USA > Iowa > Marshall County > The History of Marshall County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 62
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" While we hope our neighbors may never have occasion to call on us for a like service, we assure them that if the occasion ever should take place, our aid will be as promptly and freely given as was theirs. A dispatch was received from Des Moines, tendering a steamer, but it did not reach here until after the crisis was passed, and the Des Moines authorities were so advised. Cedar Rapids turned out an independent fire company which was just ready to take the train, when the news was telegraphed that the fire was under control.
" At one time the excitement was so general and thorough, and the danger so immediate that the Main street merchants began to remove their goods, and men and women might have been seen carting their furniture in every direction. The common back of the Central depot was crowded with household goods, as was the case in other parts of the city. While there was nothing partaking of
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the panie feeling, it seemed almost impossible to save the town, and of course the general feeling of insecurity prompted people to save what they could,
" While the excitement was running at the flood, a number of avaricious whelps might have been seen running about with teams offering to carry loads to safe places from $2 to $5 per trip. Many people paid this exorbitant price. While the tide of fire seemed sweeping directly for the Court House, Recorder Thomas took the records and carried them to a place of safety. Per contra, we heard of a lady, whose house was in danger, seizing a terrier pup in one hand and a broom in the other, and, bareheaded, making for the open common west of the city.
" Incidents .- About the time the Williams House was burning, the wind took a portion of its blazing roof and deposited it on a stable two blocks away. By great exertions, the adjoining buildings were saved, but the barn went the way of all the others. The house of Hon. J. L. Williams was at one time in great danger, and was saved only with great labor. Mr. Williams was severely scorched by the heat.
" In Albion, six miles north, the first intelligence the citizens had of our danger was the dropping of cinders and half-burned letters in their streets; one from Sleight's elevator told the tale, and, no train being at hand, the energetic citizens pressed every team in town and came galloping to our assistance, regardless of broken necks and ruined horses. They were too late, but we will take the will for the deed, however.
" In State Centre, the telegraph first informed the citizens of the extent of the conflagration. When the wires were melted and communication ceased. the wildest excitement prevailed. The 4.20 mail train was crowded with our neighbors when it arrived.
" Milt Ayer, the conductor of the Marshall freight on the Chicago & North- Western Road, worked like a horse in getting the yard clear of cars. He and his men coupled and run out of the yard 116 cars at one pull.
" The number of brave fellows who fought against fire and hope on Saturday was so large that it is impossible to notice all. There were several, however. who, by their indomitable courage and resolution, were conspicuous in the aid they rendered just at the critical moment. R. A. Ballinger stood on the porch of E. G. Sleight's residence, where he had fallen from the roof, when it seemed almost impossible for anything human to stand the intense heat, and poured out the water that was passed to him. E. C. Hixson also made himself conspicuous by his exertions. George Canfield and George McCord woaked like heroes. W. H. Calhoun and Charles Londer saved Mrs. Warrel's res- idence by the greatest exertions. Fred Wasson and Julius Roher worked on Kreutzer's house when the fire and heat were so intense that they had to pour every other pailful of water on each other. Charles Slocum did himself great honor. H. P. Williams, on the roof of J. L. Williams' house, fought the en- croaching fiend as if his life depended upon his exertions.
" The total loss is about three hundred and eight thousand seven hundred dollars. The total of insurance is $105,800."
Another destructive fire visited the city on the morning of April 6, 1876. The omnibus drivers were just gathering up the passengers for the 3.30 train east, when one of them discovered a tiny blaze issuing from the northwest corner of the lower story of Brackett's elevator. The alarm was instantly sounded by the whistle of the Central switch engine. The other engines took up the signal, and, together with the whistles at the round-house and the oil
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mills, blew such a wild blast that the whole city was very quickly aroused The flames spread with incredible rapidity over the building where it was first discovered, and it soon became evident that a conflagration of no ordinary destructiveness was imminent. The North-Western tracks were covered with loaded cars, and the Central engine, with Bob Hoyt at the throttle, was sent to pull them out. Steam was raised in the brewery near by, and also in the tank engine, and streams from their pumps were brought into use. The streets were in a terrible condition and the heavy fire-engines sunk into the mud, and it was with the greatest exertion that the willing fire boys were able to get
there at all. In the meantime, the flame spread to Sleight's elevator on the west, and Westlake's warehouse on the east. The wind was blowing a smart gale from the southwest, and showers of cinders were thrown over Cunning- ham's lumber-yard and Ketchum & Johnston's agricultural warehouse. The bucket brigade worked manfully, and succeeded in preventing the flames from crossing the street before the arrival of the engines. When the firemen reached the scene, it was found impossible to connect with the hydrant, and a delay occurred ; but both engines soon got into operation on the south side of the blaze and did some excellent work, saving the North-Western Freight Depot and the buildings and lumber piles on the north side of the street. The fire had got full possession of both elevators, and wrapped their offices and the ad- joining buildings in a blazing mantle. Streams were thrown upon Bowman's brewery and saved it. In a little over an hour after the discovery of the fire, Brackett's elevator fell ; Westlake's followed shortly after, and erelong Sleight's came down in the general ruin. As to the origin of the fire, some say it was the work of an incendiary; others that the waste pipe of the smut- machine was near the breaking-out of the flames, and that chaff had blown out there and became ignited by the sparks from a passing loco- motive.
The Hook and Ladder Company did brave work in checking the flames. No. 1 got on the first stream, and her brakes were manned for two hours and a half. The Sleight Elevator was owned by H. P. Williams, and was worth. with its machinery, $15,000, insured for $7,200; Brackett's, $7,000, insured for $2,700. Westlake's warehouse cost some three or six hundred dollars ; no insurance. The offices and other buildings were worth about three thousand dollars. The total loss amounted to abont twenty-five to thirty thousand dol- lars ; total insurance, about eleven thousand nine hundred dollars.
GENERAL NOTES.
It is not within the province of this work to give a list of the retail busi- ness houses of the several towns. This is not a gazetteer for constant use as a book of reference, but rather a permanent monument to the enterprise and prosperity of a young but powerful county.
Marshalltown has issued business and residence directories, from which the volume of minor transactions can be readily compiled.
The city is well supplied with stores of almost every class, at which the purchaser can obtain as great a variety of goods as can be bought in cities of much larger size. The markets are well stocked.
The city has good hotel accommodations, the Boardman House being first- class in its appointments. The Bowler House, or depot hotel, is also a favorite with the traveling public.
The most conspicuous block on Main street is the First National Bank Block, so called because that institution occupies rooms on the ground floor. A
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large hall, with scenery and stage, called Woodbury Hall, is in the third story. Secret societies have finely furnished rooms in the front of the building, on the third floor. There is another public hall, called Whitton's Hall, which is located in a brick building on Center street, in the rear of the City Bank Block. The last named is a three-story edifice cornering on Main and Center streets, and is a substantial building.
The principal business thoroughfare is Main street, and it is built up almost entirely with creditable blocks. It presents as fine an appearance as a street in any town the size of this.
When Mr. Anson platted the village, he very wisely set aside one whole square in the center of the town, facing north on Main street, as a Park. The proper care has not been bestowed upon this valuable tract, but it will one day be a delightful resort for the citizens of this place.
The county buildings are not much to boast of. The old Court House, erected, as is related in another chapter, under peculiar circumstances, still does duty ; and a little jail, that might have served a good purpose in the good old days when men were honest, stands near the Court House, with an air of embarrassment over its own appearance.
Before many years, a modern structure will be placed, possibly, on the now vacant square where it should be, adding to the general beauty of the principal street.
As one casts an imaginative glance into the future, one sees a thriving city filled with busy, ambitious men, and working marvelous deeds in development. That bustling city seems vaguely familiar to the beholder, and at last he is able to distinguish of Marshalltown, enlarged, beautified and matured by the hand of Time.
ALBION.
The village of Albion is pleasantly situated on Section 6, Town 84, Range 18, in the civil township of Iowa, about seven miles northwest of Marshalltown. The Iowa River flows about one mile distant, to the west and south of the vil- lage.
The Central Railroad of Iowa touches the village, affording rail communica- tion with the North and South.
The plat is made upon a fine elevation, with level plateau in the village, and is altogether a desirable selection for a town.
The lands upon which Albion stands were selected as a part of the 500,000- acre school fund tract-an appropriation of wild lands voted for educational purposes by the State at an early day, wherever the Commissioners chose to locate the tract in parcels. J. M. Ferguson was School Fund Commissioner when this tract was selected.
In 1852, Thomas S. Brown and George W. Voris (the latter one of the Mormons who separated from the party, as related elsewhere) made the pur- chase of this tract, and platted the west half of southeast quarter and the east half of southwest quarter of Section 6, Town 84, Range 18. Cyrus Saunders was Surveyor, and Jackson Bowles and Jonathan Alman were chain bearers. At the date of the survey (August, 1852), John B. Hobbs was living near the spot, and the surveying party boarded with him.
Mr. Voris then lived about six miles east of the site, on the Archibald Clemins farm.
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For some reason. not now remembered, the plat was not recorded until July 21, 1856.
After Mr. Hobbs resigned the office of County Judge and sold his interest in Marietta, he purchased, in the Fall of 1853, Brown's interest in the village, which was originally called and recorded as
THE VILLAGE OF LA FAYETTE.
The name was not changed to that of Albion until in 1858. The Marshall County Times first notices the alteration, October 11th of that year. We shall speak of the place, however, throughout this chapter as Albion.
Mr. Brown subsequently enlisted in the army, and died in the service. Mr. Voris is spoken of in the opening chapter on Mormonism.
At the time of Mr. Hobbs' purchase there were few residents in the place. Among them, he now remembers H. H. Seymour, W. C. Howard and Thomas S. Pike. Mr. H. did not long retain an interest in the town, and never resided on the plat. He sold to Joseph Long, and, later, William Evans and James F. Seymour became proprietors in the property.
The first house was built by Terry Gowing. It was a hewed log building, and was put up in the Fall of 1853.
There were at that time, in the surrounding country, a number of settlers who figure in the history of the county. In what is now Bangor were: Thomas Pearson (1848), John Whittaker (1849), David Davis, Jesse Amos (1849), Elias Wolohan, Nash Travis, Elam Jessup, William Adams, Lancaster Bell, Jesse Everst ; and in Liscomb were : Isaac Myers, Leonard Dinsel, J. B. Ralls, S. Bowman and J. H. Hauser.
The settlers of the Marietta region have already been mentioned. Minerva, as now organized, was then a part of that large district, and in it located : Robert Elder, William Spence. David Teager, Jacob Rohr, John Anselm, Joseph Anselm, John McGee, William Taylor, John Dakin and William Clemans.
In Taylor Township, or the region east of Albion, were : Hosea Dean, Sr., and his son Hosea, William Stout, N. S. Ketchum and Joseph Long, to whom Mr. Hobbs sold his interest in the village.
In Iowa Township, the immediate locality about Albion, were : William, John and Philip Ballard. Shelton Gear, James Miller, Washington Asher, John Avery. John Duke, Thomas Gordon (a Mormon). John Hauser, Jacob Hauser, A. Elzeburg, G. W. Vans, James Dunbow, Carpenter Gear, Samuel Ulery, Jacob Haselton and others.
The first store was opened in 1855, by the firm of Keyes & Alford. Jon- athan Keyes erected the building occupied by the firm. The second store was kept by Treat & Young and the third by M. M. Perrigo-all begun in 1855. The Keyes store still stands, and is used as a blacksmith shop.
The first school was taught in the Summer of 1855, by Caroline Thomas. The Winter term was conducted by H. S. Westfall. A log house was used for the purpose.
In 1856, a frame school house was erected ; and in 1864-5, a brick build- ing took its place. The brick is now occupied by the Friends as a meeting house.
The building now occupied as a union school is a fine structure, and is a credit to the town. Mr. W. E. Crosby is Principal, and under his charge the character of the school has greatly improved. There is but one building used for public school purposes in Albion.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Thomas J. Wilson was the first lawyer to locate in town. He was also the first editor, for in the Fall of 1855, he established the Central Journal.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTY.
A sketch of this journal appears in the general history of the press.
The first artisans were : William C. Howard, blacksmith, who opened the first shop, in 1854; Green Houghton and " Doc " Barker and John Ryan, who followed in the same trade. L. L. Harris, afterward Sheriff of the county. was the first shoemaker ; J. L. Scott, the first wagon maker, although James Speer opened the first wagon shop, in 1856. Scott came in 1855, and still resides where he settled at that early date, being the oldest continuous resident of Albion at the present time. Solomon Kaufman was the first carpenter, and Joseph Adams opened the first meat market.
The first frame house was built by H. H. Seymour, and is still standing, being occupied by Henry Brigham.
The first physician to practice in the town was Dr. Bush, but he gave fully as much time to non-professional business as to his drugs and lotions.
Mr. Hobbs appropriated lots for the erection of a saw-mill; and Dr. Bush joined Samuel Reed, in 1855, in the erection of a steam mill on the property subsequently owned by Stephen Tripp. James Asher was employed to run the mill.
The first tavern was opened by Abram Lucas, in 1855. A portion of this building forms a part of the hotel now standing.
Among the earlier residents of Albion who subsequently became well known throughout the country, are : E. N. Chapin, Timothy Brown, Abram Stanley. Judge Battin, Daniel Wheeler, B. T. Phillips, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Beeson, R. H. Barn- hart, Thomas Swearingen, Gideon Wheeler, Archibald Alison and many others.
The first birth occurred in 1853-Ada Brigham. Mrs. Elizabeth Seymour died the same year-the first death in the place. The first wedding was that of Greene Hooten to Mary Keith.
GOVERNMENT.
Albion was incorporated as a town in 1870, the vote being cast for and against the proposed change of government on the 8th of March. There were 67 affirmative votes and but 5 negative polled that day. The Commissioners appointed by the Circuit Court to present the measure to the people were H. S. Patrick, J. B. Cripps, Gideon Wheeler, D. S. Kellogg and D. Burkhart.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 22, 1870.
The town officers are shown below :
For 1870-H. S. Patrick, Mayor : S. E. Burroughs, Recorder ; Trustees -A. Stanley, G. Wheeler, J. Mitchell, J. B. Cripps and E. C. McMillan.
For 1871-J. H. Reynolds, Mayor; S. E. Burroughs, Recorder ; Trustees A. Stanley, E. C. MeMillan, W. E. Walker, D. Burkhart and J. Mitchell.
For 1872-A. Stanley, Mayor; S. E. Burroughs, Recorder; M. P. Smith was chosen to same office to fill vacancy ; Trustees-D. Burkhart, H. Hill. A. C. Rogers, E. Lewis and E. C. McMillan.
For 1873-H. S. Patrick, Mayor; M. P. Smith, Recorder; Trustees-G. Wheeler, J. Mitchell, A. C. Rogers, U. L. Patton and W. E. Walker.
For 1874-G. Wheeler, Mayor; M. P. Smith, Recorder ; Trustees-A. Stanley, N. Philbrick, A. P. Augustine, A. C. Rogers and J. E. Cunningham.
For 1875-J. B. Rolston, Mayor ; W. T. Adell, Recorder ; Trustees- Henry Emes, A. C. Rogers, D. W. Randolph, G. H. Troutman and Frank Myers.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
For 1876-J. B. Rolston, Mayor : W. A. Tallas, Recorder ; Trustees-A. C. Rogers, S. C. Gillespie, J. Daniels, D. W. Randolph and Henry Emes.
For 1877-Elias Ballard, Mayor; Frank Williams, Recorder ; Trustees- George Troutman. Henry Brigham, Lancaster Bell, Frank Myers and M. L. Fox.
For 1878-M. L. Fox, Mayor: M. P. Smith, Recorder ; Trustees-A. Arney. W. A. Tallas, H. Brigham, J. E. Cunningham and H. M. Beeson.
CHURCHES.
There are several prosperous church organizations in Albion. The follow- ing sketches have been handed us by parties familiar with the religious history of the region. Although the Bethel society did not originate at Albion, but antedated that town, it may be given a place here because of its subsequent work.
Bethel Church .- Some of that body of religious people known as Disciples or Christians came from Owen County, Ind., and settled in the bend of the Iowa River, between where the towns of Liscomb and Albion have since been located. This was in 1849, and the people referred to were the Hauser and Arney families. There were several families of them, and the locality was called the Hauser-Arney settlement. For a time, they were deprived of the regular ministrations of the Gospel ; but, being people of very decided religious convictions, they did not long remain in that destitute condition.
In the Spring of 1851, John Hauser and Wm. Arney went down to Ma- haska County and induced Elder Samuel Wright, who was a preacher among the Disciples, to return with them. In May of that year, Elder Wright organ- ized the first church of that denomination in the county.
It is claimed that this was the first church of any denomination organized in this county. The place of meeting was in John Arney's dwelling house. Elder Wright continued to labor in the Gospel by that settlement for two years. Be- fore he left them, the infant Church was strengthened in the addition of a number of members, mostly by immigration. Among the number thus moving in was Elder Frederic Hauser, who arrived in 1852. For a man of limited education, he was an able proclaimer of the ancient Gospel. For more than twenty years he had labored in the ministry in Indiana, and had been success- ful in adding many to the Church. He was the father of Jacob Hauser, the first County Clerk of Marshall County.
Elder Hauser, after working successfully in this new country for two years, died, much loved and respected by all who knew him.
The little Church was not left to languish and die, for in 1855, Elder Josiah Jackson moved into the neighborhood, and preached one year. During his ministrations, the organization was further completed by the election of Jacob Hauser and A. T. Hall, as Deacons. After the removal of Josiah Jackson, in 1856, the Church was without regular preaching for about one year.
In 1857, Elder George Patton settled in the neighborhood. He was not of the same denomination as the Church of which I write, being, as he styled himself, a Reformed Dunkard. He was a good man, though quite limited in his education. The Church secured his labors for one year. He differed, how- ever, from the Disciples to such an extent that, in 1858, there was a division of the Church, and Elder Patton organized a separate congregation, and they called themselves simply Christians. Some years after, they united with the Christians or Newlight Conference, and have remained in that connection to the present day.
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HmmDolfin
BANKER
STATE CENTRE
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Disciples, after this change, did not do much for two or three years. The constant immigration, however, brought additions to their numbers. Prominent among these were Isaac Dennis and Dr. O. F. Hixson. Dr. Hixson was quite an acceptable preacher, as well as a good physician. Under his leader- ship, the Disciples re-organized and chose Isaac Dennis and L. McKinnon as Elders, and A. T. Hall as Deacon. This was in 1863. For a time they met in Marietta, but soon after resumed their meetings in the Hauser-Arney settlement.
In this year, 1863, Elder A. Cardner, of Tama City, was secured to labor for the Church. He was an able preacher, and during the two years he remained with the Church there was a large addition to its membership.
In 1865, the Disciples and the congregation that had been organized under the leadership of Elder Patton jointly built a brick meeting house, 36x50 feet, and this house has ever since been known as Bethel Church, and is still occu- pied, each alternate Sunday, by the two congregations.
In 1866, the Disciples employed as their Pastor Elder H. A. McConnell, who is an able preacher. He continued his ministrations for five years. Dur- ing this time, the Church grew to such an extent that its membership was about two hundred. It is famous for having swarmed no less than three times. It has been called, not inappropriately, the "Bee-Hive Church."
The first one of these " swarms" was the Albion Church, in 1871. The following year, the members living west of the Iowa River organized a Church at Bevins Grove, and this is known as the second swarm. In 1876, the mem- bers of the old Bethel Church living in and about Liscomb organized in that village, and that constituted swarm number three. These swarms so weakened the old Church that its membership was reduced at one time to about thirty. Still it has always kept up its meeting, and has preaching part of the time.
After Elder McConnell closed his five-years pastorate, in 1871, the Church was led by Elder J. G. Encell for a few months. He was followed by Elder G. L. Brokaw. Then Elder A. Hickey preached for the Church one year. Elder P. T. Russell preached for the Church once a month during the year 1876.
Beginning with the year 1877, Elder F. Walden preached for the Church during part of his time, and still continues in that work. Last Winter, the Church was blessed with a revival, under the labors of their present Pastor, and twenty-two were added to the roll. The present membership is between fifty and sixty. The Elders are Jacob Hauser and John McKibbon ; the Deacons, P. D. Beatty and Wm. Beach. Elder F. Walden is Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Father Solomon Dunton, the pioneer mis- sionary, held service after the forms of this Church at the house of Mr. Dawson, in 1853. The place of meeting was a log house. There were but six or eight members, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Burch, Mr. and Mrs. Payne and Solomon Denbow and wife. The first church edifice was built in 1858, under the administration of Rev. John Montgomery. The society was four years in building the small church. The first Trustees were Addison White, Adam Louck, Solomon Denbow and Emmanuel Long. The church was dedicated by Rev. John Bowman, of Waterloo. The regular Pastors after Mr. Dunton, were Mr. Pettifish, Solomon Dunton, Mr. Babcock, C. G. Truesdell, John Mont- gomery, W. Bell, John Dudley, Thomas Thompson, J. Eberhart, O. B. Bowles. D. N. Mallory, U. Eberhart, J. Ward, W. B. Frazell, and the present Pastor, J. M. Hedges. The Church is in a very satisfactory condition, and has a membership of 165.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
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