USA > Iowa > Osceola County > History of Osceola county, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 13
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When the building was moved into Ocheyedan, the church pastor then was Rev. R. Hild. He was succeeded by Rev. Keister, he by Rev. J. M. Woolery and then Rev. S. C. Olds, the present pastor. The church building is far too small for the present accommodations and one larger and more spacious will be erected in the near future.
The Congregational society was organized in the spring of 1889. For awhile its exercises consisted of a Sunday school and occasional preaching from some clergyman sent from the state missionary society and this continued until 1890 when Rev. L. R. Fitch became its established pastor and is such now. . This society now holds its services in the school house in the upper story, but will at no distant day erect a church building and they are very much in need of one. Rev. Thomas Pell was at one time pastor and is a forcible preacher.
Ocheyedan became an incorporated town fully, upon the election of its first officers in April, 1891. In. March of that year, the previous month, the question of incorporation or no incorporation was submitted to the people. Public opinion was about equally divided and a discussion of the question previous to the vote being taken, had warmed the contending
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
parties into a strong and almost belligerent controversy. In- corporation carried by a few votes and as soon as the conflict was over, the opposers submitted gracefully, and the feeling then was undivided in all interests that would promote the welfare and progress of Ocheyedan. Soon public improve- ments were entered into, ordinances for the better government of the town, and in promotion of its welfare were passed, and internal improvements became the order of the day. The town's greatest need then was a system of sidewalks and these came along in good time, are now on all streets where busi- ness or residences require them. There is an eight-foot walk which adds not only to the convenience of the town, but to its appearance as well. The present town officers were the first officers elected in April, 1891, with one exception, which is that of Mr. Aldred, and he was elected at the election held in the spring of 1892. The present officers are as follows:
Mayor
W. E. Ely.
Recorder
A. E. Smith.
Treasurer
J. L. McLaury.
Assessor
R. J. Jones.
Street Commissioner I 1 I
George Rupner.
Į 1 Marshal
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George Rupner.
C. M. Manville. S. A. Dove.
Charles Woodworth.
Trustees
W. F. Aldred-
Asa Bowersock. C. A. Tatum.
Ocheyedan has one newspaper, published by Mr. Perk- ins. The paper was started in I891, and its first issue on the 7th day of August. The paper was started by D. A. W. Perkins, who intended it for his son, George W. Perkins, but while the material was still in the boxes at the freight depot, the boy was drowned in Silver lake, near Lake Park. Mr. Perkins, however, under the shadow of this terrible misfort- une, proceeded with its publication and after an intermediate change it is still published by Mr. Perkins. The paper is a five-column quarto and the public spirit of Ocheyedan people is well manifested by giving the paper a liberal patronage which they have since the first issue, and its circulation is large and constantly increasing. The town is not numerous with secret societies, but a Masonic lodge has a complete or- ganization, with a hall finely furnished in the upper story of the building built by Joseph and Dominick Kout. There is
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
what is called the Ocheyedan Lodge, I. O. G. T., of which C. M. Higley is C. T., and Mary McCallum, secretary. This society meets each week. The first postmaster in Ocheye- dan was D. H. Boyd, who was succeeded by A. V. Randall and he by E. N. Moore, the present postmaster.
The town of Ocheyedan is in nearly the center of the eastern part of Osceola County, and hence as a trading point is favorably located. It has a fine farming country around and tributary to it, and its future is exceedingly promising. Every- thing is peaceable in the town, at the same time full of business activity. Ocheyedan socially is a model town.
Its present most prominent business interests and citizens are as follows:
Elevators-A. W. Harris & Co. (manager, John Harris) ; A. E. Brown ( manager, A. D. Moreland.)
Lumber-Bowersock Brothers; John Porter & Son (man- ager, W. F. Aldred. )
General Stores-Mary Graves; J. W. Thomas & Son; Bunker Brothers; R. J. O. McGowan.
Banks-Ocheyedan Bank; John Porter & Son.
Drug Store-A. E. Smith.
Hardware-Charles Woodworth.
Hotel-S. A. Dove.
Restaurant -- W. F. Stimpson.
Meat Market-C. Bowersock.
Feed Store-A. J. Coulton.
Livery Barn-E. D. Cleaveland.
Agricultural House-Tatum Bros .; Frank Cleaveland; Bowersock Bros.
Harness Shop-C. A. Tatum & Son.
Millinery-E. P. Johnson.
Barber-Ed Becker.
Contractors and Builders-Zeug Bros .; Fred Wheeler; C. L. Buchman; Kout Bros .; T. M. Spencer; McLagen & Son.
Blacksmith-C. A. Spencer; Fred Meyer.
Mason-E. N. Moore.
Stock Buyers-C. M. Manville; Bowersock Bros.
Furniture-Walton Bros.
Newspaper-Ocheyedan Press.
Postmaster-E. N. Moore.
Physician-W. E. Ely. Lawyer-D. A. W. Perkins.
Painter-Elmer Spencer.
JAMES T. BARCLAY.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOW'A.
Clothing Store-T. H. Dravis.
Well Borer-C. R. Boyd.
Stockmen-C. A. Tatum; David Eicher.
Clergymen-S. C. Olds; L. R. Fitch.
Station Agent-O. L. Beck.
Assistant Station Agent-A. O. Beck.
Mr. T. R. Stewart, formerly in the land business here, is now with John Porter & Son; C. M. Higley, formerly of Sheldon, is in the Ocheyedan Bank, and Frank Bumgardner is engaged in general farming and stock dealing.
The interests of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern in its track repairs are represented by John Wallace and P. Cramer.
Eustace Manville is also in business here, and the cream- ery is under the management of Peter Jensen. A. V. Ran- dall has a crockery store and Mr. A. Arend has a shoe store. The Zeug Brothers have a building as a work shop and in which is a public hall. Daniel Weaver, though living in the country, is the Ocheyedan jeweler.
The prospect is that Ocheyedan will continue to have a substantial growth and will be a town of some importance.
SIBLEY.
The Sibley townsite is situated on section 13, in East Hol- man township. It was laid out by the land department of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company, in 1872, and sub- sequent additions have been made, which are Chase's addition and East Sibley addition-the first by R. J. Chase and the last by several different parties, among whom are Jacob Brooks, H. S. Brown, Mrs. C. I. Hill, Wilbern Brothers, G. W. Mea- der and others. The first building erected on what is now the townsite was by F. M. Robinson, in the fall of 1871. The town was first named Cleghorn, and afterwards changed to Sibley, named after Gen. H. H. Sibley, of St. Paul. The Robinson building was on the shack order, and in which John L. Robinson, with his son Frank, lived during the winter of 1871 and 1872 ; also, W. H. Rogers put up a store building, and this, with the Robinson building, constituted the town of Sibley that first winter. In the spring of 1872 a fellow by the name of Ward had a small building near Roger's store, and in which he kept a saloon. These buildings, on the start, were on what is Tenth .street, the street where the old Pioneer hotel
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IIISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
building now stands, and this point, then, was expected to be the centre of business, and was, until the fire hereafter men- tioned, when the town formed another location north of that, and where the business part of the town now is. Just before the railroad reached the townsite, D. L. McCausland hauled lumber from Mountain Lake, Minn., and put up a residence on the townsite, and this was the first residence building. Af- ter the road had been built into Sibley, in June, 1872, J. T. Barclay obtained lumber out of the first brought in, and im- mediately put up a residence, which he still occupies with his family. After McCausland got his building up he used it for a boarding house, and J. F. Glover, John Hawxshurst, with many others, were his boarders. The house was two-story, and in the hurry of its erection stairs were neglected, so that cleats were nailed on the studding for steps to get up and down. All who have had experiences as pioneers know how its out-door life, its expectations, and all its ambitious surround- ings, bring health to the cheek and puts one in the best of physical condition ; and the result of it all, an enormous appe- tite. McCausland's boarders became so ravenous, so anxious for their meals, and in such extraordinary quantities, that it kept Mc on the go to keep up with the demand. It is a won- der that it hadn't broke Mc up in business, for no doubt there were some who never missed a meal and who never paid a cent.
The town did not get fairly started until in the summer of 1872, after the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad, now the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, reached the town site, which was June 1, 1872. Soon as the road-bed was in shape for hauling, lumber came in, and the first sales made were by Levi Shell, who then established a lumber yard, and has continued in the business since, and is still here. Quite a number of business houses and residences were erected during that year; also the court house and school house. The Sibley Hotel was also built that year, and in the Sibley Hotel barn, then just completed, was held the exercises on the Fourth day of July, which was the first celebration had on the town site. L. S. Fawcett, of Sioux City, delivered the oration, and John H. Douglass was captain of the whangdoodles. This day is remembered by the old settlers as a very cold one, making an overcoat quite comfortable. Sibley, in 1872, had the usual air and appearance of Western towns in their first starting. These are generally characterized by a feeling of independ- ence and a freedom to act unrestrained by the settled ways of
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
society and of social and religious organizations. It took the balance of that year (1872) for the men to get squared around with buildings for business and residences for their families. In 1873 the substantial conditions of society pre- vailed in Sibley and the usual town societies came into exist- ence. In March, 1873, the town was out of coal owing to the snow blockade, and people burned what they could get hold of until the blockade was lifted. E. L. Kinney, who died March 2, 1875, was the first landlord at the Sibley Hotel, and he is remembered by old settlers not only as a first-class land- lord, but as one of the best of men.
The I. O. O. F. lodge was started in May, 1873, and among its first officers were: W. W. Cram, treasurer; J. T. Barclay, R. S. N. G., and J. H. Douglass, R. S. S.
In June of that year there was considerable rain, and the mud was so deep that lumber was rafted down the Otter to build bridges at Doon.
Some of the business men at Sibley then who are still here are Brown & Chambers, Robert Richardson. P. A. Cajacob, D. L. McCausland, J. T. Barclay, J. F. Glover, W. C. Grant, H. L. Emmert, Levi Shell, S. H. Westcott, David Littlechild, S. S. Parker, C. M. Mandeville, George Carew, W. R. Law- rence, Augustus O'Neill, A. W. Mitchell, W. J. Miller, J. P. Hawxshurst.
In May, 1873, David Littlechild purchased a photograph gallery, and in his announcement said to the ladies: "Come and secure the shadow ere the substance fades." This was in the days of Dave's youth and modesty, when he was con- tent with the shadow, but since then, in his increasing years of bachelorhood, he has been looking for the substance.
David Littlechild was also in the livery business in 1872. This business required considerable driving, and Dave was more than once out in a blizzard when his life was in danger. In driving once from Spirit Lake to Sibley, a fearful snow storm overtook him; the weather was extremely cold, and he was unable to tell exactly where he was or where he could find shelter. Fortunately, he was near the house of D. H. Boyd, near Ocheyedan, and saw it in a lull of the storm, and remained there until the blizzard was over.
A. W. Mitchell established the first genuine furniture store, J. A. Cole was about the first druggist, and L. Garner about the first harness shop.
The substantial lawyers, at that time, were J. T. Barclay, Hugh Jordan. J. F. Glover and R. J. Chase. Mr. Barclay
") . INVIN,
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C. W. BENSON.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
retired from the practice several years ago for other business interests. Hugh Jordan died in 1887, and R. J. Chase moved to Sioux City in November, 1874, where he is still in practice. Mr. Chase purchased eighty acres on the north side of Sibley, and laid out an addition, which now is well settled with fine residences. The writer knew Hugh Jordan well, and was interested with him in several litigated cases. He was a good lawyer, a prince of good fellows, a good citizen, and indulgent to his family and kind to all. D. D. McCallum studied law with Mr. Jordan, and was admitted in 1878.
Wilbern Brothers were first in the agricultural implement business, and in the spring of 1873 retired from that, and opened a general store.
In 1873, Robert Richardson had a meat market, and P. A. Cajacob also opened up in the same business in the spring. Mr. Richardson started in 1872.
July 4th of that year, 1873, the people of Sibley had a celebration, which was largely attended. C. I. Hill was president of the day; L. G. Ireland, marshal. Mr. Jordan read the Declaration, and J. F. Glover delivered the oration. Porter P. Peck and C. I. Hill were on the finance commit- tee, and, having realized quite an amount on paper, they ex- pended considerable of their own money, and at last had to foot many of the bills. They came out in an article in the paper afterwards and roasted the delinquents severely. They forgot the old admonition that the time to take up a subscrip- tion is when the coffin is being lowered into the grave, as waiting after the funeral is over is a dangerous chancing of contribution.
Mr. Peck came to Sibley in 1872, and was for a while in business there under the firm name of Wetherell, Peck & Co. He is now a capitalist in Sioux Falls, and is mayor of the city.
In July, 1873, a severe wind storm swept over Sibley, scattering lumber, blowing down a few barns, and carrying away the store signs.
Charles Armbright was Sibley's first barber, and he was also at that time leader of the Sibley band.
A military company, called the Osceola County Guards, was organized in 1873, with Robert Stamm orderly.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated Decem- ber 18, 1874. The services were conducted by Rev. R. H. Webb, assisted by Rev. John Webb. There was an indebt- edness of $400, and this was raised at the dedication. The Congregational Church was dedicated November 29, IS74, the services conducted by W. L. Colman.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
July 4, 1874, was also celebrated. The president of the day was C. I. Hill, H. Jordan delivered the oration, J. F. Glo- ver read the Declaration, and C. M. Bailey was marshal.
On the 7th day of November, 1873, Sibley was visited by fire. It started in the rear of Barber & Lawrence's drug store, and the cause of it was either from a stove in the back part of the building or by an incendiary. The losses, as then estimated, were : Barber & Lawrence, $900 ; A. H. Clark, groceries, $600 ; H. C. Kellogg, store, $1,200 ; Kelley & Wal- rath, dry goods, $1,244 ; J. A. Cole, drugs, $2,000 ; Wilbern Bros.', stock, $1,100. This fire was a hard blow on Sibley then, but most of the losers soon rebuilt and were soon in business again.
C. L. Davidson, one of the prominent men of the North- west, who was an early settler in Sibley, now resides in Sioux County. W. L. Parker established himself in the drug busi- ness at Sibley in 1874. D. L. Riley, now at Iowa Falls, put in a grain warehouse in IS72; also a lumber yard with W. C. Grant. D. M. Shuck was also in the lumber business.
Sibley was incorporated as a town in the spring of 1876. Its first officers were :
Mayor-D. L. Riley.
Trustees-C. L. Norton, C. E. Brown, D. Cramer, H. S. Brown, H. L. Emmert.
Recorder-George S. Murphy.
The first banking house was started by H. L. Emmert and C. I. Hill in 1873. Mr. Hill retired in 1874.
C. I. Hill was one of the early settlers in Sibley, and died a few years ago. He was a man of sterling integrity, of much public spirit, and he was a man much missed by the people of Sibley when he died. His widow still resides here.
Rev. W. W. Mallory, a Methodist preacher, here in the seventies, was a man of strong, vigorous expression, yet of sincere convictions and an upright life.
On the 21st day of December, IS7S, John L. Robinson celebrated his golden wedding. Mr. Robinson and his wife are still living at Sibley.
Dr. J. M. Jenkins was Sibley's first physician, in 1871, though Dr. Gurney, holding down a claim near here, was also in practice. Dr. Churchill was also here in IS71, and Dr. Mellin in 1872.
The Sibley Gazette was started in July, 1872, by L. A. Barker. In May, 1873, he sold to Riley & Brown, who a few months after sold to E. H. Craig and John F. Glover. Mr.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
John Hawxshurst then succeeded Mr. Craig, and with Mr. Glover published the paper. Mr. Glover then retired, and Mr. Hawxshurst was sole proprietor. It was then Edwards & Reed, then Reed & Glover, then Glover, then Glover & Hawxshurst, then George Carew. Afterwards it was Perkins & Foster; then the paper returned to Mr. Carew again, who retained its ownership until in I891, when the paper was sold to Ward & Co., who in turn sold to the Gazette Publishing Company, who are its present proprietors, under the manage- ment of J. A. Flower. It is the first paper published in the county, and is Republican in politics.
In 1878, Sibley had seventy scholars in its school-forty- four in the higher department and sixteen in the primary.
The Sibley Tribune was started by Charles E. Crossly; then Dennis bought in, and in 1884 W. P. Webster bought Crossly out. In November, 1890, G. L. Caswell purchased Dennis' interest, so that the present proprietors and publishers are W. P. Webster and G. L. Caswell, under the firm name of Webster & Caswell. It is a six column quarto, and is a Democratic paper, but not extremely partizan.
There is also published the Sibley Saber, representing the order of Sons of Veterans. A. W. McCallum is editor-in- chief, and George A. Romey, general manager.
The history of Sibley would be incomplete without a mention of Hon. Stephen Miller, ex-governor of Minnesota and who was, when Sibley started, representing the land de- partment of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company, and had personal control of the townsites along the line of the road in northwest Iowa. He was an intellectual, honest, no- ble man. His occasional visits to the different towns always found the old settlers ready to greet him warmly, and he was highly respected by all, and died in ISSo. He is buried at Worthington, Minn. It would also be incomplete without a mention of Gen. J. W. Bishop, who was then manager of the above named railroad and for whom any fulsome praise is un- necessary, as his standing, his character, and his business in- tegrity, are too well known and too well remembered by all of us of the early days. The business men of Sibley, early in the seventies, had a hard time of it, as well as did the home- steaders. The settlers were poor, generally so by reason of being poor when they came here, and then by grasshoppers suffered a failure of crops afterwards. It was hard to refuse them credit altogether, and a great many were carrried along on book account, expecting each year to realize a harvest.
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-CHI.
KER D. DUNLOP.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY. IOWA.
Those of the settlers who staid here were, after a while, able to meet their obligations, while others got out of the country in the darkness of night, driven to desperation in their condi- tion of poverty and debt, and.of course the business men of Sibley in all such cases were losers. Others went away in broad daylight, after informing their creditors of their ina- bility to pay, and making promises for the future. Many of these, as the years went by and the debt became ancient, were after a while indifferent, and, even with the best of intentions originally, never paid. The merchants, of course, were the losers.
Sibley in its present condition is a town of about fifteen hundred inhabitants. It is the abode of considerable wealth, is a very fine business point, and of high social character. It has the best of educational facilities, is a peaceable town, has very fine residences and commanding brick business houses.
Of its banks, are the First National, capital $50,000 ; C. E. Brown, president ; H. L. Emmert, cashier ; directors, L. Shell, R. S. Hall, N. Boor, C. E. Brown, H. L. Emmert.
There is also the Northwestern State Bank. It has a capital of $75,000, and its last quarterly statement shows cash deposits amounting to $264,695.62. J. W. Orde is president, E. Baker, vice-president, L. Dawn, cashier.
10WA LAND COMPANY (LIMITED. )
This company was organized early in the eighties, prin- cipally by the Close Bros., who several years ago left the county and ceased to operate in Northwest Iowa. Its busi- ress here is now managed by C. W. Benson and Ker. D. Dunlop, both of whom are men of the highest business integ- rity and gentlemen in every sense of the word. This con- pany, without question, has advanced the business interests of the town and the settlement of the county. They have opened up farms, brought settlers in, and given opportunities to men without means to work and raise crops and become land own- ers themselves. During their business career here they have foreclosed only one mortgage, and this was for the purpose of settling title, in which the mortgagee himself had an interest. They have erected substantial brick buildings in the town, and their investments here have been a benefit to all as well as profitable to themselves. They control a large number of acres of land, both improved and unimproved. John H. Doug- las is connected with this land company in certain departments of its business.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
J. T. BARCLAY.
This gentleman, formerly a lawyer, now is principally engaged in real estate. He issues each month a land journal, and in his August number says : "The town is well supplied with business houses, newspapers, flouring mills and elevators, and is now eager to secure manufactories of all kinds. Such a growing town, in the midst of an elegant farming country. is bound to make land and farms near it very valuable in a short time." Mr. Barclay handles land principally with his own capital, buys and sells, and his continued operations through grasshopper times, and up to the present, have helped largely the settlement of the county. We quote somewhat from his land journal as to other business interests in Sibley.
M. M. TRAINER
is Sibley's efficient and popular dentist. Mr. Trainer thor- oughly understands his business, and is among the most prominent dentists in the Northwest.
T. II. DRAVIS,
the "Square-Dealing Clothier," has one of the finest stocks of exclusive clothing and gent's furnishing goods to be found in the West.
WILLIAM COTTRILL
is one of Sibley's most extensive harness dealers.
J. W. KAYE
is an efficient and accurate abstracter, and whose office is with Lawyer O. J. Clark.
C. A. SANDERS
is the popular caterer in the City Bakery and Restaurant, on the south side of Ninth Street.
LEONARD & CARMICHAEL,
dealers in lumber, wood and coal, are one of the largest firms in this line in the Northwest.
D. L. M'CAUSLAND
is in the insurance and loan business, and, as will be noticed elsewhere, is one of the first settlers and was first County Recorder.
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HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA.
JOE GATES,
the boot and shoe man, is located just west of the post-office.
G. F. BRAND
conducts what he calls the "Palace Grocery" in the Lansing & Brown building.
JOIIN DE BOOS
is proprietor of the Third Avenue hardware store.
HEIM, THE PHOTOIST,
has the only photograph gallery in Sibley.
J. C. BRICKNER
is a popular grocer, and does a good trade. His picture will be found on another page.
WILLIAM RIDDLEBARGER
is proprietor of the Bargain Store.
MRS. KNIGHT
conducts a fashionable millinery store through her assistant here, Mrs. Evans.
J. B. CAJACOB
conducts the harness shop on the west end of Ninth street.
A. BUCHMAN & SON
are proprietors of a grocery store on Third avenue.
V. B. GUTHRIE
has a very fine barber shop under the Northwestern State Bank. He is assisted by M. L. Workheiser.
ARMIN & SHELL
have an extensive lumber yard. Mr. Shell was on the ground, as elsewhere stated, in 1872.
J. WEBBER
is proprietor of Central meat market.
LAMME & M'KENNA.
These young men are successors of Grant & Milner. They handle agricultural implements.
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