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 65

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 65

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Joseph Vincent, J. D .; H. Ashultz, Tyler.

Alden Lodge, No. 356, I. O. O. F., was organized September 28, 1876, with the following named charter members: R. M. Jones, S. C. Stephens, A. R. Furry, W. Aldrich and John Hoskins. The follow- ing were the first officers elected and appointed: R. M. Jones, N. G .; S. C. Stephens, V. G .; A. R. Furry, Sec .; N. Aldrich, Treas .; C. Rummel, R. S. to N. G .; C. S. Houghtaling, L. S. to N. G .; J. G. Reigle, R. S. to V. G .; William Theel, L. S. to V. G. The following named have held the office of N. G. since the organization of the lodge: R. M. Jones, S. C. Stephens, B. E. Strickler, Charles Rummel, J. M. George, A. C. Fuller, B. G. Buchanan, John G. Rick, J. Y. Fiddler, Lasander Popejoy and Wm. Keating. The lodge has a membership of 25, and is in a healthy condition. The following are the present officers: Wm. . Keating, N. G .; R. M. Treat, V. G .; C. D. Pritchard, Sec .; C. P. Johnson, Treas .; R. M. Jones, R. S. to N. G .; P. G. Klip- pin, L S. to N. G .; J. G. Rick, O. G.

Alden Lodge, No 163, A.O.U.W., was instituted April 23, 1878. Its first officers were: John Metcalf, P. M. W .; C.M. Nagle, M. W .; L. H. Utley, Foreman; J. F. George, Overseer; A. C. Whitney, Finan- cier; Geo. M. Simpson, Receiver; H. P. Smith, Recorder; W. W. Jones, Guide; A. M. Merrill, I. W .; S. W. Wilson, O. W .; L. Rummel, John Barrett, S. L. Pierce, Trustees; Dr. B. E. Strickler, Med. Examiner. The P. M. W.'s to date are: John Metcalf, C. M. Nagle, L. H. Utley, A. C. Whitney, H. P. Smith, S.L. Pierce, W. W. Jones. The Lodge is in

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

good condition, with 40 members in good standing. Its present officers are: S. L. Pierce, P. M. W .; B. P. Birdsall, M. W .; H. P. Smith, Foreman; L. H. Utley, Overseer; J. L. Savage, Financier; A. C. Whitney, Receiver; W. W. Jones, Re- corder; H. Snider, Guide; George Taylor, I. W .; George M. Simpson, O. W .; Dr. F. P. Frisbie, Medical Examiner.

Alden Reform Lodge, No. 48, I. O. G. T., was organized October 1, 1881, with a large number of charter members, and the following named officers: W . J. Benham, W. C. T .; Mrs. D. I. Utley, W. V. T .; L. B. Rogers, W. C .; J. Whitney, W. Sec .; Nate Spencer, W. Asst. Sec .; C. C. Clapp, W. F. Sec .; Cora H. Wood, W. Treas .; F. L. Spencer, W. M .; Mrs. Alice Peck, W. D. M .; Worly L. Kemp, W. I. G. ; Henry Shultz, W. O. G .; Mary A. Cantwell, W. R. H. S .; Edith Whitney, W. L. H. S .; Mrs. Sarah R. Peck, P. W. C. T .; L. H. Utley, Lodge Deputy. The lodge has now a membership of 75 in good standing, and is doing a good work. Its present officers are: E. C. Rogers, W. C. T .; L. M. Alden, W. V. T .; L. B. Rogers, W. C .; Mary A. Cantwell, W. Sec .; Edith Whit- ney, W. A. S .; Nat. Spencer, W. F. S .; Ida M. Whitney, W. Treas .; J. N. Wat- son, W. M .; Mary L. Kemp, W. D .- M .; Katie Lee, W. I. G .; W. L. Rummel, W. O. G .; Clara Wood, W. R. H. S .; Kate Cantwell, W. L. H. S.

The Alden Union Lyceum was organ- ized in November, 1858. Cary Hill was the prime mover in its organization. It has held its sessions during the winter months from that time to the present, and has been the means of doing a great deal

of good. It is largely attended, and much interest is manifested in it by the citizens of the place.

HOME OF THE DEAD.

In all civilized countries a place is pro- vided for the interment of the dead. A place was provided by the early settlers, on section 13, which is now known as the Old Cemetery. It was never regularly platted. The first interment was that of Mary Ann, daughter of William and Julia A. Myers, already spoken of as the first death in Alden township.

In 1878 the Alden Cemetery Association was organized, with Mrs. George H. Richardson as President, and land pur- chased adjoining the old cemetery, by the township of Alden, and donated for ceme- tery purposes, which has been platted and is well cared for by the Association. The first interment in this cemetery was that of Walter Massey, a son of S. M. Massey, who was drowned June 9, 1878, in the Iowa river. The present officers of the Association are: Mrs. George Simpson, President; Mrs. Charles Colt, Vice-Presi- dent; Mrs. A. R. Furry, Treasurer; Mrs. E. A. Peck, Secretary. The members of the Board of Directors are: Mrs. W. W. Jones, President; Mrs. George Taylor, Mrs. E. Taylor, Mrs. J. M. Fisher, Mrs. L. Rummell and Mrs. B. P. Birdsall.

NEWSPAPERS .

Alden has had two newspapers-the Alden News and the Alden Times-for a history of which see the chapter on the "Press of Hardin County."

539

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. W. B. Carpenter located in the village in 1856, but remained but a short time. Then came Dr. J. F. George, in 1859. Dr. George remained until 1865, and enjoyed a fair practice. Dr. J. A. Ladd, in 1864, took up his residence in the village, remaining one year. He now resides at Traer, Iowa. Dr. B. L. Dod- son came in 1872; he died in 1879. Dr. Silas Card located here in 1867, and re- mained until 1870. Dr. J. F. George returned in 1873, and remained six years, removing to Iowa Falls, where he died in 1881. Dr. Strickler came next, and re- mained a short time. Then came Dr. J. A. Mulnix. Dr. F. H. Frisbie is the present physician .

The attention of the reader is referred to the chapter of the medical profession, in which more is said of the foregoing, as well as of all the physicians who have resided in the county .

HOTELS .

The first hotel was built in 1855 by M. P. Rosecrans, and is a building now owned and occupied as a residence by . James Barnes.

The Central House was built in 1869, by M. J. Davis. It has accommodations for thirty guests. Mr. Davis still owns and occupies the house, which has a good run of patronage.

A large hotel was built by the Bear Bros., in 1857, at a cost of $6,000, after- wards known as the Spencer House, but which has long since been abandoned as a hotel.

M. J. Davis, who is now commonly known as "'Squire" Davis, is the pioneer

hotel man of Alden. He was born in North Chilli, Monroe county, New York, January 12, 1822, and is a son of Joseph and Roxania (Porter) Davis. In 1826 his parents moved to Oakland county, Mich., where he lived until 1843; and while here he received a good common school educa- tion. It 1843 he moved to Ionia county, Mich., where he lived until 1857, when he came to Alden and immediately bought the American House, which is now used for the postoffice. This house he ran one year, and then rented the old Spencer House, and ran it three years. After- wards he built his present hotel-the Central House. Mr. Davis was elected the first Mayor of the village of Alden, and in 1860 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he has held most of the time since. He was County Supervisor four years, being elected first to fill a vacancy for one year, and then elected for three years. In politics, he is a Republi- can. Mr. Davis was married in Oakland county, Mich., to Miss Matilda Wells, who is a native of Michigan. They have been blessed with five children-Adeline, now the wife of J. G. Whitney; Adelberta A., now in business at Alden; Elinor, now the wife of John Hoskin; Emma, now the wife of A. M. Merrill; Hattie E., wife of J. L. Savage.

ELEVATORS.

Taylor Brothers built a grain warehouse near the depot of the present Illinois Central Railroad, in 1869, and an elevator in 1875. In 1876 this elevator was burned, containing at the time 13,000 bushels of grain. They rebuilt an eleva- tor the same year, with a capacity of 20,000

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

bushels of grain, and having wind-mill power. Peter Taylor is now sole pro- prietor.

Duane Young built an elevator in 1869, which he subsequently sold to Joseph Furry, and he to Richardson & Robertson. It was burned in February, 1876, and re- built the same year. In 1880 it was sold to Simpson & Cousin. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels of grain.

FURNITURE TRADE.

The first furniture store was opened in the fall of 1868, by Whitney & Willis, on the second floor of a building now occu- pied by Frank Lenhart, druggist. Here they remained one year, then rented a building of Duane Young, the same being the one in which Ferguson & Young opened the second store in the town. In February, 1870, the partnership was dis- solved, since which time the business has been conducted by A. C. Whitney.

A. C. Whitney, who is a furniture dealer of Alden, was born in Franklin county, Vt., August 11, 1833. He re- ceived a common school education, and at the age of 16 began learning the carpen- ter's trade. In 1852 he moved to Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., where he worked at his trade. At the expiration of two years he was called home by the death of his mother, and remained there until 1854, when he turned his steps westward, and in January, 1858, located in Alden. He im- mediately began working at his trade, which he followed until he opened a furni- ture store, in company with O. Willis, in 1868, and has since continued in this busi- ness. Mr. Whitney has held the office of Township Clerk, and is the present village

Treasurer. He was married December 31, 1858, to Mary Todd, who was born in Courtland county, N. Y. They have nine children-Ida M., Edith, Lewis, Leona, Minnie, Andrew, Charles, Mabel and Effie.

DRUG TRADE.

The first drug store was opened by P.B. Peck, in June, 1869, in a portion of the building yet occupied by him. This build- ing was the first brick one in the town, and was built by Henry Alden.

Frank Lenhart, who is a druggist of Alden, was born in Clayton county, Iowa, August 10, 1857, and is the son of John and Mary (Rickard) Lenhart. He re- mained in his native county until 15 years of age, when he moved to Alden and be- gan printing. This vocation he followed until February, 1880, when he opened his drug store. He studied drugs with Dr. Frisbie.

WAGON MANUFACTORY.

The first wagon maker was L. Rummel, who opened in a small frame building, in September, 1865. This building was 24x24. An addition was built by Mr. Rummel, 20x30, in 1866. The entire. building was burned January 30, 1869. He then erected a stone building, 30x50, three stories in height, with a frame addition, 35x50, together with a store room, 22x70, two stories in height, the second being used as a paint shop. He now employs about a dozen men in the various depart- ments of his business, and has a trade of $12,000 annually .

L. Rummel was born in Prussia, in 1840. In 1855 he accompanied his parents to America, locating north of Milwaukee,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Wis. He soon afterwards commenced to learn the trade of wagon maker, at Rich- field Station, Wis., and subsequently car- ried on that trade for himself near Fond du Lac, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Alden and opened the first shop in the place. Mr. Rummel has held the office of School Director, and is at present a member of the town council. He is recognized as an honorable citizen and an eterprising business man. He was mar- ried in 1863 to Augusta Schultz. They have six living children-Albert, Lewis, Louisa, Uto, Carl and Clementia.

BLACKSMITHING.

The first blacksmith was Martin Pritch- ard, who opened a shop here in the fall of 1856. Among those now in the trade is Charles Roller.

Charles Roller was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in the year 1849. He came to America during the year 1867, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa. While in his native country he learned the trade of black- smithing, and worked at it for eleven .years in Philadelphia. In the year 1878 he came to Alden and entered the employ of L. Rummel. In April, 1882, he opened a shop for himself. Mr. Roller was married in 1869 to Miss C.B. Riehm. They have been blessed with three chil- dren-Lizzie, Willie and Frankie.

SHOEMAKING.

The first shoemaker was a Mr. McCor- mick, who came here in the fall of 1856, and remained until the following summer.

HARNESSMAKING.

One of the first harnessmakers was J. A. Button, who opened a shop in the fall of

1866, in a building now owned by Charles Hunt. His brother, J. C. Button, was admitted as a partner in the summer of 1869. In 1873 they sold out to Hiram Button, who in turn disposed of the shop to M. A. Grout, in October, 1875. Mr. Grout still continues the business.

M. A. Grout is a son of D. B. and Harriet (Frisbie) Grout, and was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1838, where he remained until 1845, then removed to Ma- comb county, Mich., where he learned the trade of harnessmaking, and remained until 1868. He then came to Wright county, Iowa, and turned his attention to farming, and in 1875 he embarked in the harness trade at Alden. He was married in August, 1863, to Miss L. Aldrich, a daughter of N. and Louisa Aldrich. She was born in Macomb county, Mich.

LUMBER TRADE.

Taylor Brothers were the first to engage in the lumber trade in Alden. They com- menced the business here in 1856, and for twenty-five years were in partnership in the same line. On the 15th day of August, 1882, the firm was dissolved, Edward be- coming sole proprietor.

Peter Taylor and his brother E. Taylor came to Alden in October, 1856, and put up a steam saw-mill, at which mill they man- ufactured most all the lumber used in town and surrounding country for a dozen years following. They only sawed a few logs in the fall of 1856, when the hardest win- ter on record put a stop to that kind of business until May, 1857, and, before the snow had left the valley, building in town commenced at a lively rate. Taylor & Bro. put up the first store in town, in

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

which C. Schoenhals put in the first stock of general merchandise. In 1858 Mr. James Potter, City Engineer of Dubuque, who had an original interest with McClure & Co. in the saw-mill, became a partner of Taylor & Bro., and they ran the saw- mill together until 1870, when James Pot- ter removed to Fort Scott, Kan. In 1859 Taylors & Co. built a bridge across the river at Alden, which stood for about ten years. Peter Taylor accepted an appoint- ment as Assistant Engineer in the U. S. Navy in 1863, and resigned his appoint- ment in September, 1865, returning to Alden, where he married Helen M. Rogers in 1868, and built a house the year follow- ing, near the depot, where they have lived ever since. They have two daughters and a son to divert their attention.

Taylor & Bro. dealt in pine lumber, and hauled the same from Ackley and Iowa Falls for two years before the railroad reached Alden. They built the brick school house in Alden, and put up a grain warehouse in 1869, and an elevator in 1875, which burnt down in 1876, with 13,000 bushels of grain, and was rebuilt the same year by them. E. Taylor was married in 1865 to Louisa Schultz. He bought the brick house built in 1857 by John Pea- body, where he has resided ever since. He has two children, a son and a daughter. In 1881, after 25 years of partnership, they separated their business, E. Taylor continuing in the lumber and Peter Taylor in the grain trade.

BANKS.

The Bank of Alden. was established in June, 1873, by Nagle, Birdsall & Co. In the spring of 1875, Benjamin Birdsall &

Son became proprietors. T. J. Birdsall is the active man of the firm.

T. J. Birdsall, who is one of the pro- prietors of the bank of Alden, was born in Waupaca county, Wisconsin, October 5, 1851, and is the son of Benjamin and Ann (Lee) Birdsall. Here, in his native county he received a good education at the public school. In 1871 his parents moved to Alden, and in October of 1872, he entered the law office of C. M. Nagle, of Alden, and remained until the following year when he entered into partnership with his father and Mr. Nagle, in the banking business. He was married April 28, 1874, to Miss Julia L. Nagle, who is a native of Clayton county, Iowa. Two children have been born to them-John M. and May L.

The banking house of Duane Young, was opened in June, 1874, and continued by Mr. Young for four years, or until June, 1878.

Duane Young, who is one of Alden's pioneers, was born in Johnston county, New York, February 18, 1832, and is the son of Richard and Maria (Simcer) Young. Until eleven years of age, he attended the common schools, and after that, obtained such education as could be gathered during his leisure hours. Mr. Young is truly a self-made man. Beginning in life with nothing, he has accumulated wealth, until he is now one of the richest men in Hardin county. At eleven years of age he began to work in a woolen factory, at which occupation he continued until twenty, when he crossed the plains to California, and for three years followed mining, and here received his first start in life. In 1856 he returned to Utica, New

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY. 543

York, and remained one year. In going west he passed through Iowa, and liking this part of the country, he determined to settle here; accordingly, in 1856 he came to Alden, and during that summer, built and opened, in company with A. B. Fer- guson, the second store in Alden. They were engaged in trade together until 1862, when they dissolved, and Mr. Young carried on the business alone for some years. During his business career here, he has been engaged in the grain trade, banking business and mercantile trade, and has always been known as one of Alden's most enterprising business men. In January, 1881 he opened a bank at Clarion, which now occupies the most of his attention. He was united in wedlock, in 1857, with Miss Mary Ann Chadwick, of Utica, New York.

Five children have been born to them- Charles D., George W., William H., Mabel and Maud.

- RAILROAD.

In 1868 the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad was completed to this place. During the winter of 1868-9, a depot building was erected. The first regular agent was J. M. Fisher, who took charge of the office September 1, 1869. With the exception of a few months-from March 9 to October 11, 1881-he has occupied the position to the present time.

J. M. Fisher was born in York county, Penn., February 11, 1832, where he re- mained until twenty-six years of age, re- ceiving a good common school education. In 1858 he came west to Princeton, Ill., where he was engaged as lumber salesman for six years; thence to Independence,

Iowa, where he entered the employ of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad, now the Illinois Central; and on September 1, 1869, he took charge of their office at Alden, where he has since resided. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Miller) Fisher. He was married in 1863 to Lydia Smellbecker. They have one son-Abra- ham Lincoln, now telegraph operator at Alden.

OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Among other business men worthy of especial notice are A. R. Furry, general merchant; H. T. Williams, miller; J. B. Fitch, agricultural implements; Milton Utley, hardware; M. F. Bigelow, livery; Henry Alden, meat market; J. T. Fiddler, restaurant.

A. R. Furry, one of the leading business men of - Alden, was born in Marshall county, Ind., in 1848. He came to Har- din county with his parents in 1855. He received a good common school education, with an attendance of five years at the Iowa College, at Grinnell. He then clerked for J. Q. Patterson, at Eldora, during 1892-3. He was then with his father at Alden until he engaged in busi- ness for himself in 1880. He was married in 1877 to Miss Ida, daughter of August and Frederica Grapp, of Milwaukee, Wis. They have two children-Harlie E. and Cora May .

H. T. Williams is a son of Tyler and Lavina (Francis) Williams, and was born in Foxboro, Mass., May 17, 1831. In 1838 his parents moved to Portage county, Ohio, where he remained until 1852. He then moved to Chicago, Ill., where he worked at millwrighting two and a half

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

years; thence to Lockport, Ill., remaining until 1870, when he came to Eagle City, Hardin county, where he was engaged in milling four years; afterwards for the next four years he was engaged in work- ing in the Eldora mill, and, in 1878, rented the Alden lower mill and ran it one year, and afterwards was at Hardin City, Par- kersburg and Iowa Falls until December 6, 1881, when he returned to Alden, and has since been running the lower mill. He was married December 25, 1870, to Miss Belinda Smith, a daughter of James Smith, of Hardin township. Five children are the result of this union-James Tyler, Arabella, Oscar Orlando, Francis Henry and Cora B.

J. B. Fitch is a son of Prosper and Maria (Vaughn) Fitch, and was born in Otsego county, N. Y., February 16, 1827, where he received a good common school education, and remained until 1852. He then moved to Oswego county, N. Y., where he was engaged in farming ten years; then spent two years in barrel- making at Syracuse, N. Y .; then six years in Lewis county, N. Y., engaged in the manufacture of lumber and barrels. He then came to Alden, and settled on section 32 and bought 160 acres of land, on which he made a few improvements; this he dis- posed of the following year. He after- ward moved to Buckeye township, and was there engaged in farming two years, and in 1879 he engaged in the agricultural implement trade at Alden. While in Buckeye township he held the offices of Town Clerk and Secretary of the School Board. He was married May 8, 1851, to Martha Shepherd. She bore him two sons -John and Lewis-and died in 1857. He

was married to Sylvia J. Groat, January 27, 1859. Four children have been born to them-Ray, Edmund, Harry and Kate.

Milton Utley, who is one of Alden's leading business men, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., December 17, 1838, and is a son of Isaac and Electa (Cogswell) Utley. In 1839 his parents moved to Courtland county, N. Y., where he re- mained until 18 years of age, receiving a good common school education. In 1856 he came West to Bureau county, Ill., and engaged in ·farming, which occupation he followed until he came to Alden, in 1868. Soon after coming here he embarked in the drug trade, in which business he remained until September, 1878, when he opened his present hardware store. He- was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Thompson, in 1860, who bore him one son, Addison E., and who died in 1864. He was married again in 1873 to Deborah J. Blakeslee. The fruit of this marriage was two daughters-Minnie and Nellie May.

M. F. Bigelow, a son · of Foster and Mary (Bordworth) Bigelow, was born at Conway, Mass., May 17, 1845. In 1856 his parents moved to St. Lawrence county, N.Y., where he remained until 25 years of age, ·when he came to Alden, remaining until 1873, when he moved to Eldora. After spend- ing about one year at Eldora, he returned to Alden and opened a livery. Mr. Bigelow is the present City Marshal. He was married in 1869 to Miss Eveline Burnham, who was . born in Illinois, but was reared in St. Lawrence county, New York.

Henry Alden was born in Ashfield, Mass., in the year 1831, and was reared on a farm. In May, 1870, he came West and located at the village of Alden, and built

Beard.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

a brick block on Main street. In 1873 he opened a meat market here, and has since been engaged in this business, with the exception of two years. He was married June 4, 1856, to Miss Maria Leonard, who is also a native of Ashfield. They have four children living-Ella M., William H., Charles A. and George R.

J. T. Fiddler, who is owner of the Alden restaurant, was born in Richmond county, Ohio, January 2, 1851. He is the son of Henry and Francis (George) Fiddler. In October, 1853, they came to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they remained until

March, 1854, when they settled in Hardin township, where they still reside. In 1872 J. T. went to Eldora, and began clerking in a furniture store, where he remained two years, and then engaged in the sewing- machine trade, which business he followed until 1871, when he opened his restaurant at Alden, in which business he still con- tinues. For the past four years he has been Constable of this township, and has made a very efficient officer. In 1876 he was married to Miss Laura D. Strong. Two children have been born to them, both of whom have passed away.

CHAPTER XXI.

BUCKEYE TOWNSHIP.

This township is located in the western tier of townships in Hardin county. The first settlement was made by two brothers by the name of Pilgrim, who located on the southwest quarter of section 12 in the summer of 1853. They here built a double log house, each part being about sixteen feet square, one story in height, covered with shakes. The body of this house is yet standing, and occupied as a residence. The house was on the stage route from Dubuque to Fort Dodge, and was a station on the route-the only.one

between Cedar Falls and Webster City. The Pilgrims, while agents at this station, would feast their guests by spreading the cloth on a dry goods box for a table. When the meal was completed, the cover of the box was removed, and what remained of the repast, together with the dishes, were placed inside.

The Pilgrims were pioneers in the true sense of the term. They remained in this township only until 1855, when they sold out and went farther west. Their place

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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 65

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