USA > Iowa > Boone County > The history of Boone County, Iowa, containing biographical sketches war records of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Boone county etc. > Part 65
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" At the annual congregational meeting, held April 7, 1879, in view of the fact that some of the members of the board of trustees who had faith- fully stood the brunt of the battle for years were desirous, and had often expressed the wish, to be retired from further duty in this capacity, a new board of trustees were elected, consisting of Messrs. Ericson, Wells, Wier, James and Huntsinger. At the same time your present board was in- structed to contract with Rev. J. A. Donahey for his service as pastor for the year commencing April 1, 1879.
" The new board of trustees organized with the following officers: R. M. Wier, chairman; C. J. A. Ericson, treasurer; S. K. Huntsinger, secretary.
" We then proceeded to carry out your instructions. A salary of one thousand dollars was tendered to Rev. Donahey for one year's services, and accepted by him. The reports of the retiring treasurer were also referred to your board for auditing. We carefully examined the accounts and found the following receipts and disbursements for the year from April 30, . 1878, to April 23, 1879, to be as follows: Total receipts, $983.93. Dis- bursements, $969.44; cash on hand, $14.49; total, $983.93. Indebtedness of church to Rev. Donahey, $52.57; to D. B. Knight, note and interest, about $113.30; total, $165.87. Amount due upon subscriptions, about $100.
"The building committee appointed by you appointed within themselves a soliciting committee to procure plans for a new building. Six thousand dollars were to be subscribed before the subscriptions were to be binding. The committees entered upon their several duties instantly, carefully, man- fully and boldly. The result was that six thousand dollars of approved subscriptions were taken, plans were got, contract let, and on the 4th of July, 1879, the stakes were set for the new building. The work progressed until we have the building as it now stands. We have not been alone in the raising of this structure, for it is by the willing hearts and hands of the
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
women of the church and society that our beautiful house of worship is provided with beautiful chandeliers, nice carpet, matting, etc., etc.
"Finding the amount subscribed to be insufficient to complete our new honse of worship, an application was made to the parent society. the board of church erection, for five hundred dollars, which was readily granted, notwithstanding the fact that in erecting the frame building they had al- ready helped us to six hundred dollars. In order to secure the five hnn- dred dollars from the board it was necessary for us to raise about seven hundred dollars in addition to the amount already subscribed.
" On the day of dedication an appeal was made to the congregation, and not made in vain, for the necessary amount was subscribed. and with joy- ful hearts filled with thankfulness unto ' Him who heedeth the cry of His children,' this house was dedicated unto His service.
" To all those who have so liberally and abundantly helped us in erecting our house of worship, we, the trustees and members of the church, return to you, and each of you, our sincere and heartfelt thanks, for without your kind assistance we could not have succeeded in our undertaking. As you have given unto the Lord, may He restore unto you fourfold.
" Having no more use for our old house of worship, we had an offer from the Baptist society for it which we accepted, and the old church building passed into the hands of that society.
" We have purchased an apparatus for heating our new building which has added considerable to the expenses. After the completion and dedica- tion of our new house, then in order to keep it open a considerable amount was still to be raised, sufficient to meet pastor's salary and incidental ex- penses of the church. Just how to raise the amount seemed to be the query. Applications to rent seats began to come in on every hand-and this seemed to be the prevailing sentiment-so, after a careful and thorough investigation, it was decided to rent the seats. The appraisement was made according to the best judgment, and seats were rented to the greatest satis- faction of all concerned.
" The financial condition of the church is beyond our most sanguine ex- pectations, upon which we congratulate the church and society, looking for- ward to brighter prospects in the future. Total subscription to church building, $7,014.40. Realized from sale of old building, $425. Received from church erection board, $500. Amount collected on subscription, $6,659.25. Amount due on subscription, $355.15. Liabilities, about $400. We need every cent dne on subscription to meet our liabilities, and trust that what remains unpaid will be handed in at an early date.
" S. K. HUNTSINGER,
" Sec'y. Board of Trustees."
The following is the annual report of the treasurer of the First Presby- terian Church, Boone, Iowa, for the year ending March 31st, 1880:
The receipts on account of the church erection fund are as follows: From subscriptions '.
$ 6,659 25
From sale of old church building. 425 00
From church erection board. 500 00
Total receipts.
$ 7,584 25
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
DISBURSEMENTS.
By paid E. C. Culver, contractor $ 6,900 00
By paid F. M. Ellis, architect.
120 00
By paid for extras, etc
186 99
By paid for furnace
340 00
Total disbursements. $ 7,546 99
Total receipts.
$ 7,584 25
Total disbursements 7,546 99
Balance on hand
$ 37 26
Receipts for pastor's salary, etc., are as follows:
From subscriptions and pew-rent. $ 1,305 68
From temporary loan 200 00
Total receipts
$ 1,505 68
DISBURSEMENTS.
By paid Rev. J. A. Donahey
$ 1,052 57
By paid for lights, fuel, etc
93 51
By paid janitor
75 00
By paid D. B. Knight (old debt).
155 00
By paid insurance
123 50
Total disbursements $1,499 58
Total receipts
$ 1,505 68
Total disbursements
1,499 58
Balance on hand
C. J. A. ERICKSON, $ 6 10
Treasurer.
The Universalist Church was organized May 9, 1871. The original mem- bers were as follows: L. J. Orr, A. B. Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. George Wilmot, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Head, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Minier, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Kenedy, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Fogg, J. P. Tilson, C. Schoonover, H. H. Sprague, Mr. and Mrs. A. Nellis, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Farr, J. P. Crary, J. M. Smith, E. Smith, E. Schoonover, H. Godard, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. B. Harmon. A frame church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of $4,185.78. It was dedicated June 4, 1871, by Rev. A. C. Berry, assisted by Rev. C. P. Nash. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. S. A. Holt, A. H. Sweetzer, H. B. Smith and W. P. Paine. The church has no regular pastor at present. The membership numbers now about twenty-five. Prior to the erection of the church edifice, and before an or- ganization was formed, various persons of this faith met for public worship during the year 1869 in Metropolitan Hall, and in 1870 in Ive's Hall.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church was organized in
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
1870; Nelse Tharson, Andrew L. Engstrom, P. A. Engstrom, P. Okerlind, J. P. Samnelson, N. Anderson, N. P. Johnson. F. Nelson, A. Nelson and J. P. Johnson constituted the members of the first organization. This so- ciety was a part of another congregation which in 1877 turned away from the Augustana Synod to the Mission Synod, and then claimed the church building which had been erected in 1870. The remnant of the con- gregation being left without a house of worship erected a church edifice which cost $1,870. This church now has a membership of forty-nine.
LINWOOD CEMETERY.
This cemetery was laid out in April, 1869. It is located a short distance south of the city, on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28, township 84, range 26. It is under the control of an association incorporated under the State law, governed by a regularly elected corps of officers and board of directors. The location is naturally a good one, and, by means of the improvements which are grad- ually being made, will in course of time become a very beautiful burying place. To this parcel of ground set aside for the reception of the dead of Boone and vicinity have already been gathered the mortal remains of not a few of the most worthy and enterprising founders of the town.
FRATERNITIES.
Boone Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F., was organized under dispensation May 31, 1871. The lodge received a charter October 17, 1871. Jacob Stevens, W. W. Nixon, J. W. Black, Benjamin Herzog, Jonas Eaton and A. L. Herman were among the charter members. The first officers were as follows: W. W. Nixon, N. G .; Benjamin Herzog, V. G .; J. W. Black, secretary; Jacob Stevens, treasurer.
The following named gentlemen have been at the head of the order: W. W. Nixon, J. W. Black, Jonas Eaton, Samuel Wheeler, H. Main, W. B. Montgomery, J. R. Iklor, A. J. Holmes, L. B. Carver, C. T. Culver and O. J. Boyer.
This lodge is properly an offshoot of the Boonsboro lodge, the charter members having previously been members of the latter lodge. The hall in which the order meets is on the east side of Story street, south of Eighth. The order is in a very prosperous condition, and has investments amount- ing to several hundred dollars.
Composite Lodge No. 209, A. F. and A. M., was organized under dis- pensation September 25, 1866. A charter was granted June 5, 1867, with the following named persons as officers:
C. S. Dewey, W. M .; George Dewey, S. W .; F. C. Hills, J. W .; D. L. Smith, treasurer; D. W. Upson, secretary; S. M. Ives, S. D .; B. F. Fes- senden, J. D .; S. R. Sutton, tyler.
The lodge was convened by J. L. Enos, State Deputy. The room where the lodge met was in the second story of the Downing building. This lodge went down and surrendered its charter in 1875.
St. Paul's Lodge No. 361, A. F. and A. M., was organized June 15, 1876. The first officers were: M. A. Butler, W. M .; James Phelan, S. W .; W. W. Nixon, J. W .; Charles Tucker, secretary. The lodge meets in the third story of Hermans' building. The present officers are as follows: George
525
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Wilmot, W. M .; A. P. Fogg. S. W .; Henry Hoffman, J. W .; George Hartford, Treasurer; W. T. Evans, secretary.
Tuscan Chapter No. 31 was organized in Boonesboro August 20, 1866. The first officers were: H. M. Case, H. P .; Jackson Orr, K .; Fred C. Hills, S .; Charles S Dewey, C. H .; Alfred Williams, P. S .; Benjamin Herzog, R. A. C .; D. W. C. Upson, G. M. of First V .; B. Belany, G. M. of Second V .; Ed. Morgan, G. M. of Third V .; Jackson Orr, treasurer; D. W. C. Upson, secretary. The last meeting of the chapter was held at Boonesboro May 24, 1869, when its place of meeting was removed to Boone, the first meeting at the latter place having been hel : June 7, 1869. The following are the officers at present: C. J. A. Ericson, H. P .; J. Weston, K .; D. R. Hineman, S .; R. J. Hiatt, treasurer; Charles Tucker, secretary; J. A. Head, C. H .; C. E. Rice, P. S .; J. P. Tilson, sentinel.
Excalibar Commandery No. 13, K. T., was instituted October 19, 1869. The first officers were as follows: H. M. Case, E. C .; J. A. Head, gener- alissimo; J. L. Enos, C. G .; H. B. Minier, P .; R. J. Hiatt, treasurer; Lew- is Burgess, recorder. The following are the present officers: M. A. But- ler, E. C .; D. R. Hineman, generalissimo; Jacob Stevens, C. G .; J. A. Head, P .; D. B. Knight, S. W .; C. A. Osgood, J. W .; C. J. A. Ericson, treasurer; R. J. Hiatt, recorder; Benjamin Grant, S. B .; E. W. Harri- son, S. W. D. B .; L. J. Alleman, recorder; J. P. Tilson, sentinel.
In addition to these orders there is also a very flourishing lodge of A. O. U. W.
BANKS.
The first bank established in Boone was in 1867, by A. K. Wells, who erected. on the corner of Eighth and Story streets, a large brick block, com- monly known as Metropolitan Hall Block. Mr. Wells failed in 1875. and the building was purchased by Hiatt & Smith, who engaged in the bank- ing business in October, 1876. The establishment is a private banking institution, R. J. Hiatt, being the cashier. The First National Bank was organized in 1872, with W. F. Clark as president, C. J. A. Ericson vice- president, and Vincent Wood cashier. The capital was at first $50.000, which was afterward increased to $100,000. In January, 1878, the cor- poration surrendered their charter and organized the city bank; Mr. Clark was elected president, which position he continned to fill until recently, when he died. The present officers are as follows: President, F. Champ- lin; vice-president, L. J. Rice; cashier, C. J. A. Ericson; teller, C. A. Crawford. The following named persons constitute the stockholders of the institution: L. J. Rice, W. F. Clark, Jno. C. Hall, F. Holbrook, L. J. Alleman, Frank Champlin, Clark Luther, L. F. Holbrook, A. S. Holbrook, C. J. A. Ericson, L. and H. Goeppinger, W. M. Boone.
The fact has already been noted that J. A. McFarland was one of the first business men of the county, lie having established a store of general merchandise in 1851 and 1852, in Boonesboro. In March, 1870, he retired from the store and opened a bank in Boonesboro. The bank was located in what was known as the Phoenix Block, across the street from where the post-office is now located. January, 1st, 1874, he removed his business to Boone, where he had previously erected an elegant banking house on the corner of Eighth and Keeler streets. Mr. McFarland has from the first even to the present time enjoyed the confidence of the people of the county,
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
and since engaging in the banking business has never failed to meet all de- mands made on his establishment. His place of business was open through- out the panic of 1873, and those dark days which tested the resources of so many monetary institutions did not affect the credit of this one. Although Mr. McFarland still exercises a general oversight of the bank his son, J. I. McFarland, looks after the details and acts as cashier; the assistant- cashier is Alfred Zandell.
The banks of Boone, like a majority of the business houses, are on a good sold basis, and little business is done on borrowed capital. The amount of business done by the banks of itself furnishes uninistakable proof of the flourishing trade controlled by this city.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Owing to the large number of wooden buildings and the immense power of the winds, the towns and cities of a prairie country are much more ex- posed to the ravages of fire than in older-settled communities. Boone has been peculiarly unfortunate in this particular in times past, and it was doubtless owing to that fact that especial effort has been made to secure an efficient fire department. Although not provided with such expensive ma- chinery, nor composed of so many men who make this the only means of employment-nevertheless, Boone has a fire department which, in many respects, is the best in the State. It consists of a hose company, a hook and ladder company, and an engine company.
The Neptune Hose Company was organized June 8, 1877. It consisted of seven men and three officers, viz .: W. T. Evans, foreman; H. Hoff- man, secretary; A. Lowry, treasurer.
The Daniel Boone Hook and Ladder Company was organized June 14, 1877. S. L. Moore was elected foreman; N. Harding, assistant-foreman ; C. A. McCune, secretary; J. I. McFarland, treasurer. This company consists of twenty.six members, beside the officers. Angust 1, 1877, A. P. Fogg was elected fire marshal of the city, and Daniel Finley assistant.
January 19, 1878, the American Engine Company was organized. C. J. Elwell was elected foreman; M. A. Hills, assistant; W. T. Evans, secre- tary; A. Lowry, treasurer. This company consists of twenty-three men, beside the officers.
In addition to these three companies there is the Pony Hook and Ladder Company, recently formed, consisting of twenty-six men, exclusive of offi- cers. The officers are as follows: W. Hoffman, foreman; A. Hoffman, secretary; H. Herman, treasurer.
These companies are all made up of volunteers, none of the members receiving anything for their services. The only consideration is the release from certain requirements, such as liability of poll-tax and jury duty. Love of excitement, adventure and a furtherance of the public good are the only inducements held out. Experience has established the fact that the best fire companies in the land are the volunteer companies; with the exception of the large commercial centers, where fires are of such frequent occurrences as to claim a greater portion of the time of the department, either in actu- ally combating the flames or preparing for such emergency, volunteer companies are in every respect preferable to a paid departinent. Depart- ments of the latter kind are usually made up of men who have little am- bition, and much of their time being spent in idleness they are not capable
527
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
of manifesting such activity and zeal as those who have regular occupations, in which they are constantly engaged, and usually are owners of property which may at any moment be put at the common peril. The Boone fire department is famous for its effectiveness, and has frequently proved this fact in contests where skill, rapidity of movement and endurance are equally in demand. In accuracy of drill, thoroughness of discipline and dexterity of movement the Boone fire department is second to none in the country.
The condition of the several companies of the department at present is as follows:
The engine company, a first-class hand engine with fifty men.
Hook and ladder company, hooks, ladders, truck with thirty men,
Hose company, hose cart, eight hundred and fifty feet of hose with ten men.
Pony hook and ladder company, three ladders, four Babcock fire extin- guishers and three hundred feet of hose.
The entire department is under the direction of A. P. Fogg, who was elected fire marshal August 1st, 1877, and still retains that position. E. S. Huff was elected assistant marshal in May, 1878, and still acts in that capacity.
CITY OFFICERS.
The city government is vested in a mayor and eight councilmen, two from eachi ward; these, with the clerk and treasurer, constitute the city officers. They are at present as follows:
Mayor-A. R. Everett.
Clerk-J. J. Southworth.
Treasurer-Alfred Zandell.
Aldermen: First ward-M. A. Hills and Jno. Rogan. Second ward-D. F. Goodykoons and F. L. Jackson. Third ward-Oscar Schleiter and John Nelson.
Fourth ward-Wm. Groner and L. W. Reynolds.
The headquarters of the city government, as well as the fire department. is at the City Hall. This is a commodious and elegant building, located on the corner of Eighth and Allen streets. It was erected a few years since at a cost of $12,000, for which purpose the city issued bonds.
YELL TOWNSHIP.
This civil township consists of that portion of Congressional township 84, range 27, which lies west of the Des Moines river. The surface of the country is slightly undulating, and is as good farming land as can be found in the State, except that portion of the township which borders on the Des Moines river, which is badly broken, heavily timbered and better adapted for grazing than cultivation. The eastern boundary line is very irregular; following the course of the river it may be said to extend toward every point of the compass. The township was organized in 1852, and at first included the entire northwest part of the county, Amaqua, Grant and Pilot Mound having been detached from the original territory of Yell town- ship, at varions times. By reference to the map and comparison with the following official order it will be seen that as originally constituted Yell
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
township did not extend as far south as at present. The following is the order creating said township:
Ordered, That for the convenience of the inhabitants and election and municipal pur- poses, the following described new precinct is created to be called Yell township, of Boone county, Iowa, to-wit: Commencing on the north boundary line of said county, at the Des Moines river; thence west along said boundary line to the northwest corner of said county; tbence south to the southwest corner of section 30, in township 84. range 28; thence east along the said section line, dividing sections 30 and 31. to the Des Moines river; thence up the said river to the place of beginning; said township to be organized at the April election, to be held at the house of Solomon Smith, at Badger Point, in said township, on Monday, the 5th day of April, 1852.
This 8th day of March, 1852.
SAMUEL B. MCCALL, County Judge ..
The township was christened by Mr. McCall, and received its name in honor of Colonel Yell, of the Arkansas cavalry, who was killed at the bat- tle of Buena Vista. General Taylor, in his official report of this battle, makes the following references to Colonel Yell:
" I had placed all the regular cavalry and Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse under the orders of Colonel May, with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain, which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell.
" Before onr cavalry had reached the position assigned, that of the en- emy had made an attack, having been handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately divided-one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and then gaining the mountain opposite, the remaining portion regaining the base of the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment."
Yell township began to be generally settled in 1851, although there were probably several temporary settlements made prior to that time. Messrs. Pardy, Crawford, Spickelmier, A. M. Cline, W. Cline and Jehu Johnson, were among the first white men who made permanent settlements in the township. Theodore Crawford was probably the first person born in the bounds of the township, and the first death was that of a person by the name of King, who was buried in the Spickelinier graveyard. This town- ship became settled up very rapidly, and soon became a very important factor in county politics. The township is now the third in the county in point of population. The township officers elected at the last general elec- tion are as follows:
Assessor-A. M. Ross.
Clerk-E. H. Melott.
Trustees-J. T. McCaskey, Wesley Williams and Frank W. Wilkins.
TOWNS.
In July, 1855, Jacob Daily laid out a town in the north part of Yell township. It was located on the northwest quarter of the southwest quar- ter of section 4, and was named Daily City. This did not grow very rap- idly into the dimensions of a metropolis, and never was noted for its im- portance, either in a social or commercial point of view. It is possible that the surveyor who laid out the town, and the original proprietor, his
529
HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
heirs or assigns, might find Daily City, but it is scarcely probable that any other person could locate it.
On a beautiful and romantic bluff, overlooking the valley of the Des Moines, and at present overlooked by the towers of the various coal shafts of that region, was laid out a town in 1855 which gloried in the name of Centerville. Henry Fisher and James Corbin were the proprietors, and they hoped to make their town the center of attraction to the people of that section. Here they fondly expected would center the trade and traffic of the whole surrounding country. In this they were, however, disap- pointed.
TOWN OF OGDEN.
The metropolis of Yell township, as well as that of the half of the county west of the river, was destined to be located in the south part of the town- ship, and to be known by the name of Ogden. This town in its infancy was destined to pass through strange vicissitudes in which was determined a question of no less importance to said infant than its parentage. It was twice laid out, and as two different corporations claimed the land upon which the town site is located it was for a while without an owner, or rather had two owners. The river land company claimed it under the provisions of a grant, and the railroad company claimed it by virtue of the provisions of another grant. When the railroad was built through this section John I. Blair believing that the title of the railroad to the land was equally as good if not better than that of the river land company, and moreover hav- ing the nine points of law supposed to consist in possession, he secured the location of a depot, and proceeded to lay out a town. The town plat of this survey was recorded June 6, 1866. The town grew slowly for the first few years, as the land upon which it was located immediately went into litiga- tion, and it was uncertain to whom it really did belong. The courts, how- ever, in the course of years decided that the title of the lands was vested in the river company; or, in other words, belonged to Mr. Litchfield, who proceeded through his agent, Mr. Brown, to resurvey and lay out the town. The town plat of this survey, together with Brown's addition, is dated May 6, 1870. The town is located on sections 31 and 32, township 84, range 27, and was named after W. B. Ogden, a distinguished railroad man and capi- talist. The first residents of the town were William Patterson, John Re- gan and George Stanley, railroad laborers. About the beginning of 1870 Patterson and Stanley had a quarrel, and Patterson went to. Ames; Stanley followed him, the quarrel was renewed, and as a result one of them was killed, and the other one was sentenced to a life term in the State peniten- tiary. In 1867 Dr. J. H. Noyes located in the town where he still resides, and is, therefore, the oldest physician in Ogden or on the west side of the river. About the same time A. W. Bloomberg came to Ogden, and put up a building, where he opened a store of general merchandise. He continued in business till 1872 when he failed, and afterward emigrated to California, where he now resides. During the early history of Ogden, J. C. Soward & Co. bonght a large tract of land near the town. They rented the land and opened a large store of general merchandise. The company soon failed and the parties emigrated to Nebraska. The first drug store and the second business house of the town was started by Dr. J. H. Noyes. He disposed of his drug business in 1875, and is now devoting his entire at ten-
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