USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 32
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KILLING MUSKRATS.
As late as the autumn and winter of 1910-11, as many as twenty men and boys were engaged in trapping muskrats about Wall lake, some of them being camped on the bank devoting their entire time to this work. There were over two thousand rat houses in the lake at that time, and as the bed of the lake covered over nine hundred acres it will be seen that there were more than two rat houses to every acre of the lake's surface. One man killed in one day eighty-five rats, and a number of his traps had not been visited when he thus reported. At that time muskrat hides sold at from twenty to thirty cents each. In earlier years, back in the sixties and seventies, many of the farmers in the vicinity of this lake, used to go there annually and trap and hunt, for the purpose of obtaining sufficient cash with which to pay their taxes.
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WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
PROPOSED DRAINAGE.
Of late years there has been going on a spirited controversy, between the state of lowa, Wright county, the sportsmen and the landowners around Wall lake, some of the people desiring the lake left as nature designed it, and to be controlled and protected by the state authorities, as a hunting place and water resort, while another faction has asked that the lake be drained and the land sold ( such as belongs to the county or state ) and utilized for farming purposes. Some of the landowners about the shores of the lake want it drained, while still others do not want it lost to the county as one of its few natural features. In 1913 the state executive council. at Des Moines, leased to Fred Austin, of Clarion, about nine hundred acres of this lake bed, for a period of twenty years, for the consideration of two hundred dollars per year, which action created a protest on the part of the sportsmen of northern lowa, and after an investigation, Attorney-General Crosson gave out the opinion that the executive council had no authority to so lease such lands, and the question is still unsettled. It has been argued that it will be advisable to drain the land and cultivate such parts as belong to lowa, by employing prison labor, to which rejoinder has been made, "We prefer to have black-birds ( which have always been a pest at this lake ) than to have 'jail-birds' hanging around." It remains for some future historian to record the final outcome of this matter. The fact is, that the lake has come to be little more than a marsh wherein grow rushes, wild rice and cat-tails, with a small acreage where fairly deep water is found at all seasons of the year.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
WOOLSTOCK TOWNSHIP.
Woolstock township, as at present constituted, is a congressional town- ship 90, range 25, west, and is situated on the south line of the county, with Wall Lake township at the east, Dayton township at the north and Troy township at the west. Its streams are the Boone river, running down along its western tier of townships, and White Fox creek, coursing through the eastern sections. Buck creek merely touches the territory in section 36 The only village in the township is Woolstock, in the extreme southwestern section. The history of the usual number of district schools in the town- ship and the church at Woolstock, with a country church in the southeastern portion of the township, is set out in general chapters elsewhere in this volime. The population of the township in 1868 was 434; in 1900 (after it had been greatly reduced in size ), 923; in 1910, 864; in 1915, according to the state reports, 945, inclusive of the village of Woolstock, which has a population of 387.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Along the banks of Eagle creek, as far north as the old Gilbert Perry farm, fourteen miles above Webster City, were originally found heavy bodies of native timber, which besides the groves along the Boone were of suffi- cient size to supply fencing and fuel for many years. The first to invade the Woolstock section of Wright county were Gilbert Perry, J. Boring and Roll Brewer, who came in 1858, and were followed a little later by B. F. AcDaniels and L. P. Metz. It was not many years before the settlement was increased by the coming of Edward Allen. B. F. Watterman and Louis Bernard, a Frenchman. It is generally conceded that the land in this portion of the county is fully equal, if not superior, to that found in any portion of the county or state.
Historian Stephenson wrote of Woolstock township in 1869: ".All the people of this township appear to be in a flourishing condition, and wherever one may go he will find the hand of industry plainly visible. Nor have they been negligent in regard to fruit trees, for we discover these have been planted very extensively. There are school houses in the township which
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afford ample facilities for the education of the youth, to which, above all things else, western people pay particular attention. Mr. Demming's farmi on which Mr. Watterman lives, is one of the finest in the county, containing in all six hundred and forty acres, one-third of which is under the plow, and one-half well fenced in. Mr. Demming, who lives in Connecticut, paid for substantial improvements on this large farm.
"There is a splendid house on the farm, a good granary, a large stable with stalls for fifty head of cattle, of which at present Watterman has sixty head of as fine stock as can be seen anywhere. To his other buildings he has recently added a cheese house, where he has commenced the manufacture of cheese. He has also set out twenty thousand young maple trees and a large quantity of Lombardy poplars, with a number of young pine and larch trees. All the building, fencing, breaking and tree planting has been done within the last three years. A few such settlers would soon render Woolstock township a perfect Eden of loveliness.
"The farm of Mr. Demming, with that of Louis Bernard, which ad- joins it, and which in the line of improvement may be placed among the best . in the county, constitute the most beautiful tract of land the eyes ever rested npon. Both farms are watered by the White Fox, an excellent and ever- living stream, the proper source of which may justly be attributed to a cluster of large springs located on its banks about two miles north of Water- man's. Some of the waters, however, which feed this source rise much farther up in Wright county among the lakes."
To be the possessor of a farm within this goodly township today, is but to be a wealthy and independent man, lands here ranging in value from one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred dollars per acre, owing to loca- tion and distance from railroads. Prior to the building of the North Western railroad from Webster City to Fagle Grove junction, the people of Woolstock township mostly traded in the first-named place, but after the completion of the road, and the establishment of the station known as Wool- stock, a number of Webster City men established branch houses, and some started new business enterprises at the new railroad station, which has since come to be a good trading place.
ORGANIZATION.
This township was organized in 1868, when it had only four hundred and thirty-four inhabitants. It was taken from Troy township, one of the original precincts of the county.
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TOWN OF WOOLSTOCK.
Woolstock was platted in January, 1881, by the land department of the Chicago & North Western Railway Company, and was re-platted on June 15, the same year, in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 31, township 90, range 25. Four blocks were vacated on January 17, 1885.
The first to engage in business was L. W. Tyrrell, followed by general dealers, Lewis & Sivey. The first to engage in the grain and live-stock business were Olmstead & Tatham. The first hotel was conducted by Alex- ander Beshey. Jose Middleton was the first postmaster. L. W. Tyrrell was the first mayor of the town. (See incorporation history. )
Being within a splendid farming and stock-growing section, Woolstock soon took on a sprightly trade, especially in live stock and grain. It was for years, and is today, one of the best shipping points in the county.
Its lodge history and that of the churches, is given in special chapters on these topics presented elsewhere in this volume.
In 1910 the population of Woolstock was given by the United States census report as 264, but the town has grown considerably since that date.
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF WOOLSTOCK.
The business of Woolstock in the spring of 1915 was in the hands of the following live dealers and professional men : Automobile garages, Jones & Son, J. A. Robinson ; agricultural implements, Jones & Son, P. C. Bump ; banks, Farmers Savings Bank, State Savings Bank of Woolstock; barber shop, L. N. Brindamour, Joseph Uregel; blacksmiths, J. A. Robinson, I. C. (rose ; cement blocks, Paul Loux ; creamery, not now operated but there is a good plant ; drugs, Reed & Brewer ; dray line. J. W. Weedman; elevator, Farmers Co-Operative Company, Independent Grain and Lumber Company ; furniture, Reed & Malaisie; general dealers, Reed & Malaisie, R. L. Frank ; hotel, The "Woolstock," by L. N. Brindamour ; harness, Jones & Son, P. C. Bump; hardware, Jones & Son, P. C. Bump; livery, A. D. Mourlane; lumber, Clifton & Sons, Independent Grain and Lumber Company; meat markets, Schmidt & MeDaniels; moving pictures, Hirt & Pool; physicians, Dr. C. J. Reed, Dr. J. C. Smith; restaurants, Joseph Robinson, N. J. Zimmer ; shoe store and repairs, Jones & Son; veterinary. Dr. Frank Baughton ; wagon shop, same as blacksmithing.
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WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
TOWN MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Woolstock was incorporated in 1895, with I .. W. Tyrrell as its first mayor. Mayor Tyrrell held the office until he would not, on account of age, have the honors any longer-there being nothing but "honors," the old pioneer said. In all, he held the position eighteen and one-half years, serv- ing continuously, except for four and one-half months, when A. H. Meier served. The present mayor is W. C. Halvorson, who was elected in the spring of 1914. The first clerk was C. H. Clifton. Other clerks have been D. H. Huff and G. L. Jones. The 1915 officers are: W. C. Halvorson, mayor : 1). 11. Huff, clerk: Frank Smalley, treasurer ; Dr. C. J. Reed, health officer; Henry Bohy, marshal; George L. Jones; F. C. Kitley. B. F. Hirt, E. H. Malaisie and J. A. Robinson, councilmen.
The little town is nicely lighted by electric lights. the current being secured from Webster City. It has five street cisterns for fire protection and a volunteer fire department, hand pumps being used. The town uses the public hall for council purposes.
The only justice of the peace Woolstock has ever had is the venerable L. W. Tyrrell, who has held the office in Woolstock township and town ever since he became a resident, in the early eighties.
The town was suffered great losses by fires, at one time nearly the entire business portion having been swept away.
THE POSTOFFICE.
Woolstock postoffice was established in 1868, and the following have served as its postimasters, the list having been compiled for this work espe- cially by the postoffice department at Washington: B. F. McDaniels, ap- pointed on April 16, 1868; Davis Hart, March 7. 1872; David Letts, Decem- ber 7, 1874: F. G. Yoeman, November 5, 1875: Isaac McDonald, May 8, 1877: Ellen Evans, October 21, 1870; Elza F. Middleton, October 24. 1881 ; William Thompson, January 19, 1887; Elza E. Middleton, May 14, 1889; L. W. Tyrrell, April 10, 1891; S. C. Gardner, August 21, 1893; Eliza H. Parrish, August 5, 1897; Sarah Parrish, June 15. 1898; Ada Lee, May 12, 1902; Nancy Pringle, June 23. 1903; Gertrude Risch, September 22, 1911, and Letha Doughton, June 25, 1913.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF UNUSUAL INTEREST.
ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS.
The following is a list and description of all the village or town plats, within Wright county, Iowa, as taken from the plat records now on file in the county recorder's office at Clarion :
Belmond was platted in the north half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 30, township 93, range 23 and in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25, township 93, range 24. the plat having been filed for record on October 20, 1856, the proprietors then being William E. Rogers, James M. Elder and Archer Dumond. The instrument was recorded by O. W. Mcintosh, county recorder.
Clarion ( first known as Grant ), was platted by the board of county supervisors on November 1, 1865, and consisted of sixteen full blocks, in- cluding the present court house square. The survey was made in April, 1865, and it was recorded by County Recorder R. K. Eastman. The location is in parts of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 92, range 24.
Dows was platted on September 28, 1880, by the lowa Falls & North- western Land and Town Lot Company, in the northwest quarter of section 36, township 91, range 23.
Eagle Grove was platted as "Eagle Grove Junction," the plat having been filed for record on April 5, 1881, by Ed Hartsock, county recorder, on land owned by Phineas Cadwell, of Logan, Harrison county, Iowa, and by Andrew Wright, of Wright county. The former tract was in the west half of the southeast quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 27, township 91, range 26, and the latter tract in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of the same section, township and range.
Goldfield was platted in the south half of section 33 and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 92, range 26; date of filing February 5. 1858; proprietors, William Melrose and wife, George W. Hanna and wife and O. W. McIntosh.
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Galt was platted first under the name of "Norwich," January 4, 1881, by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Land and Town Lot Com- pany, in section 18, township 91, range 23.
Holmes was platted on March 11, 1895, in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 31, township 92, range 25, by J. Fraser and wife.
Liberty was platted on August 13, 1855, by Henry B. Martin county surveyor, while Wright county was yet attached to Webster county for judi- cial and revenue purposes. The proprietors were Nanny B. Martin, J. B. Skinner and Minter Brassfield. The location was in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 92, range 26. It had streets named Wright, Humboldt, Boone, Main, Washington and Water.
Otsego was platted by Curtis Bates and. Daniel B. Finch on June 18, 1855, in sections 2 and 3 of township 91, range 26, and its streets were named Walnut, Ehn, Dubuque, Crocker, Locust, Maple, lowa, Bates, Finch, Eagle and Wright.
Rowan was platted in the west half of the southeast quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 92, range 23, by the Cedar Rapids, lowa Falls & Western Town Lot Company on August 26, 1884.
Thrall was platted on December 22, 1880, in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 28. township 92, range 26, by Alexander Owen. The same has been partly vacated in recent years.
Woolstock was platted first in January, 1881, by the land department of the Chicago & North Western Railway Company, and was re-platted on June 15, 1881, in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 31, township go, range 25. Four blocks were vacated on January 17, 1885.
Olaf was platted on November 20, 1902, in the northwest quarter of section 7, township 93, range 24, by William Finch and wife and J. N. John- son and wife.
Other village grounds, though not legally platted, are railway stations, recently located, such as Palsville, section 10, pleasant township; Florence. section 8. Dayton township; Nuel, section 7, Troy township; Solburg, sec- tion 36, Grant township, and Cornelia, in Grant township, at the lake of that name.
HORSE THIEVES IN WAR TIMES.
At the June session of the board of supervisors in 1864, when many of the able-bodied men of Wright county were in the field trying to suppress the rebellion, a reward was offered of one hundred and fifty dollars "for
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the capture of each of three men who participated in the shooting of R. . 1. Donaldson and John Melrose at the house of William McCormick, May 29, 1864, when the men shall have been delivered to the proper authorities."
On the evening of May 28, 1864, three suspicious-looking characters, heavily armed, came to the house of William McCormick, who was the first settler in that part of the county, and whose place at the time was many miles from a neighbor, and demanded a night's lodging, according to the story told by Mr. McCormick. Their animals, two for each man, they picketed a short distance from the house. McCormick, not having much choice in the matter, allowed them to stay; but a man happening along on horseback, on his way from the river settlement to Liberty, he managed to get an opportunity, unnoticed by the guests, to disclose his suspicions and send word to the sheriff. O. C. Melntosh, that he believed the men stopping with him were horse thieves. The messenger did his part promptly and the sheriff collected a posse of men, six in all, himself included, and by hard driving reached McCormick's place early in the morning. while the horse thieves were at breakfast. The thieves were summoned to surrender, but resisted arrest, and, getting their guns, opened fire on the sheriff's party. In the fight that ensued, Donaldson was shot through the body, by a rifle bullet, and Melrose was injured with buckshot. The thieves reached their horses, mounted one each and made good their escape, leaving two horses and a mule which in due time and process of law enriched the school fund of Wright county from the proceeds of their sale. The bounty offered by the board of county supervisors was never called for. Both of the wounded men-pioneers of this county-recovered, but Donaldson never regained full strength and manly vigor, and died a few years later. no doubt as a result of the wounds he had received at the hands of the thieves. After the sad death of Mr. Donaldson, the county board manfully voted a pension to the widow, which was to be perpetual. The chief facts narrated in the above should be credited to Mr. Elder who wove this incident into a "write up" he gave of this county, published in 1892.
LIST OF WRIGHT COUNTY POSTMASTERS.
The following is a true list of all postoffices and the postmasters who have served since the establishment of the offices, as furnished through the kindness of the postmaster-general at Washington, especially for this his- torical work :
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOW.1.
Aldrich -- Nelson Aldrich, appointed postmaster on November 15, 1882; William L. Austin, September 21, 1883. Discontinued on May 20, 1891.
Bach Grove-J. D. Sells, appointed on June 19, 1858; W. R. Middle- ton, July 27, 1861 ; J. R. Middleton, September 12, 1861; J. L. Middleton, April 7, 1865; Elmore Middleton, April 14, 1875. Discontinued on August 22, 1881.
Belmond-Archer Dumond, appointed on June 18, 1856; J. M. Elder, December, 1857: William E. Rogers, April 30, 1859: George A. Mckay, May 15, 1860; L. H. Cutler, April 6, 1861; George W. Dumond, January 12, 1863: J. C. Cowles, November, 1863; L. H. Cutler, September 9, 1864; William H. Mitchell, January 27, 1873: John W. Adams, September 25, 1885; Samuel Adams, July 5. 1887; Lyna Whited, May 9, 1889; Robert M. Cameron, February 18, 1897; E. S. Hubbard, March 21, 1901; W. C. Ramsay, January 23, 1906; John L. Me Alpine, February 2, 1914.
Bruce-U. I. Bruns, appointed on August 17. 1883. Discontinued on August 30, 1803. Re-established on October 20, 1897, and H. 11. Rierson appointed on October 29, 1807: John Rierson, September 8, 1898. Discon- tinned on October 31, 1901.
Clarion-O. K. Eastman, appointed on December 18, 1867; R. K. East- man, March 8, 1870; C. M. Farrar, March 7, 1871; Ivory O. Milliken, November 15, 1872; William W. Gates, May 18, 1877; James C. Harwood, January 19, 1881; G. W. Middlecoff, September 16, 1885; S. W. Summers, September 12, 1887: Walter Elder, March 7. 1804; James C. Harwood, March 22, 1808: Robert P. Osier, July 14, 1903; Peter 11. Goslin, February 13, 1915.
Cornelia-J. C. Butterfield, appointed on December 1, 1893; Peter Nelson, February 5, 1895: T. C. Johnson, April 29, 1806; Charles Thomp- son, March 26, 1904: Andrew Fryslie, November 24. 1906; Antony Wag- ner, September 16, 1900; A. M. Axen, January 28, 1910. Discontinued on November 30, 1912.
Dows, late Otisville, in Franklin County-R. E. Train, appointed on December 23, 1880; J. F. Kent, September 16, 1885: John Jenkins, Decem- ber 8. 1890; J. F. Kent, April 10, 1893: 11. E. Smith, November 12, 1897; C. E. Hammond, September 16, 1902: Thomas P. Watson, February 20, 1915.
Drew-Thomas Mitchell, appointed June 7, 1892; William MeMurty, June 9, 1893: 11. P. Johnson, June 28, 1897; 1I. C. Johnson, August 28, 1901. Discontinued on October 31, 1901.
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
Dry Lake-D. N. Inman, appointed on June 18, 1871; M. L. Stuart, June 2, 1881; George F. Trowbridge, December 12, 1881; George Trow- bridge, January 10, 1882; A. B. Wallace, May 29, 1882. Discontinued on July 12, 1882.
Eagle Grove-S. B. Hewett, Jr., appointed on June 18, 1861 ; Abbie S. Hlewett, April 28, 1875; George Wright, March 4, 1884; J. H. Howell, October 6, 1885; O. H. Brooks, February 11, 1890; J. H. Howell, November 4, 1895; F. J. Will, November 5, 1897; John Buchanan, August 17, 1900; Harry .A. Cooke, July 15, 1913.
Empire-R. H. Foster, appointed June 11, 1868; John Delano, Jan- uary 10, 1877; A. R. Nelson, February 2, 1880. Discontinued on January 2, 1883.
Florence-C. W. Thorup, appointed November 3, 1897; C. T. Sidwell, August 29, 1900. Discontinued on February 14, 1903.
Fryeburgh-William C. Hard, appointed March 14, 1856; D. F, Ells- worth, July 14, 1857; R. K. Eastman, August 19, 1858; William Rowen, April 16, 1860; J. H. Rowen, March 26, 1868; N. N .. Hainis, March 14. 1871; A. D. Hainis, March 2, 1882. Discontinued on June 22, 1886.
Galtville-R. B. Hanlin, appointed on January 30, 1832; Frank Han- lin, November 16, 1885: J. H. Birdsall, March 14, 1888. Name changed on April 18, 1888.
Galt-J. II. Birdsall, April 18, 1888; C. L. Marsh, December 26, 1890; Arthur Richards, May 5, 1892: J. H. Birdsall, December 11, 1893; C. H. Walton, August 21, 1895; C. D. Williams, January 14, 1897; Arthur Rich- ards, July 11, 1900; J. A. Green, October 23, 1902; William R. Burt. Jan- uary 23, 1908; C. J. Howard, September 2, 1914.
Goldfield-John B. Skinner, appointed May 27, 1856; A. D. Brasfield, November 12, 1856; H. N. Crapper, May 6, 1859; John Melrose, April 21, 1861; J. W. Parmalee, March 22, 1871 ; J. S. Braden, January 13, 1876; P. K. McMurtry, January 11, 1886; S. M. Huyck, August 26. 1889; S. C. Farmer, December 24, 1890; John Sill, June 15, 1893; George B. MeMur- try, March 10, 1894; S. T. Campbell, February 11, 1898; Eva Keith, Jan- mary 4, 1900.
Holmes-Isadore Gooder, appointed on January 26, 1885; David Mow- ers, May 24, 1887; L. C. Spangler, May 2, 1891; J. A. Stroup, March 3, 1896; Oscar Ulstad, May 28, 1807; A. O. Weeks, December 1, 1914.
Lena -- William 1 .. Kent, appointed on March 27, 1882. Discontinued on June 7, 1886.
Luni-C. 11. Packard, appointed March 9, 1858; II. D. Houghton,
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WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
August 17, 1860; Frank Zimmerman, September 12, 1861 ; Marcellus Pack- ard, July 20, 1875: Frank De Packard, October 26, 1876; Wilham T. Dren- nen. February 9. 1880: George T. Packard, April 19, 1882; Charles Packard, January 31, 1883. Discontinued on June 23, 1888.
Montgomery-Hamilton W. Montgomery, appointed on May 4, 1864. Discontinued on December 12, 1864.
Morhain-Michael Morhain, appointed on June 26, 1897: E. F. Zoph. November 23, 1899. Discontinued on January 31, 1902.
Olaf-James Johnson, appointed on August 17, 1883; D. S. Lister. June 9. 1893: William F. Culver, March 23, 1896; Michael Neimeyer, April 13, 1903; A. E. Martin, November 3, 1903: T. H. Benson, July 28, 1906; George Thompson, December 30. 1908 .. Discontinued on May 15, I911.
Palsville -. A. W. Finch, appointed February 11. 1898: John Jacobs, April 27, 1900. Discontinued on July 31, 1902.
Rosedale-Daniel Okerson, appointed on September 26, 1857. Dis- continued on October 16, 1860: re-established on March 30, 1877. Celia L. Hulse, appointed March 30, 1877. Discontinued on November 19. 1885.
Rowan-11. H. Barker, appointed on November 24, 1884: L. C. Dal- rymple, December 15, 1884; F. A. Schmalle. December 21, 1886; D. R. Pierce, September 5. 1887: William Wesenburg. April 17, 1888; A. B. Iliams, April 16, 1890; Will M. Brooks, March 20, 1894; C. A. Emerson, July 20, 1896; A. E. Emerson, Angust 4. 1898: J. S. Farran, March 24. 1905; R. R. Duffy, April 26, 1907.
Thrall-D. B. Myers, appointed on January 30. 1882; Alexander Owen. December 22, 1884. Discontinued on November 30, 1907.
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