USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 14
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 14
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The first tailor shop was opened in 1870 by P. Anderson. L. S. Lewis and J. E. Howard established the agricultural implement busi- ness in 1879. O. H. Twito began in the same line the next year. The first lumber yard of any importance was established in the summer of 1878 by C. H. Lackore and E. A. Ames, who hanled their lumber all of the distance from Garner by teams.
INCORPORATION
From the incorporation records of the county in the recorder's office at Forest City the following is taken :
"In the circuit court of the state of Iowa, in and for Winnebago County. Be it remembered that on the 8th day of February, A. D., 1878, there was filed in the office of the clerk of the eirueit court of the county and state aforesaid, the following petition for incorporation, to wit:
"To the Honorable Circuit Court of Winnebago County, Iowa.
"We, the undersigned citizens and qualified electors of the within
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described territory, to wit: all of Section 35 and the west half of Sec- tion 36, Township 98, Range 24, petition your honorable circuit court to appoint commissioners for the purpose of incorporating said terri- tory into the town of Forest City. That the number of inhabitants em- braced within the limits of the territory above described is about 700. That a plat of said territory is hereunto attached and made a part hereof."
This petition for incorporation was signed by the following citizens :
Peter Lewis John Law M. C. Wheeler
W. C. Hanson J. H. T. Ambrose M. C. Halvorsen
H. C. Reed
A. A. Prescott V. A. Jones
G. W. Elder
W. H. Jones A. Pierce
L. C. Green
O. B. Knudson
J. A. Plummer
J. W. Mahoney
D. E. Skinner John Conner
C. H. Lackore
H. W. Stowe
W. H. Fisher
G. K. Lien
J. E. Howard
T. C. Ransom
Eugene Secor
A. H. Chase
J. T. Thompson
W. H. May
Miles Plummer
B. A. Plummer
Thomas Jacobs
K. Knudson
L. H. Draper
C. C. Foss
Martin Cooper E. L. Stilson
James Woodowiss
Nelson S. Lewis J. D. Mason
J. H. Twito
George P. Smith J. E. Anderson
William Lackore
M. Olmsted
J. C. Wright
Following is the further record of the incorporation proceedings :
STATE OF IOWA, ? WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
SS.
Be it remembered that at a term of the circuit court of Iowa, holden in and for said county, at the court house in Forest City therein, on the 6th day of May, 1878, were present the Hon. C. T. Granger, sole presiding judge of said court, J. H. Twito, sheriff of said county, and W. O. Hanson, clerk of said court, when the following proceedings were had, done and entered of record, to wit :
IN THE MATTER OF
THE INCORPORATION
OF FOREST CITY, IA.
Now, to wit, on the 7th day of May, A. D., 1878, a petition signed by forty-six citizens and qualified electors of Forest City was presented to the court by T. C. Ransom, Esq., attorney for the petitioners, praying the court for the appointment of five commissioners as provided by
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statute, for the purpose of incorporating into the town of Forest City the territory described in said petition, which petition was granted by the court, and Eugene Secor, W. O. Hanson, J. W. Mahoney, B. A. Plummer and K. Knudson were appointed as such commissioners.
These commissioners met according to order and gave notice that an election would be held at the court house in Forest City on June 14, 1878, for the purpose of voting on the question of incorporation. The election was held as decided, with Secor, Mahoney and Knudson as judges and Hanson and Plummer as clerks. There were 96 votes cast altogether, of which 53 were in favor of incorporation and 43 against it. Thus, by a majority of ten votes Forest City became an incorporated city.
The first officers chosen under the new regime were: J. F. Thomp- son, mayor; S. K. Gregg, clerk; J. E. Howard, treasurer; Elwood Alexander, marshall; Eugene Secor, B. A. Plummer, C. H. Lackore, W. O. Hanson, H. Lunsett and J. W. Mahoney, councilmen.
BANKS
It is established upon very good authority that the first banking business in Forest City was done by Robert Clark. As the most con- venient place, people went to his store to have checks cashed and drafts issued, but no regular banking organization was in effect until about the year 1877. Banking was carried on prior to this time, but not exclusively as a banking business. Robert Clark died August 12, 1876. After Judge Clark's death the banking business which he had conducted largely as a courtesy was taken over by his son-in-law, J. F. Thompson, who continued to operate the bank, known as the Winne- bago County Bank, privately, until 1896, when a reorganization was effected under the name of the Winnebago State Bank. The partners in the undertaking were J. Thompson, J. F. Thompson, William Lar- rabee and E. Huntington. Jasper Thompson became the first presi- dent after the reorganization, J. F. Thompson, vice president, and B. J. Thompson, cashier. Articles of incorporation were filed June 29, 1896, and the bank capitalized for $50,000. The institution then occupied a small one-story brick building on the site of the present home. In 1899 the present two-story business block built of brick was constructed. The present officers of the Winnebago County State Bank are; J. F. Thompson, president; B. J. Thompson, vice president; M. M. Thompson, cashier; and Otto Beckjorden, assistant cashier. The de- posits at this bank run about $400,000.
The present First National Bank of Forest City was organized as such in the year 1891, succeeding the City Bank. The first officers
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were: B. A. Plummer, president; Eugene Secor, vice president; David Secor, vice president; and W. O. Hanson, cashier. B. A. Plum- mer started to do a small private banking business as early as 1871, the business transacted being largely of the nature of that undertaken by Judge Clark, cashing checks and issuing drafts for the conven- ience of patrons. The firm of Secor Brothers & Law began in the land business in Forest City as early as 1861, when the senior member of the firm, David Secor transacted land deals; Eugene Secor entered the business in 1865, and John Law in 1875. The Forest City Bank was established in the spring of 1877 by B. A. Plummer and in Jan- nary, 1882, the firm of Secor Brothers & Law acquired an interest in the business, which was removed to their building and the name changed to the City Bank. The firm then became Plummer, Secors & Law. W. O. Hanson afterward took over Law's interest in the insti- tution by purchase. In 1915 the first National Bank was moved to its new home, the fine building erected that year at a cost of $50,000. The bank is fitted with modern equipment and fixtures and is attractive as well as popular. The present officers are: B. A. Plummer, presi- dent; R. C. Plummer and M. Jane Plummer, vice presidents; W. O. Hanson, also vice president; John Olson, cashier; and W. C. Hang- land, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $75,000; and the deposits about $575,000.
The youngest banking institution in the city is the Forest City National Bank, which was established in 1895. G. N. Hangen is the president of this institution; C. H. Kelley. vice president; H. R. Cleo- phas, cashier; and O. E. Gunderson, assistant cashier. The capital stock is $50,000 and the deposits about $425,000.
FIRST LODGES
Truth Lodge, No. 213, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was established on the 9th of January, 1867. The members present were: Robert Clark, J. R. Burge, J. J. Otis, Austin Orvis, J. P. Gardner, S. W. Herrick and John S. Blowers. Robert Clark was the first worshipful master.
Forest City Lodge, No. 440, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized under a dispensation December 27, 1881 ; and the charter was granted October 19, 1882. The charter members were: J. D. Leland, Nels Thorson, M. C. Wheeler, J. E. Howard, Peter Metz, John J. Sharp, W. H. Fisher and W. H. Jones. J. D. Leland was the first noble grand.
Hayden Post, No. 151, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Forest City on March 8, 1883. The first officers elected were:
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Martin Cooper, post commander; J. W. Mahoney, senior vice com- mander; John Isaacson, junior viee commander; T. J. Butcher, adju- tant ; W. W. Olmstead, officer of the day; W. R. Mattocks, officer of the guard; J. F. Thompson, quartermaster; Charles A. Clark, chaplain.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 1883.
General Merchants-Myron Barton, Nels George, J. S. Olson & Son, John Isaacson, J. W. Mahoney.
Drug Stores-A. Blennerhassett, P. O. Koto & Company, James Pinckney.
Hardware-Stilson & Reed and Wells & Company.
Groceries-T. Jacobs and James Pinckney.
Banks-Winnebago County Bank and City Bank.
Bookstore-M. H. and S. F. Johnson.
Clothing-Clark Brothers & Company.
Boots and shoes-John J. Anderson.
Jewelry-James S. Jacobson and John P. Haadeland.
Harness-F. S. Spofford and R. H. Bahner.
Furniture-D. W. Adron.
Restaurant and bakery-William Spicer and Paul Anderson.
Millinery-Abbie J. Secor and L. E. Ames.
Shoe shops-John J. Anderson and K. Knudson.
Tailor shops-O. C. Steen and P. Anderson.
Meat markets-Frank Farlow, L. Larson and J. Clemenson.
Flour and feed-Paul Anderson and Wickwire & Reed.
Newspapers-Winnebago Summit, A. HI. Chase; Winnebago Re- view, H. M. Halvorsen.
Attorneys-Martin Cooper, Ransom & Olmstead, J. E. Anderson, David Secor, W. H. Fisher, C. L. Nelson, J. F. Thompson and J. T. Lattimore.
Physicians-Jones & Irish, J. A. Hewett, J. W. David, and W. R. Franklin.
Lands, loans, real estate-Secor Bros. & Law, Thompson Brothers and J. E. Anderson & Company.
Hotels-Clark House and Pinckney House.
Saloons-J. M. Quam, Miller & West and H. C. Holland.
Livery-H. Seeley and James Pinckney.
Draymen-Babbitt Brothers and G. G. Macomber.
Painters-J. J. Dale and W. A. Phelps.
Building contractors-Lackore & Ames, Benjamin Johnson and Leander Farlow.
Cattle buyer and Shipper-John A. Plummer.
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Lumber-C. H. Lackore, E. J. Joice and P. Poulson. Coal and wood-Babbitt Brothers.
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS
In the matter of public improvements Forest City has advanced with rapid strides. From the small town, with dirt streets and strag- gling rows of frame business houses, it has grown to a well ordered, attractive and proud city. Brick and stone buildings line streets well paved; electric lights and curb electroliers add the ornamental touch ; an adequate sewerage system disposes of the waste accumulation of the city; the business houses and stores of the city are metropolitan in appearance and the residence streets are attractive and beautiful.
Public utilities were first established in 1894, when water and elec- tric light plants were installed. In a little over three months after the project was conceived an electric light plant was in operation, known by the name of the Forest City Electric Light and Power Company. It was owned and operated by a home company. About two miles of pole line, an ample power house with a 75-horse power boiler and engine, a 30 arc dynamo and 600 candle power incandescent dynamo comprised the first plant. The company was incorporated and articles filed October 6, 1894; the incorporators were : J. F. Thompson, N. P. Hanson, T. F. Danaher, Thomas Jacobs, John Lunderg, A. O. Gjellefold, L. Larson, M. Barton, C. L. Prescott, Ida Fuller, S. H. Larson, John Daniels, C. H. Lackore, and N. H. Bailey. The capital stock was placed at $25,000. Forest City is now supplied with elec- tricity by the Northern Iowa Light and Power Company, a corporation, of wide extent.
The vote in 1894 having authorized the town council to erect and maintain waterworks, the contract was let to erect a standpipe and put in mains, and as soon as the frost had disappeared in the spring of 1895 work began. The system was completed about July 1st. By this public enterprise a much needed protection from fire was provided and an ample supply of pure spring water for household use was made accessible. The standpipe, 100 feet high, was erected on the highest point in the city.
A SKETCH OF THE CITY
The following sketch of the beginning and growth of Forest City is from the pen of Mr. Eugene Secor, and was prepared for the his- torical edition of the Winnebago Summit, September 11, 1895:
"In 1856 a party of men drove up from Mason City to lay out the town plat of what is now known as Forest City. Up to that time, and
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indeed for some time afterwards, the settlement was known as the 'Big Brush.' The surveying party consisted of Robert Clark, one of the prospective proprietors of the prospective town site, A. B. Miller, surveyor, Horace Bronson and Henry Allen. They were assisted by A. T. Cole, who acted as one of the chainmen. They ran a few lines, stuck a few stakes and returned to Mason City. A. T. Cole was the only one of the party who lived in the county at that time. He, with his wife, lived just north of the town site. He shortly moved into the newly laid out 'city' and says his wife was the first white woman who resided within the town plat. Robert Clark moved here in April, 1856, built a log shanty and 'bached it.'
"I said the town site was laid ont in March, 1856. My authority is A. T. Cole. He says that they had to shovel the snow off in places to drive stakes. But according to the certificate of A. B. Miller, the surveyor, which is of record, 'Forest City was laid out on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of September, 1856, upon the east half of Section 35, Township 98, Range 24-at the request of Robert Clark, esq.,' and it was not dedicated to public use until some time after. Robert Clark and wife executed their certificate of dedication August 8, 1857, and Friend Burt, who obtained title to the northeast quarter of Section 35, September 27, 1858.
"It is not strange that so long a time elapsed before completion of the papers necessary to complete the title of the town plat, as the land upon which the town is located was not entered until May 15, 1857. Robert Clark entered the northeast quarter and Horace Bronson the southeast quarter. The first deed recorded conveying property in the new town was dated September 27, 1858.
"The name of the town was first suggested by J. S. Church because of the fine timber skirting the settlement on the east and north. To those who have recently become residents, it is almost incredible that fine black walnut timber was abundant in those forests and that many of the first dwellings were finished with that native product. Black walnut fence posts, too, were common.
"Pine lumber had to be wagoned from McGregor or Dubuque and was a luxury not to be thought of for many years. A saw-mill was the first industry introduced. Mr. Cole says that in 1856 Judge Clark offered him all of Block 48 if he would build on it and entertain travel- ers. This he agreed to do, but before the log house was raised he sold his chance for $5 worth of logs.
"But in 1860 things began to boom. A fine, large, two-story, brick school house was built near the standpipe. Judge Clark also built a brick residence. The material for these buildings was dug on Block 31 near the residence of J. F. Thompson. The excavation
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whence the clay was taken has long since been refilled, but was a familiar sight to the old residents for many years.
"A new era began with the building of the M. & St. L. Railroad. This project was conceived and carried out by Forest City business men. The Minneapolis road had been extended to Albert Lea, but its projectors had no thought of extending through this town. But a few men here laid their heads together, formed a local company, got a 5% tax voted to the home corporation and then sent a delegation to Minneapolis to interview President W. D. Washburn. After a good deal of hard work and personal expenditures that never returned, the road was built and on the 10th day of December, 1879, the first passen- ger train brought the officers of the M. & St. L. Railway from Minne- apolis and a grand jubilee was held in honor of the event. The officers of the local company and the principal ones who brought about this happy consummation were David Secor, president; J. W. Mahoney, secretary, and J. Thompson, treasurer. These men, supported by the generous and progressive citizens of the town and county, suc- ceeded in securing a public enterprise which assured the permanence of the town and prosperity of the county.
"Later another railroad project was conceived by the citizens of Forest City, which, however, did not materialize although consider- able time and money were spent in the effort. This was the C. I. & D., better known as the 'Slippery Elm.' But if we did not get what we started after, we finally got the C. R. & N. (now C. R. I. & P.)
"In April, 1891, at a citizens' meeting called for the purpose of dis- cussing future railroad prospects and to decide what action, if any, the people of Forest City ought to take to protect their interests in railroad matters, it was decided to form a local railway company for the purpose of procuring right of way, local aid, etc., if necessary. This resulted in filing articles of incorporation of the Chicago and Iowa Western Railway Company. The following citizens of the town were made members of the local company: J. Thompson, president and general manager; B. A. Plummer, first vice president; C. H. Kelley, second vice president ; O. A. Olson, superintendent; J. W. Ma- honey, treasurer; Eugene Secor, secretary; and J. F. Thompson, solicitor. The board of directors from Forest City was comprised of the following : J. Thompson, B. A. Plummer, C. H. Kelley, Eugene Secor, O. A. Olson, J. W. Mahoney, J. F. Thompson, M. Barton, W. O. Hanson, T. Jacobs, C. Isaacs and P. O. Koto. This company was instrumental in building the line from Forest City to Armstrong and after its completion turned it over to the B. C. R. & N. The line to Garner was afterward straightened, having run to Madison, and the whole is now a part of the Rock Island lines."
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13
E
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FIRST GOOD STORE IN FOREST CITY Built by J. W. Mahoney in the early '70s. Hand carved trimming by Lee Farlow, the con- tractor who erected the building.
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PUBLIC SPIRIT
Public spirit in Forest City has always been much in evidence, as proved by the energetic and capable treatment of various civic and municipal questions which have arisen. Not the least factor in this spirit has been the establishment of associations for the betterment of the town. One of the first of these was the Forest City Club, incor- porated March 2, 1895; objects, "charitable, educational, social and recreative." The first officers of this association were: George D. Peters, president; C. J. Thompson, secretary; O. A. Olson. treasurer; W. Northrop, G. H. Babbitt, G. I. Koto, directors. The members signing the articles of incorporation were: George H. Babbitt, Homer A. Brown, E. H. Chase, T. F. Danaher, S. C. Gardner, G. S. Gilbert- son, C. H. Gruver, H. M. Hanson, J. E. Howard, H. R. Irish, C. A. Isaacs, C. H. Kelley, G. I. Koto, T. M. Lewis, G. G. Lincoln, G. A. Lyon, M. H. Moser, W. Northrop, O. A. Olson, C. L. Prescott, George D. Peters, P. A. Saxerud, B. J. Thompson, C. J. Thompson, Frank J. Ward.
The Forest City Commercial Club was incorporated and articles of incorporation filed March 16, 1900. This club was organized for the "advancement of moral social, educational and business interests of Forest City, Iowa, and the encouragement of manufacturers and busi- ness enterprises." The first officers were: M. Barton, president; J. J. Sharp, vice president; T. Jacobs, treasurer; B. J. Thompson, secretary; C. J. Thompson, H. R. Irish, J. Thompson, George D. Peters, and Eugene Secor, directors.
The Forest City Improvement Association filed articles of incor- poration March 27, 1906.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Forest City Public Library Association was organized and articles of incorporation filed June 7, 1897. These articles were signed by B. A. Plummer, L. O. Hatch, B. J. Thompson, T. Jacobs, H. R. Irish, Mrs. E. W. Virden and Mrs. E. Perkins. These men- tioned composed the first board of directors. In 1899 a building for the library was constructed and it was formally opened at 8 P. M., September 14, 1889. The building, street and court house grounds were brilliantly illuminated for the occasion and the Forest City band supplied the music. The board of directors turned the building over to the city, and the same was accepted by the mayor. This public library is an appropriate monument to the generosity and efforts of the citizens who made it possible. The shelves of the library are well filled with standard works of all kinds, fiction and magazines, and is of valuable assistance to the public schools of the city.
CHAPTER V
OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES
LAKE MILLS-THE OLD MILL-PLATTING-INCORPORATION-UTILITIES- BANKS-EARLY LODGES-BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 1883-RAILROAD IN- FLUENCE-MISCELLANEOUS-BUFFALO CENTER-PLATTING-INCORPORA- TION - BANKS - THOMPSON - PLATTING - INCORPORATION - BANKS - LELAND-RAKE-SCARVILLE-OTHER TOWNS.
LAKE MILLS
The plat of the town of Lake Mills, Winnebago County, was filed at the county recorder's office December 31, 1869 by Charles D. and Janet Smith, proprietors. The town itself was laid out on the south- east quarter of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter and the south half of the northeast quarter of the norwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 2 in Township 99, Range 23 West of the Fifth Principal Meridian.
The first settler in the vicinity of Lake Mills was Joshua Thomas, who came here with his family in 1855 and located on what was known later as the Thomas farm, a part of which is now included in the cor- poration of Lake Mills. John Anderson came next in 1856 and located on Section 2, and the original town plat of fifteen acres was a part of this farm.
THE OLD MILL
In 1864 there was constructed a grist mill at Lake Mills, or Slaunch- ville, as the town was then called. In 1862 and 1863 the settlers of the surrounding country demanded a grist mill which could be used the entire year, as about all the water mills were either dry or frozen up almost every winter, obliging the people to carry their grain about forty miles to get it transformed into flower. Some advanced the idea of having a steam mill built at Bristol, Worth County. In the sum- mer of 1863 S. D. Wadsworth proposed to undertake the task, provided the citizens in and about Bristol would give the sum of $1,000 and help get the timber on the ground for the construction. This proposition was not accepted by the town of Bristol, the residents of that place believing that Wadsworth should supply the funds himself for his
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own business. In the early part of 1864 a delegation of men from Slaunchville (Lake Mills) called on Wadsworth at Bristol and offered him double the amount of money and work. Wadsworth willingly ac- cepted this offer and a contract was made. C. D. Smith then took a quarter interest and the work of getting the material on the ground and of building began. The saw-mill was put into operation about the first of September of the same year. The mill for grinding first commenced doing custom work in the making of flour about the first of February, 1865.
Then the business of the country for miles around began to come to Slaunchville and it was not long before the community felt suf- ficiently prosperous to demand a postoffice. Slaunchville was not alto- gether agreeable as a name, so Dewell Martin suggested the name of Lake Mills, the derivation being evident. The mill which had made the fortunes of the town was burned in 1871, the year of the Chicago fire, but was immediately rebuilt. The firm of Wadsworth & Smith shortly afterwards transferred the business to Winslow & Conley.
C. D. Smith purchased the original town plat of fifteen acres of E. D. Hinman and had B. K. Walker lay out the town into lots, blocks, streets and alleys.
The first building erected on the town site was a store by E. D. Hinman, although the town had not then been surveyed and platted. After the survey was made the store was found to be partly in the street and was accordingly moved back. L. E. Crowell was the first merchant to sell goods in this store. Most of the merchandise then delivered over the counter to buyers had to be hauled from Austin, Owatonna and McGregor.
In 1866 S. D. Wadsworth opened a general store in an old log school house which had been constructed several years before. He con- tinued the business here until 1867, then moved it to his dwelling, sell- ing out after four years to W. B. Todd. The latter closed out the business three years later.
The next general store was opened in 1868 by Lewis Crowell. He continued the business about one year, then sold out to Lemuel Stil- son, who sold in about a year to Abel Porter. One year later Mr. Porter disposed of the stock and quit the business.
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