USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 41
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sides of the room, and Mr. Allen, with his musicians, rendered music for an old-time dance until twelve o'clock. Mrs. Henrietta W. Acer, a really skilled pianist. conducted the choir for the one and only church, and a church organ was purchased in 1876, costing four hundred dollars and was fully paid for. The one help-out for Primghar was the item that goes with all pioneer com- munities, namely, "Everybody was on hand at early candle sticken," as Pomp McCormack used to announce the public functions.
A REVIVAL FROM THIS EXODUS.
But with all this discouragement and even before a railroad was assured and despite the uncertainty, Primghar brisked up with new buildings and enough people to make up the lost ones moving to Sanborn. One Alexander Davidson, a Scotchnian, opened up a hardware store east of Mr. Schee's office. In 1886, amid all these situations, William S. Armstrong, since and still identified with Primghar's best, came on from Wisconsin and started a cheese factory, and erected a good-sized building east of Mr. Schee's office, which he conducted for some years with success. This improvement gave new heart to the people and held the stage, as it were, until the railroad was actually built in 1887. While in this exodus John R. Pumphrey closed his bank, which he sold to Schee & Achorn, composed of George W. Schee and Clinton E. Achorn, who in turn sold to Slocum & Turner in 1883 (composed of George R. Slocum, who in reality founded the First National Bank, and became a man of affairs in the county, and Frank A. Turner, clerk of the courts). In 1886, and before the road was built, the Primghar State Bank was started in the present office of Mr. Schee, by a strong company of men, composed of George W. Schee, president, Fred and Frank Frisbee and Dr. C. Longshore, of Sheldon, and R. Blankenberg, now (1913) mayor of Phila- delphia. The first large burglar-proof vault was built in this bank. J. L. E. Peck was cashier. It continued for eight years. As will be seen under the title of churches, the first church building was built in 1880. In 1886 the present and then new court house was built. The old Green store was opened up and continued by several parties in turn, Walter Lorshbaugh, Lew Fair- banks, Mr. Schee and others. A new fence was built around the public square to protect the now growing park grove. As will also be seen under churches, the Congregational church first organized itself in the court house and later built the first part of its church. Herb Thayer, about 1886, built the present Griffin building, at the southeast corner of the square, and started
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PRIMGHAR PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING
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his land and abstract office. In 1886, and before the railroad coming, "Pomp" F. M. McCormack hove into town with his first number of the O'Brien County Bell. All this created a real revival. Whisperings of the possible Illinois Central Railroad began to be heard. By many it was con- sidered too good to be true, and laughed out of court as part of the same old railroad scares.
HO, THE RAILROAD.
These railroad whisperings continued in the dawn, but this time to rise like a halo of glory to its long-waiting citizens. The definite order or invita- tion came at last in about April, 1887, from Superintendent Gilleas, and one of the main officials of the Illinois Central Railroad, to meet them at Chero- kee, naming a specific day and hour. While its citizens were ready to go to Washington, or Texas, for a reality, yet they went down much like doubting Thomases. Ten of us went down. They dealt with us from a cold-blooded standpoint. They laid down the one and only proposition that was made. Pringhar gently tried for some little leeways, but the hard fate to be met was before us. The railroad must be had even on hard terms. It was none other than that its ten citizens present should sign a written guaranty already pre- pared, to furnish and hand over warranty deeds, with good title and clear of encumbrance, to the right of way for twenty-two miles, and thirteen acres for depot grounds at Pringhar. There was no choice. The instrument was executed and signed by the following ten citizens of Primghar: George W. Schee. George R. Slocum, Frank A. Turner. William S. Armstrong, Frank N. Derby, Charles H. Winterble. Charles F. Albright, E. W. Shuck, J. L. E. Peck and F. M. McCormack. This was signed up without the least idea of what it might cost, though sundry guesses were made It, in fact, cost some- thing over ten thousand dollars. Every man in town was assessed. He did not only subscribe, but was assessed, as the amount had to be raised. Every man did his part. Sundry of its citizens spent the best part of the summer at the work. This twenty-two miles extended from Archer to the Cherokee line.
ACTUAL BUILDING OF THE ROAD.
The work of the surveys and building commenced forthwith and with dispatch. The road took possession of parts of the right of way before the town had made contracts for same. The whole road was finished during the summer. Primghar citizens were given the choice to have its depot east of
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Reynoldson's store, or where it is. In a public street meeting with Superin- tendent Gilleas, the location was decided. The depot grounds and right of way where it is could be purchased cheaper. Later desires would have said at the other point.
THE FIRST TRAIN AND ENGINE.
It was on Sunday, November 1, 1887, the greatest event, vital in its results, that ever occurred in Primghar. The construction train that laid the actual iron rails as it moved, arrived. The whole citizenship of Primghar broke the Sabbath day in righteous celebration and were all present. It was a sight within itself to see a large gang of husky men handle and lay those heavy rails, but to Primghar it was the looking of Moses into the promised land. "Pomp" McCormack mounted the front of the engine a mile below town, with a flag, the Stars and Stripes waving, and he shouting and yelling at the top of his voice. Primghar was at last on the map as a railroad town. Trains at once followed and the depot was built.
A NEW TOWN.
A new town jumped into existence. New buildings, new people, every- thing moved. The new buildings were still frame, however. Too many stores were at first started. In the hustle the true measure could not be taken on all lines. This caused some break-ups a year later. The Ober hotel. called the Commercial house, was built in 1893, south of the savings bank. Reynoldson & Metcalf, composed of Joseph Reynoldson and Joseph Met- calf, arrived in 1887 and built a frame hardware store on the site of Met- calf's brick block, built later in 1893. Mr. Ostrander and Reader & Eding- ton, composed of Rice Reader and Ira Edington, each erected buildings and put in a general store on the south side. Henry L. Williams, the same year, 1888, built his large line of department store buildings, covering all classes of goods. W. A. Rosecrans and Charles Lockyer built and opened up a fur- niture and undertaking store. W. J. Semmons also put in a large store build- ing and opened up. Thus far these buildings were all frame.
FIRST BRICK BUILDING.
The first brick building was the present postoffice building, now owned by Gust Strandberg, and erected in 1889 by J. L. E. Peck and C. S. Cooper
O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
THREE FIRES BURN TWENTY-ONE BUILDINGS.
The first fire in the business section of the town occurred in 1900 and burned the old bank building of John R. Pumphrey and the Kelly hotel build- ing. The second fire, in 1901, burned the Commercial hotel and some lesser property. The third fire occurred in 1902. The fire caught in the then post- office building on the South side, and practically burned down as far as Met- calf's store. The three fires destroyed twenty-one buildings. The city coun- cil then passed an ordinance to the effect that no further frame, and none but brick, buildings should be erected on the square.
PRIMGHAR IS INCORPORATED.
Dated December 8, 1887, Frank A. Turner and forty-nine others cir- culated a petition directed to the district court praying for an order of court to incorporate the town, to include three hundred and sixty acres of land in the three townships of Summit, Center and Dale. This petition was filed December 30, 1887. At the January term for 1888 the order was made. This term was presided over by Hon. Scott M. Ladd, then district judge, now one of the judges of the supreme court of Iowa. On January 13, 1888, the court appointed William S. Armstrong, David Algyer, George W. Doyle, E. W. Shuck and W. A. Rosecrans as commissioners to call an election of the voters to determine whether it should or should not be incorporated. Notice was published and an election held on February 14, 1888. The vote stood fifty-seven for incorporation and forty-seven against. Thereafter the town became a municipality.
FIRST ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
At the next regular election, held on the last Monday in March, 1888, the following men were elected as its first mayor and council: Mayor, Charles F. Albright : councilmen, E. W. Shuck, J. L. E. Peck, George R. Slocum, George W. Doyle, E. L. Ballou and W. A. Rosecrans ; recorder, J. A. Smith.
THE PRESENT
(1913) ADMINISTRATION.
Mayor William H. Downing ; councilmen, William Briggs, M. S. Met- calf. R. Hinman, B. Bertelson and C. W. Smith; Earl Rosecrans, recorder. The following is a list of the mayors of Primghar, the several officials
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commencing their terms in March of the years named: Charles F. Albright, 1888; Frank A. Turner, 1890; William H. Noyes, 1891 ; S. A. Carter, 1892; F. C. Whitehouse, 1893; J. L. E. Peck, 1896; George R. Whitmer, 1898; W. S. Armstrong, 1900; Peter R. Bailey, 1902; W. W. Artherholt, 1904; Thomas J. Trulock, 1910; W. H. Downing, 1912.
The sundry items relating to court houses and county affairs and the erection of the Hub hotel taking place in Primghar will be found under other heads.
GRIST MILL IN PRIMGHAR.
Probably but few people now in Primghar ever knew that the town once had a regular old-fashioned grist mill, to which people brought their grists of wheat and other grain to be ground on a one-tenth toll. It was built about 1875 and removed to Osceola county in 1878. It was owned and built by Christian F. Krueger, then a farmer both in Summit township and in Osceola county. It stood on the location of the present residence of Isaac L. Rerick, east of the Methodist church.
EPIDEMIC OF DIPHTHERIA.
This epidemic occurred during the winter of 1879 and 1880. Twenty- six children and young people died. The following families were among those who suffered from this dread disease: Daniel W. Inman, two daugh- ters ; John W. Kelly and Harley Day, each a daughter; James E. Daniels, a son and daughter, all the children they had; William Newell, their whole family of four children; Joshua W. Davis, half their number of eight; John Richardson, a son and daughter, and several others that now cannot be de- termined.
A HOSPITAL IN PRIMGHAR.
Following the three other towns, Sheldon, Hartley and Calumet, which towns already each have a hospital, Primghar has (this 1914) a hospital under construction. It is built under the benefaction and donation of George Ward, now and for some years one of its chief citizens and a former suc- cessful farmer in Center township. It is in size thirty-two by forty feet, built of cement blocks. On the first floor will be found a reception and dining room and kitchen. It will be two stories in height, exclusive of basement for laundry and modern needs. It will be equipped with an operating and sterilizing room, with five patients' rooms, each large enough for two beds
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when necessary. It is donated to the town, but with the idea on Mr. Ward's part that, being centrally located, it will be county wide for the benefit of all its people, all of whom he urges to co-operate. Enthusiastic public meetings have been held in Pringhar, assuring this co-operation. It is Mr. Ward's idea that when once built it will be self-sustaining.
This history has carried the county up through the pioneer period, then through the growing and building years, and now as the larger successes of life are maturing, the county is passing up into the generous and philan- thropic, whre the human hearts are thus able to play those better parts, in the language of the Great Physician, to "heal the sick."
PRIMGHAR SCHOOLS AND BUILDINGS.
On November 8, 1872, W. C. Green and James Roberts dedicated as part of the town a two-acre block for school purposes. Primghar has had three school buildings. The first building was about twenty-six by forty feet in size, was two stories high and built in 1873 by S. E. Stewart, of Sheldon, at a cost of four thousand dollars. It contained two school rooms, one above and one below. This building was used for school, church, con- ventions, dances, lyceums and public gatherings. It was sold in 1887, when the new building was built. to S. T. Hill for two hundred dollars and moved to Alton, Iowa.
Up to February 21, 1887, the Primghar schools were part of the Sum- mit township school districts. At that time the independent school district of Primghar was organized. On May 31, 1890, a contract was let to H. E. Reeves for a school building forty-five by sixty feet in size, containing four school rooms and superintendent's office, at a cost of five thousand two hun- dred dollars. On May 16, 1896, a further contract was let to E. Miller to build an addition to this then building of the same size, forty-five by sixty feet, thus making the whole structure sixty by ninety feet in size, and in all containing eight school rooms, with library room used as a recitation room, and superintendent's office, at a cost of three thousand two hundred dollars. A hot air heating plant was installed, at a cost of one thousand one hundred dollars.
BRICK SCHOOL BUILDING.
Primghar was without a railroad for fifteen years, from 1872 to 1887. This of necessity postponed the building of its final modern brick a corre- sponding time and until 1912. On February 5, 1912, action was taken on
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petition of citizens. This was followed by the letting of a contract May 27, 1912, to Bosma & Geiger, contractors of Sheldon, for the main building for twenty-three thousand eight hundred dollars, and the heating contract to the Mathey Plumbing Company, of LeMars. to put in a steam plant at a cost of five thousand six hundred and sixty dollars. The building cost thirty-one thousand dollars when completed.
Before the adoption of any plans the board of directors sent J. L. E. Peck, president of the board, W. W. Beach, the architect employed, and Prof. J. J. Billingsly, county superintendent of schools, to visit and inspect other school buildings at some five towns, to enable them to make use of their experience in the adoption of desirable features and to cull out the undesir- able.
The building is constructed of vitrified pressed brick from the Sargent's Bluffs yards, and is seventy feet by one hundred in size, with tile brick for backing. Its basement is practically above ground, the whole window being above ground, being practically a three-story building. The basement con- tains a well equipped and finished gymnasium for athletics, a janitor's office, a manual training room for the boys and domestic science room for the girls. The assembly room will seat one hundred and twenty. It has five grade rooms on the first story, and assembly room, four recitation and two grade rooms, and superintendent's office and lady teacher's office and library room upstairs. Its chimney, coal room and furnace room are all outside the build- ing, to minimize fire danger. It is built in sizes, proportions and facilities about one-fourth larger than present needs, with the idea of development and growth. The city employs eleven teachers, including the superintendent. Its annual expense in administration is ten thousand dollars. Five of Primghar's school superintendents were later county superintendents of this county. Its superintendents since 1872 have been : Harley Day, Stephen Harris, Frank C. Wheaton, H. O. Smith, G. E. Pooler, C. H. Crawford, Miss Belle Cowan, J. J. Billingsly, E. J. English, R. B. Daniels, H. A. Mit- chell, W. T. Demar, H. R. Wood, E. E. Richards.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The present board of education and who conducted the erection of the new school building were: J. L. E. Peck, president ; Lester T. Aldinger. C. N. Williams, J. G. Geister, William H. Ortman, members of board ; William H. Downing, secretary; William Briggs, treasurer; Prof. E. E. Richards, superintendent of schools.
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WATER SYSTEM.
Primghar has one of the very best city water systems. It is pumped from Dry Run and has a fine filter bed, in which the wells are sunk. The water is pure and at all times is an enjoyable drink. It is first pumped into a large cement reservoir, forty-six feet square, and then forced through the mains by air pressure. Its fine sewerage system was constructed in 19II.
Sundry other subjects relating to Primghar, as, for instance, its banks, the court house, jail, county seat. public square and other items, will appear under other heads.
POSTMASTERS.
The following persons have served as postmasters of Primghar, be- ginning with the year named: W. C. Green, 1873; A. H. Willitts, 1876; Dr. John M. Long, 1882; W. J. Lorshbaugh, 1885; Lew Fairbanks, 1886; George J. Clark. 1888: W. J. Semmons, 1896; Jacob H. Wolf, 1900: Fred B. Wolf, 1908; W. W. Artherholt, 191I.
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF PRIMGHAR IN 1913.
It may be interesting in after years to note in whose hands the business of Primghar was at the date of compiling this history, hence the subjoined will be given :
Attorneys-O. H. Montzheimer, J. L. E. Peck, W. H. Downing, R. J. Locke and W. W. Artherholt.
Auto garages-Primghar Auto Company, Ed. Hastings.
Banks-First National Bank, Primghar Savings Bank.
Blacksmith shops-Ed. Hastings, Ernest Johnson.
Barber shops-M. H. Rooney, Charles Farran.
Clothing and general stores-Williams Brothers, Mast Siemon & Com- pany, Rosecrans & Clements, J. A. King.
Cement workers-J. H. Wadsworth.
Drug stores-Emil Olander. Primghar Drug Company (Williams Brothers ).
Dray lines-WV. J. Warner, George Neath, John Bloom, W. S. Court- right, Harry Freelund, Ernest Breyfogle.
Dentist-Dr. C. E. Summy.
Department stores-Williams Brothers.
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
Elevators (grain)-Farmers' Mutual Co-operative Company, D. C. Peck.
Furniture stores-Joseph Reynoldson, Joseph Metcalf, Williams Broth- ers.
Feed barns-F. P. Baker.
Grocers-Williams Brothers, Rosecrans & Clements, J. A. King, Mast & Siemon.
Hardware-Joseph Reynoldson, Joseph Metcalf, J. S. Nye.
Harness shops-D. R. Carmichael, J. A. Carmichael.
Hotels-Hub Hotel (Primghar Hotel Company, George Hicks, mana- ger ), Primghar Hotel (Lydia A. Manderville, manager ).
Implement dealers-Joseph Reynoldson, Joseph Metcalf.
Jewelers-Emil Olander, Primghar Drug Company.
Lumber-A. J. Warntjes, Thomas Patton (estate).
Livery-F. P. Baker.
Meat market-Williams Brothers.
Millinery-Thompson & Thompson, Mrs. Martha Squire.
Moving picture shows-J. A. Klink.
Newspapers-O'Brien County Bell (J. H. Wolf, editor), O'Brien Coun- ty Democrat (Frank A. Vaughn, editor ; later, 1914, Ira Borland).
Opera house-Williams Opera House (Williams Brothers).
Photographs-John Bossert.
Physicians-Dr. H. C. Rogers, Avery & Avery (Dr. Milo Avery and Dr. Roy Avery).
Restaurants-Frank Mackrill, Lydia A. Manderville.
Stock dealers-Martin & Son ( William H. Martin and Jabez Martin) and Fred G. Maronda.
Tailors-Carl Strandberg.
Veterinary surgeons-Dr. William Anderson.
Telephone exchange-Primghar Telephone Company (D. C. Peck, man- ager).
Pool hall-R. B. Culberson.
Abstracters of titles-Henry Rerick & Son ( Henry Rerick and Kenneth Rerick), Frank L. Herrick & Company.
Postmaster-W. W. Artherholt.
Cream stations-George J. North. Williams Brothers.
Variety store-M. L. Bryant.
Auctioneer-W. S. Armstrong.
Real estate dealers-\V. J. Bennett, Walter L. Briggs.
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
This township corners at the southwest with Highland, Dale and Sum- mit townships, with a portion of the town of Primghar in its borders. It was organized as follows: On February 20, 1871, what is now Center and Lin- coln were detached from Waterman, and what is now Franklin was detached from Liberty, and the three townships, Center, Lincoln and Franklin, called Center.
It had a population in 1905 of six hundred and twenty-two, exclusive of those residing in Primghar. Of its early settlement it may be said that John Kane and his family settled in this township in 1871. John and his son Albert filed on eighty each, on the northwest quarter of section 34. A daughter, Olive, married C. H. Murry. John celebrated his golden wedding in Primghar in 1895. Albert engaged in trade at Primghar.
One of the pioneers of this county was a settler in Center township. WVe refer to Claudius Tifft, later of Sanborn, but who located in section 2. His brother Robert preceded him to this township. He filed on his land and returned to St. Paul, from which city he came, and brought his family on in the spring of 1872. When Sanborn started he went to that town to reside. He was a soldier in both the Mexican war of 1846 and the civil struggle of 1861-65.
Another early settler in Center township was D. C. Chapman, who lo- cated on a part of section 32, but later moved to Primghar. Daniel Bysom, of section 30, was also a pioneer here. He was many years a prominent citi- zen and a justice of the peace and still lives here.
Other early comers were Ira Boat, section 6; Minor Blossom, section 8; William H. Brown. section 8; A. L. Creamer, of section 20; S. R. Charlton, section 4; J. P. Blood. section 12; Joel Bresee, section 26; S. C. Coleman, section 6; Charles Chandler, section 32; David Culbertson, section 34; John and Francis Duffy, section 22: R. M. DeWitt, section 30; Oliver Evans, of section 24, came in 1869. John Evans, of section 24, came in early ; William Flood, of section 22; Peter Farley, of section 22; J. R. H. Gibbs, section 4; Daniel Griffith, section 8; H. A. Gardner, section 16; D. M. Gano, of section 2; Samuel Alexander and Heman Gibbs, section 34; Mark Hannon, section JO; J. E. Halliday, section 26; J. M. Hicks, on same section ; D. Ingraham, early on section 12: Robert Jones, of section 24; Abe Keepher, section 6; Charles Moore, section 6; John Murray, section 22; J. J. Miller, section 26; (27)
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A. McClaren, section 30; J. H. Morton, section 32; Fabian Matott, section IO; J. M. Royer, section 20; William Robinson, section 32. David Palen settled on section 12 at a very early date.
Others who were early in the township were Ezra, Charles and Erastus Smith, of section 18. Robert Sanford located on the same section early. He was accidentally killed at Primghar in 1895 by a fall. John Weist settled on section 26; Byron Wooster on section 22: Calvin Waggoner on section 34, and Henry D. Year on section 26. Taking the advice of Horace Greeley to "go west and grow up with the country," E. C. Foskett, in 1870, landed in O'Brien county from Connecticut ; he pre-empted the southwest quarter of section 20 in Center township, and later, after proving up, took a homestead claim in section 32. There he reared his family and became widely known as a good citizen.
About the same.date-1870-came in J. H. Ober, Hugh Scott, E. Scott and Thomas Scott, on section 28. C. J. Clark settled on the southwest quar- ter of section 20, in 1870. He came from Linn county, this state, but orig- inally from Ohio. He removed to Medford, Oregon, in 1889.
In 1884 Henry D. Year, Fred and Michael Stueck, Julius Freimark and a few more built St. Emanuel's Lutheran German church in Center town- ship, on section 26, at a cost of one thousand dollars. Two acres of land were donated by Mr. Year and one acre by Mr. Stueck for church and ceme- tery uses.
Center township has no towns or hamlets within its borders, except the part of Primghar that is located in the southwest corner.
OMEGA TOWNSHIP.
On June 6, 1881, A. P. Powers and eleven others presented a petition to have what is now Omega set apart from Grant. They presented the name of Peterborough. The board said it was too long for a name, and that it would take too much ink to write it, and that the county had started up on a basis of economy and the petition was tucked away. J. L. E. Peck, who was then county auditor and clerk of the board, suggested that as it was the last township they had better call it Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet. The petition was at once pulled out and, on motion of J. H. Wolf, then a member of the board, this O'Brien county's youngest town- ship was christened Omega and the first election was held at the house of A. P. Powers on section 32.
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