USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1 > Part 28
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The members of this church first worshiped in the schoolhouse standing at that time, but in the fall of 1867 purchased another schoolhouse and converted it into a church by making improvements that cost about $600. The present church building is a commodious structure and answers the present purposes of the congregation.
ST. MARK'S CHURCH.
St. Mark's Episcopal church is not in the flourishing condition that it was earlier in its history. In fact, there has been no resident pastor in the parish for several years past and the membership has dwindled to almost nothing. The church was organized February 14, 1871, although Episcopal services had
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been held the year previous by the Rev. W. T. Currie of Newton. The first parish meeting was held in the office of T. J. Holmes, on Easter Monday, 1871. On the 27th of August of the same year Bishop H. W. Lee made his first visit to the parish and confirmed twelve persons. On May 5, 1872, Rev. W. T. Currie retired from this pulpit and in the following September he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Samuel Currie, who remained two years. In 1877 Rev. F. E. Judd became rector and during his pastorate the present church edifice was erected in 1878, at a cost of about $5,000. He was highly esteemed by all denominations.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist church of Brooklyn was organized September 24, 1859, by Morris S. Miller and wife, Antoine Shultner and wife, R. S. Miles and wife, J. C. Miles and wife, and G. D. Ross and wife. The officiating pastor was J. C. Miles. Services were held in a schoolhouse just south of town. In 1873 a church building was erected at a cost of $2,000. The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Miles, who was followed by Rev. Mitchell and a number of others.
CITY HALL.
The rapid pace attained by most of Iowa's municipal governments in reach- ing out for betterments, has not been overlooked by those in authority here, as can be shown by the handsome building erected in 1911 for city purposes. This is the city hall and cost about $7,500. The structure is a brick one-buff pressed brick for the front-and two stories in height. The ground floor is devoted to the fire company's paraphernalia, which consists of a steam engine, a chemical engine, two hose carts and 1,000 feet of serviceable hose. The second is set apart for the mayor's office, council chamber and firemen's hall.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department is a volunteer organization, composed of twenty mem- bers, whose numbers are greatly augmented by the loyal citizens of the town in cases of emergency. Recently, no call has been made necessary, but the town has been visited at times by disastrous conflagrations, that called for the help of every able-bodied man in the community. The city sustained its greatest losses in this regard in May, 1875, September, 1886, and July, 1894.
CITY WATER WORKS.
Early in 1894 the residents outside the business section of the city began to clamor for better and adequate protection from fire. Hence, at a meeting of council in January of that year the decision was reached to put the question of bonding the city for $8,000 for waterworks purposes, to the qualified voters concerned and, at the election held, the measure carried by a three-to-one vote. The bonds, payable in twenty years, found a ready market, at a comparatively low rate of interest.
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For the water supply, wells were driven, and the first one gave a sufficient quantity at a depth of 215 feet. Under the direct supervision of members of the council a place was located on the rear of the Methodist parsonage lot, where they found the highest point in the city. Here the water tower and tank were planted, the former built of masonry, twenty feet in diameter, and sixty- five feet in height, and the latter twenty-four feet in height, with a capacity of 1,400 barrels of water. This utilty cost $3,000. The mains, of sizes 8, 6 and 4 inches, were laid from time to time, until now there are about four miles of them. There are twenty-one fire hydrants and the pressure is ample.
In 1911 another well was drilled to a depth of 203 feet, having an eight- inch bore all the way down and cased to the bottom. The water is excellent in quality and taste and the analysis shows it to be practically free from deleterious substances. As a matter of fact, the city has been free from typhoidal maladies since the waterworks system was inaugurated. The power house is a sub- stantial structure of brick, and shelters cylinder pumps, furnaces and boilers, that do the work required of them. The total cost of this excellent plant was about $10,000 and the taxpayers of Brooklyn are well assured the money was well and profitably invested.
GAS WORKS.
The streets, business houses, residences and public buildings of Brooklyn are lighted by gas, made from gasolene. The manufactory was built in 1903 by the Brooklyn Lighting & Heating Company, a corporation made up largely of residents of the place. The power plant is in the waterworks building. The plant is proving a profitable investment. It has in the street service fifty-two lamps, with incandescent burners attached. There are now extended over the city about five miles of mains and the service, both public and private, meets the approval of all.
POPULATION, SIDEWALKS, ETC.
The census of 1890 gave Brooklyn a population of 1,203, but in the suc- ceeding decade the place seems to have retrograded in the effort it may have put forth to add to its list of voters and taxpayers, for the record of 1900 shows the population had decreased to 1,188. In the past ten years the place has shown its ability to "come back," and that is about all. The census of 1910 indicates that there are now in Brooklyn 1,233 souls, or thirty more than in 1890.
The city has not as yet attained that degree of opulence which admits of street paving and sewerage, but the citizens have the improvement spirit and the inclination to keep in step with their neighbors. One can therefore conclude that it is but a question of a very short time until Brooklyn will increase her sanitary advantages by the building of sewers and laying of pavements. In so far as sidewalks are concerned the city lays claim to at least eight miles of splendidly constructed cement walks, which are being increased constantly.
STREET SCENE, BROOKLYN
CHENEY YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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BEAUTIFUL OPERA HOUSE.
One of the most modern and and handsome places of amusement was built in this city in 1910. The Brooklyn opera house is classically artistic in its modest design. The material used for the front of the structure is a terra cotta brown mottled brick, with Bedford stone trimmings. The dimensions are 40 x 90 feet. Stage, 22 x 24 x 30. There are four dressing rooms in the base- ment. To the right of the entresol, reached by a flight of eight stone steps, is a ladies' "rest room," and on the left-hand side of the entrance is an office room. The seating capacity of the house is 435, including the balcony. This structure was built by a stock company composed of citizens, and cost $12,000.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
About the year 1872 D. R. Sterling and B. M. Talbott associated themselves into a private banking company, taking the firm name of Sterling & Talbott. The business was conducted as a private enterprise until 1885, when a charter was secured and the First National Bank established, with a capital of $50,000. The charter members were T. J. Holmes, W. T. Holmes, William Manatt and others. T. J. Holmes was selected as president ; W. T. Holmes, vice president ; B. M. Talbott, cashier; and N. H. Wright, assistant cashier. The present offi- cials of this institution are: President, B. M. Talbott; vice president, A. B. Talbott; cashier, N. H. Wright; assistant cashier, E. H. Talbott. Loans and discounts, $410,339; capital and“surplus, $80,000; deposits, $418,220.
The First National was installed in a handsome new home in 1908. The building stands on the site of the old one and is constructed of buff pressed brick, with beautiful granite columns at the main entrance. The interior make- up is all that could be desired for the purpose. The finest steel-lined vault in the county makes for security of funds and valuables. The cost of the building was $16,000.
POWESHIEK COUNTY SAVINGS BANK.
This strong financial concern was established in 1904, with a capital stock of $40,000 and a charter membership of twenty-five substantial citizens of the town and township. The first officials were: O. F. Dorrance, president; Albert Davidson, vice president; T. E. Roderick, cashier. The present officers are : Presient, J. F. Hatcher; vice president, Albert Davidson; cashier, Will G. Pierson; assistant cashier, E. W. Jones. Capital and surplus, $48,000; deposits, $150,000.
FRATERNAL ORDERS.
Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 174, was organized in June, 1864, and received its charter on the same month in 1865. The charter members were Robert Davidson, William H. McQueen, John M. Talbott, Robert C. Shimer, James E. Johnson, Thomas Rainsburg, Silas Melvin, Simon Snyder, John Conaway, Caleb Plummer, Matthew Chambers, Jefferson Stephens, J. M. Meserve, Rev. E. Happy, S. S. Moore, William Walters. The first seven in
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this list were the initial officers. The present officials are as follows: W. M., F. H. Howard; S. W., F. P. Shrader ; J. W., F. F. Thompson; Treas., E. H. Talbott ; Sec., J. A. Thompson.
This lodge is prosperous to a more than ordinary degree. It is intrenched in a substantial and attractive building, erected by the lodge, at a cost of $7,000, from which a gratifying revenue is secured. The membership is a large one.
Brooklyn Lodge, No. 114, 1. O. O. F., was established February 3, 1853, and the charter members were George Miller, L. S. Shields, W. S. Guffy, D. G. Ensor and James Motherell. The first officials were: N. G., George Miller ; V. N. G., D. S. Ensor; Treas., Thomas Farquhar; Sec., Robert Talbott. The present chief officials are: N. G., C. E. Waldorf; V. N. G., C. N. Eastman ; Rec. Sec., I. J. Ormiston ; Fin. Sec., J. W. Silcott; Treas., Ira A. Thompson.
Brooklyn Encampment, No. 36, I. O. O. F., was founded, December 21, 1867. The charter members were: John M. Talbott, Silas Reynolds, James Conger, Michael Nebel, Darby Ensor, D. W. Stallsmith, Charles W. Harris.
Deborah Lodge of Rebekah, No. 202, was organized in 1894 with forty- eight charter members, and is a strong and helpful auxiliary to the parent body. In the canton there are thirty-five members.
The fraternal order of Odd Fellows is one of the most prosperous in this section of Iowa. In 1894 Brooklyn lodge erected on the main business street a temple that would do credit, from an architectural point of view, to a city of much greater pretensions. The structure is two stories in height, 48 x 90 and the front is faced with pressed brick of a light color, with trimmings of Bedford stone. The main hall is very spacious. Off from this are the parlors, banquet room and kitchen. The cost of the building was $9,000. Value of property, $12,000.
"A PERFECT CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN."
This was said of Thomas J. Holmes, of Brooklyn, by George H. McMurray, a discriminating gentleman who knew him in business there.
Mr. Holmes went west from Iowa City when the Mississippi & Missouri rail- road passed beyond there to Homestead. At that place he was the first to buy grain and sell lumber, and often slept out at night with thousands of dollars about him while the Indians were near. (They were of Poweshiek's tribe). He moved on to Marengo with the railroad, and sold lumber for French & Davies, of Davenport. When the Civil war began, business was very dull. They gave up the business, gave him the lumber on hand, and the accounts that were deemed worthless.
Mr. Holmes was seriously embarrassed, expenses were unusually heavy, and the future seemed crushingly dark. At the next meal he attempted to ask his accustomed blessing but broke down. His wife, worthy of him, completed the "grace," and said: "Never mind, Thomas. It is always darkest just before day." The very next day Mr. Kimball, the superintendent of the railroad, met him. "What are you doing these days?" said he.
Mr. Holmes opened his heart to him, as he was the very soul of frankness. Mr. Kimball replied: "We are to work west. There will be fine openings for business. We shall put in a station at Brooklyn, perhaps a division. The out-
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come was business in Brooklyn, French & Davies furnished the lumber, Kin- ball did the freighting, all payable when Mr. Holmes could do it.
His "day" had dawned. Plenty was assured and means generously to aid the needy. He left the reputation given at the head of this article. Children loved him, men honored him, and his was the life of the just.
RECOLLECTIONS OF MY EARLY TRIP THROUGH IOWA INTO POWESHIEK COUNTY AND LOCATION AT WHAT IS NOW BROOKLYN, AND OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THAT COUNTY.
By Dr. R. E. Sears, January, 1895.
In the summer of 1854 I resided in Lee county, at the head of the Lower Rapids. There I met a Mr. Johnson, who was the Iowa agent of the Deere Plow Company and had traveled over much of the state in the interests of that company. I had known him for many years and had confidence in his integrity and judgment. As I desired to locate at some point in the state that promised well for future development, I consulted him as to different localities. He told me that the Mississippi & Missouri railroad had been definitely located from Dav- enport through Iowa City, Marengo and up Big and Little Bear creeks, past Grinnell to Des Moines, and that Snook's Grove was a promising locality. I think that road was graded as far as Iowa City, and it was expected that the track would be laid that far within a year and the grading would be done and the road finished the next year as far as Grinnell. He felt sure a fine town would spring up near Snook's Grove, or Talbott's Grove, as some called it.
The day after I graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, I took the first passenger train that ever crossed the state of Illinois, it being the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific train, and consequently, my mind was directed to that line as probably the first to be built into Iowa. This road, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, absorbed the Mississippi & Missouri railroad and was the first built into the state, but not as far as Talbott's Grove for nine years thereafter. I de- sired to see that country for myself, and so with my horse and buggy, I took a friend with me and drove through central Iowa to that section. We drove through Primrose, Birmingham, Agency City, Dahlonega, Oskaloosa and Union Mills to Montezuma, the county seat of Poweshiek county, where I dropped my friend, at his request, among his acquaintances, the McVeys. They were just building the old courthouse, a familiar structure to the early settlers of the county. It was not very imposing in appearance but answered every purpose at that day. There was a little store and in it a stock of goods, kept by Mr. Kil- burn. At the little hamlet of Dahlonega we overtook the indomitable F. A. Kilburn, on his way from Keokuk (the source of supply for all that country at that day ) to his new home at Montezuma, with a team of six heavy horses hitched before an immense emigrant, or rather freight, wagon, with broad, heavy wheels and wide tires, and heavy canvas cover. The wagon was filled with goods of every sort, adapted to the needs of that new settlement. What a load that wagon carried and such a variety of all kinds of necessities for the people! I stayed there over night and the next day, before noon Mr. Kilburn
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drove into town. Oh, such an excitement and such a rush to meet him and see the sights and hear the news as he drove up to that little store, with his six- horse team. Old and young, men, women and children, turned out to greet him and gaze upon the wondrous stores unloaded from that huge monster and listen to the latest news! The whole population, full of enthusiasm, was out. No special train today could cause the general excitement that was created by the arrival of that six-horse team and wagon. On every side one could hear the remark that in a few months Montezuma would be a flourishing railroad station on the Mississippi & Missouri railroad. Certainly, in another year, the main line o1 that road would be pushed through Montezuma to Grinnell. The people insisted I should stop at their town and thought I was wild to insist upon going to Snook's Grove, or Bear Creek, as they called it, now Brooklyn.
I felt sure, however, that Mr. Johnson had not misinformed me as to the future of that section, and so I started for the tavern of our old, patriarchal, pioneer uncle, Robert Manatt, or "Uncle Bobbie," as he was familiarly called, which I reached about sundown, having met with quite an adventure on my way. The road was not much traveled and fire in the grass was running before a brisk south wind like a race horse. I soon found myself between two prairie fires which were rapidly approaching me. Having a supply of matches with me, I started a fire on the north side of the road, and before the other fire reached me was on a burned spot of ground. Although the heat and smoke of the approaching fire nearly stifled me, I was safe and in an hour could proceed on my way safely. Uncle Robert Manatt kept the only recognized "inn" there, having a good house and barns and lots of grain and hay, and a real sign on a post near the road. Old "Mother" Talbott lived near the grove and also had another stopping place for travelers. In fact, nearly every house was open to the traveling public, and whenever night overtook them they were welcome to meal, lodging and provender for their teams, always provided they paid for it.
There was another log house in the edge of the timber, not far from where the state road crossed Little Bear creek. This was occupied by Henry Broad- books, a nice, clever, German carpenter, who was married to a stunning, red headed Yankee wife, who often remarked that she "was the making of Broad- books." She was a nice housekeeper and one of the best cooks met with in any country. During the winter that followed, our sojourn in this new land was made endurable by her generous hospitality, and our mouth would water in an- ticipation of what was coming after an invitation to take dinner with her the next Sunday.
A little farther east was Robert Manatt, Jr., and still farther on was Willie Scott, "Uncle Bobbie's" son-in-law. Then came John Manatt's place, then "Uncle" John Gwin and beyond, his son, Sampson Gwin. These were all good farmers and had good houses and barns, built largely from revenue from the trav- eling public. Just north of "Uncle Bobbie" was his son-in-law, John Talbott, then county judge, and a real good man. Across the creek was Thomas Faulker, a son-in-law of Mr. Talbott. Robert Talbott lived on the south side of Little Bear creek, while Joshua was still single and lived with his mother and managed the farm and ran the sawmill owned by them on Big Bear creek.
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Snook's Grove at that time was a magnificent body of timber, filled with game of all kinds-deer, turkeys, pheasants, squirrels and quail, while prairie chickens could be found by the hundreds of thousands.
West of Manatt's was his son, William, and still beyond, the home of Dr. Edward Barton, and still farther west was "Uncle Jimmy" Gwin. Five miles west was the farm house of Dr. Barton, kept by James Flock and his wife, principally by the latter. About three miles still farther west lived Lewis Zinck, a son-in-law of Thomas Motherell, who lived north on Big Bear creek. West beyond Zinck on the old state road to Westfield, and also on the new road to Grinnell (then known as 'the colony') was one unbroken expanse of open prairie, fearful in dark nights and wet weather, and terrific in the storms of winter. From Marengo west to Grinnell and Westfield was a stretch of nearly forty miles. There were few houses besides those mentioned, on this entire stretch of country. All else was an unbroken wilderness, interspersed here and there with a little native grove. Now all this wilderness is changed into a gar- den of the world. Corn waves over thousands of these acres. The cattle can be seen on every hillside. The swine in careless indolence sleep in the green past- ures and feed in the well filled pens in place of wild African, sharp-backed prairie rooters. Fine horses have taken the place of the plugs of pioneer days. Blooded shorthorns and other breeds are now seen in the place of the scrubby stock of those times, while the fat and sleek farmer rides to town in his gay and shining carriage with his well dressed and smiling family, when in early years the old lumber wagon, often drawn by oxen, was the family carriage.
The old and beautiful natural groves, cut out to supply the pioneers with fuel and fences, have given place to beautiful and well ordered artificial groves, in which, or near which, are seen the nice, tidy, well furnished homes of our farmers, with their gardens and orchards and all the luxuries and con- veniences of modern life. Wealth is seen on every side, while abject poverty is scarcely ever known. Prosperity is the rule; adversity the exception. No such land of plenty as Iowa and no better part of Iowa than Poweshiek county. Many now thing that the early settlers lived dreary and monotonous lives. Such was not the case by a long way. I think the early settlers of this section will agree with me in saying that these few years of pioneer life were among their happiest days.
When I first came to this county the firm of Guffy & Sedgwick had a little store in a part of William Manatt's house. In a few months they quit the store, and Sedgwick returned to Moline, leaving Guffy, who was soon elected sheriff of the county. He married the only daughter of Mr. Broadbooks, who moved here from Hudson, Ohio. A good story is told of him by one who knew him there and was present and heard his confession. Broadbooks was a good, hon- est Dutchman, who always aimed to tell the truth. They had a great revival in that place and held an old-fashioned meeting for confession. Among them was an old man we will call Smith. He was rich and aged and was regarded as a leading man, but avaricious and hard in his dealing and did many things of which his Christian brothers did not approve. Mr. Smith and the others made very humble confessions and at last it came Broadbook's time to confess, which he did thus: Rising to his feet, he commenced in his slow and deliberate way,
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"Brothers and sisters, I do not feel as though I had been living for a long time just as I ought to. I have done many things I ought not to have done, and left undone many things I ought to have done. But after all, I don't think I have ever done anything very bad. The worst thing I have ever done is to say hard things about my Christian brothers and sisters. I have said a great many hard things about them, particularly about our old Father Smith, who sits here. I acknowledge I have said a great many, hard, ugly things about him, as well as others." Here he stopped a moment and hesitated, then added, "but after all, I don't know as I ever said anything that was not so," and sat down. It is said his remarks caused a decided sensation. And although lovingly intended, did not increase the melting frame of mind which had before marked the meeting. "Uncle Bobbie" Manatt was a decided character in his way-a decided Presby- terian of the old Scotch-Irish school; a great stickler for other people to live right; a sort of Pharisee as to the outward observance of the law. He was very anxious to have Presbyterian preaching. Finally, an Irish preacher, one Lourie, came along, but he drank too much and was not enough of a stickler for the outward observance of the law and did not stay long. After a while a Welshman, a Mr. Coulson, came among us. He was a good preacher and a kind and tender-hearted Christian and would preach with the tears streaming from his eyes and have all hearts melted. But very unfortunately, he had a taste for liquor and would get "fuddled," if by accident he ran against it. He boarded with "Uncle Bobbie" and got along pretty well until it was observed that the poor old preacher would shave on Sunday morning. (By the way, "Uncle" Manatt was connected with nearly fifty persons by relationship and marriage, and claimed he and his boys could control anything they wished in the settlement.) This was too much for "Uncle Bobbie," with his strict ideas of others' observance of the Sabbath. He stood it for several months till, com- ing in one Sunday morning, a little "riled" by some of his guests, he observed the preacher at his accustomed shaving, against which he had often "filed his objections." This was too much for him to stand and so he commenced: "Mr. Coulson, a pretty Christian ye are! Shaving yourself on a Sunday. Not me nor one of my b'ys would do such a thing as to shave ourselves of a Sunday." This nettled the preacher and he replied, "Mr. Manatt, a pretty example of piety ye are. The devil could not want a better one." With blood in his eye "Uncle Bobbie" replied, "Mr. Coulson, you look here. Me and my b'ys can just break up any church you can start in this grove." "Yes," replied the parson. "You can do it, Mr. Manatt, sure enough and I will tell you how to do it. Just get intil the church and stick intil it, and you will break up any church that can be started here." This ended their friendly relations and a few months after, the poor old preacher got on a "little bender" and left for a more congenial field. Just previous to this occurrence, Braddish Cummings and his son Henry came into the county and settled their families just south of the Grove. They were Con- gregationalists but cordially united in organizing a Presbyterian church. Whether "Uncle Bobbie" and family united with them I do not now remember. How- ever, I think not, as his religious views were not quite so clear on some points, as to make his membership a "sine qua non." Mr. Broadbooks and family also united and some others, whose names I do not now remember. Walker Mayer
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