USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > Part 22
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This is an excellent part of Sac county, and today is well settled, well cultivated and possesses hundreds of beautiful and valuable farm homes.
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Nature has done much for this portion of the county and man has aided the work of nature to a goodly degree, until here one finds numerous prosperous homes, with schools and churches on almost every hand. The County Home, where the county's unfortunate poor are cared for, is within this township. on section 14. An account of this is found in the chapter on County Govern- ment. In 1905 the state census report for lowa gave Boyer Valley town- ship a population of six hundred and eighty, exclusive of the town of Early. and the town was given at five hundred and fifty-three, making a total of one thousand two hundred and thirty-three. Of this number only one hundred and twenty-three were of foreign birth.
The federal census in 1910 gave it as one thousand one hundred and seventy-three, including Early, with a single population of five hundred.
TOWN OF EARLY.
Early is the only town within Boyer Valley township. It is situated in sections 3, 4 and 9 in the northern part of the township. It is a very enter- prising station point on the Chicago & Northwestern railway, nine miles from the county seat and about the same southeast from Schaller. It was platted by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company, October 4, 1882. Its present population is not far from six hundred. It has a Catholic, Methodist Episco- pal and a Presbyterian church (see Church chapter). Its secret societies are the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. It has electric lights, a fine water works system, owned by the municipality ; a live local newspaper. the Nezes, and two banking institutions.
The town was incorporated in November, 1900; its mayors have in- cluded the first elected magistrate of the little municipality, E. A. North, suc- ceeded by J. F. DeGarmore, E. A. North and the present mayor. J. W. Hart- sell. The present (1914) officers are: Mayor, J. W. Hartsell; recorder, C. F. Jackson; treasurer. W. W. Little; marshal, George Bedell: councilmen, F. J. Green, D. D. Carlton, George W. Wadsley. Fred Dahm and J. B. Prentice.
A system of water works was installed in 1895 under bonds issued for three thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 1913 the first electric lights were turned on, to the entire satisfaction of all citizens, who had been displeased with the former coal gas plant and its poor lighting system. The electric plant, also owned by the town of Early. is run in connection with the water plant, which is also among the appreciated things of modern Early, as it
PROVO ST POINT MALL LAKE IA
SCENE AT LAKEWOOD PARK WALL LAKE, IA. 18
WALL LAKE VIEWS
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derives its supply of the purest water from deep wells, giving forth a never- failing supply. A volunteer fire company is always on hand when a fire occurs, and does excellent service. Another feature of the town is its neat public park, a block in extent, which was donated to the public for perpetual park purposes by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company when they platted the town. Its trees and other improvements are fully up to the small-town standard. The one thing needed in the place is a new, modern and larger public school building, which question is soon to be agitated and it will cer- tainly be erected ere long. The town is accommodated with two 'phone sys- tems, the J. M. Kelly lines and the Farmer's Telephone Company.
The postoffice dates back to the year the town was platted and has had postmasters as follows, and in the order here given: Eli Haredon, who kept the office in Hunt's drug store; Joseph Cory, under President Cleveland's administration ; W. H. Allen, under President Harrison's administration; Joseph Cory, again under Cleveland's second term; A. P. Mennis, who held the position eleven years and was succeeded in 1908 by the present incumbent, Ed. Foster, who was commissioned by President Roosevelt. It is a third class postoffice, with three free rural delivery routes, making a total of seventy-eight miles traversed each day by the three carriers, the longest route being a little less than twenty-seven miles. The savings deposits have never quite reached the five-hundred-dollar mark.
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF EARLY.
According to the memory of pioneer A. Mason, the first hotel in Early was known as the "Engler House," built and conducted by John Engler. The same hotel still serves the public and is known as the Early House.
The pioneer lumber dealer was the manager for the Green Bay Lumber Company, which concern still has a large yard in the place.
Morenis Brothers bought the first grain here and built an elevator for the handling of the same.
The first general store was that of Thurman & Barrett, which in more recent years was known as the firm of Barrett & Carlton.
The first hardware store was that conducted by Roswell Allen.
The pioneer "village blacksmith"-all honor to his memory-was T. Timme.
The first banking was carried on as a sort of "exchange" affair in the first general merchandising store, but the first bank, proper, was known as the (15)
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Early State Bank, with S. K. Fuller, president, and A. Mason, vice-president. This was established in 1888.
The first school house was erected in 1883, and the first teacher was Professor Robinson, of Indiana, who taught in the winter of 1883-4 and con- tinued two or three years longer.
In the month of January. 1914. the business of the town was in the hands of the following persons :
Auctioneer-F. J. Green.
Agricultural Implements-George W. Wadsley, G. G. Perrott.
Banks-State Bank of Early and the Citizens State Bank.
Barber Shops-George W. Hamm, Blaine Crouch.
Blacksmith Shops-Harry Sampers, G. M. Dunham.
Clothing-Foote & Company.
Cement Blocks-Early Construction and Stone Company and workers in cement, Guy Hair.
Creameries-The Farmer's Co-operative Company.
Dray Lines-Burt Van Vleet, George Bedell.
Drugs-WV. P. Hirons.
Dentist-R. D. Kendall, D. D. S.
Elevators-Farmer's Co-operative Company and two line elevators, in- cluding the Trans-Mississippi.
Furniture (coupled with Hardware)-J. F. DeGarmo, Hiron & Kirk- patrick.
Grocers-Holdridge Brothers, C. D. Hay and C. Sonneborn.
Garages -- Early Auto Company and G. G. Perrott.
Hardwares-Same as furniture dealers.
Harness Shops-W. H. Terrill.
Hotel-"Early House," R. J. Beadle, proprietor.
Jeweler-Ed Welling.
Lumber-Green Bay Lumber Company, A. S. Evans, who also carries builders' hardware.
Livery-William Weaver.
Millinery-Lashier & Co.
Meat Market-Jackson Brothers.
Newspaper-The News, J. C. Blair, proprietor.
Northwestern Depot Agent-J. L. Dick.
Opera House-Early Opera House (new) and Struchen & Rowe, the old hall.
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Produce-J. L. Dunham.
Pool Hall-George Fouchs.
Restaurants-L. M. Engler, C. M. Anthony.
Real Estate Dealers-Lashier & McQuick.
Physicians -- Drs. J. W. Graham, J. C. Iwersen.
Stock Dealers-W. Watts, B. F. Evans.
Shoe Dealer-Joseph Dick.
Veterinary Surgeons-R. L. McNalley.
Wagon Repairs-Harry Sampers. Five, Ten and Twenty-five Cent Store-William Sampson.
LEVEY TOWNSHIP.
Levey township comprises all of congressional township 86, range 37 west. It is six miles square and situated on the south line of Sac county, with Viola township at its east. Clinton at the north and Wheeler, the extreme southwestern township in the county, on its west. Its towns are a part of Wall Lake, Herring and the hamlet station on the Illinois Central lines known as McCloy. The Boyer river flows through this township on its meandering course to the Missouri river, emptying into that stream at Council Bluffs, where it is considerable of a stream. It has numerous small branches or tributaries flowing in from the fertile lands that make up Levey township. The Mondamin and Onawa branches of the great Northwestern system of railroad runs through various portions of this township. Also the more re- cently constructed railroad, the Illinois Central, parallels the Northwestern line from Wall Lake station southwest until they both take their exit from the county on down the famous Boyer Valley.
Levey was created into a separate township in 1871 and in 1880 it had a population of six hundred and twenty-five, including its villages.
Its early settlers were nestled in and around the present town of Wall Lake, and some in the southern portion, along the Crawford county line. Its schools, churches and lodges are all mentioned in separate chapters in this volume, hence will not be named in this connection. The population of the township, according to the last United States census report, is one thousand and sixty four, including that part of Wall Lake within the township, which town had, then, five hundred and sixty-one.
The village of Herring, on sections 28 and 29, is a mere station point and small trading place on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. a mile and a half from the south line of the township.
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Concerning the pioneers who effected the first settlement here, let it be said that they come in about the following order: Charles Levey. 1869; Richard Dean, 1869; Frank W. Weed, March 29, 1870. George Maynard and F. H. Weed came early, but only remained one year. George A. Weed came in on August 20, 1870; Samuel Adams, 1871 ; A. Marks, 1871; W. J Muxen, 1871. The township was constituted in 1871, but not really organ- ized until 1873 on account of there not being a sufficient number in the terri- tory before then to hold the offices. Dr. Stevens was a settler of 1871. F. WV. Weed was the first township assessor. The first school was taught in what is now No. 8, but then No. 1, in 1873, by Fannie Philbrick.
TOWN OF WALL LAKE.
Wall Lake, in Levey and Viola townships, was platted by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company (really the Northwestern Railroad Company ) in 1877. It is situated three miles to the south of the famous Wall lake, so well known as a resort in the great Maple Valley region. Its population in Janu- ary, 1914, was, by actual count, eight hundred and ten, although it was through error only given about six hundred in the last United States census. This error came about from the fact that the census taker only credited the town with what population were living in Viola township, as belonging in the corporation, and the remainder were counted in with the population of Levey township.
The first lot was sold in this town to D. Wayne, of Carroll, for ware- house purposes. The first load of wheat sold was by Mr. North, September 10, 1877, and it brought seventy cents per bushel. The first car load of wheat was shipped out by Wayne & Company. The first lumber yard was put in operation by Wilcox Brothers, August 27. 1877. The first general merchandise store was established by G. M. Parker in August, 1877. The first child was born to Mrs. O. A. Olson. The first death was in the family of C. E. Wentworth. On April 21, 1878, a destructive tornado passed over this portion of the county, destroying much property, generally estimated at thirty thousand dollars worth, and eight persons were injured. Telephone communication was first installed in Wall Lake February 11, 1878, between J .C. Fletcher and C. E. Wentworth, each having a 'phone in their place of business. It was constructed by Ehlers & Wentworth and was probably the vibratory system. as electric 'phones in practical form did not come till a year or two later.
It may be stated that the first building in the town was commenced in
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April, 1877, for a saloon. The material was hauled from Fort Dodge and Storm Lake. Mr. Donaldson was the man who engaged in this business, this being five years before the state had its prohibition fight, since which date saloons have not been very popular or nearly as numerous. The next actual settler in Wall Lake was O. Anderson. The shoe store of P. A. Elpstrand was opened July 7, 1877. The first blacksmith was F. Rohm, who came in from Alta. The first religious services were conducted at the home of Mr. Palmer, Sunday, August 15. 1877, by Rev. W. P. Griffin. Work on the depot building commenced July 20, 1877, and was completed August 15th, that year.
Having now shown the beginnings of things in general, the author deems it sufficient to give the present business and social factors of Wall Lake, showing in whose hands the business of the place was in January, 1914:
Attorney-J. S. Whitney.
Agricultural Implements-Victor Staab.
Blacksmith Shops-F. E. Johnston, Hinds & Wright.
Barber Shops-William Morrison, R. Lancaster.
Banks-German State and Wall Lake Savings Bank.
Creamery-C. W. Davis.
Clothing Store-J. O. Benson.
Cement Works -- Frank Becker.
Drugs-Bowman Drug Company. C. C. Epperly.
Dray Line-Ed. Palmer.
Dentist-Roy McCulla, J. L. Morris.
Furniture-W. H. Menold.
Feed Barn-Albert Johnson.
General Merchandise -- Okerstroem & Fishback, F. H. Brown, J. H. Sievert.
Grain Dealers-William Claussen.
Garage-Hopkins Auto Company, Wall Lake Auto Company.
Harness Shop-J. H. Davison.
Hardware-Johnson & Swanson, Farmer's Lumber Company.
Hotel-The Brunton.
Jewelry-H. Limke.
Lumber Yards-Wall Lake Lumber Company, Farmers' Lumber Com- pany. Livery-Frank Dean.
Meat Market -- D. Schneidecker.
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Millinery -- Mrs. D. A. Robinson.
Mills ( Grist)-J. McGloin.
Newspaper-The I'all Lake Blade, by W. O. Howard.
Opera House-Wall Lake Opera House Company.
Produce Companies- Swift & Company, C. H. Young.
Photo Gallery-Melvin Charles.
Pool Halls-Robert Jolly, W. H. Persons.
Physicians-Drs. . \. S. Hayden, L. H. Jones.
Restaurants-Christensen Sisters, Hoff & Son, D. W. Young, and the Depot Lunch Rooms.
Real Estate-McClurg & Brunton.
Stock Buyers-Charles Godenow.
Wagon Repairs-Hinds & Wright.
The town supports a brass band of twenty-five pieces, led by C. E. Epperly. There is an effective Commercial Club here, with C. R. Yeager as its present secretary.
The churches of Wall Lake-the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and German Lutheran-are all treated at length in the Church chapter.
The lodges include the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, both men- tioned in the Lodge chapter in this volume.
Wall Lake was incorporated in March, 1881. The following were the first town officials elected: \. D. Herrig, mayor; W. L. Ehlers, recorder ; D. M. Bingman, George Burgess. F. E. Cheeney, M. Mohr, H. J. Simpson, T. E. Wilcox, first councilmen or trustees. The following is a list of all inayors serving in Wall Lake to date: \. D. Herrig, 1881 ; H. B. Allen, 1883: Robert Pattison, to 1889; R. M. Hunter, 1889; C. C. Watson, 1801 ; Hiram Adams, 1893; Erick Schmidt, 1895: Hiram Adams, 1897; H. B. Allen, 1899: A. B. Barclay, 1901 ; George D. Newby, 1903; John McGloin, 1906, who served until . August, 1913, when he resigned. John Johnson was appointed to fill the vacancy and is still serving. The present town officials are : Mayor, John A. Johnson ; clerk, J. S. Whitney ; treasurer. Charles M. Herrig ; marshal, A. E. Johnston; council, Dr. A. S. Hayden, Gus Moore, D. D. Scheiddiker, Walter Ward and William Claussen. A fine, effective system of water works was installed in this town about 1896. At first it was jointly owned by the town and by private subscribers, but later the whole plant, now valued at thirty thousand dollars, was turned over to the town. The water is obtained from a well, just to the east of the town and on the eastern slope of the great watershed divide of Iowa, where the waters flow
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towards the Mississippi and the Missouri. This water is said to be as pure as any in the state. A high tower and water tank, constructed of steel, affords about sixty pounds pressure per square inch. Since the establishment of these improvements the town has had but one disastrous fire, that which burned the Brown store and the livery barn about 1898. The same caught from an overheated hot-air furnace in the basement of Brown's store. A well trained volunteer fire company makes property comparatively safe. Uni- forms were once purchased, costing seven hundred dollars. No town in western Iowa has a more effective fire fighting company than Wall Lake. It dates its history back to 1878.
The municipality also owns the gasoline gas lighting plant and, besides furnishing the streets with ample lights, also sells to consumers. This im- provement was installed about 1900.
The town owns a shack of a building known as town hall, but is now planning to erect a suitable brick town building which will be an 'ornament to the town.
Wall Lake has long since been known as the greatest railroad center in this section of the state. The Northwestern system has branches extending to Carroll, Denison, Mondamin, Onawa, Sioux City via Sac City, another to Jewell Junction. The Illinois Central has a station on its Fort Dodge & Omaha line, a mile from Wall Lake town, giving good connections to the Twin Cities and Dubuque, as well as Omaha.
The postmasters who have served at Wall Lake are as follows ( office established January 30, 1877) : Abner Ferguson, appointed January 30, 1877: Charles L. Sherwood, November 23, 1877; H. B. Allen, May 23, 1881: Robert Pattison, September 23, 1885; C. C. Watson, March 28, 1889; Frank H. Adams, January 28, 1893; Orla H. Menold, April 14, 1893; L. N. Turner. April 17, 1897 ; J. H. D. Gray, December 12, 1904 ; Charles B. Dean, April 23, 1906; John McGloin, July 31, 1913.
WALL LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Wall Lake township should not be misunderstood as being the civil town- ship in which Wall Lake town is situated, but rather as the one in which Lake View, another town, is located. A greater portion of the beautiful water sheet, Wall Lake, is within Wall Lake township, while a small part is in the township south, Viola. Wall Lake township is congressional town- ship No. 37, range 36 west. It is second from the east and second from the
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south line of Sac county. It was organized in 1871 and in 1880 had a popu- lation of only 462. In 1910 it had 1,209 with Lake View.
The Coon river touches sections 1, 12 and 13 of this township, and is in- creased by the waters of Indian creek which flow in a semi-circular direction through the central portion of the territory.
The township has much excellent land and no small amount of lower, swampy land which, under the touch of modern methods of drainage, is fast becoming a garden spot.
The Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs through the western central part of the township, from Lake View to Sac City.
Some of the early settlements in the county were effected here, but not nearly so early as in Sac and Jackson. The village history of Lake View gives much concerning the first to effect settlement. Other general chapters will treat on the schools, lodges and churches of Wall Lake township, hence will be omitted in this connection.
WALL LAKE.
What is known as Wall lake (originally called on the early maps "Walled lake") was written up by. Hon. H. C. Rippey, of Jefferson, Iowa, in the early seventies in language, largely of imagination, that sounds odd to the reader of today, who is convinced that the "wall" is nothing other than a pile of prairie boulders that have been heaved up by the frosts of many winters, and that there is no evidence, whatsoever, that man's hand had any- thing to do with the line of stones that may resemble a laid-up wall. The item referred to is as follows :
"At the north end of the lake there commences a beautiful gravel bank, gradually sloping into the water and continues around on the north side for about a fourth of a mile. The wall then commences, the bank being steep and averages from three to six feet in height. The lake gets wider, and as it widens the wall gets very thick, containing great boulders. One and a fourth miles from the northeast end of the lake there is a levee from two to five feet high, across low land, resembling, very much, the levees of the lower Mississippi river country, with the exception that next to the water is stone. The wall commences on the east side of the Boyer slough and continues around the south side of the lake to the northeast corner and levees are thrown up at the low places. This levee is so complete that a person may walk entirely around the lake. At several places on the south side, on high
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BATHERS AT SAKEWOOD PARK
BOAT LANDINGAT COTTAGE GAOYE WALL LAKE JAST
WALL LAKE VIEWS
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ground, embankments are thrown up to form breastworks. It is in fact a great curiosity, and the more one looks at it the more is the wonder who did it. How came these great stones, two or more tons in weight, on the banks, in many places lying on top of smaller ones."
The reader should understand that modern writers and sane thinkers know that such a description is a mere fancy of some writer who wanted to believe, and perhaps thought, he had struck a natural curiosity.
LAKE VIEW-A REMINISCENCE.
The following reminiscence was written by Platt Armstrong, one of the pioneers and founders of the town of Lake View, this county: "In 1875 I came from Lost Nation, Clinton county, Iowa, to Sac county and bought section 13. Clinton township. I sent my eldest son, Alden, and Oren Haskins, with teams and breaking plows, to break up the land. They broke out about a hundred and sixty acres. That autumn I helped the improve- ments along by shipping one load of lumber to Vail, it being the nearest railroad station. My son started to haul it. The first load he left in a slough six miles from home. The next load he was obliged to sleep with out on the prairie eight miles from home under his wagon, it taking him four days to get the first two loads of lumber, after which he succeeded in making a load each day. Then there was not a road or any bridges within the twenty-mile journey. I built a house and a stable that fall, and my son got married and the following spring another one of my sons came on and helped put in a crop, which in August was destroyed by grasshoppers ; the corn and oats were all gone, but some wheat was left. That season the mosquito and green-headed horse flies were extremely thick in this part of the country and really made life a burden to both man and beast. These pests, together with the grasshoppers, caused us to be much discouraged with our newly located home. I then came to the conclusion that this county was not a suitable place in which to settle my sons in permanent homes, which I had intended doing for them. Hence, I started south, homeseeking, and went to Texas and rode some four hundred miles on horseback, going in west of Fort Worth, but saw nothing that enticed me to locate there. I then returned to Clinton county and brooded over my misfortunes and unlucky selection of lands here, seeing nothing cheering ahead of me for my family. In February, the following season, one morning I awoke and upon looking over the situation I was possessed of an inspiration, which was to rent my farm and move iny
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family to Sac county. By noon that day, I had my land rented and two weeks later I had moved here bag and baggage. * *
"February 22, 1888, I arrived at Wall Lake again, and when settled down I found that I had fourteen head of horses and four boys large enough to handle a team, so we went to tearing up the prairie sod and in 1890 we raised three thousand bushels of wheat and five thousand bushels of corn, besides oats and barley. I then left this place and bought a quarter section of land in the west part of the present town of Lake View and commenced to plan for a railroad station, but found that the Northwestern Railroad Company was prohibited from platting another town, as parties in Sac City and Wall Lake had started the first railroad and did the grading, with the understanding that there was not to be a station between these two points. One day I met an officer of the Northwestern road and asked him about it and he said that while this was true, that it did not prevent anyone else from platting a station and putting in a side-track. He said if I would go ahead and build a small station house and do the grading for a short side-track, that the company would recognize it as a station. I knew nothing about platting a town, but I took James Fletcher into my confidence. I also found that I could get the eighty acres of land that the railroad ran through for twenty dollars per acre, but Mr. Fletcher seemed to think he wanted it all, so he purchased the land and proceeded to raise the money to build a depot build- ing and pay for side-track grounds. In this way Lake View had its origin. but it was known then as "Fletcher." November 28, 1887, it was changed to that of Lake View.
"The same fall I built a large barn and finished off one of the stables to live in, while I was building my house. In order to do this I had to put up some stove-pipe in length about thirty feet, and seven joints extended out beyond the building. Being rusted together, the united joints of pipe made a very good lightning conductor, so, thinking to be on the safe side, I would make a connection with the earth, which I did by boring holes at each hind leg of the stove through the barn floor, and then placed wires around the legs and on down to the ground. This was probably an original idea, but I never patented it! However, it worked well, for on one occasion a bad thunder storm came up and lightning struck the stove-pipe and the seven joints outside the building were entirely ruined, but the charge went on direct to the damp earth and harmed nothing else about the place. From this incident originated the great Dodd & Strothers lightning rod.
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