USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 33
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319
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
1902-03-Mayor, W. A. Callen ; clerk. Thomas W. Meers. 1903-04 -- Mayor. W. 11. Sanders; clerk, Thomas W. Meers. 1904-05-Mayor, W. H. Sanders ; clerk, T. W. Meers. 1905-06-Mayor, Clarence S. Wyckoff : clerk, Estella Gordon. 1007-08-Mayor. P. A. White; clerk, John Batterton. 1900-10-Mayor, R. M. Hicks : clerk. T. W. Meers. 1911-12-Mayor, S. W. Bryant ; clerk. P. A. White.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND 7. D " FOUNDATIONS.
CHAPTER XXI
CENTERVILLE AS A CITY-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND UTILITIES-POSTMASTERS AND POSTOFFICES -- HOTELS-LIBRARY-BANKS-INDUSTRIES SOCIETIES AND FR.A- TERNITIES. .
Centerville for the past several years has been keeping abreast of the times in its public improvements and now vies with any city of its population in finely paved streets, miles of concrete sidewalks, sewerage systems, water works, beau- tifully illuminated public squares and other modern advantages.
THE CITY HALL
In IM78, the present city hall was constructed, at a cost of $5,000. This is exclusive of the lot. The building is a one-and-one-half-story brick. The east half is arranged for the mayor's office and a room to the rear of this is the office of the city clerk and city engineer. The west half is devoted to the fire department, where are installed the fire apparatus and team for the hose truck. In the rear of the city hall is a three-cell jail, which seldom has an occupant.
FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS
The hre department in Centerville has not yet been placed on a metropolitan system. It still is in the volunteer class, but seems to be efficient and meets the needs of the community. Volunteer fire companies prevailed in the place early in its history, but the records only speak of the one established in 1872, which was reorganized in October, 1876, as the Centerville Hook & Ladder Company. Of this organization Robert Metiregor was elected captain; P. F. Cunningham. first lieutenant ; J. C. Barrows, second lieutenant ; George W. Bell, third lien- tenant : (. 11. Sharp, secretary; W. T. Swearingen, treasurer. There were about fifty member -. The present fire company has a membership of fifteen, who are paid for the time used in fighting fires. A driver has a position that carries with it a regular monthly salary. The equipment consists of : One team of horses. hose wagon, 2,500 feet of 212 inch hose, three extension ladders, Temple fire extinguisher-, Mendota pump engine and host cart.
The police department consists of four patrolmen, one of which takes the title of chief of police. The duties of these officers are not strennous or irk- some. Centerville is mainly composed of a class of people which has no use for the saloon or "bum element," and that means no saloons and but little disturbance as a consequence.
Vot 1-21
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
PAVED STREETS
Centerville has about nine miles of splendidly paved streets, this improvement first being inaugurated in 1904. The material used on all the streets is vitrified re-pressed paving brick and the first streets to be laid were those around the public square and the streets entering it. Since 1904 the city of Centerville has expended in street paving the sum of $385.443, a magnificent amount to come out of the pockets of the citizens of a municipality only seven thousand strong. In its sidewalks the city takes quite a little pride. Up to April 1, 1912, there were 139,630 linear feet of cement walks, or about twenty-six miles.
SEWER SYSTEM
The sanitation of a community is absolutely essential, to the end that disease shall be baffled. With a waterworks system sewerage should follow ( or precede ) to make it meet the ends desired. All deleterious refuse must be drained and carried out of the zone of human habitation and rendered harmless. The system adopted in Centerville is a good one. Septic tanks receive the sewerage at its outlet, and there it is consumed and purified by natural processes. The first sewer constructed was in 1904, and since then three others have been built. These four sanitary sewers, with their laterals, cover a distance of about sixteen miles and cost the taxpayers $81,000.
THE WATER WORKS
The waterworks plant was built by William Peatman, W. G. Clark and others in 1896, under a twenty-years' franchise. The civil engineer was Il. L. Brown, and contractors, C. P. Miller & Company, all of Chicago. The plant was con- structed at 902 South Sixteenth street, where were erected a power house and steel stand pipe. A reservoir was constructed, having a capacity of 260,000 gal- lons. The stand is 12x100 feet, with capacity of 65,000 gallons. The water is supplied by artesian wells and is forced into the tank by pump, with capacity of 1,700,000 gallons. When first completed the improvement cost about $65,000, but a great many more thousands have been added.
After running the plant for several years the company sold out to the city and in about four years' time the authorities concluded the running expenses and loss were too great. At least, the plant went into the hands of a receiver and was bought in by P. K. Tyng. of Chicago, and a short time after sold to Homer C. Crawford, of Cooperstown, Pennsylvania, and O. D. and E. Bleakley, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, representing the Franklin Trust Company. Under this management the works furnished water until 1912, when a division arose among the bondholders in the matter of contemplated improvements and. in January, 1912, Homer C. Crawford and others took over the holdings of the bondholders and commenced operations that will make the plant one of the best in the country.
In 1912 thirty-six acres of land was purchased of W. D. Fulton, one and one- half miles southwest of the city, where a dam was built, which will collect the drainage of 2,400 acres of land, and cost $31,000. Here a pumping station was
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
built at an additional cost of $3,000. Triplex pumps will be installed, each with a capacity of 300 gallons per minute. The power will be generated either by oil or electricity.
The reservoir made possible by the dam will hold 100,000,000 gallons of water, the supply being amply sufficient for a city three times the size of Center- ville. There are now twelve miles of mains in the city and by the early part of 1913 the new plant will be furnishing a supply of much better water than it has since it has been in operation.
The present superintendent is Gordon Peacock, who has been with the com- pany for the past seven years, the last two of which he has served in his present position.
GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS
The first lighting franchise granted by the city of Centerville, under which any construction work was done, was to D. W. Hunt & Company, in May, 1890. In July of the same year, this franchise was transferred to the Centerville Light, Ileat & Power Company, a corporation organized by a number of the busi- ness men of Centerville. The first officers of this corporation were W. G. Clark, president : James R. Wooden. vice-president ; W. M. Peatman, secretary and C. P. Campbell, treasurer. This corporation proceeded to construct in Center- ville, a gas plant, and to lay pipes over the city. At the same time, a street lighting system was installed by the same company. The lights were are lamps and the generator was operated by a gas engine. This was the first gas works and electric lighting system in Centerville, and was located on the site of the present works.
The company was not successful and, from time to time, was compelled to borrow quite large sums of money which was loaned to it by D. C. Campbell. a banker in Centerville, and one of the original incorporators and stockholders.
In 1803, the entire works was sold under execution to D. C. Campbell, to satisfy a judgment he had against the company, and for many years thereafter the works were operated by D. C. Campbell and his sons, C. P. and J. A. Camp- bell, who had in the meantime removed to Chicago. In 1896, they added to the works, an incandescent lighting system. In 1891, they applied to the city of Centerville for new franchises covering their gas system and electric lighting system; also asking for a franchise for a district heating system and electric street railway. All these franchises were granted in August, 1891.
At about this time, Frank S. Payne, of Centerville, became associated with the company, and was elected president.
The hot water system, which was an Evans Almirall, was constructed during the fall of 1891, and the electric street railway during the summer of 1902. The electric street railway took the place of a mule car line that had been in operation in Centerville since about 1884, the road being owned and operated for a number of years by C. R. Wooden, of Centerville.
INTERURBAN RAILROAD
In 1902, the company was re-incorporated under the laws of Maine, as the Centerville Light & Traction Company, the stockholders and officers remaining
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
practically the same. During the winter of 19og, very strong sentiment was aroused in Centerville for the construction of an interurban railroad from Center- ville to Mystic. This had been a cherished project of Centerville people for a great many years, survey having been made ten or fifteen years previous. . 1 number of propositions were made to the citizens, from which they finally accepted the plans of the Centerville Light & Traction Company, which was. that if the citizens would purchase $75,000 of the $125.000 bond issue, covering all the property of the Centerville Light & Traction Company and the new road to Mystic, that they would build, equip, and put the road in operation. \ very strennous campaign was made by the citizens of Centerville, to raise this money. which was successful. Shortly afterward, D. C. Bradley, of Centerville, and Frank S. Payne purchased all the stock of the Centerville Light & Traction Company and it became a local institution. They proceeded to build the road to Mystic, using the very best of material and constructing it along modern and up-to-date lines, the rails being seventy-pound, ties number one, white oak, and the bridges extremely heavy and durable.
Mystic, the other terminus of the interurban road, is located on the Kansas City division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. It is a city of three thousand inhabitants, six and one-half miles from Centerville, in a northwesterly direction. The road is equipped with double truck interurban cars and an hourly schedule is maintained, beginning at 6:30 in the morning and ending at 11:30 at night, making seventeen round trips per day. Located on the road, is the Centerville baseball park, Centerville Country club and Glen Hagan park, the latter being an amusement park located about one and one-half miles from Center- ville, with beautiful surroundings, and drawing a large patronage from both Centerville and Mystic.
The city line is built of 75 pound rail, all in paved streets. It is operated with single truck cars.
During the last two years, the electric lighting system and power station of the company have been almost entirely rebuilt, new engines, generators and boilers being installed and a new chimney, 140 feet high, being erected. The light- ing system has also been changed from direct current to alternating.
During the summer of 1911, the heating system was entirely rebuilt and now is a steam system. The service has been very popular and practically the entire business district is heated from this system. Electricity is also used almost exclusively for power, so that the city presents a very clean and attractive appear- ance, there being practically no smoke in the business district.
The company's office and waiting room are located in the Continental Hotel block, on the east side of the public square, at which point all cars. both city and interurban stop.
POSTOFFICE
The first postoffice established in the county was at Centerville, then known as Chaldea, which was its official name in the department at Washington. George W. Perkins was appointed postmaster at Chaldea. November 6. 1846, and kept his office at his home, about a mile east of Centerville, on the old state road. Mr. Perkins was reappointed April 7. 1847, the name of the office having been changed to Centerville. He served until October 21. 1847. when he gave way to Charles
Continental Hotel Burlington Depot
City Water Works Mine No. 3, Centerville Block Coal Com pany. in Western Part of Town POINTS OF INTEREST IN CENTERVILLE
LI-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
II. Howell. Mr. Howell kept the office in a log house which stood on the site of the Jacob Schutz bank residence on East Maple street. Before the expira- tion of his term he moved the office into a building which stood on the site of the Centerville Savings Bank, on the corner of North Main and East Jackson streets.
Thomas G. Manson was appointed postmaster, January 22, 1851. He kept the office on the south side of the square about where the Rinehart building now stands. Mr. Manson was a lawyer and an ardent member of the Whig party. Ile served in the office a little over two years.
Daniel P. Sparks received his appointment as postmaster July 7. 1853. Ile kept the postoffice on the west side of the square in the building that stood about where Robert Mckee's shoe store is now located. Mr. Sparks dealt in real estate and. was for some time commissioner of school funds.
George A. Bryan succeeded Daniel P. Sparks as postmaster, March 25, 1858. He was a democrat and his trade was that of cabinet-maker. He was one of the earliest settlers, coming here from Tennessee. Mr. Bryan kept the office on the south side of the square, in a building that stood about where Triebswetter & Parker's clothing store now stands.
William S. Manson was the next one to hold the office of postmaster in Cen- terville. His commission dates from May 28, 1861, and he remained in office until 1870. Mr. Manson was a pioneer in this part of the county. He was one of the founders of the Methodist church here and a local preacher. Ile kept the office first in a little house which stood on the ground where now stands the building occupied by the Standard Furniture Company. Later he removed it to the northwest corner of the public square.
John 11. Udell was a son of Dr. Nathan Edell. He was a young man at the time of his appointment, which occurred March 21, 1876. He kept his office in the building vacated by his predecessor and after a while removed the office into the store room now used by Gus Malina as a fruit store.
The first appointment to the postmastership of Colonel E. C. Haynes was under the administration of President Chester A. Arthur during its last days. lle served two years and then gave way to his successor. Mr. Haynes kept the office in the same place as his predecessor.
Samuel L. Harvey, at that time editor of the Journal, and an active democrat. was appointed to the office by President Grover Cleveland, October 4. 1880. and served his full term. Mr. Harvey retained the office at the same place it was kept by Colonel Haynes for some time and then moved it to the room under the Daily Citizen Office, now occupied by the Orpheum Theater. Colonel Haynes was again the recipient of the postmastership here on the return to office of a republican president. He received his second appointment May 21, 1880, and served a full term.
Willliam Evans benefited by the defeat of General Harrison in 1802 and the reelection of Grover Cleveland as president. He received his appointment as postmaster March 20, 1804, and served his term of four years. He kept the office at the place vacated by Colonel Haynes.
On January 17, 1808, William MeKinley having been elected president, the preceding fall. Colonel Haynes received the appointment of postmaster at Center- ville for the third time and occupies that position at present.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
NEW FEDERAL BUILDING
It was during the administration of Colonel Haynes, in 1904. that the present magnificent federal building was erected and completed at a cost, exclusive of the site, which was donated by the citizens of $40,000. It stands on the southwest corner of Main and Maple streets, and its architectural beauty is admired by all who see it. The dedication exercises were held August 16, 1904, William Peters Hepburn, then congressman from this district, delivering the principal address.
This is one of the best paying offices in this congressional district. A city delivery was established on March 1, 1903, with four carriers, and rural free delivery was established February 1. 1902, with three carriers, which was increased to five in 1907. In addition to the rural routes is one star route with box delivery, and in addition to the four city carriers is one auxiliary carrier. The office force consists of five clerks.
The money order department was established at this office under the adminis- tration of William S. Manson in 1869. On July 24th of that year he issued money orders Nos. 1 and 2, both of which amounted to $41. The commission on these two orders was thirty cents. In 1907 the number of money order transactions amounted to 16,036. The number of money order transactions in 1912 was 20,120, which meant the disbursements and receipts of the moneys in these tran- sactions for 1912 was $327,135.20. The postal savings deposits for 1912 amounted to $9,625.
The postal receipts for the year ending June 30, 1907, were $13.364.84. In 1912 the receipts had increased to $19.478.34.
HOTELS
It seems to be the bent of the average American citizen to follow his own inclinations and to come and go just whenever the spirit moves him. The great American continent was first peopled by movers, the peripatetic aboriginee, who were made to move faster and oftener when the white man appeared. And since the beginning of the white man's supremacy in the new world even he has had the wanderlust and betook himself to this place and that place, some as a matter of habit, others through necessity and many by reason of the exigencies of business.
To accommodate the traveler has always been an urgent necessity even in a new country. At first he was welcomed as a guest, for he came from the "outside world" and had a fund of interesting news to relate, or stories to tell, which enter- tained his hosts and was sufficient compensation for the humble, though satisfy- ing fare. extended so graciously.
Soon sprang up the tavern, in many instances with a bar attached, which made arrangements for the wayfarer and exacted of him the price. Of this lat- ter category were the "hotels," which catered to the wants of the traveling pub- lic at Centerville in the '505. There were the Eagle House, kept by T. D. Brown; the Travelers Home, of which "mine host" was George Pratt; and the Appa- noose Ilotel, presided over by John M. Slater. These landlords were all good fel- lows and not only cared for the traveler, but also furnished accommodations for his horse.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
One of the early hotels of prominence and still vivid to the memory of but few now living in Centerville, was the Oldham House, which stood on the north side of the public square. The proprietor was George Oldham, who eagerly sought patronage for his hostelry and promised his guests that he would cheer- fully furnish information relating to different routes out of the city. The Oldham was here in 1858, but in that year the proprietor advertised it for sale.
BURNING OF THE CONTINENT.M.
The Jefferson was another hotel of young Centerville and gave way to what was considered at the time a grand caravansary, the Continental, built in 1866. by Mrs. Susannah Mckee. The building, a large brick, was erected on the east side of the square and was managed by Mrs. McKee. Between four and five o'clock on the morning of Thursday, February 9. 1893, the building was discov- ered to be on fire, and Mrs. McKee, desirous of saving the lives of her guests, of which there were many, remained too long in the building and found escape im- possible by any other way than by jumping from a window. She was a woman of large proportions and against the protests of many on the streets below and while smoke was belching from every aperture, leaped from a third-story win- dow to the ground and sustained injuries that resulted in her death, which took place at nine o'clock the evening of that day. When the wreckage of the build- ing was cleared away, another victim of the fire was found, who was later iden- tified as Samuel Lewis, of Greeley, Missouri. Before the expiration of the year the building was rebuilt and in the fall of 1912 all of the first floor was remodeled, at a large outlay of money. To the rear was built an annex costing $25.000, and now. Centerville has a hotel any town should be proud of.
The Merchant Hotel is located on West Maple street, and is conducted by Mrs. L. C. Lane. a daughter of Mrs. McKee.
DRAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
In the year 1895 a movement was started by the energetic, enterprising and noble-minded women of Centerville, which eventually fructified and brought forth the present Drake Public Library, a local institution that is the pride and joy of every high-minded citizen of the community. Prior to this time efforts had been made to establish and maintain a public library here, which resulted in dismal and heartbreaking failure. But at last the women of Centerville took the matter in hand and with the determination and irrepressible persistency that is their bent, opened a campaign for the securing of funds to found public read- ing rooms, that was irresistible. The trend of the movement had only one goal, that of success. Entertainments, suppers in church parlors and vacant store rooms, contributions of citizens and children of the schools, were the resources requisitioned for the purpose, all given freely and generously, that the sum of $1,000 might be accumulated to meet the conditions of a donation of another $1,000, made by John Phillips, executor of the estate of Brazilian Bowen, a pio- neer of the county.
It appears that Brazilian Bowen at the time of his death left a large estate and, among many bequests in his will, directed his executor to bestow $1,000 of the
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
estate of the testator on some worthy enterprise of a benevolent nature. The then struggling reading room came under Mr. Phillips' notice and after investi- gating its merits he decided it was worthy of the bequest and offered it to the reading room association, on condition that another $1,000 be added.
As herein related, the sum of money was obtained and soon thereafter a grand gathering of the citizens of Centerville assembled in beautifully appointed reading rooms, with shelves graced by many volumes of books, to hear addresses of congratulation on the results of the women's work and encomiums on the indomitable spirit and wholeheartedness which prompted them in their under- taking.
It remained to the late Governor Francis M. Drake to bring to a full fruition the hopes and aims of the worthy women of Centerville. The reading rooms had been converted into a semi-public library, and books were accumulating rapidiy with no adequate place in which to keep them : nor were the rooms of the associ- ations commensurate with the demand. General Drake had full realization of the situation and out of the generous promptings of a loyal heart, he decided to give to the citizens of his home place a building that would be an ornament to the city and at the same time meet the desires of all interested.
When the intelligence was spread broadcast in 1901 that General Drake had offered the city of Centerville a library building to cost $25,000. on condition that the building and library be maintained by the city, by levying a tax of two mills on the dollar each year, from taxable property. there was general rejoicing in the community ; and when a vote was taken on General Drake's proposition, it was found that out of 1.528 ballots that had been cast, but 65 votes were against it.
In the year igof the Drake Library building was erected and deicated. It is one of the beauty places of the city and with its handsome front on Drake avenue attracts general attention.
The city has levied the two-mill tax since the erection of the Drake library building, which, in a measure, meets the demands of the institution. The first trustees appointed by the mayor were: Mesdames J. E. Shirey. . A. J. Baker. (). 11. Law. C. W. Lewis, Colonel E. C. Haynes, Dr. J. L. Sawyers. Rev. George M. Adams. J. A. Bradley and K. E. Little. Colonel Haynes was chosen president and Linna Ullrich, secretary. Mrs. Ullrich served as librarian from 1001 and was succeeded by Elizabeth A. Gault. The present officials are: J. M. Beck, president ; A. P. Speers, secretary ; trustees. J. M. Beck, Dr. J. L. Sawyers. F. C. Haynes, A. P. Speers, H. S. Greenleaf, Mrs. T. E. Sargent. Mrs. . A. P. Speers, Mrs. G. W. Randle, Miss Janet Wilson.
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