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 14

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150

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 14

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The Missouri Valley Real Estate and Improvement Company is the title of one of the business institutions of this city. It was incorporated March 9, 1889, for a period of twenty years, the capital being $10,000. The first officers were: J. S. Wattles, President; A. Edgecomb, Vice President; E. A. Boies, Treasurer ; J. D. Brown, Secretary.

The general nature of the business to be

transacted by this corporation shall be the buying and selling of real estate, platting additions to Missouri Valley from lands therein and in the vicinity. The improve- ment of such real estate by erecting build- ings thereon and otherwise, and in general to acquire, own, use, lease and dispose of said real estate, including lands, town lots and the improvements thereon, as the in- terests of the company may require.

The present officers are: J. S. Dewell, President ; A. Edgecomb, Vice President ; J. H. Crowder, Treasurer; J. D. Brown, Secretary.

RAILWAY SHOPS.

The history of Missouri Valley would be far from complete without some ac- count of the shops of the Fremont, Elk Horn & Missouri Valley aud Sioux City & Pacific Railways, for it means worlds to the "Valley." "Pay day" is the day watched for with great interest in nearly all branches of business. The shops were built here in 1869 and at first employed fifteen men. Engine No. 1, the first en - gine to run west of Cedar Rapids on the North-Western system, is still here and doing good service. A great deal of his- tory might be written about the shops, enough to make a fair-sized volume of it- self, but to give some idea with a few sta- tistics, will be all the space will allow. There are employed as a rule, about three hundred men in the shops and office, which makes a monthly pay roll of about $13,000. No wonder that "pay day"is a big day for Missouri Valley. Besides those employed in the shops, there are about two hundred other employes that make their home here, engineers, conductors, firemen, etc.

The general foreman of the whole shops is Frank M. Miles; S. A, Teal is master

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mechanic. The different departments are presided over by the following foremen : machine shops, George W.Burbank ; boiler shops, Michael O'Connor ; blacksmith shop, Giles Hopkins; carpenter shop, Mathias T. Weston, master car builder, W. H. Ramseyer; store-keeper, A. L. Tucker; Jerry Ward, foreman of the paint shop and T.R. Coit of the tin shop.

The Elkhorn road has engine No. 2, and from fourteen to ninety-two and from two hundred to two hundred and nine inclu- sive, while the Sioux City & Pacific has engine No. 1, and from three to thirteen inclusive, making in all one hundred and two engines, which must be kept in re- pair at these shops.

THE MISSOURI VALLEY BASE BALL ASSOCIATION.

An organization started by the leading business inen of Missouri Valley was in- corporated July 11, 1888, with a capital of $5,000 and soon won for itself a wide rep- utation.

In 1889 it was considered the best am- ateur club in Western Iowa, winning that year twenty-five games out of thirty-five played. Some of these games were very interesting, among which should be men- tioned the one played with the Stewarts of Stewart, Iowa, which claimed the championship of the State. Missouri Val- ley shut them out, the score being eight to nothing.

Among the clubs played that year were Des Moines League, St. Paul League, Norfolk Club and others of considerable note.

The games of 1890 show twenty games won by Missouri Valley out of twenty- eight played. 1891 ten won and eighteen played.

The managers for the different years have been as follows : 1888-89 W. M. Har-

mon, 1890, B. A. McKay, 1891, William Burke.

CHURCHES.

Where the church spires and public school buildings are numerous, "the stran- ger within the gates"-no matter what his own belief may be-feels that he is in a safe abiding place.

The first sermon preached at this point was during the month of October, 1867, in the dining room of the American House, now known as the Royer Hotel, by Rev. Mr. Little of the Presbyterian denomina- tion.

The Roman Catholic Church, known as St. Patrick's Church, was organized in 1867 by the following: John Tamisiea, John and L. Martin, Joseph Mohat, Jo- seph Dean, P. Snyder, J. Dougherty, Edmond Burke, B. Riley, E. W. Ben- nett, Jacob Zohner, J. Kelly and Louis Piquet

The same season a neat frame edifice was erected at a cost of $2,500 with a seat- ing capacity of two hundred and fifty. Prior to 1867 services were held at private houses, Fathers Tracy, Kelley, Dexacher and Eagan officiating. The last named built the above church and was succeeded by Fathers McMenomy, Dunn, Garahou, Lynch, Morran, Kempker, Malloy and the present priest, T. J. Mullen. The present number in this congregation is one hun- dred families.

The Christian Church at Missouri Val- ley was organized in 1883. Their church building is 40 x 45 feet and is located on the corner of Fourth and Superior Streets. The lot 'cost the society $600 and the building cost $1,100. The present mem- bership is one hundred and forty-two.

The following pastors have served :

Revs. C. P. Evans, D. R. Dungan, J.

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Denton, Israel Swihart, J. W. Snyder, D. D. Miller, Elder Wagner, L. J. Correll, James Connoran, J. H. Painter, E. L. Poston, D. J. Howe, J. K. Reid, John Hurd, J. B. Vawter and A. B. Cornell.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Missouri Valley was organized originally at Old St. John and moved to this place in 1869. It now enjoys a membership of three hundred. The first pastor was Rev. G. W. Blodgett, who, in company with G. M. Goodrich, waited upon John I. Blair, the great railroad magnate, who donated the lot upon which the church was lo- cated. It is a neat frame building and easily seats three hundred people. Its cost was $1,600. It was built in 1869. The first set of trustees was as follows: Dr. George W. McGavren, Mrs. M. C. Ellis, Robert McGavren, M. Berry, E. K. Robinson and John S. Goss.

The Seventh Day Adventist Society was organized at this point, but they never became sufficiently strong to erect a build- ing. Mr. Bunnell and daughter are the only remaining members in the place.

The First Presbyterian Church at the Valley was organized February 13, 1869, and had for its organizing memberships the following persons: J. S. Wattles, Jane M. Wattles, Dr. George W. Coit, Anna A. Coit, Caroline M. Carroll, Mollie A. Ellis, Carrie Dn Boies, L. A. Simons and Hattie C. Justice. In the summer of 1870 a neat chapel was erected, at an ex- pense of $1,200. In the summer of 1887 a comfortable parsonage was added to the church property, costing $1,100. In 1888 the church had a membership of forty- one. At this writing (1891) it has a mem- bership of forty-four. The ministers who have served the people have been : Rev. W. M. Pelan, from March, 1869 to 1872; Rev. H. A. Barclay, from November, 1872, to ;

November, 1873; Rev. R. S. McCine, from March, 1873, to December, 1874; Rev. A. N. Darley, from May, 1874, to March, 1875; Rev. J. B. Welty. from 1876 to 1878; Rev. C. C. Wellen, from the fall of 1880 to December, 1881; Rev. S. N. Vail from May, 1882, to April, 1885; Rev. N. Chestnut from November, 1885, to Sep- tember, 1887; Rev. P. S. Davis from April, 1888, to this time.

Upon the Sabbath in February, 1869, when the believers in this faith met for the purpose of forming a church, build- ings were scarce and they met in a sort of hall over a store building. While it was a sacred day to them they were annoyed by the sound of hammer and saw of workmen, not a few. who were building near by them. This, with the ring and click of lager beer glasses in the saloon underneath them, made them feel as though truly they had a work to do, at once.

The First Baptist Church here was or- ganized October 14, 1877, by the following memberships: E. J. Cobleigh, Mrs. E. A. Cann, T. B. Berkley. Mrs. N. D. Berk- ley, M. H. Goltry, Charles Berkley, Mrs. Hattie Chapman, Mrs. Laura Blake, Mrs. E. Agusta Livingston, Mrs. T. (. Berk- ley, Mrs. S. Z. Hileman, Miss M. L. Berkley, A. Carlton and Miss Jennie Berkley.

In the spring of 1883 a church building was put under contract, which was dedi- cated to the Lord's service July 8, the same year. Its cost was $1,000. The present membership of this society is thirty-three. The church property isnow valued at $3,000, including a parsonage purchased in 1891 for $1,100. The church is situated on the corner of Huron and Sixth Streets. The following have served as pastors : Rev. J. M. Bay, Rev. Will-

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iam Sears, Rev. Ira E. Kenney, who gave $100 toward the building of the church; Rev. William E. Randall, Rev. Mr. Taylor, Rev. T. F. Thickston, Rev. J. B. Murch, Rev. John Bordenham and Rev. F. M. Smith.

The Brethren or "Dunkard" Church. The organization of the Brethren Church grew out of a great religious awakening which occurred in Germany during the closing years of the seventeenth century, when large numbers becoming dissatisfied with the State Church withdrew from its communion and associated together for the worship of God. They were called Separatists or Pietists.

In 1719 they commenced emigrating to America. They are now most numerous in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas. They have held worship in Harrison County since about 1871, the first meetings being held in schoolhouses near Wakefield's mill, in Calhoun Township. In 1891 they per- fected an organization and erected a church building at the head of McGavren (First) Street, in Missouri Valley on land owned by L. S. Snyder. The cost of the building was $600, dedicated by Rev. Mr. Johnson August 16, 1891. They have a membership of fifteen. Since holding services in the county they have had the following pastors: John Filmore, Isaac Dell and L. S. Snyder.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper venture at this point, was July 3, 1868, upon which day appeared "Vol. 1. No. 1." of the "Har- risonian," with Hon. D. M. Harris as editor and proprietor, who gave his read- ers from the first issue, unadulterated Democratic doctrine. He continued until

1872, at which time he sold the paper to M. H. Goltry, who at once changed the name to the Missouri Valley Times- the name it still bears. In 1874, Goltry sold to Gore & Cutler, who conducted the paper, until 1876, when Hon. D. M. Harris (founder of the paper) returned from Kansas and purchased the paper and has been its chief editor ever since. It is one of the strong, uncomprising Demo- cratic journals of the Hawkeye State- never flinching to utter the truth as well as the true convictions of its able editor.

At one time the sub-head motto of the Times was "Business is Business-Go In and Win."

Midway along in Volume VIII, it be .. came a seven-column folio and began to be issued under the name of D. M. Harris & Sons.

It began to be issued as a daily in April, 1891 and has come to be a daily of much local value to the city and sur- rounding towns in Harrison County.

The early readers of Guthrie County would remember how that Mr. Harris upon one occasion printed what he styled a "Hebrew edition!" It came about in this wise. He was short of help one week, as all of his printers had gone out on a spree. He was not a practical printer, at the time. and rather than dis- appoint his patrons, he managed to set part of the issue up alone. But lo, and behold. what amazing astonishment was forced upon the "Judge" (he had been Judge in Audubon County, in early times) when he took a proof sheet, as he found he had it reading from right to left,-the reverse of what it should! The paper did not come out until the following day.

The next newspaper to be launched at Missouri Valley, was the Harrison County News, first established at Logan

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(for political reasons) but early in 1884, it was removed to the Valley, by one Bal- lou. It was a radical Republican sheet and was edited and owned by Ballou, for two years, and then sold to the present proprietor, A. H. Sniff, who edits a live, local journal, daily and weekly and is sound and unyielding in his political edit- orial management. This office also pub- lishes auxiliary papers for Persia, Monda- min, Little Sioux and other towns within Harrison County.

The Eye, another Missouri Valley journal, was founded in 1888 by M. B. Cox as an independent journal. It was a six-column quarto. In July, 1889, R. J. Miller, of Mason City, Iowa, purchased a half interest and changed it to a Demo- cratic paper. January 1, 1890, Mr. Miller bought the remaning half of the plant. He makes one of the best papers in the county and enjoys a large book and job patronage. In December, 1890, he com- menced running a "Mondamin depart- ment" for the sprightly village by this name.

A sketch of M.r. Miller appears else- where in this work. It should be said in this connection that Mr. Miller's father, G. R. Miller, founded the Workman which is the state organ of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in Mason City and edited it until his death in 1885, when his son, R. J., took up the work and is still carrying it on. The Workman is is- sued monthly as a five-column folio, and

is a creditable vindicator of A. O. U. W. principles, for the "Independent" branch of Iowa. The first Daily Eye put m an appearance, February 1, 1892.

Rose Hill Cemetery Association was formed by the following incorporators, June 27, 1871 : T. F. Brown, J. R. Zuver, L. D. McKinley, W. A. Ellis, M. Olm- stead, J. A. Simons, G. H. McGavren, P. W. Brown, J. D. Brown, L. Loomas, D. M. Harris, D. A. Babcock, T. Du Boies, William Pelan, John P. Leliman and W. C. Ellis.

Seventy acres of land just north from the city was purchased at $20 per acre and platted into cemetery grounds in 1871. In 1890, ten acres of the tract were sold to the Roman Catholic people.

The first president of the association was William Pelan and the first secretary was Dr. L. D. McKinley. At this writing J. D. Brown is president; D. M. Harris, secretary and S. B. Shields, treasurer.

All funds coming from the sale of lots go towards the improvement of the grounds, which have come to be of the finest kept of any in all Western Iowa, The treasurer now has $282 on hand.

As much as people dislike the gloom of a cemetery-its monuments and narrow streets, nothing so changes the sad thoughts of one visiting the Silent City as to have the grounds well cared for, by tender, loving hands. Indeed no better index can be had of the true character of a people.

HARRISON COUNTY.

133

DUNLAP.

CHAPTER XIV.

OWA has many beautiful town sites, and the city of Dunlap comes in for her share of charming attractions, which are appreciated by both resident and stranger, alike. It stands on a well selected elevation of the second bench, and by reason of the bend in the Boyer River at this point, one obtains a magnifi- cent view of the famous Boyer Valley for a distance of about ten miles, which scene presents to the eye one grand panoramic view of one of the choicest agricultural fields in all Iowa. It matters not which direction one turns his face, there comes up before him scenes of real beauty, which, after having once been beheld, can never be forgotten. 1

Geographically, Dunlap is situated on the western portion of the southwest quarter, and on a part of the northwest quarter of section 2, together with an- other part on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 3, in township 81, range 41, the north line of the town plat being one hun- dred and ten rods south of the north line of Harrison County. The land passed from the Government to John I. Blair, and by a company known as the Blair Town Lot and Land Company was

platted, June 26, 1867 and named Dunlap, in honor of one of the railway officials, George L. Dunlap. The line of the Chi- cago & North-Western Railway had passed through the Boyer Valley and reached Council Bluffs the autumn before and as soon as the lots were in the market at Dunlap there was s rush for such pro- perty and by October, 1867, a thriving little town might have been seen on the hill above the depot building.

The sale of lots began at this point on the morning of July 15, 1867 and a long line of men stood by ready to purchase. T. McDonald bought the first lot and J. W. Lawson the second. Before sundown, over forty lots had been sold. For days prior to this town lot sale, a large number of persons had been camping, living in wagons and in any way to subsist, until they could commence building operations.

It seems undisputed that to J. Lovine belongs the honor of being the first act- ual settler, for it was this gentleman who drove into the prairie grass at a point where now stands Dunlap, on a beautiful morn- ing in June and " settled" in his wagon and boarded J. C. Bickford for about seven weeks. Some freight cars had been

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side-tracked for the shelter of railroad men and S. M. Child, present postmaster at Dunlap, was given a car in which to serve as station agent, which place he filled until 1873, when the present agent, F. H. Morgan, succeeded him.

The railroad company shipped in some lumber and Rufus Harrington, a railroad carpenter, erected the first building in town, the same being nearly all con- structed on the Sabbath and prior to July 5. This building stood on the lot now occupied by G. P. Moorhead. The. next building was a saloon, on the lot now occupied by B. Jackson's grain office. This was known as the "Respectable Place."

Twelve days prior to the sale of lots, Col. J. R. Wheeler unloaded a car load of lumber and opened up a lumber business, which he has followed at the same place, for twenty-four years, at this writing. He is the only business man now doing busi- ness "at the old stand," and in the same office, which was the first building to re- ceive a coat of plaster in Dunlap. The walls are perfect to-day, nothwithstand- ing nearly a quarter of a century has come and gone, with the fury of many an Iowa blizzard and summer's wind and rain- storms.

Around the "first events"-the first to engage in business and the first societies, schools and churches, there always rests more of historic interest than exists around subsequent improvements and hence in this connection will be given some of the earlier events, which were stepping-stones to the present town of Dunlap.

As soon as people could procure lots, building went forward rapidly. The first goods sold in the place were handled by R. B. Hillas, who occupied a small build-

ing erected on Iowa Avenue, by William Orvis. The next to engage in merch- andising was C. D. Mitchell, who inside of a week was followed by Wesley J. Will- iams. Near to the building occupied by Hillas was one erected by S. A. Willard, who carried a small stock of goods and was appointed as the first postmaster of the place. He remained but a short time. William Fox built what was known as the "Barrack," on the southwest corner of Eagle and Seventh Streets. In this was held the first religions services-some time in July, or August, 1867. In August, 1867, B. F. Carpenter came to the place and built a store near that of Mr. Hillas, and a warehouse on the bank or hill side. From this date on buildings sprang into existence almost like magic. J. W. Law- son erected the first building designed for hotel purposes. It was made of cotton- wood boards and was formally opened to the public, September 9, 1867. It may be said the guests had no trouble in seeing through the walls and they also had plenty of ventilation. At this time, the town plat was waving in a luxuriant growth of prairie grass and it was no un- common thing for those who kept board- ers to mow a swath through this high grass down to the business part of town, to prevent damp feet and wet clothing. During that autumn-1867, the citizens clubbed together and paid William Fox $25 to plow fire-guards around the place and after this had been accomplished, they all turned out one clear, calm even- ing and burned the prairie grass within the town limits.

Among the first events of the place may be named the following :

The first birth was that of a child born to Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Harrington.

The first death was Henry Canfield, a

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soldier. He was buried on what is J. W. Lawson's farm, but subsequently was re- moved to the present cemetery. The next two deaths were children-one, a child of H. Reed's and one from the family of A. J. Brainard in the winter of 1867-68.

The first marriage was that of a railroad hand to a servant of J. Whiteley. The ceremony was performed by Rev. T. Williams, while the young couple were yet in a wagon, as the bride had unfortu- nately met with an accident in the injury of her knee, by reason of which, it was thought best to not have her removed from the wagon, so the vows were taken on wheels and beneath a warm October sunshine.

The Railroad Hotel was opened to the public in October, 1867 and B. F. Carpenter and S. M. Child and wife were present at the first meal. Alexander Crow conducted the house for three years and was followed by J. A. Brainard, who also operated it three years, when he was suc- ceeded by Mr. Pierce, who had control six years and gave way to C. L. Chapman the present proprietor.

The railroad round-house was finished in the fall of 1867 and the railway men had a jolly gathering on Christmas Day.

The first physician of the place was Dr. Dwight Satterlee, who is still an honored citizen of the place, and whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere.

The first school of which there is any record was the term taught by H. H. McKinney, in the fall of 1868.

Barrett Bros. erected the first brick building in Dunlap; it was on the north- east corner of Iowa Avenue and Sixth Street. This building was completed in 1874.

The pioneer newspaper was established by G. A. Brainard and called the Dunlap

Reporter-it first appeared in July, 1871.

The first exclusive hardware store of the place was that of Story & Smith, who opened in 1867.

The first drug store was operated by Cotton & Manning.

Passing on down one decade, from 1867 to 1877, and we find Dunlap in the zenith of her commercial glory, for at about that period, or possibly a little later, it had the largest trade of any town in the county, and had for its trading domain a large · radius of country ; but upon the construc- tion of the Maple Valley branch of the Northwestern system of railway, she lost much of her Northern trade, as also she did on the east when the Milwaukee road was pushed through and established sta- tions every eight miles. But a more solid, substantial growth marked this era, and as the prairies began to settle up, nearer at home, matters assumed a regular and established appearance. The small frame buildings were superceded by brick blocks and all began to put on a city look. It was during 1877-78 that many such changes took place. The Taylor Block, the Hillas Block, the Sherman Block, the Dunlap Bank, the Lehan Block and the Moore Block all came in to grace the town.

Coming on down another decade, to 1888, the place contained a $10,000 Opera House, a Methodist Church, valued at $5,000; a Congregational Church edifice, valued at $6,000; a Roman Catholic build- ing, costing $5,000; a Baptist Church, valued at $2,000; a High School building, costing $20,000.

Among the retail merchants at that date were: Barrett & Sons, M. C. Dally & Co., R. B. Hillas, Patterson & McElroy, dry-goods dealers; O. W. Taylor & Co. and J. A. Moore & Co., carrying large 1

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stocks of hardware; D. & E. S. Satterlee, L. G. Tyler & Co. and F. A. Dean, drug- gists; the Exchange Bank and Dunlap Bank; Samuel Liscomb, D. A. Mires, L. H. Pepper, J. H. Reed & Co., William Forest and S. A. Mabee, grocers; Fox & Dabelstein and Jacob Stilp, boots and shoes; A. D. Jones, agricultural imple- ments; Col. J. R. Wheeler, A. I. McMar- tin, Benjamin Jackson and Clement & Mace, grain and lumber dealers.

The attorneys were then : Maj. Charles McKenzie, P. W. Cain, J. A. Phillips, M. B. Bailey, J. A. Traver, S. E. Milmot, L. S. Asden.

The physicians were: Dr. Dwight Sat- terlee, S. J. Patterson, C. F. Clark, G. B. Christy, P. Cavenaugh and D. L. Liver- more.

The loan agents of the place were : Reu- ben Ballard and W. H. Squires.

R. N. Blair and C. L. Roberts were en- gaged in the jewelry trade at this point.

Samuel Barrett, H. E. Pease and Jink- ins & Datesman were the liverymen of the place.

The photograph business was in the hands of E. B. Waitley.

P. C. Williams was the harnessmaker of Dunlap; he came in 1867.

The meat markets of 1888 were those of Joseph Rosskopf and Dege & Fagan.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF 1891.

Attorneys-Charles W. Mckenzie, Ams- den & Wilmot, P. W. Cain, J. A. Phil- lips, M. B. Bailey, J. Traver.

Physicians-William Beatty, A. H. Haz- lett, D. C. Livermore, G. B. Christy, P. Cavenangh, Dwight Satterlee, S. J. Pat- terson.

General Dealers-Lyman & Smith, Bar- rett & Son, G. E. Nordaker, J. B. Patterson & Co.

Hardware-Taylor & Co., J. A. Moore & Co.

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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 14

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1150

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150