USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 13
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Carpenter Shops-T. L. Tracy, Charles Roe and David Hileman.
Gunsmith-W. J. Muller.
Carriage Manufactory-W. A. Fouts. INCORPORATION.
The first attempt at incorporating Mis- souri Valley was at an election held Jan-
uary 17, 1871, when the measure was lost by a majority of twenty-one votes. But the matter was still in the minds of those who had the best interests of the place at stake and the measure was carried at a. subsequent election during that same year-and December 1, 1871, the village was legally incorporated as a "town." W. J. Harris was elected as the first Mayor and E. J. McBride, as Recorder. The following is a complete list of the Mayors and Recorders from that day to this (1891). The place was re-incorporated as a "City of the Second Class" in 1886.
1872-D. M. Harris, Mayor ; (term filled out by F. M. Dance) ; E. J. McBride, Re- corder.
1873-F. M. Dance, Mayor ; L. E. Mas- sie, Recorder.
1874-F. M. Dance, Mayor; A. S. Avery, Recorder.
1875-F. A. Pike, Mayor; L. N. Good- rich, Recorder.
1876-F. A. Pike, Mayor; W. H. Brad- ley, Recorder.
1877-J. K. McGavren, Mayor; George P. Shiley, Recorder.
1878-J. K. McGavren, Mayor; R. H. Harris, Recorder.
1879-J. K. McGavren, Mayor; C. D. Moore, Recorder.
1880-M. I. Bailey, Mayor; A. Edge- comb, Recorder.
1881-M. C. Bailey, Mayor ; W. H. Fens- ler, Recorder.
1882-D. M. Harris, Mayor; A. L. Tam- isea, Recorder.
1883-D. M. Harris, Mayor; A. L. Tam- isea, Recorder.
1884-M. I. Bailey, Mayor ; J. S. Dewell, Recorder.
1885-J. S. Dewell, Mayor; H. C. War- ner, Recorder.
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1886-O. B. Dutton, Mayor, J. S. Mc- Gavren, Clerk.
1887-W. W. Seaton, Mayor; J. S. Mc- Gavren, Clerk.
1888-W. W. Seaton, Mayor; J. S. Mc- Gavren, Clerk.
1889 -- D. M. Harris, Mayor; F. M. Dance, Clerk.
1890-D. M. Harris, Mayor; O. B. Wal- ker, Clerk.
1891-George T. Royer, Mayor, resigned, Abe Bachrach, appointed; O. B. Walker, Clerk.
CITY WATERWORKS.
In the months of October and Novem- ber, 1889, the city put in a complete sys- tem of water-works. The supply of the purest water is obtained by the use of drive-wells. The pumping station is at the foot of First and Erie Streets and to- gether with appliances cost the city $15,000. The present year (1891) $5,000 more is being expended to extend the sys- tem. The capacity of the plant is 200,000 gallons. A reservoir is situated on the bluff overlooking the city. There are ten drive-wells or points, which furnish an abundance of the finest drinking water. The city bonded itself for $15,000-the same running twenty years at 5 per cent.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
As early as 1874, "Rescue No. 1," fire company was organized as a protection against the fire-fiend. Its first President was E. McBride ; E. F. James, Secretary ; F. A. Pike and E. F. James Vice-Presi- dents.
The 1891 officers are: E. F. James, President; C. H. Deur, Vice-President ; D. P. Baker, Secretary ; W. Herron, Trea- urer; William Newfind, Chief; William Wisler, Foreman.
"Rescue No, 2" was organized June
1890, with about sixteen members. The officers are the same as No. 1, except that of Foreman, who is W. H. Fensler. The city has two hose-carts, fifteen hundred feet of hose and a good hand-engine. But the pressure system of the water-works does away with the use of the latter.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
The first secret society to occupy our attention would naturally be the order of Free and Accepted Masons. The tradi- tions of Free Masonry form a species of precious heritage. Rightly understood and interpreted they are as beneficent as they are authoritative. This ancient and honorable order rests on a foundation as broad as human sympathy. Its objects are by precept and practice, to foster vir- tue, to inculcate charity and to bind the members together in enduring bonds of brotherly love. It is a professor and teacher of every moral and social virtue. This institution has its foundation deeply laid in the hopes, aspirations and affections of men, or it never could have come down to us through the ages, evolv- ing and developing with the lapse of time, adapting itself through the revolv- ing centuries to the changes of religion, civilization and enlightenment, ever re- taining its hold upon the human heart.
Blue Lodge No. 232, of A. F. & A. M., was instituted at Missouri Valley June 3, 1868, by the following charter members : Robert McGavren, Master; W. C. Ellis, S. W .; P. D. Mickel, J. W .; E. K. Robin- son, Secretary. G. H. McGavren, George Moore, Jolin Mickels, Sherm: More- house, J. A. Fowler, M. A. Phillips, Ed. Culver, E. T. Mckinney and W. J. Harris. The lodge now numbers eighty-three. Dr. E. J. Chapman has been Master more years than any other one man, commenc-
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ing in 1871. The present (1891) officers are: G. T. Hopkins, W. M .; J. F. Lewis, S. W .; J. B. Lyons, J. W .; Dr. E. J. Chapman, Secretary ; R. Robinson, Treas- urer. In 1883, this order with the Odd Fellows erected a fine brick block costing $8,000. They first met in a frame building over a grocery store on Sixth Street. W. M. Pelan and E. J. Chapman have repre- sented the order at the Grand Lodge.
Triune Chapter, No. 81, was formed Oc- tober 4, 1876, with the following charter membership: William Pelan. H, P .; Robert McGavren, King; E. J. Chapman, S. ; Cyrus T. Weston, Secretary ; Thomas Mann, C. of H. ; T. W. Merritt, P. S. ; J. D. Sharp, R. A. C .; L. E. Massie, G. M. Third Veil; David Douglas, Second Veil; J. W. Axtell, First Veil. At one time this lodge had a membership of fifty-six, but on account of removals at this writing has but forty-six. The 1891 officers are : F. M. Dance, H. P .; D. Douglas, King : J. L. Witt, Scribe ; W. T. Weston, Secre- tary ; E. J. Chapman, Treasurer; G. T. Hopkins, C. of H .; J. F. Lewis, P. S. ; L. S. Cook, R. A. C .; C. S. Hoar, G. M., Third Veil; W. Middleton, Second Veil; George Varnes, First Veil ; Sammel Moore, Sentinel.
Order of Eastern Star No. 126, was in- stituted December 6, 1878. The charter members: were: Carrie Todd, C. C. Lahman, Ella Davis, Ella Douglas, Anna Schultz, Martha M. Harris, Laura Mann and F. Shouble. The present officers are : Mrs. C. C. Lalman, W. M. ; Mr. D. M. Harris, W. P .; Mrs. Ella Donglas, A. M .; Mrs. Anna Davis, C .; Mrs. Nellie Hills, A. C .; Mrs. F. R. Coit, Treasurer; Mrs. Lizzie A Lewis, Secretary; Mrs. Mary E. Boies, Warden; Mrs. Anna Schultz, Chaplain.
Anchor Lodge No. 66, of the Knights of
Pythias, was organized October 26, 1882, by the following charter members: D. J. Adlum, M. I. Bailey, F. P. Carlisle, W. W. Cook, T. O. Carlisle, W. M. Carlisle, E. N. Coleman, E. C. Connors, N. S. Dahl, Frank Dodson, W. S. Fens- ler, O). B. Fredericks, W. M. Harrison, G. T. Hoskins, Fred Johnson, A. S. B. King, C. W. McGavren, Neal McLeod, J. E. Marsh, T. B. Owden, W. R. O'Neal, L. Shouble, H. N. Warren and W. H. Ramsey. The lodge now has a member- ship of forty-nine. The present officers are: J. F. Fegan, P. C .; J. H. Vickers, C. C .; M. O'Connor, V. C .; C. T. Crippin. P. ; Peirce Welch, M. at A. ; J. S. Dewell, M. of F .; D. J. Adlum, M. of Ex .; J. S. McGavren, N. S. Dahl, Neal McLeod, Trustees.
Missouri Valley Lodge, No. 170, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized, October 21, 1869. The charter members were: D. M. Harris, N. G .; G. Green, V. G .; T. E. Dubois, Secretary ; Isaac Hill, Treasurer ; William Compton. The lodge was organized by W. L. Biggs, D. D. G. M., of Council Bluffs. The highest number in the lodge has been 'ninety-one. The present number is sev- enty. The 1891 officers (elective) are: W. H. Campbell, N. G. ; H. W. Miller, V. G .; D. M. Harris, Secretary; James Laughery, Treasurer.
Red Cloud Encampment, No. 97, was organized November 24, 1882, with the following charter membership: F. M. Dance, C. P .; Robert McGavren, H. P .; Jolm F. Lewis, Treasurer; George H. Bedgegood, S. W. ; G. W. Burbank. Scribe. At one time this lodge numbered twenty- five, but at this time only has a member- ship of nine. The 1891 officers are: C. J. Churchill, C. P .; Robert McGavren, H. P. ; William Campbell, S. W. ; G. W. Bur-
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bank, J. W. ; W. E. Wisler, Scribe ; Thomas Hainer, I. S. ; John C. Caley, Treasurer.
Lillian Lodge of Rebecca Degree of Odd Fellows, No. 20, was instituted Octo- ber 20, 1875, with the following charter membership: Robert McGavren, J. K. McGavren, F. M. Dance, William Comp- ton, John S. Goss, J. Laughery, J. Fer- rill, R. Palmer, D. M. Harris, George W. McGavren, A. M. Cross, E. A. Boies and sisters, E. R. McGavren, Mary E. Boies, Martha Compton, Mary S. Goss, Rhoda Ferrill, Lizzie Laughery, Martha M. Har- ris and Ellen Cross.
Good Templars' Lodge, No. 174, was organized November 6, 1886, by Mrs. A. Schultz, who was the first chief Templar. C. S. Hoar, was the first Secretary. The order now has a membership of twenty- six. The present officers are : H. B. Coe, Chief Templar; Ernest Arthur, Secretary ; Mrs. A. Schultz, Lodge Deputy. The lodge has been a potent factor for good in the city and country as well. Much credit must be ascribed to Mrs. Schultz, for the carrying on of this work of reformation.
The Missouri Valley Library Associa- tion was organized May 11, 1881. The in- corporators were D. M. Harris, Mrs. Anna Schultz, Mrs. J. F. Marsh, M. Hol- brook, Mrs. E. W. Hibbard, Mrs. C. H. Foster and Mrs. D. A. Shiley. It was carried on by voluntary subscription- the city finding the room only.
Among the early librarians were Mrs. Anna Schultz and Miss Lillie Fergu- son. Mrs. Schultz was the first Presi- dent ; Mrs. F. L. Manderville, Vice-Presi- dent; M. F. Frick, Secretary ; Mrs. C. H. Foster, Treasurer. The first committee to select books was: Prof. E. N. Cole- man, Mrs. J. F. Marsh and Mrs. Rev. Weller. With the exception of two month's absence, Mrs. Schultz has been
the president. The 1891 officers are : Mrs. Anna Schultz, President; Mrs. E. F. James, Vice-President; M. Holbrook, Treasurer; D. M .. Harris, Secretary ; Mrs. Schultz, Librarian ; Miss Inez Foster, As- sistant ; the Trustees are: Mrs. C. C. Lah- man, Mrs. M. Holbrook, Mrs. A. B. Hos- brook, Mrs. E. A. Boies and Mrs. John Anderson. The library now has sixteen hundred books.
Belden Post, No. 59, G. A. R., was organ- ized, September 27, 1881, by the following charter membership : J. P. Lahum, C. E. Wills, A. B. M. Ellis, John Thompson, E. A. Boies, John S. Goss, O. L. French, E. Owens, J. Case, W. H. Berry, L. N. Goodrich, C. Alexander, D. Heagney, F. H. Cook, B. H. Benice, W. N. Fouts, W. N. Fouts. A. H. Livingston, John Martin, J. G. Williams, E. J. Cobleigh, L. Craw- ford, Z. W. Zoyer, R. Marksbury and A. L. McIntosh.
The following is a list of those in good standing in the Post at this time :
J. D. Brown, Eighteenth Connecticut Regiment.
W. H. Campbell, Company H, Eleventh Illinois Infantry.
E. A. Boies, Company B, Forty-third Wisconsin Infantry.
G. C. Walker, Captain Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Pennsyl- vania.
W. H. Berry, Company A, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry.
John Thompson, Company C, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry.
Byron Manderville, Company A, Six- teenth Wisconsin.
William Newfind, Company K, Thirty- second Illinois Infantry.
J. P. Hutton, Company E, Third Cali- fornia Cavalry.
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J. Sholnheiner, Company I, First Mich- igan.
George Hendricks, Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio.
J. Byers, Company F, Sixty-fifth Ohio.
Z. West, Company G, Eighth Missouri Infantry.
S. H. Gray, Company D, Thirty-first Illinois Infantry.
Thomas Wilson, Company B, Indepen- dent, Dakota Cavalry.
G. B. Ashby, Company G, Seventy- second Indiana Infantry.
J. M. Owens, Company C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
William Fisher, Company G, One Hun- dred and Twenty-eighth Ohio.
William Dixon, Company I, Fortieth Iowa Infantry.
C. H. Foster Eighty-ninth Iowa In- fantry.
J. N. Brewer, Company K, Twenty- first Wisconsin Infantry.
Isaac Blunt, Company B, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry.
A. H. Livingston, Company F, Nine- teenth New York Artillery.
L. H. Goodrich, Company F, Sixty-fifth Ohio.
W. W. Seaton, Company D, Seventy- fourth Illinois Infantry.
T. J. Norris, Company I, Second Iowa Cavalry.
H. W. Miller, Company K, Seventh Iowa Infantry.
F. L. Davis, Company E, Fifth New York Cavalry.
W. A. Williams, Company C, Sixty- second Illinois Infantry.
T. W. Bain, Sergeant Navy Depart- ment.
B. Fox, Company H, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry.
J. C. Seibolt, Third Iowa Battery.
A. B. M. Ellis, Company C, Twenty- ninth Iowa Infantry.
E. Cole, Company H, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry.
J. W. Wymore, Company C, Fortieth Iowa Infantry.
A. C. Harder, Company G, One Hun- dred and Thirtieth Pennsylvania Infantry.
C. E. Willis, Sergeant Company C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry.
John Jewell, Company I, Eleventh Mis- souri Cavalry.
Peter Kurley, Company D, Eighty-ninth New York Infantry.
J. H. Crowder, Eighteenth Indiana.
George Reiber, Company B, Second West Virginia Cavalry.
John Goss, Company H, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry.
O. L. French, Adjutant Seventy-fifth Illinois.
George Jaco, Company B, Seventeenth West Virginia Infantry.
John Bridgeman, Company B, Fifty- first Indiana Infantry.
Logan Crawford, Second Lieutenant Company H, Fifteenth Iowa.
The following are the present officers of the Post: T. W. Bain, P. C .; E. Cole, S. V. George Ashby, J. V. ; W. H. Camp- bell, Q. M .; H. W. Miller, Adjutant. At first the Post met at Beebee's Hall, but in the autumn of 1890 they leased fine quar- ters in a block on the corner of Erie and Second Streets, used also by the Brother- hood of Engineers and Firemen.
Woman's Relief Corps, No. 230, at Mis- souri Valley, was formed April 3, 1891, by forty members. It now has forty-seven members. The officers are : Mrs. Clara A. Davis, President; Inez F. Foster, Secre- tary; Mrs. Clara (. Lahman, Sr. Vice; Mrs. Francis M. Shiley, Jr. Vice; Miss Jennie Carpenter, Chaplain; Mrs. Mary
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E. Boies, Conductor ; Miss Hallie G. Jaco, Guard; Mrs. Carrie Owens, Assistant Conductor; Mrs. Fannie Brown, Assis- tant Guard.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By far the most important among the necessities which spring up and demand attention, in any new town now-a-days, is the common school. In direct proportion paid to it does the common school add to the sum of human happiness, by increas- the sphere of human usefulness and duty. The history of education is the history of that long struggle by which human intel- lect arrived at just conceptions of its na- tive powers; a struggle in which we all feel an interest; a struggle which comes to us laden with accumulated facts of the ages, heavy with the weight of years, yet beneficial and beneficent in influence. As a result of the scope of education it has become enlarged; the educator partakes very much of the relation of an adviser as well as an instructor of youthhood.
The great mass of our education comes after we have ended our school days, and the teacher and text books have been re- placed by life's stern activities, and that harsh old pedagogue, experience, comes to do the remainder. This is now recog- nized in our modern way of education, and the common school adapts itself to the needs of the present hour. It is the edu- cational factor of this age, the molder of the nation's future; and in its recognition the city of Missouri Valley has cause for self congratulation. It is a proud feature of the place that she sustains good schools and able instructors, made more active by the enthusiastic and liberal-minded Board of education.
An independent school board wasformed at this point, in the spring of 1868, a frame
building was at first leased, but in 1871 a fine public school building was erected at a cost of (contract price) $12,000. This is known as the Second Ward building. Im- posing Masonic ceremonies were held upon the corner stone laying. On the north- east corner is the following inscription, carved into the massive stone :
"O. P. Watters, G. M .- A. D. 1871 -- A. L. 5871;" also the names of the Board, "J. D. Brown, President ; D. A. Babcock, J. R. Zuver, C. H. Cobleigh, Dr. L. D. McKinley, Dr. G. H. McGavren, W. M. Pelan, F. M. Dance." On the left side of the building is this: "1871-W. Angelo Powell, Architect-William P. White, Contractor and Builder."
It was thought by the most enthusiastic that this building would serve all the patrons of the Valley for many years to come, but not so, for we find that August 10, 1866, a contract was let for another building, at $8,711. This was known as the "First Ward School." It was finished in the spring of 1827. The Board at that time was J. S. Wattles, President ; J. S. Dewell, Secretary; M. Holbrook, Treas- urer ; C. P Brandriff, Dr. E. J. Chapman, C. J. Carlisle, A. Edgecomb and S. S. Boner.
At an election held May 17, 1871, by a majority of thirty-six it was decided to issue bonds to the sum of $10,000, to assist in erecting a suitable building. The corner stone was set August 17, 1871, and when all finished it cost the district $20,- 000-the lot was valued at $1,000. At first this building was heated by stoves, but later on a modern furnace was pro- vided. This building stands at the corner | of Fifth and Huron Streets, and on the same lot is a frame building, used tempor- arily for a school room ; besides the Board
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now have to lease of the city a portion of the City Hall for school purposes.
The Board of 1891 is Dr. G. W. Coit, President (has held the office for twenty years) ; L. N. Kellogg, Treasurer; J. S. Dewell, Secretary; B. W. Carlisle, E. F. James, G. T. Hopkins, Henry Goss and L. Brown.
The Independent District of Missouri Valley has school buildings costing to the amount of $26,000, and they are of that tasty, substantial character which recom- mends the judgment and foresight of those to whom the business of providing for the wants of the locality in the way of school buildings has been intrusted. Here one finds the best grade of High Schools in Harrison County.
According to the Superintendent's re- port for October, 1890, Missouri Valley schools employed seventeen teachers, and had an enrollment of six hundred and sixty-one pupils. At this time it has a hundred or more additional.
The Fourth of July celebration at Mis- souri Valley, in 1883, was made one of sadness owing to some half a dozen dis- tressing accidents which occurred that day in and near that place. Among the worst was the killing of J. M. McPherson, who, in company with a few others was on the bluff north of the city, at about 4 o'clock in the morning, firing the na- tional salute with a cannon. The seventh round had been discharged, when Mr. Mc- Pherson thought to increase the sound of the cannon by adding damp dirt to the powder. The eighth gun was fired and sounded much more to his fancy ; but not content he added still more dirt, almost filling the cannon to the muzzle His comrades admonished him of the danger by so loading, but he at once discharged the load, which broke the cannon into |
four pieces, one of which struck McPher- son on the hip, crushing him badly. He died at 2 o'clock the same day.
During the month of August, 1868, a Young man was drowned, together with a small boy. The man's name was Ken- nedy, and the sad accident happened near the village of Calhoun, in Willow Creek. It was supposed they were in bathing, got into too deep water, and neither being able to swim were drowned. Some boys happened along the bank of the creek and seeing their clothes gave the alarm and soon their lifeless bodies were found.
In 1871 Mr. Sekell was shelling corn at the grain warehouse, and had the bin half full ; it was passing through a chute into the car. Isaac Hetherington's adopted son, five years old, jumped into the corn chute and was carried so far down beneath the body of shelled corn that no human power could extricate him alive. No blame was attached to any one, but in a half hour his lifeless remains were taken from the corn chute.
The first child born in Missouri Valley was Anna Wanzel, now Mrs. Edginton, of Minneapolis. The date of her birth was May 27, 1867.
POST-OFFICE HISTORY.
An office was secured at this point in 1867, and the first postmaster was W. C. Ellis, who kept the office in a general store. Then came A. T. Burchard a drug- who was succeeded by W. C. Ellis. He conducted the postal business at the Val- ley until 1871, and was succeeded by J. H. Crowder, who held the office until 1885, a period of fourteen years. He was followed by S. L. Berkley, who gave way in Cleve- land's administration to T. O. Carlisle. Following him came J. D. Brown, who
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took the office under President Benjamin Harrison's administration.
The office was at first kept in a frame building, on lot 5, of block 12, at the corner of Erie and Fourth Streets. It was first a fourth-class office, but is now of the "third- class."
VALLEY ROLLER MILLS.
In 1875 S. L. Berkley & Co. erected what was styled the Phoenix Flouring Mills. It was 30x57 feet and four stories high, situated in the northwest part of the city on McGavren Street, Addise's Ad- dition to Misssouri Valley. It was pro- pelled by a sixty-horse power engine, and had a storage capacity of five thousand bushels of grain. It was the old-style mill and contained four runs of burrs.
November 17, 1879 (as is supposed by some), burglars entered the mill for the purpose of "cracking" the money safe, and in their manipulations at their dark and secret work accidentally, it is sup- posed, set the mills on fire. The whole plant was laid in ruins, and the grain and flour all consumed by the fire-fiend. This mill originally had been in operation at Magnolia, and removed to Missouri Valley on account of railway advantages. The mill was a paying concern, hence was speedily re-built. Mr. Berkley sold to Matthew Blenkison and he sold the prop- erty to L. M. Kellogg. In 1882 Alvah Edge- comb bought a half interest in the mill. Soon after they put in the modern-style "Roller Process." They now have thir- teen sets of "rolls," giving the mill a daily capacity of one hundred barrels of flour. The building, as it now stands, is 36x74 feet and four stories high. The mills product is mostly consumed in and near Missouri Valley. The quality of flour is most excellent.
The Valley Bank was first the private bank of Pelan & Mickel (William Pelan and P. D. Mickel), established in March, 1869. In 1872 M. Holbrook became asso- ciated, and continued to operate the busi- ness until January 1, 1889, when the "Valley Bank" was organized with a cash capital of $75,000. The officers were: Marcellus Holbrook, President; M. W. Coolbaugh, Cashier; and W. J. Burke, Assistant Cashier.
In July, 1891, M. Holbrook sold to J. J. Amen. The present capital is $75,000. The officers are: J. J. Amen, President ; M. W. Coolbaugh, Cashier; and W. J. Burke, Assistant Cashier.
The bank is protected by a Diebold safe, with time lock. Their corresponding banks are Koontz Bros., N. Y .; Centennial Na- tional Bank, Chicago; Officer & Pusey, Council Bluffs.
The Pelan Bank was started in 1873, by William Pelan and Son and J. S. Wattles, who subsequently failed and paid off sev- enty per cent.
The First National Bank of Missouri Valley was organized May 20, 1884, with a capital of $50,000. The first officers were : O. B, Dutton, President; M. Blenkiron, Vice President ; J. G. Dutton, Cashier; L. M. Kellogg, E. W. Hibbard, C. B. Dutton, M. Blenkiron, Robert Mc- Gavren, directors.
In September, 1890, Mr. Dutton retired and L. M. Kellogg was made President and John S. MeGavren was made Cash- ier.
The officers at this time are: L. M. Kellogg, President; J. S. McGavren, Cashier; M. Blenkiron, Vice President. The directors are: L. M. Kellogg, M. Blenkiron, Robert McGavren, H. B. Cox, C. H. Deur.
Their place of business is in their; brick
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block on Erie Street, built in 1886, costing $6,500. They have fine vaults and all well protected by time lock. Their corres- ponding banks are : Chase National, N.Y .; Union National, Chicago; First National, Omaha, Neb .; First National, Council Bluffs.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY.
This is an incorporated company, which dates from March, 1887, and consists of thirty-one members. They commenced to run in 1888. The capital stock was $6,000, but has been increased to $15,000. One dividend has been declared. The "Jenney System" is employed. They have one dynamo, the capacity of which is six hundred lights. The city is now using thirty-eight street lamps, operated by this company. The power is derived from a one hundred and twenty horse power Corliss engine, manufactured by the Sioux City Engine Works.
Dr. G. W. Coit is President of the com- pany; E. F. James, Superintendent ; D. J. Adlum, Secretary; the Valley Bank is the treasurer. William Perkins, Electri- cian, has been with them ever since the plant started.
The prime movers in the concern were : Dr. J. W. Huff, of Onawa; W. H. Fen- sler, Dr. E. J. Chapman, David Douglas, J. S. Dewell, A. Edgecomb, C. C. Deur, L. M. Kellogg and M. Holbrook.
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