USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Il. C. Moeller is the present superintendent, and Miss Helen Wilson, his assistant. The grade teachers are Beth Newton, Luella Pogue. Ethel Thorpe. Minnie Tutt and Maggie Kanally.
The present board of directors are S. A. Beason. A. J. Davie, E. P. Kraust. C. 1. Robinson, G. W. Chaney, F. G. Redfield, secretary.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The First Congregational church of Newell was organized October 21, 1871. Meetings had been held in stores and homes, there being no other buildings in which to hold a public gathering. In stores. nail kegs and boxes were used as seats. This manner of holding religions services seemed strange and unusual to persons coming from the east and acenstomed to a well equipped church building. At a meeting held in the home of G. W. Stevens, the organization of the Congregational church was effected. The following persons were the charter members: Mrs. Maria Reynolds, Mrs. Hattie R. Nicholson, Mrs. Mary I. Stebbins, Mrs. Lewis Il. Gordon, Henry A. Cushman, Mrs. Sarah E. M. Gordon. Wm. A. Reynolds and Albert W. Eno.
In 1872-3 the first church building was erected. a small frame building in the southwest portion of the town. The first money for this church was raised by Mrs. G. W. Stevens and Mrs. Waterman, who did laundry work in the hotel
8
171
IIISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
then run by the Stevens', they having the hotel in their home. A sociable was held, netting fifty dollars, and this sum was also turned over to the church.
In the fall of 1881 this church building was moved to the site of the present structure, and was used until 1903 when it was torn down and the present briek structure erected in 1903-4. The church has now a property vahied at eleven thousand dollars. There are one hundred and eighty members in the church.
Mr. Lewis Gordon was the first deacon.
The following men have served as pastors during the church's history: A. V. House, W. J. Smith, C. M. Schwarzaur, Asa Countryman, Philo Gorton, A. A. Baker, James R. Kaye, Marston S. Freeman, N. F. Gonglas, W. G. Johnston, Wm. B. Pinkerton, E. F. Wheeler and F. Il. Anderson.
In 1901 the church celebrated its thirtieth anniversary.
The present offieers of the church, aside from the pastor Frank H. Anderson, are : Mrs. Comina Davie, clerk; and F. G. Redfield, treasurer.
The Sunday school was organized with the church, and has always contin- ned a strong one; the present enrollment numbers one hundred and twenty-five. H. C. Moeller is the superintendent, Clayton Redfield, secretary, and Edgar Norton, treasurer.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has an enrollment of thirty-five members with Elizabeth Newton, president ; Gladys Harvey, vice president ; Frances Redfield, secretary; and George Conley, treasurer.
There is also a Ladies' Aid Society with Mrs. Sophia Anderson, president ; Mrs. II. C. Moeller, secretary; and Mrs. J. T. Norton, treasurer. The ladies of the church also conduet a Bible class, following systematic study of the Bible. Mrs. H. C. Moeller is president; Mrs. E. C. King, secretary ; and Mrs. F. H. Anderson the class leader.
NAIN DANISHI EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHI.
The Danish Lutheran church in Newell was organized May 11, 1884. Their first property consisted of a parsonage. This was later sold, and in 1892 the church moved out to its present site at the edge of town, where they now own five aeres of ground, on which stands their chruch building and parsonage. In 1901 the church building was remodeled and enlarged into the present structure. There are one hundred and twenty members of the church, and three hundred and twenty-five communicants. The society is a strong one, in good condition and increasing steadily. They are now working for a society building to be ereeted near the church.
Rev. Angust Faber is the present pastor. The present officers of the church society are J. C. Aroe, president ; A. C. Anderson, secretary and treasurer; trustees : L. Smith, P. Johnson. C. Christiansen. Miss Emma Gran is seeretary of the Sunday school.
The Young People's society has an enrollment of sixty-seven members with Rev. August Faber as president ; Miss K. Mikkelsen. secretary; and Miss K. Bodholt, treasurer.
172
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The present officers of the Ladies Aid society are: president, Mrs. Anna Gran; secretary, Mrs. Mary Neilson, and treasurer, Mrs. Sophia Olson.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Any definite data concerning the early history of the Methodist church is unobtainable, as the early records of its organization can not be found. It is very probable, however, that the church was organized just a few years after the Congregational church, as up to 1877 the Methodist society used the Congre- gational church building. A man named White was preaching for the Metho- (lists at that time, living on a farm a short way from town. In 1877 they built their first church, and in 1903 this was enlarged and remodeled, making the present structure. The church was incorporated at the same time they built their church in 1877. and the board of trustees at that time were John Van Cleve, J. JJ. Parker, E. W Foy, J. J. Allee. S. V. Moore, J. W. Doxsee, and S. Bogenrief.
Prior to 1883 there is no record of the ministers who served. except Revs. White. Richards, Shesler and Franehier, whose names were obtained from memory. From 1883 the following men have served as pastors: F. M. Ander- son. George E. Stump. J. W. Mills, J. W. Spangler, W. II. Montgomery. Il. II. Crim, T. S. Basset, J. A. Lory, A. R. Archibald. V. C. Thomas, G. W. Shideler, I. M. Hargett, and E. C. Richards, the present minister.
The present officers of the church are: Trustees: S. A. Beason, G. L. Ellison, A. J. Davie, C. J. Robinson, James Rogers, Wm. Huxtable, N. M. Layman.
Stewards: Mrs. A. J. Davie, Mrs. C. J. Robinson, Mrs. James Rogers, Mrs. Frank Point. H. M. Shook. J. E. Holtz, John Williams, C. A. Allison.
The enrollment of the church is one hundred and thirty-six.
The Sunday school. with an enrollment of one hundred and eight. has the following officers: S. A. Beason, superintendent; Mary Holtz, secretary; Homer Ellison, treasurer.
Following are the officers of the Epworth League: President, Jeanne Ellis ; secretary, John Rogers; treasurer, byle Smith. The enrollment is about thirty.
The ladies of the church have a Ladies Aid society with Mrs. Win. Iluxtable. president ; Mrs. C. J. Robinson, secretary ; and Mrs. J. C. Layman, treasurer.
The Methodist charge in Newell includes the Galbraeth church appointment in the country, The present trustees of this church are G. F. Peck, R. J. Pacper and F. J. Buss.
The stewards are: Mrs. D. JJ. Marple, Mrs. Clara Minier, Mrs. F. J. Buss, R. J. Paeper, and G. F. Peck.
They have a Sunday school with an enrollment of seventy-five. R. J. Paeper is the superintendent, and Miss Bessie Bright the secretary.
Miss Opal Minier is president of the Epworth League, and Mrs. Clara Minier the president of the Ladies Aid society.
The enrollment of the church in town is one hundred and thirty-six, and that of the Galbraeth church is about fifty-six.
173
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
THE DANISHI BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEWELL.
The Danish Baptist church was organized October 1, 1884. Rev. Hans Nelson, the first pastor, organized the church with nine members, four of whom are still living in Newell. The meetings were held in the old brick schoolhouse until about 1890, when they built their first church, a small frame building. About 1903 this was remodeled and enlarged into the present building. They also own a parsonage which was purchased three years ago.
Mr. Nels Christiansen was the first deacon of the church, and together with Mr. Paul Winther constitute the present deaeons. Other officers of the church are: P. Christiansen, secretary, and N. L. Peterson, treasurer.
They have a large Sunday school with an enrollment of about one hundred, and a membership of over forty in the Young People's society, of which Will Frandson is president. There is a Ladies Society with Mrs. N. Jensen as presi- dent and also a Young Ladies society, called "Farther Lights Society," of which Miss Bertha Kjærsgaard is president.
The membership of the church numbers one hundred and two. Rev. L. Thompson is the present pastor. The society is planning to celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary in the fall of 1909.
THIE CATHOLIC CHURCHI.
The Catholics have held services in and about Newell for nearly forty years, but not until about 1882 was the organization of the church effected. The present church building was erected in that year, the building of the church following closely the organization of the church society. The membership then consisted of thirty or thirty-five families. For ten years prior to the building of the church in 1882, the priest from Storm Lake held services in the town hall and private homes. For some little time before this a priest from Fort Dodge held mass in the homes. Newell was then a charge in the Fort Dodge circuit.
There is now a membership of about eighteen families, aggregating one hundred souls. Services are hell every three weeks, the church being in the charge of the resident priest of Storm Lake. Until 1908 there had always been a committee of three who looked after the affairs of the church, but now the priest attends to all affairs. No further data is obtainable.
ROYAL LODGE NO. 428 A. F. & A. M.
The Masonic lodge was organized June 7, 1883, with about fifteen charter members, the following being the first officers: L. T. Swezey, master; A. Pratt, senior warden ; J. V. Compton, junior warden.
There are very few of the charter members still living in Newell, S. D. Driver and J. J. Allee probably being the only ones.
174
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The lodge was organized in the hall they oceupy at present, but they have since used two other halls, and then moved back into the original hall.
The present officers of the lodge are: Master, H. C. Gordon ; senior warden, Mr. A. M. Morse; junior warden, Thos. Householder; secretary, Chris. Aroe; treasurer, S. D. Driver; S. D., Chas. Collins; J. D., Mr. Halriek : Tyler. Percy Moorehouse ; stewards. E. C. Avery and Guy Mack.
The present membership numbers about forty.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Rex Lodge No. 242, was organized Angust 14, 1890. The following were its first officers: C. C., Thos. W. Anguin; V. C., Perry J. Miller; M. A., J. L. Mankey; M. F., C. E. Davis; O. G .. Henry Fisher; C. C., John P. Lawton ; Prel .. E. Trumbeur ; M. E., W. II. Mentor, Jr .; I. G., Casper Althen; K. of R. & S., C. W. Bean.
There are fifty-one members of the lodge, the following being the present officers: P. C. C., E. C. Avery ; C. C. C. A. Allison; V. C., Benton Harkins; Prel., Il. C. Gordon ; K. of R. & S., H. A. Harvey ; M. of E., F. G. Redfield ; M. of W., J. L. Mankey; M. of A., Oscar Sanmelson; I. G., P. C. Peterson; O. G., John Rodda, Jr. Trustees: Il. C. Gordon, A. J. Larson, and J. P. JJensen.
I. O. O. F. LODGE NO. 232.
The Odd Fellow lodge is without doubt the oldest lodge in the town of Newell. It was first organized shortly before 1872, but of the organizers there is scarcely a member now living in Newell. The building in which they had their hall was burned, and their charter and records were destroyed. But the lodge was reorganized and obtained a new charter October 17, 1872. For many years they used what is now the K. of P. hall, but what was then the I. O. O. F. hall. About four years ago the lodge purchased a one story building on Main street. which was raised to Iwo stories, the upper rooms being used for lodge rooms, and the ground floor rented for storerooms. It is the intention of the lodge to have the ground floor fitted up for a kitchen and social rooms.
The following are the present officers: N. G., G. M. Allee; V. G., A. E. Couch; recording secretary. W. A. Newton; financial secretary. J. II. Williams ; treasurer, F. G. Redfield; warden, Henry Pratt ; condnetor, B. Harkins; chap- lain, John Evans; I. G., J. C. Thompson : O. G., Frank Williams; R. S. S., J. F. Bellows; L. S. S .. Henry Point ; R. S. to N. G .. N. Parsons ; L. S. to N. G., J. S. Cheney ; R. S. to V. G., Matt Cheney; L. S. to V. G., George Rogers. Trustees : II. C. Rogers, Thos. Mankey, and M. Parsons.
The lodge has now a membership of one hundred and fifteen.
REBEKAH LODGE NO. 258.
The Rebekah lodge of Newell had its beginning on the 18th day of October,
175
IHISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
1894. It was organized with forty-nine charter members, having the following as its first officers: N. G., Mrs. Ilelen Pratt; V. G., Mary Magness ; secretary, Agnes Morse ; treasurer, Fannie Ellis.
There are one hundred and seventeen members in the lodge, and the follow- ing are its present officers: N. G., Christina Sharp; V. G., Ilattie Cheney ; secretary, Comina P. Davie ; treasurer, Martha Rust ; financial seeretary, Anna Point.
MISSION CHAPTER NO. 401 0. E. S.
The present Eastern Star lodge began its existence October 24, 1906. About fifteen years before this, however, a lodge was organized, but it was disbanded, and remained so for several years, until the organization of the new lodge in 1906. The charter members of the new lodge were: Mrs. Sophia Anderson, Miss Iva Aroe, Mrs. Mary Beason. Mrs. Myrtle Collins, Mrs. Ida Davie, Mrs. Alice Hoyne, Mrs. Jennie Holtz, Mrs. Geraldine Householder, Mrs. Alice Jensen, Mrs. Kaia Larson, Mrs. Agnes Morse. Mrs. Sarah Pratt and Miss Lulu Moorehouse.
The lodge meets in the K. of P. hall. the second Tuesday in each month. There is an enrollment of forty members, with the following officers: W. M., Mrs. Ida Davie; A. M .. Mrs. Alice Jensen ; secretary, Miss Lulu Moorehouse.
KISMET CAMP NO. 447 M. W. A.
The Modern Woodmen of America were organized in Newell October 3, 1891. There were sixteen charter members, as follows: J. P. Lawton, F. A. Gilkey, Judson Woodring, E. Carson, J. T. Norton, W. A. Waterman, A. B. Spencer, G. W. Chaney, C. Jefferson, C. J. Robinson, James Nelson, James Jensen, J. L. Stocker. O. S. Coe, W. L. Forbes, and E. Traumbaur.
The lodge occupies the K. of P. hall. The present membership is one hun- dred and thirty-three, and the following are its officers: H. C. Gordon, V. C .; W. II. Wright, W. A .; C. E. Barnard, clerk; G. W. Chaney, banker ; C. A. Alli- son, escort ; F. C. Foley, physician ; Ed Clark. watchman ; W. L. Holtz, sentry.
COURT OF HONOR NO. 796.
The Court of Honor, composing sixty-three charter members. was organized in Newell on the 12th day of October, 1898. 3 Its first officers were as follows : Il. C. Gordon, W. C .; Viola Hains, W. V. C .; J. P. Lawton, recorder; Mary Lewis, chaplain ; T. A. Powell, treasurer; Anna L. Point, conductor; F. L. Point. guard; Frank Santer, sentinel; F. C. Foley, medical director.
There is at present a membership of fifty-three, with the following officers : Mrs. Ida Davie, chancellor; Mrs. Mary Brown, vice chancellor; Mrs. Anna M. Point, conductor ; Mrs. Lydia Stocker. chaplain ; H. C. Gordon, recorder; F. L. Point, guard; J. C. Brown, sentinel ; F. C. Foley, M. D.
176
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
THE DANISH BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICA.
The organization of the Danish Brotherhood of America was effected Devem- ber 17. 1901. There were eighteen charter members of whom the following were the first officers: Jens Christensen, P. P .; Niels P. Jensen, P .; Matt Nielsen, V. P .; Niels P. Jensen, S .; Hans Christensen, T .; Peter Mathiesen, G .; O. P. Olson, I. G .; Hans Mathiesen, O. G .; August Nielsen, T. R.
The lodge meets in the K. of P. hall. There is an enrollment of forty-three members, with the present officers: P. C. Peterson, president ; Carl P. Hoag, vice president ; Angust Nielsen, ex-president ; Chris. Frederiksen, secretary; L. P. Madisen, treasurer.
DANISHI SISTERS SOCIETY IN AMERICA.
Auxiliary to the Danish Brotherhood is the Danish Sisters society which was instituted on the 21st day of April, 1908. The following persons constituted the first officers : Ida M. Mathisen. P. P. : Engeline M. Hoeg. P .; Marie H. Pedersen, V. P .; Tillie Christensen, S .; Laurine Mathisen, T .; Christine S. Jensen, G .; Christine M. Paulson. I. G .: Dorthea K. Kinerup, O. G.
The name of the lodge is Henriette Lodge, No. 109.
G. A. R.
On May 27. 1886, the following veterans of the Civil war organized their branch of the Grand Army of the Republic: P. T. Anderson. F. H. Smith, W. A. Welch. C. F. Chipman. W. Il. Stott. E. A. Knapp, J. T. Chaney, J. L. Doxsee, J. R. Hunt, H. J. Scoville, M. M. Tyfe. Sylvester Culven. Joseph Schultz, R. H. Smith, Loyal Kuney, and Daniel Wood.
THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS NO. 278.
The Woman's Relief Corps was organized in Newell on March 15, 1894. composed of the following members: Maggie Doxsee, Ida Cunningham, Mary Chaney. Belle Norton, Lucy Stetson, Agnes L. Miller, Mary Parsons, Ollie Gilkey. Caroline Mankey, Helen Seovil, Mary Brown, Isabella Davie, Lottie A. Robinson. Sophia Anderson, Eldona Redfield, Arena Blakesley, Carrie Schultz, Alice Rogers, Matilde Tutell. Catherine Fulmer, Lavina Tutell, Maggie Tutell, Augusta Patzke, Jane Parsons. Emma Stott, Helen Pratt. Ella Shumway, Myrtle Parker, Fanny Ellis. Corrina Parsons. Kate Forbes and Julia Parker.
THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHI.
The Seventh Day Adventists of Nowell organized themselves during the latter part of May. 1908. The organization thus formed was the Sunday school, and sixteen persons constituted the membership. Elmer Olson was elected the leader for the society, Flossy Atwood, superintendent of the Sunday school ; Anna Peterson, secretary ; and Mrs. M. L. Peterson, treasurer.
LAKESIDE DRIVE.
177
IHISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The meetings were held for several weeks in a hall, a vacant store building, and when that became occupied, they met around at the homes of the members. Anna Peterson is the superintendent of the Sunday school, and Elmer Olson the secretary, the latter being also the leader of the society. There is a present membership of nineteen persons.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YEOMEN.
Newell Homestead No. 678, of the Yeomen lodge was organized February 22. 1901, with about thirty-five charter members. The following were elected the first officers : G. L. Fredenberg, foreman; Mande B. Dodge, M. of C .; A. F. Morse, correspondent ; D. B. Gillman, M. of A .; James O'Brien, physician ; D. C. Fulmer. overseer : Albert Winter, watchman : Frank MeFarland. sentinel.
The lodge has a present membership of thirty-eight; the officers are consti- tuted as follows: E. K. Bergmer. foreman; Agnes E. Morse. correspondent ; Charles Prentice, M. of A .; Mrs. Alta Dodge, M. of C .; C. H. Trabn, physician ; M. Steger, overseer; Oscar Samuelson, watchman ; S. Callahan, sentinel.
SIOUX RAPIDS.
Sioux Rapids, as a town, dates from the year 1882, when, on the 1st day of May a meeting was held in the office of Hoskins & Toy, bankers, and the first step was taken to incorporate. Twenty-six years before Abner Bell and his party of settlers came to the county and located near the site of the town and remained there. This was the principal settlement in the county and remained so until the south part of the county settled up after the coming of the Dubuque & Sioux City railway.
In the year 1858 Luther II. Barnes, an early settler. laid out a town plat on extensive lines and called it Sioux Rapids. Mr. Barnes believed the location would attract a population of large numbers and be equal to the larger cities of our country, but he was doomed to disappointment. He left the country, hav- ing sunk all of his fortune in this nnleky enterprise, and badly broken in spirits. The settlers never took Barnes seriously and when he had departed they used the stakes which set out his city for firewood.
Nothing came of the town and site until the year 1869 when Richard Ridgway, who had taken the land upon which the site was sitnated, as a home- stead. and who built a house where J. P. Farmer's home now stands, sold it to D. C. Thomas and David Evans and they at once platted it into town lots. They gave it the name of Sioux Rapids, the name selected by Luther Barnes. The same year the county seat. which was situated upon section 7 of Lee township, was moved to the village of Sioux Rapids and located on block 12. A court- house was built in 1871, and the town began to assume the appearance of the metropolis of the county.
Business houses were at once attracted to the town. Gilbert, Halverson &
178
IHISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Jacobsen opened the first store in the town and they were succeeded by other firms. J. M. Iloskins opened a loan office and later a bank, James F. Toy of Storm Lake being interested in the venture with Mr. Hoskins.
The first officers. elected in 1882. were as follows: James M. Hoskins. mayor ; Thos. H. Pittam, recorder : John Halverson. P. W. Goodrich, P. F, Swan. Henry Jacobsen. George A. Thompson and II. D. Smith, councilmen. Since then .1. J. Deupree, J. J. Duroe. Miles Moe. W. E. Brown. F. F. Faville, Lyman Johnson, D. F. Johnston. II. II. Hunter, F. A. Gabrielson, E. D. Peck. A. L. Freelove. A. L. Zinser. M. W. Hoskins, A. B. Snyder, D. C. Skinner and H. C. Plager have been mayor, the latter being the present ineumbent. At this time F. B. Parker is clerk and H. H. Hall. E. C. Mattesen. C. E. Anderson. P. A. Saxerus and O. P. Olson are councilmen.
On January 1, 1877 the courthouse was burned to the ground and as a county seat fight had been instituted by Newell and Storm Lake the county supervisors refused to authorize the building of a new buikling. In 1878 the question of location was submitted to a vote of the people of the county and the conrthouse was transferred to Storm Lake.
This was a bad blow to the town, and naturally the citizens felt disappointed for a time, but the coming of the Chicago & Northwestern railway in 1882 was what the town needed more than the courthouse and new vigor was at once felt in every line of activity. New business houses were built and the population increased rapidly. In 1885 the census showed six hundred and sixteen people.
In 1900 the M. & St. L. railway was built through from Spencer to Storm Lake and this again added new stimulus to the business of the town, which is still felt.
A water works system was installed in the town in 1889 and four years ago the town bought the electric light plant, which is now being operated by the municipality. Power is furnished by the milling company and a low rate is charged to consumers. yet the town is making a profit on the service that will soon pay for the investment.
Every line of business is well represented. There are two banks, three general stores, hardware and drug stores, clothing and furniture stores, and everything that is demanded in a good, live town.
NOW AND THIEN !
In the issue of the Sioux Rapids Press for June 11, 1885, an anonymous writer paints a picture of the town as it appeared at that time, and as it looked in 1867.
"Eighteen years ago we passed through Sioux Rapids and stopped at a log hotel near by. Then we could travel for miles across the prairie without passing a house, and stand on more than one hill and look in vain in every direction for sign of a human habitation. Again, after an absence of three years, we visited the place to find a few scattered inhabitants living near the county scat. The town consisted of a few small houses and had grown in importance since our previous visit. Among the inhabitants was a lawyer with
179
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
a long head and a lame leg who entertained ns in primitive style in a mansion built of sun dried bricks. A young and inexperienced doctor boarded at the log hotel on the hill and wanted to sell us a homestead claim in the suburbs, four miles distant, for four hundred dollars.
"Then there was no church edifice or resident preacher, and but little to betoken the progress that has been made. A strolling preacher reasoned of righteousness, repentance and judgment to come in a small building which was crowded with the lame lawyer and his twenty-nine neighbors.
"Now how changed ! Some of the old settlers have moved into houses not made with hands; others have sought homes in other portions of our fair land and little is to recall the Sioux Rapids of 1870.
"Again we stand mid scenes of the past to find a city where wild beasts dwelt and a thriving people growing rich where solitude was only broken by the war whoop of the savage and the cry of wild birds and beasts. Brick blocks and palatial residences have taken the place of adobe houses and log huts and man's energy, attended by God's blessing has developed some of the vast resources of our soil and changed the wilderness into the fruitful land."
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The first schoolhouse ever erected on the present site of Sioux Rapids was built in 1856 on the northeast corner of section 12. 92-37. This schoolhouse was later moved to a place about half a mile south, and was used here as a school until the county was divided into townships in 1869. A schoolhouse was ereeted in 1870 on bloek 11. and this building was used as a sub-distriet school until March, 1878. when on the 11th of that month the Independent district was organized. The district was formerly composed of a part of bee township, but the independent district included with this also a part of Barnes township. The forming of the district in this way was vigorously opposed by those living across the river, who favored a district including the town only. There were several residents across the river who would add materially to the strength of the school. if the district could he made to extend over their territory. The towns-people saw this, so they wrote up their proceedings, sent them to the legislature, and had them legalized, and published as a law before the residents across the river were scarcely aware of what had ocenrred. Thus the district composes a part of Lee and a part of Barnes township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.