History of Tama County, Iowa. Its cities, towns and villages, with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county, Part 22

Author: Chapman, Samuel D
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: [Toledo] Printed at the Toledo Times Office
Number of Pages: 308


USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa. Its cities, towns and villages, with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 22


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22


285


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


leading business men of the city, and is at present efficiently serv- ing the city as Recorder, and filling the offices of township clerk and justice of the peace, besides serving the Chicago & North- western railroad company as express agent, which appointment dates from April 26th, 1879.


Wilson & Ormiston, Physicians and Surgeons .- This very prominent and successful medical firm is composed of G. W. Wilson, and J. S. Ormiston, both of whom are young men of high standing and good character, and graduates of the Medical Department of the Iowa State University, the former of whom graduated in the year 1876, and the latter in 1877. Shortly after graduating these gentleman located at Chelsea, since which date they have been having a good practice, among all classes of cit- izens, and now they are recognized as one of the reputable, per- manent and leading medical firms of the County. Their office is located in White & Co's, drug store, where they may always be found and ever ready to attend to your wants.


A. Z. Rawson .- This gentleman came to Tama County, from Stebbin County, Indiana, and settled at Chelsea in the year 1865. For a number of years after locating at this point he followed the carpenter business. In the year 1870, Mr. Rawson opened a wagon shop, and has since been doing a good business. His shop is located on Seneca Street, where he is prepared to do all kinds of wagon and carriage repairing besides machine repairing, on short notice, small pay, and in good style. Call and see him.


Mr. Henry Cory .- In 1864, Mr. Cory came to this County from Belmont County, Ohio, and settled in Columbia township, here he remained until 1871, when he moved to Richland town- ship, remaining until settling in Chelsea in the year 1876. Since locating at this point Mr. Cory has been quite extensively engag- ed in the grocery and provision business, and holds a large trade, for many miles around the city, and is rewarded with a large and growing business. Store on Station Street.


Business Directory.


II. Cory, grocer.


Smith & Son, dry goods.


286


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


M. Weaver, dry goods.


F. Simon, dry goods.


L. Cumte, Hardware.


J. Holepeck, shoe shop.


W, H. Graham. exchange store.


T. Morris, blacksmith.


A. Z, Rawson, wagon maker.


A. E. Covel, cattle buyer. Dudley & Smith, saw mill. Spence & Son. saw mill.


J. S. Ormiston, doctor.


J. H. Mercer, dry goods. White & Co. druggist.


J. Sittler, shoe shop.


J. Mussell, harness.


A. Ennis, blacksmith,


J. Iseman, blacksmith.


J. W. Shaler, lumber.


Wolraven & Southard, poultry and fur dealers.


G W. Wilson, doctor. Mrs. Coe. & Wilkinson, millinery.


CHAPTER. XXVIII.


INDIANTOWN.


The land on which Indiantown now stands was entered at a very early day, and for a number of years before Montour was founded there was considerable business done at this point. It is located on the Iowa river about one mile north of : Montour. It derived its name from the fact that at an early day there was a great many Indians living in that vicinity, but is now known to a great many by the name of Butlerville. At present there is one dry goods store, post office, one grocery store, one black- smith shop and one flouring mill, which comprise the business facilities of the place. Besides these there are a number of dwellings and a school house.


C. Gray, Flouring Mill .- This gentlman is proprietor of one of the oldest flouring mills in the County, which was established in the year 1855, by Fish & Helm. Since that date it has been in running operation and retained a reputation as a first-class mill. Mr. Gray become its proprietor in 1856 and since that date, from time to time as the mill needed, he has added new machinery and repaired the building, and now it stands nearly as good as new. It has three run of stone and all the latest im- provements. It is located upon the Iowa river about one-half mile north, east of Indiantown. Mr. Gray is well known through- out the County and is respected as one of its best citizens. In


288


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY


connection with the mill he has an exchange store at Montour . for the accommodation of his enstom at that place.


J. J. Lavelley, Piano Tuner and Repairer. - This gentleman. is located at Indiantown where he is permanently established. Ile has had years of experience in this business and thoroughly understands it. He is also general salesman for the Sweep Stake Washing Machine. He is having a good trade in this machine, and it gives general satisfaction.


LEGRAND STATION.


We can only speak of LeGrand Station without goingoutside of our territory as the main town is situated in Marshall County and depot just over the boundary line in this County. At the station is only the depot, two or three dwelling houses, an elevator and a lumber yard. The station is located on the Chicago & North- western Railroad, about one-half mile east of the main town. Notwithstanding the size of the place we speak with pleasure of the business of Heald & Nevill.


These gentlemen have been engaged in business at this point for a number of years, handling coal, lumber, sash, blinds, doors, besides buying grain. The firm is composed of Sidwell Heald and B. G. Nevill, both are men of splendid business qualifications and high standing in society. Since they have been doing busi- ness at this point they have succeeded in building up a large run of custom and yet it steadily increases. Their agreeable ways and honorable dealings make it pleasant to do business with them.


MONTICELLO.


Monticello is located in the southern part of Howard township on land entered by George Zehrung and Christian Bruner, and lays in the midst of a beautiful farming community, four miles northwest of Toledo. For a number of years after it was estab- lished those who were doing business there enjoyed a season of prosperity and every thing looked favorable for the up-building of a considerable town, but after Toledo become the County


289


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


seat, things changed, and it was but a few years until most of the town moved to Toledo. The first store built in the place was by Peter Brush, who filled it with a general stock of mer- chandise. At present there is no business done at Monticello save one blacksmith shop and a practicing physician of whom we make mention.


J. Ballard, Physician and Surgeon .- This gentleman: is among the leading practitioners of Tama County, and is located in Monticello where he has an extensive practice. Hle is regarded as one of the best read and education physicians in this County. Mr. Ballard has attended two courses of lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan; one at Chicago and one at Iowa City. After finishing these he located in Toledo, but in the fall of 187S moved to Monticello. Since locating here he has had a creditable practice and holds a prominent position in his chosen profession.


Bruner ce Reedy, Flouring Mills .- In speaking of these gentlemen and their mills we can say that they are proprietors of the oldest mills in the County. They were established by Christian Brummer, father of one of the present proprietors, in the year 1854. The proprietors are both young men of excellent business qualifications; they are enterprising and successful in their chosen occupation. Their mills are located about one-half mile west of Monticello and are known as The Monticello Mills. The building is a large frame one, four stories high, and equipped with superior machinery. Besides doing the milling business these gentlemen are dealing quite extensively in live stock.


WALTHAM.


This village is located in York township on section three, and is surrounded by a fine country. The place was surveyed by H. Jacobs, in the year 1868, and for a number of years there was considerable business done at this point. The first store was opened by George Mason, and consisted of a general stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware etc. At present there are two grocery and dry goods stories, two blacksmith shop, post office, one harness shop, one shoe shop, and one physician.


290


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


IRVING.


This beautiful litte hamlet is located in the extreme northeast- ern corner of Salt Creek township, and lays half in Benton and half in Tama Counties. The land on which it is located was en- tered by L. Marsh, in the year 1853. For a number of years before the town was laid out, Mr. Marsh erected a store build- ing and commenced business at this point carrying a complete stock consisting of everything kept in a pioneer store until the year 1856 when the services of N. C. Wieting were secured and the town was surveyed. From this date up to 1862, there was considerable business done at the place, and everything bid fair for a large and enterprising town, but after the railroad reached Belle Plaine, the business mostly moved to that place and now there is nothing left but one dry goods store, one grocery store, post office, one blacksmith shop, one flonring mill and one shoe shop.


HAVEN.


This town is located in Richland township, and, was laid out by T. H. Marshall and 1. M. Strong, who entered the land about the year 1854. It is located in a beautiful surrounding country, which is thickly settled and well improved, and doubtless affords trade sufficient to sustain quite a village. The following com- prises the business facilities of the place: two blacksmith shops two stores, one shoe shop and one practicing physician.


HELENA.


This place is located in Richland township and was surveyed by J. Marshall, under direction of J. W. Clem and N. B. Hiatt, who entered the land in 1854. Shortly after this a store building was erected by Lewis Vogel, who opened a stock of general merchandise. Mr. Vogel followed the mercantile business until his death, then his wife took charge of the stock and is still continning the business. Besides this there is a shoe shop car- ried on by Lewis Schwerdtfeger.


291


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


MOOREVILLE.


This town consists of a post office, one dry goods and grocery store, two blacksmith shops, one flouring mill and one practic- ing physician, and a few dwellings. It is located on the County line, on section 24, Geneseo township. It is in the midst of a beautiful farming country. The first store at this place was erect- ed by William Davidson, in the year 1869.


BADGER HILL.


This is a small village established abont the year 1874, in the northern part of of Spring Creek township, and contains one store by P. G. and M. L. Hess, one wagon shop, by J. P. Gage, one flouring mill, by D. G. Wescott, and one blacksmith shop, by H. Galloway, besides one church belonging to the United Brethren denomination.


P. G. & M. L. Hess, Dry Goods .- In the year 1874, these gentlemen came to this County from Morrow County, Ohio, and shortly after established business at this point, since which date they have been doing a large business in dry goods, groceries, tobaccos, cigars, paints, oil, window glass, hats, caps, boots and shoes, ready made clothing, hardware, patent medicines, drugs etc., besides acting as agent for the American Sewing Machine. As these gentlemen are located in a fine country, and claim that they can and will sell goods much cheaper than merchants can in incorporated towns, where they are obliged to pay high rents, high city taxes, high insurance, and put on city style. All kinds of produce taken in exchange for goods.


Wescott & Myers, Flouring Mill .- This firm is composed of D. G. Wescott, and J. H. Myers, two as honorable gentlemen and good citizens as ever settled in Spring Creek township, who established the Badger Hill Flouring Mill, at Badger Hill, in the year 1871. This mill is located on Wolf Creek, and is run by water power. Since the mill was established it has had an excel- lent run of custom and done a large business. They mannfac- ture a first-class brand of flour. and consequently it gives entire satisfaction, besides they are doing a large exchange business


292


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


which enables those living at a distance to visit their mill and re- turn the same day. Try the Badger Hill Hour, and you will like it.


Hugh Galloway, Blacksmith .- Badger Hill, though but a small place, will rank among our larger towns for first-class work and every thing pertaining to the blacksmithing business. Mr. Galloway established business at this point two or three years ago and since that time has been doing an excellent business, in the way of horse shoeing, repairing of all kinds. Hlis shop is located north of Hess Bros., dry goods store where you will al- ways find him ready to wait upon you and do your work in good style, at reasonable prices. Give him a cali.


UNION GROVE.


This is the name of a post office, in the southern part of Spring Creek township. It also has one store and one blacksmith shop.


Joseph Schichtl. Dry Goods .-- This gentleman has been locat- ed at this point ( Union Grove, ) for a number of years and ever since coming here has been engaged in this line of trade. He hand- les all kinds of dry goods boots, and shoes, grocery, hardware, tobaccos. cigars, queensware wood and willow ware, and every thing kept in a first-class country store. He takes all kind of produce in exchange for goods for which he pays the highest price. He sells goods very low and handles the best quality is why he has been so successful and holds such a large trade. Mr. Schichtl, is also post master, and justce of the peace. Since locat- ing in the township has made many friends, in all his business transactions he is honorable, liberal, and strictly honest and con- sequently is ranked among the leading men of the township.


Schichtl & Graham, Blacksmiths .- For all kinds of black- smithing, and machine repairing; call upon the above named gentlemen, at their shop at Union Grove, and we will warrant you a first-class job, on short notice and reasonable price. These gentlemen have been engaged in business at this point for a number of years during the time they have had a large run of cuntom and as they guarantee all of their work, their business is


293


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


lasting and constantly increasing. These gentleman are also lib- eral, enterprising and successful business men, and have made many warm friends, in the vicinity where they are acquainted.


CHAPTER XXIX.


. MISCELLANEOUS.


Frank Frahm & Bro., Blacksmith and Wagon Shops .- This shop was established by three gentlemen in the year 1868, in the south-west corner of Crystal township, since which time they have been doing a large business in man- ufacturing lumber wagons, spring wagons, etc., which they are selling very cheap, besides having a large run of blacksmithing in which line they do all kinds of horse-shoeing, wagon repairing and machine repairing, which is done in a workmanlike mauer and at reasonable prices. Call and see them, and they will do you a good job.


Joshua Leonard, Breeder of Fine Stock .- Mr. Leonard has been a resident of Geneseo township since 1860, coming here from Michigan. Of late years, besides carrying on the farm, he has been paying considerable attention to fine stock raising, and when we called upon him he showed us some very fine stock in- deed, which we will venture to say will rank with any in the County or State. His stock are all first-class and but a few years more and Mr. Leonard, with his blooded cattle, hogs etc., will make a fine display at our County Fairs, and carry away the ribbons.


John Wild, Brick Maker .- In 1865, this gentleman settled in Toledo, and has been a resident of the township ever since; is


295


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


well known over the entire southern portion of the County, by the good quality of brick he makes, and as Mr. Wild has been at this business since settling in the County his reputation is thor- onghly established. Mr. Wild since locating his brick yard upon his farm one mile and a quarter west of Toledo has made a splen- did quality of brick and has a large trade. In 1878 alone, he sold over 600,000, furnishing the brick for the new school house. Toledo Savings Bank and numerous other fine buildings at To- ledo which speaks well for his brick and prices.


William W. Munson, Blooded Stock Dealer .- This gentleman has been a resident of Tama County for a number of years and is a citizen of Howard township. For the past few years he has turned his attention to the breeding of fine durham cattle and poland-china hogs, besides other noted grades. Among his herds we can safely say are some of the nicest animals we have seen in the Connty. Mr. Munson is a young man of excellent qualifications and will no doubt make a success of whatever he undertakes. His farm is located in the eastern part of the town- ship. He is among the successful and enterprising farmers and stock raisers of the County.


W. A. McAnulty, Blacksmith .- This gentleman is an old set- tler in this County, having come here in the year 1857, from Berks County, Pennsylvania, and settled in Howard township, in company with his widowed mother, brothers and sisters. Farm- ing has always been his occupation, but of late years, besides carrying on the farm, he has turned his attention to the blacksmith- ing business. In this trade he exhibits skill and thoroughly un- derstands how to execute a good job. His shop is upon his farm on section thirteen, Howard township, where he manufac- tures the celebrated iron drag which gives entire satisfaction, and is prepared to do all kinds of blacksmithing.


S. E. Wilson, Dry Goods and Groceries .- In Fifteen Mile Grove we find the above named gentleman in a neatly and well filled dry goods and grocery store. He established business at this point in the year 1876. Since that date he has built up a large trade and carries a first-class line of dry goods, notions,


296


HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.


groceries, tobaccos, crockery, queensware, etc. He handles all kinds of country produce which he takes in exchange for goods. Mr. Wilson is a promising young man and possesses good busi qualifications.


L. P. Dinsdale & Son, Breeders of Fine Stock .- These gen- tlemen have resided in Tama County for a number of years, and have gradually been turning their attention to fine stock until now their Allendale herd of short horns will rank with any in this section, as they have selected their stock from some of the best herds in the country and always with regard to individu- al merit of the animals. They have representatives of the fol- lowing noted families: Young Mary, Lady Jane, by Whitting- ton Rose, by Skipton; Amelia, by Plato, Adelaide, by Magnum Bonum; Rose Mary, by Flash; Galatea, by Fredrick, and others. The stock farm is located six miles west of Traer, where is al- ways found a large number of these superior eattle for sale.


Thomas hunn, Brick .- This gentleman came to Tama Coun- ty from Canada in the year 1863 and settled in Toledo township. In 1870 he bought a farm in Carroll township and since has been manufacturing a splendid quality of brick. Mr. Shunn claims that he makes a better article and can sell cheaper than any other yard in the County.


Andrew Mc Cosh, Breeder of Fine Stock .- Among the fine stock men of Tama County may be mentioned the above named gentleman. Mr. McCosh has been a resident of this County for nearly twenty years. Since that time, besides carrying on his farm in the western part of Perry township, four miles west of Traer, he gradually worked himself into an extensive fine stock business, and now has some of the finest durham cattle, cotts- wool sheep and Poland-China hogs in the County. Any one wishing to buy fiue stuck will do well to call and see Mr. McCash before buying.


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 016 087 214 7




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.