USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume I > Part 27
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272 PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
ture, ineumbents of important county offices, and in a number of in- stances a doctor has been chosen to represent a district in Congress. Socially he was nearly always well received by the pioneers, whether he called in sickness or health. On the occasions of his visits a place at the table was his, and the juiciest piece of chicken or the largest piece of pie would find its way to the doctor's plate. Many a boy has been named for the family physician.
For some time after the first settlement of Calhoun County the nearest physicians were in Greene County. Foremost among them were Dr. W. S. McBride and a Doctor Miller. Doctor McBride was located at Jefferson and made frequent calls in the vicinity of Lake City. He and Doctor Miller were both typical country doctors and were reasonably successful in restoring the sick to health.
The first resident physician in the county was a Doctor St. John. whose first name seems to have been forgotten by the old settlers of Calhoun. He located at Lake City in 1837, but the community then numbered but a few families and there was not sufficient practice to satisfy his demands, so that he remained only a short time. He is remembered as a courteous gentleman and a practitioner of some ability.
Dr. J. W. Hollenbeck was the next physician to establish himself in the county. He located at Lake City after Doctor St. John left that place and remained for about three years. He was succeeded by Dr. E. V. Blachley, an eelectie physician, who practiced in Lake City and vicinity for some seven or eight years.
In 1871 Dr. F. C. Stewart located at Lake City. He was a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war, after which he grad- uated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, la. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a highly successful physician and excelled in the practice of surgery. He continued to practice in Calhoun County until the time of his death.
Contemporary with Doctor Stewart was Dr. J. D. MeVay, who graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk in the class of 1873 and soon afterward established himself in practice at Lake City. In 1884 he was elected to represent the district of which Calhoun County then formed a part in the lower branch of the Iowa Legislature, and in 1888 was elected to the State Senate. HIe was the president of the first medical society organized in Cal- houn County and was a progressive man in all respects.
An old lowa Medical Directory for 1886 gives the physicians of Calhoun County, their location, the medical school each attended and
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the date of graduation as follows: II. II. Baldwin, Lake City. Chi- cago Medieal College, 1880: J. M. Cooper, Rockwell City, not a graduate: J. W. Craig, Lohrville, College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Keokuk, 1880; Herman Fischer, location not given, Chicago Homeopathic College, 1880; D. M. Johnston, Rockwell City, not a graduate: M. J. Land, sehool not known, Farnhamville: W. W. Me- Mackin. Lake City, Missouri Medieal College, 1880; Josiah D. Mc- Vay, Lake City, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, 1873: D. T. Martin, Manson, Rush Medical College of Chicago, 1882: Duncan Reid, Manson, Rush Medical College, 1878: C. H. L. Sonder. Rockwell City, Louisville School of Medicine, 1881; Mrs. Ellen A. Souder (wife of the above), Chicago Homeopathic College, 1882: F. C. Stewart, Lake City, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, date not given; D. W. Wight, Pomeroy, Medical Col- lege of Brunswick, Me., 1867 ; Henry Young, Manson, Chicago Med- ieal College. 1872.
Of these physicians Dr. H. H. Baldwin was elected the first mayor of Lake City; Dr. M. J. Land removed to Missouri: Dr. Dumn- can Reid went as a missionary to Afriea; Dr. C. II. L. Souder and his wife, in the spring of 1915, were living on a farm in Garfield Township, Calhoun County: Dr. D. W. Wight, who was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge at Pomeroy, went back east about 1894; Dr. Henry Young, who has represented Calhoun County in both branches of the Legislature and served as mayor of Manson, is still practicing his profession in that little city.
Dr. J. M. Carroll located at Pomeroy in 1875 and Dr. W. J. Townsend. of Lohrville, began practice in 1881, having previously attended the Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons. He received the degree of M. D. from Drake University in 1887 and is still prac- ticing in Lohrville. Dr. J. R. Thompson, one of the pioneer physi- cians of Jolley, served as coroner of the county from 1895 to 1899.
As a matter of fact, the medieal history of Calhoun County dif- fers in no material respect from that of many other counties. There have been no celebrated surgical operations performed within her borders and no physician of the county has achieved "world-wide fame." The physicians of the present day are all men of standing in their respective communities and compare favorably with the doctors through the State of Iowa.
CENTRAL DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
In June, 1874, a number of physicians living in Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Story and some of the adjoining counties Vol. 1-18
274 PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
organized the Central District Medieal Association of Iowa. The only records of this old society known to be in existence is a fee bill adopted at a meeting held on June 19, 1876, the principal features of which were as follows: Office consultation, $1; first visit, $2; each subsequent visit, $1.50; over one mile from office, $2.50; first visit in consultation, $10. This fee bill was signed by Drs. L. J. Alleman, A. A. Deering, H. D. Ensign, E. H. Melott, P. S. Moser, J. HI. Noyes, M. A. Parr and G. D. Rowe, of Boone County; F. C. Stewart and Josiah D. McVay, of Calhoun; J. W. Gustine, F. Naulteus and A. L. Wright, of Carroll; R. S. Gwynn and M. P. Mowrer, of Dal- las: Charles Enfield, G. H. Grimmell, O. W. Lowrey, C. B. Park and W. S. Schermerhorn, of Greene; S. T. Goodman and J. J. Lewis, of Mahaska; B. F. Allen, D. S. Fairehild, A. G. Gorrell, George A. Meredith and S. J. Starr. of Story. Dr. J. D. MeVay, of Lake City, was president of this association in 1886.
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES
The first Calhoun County Medical Society was organized about 1888 or 1889, a eall having been previously issued and notices sent to the graduate physicians of the county requesting them to attend a meeting at Rockwell City for the purpose of organizing such a so- ciety. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, Dr. Josiah D. Me- Vay was elected president and Dr. W. W. MeMaekin, secretary. Owing to the fact that the constitution and by-laws restricted the membership to physicians who were graduates of accredited medieal colleges, a number of doctors practicing then in the county were ineligible. Following is a list of the members of this first county medical society, so far as they can be definitely aseertained: H. H. Baldwin, J. W. Craig. W. W. MeMackin, Josiah D. McVay. D. T. Martin, Dunean Reid, F. C. Stewart, D. J. Townsend, D. W. Wight, Henry Young. Meetings were held at irregular intervals for a year or two, when the society went down.
After the formation of the American Medical Association the varions states began to organize state medieal associations or societies and county societies were then formed in nearly every county of the nation as subordinates of the state organization and in elose touch with it and the national association.
Following this plan, the present Calhoun County Medieal Society was organized at Roekwell City on August 26, 1903. Doctor Churchill, of Fort Dodge, was present at the meeting and acted as
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 275
temporary chairman until the organization was effected. A eonsti- tution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers elected: D. J. Townsend, president : Doctor Hoxie, of Knierim, vice presi- dent : Dr. R. H. Hews, of Rockwell City, secretary; Dr. A. C. Nor- ton, of Rockwell City, Treasurer.
The second meeting of the society was held at Rockwell City on December 1, 1903, when Doctors Speaker, Nelson, Mullarkey and Young, of Manson, were admitted to membership. At that meet- ing the first board of eensors was elected. It consisted of Dr. F. V. Hibbs, Dr. D. W. MeCrary and Dr. J. W. Craig. In 1915 the officers of the society were: Dr. J. M. Cooper, of Roekwell City, president : Dr. W. C. Kennedy, of Knierim, vice president; Dr. F. V. Hibbs, of Lohrville, secretary and treasurer.
From a directory of Iowa physicians recently published by the Iowa Medical Journal the following list of present day physicians in Calhoun County has been taken: Rockwell City-J. M. Cooper, L. E. Esliek. L. D. Hews, R. H. Hews, J. N. Hoit, A. C. Norton; Lake City-J. F. Hull, H. M. Humphrey, F. E. Kauffman, D. W. MeCrary, M. J. McVay, E. C. Moore, G. L. Pray; Manson-M. S. Freeburger, HI. J. Mullarkey, W. T. Speaker, Henry Young; Lohr- ville-J. W. Craig, F. V. Hibbs, D. J. Townsend; Pomeroy-D. T. Martin, Charles L. Taylor: Knierim-W. C. Kennedy, J. H. Mc- Call: Lavinia-C. H. L. Souder, Ellen Souder: Farnhamville-W. H. Green: Jolley-N. C. Kepler: Somers-J. S. Farlow; Yetter -- D. II. Hopkins.
While the medical profession of Calhoun County has never been particularly strong in numbers, a majority of the doctors realize the advantages to be derived from organization and are members of the medical society. Regular meetings for the transaction of business are held quarterly and during the summer months special meetings are held at different points in the county. At these special meetings the program is usually more of a social than a professional character. Fraternal relations are maintained among the Calhoun County physicians, there are few biekerings and jealousies, and each one stands ready to lend his aid to a professional brother in difficulties. No noted surgical operations have ever been performed in the county, and with the exception of one or two smallpox "seares" there has not been any serious epidemie. And these epidemics were not really serious. Through the skill of the physicians, the prompt aetion of the loeal board of health and the co-operation of the citizens the disease was confined to a small district in each ease.
CHAPTER XVIII
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION-THIE COMSTOCK CANE-DECREE OF COURT-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-ROCKWELL CITY FAIR ASSOCIA- TION-MANSON FAIR AND RACING ASSOCIATION-CALHOUN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION-MASONIC FRATERNITY-SKETCHES OF MASONIC LODGES-ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR-INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-LODGES IN CALHOUN COUNTY-DAUGHTERS OF RE- BEKAH-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS- GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC -- WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS-MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES-WOMEN'S CLUBS-THE P. E. O.
One of the oldest-if not the oldest-soeieties in Calhoun County is the Old Settlers' Association, which was organized at Lake City in 1882. When first formed it numbered among its members many of the old residents and for several years annual pienies were held, at which many interesting incidents of early days were reeounted by those present. But the hand of death removed the old pioneers one by one and in time the interest waned so that the pienie feature was abandoned. The association still keeps up its organization, however. and it has been the means of preserving records of early events that otherwise would have been forgotten. The first president of the association was Peter Smith, who eame to the county in the fall of 1854. J. M. Toliver was the second president. He was succeeded by Mrs. Washington Ripley, who came to the county a few years before the beginning of the Civil war. At the conclusion of Mrs. Ripley's term Mr. Toliver was again elected to the presideney and has held the office continuously since. In the spring of 1915 L. F. Danforth was the treasurer and T. B. Hotchkiss the historian of the organiza- tion.
In 1904 the Old Settlers' Association fitly celebrated the semi- centennial anniversary of the settlement of Calhoun County by hold- ing a sort of fair or exhibition of Calhoun County products at Lake
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 277
City. Farmers brought in the best specimens of their field products and live stock: addresses were made showing the wonderful prog- ress of the county during its first fifty years, and at the conclusion of the fair some of the articles on exhibition were sent to St. Louis, to be exhibited at the World's Fair, or Louisiana Purchase Interna- tional Exposition.
Some years ago the Old Settlers' Association came into the pos- session of a cane made from a log taken from the cabin of Ebenezer Comstock. the first house built by a white man within the limits of Calhoun County, and adopted the eustom of allowing the oldest con- tinuous resident of the county to carry the eane as a mark of distine- tion. In connection with this custom the following "Decree of Court" is of historic interest :
"In the Old Settlers' Supreme Court in and for Calhoun County, Iowa. September Term, A. D. 1902, No. 1 Equity. In the Matter of the Award of the Comstock Cane:
"Now on this 24th day of September, A. D. 1902, the same being the second day of the regular September term of said court, this cause came on for hearing, Hon. J. M. Toliver, presiding judge, on the issues joined herein, no one appearing for James O. Smith, con- testant. no one appearing for Jesse Marmon, contestant, and the other contestants appearing to wit: George W. Smith and the con- testant each appearing for himself, and the court finds after an in- spection of the record that due and legal service of notice of the pendency of this eause has been made upon all other parties by the publication in the weekly papers of Calhoun County, Iowa, and that said parties, though solemnly ealled, came not, but made default, it is therefore ordered by the court that all parties interested and not appearing be adjudged in default.
"And the cause coming on for hearing upon the default entered, and the issues joined herein, upon consideration of the pleadings and evidence introduced, and after the argument of counsel, the court being fully advised in the premises, finds that the allegations of con- testant James O. Smith are true and that said contestant James O. Smith is justly and truly the oldest continuous resident of Calhoun County. Iowa.
"It is therefore ordered, ad judged and decreed that said James O. Smith is rightfully entitled to carry a certain eane, earved from a log taken from the eabin of Ebenezer Comstock, the first white set- tler in Calhoun County, Iowa, during his natural life.
278 PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
"And said James O. Smith is hereby authorized and commissioned to earry said eane, being enjoined to exercise due eare of said eane, keeping it as a saered relie of the early days of Calhoun County, and it is further ordered and decreed that said cane is to remain the prop- erty of the Old Settlers' Association of Calhoun County, Iowa, and on the death, voluntary surrender or removal from the county of said James O. Smith, said eane is to be returned to the said Old Settlers' Association, to be then bestowed on the next oldest continuous resi- dent of the county.
"J. M. TOLLIVER, Judge."
In the spring of 1915 the Manson Journal offered to give a life subscription to the paper to the oldest resident of the county. Several old residents presented their claims and to settle the dispute "Judge" Toliver submitted the following:
"State of Iowa l
"Calhoun CountyS SS.
"1 hereby eertify that the evidence on the trial of this matter showed that James O. Smith located in this Calhoun County, Iowa, in October, 1854, and that he resided in said county continuously from that date up to the time of the trial, to wit, September 24, 1902. I further certify that he has resided in this Calhoun County from Sep- tember 24, 1902, up to this date, and is now a resident of said county. That the evidence proved that the eane referred to was made from an oak log from the first house built in Calhoun County, Iowa.
"Dated this 21st day of April, 1915.
"J. M. TOLIVER."
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
On September 28, 1886, articles of incorporation were filed in the office of the county reeorder for the Calhoun County Agricultural Association, the corporation to run for twenty years from June 19, 1886. The capital stoek of the association was fixed at $2.000, in shares of ten dollars each, and Roekwell City was designated as the place of business. The object of the organization was declared in the artieles to be "the promotion of agriculture, and the mechanical and household arts," and the control and management was vested in a board of nine directors. The first board was composed of A. Riseley,
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 279
H. W. Heston, W. T. Smith, A. W. Jackson, William Cummings, J. W. Nicholson, W. W. Walters, J. H. Carrier and T. W. MeCrary.
A traet of thirty-one acres of land in the northern part of Roek- well City was purchased for a fair ground and about five thousand dollars were expended in the erection of fenees, buildings and in mak- ing other needed improvements. Fairs were held annually until about 1894, when the association became somewhat embarrassed financially, having a mortgage of $1,500 upon the grounds and a floating indebt- edness of about seven hundred dollars. The assets of the association amounted to more than three times the indebtedness, but ready money was not available for meeting pressing obligations, the mortgage was foreelosed and the association soon afterward disbanded.
On February 21, 1898, a meeting was held at the law office of Stevenson & Lavender, in Rockwell City, for the purpose of reor- ganizing the old county agricultural society or forming a new one. George Ritz and George W. Korns were appointed to solicit sub- seriptions to a new capital stoek. A little later, as a means of awak- ening interest in the undertaking, it was decided to have a race meet on the 12th and 13th of August. The races came off according to the program, but the stoek subscriptions were not satisfactory and the projeet was abandoned.
ROCKWELL CITY FAIR ASSOCIATION
After the failure to reorganize in 1898, the county seat was with- out a fair or agricultural exhibit of any kind for nearly ten years before another effort was made to establish an agricultural society or fair association. On June 29, 1907, a meeting was held at the court- house, at which Dr. L. E. Eslick presided and O. L. Hedlund aeted as seeretary. The general trend of the opinions expressed at that meet- ing was in favor of organizing a fair association. George Ritz, W. Q. Stewart, Andrew Stewart, L. W. Johnson and L. J. Owen were appointed a committee to negotiate for a traet of ground in the north- ern part of town, just east of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, for a fair ground. Another committee was appointed to solicit stock subscriptions. At a second meeting, held at the court- house on July 12, 1907, the first committee reported that the tract of ground could be obtained on easy terms under a long lease, and the seeond reported subseriptions of $2,500 to the eapital stock. C. E. Cameron, president of the State Board of Agriculture, was present
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at the meeting and through his influence the subscriptions to stock increased the amount to $4,000.
On August 2, 1907, the Rockwell City Fair Association was incor- porated with a capital stock of $10,000 and the following officers: Andrew Stewart, president; O. L. Hedlund, vice president; W. Q. Stewart, secretary; and George Ritz, treasurer. The objects of the association, as stated in the articles of incorporation, are "to secure, buy, lease or purchase and improve the necessary ground, construct and maintain the necessary buildings and conduct at Rockwell City, Iowa, agricultural fairs and other meetings to develop and improve the stock breeding interests of Calhoun County, and to advance the general agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and educational inter- ests within said district."
Owing to the lateness of the season when the association was incor- porated, no fair was given in 1907. The grounds were purchased instead of being leased and during the fall of that year and the spring of 1908 were improved. In 1908 a fair was held, which was largely attended. Since then successful fairs have been held every year. The officers for 1915 were: Andrew Stewart, president; A. L. Johnson, vice president ; Claude O. Dixon, secretary ; F. E. Burnham, treasurer.
MANSON FAIR AND RACING ASSOCIATION
Soon after the old Calhoun County Agricultural Association went down some of the more progressive farmers and business men in the northwestern part of the county began to discuss the advisability of organizing a society at Manson. After some delay the Manson Fair and Racing Association was incorporated on January 13, 1899, with the following officers: George I. Long, president; C. A. Whittlesey, vice president ; W. S. Brooks, secretary; Andrew J. Maher, treasurer. These officers and J. H. Harrison, John Holbrook, H. Mullarkey, J. F. Dalton, M. J. Foley, James Harper and C. R. Nicholson con- stituted the first board of directors.
The articles of association provided that the capital stock should not exceed $5,000 and that the indebtedness of the association should never exceed 25 per cent of the capital stock. The association was incorporated for ten years, from January 1, 1899, unless sooner dis- solved, and the purpose of the organization was stated to be "the pro- motion of the agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and household arts." A suitable tract of ground was obtained for a fair ground,
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buildings were ereeted for the various exhibits, a race track was con- ยท strueted and fairs were held annually until 1903.
CALHOUN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION
On February 23, 1904, the Manson Fair and Raeing Association was incorporated a second time, the name being then changed to the Calhoun County Fair Association. In the new articles of incorpora- tion the capital stock was fixed at $5,000, with the provision that it might be increased at any time by a vote of two-thirds of the stock- holders. The first board of directors had been elected on February 10, 1904, from which date the incorporation was to extend for ten years, unless sooner dissolved. Thomas Griffin was chosen president; G. B. Moon, viec president; C. G. Kaskey, secretary; B. E. Sebern, treasurer. The other members of the board of directors were: J. P. Calmer, H. A. Arnold, J. C. Kelley, John Hoag, George Ridge and Charles Krebs.
Under the new management the fair grounds were improved and sneeessful fairs were held every year during the corporate life of the association, which expired on February 10, 1914. So successful had been the work of the organization that it was determined to reincorpo- rate for another period of ten years. Accordingly new articles of association were filed with the county recorder on February 27, 1914, with J. C. Hoag as president; G. B. Moon, vice president; C. G. Kaskey, secretary; F. B. Davis, treasurer. In addition to the above named officers Edward Wright, Frone Ring, Henry Steinberg, Ru- dolph Steinbrink, H. A. Arnold, James Johnson and Clyde Griffin were elected directors. The capital stock was increased to $6,750, in shares of $5 each and preparations were made for holding better fairs than ever before. This is one of the successful fair associations of Northwestern lowa.
LAKE CITY POULTRY SHOW ASSOCIATION
This is the youngest society of an agricultural character in Calhou County. It was organized on March 22, 1915, at a meeting held for the purpose at Culver's feed store in Lake City. The full name of the organization, as adopted at that meeting, is the "Lake City Poul- try and Agricultural Show Association." In the announcement issued by the association shortly afterward, the objects of the movement are "to create renewed interest in poultry raising, farm products, fancy
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work, household cookery and kindred subjects, and to have every au- tumn a poultry show and exhibition at Lake City."
Henry Wheeler was elected president; J. O. Miller, vice presi- dent; W. T. Culiver, secretary; E. E. Schwartz, treasurer; Martin Baden, O. W. Lundberg, Lloyd Smith and Charles White, executive board; Mrs. E. M. Miles, superintendent of the domestic seience department.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Calhoun County is the home of a number of lodges of the leading seeret orders, as well as organizations of fraternal and benevolent soeieties, such as the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, ete. Letters were sent to the secretaries of the various societies, but unfortunately a number of them failed to reply giving the information asked for and the history of such cannot be given in detail.
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