History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 82

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 82

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Among the other teachers at the head of the schools since the time when Mrs. Colby, Miss Groat and Mrs. Eddy did service have been Alice Daggett Heal, in the winter of 1877-8, A. B Adams, Miss Wilson, James B. Reed, J. P. Colby, Emma Buswell, Anna Ingham, Bertha Carey, J. H. Quick, Drake. W. M. Colby, M. E. Lumbar, A. A. Sifert, F. H. Slagle, Sorenson and Frank Barslou. Then came H. J. Ehlers in 1896, W. H. Brown, 1897; H Huffman, 1898; E. O. Brun- son, 1899; G. E. Mueller, 1900; M. H. Hoffman, 1904; J. H. Westcoat, 1905; C. L. Sherman, 1907; F. H. Slagle, 1910; Henry McSweeney, 1910; and C. V. Ryan, who began in the fall of 1911.

The Independent district was organized in 1884, E. E. Waite being chosen pres- ident of the board and D. P. Mayer, secretary. F. M. Butts was the third member of the board and Fred Anderson the treasurer.

Success Lodge, No. 134 I. O. O. F., was organized March 16, 1883, with Thomas Presnell, Fred Anderson, Joseph Laws, F. M. Butts, J. M. Orthel, and William Orthel as charter members; J. F. Nicoulin, the deputy grand master, being in charge of the organization. This lodge started with fourteen members and with Thomas Presnell as N. G .; F. M. Butts, V. G .; and Fred Anderson, secretary. The lodge has the right name for it certainly has been a success from the very beginning. The principal officers now are Thomas Presnell, N. G .; J. N. Dawson, V. G .; Chas. Robinson, R. C .; Wallace Benton, P. S .; and Guy M. Butts, T.

Maple Grove Rebekah Lodge, No. 117. has for its present officers Ida B. Hall, N. G .; Nettie Turgersen, V. G .; Phoebe Casler, S .; Thos. Turgersen, T .; Libbie Dawson, W .; Hattie Price, C .; and Luella McPherson Olesen, chaplain. The charter was originally granted October 21, 1892, and the first officers were Dora Grove, N. G .; Ella Clarke, V. G .; Mary Hopkins, secretary; Susie McCutchin, treasurer ; Thos. Presnell, W .; C. E. Oleson, C .; S. E. Grove, R. S. N. G .; T. A. Clarke, L. S. N. G .; F. A. Corey, I. G .; F. D. Robinson, O. G .; E. F. Bacon, L. S. V. G .; A. H. Presnell, R. S.V. G .; J. W. Hopkins, chaplain. The charter was sur- rendered in the fall of 1807 and the lodge was not re-organized until September 8, 1899.

Oak Camp Woodmen Lodge, No. 2545, is progressing under the management of its officers Joe Cosgrove, C .; J. N. Looft, A .; S. L. Sherman, clerk ; and Otto Kunz, B.

Oak Leaf Camp. Royal Neighbors, No. 2119. which came into existence April 14, 1900, has the following officers : Bessie Roe, O .; Kate Kennedy, V. O .; Nellie Finn, P. O .; Mahala Conner, C .; Tillie Sherman, Reco .; Barbara Wolf, Rece .; Mary Lawson, M .; Grace Lockwood, I. S .; and Gustafva Munson, O. S. ; the man- agers being Emma Cosgrove, John Kennedy and Edith Adair. The original man- agers were Mary J. Brunson, Maud Klinck and H. A. Fellows, and the camp

Digimed by Google

621

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

physician, Dr. G. M. Walters. Other officers were Nellie M. Phelps, O .; Emma Cosgrove, V. O .; Flora B. Sylvester, Reco .; Maud A. Jones, Rece .; Hannah Reinholt, C .; Emma Hager, P. O .; Eva Aldrich, M .; Lucy Pelton, A. M .; and Hattie Robinson, F.

Since the time when the first buildings began to appear in the village many changes have occurred. Business houses have gone up and after being used for a term of years have disappeared. The familiar countenances of many of the early promoters of enterprises are to be seen no more. In the meantime business and professional men have located and after a time, drifted to other locations. Others in turn have taken their places, and business is as brisk as at any period in the his- tory of the town.

The M. E. Church has for its efficient pastor, Rev. H. L. Blair, who came to take up the work in October, 1912. The trustees are J. N. Dawson, W. A. Lock- wood, Thos. Turgerson, O. S. Kurtz and Godfrey Carlson. The stewards are Luella McPherson, recorder, Fred Lockwood and wife, Godfrey Carlson, Neal Smith and Joe Heathcock. Charles Robinson is the Sunday school superintend- ent, Mrs. Ed. Doland, the president of the Ladies' Aid, and Ora Ostrander, president of the Epworth League.

The date of the beginning of the church goes back to 1873 when Elder Obed Robinson organized a class of six members and conducted the services. During the year previous he had held services in the country a few miles north, and had awakened an interest in the cause. These meetings tended to increase a desire for a church to be organized in the village. The first services were held in the Taylor & Ormsby granary, but soon after they were held at the depot. The first schoolhouse was built in 1874 and from that time on for several years the services were held in that building. The M. E. Church of the Wesley circuit was or- ganized March 3, 1878, and the church was incorporated July 18, 1895, the trustees being G. F. Barslou, G. B. Hall, H. L. Vesper, B. M. McPherson, E. Sanford, H. McCutchin, C. E. Chapin, Millie Chapin and Rose Colby Giddings.

Following Elder Obed Robinson came Revs. S. R. Groom in 1874, F. Franklin, 1876, F. E. Drake in 1877, G. D. Hook, 1878, Chesbrough, 1879, J. M. Woolery, 1880, and A. L. Tryon, 1883. Then in order following him came Revs. A. A. Wilcox, Hiram Gould, W. Eiler and I. I. Thompson. Others came as follows: Revs. H. C. McBride, 1890, S. L. Eastman, 1891, E. E. Plummer, 1894, H. I. Case, 1898, W. H. Montgomery, 1900, W. J. Luscombe, 1902, Harwood, 1904, A. D. Alexander, 1909, L. E. Wardle, 1911, and H. L. Blair who took charge of the work in October, 1912.

The church edifice was erected in 1884 at a cost of about $1,600 during Rev. Tryon's pastorate, and in 1893 it was remodeled at a cost of about $800. For 33 years Fred Anderson was the class leader

The Catholic Church at Wesley, with its large membership and with its successful school, had its beginning in the year 1891 when Father H. C. Eckart, of St. Benedict, started the parish and effected the organization. That year he had the school building erected at a cost of about $10,000. It was ten years later before the present commodious church edifice was completed. The cost of that structure was about $14,000. During the year 1898 the parsonage was built, completed and occupied. Father B. Schillmoeller was the next priest to preside at the head of the church. He came about 1899 and remained ten years, and had

Digitized by Google

622

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

many improvements made during his administration. He was an active worker and a man of energy. Four years ago Father E. J. Jungblut came and is still in charge of the church. He is a man of ability and courteous bearing, and has personal friends in all the churches of Wesley.

The Scandinavian Congregational Church was organized in 1886, Rev. L. C. Johnson being the first pastor and John Johnson, Lars Johnson, Peter E. Skow, trustees. Bernt Swanson was the secretary and Ole Peterson the treasurer. The following pastors came in order after Rev. Johnson : Revs. C. O. Torgeson, J. Peterson, K. J. Blom, H. A. Brooks, J. H. Pedersen and the present Chas. E. Nelson.

Rev. Nelson's charge includes the church at Britt, where the congregation owns a comfortable parsonage. He is much respected and is doing a good work. The church edifice at Wesley was built in 1888 at a cost of about $1,400 and was re- modeled and improvements installed in 1910. Peter E. Skow is one of the strong pillars of the church and is a keeper of the records.

The Wesley Congregational Church was the name of a religious organization that has long since dissolved and passed out of existence. It was organized August 26, 1897, Frank Hume, Z. S. Barrett and S. E. McMullen being the first trustees. Frank Hume, Eliza Hume, Mrs. Z. S. Barrett, John Amesbury, Mrs. F. R. Amesbury, A. E. Tofflemire, Mae McMullen, Mrs. E. Rogers and F. A. Corey were among the others who were promoters of the organization. A tasty house of worship costing $2,000, was immediately erected and paid for, and Rev. J. D. Mason secured as pastor. All went well for a few years and until the members began locating elsewhere, then the church went down and has never been resurrected. The building was sold later to Robt. Welter for $400, and be- came a residence. The other churches had a substantial footing and were firmly established long before this church was organized. This fact made it exceedingly difficult for the congregation to grow and prosper ; moreover the town at the time was supporting all the churches that were necessary for the moral and spiritual uplift of the community.

The Wesley Exchange State Bank was the result of the re-organization of Guy M. Butts' private banking enterprise, and came into existence in its present form July 15, 1912 with the following present officers : C. J. Sherman, president ; John Uhlenhake, vice president ; and Guy M. Butts, cashier. Besides these three the directors are Dr. F. L. Adams, Joseph Loebig, Joseph Hauptman and Jacob Faber.

The founding of the original bank dates back to the year 1884 when F. M. Butts, the father of the present cashier, began his private bank in the little building at the east end of the main street, now occupied for the implement office of Butts & Uhlenhake. Later F. M. Butts became the president, and his son, Guy M., the cashier. This was the first banking enterprise in town. April 20, 1900, the president retired and Guy M. Butts became the sole proprietor. He continued to operate alone until July 15, 1912, when the capital was increased to $30,000 and the bank re-organized into a state bank as it is now.

The banking home was finished and occupied February 22, 1911. It is of brick and elegantly constructed, and cost, including all the fixtures and modern improvements, $12,500. It stands on the site of the old Sherman House that was devoured by the flames in the disastrous fire of June, 1907. The founder of the bank came to the county in 1871 and to Wesley in 1879.

Deized by Google

623

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

The First National Bank of Wesley was organized June 26, 1900 and its first officers were Nathan Studer, president; Thos. Way, vice president; Stitzel X. Way, cashier; and Julius Kunz, assistant cashier. Some changes have taken place since that time, as will be noted from the fact that while Nathan Studer is still the president, Julius Kunz is vice president; Ihno A. Gerdes, cashier; and Thos. Peterman, assistant cashier. President Nathan Studer is one of the old settlers of that vicinity and has a rating second to none for reliability and genu- ine worth.

The bank is in the brick, two-story, double front building, erected in 1898 at a cost of $8,000, and has all the modern conveniences. The stockholders are among the most wealthy and reliable farmers and business men of that vicinity. Julius Kunz devotes most of his time to importing homeseekers, and has con- tinued to make land deals so successfully that "all the world wondered."

The bank is the outgrowth of the private Bank of Wesley which was started by Way & Barrett in 1887 and which in 1890 was re-organized into the Wesley Savings Bank, which had for its officers E. F. Bacon, president; S. X. Way, cashier. During the year 1895 another change occurred when the institution was dissolved into the Wesley State Bank with the same officers at its head and the addition of Tom A. Way, vice president, and Julius Kunz, assistant cashier. The bank was in this form until reorganized into the First National.

The well known double store of Edward Kunz was founded by his father, who had the same name, in a little building on the site of the present store in 1887. After continuing to deal in general merchandise unitl 1890, in his modest apartments, he then built the brick store 44x60 feet. Six years later he erected another front, 22x80, and then death came to him during the year 1896. His son Edward, who in fact had been the manager from the start, came into pos- session of the business and has run it since that time with great success.

Ben F. Felt is one of the successful merchants dealing in general merchandise. He started on the north side of the street by buying out Neville & Corey in 1896. He has been in his present location for about 11 years. "Ben's Cash Store" is as well advertised as the "Prudential" on the rock of Gibraltar.

W. W. Finn began the hardware and harness business by purchasing a half interest in the store of Way Bros. After five years, in 1895, he bought out his partners and has since run the business alone.

Roe & Braley have the only drug store in town and it is a good one. The senior member, Carl Roe, began five years ago by becoming the owner of the drug stocks of A. O. Anderson, and then of Frank Heal, who had conducted the business from 1889 to 1908. In August, 1912, Mr. Braley was admitted as a partner.

The Schroeder Company, dealers in general merchandise, began in February, 1912, by becoming the successors of Schroeder & Wester, who started the busi- ness in May, 1910.

The only harness shop is conducted by Klinepeter & Haverley, who succeeded F. X. Giese in June, 1912. The latter bought the business of Klinepeter Bros., who are the sons of Louis Klinepeter, a settler of 1879, but now a resident of Los Angeles.

Arabella and Luella McPherson began the millinery business in 1889, and

Diceday Google

624

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

have enjoyed an extensive trade since that time. They succeeded Mrs. C. D. Daggett, who had conducted the business for a couple of years. The latter bought out the line from Mrs. W. M. Colby, the pioneer milliner, who started in the early days of the town.

John Amesbury owns the other hardware store, but it is managed at the present time by his brother, the predecessor in the business, F. R. Amesbury, who sold to him in February, 1913. The latter had conducted the store for eight years after buying it from Phil Pitzenburger. The store has been a suc- cess for years.

John N. Looft, the furniture man, is one of the popular merchants who is receiving a liberal patronage, and who is doing his share to build up the town. He began about three years ago by succeeding Theodore Schroeder in the busi- ness. His stock is large and well selected.

E. F. Hill in February, 1903, started his jewelry store; A. R. Coller in 1912 his barber shop; Frank Kouba, about a dozen years ago, his meat market; and G. E. Lundgren, four years ago, his grocery store. He was the successor of Jimmie Neville, "The Irish Jew," the same as several others were at different times. Butts & Uhlenhake started the implement business in 1896 by succeed- ing Huber & Frierch. They have for a competitor Peter Griner. Ed. Immer fall has full sway running his livery and garage, and is making money. Joe Cosgrove has grown gray since he began draying, but grows younger as the years go by.

The Walter Cowan hotel is the building in which S. E. Grove ran his depart- ment store for years. The proprietor has been in the hotel and restaurant busi- ness for the last ten years, and at his present stand for more than half of the time.

The creamery business is a private enterprise owned and conducted by Wester & Lockwood. The senior partner started it about seven years ago and five years later took as partner, Mr. Lockwood. The creamery was started in the early years of the town by Olson Brothers, who after running it with varied success for several years sold out to the Farmers' Co-operative Company. Matters went well for a while and then the expenses became more than the income. After the fac- tory had ceased to exist, it stood idle for several years. Then the present pro- prietors began the work anew.

The two resident physicians have a good field for their profession and have a practice that is growing. Dr. T. J. Carmody, after graduating from the St. Louis University in May, 1907, located in Wesley three months later. Dr. F. L. Adams came in May, 1911, and has had wealth enough to become one of the directors of the Wesley Exchange Bank.

Dr. W. S. Adair, the dentist, located in April, 1910, after having graduated from the College of Dental Surgery in Chicago in 1898. Seven years previous to that time he had graduated as a physician from the State University of Iowa.

The Kunz Elevator Company has one of its elevators at Wesley and it has been a success from the start. In 1895 the firm became the successor of the Kunz Grain Company, which had been operating for several years. The present officers are Julius Kunz, president ; Otto Kunz, manager; and Henry Kunz, sec- retary and treasurer.

The Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company has for its officers C. J. Sher- man, president ; and Peter Thissen, treasurer, while W. T. Fish is the manager.

Digimed by Google

MAIN STREET, BANCROFT, LOOKING WEST

HOBART, THE FUTURE CHICAGO

MAIN STREET, WESLEY

Ilgazed by Google

625

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

The company started the business in 1907. It was about to purchase the old Reliance Elevator when the destructive fire of June 14, 1907, burned not only the elevator but the Sherman House and several other buildings. The present company is successor to the Hunting Elevator Company, which began to do business at Wesley in 1888, and which had for its manager Fred Anderson during the entire time. He was at that post for twenty-one years.

The James A. Smith Lumber Company has the only yard in town. The lum- ber is housed in one of the best buildings in the county. John T. Kennedy, son of A. K. Kennedy, the first pioneer of that vicinity, is the manager. Frank Hume sold the business to James A. Smith, then some time later Smith sold to G. B. Hall, who in turn sold to the present proprietors in December, 1911.

The boarding house of Mrs. Ella Yorker has been as popular a place for get- ting meals served as any of the hotels or restaurants. Her place is homelike and full of sunshine.

The Wesley Milling Company was organized in July, 1899, and had for its directors Julius and Ed Kunz, S. X. Way, Frank Hume and Nathan Studer. Although the machinery that was installed in the flouring mill, the company erected, was adequate for the purpose, the mill was not a paying enterprise. So after a few years the equipment was sold and removed from the county. The building stood until the fall of 1912 when it took fire and was destroyed.

The first birth and the first death occurred in the village at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lloyd. August 6, 1871, their son, John L., was born, and during the summer of 1876 their daughter Helen died, Pastor F. Franklin conducting the funeral services. The first marriage occurred October 7, 1874, when Rev. Groom officiated in uniting as husband and wife Orrin J. Emmons and Miss Fannie J. Robinson.

Wesley has been well represented in the county offices. From there have been sent M. Taylor, I. Sweigard, N. Studer, H. C. Hollenbeck and Ed Kunz as supervisors, and John Ward and Fred Anderson as treasurers.

Many of the old patriarchs of the town have passed away, and others are still living on the western slope of life. Among the latter are W. M. Colby, G. S. Mc Pherson, Thomas Presnell, J. W. Hopkins and W. P. Giddings.

The town has ample fire protection from the water pumped from the well, which is 168 feet deep. A large pressure tank and a reservoir are features of the equipment. A fire company is organized and a hose cart and about 1.000 feet of hose are provided. The water has been analyzed and pronounced to be of the best quality for drinking purposes and use in the kitchen.

PLUM CREEK TOWNSHIP

The township of Plum Creek, comprising 96-28, was made the extreme south end of Portland by the board September 18, 1869, a township that was six miles wide and extended north to the Minnesota line. Previous to that date the terri- tory had belonged to Algona township. In September, 1888, the board cut off and established Plum Creek in its present form. The election for the organiza- tion was held at the Altwegg schoolhouse and Pat Kain, A. L. Seeley and P. T. Ferguson were the judges.

The Des Moines river enters the township on the north line of section 6. and after passing through 5, 8, 17 and the corner of 18, it cuts through 19 and leaves the township on the west line of that section. Plum Creek enters from the

Vol. 1-40

Dig izedby Google

626

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

east on section 13 and flows westward through 14, 15 and 16 and joins the river on the northeast quarter of 17.

The first settlement in the township was made early in November, 1854. The first cabin was raised by Richard Parrot on the northwest quarter of 30, now a part of the H. C. Adams farm. A few days later Lyman Craw raised another on the northwest quarter of 20, now known as the old Daniel Rice farm. Parrot and Craw bached together at the former's cabin for a while, and were there November 25, 1854, when W. H. Ingham and D. E. Stine called to inquire about the Black Cat grove on the other side of the river. Some time that following winter a Hoosier named Henry Lindner (or Linder as some have always called him) came and located upon section 8, at the mouth of the creek that bears his name. As he was away most of the time, Parrot and Craw were the only ones who were in the township during the winter of 1854-5.

August Zahlten, in the spring of 1855, came up from Humboldt county where he and Christian Hackman had been living in a side hill cave, and after working for Judge Call that summer bought the claim held by some of the Billy Hill crowd that had come the fall before to the Call settlement west of the river, and south of the present site of Algona. This claim embraced the farms now owned by L. D. Dickinson and the old homestead upon which Mr. Zahlten lived for many years before passing away in March, 1912. The Dickinson place he sold a couple of years later to James Roan, who was one of the respected pioneers during the early days.

During the fall of 1856 W. H. Ingham, who had built his cabin in the Black Cat grove in January in 1855. sold out his claim and then purchased Lyman Craw's on section 20. In that cabin he, W. S. Campbell and C. E. Putnam spent the winter of 1856-7, enjoying themselves as only frontiersmen can. When Mrs. Ingham came as a bride the next year, the bachelor companions gradually drifted away.

The southwest quarter of 15, which Henry Hauzerman (old Dutch Henry ) had claimed in 1856, became the home of Abram Hill the next year. The latter died in the early seventies and his wife lives at Garvanza, Cal. During the year 1857 the two Wheelock brothers claimed the southwest quarter of 26 and Wil- liam Wilson claimed several tracts. In 1858 Willis and George Brown got the claim title to a portion of 30, and W. B. Carey later became the owner. J. W. Moore, who located in Algona in the spring of 1855, later bought an interest in the grove on 30 over which so many were squabbling. Among others who had the title to most of the northwest quarter was H. A. Henderson, who lived in the old Parrot cabin with his family, at least during the year 1859.

Hurlbut Lake and wife moved to the claim of James Eggers on 19, early in 1859; this is the farm later owned by A. S. Gardner and now the property of his son. R. M. Eggers built a large home and had all the comforts of life he could manage to contrive. He preached in his own house in his eccentric way. More has been said on this subject in a previous chapter on the early settlement of the county.

Several notable events occurred during the year 1859. James Eggers built the first frame house in the township and did the first preaching. The postoffice was established with W. H. Ingham in charge at his own home, and it was called Kossuth Center. The office was later moved several miles north where,

big 1760by Google

627

HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY

among others, Sylvanus Rickard, Ed Moll, E. Tallman, and John Chapin became in turn the postmasters. It was in the fall of 1859 that Mrs. H. A. Henderson, on section 30, made the first bread from wheat raised anywhere in the county.

The first marriage occurred in the township in July, 1857, when Judge Call officiated in cementing the union of Hurlbut W. Lake and Rachel W. Eggers. The first birth was at the home of this young couple. The first ground broken for a farm was by Lyman Craw on section 20 in the spring of 1855, and the first wheat sown was on this same farm in the spring of 1858 by W. H. Ingham. It was on this farm that Harvey Ingham was born that fall.

Old Mike and young Mike Smith, the two brothers of the same name, set- tled on the west half of 27 during the year 1857, and Jacob Altwegg began making his home on his pre-emption on the northwest quarter of 15 in 1858.

A. L. Seeley came to the county in January, 1855, but just when he became a resident of Plum Creek is not easy to correctly state. He was with W. H. Ing- ham, at the latter's cabin on the west side of the river, the first winter he came and the one following. In the fall of 1856, when Mr. Ingham moved over the river into the cabin on the Craw place which he had bought, Seeley came with him, but he soon went away, and when he returned he dodged around, here and there taking claims, and had no fixed place of abode for some time. Along about 1860 he pre-empted land on section 17 and began making his home on that location. He was married in May, 1861, and settled on his homestead adjoining his other land.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Part 82

Author: Reed, Benjamin F Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 879

Author: Reed, Benjamin F
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 879