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