USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 26
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February 2d, Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church on Washington Prairie dedicated.
April, Decorah Democrat established, Bob Shurley, editor.
May 17th, Norwegian celebration : oration by Professor Larsen.
July 4th, celebration at Decorah; Rev. Henderson, of Dubuque, orator.
October 7th, 8th and gth, county fair at Decorah.
In 1868, by the creation of the circuit court as previously described, the county court ceased to exist. The county judge became ex officio county auditor, the new state of things taking effect June 1. 1869.
1869
On New Year's day Charles Magoffin fell over the bluff overhanging the dug- way. He was getting some cedar branches and stepping on ice, slipped and fell down the bluff and was killed.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
January 12th, Odd Fellows occupied their new hall in the Dickerman building. Decorah, now the Marsh Music House.
March 15th, paper mill company at Freeport organized.
May 12th, work commenced in earnest on the Decorah branch of the railroad.
May 9th, depot and six grain warehouses at Ossian burned.
June 7th, A. K. Bailey appointed postmaster at Decorah.
June 13th, Kramer's store burned and depot and Lambert's store at Castalia robbed.
July 4th, celebrated at Ossian and Hesper.
July 12th, Calmar is incorporated as a village of the second class.
August 24th, David Self was killed by his wagon tipping over into river, on the dugway, Decorah. He was thrown under the wagon; his wife and children escaped.
September 15th, first regular train ran into Decorah. It was a day of celebra- tion and rejoicing.
September 22d, 23d and 24th, county fair at Decorah.
October 28th, Edgar Harden, son of H. J. Harden, was fatally stabbed at Burr Oak by Jasper Jewell, who became irritated by the badinage of a party of thresh- ers with whom he was working.
December 2d, Beauseant Commandery of Knights Templar fully organized and officers installed at Decorah with a grand parade, display, etc.
The Decorah Ventilator established this year.
This year the railroad reached Fort Atkinson and the building of the new town commenced.
1870
In 1870 the old supervisor system of one from each township gave place to the present system except that at first there were but three supervisors, but this was changed, in 1872, to five, the present number.
In February, S. S. Haislet bought E. C. Huntington's interest in the State Press newspaper, recently established at Decorah.
In March woman's suffrage lectures were delivered in Decorah by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
A 4th of July accident occurs at Spillville by the premature explosion of an anvil, by which four men were badly hurt.
August 17th, the publication of the Winneshiek Representative was com- menced at Calmar by Bent Wood.
Steyer's hall, Decorah, was completed this year.
1871
February 2d, a fire in Decorah destroyed Goddard & Henry's store, the Howell and Heivly building occupied by P. S. Smout and Mrs. G. W. Adams' millinery store.
February 24th, by legislative enactment, Decorah was incorporated a city of the second class. Its first election was held March 6, 1871. The first mayor was Charles F. Allen.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
The number of county supervisors was increased from three to five, as at present.
June 23d, the Winneshiek Representative at Calmar suspended publication.
Decorah celebrated the 4th of July, Mahlon Willet, orator. Mr. Willet is now pastor of the Congregational church.
September 6th, a homicide occurred in the evening in Frankville township. Wm. McClintock was scolding his nephew about some piece of mischief when a man, named Seeley, rode up and said: "Take one of your size." And in a quar- rel that followed Seeley knocked MeClintock down with a club. MeClintock died three hours afterward. Seeley was held to bail in the sum of $1,000 and after- wards sent to the penitentiary.
The county fair was held at Decorah in September.
The Decorah Democrat was discontinued, and the material taken to Mic- Gregor for a paper there.
1872
January 17th, old settlers of the county organized.
March 27th, Ole Bull comes to Decorah, gives two concerts and a matince, and is given a grand public reception by the people.
July 4th, Fort Atkinson celebrates with W. H. Bennett as orator.
Decorah celebrates with Rev. Casebeer as orator and Mrs. HI. Bottsford as reader.
County fair at Decorah, September 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th.
1873
The great storm and snow blockade commenced January 7th. continuing about a week. It was in this storm that conductor Bob Jamieson organized a rescue party and went from Calmar carrying provisions to passengers in a blockaded train a little south of Ridgeway. They made their way through the blinding storm by starting from one telegraph pole to another, the one who found the pole first shouting to the others. It was nearly two weeks before the blockade was finally lifted.
January 20th, the new schoolhouse at Fort Atkinson was burned.
February 28th, Andrew Johnson of Pleasant township, starting to go home from Decorah, froze to death on his way.
March 12th, W. N. Burdick, of Cresco, purchased half the interest in the Decorah Ventilator.
May 17th, Norwegian celebration at Decorah. Addresses by Rev. Larsen and L. S. Reque.
June 7th, Ole Bull again visited Decorah and gave a concert.
September 18th, the district fair was held at Hesper.
County fair was held at Decorah. September 23d, 24th and 26th.
1874
March 31st, death of C. J. Henry, of the firm of Goddard & Henry, Decorah. April 5th, death of F. E. Ruth, of the firm of Ruth Bros .. Decorah.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
May 24th, about this date the business part of Ridgeway burned. Twenty- five buildings were destroyed and $50,000 worth of property.
Fourth of July celebrated in Decorah. Rev. H. B. Woodworth, pastor of Congregational church, orator.
July 3Ist, new bridge over lowa river at Decorah was finished.
August 1Ith, Decorah Independent started by Ed. Wood and S. S. Haislett.
August 13th, corner stone of the Methodist Episcopal church laid.
September IIth and 12th, state line fair at Hesper.
September 15th, 16th and 17th, county fair at Decorah.
October 3d, H. H. Buck, of Decorah, committed suicide.
November 3d, A. A. Aiken's Trot Run woolen factory burned.
Greer & Hunter's mill was completed this month.
December 2d, completion and dedication of one wing of the Norwegian College.
December 20th, new Methodist Episcopal church of Decorah dedicated, Bishop Andrews of Des Moines, presiding.
In November, 1874, Aiken & Woodruff purchased the Winneshiek Register, published at Decorah ( which was the successor of the Decorah Ventilator ), of Geo. W. Haislet. In February, 1875, the Saturday Bee was published from the Register office and during the snow blockade about that time and afterwards, at times when occasion demanded, it was issued daily. The present Decorah Journal, F. E. Biermann, editor and publisher, is the successor to the Register, having absorbed the Independent ; the Bee also becoming a part of the Journal estab- lishment.
1875
February 4th, a snow blockade continued several days.
March 3d. Ole Anderson, who lived north of Hesper, going home from De- corah froze his hands and feet. A suit against H. D. Solberge followed in which $6,000 damage was awarded Anderson's wife.
March 31st, it was decided to erect a new Episcopal church in Decorah this year.
May 9th, Rev. Father McNulty, pastor of the Catholic church, Decorah, died.
June 23d, this night occurred the great flood of Dry Run, supposed to have been caused by a water spout. Three small dwellings were carried away and five bridges over Dry Run; Washington Street bridge being the only one saved. All the bridges and much of the railroad track between Decorah and Conover were washed away.
July 2d, presiding ekler Wm. Smith of the Methodist Episcopal church, died.
July 7th, county supervisors provided for new iron bridges in various parts of the county.
July 17th, death of D. Addicken of Decorah.
July 19th, death of Horace S. Weiser of Decorah.
September 21st, 22d and 23d, State Line Fair at Hesper.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
1876
January 4th, John B. Stickles died; it was supposed that he was poisoned. The famous murder trials resulting from his death are recorded in previous chap- ters.
January 9th, Charles Meyers, supervisor from second district, died.
January 31st. J. Ellen Foster lectured at the courthouse on temperance.
March 3d, first accident on the Decorah branch of the railroad. Train was ditched three miles from the city. Eleven persons were hurt but none was killed.
March 14th, the new Episcopal church at Decorah was dedicated.
April 7th, Peter Duffin, an old settler, died.
June 18th, Luther church, Decorah, was dedicated.
July 4th, centennial celebration at Decorah with oration by H. B. Wood- worth and meeting of the old settlers in the afternoon.
October 10, 1876, Geo. W. Ilaislet, who had been engaged in various news- paper enterprises in Decorah, Cresco, Lansing. McGregor and lately for about a year at Dubuque, came back to Decorah and established the Decorah Radical, which he published till the time of his death in the spring of 1881 as recorded under that date.
July 9th, in Frankville township Simeon Oleson shot and killed Anderson Theonson, who came to a party uninvited. After two trials Oleson was acquitted.
September 6th, Capt. T. W. Burdick was nominated for Congress, being the first Representative from Winneshiek county, and was elected.
September 19th, 20th and 21st, fair at Hesper.
At the November election a $12,000 tax, divided between two years, was voted to build a new jail.
December 21, 1876, near Locust Lane, while several teams were on the way home from Decorah, a quarrel arose and Helge Nelson struck Ed. Torfin a fatal blow on the head with a club. Nelson escaped with six months in the penitentiary.
1877
February ist, a new hotel, the Arlington House, was opened at Decorah.
May 30th, first observance of Decoration Day in Decorah. H. S. Ilenderson, orator. and C. Wellington, reader.
June 8th, death of Joseph Grinsell, station agent at Decorah, his body being found in an unoccupied house at Prairie du Chien.
June 14th, in the district court Helge Nelson was convicted of manslaughter in killing Edwin Torfin. December 21, 1876.
July 4th, celebrated by old settlers, reunion at Weiser's grove.
July, James Relf, a pioneer, died.
July 4, Howard's livery stable, Decorah, burned and other property greatly endangered.
This same month it was concluded to have an artesian well in Decorah.
July 31st, Recorder Charles A. Steen, who was wounded at Gettysburg, died in Decorah, aged 40 years, 11 months and i day. Cyrus Mckay was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next election.
October, fair held at Hesper.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
October 18th, a fire at Calmar burned four business houses, including Me- Mullen's drug store, a shoe store, restaurant and saloon.
November 3d, Charles Hartsing, of Castalia, one of the first settlers of Win- neshiek county, died, aged sixty-five years.
November 29th, Adams' Block, Decorah, burned, burning out Ben Bears' clothing store, Coleman & Toye's drug store, J. C. Meuser's jewelry store, New- ton's grocery and some other tenants.
Decorah had a lecture course the following winter with General Kilpatrick, Henry Watterson, Mrs. Livermore and Will Carleton.
1878
January 28th, work on the artesian well, Decoral, stopped, it having reached a depth of 1,200 feet, and the water being thirty feet from the top.
April 4th, the board of supervisors having this spring provided for the con- struction of a new jail contracted for Pauley's steel cells.
April 11th, plans for the new jail adopted, the site of which is located on the southeast corner of the courthouse grounds.
July ist, contract awarded for building a new county jail which was erected the same year.
September 17th, 18th, 19th, fair at Hesper.
October 10th, Harvey Benedict fell from the house of his brother, A. . 1. Benedict, and was killed.
November 21st, the body of H. A. Hegg of Decorah was found in the creek at the railroad bridge near Standring's cut. The coroner's jury found that his death was caused by strychnine and that it occurred before he fell into the water. The mystery of his death was never solved.
1879
February 15th, Blue Ribbon movement organized by John W. Drew in De- corah and reform club established.
May 17th, Norwegian celebration ; orations by Professors Sander, Veblen and others.
May 30th, Decoration Day in Decorah ; oration by H. B. Woodworth.
June 22d, twenty-fifth anniversary of the Congregational church of Decorah observed.
July 4th, celebration in Decorah, John T. Stoneman, orator. Celebrated at Ossian, Rev. Sherin, orator.
August 7th, Decorah township voted a 4 per cent tax to induce the Waukon narrow gauge railroad, which was then leased to the Northwestern, to come to Decorah. The roadbed was graded, but the Milwaukee company bought it up - it did not come-and Decorah saved its tax.
September, fair at Hesper this year.
November 12th, Janauschek, the actress, appeared at Decorah.
December Ist, Judge E. E. Cooley appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Reuben Noble.
June 13th, the railroad depot at Conover burned.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
July 4th, celebration at Hesper. Rev. H. B. Woodworth, orator. Ossian also celebrated.
July 23d, at the Peter Coogan schoolhouse, three miles north of Decorah, Willard Van Pelt shot George Rastetler through the side, the latter having been abusing and threatening Van Pelt. Both were young men. Van Pelt was arrested and held for trial, when he was finally fined $20 and costs. Rastetler's wound was at first thought to be dangerous. but he recovered.
August 19th, Thomas Updegraff was unanimously renominated for Con- gress by the republican convention at McGregor, and was re-elected.
September 12th, Henry Diers was stabbed by Mike Holehan, whom he had ordered away from Addicken's brewery on Sunday. Diers' wound was thought to be fatal, but he recovered. Ilolchan was held in $5.000 bail, and on trial was sentenced to one year and six months in the penitentiary.
September 15th, 16th and 17th, fair at Hesper.
1881.
February 13th, Remenyi, the great violinist, gave a concert in Decorah.
February 18th, meetings held in Decorah to organize Citizens' Association, which organization was afterwards effected.
March 6th, George W. Haislet, an old newspaper man and editor of the Decorah Radical, died. The publication of the Radical was continued for about one year by Mrs. Haislet, and in the spring of 1882 was purchased by C. H. Craig, who changed its name to the Decorah Pantagraph.
March 11th, Wm. Telford, an old settler of Decorah, fifty-one years of age, fell dead at a fire at the foot of Pleasant Hill.
March 28th, James McConnell, an old resident of Bluffton, was killed by being thrown from his wagon on his way home from Decorah.
March 29th, Chicago, Decorah & Minnesota Railroad Company incorporated. April ist. Professor Jacobson, of Luther College, died.
May 11th, the city council of Decorah voted to build waterworks, which were completed that year.
May 30th, Decoration Day, Decorah; F. B. Daniels, of Dubuque, deliver- ing the oration. F. E. Brush, pastor of the M. E. church, Decorah, delivered the address at the cemetery.
June 10th, observance at Frankville of the one hundredth anniversary of Father Cutler's birthday.
August, contract let for waterworks in Decorah.
August 12th, Decorah postoffice moved into its new building.
September 20th, 21st and 22d, county fair at Decoralı.
November 9th, Decorah township voted a 5 per cent tax to the Upper lowa & Mississippi Railroad Company, conditioned on its building a railroad to the Mississippi, at or about Lansing. The road was not built and the tax was forfeited. It is now stated that the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, who are widening the gauge to Waukon, will continue the work to Decorah, thus giving them another outlet via Calmar from the west, rather than to build a double track from Calmar to McGregor.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
Hesper, Burr Oak and Bluffton townships also voted taxes to a road run- ning through them to be built from La Crosse to the southwest through Charles City, and the right of way for the road is being secured.
1882.
February 22d, Decorah waterworks trial, parade and celebration.
April 14th, Decorah township voted a 5 per cent tax to a railroad to con- nect with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, to be completed before September, 1883.
June 4th, murder in Glenwood township. Peter Peterson Krogsund was shot and killed by Hans Hanson Skjerdahl.
June 22d, Decorah Drum Corps wins first prize at the State Military En- campment at Waterloo. The Decorah Light Guards also took a prize.
June 27th, prohibitory amendment adopted in Iowa. Vote of Winneshiek county was 1,411 for, 1.696 against the amendment.
July 4th, celebrated in Decorah, with oration by F. E. Brush, of Davenport. At Ossian, oration by T. J. Sullivan. It was also observed at Fort Atkinson.
July 8th, Turner Callender, an old resident of Frankville, died. He came to the county in 1849.
August 29th, the Decorah Drum Corps wins a victory at the Inter-State Military Encampment at Dubuque, being victors over the Chicago Drum Corps, and winning the first prize of $500.
October 19th, C., M. & St. P. Ry. secures right of way from depot site on Railroad avenue to the Ice Cave Mill, Decorah, for purpose of extending tracks and securing passenger depot location on Water street. Work began October 23d.
November 5th, new Methodist church at Freeport dedicated.
November 23d, Masonic bodies of Decorah complete fitting up of new lodge rooms in Barthell building.
November 20th, John Elliott of Bluffton sells forty-eight hogs weighing 16,- 815 pounds for $1,011.65-a big sum in those days.
November 27th, electric lights first shown in Decorah. Stock company was formed to build plant, on December 6th.
November 31st, Jacob Hegg of Calmar township is accidentally killed while on his way home from town.
December 3d, William Beard, pioneer of Frankville and father of creamery movement in this city, passed away.
December 19th, Congregational church of Decorah calls Rev. John Willard of Newtonville, Massachusetts. James Henry Baker, well-known grain buyer, and Wm. H. Fannon die.
During this year the marriage of the following well-known people occurred : (October 18th). Ex-Sheriff D. C. Moore and Ella Hleivly; Minnie Webber and J. Fairbanks of Clarion ; ( October 25th ), James W. Hogan and Grace Finn ; (November Ist), Julius J. Hopperstad and Emma Wilson; (December 17th), Louis B. Whitney and Ella L. Cratsenberg, both of Burr Oak ; (December 20th), Rev. J. W. Magelson of Rushford, Minnesota, and Thora Larsen, eldest daugh- ter of Prof. and Mrs. Laur Larsen of Luther College.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIER COUNTY
1883
January ist. Sheriff H. M. Langland and Ella Sloan married. While the wedding was in progress. Mrs. Garvey, held on a murder charge, escaped from county jail but was captured the next day at the home of Thomas Dugan in Glenwood township. She was subsequently tried at Waukon, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
January 18th to 23d. give six days of continuous cold weather. On the 18th the mercury at 8 A. M. showed 17 below zero. It moderated to 142 above at & P. M. and stood at zero the morning of the 19th. At noon that day it was 6° below and from then on until the morning of the 24th the mercury did not rise above zero, the coklest reading being 28 below on the morning of the 21st. At Hesper 36° below was recorded, and Calmar reported 37° below. On January 31st it was again 28° below in Decorah.
February 5th. Calmar school is closed on account of diphtheria.
February 22d. the sale of land in Hesper township at $20.00 per acre is recorded as an indication that real estate is moving at fair price.
March 25th, M. E. church at Calmar dedicated by Chaplain MeCabe.
April 12th, contracts let for building new poorhouse at Freeport.
May 8th, Colonel Ilughes Post, G. A. R., organized, with Major C. If. Hitch- cock as commander.
May 14th, Decorah Drum Corps depart for the National Encampment at Nashville, Tennessee, where they captured the honors and a pair of gold mounted drum sticks for the best martial music.
May 28th, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Williams, pioneers of Washington Prairie, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
June Ist, the lowa district meeting of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod is held at Calmar.
June 14th. Winneshiek county is free from debt with a $20,000 net surplus in the treasury. N. 11. Adams resigns as county treasurer and C. E. Meader, his deputy. succeeds him, with C. F. Barfoot of Madison township as his assistant.
June 17th, severe storm sweeps over county. In Sumner township buiklings were blown down and unroofed. At the Crawford farm at Burr Oak Springs nearly all the outbuildings were destroyed. In Decorah shade trees were blown down and uprooted, buildings were moved. and water from the river was car- ried ten feet up its bank by the wind.
July 20th to 23d was a storm period during which 9.29 inches of rain fell, causing large property losses in Decorah along Dry Run. A number of bridges were washed out, county roads were rendered impassable, and lightning caused the destruction of considerable farm property.
July 24th. Daubersmith's mill near Ridgeway burns.
August 3d, eight horses and colts killed and two others badly injured by the Calmar train in Madison township. They belonged to Ole N. Bergen and had escaped from their pasture. Loss $1,500.
August 6th, Sarah King. an imbecile, attacked and ravished by Arthur Mc- Intyre, Charles Wedgewood. Vincent and Jerome Bartlett. MeIntyre and Jerome Bartlett were sent to the penitentiary for the crime.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
September 6th, three cases of leprosy reported in the county.
September 11th, Winneshiek County Fair opens with the cattle and horse show equalling that of the State Fair. Upwards of 7,000 people attended on the 13th.
October 29th. the Decorah Manufacturing Company organized with $25,000 capital. Its life was short, owing to mismanagement and lack of business.
November 9th. Dick Arthur, a notorious offender, arrested at Spillville by federal officers for washing and selling used U. S. stamps.
November 17th, four hundredth anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther celebrated by churches of Decorah.
November 29th, the old safe in the county treasurer's office, used since 1855, is sold to Huber Brothers, of Fort Atkinson, for $35.00.
December 10th, Frank Jessmer, incendiary and horse thief, wanted for burn- ing David Perry's barn in Bloomfield township in October, 1879, is arrested in Minneapolis.
December 19th, B., C. R. & N. Ry. promises to build to Decorah if tax is voted. Township trustees meet and order clection. President Tracy states the road will be built "and shall not remain there." Unfortunately Mr. Tracy died, else Decorah would now be on a through railroad line, because he always kept his word.
During the year many prominent old people and pioneers were called to their last rest. On January 16th Father Cutler of Frankville died at the age of 101 years, 7 months and 6 days. Mrs. Elizabeth Day, "the mother of Decorah." died February 12th. James Hutchinson of Hesper (1854) died March 12th. Mrs. J. W. Holm, a Canoe pioneer of 1854, on March 25th, and Mrs. Anna Johnson, wife of Nelson Johnson of the Norwegian pioneers in Decorah, on March 27th, were the next to be claimed by death. They were followed on April Ist by Mrs. Anna Maria Siegel of Military, aged ninety-two. Josiah God- dard, Sr., who located near Fort Atkinson in 1849, died on April 20th, and his namesake, Josiah, Jr., who came with him, died October 6th. The record shows others as follows: Henry Giesen of Fort Atkinson, April 26; James Hunter, of the old Greer & Hunter milling firm, April 28, at Mitchell, S. D .; Catherine Sherry, of Washington Prairie, the same day.
There were eight tragic and accidental deaths recorded also.
1884
January 10th, A. Bernatz & Bro take charge of Ice Cave Mills.
February 20th, Citizens Savings Bank of Decorah commences business.
February 14th, the old log cabin built in Decorah by "Uncle Billy" Day in 1849 is discovered on the farm of John S. Nelson in Glenwood township. It was in use as the home of Mr. Nelson and his family.
February 10th, Military township gives the B., C. R. & N. Ry. tax proposi- tion a majority of fifty-nine, in the second election. The first election was void because of defects in the notice of election.
March 3d, W. H. Valleau elected mayor of Decorah. W. G. W. Sawyer mayor of West Decorah.
March 9th, Ridgeway creamery burned. Loss $3,000.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
March 17th, district court opens with a calendar which includes trials for murder, rape, assault with intent to commit rape, assault with intent to commit great bodily injury, larceny, theft, arson, and illegal sales of liquor.
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