USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 75
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WYOMING CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
The inhabitants of the early period of our history made provisions for a spot to be hallowed in memory as the resting place of the loved ones, who were called to their mansions beyond the skies. Daniel E. Brainard, since deceased, donated one acre for a cemetery on the hill on the west side of the town, then a grove covered with second growth timber and brush, a place in appearance wholly unlike the present beautiful grounds.
On March 10, 1860, the Wyoming Cemetery Association was duly organized under the name and title of the Cemetery Association of Wyoming and vicinity. The original incorporators signing and acknowledging the incorporation papers before James A. Bronson, notary public, were: Thomas Green, A. G. Brown, G. E. Delevan, G. A. Ogden, Russell Gilbert, D. L. Blakeslee, J. DeWitt, R. P. Stiles, William Milner, Thomas Haines, Jr., John B. Loomis, A. Persons, Milton Briggs. The first trustees were : Thomas Green, Geo. E. Delevan, John T. Miller, Milton Briggs, Nial Brainard, L. D. Brainard, E. A. Ogden, E. Green and Philo Norton, all of whom have since passed to their final rest. The officers elected were: President, Thomas Green ; vice-president, J. T. Miller; secretary and treasurer, Philo Norton.
About thirteen years later another acre was added to the cemetery grounds through the generosity of Rev. J. L. Janes' estate, and about fifteen years ago a tract of about seven acres more were added to the grounds which were then
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surveyed and laid out in lots and platted. Several hundred evergreens were set out and which now give the grounds the picture of evergreen.
The grounds are kept neat and clean, the expense of maintaining the grounds being met by voluntary contributions, gifts and bequests and by the establishment of a permanent fund. A special effort is now being made to secure a permanent fund of at least ten thousand dollars, the income of which is to be used for the perpetual care of the grounds. Of this sum over two thousand dollars has now been raised. The cemetery always presents the appearance of a well kept lawn, and it is a place where those who have loved ones resting beneath the green folds of this sacred spot can rest assured that the graves and lots are cared for and kept beautiful.
The present officers are : President, A. M. Loomis ; vice-president, R. A. Nor- ton; secretary, R. M. Corbit; treasurer, A. A. Vaughn; sexton and manager, H. P. Johnson. Directors : H. P. Johnson, R. M. Corbit, A. M. Loomis, R. A. Norton, S. G. Franks and P. C. Levsen.
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
On the southeast corner of the Wyoming cemetery grounds twelve lots were set apart in 1906 for a soldiers' monument. Soon after, the movement was started for the erection of such a monument. The natural source for its origin would be the G. A. R. Post and it was not long until a committee was appointed from among the old soldiers to take in charge the soliciting of funds for, and the erection of a suitable monument in commemoration of the soldiers who so gal- lantly gave of their life blood for the preservation of the union. The committee appointed were : Chairman, J. L. Richardson ; secretary, G. W. Evans; treasurer, Mrs. Jas. Robertson; A. M. Loomis and M. H. Morse. The people in general responded cheerfully in the request for funds, the subscription list numbering several hundred names. The monument is a beautiful one, the figure or statue proper represents a soldier in full uniform standing "at parade rest." The figure is mounted on a granite base, and the height complete is fifteen feet. The total cost was approximately nine hundred dollars, all of which was fully paid at the time of the dedication and unveiling, Memorial Day, May 31, 1909. (May 30th being Sunday.) The dedication and unveiling were attended with appropriate exercises by the school children, the members of the G. A. R. and W. R. C. and the citizens generally, W. W. Bronson, son of J. W. Bronson, delivering the ad- dress of the occasion.
BEN PAUL POST NO. 130, G. A. R.
This organization of soldiers of the civil war was organized February 15, 1883, the meeting being held on the second floor of what was then the general store of A. M. Loomis and now occupied by Wm. Wilker on the first floor as a hardware store, the second floor being occupied as a telephone office. The char- ter members numbered fifty-one and were: A. M. Loomis, J. I .. Richardson, N. B. Noyes. C. B. Gridley, H. F. Paul. John Curttright, A. R. Hoskins, J. F. Parks, Michael Carter, Joshua Grindrod, T. R. Marshall, L. V. Brainard, J. W. Bron-
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son, W. H. Davis, J. A. LeMaster, G. W. Evans, M. J. Mullett, M. H. Morse, A. A. Hart, A. W. Hepler, P. R. Bradshaw, Wm. Hogeboom, Walter James, G A. Hanna, J. A. Hanna, W. T. Cameron, C. B. Hopkins, S. R. Mackrill, Geo. W. Bottomstone, Joseph Loudermilch, J. J. Bender, Orrin Tompkins, Rufus Tompkins, Oliver Shibley, W. H. Peck, Isaac Brubacher, Frank Hawley, D. L. McMillan, Riley Calkins, John Bodenhofer, S. R. Parshall, E. A. Fuller, R. S. Williams, Frank Williams, I. Pelkey, Jerry Woodyard, C. H. Johnson, Hiram Arnold, O. McDaniels, Hiram Himebaugh, R. A. Jenkins.
The first officers of the organization were: A. M. Loomis, commander; N. B. Noyes, S. V. C .; J. L. Richardson, J. V. C .; Jerry Woodyard, quartermaster; L. V. Brainard, adjutant.
During its history, this organization was one of the best equipped and best drilled posts in the state. When at its best, there were about eighty members and all uniformed, and at several state encampments, the company attracted fa- vorable and well merited attention. But in the lapse of time, by mere force of necessity, the ranks are growing thinner as the years go by, the silent reaper mustering in the brave boys in blue, one at a time for Gabriel's bugle call must be obeyed. The G. A. R. have a pleasant and commodious hall over the hardware store on the north side of Main street where they meet once a month for business and pleasure. The post is small in numbers, and each year, in observing Mem- orial Day, the school children and civic societies, gather with the members of the post and assist in the exercises.
The present membership is twenty as follows: Henry Aldrich, A. E. Allen, E. E. Brown, W. T. Cameron, George Chase, D. A. Clay, G. W. Evans, W. S. Garrison, C. B. Gridley, C. B. Hopkins, Jos. Hanna, W. H. Ilsley, A. M. Loomis, M. H. Morse, O. McDaniel, N. B. Noyes, H. F. Paul, J. L. Richardson, Jos. Shedeck and D. G. Tebo.
The present officers are: W. H. Ilsley, commander; E. E. Brown, S. V. C .; A. E. Allen, J. V. C .; G. W. Evans, adjutant; A. M. Loomis, quartermaster; M. H. Morse, surgeon; H. F. Paul, chaplain; C. B. Gridley, O. D .; J. L. Rich- ardson, O. G.
The names of the charter members and the present members are given in full in this history that the same may be preserved for the coming generations, for ere another generation shall have arisen, this organization, being composed of those who were in active service in the civil struggle of '61-'65, will all have passed away, and their names are well worthy of being written on the tablets of time.
BEN PAUL POST W. R. C. NO. 4.
This organization of patriotic ladies was organized December 7, 1883, and was one of the first to receive a charter in the state. Captain A. M. Loomis per- formed the duties of instituting officer with precision and soldierly grace. The charter members were : Lula Fuller, Jennie C. Williams, Hannah Gilbert, Elizabeth Crawford, Harriet Williams, Sarah Woodyard, Nancy Paul, Mary A. Hannan, Mrs. Riley Calkins, Miss Lulu Bender, Viola Hopkins, Hattie E. Marshall, Martha Noyes, Augusta Bronson, Cynthia E. McDaniel, Ann E. Bender, L. B.
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Paul, Alice Loomis, Eliza Morse, Lena L. Parshall, Lavina Pealer, Lida Elli- son, D. Clay, J. Clay, Amelia L. Champlin.
Those who first performed the duties as officers, were: President, Hattie E. Marshall; S. V., Cynthia E. McDaniel; J. V., Lena Parshall; secretary, Mar- tha J. Noyes; treasurer, Elizabeth Bender; chaplain, Alice Loomis; conductor, Lavina Pealer; guard, Augusta Bronson.
A history of the W. R. C. would not be complete without a personal mention of Hattie E. Marshall who has been a large part of the life of the local organiza- tion and who has been prominent in the W. R. C. circles of the state. She was a most estimable woman in domestic and social life as well as an active and efficient worker for the relief of the soldiers. Hattie E. Woodard was born in New Hamp- shire, came west in 1854, and was married to T. R. Marshall in 1866. During the war she received a government commission as army nurse, but being too frail to serve on the field hospital corps, she knit stockings and made lint and bandages for the soldiers. In 1872, she came to Iowa settling at Wyoming where she resided until her death, January 12, 1908. Mrs. Marshall organized Corps No. 4 in December, 1883, and helped organize the state department July 8, 1884, at which meeting she was elected delegate to represent the state of Iowa at the second national convention held at Minneapolis, July 23, 1884. At the second annual department convention at Davenport, April, 1885, Mrs. Marshall was elected president. During her administration she instituted five corps, instructed fifteen and visited twenty-seven. She wrote six hundred and forty-three letters, fifty-four postal cards and traveled three thousand, four hundred and eighty-three miles with an expense to the department of only thirty-five dollars and sixty- seven cents. She presided at the third annual department convention held in Sioux City, Iowa, April, 1886, and in June of the same year attended the national convention at Portland, Maine. In all she attended fourteen department conven- tions. Springing from patriotic ancestors, her great grandfather, and her grand- father serving in the French and Revolutionary wars, her father a surgeon in the war of 1812, her husband a soldier of the Civil war, it is little wonder that her patriotism was an inherent virtue, and that the cause of the soldier was so dear to her heart. The W. R. C. of Wyoming may learn to get along without her efficient help and kindly ministrations, but we believe it does not possess the disposition to forget what her life has meant to the welfare of the organization.
The present membership in good standing is forty-three. The ladies meet once each month and in the true sense are a "relief" corps in looking after the welfare of the soldiers.
The officers for 1909: President, Janet Robertson ; S. V., Eliza Morse; J. V .. Mary Gridley; secretary, Edith Marshall; treasurer, Nettie Wherry; chaplain, Helen Ilsly ; pat. inst .; Elizabeth Inglis; pres. cor., Maud Stoffel; conductor, Minnie Tasker; guard, Sarah McRoberts; ass't. con., Sarah First; ass't. guard, Hattie Tebo; C. B. No. 1, Minnie Anderson; C. B. No. 2, Stella Lindsey ; C. B. No. 3, Celista Mallicoat ; C. B. No. 4, Daisy Overley; musician, Frances Vaughn.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The earliest fire company of the town was similar to the early organizations of other towns, namely, the bucket brigade. These do valiant service considering
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the means at hand. Later, however, when a well was sunk in the center of the intersection of Main and Washington streets and another half a block west on the south side of Main street, heavy force pumps were put in with handles for six men, their power was greatly increased. This proved effective during a conflagra- tion which visited the town and gutted the wooden buildings of the business dis- trict. Later a chemical engine was purchased at a cost of five hundred and forty dollars and with this and the use of the force pumps, the last fire in the opera house was confined to that block alone.
It was on December 6, 1899, that the present fire department was duly or- ganized with thirty-two members. E. M. Babcock was elected chief, and A. W. Peck, secretary. The fire laddies have by their own efforts bought and paid for a hook and ladder truck, over two hundred feet of hose, an elegant up-to-date hose cart, and put in a hydrant near the pumping station. Since the establishment of our water works system in the fall of 1898, the town has suffered very little by reason of fire. There have been several fires but by the prompt and tireless efforts of the fire laddies the fire has been kept confined to narrow limits. The present equipment for fighting fire is: A chemical engine, a hook and ladder truck, two hose carts, one thousand feet of good regulation hose, a hose house and engine room and an organized department.
The officers for 1909: chief, Henry W. Behnke; first assistant, S. H. Brain- ard; second assistant, Harry Cook; third assistant, John Pealer; secretary and treasurer, A. W. Peck.
WYOMING TELEPHONE COMPANY.
In the year 1901 the Wyoming Telephone Company was organized with Dr. J. W. Kirkpatrick, president and members of the company as follows: E. M. Babcock, P. S. Jansen, W. S. Garrison and J. W. Waite. Later E. M. Babcock and P. S. Jansen purchased the interests of the other members and managed the enterprise quite successfully. In August, 1908, the Wyoming Telephone Com- pany changed hands, the new proprietor being Otto Wettstein, Jr. Up until this time the central station was in the rear of E. M. Babcock's drug store. At first the switch board was a simple affair, and each year the demands grew for tele- phones until now a modern switch board is in operation, connecting with about three hundred and eighty telephones direct and connecting with all the lines with other towns and the surrounding country. In the fall of 1908, the central station was moved to the second floor of Wilker's hardware store where it is now nicely located and with comfortable quarters. Miss Hattie Eichhorn has been the central operator for the past six years, and her faithfulness and supply of good nature and reserve power in emergencies has made her a general favorite and has done much to popularize this telephone service with its numerous patrons. Miss Maggie Womancha is the present assistant; Clayton Fields being the night operator.
In April, 1909, this telephone company was incorporated under the name of The Wyoming Telephone Company, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dol- lars, divided into three hundred shares of one hundred dollars each, Otto Wett- stein, Jr., president and J. H. Lunemann, secretary. Orla Newell is local manager and lineman.
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BEAR CREEK VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY.
This mutual company was organized in 1904 by farmers west of town and had its central in A. W. Peck's grocery store where it yet remains. A. W. Peck has been the central since the organization of the company. About seventy-five telephones ring direct to central at the present time and new lines are being con- structed. This company has a line to Anamosa, a direct line to Olin, and connects with all the farmer lines in Jones and adjoining counties. And besides, the cen- tral connects with the Iowa Telephone Company so that the patrons of the farmer lines have direct connection with the long distance lines. The business affairs are conducted economically, the shareholders being charged with only the actual ex- pense of operation. O. H. Peck is president; A. W. Peck, secretary; L. L. Ire- land, treasurer ; directors : A. G. Bender, L. J. Bender, W. N. French.
DESTRUCTION BY FIRES.
The first of the severe losses sustained by fire in Wyoming occurred on Sun- day afternoon, September 30, 1877, when fourteen wooden buildings, and including half the business buildings of Main street were fully and completely devoured by the fiery element. Strong men were forced to weep as they saw the earnings of half a life-time destroyed in less than one hour. Twenty thousand dollars worth of property were destroyed, and only four thousand, six hundred dollars insurance. The peace and quiet of a calm Sabbath day was turned into a scene of wild excitement, frenzy and despair.
The fire started in a stall of the livery barn of Lansing Hoyer, occupied by Hoyer & (J. W.) Bronson. When first discovered the blaze was small, and in spite of heroic efforts to extinguish it, the strong southwest wind fanned the flames into an irrepressible power of destruction. This livery barn stood near where the Siler & Cave livery barn stands today. The flames continued to spread and devour building after building until fourteen had been completely destroyed.
Besides the buildings destroyed, the stores and dwellings in the vicinity were endangered, and the goods carried out of these were more or less damaged.
The principal losses, so far as the record can be obtained, were as follows: Hoyer & Bronson's livery, one thousand dollars. Lansing Hoyer, livery build- ing, two thousand dollars. Mrs. S. McClure, millinery store, one thousand, two hundred dollars. Mrs. Wyatt, over millinery store, household goods, three hundred and twenty-five dollars. G. W. Milner, harness shop, five hundred dollars. J. B. McGrew, drug store, and A. G. McGrew's building, one thousand. five hundred dollars. John Waite, agricultural implements, and warehouse, two thousand dollars. Mrs. Helen Madison, two-story building, two thousand, five hundred dollars. W. L. Foote, Foote Hotel, two thousand, five hundred dollars. G. W. Fields, billiard hall, two thousand dollars. Other sufferers were: East- man & Brainard, Joe. Holmes, John Graft, Misses Duncan and Ferguson, D. L. McMillan, Shibley & Peck, Emil Stoll, Chas. Hassler, W. H. Hamilton. R. S. Williams, Horton & Wherry, Waite & Son, R. Somerby, A. E. Spitzer. A. M. Loomis, Gilbert & Fordham, Mike Kennedy. Buildings on both sides of the street were burned. The present substantial brick buildings which stand in the
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same location as the district which was burned in the fire, shows the progressive spirit which prevailed after the fire.
The next important fire was on Sunday evening, January 19, 1890, when the fiery flames destroyed the buildings where the opera house now stands, the losses aggregating close to twenty thousand dollars, with about five thousand dollars insurance. The buildings destroyed included The First National Bank, loss, four thousand dollars; Diamond Creamery Company, storage and office, four thousand dollars; T. J. Farlan, millinery and household goods, three thou- sand dollars; Opera Hall, four thousand dollars ; E. M. Babcock, R. S. Williams, E. S. Saunders, the Odd Fellows, and J. A. Bronson, also suffered losses on goods damaged. Miss Anna Simmons, Dr. J. W. Kirkpatrick and D. A. White also suffered losses on goods. The fire occurred on an intensely cold night, and with the high wind, and limited fire protection, it was fortunate that no further losses occurred.
WATER WORKS.
The town of Wyoming owns and operates its own water works system. A special election was held July 1. 1896, when the people were given an opportunity to vote on the proposition of having water works. The record states that one hundred and fifty-three votes were cast, of which ninety-three were in favor of water works and fifty against. Because of a stringency in the money market, which occurred before the bonds could be disposed of, the matter of issuing bonds was put off, and it was in the fall of 1898 before active preparations were made to put in the system. Bonds in the sum of two thousand, seven hundred dollars were issued bearing date of November 15, 1898, and drawing five per cent interest.
The bid of J. L. White for four thousand and six hundred dollars for com- pressed air reservoir, pumping plant and pipe lines, was accepted at the meet- ing of the town council September 13, 1898. The council had previously de- cided to use the spiral riveted pipe manufactured by a Brooklyn, New York, firm. The plant was put in by the contractor, this make of water mains being used. but the council refused to accept the work, declaring that it was not according to contract.
The spiral riveted mains lasted for about three or four years and then began to fail. The leaks became almost a daily occurrence. The town had been placed considerably in debt in putting in the water works system, and now were face to face with the proposition of replacing the mains with cast iron pipe. With commendable spirit, the citizens and organizations generally, responded to the appeal of Mayor J. S. Brownell, and a car load of cast iron mains were paid for by private subscription and without a cent of expense to the town treasury. Other pipe was afterward secured at the expense of the town, and the entire system relaid. This experience cost the town several thousand dollars.
A new gasoline engine, twenty-two horse power, was purchased in 1900 at a cost of one thousand, and seventy-five dollars, and this engine is yet used for pumping purposes. A steel reservoir of about five hundred barrels capacity is located at the pumping station on Main street, the water being pump-
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ed from a deep well at the station. A large reservoir on the hill in the north- west part of town with a capacity of about three thousand and five hundred bar- rels, was built in 1902 at a cost of seven hundred and sixty dollars. Water is pumped from the town well and forced up to the latter reservoir. A wind- mill at the reservoir on the hill also pumps water from a deep well. The water supply is adequate for all needs. On analysis, the water has been found to be of good quality.
About eight thousand feet of water mains distribute the water over the various parts of town. Twenty water hydrants are distributed at intervals for the purpose of fire protection. This, in connection with the fire department, furnishes ample protection against fires, without any appreciable expense to the tax payers.
The water works system is now self sustaining. The last annual report of the town treasurer showed the receipts for water rentals for the year ending March 31, 1909, to be seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars and twenty-eight cents, and the running expenses paid out for the same period, five hundred and fifty-one dollars and ninety-five cents.
WYOMING ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
In the early days of Wyoming, its inhabitants groped around on the streets of the village with no light but the moonlight and starlight of the heavens. Lan- terns were carried to guide the traveler through the darkness safely on his mis- sion. In this primitive way, the inhabitants, being unused to better methods of lighting, did not feel so deeply the need of a better and more modern street lighting system.
Street lamps for a time shed their rays of light over the dark streets, and were considered a vast improvement over prior conditions. To have the streets and public buildings lighted by electricity was almost too citified and too far in advance of existing methods, to be thought of as a reality in Wyoming.
The organization of the Oxford Junction Electric Light and Power Company about 1900, brought the people of Wyoming face to face with a proposition to have their streets and their public buildings and residences lighted by electricity, the current to be transmitted from Oxford Mills.
In the spring of 1900 the question came before the town council for discus- sion, and on June 18. 1900, this legislative body passed a resolution to submit to the voters of Wyoming at a special election to be held July 23, 1900, the question of granting J. R. Zinn & Son a franchise "to erect and maintain poles and wires, upon and over the streets and alleys of the town of Wyoming. Iowa, for the pur- pose of conducting and maintaining a system of electric lighting in the town, and the right to furnish lights to people and town as they may contract with said parties or town, said franchise to be for a period of twenty years."
At the special election held on July 23, 1900, there were one hundred and two votes cast, of which ninety votes were cast for the adoption of said measure, and six votes were cast against the measure.
On September 3. 1900. the town council passed ordinance No. 57, granting a franchise to J. R. Zinn & Son and their successors and assigns, to erect, construct,
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maintain and operate an electric light and power plant in Wyoming. The con- tract between the town and J. R. Zinn & Son was entered into February 1, 1901, under which the streets were to be lighted by electricity, and beginning about this date, the lights were turned on, and the streets and public buildings, were made to shine with a new luster.
There are now twenty-nine thirty-two candle power incandescent street lights. The council room, pumping station and hose house, and the opera house, and other public buildings were wired at once for lighting by electricity. The band stand at the intersection of Main and Washington streets, erected in 1905, has also been wired and is lighted by electricity. Many of the business houses and a number of residences are patrons of the electric light service, and find it a con- venient and serviceable light.
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