USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 97
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
occupied by Mr. B. F. Reeve, who was at that time a general store dealer in Buckeye, the foundation being laid by Mr. C. F. Bemis who is still a resident of our city. The next building started was the blacksmith shop erected by Millard DeGroat to be occupied by himself and Mr. John Weasmer under the firm name of Weasmer & DeGroat; that building is now located across the alley east of the present Oldis home, and has been used late years as a barn, and up to a short time ago has been owned by Mr. C. J. Maser. The next building started was the home of Mr. H. W. Parker, a shoemaker who had been employed by Charles Davis and Michael Esmay in Sabula, and is a part of the present home of Mr. William Brown.
I should have said before that in laying out the town those present decided that what is now Main street should be the business street of the town, and it was therefore thought best to make it twenty feet wider than any of the other streets, which was accordingly done.
The next building to be commenced was the building now owned by Mr. Dorson Baldwin, and was to be occupied as a general store by the firm of Sugg & Reid, who were at that time doing business at Spragueville. Mr. Sugg of the firm being now Dr. J. F. H. Sugg of Clinton, and Mr. J. E. Reid being now of the firm of Reid & Cook Company of Clinton. The next building started was located on the present site of what is now Mr. C. J. Maser's agri- cultural warehouse, and was erected by Mr. Z. DeGroat. The next building erected was by Mr. David Moore and now constitutes the home of Mr. F. H. Wilcke. Then followed the erection of what is now the Preston Times build- ing by Mr. J. C. Day of Sabula, who in connection with Mr. T. P. Hobart oper- ated an agricultural implement warehouse, Mr. J. C. Day had also under con- struction at the same time a building to be used as a hardware store and was located on what is now the west half of Mr. F. S. King's store. It was opened as a hardware store and was operated by a gentleman by the name of L. M. Smith ; this store was afterwards purchased by Mr. John Peters who erected a building which stands where Mr. J. H. Schroeder's hardware building now stands. The original building and also the building afterwards erected by Mr. Peters were both destroyed by fire. During this time Mr. Henry Specht started a building which is now the Commercial hotel. The railway com- pany erected a small station on the spot now occupied by the grain elevator building.
The writer who was at that time engaged in the marble business had erected his shop on Main street, and in conjunction with his marble business, on the 6th day of May, 1871, opened and established a small banking institution, and which bank is still conducted by him except that it is now transformed into what is known as the First National bank of Preston.
By this time trains were being run from Preston to Sabula, the first con- ductor being Charles McDonald and the first engineer Henry (Hank) Moore. A train consisting of four freight cars and a caboose operated by a little dinky engine composed the first train. Mr. Z. DeGroat in the meantime had finished his building and moved into the upper story which was located as before stated, on the present site of Mr. C. J. Maser's agricultural warehouse and he embarked in the business of the buying of grain and live stock, and soon business began. Mr. DeGroat at the same time opened a lumber yard.
The hotel was finished that summer; during that summer other lines of business were introduced. Mr. Dan Handle in conjunction with Dr. William Amos opened a drug store on the site of the present building now occupied by Mrs. Addie Drysdale as a millinery store. Mr. David Swaney erected a building which was situated just south of the present agricultural warehouse of C. J. Maser and opened a second hardware store which was conducted by Mr. George Lucas, father of our present citizen, G. H. Lucas.
At this time the writer in conjunction with Mr. Z. DeGroat, Dr. Coleman Amos, David Swaney, J. F. H. Sugg, Asher Riley, Sam Randolph, and one or
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
two others whose names I do not now recall, joined in a petition for a dispen- sation to organize a Masonic lodge. which after a hard fight was granted, and the upper story of the Swaney hardware building was rented as the first lodge room; the naming of the lodge came up for discussion and the name "Astral" suggested by Mr. Z. DeGroat was adopted; such was the beginning of our Masonic lodge. A short time thereafter the writer in conjunction with Henry W. Parker, B. F. McManigal, Eugene Allen and one other, then Odd Fellows, held a meeting in the writer's marble shop, and there a petition was drawn and a dispensation asked for the institution of a lodge of Odd Fellows, and sug- gestions for a proper name were made and the one suggested by the writer, that that of "Strangers' Refuge Lodge," was decided upon and a dispensation was granted, afterwards a charter, and thus began the life of one of the most prosperous lodges of Odd Fellows in this county. At the first meeting Mr. R. M. Essick and Mr. Asher S. Riley were initiated into the order, Mr. Henry W. Parker being the first Noble Grand.
The first station agent located at Preston was a man by the name of Henry Rohrbach. As the road was built further west and it became necessary to use the telegraph, Mr. Rohrbach resigned and Mr. M. J. French was sent here as the first telegraph operator.
This covers the first year of the existence of the town of Preston, com- mencing December 27, 1870, down to the holidays in 1871, during which time of course the town was visited by more or less people with a view to starting business of various kinds, and which we who are interested, considered a very satisfactory years' work, we having had as high as four thousand dollars paid out in one day for wheat in this market.
As is usual with all new towns, the subsequent and second year brought in prospectors seeking investments and the result was the location of additional stores of all kinds, clothing, hardware, drugs, etc .; those being matters of private inter- est. In the line of public matters the first and all absorbing question was a suita- ble school building. Preston upon its location was at that time known as sub dis- trict No. 8 of the district township of Van Buren, and at that time a law had been passed by our legislature authorizing and establishing what was known as town- ship high schools, and we conceived the idea of establishing a township high school at Preston, but when we came to agitate the matter, a strong opposi- tion manifested itself in the other sub districts, claiming as a reason for such op- position that it was enabling Preston to get a schoolhouse at the expense of the entire township, instead of building it at the proper cost and expense of the district. We, however, had a large petition signed and the prospects were so fa- vorable for the establishment for such a high school, that the opposition had only one recourse left, which they immediately took advantage of, and through it the entire district township schools were made into independent districts. This move- ment was made and carried through by Colonel R. B. Wyckoff, and the result was that Preston became an independent district, and with the increase in population, the small schoolhouse which was situated at that time one-half mile west of Pres- ton, (and which now is the home of Mrs. Josephine Riley, it having been moved to its present site after the erection of the new school building) was wholly inade- quate to take care of the number of scholars, and an additional school was started in Preston, in the building which at that time stood where the present photograph gallery is located, and the first teacher employed was Miss Hellen Beckwith, who is now cashier of the First National Bank, of Preston, Iowa. A movement was immediately started for the erection of a suitable school building, and a tax was voted in the spring of 1873. The foundations were laid for our present high school building and the building completed during that summer of 1873; there were, however, only two rooms finished off. The first teacher in the new building was Mr. Peter Spring, of Sabula, Iowa. The building was subsequently finished off, room after room, as it was needed, and had been used as a graded high school up to about four years ago, when an addition nearly as large as the original build-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
ing was added thereto, and we now have a high school building fully as large and as well equipped as any in the county. In enlarging the building the sanitary con- ditions were carefully looked after, together with ventilation and heating, and we believe that at this time Preston's school facilities are equal to any in the county, there being employed a principal and five assistant teachers.
After the school question had been fully looked after the next public question that came up was that of churches. We had been holding services first in one building and then in another until the question was sufficiently agitated among the different denominations, not forgetting the outsiders. At that time the Rev. Oliver Emerson had been holding services in the interest of the Congregational church and the Methodist minister had been holding services representing the Methodist denomination. We assembled and the main question over which there was quite a discussion was as to the name of the church after it was built, and to do away with any controversy it was agreed that the Congregational minister, Rev. Oliver Emerson, and the Methodist minister, were to commence soliciting funds for a church building with the understanding that whoever contributed towards the building should have the right to say whether it should go to the Congregational society or the Methodist society, and whichever society succeeded in raising the most funds should have the naming of the church. Immediately the people were solicited, and the result was that contributions amounting to nearly four thousand dollars were made. Upon a careful examination of the contributions it was found that a majority of the funds contributed came from outsiders, that is, persons who were not members of either denomination, and after much discussion and many meetings and conferences, it was finally decided that the society should be known as the Union Church society worshiping at Preston, Iowa. The society was incorporated and was to be controlled by a board of trustees composed of seven persons, two of whom should be chosen by the Congregational society out of their own membership and one who should not be a member of their congrega- tion ; the Methodists were to have two who were members of their congregation and one outsider, and those six were to select a chairman who should not be entitled to a vote except in case of a tie ; the subscriptions were collected and the contract for the church was let, and when the church was finished it was found that nearly two thousand dollars would be required to pay off the indebtedness. A day was set for its dedication and there seemed to be a firm resolve on the part of all in- terested that the church indebtedness should be paid off on or before dedication day, and every person was urged and encouraged to join in the movement. A conference was held and committees appointed to attend to the work in each direc- tion necessary, and on Saturday, the day before the church was to be dedicated, a meeting was held at the residence of Mr. Z. DeGroat and a list made of those who we thought ought to contribute again and how much, and a plan was premed- itatedly agreed upon by which we would try and secure the amount. The main speaker for dedication day was the Congregational minister at Lyons, Iowa, assisted by the Rev. Oliver Emerson on the part of the Congregationalists and N. A. Kimball in behalf of the Methodist people. The services for the day had all been arranged and those taking part in the singing had arranged with Miss Alice Bradley, daughter of the late Phillip Bradley, of Andrew, Iowa, to come from Chicago and lead the music, which she did. The result on dedication day was that a sufficient amount was subscribed to pay every dollar of the indebtedness incurred in build- ing the church, and as soon as the result was announced, the Rev. Oliver Emer- son stepped forward and in the most fervent language, with tears running down his cheeks, thanked God for the success of the undertaking.
The next year the Christian denomination solicited funds sufficient to erect a church building on the southeast corner of Merrill and Farley streets, which was occupied for many years until this last spring of 1909, when it was torn down and there stands upon the two lots two very pretty cottages now owned by James Burns.
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A few years subsequent Mr. R. M. Essick and the writer, who owned the vacant lots on the north side of the railroad, presented to the German Lutheran society the ground, and there was erected thereon the present Lutheran church building.
Then followed a donation and the erection of the Catholic church.
It is here proper to state that some fifteen years ago the church society, which so harmoniously united to build the first church, was divided by frictions which arose, and as an ultimate result the Congregational society sold to the Methodist society their interest in the building, and built a new building, now known as the Congregational church, located on the corner of Main and Farley streets, and since that time the two societies (Congregational and Methodist) have conducted separate meetings.
Having secured ample school facilities and the erection of church buildings, the attention of those who were known as workers, was directed towards other public improvements. The town of Preston, located as it was in a valley, during a wet time was a very muddy town, and the only recourse was to incorporate the town, thereby enabling those who were interested in the welfare of the town to make the necessary public improvements. At this time the depot was located on the corner formed by the right of way and Mitchell street. It was lo- cated in a very low spot and after a rain was in what we would call a mud hole.
Upon submitting the question of incorporating the town to the people, the in- corporation was defeated, whereupon Messrs. R. M. Essick, Z. DeGroat, J. E. Reid and A. L. Bartholomew, the latter who was attorney for the railroad con- pany at that time, got permission to remove the depot to the corner of Main street, provided the four gentlemen named would pay all expenses pertaining to the movement, and build a necessary switch and sidetrack south of the depot and add a ladies' waiting room, the building up to that time being a very small depot building. This agreement was assented to and the building was duly removed and finished in good shape with proper platforms at an expense of nearly one thousand dollars, which was borne by the four gentlemen named. The question of incorporating was submitted again as soon as possible and was again defeated, and it was not until the fourth submission that the workers succeeded in carrying the proposition. The town being incorporated, Mr. R. M. Essick was elected the first mayor, and the first city council consisted of F. H. Rodewald, A. L. Bartholo- mew. Dr. William Amos, W. B. Davy, P. O. Ward and M. Mclaughlin.
The all important question of raising the streets and establishing grades was next taken up. Mr. E. S. Hart, city engineer of Clinton, Iowa, was employed and regular grades established at the intersection of all streets. The work was a very important one and nearly two years was occupied in bringing the streets to proper grades. Over eight thousand loads of rock and dirt being put in on our main business (Gillett) street. Suitable sidewalks were ordered put down and the necessary street crossings were put in, and at the end of the improvements the town found themselves in debt nearly eight thousand dollars, which indebtedness has long since been paid off.
The next important city improvement was caused by repeated fires. The town had been quite unfortunate in the matter of fires, having been twice severely scourged in 1878. The first of these occurred in January, beginning one evening about dusk, in the clothing store of one Longini. Its origin is unknown. Four buildings were burned before the progress of the enemy was checked, which was finally done by the bucket brigade. The losses approximated as follows: A. S. Riley, frame dwelling, one thousand, two hundred dollars; F. McManigal, store building, four hundred dollars; John Peters, two buildings, two thousand dollars (insured) ; Longini, stock of clothing, two thousand, four hundred dollars (in- sured) ; John Peters, stock of hardware, three hundred dollars (insured).
The second fire occurred on the morning of June 6, 1878, breaking out about one o'clock in the hardware store of John Peters, who had been a sufferer six months before. This burned three stores, including the finest brick store in the
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place, the pride of Preston. The extent of the fire may be understood by the following statement: C. Farley & Company, stock and building, one thousand dollars; Reif & Behrns, general stock, five thousand dollars; John Peters, stock and building, six thousand, five hundred dollars; H. Specht, brick building, five- thousand, five hundred dollars; total, eighteen thousand dollars. And at divers times down to the present other very severe conflagrations have taken place; this caused the agitation of fire protection. In June, 1895, a volunteer fire department was organized and a small engine purchased, but no water was provided with which to extinguish fires, and althought the matter was constantly agitated, noth- ing was done until the burning of F. H. Rodewald's store, which also caused the burning of the business block of the Preston Bank, including the Preston opera house above it, which was owned by R. M. Essick and A. L. Bartholomew.
The matter was then taken up privately by thirteen gentlemen as follows: A. L. Bartholomew, W. B. Davy, William Zutzloff, I. M. Gillett, John Schroeder, Otto Schmidt, G. E. Bartholomew, N. Godes, J. H. Swaney, A. M. Carmer, George Meyer, and J. S. Bascom, who organized the Preston Light & Water Company with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. The following gentlemen were stock- holders: A. L. Bartholomew, W. B. Davy, William Butzloff, I. M. Gillett, John Schroeder, Otto Schmidt, G. E. Bartholomew, N. Godes, J. H. Swaney, A. M. Carmer, George Meyer, and J. S. Bascom; and the following gentlemen were officers of the company : A. L. Bartholomew, president; Otto Schmidt, vice presi- dent; W. B. Davy, secretary; G. E. Bartholomew, treasurer and I. M. Gillett, superintendent. They discussed the feasibility of where the power house should be located, and it was finally decided to experiment by putting down a six inch well on top of the hill, one hundred and twenty-eight feet above the town and just outside of the southern limits of the corporation. They purchased fifty feet square of ground with a lane leading down to the public highway. A six inch well was started and the result of the experiment was that at one hundred and eight feet they struck a subterranean river, which has since proved inexhaustible C. W. Chase, of Clinton, Iowa, was then called in and a regular waterworks system of mains was laid out ; the material was bought and the mains proper laid at a depth of six feet. Ten hydrants were placed at different points, all material being of the very best quality. And on or about the Ist day of September, 1896, the water was turned on, and ever since Preston has enjoyed the benefits of one of the most complete water systems of any town of its size in Iowa. It has an elevation pressure of fifty-two pounds to the square inch, and by the use of their present large engine, this pressure can be raised a number of pounds to the square inch by turning on direct pressure.
In 1901 the majority of these same gentlemen organized the Iowa Light & Heat Company, and established a gas plant manufacturing acetylene gas, and the city is now using an illuminant of the best character.
In 1907 the proposition was submitted to the voters of the town for the erec- tion of a city hall; it was carried, and during that year there was erected the present beautiful city hall of which we felt very proud. The official officers of the city at that time were G. E. Bartholomew, mayor; members of the council were Theodore Westphal, W. A. Altfilisch, F. E. Tripp, Otto Wendt, F. S. King and E. M. Fowler. Since the erection of the city hall the city has built cement crossings at the intersection of nearly all streets, and there has been a great im- provement in the way of cement walks. A resolution was passed making the standard width in the residence portion not less than five feet, and as the town was fortunate enough to have two competent cement workers residing here, the result has been that we now have more cement sidewalks according to the popu- lation than any town in Iowa.
During this time our original park has been improved; the trees formerly set out twenty years ago have become ornaments, and we point with pride to our beautiful park which is being improved from year to year.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
This is the history of the present little city of Preston, Iowa, which at this date contains about one thousand inhabitants. It has at this time the following place of business: United States postoffice, three banks, three general stores, two hardware stores, two clothing stores, two hotels, one grocery store, two lunch counters, three saloons, one merchant tailor, two agricultural implement warehouses, one large wagon and buggy repository, two blacksmith shops, two meat markets, one livery stable, one automobile garage, one lightning rod manu- facturer doing a very extensive business, three lawyers, one of the largest farmers' insurance companies in Iowa, two extensive creameries, the Preston Telephone Company with connections of five hundred instruments, one millinery shop, one shoe shop, one bowling alley, three physicians, one barber shop, one windmill dealer and pump repairer, two drug stores, one bakery, one steam flour and gristmill, one tile factory, one jewelry store, two drays, one opera house, one lumber yard, two coal dealers, two veterinary surgeons, one piano and music house, one billiard hall, one weekly newspaper and job printing, "The Preston Times," one harness shop, and one photograph gallery.
Its business houses are all up to date, many of which would be no discredit in appearance to a city of seventy-five thousand or one hundred thousand inhabi- tants ; its business men are hustlers, enterprising, up to date and honorable. Wherever capital or other lines of business are contemplating a location, the motto of Preston is, "Come, look over our little city and locate in what we con- sider one of the best little towns on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad."
ST. DONATUS, IOWA, February 16, 1910.
Mr. James W. Ellis.
Dear Sir :- Enclosed please find a brief history of St. Donatus Catholic church, as requested. Not knowing the exact nature of the work you are writing, my account may be too short or too long, or perhaps, not even to the point. But for the fact that you asked for an immediate answer, I would have first written for further information.
Sincerely yours,
WM. NUEBEL.
ST. DONATUS CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The parish was founded July 4, 1851. In the fall of 1856 the church burned down from an unknown cause. In October, 1857, arrangements were made to build a new church. The corner stone was laid in February, 1858. About Christ- mas, 1858, Rev. J. M. Flammang was appointed pastor of this parish and had charge of it until his death, December 6, 1883. To him the people owe a great debt of gratitude for his long and incessant labors, some times under very adverse circumstances. Even now his memory is held sacred.
November 24, 1907, the church was again destroyed by fire, which presumably started from a defective furnace. Steps were taken at once to rebuild and the corner stone of the present new church was laid March 30, 1908. The first services were held August 15, 1908. Rev. Wm. Nuebel is the present pastor.
ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH.
Zwingle, Iowa, February 17, 1910.
Dear Mr. Ellis :- I hand you herewith the sketch you requested. I don't know whether it will suit your purposes. I find that the history of the parishes is the history of the priests who conducted it, for the parish is inseparably wound up in them. It it does not suit you, please return it to me and you will not in the least offend.
Yours very truly,
JOHN HALPIN.
The congregation known as the "St. Lawrence Parish" was established about the year 1866. Prior to this date the Catholics of this territory were looked after by the priest located at St. Theresis, who came at stated intervals and held services
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