History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101

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Han Nichtson

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Mrs. Israel A. Johnson, Mrs. P. P. Cady, Mrs. Mary Meeker, Mrs. Dancer; Secre- tary, Mrs. Susie Martin; Treasurer, Mrs. E. G. Swem. The Hubbard Union is in a flourishing condition, having now 22 mem- bers, in place of 7, which it had in the beginning. At the State Convention, held in October, 1881, Mrs. Susie Martin was the delegate. At the late County Convention, Mrs. Fry, of this Union, read an essay on "Temperance in our Schools," which was highly spoken of. Mrs. Susie Martin, also of this Union, read an essay entitled "Why Join the W. C. T. U?" an- other able article. For a time the Union controlled a column in the Hubbard Times, which was edited by Mrs. Frances Kelley. The present officers of the Union are as follows: Mrs. Mary C. Fry, President; Mrs. Dr. P. Slack, Vice-President; Mrs. Susie Martin, Secretary; Mrs. Minnie Cut- ler, Financial Secretary; Mrs. M. J. Kelley, Treasurer. The present officers of this Union are: Mary C. Fry, President; Mrs. E. G. Swem, Vice-President; Susie J. Martin, Secretary; Mrs. J. E. Cutler, Financial Secretary; and Frances J. Kel- ley, Treasurer.

The Iowa Legion of Honor, No. 113, of Hubbard, was organized, under a charter from the Grand Lodge of the State, in June, 1881. There were 24 charter mem- bers. The following named were elected and installed as its first officers: J. L. Marshall, President; J. J. Parsons, Vice- President; Harvey Slack, Rec. Sec .; J. K. Milner, Fin. Sec .; D. M. Shellenberger, Usher; Madison Slack, Treas .; R. J. Reid, Chaplain; W. H. Scott, Sentinel; Robert Trout, Doorkeeper. Its present officers are, J. L. Marshall, President; D. M. Shel-

lenberger, Vice-President; Harvey Slack, Rec. Sec .; Hillis W. Fannon, Fin. Sec .; Madison Slack, Treas .; C. W. Whitney, Usher; R. J. Reid, Chaplain; Robt. Trout, Sentinel; J. J. Parsons, Doorkeeper.

Idaho Lodge, No. 454, I. O. O. F., was organized June 27, 1882, with the follow- ing named charter members: J. H. Bales, Irvin Mills, J. K. Milner, W. H. Bailey, C. A. Clancy, J. C. Bailey and A. E. Mills. Its first officers were, J. H. Bales, N. G .; Irvin Mills, V. G .; J. K. Milner, Secretary; W. H. Bailey, Treasurer. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a member- ship of 25.

Concordia Collegium, No. 106, V. A. S. Fraternity, was started at Hubbard July 5, 1882, with eight charter members, viz: S. O. Ridout, Dr. P. Slack, Mark J. Kelley, Samuel S. Doak, H. D. Riand, E. B. Bond, Henry De Witt and William Weir. The officers are, S. O. Ridout, Rector; E. B. Bond, Vice-Rector; Mark J. Kelley, Scribe; P. Slack, Sarcedas; H. D. Riand, Usher; Henry DeWitt, Speculator. The order is in a prosperous condition, having for its object the fraternal welfare of its members, and life insurance.

ATTORNEYS.

The first Attorney to locate in Hubbard was J. J. Parsons, who first hung out his shingle in November, 1880. He was fol -. lowed by L. O. Lowden at a later period. See Bar chapter.

NEWSPAPERS.

The Hubbard News was the first news- paper, its first issne bearing date April 2, 1881. Its publication discontinued August 1, 1882. The Hubbard Times now represents

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

the enterprise of the place. See chapter on "The Press."

HOTELS.

The Hubbard House was the first regu- lar hotel built in the place. Its erection was commenced in the fall of 1880, and completed and occupied January, 1881. It was built by George R. Lohr, who opened it to the public in January, 1881. It is a two story frame building, conveniently arranged, containing twenty-one rooms. George R. Lohr ran the house until the spring of 1881, when he formed a partner- ship with his brother, T. J. Lohr, the two running it until November 17, 1881, when it was leased by J. W. Swafford, who still continues its management. The house is quite popular.

E. B. Gard also opened a hotel in Aug- ust, 1881, known as the Gard.House, which is very popular with the traveling public.

THE BANK OF HUBBARD.

This institution was opened December 1, 1881, and reorganized March 1, 1882, with W. Thompson, President; S. S. Sweet, Vice-President; E. G. Swem, Cashier. It is the first and only bank in the place, with sufficient capital to do a good safe business. The President and Vice-President reside at Belle Plains.

ELEVATORS AND MILL.

Among the first to seek an opening for business in Hubbard were James and Spence Nichols. In the fall of 1881 the brothers built a large elevator near the depot, two stories in height, with basement, and having a capacity of 20,000 bushels of grain. In connection with the elevator is

a feed mill, with a 20-horse power engine. This is the only mill in the place. The firm handle a large amount of grain in the course of a year, and also deal somewhat extensively in stock.

Another elevator was erected in the fall. of 1881 by Francis & Valentine, from Poweshiek county, Iowa, with a storage capacity of about 10,000 bushels, and now owned by Thompson & Swem.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

As already remarked, J. L. Marshall was the first to engage in the general mercan- tilc trade in the town. There are now five firms-Marshall & Bales, J. J. Neumann, Strother & Milner, J. C. Moorman and T. J. Hunter.

Strother & Milner opened up a stock of general merchandise December 9, 1880, on the corner of Illinois and Maple streets, in a building 22x60. They are young men of business qualities, and have succeeded in working up an extensive trade.

J. L. Marshall was in trade in the village of Idaho, in Grant township, when the town of Hubbard was laid out, and realizing that this place was to be the "future great," and that Idaho would have to succumb to the inevitable, lost no time in removing to this place. "He opened his stock in a building erected for the purpose, on Maple street, on the 17th day of November, 1880. On the 14th of October, 1881, J. H. Bales was admitted as a partner, and the firm now do business under the name of Mar- shall & Bales. They carry a fine stock and have an excellent trade.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

HARDWARE.

The pioneer hardware merchant was J. M. Christy, who yet continues in the trade, having a partner, and doing business under the firm name of Christy & Trout.

Hadley & Webb were not far behind the first firm, opening out a stock of the same line of goods, January 1, 1881, on the corner of Maple and Michigan streets. Their building is 22x60 feet, with a ware- room in the rear 20x35 feet. The firm is doing a heavy business, being well and favorably known. Mr. Hadley is in the same line at Eldora, while Captain Webb gives his personal attention to the business at this place.

MEAT MARKET.

The first market established in Hubbard was in October, 1880, by Hayworth & Mills, who continued to do business until the spring of 1881, when they were succeeded by Mills & Knode. In the fall of 1881 Irvin Mills became sole proprietor, and yet continues the business.

LUMBER YARDS.

D. M. Shellenberger & Co. established their lumber yard in Hubbard, November 1, 1880. They are pioneers in the trade. They keep a stock which is a credit to the town, and have a very large trade. D. M. Shellenberger, a number one business man, has charge of the business.

S. F. Hammer & Co. are also dealers in lumber.

OTHER TRADES.

In the summer of 1882, in addition to the trades and firms already mentioned,

S. F. Hammer & Co. are dealers in agri- cultural implements; Frank Reese has a restaurant; J. W. McNabb is the shoe- maker; J. Q. A. Hutton represents the jewelry interests; E. B. Gard is the har- ness maker; Whitney & Wales have a livery stable; E. B. Bond is a photographic artist; Charles Edgett is the tonsorial artist; Mrs. M. S. Kenney, sewing machine agent; J. J. Parson, postmaster; Samuel Surprise, H. D. Riand and Whitney & Wales, draying; Mrs. Tamar Slack and Miss Eliza Lockwood, milliners; George W. Hongh, L. O. Lowden, Philip Slack, E. G. Swem and F. J. Kallmerten, insur- ance agents; L. O. Lowden, land agent and attorney; Dr. Philip Slack, Dr. F. J. Kallmerten, Dr. William Painter, Dr. Isaac Ridout, physicians; Eaton & Hinshaw, furniture dealers; C. A. Clancy, black- smith; J. W. Skellenger, wagonmaker; Thomas Cloud, Julius Bender, Jesse Kearnes, August Belka, G. W. Reeves, John Dunn, J. B. Rush, D. F. Magee, carpenters; E. Witherspoon, brick and stone mason; George S. Clift, C. S. Car- others, H. L. Wood, painters; Holt & Manning, Charles Lundy, plasterers; Miss Vora Turner, Mrs. Lydia Easton, Mrs. F. D. Slinker, Miss Vira Benson, dress- makers; S. S. Doak, express and station agent.

THE FUTURE.

Judging from the past, the town of Hub- bard has a bright future before it. Sur- rounded by a fine country which is tributary to it, with live business, with unrivaled school and educational privileges, it should be a prosperous town.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

COAL INTERESTS.

The Cedar Rapids Daily Republican of June 15, 1882, contained the following allusions to the coal interests of Hubbard, which at the present time are being de- veloped:

On December 10,1880, S. T. Robinson, formerly agent for the Michigan Division of the Grand Trunk Railway at Cassapolis, Michigan, came to Hubhard as agent for the Chicago and North- western Railway Company, and believing this would be a grand place to make a home, began at once to cast about prohabilities and possibilities for the town of his choice. Finding that exten- sive coal mines had already been developed at Eldora, fifteen miles to the northeast; also at another point twenty-five miles to the southwest, he had business sagacity and experience cnough to cause him to arrive at the conclusion that Hubbard itself rested upon an immense coal bed. Having arrived at this conclusion, feeling a moral certainty in the correctness of his con- clusions, the next thing to do was to cause some of the far sighted business men of Hubbard to see the enterprise in its true light. It took but little time to do this, and in four days there was plenty of men to join him in going down into the bowels of the earth and force her to yield up her rich treasures. On January 10, 1881, the Hubbard Coal and Mining Company was organ- ized at DeRoy Ellsworth's store in this city, and the following officers were elected: President, D. R. Ellsworth; Directors, E. B. Gard, J. L. Marshall, Hugo Neumann, Irvin Mills, J. M Christy; Secretary, S. T. Robinson; Treasurer, D. M. Shellenberger. The capital of the com- pany heing fixed at $10,000. Operations com- menced at once. Some land was at once leased, and during the snow blockade of the winter of 1881, many were the bright pictures drawn by the enterprising men composing the company. Thus whiling away those long to he remembered fifty-one days of snow blockade, passed with no connection but the telegraph with the outside

world, and thus did they brace each other up during this fearful spell of weather. As is usu- ally the case in this class of enterprises, there arose some slight jealousies, but nothing caused the faith of Mr. Robinson to waver, and ably seconded in his efforts hy Mr. E. B. Gard, DeRoy Ellsworth and others, they were success- ful in interesting Mr. Geo. J. Bliss, and eight other gentlemen of Chicago in the enterprise. An arrangement was made with responsible parties to put down a prospect hole to the deptli of 300 feet. On November 15, 1881, the com- pany commenced drilling at a distance of seventy rods east of the depot, on Hugo Neumann's land, and on May 26, 1882, six months and eleven days from the time the drill commenced to go down into mother earth through the sand, and clay, and rock that composed her outer shell at a depth of a little over 360 feet, they showed up five feet and three inches of coal. This coal bed has a fine black slate roof, and directly below is six inches of fine clay; next below this eleven inches of Indian town marble; and heneath this fire-clay, all going to show that undoubtedly there is yet another vein of coal of finer quality and thicker, a short distance below the one already developed.

A joint stock company was organized in July, 1882, with a capital stock amounting to $100,000, and articles of incorporation were filed at DesMoines. At the present time 4,000 acres of land have been leased by the company. Articles of incorpora- tion are as follows:

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that, under and in pursuance of the Statutes of the State of Iowa, a corporation for pecuniary profit has heen cre- ated by the name of "Hubbard Mining Company of Iowa."

The principal place of business of the corpo- ration is at Clinton, in Clinton county, Iowa.

The general nature of the business of the cor- poration shall be to purchase or lease land in the State of Iowa, and to prospect or explore

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

therein for coal, stone or other valuable miner- als, and to mine, take out, remove, sell or other- wise dispose of the same, and to have and exer- cise all the rights, privileges and immunities granted to and conferred upon like corporations by the laws of the State of Iowa.

The amount of stock authorized is one hun- dred thousand dollars ($100,000), of which one hundred (100) per cent. shall be paid when sub- scribed for.

The corporation is to commence on the 1st day of September, A. D. 1882, and to continue 20 years, with power of rencwal.

The business of the corporation is to be man- aged by a Board of five Directors, who are to be elected by the stockholders on the first Thursday in May in each ycar (after the year 1883), at such place and in such manner as the by-laws may prescribe; and the Directors so elected are to elect or appoint the following officers, to-wit:

A President,

A Vice-President,

A Treasurer,

A Secretary.

The Directors created by the articles of incor- poration are:

George J. Bliss, of Chicago, Illinois. John M. Whitman, of Clinton, Iowa. Edson P. Albee, of Lombard, Illinois, Hiram R. Mccullough, of Chicago, Illinois. Charles E. Simmons, of Chicago, Illinois. And the officers so created are:

George J. Bliss, President. John M. Whitman, Vice-President. Hiram R. Mccullough, Secretary. John M. Whitman, Treasurer.

The highest amount of indebtedness to which this corporation is at any time to subject itself is sixty six thousand six hundred and sixty-six and sixty six one hundredths ($66,666.66-100) dollars.

The private property of stockbolders is exempt from liability for the debts or liabilities of the corporation.

Dated August 23, 1882. - John M. Whitman, Melvin J. Ballou, Hiram R. Mccullough, William F. Fitch, Edward W. Beattie,

Edson P. Albee, James H. Staver, George J. Bliss, Samuel T. Robinson,

Charles E. Simmons,

Corporators.

BUSINESS MEN.

Among the business men worthy of special mention, are those of whom sketches are here given:)

DeRoy Ellsworth, one of the well-known pioneers of Hardin county, was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1834. He is the son of D. Freeman and Rhoda L. (Babcock) Ellsworth. Until nine years of age DeRoy lived with his parents upou a farm. He then moved with them to Condersport, the county seat of Potter county, and at thirteen years of age began clerking in a store. In 1854, in company with his parents, he came to Hardin county, locating at Eldora. He arrived here on the 25th day of May. His health having failed him in the East, he determined to follow an out-door life, but, after working one month, he went into the store of G. W. Jones, where he remained five months. He then again tried out-door work, turning his attention to farming and carpentering. From 1855 to 1865 he alternately followed the mercantile trade, with some out-door employment. In February, 1865, he obtained a position in the Quartermaster's Department in the Army of the Potomac, serving until the close of the war, when he

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

returned to Eldora. Mr. Ellsworth has led an active life, and -been a valuable member of society. Every public enter- prise has found in him an advocate and a helper. He was for several years a mem- ber of the Board of Supervisors of Hardin county, and has held other local offices. Had he belonged to the dominant party he would doubtless have held higher positions, but in politics he has been a life long Dem- ocrat. He is a member of the United Workmen and Knights of Honor, of El- dora. DeRoy Ellsworth and Charity L. Westfall were united in marriage April 21, 1868. They have three children- Emrick E., Charles D., and DeRoy C. Mrs. Ellsworth is a native of New York, and came to Iowa in the spring of 1867.

J. H. Nichols was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 27, 1847, where he remained until 1867, receiving a liberal business education. He came with his parents to State Center, Marshall county, Iowa, in 1867, and soon after entered the mercantile trade with his brother, S. J., and in 1880 the firm built and began to occupy their new large steam elevator at Hubbard. He was married October 10, 1871, to Miss Althea S. Brayton, of DeKalb county, Illinois. They have two daughters - Bessie and Edith.

S. J. Nichols was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 15, 1850, remaining until 1867; thence with his parents to State Center, Iowa, where, in company with his brother, J. H., he entered the mercantile trade, remaining until 1880, when he, in company with J. H., opened the grain and live stock trade at Hubbard. He was married October 1, 1879, to Miss

Hattie Jones, a native of DeKalb county, Illinois.

T. W. Strother was born in Hancock county, Ohio, December 28, 1849. In 1850 his parents settled in Clayton county, Iowa, his father, C. W. Strother, being one of the early settlers of that county, where they remained six years. He then settled in Olmstead county, Minnesota, remaining ten years, and then settled in Pleasant township, this county. T. W. received a liberal education. In 1869 he took a course in Bailey's Commercial College, at Dubuque, and afterwards entered the em- ploy of Wilde & Bliss. In 1880 he entered into partnership with J. K. Milner, at Hubbard. He was married in 1873 to Miss Rebecca Jane Elliott, a native of Illinois. Ther have two children-Mabel and Mary.

J. K. Milner was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, February 22, 1854. In 1855 his parents moved to Jones county, Iowa, his father, R. W. Milner, being one of the pioneers of that county. In 1865 he went to Clinton county and engaged in teaching; afterwards to Dubuque county, and was engaged in mining three years; afterwards returned to Jones county, and in 1880 he came to Hubbard and entered into the mercantile trade with T. W. Strother. He was married in 1879 to Miss K. L. Elliott, a native of Illinois. They have one child -Daisy D.

J. M. Christy was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1855, re- maining until 1878. He received his education at Jamestown College, graduat- ing in the class of 1873. He afterwards taught school in different parts of the West, and was also engaged in the hard-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

ware trade at Jamestown, Pennsylvania. In 1878 he came to Iowa and located at · Ackley, teaching in this county until he engaged in the hardware trade at Hub- bard, in October, 1880. He was married in 1880 to Miss Mary Hadley, of Provi- dence. They have one son-Guy.

D. M. Shellenberger was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1849. His educational advantages were common school, with two years at the State Normal. In 1872 he was engaged in the lumber trade in his native town, remaining until 1876. He then came to Iowa and re- mained at Maquoketa and Clinton until October, 1880, when in company with the Clinton Lumber Company he opened a lumber yard at Hubbard. He is one of the present Councilmen of this place, and Vice-President of the Order of the Legion of Honor. He was married in 1873 to Miss Lena Smith, of Pennsylvania, who _ bore him one son-Robert.

J. L. Marshall, merchant, was born in Richmond, Indiana, September 22, 1845. In 1846 his parents moved to Lee county, Iowa, where his father, Stephen Marshall, entered a farm, and died in 1849. In 1857 he moved to Henry county, Iowa, and in 1860 to Hardin. In 1862 to McLean county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. In January, 1865, he enlisted in Company D, 152d Illinois Infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Memphis, Ten- nessee, September 18, 1865. He then en- gaged in trade at McLean, Illinois, with J. S. Barber & Co. In 1866 he sold his interest and came to Henry county, Iowa, where he was married March 18, 1866, to Miss Elva Frazier, of that county, remain- ing there until 1871, engaged in farming,

and then embarked in the mercantile trade at Idaho, Hardin county. November 17, 1880, he removed his stock to Hubbard, where he still remains one of Hubbard's most enterprising business men. Mr Marshall was raised a "Friend," and still adheres to that religious faith. They have five children living-Clayton, Andrew, Bertha, Willard and Cora.

Isaac Painter, son of Thomas and Mary Painter, of Paintersville, Green county, Ohio, was born April 22, 1830. His youth- ful days were spent on a farm with his father. His education was such as could in those days be obtained in the log school houses, with one log out and greased paper inserted for window lights; the furniture consisting of slab desks and benches, puncheon floor, the old-fashioned fire-place, the governing rule, the beach rod, and the pupils studying their lessons aloud. Tiring of the monotonous scenes of home, as is often the case, young Painter, in the autumn of 1849, came West to seek his for- tune. He stopped for a while at Moores- ville, Morgan county, Indiana, where he attended a better grade of school for a time, clerking in a store and teaching a writing school to pay expenses, and for pastime courting the pretty girls. March 16, 1852, he was joined in wedlock to one Joanna T. Johnson, daughter of, Ashley and Lydia Johnson, of Monrovia, Indiana. The matrimonial cermony being said, and the knot being tied by the parties them- selves, as was the custom amongst the Quakers of that day. A short time after Mr. Painter and wife wended their way back to the old homestead in Ohio, where they sojourned one year, during which time unto them a son was born, whom they

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

named Thomas Ashley, in honor of his two grandfathers. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Painter and wife emigrated West, to settle in life, and bought a farm and settled thereon, two miles north of Monrovia, Indiana, remaining there until the 15th day of September, 1870, during which time, sons and daughters were born unto them, to-wit-Ludovic J., Edwin J., Laura Letta, Mary Lydia, Willie R. and Jesse. By this time Mr. Painter thought the Western prairies would be a good place for so many boys, so he pulled up stakes and started northwest across the country with teams, and landing at Iowa Falls, Hardin county, Iowa, in October 1870, lo- cated on the farm where the pool of Siloam now is; and here is where their youngest daughter, Annie, was born, making eight children in all. Remaining there until the spring of 1876, they moved with the tribe of Isaac, and pitched their tents on 240 acres of prairie land in the southern part of Hardin county, in Grant township; where by industry, economy and persever- ence, they have fitted up a beautiful and comfortable home, whereon they live at the present time, with their two younger chil- dren-Jesse and Annie-the rest having settled in business for themselves. Mr. Painter has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for four years past in Grant township, and has been engaged in the real estate business for two years past in the town of Hubbard, Iowa. He has al- ways taken an interest and an active part in public improvement wherever he resided. Has also been interested in Sabbath Schools and moral reforms of the day, as well as in the politics of his country. In politics he has usually acted with the Republican

party, but of late has cast his vote with the Greenback party, believing that a re- formation is much needed in national af- fairs, and that a change in party power would bring it about.

C. A. Clancy was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1851. In 1855 his parents moved to Henry county, Illinois, his father, Alex. Clancy, settling on a farm, remaining eleven years; thence to Marshall county, lowa, and in 1867 to Tipton town- ship. C. A. started a blacksmith shop at Idaho, this county, in 1876, where he re- mained until he came to Hubbard in Octo- ber, 1880. He holds the office of Conduc- tor in the Odd Fellows' Lodge of this place, of which Order he is a member. He was married in 1872 to Harriet C. Gettis, a native of the Hawkeye State. They have three children living.

J. W. McNabb was born in the county of Lampton, Ontario, in May, 1854, where he remained until 1879. He began learn- ing the trade of shoemaking when sixteen years of age, which trade he has since fol- lowed. In 1879 he came to Montgomery county, remaining about three months, when he went to Butler county, remaining about four months, when he came to Eldora, Hardin county, remaining until the spring of 1881, when he opened his shop in Hubbard. He was married January 19, 1877, to Miss Alma A. Yokom, a native of Canada. They have one son living --- Dustin Wallace, born in Cananda.

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History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002