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 89
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 89
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 89
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The first school board consisted of the following gentlemen : James Crane, pres- ident; Willam Brummund, treasurer ; Ilarrison Bailey, secretary; Alvan Packard and Thomas Magor, directors. The pres- ent government of educational matter is placed in the hands of the board com- posed as follows : George Gray, president; J. H. Taylor, treasurer ; Ernest Brum- mund, secretary; John Henderson and F. P. Heskett, directors.
The Brummund school house was built in 1881, and Miss Harding has the honor of being the pioneer teacher.
The Gray school dates from 1882, when it was erected, and Mrs. Smith took the first charge of the school therein.
The Whiteman school house was built Inring the year 1882, and the first teacher installed was Mary Blood.
CORWITH.
This beautiful village is situated on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
of section 6, and lies upon the banks of the Boone river. It is well drained and is never troubled with mud, quite an item of comfort in this country. The land sur- rounding it, is said to be the finest in the State. The town site is owned by E. W. Gaylord, now of Angus, Iowa, where he is engaged in the coal and stock business. The plat was laid out in June, 1880, and filed for record on the Ist of September, of the same year. The first building erected was Gaylord's Hotel, a large two story frame building. It was built by Mr. Gaylord, the proprietor of the town, and was rented and run as a house of enter- tainment for two years by L. Moon. Mr. Gaylord was at that time the superintend- ent of the railroad, and the house was erected for the accommodation of train men and railroad hands in general. This is now unoccupied and vacant.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad was built to this point during the summer of 1880, and with its coming this village was ushered into being. The depot of this line, at this town, was the second building erected, being finished very shortly after the above mentioned hotel. The first edifice erected for mercantile purposes was put up that same year, and run as a saloon by Able & Tierney. This, however, lasted but two months, when the building was sold to O. H. Stilson & Co., who put in a stock of general mer- chandise. After owning the building for about a year, it was sold to Lonis Lenten- gre, the present owner, and is occupied by Frank Heskett, as a drug store.
In September, 1880, T. P. Griffin erected a store building and dwelling house. In this structure he opened a stock of hard-
ware and general merchandise. For about eighteen months he carried on this business when he sold out to Farner Shaw, who converted the building into the present. Shaw Honse, the only hotel the town boasts of at present. This was in Janu- ary, 1882. The building is a large, two- story, frame one, and is a good place for for the weary traveler to stop, rest and refresh himself at. . A good livery and feed stable was erected by Mr. Shaw, in the fall of 1883, which he runs in con- nection with the hotel.
Farner Shaw is the genial proprietor of the Shaw House at Corwith-a hotel which enjoys an excellent reputation among the traveling public. He was born in Columbiana Co., Wis., Feb. 15, 1844. When ten years of age his parents, Henry and Susan Shaw, removed to Dane Co., Wis., and they purchased a farm. In 1857 the father sold this land, and then removed his family to Freeborn Co., Minn., where he bought another farm. The son here grew to manhood, and in 1862 enlisted in company F, 4th regiment, Minnesota Volunteers. Ile served until the great struggle culminated in Lee's surrender at Appomattox, and participated in nineteen general engagements. Among these may be mentioned the siege of Cor- nith, Iuka, siege of Vicksburg, Allatoona, siege of Savannah, Missionary Ridge, Champion Hills and Columbia. During his enlistment he marched with his regiment 2,915 miles, and traveled by railroad and steamboat 6,245 miles. After the war he remained at home in Minnesota for two years, and was engaged in farming. Ile then removed to Worth Co., Iowa, and there resided until 1880, when he removed
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IHISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
to Hancock county, purchasing a farm in Amsterdam township. He remained on the farm until February, 1882, when he purchased property in Corwith and im- mediately opened his present hotel. He has lately erected a commodious livery and feed stable, which is operated in con- nection with the house. Mr. Shaw is a republican, and the present town consta- ble. He was married in 1869, to Julia Shaw, of Minnesota, They have had four children born to them, three of whom are living-Esther, Ida and Mervin. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
The first residence of any consequence was built during the winter of 1880, by B. R. Gass.
*About the same time dwellings were erected by Ilans Ballson, at that time the "section boss," who afterwards went to Waseca, Minn .; George Gurne and J. M. Wood.
The first blacksmith shop was opened in the early winter of 1880, by J. M. Wood. This business is represented at present by Battle & Lallier, two gentle- men from New York, who came here in 1882 and erected their present buildings, where they carry on the blacksmithing and wagon making business.
The first general merchandise store in Corwith was opened by O. II. Stilson & Co., in September, 1880. This firm carry a large and complete stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, clothing, groceries, notions, etc., which will invoice Fully $10,000, and do an annual business of more than $30,000, selling goods into Wright, Kossuth and Humboldt counties besides their home trade. By energy,
perseverance and able business tact Mr. Stilson has succeeded in working up a business far in advance of all competitors in the district, and well deserves the im- mense patronage he draws from an appre- ciative people.
O. H. Stilson is one of the prominent business men of Corwith. He carries a stock of general merchandise valued at $10,000, and enjoys an annual trade amounting in the aggregate to nearly $30,000. Ile is a son of James M. and Dorlisca R. Stilson, and was born at Chip- powa Falls, Wis., Feb. 9, 1857. He was there reared to manhood, and received a good English education. With the inten- tion of following a teacher's profession he fitted himself for that arduous duty, and when he arrived at maturity he taught several terms of school in Chippewa county, and then went to Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. He there re- mained about one year, farming 100 acres of land, and teaching two terms of school. He then went to Forest City, Iowa, and assumed the general management of a large hardware store, owned by a cousin, E. L. Stilson. At the expiration of one year he formed a partnership with his consin, and located a branch store at Cor- with, where his success has exceeded his most hopeful expectations. This large trade is due in a great measure to the never-tiring energy and enterprise of our subject. He is a member of the great re- publican party, and has served his fellow citizens as justice of the peace. On Oet. 2, 1881, he was married to Lydia Olmsted, of Manchester, Iowa. They have one son-Ernest Lyell. Mr. Stilson's parents reside near Chippewa Falls, Wis. Mrs.
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IIISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Stilson's mother is dead, but her father is still living, at Manchester, Iowa.
Thomas Cook & Co., are the other gen- eral merchandise dealers of the town, but are projecting a removal, hence, at an early day. This establishment was started in the spring of 1882, by Blair & Owen, of Rock Falls. In the spring of 1883, they disposed of their stock to William Lan- diman, of Hillsboro, Kansas, who, how- ever, run it but two months, when it passed into the hands of its present owners.
The hardware business is represented by J. II. Taylor, who carries a large and complete stock of the goods usually found in stores of that kind. This institution dates from the winter of 1880-81, when it was founded by Edward Smith, who erected the building and opened the busi- ness. In February, 1882, he sold out to Mr. Taylor, and removed to Perry, Iowa.
The drug trade is ably represented by Frank P. Heskett, who founded the busi- ness in Corwith, in January, 1882. His store is filled from floor to ceiling with a choice and well selected stock of pure drugs, of which he makes a leading spe- cialty, school books, confectionery, tobac- co and choice cigars. A man of thorough education, a rare business talent, he well merits the confidence reposed in him by the community at large.
Frank P. Ileskett, son of David and Catharine Heskett, was born on the 20th of April, 1853, in Belmont Co., Ohio. IIe made that place his home until he came to Iowa, in 1882. He remained on the farm with his father until twenty years of age, receiving a good common school education. He then attended, for
one year, Hopevale College, in Harrison Co., Ohio. He afterward went to Fair- mount, W. Va., where he graduated, in 1875, from the State Normal school. In 1880 he graduated from the University at Lebanon, Ohio. At different times dur- ing the past ten years he has taught school. In 1876-77 he was principal of the school at Piedmont, W. Va. This school con- tained six grades. In 1878 he was prin- cipal of the school at Keyser, W. Va. In 1881 he was principal of the high school at Belmont, Ohio. In January, 1882, he came to Iowa, locating at Corwith, where he engaged in the drug business. The house he occupies with his store was the first store building erected in Corwith. Mr. Heskett was married Nov. 9, 1881, to Ida, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Tolbert, of Hunter, Ohio. They have one child. Mrs. Heskett is a member of the Chris- tian Church. Mr. Ileskett is a republi- can. His mother, Catharine Heskett, lives in Belmont, Ohio. Ilis father, David Heskett, died in 1859. Mrs. Heskett's parents live in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa. Mrs. Heskett was formerly a school teach- er. She is also a good artist, painting in crayon and oil.
M. O. Tang, formerly of Forest City, Winnebago county, is the proprietor of the only shoemaking establishment in the village. This business he founded in the spring of 1883.
One of the prominent industries of this thriving little "burg," is the Corwith Creamery, which was initiated during the spring of 1882, by Simonet & Kleinpeter, Since its inception, however, Mr. Si- monet has disposed of his interest to his partner, Mr. Kleinpeter, who continues
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HISTORY OF HIANCOCK COUNTY.
sole proprietor. The institution gathers cream from Hancock, Kossuth and Wright county farms, keeping on an average some five teams on the road. The creamery has facilities for making about 1,000 pounds of butter daily, an amount that is usually reached during the busy season. Mr. Kleinpeter ships all the product of the creamery to Wooster, Mass., where it commands the highest price in the mar- ket on account of its "gilt-edged" quality.
Among Corwith's busiest establish- ments, ean be named the feed mill. Al- though but a new industry in the village, it bids fair to prove one of the leading businesses, at no distant date. This en- terprise was started in the summer of 1883, by F. II. Latham, erecting the build- ing and putting in the machinery, getting into running order by the 1st of Septem- ber. Since that time there has been no cessation to an almost endless round of business. He grinds corn meal, graham and buckwheat flour, ground feed, etc. The building, which is located on the line of the railroad, is 20x30 feet in size, with an engine room, in addition, 16x18 feet, besides a corn crib 8×30 feet. Power is obtained from an upright, portable engine of fourteen horse power. All the machin- ery was of the most improved description, and the whole plant is valued at $2,000.
F. II. Latham was born Feb. 10, 1858, in Monroeville, Huron Co., Ohio. He re- ceived a good common education at the home of his birth, and then attended the Normal school at Ada, Ohio, When twenty-one years of age, he moved to Janesville, Wis., where he attended the Telegraph College, for about a year. Then he came to Iowa, locating in Britt, Han-
cock county. At the latter place be was operator and had charge of the M. & St. P. R. R. business, for about eight months. In 1880 he moved to Corwith, and took charge of the station at that place, of the M. & St. L. R. R. He is operator, sta- tion agent, baggageman, etc. Mr. Latham was married in June, 1883, to Laura Sher- man, of Corwith, Iowa. Mr. Latham is a republican, politically. Ile was at one time engaged in selling town lots and lands. He is proprietor of the Corwith Feed Mills.
There is also a hay press located south of the railroad, which is owned by L. Tuttle, which was started in the autumn of 1883. This has a capacity of baling Nome 215 bales of hay, or one car load per day, and is worked to its fullest extent. The build- ing is 24x48 feet in dimension, with a large wing for horsepower, stable and oatsbin. This promises to be one of the leading industries of this locality, and a remunerative business will reward the promoter of it, at no very distant day.
The lumber yard of Corwith was initi- ated by William Brummund, in June, 1880. Ile carries a full and complete stock of all the leading grades of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, building paper, and in faet everything usually found in a first-class yard of this description. All the lumber is of Minneapolis manufacture, brought hither by the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. Mr. Brummund is doing, as the saying goes, "a land office business," in this line, handling more lumber than any two other firms in the county in the same business, and has a glorious future in the way of increased business.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
William Brummund, son of Gottleib and Fredericka Brummund, was born in Prussia, Oct. 20, 1846. When about ten years of age, his parents removed to America, locating in Columbia Co., Wis., where they purchased a farm. Mr. Brum- mund followed farming in this place until 1864, when he came to Iowa, locating in Mitchell county, where he purchased a farm. In 1879 he sold out and came to Magor township, Hancock county, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 35. In 1881 he sold this land and bought an- other 160 acres on same section, and also eighty acres in Amsterdam township, sec- tion 3. This land is partially under cul- tivation. Mr. Brummund was married in the spring of 1871, to Katherine Hof, of Chickasaw Co., Iowa. They have had five children, two of whom are living- Ellen and Laura. Mr. and Mrs. Brum- mund are members of the Evangelical Church. He is a republican, politically, and is engaged in the lumber business in Corwith. His parents live in Mitchell county, and his wife's parents in Chicka- saw Co., Iowa.
A large eoal yard was started in the fall of 1880 by Ernest Brummund, and has resulted in drawing a large trade from this and the adjoining counties. Most of the coal here is from Kalo and Otho, in Webster county, which is of most excellent quality, and finds a ready sale at from $3.25 to $4 per ton. Mr. Brummund also handles wood, brick, lime, stucco, etc.
Ernest Brummund is also a son of Gott- lieb and Fredericka Brummund. He was one of the first to locate in business at Corwith, and is now engaged in the
coal trade. Ile was born in eastern Prus- sia, Oct. 9, 1851, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to the United States. They located in Columbia Co., Wis., and in 1865, in Mitchell Co., Iowa. In 1874, Mr. Brummund purchased eighty aeres of land in Mitchell county, but in October, 1880, came to Corwith, in this township, and commenced a mercantile career. He has been fairly successful in business, and enjoys a good trade. In 1878, while yet a resident of Mitchell county, he bought a quarter section of land in this township, but has since disposed of it. Politically he is a republican and has held the offices of township clerk and secretary of the township school board. He was married Oct. 22, 1876, to Albertine, daughter of Carl and Christine Hartwig, of Mitchell Co., Iowa. They have no children. Mrs. Brummund is a member of the German -Evangelical Church.
The first school in the village was erected by a stock company, in the sum- mer of 188]. This was a temporary structure and was rented to the district until the township could build one more suitable for the purpose. The first term was tanght by Mary Maher. This build- ing is now occupied as a residence. The present high school building was erected in the northern part of town, in the fall of 1883. It is a fine, large, two story, frame structure, and contains two large rooms, each 24x36 feet in size, one up stairs, the other down. This edifice and furniture cost over $2,000, and is well fitted up with patent desks and seats, and is well lighted and ventilated, and is altogether a model school house. There is an average at- tendance of sixty children.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
The postoffice was established at Cor- with, in the fall of 1880, and T. P. Grif- fin appointed the first postmaster. The office was held in the store of the post- master, for the convenience of all con- cerned. Mr. Griffin held this office until February, 1882, when he was succeeded by O. H. Stilson, the present incumbent, who removed it to his store where it is at present located.
There is no regular organized bank in Corwith, but J. H. Taylor transacts the necessary exchange business, drawing drafts on his correspondents in Chicago, the Commercial National Bank, for the accommodation of the people of the com- munity.
There is no church building at present in the village, but the people are by no means left in "outer darkness" in relig- ious matters, as services are held, every fortnight, in the sehool building, alter- mately by Rev. B. St. John, the Congre- gational minister of Britt, and Rev. Hen- ry J. Huston, the Methodist pastor, of the same place.
One of the settlers of the town ship has had sneh a succession of singular acci- dents occur to him, that the relation of his experionces will not be uninteresting or improper in this connection. The gen- tleman in question is Thomas Magor, a son of Henry Magor, and the first incident in this chain of aceidents is related as fol- lows: In September, 1870, the father and son while living at Hazel Green, Wis., made a trip to Dubuque, and while there purchased a large quantity of that terrible explosive, nitro-glycerine, which they were using for blasting purposes.
They reached home about two o'eloek in the morning, and after emptying the dan- gerous stuff in the magazine provided for it went to bed. About nine o'clock the next morning the son started with the empty wagon, after another load of the explosive. While riding along he heard a noise, when the wagon jolted, that sounded, to his ears, like the snapping of a gun. It seems that the leakage from the eans the night before had been more con- siderable than they had thought, and had run through the floor of the wagon box, down on to the axle and springs. After driving on for a short time a sudden jolt threw the springs together, and there was heard a terrible report. The nitro-glyeer- ine had exploded, and although it was ap- parently a small quantity, yet it was enough to demoralize the wagon com- pletely. The report was heard for miles around, the inhabitants thinking that a powder magazine had exploded. Thomas was lifted, by the force of the explosion, some forty-five feet into the air, coming down through the limbs and branches of an oak tree that stood by the side of the road, and which tore almost all of the clothing off of him. A portion of his shirt was afterwards found some forty feet from the ground, in the branches of this "grand old oak." Ilis mother caught him as he raised up and assisted him to the house. Three days after he was able to be around at work.
The same young man was in the terrible tornado of 1876, that devastated the neighborhood of Hazel Green. It seems that when the whirlwind struek them, he was in the barn with his brother-in-law. There were at the same time in the same
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
building, two horses, three head of cattle, and numerous pigs and chickens, and he alone survived the terrible stroke of the blast. At the same time the balance of the family, at the house, consisting of another brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, sister, and the children, were all killed, he being the sole survivor of the mummer- ous family and their live stock. The third time he was knocked down by light-
ning, on the 23d of June, 1882, in Magor township. He was herding cattle for his father, and the same bolt that prostrated him, overthrew his pony and numerous head of cattle. After having so many hair breadth escapes, it may occur to the mind of the reader to ask the question, for what is Thomas saved? Is it for some great mission which he is to perform? Time alone will tell the story.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ORTHEL TOWNSHIP.
Until the 7th of November, 1882, this township was a component part of that of Boone, being set off from that precinct by order of the board of supervisors, at their June session of that year. Of a necessity, its history will be brief, as its tender age has not allowed much data for the historian to accumulate.
The first settler within the limits of the present township was John B. Daggett, who, in the year 1870, established a farm on section 21. Here he erected his house during the year 1871, and on the 26th day of March, 1872, moved his family into it bringing them from Algona, Kossuth connty, on sleds, for the snow as yet cov- cred the ground, and the railways at that date did not keep the road open during the winter months. The day that the family moved was very cold, the thermometer
registering eight degrees below zero, with a strong wind blowing. The country then being hardly settled up at all, it was impossible to find a place between Algona and Wesley, where the ladies of the fam- ily could alight for warmth and rest, and they reached the latter place chilled through. But even the longest journey must have an end so at last they reached the farm where they afterwards passed many happy hours. This place was christened Tashmoo, derived from an Indian word signifying, home for a friend. Mr. Daggett was the pioneer in develop- ing the dairy resources of northwestern Iowa. Hle built a cheese factory and made cheese from the milk of fifty cows in the summer, and in the fall and winter, turned it into a creamery and mannfac- tured butter.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
By the manufacture, it is said by one who knew and loved him, of good dairy products, and from which he derived a good income, he silenced the doubts and ridicule of the publie. By earnest public lectures and private counsel and aid, he awakened an interest in our neighboring county of Kossuth that has made that see- tion the banner dairy county of the north- western portion of the State. Hancock county was slower to perceive the advan- tages nature had so lavishly bestowed upon her, but now their eyes are beginning to open and stock and dairy farms are rapidly multiplying. Mr. Daggett was a native of Maine, with all the energy, push and progressiveness, that distinguish those hardy sons of New England, no matter on what spot of the globe you find them. He died March 12, 1879, but his family, who reside at Mason City, temporarily, still remain owners of the old homestead in Boone township.
The next pioneer was a Mr. Sprague, a New Yorker, who settled about the year 1873. He remained only about four years, when he removed to Kansas, where he is supposed to be living at present.
In 1876 the third settler made his ap- pearanee, in the person of II. C. Potter, who settled upon section 15, where he still resides.
Henry C. Potter is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Or- thel township. Ile owns a quarter seetion of land on section 15, and has held the following township offices: Trustee, jus- tice of the peace, road supervisor, presi- dent of the school board, and is the pres- ent director from his school district. Mr. Potter was born at Rockford, Ill., April
2, 1838. When sixteen years of age his parents, Herman B. and Minerva Potter, removed to Iowa and settled in Cedar county, where the father purchased a good farm. In 1862 the subject of this sketch enlisted in company L, Ist Iowa Cavalry, served during the entire war, and participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Red River and many others. He subsequently went to Texas with Major-Gen. Custer, and after the ex- piration of his enlistment studied for some time under the tuition of his broth- er, Col. L. H. Potter, who was then presi- dent of the Illinois Soldiers' College, at Fulton, Whiteside county. He then en- gaged in the stock trade for three years, then went to Wheatland, Clinton Co., Iowa, where he embarked with a brother in mercantile pursuits. The business not agreeing with his health, he disposed of his interest and went to Lee Co., Ill., and subsequently to Adams Co., Iowa, where he purchased a farm and resided for one year. He then came to Hancock Co., Iowa, and located in Britt (now Orthel) township, where he has since resided. Mr. Potter is an extensive grower of stock, and in politics affiliates with the republican party. He was married2 in October, 1869, to Hannah Palmer, of Mt. Morris, N. Y. Four children have blessed their union, three of whom are living- George, Edith and Ethel. Mr. Potter's mother resides in Chicago, Ill., and his father is deceased. Mrs. Potter's parents are dead.
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