USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 22
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Merservey and Weston kept the first feed store.
One of those induced to settle in Fort Dodge by the business prospects, which the coming of the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad promised, was Major Elliot E. Colburn, who came to Fort Dodge in 1855, in company with Messrs. Booth and Kavanagh. Major Colburn preempted a half section of land, on the west bank of the Des Moines river, where he lived for four years. Mr. Colburn opened the first coal mine in Webster county in 1856. Prior to this the sol- diers at the fort had mined a little out-cropping coal, but had not really opened a mine. This was in 1854, and the coal was taken out about a mile and a half "above the fort, on the east side of the river. The vein was about three feet in thickness, The coal was very soft, light and free burning. While this mine was being operated, it caught on fire, and because of the nature of the coal, consumed nearly an acre before it could be put out. The coal strata opened by Mr. Colburn became known to geologists and miners as the "Colburn vein." This coal was very hard and heavy. It sold at retail for ten to twelve cents a bushel. The actual work of operating the mine was performed by Thomas Donahue. Thomas Flaherty and Walter Ford. Mr. Donahue remained in the employ of Major Colburn for about four years. The much talked of railroad Vol 1-12
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did not materialize as soon as expected. Even the vote, by which Webster county had agreed to subscribe $200,000.00 to the capital stock of the road, had been rescinded by a later vote. Discouraged by the hardships of frontier life, Major Colburn returned to Ohio in 1859. However he did not remain there long for he too answered Lincoln's call. After service in the army he again returned to Fort Dodge in 1866. Then he busied himself with the laying out of West Fort Dodge which was then a part of his claim. Next he undertook the development of the coal mines on the west bank of the Des Moines river. In this venture, Major Colburn invested $15,000.00 and lost all. For although the coal was of good quality, faulty construction destroyed the shafts and water accumulated in the mines. In 1869 he removed to New York and later became engaged in the lumber business in Texas, where he died in 1875. The next mine was opened by Samuel Rees.
Another early miner was Silas Corey, Sr., who came to Webster county in 1862 and located on a farm on Holiday creek in Pleasant Valley township, six miles down the river from Fort Dodge. At that time only a small portion of his farm was under cultivation, and his nearest neighbor to the north was ninety miles away. In addition to his farming, Mr. Corey also operated a coal mine on Holiday creek which was the first mine to be worked permanently in the county.
G. V. Patterson was one of the early contractors who came to Fort Dodge in 1855. The first brick schoolhouse was built under his direction. He was the architect of the old St. Charles hotel which was built in 1857. Later, Mr. Patterson kept a restaurant, then served as deputy sheriff, and then was an auctioneer. Anson V. Lambert, another pioneer builder who came in 1857, drew the designs for the first courthouse.
Mr. F. J. Gunther, a brick mason, a pioneer of 1855, worked on the first brick store building in Fort Dodge.
Mr. John Parsons, who came in the spring of 1856, established the first blacksmith shop, excepting the one owned by the government, while the troops were stationed here. He also for several years operated one of the first brick plants.
One of the early carpenters was Israel Jenkins, who came to Fort Dodge in 1857. He took the contract of building the first house on the county poor farm, and which was let by the board of supervisors in 1873.
While not one of the earliest settlers, yet in his business Jacob Kirchner was a pioneer. He came to Fort Dodge in 1867, and established the first sash and blind factory in the city. He continued in this business until 1875, when he started a steam flour mill at the corner of Twelfth street and First avenue, south. Later the mill was leased to the "trust," and for years stood idle, with machinery ready to operate at any time. With the death of Mr. Kirchner, the property was rented for a garage, and was destroyed by fire in 1911.
Another pioneer contractor was John O'Loughlin, Sr., who came to the city in 1856. Mr. O'Loughlin's home in Fort Dodge is built of the native gypsum rock. He not only laid the walls, but also quarried the gypsum and cut the stone. It took him five years to complete the task. In the early days of building, gypsum rock was considered the ideal building material. Its present use, as stucco, was not thought of at that time. It was used quite generally for foun-
A. J. HAVILAND
MRS. A. J. HAVILAND (MARY B.)
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
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dations, and in the construction of buildings. "Fair Oaks," the home of John F. Duncombe, the Illinois Central depot, and Scanlon's blacksmith shop, were all built of this material. George W. Roscoe, another carpenter and builder came in 1854.
A quaint character of the early days was Jerry Lenihan, who came to Fort Dodge in 1856. He was a man of large stature and great physical strength. He never married. At the time the old courthouse was built, Jerry was a lime burner, and made as high as $75.00 per day. It is said, that many a time he has lit his cigar with a five-dollar bill, much to the wonder of his spectators.
Samuel Todd came to Fort Dodge in 1856 with a steam engine and sawmill machinery, the first engine used in northwestern Iowa, except a small one used by the government for sawing lumber for the fort buildings. His mill was located on the south side of town, where he operated it until 1864. He then moved it to Otho township, and there operated it until 1869, when he returned to Fort Dodge to live.
"Jack of all trades and master of none," is an old saying. This was not true, in the case of Uncle Walter Goodrich, Sr., who was jack of all trades, and master of each. Walter Goodrich came to what is now Lehigh, October 7, 1855. He was a man of exceptional ability along mechanical lines, and during his early residence here followed various occupations. As a cabinet maker and car- penter he manufactured furniture, looms, spinning wheels and wagons and built houses for the early settlers. As a blacksmith he made their tools, sharp- ened their plows and shod their horses and oxen; and as a cooper he made tubs and barrels in his shop. He also manufactured coffins and caskets and did a general undertaking business. He did some dentistry, and although he did not practice medicine he doctored his neighbors with simple remedies when they were ill. From the age of twenty-one Mr. Goodrich was a preacher and untiring worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, and attended to the spiritual wants of the people as well as their physical necessities. He christened the babies and as they grew up taught them to live; he married them when they were grown; and when death came he preached their funeral sermons and com- forted the mourning friends. His life seemed entirely devoted to others. He took considerable interest in public affairs, and at one time served as a member of the county board of supervisors. After a useful and well-spent life he passed quietly away July 7, 1901, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, eleven months and three days.
This chapter contains the names of but a few of the sturdy pioneers who helped to make Webster county what it is today. There are many others, who did their part, and did it well, yet about whom the present generation hears nothing. The greatest work is often done by the unassuming person and tlie world knows nothing of it, nor does history record its achievements.
PIONEER NURSERYMAN OF THE NORTHWEST
Mr. A. J. Haviland was the pioneer nurseryman of not only northwestern Iowa, but also of all the country beyond. His nursery was established in 1857, and for a long time was the only one in this section of Iowa. Mr. W. H. Plumb had a small orchard, and made a business of selling seedling apple trees which he
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raised himself. Mr. Haviland, however, raised and sold grafted stock. He continued in the retail business until the time of his death. His son, W. C. Haviland, under the firm name of Bardwell & Haviland continued the business. Bardwell & Haviland did an extensive business all over the United States, shipping to every state and territory. The firm had two plants, one in Hum- boldt county and the one in Webster county. The former contained four hundred acres, and was the larger of the two, the one at Fort Dodge containing only about one hundred acres.
In the early days of their business, Bardwell & Haviland had the heaviest mail of any firm doing business in Fort Dodge. At the present time Mr. W. C. Haviland is the sole owner of the nursery farm, which is known as the "Orchard Glen Fruit Farm." The nursery business, however, is carried on under the name of "Fort Dodge Nursery." The farm contains about 140 acres of orchard and small fruit, and its annual output is between ten and twenty-five cars of apples besides considerable small fruit.
At the St. Louis exposition, Mr. Haviland received a silver medal and diploma for the best barrel of Wealthy apples, and at the Omaha exposition he received the bronze medal and diploma for the best exhibit of twenty-seven varieties.
Both Mr. A. J. Haviland, and his son, Mr. W. C. Haviland have proven that Iowa and Webster county may be considered an apple and small fruit coun- try, and it is largely due to their efforts that the farmers of Webster county have become interested in the raising of fruit. Both these men have been iden- tified with the work of the State Horticultural Society, Mr. A. J. Haviland having been president of the society and also a member of the board of directors.
CHAPTER XIV
FORT DODGE SCHOOLS
"THE OLD BRICK SCHOOL-THE HIGH SCHOOL-PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS-BUSINESS COLLEGES-TOBIN COLLEGE AND ITS FOUNDER-SNITKAY PRIZE DEBATE-GOLD MEDAL CONTESTS.
The first school in Fort Dodge was taught by C. C. Carpenter, in the winter of 1854-55. It was in an old building just back of the old Wahkonsa hotel. The next winter Mr. D. A. Weller taught school in one of the government buildings. In 1856 the first school building was erected on the corner of Sec- ond avenue South and Seventh street, on what was then the corner of Locust and Sixth streets. In the early days this building was known as "the old brick" school. At that early day it was the only public building in town, and was used for holding the courts, political meetings, churches, festivals, and other affairs considered of a public nature. It was there that the two companies for the Spirit Lake expedition were organized. The first school was taught in this build- ing by Henry Gunn during the winter of 1856-1857. When the news of the Indian massacre reached Fort Dodge, school was dismissed, and the building became a shelter for the early settlers north and west of Fort Dodge, all of whom had fled here with their wives and little ones, for protection against the cruel savages, until the danger had passed and the Indians had left for their reservation farther west.
In 1869 Fort Dodge had one school building and nine teachers including the principal. The number of pupils in attendance was about 350. In 1878 there were thirteen teachers, with the principal. In 1884 there were seventeen teach- ers, not including the superintendent. The buildings at that time were the Lin- coln, Arey, West Fort Dodge (one room), and First ward (one room). During the year 1890, twenty-one teachers were employed. In 1899, there were thirty- eight teachers employed, not including the superintendent, and the buildings then in use were the Pottery, First Ward, West Fort Dodge, Arey, Wahkonsa, Lincoln, and the new high school building. The value of the school property for that year was estimated $141,000.00.
Up to the close of the school year 1897, the high school occupied the upper floor, or the third and part of the second floor of what is now the Lincoln building. In the fall of 1897 it moved into the new building. This was nearly destroyed by fire in 1907, and rebuilt in its present form the same year.
The Wahkonsa school was also destroyed by fire in February, 1912. The rapid growth of the city made more school buildings a necessity. The board, therefore. at once began the rebuilding of the Wahkonsa and also a new school
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building, the Duncombe, in the northeast part of the city. These buildings will be ready for use early in 1913. The new Wahkonsa is considerably larger than the old, and besides additional land has been purchased. In connection with the Duncombe is sufficient ground for an athletic park.
The school board for the year 1912-13 are C. F. Duncombe, president; E. H. Williams, Maurice O'Conner, J. R. Files, H. R. Beresford, S. T. Thompson, and Mack Hurlbut. The secretary of the board is J. L. Porter.
In 1875 the high school graduated three pupils, one boy and two girls, its first graduates. The total number of graduates down to and including the school year, June, 1890, a period of sixteen years, was thirty-seven boys and fifty- five girls, a total of ninety-two. From 1891 to 1898, inclusive, there were forty- three boys and eighty girls. This made the total number of graduates, up to the close of the school year 1898, two hundred and fifteen.
The German Lutheran school was organized by Rev. Godfrey Endres in 1863. The school building, erected in 1895, cost $7,500.00.
There are two Catholic parochial schools in Fort Dodge, Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart. Corpus Christi Academy was organized in 1862, while Rev. John Marsh was pastor. Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M. came from Dubuque to conduct the classes. In 1866, it was decided to discontinue the school and the sisters returned to their mother house.
In 1874 the old school building was enlarged and under the direction of the Very Rev. T. M. Lenihan a flourishing school was established. Sisters of Mercy came from New York City and made this convent their mother house. Fire destroyed the buildings and for some years the parish was without a parochial school. The present school building was erected in 1901, at a cost of $25,000.00. Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M., of Dubuque, have charge. During 1912 ten teachers were employed and the enrollment was 257.
Sacred Heart school was opened in 1902.
The Fort Dodge Business College was opened in 1912 by Professor W. B. Barger. It occupies the second floor of the Butler building. Mrs. Jule Downey- Grosenbaugh also conducts a school of shorthand and typewriting in the First National Bank building. Besides the business schools, there are a number of music and art schools in the city.
TOBIN COLLEGE AND ITS FOUNDER
1
Tobin College was founded in 1892 and was the fourth school founded by Professor Thomas Tobin, the other three being: Tilford Academy, at Vinton, Iowa; Waterloo College, at Waterloo, Iowa, and Ellsworth College, at Iowa Falls, Iowa.
Professor Tobin, who was a native of Ireland, was born August 15, 1835, and died May 27, 1900. He came to America when fourteen years of age. He did not have a chance to learn his letters until he was seventeen. But even at that age, he had the courage to set out to secure a college education, earning the necessary means himself. But so hard was the struggle, that for three months at a time, he did not have money enough to buy a postage stamp.,
After graduation, Professor Tobin resolved to make it easier for backward boys to obtain an education, and to give them a chance to secure instruction
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FORT DODGE SCHOOL BUILDINGS Lincoln-Riverside-Wahkonsa (destroyed by fire in 1912)-Arey (in 1896)
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suited to their individual needs. Accordingly, in 1870, he came to Iowa and established Tilford Academy, at Vinton. In 1885 he went to Waterloo and started Waterloo College. In 1889, he removed to Iowa Falls, where he founded Ellsworth College.
Early in the year 1892, he began corresponding with Mr. Frank Gates, Mr. Frank Farrell, and others, concerning the establishment of a college in Fort Dodge. Satisfactory arrangements having been made, Professor Tobin moved his family here in April of the same year, and work on the college was started. The property for the college site was purchased from Mrs. Sarah Dwelle, the widow of the last landlord of the old St. Charles hotel. This property included the hotel and a quarter of a block of ground on the corner of First avenue North and Seventh street. While the college building was not completely finished, yet school began on the second Monday in September, 1892.
The new college began without a name. A week or so after it opened, Pro- fessor Tobin was invited by some friends to spend the day in the woods. While he was gone, the teachers and students took matters into their own hands, called a meeting, and by a unanimous vote, christened the new college, "Tobin," in recognition of the work he had done for the cause of education through the founding of so many colleges.
The formal dedication of the building did not take place until the last of October, 1892. The dedicatory exercises consisted of an afternoon and even- ing program. At these programs, congratulatory addresses were made by prominent business men of the city; also by Rev. William Randall, pastor of the Baptist church at Iowa Falls, and Rev. F. E. Eldredge, state Sunday school missionary of the Baptist church, both of whom were very close friends of Professor Tobin.
The enrollment of the first term numbered about fifty. At the opening of the winter term, many of the country boys came in, and the enrollment reached the one hundred mark. The boarding department, the first fall, numbered about twenty. In the winter this number increased to forty. This department was carried on in the old St. Charles, the kitchen and dining rooms of the college building not being finished until 1893. The faculty the first year numbered nine. Professor Tobin taught general history, which was his favorite subject, and gave the rest of his time to the supervision of the school. Professor J. F. Monk had charge of the stenography department and taught the languages. Mrs. J. F. Monk and Miss Mable Allison taught the normal branches. Professor B. T. Green taught the sciences and mathematics and had charge of the com- mercial department. The music department was under the direction of Pro- fessor W. V. Jones and his daughter, Miss Gertrude Jones. Miss Amelia Golds- worthy had charge of the art department.
The first class graduated in June, 1893, and was composed of thirteen mem- bers from the commercial and stenographic departments. Those from the com- mercial department were: J. Oscar Ahlberg, Otto L. Boehm, Walter M. Boehm, Edwin Brickson, Nora Lenihan, Benjamin F. McNeil, Charles R. Peterson, Jennie M. Slate. The stenography class included: Jurgen N. Anderson, Ella W. Beach, Annie G. Fahey, Lizzie E. Harvison and Bessie B. Norton. The first normal class graduated in 1894, and consisted of Jessie V. Cox and Ida M. Prink.
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In 1893, Professor Tobin made a contract with Messrs. Green and Monk, by which they were to take charge of the school, buying it from him. But the hard times in 1893-94 so cut down the attendance, that they were unable to make their payments, and Professor Tobin again assumed active control in the fall of 1894. Professor Monk remained on the college faculty, but Pro- fessor Green followed his natural inclination and studied medicine.
During the school year 1894-95, the two literary societies, the Philomathean and the Amphycton, were established. The societies have remained in existence ever since. The Snitkay Debate Prize has had much to do in stimulating the interest in debate. This prize is offered by Dr. C. J. Snitkay, an alumnus of the class of '97, and his wife, Mrs. Emma Monk Snitkay, an alumnus of the class of '95. The society winning the contest in debate is given a prize of $10.00. This prize money has always been used by the societies for the benefit of the school. It was in declamatory work, the teaching of young men and women to think and talk upon their feet, that Professor Tobin was especially interested. To this work he gave freely both of his time and of his zeal. Many of the older students of the college remember how night after night, he sat in the rear of the chapel, criticising and commending, but always urging onward his students. And the present success of many of the alumni is due in a large measure to the training of Professor Tobin. His interest was such that he never missed a program of the literary societies, nor any program in which his students took part. His enthusiasm and interest was so genuine and from the heart that it engendered a longing for success in his pupils.
The first declamatory contest of the college was held in the year 1893, and was won by. Miss June McNeil, now Mrs. Kusterer, of Moorland.
In the year 1896, the first of the present series of gold medal contests was held. These contests, held annually, provide for three prizes: A gold medal to the winner; a silver medal to the one winning second place, and a souvenir spoon of the college to the one winning third place. The medals have been the gifts of various persons, who have thus shown their interest in the work of the college. The spoon has always been the gift of the college management. The contest is usually held the last Friday evening in March. A system of preliminary contests held each term leads to the selection for the closing con- test in the third term. There are three contestants chosen each term, thius making nine for the finals.
The honors in the contests since their beginning, together with the donors of the medal are as follows :
Year Winner
1896 R. G. Tobin.
1897 George E. Q. Johnson.
1898 Mrs. Nora Haviland-Moore.
1899 M. J. Fitzpatrick.
1900 Otto V. Bowman.
Mr. J. B. Butler. Hon. O. M. Oleson.
1901 Miss Edith Bird.
1902 E. E. Cavanaugh.
Captain S. J. Bennett.
1903 Miss Ethel Jondrea11.
1904 James A. Martin.
Donor Professor T. Tobin.
Mr. Isaac Garmoe.
Hon. John F. Duncombe.
Mr. J. F. Carter.
Mr. M. F. Healy. Mr. J. G. Early.
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GERMAN LUTHERAN SCHOOL, FORT DODGE Built in 1895
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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1905
Francis Murphy.
Messrs. Monk & Findlay.
1906 Miss Eva Southwick.
Mrs. Julie Haskell-Oleson.
1907 Miss Ellen Schmoker.
Messrs. Monk & Findlay.
Mr. H. M. Pratt.
1909 William Ryberg.
1910 Miss Christine Brown.
19II Miss Myrtle Tullar.
Mrs. Margaret Tobin-Pratt.
1912 D. L. Rhodes .*
Mr. John S. Heffner.
Perhaps no school of its size has as strong an alumni association as Tobin College. This association was organized in 1895 and now numbers over three hundred. A unique feature of the Tobin College Alumni Association is the alumni fund. This fund was started in 1899 by Professor Tobin, its purpose being "for the aid of worthy students in their efforts to gain an education."
In 1899, Professor Tobin sold the college to Messrs. Monk and Findlay, who have carried on the work along the lines originally laid down. The col- lege has continued to prosper and grow until now the annual enrollment num- bers about four hundred.
With the lives of such men as Professor Tobin, Professor Monk and Pro- fessor Findlay dedicated to its service, Tobin College could not help but be the source of blessing it is to the community and to the young people who have attended it.
* D. L. Rhodes and Miss Mildred Sperry tied for first place, and on drawing lots the honors went to Mr. Rhodes.
1908 Leon W. Powers.
Mr. H. D. Beresford.
Mr. Charles Iles.
CHAPTER XV
FORT DODGE CHURCHES
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL-ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL-THE FIRST CONGREGA- TIONAL-EARLY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WEBSTER COUNTY-PRESBYTERIAN- CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST-RIVERSIDE METIIODIST-CIIRISTIAN SCIENCE- FIRST GERMAN METHODIST-GERMAN EVANGELICAL-ST. PAUL'S GERMAN LUTHERAN-ST. OLAF'S NORWEGIAN-SWEDISH MISSION-FIRST SWEDISH LUTH- ERAN-SWEDISH BETHLEHEM- SALVATION ARMY-Y. M. & Y. W. C. A .- WEBSTER COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI
The first Methodist sermon ever preached on Iowa soil was by Rev. Barton Randall, in what is now the city of Dubuque, November 16, 1833. This sermon was preached at Harrison's Tavern in the village of Dubuque in Iowa territory. The next year a class was organized and the erection of a church was begun.
In the hospital tent of the garrison, at Fort Dodge, in the fall of 1851, gath- ered the first congregation to hear the word of God in this place. The tent was pitched just west of where James B. Williams afterwards lived. The congregation consisted principally of soldiers, a few carpenters in the employ of the post, and a few trappers and frontiersmen. The meeting lasted three days and was con- ducted by Rev. J. A. Burleigh, a Methodist minister, who afterwards became a member of the Des Moines conference.
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