USA > Iowa > Benton County > The history of Benton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 53
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The Lodge was chartered Jan. 6, 1855, and was constituted soon after. The officers were Elijah Evans, W. M .; William C. Connell, S. W .; John S. Ep- person, J. W .; Harrison Berry, Treasurer; James Wood, Secretary ; William Jones, S. D .; Jacob S. Hunt, J. D. ; John Ferguson, Tiler, and the first an- nual report contained the names of the following Master Masons : Alexander Johnson, Jolm McCartney, S. P. Brainard, N. M. Wilson, James Sullivan, Robert H. Wilson, Peter B. Smith, Sanford Moberly, Robert Downs, Payton B. Culver, Samuel Osborn, James Hankins, Charles M. Hare, Hugh B. Jones, Elias H. Bowen, James Thompson, William Kellison, Rev. John Wright, Thomas S. Palmer and Wesley Whipple. Elijah Evans was succeeded as W. M. by William P. Lathrop and George Horridge.
437
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
It is proper to remark here that J. W. Bowen and wife celebrated their golden wedding August 8, 1878.
The deaths have been W. P. Lathrop. December 31, 1873; David Van- skike, Spring of 1859; Thomas Drummond, killed (see War Record); Jacob Oyler, October 1, 1875: D. B. Ramage, December 19, 1868; Alden Crandall. February 9. 1866: Douglas W. Marsh, March 23, 1874; C. H. Conklin, March 16, 1875: W. W. Hanford, 1876: Thomas Roberts, January 9, 1870; Austin Knox, February 25, 1871; J. G. Tuttle, Winter of 1874-75; Elijah Evans died in Kansas recently, but had dimitted some years before.
The present officers are J. C. Traer, W. M .; E. A. Hewes, S. W .; Ezra L. Goodenough, J. W .; J. Bills, Treasurer; J. P. Mathews, Secretary ; A. B. Forester, S. D. : R. McLain, J. D. : J. W. Bloodgood, S. S .; Will C. Boggs. J. S .: Benjamin Kendall. Tiler.
Meet Tuesday evening on or before full moon. The membership is 100.
Adoniram Chapter, U. D., R. A. M., was organized and dispensation granted July 10, 1856. Its first officers were W. P. Lathrop, H. P .; E. Evans. K .; J. M. Safford. S. ; T. S. Palmer, Treasurer ; J. J. Alexander, Secretary : William C. Connell, C. of H.
Adoniram Chapter. No. 15, was chartered June 1, 1857, but made no return to the Grand Chapter the first year, nor until 1862, when W. P. Lathrop was H. P .; E. Evans, K. ; John Alexander, S. ; James Sullivan, Treasurer; T. S. Palmer, Secretary ; W. C. Connell, C. of H., and it reported 15 members, hav- ing exalted 3. In 1865, B. R. Sherman was H. P .; W. C. Connell, K .; E. Evans, S.
The present officers are J. C. Traer, M. E. H. P .; W. C. Connell, E. K .; A. B. Forester, E. S .; J. A. Bills, Treasurer; J. P. Matthews, Secretary : M. Meredith, C. H .; E. L. Goodenough, P. S .; T. S. Palmer, R. A. C .; A. Rose, G. M. 3d V .; M. Stern, G. M. 2d V. ; R. M. Rumbaugh, G. M. 1st V .; B. Kendall, Guard.
The membership is 44. Meet Tuesdays after full moon.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
Anchor Lodge, No. 1137, was organized July 10, 1878, by C. H. Cogswell. G. D., and M. H. Westbrook, D. G. D., with a membership of about fifty. The first officers elected were E. A. Hews, D .; M. Meredith, V. D .; B. Mur- phy, A. D .; A. D. Griffin, P. D .; E. D. Stedman, R .; A. A. Wentz, F. R .; G. Knox, Treasurer; W. Palmer, G .; J. Knapp, C .; W. W. Webb, S .; E. S. Miller, G. The Trustees are G. W. Tannerhill, C. D. Fulton and C. C. Griffin.
The lodge meets on the first and third Mondays in each month, heretofore at Masonic Hall, but hereafter at Stick's Hall. The main feature of this society is mutual life insurance.
I. O. OF O. F.
Vinton Lodge, No. 83. was organized Feb. 8, 1856, but its charter was not granted until Oct. 8. 1856. The organizing officers were D. D. G. M. L. H. Keys. and Samuel Jack, G. Marshal. The record does not show who the charter members were, but gives the following first officers : M. D. L. Webb. N. G .; J. W. Webb, V. G .; J. H. Shutts, Sec. (succeeded on the third meet- ing by W. L. Lathrop); George W. Sell, Treas. The present officers are : E. M. Evans, N. G .; P. A. Locke, V. G .; J. A. Bills, Treas .: F. M. Rambaugh. Sec .: D. M. Witherrow, P. Sec. The Lodge has a finely-furnished hall in the building on the southwest corner of Washington and Jefferson streets, in which they meet every week.
438
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Vinton Encampment, No. 59, was chartered October 22, 1873, and was organized by C. Fordyce, under dispensation of S. S. Winall, assisted by mem- bers from Cedar Rapids Encampment. The charter members were E. M. Ev- ans, C. R. Wilkinson, James Wood, J. W. Seward, James W. Smock, A. A. Gerberich, John Hoyt, G. W. Smith, B. R. Sherman, D. M. Weatherough, R. Mckinstry. The first officers were: C. R. Wilkinson, C. P .; D. R. Sher- man, H. P .; D. M. Weatherough, S. W .; John Hoyt, J. Warden; A. A. Wentz, Scribe; J. W. Smock, Treas. The present officers (1878) are: C. R. Wilkinson, C. P .; D. H. White, H. P .; A. A. Gerberich, S. W .; F. M. Ram- baugh, J. W .; J. W. Scribe; D. Stick, Treas.
A. O. OF U. W.
Vinton Lodge, No. 30 .- This Lodge is the oldest of this order in Vinton. It was organized and received its charter October 28, 1875, by D. D. G. M. W. Chrisinger, from Dubuque, with the following charter members : A. D. Griffin, W. C. Connell, W. B. Van Horn, C. S. Bennett, J. W. Bloodgood, I. N. Chenoweth, E. M. Evans, Z. R. Detwiler, C. D. Fulton, W. A. McAllister, W. B. Reynolds, Jr., S. S. Reynolds, Cyrus E. Porter, C. R. Wilkinson, C. C. Griffin, J. W. Smock, W. H. Brown, O. Horn. The first officers were, A. D. Griffin, P. M. W .; W. B. Reynolds, Jr., M. W .; C. Porter, F .; C. R. Wilkin- son, O .; W. A. McAllister, Recorder ; C. S. Bennett, Financier; I. N. Chen- oweth, Receiver; E. M. Evans, Guide; Wm. C. Connell, I. W .; I. W. Bloodgood, O. W. The present officers are as follows : E. F. B. Langstroth, P. M. W .; G. L. Rock, M. W .; I. W. Bloodgood, Foreman ; George W. Burn- ham, Overseer; J. D. Steves, Guide ; I. D. Shotwell, Recorder: Chas. F. Goodwin, Financier; C. C. Griffin, Receiver; W. C. Boggs, I. W .; R. A. Green, O. W. The Lodge meets Thursday nights, in Masonic Hall.
Cedar Lodge No. 53 .- This lodge was organized March 10, 1876, by G. M. W. B. S. Fowle, G. R. D. S. Stephenson, and D. D. G. M. W. A. D. Griffin, and had the following charter members: D. E. Voris, Robert St. Clair, John D. Nichols, A. Rose, George Knapp, Warren L. Brown, M. Meredith, J. D. Hawthorne, Fred Tyler, Hudson Burr, L. Ralyea, Jos. S. Spurr, J. C. Thompson, John S. Stanley, HI. D. Smith, James W. Butler, James W. Brown and R. N. Young. The first administration was by D. E. Vois, P. M. W .; Robert St. Clair, M. W .; J. D. Nichols, G. F .; A. Rose, O .; George Knapp, R .; James Hawthorne, F .; Warren L. Brown, Receiver ; Fred Tyler, Guide; James Brown, I. W .; J. F. Spurr, O. W. The present officers are as follows, A. Rose. P. M. W .; E. D. Stedman, M. W .; M. Sterne, Fin .; J. E. Marietta, Recorder ; J. F. Spurr, O .; W. S. Palmer, Foreman ; S. H. Sheffer, Guide : J. A. Bills, Receiver ; D. Aikley, I. W .; S. Starks, O. W .; Trustees-J. C. Thompson, G. W. Tannerhill and H. S. Conner ; M. Meredith, Medical Exam- iner. The lodge meets every Friday night.
I. O. OF G. T.
Vinton Lodge, No. 32, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organ- ized some time in 1854, and is now the second in age in Iowa, and the third oldest in the world. W. C. Smith represented the Lodge at the first Conven- tion of the Order held in Iowa, at Iowa City, December 24, 1844. February 21, 1862, the name was changed to Redemption Lodge, No. 32, and a new charter was issued to Elijah Evans, Amazette H. Evans, John W. Traer, Alice Traer, Benjamin . Honeywell, Michael Smith, Mary E. Hare, Minerva N. Craig, N. C. Phelps, Joseph Russell, E. M. Evans, William Geddes, L. M. Hoke and A. H. Ellis.
439
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
The list of the first officers cannot be obtained, the early record having been lost. The Lodge has, however, never been suspended. Its charter was issued by the R. W. Grand Lodge of North America.
The Lodge owns a lot and two-story building, the second story of which is used for its hall. The lower story is rented for business purposes. The mem- bership is about seventy-five.
The officers for the third quarter of 1878 are: L. H. Defenbaugh, W. C. T .; Mrs. J. P. Matthews, W. V. T .; Jas. M. Dorwin, W. S .; Miss Lou Shock- ley, W. A. S .; Walter Rodgers, W. F. S .; Mrs. Helen C. Atkinson, W. T .; Miss Nellie Boyd, W. C .; E. H. Jordan, W. M .; Miss Hattie B. Jones, W. D. M .; Miss Emma Thompson, W. I. G .; E. C. Hood. W. O. G .; Thos. Atkinson, P. W. C. T .; Miss Anna Miller, W. R. H. S .: Miss Nettie Jameson, W. L. H. S.
C. W. Miller was recommended for D. G. W. C. T., for the coming year, and James M. Dorwin and C. W. Miller were elected Representatives to the Grand Lodge of Iowa, which meets at Waterloo, August 27th.
COMPANY " A," FIRST REGIMENT, I. N. G.
This company, called "The Banner Company " of Iowa, was organized September 7, 1871, under the name of " Company A, Vinton Zouaves." The following were its first officers and members : Captain, Chas. V. Mount; First Lieutenant, John P. Matthews; Second Lieutenant, Chas. E. Inman ; First Sergeant, Lyman H. Starks; Second Sergeant, Mart. D. Starling; Third Sergeant, Wm. W. Means; Fourth Sergeant. E. Platt ; Ensign, W. O. Robins ; First Corporal, George W. Sterling: Second Corporal, Henry F. Wenner ; Third Corporal, T. Oscar Johnson ; Fourth Corporal, Chas. W. Odell. Pri- vates : Stephen A. Briggs, William Boggs, D. Bixby, A. Bigelow, Louis Bie- besheimer, C. D. Brewer, William Brumwill, Newrad M. Bennett, Samuel Corning, Jacob Coutts, Herbert G. Connor, John Dulin, James J. Edmonds. John Edmonds, James II. Forsythe, John Felker, Ezra L. Goodenough, Robert E. George, George Holden, James W. Heller, Wesley Jones, E. M. Knapp, Chas. F. Knowlton, Amos Kendall, Daniel Luellen, Frank Mackey, Denison R. Morton, William Murphy, Frank G. Miller, William McDearman, Thomas McLaughlin, William Oppett, George W. Phillips, Walter S. Palmer, Robert H. Porter, Geo. M. Read, Jas. Smock, Morris Shockley, Geo. K. Storey, Jas. Stanton, T. Stewart, Perry J. Stewart, Squire Smith, Elijah Stout, Wm. R. Stout, John S. Stickney, E. J. Sanders, Dexter R. Spaulding, William Tracy, C. O. Thompson, Charles Thomas, William Traer, Christian Valver, Oliver Wheaton, William A. Williams, Frank White, Clarence White, John W. Wen- ner, Chas. H. Wilber, Ed. D. Watkins, Albertus Wetz, Joseph S. Young. Musicians : Elbert P. Stedman, Walter S. Armstrong, Wm. Bordwell, Geo. W. Edmonds, Jonathan Jenks, A. Sutton.
As this company is. at the present writing. the most proficient military company in the State, as well as one of the oldest, its history is of correspond- ing interest. The direct cause of the organization of the company was the failure of the Vinton people to organize a parade on July 4th, 1871-the pro- cession being made up of the visiting farmers. The first victory was achieved at the Benton County Fair, in 1871, when, though but a month old, their sham battle proved to be one of the most interesting features of the exhibition. Mr. J. F. Pyne presented the company with a flag on this occasion, as an acknowl- edgment of their instrumentality in adding interest to the fair.
May 30, 1872, the company participated in the ceremony of decorating the soldiers' graves at Cedar Rapids, in which they reflected credit both upon
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
themselves and the town whose name they bore. From September 12th to the 18th, in 1872, the company did guard duty on the State Fair Grounds, in Cedar Rapids, where their soldierly bearing won for them well-merited praise at the hands of the State press, as well as from the press of adjoining States. They assisted in the Decoration services of 1873, at Vinton, and acted as guards to the State Fair of that year, also at Cedar Rapids, and again assisted in honoring the memory of deceased soldiers in the cemetery of Cedar Rapids, in 1874. Always maintaining their record of excellence which they had inaugurated at the start, July 5, 1875, they attended the celebration at Burlington, and won the prize banner; and, in 1876, at the same place, won the first prize in a tournament of five companies. Their last victory was at Independence, in 1877, where they won $125 as first prize, at the fair. Their record is thus far at the head of Iowa's militia. Their old captain, C. V. Mount, is now Major General, commanding this division ; and on the list of staff officers are to be seen the names of some of the old members of this company. We herewith give a list of the division staff as it now exists : Col. C. R. Wilkinson, Chief of Staff; Lieut. Col. G. R. Knapp, Assistant Adjutant General; Lieut. Col. M. H. White, Assistant Inspector ; Lieut. Col. L. E. B. Holt, Surgeon ; Maj. W. M. Traer, Quartermaster ; Maj. John Fleming, Commissary ; Maj. T. C. Cole. Judge Advocate ; Maj. S. A. Wright, Paymaster; Capt. L. H. Starks, Aide- de-Camp ; Capt. T. D. McElroy, Aide-de-Camp.
The present company officers are as follows : Captain, J. C. Matthews ; First Lieutenant, W. S. Palmer; Second Lieutenant, E. J. Sanderson ; First Sergeant, Milo Whipple ; Second Sergeant, Erwin Warner; Third Sergeant, Chas. I. Lawton ; Fourth Sergeant, Lorin Bixby ; Fifth Sergeant, Joseph Pyne ; First Corporal, H. S. Snyder; Second Corporal, H. F. Wenner; Third Corporal, Frank Bender ; Fourth Corporal, G. R. Holden ; Fifth Corporal, Chas. Gale; Sixth Corporal, O. J. Connor; Seventh Corporal, H. Biglow : Eighth Corporal, H. F. Jameson. The company numbers rank and file fifty- eight men.
VINTON REFORM CLUB.
On Monday evening, July 29, 1878, a large meeting was held in the old Presbyterian Church, for the purpose of organizing a Reform Club in Vinton. L. A. Cobb and J. P. Sherman, of Waterloo, were present to aid in the move- ment. After stirring speeches by Messrs. Cobb, Sherman, Rev. O. H. Phelps, W. B. Reynolds, Jr., and Rev. S. Phelps, eighty-one persons signed the pledge. A committee, consisting of W. B. Reynolds, Jr., A. Haines, W. W. Webb, J. D. Steves, D. C. Kirkpatrick, Rev. S. Phelps and J. W. Rich, was appointed to draft a constitution for a Reform Club, and report at the next meeting.
On Monday evening, August 5th, the committee reported a constitution, which was adopted, and officers elected as follows : President, W. B. Reynolds, Jr .; First Vice President, J. D. Steves; Second Vice President, James M. Dorwin ; Third Vice President, D. M. Kirkpatrick; Secretary, W. M. Hall ; Treasurer, P. W. Watson ; Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Miller.
Sixty-eight persons signed the pledge at this meeting. A Committee on Ways and Means was appointed, consisting of Messrs. A. Haines, Smith, Mrs. C. H. Conklin and Mrs. Anna Hanford, and before the meeting adjourned $55.57 were raised. "Let the good work go on."
E.S. JOHNSON BELLE PLAINE
443
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
BELLE PLAINE.
This flourishing town is at the terminus of the Clinton Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, and here are located the round-house and machine shop, giving employment to several hundred men. The impetus given by the selection of this town as a division terminus was very great, and the growth of the town for several years after being laid out was extremely rapid. The town site, which was laid out by Presley Hutton, in 1860, just previous to the completion of the railway thus far, lies on the sloping northern bank of the Iowa River, which allows of excellent drainage facilities. Not only this, but toward the southwest is one of the most beautiful views in the interior of Iowa, the timber along the river and the hills beyond forming a beautiful prospect to the observer's eye.
In the Fall of 1861, William White built a store house, which was immedi- ately occupied with a stock of goods by a man named Crider.
During the Winter of 1861-2, and just after Mr. Presley had platted the town site, another store building was erected by I. N. Isham, which was occupied by H. H. Smith, who brought on a stock of goods and began busi- ness. George Lowe completed a grain warehouse about the same time, but it was idle property, for Belle Plaine was not yet a station. The Construction Company had got into a difficulty with the Railway Company, and because the latter had decided to build a town here the other company laid the switch tracks at Buckeye, about three miles east, and were doing all they could, with considerable success, to foster the growth of that town.
A building was also erected for a saloon in the Fall of 1861, but the pro- prietor having been carefully advised, removed the shanty off the town plat, but began business close by.
In the Spring of 1862, the first dwelling house was built by William White, followed in a short time by Mr. Forbes, who was clerking for Mr. Crider. Shortly afterward, a small house was removed from Gwinnville to the town plat of Belle Plaine. Several houses were also erected during the Summer and Fall of the same year.
The first sermon ever preached in Belle Plaine was by Elder Holland, a Christian minister, in the Fall of 1862, the Crider store, then being vacant, serving as the place of worship.
Two small schools were taught in Belle Plaine during the Winter of 1862- 3, one by Mrs. Greene and the other by Mrs. Pillbeam, whose husband was, at that time, Pastor of the circuit of the M. E. Church.
The certainty that the railway company were favoring Belle Plaine induced the settlers to petition for the removal of the post office from Gwinnville to this place, which was granted by the postal authorities, and the office was removed in July, 1862, D. C. Forbes having been appointed Postmaster.
The first building erected in 1863 was by Dr. Crawford, who was the first physician to settle in the town.
During 1863, Mr. Crider found his business so alarmingly unremunerative that his creditors took possession, sold the goods at auction and divided the resulting cash as by law provided.
James Ellis started a blacksmith shop during the Summer.
The business interest of Belle Plaine, in the Fall of 1863, as near as can now be ascertained, was as follows : E. G. Brown, who had purchased Mr. Isham's business, general store ; Andrew Hale, grain and stock dealer ; James I
444
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Smart, lumber dealer; Carter Buckley and George Watrous, grain buyers ; J. B. Daniels, harness maker.
William Shaffer was the first station agent.
The business houses at the close of 1868 were very numerous, the list being given herewith : Seven general stores, eight groceries, four agricultural imple- ment houses, three hardware stores, five lumber dealers, two furniture stores, three drug stores, one book store, two millinery shops, five tailors, six physi- cians, six attorneys, two jewelry shops, one music store, three dentists, four wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, three hotels, one livery stable, nine saloons, four boarding houses, four shoe shops, three harness shops, two auctioneers, one flouring-mill, one planing-mill, two painters, one bakery, two dozen carpenters, one tobacco store, five drays, five insurance agents, one newspaper, several grain buyers, etc.
Belle Plaine was incorporated in 1868, and took its charter as a city of the second class.
A bank was established in July, 1869, by S. L. Bardwell, of Chicago, a much needed adjunct to the business of the young city.
Franklin Schild was drowned in Salt Creek August 23, 1869. He was on horseback, driving home some cows, and attempted to cross the creek at a deep place. The horse, in floundering, threw him off, and, being un- able to swim, he perished before help could reach him. He was about 21 years old.
A musical convention was held at Belle Plaine in the latter part of Septem- ber, 1869, conducted by Prof. Palmer, of Chicago.
In the Fall of 1869, the business of the town included eight dry goods stores, nine groceries, four clothing stores, three boot and shoe stores, three drug stores, three hardware stores, two furniture stores, two tailor shops, four millinery shops, two agricultural depots, two jewelers, three lumber yards, one book store, two livery stables, one flouring-mill, two harness shops, one photograph gallery, two carriage shops, one musical instrument and sewing machine agency, two meat markets, four saloons, three hotels, one bakery, one bank, one newspaper, two grain elevators, five lawyers, four physicians and one dentist.
A peat bed was discovered on the farm of Peter Spracklin, a short distance from Belle Plaine, in 1870. The bed covers about thirty acres, and is, in some places, ten feet deep.
Conductor William Arthur and a brakeman, Charles E. Sullivan, both resi- dents of Belle Plaine, were killed September 3, 1870, at the sand bank west of the town. Both sprang to the brake when the engineer signaled, but, the upright rod giving way, they fell under the moving wheels and were instantly crushed to death.
A Teachers' Institute was held at Belle Plaine in November, 1870, presided over by Supt. H. M. Hoon, of Vinton ; W. M. Wilcox, Secretary. The lec- tures were by Rev. Mr. Lane, Mr. Crawford and Prof. S. A. Knapp. Ninety- eight were enrolled as members of the Institute.
During 1870, there were shipped from Belle Plaine station 1,029 car-loads of grain, which would indicate, as a fair average, thirty-two wagon-loads sold every working day during the year.
During 1870 and 1871, several meetings were held at various places, Belle Plaine among the rest, for the purpose of securing the construction of an exten- sion of the North Missouri Railway from Ottawa to Waterloo. A company was formed to build a narrow gauge between the terminal points named above, with place of business at Belle Plaine.
445
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
In 1871, the officers were : S. L. Bardwell, President ; James R. Graham, Vice President ; C. D. Tanton, Secretary. Directors-George Mason, Walt- ham, Presley Hutton, Belle Plaine; James R. Graham. Redmond.
The route of the proposed line is a most inviting one, and it is quite prob- able that when business confidence is restored there will be little difficulty in securing capital to construct and equip this line.
The Belle Plaine Musical Association was organized in March, 1871, at the close of a convention instructed by Mr. Brown. The first officers were : W. F. Atkinson, President : James A. Guest, Vice President : James E. Townsend. Secretary ; Mrs. T. Lawrence, Treasurer ; E. G. Brown, Musical Conductor ; W. L. Prentice, Assistant ; Miss Franc C. Pier, Miss Katie Brown and John Q. Hutton, Executive Committee.
An election was held at Belle Plaine, in the Summer of 1871, for the pur- pose of granting township aid to the company, but the project was voted down. Another election was held March 21, 1872, when the tax was voted by 133 majority.
E. B. Severn, a well-known citizen of Belle Plaine, died suddenly at the railway station, November 17, 1871. while superintending the loading of some stock on a car. He had formerly been a Christian minister.
The First National Bank of Belle Plaine, was organized in May, 1872, with a capital of $50,000. The first Directors were : James A. Wiley, W. A. Scott, G. H. Warren, J. H. Schiltchiting, Wm. Montgomery, D. W. Read and J. A. Durand. The following week, D. W. Read was elected President, and S. S. Sweet, Cashier.
A great flood occurred along Salt Creek June 1, 1872, caused by a heavy rain the night before. The passenger train from the East was detained about two hours before reaching Belle Plaine, and ten minutes after crossing the bridge across Salt Creek, the bridge was swept off its piers by the rushing waters. Two or three families in the southwest part of the town were removed by boats. Considerable damage was done along the valley above by the flood. The follow- ing week, a mile of track was washed out between Norway and Blairstown, and breaks were made in other places in the track in Benton County.
A collision occurred in July, 1872, between a pusher-engine and a con- struction train, near Belle Plaine, in which seven men were killed or mortally injured. Their names were William H. Anderson, Michael Brandon, John Carroll, James Carroll. Wenzel Churchick, Joseph Hanesch and John Oliva. The Coroner's jury censured the Division Superintendent and Train Dispatcher for neglect in not notifying the driver of the pusher-engine that the construc- tion train was in the vicinity.
April 2, 1873, the commodious residence of J. W. Filkins was destroyed by fire, and his valuable library consumed. The property was worth about $3,000; insured for about $2,000.
Russel Nichols, a child of 7 years, was drowned in the well near the round- house, May 4, 1876.
A harvest feast was held under the auspices of Expansion Grange Sep- tember 13, 1873, on the grounds of J. W. Filkins, near Belle Plaine. A dis- play of flowers and fruits was made, a dinner was served and an address was given by Fred Hovey, Esq., of Honey Creek.
Belle Plaine occupies a most eligible position with regard to business. The nearest towns of importance are Blairstown and Tama City, thus leaving a very large territory of fertile soil, heavily settled with an industrious farming popu- lation, tributary to this town. The business men of this town arc wide-awake
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