USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 108
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 108
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 108
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The second hardware store was opened in 1876, by James Widowis, who brought his stock from Rockford, this State. Ile ran the business in what is now Clark Bros.' store, for about one year, when William Larson, mortgagee, took the stock and closed it out at sheriff's sale.
Dwight E. Johnson, of Rockford, Iowa, erected a building on the corner north of Olson & Son's store, in 1879, and estab- lished two of his sons in the hardware business. They continued until 1882, when II. MeCusker became proprietor, and in August, 1883, Wells & Co. pur- chased the business.
In 1883 the representatives of the hard- ware business were Stilson & Reed and Wells & Co.
The first carriage and wagon shop was opened in 1860 by J. J. Barker, in the north part of town. Mr. Barker was a carriage maker by trade, but while here his business was mostly repairing. lle remained six or seven years then went to Hancock county.
This branch of trade was represented in 1883 by Lunsett & Jenson and Thomp- son & Anderson. The firm of Lunsett & Jenson established their business in 1870, and have been in trade ever since. Thomp- son & Anderson opened their establish- ment in 1879.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
The first blacksmith shop in Forest City was opened in the spring of 1857, by A. T. Cole, in a little shanty a few rods southwest of where Jasper Thompson's residence now stands. Mr. Cole ran the shop about one year, then sold to Lemuel Lackore. After a few months the shop reverted to Mr. Cole, who sold shortly after to a man from Elk Grove, Hancock county.
John Trumbull commenced blacksmith- ing in his own shop some time during the war. He sold to a man by the name of Garrett, who, after running the business about six months, sold to Henry Grates. Within a month A. T. Cole bought of Grates and run the business for about three years, selling at the end of that time to Robert Clark. Clark sold to A. L. Plummer, who sold back to Cole. Mr. Cole moved the shop one mile north of town, and seven years later moved it to section 35, township 99, range 24, of New- ton township.
Henry Grates opened a shop in about 1868, and after one year's work at the forge sold to Matt. Faulkner. Mr. Faulk- ner ran the business about three years then moved to Garner, Hancock county. taking the shop with him.
In 1870 Lunsett & Jenson opened a blacksmith shop in connection with their carriage works. They hired different men to run the shop, and in 1883, Stowe & Hanson were in charge.
Hans Lunsett, the first wagon maker in Forest City, was born in Trondhjem, Nor- way, June 24, 1831. 'There he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a paint- er, which he followed for a number of years. In 1860 he left his native home,
crossing the ocean to Quebec, then to La Crosse, Wis., where he remained a short time, removing then to Winona, Minn., where he was employed in a lumber yard. Soon after he removed to Rushford, where he learned the trade of a wagon maker. Here he remained two years, then remov- ing to Lansing, and then to Decorah, where he was employed at his trade by Ammon Hunter & Co. In 1866 he was married at Decorah, to Anna Olson, a widow of the late Knadt Olson, who died in the war. At the time of his death Mrs. Olson had three children-Adolph, Wil- liam and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Lunsett are the parents of two living children- Hakon Mechel and Emma. In 1870 Mr. Lunsett removed with his family to Win- nebago county, where he established a wagon shop in Forest City. He is a mem- ber of the Free and Accepted Masons, of Truth Lodge, No. 213. He came to this country a poor man, owing for his passage money. To his strict integrity in all business transactions the financial success of his life may be justly attrib- uted.
R. P. Jenson, wagon and carriage maker, of Forest City, was born in Den- mark, June 20, 1838. He was apprenticed to the trade for four years, and received nothing but board and clothes for his ser- viees. In 1866 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Decorah, Winneshiek county, where he was employed at his trade. In 1871 he removed to, and located in Forest City, at which place he formed a partnership with H. Lunsett, as the firm of Lunsett & Jenson. In 1875 he was mar- ried to Bertha Hanson, by whom he has had three children-Ammon J., Theodore
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
E. and Anne Marie. Mr. Jenson is one of the most enterprising business men of the county, and has worked himself, by his industry, into a place he can well be proud of.
The blacksmiths in Forest City in 1883 were Stowe & Hanson, in charge of Innsett & Jenson's shop; John Harstead, who established his business in the fall of 1880; and Johnson & Anderson, who opened a blacksmith shop in 1879, in con- neetion with their carriage and wagon shop.
The first tailor shop was opened in 1870 by P. Anderson. Mr. Anderson is a na- tive of Sweden, born in 1842. In 1869 he left his native country, came to Amer- ica and settled in Mitchell, Mitehell Co., Jowa. The following year he came to Forest City, where he has since been lo- cated. He has a good trade and his work gives entire satisfaction.
O. C. Steen opened bis tailor shop in 1881, and has since been identified with the business interests of Forest City.
The agricultural implement business of 1883 was represented, in Forest City, by Elwood Alexander and Twito & Tweed.
The business of E. Alexander was es- tablished in 1879 by L. S. Lewis and J. E. lloward. In 1882 Mr. Alexander pur- chased the interest of L. S. Lewis and the firm became J. E. Howard & Co., remain- ing as such until in 1883, when Mr. Alex- ander became sole proprietor.
(). H. Twito established the business of Twito & Tweed in 1880. In the spring of 1881 L. II. Twito became a partner, and the firm of Twito Bros. was estab- lished. In the fall of that year the firm became Twito Bros. & Tweed, and the
business was continued under the manage- ment of this firm until in 1882 when L. HI. Twito retired. The firm of Twito & Tweed have since conducted the business. They carry a full line of wagons, car- riages, mowers, reapers and threshing machines, and everything usually found in a well assorted business of this kind.
The first lumber yard of any importance was established in the summer of 1878 by C. H. Lackore & E. A. Ames, who hauled their lumber all the way from Garner by teams, there being no railroad at the time. They carry everything in the lum- ber line, and have a first-class yard. They also handle coal in connection with their lumber.
Jens Poulson engaged in the humber business in 1879 and has since been loca- ted at Forest City. He carries a stock varying from $1,500 to $2,000.
Jens Poulson, an old substantial lumber dealer of Forest City, was born in Leland, Denmark, Ang. 14, 1826. He was raised on a farm and received a good common school education. In December, 1871, he emigrated to America, spending his first winter in Waterloo, Iowa. In the spring of 1872 lie removed to Winnebago county, and purchased land in Forest township, where he followed farming until 1874. He then built the first brewery ever known in this county, which he conducted for five years. Mr. Poulson then engaged in the lumber business, carrying a stock of Ium- ber and building material valued at from $1,000 to $2,000. Mr. Poulson has been twice married. His first marriage was in Denmark, in November, 1851, and three children were sent to bless this union -- Gonl, Caroline Henrietta and Anna Ma-
4
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
thilda. His wife died in December, 1865, and be was again married in January, 1882, to Emilie Antonie Bogh. In early life Mr. Poulson was a member of the Lutheran Church.
In December, 1879, E. J. Joice opened a lumber yard at Forest City. Mr. Joice is one of the principal lumber dealers in Forest City and carries as large and fine a stock as there is in the county.
E. J. Joice, one of the enterprising business men of Forest City, was born in Bergen, Norway, Dec. 1, 1827, where he received a common school education, and when a young man learned the trade of cooper. In April, 1849, he was married to ITenrietta Riisnes, and in June of the same year emigrated to America in a sail- ing vessel to seek his fortune in the western world. After a voyage of sixty- two days they landed in New York, and there remained but a short time, going to Chicago, where he remained over winter. He then removed to the eastern part of Dane Co., Wis., where he engaged in farming and coopering. The first sum- mer was passed in working for others, at twenty-five cents per day, and the follow- ing winter he worked at his trade. Here he purchased eighty acres of wild land, making a very small payment on same, and made his first home in America. Re- maining here for several years, by hard work and good management he succeeded in getting out of debt and some to spare, sold the old homestead and moved to Stoughton, Wis., in the spring of 1866, where he engaged in the coopering busi- ness. In 1871 he visited Winnebago county and during his stay purchased consider- able land, and in the spring of 1879 re-
moved his family to Forest City, where he has since resided, being engaged in the lumber business. Mr. and Mrs. Joice are the parents of six children, four of whom are living-Margaret, wife of Lewis Larsen, of Forest City; Petra, who is teaching her fourth year of school in For- est City; John H., book-keeper of the First National Bank at Wausau, Wis .; and Peter M., cashier of Winnebago County Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Joice are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Joice is a deacon, being commissioned as an exhorter in 1859. He came to this country with not one cent that he could call his own, but by hard work and economy has obtained considerable property and a good home, and to-day is one of the most sub- stantial business men of the county.
The representatives of the lumber busi- ness in 1883 were E. J. Joice, Jens Paul- son and Laekore & Ames.
OFFICIAL.
Forest City was incorporated June 25, 1878. The first offleers were as follows: Mayor, Eugene Secor; recorder, A. II. Chase; marshal, L. C. Green; councilmen, C. II. Lackore, T. C. Ransom, B. A. Plum- Dier, H. Lunsett, J. W. Mahoney and W. O. Ilanson.
In 1883 the officers were: Mayor, J. F. Thompson; clerk, S. K. Gregg; treasurer, J. E. Howard; marshal, Elwood Alexan- der; councilmen, Eugene Secor, B. A. Plummer, C. H. Lackore, W. O. Hanson, HI. Lunsett and J. W. Mahoney.
BANKS.
The City Bank is located on the corner of Clark and J streets, and fronts twen- ty-two feet on the former, and sixty-six on the latter street. It is a brick structure,
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
substantially constructed and commo- diously arranged, and is an ornament to the town. It is two full stories, with a basement, the latter having a nine foot ceiling.
The basement is conveniently divided into rooms suitable for business, and is finished in good style.
The first story is fitted up for a bank and land oflice. The bank occupies three rooms besides the vault. The east room is the counting room, and is 22x24 feet, with a twelve foot ceiling.
Opening off the counting room is the vault, 8x10 feet, with walls twenty inches thick, arched ceiling and cement floor. It is furnished with massive iron doors, and is both fire and burglar proof. A handsome safe is located in the vault, which is provided with an approved style of time lock.
To the west of the counting room is the private office, 12x18 feet, and finished in nearly the same style as the counting room.
On the west side of the private ofhee is a hall which opens to the street, and also connects with the land office, which is 20x20 feet, finished in the same tasty manner as the rest of the building.
The second story is fitted for offices. The southeast room is 13x24 feet, con- nected with a consultation room,8x20 l'eet, with ten feet ceilings. The west room is 20x30 feet, and is connected with another 16x20 foot. The building presents an at- tractive appearance from the outside; the workis first-class and the structure is a val- uable addition to the improvement of the city.
The business history of the firm is traced as follows:
The firm of Secor Bros. & Law is an old as well as a substantial one. The senior member of the firm, llon. David Secor, began the land business in Forest City, in 1861, and can boast of an ex- perience of twenty-two years. He has filled the position of county treasurer and recorder, member of the Legislature two terms, and register of the State land office for four years. Ex-Mayor Eugene Secor, the next oldest in the firm, commenced business in 1865. He was clerk of the court for six years, and county auditor for four years, and was four times elected mayor, and is now a member of the coun- cil and president of the school board. Ex- Mayor John Law, the junior member of the firm of Secor Bros. & Law, has been connected with the firm since 1875. Ile served two terms as county recorder, and was mayor of Forest City one term. From this it will be seen that the firm of Secor Bros. & Law is composed of reliable and popular business men, and in their long experience in business they have pre- served a reputation for promptness and reliability second to none, and their busi- ness was never so large as to-day.
The Forest City Bank was established in the spring of 1877, and in January, 1882, the firm of Secor Bros. & Law ac- quired an interest in the business, which was removed to their building, and the name changed to The City Bank. By this arrangement B. A. Plummer, a successful banker, became associated with the firm in the banking business, and the bank is carried on under the firm name of Secors, Law & Plummer. Mr. Plummer has no
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
885
interest in the real estate business, and this branch is carried on as before under the old firm name of Secor Bros. & Law. Mr. Plummer is now county treasurer and is one of the best business men of the northwest, and was a valuable addition to the firm. Both the bank and the land office business are in good hands, and are eminently worthy of public confidence.
John Law, cashier of the City Bank, Forest City, Iowa, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 14, 1840, where he resided until ten years of age. In 1850 his par- ents, Thomas and Mary Hamilton Law, with their family, emigrated to America, settling in Oneida Co., N. Y. Six years later they journeyed westward as far as Portage City, Wis., in which vicinity he resided during the next seven years. In 1863 he was married to Katherine E. Cook, of Scott, Columbia Co., Wis. This union has been blessed with three chil- dren, two daughters and one son. Dur- ing the first year of his marriage he re- moved to Iowa, settling in Lincoln town- ship, Cerro Gordo county, where he pur- chased a large tract of land, which, being settled by different members of his family, is still known as the Law settlement. In 1864 he enlisted in company D, 2d Iowa Cavalry, serving till the close of the war. In 1866 he purchased a fine tract of land containing 200 acres in Worth county, where he opened a new farm, and to which he removed his family November 11, of the same year. Selling this farm in Octo- ber, 1870, he became quite unsettled, spending a portion of the time in Mason City, Dakota Territory and Forest City,in which last named place, in the carly part of the year 1865, he became associated
with Hon. David Secor in the real estate business. In 1876 he was elected to the office of recorder of Winnebago county, and was re-elected in the fall of 1878. In 1881 he was elected mayor of Forest City, and in January, 1883, became a member of the banking firm of Secors, Law & Plum- mer, who established the City Bank.
The Winnebago County Bank is located on Main street and in the center of the business part of Forest City. It was es- tablished in the spring of 1877 by J. F. Thompson, the present cashier and man- aging partner, and has been successfully operated by him from that time till now. Jan. 1, 1880, J. H. Easton, president of the First National Bank of Decorah, Iowa, and one of the best financiers in the north- west, became an equal partner and the bank then took the firm name of Easton & Thompson, which it now bears. Dur- ing the summer of 1880 the firm erected its present fine banking building, built of Chaska white brick, and with its fine French plate glass front is one of the neatest buildings in point of architecture in the State. The interior is very neatly finished with hard wood and their coun- ter is the acme of beauty and elegance. their fire proof vault and burglar proof safe, protected with time lock, together with their commodious banking and real estate rooms gives them first class facili- ties for transacting their large business with promptness and dispatch. The cashier, J. F. Thompson, is an attorney at law, and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession and real estate business in this county for several years. Having had two years experience in the State land office at Des Moines he
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
is particularly familiar with all matters relating to lands in Iowa. The firm rep- resents a large number of non-resident land owners, and their real estate list em- braces over 50,000 acres of the ehoieest land in this (Winnebago) and Hancock counties. They have in addition to what they represent as agents, over 3,000 aeres of lands belonging to themselves, all of which they offer on the most reasonable terms and at low figures.
LIME VALLEY CREAMERY.
Among the business enterprises of For- est City, the "Lime Valley Creamery" takes a prominent place. In 1882 Eugene Secor, J. Thompson, J. F. Thompson, Clark Brothers & Co., erected the first creamery in the county. The upright building is 25x50 feet, two stories high, the basement being used for the ereamery and the first floor for grinding feed. The feed mill has a capacity of twenty-five bush- els per hour. The engine and wash-room is 16x35 feet; refrigerator room, 12x25 feet; and the ice house, 20x20 feet. The total cost of the building and fixtures was $4,000. The factory is supplied by the milk of 1,200 cows, and in the best of the season turns out as high as 900 pounds of choice butter per day. The principal shipping point is New York city. The business was operated by the company until the spring of 1883, when the factory was rented to II. T. Tappen, a practical but- ter maker from Delaware county, this State. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Tappen sold 100 head of hogs, which were fatted from the buttermilk of the factory.
ELEVATORS.
The first elevator was built in Forest City in 1879 by M. P. Hayes, of Minne-
apolis, Minn., at a cost of $5,000. The elevator has a capacity of about 25,000 bushels. The business was prosecuted by men in the employ of M. P. Hayes until the fall of 1883, when it was pur- chased by Gust Sunwall, of Carver, Minn. Mr. Sunwall thoroughly understands the grain business, having been engaged in the same for a number of years.
FOREST CITY SAW MILL.
The first saw mill in the county was bought by "Alex" Long in September, 1856. It was first set up without any eov- ering until boards could be sawed to eover it. The mill was put up where the Forest City grist mill now is, and was run by a steam engine of about twenty horse power. The mill was owned by J. B. Long, of Mason City, who sold to "Alex" Long. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Long sold out to Robert Clark, who sold a one-half interest to J. J. Barker. Clark & Barker ran the business till late in the summer, when Barker sold his interest to C. H. Day. Clark & Day were the pro- prietors for about a year, when Charles Lutz bought Day's interest, and after ruu- ning a short time sold back to Day. Af- ter this there were numerous changes in the proprietorship of the mill. Among those who have been interested in it financially are: John Blowers, John Belt, John Il. T. Ambrose, William Lackore, Jarvis & Gobell, J. W. Mahoney and IFale & Nor- ton. This latter firm changed the mill to a grist mill, and after running it about two or three years sold to Ole Peters. In 1883 the mill was still owned by Ole Peters, who was doing a fair business. The grinding capacity of the mill is about 100 bushels of wheat per day. It
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
contains two run of buhrs, and is run by steam of about twenty-five horse power. RELIGIOUS AND CIVIC SOCIETIES.
In 1858 a number of persons in Forest City organized an M. E. Church. The first meeting was held in what was then known as the Maben Hotel, situated on the east side of Clark street. Afterwards meetings were frequently held in school houses, and in private residences. Mr. Hankins was the first minister that ever preached in the interest of the M. E. Church in this city. Among the early preachers were : Revs. Mr. Hankins, Keeler Curtis, John Ball, Mr. Birge, A. S. R. Groom and Mr. Hancocks. The order in which these ministers came is some- what uncertain, as the statements of the oldest settlers are conflicting. Since that time the following named have been the pastors : Revs. W. W. Mallory, B. W. Coe, J. P. Cohenour, J. S. Zeigler, II. M. Sexton, W . II. Drake and F. J. McCaffree the present pastor. After the erection of the Norwegian M. E. church, the society occupied that church until 1882, when they built a church of their own. The new church is cruciform in shape, having a frontage of seventy-eight feet on L street and thirty-one feet on Clark street. The main andience room is 44x58 feet at the widest point, and thirty feet wide at the narrowest part, with a ceiling twenty-one feet high. The lecture room is 20x30 feet, with a ten foot ceiling, and is connected with the main audience room by means of dropping doors, which are hung on weights, and by a slight touch will drop into the basement, throwing the two rooms into one. The parlor is over the lecture room, and is 20x30 feet in size,
with a ten foot ceiling. The church spire is 100 feet in height. The building is of wood, veneered with brick, is substan- tially built and is heated by means of a furnace. The building was designed by Rev. W. H. Drake, late pastor, who also superintended its erection. The total cost of the building, including the ground upon which it was built, was between $5,000 and $6,000. Dedication services took place on Sunday, Jan. 6, 1883, under charge of Bishop Bowman, of St. Louis. Mr. Bowman preached in the morning, and Rev. M. MeK. Garrett in the evening; after which the formal dedication took place, Bishop Bowman officiating.
The first few meetings of the Congre- gational Church ever held in Forest City were presided over by Rev. A. S. Allen. After preaching a few times at different houses, Mr. Allen called a meeting, to be held in Forest City, April 30, 1871, to take steps towards the organ- ization of a Church in said city. A com- mittee was appointed at this meeting to prepare a confession of faith and cove- nant for the Church ; the committee to report at a future meeting. This commit- tee consisted of Rev. A. S. Allen and William Taylor. The following persons gave in their names as members of the Church : William Taylor, Ilarriet Tay- lor, Leora Taylor, John Millington, Mrs. E. G. Millington and Fannie Millington. At a subsequent meeting of the society, the committee appointed to prepare articles of faith and covenant, reported that for the present the Church would use the ar- ticles of faith and covenant that were used by the Congregational Church of Clear Lake. Meeting were held from
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
time to time in the school house hall. Rev. Allen continued as pastor of the Church until Jan. 1, 1876, when he was suc- succeeded by Rev. J. D. Mason, who has held the place of pastor ever since. Shortly after Mr. Mason took charge of the Church, a society was organized called the Congregational Church Society ; also a Ladies' Aid Society, about the same time. In the year 1877, the society built a church edifice. The church is a wooden structure, 30x50 feet, and cost, including two lots, the sum of $3,700. The church was dedicated on Jan. 20, 1878, the ded- icatory sermon being preached by Rev. E. Adams, missionary for northern Iowa, A great revival was held in this church in December, 1882, by Rev. Mr. Morton, an Evangelist from Rochester, N. Y., and which was attended with excellent suc- cess. The membership of the Church in 1883 was forty-five, the society numbering sixty. During the building of the church, Mrs. Burnap, then of this city, visited her friends in the eastern States, and while there raised $1,100 for the Church. The officers of the Church at present are as fol- lows : Rev. J. D. Mason, pastor ; Mrs. P. T. Mason, clerk ; W. O. Hanson, M. C. Halvorsen and B. A. Plummer, trustees ; .William Westbury, deacon. A large and growing Sunday school is connected with the Church, having an average attendance of sixty-five members.
NORWEGIAN M. E. CHURCII,
The Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church of Forest City was organized Oct. 22, 1866, by Rev. A. Johnson. The fol- lowing named became members of the society at its organization: N. O. Brones, Il. Paulson, Knud Einarson, Ole S. Tor-
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