USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 32
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The prices of grain and live stock went up to a point which aroused the country for miles around. Grain and hogs began to pour into Gowrie from the territory of neighboring towns, even from Moorland, Otho, Lohrville, Dayton and Dana. Competitors of the Gowrie company suddenly realized that under some conditions smaller margins of profit were desirable; and of course met the prices of the new company. In some cases they even tried to "out-Caesar Caesar." It was evident that this condition could not long exist. Farmers would not long continue to haul their products a distance of twelve, fifteen, or eighteen miles. `Yet for some time they continued to come to Gowrie, in order that they might get a piece of the supposed plunder, which was expected to result from the predicted failure of the Gowrie company. Notwithstanding the industrious cir- culation of false reports concerning the business of the company on the part of its competitors (and those who were fearful that they might become compet- itors), the Gowrie company did not fail. What was more, after some months had elapsed, it became evident, that the Gowrie company would not fail. Wonder and amazement, coupled with an admiration for the astuteness, as well as the business acumen displayed by the Gowrie farmers, caused them to forget their desire to get a piece of the Gowrie farmer's money; and they began to bestir themselves to save some of their own, in their own community.
The activities of the old grain combine in lowa, are quite well known. Ac- cording to sworn testimony, secured at the hearings of the Interstate Commerce Commission, a committee of twenty or less of their members met in Des Moines each week and fixed the price to be paid the farmers, for their produce. The workings of this committee are sufficiently familiar to the farmers, so that it is unnecessary to go into details. It should be remembered however, that if the success of the farmers at Gowrie had aroused the farmers of the state, that it was at this point that the combine began with redoubled energy their efforts to close the terminal markets to farmers' companies as they had effectually suc- ceeded in shutting the individual farmer out of that market.
While every one knows of the famous boycott, yet it may be of interest to know just how this was accomplished. Each day the competitor of the farmers' company would take the numbers and initials of the cars loaded by the company, and report the same to the secretary at Des Moines, together with the billing which he had secured from the agent of the railways. Note the great friend- liness of the railroads for the dear farmer at that time, and compare it to present
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day methods, when the railroads send out corn specials, oat specials, dairy spe- cials, good roads specials and even good pork trains. We conclude that at least they sohuld be authority on pork. The secretary upon receipt of the information would notify the commission firm in Chicago, or other terminal market, of the shipment giving car number and date of billing: and at the same time advise the firm to which the grain had been shipped, that it would be to their interest not to receive grain from these so called irregular shippers. Usually the commission firm so notified appeared to be honored by such notice, and would at once agree to lend their aid in suppressing such irregular shipments. For their trouble the firm would be placed in good standing with the combine. This arrangement was an admirable one. The only trouble with it was, that it did not work, or at least it did not work long. There were some firms in the terminal markets, who re- fused to be coerced or bullied. By common consent as much as from necessity the farmers' companies began to send nearly all of their business to these firms. This caused the attempted boycott to fail. The rapidly growing business of farmers' companies is now the choice morsel for which all commission firms are striving.
In addition to these difficulties, all of which were successfully overcome by the Gowrie company, the hardest fight was still to come. The allied grain, lum- ber and coal combines sought to disrupt the company by forcing their way to the inside. Through a puppet, picked up in Minneapolis, they secured by pur- chase some of the stock of the company from a member who had moved away. They then made the Gowrie company defendant in a suit at law. to force a transfer of the stock and an examination of the books. The trial of this case in the district court of Webster county was a drawn battle. The court refused to grant them the right to examine the books, although ordering a transfer of the stock. In the decree the court unmercifully scored the methods which the allies were using. The Gowrie company appealed the case to the supreme court, and after months secured a decision which was a sweeping victory, and which denounced the plaintiff as being the puppet of a conspiracy of which local com- petitors were a part.
It will always be a pleasing reflection to the writer, to recall the fact, that the plaintiffs could not secure a reputable attorney in Webster county to conduct their case, and that they were compelled to go to Des Moines to secure legal counsel. The case of the farmers was conducted and won by capable members of the Fort Dodge Bar: and I shall always believe that they fought this case, not for the fees, but in the cause of righteousness and justice.
It is a significant fact, that Webster county citizens have not only been more active in the building up of the co-operative cause than those of any other county of the state; but that the atmosphere in the county has always been one of sym- pathy and helpfulness. While other leading newspapers of the state were using their columns in an effort to discredit the movement, those of Webster county gave much space to encourage the movement. The conventions of the State Association which have been held in Fort Dodge have always been the best at- tended and the most profitable to the membership.
The towns of the county where successful co-operation is practiced by or- ganized effort are: Gowrie, Dayton, Harcourt, Lanyon, Otho, Callender, Moor- land. Roclyn. Barnum. Clare. Duncombe, Lehigh, Roberts, Crooks, Badges and
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Industry. This includes all of the trading points in the county except Vincent and Fort Dodge.
Webster county has in the past furnished a number of efficient officers to the State Association, among whom should be especially mentioned J. W. Hagans, who for years has served as vice-president, and H. C. Stoughton of Dayton and Olaf Hanson of Gowrie, who have both served as directors.
GOWRIE CO-OPERATIVE CREAMERY AND ICE FACTORY
The Gowrie Co-Operative Creamery and Ice Factory was opened for business December 2, 1911. At the opening a large number of farmers were present and listened to addresses by Professor M. Mortensen of the dairy department of the Iowa State College and also Professor J. B. Davidson of the engineering de- partment of the same institution, and by G. H. Teller, assistant state dairy com- missioner. The organization of the creamery company was largely due to the efforts of the Gowrie Commercial Club. A soliciting committee consisting of E. E. Renquist and Swan Carlson started out to raise a fund of $6,000 with which to build a creamery plant. The proposition met with such favor that $8,000 worth of stock was finally sold. Professor Mortensen and Professor Davidson assisted the committee in the matter of organization and building. The building itself is a substantial brick and hollow block structure forty by sixty with large brick smokestack fifty-two feet high. The machinery within the building is of the most improved and modern type.
While the opening date was Saturday, the actual business of the plant did not begin until the following Monday, December 4.
On the first day thirty-five farmers brought in cream, Oscar H. Swenson being the first one. The total amount of cream the first day was 1,275 pounds, which tested 471 pounds of butter fat.
THE COUNTRY LIFE CLUB OF LOST GROVE TOWNSHIP
The Country Life Club of Lost Grove township was organized December 20, 1908, by some of the Lost Grove farmers, who realized that there was not enough of the social feature in the life of the farmers of their community. Article II, of the constitution of the club, gives the purpose of the organization to be "for the mutual improvement, entertainment and social intercourse of its members, to encourage a greater love for home life on the farm, to advance the interest of the farmer educationally, socially and financially, to study the im- provement of the home, of farm conditions, and to further methods of scientific agriculture.'
The membership of the club is restricted to farmers, and their families, who are engaged directly or indirectly in the production of grain and livestock. The officers of the club since its organiaztion have been as follows :
1909-Paul Nelson, president ; A. E. Peterson, secretary.
1910-Martin E. Youngdale, president : Alfred Blomquist, secretary.
1911-Paul Nelson, president ; Alfred Blomquist, secretary.
1912-Paul Nelson, president ; Lloyd Johnson, secretary.
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The club holds both regular and special meetings. The regular meetings are held once a month at the home of some member. The program at these gather- ings consists of literary and musical numbers, athletic events or a social time, and the serving of refreshments. The special meetings sometimes take the form of a general picnic, at other times that of a business session. During the existence of the club three farmers' picnics have been held. These have all been in the country, and have had a large attendance of the people of the community. At the regular and special meetings of the club there have been twelve lecturers from the extension department of the Iowa State College. Eachi one of these lecturers has been a specialist in the particular branch which he represented.
In the early part of the year 1912, the club helped to organize the Harcourt Corn Association. This organization conducted its first farm product and rural school exhibition in February, 1912. At each annual exhibition of this associa- tion, the club members compete for a $54 silver trophy, which they have put up for a little friendly rivalry among themselves. This cup is awarded for the best ten ears of corn grown and exhibited by a club member ; and in order to become the permanent property of any individual, it must be won three successive years.
The Country Life Club has fostered a spirit of fellowship among its mem- bers; and has engendered a general feeling of good will in the community to- wards the club in its efforts for a better and more wholesome rural life.
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CHAPTER XXIV
THE TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS
WEBSTER COUNTY TOWNSHIPS-THE E. S GEYER HISTORY OF EARLY DAYTON-THE OTHIO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH- THE W. C. 61-65 SOCIETY-THE WEBSTER COUNTY TOWNS AND VILLAGES-MAYOR SORBER'S MARRIAGE ORDINANCE-THE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS-A MUNICIPALLY OWNED OPERA HOUSE-SOME NEARLY FORGOTTEN TOWNS.
BADGER TOWNSHIP
Badger township was first organized October 10, 1865, and was given its present boundaries October 14, 1873. Ole Nelson was the first justice of the peace. The first settler was Stephen Maher, who settled on section 19, in the spring of 1856. The first school organized in the township was taught by Miss Susan Calligan in 1862, in the granary of M. Mitchell.
BURNSIDE TOWNSHIP
On June 15, 1886, a petition signed by A. W. Alsever, John Woodard, W. A. Anderson, I. Henderson, A. Graves, H. C. Kinney, L. Smith, A. H. Ander- son, R. V. Manchester, George S. Anderson, John Hammerly, C. E. Brown, and fifty-nine others, was presented to the board of supervisors asking for the division of Sumner township, and the organization of a new township. Accom- panying the petition was an affidavit that the petitioners were all legal voters. The affidavit was made by A. W. Alsever, E. A. Scott, and P. G. Manchester, and was sworn to before J. G. Durrell, justice of the peace. According to the affidavit of publication, signed by A. W. Alsever, the notice was legally pub- lished in the Lehigh Valley Echo, May 28, 1886, and June 24, 1886. The first election was held November 2, 1886, and J. W. Tennant was chosen clerk, and Joel Clark, justice of the peace. This was the last township organized in Webster county.
COOPER TOWNSHIP
Cooper township was organized September 6, 1877, in accordance with a petition signed by J. B. Haviland and others. The first election was held October 9, 1877, at Reilly schoolhouse. Fred Hess was elected the first clerk and justice of the peace, defeating W. E. Haviland by two votes. At the sug- gestion of Mr. Hess, the township was named in honor of Peter Cooper, who was a candidate for the presidency the year before the township was established.
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COLFAX TOWNSHIP
Colfax township was organized November 5, 1872, and named after Hon. Schuyler Colfax. This first election was held at the Kelley schoolhouse. The first school was taught by Miss May Keltz in 1871, at her father's house. In 1876, there were about thirty-eight families and forty-nine voters in the town- ship. Henry E. Kelley was the first settler.
CLAY TOWNSHIP
Clay township was organized November 5. 1872, and was named after Henry Clay. The first election was held at the home of Samuel Atherton. F. B. Drake was elected clerk and justice of the peace. Mr. Drake was also the first settler in the township, coming in the fall of 1867. At that time there was no settlement west of Mr. Drake until Sioux City. Mr. Hatvedt was the next settler. The first school was taught by Luther W. Hulburd. In the winter of 1871 and 1872 he had a class of twelve scholars. A Sabbath school was organized in 1872. In the fall of 1875, the Methodist Episcopal church was established with a membership of seven. In 1876 the population was estimated as forty-six families.
DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP
The township of Deer Creek was organized by an order of the board of supervisors, October 10, 1865, and the first election was held in the Long school- house. The name was taken from the stream of water flowing through the township. Charles Long was chosen the first clerk and justice of the peace. At this election twenty-four votes were cast for the office of supervisor, of which Daniel W. Prindle received twenty-three votes. The first settler in the township was Daniel W. Prindle, who built his cabin in March, 1855.
Miss Helen Gardner taught the first school during the year 1862, in a log cabin on section 26.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP
Douglas township was organized March 3. 1857, and was named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas. The first records of Douglas township are as follows : "By notice of W. N. Meservey, county judge of Webster county, Iowa, there was an election held in Douglas township * on the first Monday of April, A. D. 1857. at the house of Thomas Jackson, when the following officers were chosen for said township: Trustees. William Snodgrass, Stephen Powers. and Jesse Baldwin: township clerk, Richard Vancleave; justices of the peace, John P. Vancleave and James Walker ; constables, Hamilton Snodgrass and Jacob Williams: road supervisor, Stephen Powers.
"Attest, Richard Vancleave, clerk."
At a special election held March 22, 1858, it was decided that future elec- tions should be held at Lumpkin's schoolhouse.
At a regular meeting of the township trustees held April 9. 1860, a resolu- tion was passed fixing the compensation for road work, at $1.00 for eight hours' labor of man or team. Five years later the trustees increased this to $1.50.
SWEDISH MISSION CHURCH, DAYTON
PUBLIC SCHOOL. DAYTON
COMMERCIAL HOUSE, DAYTON
SWEDISH LUTHERAN LEAGUE CHAPEL. DAYTON
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The first settler in the township was E. H. Albee, who came in 1854, and who the next year sold his claim to Lorenzo S. Coffin. The first school was taught in 1856. by W. C. Ainsworth, in what was known as the Lumpkin's schoolhouse.
DAYTON TOWNSHIP
By E. S. Geyer*
Dayton township is in the south tier of townships of Webster county, and includes in its boundaries all of township 96, range 27, lying west of the Des Moines river, and all of township 86, range 28, making one and a half con- gressional townships.
The east part of the township along the river is somewhat broken. The bluffs and river bottoms are covered with timber, consisting of black walnut, white and burr oak, hard and soft maple, cottonwood, elm, etc., and is believed to be underlaid with coal.
The balance of the township is high, rolling prairie, with a deep, rich, black soil or loam, and is drained by numerous ravines or creeks, of which Skillet creek is the largest ( so named, tradition has it, by some trappers in an early day, who while hunting, found a skillet on the banks of the creek, hence the name Skillet creek), running from the northwest part of the township through about the center, thence east to the Des Moines river, draining nearly the entire township.
During the first settlements, the immigrants mostly settled in or near the timber, very few venturing out upon the prairie. But as the settlers increased they began to venture out.
In the summer of 1856, Benjamin F. Allison, now of Grand Junction, but then living in Sumner township, north of here, started a saw mill on section 16, where Mr. Atkinson's mill now stands, which supplied the early settlers with lumber.
In November. 1856, Mr. Allison laid off the town of Dayton, and in the spring of 1857 laid the foundation of the first house in Dayton. The foundation was laid on a large snow drift on the lot where now stands the Dayton house. The house was planked up and covered with cottonwood lumber. The build- ing was one story, 16x28 feet, and was divided into two rooms. Mr. Allison moved his family into one of the rooms and operated a store in the other part of the house, it being the first house and first store in Dayton. The goods were hauled then from Keokuk by ox teams, and it took from four to six weeks to make a trip there and back, there being no railroads as now. Teamsters camped out during journeys.
Several families settled in Dayton during the summer of 1857 and 1858. In the summer of 1858. Dayton township was organized ; up to this time all the territory west of the Des Moines river was called Yell township.
At the election held in October. 1858. being the first election after the organization of the township, the following persons were elected: Alexander
* Pioneer hardware merchant and business man of Dayton, published in the first edition of the Dayton Review, May 2, 1879.
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Dowd, Jr., and G. T. Richey, justices of the peace; W. O. Gardner and J. R. Line, constables; E. S. Geyer, township clerk; G. T. Richey, Alpha Gardner and Amaziah Beeson, trustees; A. J. Allen. J. R. Line and John Hedien, road supervisors.
The first schoolhouse was built in Dayton in the summer of 1857. The school officers were: John Hedien, president; B. F. Allison, secretary, and Amaziah Beeson, treasurer.
Charles Gustafson and Gustus Ruston were the carpenters who built the house and received $265.00 for the job.
In the fall of 1856 the mail route was established on the west side of the river from Fort Dodge to Des Moines and a postoffice established at Dayton, but at that time there was another Dayton in the state and the department attached the word "West" to Dayton, making the postoffice West Dayton, and appointed John Baker postmaster. Up to this time the settlers on the west side of the river got all their mail matter at Homer, now in Hamilton county. The writer has a number of times carried the papers and letters over here from Homer for all the settlers on this side of the river, and distributed them around at the settlements.
Every settler that moved in was a neighbor, regardless of distance or where they came from. If you would want to find true hospitality, take the first pioneers of a new country; they know how to sympathize with each other. A great portion of them have left a comfortable home and friends with the object of getting more land and of bettering their own condition. But coming west in those days tried men as nothing else could. How many have gone to bed both sad at heart and hungry, not knowing where the morning's meal was to come from! Many a meal has been made on nothing but corn bread and corn coffee. Well does the writer remember, in coming from Fort Dodge he called at a house for something to eat. The man was sick in bed. What they had to eat was as free as water, but all they had to eat was corn bread and corn coffee, and a little syrup they had made from some maple trees that stood near the house. Many families took their meals straight without the syrup. There was some game, but the winter of 1856-57 the deer died of starvation, owing to the depth of the snow, and the hard crust that formed on it was hard enough to carry a man, but not hard enough to carry a deer, so they could not travel. Still, among all the privations of pioneer life, there were many bright and cheering spots.
The first school in Dayton was taught by a Miss Kinney.
In October, 1858, Dayton township was organized as an independent school district, Alpha Gardner, president; E. S. Geyer, secretary. The schoolhouses in G. T. Richey's district and D. McLaughlin's district were built in 1859. Both houses were in the east part of the township, near the timber. In 1868, five schoolhouses were built, and soon after, three more. In 1870, the first church building was built by the Swedish Methodists.
In 1865, Gracey & Lozier started a store in Dayton, there being no store here for a number of years, Mr. Allison's store having failed. Thus, we see, by the depreciation of property and hard times from 1857 to 1865, Dayton like most other new settlements, suffered in proportion; farmers became dis-
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ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, CLARE
HART CABIN, OTHO TOWNSHIP
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couraged and all business dull. Since then there has been a gradual improve- ment, but not as rapid as some places.
Today Dayton township stands at the head of the townships of Webster county. It has more land under cultivation than any other township in the county. It is dotted all over with farms and comfortable homes. It has numerous schoolhouses, furnished with patent seats and desks and other neces- sary comforts. The schoolhouse in the village of Dayton is a two-story build- ing, and one of the best houses outside of Fort Dodge. The town has two church buildings, the largest built by the Swedish Lutherans, with a seating capacity of about five hundred persons, and is the best furnished of any church in the county outside of Fort Dodge. Rev. C. A. Hemborg is the present pastor. They also have a very neat parsonage close by the church. This society was organized in 1862. The other church, built by the Swedish Methodists, is well finished, and will seat about four hundred people; has a bell that rings forth the welcome news that all my come and worship Him, the Giver of all good. They, also, have a neat parsonage close to the church. Rev. J. A. Lindquist is pastor. This is the oldest religious organization, having been formed in 1857. The American Methodists, organized in 1858, have no_church building, but worship in the schoolhouse. They have a parsonage, the first one built in Dayton. Rev. E. C. Hill is pastor. The Baptists have an organization, formed in 1865. but at present no minister.
The Odd Fellows have an organization here, called Dayton Lodge, No. 376, S. E. LeValley, noble grand; A. W. Garlock, vice grand, and S. J. Lindroth, secretary.
The Ladies' Library Association consists of Mrs. L. A. Simmons, president ; Miss Hattie Gabrielson, vice president ; Mrs. E. S. Geyer, secretary, and Mrs. W. A. Curtis, treasurer and librarian. They have quite a large number of volumes in the library at present. Among the businesses of Dayton is one hotel, the Dayton house, E. S. Geyer, proprietor; two dry goods and grocery stores, one kept by Burnquist Bros., and the other by Peterson & Nelson; and two drug stores, by Prindle & Hutchison, and Gardner & Garlock; one hardware and agricultural implement store, kept by E. S. Geyer; two millinery stores, one by Mrs. A. W. Garlock, and the other by Mrs. P. W. Goltry ; one furniture store, kept by Swanstrom & Company; one wagon shop by D. Morton; one paint shop, F. S. Bowman; three blacksmith and repair shops, kept by William Poulson, S. J. Lindholm and O. Shold & Son; one tailor shop, by J. Lundien ; one boot and shoe store, by Larson & Houskin ; two boot and shoe repair shops, one Larson & Houskin, and one G. Holmberg; one meat market and saloon, P. W. Brundien, proprietor ; one grist mill, A. Bithner, miller ; four doctors, to-wit: C. L. Warner, A. W. Garlock, J. N. Page and J. G. Tapper ; justices of the peace, Otto Lobeck and J. A. Lindberg; constables, W. A. Gardner and P. W. Brundien; trustees, L. Erickson, J. L. Kinney and S. Nordstrum ; town clerk, C. O. Lobeck; notaries public. J. A. Lindberg and E. S. Geyer.
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