nearest grist mills where flour and meal could be obtained were Oskaloosa and Des Moines. A trip to the mill took two weeks under the most favorable circumstances. In bad weather the time was even longer. During the severe winters of 1855 and 1856, when going to the mill was well nigh impossible, and the cold piercing winds and drifting snow prevented even the most courageous from venturing any distance from home, the old coffee mill on the shelf was made to do double duty. The corn for johnny cake and corn pone was shelled and ground in the old mill. Corn was ground not only for meal, but roasted and then ground, it made a substitute for coffee. This coffee substitute was used not on account of the deleterious effects of the genuine, but because the real article was a luxury, not to be used every day. Thus the old mill played an important part in the pioneer household.
One of the pioneers in speaking of those early days said, "There wasn't much style put on in those days. Comfort took its place. There were no fancy fixings like bouillon, salads and ices. A few slices of steak from a saddle of vension fried in the fireplace, some hot cornbread, some molasses from the jug under the kitchen table, some corn coffee piping hot, sufficed our needs. With such a meal, we soon forgot the fatigue of the day's hard work. It cost $9.00 to have a barrel of salt hauled from Keokuk to Fort Dodge. This made it necessary to retail it at five cents a pound in order to come out even. Sugar sold at eight pounds for the dollar, and there was no shopping around to get nine. Even green coffee cost thirty cents a pound. This we took home and roasted before grinding. There was no 'grind it please' request to the grocer in those days. We were glad enough to get it green. And there was no co- operative delivery either. When the molasses jug was empty we took it to the store ourselves to get it filled. We usually had a piece of stout cord, or rope run through the handle of the jug, and thus we carried it suspended from the shoulder; sometimes we poked a stout stick through the handle and carried it over our shoulder. Flour cost $10.00 a sack, and not guaranteed at that. Corn meal sold at $1.50 a hundred pounds."
After George B. Sherman left the employ of Major Williams, he and N. B. Morrison formed a partnership, and erected a store building for their use. This was the first store building after the town was laid out. It was finished in the fall of 1855. The work of getting out the logs and hauling them to the water- mill was begun in the month of August. The soldiers at the fort had brought with them sufficient machinery to equip a small sawmill. With the river to supply the power, quite a quantity of lumber was sawed for buildings. The store was completed in November, 1855, and in December of the same year. the firm of Sherman & Morrison began business. They had a general merchandise stock which would probably have invoiced at $1.500.
The next firm to go into business was Dawley & Woodbury in 1856. They occupied the first brick store ever built in Fort Dodge. This building was built by Morgan and Beers and stood on Sixth street back of the present Garmoe block. However, this did not prove a successful venture; and in the fall of 1857, Ab Taylor purchased the stock, and continued the business as a general merchandise store.
A. M. DAWLEY
First justice of the peace, Wahkonsa township
MRS. A. M. DAWLEY (ELLEN P.)
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
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While not an early storekeeper, yet in the mercantile life of the city, D. W. Prindle played an important part. Coming to Fort Dodge in 1854, he helped to build the first store building. He then engaged in the business of freighting, hauling goods from Muscatine and other railroad points until 1857. In that year, he married and moved to a farm four miles northwest of town. Often the receiver of public money, carrying the money from the government land office, rode with Mr. Prindle on his trips. In 1874 Mr. Prindle returned to Fort Dodge, and engaged in the grain business, as the successor to Colonel Leander Blanden. Another early "freighter" was John J. Burns, Sr., who hauled the first load of freight from Iowa City to Fort Dodge.
The Prusia hardware store was the earliest of its kind. In 1855 E. E. Prusia came to Fort Dodge, and in partnership with his step-father, George Klinedob, started a tin shop in a little slab shanty on Williams street. Mr. Klinedob died in 1865, and Mr. Prusia continued the business for many years. Then he, too, gave up an active control of the business, removing to California, where he still lives. The business is today- the oldest and largest wholesale and retail hardware business in the city.
Two new mercantile establishments were added to Fort Dodge in 1856. John Haire started a grocery store, which he ran for several years, later going into the clothing business. The same year; Charles Rank opened up the first bakery, on the site of what is now the interurban station. This he conducted for four years. Later he engaged in the dry goods business, and still later went into the shoe business .. Though of later date, Jacob Schmoll may also be. classed among the pioneer bakers. Mr. Schmoll started a bakery in the building now used by the Conway cigar store.
The first drug store was in a building on the site of Frank Gates & Son dry goods store and was run by James Swain. Later he moved to a building that stood where the Fort Dodge National Bank now stands. Mr. O. M. Oleson, when he first came to Fort Dodge, worked for Mr. Swain.
The original town as laid out and platted by Major Williams was not finally brought into market until 1855. In the meantime a postoffice had been estab- lished here, and at the session of congress in 1854-5, the public land depart- ment in Iowa had been reorganized and two new land offices, at Fort Dodge and Sioux City, had been established. In the summer of 1855 immigration into this section of the state was quite active; and during the summer of 1856 was still more so. Quite a number of young men seeking a place to establish them- selves in business came to Fort Dodge, and several persons with families also bought lots and commenced building; so that by the fall of 1856, it began to take on the appearance of a thriving western village. The fact of the estab- lishment of a United States land office at this place, in addition to the many natural resources of the surrounding country, induced quite a number of per- sons to settle here with the purpose of going into the real estate business. The beauty and fertility of the new country is well told by Major Williams in his notes on its early history, which he left at his death. He says: "We arrived at the point designated on the 23d of August. 1850. (Referring to the arrival of the troops of which he was the post trader.) The officers and men of the detachment had served through the Mexican war, and many of them in the Seminole and Florida wars, and from what they had heard of the country
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they were to be stationed in, they expected to find a region similar to Florida ; covered with lakes, ponds, swamps and destitute of timber; but they were agreeably disappointed. All were highly pleased with the location. The fine groves of timber, above and below, the pure springs of water and rippling streams, together with the appearance of coal, gypsum and, other minerals; the building stone and enchanting scenery, caused all to pronounce it the most beautiful part of Iowa they had ever seen. When the plans for building quar- ters, and arrangement of the buildings were under consideration, it was deter- mined to build convenient as possible to the fine spring of water, and where they would be sheltered from the northwest winds by the timber. It was the opinion of all the officers at that time, that owing to the beauty of the loca- tion, and the resources of the country, at no distant day a town of some import- ance would be built on the site."
In May, 1856, the county seat was moved from Homer to Fort Dodge. This removal brought with it several county officers who became permanent citizens of the town. Among them was the county judge, Hon. Wm. N. Mer- servey, who up to his death, in all the enterprises of the town was an active participant. But many things tended, in the early history of Fort Dodge, to retard its growth. Soon after the resources of the country began to be under- stood abroad the financial crisis of 1857 produced business stagnation through- out the entire country. It was especially severe in its effects in a new country where there was no accumulated capital and where the people were all poor. It had its natural effects on Fort Dodge. The town had scarcely began to recover from the effects of the business disaster of 1857, before the Civil war was upon the country. This necessarily turned back the dial of material growth another four years. Almost every able young man in the town joined the army. From the meagre population of Fort Dodge and Webster county, two com- panies were recruited. Company "A" of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry ; and Company "I" of the Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Besides these two companies, quite a number of young men were enlisted in other regiments ; so that the town remained almost stationary in respect to niate- rial progress, until the close of the war. Another thing which seriously affected the growth of the town for some years were the land grants. Although they probably hastened the building of railroads, yet the fact that one-half the land was withheld from market discouraged immigration to the country. This was especially the effect of the River Land grant; and when the war was over, and things began to put on a hopeful front, the grasshopper invasion came like a scourge, and gave the country and every useful enterprise another back-set. But by the year 1872 the town and the country began to make a solid and substan- tial growth. Fort Dodge has never had anything like a boom, but for the last twenty years, progress has been steady and healthy.
"Honest" John Thissell who first ran a hotel in the old barracks, opened his grocery store in 1866 and continued in the same location until 1883, when he retired on account of poor health.
The firm of Furlong & Mulroney began business in 1865 in a wooden build- ing on the site of the building now used by McIntire and Mallon as a grocery. This building was later torn down and the present brick structure erected. In 1875, Mr. Mulroney purchased his partner's interest. Mr. Furlong later went
F. J. GUENTHER An early brick mason in Fort Dodge
HIRAM HULSIZER One of the early carpenters of Fort Dodge
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
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into business on the east side of the public square, establishing the firm of Fur- long & Brennan.
The first harness shop was opened in 1857 by P. R. Baldwin in the old com- missary building of the fort. He remained in business until 1861, when he en- listed in the army and served through the Civil war. Returning to Fort Dodge, in 1870, Mr. Baldwin entered the agricultural implement business locat- ing on the west side of the public square. He had the first agency in this part of Iowa for the sale of the McCormick reaper.
The first lumber yard was that of Keefer, Blanden & Norton, which was established in 1858. In those days the most of the lumber was hauled from Iowa Falls to Boone. Another pioneer lumber merchant was J. O. Slauson, who opened a lumber yard in 1868.
The earliest real estate men were Ben Grayson, who came to Fort Dodge, October 18, 1855, and L. M. Olcott, who came in 1856. Olcott later became county judge.
The first livery was run by a Mr. Halleck. In those days, the top buggy with the spring seats was as much a sign of luxury as the six passenger tour- ing car of today.
The first jewelry store was run by a man named Anskins. While perhaps not the first, Leisenrings photograph gallery near the public square was one of the earliest.
The first clothing store was opened by David Fessler, in 1858, in the land office building, in a room twelve feet wide and fourteen feet long. Mr. Fessler stayed here six months, and then moved his clothing stock to a building near the courthouse, and owned by Henry Burkholder. In 1872, he built the brick block, which was known as the Fessler Opera House block. Here he con- tinued in business until his death.
The Laufersweiler furniture store was the earliest of its kind. Conrad Laufersweiler came to Fort Dodge on the "Charlie Rogers," in the spring of 1858. He brought with him a small stock of furniture consisting of a few beds, and some chairs and cupboards. This stock was placed in a small room which he rented, and which had been built for an office, having been occupied by the Strow brothers as a law office. It was eighteen feet wide and thirty feet long, and was located where the Messenger building now stands. He used the front part for a store room and the rear for his work shop. Mr. Laufersweiler made all his furniture himself, out of black walnut lumber, and afterwards exchanged the furniture for more lumber. Coffins were also made out of the same kind of wood.
A fashionable milliner of those early days was Mrs. Rose Wilbur. The fashionable "modistes" were Mrs. Stephen Bouelle and her two daughters. There were no hobble skirts in those days, instead "my lady" wore hoops. The large merry widow was unknown, and in its place there was the demure poke bonnet.
The earliest brick-maker was Henry A. Platt. Upon coming here in 1858, he started a kiln just below the old Bradshaw plant. Later he engaged in the grocery business for some twenty-five years at the corner of Fifth street and Central avenue, just south of the public square park.
Jacob Brown, Sr., claims the distinction of being the oldest continuous grocer now in business in Fort Dodge. Mr. Brown started in the grocery business
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on the second day of November, 1877, at his present location, No. 15. South Sixth street, and has continued in business ever since. Previous to that time, he had a blacksmith shop, on the same site, which he started in 1868.
D. M. Crosby, known as "genial Morg," was the pioneer shoemaker and started the first boot and shoe store in Fort Dodge. The first extension sole shoe was made in his shop by his brother, C. H. Crosby and was worn by Governor C. C. Carpenter. Governor Carpenter who was a civil engineer, was very much annoyed on his trips across the prairies by the sharp edge prairie grass, which would cut holes through the toes of his boots. He had tried putting tin tips on them, but this was not entirely satisfactory. It occurred to Mr. Crosby one day, that if the shoe or boot was made with an extended sole, that it would protect the upper. He spoke to his brother about it and he in turn worked out the idea. The first pair of boots, proved so satisfactory, that Mr. Crosby had more business than he could do. One day a boot and shoe salesman from Chi- cago came into the shop and seeing the boots became very much interested in the soles. The boots, which Mr. Crosby had, sold for $10.00 a pair. A con- tract was made, however, with the salesman to manufacture a cheaper boot, which would retail for $6.00 a pair. Mr. Crosby sold a number of cases of these boots, and so popular were they with the trade that the factory sold many thousand of cases.
Mr. Crosby also had the gift of writing poetry, which, while perhaps lack- ing somewhat in poetical quality, still had so much of good humor and such a sunny view of life, that they were always popular. "Jingles," he himself called them. On his seventy-seventh birthday he wrote the following :
"77"
According to the good, old book where it is recorded down It is seventy-seven years today since I first came to town. You must not criticise me, friends, or think I was to blame, For I was just a little kid, but got there just the same.
Now as I look back on the past the world don't seem so bad I was never sorry that I came, in fact am rather glad. I am glad to live on this green earth, am glad that I am here To meet and greet you all, on this, my seventy-seventh year.
I am proud of this, my native land, the land that gave me birth Our president, the most beloved of any man on earth.
Our ships sail through the open door on nearly every sea, Our Flag, the loveliest Flag on earth, floats over you and me.
Experience has taught me this, I find as I grow old
A kindly word to a breaking heart is better far than gold. But sympathy and kindly words, however kindly said, Will never fit a hungry tramp, like solid meat and bread.
My faithful wife is with me still, together side by side
We have met the ups and downs in life since she became my bride.
---
ANGUS McBANE Member of firm of Wilsons, MeBane & Co., bankers
E. E. PRUSIA Founder of Prusia Hardware Company
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LINUX AND TILD " FOUT OR IONS.
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If it is God's will, we hope that she may still keep up the pace And down the home-stretch, side by side, together end the race.
You wonder why I lived so long, am hale and hearty still ; I may as well just tell you now; with your consent I will,
My answer is a simple one, and I hope you'll not forget-
I never borrow trouble and I never, never fret. November 8, 1905.
Christopher Arnold opened the first barber shop in 1857. He was a native of Germany. After graduating from a Latin Gymnasium, he was made chief of police in his native town. Later, his views not being in harmony with those of king William, he resigned and went to Switzerland. In 1855, he came to America, settling at Erie, Pennsylvania. Two years later he came to Fort Dodge. In the meantime his property had been confiscated by the German government ; and when he arrived in Fort Dodge, he carried. all his wordly possessions in a little satchell. Borrowing a stove, he opened a barber shop in a small room on Williams street between Second and Third streets. Trade was good, and he soon saved enough money to send for his family. In the fall of 1865. he bought Morgan and Richards' mill, north of the Illinois Central railroad bridge. Here a few years later he built a damn at a cost of $10,000. Several times the floods and ice gorges of the spring time wrought considerable injury to his property. But each time Mr. Arnold repaired his mill, and altogether spent $35,000.00 His advertisement in 1876 refers to his mill as being the oldest in northwestern Iowa. The mill was finally destroyed by fire in 1879, and was never rebuilt. Mr. Arnold then entered politics, filling the office of county recorder for two years. During the latter years of his life, he spent his time in looking after his property. Because of his readiness with a pen, he was often called upon to write letters, and to assist the carly German settlers in their business transactions.
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