USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 34
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 34
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No effort was made in the way of improvements until about a year after the road was completed to Cresco. In July, 1867, J. L. Flowers built a grain warehouse, and Gilchrist & Co. another soon afterward. A drug store by A. M. Blakeman, and a gener- al merchandise store were built the same year, and a post office established. A small depot building was also erected in 1857. The next year there were many other improvements, and business greatly increased.
Ridgeway was organized into an independent school district during the year 1875. It has a good school house, with an average attendance of scholars There is one church edifice in town, and that a small wooden structure built by a body of dissenterfrom the old established Lutheran Church among the Nor- wegians. The house is not completed, and is seldom used. The Methodists and Adventists hold meetings in the school house.
In the spring of 1874 (May 9), Rideway was swept by a fire that threatened to wipe out the entire village. The fire started in a small untenanted wooden structure on the corner where the Herchmer House now stands. A continuous blast from the south swept across the square, taking everything in the line of the wind. The weather had been very dry for some time previous, and the clensely-packed wooden row fronting the railroad was simply a line of tinder boxes through which the fire swept without let or hinderance, and one hour from the time the alarm was given, four-fifths of the business interests of the town were in ashes. The fire originated with two little boys, four years old, lighting a cigar in the house above mentioned. The fire devoured everything in its course, including, besides the business row and dwellings,, four grain warehouses, the depot (unlamented), and a fine water-tank, which the railroad company had just completed. Daniel Rice, a saloon-keeper, in trying to save his money, was burned so that he died. The loss of property was very severe. The total number of buildings-stores, saloons, dwellings and barns-burned, were thirty-four, leaving fifty-nine unburned, the latter being almost wholly dwellings and out buildings. A careful estimate of the total losses incurred amounted to $48,730, of which amount only $11,850 was covered by insurance.
Immediately after the fire the railroad company set to work building a depot. Instead of the narrow and cramped accommodations of the old trap dignified by the name, they have now ample room for every department of their business. The water-tank was also rebuilt, and with one of the best wells on the road, is an important adjunct in the management of its rolling stock. The village has
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
completely recovered from the severe losses it sustained by the fire. Its busi- ness interests have continued to increase, and, as a result, larger and better bus- iness buildings serve the accommodations of trade.
In 1877 Ridgway had a newspaper for a short time. The Ridgway Register, published by F. A. Howe.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
The eastern line of this township crosses the center of the county. In 1860 Madison was separated from Decorah township and given an existence of its own. The first settler was Jo- hannes Evenson, in 1850, whose marriage to Miss Catharine Helen Anderson was the first marriage in the county. The li- cense was granted on the fifth day of October. 1850, and the ceremony was performed by the well-known Rev. N. Brandt, now pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, Decorah, but then a wandering missionary. The hunt for the license, so as to take advantage of the presence of the minister and have the mar- riage performed, and the waiting for Judge Reed to return from Dubuque to grant the license, are more fully related in an early chapter of this history. Other settlers were Iver G. Ringstad and wife, June 30, 1851, on section 29; Ole M. Asleson and wife, July 12, on section 8; Gulbrand E. Wig, in September, on sec- tion 36; Helge N. Myron and Herbert Onstien, all in 1851. Ed- ward R. Scott, now a prominent farmer of Madison township, settled there with his wife in 1854. Population of the township, 781. The residents get their mail at Decorah and Ridgeway. The Upper Iowa River runs across the extreme northeastern part of the township.
DECORAH.
This township, city and county seat are described in the pre- ceding chapter.
GLENWOOD TOWNSHIP.
This is the eastern of the central tier of townships. The Up- per Iowa River runs across the northern part. "Trout River" running north through the central part, empties into it. Popu- lation about 1.200. Woodville P. O. is about two miles south- east of the center of the township, on the Decorah and Waukon daily mail route, and Thoten P. O. in the Rocksvold neighbor- hood, toward the northwest part. The Washington Prairie P. O., in Frankville township, and the Freeport P. O. are convenient to some of the inhabitants. There are ample water powers and several mills in the township. The large spring and caves on and near the Decorah and Waukon road, are often visited by pic- nic parties from Waukon. The large cave not far from "Trout River" in the southern part of the township, is described in the account of pleasure resorts near Decorah, given in the preceding chapter.
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
July 2, 1850, Ole G. Johnson settled on the southwest quarter of section 31. Among other early settlers were Christopher Evans, June 15, 1851, on the northeast quarter of section 32; . and Nathan Drake, the same year, on section 7, where he is still a prominent and public-spirited citizen. Ole P. Rocksvold. Hen- ry Kniss and Lewis L. Cook and wife, settled in 1853. Geo. C. Windship and wife, now of Decorah, and quite a number of others in 1854, and the settlement was afterwards rapid. The graded road bed of the proposed railroad extension from Waukon to De- corah, which may yet be built, runs through the northern part of the township.
SUMNER TOWNSHIP.
This is the western township of the fourth tier from the north. Population, 863, in 1880. The Turkey River flows southeast through the northeast part of the township. The nearest post- office is Spillville, just across the eastern line. It was divided from Lincoln and made a separate township in 1862. There is no village nor even store in Sumner township. It is purely agricultu- ral. A. Tracy, now of Decorah, who went there in 1858 and set- tled on section 29, where he lived until a few years ago, was the first settler on the open prairie, which he describes as marvelous- ly beautiful, being a rolling sea of many hued flowers, with fre- quent springs. There was a Norwegian settlement in the north- east on the Turkey River before Mr. Tracy came. The Germans, mostly in the eastern part, also came before him. The Bohem- ians came later, and comprise a large portion of the inhabitants. The north half of the township is rolling and generally pretty well timbered. The south half is open rolling prairie, except where trees have been planted, with plenty of springs. All is good soil.
CALMAR TOWNSHIP-CALMAR, SPILLVILLE AND CONOVER.
Calmar township, with total population in 1880, 2,043, has three villages and postoffices. Calmar, the railroad center of several branches of the C., M. & St. P. Ry., with a population in 1880 of 617, is a little over a mile from the southeast corner of the township. Spillville, on the Turkey River which flows through the western part of the township-population, 340; and Conover the junction of the Decorah branch of the railroad, and situated near the center of the township-population, 168. The first vot- ing precinct of the township is at Calmar and the second at Spillville.
Calmar village is situated on a high rolling prairie and in the center of a beautiful and productive country. It is on the main line of the Iowa & Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. It is the starting point of the Iowa & Da- kota Division, also of the trains on the Decorah branch via Con-
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
over, and of trains on the Davenport via Jackson Junction. Some eighteen trains arrive and leave daily, making the move- ment of thirty-six trains. The important business of the station is under the capable charge of S. V. Potter, agent. T. Ahern, roadmaster, T. W. Hazleton, foreman of the round house, and Sam Kelsey, foreman of repair shop, and Conductor Hoxsie, of the I. & D .. Division, have their homes here, as do quite a number of other railroad men. S. V. Potter several years ago, put up a large and handsome residence, and fine residences have also been erected by T. Ahern, and other railroad men and citizens.
Calmar is now well supplied with churches. The Norwegian Lutheran Church, built of stone in 1857, but since enlarged, has been for twenty-five years a prominent landmark; the Catholics erected a handsome frame church building several years ago, and the erection of a frame edifice for the Methodist Church, to cost $3,000, has just been commenced. The graded school, with two distinct departments and two teachers in summer and three in winter, has a commodious and handsome new building-atten- dance, 160. C. S. Boyce is principal, and Anna Stanberg assistant.
John Scott, postmaster and express agent, has a large general merchandise store. The Excelsior Wagon Works of Miller, Geisen & Co., are an important enterprise. C. W. Geisen runs the lumber yard, Meyer & Dortal a good general store, and McEwen & Stiles the drug and book store; while in the same row with P. Olson's dry goods store, occupying a district recently burned out, are V. E. Strayer's handsome new brick hardware store, and L. O. Moen's fine new brick building for his furniture store. Some fifteen dwelling houses have also been erected in Calmar this season. Beside the Railroad Hotel there are the George House, the Ferguson House and the American House. The other branches of business are well represented. The present city offi- cers are:
Mayor, C. W. Geisen; Recorder, J. B. Kaye .; Treasurer, P. Olson; Councilmen, J. S. Roome, A. E. Stiles, F. L. George, H. Miller, Jr., J. H. Constantine, and V. E. Strayer .; Marshal, Geo. Miller.
John B. Kaye, Justice of the Peace, and prominent attorney, is also a poet of no mean ability, and a general favorite. His second volume, "Songs of Lake Geneva, and Other Poems," is now in the hands of the publishers.
Calmar's first newspaper, the. Winneshiek Representative, pub- lished by T. B. Wood, commenced in 1870, lived about a year and removed to Ossian, where it soon died. The Calmar Guardian commenced April 19, 1876, ran about two years. Sam S. Haislet, the publisher, now has a paper at Heron Lake, Minn. The Calmar Critic, commenced in June by W. C. Eaton. now represents Cal- mar in the newspaper world, besides Calmar departments of the Decorah newspapers.
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
The following in regard to the early history of Calmar, as well as incidentally of Conover, is gleaned from a contributor to Sparks' History:
"In the early part of the year 1854, the first building was erected in Calmar by Peter Clawson and Alf. Clark, natives of Sweden, who came from California about that time and located at this place. This building was little more than a shanty, but served the double purpose of a variety store and dwelling house, Clark & Clawson being the occupants and the first merchants of the town.
."John P. Landin, my informant, tells me that the town site, surveyed a little later in the season-himself helping to carry the chain-and was then platted and dedicated to the public, by Clark, the owner of the land. On the comple- tion of the survey it was found that the store stood in the center of Main street. Before winter, however, Clark & Co., had erected three other buildings of more pretentions-a hotel, the Calmar House, which burned down in August, 1873, a store, on the site now occupied by P. Olson's building, and a saloon, which stood on the ground now occupied by the Huston House.
"Clark & Co. ran the new store, one Henry Miller the hotel, and Hans Gul- branson the saloon, while Landin served for some time in the capacity of hostler in the hotel stable. On account of the scarcity of shingles in the river markets at the time, the hotel was roofed in the first instance with canvas, or sheeting, and so remained for several months. Landin dug the first well in town, dur- ing the same year. It was sunk in the public square. On the 9th of July, 1854, says Landin, before I ever saw Calmar, or the site where it stands, I stopped at Fort Atkinson, ate supper, stopped over night and breakfasted next day with Squire Cooney. After hoeing corn awhile as an equivalent, I inquired of the squire if there was any of my countrymen in the vicinity, and he told me that there was one by the name of Clark keeping store at Whisky Grove, and I. came up here. It was my first day in Calmar. Whisky Grove, it appears, was a name often applied to this locality in those days.
"The town was by Clark named Marysville, and went by that name for about one year, when a postoffice was located here, and, on account of there be- ing another Marysville in the State, the name was changed to Calmar. This latter name was also of Clark's choosing, and was given in remembrance of his native town of Kalmar, situated on Kalmar Sound, on the southeast coast of Sweden. Clark was the first postmaster, and his successors have been P. M. Stanberg, D. S. Lovejoy, and John Scott, the present incumbent.
"In the year 1855, Landin erected a wooden building on the site now occu- pied by the Clawson & Landin Block. In that building he opened up a grocery business and sold whisky and beer-the latter he brewed himself in an under- ground cave near by. A large percentage of his sales were paid in butter and eggs. At that time he paid from six cents to nine cents per pound for butter, and three cents per dozen for eggs. Whisky sold for five cents per glass, so that for only one dozen and eight eggs a man could get a 'square drink,' and if a customer wanted a 'nog' it was common for the trader to throw in the egg 'free gratis.'
"In the year 1868, work was commenced on the Iowa & Dakota branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, with Calmar as its eastern terminus and junction with the main line. During the year, track was laid as far as New Hampton, considerably increasing the trade of the town, and adding to its importance as a shipping center as the road was pushed further into the interior. During the next year the Decorah branch was built. but for a year thereafter the trains of that branch did not run farther east then Conover, since which time Calmar has been the eastern end of their run and the point of passenger transfer. But, as already stated, these trains still make a stay at Conover.
"In the year 1869, under the provisons of the Municipal Incorporation Act, Chapter 51, Revised Statutes of 1860, Calmar was made an incorporated town, and was duly organized by the election of municipal officers in March, 1870. John Scott was elected Mayor, and was re-elected in 1871. In 1872 John W. Tower was elected Mayor, and in 1873-4, the citizens chose S. V. Potter to fill
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
that office. In 1875 the mantle was worn by A. E. Manchester, and E. Pen- nington is the present incumbent. Since the incorporation of the town, several miles of sidewalks built, Town Hall erected, and many other public improve- ments made.
"The Free Masons have a lodge in Calmar with a membership of forty-five. Their hall is over the post office, and is neat, commodious and well furnished. The lodge is out of debt, and its growth and influence in our town has been rapid and beneficent. The Sons and Daughters of Temperance also have a lodge here, and although organized only about a year ago, it has about forty active members, and is doing a good work. Their hall, on the upper floor of the Anderson-Landin block, is large, and well arranged.'
The flush days of Conover village, which is nine miles from Decorah and three from Calmar, and situated where the De- corah branch leaves the St. Paul and Minneapolis branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry., are pictured in the preceding description. But it still has 168 inhabitants by the census of 1880, an elevator, a general store, hotel and other business. C. J. Thompson is railroad and express agent.
Spillville village, three miles west of Conover, and twelve miles southwest of Decorah, is situated on the southwest bank of the Turkey River, and has 340 inhabitants. The plat was recorded by Joseph Spielman, proprietor, May 7, 1860. Joseph Spillman, or Spielman, who lived there in 1851, was the first settler, and had a mill. The flouring mill, now one of its prominent institu- tions, was built by Henry and Lyman Morse, the well-known Bluffton pioneers, before they left for California. It was after- ward operated by Norris Miller, now of Decorah. It is now owned by the Spillville Mill Co. Frank Nockles' brewery is another prominent enterprise. J. J. Hang, postmaster, has a general store, and there are other branches of business. S. W. Sanders & Son, Decorah, have a branch store there. Spillville is the center and headquarters of the Bohemians of the county, who flock in crowds to the large Bohemian Catholic Church there, in the fore- noon, and after services all go to the beer saloons and enjoy themselves in their old country style-but there is rarely drunk- ness on the occasions. The Spillville band and orchestra is fa- mous, and is often called to Decorah on public occasions.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
adjoins Decorah township on the south. The . C., M. & St. Paul Ry. runs across its southwestern corner. It has no village nor postoffice, its most convenient ones being Decorah, Calmar, and Ossian. Population, 1,837. The township was settled in June, 1850, by what are claimed to be the first Norwegian settlers in the county. An account of this settlement-that of the Erick Anderson party in June, of Nelson Johnson and party in July, and of Engebret Peterson Haugen, in October of the same year, are given in a previous chapter relating to early county history, and need not be repeated here.
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
FRANKVILLE TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
Frankville is the eastern township of next to the southern tier of townships. The census of 1880 gave it a population of 970. Of these 158 are in Frankville village, in the southeastern corner of the township, and 12 miles southeast of Decorah. Woodside postoffice is on the road to Decorah, about 4 miles from Frank- ville. Spark's History says:
"In 1851-2-3 the county was deluged with a healthy immigration. They were men noted for their integrity, perseverance, and a determination to suc- ceed. They came in their covered carts drawn by oxen, with the family sup- port hitched on behind in the possession of a good milch cow. A great many of these men found their homes on Washington Prairie. The earliest pioneers were the Hawkes, Moses Hostetter, J. Callendar, Christopher Anderson Es- trem, Wm. Padden, the Rosa family, Jacob Duff, Walter Rathbun, and others. These came in 1850 or early in 1851. Among the number who drifted into the county in the years 1851-2 were J. T. Atkins, the Beards and Cutlers, John and James D. Mckay, Joel Pagin, Wm. Birdsell, Philip Husted, Isaac Birdsell, Erick Olson Bakke, James B. Schenk, and others too numerous to mention. This immigration had the effect to change the wild prairie of a year or two previous into the garden of Winneshiek County. The construction of houses was carried on until they dotted the prairie from every conceivable point of the compass. Deer were numerous, prairie-chickens plenty, the small streams abounded with speckled trout, while larger fish were to be obtained from the Iowa River. With these, and what they were able to raise, it would seem these hardy pioneers fared sumptuously.
"Along with the tide that rolled over the country in 1851 was a man noted for his wealth. energy and perseverance. He came to stay, bringing with him a herd of cattle. Among others who preceded him was one Timothy Fuller, whose claim he purchased and settled on. This man is known all over the coun- try as Frank Teabout, the founder of Frankville.
"In 1852. Frankville was little more than a trading point, at which lived the only inhabitant and proprietor, Mr. Frank Teabout; but about this time an event transpired which gave to it life and brighter prospects for the future. A commission had been appointed to locate the State road for the benefit of im- migrants seeking homes in Northwestern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. Frankville secured the road.
The location of the road is the greatest event in the history of Frankville, for without it, in all likelihood, the place would never have been anything more than the residence of Mr. Frank Teabout. As it is, Frankville is a pleasant village, and at one time figured conspicuously in the history of the county.
It was near night when the commission arrived at Mr. Teabout's residence, and they of course accepted his hospitality until the next morning. On the next day Mr. Teabout lead the commissioners to Decorah, they declaring their line of march to be the location of the new road. There were other par- ties besides Mr. Teabout who studied self-interest in the location of the State road. Among the number was John McKay. He secured the passage of this desired highway through his farm. Mr. Mckay had the same ambition for a town that actuated his neighbor. His first work in that direction was the es- tablishment of a postoffice, which was effected on the discontinuance of the Jamestown office. He also secured the location of a store at this place. This town bore the name of Trout River, and at one time was a strong competitor of Frankville. The postoffice was continued at this place for nearly two years from whence it was moved to Frankville. It is claimed that this move was effected through a compromise entered into between the respective founders of the two towns.
Immediately on the location of the road, as if by magic, a town grew up about the nucleus that had previously been built, and was given the name of
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
Frankville. Frankville very soon became the great center of attraction. Mo- neek became discouraged, and moved the greater part of its worldly effects up to the new town.
The Lathrop House, an impressive three-story frame building, was built by Philip Lathrop in the year 1854. This hotel was well provided for, and did a good business. The building was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1857-8. Mr. Lathrop was absent at the time of the burning of his house, at Des Moines, lobbying through a bill asking the location of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Frankville, the people of that place pledging land and material in aid of its construction. Mr. Teabout replaced the building destroyed, by an- other, which long afforded hospitality to the traveler.
Much of the early success and prosperity of Frankville is justly accredited to its founder, Mr. Frank Teabout. He possessed wealth, and lavished it on the various enterprises that benefited his town. In 1852 he built the Presbyte- rian Church, and gave it to that denomination-the first house of worship built in the village. This church edifice was early occupied by Rev. D. W. Lyon, a preacher who divided his time between McGregor, Monona, Frankville and other points.
As an illustration of the importance Frankville attained when at its acme, it will only be necessary to state that the Free Masons of Decorah used to go to the former place to hold lodge meetings.
In 1854 Mr. Teabout built a saw-mill at a cost of $1,500. This mill did a good business, its owner finding a ready sale for all the timber it could saw. The mill was sold to Mr. Cutler. No trace of it remains to-day. In 1856 Mr. Teabout built a large steam grist mill, of two run of stone, at a cost of $10,000. The mill, during the first few years of its existence, was a financial success. It was finally sold by the proprietors to Messrs. Beard and Cutler, who trans- ferred the machinery to the Spring Water Mill, on the Canoe. Parties used to come from Southern Minnesota to get their grist ground at this mill.
The Methodist Church was built in 1873. This denomination had held ser- vices previously in other buildings. To the Rev. Mr. Webb is said to belong the honor of being the first minister of this denomination to. officiate in the place. Frankville continued to prosper until the Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road cut it off; then came its decline.
On the 10th of June, 1881, the hundredth anniversary of Leonard Cutler, of Frankville, the father of James B. Cutler, the first postmaster, was observed at the residence of James D. Me- Kay, in Frankville. His children present were James B., David E., and William Cutler, of Osage, and Mrs. James D. McKay and Mrs. W. D. Smith of Frankville. Mr. Cutler was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and twenty-one members from Decorah were present. Judge M. V. Burdick delivered an address, which was responded to by James. B. Cutler. Though his eyesight has failed him and his hearing impaired, the veteran centenarian is still living. . He was born in Remington, Vt., June 10, 1781, and has twenty-three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Of his thirteen children, nine are living, one of them being Leonard Cutler, formerly of Decorah.
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