USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 33
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In the spring of 1858 the question of relocation of the county seat became the leading topic of in- terest. Efforts were put forth by both the friends of Onawa and those of Ashton, the one to obtain, the other to hold, the coveted distinction of being the county seat. After considerable discussion, pro and con, on the Ist of March, 1858, a petition was presented to the county court by Addison Dimmick, which bore the signatures of J. B. Gard and others, and was sworn to by W. L. Phillips, praying for an order submitting to the qualified electors of the county the question of the location of the seat of justice of the county at Onawa. At the same time Isaac Ashton presented a remon- strance against the submission of the question of relocation, which bore the names of George R. Out- house and others. On reviewing the matter, C. E. Whiting, then County Judge, ordered that the fol- lowing notice be published in the Western Nucleus and Democratic Echo, published at Preparation, the only journal in the county at that time, from whose columns it is copied :
" Notice is hereby given that a special election will be held in the several election precincts of Monona County. lowa, on the first Monday in April next, for the relocation of the county-seat at Onawa, in said county. The ballot to read: For the county-seat at Onawa,' or 'For the county seat at Ashton.'
"C. E. WHITING, County Judge, "COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, "AsnroN, March 1, 1858."' >
In the columns of the same paper, of the same date, appears the following notice, showing that the county officers were not united on their views upon the subject :
"Mr. Editor: In making a record of the follow- ing named petition and remonstrance I wanted to
set forth on the record the number of names at- tached to each, but the judge refused to have it so set forth.
"I hereby certify that there were 109 names, all told, on the petition presented to the County Judge of Monona County, praying for the relocation of the connty-seat at Onawa, and I further certify that there was 139 names on the remonstrance against said petition presented to the County Judge of Monona County.
".(Signed)
II. J. HAWLEY, "Clerk of Monona County."
Considerable excitement was produced and some bad feeling engendered during the campaign, in the short time previous to the actual movement, but this proved but evanescent. disappearing after a few years.
On the 5th of April, 1858. was held the mo. mentous election that carried the county seat to the new village, and which decided the question for many years.
At that time there were cast 229 ballots, 130 of which were in favor of the removal of the county- seat to Onawa, and 99 in favor of its retention at Ashton, and upon the 8th of the same month, in an official can vass of the votes, the County Judge. C. E. Whiting declared the seat of justice for the county to be at Onawa, and ordered the removal of the records, etc., to that place, which was done.
At the meeting of the court, held on the Ist of September following, a movement was placed on foot to again remove the countyseat, and a peti- tion was presented by N. G. Wyatt for the submis- sion of the question of transferring the seat of gov- ernment of the county to Belvidere, but the judge gave an adverse decision to the matter, and it was dropped for the time being. A movement to the same purpose in 1861 had more success at first, be- ing submitted to the vote of the people of the county as to their desire to move the seat of justice to Belvidere, but the motion was defeated by a majority of 15, out of a total vote of 223. In 1862 a like attempt to remove it to Areola was de- feated at the polls by a vote of 123 to 100. At a meet- ing of the board of county supervisors, held June 6, 1889, a petition was presented to that body pray- ing for the submission to the people of the county of the relocation of the county seat at East Mapleton.
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accompanied by a bond of a number of that vil- lage's leading citizens to pay to the county the sum of $25,000 in case that the seat of government of the county was located at that point. The board ordered the election to be held at the time of the general election in November, 1889, to decide the question. The citizens of Onawa, ever awake to their own interests, raised a fund of $12,500, placing a certificate of deposit for the same in the hands of the auditor, to be given toward the ercc- tion of a new court-house provided the county seat question was decided in their favor. At the general election, however, held in November, 1889. the citizens with a majority of 225 decided that it was not for the best interests of the county that the seat of justice should be removed, so the county seat still remains with Onawa. This was one of the hardest campaigns ever fought within the county, but developed but little animosity among the more intelligent, thinking people, nearly all being willing to abide by the wish of the ma- jority.
1
The court-house now in use was erected in the summer of 1858, by the owners of the town, the Monona Land Company, and with the block of ground on which it stands was valued at $7,000 at that time. November 8, 1858, this was deeded to the county for court-house purposes, and has been used as such ever since. It stands on block 62 of the original town site, on the main street, or Iowa Avenue. The building was a neat frame structure, but through the lapse of years has suffered consid- erably, and has passed its days of usefulness aud beauty. The County Board have at various times had the grounds set out with trees, and the build- ing is now surrounded by a handsome and thrifty grove.
Until this building was finished the county of- fices were held in a small edifice that then stood on the site of Holbrook & Bros. bank, which was moved away on the erection of the latter building, and is now used as a salt shed by M. A. Freeland. This was known as Mechanics' Hall at the time.
EARLY BUSINESS HOUSES.
Scarcely was the town laid out before R. G. Fair- child, who was then the only merchant at Ashton,
put up a store building in Onawa. in which, in the fall of 1857, P. C. Latimer opened a stock of mer- chandise. This building stood just cast of where the railroad crosses Towa Avenue, on the south side of the street, just west of where Joseph Fuhr- man's store now stands. Mr. Latimer carried on the trade in that and another building until the fall of 1858.
Early in the summer of 1858 R. G. Fairchild removed his stock from Ashton to Onawa, and commenced business in the latter village. where he sokl everything in the way of dry-goods. groceries, boots and shoes, etc. He carried on this business alone until the spring of 1867. when the firm of Fairchild & Douglas was formed by the admission. of George A. Douglas. May 1, 1869, the latter bought out his partner, and after carrying on the business alone until late in 1872, admitted his brother Hemy. May 7, 1882, the firm of Dong- las Bros. sold out to C. S. Pike.
Walter Stark came to the new town in the fall of 1857, and established a small shop where he did merchant tailoring. From this small beginning has grown his present large business, known as the Onawa Clothing Store.
Thomas R. Chapman opened a grocery store about the beginning of 1858, and carried it on un- til about 1862, when the stock was closed out and Mr. Chapman removed from the village. He was afterward engaged here in business on returning to the place in 1869, and then sold out in 1874 to A. S. Dunham.
The spring of 1858 witnessed the establishment of the real estate, loan, conveyancing and abstract office of Holbrook & Bro., a firm composed of Charles Il. and Bernard D. Hlolbrook. This bus- iness they have carried on ever since, their bank growing out of it in 1865.
In the month of April, 1858, Richard Stebbins, a physician of culture, came to the infant village and putting up a small building on the site of the building now occupied by James Armstrong, opened the pioncer drug store and commenced the practice of medicine. His store was burned to the ground in the spring of 1865. and he purchased another building and removed it to his lot, in which he carried on his business until December,
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1878. He then erected a handsome brick structure into which be removed. There he remained until 1885, when he sold out to Joseph Jennings, although he still continues to own the building. Mr. Jennings carried on the business for two years but in 1887 disposed of it to Wheeler & Egli, who are the present representatives of the business.
The pioneer blacksmith-shop in the young village was put up and run by John Southers, who had moved hither in the summer of 1858, from the village of Ashton, where he had been engaged in a like business. He was one of the well known char- acters of his day and was depended upon to furnish the music when "ye pioneer fathers and mothers" indulged in the dance. A wagon shop was estab- lished in 1860, by N. A. Whiting, the first of its kind in the village or county.
Whiting & Bro., a firm composed of Charles E. and Newell A. Whiting, opened a general mer- chandise store in 1858, which they sold out to Charles Atkins in 1862, after carrying on the bus. iness until that time.
John Elwell opened a variety store in the village in 1859, selling a stock of goods belonging to Kirk & Sawyer, of Sioux City, at first, soon purchasing the interest of those parties, with the money made out of his commissions, and carried on the business for many years, in fact until his death, which took place August 16, 1883. His establishment known as the "Beehive," was one of the landmarks of the village.
S. S. Pearse, on receiving the appointment as Postmaster at Onawa, opened a small store which he carried on until leaving this locality.
.J. A. Scott opened a brickyard at Onawa in 1860, and burned the brick with which the old schoolhouse was built.
The next addition to the mercantile circles of the place was the well known. "Headquarters' Store" of Charles Atkins, which commenced business in 1862, he purchasing the stock, etc., of Whiting & Bro., and making additions thereto. He carried on the business until September, 1872, acting most of the time as Postmaster and express agent, then sokl out to Timothy Elliott. He is now a resident of Omaha.
Timothy Elliott commenced his career in the
mercantile circles of Onawa in 1863, as the senior member of the firm of Elliott & Buffington, dealers in general merchandize. A few months later, purchasing the interest of his partner Mr. Elliott assumed the sole control and thus carried on the business until quite lately, when the firm was changed to that of Elliott & Son.
During the year 1862 Elijah Walker came to the place and engaged in repairing shoes and at. tending to the soles of the people. From this small beginning, as times prospered him, grew up quite a shoe store. for sometime without a competi- tor devoted to that line exclusively. This business he carried on until March, 1872, but he then sold out to Edward Bakke, who had been in his employ and who has carried, on the business ever since, and ranks among the successful and leading business men of the community.
The pioneer attorney's of the village were: first, B. D. Holbrook; second, Addison Oliver; third, Addison Dimmick. After them came John Cary, John S. Monk, Evans & McMillan. John E. Selleck. Robert Lucas, and C. E. Underhill.
The first physican was Dr. Richard Stebbins, in 1858, who was followed the next winter by Dr. C. G. Stutzman, he by Dr. C. John Hazlett. Since then there have resided here the following named: Drs. J. B. Ira, L. II. Cary, James Butts, H. Noble. C. L. Hart, Holbrook, G. A. Siddons, George Liver- more, D. Handel, James M. Oliver, H. A. Wheeler, H. E. Marr, S. D. Angle and R. Ilarmon.
For several years these were about the only merchants and tradesmen in the little village. But with the elose of the war and the tide of a new emigration that set this way, new business enter- prises sprang up, and the village of Onawa began its true growth. The following is a sketch of the rise and progress of the various business houses of the city, together with other notes of interest. Bio- graphical epitomes of the various business men of the place are given in another department of this volume, wherein the particular history of their struggles and life work is shown in detail.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
The hardware business of Newell A. Whiting was established by that gentleman in the fall of 1867,
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forming a partnership with Henry Gerard, formerly of the firm of Gerard & Oldenburg and the business carried on for a couple of years under the firm name of Gerard & Whiting. After Mr. Gerard's death his interest was purchased by his partner, who has successfully carried on the business ever since.
The hardware establishment of Henry W. Cady was established by that gentleman in April, 1883. and has been carried on by him ever since.
The hardware firm of Cleghorn & Flude was es- tablished in April, 1889, John Cleghorn and C. W. Flude composing the firm.
McCaskey, Walker & Co., engaged in the gen- eral merchandise trade in March, 1867. The firm was composed of those well known-gentlemen. John K. McCaskey, James Walker and J. S. Maugh- lin. The first named sold out his interest in 1869, on his election to the office of County Auditor, to J. S. Maughlin. Shortly after the firm was further strengthened by the admission of W. L. Holmes and the business from that time was carried on under the firm name and style of Walker, Ilolines & Co. In 1874 S. L. Grow was added to the firm. In 1875 Mr. Walker disposed of his interest to his partners and the firm assumed its present title, Holmes & Co. In 1873 .I. K. McCaskey had again become a member of the firm, and in 1877 Mr. Maughlin dropped out, and in 1881 Mr. Grow re- tired from the firm and C. W. Willey became a member of the firm since 1882.
The firm of Warner & Freeland. composed of George E. Warner and M. A. Freeland, commenced business in the spring of 1867 and handled general merchandise, lumber and grain, under that style until 1869, when E. A. Chapman was added to the firm. In 1874 the business was divided, Mr. Free- land taking the agricultural implement and lumber branches and Messrs. Warner and Chapman the general merchandise part. One year later Mr. Warner purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business until April, 1889, when he closed out the stock and wound up the business.
In 1869 Ezra Mason established a drug store in a small building now occupied as a restaurant, west of the post-office, where he carried on business for several months, when having erected the building
now occupied by A. W. Mann, he removed thither. lle sold out to Dr. J. Butts in 1873, who remained in the business until 1877, when he disposed of the stock and fixtures to R. Stebbins, his competitor. who sold it to John Somers in 1879. In 1881 the latter gentleman sold out to Daniel Handel who continued to carry it on until March 11, 1886. when it was purchased by the present proprietor. A. W. Mann.
About the year 1868. George Davis, now of Washington, established a furniture store in Onawa. which some years after he sold to Giddings & Stearns, The latter gentlemen erected a building into which he removed the stock, where it is at the present writing. Mr. Giddings disposed of the business to John Brandin in February, 1879, and it has been under the control of that individual ever since. This was the pioneer store in this line and is the only one in the city at the present.
The boot and shoe establishment of George Un- derhill was instituted by that gentleman in 1870, and has been under his control ever since.
The firm of C. W. Perkins & Co., dealers m books, stationery, fancy goods and confectionery, was formed in the spring of 1874, and opened up business in a portion of the Elliott building. In the summer of 1877 they erected the substantial brick structure now occupied by them, into which they removed that fall.
The grocery house of J. R. Thurston & Son was established in 1881 by W. W. Thurston. The business was purchased by his father, James R. Thurston, in 1882. The latter gentleman carried on the concern until 1887, when he associated his son with himself, and the present firm was formed. In October, 1888. they had the misfortune to have the building in which they were located destroyed by fire, and the next day removed to their present quarters.
D. B. Kenyon engaged in the grocery business in Onawa in August, 1887, and continued in that line until removed from this world by the hand of death, October 5, 1889.
Rundlett's restaurant was established by the present proprietor, September 20, 1887, and has been under his control ever since.
Morton H. Kendall, who is engaged in the gro-
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cery and bakery business, established his stand in Onawa on coming here, in April, 1889.
William J. Eva, who is engaged in the harness making trade, commenced business in 1878, since which time he has carried it on, the only institution of the kind in the city.
M. A. Freeland, who is largely engaged in the sale of lumber and agricultural implements, com- menced the latter branch of his business, as one of the firm of Warner & Freeland, in 1868. In 1871 the firm was dissolved and Mr. Freeland succeeded to this part of their business and the farm ma- chinery branch. In 1871, in connection with JJolin C'leghorn, he formed the firm of Freeland C'leghorn, and carried on the business under that style until February, 1888, when the latter gentleman retired to engage in another branch of trade. Since that time Mr. Freeland has operated the business alone.
The lumber and coal business of F. E. Colby & C'o. was originated in the spring of 1887, by Frank E. Colby. In August. 1888, the firm was strength- ened by the admission of the father of the founder and the present firm name and style adopted. They carry on the business near the Illinois Central depot, and are one of the leading firms in that line in the city.
Malden B. Pullen, who is engaged in carpenter- ing and in the undertaking business, commenced his trade in Onawa in 1869, in the former branch. In the summer of 1880 he established the latter de- partment, and has carried on the two in conjunction ever since.
S. F. Sears engaged in the business of meat mar- ket and provision store in the spring of 1878, and has been in that line of trade ever since.
The meat market presided over by Frank Haw- kins was established by F. C. Case in December, 1887, and run by him until February, 1888, when it was purchased by the present proprietor.
The meat market now operated by Pike & How- ard was established by Fred MeCausland, who was succceded by G. P. Buffington. The firm of Pike Bros. became the owners by purchase, and carried on the business until the fall of 1877, when the co- partnership was dissolved by the death of B. F. Pike, after which the place was under the entire ;
control of J. C. Pike, the surviving partner until 1880, when, by the admission of S. A. Howard, the present firm was formed.
Olson & Hammer are engaged in the merchant tailoring trade in Onawa, a business they inaugu- rated in April, 1889.
The first livery stable in the village of Onawa was established by Levi D. Kittle in the fall of 1867 and was run by him until August, 1868, when he sold out to Elijah Peake. The old build- ing was destroyed by fire in 1874, after which the latter erected the one now standing. This edifiee, which is 60x70 feet in size, has a storage capacity of ninety tons of hay besides room for a large number of horses. It was continued under the control of Mr. Peake uptil the fall of 1883, when he disposed of it to Thomas Flowers. That gentle- man ran it for one year, but in the fall of 1884, it was purchased by the present owner, J. G. Taylor. He keeps on hand some seven teams, and runs a dray, 'bus and transfer line in connection.
In the summer of 1873, W. C. Marr and J. S. Maughlin entered into a copartnership and inaugu- rated the Onawa Manufacturing Company, an in- stitution for the manufacture of carriages, wagons, door and window frames, mouldings, staircases, balconies, etc. A short time thereafter, M. B. Pullen was admitted to a full partnership and the business carried on under the same title until 1875, when it was closed out, Mr. Maughlin closing up the concern.
Sharpneck & Co., a firm composed of James Arm- strong and W. S. Sharpneck, established what was known as the Onawa Iron Works, for the manu- facture of all kinds of engines, boilers, cane mills. and as a foundry. This firm carried on the busi- ness from the spring of 1875 until in July of the same year, when the plant was transferred to a corporation then formed under the name formerly borne by the company. The incorporators were: Addison Oliver, James Armstrong, 11. E. Colby, Freeland & Cleghorn and Holbrook & Bro., and had a capital of $3,000, divided into sixty shares of $50 each. The first officers were: A. Oliver, Presi- dent; M. A. Freeland, Vice-President; B. D. Hlol- brook, Secretary; and James Armstrong, Superin- tendent. After about two years of operation, it
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not paying, the enterprise?was abandoned, and the company quit business.
- The Marr Novelty Works, one of the institutions of Onawa, was established in 1883 by William C. ! Marr, in a building on lot 10, block 122. The gentleman in question and his son, Nahum, engaged in carpentering, repairing, and in the manufacture of W. C. Marr & Son's "Economy Flour Chest" and inventors' models. A blacksmith forge was put up in the same building by J. H. Marr, who does all the work in that line.
In March, 1872, Amos J."Heitman erected a blacksmith shop, runningCa smithy here for some time, when he was succeeded by a Mr. Brown. After a short; time the latter was succeeded by Philip L. Sawyer, and he in turn, by Garrett Inger- soll. The latter sold a half interest to William F. Moore, who, in the fall of 1887, purchased the re- maining half, and has conducted the business ever since.
Severt Bakke commenced the wagon making business for himself in 1879, and is still engaged in that line. The shop that he occupies was erected by him in 1886, and is situated on West Broadway.
The profession of medicine is represented in Onawa at the present writing (1889) by the follow- ing gentlemen: Dr. James Butts, Dr. II. A. Wheeler, Dr. H. E. Marr. Dr. R. Harmon and Dr. S. D. Angle.
Charles W. Cope represents the profession of dentistry in the city, having established his office here in March, 1888.
The legal fraternity of Onawa is fully represented by the following gentlemen: Oliver Bros, & Tillson, J. E. Selleck, C. E. Underhill, McMillan & Kindall and Pendleton Hubbard. Most of these parties are also engaged in the real-estate business in connec. tion with their law business, and many of them have sets of abstracts.
W. G. Wood & Co., dealers in cattle and exten- sive feeders and shippers of live stock. commenced business in that line in the spring of 1887, and have taken a foremost position in that business from the start.
Albert S. Fessenden opened a brickyard here in 1867. which he carried on for several years.
The agricultural depot of William Burton, was
established by that gentleman, one of the oldest set- tlers'in the county. in the year 1878. and has been in his hands ever since.
BANKS.
The banking house of Holbrook & Bro. was es. tablished by Charles H. and Bernard D. Holbrook. in 1865, being the outgrowth of the real-estate busi- ness inaugurated by them in 1857, on the inception of the village. The business was commenced in the court-house, in the rooms now occupied by the county auditor and superintendent of schools, and was carried on there until the summer of 1871, when the bank was removed to the neat and tasty brick building, which they had just erected, in which it is now located. They do a general bink- ing and real-estate business; are the oldest bank in the county. and one of the soundest and wealth- iest institutions of the kind in this part of the State, being rated at nearly three quarters of a million dollars capital by the commercial agencies.
The Onawa State Bank was organized in April, 1888, under the State laws, with a capital of $50,- 000. The officers are: B. B. Richards, of Dubuque, President ; Addison Oliver, Vice President; Charles H. Iluntington, Cashier; B. B. Richards, W. H. Day and George Burden, of Dubuque; J. N. Rich- ards, of New York; Addison Oliver, John Cleg- horn, George E. Warner, N. A. Whiting, and C. II. Huntington, of Onawa, Directors. Business was commenced May 15, 1888, moving November fol- lowing to their present quarters, in the handsome building that the corporation had just erected. This edifice, the finest one in the city, is built of Sioux Falls granite and brick, and, architecturally is a credit to the taste of the builder, and the lib- erality of the bank, and adds materially to the im- provement of the place. The interior fittings are in consonance with the ornate exterior, and are suited to the convenience of the officers and em- ployees.
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