USA > Iowa > Lee County > The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 77
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
energy that few men would have shown under the circumstances, went to work, and, with the assistance of his people, in a few months the church was in a bet- ter condition than formerly, except that the lofty spire was not rebuilt.
The following-named priests have officiated at the old church: Fathers Allemann, Hattenberger, Michel, Weikmann, Orth, Goll and Graeser. Father A. Meis, the first priest assigned to the new church, is still in charge, with a congregation numbering some three hundred families. About fifty families still remain with the first church.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
Shortly after the organization of the first church, Father Allemann opened a small school, himself the teacher and his own house the schoolroom. The first school-building was completed in 1846. When the building of the new church was undertaken in 1865, a commodious school-building was also commenced, which was completed the next year at a cost of $10,000. This building, stand- ing on the corner of Fourth and Vine streets, is of brick, sixty-five feet square, two stories in height and capable of accommodating the 350 children who daily meet for instruction. The school is presided over by a male teacher and five Sisters of Notre Dame.
Connected with the Catholic Church is the Ladies' Society, numbering 250. members; Young Men's Sodality, with 50 members ; Young Ladies' Sodality with 150, and a Building Society with 100 members.
The Roman Catholic Benevolent Society is an organization for the mutual benefit of its members in case of sickness or death.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist Church of Fort Madison was organized December 23, 1858, at the house of Charles Brewster. The following are the names of those who associated themselves together at that meeting : Joseph M. Beck, A. W. Walker, Abraham Watson, Thomas F. Green, William Switzer, Cornelius Haddock, Lee Hull, Phineas Inskeep, William Green, Mary Ann Switzer, Delilah Watson. Mary Green, Sarah Fye, Elizabeth Wilson, Malinda Hughes, Jackson Hughes, Thomas Green, Horace S Eaton, Mary E Brown and William Fye.
Rev. G. J. Johnson, of St. Louis, was the first minister called to the Church.
The present church-building was completed in 1861, at a cost of $13,000. Rev. Thomas Powell, is the present Pastor. The Church maintains a large and excellently conducted Sabbath school.
COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church was organized on the 16th of October, 1873. The meeting for the purpose of organization was under the direction of Rev. E. C. Catey, of the First Baptist Church, who presided, and preached the introductory sermon. Two years afterward, in 1875, the building of a church edifice was commenced, and at a cost of $560 is so far completed as to be available for the purposes intended.
Rev. Robert Hawkins, the first Pastor, has been succeeded by Revs. George Chambers, and George Anderson, the present Pastor. The present member- ship of the society is thirty-nine.
A Sabbath school was organized on the third Sabbath in June, 1873, with fifteen scholars, and Rev. Robert Hawkins as Superintendent for one year. Mrs. Luella Davis served next for one year, and was succeeded by Sister Louisa /
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
·Chambers, wife of the Pastor, who served two years, when Sister Davis was recalled to the Superintendency. The school now numbers thirty-four scholars, and has a library of 223 volumes.
GERMAN LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1850. Rev. Lenhard was the first minister, and up to 1852, had been succeeded by Revs. Ankele, Gumbel and Conrad Ries. The latter, in 1852, built a small church on Walnut street, which was occupied until 1864, when the present edifice adjoining, was erected at a cost of some $7,000.
Conrad Ries has been followed by Pastors E. Gubner, J. M. Kugel, Strobel, Frederick Lutz, Kleinlein, L. H. Buhrig, John Wettle and Vobus, who has recently taken charge. The membership of the Church at present comprises about fifty families. The Church, since its organization, has maintained a denominational school, the original church-building being used for a schoolroom.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
organized January 1, 1872, by Rev. J. G. Oehlert, with eighteen members. The first meeting was held in a small house on Second street, rented from Henry Walter, after which the congregation secured the use of the Presbyterian Church until their present building was completed, in 1873. This building, situated on Third street, is 24x40 feet, and cost, including the lot on which it stands, about $1,500. Rev. J. G. Oehlert has been succeeded by the following Pastors : - Ficken, M. Gerlach and Theodore Drexel.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The schools of Fort Madison are efficient and well organized. The teachers are among the best and most competent in the State; but in school-buildings, there has been, and still is, a lack of enterprise that is not in keeping with the general character of the Fort Madisonians. The following items are furnished by J. R. Noble, the Superintendent of City Schools :
Number of pupils enrolled, 600.
The schools are divided into eight grades, and a three-years High School course.
Board of Directors : M. Case, P. O'Kell. Dr. A. C. Roberts, Frank Koehler, George Rump, A. J. Reynolds.
Officers of Board: M. Case, President ; R. E. Smith, Secretary; J.A. Smith, Treasurer.
Teachers for 1878-79: J. R. Noble, Superintendent; J. J. Pollard, Principal of High School ; George D. Stewart, D. D., Assistant ; Royal N. Joy, B. F. Parmer, Mrs. Kate Robison, Principals.
Assistants : May Berry, Mrs. Adele Taylor, Sallie Smith, Mrs. C. M. Douglass, Miss Hannah Phares, O. C. Herminghausen, Mary O. Reynolds, Lottie Atlee. C. Lohmen, teacher of Music and German; Rosa Koehler, Assistant in German.
The city is divided into two districts, and schools are taught in four buildings.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In the spring of 1874, the city purchased from the manufacturers at Sences Falls, N. Y .. a medium-size Silsby steamer and two hose-carts, with 1,500 feet of hose. Shortly after these were received, a volunteer fire company was organized by the young men of the city, and the apparatus was turned over to them. At first, the engine and carts were housed in Pritchett & Wilde's livery- stable : but soon after the Market-House, a brick structure on the corner of Fourth and Market streets, was fitted up, and has since been used as an engine- house. In 1876. a hook and ladder truck, with the proper equipments, was added.
Cisterns were built, during the summer of 1874, at three points-on Fourth street, at the intersection of Pine, Vine and Maple streets ; and in case of fire. any part of the city can be reached by the hose, either from these cisterns or the river.
The fire company is in an efficient condition, well officered, and has always done good service.
MILLS.
Gen. John H. Knapp's horse-mill stood on the rear end of the lots on which the " Old Settlers' " Mill now stands, on Second street. It was a prim- itive affair, but was the only mill in Fort Madison until 1845, when Walter Hauxhurst's steam flouring-mill was completed. This stood on Lot 10 of eity płat. After fourteen years' service in the manufacture of flour, it was fitted up as a distillery, and burned down in 1862. Shortly afterward, it was rebuilt as a distillery, and for several years was one of the best-appointed institutions of that character in the country, and was operated by Card & Lawrence. The building still stands, but the machinery has all been removed, and it is used as a warehouse for storage.
A short time prior to 1860. Stenger & Lawrence built a saw-mill on the river-bank near the eastern limits of the city, which. in the fall of 1861, they changed to a distillery and flouring-mill. Peter Miller & Son having advanced the owners money, which they were not able to refund, the property fell into the hands of the creditors mentioned, who operated it for a time as a distillery. Again it was fitted up as a saw-mill, and is now operated as such by Weston & Co.
In 1851 or 1852. MeConn & Parmer erected a fine tlouring-mill on the site of the old fort. They did a large business for several years, but, about 1871. suspended operations, since which time it has been idle.
POTOWONOK MILLS.
These mills, which are the only exelusive merchant mills now in operation in Fort Madison, were built by the present proprietors. Peters & Bernhard, in 1868. The building is of brick. 60x70 feet, three stories in height, with an elevator addition of four stories. It has four runs of buhrs, and has a capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day, which is widely known for its superior quality.
"OLD SETTLERS " MILLS.
erected in 1875, by P. & N. B. Miller, for merchant and custom work, are still operated by them. The main building is of frame, 80x50 feet, three stories high, with a one-story addition, 20x28 feet, and an othice room. It has four
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
runs of buhrs, two of which are used for merchant work and two for their cus- tom trade. These mills are located on Second street, between Broadway and. Elm, and are doing a profitable business.
LUMBER-MILLS.
John C. Atlee came to Lee County in 1837, when he was a little more than twenty-one years of age, and commenced life as a carpenter. In the fall of 1838, he married Miss Emeline S. Brooks, of Quincy, Ill. At the end of six years, he sold out his possessions in Fort Madison, and moved on a farm in Cedar Township, where he remained eight years, when he returned to Fort Madison, and, in the spring of 1852, commenced the lumber business in company with his brother Isaac. The brothers remained in business together two years, when Isaac retired and J. C. formed a partnership with Nathaniel Bennett, and built a mill on the site where the business is still continued. When Samuel Atlee, the oldest son of J. C., became of age, he succeeded Mr. Bennett, and the firm became S. & J. C. Atlee, and is now one of the most extensive lumber manufacturing firms along the Mississippi River. Their mills consist of a saw-mill, which is supplied with machinery of the most modern pattern, a brick planing-mill, 75x75 feet, two stories high, which is a model of neatness and order. Everything in this mill is arranged with a view of econ- omy. The machinery is all new and of the very best kind known to the business. Near by is their dryhouse, of large capacity. Then comes their shingle- mill, that has a capacity for making and packing 120,000 shingles per day. The mills, stables, yards, etc., cover an area of about thirty-five acres, and give employment to 150 men and boys, to whom they pay $2,500 monthly. The firm buy their logs up the river, and run them down in great rafts, and con- sume about 10,000,000 feet annually. Their lumber is sold to all parts of Southern Iowa, to Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
J. C. Atlee, the founder of this immense business, is a man of wonderful genus and enterprise. He commenced the world with nothing, and has fought hurricanes, fires, floods, ice-gorges and boiler-explosions, and conquered every time. The more opposition and disaster crowded, the more determined he seemed to become. In November, 1858, the mill-boiler exploded, killing four men, Andrew Fulcher (the engineer), the fireman (a colored man), Jacob Minder and Albert Tracy, and two boys, Willie Kirk and George Tracy, and blowing the mill to atoms. Atlee helped bury the dead, and then commenced rebuild- ing and repairing, and soon had everything in operation again. May 3, 1866, that mill was destroyed by fire. In just seven weeks, it was rebuilt, on a large scale. The first mill had a capacity of 15,000 feet per day, and the second one of 40,000 feet. It proved too slow to suit Atlee's notions, and he tore it down in a few years and built the present mill, which has a capacity for cutting 65,- 000 feet per day.
On the 3d of July, 1875, a furious hurricane came along and unroofed Atlee's residence and otherwise injured it. He was absent at the time, and when he came in sight of his ruined home and found his family all safe, he swung his old hat and shouted " All right ; we'll try it again." He went to work the same day, completed his plans and rebuilt on a grander scale than before. The same storm played all sorts of tricks at the mill-yard. It blew down the great piles of lumber, filled up the alleys and carried thousands of feet into the river, where it was lost; it blew their steamer, Jennie D., loose from her moor- ings and clear across the river, where it sunk in fifteen feet of water. The damage to the mill-yard was about $5,000. But none of these little things
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discouraged the old man. They only whetted his appetite, brightened his business ideas, strengthened his enterprise and stiffened his backbone. To quote the words of his excellent wife, they never "cried over any of their mis- haps and misfortunes." Nothing short of an earthquake or volcano will ever discourage J. C. Atlee.
WESTON MILLS.
These mills are located at the upper part of Fort Madison, and were built about the same time with the Atlee Mills. They have a capacity of 40,000 feet per day. They are now owned by a resident of the State of Maine.
BANKING.
In the spring of 1855, Green, Thomas & Co., then banking in Burlington, established a branch in Fort Madison, under the management of Mr. Merrick. The firm was A. D. Green, E. H. Thomas and Gen. Fitz Henry Warren. The members of the firm are all dead. A. D. Green lost his hearing and died in Italy several years ago. E. HI. Thomas became almost totally blind and deaf, and died at his old home in Maine, about 1870. Gen. Fitz Henry War- ren, after acquiring a national reputation in public life, both civil and military, and in the editorial sanctum, died in Massachusetts, in 1877.
John H. Knapp and George P. Eaton bought out Green, Thomas & Co., in 1856, and the firm was Knapp & Eaton until 1858, when they were suc- ceeded by the Fort Madison branch of the State Bank of Iowa, which was wound up in 1865.
In the same year, the Fort Madison National Bank was organized by Judge J. M. Beck, Gen. Clark R. Wever, Frank Wever, J. H. Winterbotham, Dr. John Claypoole, Peter Miller and Henry Cattermole. Gen. Clark R. Wever was the first Cashier, and John H. Winterbotham, President. Subsequently, a change of officers was made, Gen. Wever becoming President and J. R. Win- terbotham, Cashier. The latter was succeeded by H. D. McConn. Gen. Wever was a remarkably successful banker, and during his whole management the losses of the bank did not exceed one hundred dollars.
The Fort Madison National Bank continued until January 30, 1872, when its charter was surrendered, and the Bank of Fort Madison was' incorporated under the State law. The stockholders were Henry Cattermole, A. C. Catter- mole, C. R. Wever, J. H. Winterbotham and J. R. Winterbotham. Henry Cattermole subsequently became sole proprietor, and sold out on the 6th of April, 1876, to Charles Brewster and Joseph A. Smith, who still continue the business, with a paid-up capital of $50,000.
The German-American Bank was organized in April, 1876, by Henry Cat- termole, George Schlapp, Arthur Cattermole, Joseph Deiman and H. D. Mc- Conn, with a capital of $50,000. Henry Cattermole, the first President and H. D. McConn, the first Cashier, still hold those positions.
These two banks are carefully managed, and there are no sounder institu- tions in the State.
CONCORDIA HALL.
Concordia Hall is the only public hall in the city. It was built by Charles Doerr, in 1866, at a cost of $11,000. It has a seating capacity for 500 per- sons. The hiall is handsomely furnished, with large stage, scenery, etc. In every way it is a credit to Fort Madison.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
Fort Madison Lodge, No. 13, A., F. §. A. M., was organized April 17, 1846, under dispensation granted by Deputy Grand Master James R. Hart- sook. It was originally called Claypool Lodge, but in 1853, the present name was adopted.
The charter members were J. F. Kinney, John Claypoole, Chapin Allen, Darius Wellington, Jacob Huner, Thomas Hale, Sr., Samuel B. Ayres and Josiah Kent.
Judge J. F. Kinney was the first Master.
Potowonok Chapter, No. 28 .- Organized April 20, 1863, under dispen- sation granted by Grand High Priest E. N. Gilbert to George St. C. Hus- sey, J. G. Floyd, I. H. West, E. J. Aldridge, C. K. Peck, J. M. Anderson, D. B. Smith, Jr., Robert Wooster, J. Claypoole and A. C. Roberts.
At this first meeting, applicants for membership were U. D. Taylor, D. H. La Sueur, S. J. Atlee, John H. Douglass, R. W. Albright, George B. Eaton, M. Case, G. W. Douglass and William Kent.
ODD FELLOWS.
Empire Lodge, No. 31, was instituted March 18, 1851, by D. G. M. Frank Bridgman. The charter members were Augustus Ehinger, S. A. James, J. H. McDonald, P. H. Babcock and Philetus Cowles.
The first officers were: A. Ehinger, N. G .; S. A. James, V. G .; J. H. McDonald, R. S .; P. H. Babcock, Treas.
Present officers : A. J. Brown, N. G .; J. A. Aldrich, V. G .; P. J. Hitch, R. S .; W. Wagoner, P. S .; George Rockett, Treas.
Of the charter members, Mr. Cowles is the only one now in the Lodge. He was the first member of the Order initiated in Fort Madison, and was an official of the Lodge for twenty-eight years.
This Lodge owns its own building, a three-story structure, 29x60 feet, standing on the corner of Front and Market streets, valued at $5,000. It is out of debt and has $500 in bank, besides having contributed several thou- sands of dollars for the relief of distressed members of the Order in various parts of the country. The present membership of the Lodge is sixty-three.
Concordia Lodge .- Instituted September 9, 1861, with the following as charter members : Henry M. Salmon, Charles Doerr, Alex. Windmayer, Fer- dinand Kiel, Fred Holzberger, Michael Zimmerman, Sebastian Heitz, John Saar, Jacob Peters and Jacob Kindscher.
The first officers were : H. M. Salmon, N. G .; F. Kiel, V. G .; Charles Doerr, Secretary, and Alex. Windmayer, Treasurer.
The present officers : August Saechtig, N. G .; David Ernst, V. G .; Theo- dore Ernst, Secretary, and Carl Kennemann, Treasurer.
Charles Conradt was the subject of the first initiation in this Lodge, which was on the night of its organization.
Fort Madison Lodge, No. 157, was established on the 7th of January, 1868, and worked under dispensation until the meeting of the Grand Lodge, in Octo- ber following, when a charter was granted. First officers: B. F. Bates, N. G .; E. Smith, V. G. ; J. H. Reynolds, R. S .; Martin Heisey, Permanent Secre- tary ; M. F. Hosselton, Treasurer. Present officers : R. G. Rasnick, P. G .;
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
F. H. Semple, N. G .; A. W. Hoffmeister, V. G .; J. W. Albright, Secretary ; J. Wilde, Treasurer.
Gem City Encampment, No. 85, was organized and instituted by M. W. Grand Patriarch, George Whipple, January 7, 1876. The charter members were J. H. Reynolds, J. A. McCormack, F. M. Smith, John Scott, John Page, S. Aldrich, Newton Holt, C. Pyle, W. S. Wagoner, H. Taylor, W. C. Patts, F. M. Hosselton, S. B. Jacobs, A. Morrison, W. C. Hobbs, P. Cowles, J. J. M. Angear and Theodore Pyle.
Officers for the first term : James H. Reynolds, Chief Patriarch; P. Cowles, High Priest ; F. M. Hosselton, Senior Warden ; John Page, Junior Warden ; S. Aldrich, Scribe ; J. A. McCormack, Treasurer.
Present officers : W. S. Wagoner, Chief Patriarch; Wm. Winters, High Priest ; H. Taylor, Senior Warden ; A. J. Brown. Junior Warden ; S. Aldrich, Scribe ; F. M. Hosselton, Treasurer.
Past Chief Patriarchs, J. H. Reynolds, F. M. Hosselton, John Page, S .. Aldrich, C. Pyle, George C. Bauder. Present membership, fifty-three.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
Gem City Lodge, No. 21, K. of K., was instituted June 9, 1873, with the following named charter members : John Van Valkenburg, A. C. Roberts, J. C. Walters, C. J. Montandon, M. Morris, John Phillips, George H. Schafer, F. M. Smith, J. L. Briggs, William P. Staub, S. H. Craig, J. F. Edwards, C. W. Fox, S. B. Jacobs, H. D. McConn, J. S. Harper, C. E. Babcock, William. Pritchett, J. B. Herdman, L. G. Kiel and Joseph A. Nunn.
First principal officers : J. B. Herdman, P. C .; A. C. Roberts, C. C .; John Van Valkenburg, V. C., and George H. Schafer, K. of R. and S.
There have been initiated ninety-eight applicants. Present membership, eighty-six. T. S. Jackson is the present Chancellor Commander, and J. R. Tewksbury, Keeper of the Records and Seals.
The Lodge-room, on the corner of Second and Pine streets, is handsomely arranged and furnished, involving a cost of $1,000. Twice a month, the mem- bers and their friends meet for social pleasure, in an apartment especially arranged for that purpose.
Humboldt Lodge, No. 42, Knights of Pythias, was instituted May 28, 1878, with twenty-four charter members, as follows : H. C. Spreen, Carl Lohmann, Charles Keunemann, A. J. Windmayer, Jr., John Ehart, Theodore Ernst, David Ernst, Charles Walter, William Amborn, Henry Kniemeyer, Louis Reader, William Heising, Adolph Amborn, John Rieffenach, George Herold, Aug. Rochsner, Joseph F. Salmon, John Junge, Otto C. Herminghausen, Henry Schlapp, Eugene Stempel, William Ehart, Charles Sandvos and George Haessing.
First principal officers : H. C. Spreen, P. C .; Carl Lohmann, C. C., and
. A. J. Windmayer, Jr., K. of R. and S.
The present membership of the Lodge is thirty-five; and its meetings are held in the room of the Gem City Lodge. Charles Kcunemann is present C. C., and Aug. Roehsner, K. of R. and S.
The members of this Lodge are all Germans, who take an interest in their work, and it is prosperous and flourishing.
A. O. U. W.
Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 154, organized March 20, 1878. Charter members : S. Aldrich, W. E. Anawalt, J. C. Blackburn, S. B. Davis,
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
M. C. Doolittle, J. H. Engle, S. D. Hustead, W. H. Meacham, N. B. Miller, C. Marsh, R. G. Rasnick, J. V. Stevenson, C. Thomas, J. R. Tewksbury, J. B. Mason, J. P. Smith, F. Herman, G. W. Bonnell, F. D. Lowry, G. E. Krich- baum and James McCord.
The first officers are as follows : S. Aldrich, P. M. W .; R. G. Rasnick, M. W .; J. H. Engle, F .; John Mason, Overseer; S. B. Davis, Recorder; N. B. Miller, Receiver ; J. C. Blackburn, Financier ; John Stevenson, Guide ; F. Herman, I. W., and G. E. Krichbaum, O. W.
Present officers : R. G. Rasnick, P. M. W .; J. B. Mason, M. W .; J. H. Engle, F .; J. V. Stevenson, Overseer; C. Thomas, Recorder ; N. B. Miller, Receiver ; S. D. Hustead, Financier ; W. H. Meacham, Guide; Ed. Waller, I. W., and E. W. Anawalt, O. W.
RED-RIBBON MOVEMENT.
The services of Mr. J. C. Bontecou were secured by some of the Christian men and women of the city, to conduct a series of temperance meetings in Fort Madison.
These meetings commenced Wednesday evening, January 16, 1878, and con- tinued one week. A great interest was awakened in the cause of temperance, and all classes of citizens crowded to hear Mr. Bontecou. Over 800 signatures to the following Red-Ribbon Pledge were secured :
" We, the undersigned, for our own good, and the good of the world in which we live, do hereby promise and engage, with the help of Almighty God, to abstain from buying, selling, or using alcoholic or malt beverages, wine and cider included."
The Fort Madison Red-Ribbon Reform Club was then organized, by Bro. J. C. Bontecou, Tuesday evening, January 22, 1878. The following officers were elected for one year : W. C. Hobbs, President; P. Frailey, First Vice President ; James Pollard, Second Vice President; S. B. Davis, Third Vice President; B. C. Davis, Secretary ; A. L. Courtright, Financial Secretary ; M. Case, Treasurer ; J. E. Stevenson, Steward ; Joseph Burns, Cal. Marsh, Marshals ; J. Wilde, Sergeant-at-Arms.
The club immediately rented a building on Front street, between Pine and Cedar, for a club-room. The first story of this building was nicely fitted up for a reading-room and hall. The second story was used for a smoking-room ; and the third was occupied by the boys as a gymnasium.
The ladies of the White-Ribbon Club presented to the Red-Ribbon Club, for their reading-room, a large picture of Bro. Bontecou, and a fine eight-day clock, and have lately added an organ to the same. The business meetings of the Red and White Ribbon Clubs are held in this hall. The mass meetings of the club are held every Sunday evening at the Court House, and have been uniformly well attended. These meetings have been addressed by speakers from home and abroad, and have been of great interest. They have served to uphold and strengthen the temperance sentiment of the community. On January 21, 1879, the club celebrated the first anniversary of its organization bp a fair and festival, which was a grand success in every way. During the first year of its existence, the club expended over $1,200. At the beginning of the second year, the club was entirely out of debt, and had money in its treasury.
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