History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time, Part 27

Author: Perkins, D A W
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Sioux Falls, S. D., Brown & Saenger, printers
Number of Pages: 510


USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 27


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).


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The Presbyterian church was dedicated Sunday, August 17, 1884. It was under the supervision of Rev. M. Bailey, missionary of Iowa, and the pastor, Rev. W. E. Caldwell, as- sisted by Rev. M. Bascom. The building cost $3,300, and was all paid up at the time.


In 1884, Sanborn made the following improvement:


472


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Presbyterian church $ 3,500 00


Warren Walker, betterment 500 00


W. A. Wasson 1,200 00


S. C. Bascom, betterment 250 00


J. W. Dick, barn 100 00


Wheeler & Flint, store 3,000 00


G. O. Wheeler, betterment 200 00


C. F. Flint, betterment 200 00


G. S. Morean, betterment


100 00


F. Brainard, betterment


500 00


J. O. Sullivan, betterment


188 00


F. A. Reeves, residence


700 00


G. W. Platt, residence


1,443 00


M. D. Comes, betterment


60 00.


L. H. Ide, betterment


300 00


M. J. Draper, betterment


700 00


J. L. Green, betterment


200 00


R. M. Jenks, betterment


200 00


H. Gibbs, betterment 50 00


S. R. Charlton, betterment


200 00


J. R. Pumphrey, betterment


I20 00


D. Moody, betterment


50 00


S. W. Whyte, betterment


300 00


Geo. W. Bryan, betterment


400 00


Al. Barrett, betterment 200 00


L. Barr, betterment 150 00


E. M. Brady, betterment 800 00


Mrs. Conkey, betterment 150 00


W. A. Kaynor, betterment 350 00


P. Velie, betterment 100 00


H. Day, betterment 100 00


I. W. Daggett, betterment 150 00


A. R. Mead, betterment


100 00


H. J. Garmon, betterment 75 00


J. W. Robert, betterment 50 00


T. DeLong, blacksmith shop 50 00


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA. 473


Parker & Vyse, betterment 100 00


W. H. Jonston & Co., betterment 50 00


R. Lyons, betterment 100 00


C. McCahn, betterment. 100 00


Geo. B. Davids, betterment 500 00


C. D. Ellis, betterment 150 00


Palen, Green & Co., betterment 3,000 00


500 00


H. L. Hazen, betterment


I. G. Poole, betterment 300 00


John Mullady, betterment 200 00


D. R. Phelps, betterment 700 00


T. W. Lane, betterment 250 00


C. F. Owen, betterment


100 00


W. C. Green, barn


409 00


C. Klein, betterment


200 00


Cal. Broadstreet, betterment 100 00


Wm. Woodman, betterment


500 00


Whitten & Wasson, betterment


200 00


W. T. Bowen, betterment 50 00


C. Tifft, betterment 100 00


Total $24,783 00


O'BRIEN COUNTY PRAIRIE CHICKENS, ALONG THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND ST. PAUL RAILROAD.


474


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


The present business interests of Sanborn are as follows : Theo. Linden, furniture.


Mrs. A. E. Jennings, millinery.


J. H. Wolf, Sanborn Pioneer.


I. W. Daggett, general merchandise.


P. F. Velie, furniture.


Postoffice, J. F. Kerberg, postmaster.


McCullow & Stock, meat market.


W. A. Wasson, general merchandise.


S. C. Skinner, grocer.


B. F. McCormack, Sanborn Sun.


T. A. Roberts, grocer.


John Free, racket store.


W. H. Barker & Co., drugs.


Dr. R. A. Cushman.


G. H. Edgington, dentist.


E. L. Marsh, restaurant.


C. D. Killam & Son, clothing.


State Bank of Sanborn, Ellis Bros., M. Wilbur, cashier.


Robert E. Lee, clothing.


W. H. Barker, jeweler.


Clyde Powell, billiard parlor.


Arthur Lucas, jeweler.


M. C. Cutting, restaurant.


Percy Allen, barber.


J. L. Lones, agricultural implements.


M. P. Finley, saloon.


W. J. Cashen, saloon.


C. C. Bingham, barber. English Kitchen Hotel, G. H. Boynton, proprietor. Ezra Armstrong, livery.


Western Hotel, Wm. Weal, proprietor.


Hakeman & Sons, grain, lumber and coal.


J. E. Jackson, city scales.


Todd & Powers, agricultural implements.


W. H. Austin, contractor and builder.


475


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


W. W. Johnson, lumber, grain and coal. W. H. VanAlstine, hotel. T. D. White, real estate. Sanborn House, Ed. Helmer, proprietor.


Geo. Casserly & Son, barbers.


Treiewiler & Long, meat market. D. B. Wright, harness.


Geo. Vogt, restaurant. Arthur McArdle, shoe shop.


Brady Bros., hardware.


W. W. Johnson, groceries.


W. C. Green, dry goods.


E. T. Langley & Son, lawyers.


C. A. Babcock, lawyer.


J. E. Hopkins, livery.


First National Bank, Mrs. Wm. Harker, president; James H. Daly, cashier.


Peck & McFarland, hardware.


August Schoel, druggist.


Pirie & Anderson, tailors.


N. Trobridge, barber. David Larson, shoe shop.


W. H. Sloan & Son, auctioneers.


F. W. Horton, physician. J. S. Leary, physician.


Joe Wilcox, lawyer. Wilcox, Boyd & Co., real estate collections, etc. F. M. Perry, racket store.


G. O. Wheeler, agricultural implements. Martin Seba, blacksmith.


Hiram Telkamp, agricultural implements. Telkamp's Hall. J. A. Golinbaux, blacksmith. Bender Bros., elevator. Hunting Elevator company. Geo. Hakeman, elevator.


476


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Henry Magee & Geo. Coleman, stock. W. H. Sloan & Son, dray line. Heman & Gibbs, dray line. Ezra Armstrong, dray line. Thos. Bulger, dray line.


O'BRIEN COUNTY ROAD NEAR SANBORN, ALONG THE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND ST. PAUL RAILROAD.


CHURCHES.


Catholic, J. P. Martin, priest. Unitarian, W. L. Utley. Presbyterian, Chas. Williams. Methodist, R. K. Calloway. German Lutheran, F. W. D. Brandt.


CIVIC SOCIETIES.


MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.


J. F. Kerberg, V. C. Peter Velie, Clerk. K. OF P. LODGE. N. H. Green, C. C. C. C. Algyer, V. C. A. Vyce, K. P. S.


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA. 477


W. R. C. Mrs. J. F. Kerberg, President. Mrs. Mary A. Coleman, Secretary. G. A. R.


J. M. Vincent, Com.


H. E. Correll, S. V.


Henry Pruin, J. V.


Geo. Hakeman, Q. M.


W. W. Johnson, Adj.


Claudis Tifft, Chaplin.


R. M. Boyd, Officer of the Day.


J. I. Perry, Surgeon.


J. W. Todd, Officer of the Guurd. I. O. O. F. LODGE. W. H. Austin, N. G. D. Moody, Secretary.


SANBORN ENCAMPMENT, NO, 124, I. O. O. F.


J. A. Wilcox, G. P. W. H. Austin, Scribe.


ONYX LODGE, A. F. & A. M.


C. F. Owen, W. M. P. Velie, Secretary:


SAMARIA CHAPTER NO. 41, R. A. M.


J. H. Wolf, H. P. J. H. Daly, Secretary.


CORAL CHAPTER NO. 41, O. E. S. Mrs. Anna E. Velie, W. M. Mrs. Helen Lick, Secretary.


·


478


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


RAILROAD DIVISION.


Sanborn is a railroad division town, of the Chicago, Mil- waukee and St. Paul. By reason of this, a large amount of money is paid out each month to the employees, and it also gives the town an air of activity and business, which it has.


Railroad men are not niggardly, and never deny themselves the comforts of life, their money goes for what is needed for expenses without begrudging it. Railroad men as a rule are level headed fellows, and brave to a fault, like all other occu- pations there is now and then a bad one, as there is a black sheep in every flock. In the run of years there are many changes among the men, yet some of them get to become stand-bys, and their faces are familiar to the travel- ing public for years.


HON. GEORGE D. PERKINS, Member of Congress from this District.


There are several em- ployees of this company now with them at Sanborn, who were with the com- pany in 1878. We re- member Hank George and Dell Case, two passenger conductors, who were princely fellows, and fav- orites with travelers. Mr. George died some years ago, and Dell Case died in Mason City in 1888, of paralysis of the brain.


Railroad men run many chances of accident, and it always seemed that a locomotive engineer must be a man of considerable nerve and judgment, and a brakeman on a freight, must carry himself with tact and caution, to be successful and free from injury.


One of the most distressing accidents that has occurred at Sanborn was that in February, 1887, resulted in the death of


479


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Hiram Algyer, who was employed about the yard. A freight train was made up ready to go east, and stood on the side track with the switch engine at the rear of the train, next to the caboose. Hiram was putting a glass in the door, when an engine, pulling a water car, running with considerable speed, was, by a misplaced switch run on the side track and into the switch engine, which crashed into the caboose, carry- ing away the platform and cutting off Mr. Algyer's legs. Hiram Algyer was a noble fellow; highly respected, and his sudden taking off, cast a shade of gloom over the entire community.


A very unfortunate accident occurred near Hartley the first year of the road across the county. John G. Patterson, a very able lawyer of Charles City, employed by the com- pany in securing title to right- of-way, was in 1878 riding in a freight car loaded in each end with ties, when the car left the track, crushing the unfortunate man to death. The present town of Hull in Sioux county, originally named Pattersonville, was named after this distinguished lawyer.


C. McCann met with a shocking death in 1885. He HON. D. D. M'CALLUM. was engaged in repairing the tank of a locomotive, which was resting on four oil barrels, and while McCann was working un- derneath, the barrels suddenly gave away, precipitating the huge tank to the ground, crushing the unfortunate man terri- bly. He was soon extricated, but life was extinct.


Several brakemen running out of Sanborn have been killed, one by the name of Rossan in 1887, near Hartley. He was walking over the train, and made a misstep, falling between


480


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


the cars. H. H. Irons lost a hand by falling between the cars near Rock Valley in 1887. Albert A. Gaskell was killed near Hull in 1888, while loosening a brake, he fell between the cars. Jim Fee and Young Oleson, also lost their lives in the performance of duty.


The life of a railroad man is very uncertain. Faithful to a duty which speeds civilization, and forces the settlement of a country, he is ever in the breach of accident, and his life is one of continued risk. When he leaves home in the morning, it is hard to tell whether or not he will ever return. His trip back may be as a mangled corpse borne by loving, sorrowful hands. Poor Jim Fee signalled the departure of his train with a joyous heart. Young, surrounded with a host of friends, the pride of a loving mother, and the object of another's af- fection soon to be his wife, he left Sanborn with a seemingly long life before him, and many days of joy and usefulness, but in an unguarded moment, when death was least expected, his young life was crushed L. A. FARNUM. out in an instant, and his comrades with their faces washed with tears, gathered all that was mortal, and prepared it for shipment to a sad and heart- broken household. Soon after, the life of another followed in its sacrifice; death, seemingly cruel, opened the door of ac- cident to " one more unfortunate," who fell before the running cars, and was killed in an instant. Little did he expect it, but poor Oleson, in the performance of duty, and with nobody to wish it, went the way of too many engaged in the same occu- pation. The traveler rides with comfort in the car, while they who speed us on, are ever on the alert for our protection and safety.


481


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


The Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. Co., in point of service equipment and management is one of the best in the country. It is also careful in its demands upon employees for courteous treatment to patrons and an incompetent employee is soon known and discharged. We may be certain, that any railroad man who has been in the employ of this company for any con- siderable length of time, has the endorsement of a careful scrutiny upon his conduct, efficiency, and a recognition of his merit.


Railroad men are promoted in regular line, and their capabilities, or their lack of merit, are soon well known and understood. Many a new man thinks he knows it all, but he soon learns that he doesn't, and finds that efficiency comes only with years of ser- vice, with good judgment to back it up.


One of the oldest men on the line is E. Hoxsie, who runs a passenger east from Sanborn. He has been on the road over twenty-four years, and has been on the Sanborn division, we think, since 1881. He is popular with the traveling public, and his continued service emphasizes his capability.


The next oldest man run- E. HOXSIE. ning to Sanborn is L. A. Farnum, who commenced running on the Sanborn division we think, in 1880. Farnum is a New Hampshire yankee which can readily be detected. He has little to say, but goes quietly along with what is required of him, and as a railroad man ranks among the best.


George H. Klein also runs east from Sanborn, and has been a railroad man about twenty-two years; he commenced work


31


482


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


on this division as soon as the road reached Chamberlain. Klein stands well with everybody, the company included ..


M. M. Burns also runs a passenger east from Sanborn, and has been railroading about twenty-two years, a valued em- ployee. Andy W. Solon, is a passenger conductor east, though in the summer months he runs on the Spirit Lake branch, and the passenger who meets him on the train, need not be told that he un- derstands his business, for there is plenty of proof in his method of performing it.


The two Brainard boys, E. C. and Frank C. and George N. Mc- Cullow were with the company at Sanborn from the first, indeed Eugene Brainard and McCullow had a hand in building the road it- self, while Frank at the same time was running A. D. NELSON. a freight. These three commenced about the same time running passenger trains, we think in 1880, Eugene and McCullow now running east, and Frank west to Mitchell. There is one thing that George McCullow can do to perfection, and that is run a gravel train crew, everything moves along lively, and there is no back talk, and as a passenger conductor, there is none more pleasant on the road. The Brainard boys are thorough rail- road men, and gentlemen in every respect, they say but little to anybody, but they look out for the interests of the com- pany, and the comfort and convenience of the traveling public.


$


George W. Bryan has been a railroad man about twenty years, and now runs a passenger west to Mitchell, and it seems


·


483


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


to us that while on duty, that he doesn't think of anything else but running that train, with an eye to the safe transportation of every passenger and his luggage.


Charles E. Foote has been on the road fourteen years, and now runs the mixed train west. We remember Foote when he was principal of the public school at Sanborn, and after- wards when admitted to the bar in Winneshiek county, and commenced practice at Sanborn. Fourteen years ago he did the most sensible thing of his life; he closed the door of his law office behind him, and became a railroad brakeman. Life is a battle, with each to wage his own individual warfare, and when one takes upon himself the burden, and advertises to fight the battles of other people, along with his own, he enters an arena, of some grief, and of much responsi- bility, and without suffi- cient compensation. No lawyer yet in O'Brien county has accumulated riches in a strictly law practice; true, several C. E. FOOTE. at the county seat have become well-off by reason of hold- ing office several terms, and of having access to the records which led to profitable investment, but the occupation of a country lawyer, confining himself strictly to practice, is not preferable to railroad employment, and the writer looks upon Charley Foote as a most sensible fellow, for he now occupies a responsible position, and one that he fills with credit to him- self, as he is one of the best of railroad men, and liked by all, with no one to damn him for an adverse verdict, nor charge him unjustly with the betrayal of a cause.


484


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


The freight conductors are M. J. Haup, who is an old man on the road, Michael McKeever, J. J. Enright, Frank Cool- idge, Ed. A. Boyer, Charles M. Briggs, William Stewart, Frank Maynard, John Hasley, C. B. Coleman, L. C. Carroll, H. A. Sampson. Others who have run freights, and in the line of promotion, are Thomas A. Briggs, E. A. Sumner, Walter Mayo, Frank Penrose, R. D. McMillan, E. L. Brad- bury and Craig J. Wilson.


The regular trains running west are pulled by engineers, William Woodman and Thomas Manchester. Manchester commenced when he was nineteen years of age, and has been running twenty years, and is considered a most careful, efficient fellow at the throttle, and a prince of good fellows. Mr. Woodman is an older man in the line of service than Manchester is, and everybody who knows Bill Woodman is aware of the fact, that he is not only one of the best citizens, but is also a capable engineer, and a first-class mechanic.


G. H. Kings running the mixed train west, is an old man in the service. He has been with the company a long time, and is a first-class engineer.


There are four passenger engineers running east out of · Sanborn. These are George Freeman, Charles Beebe, Henry Baker, and John J. Hughes. These are all old men on the road, Mr. Freeman being the oldest, having run twenty-five years, and we think Mr. Baker the next, and following him Mr. Beebe. Mr. Hughes run out of Sanborn at quite an early day. These men have long since been tried, as the years will show, and are in favor with the company, and known to be competent and faithful.


Freight engineers running east from Sanborn, are Frank Mayo, Charles Woodman, John Brown, James McCormack, John J. Gallagher, Joseph Fulton and John V. Durgin. The oldest men of these mentioned, are Brown, Gallagher and Fulton. Mr. Fulton was running an engine when George McCullow commenced railroading. They are all good men and good engineers.


485


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


There are several extra engineers, Emmett Wentworth, Oscar Merwin, Charles W. Walston, Thomas Helmar and Ed. Hamilton. These are young men on the road, and are firemen when not running an engine.


R. P. Edson is agent and train despatcher at Sanborn, with E. N. Rudloff and M. C. Corbett, assistants. The yardmaster is H. E. Correll. Robert Hamilton has charge of the round- house, who has been a railroad man many years. One son is an engineer, running out of Sioux City, and Ed., previously mentioned, is also a son of Robert.


CONTENTS.


ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGE


H. H. Waterman.


11


Hannah H. Waterman


13


Anna Waterman


15


Rev. James Bicknell


17


The old log court house


18


Indian stealth


19


Residence of William Wager


20


Indian stealth


21


John W. Kelley


E. T. Parker.


C. W. Inman


W. C. Green


B. F. McCormick


F. L. Herrick


James Brosh


Ed. C. Brown


A. B. Huston


1


M. G. McClellan


E. C. Foskett


Members of Sheldon G. A. R


Mrs. C. F. Albright.


Patrick Carroll


D. B. Harmon


Mrs. M. G. M'Clellan


Mrs. John Chrysler


John Chrysler


Byron Donavan


O'Brien county court house


H. P. Holyoke


W. E. Welch


J. K. M'Andrew


Hon. S. R. Harris


C. F. Albright


W. W. Johnson


47 48


James Roberts


49


1


1


I


22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42


43 44 45 46


I


ii


CONTENTS.


Claudius Tifft


R. C. Tifft


Enoch Philby


51 52 53


Residence of Enoch Philby


Frank Frisbee


J. H. Wolf


J. F. Stone


Bell Odd Fellow block, Primghar


J. J. Hartenbower


J. T. Stearns


Fred Frisbee


Isaac Clements.


John B. Perkins


Mrs. W. C. Butterfield


W. C. Butterfield


Sydney S. Bradley


First hotel building in Primghar


Fred Wolf


Frank Jones


Benj. Jones


Mrs. Benj. Jones


Mary Donavan.


Residence of P. R. Bailey, Primghar


Joseph Shinski


Jurgen Renken


James Wykoff


A. B. Chrysler


Allen Crossan


F. H. M'Cormick


Rev. W. E. Glenville


J. G. Chrysler


Homer W. Conant


James Frisbee


H. B. Wyman


Milt H. Allen.


Calvan R. Hurd


George A. Miller


Alfred Morton


O. M. Barrett


Residence of F. W. Cram, Sheldon


W. H. Webber


C. L. Soyster.


Residence of H. C. Lane, Sheldon


H. C. Lane


Clark house, Sanborn


Nellie Jones 96


Percy Hall _* 97


I


PAGE 50


54 5.5 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 Sı 82 83 84 85 S6 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95


iii


CONTENTS.


PAGE


E. T. Langley


100


W. M. Smith and family


IOI


C. S. McLaury 102


George F. Colcord 103


David Palen 104


Rev. C. Artman.


105


Fletcher Howard


106 107


G. W. Doyle.


109 III


H. F. Smith and wife


John McCandless


I13


Kemper & Elliot, brick block, Sheldon


115


W. W. Reynolds


117


E. B. Messer


119


J. L. McLaury


121


Scott Logan 123


125


John Metcalf


127


Residence of W. C. Hagy, Sheldon


128


Will Wolf.


I31


A. Hanson


133


J. C. Skinner


135 137


W. O. Woodbury


I39


Residence of H. M. Waldsmith, Sheldon


140


F. E. Wade


149


Residence of E. E. Hall, Hartley


152 152


P. R. Bailey I57 I


Frank Patch 159 161


C. R. West


Residence of R. A. Woodward, Hartley


163


B. T. Woods 165


George Dixon 167 168


C. E. Achorn


Members of the G. A. R., Sheldon


I William Harker 170


173


Store building of W. A. Wasson, Sanborn


175


East side of Main street, Hartley 177 I


Howard house and Shipley's drug store, Sheldon 179


Residence of C. L. Soyster, Sheldon 181


Mckeever block, Sheldon 183


.


C. F. Owen


C. A. Babcock 142 144 E. E. Hall 147


J. A. Wilcox


Residence of E. G. Tennant, Hartley Dr. D. T. Stewart 154


Rebecca W. Perkins.


E. P. Messer.


Mrs. D. A. W. Perkins


iv


CONTENTS.


PAGE


Hotel Grand, Primghar.


185


Residence of W. N. Strong, Sheldon


187


Residence of R. H. Magee, north of Sanborn


189


Residence of W. J. Semmons, Primghar


191


Residence of W. W. Johnson, Sanborn


193


West side Third avenue, Sheldon


195


Ellis block, Sanborn


197


West side Main street, Hartley


199


W. P. Briggs 201


Residence of John Metcalf, Paullina


203


First National bank, Sanborn


205


Geo. T. Wellman


O. H. Montzheimer


W. J. Davis


215


Maud E. Shinski


217


Margaret M. Shinski


219


First hotel in Hartley


221 223


E. F. Harrington


Residence of W. A. Elliott, Hartley


227


Methodist church, Primghar


J. D. Long


229 231


John Bowley


233


William Bros.' store, Hartley


234


Residence of I. N. Drake, Hartley


235


Park Pratt


237


V. B. Barmore


240


Abel Appleton and family


252


First store iu Hartley


255


Residence of M. E. Colby, Hartley


257


Residence of J. M. Yeomans, Hartley


259


Scott Martin


261


A. J. Waldsmith


263


H. B. Perry


265


C. F. Butterfield and family


268


Hon. Charles H. Lewis


271


Hon. George W. Wakefield


273


Hon. William Hutchinson


275


Hon. Frank G. Gaynor


277 279


Hon. Scott M. Ladd


281


J. H. Oates.


283


W. H. Bloom


285


J. T. Conn


287


R. E. Kearney


289


R. A. Cushman


291


Dr. J. M. Long 293


Hon. John F. Oliver


207 209 211


Mrs. Joseph Shinski


V


CONTENTS.


PAGE


S. A. Carter


295


Christian church, Primghar


297


Residence of C. M. Westfall, Hartley


299


Residence of J. L. Taylor, Hartley.


301


Residence of Frank Patch, Hartley 303


Miss Ella Seckerson


311


Sheldon school board, 1893


312


Prof. W. S. Wilson 313


First school building, Sheldon


314


First school building in Sheldon with additions 315


316


Sheldon school teachers and professor


317


Prof. W. I. Simpson


318


Mrs. Emma Freeman


319


Miss Mame Button


320 321


Miss Kate M'Keever.


322


Lulu Shaffer


324


Sadie Hoepner


325


Miss May Dennink


326


Primghar school building


328 329


O'Brien county farm scene.


331


T. J. Griggs


333


Residence of E. B. Messer, Hartley


335


Driving park, Sanborn


337


W. N. Strong


339


M. E. church, Sheldon


341


Residence of H. B. Wyman, burned.


343


Residence of F. R. Patch, Hartley


345


F. J. Gallagher.


347


Fred W. Bloxham


349


F. E. Simpson


351


Henry Shipley


353


Rev. Father P. F. Farrelly


355


I. N. McIntire.


357


Charles S. Perry


359


G. G. Brock


368


Soldiers' monument, Hartley


371


Presbyterian church, Hartley. 373


375


Broder & Tagge's store, Hartley 377


Public school building, Hartley 383


384


First National bank, Hartley


385


Park hotel, Hartley


387


W. H. Bailey


395


Sheldon school building


Sanborn school building


Primghar school teachers and professor


German Evangelical church, Hartley


M. E. church, Hartley


vi


CONTENTS.


PAGE


Congregational church, Primghar


397


Putnam's livery barn, Primghar


398


L. W. Fairbanks 407


A. H. Cobb


409


B. F. Brown 4II


L. U. Shipley 413


Louis Peterson


515 417


G. A. Gibson


423


Early street scene, Sheldon


421


George Hudson


423


W. W. Carr


Frank T. Piper


425 427 429


* Sheldon in 1876.


Sheldon water tower.


431


E. P. Messer's hardware, Sheldon


433


Residence of J. E. VanPatten, Sheldon


435


First National bank, Sheldon 437


Proposed opera house, Sheldon


City council, Sheldon


Mrs. Harry Miller


Hon. I. S. Struble.


D. C. Eldredge


455 457


Hon. L. B. Raymond


Indian scene.


459 461


O'Brien county farm scene


O'Brien county cattle, on C., M. & St. P. Ry


465


Cutting grain, on C., M. & St. P. Ry 467


Farm near Hartley, on C., M. &. St. P. Ry 469


O'Brien county prairie chickens, on C., M. & St. P. Ry 473


O'Brien county road, near Sanborn, on C., M. & St. P. Ry. 476 478


Hon. George D. Perkins.


Hon. D. D. McCallum


479


L. A. Farnum 480


E. Hoxsie. 481


A. D. Nelson 482


C. E. Foote 483


439 441 451 453


Dr. W. R. Brock


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.


First settlement by H. H. Waterman. Indian troubles. Other early settlers. Original log court house. Crossing streams. First blacksmith in county. · First celebration. First shoemaker. First school house. First death. Cap. Edwards' horse collar story.


CHAPTER II.


Early administration of the county. Organization. Plundering devices of the first organizers. Warrants issued. Appropriation for bridge. Re- formers elected. Suit in court to enjoin. Hat for ballot box. Illegal voting. Depreciating of county warrants. Rebonding.


CHAPTER III.


Method of taking government land. Settlers' shacks. Treasurer's office, its appearance. Settlements continued. First convention to nominate of- ficers. First newspaper. 'The ferry boat. Bridge building. First store in the county. First postmaster. First established minister.


CHAPTER IV.


First sermon preached in the county. First church. First 4th of July cele- bration. Indian scare at old O'Brien. Larrypayville. Incidents of Hell slough. House built in 1868. More settlements in Waterman township. First colored man. Foreclosing mortgage. Settlers in Grant township.


CHAPTER V.


Attempted fraud to deprive settlers of their lands. Old settlers' association for protection, First celebration in O'Brien town. Political convention. More incoming settlers. The writer's first settlement. First settlement in Carroll township. Emigrant wagons.


CHAPTER VI.


Individual heroism. Hardships of early settlers. Albright stopping place. Incidents of incoming settlers from Cedar county. Incidents of crossing streams. Incidents of Carroll township settlers. Incident of medical treatment. Reminiscences of the McClellan neighborhood. First school in the northwest part of the county. Other early settlers.


CHAPTER VII.


Butchering a steer. Settler without fuel, had to lie in bed. The first political caucus in Floyd township. The first settler in Floyd. Other settlers in Floyd township. Suicide in Floyd. First settler in Franklin township. Other early settlers.


vii


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER VIII.


Grasshoppers, their coming and ravages. Method of destroying them. Large yield on Sunnyside in spite of them. Relief, history of, and its distribu- tion. Blizzards, causing many deaths. Prairie fire, damages of. Cyclones, destruction caused by.


CHAPTER IX.


First county record, written by Tiffey. First election of officers. First offi- cers elected. Records of county judge. First records of the board of supervisors. Bills allowed. Reports of committees. Bogus titles from sale of swamp land.


CHAPTER X.


Local congress in Baker township, measures passed. The first settler in Baker township. Other settlers in Baker. The Donovan store in Baker town- ship. Settlers in Highland township. Early settlers in Center. A vet- eran of two wars.


CHAPTER XI.


Prospecting for coal. Reward offered. Hay for fuel. First hay twister. First Christmas in county, by Piper and Wolf. First settlement in Cale- donia. Caledonia Lutheran church. First settlement in Union township. Settlers in Dale. Other settlers in Center. Settlers in Lincoln. Popu- lation in 1875, also births and deaths. Population in 1881. Taxable prop- erty in 1881. Covey church. Lutheran church in Center. Other set- tlers in Floyd.


CHAPTER XII.


Bounty on gopher scalps. Making them pay double. Trick played in Mus- catine and Scott counties. Gopher scalp incidents. List of all county officers, with the names of each and the year they served, from the first organization.


CHAPTER XIII.


Politics and some political incidents. The renowned squatter land strife. its history and outcome. County seat, Sheldon and Sanborn for, against Primghar. Sanborn's raid on Primghar to capture the county seat. Effusions of a Sanborn poet.


CHAPTER XIV.


Courts and court records. First court in the county. Grand jury. First criminal case. First jury case. Insane commission. Present judges. law incidents. Cases cited. Lawyers. Newspapers. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic. Letter written during the civil war. Dif- ferent posts.


CHAPTER XV.


Educational :- School houses in 1887. School houses at the present time. Value of school property. Number of pupils. Independent districts. All school officers in the connty. Finances :- $12,000 stolen. Towns :- Cal- umet. Archer. Gaza. Paullina. Sutherland. Hartley. Primghar. Sheldon. Sanborn. C. M. & St. Paul railroad division.





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