USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 34
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S. M. Jones and M. S. Bowman came from Vinton to Hamp- ton early in 1859 for the purpose of establishing a newspaper, which they founded and named the Franklin Record. The home of this initial paper was on Fifth street, where the Baptist Church now stands, in a little frame building containing one room and that un- plastered.
In 1859, James Thompson erected a small frame building just east of where the Methodist Church now stands. It was 24x36 feet in size and was built almost entirely of native timber, sawed here, and finished with black walnut.
A schoolhouse was erected by F. A. Denton and E. A. Evans in 1859. It was 24x36 feet in size and here not only gathered teacher and pupils, but the building was also used for religious meetings, dances and everything else. That same year Rev. John Gilliland built a home on Reeve street, which was afterward known as the old A. Gillett house.
D. W. Dow, still living in Hampton, came here in 1859. He bought the Steve Jones printing office building, put it on a sled and moved it to another part of the town. After some remodeling
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it was used by N. B. Chapman as a law office and residence. Mr. Dow boarded a year with Chapman and that winter taught school. The house afterwards became the residence of G. M. Spencer.
Tracey Beed early in 1859 put up a double log house, just west of where the Congregational Church now stands. The first grand jury empaneled in Franklin county met in this building. J. I. Popejoy was the foreman, and J. T. McCormick clerk.
Norman Lisk erected a building just south of Thompson's store in 1859 and during the same year John Harlan built a log house and two other similar structures were built by other parties.
In 1859 W. G. Beed built a residence on the corner of Reeve and Third streets. A log house was moved in from the country, remodeled and became the home of George Beed. M. Dodge built a home in 1859 south of the Hampton House, on the opposite side of the street, and about 1860 there were probably twenty buildings of various kinds in the town, and about eighty people. The male mem- bers of the community were: James Thompson, F. J. Geiger, James T. McCormick, George Beed, D. W. Dow, I. N. Dodd, A. J. Can- nam, Chauncey Gillett, Charles De Lamater, O. F. Kitchell, Perry Hoyt, I. M. White, I. Justus, Jacob Shideler, Thomas Shideler, G. W. Eckley, W. N. Davidson, Isaac Jones, J. D. and G. W. Thompson, A. Gillett, Rev. John Gilliland, Norman Lisk, S. H. Vankirk, John E. Boyles, J. T. Stearns, Dr. J. S. Hurd, R. F. Piatt, Job Garner, T. T. Rawson, S. M. Jones, Russell Freed, Jack Newell, Charles Noll, Riley Howe, Judge A. North, Lee and C. Sharpe, James Vanhorn, Mr. Kohlhoff, F. M. Rother, Judson Knapp, John Harlan and J. H. Van Nuys.
From 1860 to 1865 Hampton grew but very little. It was the period of the war and many of the able-bodied men were at the front fighting for their country. Immigration had practically ceased. Money was scarce and business stagnant. At one time there was not a store in the place but after the war was over a change for the better began to be observed and from that time on Hampton grew and prospered.
In 1861 A. G. Walker and John Nixon opened a general store in the old James Thompson building but not successful in bringing trade to the doors, they soon went out of business.
The same year Nial McDonald established a general mercantile store in the building on the corner of Fourth and Reeve, formerly occupied by the Carpenter Brothers. They also soon had to quit.
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J. T. Stearns and S. M. Jones put up a frame building 22x36 feet on the site afterwards occupied by the National Bank building. The structure was afterwards moved near the Hampton House.
The firm of Kohlhoff & Rother opened a brick yard north of the bridge in 1861.
Of the merchants who established themselves here since the decade already noticed mention will now be made. Isaac Robin- son located in Hampton in 1869, when he bought one of the two stores then existing in Hampton, became very successful and ac- quired a large amount of property. He died several years ago but his sons are following in his footsteps, being energetic, conservative and thrifty business men.
W. J. Stonebraker began his business career in Hampton in 1872. He was a successful merchant, devoted to his town. He served as postmaster under Cleveland's last administration. Mr. Stonebraker passed away in February, 1909.
The firm of Stearns & Finch were at the head of the first hard- ware store established in Hampton. This concern carried on busi- ness in a building erected near the Beed house in 1867. The firm dissolved in 1869 and J. T. Stearns, the senior member, took into partnership Austin North, the firm name becoming Stearns & North. This association of interests continued three years, when it was succeeded by the firm of Miner & Max, then came Beebe & Nye, and later R. J. Nye conducted business alone in a building located in the Empire block.
I. F. White erected a building in 1872 just west of the Franklin County Bank, in which he installed a stock of hardware, the second store of the kind to be established in Hampton. White eventually sold to Charles Schabacker, who carried on the business in a building erected by himself and S. M. Jones.
Charles Beed bought a stock of hardware from J. D. Parks, in 1876, and carried on the business. Mr. Beed was born in England, emigrated to the United States in 1857 and soon afterwards settled on a farm in Franklin county, where he remained until 1873 and then moved to Hampton, where he still lives.
Charles Schabacker was born in Germany, came to the United States when seventeen years of age and located at Galena, Illinois, there learning the blacksmith's trade. He arrived in Hampton in 1876 and entered into the hardware business. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1893.
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The firm of Gold, Baum & Company was first to open an ex- clusive dry-goods store, which began business in 1882, in a building owned by Mary Murphy.
The first clothing store in Hampton was opened by Henry and Jonas Schlesinger, in a building owned by E. A. Norton. The Schlesinger clothing establishment is still in business and is managed by Sam and S. W. Schlesinger, sons of Jonas Schlesinger.
The firm of Grinnell & Ives opened the second clothing store in a building where the State Savings Bank was later erected. The successor to this firm was Henry Osborne, who in turn sold to Capt. R. S. Benson. The stock of goods bought by Captain Benson was finally moved to Clear Lake.
Frank Speicher & Company opened a clothing store in the Em- pire block in 1879.
The first exclusive grocery in Hampton was opened in 1867 by Josiah Phelps, who afterwards took in O. F. Sweet as partner. Mr. Phelps sold his interest to O. F. Sweet, who in course of time moved his stock of goods to a brick building on the corner of Third and Reeve streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1910.
A. Cowan opened the second grocery store in 1868 in a building erected by himself. He continued in business until 1880, when he sold out to J. R. Medley.
The firm of Carbaugh & White opened a grocery in 1870 in a building which stood on the site of the present Franklin County Bank. They retired from business in 1872.
Nathan Parker had a grocery store in Hampton in 1878 in a room adjoining the Franklin County Bank.
Phelps Brothers opened their grocery in 1880 in the Beed block.
In 1882 Frank Devault established a grocery business in the Empire block and the same year sold to the firm of Farmer & Hoxie.
Since then numerous groceries have been established in Hamp- ton and many of them have vanished also.
Oney Foster Sweet, one of the pioneer grocers, came to Hamp- ton in 1869. He was a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Sweet married Helen M. Coon in 1869, and one of his sons, Oney Fred Sweet, is now one of the noted feature writers for the Chicago Tribune.
Josiah Phelps, one of the early grocers, came to Iowa from Ohio in 1843. He served in the Civil war and in 1869 located in Hamp- ton and engaged in the grocery business.
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Matthew Parker, another of the first grocery merchants, was born in Barnstable county, Massachusetts, and at fifteen made two trips on a whaler. He dug gold in California in the '50s and in 1878 began business in Hampton.
Dr. O. B. Harriman started the first drug store in Hampton in 1870 in a building on Main street east of the courthouse square. Before the end of the decade he built the Harriman block on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, then one of the most imposing structures in Hampton. The upper floor was fitted up for a hall and the block itself is still known as Harriman's Opera Hall.
U. Weeks established in 1867 the first furniture store in Hamp- ton. He carried on business in a building which stood near the Harriman Opera Hall block, finally destroyed by fire.
The firm of Murphy & Johnson established the second furniture store in the old Murphy building.
A. J. Cannam and H. Osborne opened a furniture store in 1879 in the northwest corner room of the Harriman block. Cannam sold to Osborne, who erected the first building south of the Empire block. Here he installed his goods and soon afterward the firm became Os- borne & Bell.
G. M. Spencer was the pioneer dealer in boots and shoes. He opened a store in the Mckenzie building in 1870. Frank Snyder was the next. Then came Cyrus Roberts, F. L. Faatz, Frank Wire and several others.
Mrs. Clara Davidson was the pioneer milliner of Hampton. She started a business at her residence and afterwards opened a store in the Harriman Opera House block.
The firm of Hoffman & Heckel started the first barber shop in Hampton. Then came John Buckingham, now a resident of Wash- ington. One of the early proprietors of the tonsorial art is still in business. His name is Frank Bailey.
Lewis Worth was the first jeweler to locate in Hampton, coming in 1871 and opening a stock of goods in the William Raymond build- ing. He afterwards removed to the Empire block. He has had numerous successors, among whom were Benjamin Illingsworth, Sam E. Hall and Fred W. Sweet.
H. D. Williams about this time opened the first restaurant and confectionery establishment in Hampton in a building he put up for the purpose.
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Charles Rogers was the first baker and G. H. Brock kept the first book and stationery store.
A. R. Carter came to Franklin county in 1862 but only remained a year and returned in 1874 and a few years afterward opened a book and music store.
Kratochvil & Ott established the first cigar manufactory and cigar and tobacco store in Hampton. Mr. Kratochvil is still in business and has figured quite largely in local public affairs and has served as mayor of the town three terms.
John Lambert & Son began to make wagons in Hampton in 1861. They were the pioneers in the business. The second was Spencer Coon, who came in 1867. Then came J. C. Inman, S. S. Coon, C. S. Hobbie, Lloyd Hamilton, E. F. Smith and others.
James Thompson prepared and opened the first set of abstract books in Franklin county. The books eventually came into the pos- session of T. C. Mckenzie, then C. S. Guilford had a set of abstract books, also King, King & Street. There are several now in busi- ness, which seems to be more than well divided.
J. T. Stearns was the first insurance agent. G. G. Clemmer was a close second. Others of the early members to engage in this busi- ness were Taylor & Evans, King, King & Street and C. S. Guilford.
Among the early draymen was W. H. Morrison, who commenced hauling goods for pay in 1883. Among his immediate followers were J. W. Stalker, T. Freeman, John Atkinson and S. A. Holmes.
Among the early grain dealers in Hampton were Abner Hall, W. G. Beed, E. A. & A. N. Smith, W. H. Crawford, G. H. Wilcox, Parr & Elder, W. E. Atchinson & Company, Northey & Harrison, S. M. Alderson and Jacob Pohl.
John Beed, a pioneer of Franklin county, was born in Colyton, England. At the age of fifteen he came to America and stopped a short time in Illinois. In 1857 he arrived in Hampton, here join- ing his brother, George Beed. He purchased land northeast of Hampton and there made his home until 1871, when he moved to Hampton and engaged in the grain business for about twelve years. He died here in March, 1907.
In 1868 John Bolton had the first livery stable in Hampton. It was located on the lot north of and adjoining the Rule Hotel. Mr. Bolton sold his stock and quit the business in 1870. His successor was William Ward, who opened his stable to patrons in 1871, and in 1873 sold out to John Shobe. John Bolton removed to Sheffield,
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built the Gilman House and ran it for a long term of years. Ward removed to Texas and Shobe to Nebraska.
W. D. F. Randolph was the first painter in Hampton and did most of the work of this kind for many years. He moved to Chapin and died there in 1910.
A. J. Cannam, Isaac White, I. Justus and J. B. Bates were the pioneer carpenters. Major C. W. Boutin located in Hampton in 1869 and for many years was a contractor and builder. He was a veteran of the Civil war and took a prominent part in matters per- taining to local politics, and was county auditor for four years. He was appointed custodian of the capitol and grounds and died at Des Moines in 1912, while in office.
A. E. Rogers started a harness shop in a little building on Sec- ond street during the war. Among those of his followers were W. L. Burres, E. E. Alexander, Ott Brothers and J. W. Bailey.
I. W. Benson established a lumberyard in the '6os, and soon after W. P. Smith had one opened for trade.
R. I. Smith was the first photographer, coming in 1864.
In 1874 Robert Jeffers established himself in the implement trade, and in 1877 T. H. Coble opened an implement depot and established a large business.
Dr. M. H. Ross located in Hampton in 1867 and opened the first dental office. Others who soon followed him were M. L. Jones, L. E. Douglas, V. B. Pool and F. C. Musser.
Stephen Murphy was the first tailor, coming in 1860. A. M. Bailey located in Hampton in 1872.
W. G. Beed opened a feed store in 1875, in a building on Fourth street, but moved over on Reeve street in 1877. For many years he conducted the only flour and feed store in Hampton.
Among the early live stock men and dealers in Hampton were George Hansell, David Church, G. W. Soper, E. L. Clock, J. E. Cannam, D. W., C. J. and A. M. Mott.
The first regular meat market was opened in 1868 by a Mr. New- ton, and the first express office was established here by the United States Express Company in 1870. T. H. Chance was the first agent. The American Express Company opened an office in 1880 at Bald- win & Hutchins' drug store. W. T. O. Rule has been in the meat business in Hampton continuously for thirty years.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
RETROSPECTIVE
Fifteen years after Franklin county was organized-a compara- tively short period of time when the growth of a community is being considered-the premier historian of the county, whose name often appears in these pages, wrote of Franklin and its progress. He gave a short resume of its earlier history and then described the advance made in opening farms, and the steady influx of settlers. Hampton and other towns were growing; schoolhouses were becoming numer- ous and church edifices were dotting the land hither and yon. Hampton's first railroad was approaching her borders and the out- look was pleasing and encouraging to all. Some talk had been heard of incorporating the county seat as a town. A substantial stone court- house had been built and thus the maintenance of the seat of govern- ment of the county had been assured to Hampton. The population of the chief city had reached 600, and feeling strong in numbers the bustling little city became ambitious and desirous of having control over its own destinies and municipal affairs. Realizing these things, Mr. Raymond wrote of them at a very interesting period of Frank- lin county's existence. In 1870 he indicted for publication the salient features of the young bailiwick's career as given below :
"We have mentioned J. B. Reeve as one of the very first set- tlers ; and his election by his neighbors to the first office in the county upon its organization, and his reelection, subsequently, to the same office, furnish evidence that he was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. The winter of 1856-57 was very severe, and many of the people became short of provisions in midwinter and were also destitute of money. It is related of Judge Reeve that in this emer- gency he purchased and hauled from Marion, Linn county, a large quantity of flour and sold it to his neighbors on credit, thus reliev- ing many who must otherwise have suffered. Such acts of noble generosity are still gratefully remembered by many now in the county. When the rebellion came on, Judge Reeve was past the age when subject to military service, but he raised a company for the Thirty-second Regiment of Iowa Volunteers in 1862, serving faith- fully in the line of duty until he died of disease contracted in the ser- vice, at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, in 1864. He was thoroughly patri- otic and a man of noble and generous impulses. He left a widow and family of children surviving him.
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"Of the first elected officers of the county, only Mr. Leggett re- mains in it. Isaac Miller, twice elected treasurer and recorder, and Solomon Staley, the first sheriff, both removed to Ponca, Dixon county, Nebraska. Dr. S. R. Mitchell, the first clerk, now resides at Ottumwa, and Henry Shroyer, school fund commissioner, went to Mahaska county and served there as county judge. Q. A. Jordan, the coroner, went to Missouri.
"This county, like many others, has passed through its contest over the location of the county seat. The commissioners made the origi- nal location about two miles south of the present town of Hampton, but this did not give general satisfaction, and the people asked the privilege of voting on the question of removal to the new town of Benjamin, subsequently changed to Hampton. April 7, 1856, a vote was taken and resulted in favor of removal. This place being near the center of the county, will doubtless remain the permanent seat of justice. In 1867, a fine stone courthouse was finished at a cost to the county of nearly fifteen thousand dollars. It is 48x72 feet in size. The lower story is divided into offices of convenient size, and the upper part into court and jury rooms. The building stands on a public square set apart in the central part of the town for the purpose, and is enclosed with a board fence.
"The following are the names of those who will serve in the several county offices after January 1, 1870 : R. S. Benson, auditor and clerk of the district and circuit courts; Henry Meyer, recorder; A. B. Hudson, sheriff; A. T. Reeve, treasurer; J. C. Whitney, super- intendent; O. Smith, surveyor; C. W. Walton, coroner; and Henry Thompson, drainage commissioner. The last named is a colored citizen of Hampton.
"The following persons will next year represent their respective townships as members of the board of supervisors: Thomas E. B. Hudson, West Fork; Lyman Hunt, Clinton; C. J. Mott, Washing- ton; W. H. Hoxie, Ingham; P. Salisbury, Osceola; A. Andrews, Geneva; E. L. Clock, Reeve; R. E. Train, Morgan; John I. Pope- joy, Oakland; R. L. Kenyon, Iowa.
THE PRESS
"S. M. Jones was the pioneer newspaper man of Franklin county. In April, 1859, he commenced, at Hampton, the publication of a paper called the Franklin Record. He issued it regularly for a
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year and a half, and after that, at intervals up to the summer of 1864, when it was finally discontinued. Mr. Jones is still a citizen of the county.
"In 1866 J. C. Whitney purchased the office of the Record and commenced the publication of the Franklin Reporter, issuing the first number May 1, 1866. It was at first a twenty-four column sheet, but in May, 1867, was enlarged to twenty-eight columns. The Reporter is one of the live local papers of this part of Iowa, and its enterprising editor and proprietor has just been elected to the office of county superintendent of schools. We were sorry to find Mr. Whitney confined to his room, in consequence of an injury recently received in a sawmill.
"On October 1, 1869, the first number of the Hampton Free Press was issued by L. B. Raymond as editor and proprietor. It is a twenty-eight column sheet, of the republican political faith. Mr. Raymond just retires from the office of county superintendent, which he has held for two years, giving place to his contemporary, Mr. Whitney. The Free Press is a spirited local paper and we are in- debted to its editor for a great portion of the information contained in this article." Mr. Raymond spent much time in collecting the early history of the county, and was thoroughly advised in regard to all that pertains to its resources, growth and development. [Ed.]
PRODUCTIONS
"The northern counties of the state are better adapted to wheat than the southern, but corn does not flourish so well. Oats, too, is almost invariably a sure and abundant crop, often yielding in Frank- lin and other counties in this part of the state as high as eighty bushels per acre. Of wheat, a yield of thirty bushels is not an un- usual crop. The soil is also well adapted to corn, grass and all the productions common to other parts of the state. All kinds of garden vegetables grow to great size and perfection and vield abundantly.
"Very little attention has been given by the farmers here to the cultivation of tame grasses, but several experiments fully demon- strate the fact that they will succeed well. Wild grass of excellent quality being so abundant, is the chief source for hay.
"Some attention is now being given to the raising of the various kinds of tame fruits, and we hear of several orchards that are begin-
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ning to bear. All of the small fruits yield well, and as soon as the county attains age, there is no good reason why the people should be without fruit of their own raising.
"Plums, crabapples, grapes and all the various wild fruits com- mon in Iowa are plenty. Hazel nuts, hickory nuts, walnuts and butternuts are common in the groves along all the principal streams.
"Franklin county is preëminently adapted to all agricultural pur- suits, as nearly its entire area of surface is susceptible of cultivation. So far, wheat has been the leading crop, but farmers are beginning to turn their attention to other kinds of grain and stock. For graz- ing purposes, there are many advantages. Cattle fatten during the summer season on the wild grass of the prairies, and thus grow into value, with little expense. They are easily and cheaply wintered on hay procured at no more expense than that of cutting and stack- ing. All kinds of stock have a healthy appearance at all seasons.
"Several farmers are engaging extensively in stock-raising. Among those in Franklin county who have been eminently success- ful in this business, we mention John I. Popejoy, who is known in this part of the state as the 'Cattle King of the Iowa River Valley.'
RAILROAD FACILITIES
"The Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad crosses the southeast cor- ner of the county and passes west only a short distance from the south line, in Hardin county. There are three shipping points on the line of this road convenient to at least the south portion of the county, to wit: Ackley, Iowa Falls and Alden. In the spring of 1868 a company was organized, called the St. Louis & St. Paul Railway Company, for the purpose of building a railroad from Ackley north, via Hampton, Mason City and Northwood, to the Minnesota line. Most of the grading is done on this line from Ackley to Hampton, and much between the latter place and Mason City. This road will undoubtedly soon be completed and will be of immense value to the people of that portion of the state through which it will pass, but to none more than to those of Franklin county. At Owatonna, Minnesota, it will connect with the Minnesota Central, and thus form a connection with the lumber region, while its southern connections will open this portion of Iowa to the great coal fields of the state. It will also afford competing markets for the surplus produce of the county and hasten the speedy develop-
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ment of its immense agricultural resources, wherein consist its prospective wealth and greatness. In its railroad advantages, as soon as this line is finished, Franklin county will be highly favored. Before the close of another season, there is every reason to be- lieve the work will be accomplished, and the whistle of the loco- motive will be heard announcing its approach to Hampton, and two or three other young cities yet to spring up on the prairies of Frank- lin county.
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