USA > Iowa > Osceola County > History of Osceola county, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 12
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Hans Graves, who yet lives in Baker Township, came in IS72, along with H. Steffenhagen and one other party. Mr. Steffenhagen still lives in the township, and both himself and Mr. Graves are entitled to the success they have made of it, as they went through the early hard times. They returned for the winter and came. out again in the spring of 1873. They came from Clinton County, and when they came back the following spring, there came with them Mr. Frank Graves, uncle to Hans, and other members of the family, Peter, John C., Frank and Jerry Graves and Claus Yess. These all took
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
claims. Peter and Frank Graves are now in Chicago in the jewelry business, and John C., with his family, live in Ochey- edan, and is engaged in the mercantile business. The other members of the family live on their original claims and all are well-to-do.
As has been said with reference to other townships, some names are no doubt omitted as we did not intend to make a complete directory but more of a record of past events. Baker Township is one of the best in the county.
Harrison Township, which was a part of Baker until a few years ago, was not early settled as other townships were. We believe about the first settler in this township was Mr. Billion, and the place where he lived was known for several years as the Billion Ranch, and is so called now. It was land owned by Rev. Peter Haverman, a Catholic priest, of Troy, New York, who started there a cattle ranch, and sent Mr. Billion out from New York State to run it. From poor management, the enterprise proved a failure. Mr. Haverman was out several times, and is spoken of as a very honorable and conscientious man.
In the north part of the township is quite a settlement of Mennonites. This sect is distinguished by antique simplicity, by their indifference to the great interests of the world, and at the same time their industry and self concentrations make them well to-do. The main interest in the sect lies not in dogma, but in principle, and as men they are conscientious, law-abiding citizens. They have about thirty members, and hold services every two weeks. They came from Canada to Harrison township. Jesse Bauman came first in 1887, and, his report concerning the country being favorable, others soon followed. They sent out carpenters, who erected buildings for them, and there is a sameness about all their surroundings. Josiah Martin, one of the leaders among his people, has all of Section 10. The Bauman's are also prominent-Jesse, Amos and Elias. Elias is on Section 4, and Jesse and Amos on Section 9. In this north part of the township are also Julius Worm, Louis Clatt, Frank Gregory, John Huehn, Louis Johannes, Daniel Weaver, Daniel Stauffer, John Dunnenworth, George Bryer, Abraham Widner, Jacob Brubaker, Elias Ginrich, Henry Gregory, Elias Reist, Daniel Harley, Fred Kampene, James Reist, Mr. Kesterling.
The May City postoffice is on Section S, in this township, about the center. This section is owned by a company, and is intended for a townsite. E. S. Robertson is postmaster, and
:XXI
OCHEYEDAN HOUSE, OCHEYEDAN.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
Mr. Robertson's father and two brothers are living there at present. Martin Houcks and August Hess are the village blacksmiths, and John Brendley the shoemaker. An incoming railroad, which is expected, would make May City quite a point. Section 12 is owned by Lon, John and Joseph Cham- bers. On Section 6 are the Smith brothers, O. J. and A. W.
Among other of the residents there, George and E. L. Krukenburg are on Section 31, Henry Krukenburg is on Sec- tion 30, Chris Dorman and John Marsh are on Section 32 and John Isley and Henry Schmoll are on Section 33. Among other of its residents are Ernest Krukenburg, Henry Lager, Henry Groff, Conrad Schmoll, Danied Tyards, W. D. Sauer, John Brochus, Peter Anker, Henry Newkirk, T. Hemmig, George Ryers, Charles Mielke; also Albert Mielke, John Sittler, Martin Fritz; also Peter Anker, David Anker, A. F. Berdine, W. H. Brerver, L. W. Lopp, Gerritt DeBoor, Wm. Eden, Herman Eden, R. E. Ellis, R. C. Fuller, J. C. Herlie, J. W. Wardrip, A. B. Weidman, Daniel Shafer, W. J. Smith, Hugh Starts, Louis and Philip Kesserling, David Steiner, Henry Heimrich, John Kimble, E. T. Willner, Martin Hank, John Huchn. This township was named after President Harrison, and many of its fine farms are attractive and delight the eye. E. C. Roberts, in addition to the postoffice at May City, has also a general stock of goods and his store is well patronized. Emil Hemmig and Fred Tschudin also live in Harrison. T. Hemmig is an old settler for Harrison, and came here six years ago.
GOWNS IN THE COUNTY.
HARRIS.
This is a station on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad, on the east side of the county. At pres- ent it does not claim to be metropolitan, but expects some time in the future to acquire prominence as one of the towns in the county. It is well located, and when the country around it becomes more settled, the town will grow correspondingly. It has one general store, managed by Rufus Townsend, who is also postmaster, and the store has a good trade. M. B. Smith has a lumber yard; also a harness shop. J. Ryckman runs a coal yard and John Walting is the blacksmith. The station agent is Homer Richards, and Harris has a decorative painter, Frank P. Burley. This about comprises the bus- iness interests of Harris, and no doubt the historian ten years from now will be able to make an extensive record, which will come from its future growth.
ASHTON.
The Town of Ashton was laid out by the Land Depart- ment of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company in I872. It was first named St. Gilman, but afterwards, in 1882, this name was changed to Ashton. The town is beautifully located, and on the east side of its business portion runs the Otter, a beautiful stream, though not a large one. It is a thrifty town, having tributary to it a scope of country that for productiveness and fertility of soil is unexcelled in the state. The first building on the townsite was placed there by T. J. Shaw in the fall of 1872, and the building still stands there and is now occupied by John Kunnen for a restaurant. Mr. Shaw is the same party who, previous to that time, had a store on Section 32 in Gilman township, and he put up the building now in Ashton before the town was laid out, and when lots were to be had, placed the building on one of them and gave
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
it a permanent abiding place. Mr. Shaw left Osceola County in ISSS, and now resides in Oregon. After Shaw's store, followed a warehouse in 1873, put up by Brown & Rounds- ville. Mr. Brown resides in Nebraska, and Mr. Roundsville died several years ago. About the same time the warehouse was built, a lumber yard office was put up, and this was used afterwards for various purposes, and, by adding to it, Mr. David Underhill now has it for a residence. Then followed a blacksmith shop, run by Charles Miller, who sold to John Lee, and in 1878 Lee sold out to I. B. Lucas, who still continues the same business. Another store soon followed, a millinery shop, and, in those days of beer and native wine from fruits grown in the state, a saloon. A hotel building was also erected soon after by J. D. Billings, which still stands in Ash- ton, but which has been improved by large additions, and is now owned by C. W. Freeman and run by Nick Reiter. When Ashton got fairly started, it had two stores, a millinery shop, blacksmith shop, hotel, warehouse, saloon and two resi- dences. Then came the grasshoppers, whose ravages are mentioned elsewhere, and these so discouraged and disheart- ened the first business men of the town that one by one they " Folded their tents like Arabs, and as silently stole away." The store-keepers sold what they could, and packed up the balance of the stock and departed. The hotel man had no custom and he went, the saloon-keeper had to tend both sides of the bar and do all the drinking himself, the millinery goods were not in demand, no grain came to market, and the exodus was thorough and complete.
In 1879, a writer in the Gazette, said the following of St. Gilman: "Last week we spent an hour or two in Gilman. This village is struggling with all its hopes in the future, wait- ing patiently for a depot, an elevator, an express and telegraph office. A year or two of good crops will bring it into notice, give it more buildings, sidewalks, a mayor and all the para- phernalia of a full-fledged metropolis, until then it must move quietly and contentedly. Its only merchant, F. M. Bashfield, was at his post. He is a gentleman, courteous, social and of much intelligence; is a close dealer and watches every penny, and indeed this is the secret of success. Kit Carson, who is the magistrate, was absent, either figuring on the increase and improvement of stock, or else talking politics. Kit is a host in himself and good company. The portly form of Lucas, the village blacksmith, was seen bending over his work which seemed to be lying all around. The old Shaw store building
RESIDENCE OF DR. W. E. ELY, OCHEYEDAN.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
is used for a dwelling and the familiar countenance of its former and original occupant is no longer seen in town. Charley Miller has moved into the country, not far from Gilman, and now follows the plow instead of measuring wood and weigh- ing coal. When the country tributary to Gilman is settled, it will make a snug town and a good business point."
J. D. Billings, now of Sheldon, was the first justice and one of the first school officers. His daughter Mary was the first child born in the town.
In about 1883 business revived there again, stores were opened, the hotel once more had a landlord, and St. Gilman then made another start on the road to wealth and prosperity. About that time Nick Boor opened up there in business, and this had something to do with its new start. The Pattersons also, A. and G. W., gave the town an impetus, and since the change in name, and new parties going in, the town has con- tinued to grow.
Its leading business interests are now represented by : J. H. and C. C. Carmichael, drug store, who came to Ashton in 1892; restaurant by John Kunnen, who commenced busi- ness in 1892; H. A. Carson, son of J. W., who opened a photograph gallery this present year; furniture store by F. H. Thompson, established 1891; clothing store, M. Hingtgen, 1891; meat market, Ira L. and P. E. Kennen, 1891; harness shop, N. Klees, 1892; jewelry store, A. I .. Hyde, 1892; res- taurant, Henry Wheelhouse, 1890; hardware, C. W. Rahe, 1890; livery barn, J. Smith and L. Lamar; blacksmith shop, I. B. Lucas and W. B. Reagen; hotel, N. Reiter; wagon shop, J. W. Clark; general store, Henry Wheelhouse; also general store, H. Ennga, 1892; general store, S. S. Dean and J. A. Hoffman; general store, W. S. and G. L. Queenby, 1892; general store, M. Wermerskirchen, 1890; Nick Boor and W. L. Benjamin have an agricultural house and an elevator; H. S. Grant, farm machinery; C. J. King and L. M. March, blacksmith shop; Frank DeVoss, barber shop; and S. M. Brown, a mechanic, and has charge of the elevator.
The banking interests are represented by A. and G. W. Patterson, with G. W. Patterson in immediate charge.
Ashton's postmaster is J. W. Reagan. It has three church buildings, Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist. One paper is published there, the Leader, by C. A. Charles. It is a bright, five-column quarto, and has large circulation.
Ashton is a live business town and one of general pros- perity. It has some very elegant residences, good stores, and
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
thorough business men, and the town will continue its growth. It is a good grain market and a good place for general trading.
Ashton is situated on Section 15, in Gilman Township; is on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway line. It has the usual secret societies and social organizations and its business men are on a solid basis. J. B. McEnany is its physician. It also has a creamery, managed and owned by C. W. Baird and is soon to have another elevator. Alto- gether Ashton promises to be considerable of a place in the future. Its present municipal officers are : Mayor
Joseph W. Reagan W. L. Benjamin. C. J. King. John Lenn.
Trustees
C. W. Rake.
Peter Wagner.
Recorder
Marshal
P. E. Kiemen. J. H. Carmichael. E. S. Knowles.
OCHEYEDAN.
The town is laid out on a part of Section 2, and a part of Section II, in west Ocheyedan Township. The writer has been unable to ascertain correctly the origin of the word Ocheyedan, and hence will not attempt to account for it.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad crossed Osceola County in the year 1884. The coming of this road brought into existence the Town of Ocheyedan, and in the fall of 1884 building commenced. The first building put up on the town site was a " shanty," which kind of a build- ing is well understood, though the word itself is becoming obsolete. This was put up by James Wood, and he lived in it and stored his goods there, while a building was being pre- pared for occupancy. Out of his stock, however, he made some sales, and run a sort of "shanty " trade until he got straightened out in more mercantile condition. This was in the fall of 1884, and at this same time Charles Woodworth had lumber on the ground for a hardware store; also did Wood for a general store, and William Smith for a general store. Woodworth moved into his building first with his stock of hardware, so that this building, which Mr. Woodworth still
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
occupies, may be said to be the first business house in the town. Wood put his stock also in Woodworth's building temporarily, and as soon as his own was finished moved into that. Mr. Smith got his building finished in October, and put in a general stock. This same fall of 1884 the Kout brothers, Joseph and Dominick, put up a store building and filled it with a general stock of goods. L. B. Boyd also put up a building that fall, in which he opened a general store, and these four general stores, with the hardware, constituted the mercantile business of the town in the winter of 1884-'85. We will add, however, that Dr. C. Teal erected the building now occupied by Ed. Becker as a barber shop, in the fall of 1884, and opened up a drug store, also practiced as a physician. Dr. Teal moved from Ocheyedan a few years ago, and now lives in North Carolina. William Smith sold out a year or so after- wards to D. J. Jones, who carried on a general store until the spring of 1891, when he died. Mrs. Jones continued the business after her husbands death until this present year, when she sold out to Bunker Bros., who now occupy the building with a stock of groceries. Wood sold out to M. J. Young, who carried a general stock, and in the fall of 1891 Young sold out to J. W. Thomas & Son, who now run a general store in the same building. The Kout Bros. sold out building and stock to R. J. O. McGowan, who now occupies the same stand with a general store. The L. B. Boyd building first had a general store, and is now occupied by W. F. Stimpson for a restaurant. In the fall of 1884 also Archibald Oliver put up the livery barn now owned and occupied by E. D. Cleave- land. Mr. Oliver was then, and was the first, station agent in Ocheyedan.
There was also erected in the fall of 1884 two ware- houses for grain and coal. One was put up by French & Hayward, and the other by D. L. Riley. These business houses, with a few dwellings, was what constituted the town of Ocheyedan until the sping of 1885. There was, however, in 1884 a lumber yard started by D. L. Riley, and run by Fred Wheeler. In the spring of 1885 C. A. and M. A. Tatum erected the building now occupied by A. J. Coulton. Tatum's opened a feed store and butcher shop, and afterwards sold it to Coulton. Peter Graves opened a general store in 1885, and erected the building now occupied by John and Mary Graves. Also the same year John Wilson put up the W. J. Robinson building, now occupied by L. D. and E. P. Johnson. The hotel building, called the Ocheyedan House, was built in
J. MANZ & CA12
CHICAGO.
RESIDENCE OF O. B. HARDING, GOEWEY TOWNSHIP.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
1885 by John Wilson, who run it a few months and was then succeeded by Charles Carnes, and he by H. Runyon. I. N. Daggett soon after purchased the building and run the hotel himself a short time, and was succeeded by J. F. Pfaff. Pfaff was succeeded by S. A. Dove, who bought the property in 1891, and is still owner and landlord. Mr. Dove has recently sold and will move to Missouri.
Ocheyedan celebrated the first year of its existence on the 4th day of July, 1885. It was given out beforehand that a great time was to be had, and the country around looked upon the coming celebration as an event of considerable importance, and it was. People flocked into Ocheyedan in great numbers on that day, and it seemed as if the whole country was there. Archibald Oliver was president of the day and C. A. Tatum, marshal. W. J. Robinson read the declaration of independ- ence, and Henderson, a farmer living south of Ocheyedan, delivered the oration. The music consisted of fife and drum; also playing upon the organ and singing. There was a foot race, sack race and a horse trot. Will Peters won the foot race purse, and in the sack race Joel Rice took first money and Frank Daley second. The 'Tatum's carried off the hon- ors in the horse race, M. A. taking first money and H. C. sec- ond. The contestants in the horse race were M. A. and H. C. Tatum, Broadfoot, Adam Sterling, Smith and Claus Yess. There was considerable excitement over this and the boys were somewhat demonstrative over it, but did not let their angry passions rise to the extent of an open fight, but at times were near to it. The day wound up with a bowery dance; Joseph Hall played the violin and there was other music. The dance lasted all night and towards morning the remaining par- ticipants in this first celebration went home to recruit up after this enthusiastic siege.
The drug store building recently occupied by A. E. Smith was built by John Webster and was placed between Cleveland's livery and the railroad track, and it was used there for a saloon. It was built in 1886. In 1887 it was moved to where it now stands. It is now used by T. H. Dravis for a clothing house.
Ocheyedan, as a town location, is unexcelled. It is on a gradual rise from the railroad track, and most of the town is on the elevation. This enables it to have clean streets, and a complete drain for water.
Other buildings followed along in the course of construc- tion, and in 1885 A. V. Randall erected a business house on
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
the corner of Main Street, which is now used by Walton Brothers for a furniture store. In 1890 C. A. and M. A. Tatum put up a building for livery barn, now occupied by Tatum Brothers for an agricultural house. The elevator, now owned and occupied by A. W. Harris & Co., was placed there in ISS5. In 1890 Bowersock Brothers, consisting of Asa and E. Bowersock, bought out D. L. Riley's lumber yard, and are still running the same business. In 1891 John Porter & Son, of Reinbeck, Iowa, started the second lumber yard in Ochey- edan, which is still running, under the management of W. F. Aldred.
The bank building, now occupied by the Ocheyedan Bank, was erected by I. N. Daggett, who sold out to the Northwestern State Bank, of Sibley, and it was then placed in charge of E. Baker, now vice president of the Northwestern State Bank. They sold to the Ocheyedan Savings Bank, of which C. S. McLaury is president, W. M. Smith, vice presi- dent, and J. L. McLaury, cashier, under whose management it now is.
The present year, 1892, John Porter & Son also estab- lished a bank, which, in connection with their lumber business, is under the management of W. F. Aldred, whose name appears as cashier.
Ocheyedan has grown gradually each year since its first starting. It has never been boomed, but has made its way quietly as the country demanded its growth. This year of IS92 it has pushed ahead considerably. Kout Brothers have erected a very fine business house, which is now occupied by A. E. Smith for a drug store. A. V. Randall has added a business building to Main Street, as has also E. N. Moore. Several elegant dwelling houses have also been erected by C. A. Tatum, W. F. Aldred, Dr. W. E. Ely, Mrs. D. R. Jones, Charles Woodworth and others. In 1891 Asa Bower- sock put up a very fine residence house, as also did M. A. Tatum.
In ISS9 several of the farmers around established in Ocheyedan a creamery, which is a joint stock corporation. The association was formed in ISS9, and the following year buildings were erected and business started. Its present officers are: President, J. C. Moar; secretary, W. E. Ely; treasurer, J. L. McLaury; directors, Dick Wassman, Geo. W. Thomas, W. A. Cooper, Henry Bremer, J. C. Ward.
At the close of last year the secretary, W. E. Ely, pub- lished in the local paper the following report:
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
"The Ocheyedan Creamery has just finished the second season of its existence, and as there is some inquiry concerning its workings and profits, we will endeavor to give a short account of what has been done. Active work commenced about the middle of April and continued until the middle of September, or about five months in all. During that time we have received 526,430 pounds, making 21,435 pounds of butter, or an average of 4.07 pounds per hundred. Our cream wagon has gathered 6,703 inches of cream, making the total amount of butter manufactured 28,138 pounds. For milk we have paid the shareholders at the rate of 55 cents per hundred for May, June and July ; 68 cents for August, and 80 cents for September, or a grand total of $3,098.99, averaging 59 cents per hundred for the season. For gathered cream we paid 131/2 cents per inch in May and June, 12 1/2 cents in July, 1634 cents in August, and 1734 cents in September; in all $920,66, or an average of 1334 cents per inch for the season. All of our butter has been sold in New York at Elgin prices-the gathered cream excepted, that grading lower and bringing from I to 3 cents per pound less.
" It has been clearly demonstrated that a creamery pays, and in proportion to the amount of patronage it receives. Four hundred pounds can be manufactured each day as cheap as 100 pounds, and reduces the expense accordingly. When milk can be brought to the creamery in good condition for separating, that system pays better than the gathered cream system, while the latter on the whole is more profitable than the home dairy. But a creamery is like any other business concern, to be successful it must have patronage, and if its own incorporators stand back waiting for it to become a paying concern before they put their shoulder to the wheel, how can they expect outsiders to take any interest or invest any capital in the concern. Two years' work has demonstrated sure success, and if each shareholder does his duty during the coming season I am sure he will find that not only will the creamery relieve his family of the drudgery of butter making, but will pay him more cash than he could possibly make out of his milk himself.
Respectfuly,
" W. E. ELY, " Secretary."
Ocheyedan has two church organizations, the Methodist and Congregationalist. The Methodist organization was first completed in the country outside the town before the town started, and for awhile had two buildings, one of them still
DR. B. A. WILDER.
13
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
standing and used near Mr. Mowthorpe's place. Judge Mc- Callum, in giving us the history of the building, says that in 1876, or thereabouts, when he was holding down his claim near Ocheyedan, himself and L. G. Ireland, with F. H. Hunt, D. II. Boyd, Wm. Mowthorpe and others concluded that they wanted a sanctuary for worship and some place to go to church. Ireland, McCallum and some others were sort of outsiders and not sound in the faith, and the question arose as to the location, and upon this they were divided. A meeting was held at Mr. Hunt's and the majority sat down completely on any location, except that where a church building now stands, near Mr. Mowthorpe's. The McCallum crowd were bound to have a church anyhow where they wanted it, so they went at it, and inside of three weeks they had a building all ready for occupancy on a corner of Ireland's claim. The other fellows, not to be outdone, also went at it and built their church near Mr. Mowthorpe's, where it now is. One was called grit and the other grace-the McCallum one being grit. After they were erected, however, the brethren dwelt together in unity, and, with the help of Brother Mallory, their spiritual welfare was looked after, and all were satisfied. The Mc- Callum church was moved into Ocheyedan when the town started.
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