USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 41
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The present officers of The Economy Hog and Cattle Powder Company are: James J. Doty, president and general manager; J. H. Eischeid, vice president and secretary ; and F. P. Nye, treasurer. These gentlemen have all resided in Shenandoah for the past eighteen years or more.
SHENANDOAH VISITING DAY.
Following the Des Moines plan, the business men of Shenandoah in the spring of 1909, inaugurated a visiting day. A call was issued for Thurs- day afternoon, April 8th, and invitations were extended to the Shenandoah business men to join and the owners and drivers of automobiles were also invited to contribute their time and services for the afternoon. On the af- ternoon designated nineteen automobiles were on hand and one hundred business men. Neat badges bearing the words Factory Day and the date were furnished each one. The meeting place was the Sentinel-Post corner and C. E. Young acted as marshal and chief conductor. He was assisted by E. A. Read and E. R. Ferguson. The procession first visited the Iowa Wagon Works, which was formerly the O'Brien Wagon Works and recently reorganized. Here were found fifty men at work, nearly all skilled me- chanics and more being added every day. This plant is a large one and is turning out first class work. The manager is U. G. Reininger. This in- stitution has good backing and enough goods were already sold in the spring of 1909 to run the year's output up into the hundreds of thousands of dol- lars and new orders were being received daily. This plant is the frontier
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wagon works ; that is, there are no wagon works in the United States west of Shenandoah.
Almost across the street from this plant is the Atlantic Canning Com- pany. At this season of the year this important institution is closed but it is now being thoroughly overhauled, a new cement floor and new machinery of various kinds are being placed in preparation for a big business the com- ing season. The company has rented and will operate two hundred acres of corn of their own, besides hundreds of acres they are contracting from the farmers. In addition to canning corn preparations are being made for the canning of pumpkins and peaches. This concern is the former Mentzer Canning Company.
The Clarinda Poultry, Butter & Egg Company has a large branch at this place in charge of Jesse Curnutt. This is one of the many branches of this great concern.
North of the packing plant is the People's Gas Works. This is probably the largest gas works in any town the size of Shenandoah in the state of Iowa, and has the capacity of serving a town twice its size. The plant is the U. G. I. pattern and the gas produced is what is known as water gas of the Lowe system.
Not far distant is the Swanson Manufacturing Company, which has made an enviable reputation for itself and for Shenandoah in farming im- plements. It produces the Flying Swede two-row cultivator, standing at the head of all tools of that variety. This year the plant is adding to its output by making the Eclipse elevator dump, the new style hay stacker, the King Cole sulky plow and the new and latest pattern road drag. These tools have all been sold in large quantities and in fact are mostly contracted for before they are manufactured. Herman S. Swanson, president and mana- ger of the institution, is an old and practical man in the business.
In this same section of Shenandoah is located the Replogle Roller Mills. These mills started in a small way but year by year have been developed until the mills are now among the largest in southwestern Iowa. In the spring of 1900 they had on hand in their own bins twenty-five thousand bushels of wheat and ten thousand bushels of corn and in their warehouse twelve thousand sacks of manufactured flour. They have the most com- plete corn meal department that exists in the state, are also enjoying the height of prosperity and are adding new features and extended capacity to their plant each year. Charles Replogle is the manager of this large con- cern.
The Shenandoah Electric Light, Heat & Power Company is an import- ant factor among the manufacturing concerns of Shenandoah. This com- pany has a plant that is one of the most complete and perfect in the state of Iowa. It furnishes power and light to Essex and Farragut and will soon be furnishing a current to Imogene. The investment represents something like one hundred thousand dollars and every one takes pride in exhibiting this plant to all visitors to Shanandoah. This concern is managed by Colonel Masters, a man of large experience, who has demonstrated his ability to do what others have failed to do in making Shenandoah a properly lighted town.
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The plant furnishes continuous current and heat for the business section of the city.
The Young Manufacturing Company is owned by Charles E. Young. This institution is kept busy in meeting its orders for its manufactured prod- uct and, although the factory now occupies three floors, at its present quarters, it is almost impossible to get around in the place comfortably. Mr. Young expects in the near future to build a large addition to the south of the present building. This factory is busy every week in the year and has gained a wide reputation for the manufacture of its exclusive patent two- thumb mittens and gloves. The manufacture of cotton flannel gloves has grown to a wonderful limit and Mr. Young was the pioneer in this work in entering the field. He furnishes nearly all the jobbers in St. Joseph, Kan- sas City and Omaha with their stocks in this line. Max Young. the elder son of Charles Young, is connected with his father in the business.
The affair of the Ratekin Seed House is of immense proportions. The office, where ten thousand dollars in stamps are forwarded each year, is a spectacle to see. A loafer would not last ten minutes in this institution with- out being stepped on and run over. The Ratekins are a success in their business, in which they have been engaged for years and know it from A to Z. They send out catalogues broadcast that are works of art and it is considered that the Ratekin's is one of the biggest seed corn plants in the world. They handle all seed and nursery stock by catalogue exclusively, but their specialty is seed corn, and the name of Ratekin has become famous by reason of the exceptional business methods adopted. The business has outgrown the pres- ent quarters and plans are already prepared to build a new seed corn and garden seed building just east of their present frame structure, which will be a three-story building, entirely fire-proof and costing in the neighborhood of forty thousand dollars.
The Henry Field Seed Company has the most valuable industrial building in Shenandoah. It is mentioned elsewhere in this work, as is also the Rate- kin Seed House. This is probably the most perfect and systematized seed house ever built. It is the outcome of the wonderful fertility of Henry Field's mind and what people used to say "Henry's pipe dreams." The only difference is, Henry saw the "dreams" come true. This plant does a wonder- ful seed-corn business but does not specialize in seed corn. The company does a general seed business and is just entering into the nursery and poultry business as a side line and for summer work. The sales of this plant will aggregate nearly a quarter million dollars per year and the sales this year are already fifty per cent larger than last year and are still growing.
SHENANDOAH NURSERIES.
The Shenandoah Nursery is the pioneer enterprise of the town. It started in 1870 and has kept abreast with the city in its growth and development. It, too, is a world beater,-the largest nursery in the west. D. S. Lake is the man who started it thirty-nine years ago and made it grow. The north pack- ing shed covers an acre of ground and is built of brick. It is fire-proof and
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frost-proof. Mr. Lake has taught his two sons, A. F. and Ralph Lake, the business. They have taken up the responsibilities of the enterprise and are proving themselves to be equal to the occasion. The Lake family has been one of the principal features in the building up of Shenandoah. Its members employ one hundred and fifty people and have two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars in Shenandoah and in the near vicinity and are investing more every year. The visitor is shown building after building, built in most ap- proved fashion, where all of the different things are done to perfect the trees and shrubs for market. This concern can show you goods imported from France and Russia and other foreign countries, but apple seedlings are the Lake hobby and this company supplies the world's market with its apple seedlings. This is an institution of which Shenandoah is very proud and which has never failed to bring returns to its owners.
The Mt. Arbor Nursery is a fit mate to the Shenandoah Nurseries. Its manager, E. S. Welch, used to work as a boy and young man for Mr. Lake. Mr. Welch seems to have been a born nurseryman, too. He has mastered the business. The hot houses, refrigerating plants and shipping departments of this great institution are looked upon in wonder by the laymen. The Mt. Arbor Nurseries have grown to a mammoth concern and employ people by the hundreds and represent hundreds of thousands of dollars. Its products are shipped to all parts of the United States. There is also an ice refrigerat- ing plant in connection with the nursery packing houses, for the storage and preservation of trees through the hot weather. The Mt. Arbor Nurseries are a monumental success and Ed Welch is their owner and master.
A new institution for Shenandoah and one perfect in all its appointments is the Alba Dairy. This is presumed to be the finest and most complete dairy ever constructed in the state. A beautiful building, one that would be fit for a palatial residence and furnished with every conceivable convenience, is the home of this plant. J. Gale Guthrie, the manager, explained to the writer that the fifty odd cows that were there are milked six at a time by one man with a machine, the milk never touching the air, so as to preserve its purity and cleanliness. The pens for the cows are ideal and constructed with the idea of comfort for the cow, and cleanliness. This dairy is making preparations to furnish milk to Council Bluffs and Omaha in large quantities at fancy prices. Also furnishing to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company for its dining car service, certified milk to be used on the line from Lincoln, Nebraska, through to Chicago. The farm on which this dairy is located cost over three hundred dollars per acre, but that is the smallest part of the present investment. This dairy has now become of national repu- tation.
LOOKING FORWARD.
The year nineteen hundred and nine came in with very brilliant prospects for Shenandoah's future growth. In the spring the many contracts com- pleted for new buildings surpassed anything before experienced in the his- tory of this remarkable little city. Among the improvements of that spring
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may be mentioned the Federal building, for which the government adver- tised for bids. The triangular space bounded by Clarinda avenue on the north- east, Thomas avenue on the south and Blossom street on the southeast, had been purchased at a high figure, and this was destined for the new postoffice, for which congress had appropriated fifty thousand dollars. Across the street from this, to the south, preparations are made for the erection of a church edifice by the Methodist domination, the cost of which has been placed at fifty thousand dollars, and the structure when completed will be the most expensive building devoted to church purposes and will have the largest auditorium of any similar building in southwestern Iowa. To the west of this building and on the lot adjoining the Catholics have broken ground for a new place of worship for St. Mary's church, the estimated cost of which is eighteen thousand dollars. Farther west, on the corner op- posite to the public library building the Shenandoah lodge of the Protec- tive and Benevolent Order of Elks, No. 1122, have broken ground for a club house, to cost twenty thousand dollars. This will be one of the handsomest and most complete club houses in this section of the state.
Upon the triangle opposite the government site, to the northeast, the Economy Hog & Cattle Powder Company have made plans to erect a hand- some brick business block, the cost of which is estimated at fifteen thousand dollars. On the other side of the government triangle, facing Blossom street, C. I .. Kline will erect a inodern business block, costing ten thousand dollars.
On the site now occupied by their old building, the Ratekin Seed Com- pany will erect a modern warehouse building. three stories high, constructed of brick and concrete, which will be fire proof and rat proof. The contem- plated plans for this structure mean an expenditure of forty thousand dollars and when completed will be as near perfection as the ingenuity of the architect and builders can make it.
The independent school district of Shenandoah contemplated for the year 1909 another school building for the city, to be erected on a suitable site west of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy tracks, the cost to be approximately ten thousand dollars. This when finished will make five public school build- ings in Shenandoah.
The expenditure of about fifty thousand dollars by the city on paving of the streets for the year 1909 was agreed upon by the city legislature. Under this appropriation it was designed to pave Battle avenue with brick, the south end of Elm street as far north as Thomas avenue with creosoted block, and Maple street from Summit avenue to Thomas avenue, with cre- osoted block.
There were many fine and expensive residences contracted for in 1909. The apartment house idea in Shenandoah seems to be growing and it is forecasted now that at last three new apartment houses with every modern convenience will have been erected by the time this history reaches the public. In the aggregate the contemplated improvements in 1909 in Shenandoah amounted to over three hundred thousand dollars.
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CITY AND VILLAGE PLATS.
Hawleyville was platted May 17, 1855, by James M. Hawley and Henry McAlpin, on the northwest quarter of section 13, township 69, range 36.
Amity, now called College Springs, was platted June 20, 1856, on sec- tions 7. 8, 17 and 18 of township 6;, range 37 upon lands owned by the gov- ernment and entered by a colony.
Clarinda was platted December 7 1857, on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 31, township 69, range 36.
Ribble's Addition to Clarinda, platted by George Ribble, February 23, 1858.
Farrens' Addition to Clarinda, platted August 16, 1870, by H. D. Far- rens.
Frazer's Addition to Clarinda, platted by W. E. Frazer, February 2, 1871.
Ribble's Railroad Addition to Clarinda, platted by George Ribble and David Rennick, December 5. 1872.
Powers' Addition to Clarinda, platted July 16, 1875, by J. H. Powers and Eliza B. Powers.
Powers' Second Addition to Clarinda, platted June 6, 1882, by J. H. Powers.
Van Arsdol's Addition to Clarinda, platted by Isaac Van Arsdol and wife, January 25, 1882.
Johnson's Addition to Clarinda, platted by S. C. Johnson, March 27. 1882.
Moore's Addition to Clarinda, platted December 9, 1882, by N. B. Moore.
Ferris' Addition to Clarinda, platted October 22, 1883, by B. P. Ferris and wife, F. M. Forney and wife and C. F. Klise and wife.
Wilson's Addition to Clarinda, platted February 17, 1886, by D. C. Wil- son and his wife, Abbie Wilson.
Richardson's Addition to the city of Clarinda was platted in 1904 Lots were sold at auction and was the first lot sale of its kind ever held in Cla- rinda.
Orr's Addition to the city of Clarinda was made in 1902 and in 1909 another addition by William Orr was accepted by the city.
Dayton (defunct ) was platted by Abram Halladay and Harry B. Bald- win on the east half of section 1, township 68, range 36, September 30, 1857.
Page City, (now defunct) was platted August 18, 1858, on section 7, of township 68, range 37, by William Pike.
Tarkio (now defunct) was platted August 26, 1859, by Robert Miller, on sections 34 and 35, township 69, range 38. The original entry of this name appears spelled "Tarkee."
Franklin Grove (defunct) was platted April 18, 1860, by Martin Jones, on the northeast quarter of sections 2. 3 and 10. township 70, range 39.
Essex was platted September 15, 1870, by J. N. Dennison, trustee. The same was platted on sections 26 and 27, of township 70, range 39.
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Shenandoah was platted September 15, 1870, by J. N. Dennison, on section 19, township 60, range 39.
Hepburn was platted January 18, 1873, on land owned by David Rennick, located on the southwest quarter of section 20, township 70, range 36.
Braddyville was platted June 1, 1878, on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 30, township 67, range 36, by James Braddy.
Blanchard was platted October 13, 1879, by the Western Improvement Company of Iowa, the same being located on sections 32 and 33, of town- ship 67, range 38.
Bingham was platted by the Western Improvement Company of Iowa, December 12, 1879. It was platted on the southwest quarter of section 36, township oo, range 39.
Coin was platted November 25, 1879, by the Western Improvement Company of Iowa, on section 32, of township 68, range 38.
Morseman was platted March 19, 1880, by J. P. Burrows, on section 17, township 67 range 36.
Crooks was platted May 19, 1880, by I. W. Blanchard, on the south- west quarter of section 29, township 67, range 36.
Northbarro was platted by C. E. Perkins, September 8, 1881, on sec- tion 23, township 67, range 39.
Shambaugh was platted October 29, 1881, on section 36, township 68, range 37, by James and Julia Shambaugh.
Page Centre was platted November 11 1881, by E. S. and Mary Huston. The same is located on the southeast quarter of section 7, township 68, range 37.
Yorktown was platted April 3, 1882, by C. E. Perkins, on section 31, township 60, range 37.
Norwich was platted November 13, 1882, by W. H Dutton and wife, on section 29, township 60, range 38.
PIERCE TOWNSHIP.
Pierce is the northwest corner township of Page county, with Mont- gomery county on the north, Fremont township on the east, Grant township on the south, and Fremont county on the west. It is congressional township 70, range 39, west. Its only town is Essex, situated on sections 26 and 27. It is a magnificent agricultural district, its first settlement being made at Franklin Grove. But little effort was made to improve it until the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy branch of the railway passed through its fair domain in 1870. The only stream worthy of special note is the Nishnabotna river, which courses through the eastern and central part, leaving a very productive and large valley on either side. The only native timber is found at Franklin Grove on the northern line but hardy pioneers have planted thrifty groves, which now tower high and serve as monuments to good sense and culture.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIC.
The first actual settler in Pierce township was made by a man named Dexter Stillman, about 1850. He was a Mormon, who with thousands of
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others would not go to Utah with Brigham Young, on account of polygamy. hence sought for himself a home in what was then a howling wilderness, with Indians and wild beasts on every hand. He did not live many months. however, and his claim was sold to Aaron Kinyon, who with a man named Martin A. Jones, planted what is known as Franklin on sections 2, 3 and 10 of Pierce township. This was in 1860. Nathan Lewis came about 1850 also.
A. C. Gilmore removed from Hawleyville in 1853 and he says at that date the following settlers of Pierce township as best he can recall them are the following .
Lewis Hunt came in 1852. He had five sons and all were in the Union army during the Civil war. He tried to enlist but was rejected. Two sons lost their lives in the service and one was crippled for life. The father later moved to Nebraska.
Doran T. Hunt, a large landholder here at an early day, removed to Nebraska, where he died in 1885. His son-in-law. J. M. Davis, settled on section 5. He later moved to Oregon. He in company with a large null- ber of others came to Page county from Ohio early in the '50s, and were all radical democrats. They were bitterly opposed to going to war and when it was enacted they nearly all sold out for what they could get and moved to Oregon, not wishing to take part in so unholy a thing. Mr. Davis vowed he would never shave or cut his whiskers until a democratic president was . elected and he kept sacred that rash vow until Grover Cleveland was seated. He came all the way across the western plains and on to Washington to take part in the ceremonies, after which he shaved.
Another pioneer was W. C. Goff of section 7.
Aaron Kinyon and John Kerns located on section 11 in 1853. They were of the Ohio band and moved to Oregon.
Joseph Ross also selected a part of section 11 and remained until his death, many years afterward. His wife survived until 1884.
Hamilton Miller came in prior to the rebellion and took land on section 2 but later moved to Oregon.
Asel and George Martin located on a part of section 11. George went to Montgomery county afterward and there died about 1880. His brother Asel died on his farm before the close of the war.
Job Morris came in about 1852, locating on section 22.
Other early comers, of some of whom mention was been made were: Levi and Marion Hunt, Benjamin Kinyon, Martin A. Jones, who opened a general store where A. C. Gilmore lived later.
Pierce township was organized January 20, 1858.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first white man to improve the land of Pierce township was Dexter Stillman, about 1850.
The first birth was probably Frank Stillman, who died when a child. A rough stone slab marks the resting place, bearing the inscription, Frankie Stillnian.
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The first death was in the Stillman family, either the father, Dexter Still- man, or the son, Frankie.
The first marriage in the township was Robert W. Soward and Rhoda Martin in 1858.
Andrew R. Martin and Miss M. I. Tabor were united about the same date.
The first term of school was taught by Miss Emily Ripley in 1856, in a log cabin built by Dexter Stillman. The first schoolhouse proper was built in 1857, at Franklin Grove, on section 3. It was a frame house and the best in Page county for many years. A. C. Gilmore taught the first term in this house. He was paid fifteen dollars per month and had a large school of big scholars, some of whom wore the "loyal blue," from 1861 to 1865.
The deep-seated moral tone of this school district began away back in those early days and has ever been noticeable. The "bad boys" of other schools have never found company here and much of the mean capers of pupils elsewhere has never annoyed this part of Pierce township.
The first religious services held was by the Ohio colony, who were Methodist people. I. C. Hunt was their preacher.
The first brick house in the township, in Page county also, was built by A. C. Gilmore, who burned the brick and erected the same in 1866. It was built on section 3.
A postoffice was established in 1860, known as Franklin Grove. M. A. Jones was postmaster. The office was discontinued about 1878.
ESSEX.
The town site of Essex occupies two hundred and forty acres in sections 26 and 27, township 70, range 39 west of the fifth principal meridian, be- ing in the southeast part of Pierce and the northwestern township of Page county. It is nineteen miles from the Missouri line and twenty-eight miles from Nebraska and is a half mile cast of the Nishnabotna river, usually called the Nishna, the valley of which is regarded by competent judges as being the most fertile region of lowa. The land gently rises to the east, all being subject to cultivation from the water's edge to the highest eleva- tion. The main business part of the town occupies the higher part of what is called the bottom and the school building and a portion of the residences occupy an elevation from which the beautiful valley can be overlooked for eighteen or twenty miles, presenting in the spring and summer as mag- nificent an agricultural scene as the eye of man ever gazed upon.
Essex is reached by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, being situated upon the Nebraska City branch running from Red Oak to Lin- coln, and owing to the almost perfectly level road bed, doing a very large part of the freight business of this greatest of railroad systems traversing Iowa. The railroad runs within a few rods of the business center of the town. The nearest towns are Shenandoah, eight miles by wagon road southwest, Imogene, eight miles northwest and Red Oak, fourteen miles north. On the east and southeast are no towns nearer than Clarinda and
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