USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 38
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STATE SAVINGS BANK
The above institution was the last bank to be organized in Hamp- ton, receiving its charter in 1904, and having a capital of $40,000. The promoters were C. D. Williams, J. J. McGuire, Dr. J. H. Hutchins, Casper Wolf, Christ Witthoft, J. W. Bailey, C. M. Good- year, O. F. Myers. The first officials selected were: C. M. Goodyear, president; Casper Wolf, vice president; J. J. McGuire, cashier; O. F. Myers, assistant cashier.
The State Savings Bank commenced business in its own build- ing in the block on Reeve street between Third and Fourth streets. The headquarters were moved in 1906 to the southwest corner of Reeve and Fourth streets.
C. M. Goodyear retired from the presidency in 1905, and was succeeded by Doctor Hutchins. In 1911, Doctor Hutchins gave way to Casper Wolf, who was succeeded in the vice-presidency by S. T. Blain. Mr. McGuire retired from the cashiership in 1906 and at the same time O. F. Myers took up the duties of that position. The latter was succeeded as cashier by O. W. Maxwell, the present in- cumbent of the office.
During its comparatively short life, the State Savings Bank has grown in strength and found its way into the confidence of a large
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and increasing clientele. Its capital stock is $40,000; undivided profits, $5,000; and deposits in the fall of 1913, $190,000. The officials are: Adam Messelheiser, president; S. T. Blain, vice presi- dent; R. M. Harrison, second vice president; O. W. Maxwell, cashier ; D. C. Wolf, assistant cashier.
INDUSTRIES OF HAMPTON
Hampton is far from being a manufacturing town. It is more to be classed as a busy mart for inland traders and merchants, de- pending on a magnificent farming community as shippers and buyers.
In this prairie country the first effort at manufacturing has al- ways been the making of lumber and flour. That means the mills; and in these Hampton early was blessed with good ones, where much of the lumber for her pioneer homes was made and flour and cornmeal ground. Then came the blacksmith and wagon maker and in the latter activity was the firm of John Lambert & Son, who opened a shop here in 1865. Others followed but in 1875 came C. S. Hobbie, who died April 15, 1901. His son, L. M. Hobbie, succeeded him, is still in business, and making a specialty of the sale of auto- mobiles.
ALUMINUM-ALLOY METAL ROOFING
In 1892 a company was organized in Hampton for the manufac- ture of an aluminum-alloy metal roofing. The Hampton Plow shops-old frame buildings-were purchased and everybody antici- pated big things of the enterprise. Certain of the citizens con- tributed of their money to the capital stock and the following officers were elected : President, E. S. Patterson ; vice president, J. W. Hutchins; treasurer, Charles Beed; secretary, George Beed; assist- ant secretary, W. J. Wilder, the patentee. Directors: E. S. Pat- terson, G. G. Clemmer, Charles Beed, J. H. Hutchins, E. V. Baldwin, George Beed and W. J. Wilder.
The Aluminum-Alloy Metal Roofing manufactory did not be- gin to meet the expectations of its friends and within a short period of time after beginning operation the plant was closed down and another fond hope of the city went glimmering.
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HAMPTON FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY
When the Hampton Foundry & Machine Company was or- ganized, the citizens of the community began to have some hopes that the city certainly would become a manufacturing center of no little importance. A splendid building was erected, in which was placed machinery of the latest pattern, all costing $35,000, and from eighteen to twenty men were given employment in making castings, manure spreaders, steel gates, and power hammers. Orders came in quite briskly for a time, the header barge, an attachment for har- vesting machines, and the power hammer leading in the products sold. But through causes known and unknown, the industry failed to meet the expectations of all concerned and in the month of No- vember, 1913, the shops were shut down and an effort is now in prog- ress to reorganize the company and again open the factory.
J. A. Steele, of Hutchinson, Kansas, was the promoter of this in- dustry, and with C. F. Roemer, T. P. Weinhart and O. F. Myers, incorporated the concern in 1912, with an authorized capital of $50,000, divided into shares of $100 each, nonassessable. About $25,000 of the stock was paid in. The officials were: President, J. A. Steele; vice president, C. F. Roemer; general manager, T. P. Weinhart; secretary and treasurer, O. F. Myers.
J. A. Steele managed and superintended the factory until March, 1913, when he retired and was succeeded by L. G. Fuller, who gave way to J. W. Barry in August, 1913.
LARGE POULTRY CONCERN
"Chickens is chickens" these days, so are eggs and butter, and the handling of these commodities has become an important industry at Hampton. A number of years ago the firm of Rogers & Smith started a poultry depot in a large frame building on the corner of Fourth and Maple streets, which in the 'Sos had been built for the Hampton Plow Company, where for a while plows were made and sold directly to the farmers. The business failed, owing to strin- gency of the money market at that time. Later this building was secured by the Aluminum-Alloy people and they soon "went up the flume." Then the firm of Rogers & Smith got possession and en- gaged in buying and selling poultry and eggs. About five years ago the W. F. Priebe Company, which already had an interest in the
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establishment, secured control and have since built up a large in- dustry in packing poultry and eggs for the eastern markets. In 1912 this firm secured control of the creamery just west of it, which was built by the Galers, of De Kalb, Illinois, who later sold to local parties, the latter disposing of the interests to W. F. Priebe & Com- pany. This concern in the winter season employs about thirty-five people and about fifteen on an average throughout the year. The last three months of 1913 there were shipped from the establishment 540,000 pounds of dressed poultry and during the year an average of two carloads of eggs per week were sent to the markets.
The W. F. Priebe Company is incorporated and has the fol- lowing official list: W. F. Priebe, president; G. G. Jeck, manager at the Atlantic plant, vice president; C. C. Tatham, treasurer; W. F. Priebe, Jr., secretary. The company has charge of plants in several of the states. In Iowa they have establishments at Atlantic, Humboldt, Manning, Algona, Burt, Dayton, Butler, Guthrie Cen- ter, Stuart and Hampton. One of the largest feeding stations belong- ing to the corporation is at Bushnell, Illinois. They have another at Moberly, Missouri. The main office is maintained in the city of Chicago.
THE HAMPTON-KELLEY CANNING FACTORY
For many years it had been realized by residents of Hampton that one of the greatest needs of the place, in order to bring to the knowledge of the people of the state generally the importance and enterprise of the city, was a factory of some kind-one that would furnish employment to those who heretofore have been unable to find it here and have sought it elsewhere; an industry that would be sending out its product to all parts of the country and, in a manner, advertise the city of Hampton. Besides this, a desire had been preva- lent that a desirable class of laboring people might be induced to take up their residence in the community, provided sufficient em- ployment could be furnished.
Early in the year 1910 a beginning was made looking to the establishment here of a large and modern canning plant, and the buildings for the same were completed, and the machinery installed before the summer had waned.
A large amount of the credit for the bringing to Hampton of this factory is given to the members of the Hampton Commercial
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Association. In February, 1910, the association was successful in getting Messrs. C. M. Kelley and N. B. Ellis, both of Waverly, in- terested in the matter. The capitalization was placed at $50,000, $35,000 of which was furnished by Waverly capitalists, and the bal- ance was furnished by about twenty-five representative business men of Hampton, among them being George A. Robinson, N. A. Inglis, G. F. Beed, C. L. Beed, J. H. Hutchins, O. F. Myers, D. C. Wolf, Casper Wolf, R. M. Harrison, Frank Kratochvil, J. W. Cummings, E. M. Funk, S. J. Schlesinger, E. S. Patterson, G. D. Patterson, G. M. Spencer, W. F. Nolte, N. W. Beebe, E. A. Beebe, A. R. Run- yard, C. F. Roemer, D. W. Mott, Jr., W. L. Robinson and T. J. B. Robinson.
One of the conditions under which the Waverly men consented to undertake the project here was that the Commercial Association should secure pledges from the nearby farmers of an aggregate of one thousand acres of sweet corn. A committee was immediately appointed and in a short time the acreage had been secured. Al- though Hampton capitalists are known to be conservative in their investments in new enterprises, it should be said to their credit that less than two hours were consumed in the disposal of the $15,000 of stock.
Three and one-half acres of land were purchased of James H. Beed at the intersection of Reeve street and the Great Western right-of-way, and ground was broken for the foundations April roth. The work of the contractor was finished in less than ninety days.
The main building is constructed of brick, with concrete foun- dations, and covers a ground area of 140 feet square. In front of this building and entirely disconnected from it is the office struc- ture, also of brick, 20X40 and two stories in height. This building is fitted with all conveniences for the office help.
In the southeast corner of the main structure is what is known as the process room, 40x60 feet. This part of the plant is three stories in height, and connected to this is the cooking room to the west, 40X100 feet, one story. The north part of the building is divided into a storage room, 100 feet square, and to the east is the boiler and engine rooms, 40x80 feet.
The husking shed is a wooden structure 44X154 feet, and one story high. A dumping system of the latest and most improved style has been installed in front of the husking shed, where the corn is weighed and conveyed to the shed by carriers, and, after being
CHAMPION KELLEY CANNING CO.
HAMPTON-KELLEY CANNING COMPANY
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husked, taken by an elevator to the top of the process or manufac- turing room. The husks are thrown on to an endless carrier and are conveyed automatically to the rear of the shed and elevated to a height of about twenty feet and dropped in a pile or on to wagons. In the process room the corn is run through cutting machines that remove the kernel from the cob. The cobs are conveyed to large hoppers, under which wagons may be driven, and the cobs dumped into them.
From the cutting machines the corn flows by gravity to the floor below, where it passes through the silkers and is prepared for the cookers and mixers on the ground floor. A battery of twelve of these are arranged in a row nearly one hundred feet long extending to the west. Here it gets the first exhaust from steam and goes thence to the fillers. The cans are automatically on chain conveyors. First they go to the capper, where the cans are sealed and inspected, and are afterwards placed in retorts and cooked ready for the store- house.
The power plant consists of two steam boilers, each of 100 horse power, and an engine of 90 horse power in a room adjoining the fire room. Ample room is provided for more boilers and engines should they be needed. Coal for the furnaces is handled direct from cars to the fire room.
The chimney, which is of brick, reaches a height above the floors of 75 feet and has an even inside diameter of 46 inches. All the work on the buildings is of the best and the structures are of a thor- oughly permanent character. It is known technically to the trade as a modern two-line corn canning plant. The capacity of the in- stitution, when in full running order, is declared to be from 100,000 to 120,000 cans per day and about one hundred and eighty hands are needed to do the work. One thousand and seventy acres of corn were contracted for the first year and canning began about August 25. The output for 1910 was 1,600,000 cans.
This plant is fitted exclusively for the canning of corn, which product seems now to offer the best inducements, as it is not only easily raised with the machinery already in use by the farmer, but the demand is greater than the supply. Other products may be added.
The season of 1913 was not a good one for canning corn The sun was intensely hot and a long drought cut the supply of corn fit for the market to a considerable extent. The acreage had also Vol. 1-27
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dwindled so that but 800,000 cans of the product were realized for the season's work. However, the canning factory has met the antici- pations of its promoters. The product meets a ready sale and going abroad into different states makes it known that Hampton is on the map and is a city of more than a little importance. Carlos M. Kel- ley is the manager.
THE HAMPTON COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
At a meeting held in the courthouse Tuesday evening, April 26, 1904, the Hampton Commercial Association was organized. Sixty- nine names were signed to the roll of membership. The following officers were elected : President, T. J. B. Robinson ; vice president, E. P. Andrews; secretary, Fred A. Harriman; treasurer, H. E. Boehmler; directors, H. L. Harrison, George F. Smith, T. W. Pur- cell, L. J. Sterburg, I. L. Stuart, C. F. Roemer, B. H. Mallory, J. E. Coonley and W. T. O. Rule.
The object of the association is to further the interests and growth of the city and to induce manufacturers to locate here. The associ- ation is composed of men who have the best interests of the city at heart and their efforts have already taken concrete form. Each year the members have a banquet, at which a program is also dis- cussed, very much to the benefit and edification of the assemblage. The tenth annual banquet was held in the parlors of the Methodist Church in the fall of 1913, which was largely attended. Among other selections on the program may be noted the following: "Hamp- ton," by J. M. Hemingway; "Our New Hotel," by C. F. Roemer; "Paved Country Highways," by E. P. Andrews, and "Our New School Building," by H. E. Boehmler and W. L. Robinson.
The closing feature of the meeting was the selection of officers for another year. The ticket elected follows: President, T. W. Purcell; vice president, G. D. Patterson; secretary, D. W. Parks; treasurer, C. D. Wolf; directors, C. F. Roemer, C. M. Kelley, I. L. Stuart, H. O. Thomas, N. A. Inglis, G. A. Robinson, H. E. Boehm- ler, C. D. Williams, C. F. Meier.
CHAPTER XXVII
RELIGIOUS-THE CHURCHES OF HAMPTON-THE CITY IS MADE UP OF A CHRISTIAN PEOPLE AND HAS THE BEST CHURCH EDIFICES OF ANY PLACE OF ITS SIZE IN IOWA-THEIR HISTORY-HAMPTON CEME- TERY.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
On the evening of February 25, 1898, the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in the parlors of their handsome new house of worship to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the dedi- cation of the building, a structure that stands out majestically on the corner of Iowa and Fifth streets and is, by all odds, the most at- tractive product of the architect and builder in Franklin county. On the occasion mentioned, brief historical sketches of the church society, Sunday school and auxiliary associations were read, but the most comprehensive and interesting paper was that of Mrs. J. C. Magee, who took for her subject the history of the Hampton Methodist Church. The article follows :
"The first services held by a Methodist minister in Hampton was in the winter of 1857-8. Just who he was is not distinctly re- called by the oldest inhabitant. However, it is remembered that H. J. Burley preached during these years at Mayne's Grove, or Mays- ville, and no other Methodist minister is recalled as preaching in the county then. Minutes of the conference show H. J. Burley as in charge of Alden Mission, with his postoffice address at Iowa Falls. It may be accepted as a reasonable certainty that he was the man. He held two services. The winter was severe, the snow very deep all about the little hamlet, and the congregation consisted wholly of men, namely: James Thompson, George Thompson, O. F. Kitchell and Chauncey Gillett. Early in 1858 a small organiza- tion was effected, but no record of the same is ascertainable. That year S. Knickerbocker was minister in charge of Iowa Falls circuit and preached here occasionally. John Gilliland, a local preacher,
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moved into the place and while plying his trade as a bricklayer and plasterer, preached betimes on the Sabbath. In 1859, Asa Critchfield, of Iowa Falls circuit, came occasionally. In 1860 John Gilliland went to Pike's Peak. In that year W. F. Hestwood was preacher on Maysville circuit and in 1861 W. O. Glassner preached here a few times. In 1862 C. J. Jones was in charge of Alden and Maysville, and in 1863, D. P. Billings, both of whom preached here a few times. In 1864 J. G. Wilkinson was in charge of Maysville and Down's Grove circuit, and in the spring of 1865 organized a class in Hampton. The members of that class were John Burkett and wife, John Millett and wife, Mrs. Sarah Gould, Mrs. Agnes Fox, Ira Hodges and wife, Samuel and John Lambert, Henry Haecker and wife and Mrs. Martha Dow, wife of D. W. Dow. John Burkett was appointed leader. Hampton continued for some years as an appointment on Maysville circuit. From September, 1866, to September, 1869, Rev. L. S. Cooley, the preacher in charge of Mays- . ville circuit, administered to the little class in Hampton. During this time a legal corporate organization was consummated. The articles or incorporation bearing date May 15, 1867, were acknowl- edged before George Beed, notary public. The first board of trus- tees consisted of William Burkett, Henry Haecker, D. W. Hinman, Elisha Towle, J. Y. Lambert, Lucius Loss and Aaron Church.
"At the annual conference in September, 1869, Hampton was con- stituted a separate charge and for the first time appears on the lists. Frank M. Robertson was made pastor and continued until September 1, 1871. During this time a church edifice was built at a cost of $6,000. About this period the growth of the society was very marked. Up to the time of going into the new church, all had taken part in a Union Sunday school, but at that time a Methodist Episcopal school was organized, with N. McDonald as superintendent. Reverend Robertson was later made presiding elder of the Decorah district, Upper Iowa Conference. In September, 1871, W. L. Thorp became pastor, remaining one year. In September, 1872, W. J. Mitchell be- came pastor and remained one year. In October, 1873, J. B. Taylor became pastor, remaining with the church until 1876. In 1881 he died at Epworth, but his remains were interred in the ceme- tery at Hampton. In September, 1876, F. X. Miller came to the charge, remaining until 1879. In September of the latter year, Charles Cressy became pastor. In March, 1888, Mrs. Cressy died and on December 21 following, Reverend Cressy passed away, and
Methodist Episcopal Church High School
Congregational Church Catholic Church and Parsonage HAMPTON CHURCHES AND SCHOOL
1
,
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both lie buried in the Hampton cemetery. Reverend Cressy's succes- sor was C. F. McLean, who remained until December, 1883, when he was succeeded by F. M. Coleman, who continued with the church until September, 1886. During this pastorate the present parson- age was erected. Reverend Coleman was after some years made pre- siding elder of Cedar Falls district. In September, 1886, John W. Clinton became pastor and continued until 1891, and during this pastorate the church property was enlarged and improved. Rev- erend Clinton died while pastor at Vinton, Iowa, January 26, 1894. His remains were brought to Hampton and interred in the ceme- tery at this place. Thus three of the former pastors of this parish repose in death within the limits of the charge.
"In October, 1891, F. W. Luce became pastor and remained until October, 1895. During this pastorate the present church edifice -- a magnificent brick structure-was erected at a cost of $26,500, the dedicatory service being conducted February 25, 1894. The building committee consisted of F. W. Luce, George Beed, T. J. B. Robin- son, G. F. Beed, T. H. Haecker and T. B. Taylor.
"In October, 1895, J. C. Magee was appointed to the charge. In the incipiency of the charge it was on the Cedar Falls district and so continued until 1873, and D. N. Holmes, Elias Skinner, S. A. Lee and John Bowman served as presiding elders. In 1873, at the organization of the Marshalltown district, Hampton became a part of it."
About the year 1903 a magnificent pipe organ, rich and mellow in tone, was installed in the church, at a cost of $5,000, and in the fall of 1913, the interior of the building was redecorated and further improved by the addition of a new floor, furnaces, etc., the outlay being over $4,500.
The successor to Reverend Magee in the pastorate was Rev. F. M. Coleman, who served through the years 1899 and 1900. He in turn was followed by Rev. H. W. Troy, who served from 1901 to 1903, when Rev. E. T. Gruwell took charge, remaining until 1908. The present pastor, Rev. DeWitt Clinton, assumed charge in 1909. He has the distinction of being the worthy son of one of the loved pastors who ministered to the spiritual wants of this charge and now lies buried in the silent city of Hampton Cemetery. Mr. Clinton also takes pride and pleasure in the fact that he was called to four different charges that had been presided over by his father, the Rev. J. W. Clinton.
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The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Hampton in point of membership is the strongest religious body in Franklin county. It now has a membership of 514, and an average attendance in the Sabbath school of 350. Its auxiliary societies are the Ladies' Aid Society, Woman's Home Missionary Society, Woman's Foreign Mis- sionary Society, the Epworth League and the Methodist Brother- hood.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The organization of the First Congregational Church of Hamp- ton was due to the fact that a number of persons residing in Hamp- ton and vicinity, who had come to Franklin county to make homes for themselves and families, decided that a church organization was needed here. They had all been members of some church in their former homes and represented almost as many different denomina- tions as there were persons. Among the churches represented were the Congregational, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Chris- tian. That the new organization when made was of the Congrega- tional Church doubtless was due to the fact that Rev. John Wilcox, then pastor of the Congregational Church at Cedar Falls, had done some missionary work in this vicinity, and it was through his direct efforts that the church was organized. The organization was ef- fected September 7, 1857, with five members: J. N. Dodd, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Southard, Mrs. Laura Booth and Mrs. Anne Beed, famil- iarly called "Mother" Beed. The latter was the only one who became a permanent resident here. A few months later, J. W. Booth, Mrs. Julia Hansberry, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston, Mrs. George Beed and Miss Mary Beed united with the church.
Reverend Wilcox preached here three or four times, but no regu- lar services were held until April, 1858, when Rev. W. P. Avery was called to take charge of this church and also the one at Chapin, his residence being maintained at the latter place. . Mr. Avery con- tinued as pastor, with the exception of a part of the year 1869, un- til August, 1872. Church services were first held in the old court- house, which stood in the southeast corner of the courthouse square; then in the old schoolhouse on Fourth street, and from 1866 to 1872 either in the stone schoolhoue, which stood on the west side of the public square, midway between Hotel Hampton and Fifth street, or in the Baptist church, whenever services could be so arranged without interference with arrangements of the latter church.
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In 1871, notwithstanding the hardships and poverty of the church, the congregation decided to erect a house of worship of their own. Had it not been for the very generous help of the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society, the church could not have lived. At the time of the building of the church the membership numbered about thirty-five, and in looking back upon it now it seems marvelous that the little band of people in very moderate circumstances could have raised over four thousand dollars with which to build a church. The building was begun in the fall of 1871 and finished in the year 1872 at a cost of $5,300. The dedication took place on Sunday, June 30 of the latter year, and was conducted by Rev. George F. Magoun of Grinnell. The church had for several years owned two lots on the corner of Fourth and Franklin streets, but this location was not looked upon with favor by the majority of the members, therefore these lots were sold and the site on the corner of Sixth and Reeve streets purchased.
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