USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 80
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The first postmaster was Will Amos who took charge of the mail in October, in 1879, and handled it at the Wilson warehouse. After J. M. Farley had built his hardware store in the spring of 1879. the office was moved over there, and the mail was handled by Mr. Farley who was the deputy. The latter declared that all the fixtures of the office at the time of the removal consisted of one cigar box. C. D. Creed was the next to hold the office, being appointed in 1882. Others in turn holding the position have been Emil Chrischilles, H. P. Hatch, A. H. Dor- weiler, Joe DeGraw, A. E. Lien and the present incumbent, G. W. Bruner, who began in October, 1909.
More than thirty-four years have gone by since the first buildings were erected on the site and some of them are still standing in good repair. The Foster residence, that was for many years the home of the Henry Munch family, stands on its original position and has changed but little in outside appearance. The Munch store remains on the corner, but is now used for a garage and imple- ments. The Farley hardware store, that was built eastward out of the world, is now in the center of the business district and used for the same purpose but by others than the pioneer hardware man. A glance at the old National House re- minds one of the days when C. D. Creed used to sit on the east side with his chair tipped backed against the siding telling those long yarns about the time he was in charge of General Grant's orderlies. The Eiler House has a modest name compared to its former one-Grand Central hotel. It was certainly grand when the first part of it was pulled up from Rutland in 1879.
Since J. J. Strandberg first owned the building there have been numerous proprietors. Will Amos tried it for awhile and later Henry Munch ran it for several years. The hall up stairs in the early days of the town was frequently used for dances and other like gatherings. Chris Bell had it for awhile and greeted his guests with "Wie Geht's." Landlord Frost and others had control before it came into the possession of Mrs. Eiler who has owned the premises for years.
The old schoolhouse is now used for the Lutheran Parochial school and looks as familiar as in the days when Hattie Acers became the first teacher to do service in the building.
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"A town always draws towards the depot," is a saying that is not true of Whittemore. In the business block on main street, nearest the depot where there used to be some successful enterprises, the merchants have moved further up the street, towards the east, and as the result that part of the town has an aban- doned appearance.
The town contains numerous attractive residences and some that evidently cost more than $5,000 to build. Cozy cottages with tidy surroundings are in evi- dence all through the resident portion, and there is about as great a variety in archi- tectural design in these homes as one ever finds in a place the size of Whittemore.
The St. Michael's church is composed of one hundred and forty-five families numbering about nine hundred souls, and has for its resident priest, Father E. L. Dullard, who has been in charge since October, 1898. The church edifice, the parochial school building and the residence of Father Dullard, all indicate the harmony and prosperity of that church.
It was during Father McCaffrey's administration as local priest at Algona that the first movement began to be made to found this church organization. He attended to the spiritual wants of those of his religious faith in the vicinity of Whittemore for several years, beginning in September, 1880. It was on the 19th of that month that the first mass was offered by him in Whittemore. During the succeeding seven years Catholic families in that vicinity increased in num- ber so that when Father Michael Nichols became the resident priest at Algona in 1887, an agitation had already begun in Whittemore to erect a church edi- fice. With Anton Schmitt, Adam Domek, John Besch and Patrick Higgins, as a committee, the work of soliciting subscriptions began in February, 1888, and the building was completed in the spring of 1889 under the directions of Father Nichols.
In February, 1897, Father P. A. R. Tierney was sent to be the first local priest, an event that was joyfully welcomed. He enlarged the house of wor- ship so that it had nearly double the capacity it had before and made other im- provements. The growth of the church since October 15, 1808, is due to the activity and personal worth of Father Dullard, the present priest. Soon after his coming new altars were procured and preparations begun for building a parish house. This was finished September 8, 1900, and had cost about $2,500.
The parochial school building was completed and the school started in Octo- ber, 1902, with four sisters in the teaching force and another as music teacher. The building was superintended in its construction by Geo. Purvis of Algona who with Simon Rath had also built the parish house. Although subscriptions to the amount of $4,400 had been taken, a large debt was on the members. By a well managed bazaar, held from December 26 to 29, 1905, which was so well patronized by all citizens of Whittemore that $2,300 profits were realized, the debt was materially lessened.
Father Dullard pays this commendable tribute to his place of residence: "A spirit of harmony exists between the town and country. It is seen in their cooperation in business and in the building of good roads. Christian charity makes the people helpful and sympathetic to one another. In this respect it is good to live in Whittemore."
St. Paul's Lutheran church has for its pastor Rev. Wm. Faulstich who has presided over the church since August 15, 1886. In his own words he gives these
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statements: "During the twenty-seven years of existence one hundred and seven have subscribed to the constitution of the congregation, a large percentage of whom have left for other parts of the country, and some have been summoned away by death's call. The number of those being baptized during this period are 496 children. Those who were confirmed here number 342. 117 couples were united in holy matrimony, and 112 persons died. At present the congregation numbers sixty voting and 248 communicating members and 450 individuals."
All the old settlers in the south end of the county remember the genial Henry Klingelhofer who settled in the south part of section 10, in Whittemore town- ship, in the latter sixties or early seventies. When he and Henry Meyer in- duced Rev. C. F. W. Maahs of Fenton to come to Whittemore to preach to them and the families of Andrew Drews, Christ Bell, Fred Schults, Charles and Fred Baas, August Moltz, Christ Siems and Fred Lehman, the church organization had its incipiency.
The mission work was carried on by Rev. Maahs from 1884 to July, 1886. During the month of December, 1885, E. Stahlke, a theological student, came as acting pastor and teacher of the school, and remained until July of the follow- ing year. Henry Schultz, Henry Baas and Minnie Bell were the first to be confirmed by Rev. Maahs. During the summer of 1886, a modest parsonage with an addition for school room was erected, the two fine lots being donated by Capt. W. H. Ingham, one of the proprietors of the town site. The building com- mittee consisted of the above named: Meyer, Drewes, Baas, Bell and Klingel- hofer.
After the present pastor came in August, 1886, and had matured his plans, he organized a parochial school in the fall of the following year, and did the preach- ing himself until 1899. In the spring of 1890 the congregation was incorpo- rated under the laws of the state. Then a movement to build the church edifice began. The structure was completed in February, 1891, and was dedicated on the first of the following month. The building is 32x50 ft. and 20 ft. high and has a tower 83 ft. high. In the rear was an addition for a school room. The total cost, including the bell and organ, amounted to $2.557. The schoolroom was lengthened, in 188, and the parsonage remodeled and enlarged. Prof. H. Muel- ler was installed parochial teacher in September, 1899.
To provide more room for the school the old school house was purchased in January, 1902. During the summer of 1903, the congregation built a cozy dwelling for Prof. Mueller and wife, but he soon left to teach at Fort Dodge. His place was filled by the present teacher Prof. Henry Behnke who was installed August 27, 1905.
Rev. Faulstich is an interesting conversationalist and courteous in his bear- ing. He is assisted in his work by Christ Siems, Jul Maahs and Fred Lehman, elders : Fred Wegener, treasurer ; and Prof. H. Behnke, secretary.
The only other church having an active organization at present is the Meth- odist Episcopal. Several pastors have lived there but at present the services are conducted by Rev. L. E. Wardle of Cylinder. The board of trustees and stewards are C. C. Green, J. D. Graham, Frank Yager, Mrs. M. B. Munch, Adam Luchsinger, E. Neuman and John Leibenstein.
In the early days of the town the first Methodist services were held by circuit riders who went from place to place preaching wherever they could get an au-
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dience. In this way churches of that denomination were started in several of the towns in the county. Whittemore was in one of these circuits when the town was platted. It was not until 1880 that regular services were held. Rev. Mc- Caffrey was preaching in the country and after having Whittemore included in his charge, he moved to town and became a resident, while also preaching at Lotts Creek, West Bend, Cylinder and the Peter J. Walker schoolhouse. These circuit riders usually began by forming classes which by degrees developed into churches which had no precise day of beginning. For that reason the date of their organization is made more difficult to obtain than it otherwise would have been. The first board of trustees, however, consisted of Adam Sawvell, R. Thatcher, A. J. Henry, J. M. Farley and J. L. Ferris. During the year 1898 the present comfortable church edifice was erected upon a lot donated by Capt. W. H. Ingham four years before. For eight years prior to this time the Method- ists held their services in the Baptist church for want of an edifice of their own. John Fairburn is the present Sunday-school superintendent.
Affiliated with this church are some of the leading citizens of the town who have done much to forward the interests of the cause.
The Baptist church has no active organization and has not had for several years. There was a time when there was quite a congregation of that religious faith that met for worship in their own church edifice; but with the lapse of time and a change in conditions, the organization has been shattered. The edifice, erected in 1890, was sold to the highest bidder for a residence, seventeen years later. Evangelist Robt. Carroll was the one who brought the church into exist- ence, but the first pastor was Rev. O. M. Thrasher. Others who came later to look after the spiritual wants of the flock were Revs. A. A. Johnson, T. A. Wirring- ton, Stephenson and possibly others.
After the organization had practically dissolved there went floating the rumor that some of the members had presented the bell to the Baptist church of Al- gona. By some kind of a hocus-pocus the bell that night suddenly disappeared from the belfry, and the presentation never took place.
The Whittemore State Bank, organized in 1893, has for its officers: Geo. E. Boyle, president ; J. M. Farley, vice president; Tom Carmody, cashier and Mark Boyle, assistant cashier. The composition of this force is such as to give solidity and reliability to the institution. Mr. Boyle and Mr. Farley have held their posi- tions continuously since the organization with entire satisfaction to all con- cerned, and Cashier Carmody who has been connected with the bank for seven- teen years has held his position with growing favor. His assistant, Mark ,Boyle, is in fact an assistant of recognized value and is making good.
The banking home is a well constructed brick building with plenty of light for the working force. Of the $50,000 capital with which the bank started, $35,000 were paid up at the time. The directors not named above are Fred. Wegener, Wm. Dau, Sr., Otto Esser, G. A. Brunson and C. T. Chubb, the latter two being residents of Algona.
This bank was founded upon the private bank which Geo. E. Boyle and Corey Ridgeway started in 1890. The former as president and the latter as cashier operated alone until the reorganization occurred, as above state, in 1893.
The German American Bank is located in a good position and in a comfort- able, well-built home. One seldom meets, if ever, more courteous officials than
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President Frank Bestenlehner and Cashier J. S. Cullen. They are young and vigorous and full of activity. The large amount of increasing deposits is a fine testimonial of the trust their patrons repose in them. The $25,000 capital, with which the bank began, is fully paid and these officers hold a controlling interest.
The bank was originally started in September, 1895, by John F. Shaible and Rodney Hill, the former from Freeport, Illinois, and the latter from Britt. Mr. Shaible was the resident manager until January 1, 1907, when he disposed of all of his interests to the present head officers, Frank Bestenlehner and J. S. Cullen. Mr. Shaible is now cashier of The City National Bank of Mason City and Mr. Hill is deceased. There are twenty stockholders and of these T. S. McGovern has been one since the beginning.
The Farmers' Elevator Company which was organized in 1910, upon the ruins of several similar enterprises and which is giving Whittemore a satisfactory grain market. is officered as follows: M. W. Fandel, president ; J. M. Farley, vice president ; Thos. Carmody, secretary ; Frank Bestenlehner, treasurer, and C. C. Green, manager.
The original ancestor of this company was the Farmers' Exchange Society which came into existence in the spring of 1892. There were one hundred and twenty members and Silas Roupe was president ; Joseph Schenk, secretary; and J. A. Lillibridge, treasurer. After the elevator. coal-sheds and corn-cribs had been built, Thos. Carmody arrived and took charge of the plant as manager. This position he held until April 1, 1896, when he resigned to accept his present posi- tion-cashier of the State Bank. For the succeeding two years F. E. Potter was the manager, and then for a like period, A. F. Bellman had charge. F. L. Thompson came next and after his management for a couple of years, the business col- lapsed with a debt of about $17,000, and the company was forced into bankruptcy. The company sold the plant, after the wreck, to the Scott-Logan Milling Com- pany of Sheldon, and then that firm ran the business until 1910 when it sold the plant to the newly organized Farmers' Elevator Company that was ready to start with a paid up capital of $7,650. Since the present company has owned and controlled the plant the farmers have had as good a market as there was at any similarly located point in the county. Probably not one of the above named companies would have been organized had the "line elevator companies," who had a monopoly of the grain handling business at this point prior to 1892, satis- fied the farmers with their methods of weights and dockage. It was in order to protect themselves that the farmers that year organized the Exchange Society.
The Whittemore Creamery Company has for its officers H. S. Dailey, presi- dent; Thos. Carmody, secretary; German American Bank, treasurer; A. M. Whitney butter-maker and manager. The factory is one of much value to the farmers and residents of the town as well. The company was organized in Janu- ary, 1800, with H. A. Lillibridge, as president ; J. L. Cotton, secretary ; and J. A. Simpson, treasurer. Under the management of Geo. A. Hanna, the first but- ter-maker, the enterprise prospered from the beginning. and it has continued to do so to the present time. The factory building in 1892, was destroyed by fire, but a new one was soon erected and a better equipment installed. About one hundred and forty farmers patronize the factory and are made happy by doing so.
The Wheeler Lumber Company, has the only yard in town, and has for its local manager J. J. Elbert who has been with the company for about eight vears.
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The corner hardware store has been owned and conducted by J. M. Fleming for the past three years. The stock is large and the patronage extends over a wide territory. The proprietor's brother, Francis, is assistant salesman and Charles Falb, the tinner and plumber. This store is the one started by J. M. Farley in the spring of 1879 and sold by him to Mr. Fleming.
The hardware store of Holdridge & Tyler is a prosperous one and the pro- prietors have been in the vicinity for many years. About eighteen years ago, C. D. Holdridge began alone and after operating until about four years ago he sold a half interest to J. M. Tyler. The combination was a lucky one for both. and success has been the result.
One of the popular and well conducted mercantile establishments is the gen- eral store of John Leibenstein who has been the proprietor since June 6, 1899. His store room is 100 ft. long and 22 in width and is well filled with goods that find a ready sale. A glance at the interior discloses the fact that the store is a success. Miss Frankie Butler, Miss Carrie Bierstedt, Harry Leibenstein and Fritz Behnke are the active helpers in making the enterprise the success it has attained. This is the store that H. J. Thompson ran for many years before selling to the present proprietor.
In the old store building where J. E. Beattie conducted his store for a long time, the firm of O'Brien & Geelan is operating a general store and meeting with success. These gentlemen began April, 1899, as Mr. Beattie's successors, W. J. O'Brien coming from Emmetsburg and H. W. Geelan from Ruthven. They are assisted in their work by Louis Braatz and Harold O'Brien.
G. W. Brunner is the resident jeweler and enjoys the large patronage which he has built up since coming to Whittemore in September, 1896. At that time J. E. Beattie was doing the jewelry business in connection with his general store. This line of merchandise he disposed of to Mr. Brunner who remained in the building for some time after Mr. Beattie had sold out to O'Brien & Geelan. In October, 1909, Mr. Brunner's standing in the community was of such high order that he received his commission to become the postmaster. He then moved into his own building where he has the office and his stock of well selected jewelry and kindred lines, and where he attends to the wants of his many customers.
A. E. Lien's drug store is one of the popular trading places where a large stock is constantly kept to meet the demands of the public. He is one of the hustling, popular business men whose friends are equal in number to his acquaintances. During the year 1900 he became the sole proprietor. He came in 1896 and, with J. W. Lillibridge as partner, succeeded J. O. Burns. A couple of years later the drug firm -- A. E. Lien Company-was organized, the other partners being Alex Moore of Chicago and J. L. Etzel of Clear Lake. The firm dissolving in 1900, Mr. Lien has since then been alone in the enterprise. The stock in 1898. was caught in that June fire and consumed by the flames.
The furniture business that was begun in the early days of the town by Smith Carlisle is now in the hands of T. A. Swanson, and he, Tom Carmody and the Kinne Bros., have an invention for shocking corn that is bound to be a money-maker. After about four years of experimenting they have almost made it reach a point of perfection.
G. S. Moore not only sells groceries, but his full line of shoes is an attrac- tion that is making his store a popular trading place.
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Mrs. Susie Engler's restaurant is a popular dining place and well conducted. Mrs. Engler has lived in Whittemore since her childhood, in fact has lived there as long as any other person, being the daughter of Henry and Mrs. Munch who were among the earliest settlers in the village. Her husband, Edward Engler. began the business about twenty years ago in the building she now occupies, but it then stood on another location. After conducting the business there for two or three years the building was moved to where it now stands. About twelve years ago her husband died after he had sold the building. That same fall Mrs. Engler repurchased it, and the next year began the business with the assistance of her daughters, Edna and Irma D. Miss Edna is now one of the efficient as- sistants in the county auditor's office and her sister is a student at the State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls.
Herman Rantzow, the jolly shoemaker, has been a resident for about twenty years, and is well known for miles around. He is the same Herman who at an auction, held south of the courthouse in Algona, on examining a necktie said it was too haal (light). The auctioneer-D. A. Haggard-understood him to say, "You go to H-1."
W. S. Shackelford owns and conducts a harness store that is a credit to the town, and it is favorably located in the Schmitt brick block. He located in 1908, and the next year bought the stock of Mr. Schmitt and moved into his building where the fire in May, 1911, consumed the whole. After one more removal he began in his present quarters.
C. E. Dean is the proprietor of the Eiler House and has the patronage of many transients; J. T. Creighton is still running his confectionery business in his own cement building notwithstanding his former loss by the fire; L. B. Smith is the dentist ; Miss Jessie Watson conducts one millinery establishment and Dee Hayes the other ; F. O. Hahn is the hustling agent at the depot; Peter and W. A. Elbert deal in gasoline engines and fix pumps; Miller & Roupe have the only livery ; Henry Kucker at one place sells implements and A. E. Snow at another ; 1. D. Elbert runs the pool hall on one location, G. H. Airhert is doing the same line in another building; Luchsinger & Zumach conduct the meat-market and Henry Lavernze does the barbering ; M. C. Weir at one shop and August Schatts- chneider at the other are the blacksmiths; T. A. Swanson, Simon Roth, A. W. Haas and Holbridge & Roeber, are the contractors and builders and H. S. Dailey the auctioneer.
There are fewer lodges, clubs and social organizations than in any other town of its size in the county. The Ladies' Auxiliary, however, is one that is alive and doing good work along just one line. Caring for the cemetery is the object of the association which has been in existence for about eight years. Mrs. J. M. Farley is the president ; Mrs. R. A. Hinton, vice president ; Mrs. E. Chris- chilles, treasurer ; Mrs. Will Reimers, secretary.
Dr. J. W. McCreery is the only physician in town, although at times there have been two or three. He is well adapted to the profession, has a good stand- ing and a wide practice which is increasing. He came in 1900 and is there to stay. The first doctor to locate was J. M. Pride in the spring of 1879. Then came Dr. Phelps and later Dr. T. J. Felling. Dr. C. B. Paul made a stand there for a while but later sold his practice to Dr. Will Bowen who, in turn in 1900, sold to Dr. Leonard. After a couple of years the latter sold to Dr. W. C. Heinen. Four
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years later he left to seek another location. Dr. C. M. Hutchison then came, but after a year and a half went to California.
The Whittemore Champion under the management of its proprietor, Tom J. White, is one of the substantial papers of the county that wield an influence and that cause other editors to take notice of what it says. Whittemore is fortunate in having such an able editor and a man so specially fitted for conducting a paper as he. His ability is not only recognized there but in other parts of the county as well. He became the owner of the Champion in October, 1904, by pur- chase from E. F. Kluckhohn. His historical number, January 1, 1913, was as valuable an addition as ever came from the press of the county. From it much information for this chapter has been derived.
The story of the newspaper enterprise in Whittemore is an interesting one. A. J. Henry, at some period from the fall of 1878 to the close of the following year, when he was the station agent, published the Whittemore Gazette which he had printed at the U. D. M. office at Algona, while Hudson & Warren were the editors of that paper. The Gazette was a spicy sheet and was eagerly read by the new settlers in the vicinity of the village, but its duration was short.
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