USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska 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 59
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The amount of deposits according to last report was $90,000. The bank pays 6 per cent interest on short time deposits, but at present discourage, as far as possible, that class of patronage.
The Farmers' and Traders' Bank of Oskaloosa .- The Union Sayings Bank was organized June 10, 1871, with E. H. Gibbs as president; H. L. Gibbs, vice-president, and I. M. Gibbs, cashier; and opened business in the one story building north of the present savings bank. This institution in 1873 merged into Gibbs' Bros., private bankers, and moved into the build- ing now occupied by the Farmers' and Traders' bank, built by Gibbs Bros., and still owned by them.
December 12, 1877, Messrs. Gibbs Bros. having quit the banking busi- ness, the Farmers' and Traders' Bank was incorporated, and succeeded Gibbs Bros. in their building. This bank was organized under the State laws, with a paid up capital of $50,000. Its stockholders number about one hundred and twenty-five, and are located in every township in Mahaska county. This awakens a large country interest in the custom and success of the bank, and the patronage of the Farmers' and Traders' Bank is largely from farmers and traders.
The officers of this bank are John Siebel, president; L. C. Blanchard, vice-president; A. A. Kendig and II. S. Howard, tellers; directors, John Siebel, E. II. Gibbs, P. W. Phillips, C. T. Willard, Peter Stumps, J. A. L. Crookham, John H. Smith, G. B. McFall and James Bridges.
The banking house occupied by this institution is, perhaps, the finest in the State. It was built at an expense of $25,000, and is finished through- out with black walnut. The floor is of marble, and the furniture most ele- gant. The vault and safe are first-class, the latter with triple combination lock.
Frankel, Bach and Co's Bank .- The firm of I. Frankel and E. Bach, under the style I. Frankel and Co., commenced mercantile business in Os-
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kaloosa in 1861, and in 1873, finding they had considerable surplus capital not required in their elothing trade, opened a private banking house in September of that year. In 1876 they built their present building in Cen- tennial Block, making for themselves a superior banking room. They are large real estate owners in Oskaloosa.
According to their last report their deposits were upward of $85,000. This finds a secure place in the largest bank vault in the city, with burglar proof safe and Sargent's time-lock.
Frankel, Bach and Co.'s correspondents are International Bank, Chicago; Kuhn, Loeb and Co., New York; State National Bank, Keokuk.
POST-OFFICE.
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A post-office was established in Oskaloosa In the summer of 1844, Perry . L. Crosman being the first postmaster. The office was kept in Jones' gro- cery. At first there was simply a weekly mail. The postage was usually paid on a letter at its place of delivery, being twenty-five eents per letter of ordinary size. So scarce was money in Oskaloosa at that early day, that we are told letters frequently lay two months in the office before their own- ยท ers were able to take them out, and not rarely they were sent to the dead- letter office as unpaid.
Abont 1846 the stage line was established, and there were three mails per week, and finally a daily mail. Now, probably, a dozen mails per day.
Mr. Weatherford we find to have been postmaster in 1847, and he was probably Crosman's successor. From that time the following postmasters have served: Samuel Ingles, 1849-1853; Sylvester Greenough, 1853-1857; R. T. Wellslager, 1857-1861; Charles Beardsley, 1861-1865; W. E. Shep- herd, 1865-1871 (R. R. Habour was appointed during this time three months under Andrew Johnson, but was not confirmed by the senate, when Shepherd was re-instated); Will H. Needham, 1871-1876; Henry C. Leigh- ton, 1876-1878. Upon the death of Mr. Leighton, January 31, 1878, his widow, Mrs. Mary E. Leighton, was appointed his successor, and Frank Loffand as deputy. The clerks of the office are Will H. Needham, Jr., and T. Leighton.
The revenne of the office from all sources is about $6,000 per annum The stamps canceled amount to about $600 per month, and postage pre- paid at this office on periodicals $72 per month:
This office has issued upward of 26,000 money orders. For the year ending March 31, 1878, the orders issued amounted to $8,2764.32, and orders paid to $61,213.06, making an aggregate of $89,977.38.
I. O. O. F.
The first lodge established in Oskaloosa was Mahaska Lodge, No. 16, I. O. O. F., by Right Worthy D. D. G. M. Patterson, July 11, 1848. The first officers eleeted were: William II. Seevers, N. G .; George W. Baer, V. G .; James MeMurray, Secretary; R. B. Rutledge, treasurer. These, with James W. Porter, T. D. Porter, A. S. Nichols, J. N. Kinsman and John W. Jones, were among the first members of the lodge, which did not receive its charter until 1852.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
The lodge filed articles of incorporation February 1, 1852, at which time Wesley Moreland was Noble Grand, and John W. Jones, secretary.
Probably the first meeting of the lodge was held in the frame building on the southeast corner of the square now occupied by Martinstein as a bakery. The lodge meetings were held on the second floor of the building for a number of years; then it was removed to Street's block, third story.
In 1857 the lodge bought the lot on the northwest corner of the square, under City Hall, and commenced building a three story brick building for its own use, but had only reached the first story when the crash of '57 par- alyzed the enterprise; and, feeling that they could not carry the work for- ward, the Odd Fellows disposed of the property at a loss of near $3,500, and, upon completion of the building by other parties, rented from them the third floor as a lodge, which they continued to occupy until their pres- ent hall was completed.
Having accumulated near $5,000 in its treasury, in 1873 Mahaska Lodge determined to make another effort to secure a home of its own. Buying about twenty feet front on the northeast corner of High and Washington streets, in conjunction with Judge Loughridge, they commenced a building forty feet front, with the understanding that they could complete the entire third floor at their own expense, and use the same as a hall. This plan was carried out, but the Odd Fellows found themselves so heavily involved upon completion of the building, that they were forced to sell all but the undi- vided one-half of the third floor-a financial disaster from which Mahaska Lodge has not yet entirely recovered, being somewhat in debt at present writing. They have a very neat, well-furnished and comfortable hall, forty by sixty feet, with a sixteen-foot ceiling.
The present officers of Mahaska Lodge are: S. T. Barnhill, N. G .; Calvin Woodruff, V. G .; R. G. Pike, secretary; W. G. Alexander, treasurer; Wil- liam Butler, chaplain. The membership, July, 1878, was one hundred and thirty-eight.
Commercial Lodge, No. 128, I. O. O. F., was established January 23, 1860. It was formed by a detachment of members withdrawing from Ma- haska Lodge, for the purpose of starting an additional society. The char- ter members were Sidney S. Smith, David Roop, Isaac Kalbach, F. L. Downing, A. J. Swearingen, Francis Huber, A. M. Abraham, Geo. Priseler, C. Blattner, and D. E. Budd.
This Lodge, in 1874, bought the undivided one-half of the hall built by Mahaska Lodge, i. e. the one-half of third floor. Previously it had been the custom of the Commercial to rent from Mahaska Lodge, having always met in the hall of the latter. The society is in good financial condition, with about eighty members. The officers are: B. R. Ball, N. G .; Louis Banmgart, V. G .; F. S. Hull, Secretary; William Harbach, Treasurer.
Oskaloosa Encampment, No. 13, 1. 0. O. F .- Was instituted June 28, 1854. The charter members were Wesley Moreland, W.m. H. Seevers, Jno. R. Needham, James A. Young, A. G. Young, and Jno. W. Jones.
The present financial condition is quite satisfactory to the membership, consisting of sixty-three persons. The officers are: M. M. Rice, C. P .; Peter Schmitt, H. P .; W. O. Wing, S. W .; Wm. Harbach, J. W .; S. Bal- danf, Treas .; R. G. Pike, Scribe.
Perseverance Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 48, I. O. O. F., has been running as a Rebecca Lodge for about twenty years, but without even a
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dispensation until June 3, 1873. It was not chartered until October, 1875. From a charter membership of twelve persons it had grown until January, 1, 1878. to eighty-five members. The elected officers of the Lodge are: Sister W. G. Alexander, N. G .; Sister W. B. Williams, V. G .; Brother R. G. Pike, Sec'y; Sister R. G. Baldwin, Treas.
These last two, Encampment and Rebecca Lodges, mect in Mahaska Lodge's hall.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
As this is a comparatively new order and probably unknown to a major- ity of our readers, a few words upon the history at large will be appro- priate.
On the 5th day of November, 1868, being the day of Grant's first elec- tion to the presidency, in Meadville, Penn., fourteen men assembled and organized the first lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen. The mo- tive that prompted them was a pure and unselfish one, and their plan of operation is the very best to carry out the purpose for which the order is intended-that of Charity, Hope and Protection. From the date of or- ganization the order grew slowly until July 4, 1870, when the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was instituted at Meadville. The order continued to grow slowly, reaching into Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and in 1871 the first lodge of the A. O. U. W., in Iowa, was instituted at Washington.
In 1874 there were but five lodges in the State. From this time the growth has been rapid. and there are now more than 150 subordinate lodges with near 7,000 members in the State of Iowa.
It is a benevolent order, not unlike the I. O. O. F., helping the widow and orphan and caring for the sick. A distinguishing feature is the bene- ficiary department, by virtue of which $2,000 is paid to the heirs of de- ceased members. The headquarters of this department is the Grand Lodge of the State, and the payments are made by assessments upon the individ- ual members. This, of course, is a virtual life insurance, and no one can be. admitted to membership without having passed a satisfactory medical examination by the examiner of the lodge.
Oskaloosa Lodge, No. 152, A. O. U. W., was organized March 5, 1878, with thirty charter members. The officers are: John Lofland, M. W .; C. T. Willard, G. F .; W. R. Cowan, O .; H. G. Briggs, Recorder; J. A. Kal- bach, Receiver; W. A. Lindly, Financier; A. P. Spencer, Guide; Dr. J. C. Barringer, Medical Examiner.
The lodge meets in Good Templars' hall, southwest corner of the square, and in Angust. 1878, had forty-eight members.
Meetings are held every Friday evening, and the articles of the order provide for degree work, in some respects similar to other lodges.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Oskaloosa Lodge, No. 660, I. O. G. T., was organized April 9, 1874, by charter from the Grand Lodge of the State.
The first officers were: Thos. Newell, W. C. T .; Mary E. McMichael, W. V. T .; Mrs. Kate Houver, W. C .; Win. P. Hellings, W. Sec .; John T. Perdne, W. F. S .; Mrs. E. K. Alexander, W. T .; Albert M. Jones, W. M .; Mary M. Newell. W. D. M .; Wm. Stewart, W. I. G .; C. B. Rodgers, W. O. G .; Mrs. E. Baker, W. R. H. S .; Miss Laura Montgomery, W. L. H.
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S .; J. B. Noe, P. W. C. T. In addition to these there were as charter members, W. R. Lacey, W. R. Ware, C. W. Donglas. W. W. Knight, W. Campbell, Ed. Stewart, C. G. Owen, C. McCarty, Geo. Wortman, E. Le Sner, C. W. Jones, Clara Lacey, H. Howard, John Stewart, Frank Glaze, Fannie McCarty, V. K. Logan.
The lodge is now composed of abont one hundred members. It is in a flourishing condition, and meets in hall over the National State Bank. The templars have an eighty foot hall, nicely furnished. Of those recently initiated the majority are males.
Of the present officers the following is a partial list: John N. Martin, W. C. T .; A. A. Kendig, P. W. C. T .; Retta Hambleton, W. V. T .; G. C. Johnson, W. Chap .; Annie Danner, W. Sec .; Mrs. E. Baker, W. T.
MASONIC.
The history of Masonry in Oskaloosa appears in a chapter on that sub- ject in the connty history proper.
IOWA INSURANCE COMPANY.
This company was incorporated in Oskaloosa on the " mutual plan " May 7, 1856. The company was permanently organized by a meeting of the corporate members on the following day, and the following officers were elected: Wm. T. Smith, president: A. F. Seeberger, vice-president; Wm. A. Torrey, secretary, and Wm. B. Street, treasurer. In the following July, applications having been received to the amount of twenty-seven thousand dollars, policies were issued to that amount, and the business of the company fully inaugurated.
Jannary 5, 1859, a supplement was adopted to the articles of incorpora- tion, providing for the subscription of capital stock, and from that time the business of the company was divided into two departments, stock and mutual, the accounts of which were kept separate, and each department conducted in the manner peculiar to its respective elass.
The last balance sheet of the company shows a capital stock of $50,000. In 1865 the risks of the company were re-insured, and by mutual consent the remaining assets were divided among the stockholders, the proceeds being about 7 per cent in advance of the face of the stock certificates. The company did a prosperous business up to the time of dissolution.
MAHASKA COUNTY BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
This association was incorporated in 1872, and placed in running order in the month of August of that year. Its articles of incorporation pro- vide for a plan of loans and deposits similar to that usually current among modern loan associations in the west.
Only one series of stoek of fifteen hundred shares has been issued.
The number of loans made is 167, amounting to about $180,000. One hundred and thirty-one shares of stock have been retired. - All loans made are on first mortgage.
It is estimated that the shares will reach full valne in 1880 or 1881. The value of a share at the end of first year was $18.80; second year, $42.13; third year, $63.52; fourth year, $85.23; fifth year, $107.74.
The present officers are: D. A. Hurst, president; C. P. Searle, vice-presi- dent; W. A. Lindly, secretary; J. Kelly Johnson, solicitor.
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HISTORY OF MANIASKA COUNTY.
The board of directors is composed of D. A. Hurst, J. W. McMullen, W. A. Lindly, C. P. Searle, W. W. Haskell, Win. Burnside, J. Kelly John- son, David Evans and John A. Kalbach. The auditors are Henry R. Kendig and Morris L. Levi.
YOUNG MEN'S LITERARY AND LECTURE ASSOCIATION.
This association was formed in 1874 by twelve young men of Oskaloosa, for the purpose of establishing a private reading room, and conducting a public lecture course.
The charter members were Morris L. Levi, H. S. Briggs, Walter L. Chamberlain, G. N. Beechler, J. C. Fletcher, W. S. Mays, Listen McMillen, Charles Huber, E. D. Lindly, Frank Kelly, W. R. Lacey and John A. Hoffman.
By a provision of the constitution, no married man could become a member of the association, but we are informed that when a young man becomes a member he is no longer under any obligations to remain unmar- ried, but rather encouraged to follow the example of many of the charter members.
The hall of the association is on the north side of the square. Each member of the society carries a key to this room, which is free to none but members. The hall is nicely and comfortably furnished, and is free to the members during the day and evenings. Among the papers and magazines on file in the reading room are Harper's Weekly and Monthly, Scribner's Monthly, International Review, North American Review, Popular Science Montlily, Potter's American Monthly, Albany Law Journal, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Atlantic Monthly, Littell's Living Age, Chicago Tribune (daily), Chicago Times (daily), Chicago Inter Ocean (daily), Amer- ican Gentleman's Newspaper, Spirit of the Times, Spirit of the Turf, Weekly N. Y. Tribune, and numerous State and metropolitan weeklies.
The association has managed a lecture course every year since its organ- ization Upon the entire course the profit or loss has been inconsiderable, neither profitable nor disastrous.
A library is being collected as rapidly as possible, and the more impor- tant magazines are regularly bound.
A business meeting is held regularly once per month. The revenue of the association is from a monthly tax of one dollar per member, and from lecture course.
The members who have been received since the organization of the asso- ciation are B. F. Beebe, Perry E. Clark, H. W. Gleason, R. O. Green, Joseph Huber, John Hall, J. R. Hague, Frank Lofland and W. H. Need- ham, Jr. The present membership is twenty. John A. Hoffman is presi- dent of association, and W. R. Lacey, secretary.
CEMETERY.
The first cemetery was southwest of town upon the land of Judge White, and was laid out at quite an early day. It was located just beyond the High School building, and being on flat land proved too wet. Accordingly, in 1848, the ladies of the city undertook the enterprise of securing a new cemetery. They formed a sort of sewing society, and made up articles of plain elothing which were placed on sale in the stores of Oskaloosa, and in this way they raised sufficient money to buy and improve five acres of
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land about one mile north of town which is currently known as the " old cemetery." This land was purchased from John White, and was the city cemetery until 1860, when it proved too small and badly located.
Accordingly, in June 1860, a meeting of citizens was called, by previous notice, in the county judge's office, whose object was to organize a ceme- tery association.
At this meeting, P. Myers, J. R. Needham, J. F. Childs, and William Loughridge were appointed a committee to frame articles of incorporation for adoption at the next meeting.
To view grounds for a cemetery site, and receive propositions for sale of Jand was appointed a committee consisting of Wesley Moreland, W. S. Edgar, and Wm. C. Rhinehart.
At the next meeting the committee on articles, reported a charter of which the following is the preamble:
Be it known by these presents, that we James Rhinehart. J. F. Childs. Henry Lyster, Jas. A. Seevers, J. H. Macon, Eli Ketner. John Y. Hopkins, John R. Needham, James McQuis- ton, D. Warren Loring, Henry Howard, Philip Myers, A. F. Seeberger, Benjamin F. Ingels, N. C. Crawford, William Loughridge, James P. Dixon, Samnel A. Rice, M. L. Jackson, Win. M. Wells, John D. Gaunt, Wm. S. Edgar, Samuel Ingels and Solomon E. Rhinehart, desiring to establish a new Cemetery, to be located at or near the city of Oskaloosa in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa. do hereby, in accordance with the provisions of an act passed by the Seventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa, entitled " An act for the incorporation of benevolent, charitable, scientific or missionary societies," approved March 22d, A. D. 1858, adopt the following articles of Association.
It was provided that the name of the society should be Forest Cemetery Association. The articles of association were adopted and the following were the officers elected under the same: president, J. F. Childs; vice- president, Samnel A. Rice; secretary, James McQuiston; treasurer, D. W. Loring; director, Wm. S. Edgar.
August 9th, 1860, twenty acres belonging to Win. S. Dart, lying north- east of the city was purchased at fifty dollars per acre, and immediately surveyed, laid out in lots, fenced, and called Forest Cemetery
In December a committee was appointed to assess lots at an average valuation of not less than five cents per square foot, and a day was appointed on which such lots as were desired, were sold to the highest bidder, with the provision that it should not be a sale at less price than the assessed valnation.
Subsequently J. R. Needham, James Seevers and W. S Edgar were_ap- pointed a committee to report a series of rules and regulations. This was done and the rules with the articles of incorporation were published in pamphlet form.
In 1871 the association bought about six acres for $1,000, adjoining the cemetery on the south, from John N. Miller, which was included in, and made a part of, Forest Cemetery.
A house was built for the sexton in 1875, near the entrance.
The present officers of the association are: J. F. Childs, president; C. Houtz, vice-president; W. R. Cowan, secretary; H. Howard, treasurer; J. G. Marks, superintendent; F. L. Downing, director.
Forest Cemetery is a beautiful spot, tastefully set with shade trees, and laid out with winding drives and foot paths. It contains some fine monu- ments, the most conspicuous of which is that built by the Iowa soldiers in memory of Gen. S. A. Rice, above mentioned as vice-president of the as- sociation in 1861.
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
OSKALOOSA BAR.
The Oskaloosa Bar is one of the best in the State, and probably ranks first between the Mississippi river towns and Des Moines city. It in- cludes about thirty attorneys, most of whom are young men of promise, or middle aged men of high attainments. They have no organized associa- tion.
NEW SHARON.
The part of the country around this city was settled later than any other portion of Mahaska county. The land forming the original plat was owned by four parties, John Michener, Wm. Zimmerman, J. C. Culbertson, and Morgan Reno. Zimmerman was a Prussian, a sort of wanderer, ever beginning projects and always disappointing those who did not know him, by finishing none of them. He came from Iowa City to Prairie township, found the fine prairie lands abont the present New Sharon almost a wil- derness, and returning to Iowa City he induced some citizens there, among them Culbertson and Reno, to enter and purchase seme fourteen eighty- acre lots, including the eastern part of the territory on which Sharon now stands. Zimmerman then went extensively into the hedging business; or, rather into hedging contracts. This was about 1853. He contracted with the Iowa City speculators to hedge their farms, in consideration of which he was to receive every alternate eighty acres. He also made a contract with John Michener, who owned a section west of Culbertson and Reno, to hedge his land for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Zimmerman broke the ground for the hedge rows, though it is not known that he ever set a single hedge plant; but he still held the men to their contract. Fi- nally, in order to get rid of Zimmerman, Michener deeded him eighty acres, including the northwestern part of the present New Sharon, on con- sideration that he would release him from the hedge contract. Some time during the summer of 1856, a party of engineers surveyed the land through this section, proposing to build a road from St. Louis to St. Paul. Then there was quite a settlement of Friends in and about this vicinity. To en- conrage the further settlement of this society, Culbertson and Reno dona- ted to them about three acres of land on which to build a meeting-house and lay out a burying ground, being the same spot where their cemetery now stands, and the only burying ground New Sharon ever had. Thus en- couraged and hopeful, August 25, 1856, these four men, with the help of a competent engineer, laid out the new town. Zimmerman wished to call the new village " Schenefeld," or pretty field, but the other proprietors did not like the accent, though they were compelled to acknowledge the appro- priateness of the name, for simple as the appellation may seem, it best describes the scenery about Sharon, being that of a beautiful, slightly roll- ing, luxuriantly-growing field. It was finally decided to call the town Sharon, and as such it was platted and recorded, but when the post-office came to be established, it was found that there was another of the same name in Iowa, and from the necessity for a change, the post-office was called New Sharon. In popular use the name of the post-office has became the name of the town and the unqualified Sharon has been almost abandoned.
The first dwelling upon the town plat was built by Edward Quaintance, in 1856, and was a frame structure about 16x18 feet, "weatherboarded up
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HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
and down"; had a brick flue as a vent for the smoke, and was considerably in advance of the usual pioneer cabin. This building still stands and forms a part of the hotel known as the Central House.
The first store building was erected by James Winder, in the spring of 1857. Mr. Winder started a store in this building during that summer with a stock of goods worth about $1,200, which he had bought in Oska- loosa. He continued in business about one year, when he Closed out his stock and soon after was succeeded by Thos. Mormon in the same building. From this time the changes in store-keeping were frequent.
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