USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 13
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
slough hay made a hot fire for a few minutes, and was used extensively. It would ignite all at once and the fire would puff out of the top of the chimney. visible for miles on an evening. It was a comical sight. also, to see the people come tumbling out of the sod shanties when callers came, for all the world like a lot of gophers coming out of their holes. Those days seem not far distant, vet it is almost forty years since we saw such sights."
"The man who had a little money in the early '70s could make good interest on what he invested in county warrants. In those years many schoolhouse contracts were let. The contractors were obliged to figure on what the war- rants were worth when estimating county work, and a schoolhouse that could be built for about five hundred dollars would be let at one thousand dollars, the county warrants being then worth fifty cents on the dollar. As soon as the work was completed the contractors received their pay in warrants, which were discounted fifty per cent when sold, and the buyers would hold them until the taxes came in when they would receive dollar for dollar. Many men became rich, and at least one man was enabled to leave the county and engage in the banking business on money made in that way."
J. M. Hoskins was a member of the grand jury which sat at the first term of court ever held in the county. Court was held in G. W. Struble's log house and the grand jury met in a corn crib, in the cattle lot. "We had a small room all to ourselves" says Mr. Hoskins. "but there was little use for the jury. After casting about and investigating all the erimes that had been committeed in the community, we finally brought in a charge of larceny against a boy who had stolen a jack knife. We worked hard four days and this was the only crime we could be sure of. Judge Henry Ford of Sioux City was presiding and after hearing all the evidence in the case he sent the young man to the reform school for a short time. Court was held in the living room and we would clear the table and Judge Ford would mount an improvised stool and court would be in session. After adjournment the court. bar, jurors. witnesses and all who re- mained would gather about the big table and play poker. There was not much ostentation or formality about court proceedings in those days."
In 1870 there were thirteen schools in Buena Vista county. There was in addition to these one "select" school in Storm Lake, making fourteen in all. Of these Barnes had two, Coon five, Lee two, Nokomis three and Storm Lake two. The teachers were: Martha Johnson and Sara M. Lee in Barnes ; Jacob Davis. J. P. Lawton, James E. Lucky and Julia A. Lameroux in Coon; Daniel Smith, Eliza R. Adams and Miles II. Rice in Nokomis; and S. H. Lander and Miss A. L. Gates in Storm Lake. The wages paid were thirty dollars, thirty-three dollars and fifty cents and thirty-five dollars, according to grades.
It is claimed that Thomas Puckett was the first merchant in Sioux Rapids, being located in the Storla house in the west part of town. The lumber used in those days was sawed at Peterson where a portable mill was operated.
Charles Hollingsworth was the first boy born in Sionx Rapids, and he saw the light of day on August 17, 1865.
Uncle Johnny Burr came to Sioux Rapids at the close of the war, about 1868, from Wisconsin. He made his home with "lub" Sanderson and was for years the hunter and trapper of the country. Ile loved and lived the life
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of the hunter and never took kindly to the change in the country from what it was when he came here. Mr. Burr preempted eighty acres north of Sioux Rapids shortly after coming, which he sold, and then homesteaded eighty acres west of Linn Grove where he lived as a bachelor for five or six years. His cabin was of primitive style and often in the winter would be filled to the roof with snow after a severe storm. Supplies were hanled from Fort Dodge at first, although the Kirchners at Peterson kept a small stock of necessaries. Mr. Sanderson also sold a few goods, but the art of merchandising was not exten- sively cultivated. "Uncle Johnny" plied his trade of blacksmithing at Linn Grove and was the first smith in the town.
In these days when hunting has become a lost art it seems ahnost ineredible that there are people here who can remember when deer and elk were quite numerous in the county. Early in the '70s great herds of these animals roamed over the prairie, but with the coming of the settler they disappeared. As late as 1873 they were found singly or two or three together. They had a great liking for the green shoots of young corn, and when it came up in the spring they would visit the new fields and eat all in sight. The trials of the settlers were many, the gophers eating the corn as it was planted and the deer after it came up. Old hunters say the last deer was killed in 1876, but before that venison was not a rarity on many tables.
PRAIRIE FIRES.
"People today cannot realize what a prairie fire in the county twenty-five years ago really was. How they were started is hard to tell in many instances, but in the fall and spring of the year. when the grass was dry as finder, they were the terror of the settlers. When once started the only thing to do for a man who was in their path was to save himself, and that as quickly as possible. During the season when they were frequent the settler could expect to be awakened almost any night and see the sky painted red from the glow of the flame. his house full of smoke, and if the proper precautions had not been taken he and his family in danger. Imagine a sheet of fame from ten to fifteen feet. sometimes a mile in width, rushing along like the wind, with a dull roar that could be heard for a long distance, and you have some idea of what such a spectacle was. The old settlers who have passed through such experiences never want to see their like again."
THE FIRST BRIDGES.
The first large bridge in the county was built over the Little Sioux river where the present bridge at Sioux Rapids now stands. It was called the Hollingsworth Ford bridge, taking its name from the old ford aeross the river which was named after Michael Hollingsworth. J. B. Twiford built the bridge and got something like three thousand dollars for it. This was during the latter part of the '60s when Gardner Clongh, Lars Snekow and Michael Hollingsworth were on the board. When the bridge was completed it was
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
useless without approaches and bids were called for to do this work, to be completed by December 1. 1869. William Lee was awarded the contract to build the north approach, one hundred and twenty-five feet long. for twenty-one hundred and fifty dollars, and William Phipps the south approach for eight hundred and fifty dollars. Then two dams were built to protect the "bents" on both ends of the bridge. and the contract was let to T. M. Timford, for the south side. for one hundred and nineteen dollars. and to William Phipps on the north side for two hundred and fifty dollars. In the following year W. S. Lee took a contract to repair the bridge. receiving eight hundred dollars for that.
The bridge at Linn Grove was built in 1870. On December 31, 1869, D. C. Thomas of Sioux Rapids was awarded the contract at thirty-four hundred and fifty dollars. and the work was completed the following year.
As the county became settled up, and the railroad was built through the south portion. it became necessary to build a good road that would connect the settlements at the north and south ends of the county. The contract to build the bridges on the old Newell road was let to W. S. Lee and J. B. Twiford for three thousand dollars and the work was completed September 1, 1870.
A FAT TAX LIST.
The delinquent tax list for the year 1869 was perhaps the largest ever is- sued in the county. The record shows that it cost four hundred and ninety- seven dollars and twenty cents to publish it for the sale held November 4th. Thousands of acres of land had been taken or bought by speenlators, and allowed to go back to the county. But when the railroad came, it was at once seen that the land would be valuable and there was no lack of bidding at the sale which was conducted by Ole Johnson, anditor. The school lands held by the county were appraised in 1869, and some were sold. One of the first sales was to O. O. Storla, who paid one dollar and twenty-five cents an aere for a quarter section.
L. F. Clark was the first justice of the peace in the county. He served for Barnes township, which included all of the county for township purposes. Mr. Clark was another character of whom many stories are told. On one occasion he performed a marriage ceremony in his original way. He asked the groom if he wanted to marry the bride, and being assured that he did, he then propounded the usual question to the bride, receiving an affirmative answer. "It's a whack!" shouted the squire, and the compact was sealed.
The exemption for planting fruit and forest trees was adopted in 1868 and the annals of the board of supervisors showed hundreds of acres planted in the years up to 1876. This was undoubtedly a wise provision and accounts for the many beautiful groves which now adorn the prairies.
In 1876 Linn Grove was known as "Sweet's Mill." George Sweet having built a dam in the river and established a grist mill near the present site of the town. The mill was in operation for many years. The settlement was after- ward called Linn Grove when the railroad was built through in 1882.
In 1871 by resolution of the board of supervisors the question of prohibi-
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tion and license was first voted upon in the county and prohibition won by a large majority. At every subsequent election when the saloon question was submitted. up to the submission of the prohibitory constitutional amendment in 1885, the county registered its vote against the sale of intoxicants on every occasion.
In June. 1868. the board of supervisors first began to encourage the plant- ing of forest and fruit trees by exempting from taxes to the amount of five hundred dollars everyone who presented sufficient evidence to show that he had planted the required number of trees. As the county settled up this was taken advantage of by nearly all the settlers and is one reason why Buena Vista county this day presents the appearance of a wooded country. The records of the supervisors at many meetings granted the exemption to hundreds of settlers.
It is believed that the first death in the county was that of James Merrit. an aged man who came to visit Abner Bell in the fall of 1856 and who remained here, accompanying Bell on his hunting and fishing expeditions. The old gentleman had been a companion of Bell's father in the war of 1812 and at the age of 77 years had no home. so he remained here until the spring of 1858 when he died. He was buried in Lone Tree cemetery at Sioux Rapids on April 27. 1858.
WILD ANIMAL BOUNTIES.
An examination of the records of the board of supervisors reveals the fact that for several years after the organization of the county the principal business of the board was to allow bounties for wild animals that had been killed. Thus, in 1866, the first year of the record. H. Sanderson draw two dollars for two foxes killed, Samuel Sanderson fifty cents for one badger. Christian John- son one dollar for one fox. Ashley George three dollars for three foxes, Gardner Clough one dollar for two badgers. L. JJ. Suckow two dollars for two foxes. Alden Clough four dollars for four foxes. Torkeld Torkelson one dollar for one fox. Charles Dahl three dollars for three foxes. John Sweet one dollar for one fox. Andrew Anderson three dollars for three foxes. W. L. Crozier one dol- lar for one fox. and S. T. Collins one dollar for one fox. In 1868 Frank Sanderson was allowed bounty on one wild cat. All these animals were killed near the river. In 1868 D. B. Harrison, who had settled at Storm Lake the year before. drew twenty-two dollars for fox and wolf sealps-Abner Bell faithfully recorded the transaction in the minute hook as "seelps." On June 1, 1878. the county bounty was discontinued by vote of the board.
If the carly settlers ever grafted on the county they certainly did not do so on salaries and allowances for services rendered. AAbner Bell presented at one time a bill of fifty dollars for salary and fifty-three dolars for money ex- pended for the county. The last item was allowed but Abner's salary was not paid. Richard Ridgway was justice of the peace for Barnes township and his territory included all of the county. Ile presented a bill of seventy-five dollars for services in his office but the hard hearted board refused to allow. Hubbard Sanderson was allowed five dollars for room rent. the board having
PIONEER CABIN, WHERE FIRST COUNTY ELECTIONS WERE HELD ON MAR- SHALL LEE FARM, NEAR SIOUX RAPIDS.
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occupied his home for meeting purposes and as Mr. Sanderson was county treas- urer, office rent was also a part of the claim. I. T. Hollingsworth was allowed thirty-four dollars for assessing Barnes township, and that included the county at large.
Up to the year 1873 there were few passable roads in the county. The old Fort Dodge-Sioux City road was established in the early sixties and ran to Sioux Rapids, about the only stopping place along the entire route. This road entered the county near the south line of Poland township, and continued in a northwesterly direction until Sioux Rapids was reached. Leaving the Rapids it continued southwest, straight across the prairie to Cherokee, where another settlement was located. Later the Sioux Rapids-Newell-Sae City road was laid out and established, and then the Sioux Rapids-Storm Lake road. But in 1873 the needs of the county demanded better and more highways and the board of supervisors at that time established roads on all of the section lines of the county.
MOSQUITOES.
Hon. Jesse J. Alle of Newell is authority for the statement that after he came to Newell in the early '70s the mosquitoes numbered millions. The pests was almost unbearable during the summer months and they afflicted both human beings and animals. Hle relates that one man, more heartless than all the rest, became angry at his team and tied them out of doors, to a eorn crib, over night. When he went to get them the next morning he found them almost dead. When it became known the indignation of the settlers almost took a serious turn for this, the meanest man in the country.
Cotton goods were no protection against the sharp bills and only the heaviest goods could protect one from their attack. In order to clear the houses it was necessary to build a smudge and smoke the houses out thoroughly before the family could retire at night. It is related that at one dance an old kettle, filled with smoldering aud ill smelling burning material was brought into the dance room between each set in order to allow the party to proceed with any degree of comfort.
It is not probable that the mosquitoes were as plentiful in all parts of the connty as they were about Newell. The country in that vicinity was low and swampy, and when Mr. Allee first saw the town of Newell he thought its site was in a lake. The low ground naturally furnished a breeding place for mosquitoes. With drainage and improved conditions Newell is no doubt as free from this affliction as any other portion of the county.
The first telephone in the county was built by James F. Toy in 1878, be- tween Alta and Storm Lake. Mr. Toy owned banks in both of these towns and put in the line to take better care of his business. But he was willing to allow the publie to use the 'phone for toll purposes, and advertised the won- derful advantages that could be had in conversing over a distance of six miles.
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
ALBERT CITY.
Less than ten years ago what is now the thriving and prosperous town of of Albert City was but a field on George R. Anderson's farm. The country thereabouts was well settled with contented and well to do Swedish farmers, who had years before built two churches nearby. Marathon was their trading point and it was admitted that Fairfield township was one of the richest com- munities of the entire county.
When the Milwaukee railroad was built through in the summer of 1890 from Spencer to Fonda, passing through this rich community. it was inevitable that a town would be established. and Mr. Anderson's field was laid out in town lots. A sale was held, and among the bidders for business locations, at the opening of the town. were The Seenrity Bank, George R. Anderson. Bergling Brothers. N. L. Norton and P. W. Jones. Building commeneed at once and before winter set in a town had arisen that was doing a good business in all lines. Three general stores, a hardware and machinery store. two drug stores, a neat bank. honsed in its own brick building, two elevators, two Iumber yards, were among the industries that at once sprang up.
The same year a postoffice was established with George R. Anderson as post- master. In 1905 three rural routes were established from the office and are serving the people of the surrounding country today. Mr. Anderson was elected the first mayor and served for several years in that capacity. A graded school was established and an independent school district was created. Many handsome new residences were built at once and one church was moved from the country into the town. It would have been hard to recognize the place a year after the railroad surveyors had set their stakes.
The town has grown steadily and has a law-abiding. contented people among its citizens. There are no immoral influences and the city government, which has nominal duties of improvement only. is composed of F. L. Danielson. mayor; Amandus Skog, clerk; C. E. Larson, treasurer and O. C. Anderson as- sessor. George R. Anderson, who has been the only man beside the present incumbent to serve as mayor. is on the city council.
The Security State Bank was organized in 1900, with George R. Anderson as president and Alfred Gulbransen as cashier. Mr. Anderson is still president and C. E. Larson is cashier, with C. E. Gulbransen as assistant cashier.
The community has had an uneventful career since the town was organized, with the exception of the tragedy that took place at the time the Greenville bank robbers shot and killed two of the citizens while resisting arrest. 3 At that time one of the robbers was also killed. a full account of this event appear- ing elsewhere.
Albert City is a Swedish town in every sense of the word, there being but three or four families of other nationalities in the town at this time. There are no lodges or societies, and none are desired by the people who find their churches and the social life connected with them of sufficient interest to desire the or- ganization of secular or fraternal organizations. It is a good. clean town in every way and a pleasant place to live in.
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TIJE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Independent School District of Albert City was organized June 8, 1901. On June 21st, the first board of directors was elected as follows: S. E. Carter, R. G. Merrill, C. L. Marmon, G. C. Johnson, G. R. Anderson, and the erection of a school building was immediately begun. This was not com- pleted until Januray 1902, but during the meantime the school occupied a build- ing about one-half mile from town, which was included when the district was formed. This building was sold and moved into another township, when the new one was ready for occupancy. During 1908 cement walks were laid to the value of four hundred dollars.
At the beginning of the first term under the independent district the en- rollment of the school was thirty-eight; Miss Margaret Adair was the teacher at that time. The enrollment of the schools at the present time numbers sixty- one. Mr. M. M. Miller is the superintendent, and Miss Blanche Goldsworthy the primary teacher. The following constitute the present board of directors: B. B. Bridge. G. F. Anderson, Ephraim Carlson, A. T. Kindwall, and F. W. Wallich.
THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
One of the very first cares of any community is the religions welfare of its members. Wherever man goes, the church is sure to follow. And whenever there becomes a sufficient number of persons of any one religious inclination, they will feel bound by their religious ties and the organization of a church will follow. And so it was that on the 14th of April. 1873, a company of twelve families assembled at the home of D. A. Danielson, a house twelve by twelve, situated one mile west of the present site of Albert City, and there or- ganized themselves into the "Ljunghed Congregation" of the Swedish Evangelieal Lutheran Church. The members constituted the families of Andreas Pantzar, (Ponsor) August Anderson, Andrew Munson, Carl E. Ander- son. C. J. Pantzer. (Ponsor) C. A. Eckman, Neils Benna, D. 1. Danielson. F. T. Bergling, John Peterson, Olaf Johnson, O. B. Anderson, A. G. Englund, and C. F. Erickson. John Pederson, a theological student stationed at Pomeroy, organized the society, and was president of the meeting.
Of the twelve who organized the society, these are still living in the com- munity : Mrs. A Pantzer. Mrs. August Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. A. Munson, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Ponsor. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Eckman, Mrs. Neils Benna, Mrs. F. T. Bergling.
Up to 1887 the society held its services in private homes and the schoolhouse situated then about one-half mile from town as it is now. D. A. Danielson and C. E. Anderson were the first deacons. and August Anderson, Neils Benna and C. A. Eckman constituted the first board of trustees.
The first church building was erected in 1887, a building thirty-two by fifty, costing two thousand dollars. A parsonage had been built in 1883: a
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second one, which is the present parsonage, was built in 1898. In 1905 the church building was torn down and the present one ereeted, which was dedicated October 8th of that year. The number of communicants had grown from one hundred and twenty when the first church was erected. to three hundred and forty-four when the second building was dedicated. There are at present three hundred and sixty-six communicants in the church society. The present church building is vamed at fourteen thousand dollars. The society also owns twenty acres of land surrounding the church and parsonage, which brings the total value of the church property close to twenty thousand dollars.
A layman. A. G. Eigil, served as leader of the church until 1877. From that time the ministers who have served are: N. G. N. Bergenskold. J. S. Benzon. J. E. Holtz, G. A. Ostergren. and the present pastor C. E. Olsson, who has been connected with the church since June, 1904.
Of the present officers of the society the following are the deacons: C. E. Anderson. C. J. Blomberg. Andrew Swenson. C. A. Anderson, A. L. Johnson, and E. E. Carlson. The board of trustees consists of Gustave Johnson, Fritz G. Anderson. Hans Johnson, Frank G. Johnson. C. W. Harald and A. T. Peterson.
The Sunday school has an enrollment of seventy-five children, besides two Bible classes, one for the older members and one for the younger. The pastor. Rev. C. E. Olsson, is the superintendent, and Oscar Farb is secretary.
The pastor is also president of the Young People's Society ; Emily Anderson is secretary. This society supports a native boy in school in India, and the sup- port for a native missionary in that country is provided for by the Sunday school.
The ladies of the church have a Sewing Society, of which Mrs. A. Malmberg is president and Ida Anderson secretary.
The Foreign Missionary Society is composed of three divisions, holding three separate meetings a month. embracing the north, south and west parts of the community in which the members live.
THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL MISSION CHURCH.
The congregation of the above name was organized February 15, 1887, and was known for a while as "The Christian Association of Fairfield township, Buena Vista county, lowa." The first officers elected were A. G. Nelson, ehair- man, and A. G. Blomberg. secretary. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse which stood near the present site of Albert City, until 1900 when the society built their church, surrounding which are two acres of land. The parsonage was built in 1901, and stands near the edge of an acre of land which also belongs to the church society.
There is at present a membership of forty-five, of whom the following are the officers: C. V. Samuelson, chairman; C. J. Gustafson, secretary; F. A. Wallner, treasurer; N. P. Carlson. C. O. Nelson and C. J. Bjorkland, deacons : F. A. Wallner, Axel Should. August Sandstedt, and Gustave E. Anderson, trustees.
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