USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
442
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
is kept trimmed, walks and drives are free from weeds and litter, flowers abound in profusion and a sense of orderliness and adornment is apparent on every hand. Under the vigilant and loving hands of Hampton's women, the Hampton cemetery has become a beauty spot, that is pointed out to the visitor with pride and admiration. Just credit is due the Ladies' Cemetery Aid Society for all that has been accomplished in the premises.
CHAPTER XXVIII
MAYORS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY'S CHIEF CITY-OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE MUNICIPALITY-SKETCHES OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES FROM 1871 TO 1903.
Here follow the names of citizens who have held the offices of mayor, clerk, and councilmen since the year 1871 :
1871 : Mayor, William Raymond ; recorder, S. M. Jones ; trustees, C. W. Boutin, W. P. Smith, D. G. Carbaugh, A. T. Reeve, D. W. Dow.
1872: Mayor, Allen Greene; recorder, S. M. Jones; trustees, A. T. Reeve, D. G. Carbaugh, W. G. Beed, W. H. Crawford, Wil- liam Raymond.
1873: Mayor, W. B. Vanderveer ; recorder, S. M. Jones ; trustees, W. H. Crawford, George W. Shane, Austin North, I. F. White, J. F. Latimer.
1874: Mayor, Austin North; recorder, A. I. Smith; trustees, W. P. Smith, N. McDonald, A. J. Cannam, S. M. Jones, H. A. Harriman.
1875: Mayor, T. C. Mckenzie; recorder, J. C. Harwood; trustees, G. W. Shane, W. J. Stonebraker, George Beed. W. H. Crawford, U. Weeks.
1876: Mayor, T. C. Mckenzie; recorder, O. F. Sweet; trustees, W. J. Stonebraker, G. W. Shane, William Parr, J. B. Goldsborough, George Beed.
1877: Mayor, O. B. Harriman; recorder, O. F. Sweet; trustees, S. S. Coon, G. W. Shane, William Parr, William Parks, W. J. Stone- braker.
1878: Mayor, O. B. Harriman; recorder, O. F. Sweet; trustees, W. J. Stonebraker, William Parks, S. S. Coon, E. S. Patterson, N. W. Beebe.
1879: This year a new law went into effect whereby the number of trustees was increased from five to six, the term of office to be three years, the first trustees to be chosen to draw lots, two to hold one year, two for two years and two for three years.
443
444
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Mayor, O. B. Harriman ; recorder, W. T. O. Rule ; trustees, O. F. Sweet, J. W. Johnson, J. T. Stearns, W. J. Stonebraker, N. W. Beebe, W. F. Harriman.
1880: Mayor, J. F. Latimer ; recorder, W. T. O. Rule; trustees, N. W. Beebe, W. F. Harriman, J. T. Stearns, W. J. Stonebraker, J. W. Johnson, O. F. Sweet.
1881 : Mayor, J. F. Latimer ; recorder, M. A. Ives ; trustees, J. W. Johnson, N. W. Beebe, W. J. Stonebraker, W. F. Harriman, O. F. Sweet, S. S. Coon.
1882: Mayor, W. F. Harriman; recorder, M. A. Ives; trustees, J. W. Johnson, Charles Schabacker, O. F. Sweet, L. P. Holden, W. J. Stonebraker, C. W. Boutin.
1883: Mayor, W. F. Harriman; recorder, M. A. Ives; trustees, J. W. Johnson, Charles Schabacker, L. P. Holden, C. W. Boutin, W. J. Stonebraker, T. C. Mckenzie.
1884: Mayor, Ezra King; recorder, M. A. Ives; trustees, T. H. Coble, Robert Slee, J. W. Johnson, L. P. Holden, C. W. Boutin, Charles Schabacker.
1885: Mayor, N. W. Beebe ; recorder, M. A. Ives ; trustees, G. W. Pease, J. H. Hutchins, J. W. Johnson, Charles Schabacker, Robert Slee, T. H. Coble.
1886: Mayor, N. W. Beebe; recorder, S. J. Parker; trustees, Charles Schabacker, Frank Kratochvil, T. H. Coble, Robert Slee, L. P. Holden, C. W. Boutin.
1887: Mayor, A. T. Reeve; recorder, S. J. Parker; trustees, Robert Slee, Charles Beed, Frank Kratochvil, T. H. Coble, L. P. Holden, C. W. Boutin.
1888 : Mayor, A. T. Reeve; recorder, S. J. Parker; trustees, J. H. Hutchins, B. G. Cunningham, Charles Schabacker, Frank Kratoch- vil, Robert Slee, Charles Beed.
1889: Mayor, E. C. Grenelle; recorder, S. J. Parker; trustees, J. H. Hutchins, Robert Slee, Robert Jeffers, Frank Kratochvil, Charles Beed, B. G. Cunningham.
1890: Mayor, J. M. Hemingway; recorder, Charles Krag; trustees, L. P. Holden, Henry Proctor, Frank Kratochvil, Frank D. Smith, Robert Jeffers, B. G. Cunningham, J. H. Hutchins.
1891: Mayor, J. M. Hemingway; recorder, Charles Krag; trustees, L. P. Holden, Henry Proctor, Frank Kratochvil, Frank D. Smith, Robert Jeffers, B. G. Cunningham.
445
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
1892: Mayor, J. M. Hemingway; recorder, Charles Krag; trustees, Henry Proctor, Frank Kratochvil, Frank D. Smith, John Hunt, E. P. Andrews, L. P. Holden.
1893: The incroporated town was divided into four wards and became a city of the second class.
Mayor, E. S. Patterson; city clerk, Charles Krag; councilmen, Ist ward, Frank Kratochvil, W. H. Hoxie; 2d ward, Henry Proctor, J. W. Johnson ; 3d ward, John Hunt, I. W. Myers; 4th ward, O. B. Harriman, J. H. Beed.
1894: Mayor, E. S. Patterson; city clerk, Charles Krag; council- men, Ist ward, W. H. Hoxie; S. J. Parker; 2d ward, A. W. Beed, J. W. Johnson; 3d ward, I. W. Myers, S. E. Hall; 4th ward, O. B. Harriman, J. H. Beed.
1895: Mayor, Frank Kratochvil; city clerk, Charles Krag; coun- cilmen, S. J. Parker, E. M. Funk, A. W. Beed, M. B. Jones, I. W. Myers, S. E Hall, J. H. VanNuys, F. D. Smith.
1896: Mayor, Frank Kratochvil; city clerk, Charles Krag; coun- cilmen, S. J. Parker, E. M. Funk, A. W. Beed, J. P. Ott, I. W. Myers, S. E. Hall, J. H. VanNuys, F. D. Smith.
1897: Mayor, D. W. Dow; city clerk, Charles Krag ; councilmen, S. J. Parker, Jacob Pohl, A. W. Beed, J. P. Ott, J. W. Bailey, E. C. Keifer, S. E. Hall, J. H. VanNuys, F. D. Smith.
1898: Mayor, D. W. Dow ; city clerk, Charles Krag; councilmen, S. J. Parker, Jacob Pohl, George Messelheiser, J. P. Ott, J. W. Bailey, E. C. Keifer, J. H. VanNuys, F. D. Smith.
1899: Mayor, Frank Kratochvil; city clerk, Charles Krag; coun- cilmen, T. J. B. Robinson, J. N. Mallon, George Messelheiser, W. D. Ott, E. M. Wescott, B. L. Crawford, J. H. VanNuys, G. E. Sargent.
1900: Mayor, Frank Kratochvil; city clerk, Charles Krag; coun- cilmen, T. J. B. Robinson, J. N. Mallon, W. D. Ott, J. P. Ott, E. M. Wescott, J. M. Snyder, J. E. Harriman, W. T. O. Rule.
1901 : Mayor, B. H. Mallory; city clerk, B. D. Hunt; council- men, T. J. B. Robinson, E. A. Roemer, G. F. Smith, J. P. Ott, E. M. Wescott, J. M. Snyder, J. E. Harriman, W. T. O. Rule.
1902: Mayor, B. H. Mallory; city clerk, B. D. Hunt; council- men, H. Skow, E. A. Roemer, G. F. Smith, G. E. Sargent, E. M .. Wescott, J. M. Snyder, J. E. Harriman, W. T. O. Rule.
1903: Mayor, S. J. Parker ; city clerk, B. D. Hunt; councilmen, H. Skow, V. J. Kratz, G. F. Smith, G. E. Sargent, E. M. Wescott, S. W. Ferris, H. H. Wheeler, W. T. O. Rule.
446
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
1904: Mayor, S. J. Parker; city clerk, B. D. Hunt; councilmen, H. Skow, V. J. Kratz, G. F. Smith, G. E. Sargent, T. H. Coble, S. W. Ferris, H. H. Wheeler, T. C. Cartwright.
1905: S. J. Parker; city clerk, B. D. Hunt; councilmen, H. H. Andrews, L. B. Raymond, H. Skow, N. A. Inglis, G. E. Sargent, T. H. Coble, S. W. Ferris, H. H. Wheeler, J. E. Harriman.
1906: Mayor, S. J. Parker ; city clerk, D. W. Parks; councilmen, C. F. Roemer, W. T. Webb, N. A. Inglis, G. E. Sargent, T. H. Coble, S. W. Ferris, Chris Simonsen, J. E. Harriman.
1907: Mayor, E. L. Coldren ; city clerk, E. D. Haecker ; council- men, C. F. Roemer, W. T. Webb, N. A. Inglis, G. E. Sargent, T. H. Coble, J. M. Snyder, C. Simonsen, E. A. Beebe.
1908: Mayor, E. L. Coldren ; city clerk, E. D. Haecker ; council- men, C. E. Roemer, W. T. Webb, N. A. Inglis, G. E. Sargent, J. M. Snyder, T. H. Coble, H. O. Beed, C. Simonsen, E. A. Beebe.
1909: Mayor, A. D. Haecker ; clerk, W. H. Leckey ; councilmen, Frank Kratochvil, J. W. Cummings, George Patterson, Lewis H. Carter, H. C. Beed, C. Simonsen.
19II: Mayor, D. W. Parks; clerk, W. H. Leckey; councilmen, D. W. Mott, Jr., J. W. Cummings, C. D. Williams, Lewis H. Carter, D. B. Henderson, W. W. Pratt.
1913: Mayor, D. W. Parks; F. G. Luke appointed by mayor to fill unexpired term of W. H. Leckey as clerk. Luke's resignation took effect in July, 1913, when Levi Talhelm was appointed. Coun- cilmen, J. W. Cummings, D. W. Mott, Jr., W. T. Webb, L. H. Carter, N. E. Ferris, Charles Chadima.
William Raymond, the first mayor of Hampton, was elected to the office in the spring of 1871. He had come to Hampton the October previous from Crawford county, Wisconsin, where he had served a term in the Wisconsin Legislature. He was in trade here at the time, and was a man whom everybody liked. He was a cool- headed man of excellent judgment, and when he removed to Cali- fornia a dozen years later, he left behind him a host of warm friends.
March 4, 1872, the second election was held. If there was any caucus held, it has passed from our recollection, and our files are silent on the subject. The list of officers elected is given, with the statement that they were elected by majorities ranging from twenty- five upwards. Allen Green was elected mayor. "Squire" Green, as he was called then, and still is called, had been a resident here at
447
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
that time for two or three years, and discharged his duties as mayor, as he has always done everything else, with honesty and fidelity.
The third election was held March 3, 1873. It was the most "strenuous" of any heretofore held in the young city, but there is a hiatus in our files from February 26th to March 12th, and as the writer was out of town during the campaign that preceded the elec- tion, it is impossible to tell now what the issues were, or whether any caucuses were held or not. But we do recollect that the contest for mayor was between W. B. Vanderveer and Col. C. W. Boutin, and that the former was elected. We have the impression from the names of those elected trustees at the same time, that it was a victory for the "wide open" element of the town. And by the way, from about this time down to the passage of the prohibitory law, the issues at munic- ipal elections here were always about the same: whether we should have absolute prohibition in the town or not. It must be remembered that during this period, we virtually had local option in the state and the "liberal" element, who wanted saloons, always in every instance, held the balance of power, and their votes generally decided the contest. But not all the supporters of the liberal candidates were for saloons, so that in every instance after election, the newly elected administration refused to license saloons, or coutnenance them in any way. Colonel Vanderveer was a pleasant, amiable old gentleman, and left here as early as 1876-77 and has been dead over twenty years.
A new issue entered into the contest in 1874, or rather it may be said to have been an old one revived. To explain this, it will be necessary to go back a few years. A man named George Ryan, one of the early settlers of Hampton, and the owner of a portion of the original town plat, gave to the town the public square that is now our city park, with the expectation that it would be used as a site for the courthouse. It was not so used, the square donated by Job Garner, where the courthouse now stands, being used for that pur- pose. Along about 1868-69, some parties who were conversant with the facts, hunted up Ryan in Missouri, and for a consideration, secured from him a quit-claim to the square, the intention being to have the town council vacate it, when it would revert to Ryan, and thence to his assigns, the purchasers of the quit-claim. An attempt was made in 1871 to secure the vacation, and our recollection is that the council did pass a resolution for such vacation, but some of the taxpayers speedily took the matter into court and secured an injunc- tion which still held good in 1874, so that the question was regarded
448
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
as settled. But as the municipal election of this year approached, the cry was raised that an attempt would be made to elect an admin- istration that would be in favor of the vacation of the square, and the question sprang into new life as an issue. Much excitement was manifested and two caucuses were held. At the first caucus J. W. Mckenzie was nominated for mayor, and Josiah Phelps, G. W. Shane, J. C. Whitney, J. H. Beed and U. Weeks for trustees. This ticket was claimed to represent the anti-vacation people, as well as the temperance element of the town. Those who held the other caucus nominated Judge Austin North for mayor, and W. P. Smith, S. M. Jones, H. A. Harriman, A. J. Cannam and Nial McDonald for trustees. They were accused of being not only in favor of vacat- ing the square, but of licensing saloons. At the election held on the 2d of March, the ticket headed by Judge North was elected by majorities ranging from twenty down to a tie between McDonald and Phelps, each having ninety-seven for trustee, but at a subsequent special election, McDonald was elected by a large majority. But no movement was made looking to the vacation of the square, or to licensing saloons. Judge North discharged his duties as mayor with caution and prudence and resided in Hampton to the end of his days, passing away a few years ago at a ripe old age.
The election of 1875 was remarkably tame, but one caucus being held, and all the nominations being made by acclamation, and the election was about all one way, the only ripple of excitement being over the question which the council had submitted to the voters, as to whether saloons should be licensed or not. Tom C. Mckenzie was elected mayor, and the vote in favor of license was 73, against 1 16.
Mr. Mckenzie was re-elected mayor in 1876, being the first mayor to succeed himself. He was nominated at a "citizens" caucus with no opposition. His subsequent career and untimely death in 1883, are both well remembered by our older citizens, and we think it no discredit to any one to say that Tom Mckenzie was the most popular man who ever lived in Hampton.
Dr. O. B. Harriman was the next mayor of Hampton, having been made the unanimous nominee at a "union" caucus. There was a second ticket out, however, headed by George Beed for mayor, but we can find no account of any second caucus. Doctor Harriman was elected by a vote of 146 to 81 for Mr. Beed and the entire ticket headed by him went through with good majorities. It is our recol- lection that the use of Mr. Beed's name in this connection was against
449
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
his wish and in spite of his earnest declination. Doctor Harriman was re-elected to a second term in 1878, and it must have been practically unanimous as we find no mention of any caucuses or even of the results of the election.
At the election of 1879, the new law came in force, authorizing the election of six trustees, who should draw lots for terms of office ; two for one year, two for two years, and two for three years. As early as February 13th, before the municipal election, a caucus was held under a call for a "temperance caucus" at which Captain R. S. Benson was nominated for mayor by a vote of fifty-five out of sixty- one votes cast, and W. G. Beed, J. B. Galer, C. W. Boutin, W. F. Harriman, D. W. Henley and G. M. Spencer named for trustees. A "citizens" caucus was held March Ist, at which Doctor Harriman was renominated for mayor and N. W. Beebe, O. F. Sweet, J. W. Johnson, W. J. Stonebraker, J. T. Stearns and J. F. Latimer nomi- nated for trustees. At the election, Doctor Harriman was successful by a vote of 172 to 106 for Captain Benson, and the only men elected on the ticket headed by him and called the "anti-license" ticket were W. F. Harriman for trustee, who "scratched in," defeating J. F. Latimer of the "citizens" ticket, and W. T. O. Rule, who was elected recorder over E. B. Hill. The result of the election was but another example of what was evident at previous and subsequent elections : that the majority of the voters were opposed to license, but at the same time unwilling to trust the enforcement of the laws for the suppression of the liquor traffic to the most radical supporters of such laws, and while it might have been expected in some quarters that this administration would favor licensing saloons, we find noth- ing in our files for the succeeding year indicating that any move was made in that direction. Doctor Harriman was the first man elected mayor of Hampton three times, and served as postmaster during Cleveland's first administration. He is now deceased.
There was but one ticket in the field in 1880, J. F. Latimer being elected mayor without opposition. In 1881, the license question was again brought to the front, and an "anti-license" ticket placed in the field, but Mr. Latimer was on both of the two tickets, and the "anti- license" trustees were elected by a vote of 149 to 105, this being the first and last time that any man had ever been elected to the town council on a distinctively anti-license ticket, except W. F. Harriman, as above stated. Mr. Latimer gave the town an excellent and satisfac-
450
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
tory administration. His death occurred in recent years in Delevan, Wisconsin.
At the municipal election of March 6, 1882, the license question was again dug up and brought to the front, although every candidate on both of the two tickets in the field, declared himself against license. W. F. Harriman was elected mayor on a ticket headed the "Citizens," by 21 1 votes to 126 for G. G. Clemmer on a ticket headed "No License." On the license question, submitted to the voters, the vote stood 84 for and 225 against. The Recorder, a couple of days after the election, in commenting upon the result, states that "in many respects the fight was a repetition of former municipal contests, the vote being overwhelmingly against license, but the voters showing a decided disinclination to trust to the enforcement of the laws to the most radical men, or to those supposed to be the most radical."
The election of March 5, 1883, was said at the time to be the most quiet ever held in the town, Mayor Harriman being re-elected without opposition. Mr. Harriman afterward served four years as a member of the lower House of our State Legislature and eight years as a State Senator.
The campaign of 1884 was brief, but red hot. A "Citizens" caucus had nominated a ticket, headed by D. W. Dow for mayor. The writer was out of town during the entire campaign and cannot now tell what the issues were ; but a "Peoples" ticket made its appear- ance the morning of the election, headed by Ezra King for mayor, which swept the field, Mr. King being elected by a vote of 172 to 143 for his opponent. At the same election the question of fire protection was submitted to the voters, with the result that the electors decided by a vote of 127 to 20 to have no waterworks, and by 106 to 90 to have no cisterns or engines.
It was afterwards ascertained that the council had the power without referring the matter to the voters, to purchase fire-fighting apparatus and construct cisterns, which they did, thereby expending quite a large sum of money and running the corporation somewhat into debt, which caused the cry of extravagance to be raised at the expiration of Mayor King's term, although no serious claim was made that any money had been expended illegally. Two caucuses ivere held, N. W. Beebe being nominated for mayor by a "Citizens" caucus, and James Thompson, in spite of his own protest, was nominated by a "Republican" caucus. The supporters of the latter ticket became discouraged by the morning of election and virtually
451
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
laid down, leaving it a walk-away for Mr. Beebe, who was elected by a vote of 242 to 112 for Mr. Thompson.
Two caucuses were held in 1886, Mr. Beebe being the nominee of both. The tickets were known as the time-honored "Citizens" ticket and the "Law and Order" ticket. As to councilmen, the honors were easy, one being elected on each ticket. After serving as mayor, Mr. Beebe filled the office of county treasurer for two terms.
Again in 1887, there were two caucuses held, Col. A. T. Reeve being the nominee of both. The "Citizens," however, elected the balance of their ticket.
In 1888 there were also two tickets in the field, the "Republican," headed by Colonel Reeve, and the "Peoples," headed by W. J. Stonebraker. Colonel Reeve was elected by a vote of 150 to 146 for Mr. Stonebraker.
About the close of his second term, Colonel Reeve was appointed chief clerk of the seed division of the Agricultural Department at Washington and died there in October succeeding. He lies buried in the Hampton cemetery.
March 6, 1889, E. C. Grenelle was elected mayor by a vote of 212 to 127 for Charles Schabacker. We do not remember of any particu- lar issue being raised, aside from the same old question of close or liberal control in reference to the liquor question, Mr. Grenelle having the support of the liberal element.
The campaign of 1890 was active, and Mr. Grenelle was a candi- date for a second term, but was beaten by J. M. Hemingway by a vote of 202 to 175. Mr. Grenelle was one of the few mayors of Hampton within our recollection, who suffered defeat from a too thorough enforcement of the laws, whereby he lost the support of the liberal element, who had supported him a year before. His adminis- tration was not free from mistakes, but no mayor has ever more rigidly adhered to the ordinances in the enforcement of penalties for violation.
Mayor Hemingway was reelected without opposition in 1891 and 1892. During his administration our waterworks were com- menced, and the city established its public library.
E. S. Patterson was elected mayor in 1893. It was the first election after the division of the city into wards, the 2,500 mark in population having been passed, so that it became a city in fact, instead of an incorporated town, and under this law, in operation since, the mayor holds his office for two years. Mr. Patterson was nominated at a
452
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
delegate convention, and if he had any opposition at the election, it was not formidable enough so that we find any mention of it in our columns. Mr. Patterson gave to the city an efficient administration, applying to the conduct of its affairs the same business principles that have brought success in the management of his private affairs. He declined a reelection, and Frank Kratochvil was elected mayor in 1895, practically without opposition. With the large appropria- tions hitherto made for waterworks and other purposes, the city finances had fallen to a low ebb, and Mr. Kratochvil and the council applied themselves faithfully to the task of paying off the debts, and putting the city finances on a safe foundation.
D. W. Dow was elected mayor in 1897, Mr. Kratochvil having peremptorily declined a reelection. Mr. Dow was nominated by acclamation and elected without opposition. But he was defeated for reelection in 1899 by Mr. Kratochvil, by a vote of 415 to 153, Kratochvil running as the candidate of the "Citizens" caucus, and Mayor Dow as the candidate of a "Republican" caucus. The issues raised in these later campaigns are too fresh in the minds of our readers to justify any reference to them in this article.
B. H. Mallory was elected mayor in 1901, as the candidate of a "Citizens" caucus, receiving 283 votes to 238 for T. E. B. Hudson, the candidate of a "Peoples" caucus.
In 1903, Col. S. J. Parker was elected mayor on the "Peoples" ticket by a vote of 364 to 230 for J. M. Snyder, the "Citizens" can- didate.
BEED'S FLOURING MILL Built in 1:59 and Still Standing
BEED'S LAKE, HAMPTON
CHAPTER XXIX
AN HISTORIC OLD MILL-BUILT IN 1859 BY A. K. HANSBERRY WHO LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE LOWER STORY-KNOWN AS BEED'S MILL OVER A HALF CENTURY-BEED'S LAKE AND PLEASURE RESORT.
A beginning was made on the mill property by A. K. Hansberry in 1857. He built a dam, where a portion of the present dam is, but was not as high as the present one by at least ten feet. He also dug a race nearly parallel with the present one, but it was ten feet lower than the present one, and not over three and a half feet deep.
Hansberry first built a sawmill that stood west of where the grist- mill is, and utilized it to saw out the oak lumber used in the construc- tion of the mill. In 1858 the stone work of the mill was done but the building and fixtures were not completed until 1859. The original building was not one-fourth the size of the present mill, being but two stories in height and sloping down to one story on the east side. After it was in operation, Mr. Hansberry and family lived in the lower story, and the flour, when any was made, came down into a room adjoining the one in which the family lived. During the win- ter seasons much of the time the mill did not run, for the reason that the water in the race froze clear to the bottom, and Mr. Beed remem- bers that in two or three dry spells the water in the race was so low that the mill was compelled to suspend operations.
Hansberry was a Campbellite preacher and was away preaching much of the time, leaving matters at home in the hands of hired help who were not always honest or faithful, and his venture was never a paying one. Mr. Beed thinks that a relative of Mr. Hansberry, John McDonald, of Marietta, Ohio, furnished what funds were put into the venture, and in 1861, Mr. McDonald came on from Ohio and took possession of the property, employing a man named Albright as manager of the mill. But he made no material improvements in the property, and November 16, 1864, he sold the mill, including 134 acres of land and the right of way occupied by the race, to Mr. Beed for $6,500. Mr. Beed immediately commenced improving and add-
453
454
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
ing to the property, and kept adding to it the latest improved fixtures and appliances so that it kept up with the times.
The only store ever at the mill was when a few goods were kept in the little building, yet standing on the north side of the road just west of the mill, now filled with discarded and worn out mill grind- ings, where the late Nial McDonald occupied it as a dwelling dur- ing a year or so of the time that his brother, John McDonald, owned the property. The stock consisted of a few groceries and the whole outfit could be packed into a peddler's wagon, and in fact we be- lieve that Nial McDonald did run such a wagon. At all events, the place never cut any figure as a store, and the stock, such as it was, was closed out a year or two before Mr. Beed bought the property.
Mr. Beed entered the mercantile business in Hampton in 1859, buying out a Mr. Keyes, who was a partner with James Thompson, and after remaining in partnership with Mr. Thompson about two years, bought him out in 1861 and continued to trade in Hampton for many years, as many of the people will remember.
During the years when wheat was the main crop in this portion of the state and custom work was being done, the mill made money, but Mr. Beed expended all its earnings, and probably more, in im- proving the property. It is not called to mind how many times the dam was washed out, and if there was ever any improved mill ap- pliances or mill fixtures to be had, Mr. Beed put them into the mill. Besides, he put forty years of the hardest kind of work into it, and for years it has been a common saying that William G. Beed gave more hours to his business than any man in Hampton.
It goes without saying that after the decline of wheat raising in this country, the mill worked against great odds. For the bulk of the wheat was shipped here from other states and not only that but was hauled by teams from the depot to the mill, a distance of three miles, and the flour or feed from the mill back to the depot or to Hampton. Even with this disadvantage, Mr. Beed thought that the mill could be operated without serious loss if it could only have the patronage of the home market. But other cheaper brands of flour in which there was greater profit, were extensively handled by local dealers, so that the local product had no advantage in the local market.
Mr. Beed believed that wheat sufficient for home consumption at least, could be successfully raised in Franklin county. In the spring of 1904 he sent to South Dakota and got a carload of seed, which he
455
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
sold to farmers at cost, but he only disposed of a little over a third of the carload but those who did sow of the seed got a better quality of wheat than was raised in Dakota where the seed came from.
This mill was always an important factor in the growth and development of Hampton and Franklin county. Before the advent of the first railroad, it afforded a home market for wheat, then the principal product here. Later its custom work for the farmers of all this vicinity was a great convenience. It was always a regulator of the home flour market and was an insurmountable obstacle to com- binations in the price of that staple, or to extortion of extravagant prices. It employed more labor and paid out more for wages than any other interest ever in Franklin county, save and except the rail- roads. It always supported from three to five families and the aggre- gate of Mr. Beed's payroll during the forty or more years of the mill's activity here would capitalize several national banks.
This old landmark has been for some years past out of commis- sion. The building is, however, pointed out to the stranger as one of the historic objects of Franklin county and is looked upon with interest by all who secure even a moiety of its history.
BEED'S LAKE
The people of Franklin county have a resort at Beed's lake, about four miles northwest of Hampton, and here in the summer months gather picnic, fishing and boating parties, where the days are spent in the open and under the spreading limbs and foliage of a beautiful grove of trees. This body of water was secured by building a re- taining wall at one end of a depression of a tract of land and confin- ing the water from Spring creek, which flows into it. This gives a body of water covering about sixty acres. A number of boats be- longing to frequenters of the lake float upon its surface and in the grove have been placed a toboggan slide and other apparatus to amuse the visitor. The owner has always been very generous in giving visitors free access to the grounds and lake, which each sea- son have been under the supervision of a caretaker, whose services have been paid by private subscription. Beed's lake is the only one in the county and is valued exceedingly by lovers of boating and other outdoor sports.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.