History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens, Part 7

Author: Evans, Samuel B., 1837-1903, comp. and ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 696


USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 7


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).


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BANKS OF OTTUMWA.


The following is a statement of the condi- tion of the banks of the city in December, 1900. as compared with the condition of the same banks one year previous, The statement is


from official sources : The capital, including profit account, employed by the three national and three savings banks of this city, as taken from published reports of December 2d, was $663.188.73. Their total assets were $3.162,- 603. Their combined deposits were $2.341,- 914.37, and their loans $1.965,922. The , same six banks on December 13, 1900, had an invested capital and profit account of $079.176.78; assets. $3.586,445.57 ; deposits, $2,732,318.79. and loans, $2.225.527.75. This does not include the Wapello County Savings Bank, organized February 5. 1900, which has a capital and profit account of $51.971.05 ; to- tal assets, $146.378.25; deposits, $94.407.20; and loans, $128,658.48; nor the Citizens Bank, which is a private institution and makes no published report.


CHAPTER IX


OTTUMWA AND ITS INSTITUTIONS.


. PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES -- FRATERNAL SOCIETIES RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY-A GLANCE AT MANUFACTURING INTERESTS-THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY.


PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


The Courier, on September 22, 1848, men- tions that "Ottumwa, or rather Center town- ship, has two schools but no school-house." In May, 1849, there was a tax of i per cent io build a school-house in the city. These plans were not carried out, but in 1850 two frame buildings were erected, and in 1853 Miss La- vina Chanler opened a private school in one of these buildings in the lower or eastern part of the town. Misses Hornby and Street opened a school on Angust 6. 1855. W. . 1. Sutliff opened a select school at about the same time. The Ottumwa Seminary was opened on the 8th of October, 1855. On October 15. 1858, there was the first recorded meeting of directors of the Ottumwa City School District. There were present : J. M. MeElroy, president ; W. L. Orr, vice-president ; and S. B. Thrall, secretary. The treasurer was Charles Law - rence. In 1858 the board was made up as


follows: Thomas C. Woodward, president : S. B. Thrall, vice-president ; S. D. Morse, secre- tary : John Moore, treasurer ; directors, Joseph Hayne, Joseph H. Merrill. F. J. Hunter. In 1865 a commodious brick school-house was built on College Square, at an expense of $28,- 818.57. It will be seen that at an early date Ottumwa had determined on superior facilities for educating the youth of the town. During all the time, from the organization of the first school board, the officers have been men of the highest intelligence and business capacity. There have been few superintendents of the schools, and these few have ranked high in their profession. A. W. Stuart became super- intendent in 1873. succeeding Wilson Palmer, and during the past twenty eight years he has worked faithfully and with great success for the improvement of the school. He ranks now as one of the prominent educators of the State.


There are to school buildings in Ottumwa,


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which cost about as follows: High School, situated on West Fourth street, $50,000: Adams school, situated on East Fourth, Col- lege, East Second and Union streets, $32,000 ; Lincoln School, North Court, $24,000; Agas- siz and Irving schools, South Side, each $18,- 000; Franklin school. Walnut avenue, $18,000; Garfield school. North Ash street, $18,000; Douglas school. West Second street. $8.000; Froebel school, Adams lot, $2,000: Hedrich school. Highland Park, $17,000. Four-room additions are now completed to the Lincoln and Irving buildings, at a cost of $15,000. The last school census, taken in September, 1900. shows 5.632 persons of school age in the dis- trict : the average daily attendance for the school year, ending June, 1930, was 3,284. The number of teachers employed is I10, of which four are males. The members of the school board are: E. E. McElroy, J. C. Jor- dan, T. Il. Pickler, W. A. McIntire, Charles Hallberg, E. T. Edgerly, A. D. Moss. E. E. McElroy is president of the board and J. A. Wagner. secretary.


CHURCHES.


The first minister of the Gospel was Rev. B. A. Spaulding, who came as a missionary in 1843 or 1844, as a member of the "Iowa Band," composed of nine young preachers of the Con- gregational church. Mr. Spaulding was a devoted Christian, and was held in high respect during all his life by all who knew him. He formed a church in Agency City in 1844. The Congregational church of Ottumwa was organ-


ized February 15, 1846, with eight members : Bela White, Samuel S. Norris, Anna N. Nor- ris, Julia M. Norris, Peter Barnett, Mrs. P. Barnett, Mrs. David P. Smith. Mr. Spauld- ing was the pastor for twenty-two years, when he resigned, and died March 31, 1867. This church has been favored with pastors of more than ordinary ability, among whom may be mentioned Spaulding, Simeon Brown, Her- man Bross, Dr. J. W. Healy, Rev. Archibald and the present pastor. P. Addlestine Johnston. A church edifice was erected in 1875-76, on Fourth street, at a cost of $22,000.


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Revs. S. C. McCune and L. G. Bell organ- ized the First Presbyterian church, September 24, 1853, with the following members: Dr. W. L. Orr, John Hite, Rebecca Hite. Luther Ilite, Elizabeth Hite, Hannah Hoover, John M. Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Rebecca Brown, Charles Brown, Jonathan Heckard, Harriet Heckard, Elizabeth Carmen, Martha Gray, Mary Davis, Sarah A. Moyer, Lucy A. Sloan, Anna Bill- man. Sarah L. Mudge and Daniel Hoover were received on profession of faith, and Michael Heckard and Mary MI. Heckard were received on certificate. Dr. W. L. Orr, John Hite and John M. Taylor were ordained as elders. In July, 1855, Rev. J. M. McElroy arrived, and took charge of the church as pastor, and labored with great success for many years. He was succeeded by Revs. 11. B. Knight, B. S. Ely, Frederick W. Hinitt and F. F. Stoltz in the order named. The church building is on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets; its cost was $20,000. The pastors of this church were eminent in their sacred profession and


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


labored with zeal in the interests of Christian- ity. In 1886, the Presbyterians of the East End organized, and, aided largely by T. D. Foster, built a large church building in that locality. Rev. Murray is the present pastor. The Presbyterians also have an organization .n the West End of the city.


The Methodist Episcopal church was early in the field, represented by Rev. Thomas M. Kirkpatrick, who conducted services in a log cabin in 1844. The first organization was effected in 1845, with Mr. Kirkpatrick as pastor. The following-named were prominent members at that time: Heman P. Graves and wife: Paul C. Jeffries and wife: Washington Williams and wife: Martha Williams, later on the wife of Dr. C. C. Warden: Peter. Barnett and wife: Mrs. Joseph Hayne : Sarah Pimroy : Sarah Lewis: J. C. Evans and wife. The Main Street M. E. church was organized in 1869, by Rev. E. L. Briggs, with 70 members. The First M. E. church edifice is on the cor- ner of Fourth and Market streets. The Main Strect church building is on the corner of Main and College streets. The pastors of these churches have been successful in building up the different organizations to a high degree of efficiency.


The Catholic church organization dates back to 1849, when missionary work was in- augurated by Rev. Father Villars, of Keokuk. Rev. Alexander Hattenberg came in 1851 and remained a time. In the winter of 1853. Rev. Father John Kreckel came to St. Mary's Catho- lie church and at once entered noon an arduous line of duties that extended over Wapello, Jef-


ferson, Van Buren, Keokuk. Mahaska. Polk, Jasper, Marion, Monroc, Davis, AAppaloose, Wayne and Decatur counties. Father Kreckel was of sturdy, vigorous frame, indomitable will, and undying devotion to the church. He organized other parishes, made perilous jour- neys, encountering cold, heat, high and d'un- gerous waters, with the same firm determina- tion to overcome all obstacles. He built a sub- stantial stone church on the corner of Fourth and Court streets, also a convent and the St. Joseph school, and was always ready to extend a helping hand to Ottumwa enterprises. Ile was a man of marked character and accom- plished great good in his day and generation. Hle died June 18, 1899, and was succeeded by Father Kelly. There are two other Catholic churches: St. Patrick's, in South Ottumwa. with Rev. John O'Farrell as priest, and the Church of the Sacred Heart, with Father Flood (since deceased ) in charge.


St. Mary's parish of the Epicopal church was organized at the office of Jacob Wen- dall. on May 2. 1857: Rev. D. F. Ilutchison presided : there were present Dr. 1 .. D. Morse. James Ilawley, Sr., James Sinnamon, C. J. Gilson. E. Washburn, John J. Wendall and W. F. Elmendorf. The name of the parish was changed to Trinity a few years ago. Sue- ceeding Mr. Hutchison as rector were the fol- lowing: R. R. Gifford, 1800-1864 : Walter F. Lloyd, 1804-1800: J. E. Ryan, 1896-1871 : W. C. Mills, 1872-1875 : A. C. Stikson, 1876- 1880: J. I. Lloyd, 1889-1805. Rev. J. Hol- lister Lynch is the present rector. The present number of communicants is 333: in 1895, when


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Mr. Lynch became rector, there were 235. The church building is a beautiful structure on the corner of Fifth and Market streets. It is a model of church architecture.


The First Baptist church was organized March 14, 1855: 17 persons entered the or- ganization, viz: John Ballard, Elizabeth Wellman, Avia Wellman. Samuel Harper, Mary Harper, Ann Michael, Eliza .Alcott, Daniel Barrett, Lydia Guthrie, Virginia Bar- rett, Eliza Harper, Melissa Fisher, Margaret Higdon, Francis Llewellyn, Charity Aldridge. Minerva Fisher and Barbara \. Monk. The church has had an unusual number of pastors since its organization : the present pastor is Rev. Davies.


The Church of Christ was organized in March, 1845, with nine persons, as follows : Hugh Brown, Nathaniel Bell, M. J. Bell and daughter, Eliza Halloway, J. Anderson and wife, Il. 11. Hendrick and a Mr. Potts. H. H. Hendrick was ordained evangelist in the autumn of 1847: the ordination services were conducted by Aaron Chatterton, who was a noted evangelist.


The first Swedish Lutheran church in the county was organized about the year 1859 in Polk township. The church in Ottumwa was organized in 1871. The church building is on Jefferson street and is quite commodious.


The colored people of the city have two churches, of the Baptist and Methodist de- nominations, and have comfortable church buildings. The African M. E. church was organized in 1867.


There are church organizations and edi-


fices in South Ottumwa for the Congregational, Christian, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Baptist and United Brethren de- nominations. The Dunkards and Friends, or Quakers, are also organized and hokl regular meetings. It should also be recorded that T. J. Hall. of the Christian or Disciple denomi- nation, built a small church at his own expense in South Ottumwa, where services are held each Lord's day.


FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.


The first Masonic organization in Ottum- wa was that of Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16. A. F. & A. M .. on August 18, 1848. The first offi- cers chosen under special dispensation were : H. M. C. Lane, W. M .: V. W. Coffin, S. W .; J. C. Tolman, J. W .: Samuel Carnes, treas- tirer ; Bela White, secretary; T. A. Truman, S. D .: N. L. Gephard, J. D. : Seth Fair, tiler. The charter was issued in November, 1848, under which the following officers were chosen : H. M. C. Lane, W. M. : V. W. Coffin, S. W .: J. C. Tolman, J. W .: N. Baldwin, treasurer : Bela White, secretary; N. C. Hill, S. D .: N. L. Gephard, J. D .: M. W. Hopkin- son, tiler.


Empire Lodge, No. 269, A. F. & .A. M., was organized October 21, 1869, under dis- pensation issued to J. C. Hinsey, W. M. : I. N. Mast. S. W .: George Hill. J. W. : William S. Holden, S. D .: M. McFarlin, J. D .: John F. Tewis, treasurer: Joseph Gray, secretary ; and H. B. Cowell, tiler. The constituent mem- bers were: John Gray, L. L. McBride, O. H.


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Potts, Charles O. Williams, J. P. Carnes, O. E. Stewart and Charles W. Betts.


Ottumwa Lodge, No. 9. 1. O. O. F., was the first organization of Odd Fellows, on May 20, 1848. John F. Baldwin, Duane F. Gay- Jord, V. W. Coffin, Thomas A. Freeman, Thomas J. Devin, R. Boydson and George M. Wright were the charter members.


Laramie Lodge, No. 230, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 22, 1872, with the follow- ing charter members: Jacob Prugh. J. J. Millard, John L. Moore, D. W. Tower, L. M. Godley, James Hawley, Sr., Eugene Fawcett. C. G. Lewis, G. A. Derby, W. W. Pollard.


Ottumwa Lodge, No. 347, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was instituted under a charter bearing date of July 7. 1896. John P. Scheying was exalted ruler: F. B. Clark, esteemed leading knight; C. M. Myers, es- teemed loyal knight ; J. B. McCarroll, esteemed lecturing knight. The other charter members were: Charles Hall, R. II. Moore, T. M. Gilt- ner, Charles A. Walsh, W. F. McDonald. 11. M. Iledrick, S. L. MeGavic. J. R. Burgess, D. M. Conroy, W. A. Graves. W. W. Vance, L. J. Baker. J. C. Cooper, Luther Brown, Gus. Lyons.


The following orders and fraternal organ- izations in the city are mentioned, with the name of a leading member in connection there- with: A. O. U. W., G. A. Pitts: K. O. T. M .. Dr. C. R. Russell : L. O. T. M., Miss Nora Cook: Eagles. C. A. Brown: Foresters, John O'Donnell : M. W. A., Frank Norfolk: W. O. W .. I. B. Scott : Knights and Ladies of Se- curity, Dr. E. A. Sheafe: Ancient Order of


Hibernians, Fred Grier; B. of R. T., F. M. Reeves: K. of P., A. G. Cook.


AA lodge of the American Brotherhood of Ycomen was organized in November, 1899. by John L. Moore.


Pickwick Lodge, No. 129, 1. O. O. F., was instituted in South Ottumwa December 8, 1891, with the following charter members: J. .A. Ballard. A. S. Cook, D. S. Lain. W. N. Bal- lard, Charles E. Newnam, J. HI. Finley, J. E. llull. Q. L. Harris, W. F. Harsch, C. G. Reed, A. G. Cook, C. T. Hartman. J. Eichen- berry.


Wapello Lodge. No. 632. I. O. O. F., was instituted in South Ottumwa. December 8. 1897, with the following charter members: J. .A. Ballard, H. D. Rime. J. H. Finley, W. N. Ballard, J. Eichenberry, M. Schwartzenbach, 1. Mccrary. J. A. Rupe. J. W. Carson. R. S. Carson. A. T. Snider. S. L. Finley, Samuel llarding. V. E. Beeson.


Dorcas Lodge. No. 1888, I. O. O. F. (Re- bekah degree), was instituted in South Ottum- wa. October 19, 1893, with the following charter members : J. Eichenberry, Mary Eich- enberry. W. N. Ballard and wife Hester. . 1. S. Cook and wife Anna. J. A. Ballard and wife Lizzie J., J. 11. Finley and wife Luella, Charles E. Newnam and wife Mice, W. F. Harsch and wife Rosanna. E. W. Steel and wife Ella. U. G. Reed and wife Fannie, H. D. Rime and wife Arabella, E. L. Holt and wife Jane. J. E. Hull and wife Tena. S. L. Finley and wife Nannie, F. G. Ven de Ven, Anna Ven de Ven, Ella Paxton.


Glenwood Camp. No. 1740, Modern Wood-


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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY


men of America, was instituted in South Ot- tumwa .August 15, 1892, with the following charter members: E. M. Arenschiekl. J. .. Ballard, W. H. Campbell, W. L. Bateman, W. S. Brown, Charles E. Brown. S. L. Finley, O. E. James, J. A. Moorhead, C. M. Nye, J. L. Schwartz, M. Schwartzenbach, B. W. Scott. F. G. Ven de Ven. O. D. Wray


Tuttle Post. No. 497. G. A. R., was insti- tuted in South Ottumwa April 28, 1892, with the following charter members: M. T. Dough- erty. W. F. Harsch, D. S. Lain, W. H. Duncan, W. II. Morgan, L. M. Adams, John Cherry, C. C. Powell, J. O. Parker, J. J. Ninemeyer, G. W. Wisehart, G. W. Somerville, E. H. Thomas, B. F. Berry. W. G. Powell, William J. Jasper. W. G. Fish, J. H. Riggs, Griff Swinney.


Reno Post, of the Grand Army of the Re- public, was organized in Ottumwa, in 1879. but its membership was never more than about 30: it held its charter nearly four years; its commanders were: Templin, Harness, Mor- timer and L. J. Allen. This post disbanded and a petition for a new post was circulated and signed by 97 veterans. The name of the new post is Cloutman, No. Cy: it opened with 67 members. It was designated as Cloutman Post in honor of Capt. C. C. Cloutman, who was killed at Fort Donelson. E. M. B. Scott was the first commander and served three terms ; then came D. T. Miller in 1887, W. S. Coen in 1888, Timothy Egan in 1889. T. J. Hall in 1890, Maj. A. H. Hamilton in 1891. The following named gentleman served as com- manders of Cloutman Post after Major. Ham-


ilton : James H. Coe, in 1892; Levi Hills, in 1893: S. B. Evans, in 1894; W. H. H. Asbury, in 1895; George H. Wheelock, in 1896; T. R. Bickley, in 1897: S. H. Harper, in 1898; W. R. Warren, in 1899; W. H. Fetzer, in 1900; H. L. Waterman, in 1901. Several members of this post have served on the department and the ntional staff.


.A camp of the Sons of Veterans was or- ganized as Donelson Camp, No. 32, in 1886. W. B. La Force was the first captain and was succceded by Dr. S. A. Spilman. The camp was reorganized by Lieutenant-Colonel Dilley, who mustered in 75 new members in April, 1901. The following were the officers: Cap- tain. J. K. Dysart: first lieutenant, John K. Mahon: second lieutenant. Russell Harper ; first sergeant. Dr. M. Bannister ; quartermaster sergeant. John R. Criley. The following are past captains : William M. Reece, George P. Salmon, H. M. Spilman. E. M. Campbell, W. T. Mollison, C. H. Aumack. It is due to Cap- tain Mollison's efforts that there have been such large accessions to the camp recently.


RAILROADS.


The first railroad to enter the city was the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, now a part of the C. B. & Q. Railroad system. The road was formally opened to public use to Ot- tumwa September 1, 1859. Work from Ot- tumwa west was begun in 1865 and the road was finished to Albia November 1, 1866. The day that the B. & M. R. road entered Ottimm- wa was made memorable by a great gathering


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of the people of the county, speeches, toasts and responses. The citizens of Ottumwa had pro- vided a free dinner on long tables beneath the shade of the trees; when the food was placed on the tables, the throng did not wait for dinner to be announced, but made a rush and a grab, and swept everything off the tables. The dinner was a failure. not because there was not enough provided, but through the waste and selfishness of those who wanted more than a fair share of the victuals. After the arrival of the B. & M. R., there came the Des Moines Valley Railroad (now incorporated into the C. R. 1.


& P. Ry. system) : then the St. Louis & Cedar Rapids Railroad (now in the Wabash R. R. system ) : then the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, extending to Kansas City : then the Fort Madison & Northwestern Railroad. later known as the Chicago, Fort Madison & Des Moines Railroad ( now included in the C. B. & Q. R. R. system).


The immense business done over these lines will be better appreciated by a study of the figures furnished by officials of the different roads. The figures are, consolidated : Amount of freight earnings forwarded and received at Ottumwa station by the C. B. & Q .. C. M. & St. P .. C. R. I. & P .. Wabash and Fort Madi- son roads, during 1950, $1. 166,146.55.


A citizen of Ottumwa, who entered the service of the C. B. & Q. Railroad when he was quite a young man, just returned from the Civil War, had an extraordinary career and arose, as it were, from the ranks; beginning as a station agent at Albia, he became general


manager of the C. B. & Q. Railroad system. and afterward general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad. This was Capt. Thomas J. Potter, son of John and Nancy Potter, also of this city. He was advanced from station agent to assistant division superintendent : from that position to charge of a division ; then to manager of the lowa lines, and on until he became general manager. He was a very able man, and, if he had lived, would no doubt have achieved still greater success. Mr. Potter was born in Carroll county, Ohio, August 16. 1840, and died in the city of Washington, March o. 1888.


O. E. Stewart is the present division super- intendent of the C. B. & Q. Railroad : he has also risen from an humble place to the position he now holds, through merit alone.


OTTUMWA NEWSPAPERS.


The Des Moines Courier was the first newspaper established in the county. August 8. 1848, by R. H. Warden and J. H. D. Street. January 20. 1851. Mr. Warden became sole proprietor. In April. 1852. J. W. Norris acted as associate editor and on December 20. 1855. he became editor and proprietor. In 1856 .V. D. Musschan. W. 11. Caldwell and W. C. Holden succeeded Mr. Norris, and in August, 1869. Gen. John M. Hedrick and Maj. . A. II. Hamilton became editors and proprietors. In January. 1878. Major Hamilton became sole owner and editor. In 1857 the name of the paper was changed to the Ottunica Courier, and on April 5. 1805, the Daily Ottumwa


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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY


Courier was first issued and has continued to be prosperous and enterprising from that day to this. On April 1, 1890, A. W. Lee became proprietor and editor-in-chief of the Courier ( Major Ilamilton retiring ), and the paper at once entered upon a new career of prosperity. On June 1, 1898, he added a perfecting press, with great speed capacity, to the newspaper equipment, at a cost of several thousands of dollars. This was necessary in order to meet the demands of an increased subscription list. Mr. Lee has displayed wonderful energy in building up this paper to metropolitan ideas and proportions.


In June, 1850, the Des Moines Republic was first published by James Baker & Com- pany, but it was suspended after about two years of existence.


G. D. R. Boyd published the first number of the Democratic Statesman in 1858; he was succeeded by J. H. D. Street, and in 1861 H. B. Hendershott and E. L. Burton became the owners and changed the name to the Ottumava Democratic Union. In 1862 Judge Hender- shott retired, and S. B. Evans became asso- ciated with Mr. Burton in the publication of the Democratic Mercury. Mr. Evans went into the army in August, 1862, and Judge Burton continued the publication in connection with his brother, S. 11. Burton, until October, 1865. when Judge Burton sold his interests to Russell Higgins ; in November, 1865, Mr. Higgins sold to S. B. Evans, who remainel until March, 1868, when the latter severed his connection with the paper, and in a few weeks it was dis- continued permanently.


In December, 1870, S. B. Evans founded the Ottumwa Democrat ( weekly ), and in 1874 he established the Daily Democrat. It was the first paper in the city printed by steam power. In 1876 he sold a half interest in the plant to J. W. Norris: later on the Democrat was con- solidated with the Times, under the name of the Democrat and Times, which continued until 1881, when the plant was finally sold to a syndicate of Democrats, and the company was incorporated. In August, 1884, Mr. Evans assumed the management and thus continued until the paper was purchased by R. H. Moore, who published the paper until August, 1897; when it was consolidated with the Sun. Mr. Moore retired in 1898, and was succeeded by Charles D. Brown & Company, until George F. Smith became owner: Mr. Smith transferred the paper to Martha B. Johnston, who conduct- ed it a few weeks until June 15, 1901, when S. A. Brewster became sole proprietor, and who at once began to put forth great energy in the conduct of the paper. Mr. Brewster is strong as a writer, as well as in business qualifications.


In 1870 H. S. Bailey began the publication of the Reveille, which lived six months.


In April, 1871, .A. Danquard established the Journal, a German paper; in 1881 John .1. Wagner became part owner, and in 1884 be- came sole proprietor.


In April, 1874, the Ottumwa Printing Company, consisting of II. M. Ives, O. C. Graves, Dr. G. F. Foster and others, began the publication of the Spirit of the Times. Foster soon withdrew, and in 1875 H. M. Ives pur- chased Mr. Graves' interest. In July, 1876,


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I. T. Flint acquired an interest. The Times was consolidated with the Democrat on No- vember 14, 1878.


The Ottumwa Press ( weekly ) appeared in 1880, published by Riley & Jones, as a modest and unpretending sheet, but under the intelli- gent direction of its proprietors it grew in cir- culation and in size, and attained a large cir- culation in southern lowa. In the year 1899 the plant was incorporated. Riley & Jones tak- ing a majority of the stock, and a daily edition of the Press appeared. The plant was equipped with a speedy and expensive printing press and typesetting machines, but the enterprise did not pay, and the paper was forced to suspend.


The Ottumwa Saturday News appeared as the South Ottumwa Now's January 4, 1890, with E. H. Thomas as publisher. Mr. Thomas was appointed postmaster of South Ottumwa. disposed of his paper, and in the course of time it passed into the hands of A. Jay Stump and Arthur MeGrew, the present proprietors, and is now enjoying a fair degree of prosperity. It is independent in politics.




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