USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 40
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The township of Jefferson is one of the prairie townships of the county. It is mostly level, or gently undulating, and has excellent soil for the cultiva- tion of all kinds of farm products. The timber of the township (except arti- ficially grown) would not exceed three sections, this extending south from the present site of Oelwein, and a small body west of that place. The farmers are generally rich and prosperous, and many beautiful homes and splendid farm buildings are to be found in Jefferson township.
OTSEGO.
Otsego was one of the promising villages of Fayette county which died a natural death when missed by the railroad in near-by territory. This village was laid out in 1856, on the northwest corner of section 34. It became quite
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a trading point, and so continued until a railroad depot was established at Oelwein, in sight of Otsego, but nearly two miles away. The business of the village was then gradually absorbed by its more fortunate rival, some buildings were moved to Oelwein, and finally, in 1873, Doctor Pattison, the pioneer physician of the southern part of the county, removed the postoffice to Oel- wein, and soon the village was practically abandoned. The postoffice, at first named Jefferson, but soon changed to Otsego, was established soon after the village was laid out. Mr. Woods was the first merchant, and also the first postmaster. He died about 1860. Bennett & Chapman formed a mercantile partnership and conducted an extensive business, having a large patronage from the farming community in which no formidable rival towns existed within a radius of many miles. Mr. Bennett moved to Oelwein in 1873, where he was prominent in business circles.
THE CITY OF OELWEIN.
This, the largest town in northeastern Iowa, had its birth in 1872, stimu- lated by the building of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota railroad through the township. For a number of years there was nothing to distinguish Oelwein from other small villages along the line of the railroad, several of which had no existence until some time after the building of the road was assured.
But the business men of Oelwein seemed to have implicit confidence in its future even before there was a shadow of hope to stimulate such con- fidence. Fortunately for the town, the men who were at the bottom of things were strongly imaginative beings who were willing to back their conclusions with their money, and of such material are the men made who stimulate municipal growth and make prosperous towns. The Jamison brothers and George H. Phillips were among the first to sound the praises of Oelwein and invest their money in more than ordinary village enterprises. The Oelweins, for whom the town was named, were men of means, and though at first con- servatively inclined, were not slow to recognize the future prospects of the village of two or three hundred people in the early seventies; and when once convinced, they did as much as any in stimulating its progress. Dr. Israel Pattison was a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and was the first physician in the town. It was he who moved the postoffice from Otsego, without await- ing the formality of a governmental order. He established a large practice in the town and surrounding country, and was successful, both in a profession- al way and in the accumulation of property. Since his death, a few years ago, his two sons have succeeded to his practice.
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The land upon which the city of Oelwein is located was not the first to be entered and improved in Jefferson township. Oelwein is located, principally, on section 21, and the first entry on that section was made by a land speculator from Dubuque September 1, 1852. It was his custom to enter land for actual settlers who were not able to pay the necessary entrance fees, find a buyer, add a good rate of interest, and sell to the parties desiring to establish homes. In this way, four forty-acre tracts (three in the southeast quarter and one in the southwest quarter) were entered for J. B. Burch, one of the early pioneers in that locality. There were several of the Burch family identified with the early settlement of Jefferson township, but none of them ever realized from the development of their early possessions into a site for a city. In fact they did not hold their lands until the town was established, but sold, mostly to Frederick Oelwein and C. N. Martin, by whose heirs much of the real estate is still held.
Some of the early men of this place were King & Kenyon, who were the first to engage in the hardware business, and also the first business men in the town. N. O. Lawton opened a stock of dry goods soon after, and M. A. Campbell occupied a part of the same building with a stock of groceries. Mr. Von Ferber and the Applegate Brothers were in mercantile business before the beginning of the year 1874, and J. C. Miller moved his building and drug stock from Otsego, and was in trade at Oelwein for several years. He is now keeping hotel at Elgin. Irvine and Bennett erected a frame structure twenty- five by forty feet, which was used for the storage of agricultural implements.
All the early buildings in Oelwein were hastily constructed of wood, with- out the formality of consulting architects, and, as a rule, were neither hand- some nor substantial. Sixteen buildings, fifteen of which were for business purposes, were erected in about as many weeks. Three or four grain ware- houses were in readiness for the grain trade of 1874, one of these being erected by the members of Jefferson Grange, and operated by them for some years. The Jefferson House, the first hotel, was completed before the railroad depot, and was operated by Jesse Hough for many years. A newspaper, the Oclzecin Clipper, was established in early days, but did not last until the season of prosperity and expansion struck the town. A cabin erected in 1852 by L. M. Burch, on what subsequently became the Frederick Oelwein property, has been a permanent landmark and a reminder of pioneer days.
But from the building of the main line of the Chicago Great Western railroad into Oelwein, in 1886, dates the beginning of the city's phenomenal growth. At that time it was a good town, in the sense of being progressive, a good trading point, and having all of the public institutions usually accorded
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to a country town of a few hundred inhabitants. But even before the road reached the town, or township, business interests began to "look up," and far- seeing business men prophesied that Oelwein's time had come! Additions were laid out by land owners on all sides, streets were extended and improved, and business blocks and residences arose, Phoenix-like, everywhere. The establishment of the railroad shops in the town, and their gradual expansion, and the further fact that Oelwein soon became a division terminus, stimulated the growth of the town to several times its original size, within the space of a few months. Railroad men came with their families, for the shops employ many hundred skilled workmen, besides as many laborers. Mercantile busi- ness, hotels and boarding houses, churches and schools, professional men, all increased in keeping with the increasing demand; and within a few months Oelwein had taken on city airs, and could scarcely be recognized by those best acquainted with it a few months before. Then came the building of the diverging lines of the Great Western, and business and labor boomed. (For more extended notice concerning this railroad, see the article on Public Util- ities.) Brick blocks for the various lines of expanding business, houses for rental to shelter the people, or handsome homes for those whom fortune had favored by the wonderful increase in property values, the building of school houses and churches, the paving of streets and the introduction of fire-pro- tection machinery, water works and electric lights-all came within the space of a few years, and from a second-rate country town Oelwein has developed into the largest town in the four northeast corner counties in the state. But its possibilities are not exhausted, nor its business-pushers discouraged.
CHURCHES AND LODGES.
In the early days churches were established with prodigal liberality, con- sidering the means of the people, and seven church societies, a Young Men's Christian Association and a Union Sabbath school were opened to the people of varying religious views. The continuing organizations, and those of later coming, are written up in the various church histories to be found in this volume.
Lodges and fraternal and beneficial societies have been represented in the place, almost from its founding, and these have multiplied with the in- crease in population and the coming of representatives from other places. The lodges of the city are Hebron Lodge No. 374, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ( for history of which, see article on "Masonry in Fayette County," by Hon. D. W. Clements, past grand master of Iowa).
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Columbia Lodge No. 83, Ancient Order United Workmen, has had an existence since August, 1876, when it was organized with twenty-nine charter members. This is largely a beneficial institution in which the members carry life insurance. But it also has interesting ritualistic work, and the social fea- tures of the society are prized by the members.
Oelwein Lodge No. 294, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organ- ized October 25, 1874, by District Deputy Grand Master W. A. Chase, with seven charter members. At times during its history this lodge has been flourishing, with a strong membership and general interest. Then it would falter for a few years, and finally recuperate. Within recent years it has taken a new lease of life and is active, prominent and influential in the fra- ternal annals of Oelwein. Probably it has initiated as many members as any fraternal organization in the town, and assuredly the principles of "Friendship, Love and Truth," when carried out in the lodge-room and in daily associa- tions, are on a par with the underlying principles of any society in existence.
The Grand Army of the Republic is the only fraternity having a "time limit" to its duration, if we except kindred organizations of old soldiers. Griffith Post No. 134 was organized in the winter of 1881-2. A deputation of members of Abernathey Post at West Union went down to "assist at the banquet tables!" They had no trouble in getting to Oelwein, but, like all others who locate there, even temporarily, it seemed impossible to get away. The hindering cause, in this case, was an Iowa blizzard which blocked the railroad for two weeks. Finally a man with a team was hired, and between walking and breaking the road and riding in the bob sled, they covered the twenty-two miles on the return in thirteen hours. The remnant of Griffith Post still holds the organization, but the ranks are thinning, and soon the final roll-call will be reached.
The Modern Woodmen of America have an organization in Oelwein, having a fair membership who approve of that method of life insurance.
A lodge of the Good Templars once had an healthy existence in the town, at one time having about a hundred members.
Jefferson Grange No. 687 was another of the active organizations during the early days of Oelwein. It was organized in November, 1872, and at one time counted among its members nearly all the prominent farmers and others having agricultural interests in the town and surrounding country.
Company F, of the Fourth Regiment Iowa National Guards, was the only military organization that has had an existence in the town. It served the
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state for three years after the 14th of May, 1878. It was a well drilled com- pany. Some of its former members were in service during the Spanish- American war.
STATISTICS.
The population of the city of Oelwein is conservatively estimated at eight thousand. It has four fine school houses, valued at fifty-seven thousand dol- lars. There are twenty-nine rooms in the school buildings, employing two male teachers and thirty females. The duration of the school year is nine months. The average monthly compensation of male teachers in 1909 was one hundred and twenty-four dollars and sixty-six cents, and of female teach- ers fifty-two dollars and ninety-three cents. The school enumeration of the district shows one thousand six hundred and seventy-one persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years, of whom one thousand and fifty-two were enrolled in the schools, with a total average daily attendance of eight hundred and six. The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil was two dollars and twenty-one cents. Twenty-seven non-resident students were taught in the schools, from whom the district realized in tuition fees three hundred and ninety-seven dollars. The value of apparatus used in the schools is seven hundred and fifty dollars. The free students' library contains one thousand five hundred volumes.
Among the revenues of the city of Oelwein may be mentioned the follow- ing: For the year 1909, the Chicago Great Western railroad contributed in taxes paid one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one dollars and eighty cents, and to the township of Jefferson, two thousand three hundred and ninety-six dollars and twenty-six cents. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad paid in taxes for the same period, to Oelwein, six hundred and ninety dollars and seventy-seven cents, and to the township, four hundred and ninety- five dollars and ninety-seven cents.
Under the Iowa mulct law, which prevails in Oelwein, the liquor dealers paid in fines and assessments the sum of four thousand two hundred and three dollars and forty-five cents, contributed by twenty-eight persons during the year 1909. For the same period in the entire county, liquor taxes were as- sessed and levied to the amount of six thousand four hundred and fifty dollars.
There are six and eighteen-hundredths miles of line of the Western Union Telegraph Company in Jefferson township, valued for assessment purposes at eighty dollars per mile. The United States Express Company has the same mileage in the town and township, valued at thirty-five dollars per mile. The
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Wells-Fargo Company has thirteen and four-tenths miles of line, assessed at thirty-five dollars per mile.
Fifty-two miles of telephone, of which the Corn Belt Telephone Com- pany has twenty-eight miles, traverse the town and country and keep the people in touch with the markets, the neighborhood gossip and the doctors in emerg- encies. The four companies operating these lines are assessed an average of fifty-four dollars per mile.
The taxable valuation of the incorporated city of Oelwein is six hundred and seventy-five thousand two hundred and twenty dollars, and of Jefferson township, three hundred and sixty-four thousand four hundred and thirty- three dollars. The rate of general taxation for 1909 was eighteen and seven- tenths mills on the dollar, in addition to which there were some corporation taxes provided for in the cities and incorporated towns.
BANKS.
The banking interests at Oelwein were first represented by the private banking house of Hoagland & Jamison in 1875, at a time when the community had no bank nearer than Fayette, West Union or Independence. In 1887, they built for banking purposes the brick block in which the bank is still con- tinued. The original firm carried on banking until 1881, when Hoagland retired and the business was conducted by S. B. Zeigler, Joseph Hobson, E. B. Shaw and John Jamison, the first three taking over the interest held by Mr. Hoagland. In 1887 G. W. Jamison purchased the interest held by Zeigler, Shaw and Hobson, since which date it has been the sole property of Jamison Brothers-John and G. W. Jamison. A general banking business is here trans- acted and during the various financial flurries of the country, this bank has always been able to pay out dollar for dollar on all demands made upon it. The Jamisons are conservative, prudent business men, who stand high in the county for their ability and financial integrity.
THE STURGIS PRIVATE BANK.
The second bank established at Oelwein was also a private concern, founded by H. C. Sturgis & Company (father and son), in 1888, and this was operated a few years and went out of business.
THE AETNA STATE BANK.
This bank was organized in the month of July, 1895, and the first officers were. A. J. Anders, president ; Henry O'Neil, cashier, and W. R. Martin. Mr. O'Neil died, after which Mr. Martin became the cashier. A fine brick
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bank block was erected on Frederick street, in which the bank is still operated, and in a most successful manner, as is shown by its statements.
The capital stock of this bank is fifty thousand dollars, while the deposits, the first of the year 1910 were three hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars, and surplus and undivided profits were eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. The growth of the Aetna and its present standing among the solid financial institutions of northeastern Iowa is but an evidence of the ability of the founders and present men in control.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The First National Bank of Oelwein was organized in the month of October, 1899, as a savings bank, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, by T. L. Hansen, as its president ; E. C. Belt, vice-president ; A. Hansen, cashier. After continuing as a savings bank successfully until April 17, 1901, it was chartered on that date as the First National Bank of Oelwein, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. This bank has always been successful and stands high among the banks of Fayette county. Its present ( 1910) officers are as follows: T. L. Hansen, president ; A. C. Wilson, vice-president; A. Hansen, cashier ; C. B. Chambers, assistant cashier. The board of directors are, T. L. Hansen, A. Hansen, B. S. Glenn, J. B. Feltus, A. L. Hunter, A. M. Odell, A. C. Wilson, G. W. Teague and H. D. Wood.
The home of this bank is on West Charles street, its own large, modern brick building, which is equipped with excellent bank fixtures, safes, vaults and furniture.
The deposits of this bank, January 1, 1910, were three hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus and undivided profits of twenty thousand dollars. Four per cent is paid to depositors.
THE IOWA SAVINGS BANK.
This institution was organized January 4, 1908, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. It now has deposits amounting to two hundred and eight thousand fifty dollars. Its officers are as follows : E. C. Belt, president ; W. E. Robinson, vice-president; J. W. Kint, cashier; W. G. Walrath, assistant cashier. The board of directors are: C. R. Brown (died in the spring of 1910), S. J. Fox. R. J. Young, G. A. Starr, J. J. Golvin, Robert Connor, George Schneider, W. E. Robinson, and E. C. Belt.
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According to the state auditor's call for November, 1909, the resources of this bank were as follows: Real estate, $10,000; loans, $174, 134.51 ; furni- ture and fixtures $2,910; cash and due from banks, $38,196.18; overdrafts, $296.83, a total of $225,537.52. The liabilities of the bank are: Capital stock, $30,000; undivided profits, $3,465.67; deposits, $192,071.85. This bank also owns its own building, which was erected for the purpose in 1907. It is located on East Charles street.
CHAPTER XXX.
ORAN TOWNSHIP.
This sub-division of Fayette county, located in the southwest corner, dates its political existence from the first Monday in April, 1855.
The organizing election was held at the house of E. C. Abbott. April 2, 1855. The first settlers were an Irish family whose name is not remem- bered. This location was on section 17, where some breaking was done in 1853. William Way, now of Fayette, occupied the cabin erected by this family. J. J. Roberts and Mr. Furtsch were the first successors to this "nameless" pioneer family. In 1854 the little colony was augmented by the arrival of Mr. Shippe, P. McCunniff, O. C. Kent, L. D. Wellman and a few others. R. J. Young, now of Oelwein, was a prominent and active early settler in Oran, where he served as township clerk, and in other official capacities, for many years. He has been identified, officially, with the Farmers' Mutual Insurance organization from its inception until the present, and is also ex- tensively interested in other lines of insurance, rentals, banking, etc., in the city of Oelwein. Mr. Young has been one of the men who have made a suc- cess of life, though he began his career as a farmer in Oran, on a limited scale.
L. D. Wellman was another of the active and prominent residents of Oran township, as was also J. H. Ross. Mr. Wellman removed to Arlington, where he is postmaster. But it is impossible, at this late day, to record the names of all who wielded an influence in the development of this splendid township, especially as early records have not been preserved.
TIMBER AND DRAINAGE.
Oran would be classed as a "prairie township," though it was well sup- plied with timber, the belt being confined to about twelve sections along the Wapsipinnicon river. This stream traverses the township from north to south, and this, with its numerous tributaries, furnishes excellent drainage, as well as rendering the land well adapted to stock raising and dairying. The timber belt seems to be a continuation of Wilson's Grove which furnishes the timber supply for Fremont and Banks townships, to the north of Oran.
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Until the building of the Chicago Great Western railroad, Oran township did not boast of the existence of a town within its boundaries. Oran post- office was a "cross-roads" village, and still retains its identity, being now a station on the Fort Dodge branch of the Chicago Great Western. This road passes through the township in nearly an east and west direction. Minkler, in Bremer county, is a small town and trading point for the northwest corner of Oran township. The Des Moines branch of the Great Western touches the southeast corner of this township, and passes out of the county at Fair- bank, a prosperous town near the line between Fayette and Buchanan counties. In fact a portion of the independent school district of Fairbank lies within Fayette county, though the school house is in the town of Fairbank, which is a trading point for the people, in competition with Oelwein, a few miles farther away. Westgate, in Fremont township, is also an accessible trading point and market for the northern part of Oran. It is located on the main line, or St. Paul branch, of the Great Western.
EARLY CHURCHES.
Two country churches were organized in Oran township in early days. The first of these was a Baptist congregation, established in December, 1855. The first meeting was held at the house of Simon Schultz, and J. F. Reardon was chosen moderator and J. H. Ross, clerk. The next year the Methodist Protestants invaded the territory, and theirs was the first church building erected in the township. Charles Robinson did the carpenter work and Mr. Johnson laid the foundation and did the plastering. These religious organi- zations served the people for many years, or until the erection of churches in near-by towns and villages provided more convenient means for worship. There are a good many Catholics in Oran, and at first they attended services at Fairbank (and some still do), but the immense and costly cathedral at Oel- wein, and the parochial school privileges there, have diverted others to that point. Some have retired and located there, while many others still drive in from the farms.
P. W. Hough built a saw-mill on section 28, Oran township, in 1856, and this probably supplied the first native boards in the township
FIRST EVENTS.
The first school in Oran was held at the house of Peter McCunniff, during the winter of 1855-6. Mr. McCunniff had a considerable family of his own, and set apart a portion of his house-at that time none too large
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-to accommodate the children within reach of this pioneer school. But the McCunniffs have always been friends of the public school and for many years some of their names were found on the roster of school officers in Oran township. J. J. Roberts was the teacher in the school above mentioned. During the summer of 1856 a school house was built near the McCunniff home, and Charles Bennett was the first teacher therein.
The first marriage ceremony in Oran was that which united L. D. Well- man and Caroline Roberts, Lyman Curtis, justice of the peace, officiating. This occurred October 5, 1856. The second marriage in the township was solemnized in the winter of 1857, and John Minton and Betsy Kent were the contracting parties.
The first death of a white person was that of an emigrant passing through the township in 1852. He died in his wagon and was buried at his last camping place. £ The second death in the township, and the first of an actual resident, was Mrs. O. C. Kent, who died in 1857.
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