USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 38
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Mayor Corbin was reelected in 1884 and in 1885, William Allenson became mayor. Ile was succeeded in 1886 by J. M. George. E. Crabtree presided over the officers of the city in 1887 and 1888, J. M. Watson in 1889. H. N. Johnson in 1890, John Bennetto in 1891 and Ira Saum in 1892. In 1803 B. F. Corbin was again elected mayor and held the office for the three terms, 1803. 1804 and 1895. Then A. J. Simpson was elected for the years 1896 and 1897. Walter It. Ilellen
VIEW OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICT OF WILLIAMS
CITY PARK, WILLIAMS
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
was mayor in 1898 and was reelected in 1899. E. I. Johnson presided in 1900 and A. J. Ripley in 1902. H. F. Willie was then mayor until 1910, when Wm. Whistler was elected. He resigned before the expiration of his term and H. F. Willie was again elected. The mayor at the present time is William Gerber.
In August, 1887, W. A. Hutton started the Williams Herald, but in December following it suspended.
In 1891 Wm. R. Pooley commenced the publication of the Williams Reporter and continued its publication for several years. In 1897 the Wasp was started and some years later the Hornet.
ROSE GROVE TOWNSHIP
ROSE GROVE TOWNSHIP comprises the congressional township of 88, range 23. In early days it was the home of the famous Rose Grove farm and of its owner and manager Judge Rose. While in pioneer days there was quite a settlement in the vicinity of "Rose Grove," it was the last township in the county to become fully settled and in this township the last entry of public land was made. The population of the township in 1869 was 65. In 1880 it had increased to 207 and in 1905 it supported 620 people. One of the first great drainage projects, that of the drainage of lowa lake, was consummated in Rose Grove township. There are no postoffices or railroad stations in the township. Its principal trad- ing point is Williams.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP occupies township 88, range 24. It has a "backbone" of "Morainic Hills" running through its center and on either side of these hills was originally considerable marshy land. Liberty township was settled largely by people of German descent and thus, as a natural consequence, the land has been brought to a high state of cultivation. There are no postoffices in Liberty town- ship, its principal trading points being Blairsburg and Kamrar. Liberty had a population of 468 in 1885 and in 1905, 620.
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP is the home of some of the earliest settlers in the county. It was in this township that Willson Brewer and the Isaac Lyon's first settled. Later James Adams moved in and J. F. McConnell and Hiram Carpen- ter came up from the southern part of the county and made their permanent homes. The sons of these men now live on the farms their fathers founded. In- dependence was also the home of two mills, the Sternberg Mill and Bone's Mill, and in early days it furnished its share of coal for local consumption. Its prin- cipal trading point is Kamrar. This town was platted by the Western Town Lot Company November 28, 1881. It is located in the north half of section 35. Dur- ing the eighties W. H. Iloward was the principal business man of the place. For years he and his sons operated a store, elevator and lumber yard. It is claimed by old settlers that the Howard boys went into business as soon as they were old enough to talk plain and the precision and tact in a business way shown by these little fellows was one of the marvels of the time. The population of Independ- ence township, in 1885 was 639. In 1901 Pierce's addition to Kamrar was platted
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
and in 1903 Carmoney's addition was added. The population of Kamrar in 1910 was 262. Independence township occupies congressional township 88, range 25 except a small portion within the limits of Webster City.
FREEDOM TOWNSHIP
FREEDOM TOWNSHIP was the home of the Williams, Silvers, Barrs, and on account of its being close to the river on its east and to the town of Homer was the scene of our earliest history.
The surface of Freedom township is very level, so level in fact that perfect drainage was for a long time thought to be almost impossible for some portions of the township. Of late years the Fardal drainage system has worked wonders in the way of converting wet, marshy lands into rich well tiled farms.
This township occupies congressional township 88, range 26 except a small portion in the northeast corner included in the city of Webster City.
In 1885 Freedom township had a population of 507. In 1905, 540.
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BOONE TOWNSIIIP
BOONE TOWNSHIP is coextensive with Webster City in extent and is a political organization for the sole purpose of electing justices of the peace and constables. The history of Webster City is therefore the history of Boone township as it now exists. But perhaps this is the proper place to call attention to a record of public service in connection with this township that is as unique and unusual as it is meritorious. In 1874 Percival Knowles was elected justice of the peace for Boone township ; at the end of his term he was reelected. Then he was reelected again and again and now after almost forty years he still holds the office and has held it continuously since his first election. During the last thirty years his elections have come to him regularly without opposition and this too in the face of the fact that Webster City has been almost continuously in the throes of a town fight that stirred up opposition to almost every candidate or measure proposed. Squire Knowles' administration of the office has given complete satisfaction. His de- cisions are usually just and are seldom appealed from. The present indications are that this judicial office, though elective, will be held by the present incumbent until his official tenure is terminated by death or resignation.
This record in itself is a high compliment to the ability and integrity of "Squire" Percival Knowles, and entitles him to high rank among the historical characters of Hamilton county.
WEBSTER TOWNSHIP
WEBSTER TOWNSHIP was the home of the first settler, Preston C. Bell, and within its borders was located the historic town of Homer. The history of the early settlement of the county is practically a history of Webster township. It is rich in natural advantages. It has land, timber, coal, stone, clay, but no railroad. For years Webster township has wanted a railroad, and its people have always been liberal in offers of public aid, but without success. When a railroad comes, this township will be rich beyond the dreams of the pioneer and Homer will grow again. Homer, at one time the largest city in northern Iowa, has two stores, a
STREET SCENE IN JEWELL
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
schoolhouse, two churches and a blacksmith shop. Its buildings are those erected from fifty to sixty years ago. A new house in Homer would be a decided sensa- tion. The farms adjoining Homer are adorned by costly buildings, but within the fatal limits of Homer, the buildings are all black with age and are of the style of a half century ago.
Webster township occupies congressional township 87, range 26.
HIAMILTON TOWNSIIIP
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP occupies township 87, range 25. Among its earliest pioneers were Jackson Groves, Chas. Albright, Robt. Riley and the Cary's. In its beginning this township was filled with ponds and sloughs which actually made the trapping of muskrats more profitable than farming. But corn and grain was a necessity of life and so the high knolls were broken up and planted, and for thirty years the knolls were farmed while fully half the land was consigned to swamp, sloughs and wet, sour places that would raise nothing but coarse slough grass and furnish a breeding place for mosquitoes and muskrats. With the twentieth century came the great drainage era. Hamilton township alone expended $160,- 000.00 for a public drainage system and as much more for private tiling, and today almost every acre in the township is susceptible of cultivation in such crops as corn, oats and potatoes.
One who had never seen the old condition would not believe such waste could exist for so many years, and one who had never seen the new conditon would be loath to believe that Hamilton township of today covered precisely the same ter- ritory that it did twenty years ago, so radical has been the change. And just fully as radical has been the change in price of land, for land that was a "drug on the market" twenty years ago at $25 per acre, can now be readily sold at $150 per acre, and the cause of it all is drainage.
LYON TOWNSIIIP
LYON TOWNSHIP occupies congressional township 87, range 24. It owed its distinction in pioneer time to the fact that Skunk river, with its fringe of beautiful woodland coursed through its eastern border. Lyon township was the home of the Lakins, who first settled within its borders in 1855. But the "Timber Land" was very limited and the prairie country did not settle up very rapidly. However, in 1863, its population was 81 ; in 1870, 188; in 1875, 275 : and in 1880, when the rail- road arrived, 673. In 1905, outside of Jewell and Ellsworth, 629, while Jewell had a population of 958.
Lyon township had its first boom of consequence as a result of the prospective arrival of the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1880. Jewell Junction was laid out by David T. Jewell and residence lots were offered at $25 each and busi- ness lots at $100 each. Jewell grew rapidly from the start and about one year after lots were offered for sale. A correspondent to the Freeman gives the following description of the town which is full of interesting matter :
JEWELL JUNCTION
A little more than a year ago this thriving town consisted principally of "railroad shanties," but a few enterprising men soon came here to commence a town. Mr. Hoppus moved his meat market over from Callanan, Mr. Lauritson
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
was already on the ground; George Stuart, R. H. Rhodearmel, L. E. Lanning and Warburton Bros. put up buildings; Mr. Atkinson rented Ed. Sporiedear's house, Mr. Mead and family occupied the depot. and "business" commenced. Mr. Stuart was painter, and kept a small stock of groceries; Mr. Lanning was grocer and Mr. Warburton had hardware.
In January of the present year. Mr. Strong and William Stevens each built a lumber office, and Mr. Cooper, postoffice and residence, both in one building. After that, houses were moved over from Callanan, one by one, occasionally. as the storms would permit, each moving invariably followed by a storm and intense cold.
In February, Rev. Mr. Van Emans, of Williams, came and preached the first sermon in Mr. Rhodearmel's drug store; formed a small society of such Christians as were here, and organized a Union Sunday school. There was an occasional meeting for singing and sociability. The death of Dr. McDonald in March, brought the people together in a nearer acquaintance and sympathy than anything else had done.
The long blockade of the railroad left the place without mail, and one might as well have been in Sahara or rather Greenland, so far as knowing anything that was going on in the world was concerned. It also reduced supplies till fuel was quite exhausted, and meat and bread were about all the provisions to he had, thanks to Mr. Hoppus for the meat he always managed to have on hand. At one time there was not a pound of sugar in the groceries, and every- body was out. But the long winter finally wore away, the blockade was raised and business commenced. People came and began to build new houses, and more houses were brought from Callanan. Mr. Gillman built his hotel. Mr. King, Mr. New, Mr. Miller and others, put up two-story buildings, the lower story for stores, and the upper for dwellings. Mr. New soon had his grocery started, followed by Mr. Waite's dry-goods store. There are now four dry- goods stores. Crosby and Virtue occupy a large, handsome room in Rev. Mr. Rankin's building, filled with a good stock ; J. G. Klotzbach, in his own building on the opposite side of the street ; Waite & King near the depot, with such a variety that it looks as though you might find anything you were pleased to call for ; S. G. Layne, in a smaller room, but packed full of things "too numerous to mention," are all doing a thriving business.
S. M. New and John Clark deal in groceries, crockery, etc., and it would be hard to tell which is most popular.
Two firms deal in hardware and tinware. Burge & Atherton give exclusive attention to the above, while Warburton Bros. add groceries and agricultural implements. Both are straightforward, square dealing companies.
J. M. Strong and William Stevens are the popular lumber dealers, both keeping as large stocks as the means of supply and the great demand will allow.
The disciples of .Esculapius are Dr. J. G. Wheat and Dr. F. J. Will; Dr. Wheat giving the most of his attention to his drug store. dividing popular favor in that branch with Mr. Rodearmel.
G. W. Blank keeps the meat market, with Mr. Hoppus for assistant. Mr. Gillman is proprietor of the Gillman House. A. Anderson of the Skandinaven. and G. R. Everitt has just taken possession of the City Hotel. All these houses are well kept, and both landlords and ladies know how to please the public.
STREET SCENE IN ELLSWORTH
VIEW ALONG SKUNK RIVER NEAR ELLSWORTH
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Mr. Tallman is jeweler, having his office in Waite & King's store. During the summer months when the people were more intent on houses to live and work in than on jewelry and trinkets, he turned an honest penny and served his country by swinging the paint brush. Since cold weather he has retired to his shop, where he will be happy to meet all who need his services in clock or watch repairing, or any other work in his line.
Atkinson & Company run the elevator. W. J. Chamberlin, Cary Brothers and S. H. Hagan, buy cattle and hogs.
Fail & Blank and A. B. Barnes & Son, keep liveries.
Mrs. C. A. Strong and Mrs. S. E. Haight deal in sewing machines.
Mrs. Haight and Mrs. D. A. Kinsey supply the ladies of town and country with millinery.
George Kinsey, R. Bond and R. M. Johnson do mason work of all kinds.
The carpenters are Messrs. Richey. Bond, Sandage, Breniyer, Beckman, Stuland, and others. Indeed, so great has been the demand for carpenter work, that anyone not otherwise engaged, who could use a saw, plane and hammer was, presto, a carpenter.
G. M. Barkhuff is wagon maker, Mr. Finch blacksmith and wagon repairer. Charles Glamman is another son of Vulcan.
O. A. Borway keeps the boots and shoes in repair, and makes new ones to order.
Don Terry runs a dray. Messrs. Lauritson, Hamaker and H. C. Larson do teaming.
Lest someone looking for a good location for a saloon should think us unprovided. I will say we have three, which abundantly supply the place.
P. J. Johnson is cabinet-maker. Johnson Mead and J. R. King deal in coal, and S. L. Sage teaches the village school. "Tip" Haight. W. T. Fraizier, and S. L. Sage are the expounders of Coke and Blackstone, and their erudition and eloquence are often highly displayed in the justice courts of the place. to the satisfaction of their clients. Haight and Fraizier are also notaries public.
J. T. Haight and J. C. Klotzbach maintain the dignity of the law as justices of the peace.
Rev. J. M. Rankin, Methodist, preaches here once in two weeks, alternating with Rev. Mr. Van Emmans, Presbyterian, from Williams.
In 1884, the Jewell Record was founded by Savage & Savage, and was first issued as a six column folio. In 1885 Jewell had a population of 384 and Lyon township, exclusive of Jewell had a population of 673.
Jewell has prospered from the start, new additions have been added to the town, new brick buildings have taken the place of the old wooden ones, new churches have been erected, a college has been established and some of the finest residences in the county shelter the families of its business men.
In the meantime, the drainage of Mud lake has added a great deal of rich farm land to Lyon township.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP occupies congressional township 87, range 23. The character of the surface was generally level, filled with the usual liberal allow- ance of sloughs, which, when drained, are readily converted into the richest
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
of farm lands. The principal town in Lincoln is Ellsworth. This town was płatted in 1880 and at once began to grow. The population of Lincoln township in 1880 was 395 and in 1889, 579, and in 1905, 888. Ellsworth has grown steadily. Its population in 1905. was 418.
A correspondent to the Freeman in 1881, describes Ellsworth as follows:
ELLSWORTH
Ellsworth is a reality at last and has been duly recognized as having an existence by the postoffice department, and John Ringstad is postmaster, with his office in Thoreson & Company's store.
S. G. Johnson & Company (with A. R. Caudle as the company), have taken time by the forelock and with a commendable degree of energy have established themselves in their own building, which was removed by William and Jerry Keyzer from Callanan.
Mr. Jondahl is building a substantial dwelling and store combined, in which he proposes to place a stock of furniture at an early day.
Thoreson & Company, after many trials and tribulations, have succeeded in planting the bisected Callanan store upon their lot in Ellsworth, and in order to accommodate their increasing trade, sandwiched an extension of twenty feet between the separated ends of their former building, and they now have a large, roomy and convenient place of business.
Hoy's "Eagle Hotel." after much hard tugging and vexations delays, has at last found a resting place on an eligible site and will soon be enlarged and made ready for the accommodation of the traveling public.
Peter Ryberg has removed from the "Grove" and is in full blast, associated with Peter Stein, who runs a wagon shop of Ryberg.
A gentleman from Boone has opened a butcher shop and is actively at work erecting a story and a half front, which will give him ample facilities for the transaction of his business. He comes well prepared with all the appliances of his trade and will undoubtedly do well.
William Richards, Simon Fritzon and Cragewick & Lyders are brain buyers, and their work is well attested by huge cribs of corn already filled to overflowing and yet large quantities of corn to be delivered during the early summer months.
Harry Byers and Cragewick & Lyders are our himber dealers, and good stocks are found in both yards at fair rates.
Charley Lakin has removed from Callanan, and is prepared to furnish a good harness or anything in that line, as well as to act the "artist tonsorial." which he can do in first class manner.
Two saloons stand on opposite sides of the street, scowling grim defiance to each other in the early morning, growing "mellower" as the day wears on and potations begin to do their "work." and at night the quivering shadows between meet in maudlin embrace beneath the pale moon, while Bacchus seems let loose as the welkin resounds with revelry-fit progeny of drink.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP
SCOTT TOWNSHIP is located in the southeast corner of the county comprising congressional township 86, range 23. The sight of the rolling prairies of this township must have been a cause of joy to the settler who had been dragging
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SCENE ON MAIN STREET, ELLSWORTH
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
his westward course through swamps and sloughs in search of the promised land. The first settlers in this township were Lars Sheldahl, who came in '55 and Alexander Starry, who entered land in section 30; Anders Christenson, Peter Larson and Lars Henderson, who came early in 1857, and they were fol- lowed very closely by Lars Henryson, who came with his family the next year and settled in section 30. buying the farm of Alexander Starry, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1896. Among other early settlers might be mentioned the Eglands, Oaks, Charlsons, Anfinsons, Tuckers and Chadwicks. These men were Norwegians by birth and were instrumental in founding the great Norwegian community which has played so important a part in the history of Hamilton county. In 1863, Scott township had a population of 103, and it continued to increase in population with each succeeding census until, in 1905, it had increased to 949. Scott township has no towns within its borders and is given up entirely to farming.
ELLSWORTH TOWNSIIIP
ELLSWORTH TOWNSHIP includes township 86, range 24. The first settlers in this township were Henry and George Staley, who came in 1855. Christ Peterson and Linsey Sowers came in 1857 and John A. Cooper in 1859. In 1863, Ellsworth township had a population of 53 and this steadily increased until 1880 it had a population of 803. Callanan was located in this township. When the Chicago & North-Western Railway arrived, the Callanan population was largely transferred to Jewell and Ellsworth. But Randall was platted in 1882 and notwithstanding the loss of population caused by the moving from Callanan, in 1895, there were 956 people living in Ellsworth township. The people who settled Ellsworth were largely emigrants from Norway. In 1905 Ellsworth township had a population of 1,007, it being one of the most populous rural townships in the county.
The principal trading points are Jewell and Randall. The pioneer business man of Randall is Geo. P. Christenson, who, in company with his father, C. P. Christenson, H. L. Henderson and S. Seymour, organized the Randall Com- pany, which did all the business of Randall for about five years. Then the com- pany divided, the Christenson's taking the grain, coal and banking business, while the general merchandise was conducted by Seymour & Henderson, a firm composed of H. L. Henderson, S. Seymour, O. L. Henderson and M. L. Henderson. This firm continued in business for about six years; W. H. Weir then ran a general store for awhile, and he was succeeded by Peterson and the Christensons. Randall has never been incorporated and is governed by the Ellsworth township officers.
CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP
CLEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP occupies township 86, range 25. So far as topog- raphy is concerned, the south half of Clear Lake township presents the finest stretch of country to be found in Hamilton county. Its surface is gently rolling and a great deal of the land is naturally well drained. The first settler in Clear Lake township was probably W. H. Frazier, who came to Hamilton county in 1856.
Vol. I-21
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Stanhope was laid out by the Western Town Lot Company in October, 1883. It was incorporated in December, 1897. The first mayor was H. E. Fardall. The first town council consisted of A. F. Swanson, J. S. Williams, Iver Johnson. G. E. Hamaker, William Taylor and L. J. Stark. At the first election, thirty votes were cast and the above officers were unanimously elected.
MARION TOWNSHIP
MARION TOWNSHIP occupies township 86, range 26. By reason of its loca- tion near Des Moines river, perhaps accounts for its being settled earlier than many other townships. Among its prominent pioneers are Geo. W. Hook, who came in 1853. W. W. Mckinney, who came in 1857, and A. G. Barquest, who came in 1858. The people of Marion are largely of Swedish descent. Stratford is its principal town. It was founded in October, 1880. In order that a proper idea may be given of the pioneer merchants, the attention of the reader is in- vited to a descriptive article written for the Freeman in 1881 :
STRATFORD
A correct idea of the growth of this place may be obtained from the fact that on last Christmas day not a square foot of lumber could be found on the town site; now no less than ten business houses are open and doing a steady. lively business. In addition to these there are two first-class hotels, one open and in good running order-the other almost completed. The "Stratford House" is first-class, having all the accompaniments for the comfort and convenience of the traveling public. Mr. Dawson. the proprietor, and his amiable lady are peculiarly fitted by nature and education for their vocation.
Anson Deo, the old true and tried, has at last landed his hotel building in its final resting place, and will soon spread his viands on sumptuous tables, for many old and new patrons. If industry and perseverance are signs of success. Mr. Deo will attain to a large measure of it.
J. W. Near, the lively old Hook's Pointer, has opened a mammoth stock of drugs in his large building on Shakespeare avenue, where he will be found freshly powdered and perfumed ready to do any work in his line.
Stratford has a corps of physicians second to none in the state. Dr. Cham- berlain has resided here several years-acquired a good practice and is too well known to need further notice from me.
Dr. Morrison is a young man of scholarly attainments and during the short time that he has been here, has won an enviable reputation in the treatment of disease.
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