USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa : its people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 14
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Henry Olmstead served as president of the society two years, 1858-59; and Hon. Phincas Cadwell was elected twenty-two years in succession, save the year 1879, when G. D. Wilson relieved him. In 1883 H. B. Cox was elected, and served faithfully as president until B. J. Moore, of Dunlap, was elected; since then men equally good in their place have aided the success of the society.
The first secretary was John G. Downs, who served until he entered the ranks of the Union army in 1862. Others, including Judge Henry Ford, served until 1872. Then C. W. Oden took charge, serving until 18;S, and was followed by James K. MeGavren. In 1883, he gave way to .\. B. Hos- brook, who, together with his excellent wife, were of great use to the society in many ways. Other men have since held the office, but Mr. Hosbrook is the present secretary.
The society was reorganized in 1872, at the time it was moved to Mis- souri Valley from Little Sioux. This reorganized agricultural society had for its organizers Phineas Cadwell, now deceased, Joe II. Smith, deceased,
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C. W. Oden, William H. Eaton, deceased; J. A. Brainard. J. S. Cole, de- ceased; E. Cobb, Patrick Morrow, Job Ross, deceased: W. S. Meech, O. J. Goodenough, Jacob T. Stern, deceased; George Richardson, Col. I. R. Wheeler, .A. L. Harvey, deceased: R. B. Terry, Stephen King, deceased : I. B. Cox. David Gamet. Samuel De Cou. William Chambers and Henry Gar- ner. In fact, nearly all of the men who reorganized this society have passed to the other side, and their places have been taken by younger, though none the less enterprising, men. The officers of the society in 1914 are J. E. Jones. president, and A. B. Hosbrook, secretary.
DUNLAP DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This was an association organized by a stock company. June 1. 1879. and included the counties of Harrison, Crawford. Shelby and Monona. Its object was to afford a better facility for the exhibition of stock and general farm produce than was then found at the common county fair. A special feature was the speeding and exhibition of fast horses. The association was open to the world-no limit. Twenty-two acres of land were bought from the railroad company, just to the south of Dunlap, where excellent improvements were made from time to time. As a result Dunlap came to be, by 1890, second to no western Iowa town for her fine horses, the annual sale of which reached high figures. At first the association was composed of twenty-eight stockholders, but within a dozen or more years it was in the hands of about nine stockholders. The first officers were G. W. Thomp- son, president : M. Barrett, vice-president ; IJ. T. Olmstead, secretary; W. T. Howard, treasurer ; J. R. Wheeler, G. W. Thompson and D. C. Miers, direc- tors. In 1882 G. W. Thompson was succeeded by J. A. Brainard as presi- dent : Samuel Baird was also made its secretary. The annual exhibits were usually held in September and had large attendance. The half-mile race track was among lowa's best. From twenty-five to forty horses were trained here each season. This society went down sometime in the early nineties.
RECORDED FARM NAMES.
Under a recent legislative act in Iowa all farm owners who so desirc may have their farm assigned a certain name and so recorded in the books of the recorder of deeds, for a fee of one dollar. The first to take ad- vantage of this law was James E. Love, of Woodbine, who named his farm
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in section 6, township 80, range 41. It is known as the "Evergreen Stock Farm."
The following shows the farm names recorded up to the present date :
"Sunny Side Farm," by Benj. Yeager, section 20, township 81, range 42.
"Maple Avenue Farm," by Ollie A. Larson, section 19, township 79. range 42.
"Fairview Farm," by George B. Hewitt, section 16, township 80, range 42.
"Elk Grove Farm," by Frank Ranier, section 20, township 79, range 42. "Walnut Glen Farm," by Homer C. Cadwell, section 13, township 79, range 45-
"Sunny Slope," by Richard Powers, section 1, township 78, range 41. "Cedar Crest." by George Pugsley, of Boyer township.
"Oak Glen," by L. P. Jacobson, section 11, township 78, range 43.
"Edgewood Farm," by B. A. Develbess, section 4, township 78, range 43
"River View Farm," by P. W. Lewis, Douglas township.
"Riverside Stock Farm," by W. W. Latty, section 25, township 79, range 43.
"Plain View," by R. W. Hills, section 20, township 79, range 42. "Oak Park," by E. E. Beck, section 28, township 79, range 42.
"East View Farm," by Charles E. Mincey, of Boyer township.
"Bonnie View," by Fred F. Beebee, section 25, township 78, range 43. "Alfalfa Meadow Stock Farm," by J. M. Davis, section 33. township 79, range 43.
"Upland Farm," by F. T. Hill, section 16, township 78, range 42. "Maple Hill," by C. R. Savery, section 14, township 79, range 42. "The Maples," by A. D. Annis, section 25, township 78. range 45. "Silver Hill," by F. H. Cadwell, section 36, township 80, range 42. "Elder Lawn," by HJ. J. Knauss, section 30, township 79, range 41. "The Glenn," by E. T. Giddings, section 2, township 78, range 44. "The Orchards," by E. T. Giddings, section 11, township 78, range 44. "Highland Farm," by A. B. Case, section 16, township 79, range 41.
"Western View Farm," by Fred T. Hughes, section 31, township 79, range 43.
"Glen Dale," by H. L. Jones, section 32, township 78, range 43. "Grand View," by J. H. Johnson.
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AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION.
The early pioneers of Harrison county thought very little of what they were pleased to call book-farming. They found a soil rich in humus, the accumulation of ages, which they apparently thought would last forever. We can find no fault with the carlier generation in that belief, for crops more than sufficient to supply the limited demand were easily raised. The slow mode of transportation made it impossible to dispose of a surplus crop. hence the interest in maintaining soil fertility lagged.
It is commonly admitted that the average American cannot stand pros- perity, and this proved true of many of the farmers of Harrison county. They possessed a rich soil which they believed they could mine with impun- ity. The writer could name many farmis in the county where the early practice was to move the stable rather than to haul out the manure.
This habit of taking from the soil without return became so general that in the period from 1880 to 1890 the farmers of the county began to realize that the farms were falling off in yields very rapidly.
Rust and smut, together with impoverished soil, made small grain wheat, oats and barley generally unprofitable. The yield of corn was grad- ually decreasing from year to year. In most fields there were many spots where the corn showed a sickly yellow color indicating a lack of fertility.
About 1890 the agricultural experiment stations were being established in the different states of the Union and lowa's station was located on the college farm at Ames. Up to this time the means of disseminating scien- tifie agricultural knowledge was very meager. True, "Uncle Henry" Wal- lace had been telling the farmers to sow clover and haul manure, and his early teachings added much to the wealth of Harrison county. But his gospel of truth did not stir enough of the farmers. Something more needed to be done. The farms were growing poorer. Grain and stock had started back toward the scrub variety.
The boys and girls of the farm were being taught that farm life was drudgery. They were being educated away from the farm and urged by their parents to get an education so they could do something better than farming. The idea prevailed generally that any fool could farm and the educated man had far better enter some profession or trade calling him to the city and away from nature and the farm.
Conditions in Harrison county were no worse than in the majority of the counties over the state.
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Men who were leaders in thought and action saw that there must be a halt called on this lavish destruction of the rich gifts of nature or starvation would soon face the world. Accordingly a general movement towards agri- cultural education was started in every state of the Union.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTION INAUGURATED.
Leaders in Jowa became active. Hon. James Wilson was called to the chair of agriculture at Ames. Under his leadership a strong course in agri- cultural science was built up which has grown and developed until today lowa State College stands at the head of the list. The experiment station. under Director C. F. Curtiss, began to send out bulletins to the farmers. giving instructions on how to handle the soil and what crops to sow for best results. Agricultural knowledge was scattered over the state and the farms of Harrison county began to improve in production. The yellow spots in the corn fields began to disappear, due to teachings sent out from the col- lege and through the agricultural journals.
The course in agriculture at Ames and the work of the experiment sta- tion caused such a marked improvement in farms of the state that more branches of the college were started to reach out to a larger per cent. of its people.
The "short course" was started at the college during the winter vacation of the regular college work. Farmers left their homes and cagerly absorbed some of the science of live stock breeding.
Prof. P. G. Ilollen came to Ames as head of the new extension depart- ment and began carrying the short course to the people. Trains were char- tered to traverse the state and carry the gospel of better farming to those who would congregate at the towns along the way, until today the Iowa State College and its work is known to every wide-awake farmer in the state. It is the farmers' college, and its worth to the people of Iowa can- not be measured in dollars and cents. Representatives of every nation have received instructions within the walls of Iowa State College and gone home to make their country a better place in which to live.
The first short course was held in Harrison county, January 15-20. 1912. This short course was conducted under the direction of Prof. P. G. Holden, then at the head of the agricultural extension department of the Iowa State College. The instructors in live stock, farm crops, soils, horti- culture, dairying and domestic science were men and women from Ames, experts in their subjects and paid by the state.
HARRISON COUNTY PRIZE CORN. 1913.
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But even with their help a short course did not spring up in a county like mushrooms in a night, for, with the instruction furnished free, except- ing railroad fare, board and lodging. the first Harrison county short course cost, including premiums given, over two thousand dollars. Even men who realized the value of the course shrank from the undertaking. In 1908 there was some talk of a short course for Harrison county and a committee of three was chosen to consider the question. That committee estimated the expense and looked into the matter of buildings, and reported that build- ings suitable could not be secured, so the matter was dropped. Later, in the spring of 1912, a short course agitation was again started at a meeting of the Progressive Farmers' Club. At that time some of the members were doubtful as to the undertaking, but they had at the meeting Rev. C. S. Lyste, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Logan, a student of agri- culture and optimistic in his views. He at once assured the farmers that they could have a short course in Harrison county and make it a real suc- cess.
W. W. Latta, the farmer-optimist and member of the club, joined forces with Reverend Lysle and the two kept the subject alive until the mat- ter was acted on at a meeting of the Logan business men's association.
HARRISON COUNTY ORGANIZED.
After much discussion it was decided to try for the short course. A committee was appointed to meet with the officers of the extension depart- ment and secure a date in harmony with the wishes of these officers. Pro- fessor Holden gave them the week beginning January 15th. On receiving the report of the committee on dates, all interested knew that the short course would come and it became necessary for those responsible in start- ing the movement to get to work in earnest.
The work of organization resulted in the clection of J. H. Johnson president, C. W. Hunt secretary. A. W. Blackburn treasurer. Chairmen of committees were elected as follows: W. W. Latta, advertising; H. N. Law- rence, exhibit; Frank Rainier, corn and small grain; Homer C. Cadwell. live stock; Rev. C. S. Lysle, domestic science, and W. H. Johnson, enter- tainment.
The officers and members of the committee gave their time without compensation and went to work with a will to make the first short course a success. It was necessary to sell tickets to pay expenses and solicit prem- iums to make the course pay in a financial way.
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HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA.
W. W. Latta earned a state-wide reputation as a ticket solicitor, selling one hundred and seventy-seven which, according to the Ames instructors. was far more than any one other person sold in the state, and some fifty counties held short courses that year.
Over four hundred of the sons and daughters of Harrison county took the work and every one feh well paid for the time and money spent. Those in attendance were so well pleased with the work that there was a general request from them for another course the following year.
The officers of the short course were willing to take up the work again, but realized that the county would be handicapped for a building.
The temporary court house building, which made it possible for them to accommodate the course for 1912, had been sold and would be torn down the following spring. Some one suggested the idea of erecting a suitable building and making the short course permanent. There were many ob- stacles in the way, but the committees worked with a will, with the result that the Harrison County Agricultural Extension Association was formed and a two-story brick building, fifty by eighty feet, was completed in time for the second annual short course, held January 13-18, 1913.
The officers of this second course were the same as for the previous year, except that H. C. Cadwell succeeded J. H. Johnson as president, W. L. Hull was appointed chairman of live stock. and Miss Mary Rice, chair- man of domestic science. The second annual short course was well attended and the enthusiasm ran as high as ever. The farmers of Harrison county were eager for learning and voted unanimously for the third course which was held February 2-7, 1914.
The same officers conducted the 1914 course, which was a success in every way. On taking a vote for the year of 1915, every ticket was marked "yes."
The Harrison county agricultural building, located on an cast slope in the town of Logan, overlooking two main lines of railroads, and one of the most fertile valleys in the world, stands as a monument dedicated to bet- ter agriculture and saying to the farmers of Harrison county: "Keep your boys and girls on the farm." And why shouldn't they? Go where you may, look the world over, it is hard to find a better place than Harrison county in which to live and have being.
They have the best fruit land in the world; for alfalfa there is no soil better, while corn, wheat, oats and clover grow in abundance.
With the rural mail delivery, the telephone in every home and the au- tomobile the most remote farm is brought within a few minutes' drive of
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town. With the pigs, calves, colts, lambs and chickens to occupy their time, and the pure air and sweet perfume of nature to give them renewed vigor from day to day, where can they find drudgery and lonesomeness on the farm?
As they drive over Harrison county, as the write had been doing in the month of June, 1914, and see the vast fields of dark green corn, thou- sands of acres of waving fields of small grain, hundreds of stacks of alfalfa, with another crop nodding in the breeze almost ready for the mower a sec- ond time, they are thrilled with the grandeur of it all.
They feel that Harrison county is up in the front row in agriculture and that the extension department of the lowa State College is largely respon- sible for the improvement of its soil fertility and the contentment of its farmers.
CHAPTER XII.
BANKS AND BANKING.
When countries are first settled there is but little use for banking insti- tutions, for, as a general rule, the pioneer comes without much means or se- curities and hence neither has money to deposit or invest, and cannot bor- row, should he want to. But it is not many years before some enterpris- ing man or company sees profit in establishing some sort of a bank. Gen- erally it is at first merely a place of exchange, where a small business is transacted. But with the development of any county there comes a demand for a first class bank, and there are always those who see it to their advan- tage to open a bank. Usually, years ago, this was a private concern, with no great amount of capital, but which increased its stock as the demands grew for such capital.
Up to the year 1857 gold and silver were the common currency of Har- rison county. This was brought about by the fact that persons settling here brought such money along with them, and again because Council Bluffs was the great outfitting point for California and the great Salt Lake over- land expeditions. They who came to Council Bluffs by water would usual- ly purchase teams and supplies at that place sufficient to last the trip, and this, placed in innediate circulation, made it the common medium for ex- change. Paper money in 1857, "wildcat money." became exceedingly plen- tiful from 1857 on to Civil War days. It should be stated, however, that even gold and silver were not over-plentiful even from the organization of this county up to war times, but, when money was to be had at all, it was usually metal money.
It was about 1858 when saw-mills became common along the Missouri and other streams bordering on, and running through, this county. This caused a lively trade in native lumber and wood for steamboating. The settlers, with the money thus received, together with swamp-land scrip, and with now and then a county order, constituted the greater per cent. of the county's currency. Bank bills representing money, said to have been issued by good reliable banks in Missouri. Illinois, Kansas, Georgia and Kentucky; also Michigan and Wisconsin "red dog" money, bearing on their faces pret- ty pictures of prettier women, dogs, horses, deer, wild-cats, etc., were cir-
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culated in the West broadcast, and so uncertain was the vahie that these banks, which by the "debtor" (a small booklet telling one of their actual value on certain dates ) with newspaper reports of yesterday were reported to the people to be good for a certain number of cents per dollar, but the day following they might prove worthless to the holder. To illustrate this condition of money affairs the following true case is told here :
Old Uncle Jakey Pate and Mike Wallace kept a wood-yard at what is now referred to as Sandy Point (so named for Mike's red hair). One day, while they were at dinner, a steamboat landed at their yard, and before they could get back the boatmen had loaded on to their craft ten or fifteen cords of wood. When Uncle Jakey arrived on the scene he said: "Well, well, what are ye adoin' here at my wood pile?" To which the clerk replied : "We'll make it all right, sir-all right sir: you'll take paper money, won't you? And if you accept the paper money how much will you allow us for it, ch?" To this Mr. Pate replied, as he squirted a pint of tobacco juice from his mouth: "Allow you? Well, let me see; how many cords of wood did you take?" "Fifteen," said the clerk. "Well, well," says Pate. "1 think we could about afford to make it cord for cord. What do you say Mike?" "Yes, fifteen cords of red dog, wild cat or any other good paper money you've got will be all right, won't it Mike?" It is needless to say that the wood was paid for that time in gold at much less than "cord for cord!"
FIRST BANK.
The first attempt at banking in Harrison county was at Missouri Val- ley, where the private bank of Pelan & Mickel was established in March, 1869. January 1, 1873, William Pelan & Co. established a private bank, and that year erected the present bank building at 411 Erie street. In 1879 the building and fixtures were purchased by MI. Holbrook, who con- tinued it as a private bank, until July 1, 1889, when M. Holbrook, M. W. Coolbaugh and W. J. Burke formed a co-partnership under the name of the Valley Bank with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. M. Holbrook was president; M. W. Coolbaugh, cashier, and W. J. Burke, assistant cashier. January 1, 1891, Holbrook and Coolbaugh sold their interests to J. J. Amen and retired. 'The bank continued under the same name, with J. J. Amen president and W. J. Burke cashier, until July 1, 1896, when W. J. Burke sold his interest to J. J. Amen and organized the State Savings Bank. The Valley Bank continued without change in ownership until December 1, 1911, when W. J. Burke purchased the entire business and building and took
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charge. Organization was immediately commenced and, January 2, 1912, the bank opened up as the Valley Savings Bank, under the state laws of Iowa, with officers as follows: F. A. Schwertley, president: J. L. Tamis- iea, vice-president; W. J. Burke, cashier; W. D. Cody, assistant cashier; J. E. Murphy, assistant cashier. The stockholders, officers and directors have not changed and are the same today. When the Valley Savings Bank was organized the deposits were less than one hundred thousand dollars. The statement to April 6, 1914, shows deposits of two hundred and nineteen thousand six hundred and eighty-four dollars and twenty-five cents. This statement also shows liabilities and resources amounting to two hundred and seventy-eight thousand two hundred and twenty-three dollars and eighty-four cents; with no borrowed money; no loans to corporations in which directors are interested, and no real estate except bank building.
The State Savings Bank, of Missouri Valley, was organized in May, 1898. by W. A. Smith, Fred Schwertley, 11. B. Cox, W. R. Cox, and W. J. Burke. Its first officers were Fred Schwertley, president; J. S. Dewell, vice- president ; W. J. Burke, cashier. Its first capital was twenty-five thousand dollars, but it is now fifty thousand dollars. The present officers are W. A. Smith, president ; J. S. Dewell, vice-president; H. N. Silsby, cashier; J. B. Barrett, assistant cashier. The first banking room was at 500 Erie street. The present quarters were purchased and remodeled in 1913, at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars. The deposits in the month of July, 1914. were two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The bank's charter bears date of May, 1898. The two who have served as presidents are Fred Schwertley and W. A. Smith.
This banking house has the goodwill and confidence of a large patron- age and all may well feel safe in doing business in an institution so well conducted.
The First National Bank of Missouri Valley was organized May 20, 1884. with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. 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 MeGayren, directors. In September. 1890, Mr. Dutton retired and L. M. Kellogg was made president. and John S. MeGavren, cashier. This banking house was established a short time later in a brick block on Erie street, built in 1886 and costing six thousand five hundred dollars, where all modern banking facilities were installed at once. At present this bank is among the best of the line of banks in Harrison county. Its present officers are George .1. Kellogg, president : John S. MeGavren, cashier; II. F. Foss, assistant cash-
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ier ; G. W. Johnson, assistant cashier. The directors are George Kellogg, John S. MeGavren, C. 11. Deur, L. M. Kellogg. T. Foss and H. F. Foss. Their last statement shows resources and liabilities to the amount of five hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundred and forty-two dollars and four cents; capital stock, fifty thousand dollars: surplus, twenty thousand dollars; undivided profits, six thousand six hundred and twenty-nine dollars. Individual deposits, subject to check, one hundred and forty thousand four hundred and thirty-two dollars; demand certificates, two hundred and eight thousand eight hundred and four dollars.
Dunlap State Bank was organized in 1871 by Lorenzo Kellogg. G. W. Thompson and Dr. Frank Clark. Its first capital was ten thousand dollars, but it has advanced with the passing years and now carries a capital of fifty thousand dollars. The presidents have been Messrs. Lorenzo Kel- logg and L. K. Moore, who was elected in 1914. It was started as a pri- vate concern and changed to a state bank in 1902, now being among the largest banks in Harrison county. Its deposits at July, 1914. amounted to five hundred and forty-five thousand dollars; its capital is fifty thousand dollars and surplus and profits undivided amount to thirty thousand dollars. Its resources and liabilities stood at six hundred and twenty-four thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven dollars and seventy-one cents. The 1914 officers were L. K. Moore, president : G. P. Moorehead, vice-present: F. W. Curtis, cashier ; I. P. Pounds, teller.
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