USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 25
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At first mail was received by stage lines from Webster City, Belmond and Goldfield, originally called Liberty postoffice.
The Clarion office is now a second class office, employing three office clerks and six rural carrier clerks. The business of the office in 1914-15, to the end of the fiscal year was $9.527.32. The deposits in the savings depart- ment were $200 in June, 1915. There are six rural free delivery routes extending to outlying districts.
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOW.A.
In July, 1912, the government concluded to ask for a more permanent and suitable building for postal uses and asked that some one furnish a brick building, having not less than fifteen hundred square feet of floor space, to be properly heated and lighted for a term of twenty years. George 1 .. Cutler, a pioneer resident of the county, and ex-county recorder, now residing in Clarion, provided such a building at a cost of seven thousand dollars, which is located on the corner of Main and Maple streets, about equal distance from the two depots, and leased the same to the govern- ment. It was first used in 1912.
Clarion's First Sunday School Was Held in Frame Court House, Program Reveals
The local Congregational church the green paper was secured from is celebrating the sixtieth anniver- Webster City, the usual source of sary of its founding here. On Wed- nesday afternoon, a program given supplies for this neighborhood in those days. at a meeting of the sisterhood com- memorated the anniversary, Mrs. H. A. Duer telling of the history of that society, Miss Minnie Lockwood relating the history of the church, Mrs. J. D. Moseley telling of the history of the missionary society and Mrs. Burt Harwood reviewing the history of the church Sunday school.
Christmas treats were limited to molasses and stick candy and pop- corn, which was also the main dec- oration the on tree. Parents brought a few small gifts from home to be distributed at the exer- cises to their own children.
The union Sunday school had a circulating library of from thirty to forty books which were secured by Father Sands second hand from a school in New Hampshire. Later this library was enlarged by a gift from Mr. Weber. Books were' seized upon with great eagerness as reading matter was necessarily very
Having access to the notes of the latter, we find some information of interest to old timers in Wright county. The first Sunday school ever to be held in Clarion was a scarce In those days. Miss Gibbs : union school organized in 1875 and also recalls a circulating town 11- brary maintained in the school held In the first county court house which stood in the present court | house. square. Preaching Some of the first school's early's teachers were Uncle John Rowen, ? Wm. C. Morton, B. P. Entriken, then services were also held there by Father Sands. N. F. Weber was the first Sunday school superintendent, with R. K. county clerk; Mr. Brintnall, then Eastman, assistant, and W. T. R. town superintendent of schools; Mr. < Humphrey, secretary and librarian. Seaman who operated a tavern here
In 1885, two separate schools, Congregational and Methodist, were organized. Miss Allce Gibbs, whose family came to Clarion 'in 1870, re- members the first Christmas exer- cises and the first Congregational Sunday school Christmas tree. As there was no evergreen trees to be
had here then, those in charge brought in a Lombardy poplar and wrapped its limbs with green paper
on the site opposite the present post : office; and Mrs. Shepard, who lived in a house on the present library,; corner. She was a very charitable woman and proved very helpful to her neighbors at a time of a scarlet fever epidemic. She aided with the nursing of many other families al -- though she had two small sons of her own.
Such was the personnell of some to better represent the Christmas of the early church work in Clar- tree. Miss Gibbs thinks that likely lon.
1932
CHAPTER XXIV.
DAYTON TOWNSHIP.
Dayton is the second township from both the south and western lines of the county, and comprises congressional township 91, range 25, except sections 1 and 2 and parts of 11 and 12, which are in Clarion. It is south of Lake, west of Lincoln, north of Woolstock and east of Eagle Grove townships. Eagle Creek takes its rise in this township and there are now several county drainage ditches, which, together with tile drainage put in by landowners, has fairly well dried up most of the former wet and swampy land. White Fox creek touches the southeast corner, in section 36. The Chicago Great Western railroad traverses townships 1, 2, 3, 9, 8 and 18, with a small station at Florence, in section 8. This is the only hamlet in the township and is only a small trading point and station stop.
This is a purely prairie territory and is made up of excellent land, all of which has long since been taken up and put under cultivation by a thrifty set of farmers and stockmen. Clarion is the market and chief trading cen- ter for the people of Dayton township. However, many go to Eagle Grove, at the southwest, as the township is about equidistant from Eagle Grove and Clarion.
ORGANIZATION.
Dayton was organized in 1879, when it had a population of but one hundred and forty-nine souls, and was taken from territory of former Eagle Grove and Clarion townships. When organized in 1879, it had a population of 149, in 1890 it had 520, in 1900, 653 and in 1910, 525.
It has the regulation number of schools and the principal occupation of the people is agriculture. Here one finds many excellent farms, with all the ordinary modern farm improvements. The once dreary, treeless prairie landscape has been broken by the magnificent groves that were planted by thoughtful, painstaking pioneer people. These groves have come to be thrifty bodies of timber, and in many cases provide enough fuel and timber for fencing about the place. These groves are much appreciated when the
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winter's winds roar on the level prairie-it is then that these groves shelter stock and keep the wind's violent force from the barn, outbuildings and farm residence. Lands within this part of Wright county that in the seven- ties might have been purchased at five dollars per acre have become worth from one hundred dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, and the owners of the same do not care to sell, not knowing where under the shining sun they could better their condition, so long as they desire to follow farming.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest settlement was made in Dayton township, as now bounded, in 1868, during the fall of which year came George Savage, locating in the east half of the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the south- west quarter of section 14. Andrew Swanger came in next, locating on Eagle creek, in the east half of school section 16; he was killed by lightning near a school house, whither he had gone to get his little son. James Gray was an old pioneer of the Boone river country and located subsequently in this township, in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 14. Later he sold and moved to Missouri. Alex Beck settled in section 17, where he died a number of years later. Dan Blocksom bought land in this township on the Eagle creek, but many years later sold and moved to Clarion, where he still resides. Jesse Moore, of whom it is related no better man ever lived in Wright county, settled along the south line of this township. He was a minister in the Campbellite church, who formed the Rocky Ford church in Hamilton county and died many years ago. His son, Rev. Hugh Moore, is now pastor of the First Baptist church at Webster City. Widow McDon- ald also was among the early settlers in this township, she having located in section 14, on land which had been owned by one Wiggins. Section 10 was improved by a man who was a non-resident, but leased it to a Mr. Love- less. George Chapman settled along the west side of Eagle creek, remained ten years and removed. Another Chapman, who was always called "Old Man" Chapman (no relative of the above), and his sons, located, as did "Old Man" Sheriff and family, in the southwest part of the township. Two Swedes named Pengtson located a quarter section in the north part of the township, in section 9. Frank Slaight purchased land south of the present village of Florence, in section 17, but soon sold and returned to Chickasaw county, Iowa. Sumner Wiggins settled in section 34, and E. S. Cleveland located as a renter for a few years, then located in Lake township, settling
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
in section 30, where he lived thirty-two years, then removed and retired at Clarion, where he still lives.
The early settlers all went to work and planted out trees-maple, wil- low and cottonwood-which have now come to be immense trees, forming groves of value and beauty. These were the pioneers in Dayton township.
Florence postoffice was established in section 10 in the autumn of 1897. with C. W. Thorup as postmaster. He was succeeded by C. T. Sidwell, August 29, 1900, and on February 14, 1903, the office was discontinued.
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CITY HALL AND ARMORY, EAGLE GROVE.
IOWA RIVER. NEAR DOWS.
CHAPTER XXV.
EAGLE GROVE TOWNSHIP AND CITY.
Eagle Grove township is situated on the west line of Wright county and is the second from the southern boundary, and as now constituted com- prises congressional township 91, range 26, west; hence is six miles square and contains twenty-three thousand and forty acres. It was named for Eagle creek, which stream flows through its borders and the grove of the same name. The Boone river meanders along the western tier of sections, and originally there were several good-sized groves along the stream, where were seen numerous eagles-first by Pioneer Brassfield, a hunter of the early fifties, who finally located, in 1854, in what is now Liberty township. These various circumstances gave rise to the name of the civil township when it was organized, it being one of Wright county's first civil sub- divisions. There it was that the county was organized and set off from Webster county in Angust, 1855, at the cabin home of S. B. Hewett, Sr.
The township is now among the very best in the county, with the city of Eagle Grove within its borders. The Chicago & Northwestern railroad, en route from Ames and Tama City, divides there, one line running to St. Paul, the other, west through Ilawarden and on into Dakota. The other rail highway of Eagle Grove township is the Chicago Great Western, origi- nally the Fort Dodge & Mason City road, which enters the township in section 13. passes through the city of Eagle Grove and on southwest, leaving the township and county from section 7. where the village of Nuel has recently been established. The township claims the distinction of being the scene of county organization, the scene of the first legal election and now has the largest town within the county.
Eagle Grove township is bounded on the north by Liberty township. on the east by Dayton township, on the south by Troy township, and on the west by Humboldt county. Its population in 1890 was 2,355, including the town of Eagle Grove and a portion of Goldfield; in 1900 it had reached 4, 129 and the United States census for 1910 gave it 3,923 population. The state census of 1915 gives the population of the township, outside of Eagle Grove city, 513, while that of the city is about 4,000.
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WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
ORGANIC.
At the March term of county court, April 7, 1856, presided over by Judge Dean, on petition of N. B. Paine, Eagle Grove, Troy and Liberty townships were organized-Pleasant and Vernon not being formed until sometime later in the same year. Hence, Eagle Grove township was one of the first three townships organized in Wright county. Elections were ordered held soon after the organizations of these townships had been per- fected. Originally Eagle Grove township included all of township 91; range 25, double its present size. Another change was made prior to 1875 when nine sections in the northeast corner were taken off and went toward forming Clarion township, and in 1883 when . Lincoln township was created, the board of supervisors divided the county into sixteen civil townships to conform to the congressional township lines, after which Eagle Grove took on its present size and form.
It was named from the fact that not far from the present site of the present city of Eagle Grove, an old eagle had built her nest in a large tree which was known to all pioneer settlers as the "Eagle Tree," but the name Eagle Grove was given to the first postoffice in the township, and later to the city.
The first township election meeting was held at the house of S. B. Hewett, Sr., and the following persons were duly elected: Ira B. Dean, William C. Davis and E. C. Cheever, trustees; S. B. Hewett, Jr., clerk ; S. B. Hewett. Jr., and William Sill, justices of the peace; Jeptha Doty and John Hayns, constables; James Gray, assessor; R. Parker, road super- visor. Number of votes polled, thirteen. The party elected as road super- visor refused to serve and Solomon Holder served in his place. The party elected as assessor refused to serve and in his place was placed Alva L. Dean.
At the 1856 presidential election there were eighteen votes cast. At the August, 1857, election on the adoption of the new state constitution, there were twenty-four votes cast, and the question of striking out the word "white" was voted on, but the results are not now to be obtained. At the June, 1858, election the question of banking was voted on, seven ballots being cast for a state bank in Iowa and seven against it.
When Eagle Grove was incorporated, January 8, 1895, all that part of Eagle Grove township within the corporate limits of the town of Eagle Grove, was set off as an independent civil township; but the board of super- visors which passed that act forgot to give said civil township a name, as
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they should have done in creating a new township, hence this precinct has no name, but is kept in the accounts of the county as "Independent Eagle Grove."
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first man to settle in the township, as now defined, was William Davis, who came in 1854, but being unable, or unwilling, to undergo the hardships of those times, he removed after about a year's residence. The next to enter the township, as actual settlers, were N. B. Paine and the Hewetts-S. B., Sr., and S. B., Jr .- who on arriving set to work to build a log cabin close to the banks of Boone river, in which they all lived. In this cabin the county was organized in 1855. This party brought with them four heavily-loaded. well-filled wagons of provisions, knowing full well what pioneering here would likely mean. These loads were hauled from Davenport, before Iowa had a mile of railroad within its borders, and the distance was three hundred miles. The nearest postoffice to this settlement was Homer, Webster county (now Hamilton), then the seat of justice for the first named county, a distance of thirty miles.
Soon after his arrival, N. B. Paine built a log house on the prairie where he settled. There was neither tree nor bush near to him-the Boone river timber being the nearest. But by 1870 this rugged, unique pioneer who had faith, as but few others did at that time, in prairie soil, had come to be a prosperous, well-to-do farmer, living in a splendid farm house, with beautiful shade trees growing about it, all planted by his own hands. His residence was surrounded by fine shrubbery and he had gravel walks, flower beds and grape vines with not a few bearing apple trees.
Other early comers were James Gray and William Sills, who made a success from the time of their first advent into the township. Also the Hewetts, by dint of hard toil and good management, soon were classed among the prosperous men of Wright county. Later settlers included John Wassem and J. Q. Hanna. In 1870 the township had a population of about two hundred and fifty, which soon doubled. It then contained three good school houses-two frame and one brick.
THE "INDIAN VILLAGE."
N. B. Paine was the authority for the statement that there was at the time the government surveyors were running the section lines in this county, an Indian village within what is now Eagle Grove township. It is claimed
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that near the Paine place there were five hundred Indian wigwams, but the march of civilization soon drove the red men to other hunting grounds, and doubtless this was wisdom; at least the fair, fertile fields of corn, grain and grasses of today would lead one to think so.
PERISHED IN THE PRAIRIE FIRE.
About 1869, there occurred a sad event in Eagle Grove township. There was then living there a family named Dersheit. The husband was out burning prairie, as was the early-day custom, and the fire extending to the fence, he told his wife to go and guard the same from being burned. Hay- ing her child with her at the time, a little infant some fifteen months old, she sat it down in a place she deemed secure, and hastened to the spot where the fence was in danger. While she was at work trying to save the fence, the high wind had swept the fire in the direction of the child, and in a very short time the poor little innocent perished in the flames. The fence was saved, but when the mother returned for her child, all she found was its lifeless form blackened and burned to a crisp, and thus in saving the fence the mother's first-born was lost.
OTIIER HISTORY.
The special general chapters on education, church life and lodges, as related to this township, will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The township now is all thickly settled by thrifty, well-to-do farmers and stock raisers, nearly all of whom own the land on which they live, and many have retired to some one of the nearby towns, where they have shares in the various banking institutions. Three score years have made wonder- ful changes along the Boone valley, in this goodly township. Nearly all of the pioneer band have been gathered to their fathers. N. B. Paine and his associate, S. B. Hewett, Jr., passed away not many years since. The latter left no heirs, but Mr. Paine left sons living at Eagle Grove, who are well-known business factors of the place.
What was styled Rosedale postoffice, in this township, was established in September. 1857, with the pioneer Daniel Okerson as its postmaster. The office was discontinued in October, 1860; was re-established on March 30, 1877, with Celia L. Hulse as postmistress, and was finally discontinued on November 19. 1885.
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WRIGIIT COUNTY, IOWA.
CITY OF EAGLE GROVE.
The city of Eagle Grove, in Eagle Grove township, is a junction point of the great Chicago & North Western system of railways, one line lead- ing west to Dakota, through Hawarden, while the other line extends to Elmore, Minnesota, and on over its connecting lines into St. Paul and Min- neapolis. The other railroad of the city is the old Mason City & Ft. Dodge line, now owned by the Chicago Great Western Company, which runs from Council Bluffs to Mason City, through Clarion.
Eagle Grove was platted by S. B. Hewett, Jr., and the railroad land company of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. ( See "Vill- · age Plats" in miscellaneous chapter. )
This town was built out on the prairie and there was not a tree on the plot in 1881, but the hands of pioneer settlers set out thousands of beautiful shade trees, such as grow best in this section, and today the broad branches of these trees tower up many feet, giving the residence portion of the city a handsome appearance. A visitor unacquainted with this fact might think the town originally was platted within a large grove, and that possibly that was why it was named Eagle Grove; but not so, as is set out in the history of the township in which it was platted.
The well-paved streets, the numerous electroliers lighting the streets at night ; the flowing wells, and other improvements made by the railroad com- pany and the citizens, has made the city a place of attractiveness seldom found in a pure prairie land. The city was the actual result of the railroad making a new division at that point. It derives its support mainly from the rich soil and wealthy farming community found on every side, and from the extensive railway operations, including the roundhouse and machine shops, division offices, etc. Its business men are all of that true, enterprising type so essential to the proper upbuilding of a modern city.
The population of Eagle Grove in 1890 was 1.881: in 1900, 3.557; in 1910. 3,887; at present. upwards of 4,000. The churches, schools and lodges of the city are all treated in detail in general chapters on such topics presented elsewhere in this volume.
Many of the first business men of the city formerly were in trade in Webster City, and a goodly number have long since either removed or died. The place is largely of American population-loyal and true citizens.
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
MUNICIPAL IIISTORY.
The first account of the history of the incorporation of Eagle Grove was the order of the district court, October 16, 1882, which authorized the town to become incorporated under the laws of the state. The first election was held on December 22, 1882, at which time the following officers were elected : Mayor, E. M. Scott; recorder, C. A. Schaffter; assessor. A. H. Wassem; trustees, J. S. Baker, H. C. Mahanna, J. J. Andrews, W. C. Chap- man, G. Hutchings, John Bowes. These officers served until the next spring, when, in March, a new set were elected at the usual spring election, as pro- vided by law.
In the main, the municipal affairs of Eagle Grove have been well admin- istered by wise city officials. The matter of incorporation was one taken up early in the town's history, and for a number of years met with some opposition, but the better, more enterprising, progressive citizens insisted on good government, and it was not long before all freeholders agreed to the plans proposed for the general public good.
A magnificent city building was completed in 1914, at a cost of eigh- teen thousand dollars, situated on the east side of the Chicago & North Western railway tracks, close to the armory. It is constructed of vitrified brick, fireproof, and is two stories in height. The building contains spacious rooms for all city officers, including a good council chamber, fire department, clerk's and treasurer's offices. The city jail is contained within the building.
THE WATERWORKS PLANT.
The first waterworks plant was put in during the year 1894, at a cost of ten thousand dollars. The same system is still used, many additions and extensions having been made, at a total cost of forty-two thousand two hun- dred dollars, for which bonds were floated. The stand-pipe is one hundred feet high and sixteen feet in diameter. There are fifty-four fire-plugs, or street hydrants.
Nine miles of sewer pipe were laid a few years ago and five miles addi- tional are being laid during the present season-1915.
The city owes eighteen thousand seven hundred and forty-two dollars in waterworks bonds, and eighteen thousand dollars for the city hall.
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CITY PUBLIC PARKS.
Eagle Grove is indeed fortimate in having had men at the helm when the place was first laid out, including the founders, who looked far ahead and knew that, in a prairie country, a city would need shaded places for rest and pleasure. They knew no better method to provide such places than to secure for the city tracts of land, while prices were within their reach, and set out hundreds of native trees and evergreens, which trees have now reached many feet in height and afford a cooling shade in the heated sum- mer months. The principal parks are "Hewett's" and "Greenwood" parks. The former is at the southwestern portion of the city, while the latter is at the end of North Broadway. Hewett's park has good shade, plenty of pic- nic tables and rustic seats. In the center of this park is that which will be a joy forever-the flowing well, which sends forth its cooling waters, day and night, year in and year out. To date the city has not been able finan- cially to carry on the other necessary park improvements, such as paving, sewerage, etc., but this will come in time, and meanwhile all rejoice at the good beginning offered by pioneer hands in setting ont the trees that now adorn the places. Hewett's park, a charming centrally-located place, was the gift of one of the city's founders-Sumner B. Hewett, Jr. The Chicago & North Western Railway Company donated what is known as Park Ave- nue park. The city purchased the old fair grounds, comprising forty acres, known as Greenwood park, at the east of the city, where the ball grounds and the race track are located. The latter park is well covered with fine shade trees and has a good supply of excellent water. There are private walks, rustic seats and tables for picnic parties.
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