USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 51
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The first Sunday School was organized at Mason's Grove, under the auspices of the M. E. Church, with twenty pupils, on the 7th day of January, 1857, George C. King being the Superintendent. The first lawyer was S. J. Comfort, who was also the first acting Prosecuting Attorney. Dr. David Mc Williams was the first physician.
Up to April, 1855, Crawford County was attached to Shelby for civil purposes. At the April election of that year the following county officers were elected : E. W. Fowler, County Judge; Thomas Dobson, Clerk; A. R. Hunt, Treasurer and Recorder; D. J. Fowler, Sheriff; Isaac B. Goodrich, School Fund Commissioner; Cyrus Whitmore, Prosecuting Attorney; Samuel Kennedy, Sur- veyor; L. S. Kinner, Coroner; John R. Bassett, Drainage Com- missioner. At this time there was but one election precinct in the county, all the votes being cast at Coon Grove, in what is now Denison Township. New county officers were chosen at the fol- lowing August election, at which time John R. Bassett was elected County Judge. Judge Bassett transacted his first official business September 3rd, 1855, on which date he acted upon a petition for a county road, refusing to grant the petition for reasons set forth in the records as follows:
"I set the road petition aside on these grounds: In the first place, I cannot find out that there were notices as the law pre- scribes in three public places in the county. Secondly, the notices not agreeing with the petition. Thirdly, and the greatest objec- tion, is that there was no one offered to enter bonds for the secur- ity of the payment of the Commissioner, providing the road was not finally located. For these objections I hereby set the road aside and pronounce not in accordance with law."
On the 3d of December of this year, the Judge, Clerk and Re- corder met and reported their accounts of moneys received from August 1st to December 1st, the Judge having received $5.75; Clerk, $3.00; Recorder, $8.70. Total, $17.45. They made an equal division of the amount and appropriated it toward the payment of their salaries. William L. Henderson, having been appointed sur- veyor and agent to select the swamp lands, made his report Decem- ber 5th, 1855, and was allowed $150 for his services.
The first estate administered upon was that of Cyrus B. Whit- more, John Vore being appointed administrator. The location of county roads constituted a large proportion of the business of the County Judge. Judge Bassett continued to serve in this capacity up to the organization of the Supervisor system.
The following persons constituted the first Board of Supervisors: Thomas Dobson, Milford Township; Henry C. Laub, Denison Township; Daniel Howorth, Union Township. Daniel Howorth was President, and S. J. Comfort, Clerk of the Board.
The Court House at Denison was completed in the autumn of 1858. It is built of brick, 30x40 feet, and two stories high. The
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
various county offices are in the lower story, and the upper story is used as a court-room and for various public meetings. The cost of the building was about $6,000. It is located in the center of the public square, a beautiful rolling track of ground, which is en- closed by a neat fence and planted with finely growing trees. Good bridges have been erected on all the principal roads over the streams.
About five miles below Denison, in the Boyer Valley, there is a semi-circular group of ancient artificial mounds. There are about nine of them, situated on a plateau or table rising above the lower bottom. They are about five feet above the general level of the ground. Another similar group is located on the second bottom at the mouth of Paradise Creek. Human remains have been found in some of them, showing that they were burial places.
Crawford County's present population is fully 15,000. There are 458,333 acres of land in this county, the valuation of which, for 1879, was $2,747,198; for 1880, $3,752,648; value of lots, $220,- 590; of personal property, $458,214; of railroad property, $326,- 646. The property valuation for the present year is not as yet obtainable, but there are certain indications of a most highly grati- fying increase. There are thirty and one-half miles of railroad in the county, and two hundred miles of telegraph wire.
The present county officers of Crawford County are: A. D. Molo- ney, Auditor; G. W. Heston, Clerk of Courts; L. M. Cornwell, Treas- urer; M. Smith, Recorder; J. D. Jones, Sheriff; E. M. Ainsworth, Superintendent of Schools; M. McHenry, Surveyor; A. McMartin, Chairman Board of Supervisors.
Crawford County's population in 1880 was 12,413; the total vote of the county for Governor at the election of 1881, was 2,136.
DENISON.
The county seat of Crawford County is situated a little south of the center of the county, at the junction of the Boyer and East Boyer Rivers. A portion of the town, rising upon the slopes ad- jacent to these streams, commands magnificent views of the valley of the Boyer, with its rapidly improving farms, the railroads, lines of telegraph, groves of timber, and other objects, adding variety and beauty to the scene. The railroad passes along the southern edge of the town, where it makes a bend directly southwest, leav- ing Denison well situated as a trading point for a large district of country unsurpassed in fertility. Its agricultural resources, when developed, cannot fail to make Denison a point of great impor- tance. It is one hundred and fifteen miles from Des Moines, eighty from Fort Dodge, seventy-five from Council Bluffs, seventy- five from Sioux City, and forty-five from the Missouri River.
As stated in the general history of the county, the town was laid out in 1856, by J. W. Denison, from whom it derived its name, and at that time became the county seat. The town plat
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
embraces about 700 acres, the general size of the lots being 50x150 feet, the principal streets being one hundred feet wide and the others eighty. Handsome and eligible blocks have been reserved for public parks and other public purposes. Quite a number of elegant residences and business blocks have been erected, which would reflect credit upon any city in lowa.
Among the first settlers were Francis Reynolds and John B. Swain, who put up the first saw and grist mill in the place; R. W. Calkins, O. S. Gates, F. W. Vuescher, Jacob Whitinger, Morris McHenry, J. F. Seagrave and Eli Baer. Mary Louise Seagrave, born November 13th, 1856, was the first birth in the town, while the first death was that of a child of Francis Reynolds.
There is no reason to doubt that the population of Denison at the present time is fully, if not more than, two thousand. The town was incorporated in 1875. Its first town officers, after in- corporation, were: A. F. Bond, Mayor; A. Carpenter, Recorder; J. L. McClellan, Marshal; L. Cornwell, Treasurer; C. H. De Wolf, C. F. Cassaday, John Seemann, Ward Matthews, W. J. Wagoner, Councilmen. The following are the present officers: R. Heffel- finger, Mayor; D. L. Boynton, Recorder; L. Cornwell, Treasurer; William Braddy, Marshal; C. Green, W. J. Wagoner, L. F. Carr, J. B. Romans, P. Miller, G. W. Heston, Councilmen; George A. Smith, Assessor.
Denison has two banks, the McHenry Bank, of which William A. McHenry is proprietor, and the Crawford County Bank, R. Heffelfinger, proprietor-both of which do a prosperous business.
The Germania Opera House, owned by the Germania Society, is a roomy and well built structure with a foundation of heavy ma- sonry, cost from seven to eight thousand dollars, and is in every way creditable to the community.
The brickyard belonging to Cornelius Green manufactures on an average a half-million bricks per annum.
There are seven flouring mills in Crawford County, one at Dow City, one two miles southwest of Denison, one at Denison, one at Vail, one at West Side and two at Deloit.
The Luney Bros. some time since inaugurated a series of enter- prises, which reflect great credit, both upon themselves and the community. Their steam flouring mill was started in 1880, and has a capacity of about 1,000 bushels of wheat per week. This mill has three run of stone, and manufactures an excellent quality of flour. They have also in operation an extensive agricultural implement factory and foundry, from which they turn out plows, bells, shafting for mills, and, in fact, anything and everything in the line of first-class establishments of this kind.
Denison is in every respect, mechanically, professionally and in a business way, as well in the attractive as in the substantial ele- ments of a progressive community, worthy to be the county seat of the rich and fertile county of Crawford.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The business establishments of Denison may be classified as follows: Six general merchandise establishments, three groceries, two furniture and cabinet making establishments, one boot and shoe store, two harness shops, one hardware store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon factory, one wagon and blacksmith shop, two hardware and agricultural implement stores, one agricultural im- plement depot, two restaurants, five hotels, tour insurance agencies, one flouring mill, one brick-yard, one manufactory of agricul- tural implements, one foundry and machine shop, three millinery stores, one music store, two banks, four real estate agencies, three drug stores, two printing offices, one book store, one clothing store, two meat markets, one bakery, four stock and grain dealers, three lumber dealers, one creamery, two grain elevators, etc.
The Crawford County Bulletin was started in November, 1873, by Stephens & Daniells. A. B. Keith purchased Daniells' inter- est in April, 1874, and in June, 1876, became sole proprietor. The Bulletin is a nine-column folio, and has a circulation of 1,200 copies. It is the Democratic organ of Crawford county, and is ably conducted.
The first newspaper published in Crawford County was estab- lished October 1st, 1860, by J. W. Denison, and was named the Boyer Valley Record. It was a twenty-eight column sheet, Re- publican in politics, and continued about a year and a half. The next paper was the Denison Review, the first number of which appeared May 3d, 1867, under the management of Money & Stephens. In the autumn of 1868, Money disposed of his inter- est to R. W. McNeal. In 1874, the paper came into the posses- sion of Hon. J. Fred. Meyers, who conducted it until the latter part of February of the present year. Under Mr. Myers' able management, the paper achieved an extensive reputation. His successors, the Messrs. Wrigley Bros., are gentlemen of capacity, and have already evinced an ability to fully maintain the Review's excellent reputation. Mr. Meyers has been Postmaster of Deni- son for a number of years, was formerly a resident of Washington, D. C., has an extensive acquaintance, and has occupied many posi- tions of honor and trust. "The Review is Republican in politics, and issues both English and German editions. It is a model of typographical neatness.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
First Baptist Church. - Organized in 1858, by Rev. J. W. Denison. The successive pastors were: Revs. George Scott, R. Dunlap, A. M. Duboc, J. B. Hawk, A. Robinson, the latter gentle- man having present pastoral charge. The present membership is 120. The church building was erected in 1865, has a seating capacity of about 200, and cost, with the grounds, $7,000. It is located on the corner of Sweet and Chestnut streets. The pres- ent church officers are: J. D. Seagrave, S. W. Plimpton, Dea-
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
cons: E. S. Plimpton, Clerk; Mrs. S. W. Plimpton, Treasurer; W. A. McHenry, J. R. Bassett, E. S. Plimpton, Trustees. The Sab- bath School has an average attendance of about one hundred pupils. Its officers are E. S. Plimpton, J. D. Seagrave, Associate Superintendents; M. E. Jones, Treasurer; Nellie Strong, Sec- retary.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The present pastor is Rev. D. Austin. This society has over one hundred members. Its pres- ent officers are: L. M. Shaw, C. Green, R. Heffelfinger, J. B. Romans, Trustees; H. C. Laub, Recording Steward; L. M. Shaw, Treasurer. The Sabbath School numbers about one hundred pupils; L. M. Shaw is the Superintendent. The church build- ing was erected about the year 1865, at a cost of $1,800; its seat- ing capacity is 350. Rev. William Black, the first pastor, was succeeded by the following: Revs. Mr. Glassner, Edwin Satterlee, M. D. Collins, W. E. Smith, Mr. Glanville, B. Shinn, Mr. Way- nick, Mr. Fegtly, E. Sage, Asa Steeth, J. B. Wilson, Mr. Beck, and the present pastor.
Trinity Episcopal Parish :- Organized in 1875, by Rev. William Wright. Rev. C. S. Fackenthall is the present pastor. The mem- bership is about thirty-five. The church building was erected in 1875, is 28x40 feet in dimensions, the total cost being not less than $3,000. Roger Hayne was the first Senior Warden, and Henry Gower, the first Junior Warden. At present J. G. Wyant is Senior Warden, William Rain, Junior Warden. The Society is free from debt. In July, 1877, the church building was blown from its foundations by a tornado, two other church buildings also being moved from their foundations on the same night, one of them, the Catholic church building, being occupied by the con- gregation, who were holding services at the time. Trinity Church is located in East Denison, on the south side of Broadway. The Sabbath School has about fifty members. J. P. Fitch is the Su- perintendent; Miss Gracie Myers, Secretary; Miss Blanche Stone, Treasurer.
The Catholic Church Society .- This Parish was organized by missionaries more than twenty years ago. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Kelley, of Omaha. The church building was erected in 1872. It is a frame structure and cost $1,700. The congregation have made arrangements for the building of a fine brick structure during the coming season, the money for which has been already secured. The estimated cost is $4,000. Rev. M. C. Lenahan, of Vail, is the present pastor. Services are, for the present, held every alternate Sunday.
The German Lutheran Society .- Rev. G. Haar is the present pastor of this prosperous church organization. As stated else- where, the church edifice is a brick building formerly used as a school house. It is very neatly and comfortably furnished. The organization of the society dates back from eight to ten years.
81
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The Presbyterian Society .- The present pastor of this society is the Rev. J. J. Franklin. The church edifice was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,775. Although the membership is not so large as that of the Baptist or M. E. organizations, yet the society is in a sub- stantial and encouraging condition.
The Public Schools .- Prior to the organization of the Denison independent school district, Tracy Chapman, Michael Riddle and A. D. Moloney, composed the Board of School Directors of a sec- tion of country embracing the entire county, with the exception of Union and Milford Townships. The first teacher of whom the writer has information was H. C. Laub, who was followed by I. T. Martin, John Funk and Miss Jennie Haskell. The first school house was a frame building, about 14x20 feet in dimensions, situated on the hill in East Denison. This building has long since ceased to be used for school purposes, and has been moved so many times as to make further trace of its whereabouts indefinite. brick school house was next built, which is now used as a church building by the German Lutheran Society. 3 The independent school district was organized about ten years since. The first Board of Education was composed of the following gentlemen: Dr. William Iseminger, Morris McHenry, E. S. Plimpton, W. J. Wagoner, and two others, whose names the writer was unable to learn. A. M. McNeal, an attorney now living in St. Louis, was the first teacher after the independent organization. He was fol- lowed by Rev. Mr. Gunnison, a Baptist minister, who was suc- ceeded by a Methodist clergyman, whose name the writer was un- able to learn. Z. T. Hawk was the first regular Principal of the Denison schools. He had three assistants.
Under his manage- ment, the Denison schools first took definite form, were graded, and began the systematic and thorough development of which the citizens of the town are justly proud. There are now two school buildings. The first, a large brick structure of four departments and two stories in height, was erected in 1872, at a cost of $16,000, which figure, however, it is proper to add, is conceded to be altogeth- er disproportionately large in comparison with the real value of the building. It is located in the western part of town, southwest of the Court House, and is known as the West Side building. The second school building was erected in 1877. It is a two-story frame, having two large rooms, is about 28x48 feet in dimensions, and cost in the neighborhood of $2,500. It is located near the center of town, and is known as the East School building. The total enrollment of the district, at the last enumeration, was 369 pupils; the average attendance is about 300. It is more than prob- able that another school building will be added during the present year. The present corps of teachers is as follows: Prof. M. Booth, Principal; Miss Nettie M. Dick, Grammar School, West; Miss Lillie Barr, First Primary, West; Miss Hattie McAhren, Second Primary, West; Miss Kittie Barr, First Primary, East; Mrs. Mary
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Wade, Second Primary, East. The present Board of Education is as follows: C. Green, President; W. J. Wagoner, E. S. Plimpton, William Iseminger, Albert Palmer, John Seemann; C. F. Bond, Secretary; R. Heffelfinger, Treasurer.
. Devotion Lodge No. 282, A. F. & A. M .- Instituted in 1869. Rev. B. Shinn was the first W. M .; C. H. DeWolf, the first S. W .; H. C. Laub, the first Secretary, and L. Cornwell, the first Treasurer. There were nine charter members. The present mem- bership is fifty-five. Meetings are held Wednesday evenings of each month, on or before the full moon. For the present the Lodge meets in Masonic Hall, over H. C. Laub's place of business. A fine Lodge room is being fitted up in the MeHenry block. This Lodge is in a condition of very gratifying prosperity. The follow- ing are the present officers: C. H. DeWolf, W. M .; G. W. Stephens, S. W .; M. Goldheim, J. W .; G. W. Heston, Secretary; W. J. Wagoner, Treasurer.
Denison Lodge No. 94, I. O. G. T .- Instituted in 1876. Meetings are held every Tuesday evening in Court House Hall. The membership is twenty-five. The present officers are: D. O. Johnson, W. C. T .; Mrs. H. J. Matthews, W. V. T .; Miss Hattie Harris, R. S .; Miss Hattie McAhren, L. S .; Mrs. E. S. Plimpton, Treasurer; Rev. A. Robinson, Chaplain.
Crawford Lodge, Iowa Legion of Honor .- Instituted in 1880. First officers: H. N. Wheeler, President; A. D. Wilson, Vice- President; N. J. Wheeler, F. S .; N. F. Smith, R. S .; N. Richards, Treasurer. Present officers: A. B. Keith, President; James Wygant, Vice-President; N. J. Wheeler, F. S .; M. E. Jones, R. S .; A. D. Wilson, Treasurer. The membership is fifty-two. Meet- ings are held on the first and third Thursday evenings of each month in Masonic Hall.
Root Post No. 58, G. A. R .- This Post was mustered in the autumn of 1881, with eighteen charter members, as follows: E. D. Partridge, Geo. W. Heston, W. A. Porter, A. J. Bond, R. L. Wilkinson, A. I. Phelps, S. W. Plimpton, Jr., R. W. Lownes, A. Simmons, Edward Miles, M. Smith, J. S. Gilbreath, W. H. Snow, B. W. Garlough, G. L. Wright, C. A. Lawton, H. S. Gulick, J. G. Vassar. The membership is thirty, and meetings are held on the second Friday evening of each month in Court House Hall. The following are the officers: Geo. W. Heston, Commander; G. L. Wright, S. V. C .; Jud. Bond. J. V. C .; I. T. Phelps, A .: S. W. Plimpton, C .; H. S. Gulick, Q. M .; E. D. Partridge, S .: R. W. Lownes, O. of D .; Benj. Garlough, S. M.
Denison Lodge No. 151, A. O. U. W .- Present officers: I. T. Roberts, M. W .: John Bayles, Foreman; S. W. Plimpton, O .; A. T. Weld, Recorder: D. H. Gill, Receiver: A. Anderson, Financier; D. O. Johnson, P. The Lodge has a membership of forty- four, and meets the first and third Friday evenings of each month in Masonic Hall.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Eureka Collegium No. 77, V. A. S. Fraternity .- Instituted in the autumn of 1881, with thirty-six charter members. First officers: William Familton, Rector: J. S. Nicholson, V. R .; G. A. Smith, S .; G. W. Heston, Q .; G. L. Wright, U .; L. J. Carter, Spec .; Dr. W. W. Holmes, M. E. Present officers: J. S. Nichol- son, R .; Albert Palmer, V. R. The remaining officers the same as before. Meetings are for the present held at J. S. Nicholson's office, on the first Monday evening of each month.
W. C. T. U .- The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Denison is in excellent working condition. and has done effective work for the cause of Temperance. Mrs. H. C. Laub is the Presi- dent.
Denison Lecture Bureau .- This is an association whose object is to furnish the citizens of Denison intellectual entertainment by utilizing "home talent." Weekly lectures are given, which are largely attended, and which have been productive of highly bene- ficial results .
The Public Library. - Denison has a public library of quite re- spectable proportions. The library is temporarily located in the rear of A. Steel's furniture store. Mr. Steel is the Librarian .
Denison Cornet Band .- The Denison Cornet Band is composed of twelve members, and is quite a creditable organization. W. J. Wheeler, President; M. E. Jones, Secretary; F. Wahl, Treas- urer; William Adams, Leader.
VAIL.
The prosperous and progressive community of Vail is located about six miles west of the eastern line of the county, and was laid out in the summer of 1871. The town-site is owned by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company, and by other parties, who have made additions thereto. The surrounding country, for a dis- tance of twenty miles north and south, tributary to Vail, is of a most excellent quality.
Vail was incorporated in the spring of 1875. The first Mayor was Josiah McHenry, who was succeeded by the following in or- der: W. W. Anderton, Josiah McHenry, A. D. Young, F. B. Huckstep, the latter of whom is the present incumbent.
The following are the present town officers: F. B. Huckstep, Mayor; J. S. Nesbit, Recorder; E. Ryan, Treasurer; M. McGrath, Marshal; Thomas Ryan, Street Commissioner; J. P. Fitch, A. L. Strong, J. H. Barrett, E. Darling, E. B. Bannister, John Cousins, Councilmen.
Dr. James DeWolf, the present postmaster, and who came to Vail in the autumn of 1570, was the first bona fide settler of the town. He erected a store-building and warehouse where the post- office now stands. He also " broke" some land, and in return for a car-load of wheat raised thereon, obtained the first stock of goods that were placed on sale in the town. John Liddle started a
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
blacksmith shop in Vail in 1871. During the winter of 1870-71, there was nobody on the present town-site of Vail, save Mr. De Wolf, his son John, and the trackhands employed upon the rail- road.
The depot building was erected in the summer of 1871, but no agent was located therein until September, 1872. George Head was the first depot agent. In the summer of 1872, the following engaged in business at Vail: J. F. Powers, furniture; L. P. Mooney, general merchandise; E. B. Bannister, hardware; Mrs. E. B. Ban- nister, millinery.
The next year Greenough & Bullock, of Denison, established a branch drug store at Vail. Josiah McHenry built the first hotel in the autumn of 1872. Since 1873, there has been a steady and constant growth, until at the present time it is safe to estimate the population of the town at from seven to eight hundred.
A classified summary of the business establishments is as fol- lows: General stores, four; grocery, one; hotels, two; livery, three; blacksmith shops, four; wagon shops, two; drug stores, three; shoe shops, three; paint shop, one; printing office, one; hardware, three; agricultural implement depots, three; grain eleva- tors, three; flouring mill, one; lumber yards, two; butter and egg depot, one; restaurants, two; jewelry, one; banks, two; barber shop, one; insurance agencies, two; real estate and loan, three; lawyers, three; physicians, three; meat markets, two; stock dealers, two; machine shop, one; grain dealers, four; furniture, two; har- ness shops, two; brickyard, one; brewery, one; saloons, four; milli- nery stores, two; coal dealers, four.
G. A. W. Davison started the Crawford County Obserrer in May, 1878, and after conducting it about a year and a half, sold to J. Otto Engstrom. The paper was started as a six-column folio and was all printed at the home office; subsequently it was changed to an eight-column folio and published on the co-operative plan. In the spring of 1880, Engstrom sold the paper to Gregg & Roberts, the latter of whom became sole proprietor in the autumn of the same year, and continued to conduct it until his death, in the spring of 1881, when his father, J. H. Roberts, Sr .. ran it for a short time, and then disposed of it to HI. C. Ford. Mr. Davison re- purchased the paper October 1st, 1881, and is the present editor and proprietor. The Observer is now a five-column quarto, is inde- pendent in politics, has a circulation of 500, and is one of Western Fowa's neatest and newsiest weekly publications.
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