USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 61
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On March 17, 1884, the board ar- ranged with N. Stelpflug, for $15.00,
CLERKS: Joseph Stverak, '75; Fred to plant 500 forest trees on the vari- Mott, '76-77; Frank E. Hronek, '78; ous school grounds. In 1888, a uni- Albert Shimon, '79-82; Peter Murphy, form series of text-books (Appleton's) '83-85; Frank. J. Payer, '85-88; Anthony was adopted for a period of three Hronek, '89-91; James Lehane, '92-94; years.
Joseph Wolf, '95-98; F. M. Starr, '99- 1900.
Other teachers who taught previous to 1883, were Annie and Katie Crilly, Anna O'Niel, Mary E. Kelley, Mattie E. Waite, G. B. Gunderson, Anna An-
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE: Joseph Nemick, '75-79; J. E. Pattee, '80; Michael Crahan, '81; W. G. Bradley, derson, Ida Garlock, Jessie Mallison, '82; E. M. Hastings, '83; G. B. Gunder- Lizzie O'Brien, Mary Dady, Anna C. son, '84; C. L. Stein, '85-87; George F. Kruchten, Julia Lamb, Bridget Mc- Spence, '88; C. L. Gunderson, '89-90, Dermott, Jennie Fitzgerald, Eliza J. '92-93; O. P. Phillips and J. W. Wal- Brown, Emma Lowrey, Florence Has- lace. '91; W. D. Pattee, '94-98; W. H. tings and Miss McLarney.
Bissell, '87-90; A. L. Schultz, '98-1900.
SCHOOL OFFICERS.
ASSESSORS: George Mott, '75-76; N. . At the first election of school di- L. Brown, '77; Fred Brown, '78; Wm. rectors for Center township held A. Hubel. '79-80; O C. Christopherson, March 1, 1875, Frank Langer served as '81; Theo. Stein, '82; O. A. Pease, D. chairman and Fred Mott as secretary. Brinkman, H. W. Bissell, 85-89; D. B. Frank Langer, Frank Hronek, Sr., Dady, H. C; Burkhalter, '92-93; Joseph and Wenzel Hubel each received four Sinek, 94-1900 .:
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
votes and were declared directors of the school district of Center township. One week later Joseph Nemick was
The first public school in Center township was taught in Pocahontas elected a director in place of Frank in 1873, by Hattie Barnes, who later Hronek, who declined to serve, and became the wife of Edward Snell and he was then chosen president of the died at their home in Crawford coun- board, Fred Mott, secretary, and Jos. ty, in 1884. " The first school house Stoulil, treasurer. The succession of was also built in Pocahontas in the officers has been as follows:
PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD: Joseph
fall of 1874. In March, 1875, the township first elected its own school Nemick, 1875, '79; David Brinkman, board, and Joseph Nemick, contractor, '76-77; Geo, Mott, '78; J. W. Wallace, built a small temporary school build- '80-81, '83; A. O. Garlock, '82; J. F. ing on the farm of Albert Shimon on Harlan, '84; C. H. Tollefsrude, '85-87; section 36, and the two teachers em- Geo. F. Spence, W. C. Ralston, O. A. ployed that year were Katy and Amy Pease, '90-'91; Frank E. Hronek, '92- '95; James Lehane, R. C. Grant '97;
Condon. In 1876 a third building was built by Wm. A. Hubel on section 32 Anthony Hronek, 1900.
The board in 1900 consisted of seven
and the first teacher in it was Anna Hubel. In 1879 the first school house members representing the districts as in the Brinkman district was built on follows:
2-Ira Coburn; 3-A. W.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
Freeman; 4-W. C. Walkenhaur; 5- Port C. Barron, '97; Frank E. Hronek, John Hronek; 6-R. C. Grant; 7-C. L. '98-1900.
Gunderson; 8-Anthony Hronek.
RECORDERS: Port C. Barron '92-94;
SECRETARIES: Fred Mott, 1875-76; J. E. Pattee, '95-97; E. E. Burkhalter, Wm. A. Hubel, '87-81; W. C. Ralston, '98-99; C. F. Pattee, 1900. '82-84; Frank E. Hronek, '85-87; J. W.
TREASURERS: Geo. A. Heald, '92; Wallace, '88-97; James Lehane, C. L. C. M. Hunt, '93-97; J. B. Kreul, '98-99; Gunderson, R. C. Grant.
A. D. Shupe, 1900.
TREASURERS: Joseph Stoulil, '75- COUNCILMEN: H. W. Bissell, '92-93, '97-1090; F. E. Hronek, '92-94; L. C. '76; Fred Mott, '77-78; Albert Shimon, '79-80; E. M. Hastings, '81, '85; C. M. Thornton, '92-1900; T. F. McCartan, Hunt, .82-84; C. F. Stein, '86; Samuel '92-96; R. D. Bollard, '92-94; B. J. Al- Powell, '87-90; John Stegge, '91-92; T. len, N. Stelpflug, '92-95; W. C. Ralston, McCartan, '93-96; James Eral, '97-1900. POCAHONTAS.
"Thirty years ago, Pocahontas, You were fair-yes, very fair; There were no furrows on your brow, No silver in your hair;
The blush of early womanhood Was on your verdant cheek,
The wild flowers on your bosom Exhaled their fragrance sweet."*
Pocahontas was platted in 1870, was chosen as the county seat Oct. 12, 1875, and became the county seat by the erection of the court house and removal of the public records from Old Rolfe, Oct. 1, 1876. On March 23, 1892, in response to a petition pre- sented, the Judge of the district court appointed B. J. Allen, W. C. Ralston, L. C. Thornton, O. A. Pease and Port C· Barron commissioners to hold an election May 13, 1892, on the question of incorporation. At this election forty-seven votes were cast, all of them in favor of incorporating the town. On June 13, 1892, the first offi- cers of the town were elected and as follows: W. C. Ralston, mayor; Port C. Barron, recorder; R. D. Bollard and B. J. Allen, (1 year), L. C. Thornton and T. F. McCartan, (2 years), H. W. Bissell and Frank E. Hronek (3 years), councilmen; and they appointed Geo. A. Heald, treasurer. The succession of officers has been as follows:
MAYORS: W. C. Ralston, 1892-93; H. W. Bissell, Geo. A. Heald, '95-96; *Iowa State Register; a paraphrase of the first stanza of the poem, "Thirty Years My State."
'94-97; C. A. Charlton, '95-97; O. H. Barthel, '95; W. H. Joner, '96-97; B. W. Cheney, '96; Joseph Simpson, '96- '98; T. F. McCartan, '98-1900; C. F. Pattee, '98-1900; F. Chalstrom, '98; O. H. Barthel, '98-1900; S. Steinhilber, '98-1900; H. J. Murray, '99-1900; L. C. Thornton, '99-1900; N. Stelpflug, 1900.
In the spring of 1897, owing to an irregularity in filing the nomination papers, the annual election of officers was not held and the vacancies were filled by persons appointed by the town council.
Doubts having arisen as to the le- gality of the incorporation of the town of Pocahontas, the election of its offi- cers, acts done and ordinances passed by the council, on May 14, 1897, an act of the General Assembly of Iowa was approved, that legalized and declared valid and binding all of said acts and ordinances, as though they had been done in accordance with the law.
POCAHONTAS INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.
The electors of the independent school district of Pocahontas met first May 4, 1896, for the purpose of elect- ing a board of education to consist of three members. At this meeting J. E. Pattee was chosen to preside, and J. W. Wallace to act as secretary. As a result of this election. at which six- ty ballots were cast, W. C. Ralston, F. E. Hronek and Port C. Barron were elected directors, the first one receiv- ing the ballot of every voter.
On May 30, 1896, the board met and
JOSEPH H. ALLEN, BANKER.
WILL. D. McEWEN, BANKER.
W. S. CLARK, EDITOR, POCAHONTAS DEMOCRAT.
D. O. BLAKE, EDITOR, POCAHONTAS RECORD.
POCAHONTAS.
-
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH H. ALLEN, POCAHONTAS.
RESIDENCE OF WILL. D. MCEWEN, POCAHONTAS.
457
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
organized by the election of W. C. POCAHONTAS IN 1900. Ralston, president, and J. W. Wal- COUNTY OFFICERS: Auditor I. C. lace, secretary. On Nov. 17, 1896, Thatcher; Clerk of Court, F. H. Plumb; Geo. A. Heald was appointed treas- urer, and on Feb. 15, 1897, $1089.94
Treasurer, Guy S. Robinson; Record- er, Leonard E. Hanson; Sheriff, Wm. were acknowledged as received from L. Mitchell; County Attorney, Wm. Center township on final settlement. Hazlett; Superintendent, U. S. Vance;
On March 8, 1897, by a vote of 32 to Surveyor, H. W. Bissell; Coroner, Dr. 21, it was decided the board of educa- T. J. Dower; Supervisors, Terry Doyle, tion should furnish free text books for chairman; Claus Johnson, A. H. Rich- use in the schools. The school year ey, M A. Hogan, Charles Elsen.
was increased to nine months and the
TOWN OFFICERS: Mayor, Frank E. wages of the three teachers employed Hronek; Recorder, C. F. Pattee; Treas- was fixed at $45.00, $35.00 and $35.00, urer, A. D. Shupe; Councilmen, O. H. respectively. In 1898 the board was Barthel, M. D., T. F. McCartan, L. increased to five members. The suc- C. Thornton, H. J. Murray, S. F. cession of the school officers has been Steinhilber, N. Stelpflug. as follows:
SCHOOL BOARD: R. D. Bollard, PRESIDENTS: W. C. Ralston, 1896- Pres .; A. L. Schultz, Sec .; Fritz Lin- 97; J. W. Wallace, '98; R. D. Bollard, deman, Treas .; F. H. Plumb, C. F. 99-00. Others who have served as mem- Pattee, H. R. Shupe, W. C. Ralston, bers of the board were F. E. Hronek directors; W. B. Munson, principal. '96-97; P. C. Barron, '96; C. F. Pattee '97-1900; H. R. Shupe, '98-1900.
ABSTRACTERS: L. C. Thornton & F. H. Co. since 1885; W. C. Ralston, 1886; Hazlett (Wm.) & (O.
Plumb, '99-1900. W. C. Ralston has since continued a member since its organi- P.) Malcolm, Foster & Graves, zation. ATTORNEYS: W. C. Ralston, '81-83, SECRETARIES: J. W. Wallace, '96- '86-1900; Geo. A. Heald, since '89; Wm. '97; J. E. Pattee, A. L. Schultz, '99 -. Hazlett, since '92; A. L. Freelove, TREASURER: Geo. A. Heald, since since '99; T. F. Lynch, since '99; James the date of its organization in 1896. Bruce, C. D. Atkinson, Foster (B. B.) The second school was established & (W. A.) Graves.
in Pocahontas in 1891 and the third one in 1896. The succession of princi- F. B. Wheeler. pals since 1891 has been Kittie Cou- tant, '91-92; Minnie Curtis, '93-94; Wm. Pattee. R. T. Merwine, '95-96; Walter B. Mun-
ARCHITECT AND SUPERINTENDENT:
AUCTIONEERS: C. M. Fritz, J. E.
BANKS: Pocahontas Savings Bank, son, '97-1900. Some of those who were established and stone building erected assistant teachers during this period in 1883; L. C. Thornton, Pres .; W. C. Ralston, V. P .; W. S. McEwen, cash-
were Norma L. and Grace Gilchrist, Maggie Hogan, Effie and May Mercer. ier; Bank of Pocahontas was estab- POSTMASTERS. lished in 1891, J. H. Stegge, Pres .; Geo. A. Heald, V. P .; T. F. McCartan, cashier; Allen Bros. (J. H., C. S. & B. L.) F. W. Lindeman, cashier; City Ex-
The succession of postmasters at Pocahontas has been, Wenzel Hubel, Oct. 1, 1872-Oct. 1, '77; A. O. Garlock, '77-81; O. A. Pease, '81-86; J. F. Har- change Bank, W. D. McEwen Jr. and lan, March 1, '86-87: Frank E. Hronek, Joseph Simpson, proprietors. Sept. '87-Nov. '95; George Steinhilber, BARBERS: J. W. Dougherty, since Nov. 1, '95-Aug. 1, '97; Port C. Barron, 1882; D. Helcher.
Aug. 1, '97, until his death, July, 9, 1900; Mrs. Mary E. Barron, July 9, 1900-
BLACKSMITHS: W. H. Joner, since 1880; George Kreul.
458
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, .IOWA.
CARPENTERS: Ira and Charles Montgomery, Robert Thomas.
LUMBER & COAL: H. L. Jenkins Lumber Co., since 1893, C. S. Fergu- CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS: J. son, Mgr .; J, & W. C. Shull, since 1899, H. Metcalf, E. J. Shank, Fountain W. J. Howard, Mgr. Bros., A. Montgomery, W. E. Gard- ner and Mr. Cummings.
CLOTHING: McGhee & Gilliland. COAL, FEED & FLOUR: C. F. Pattee. 1891.
CIGAR MAKER: M. E. Burkhalter.
DENTIST: E. R. Holsen.
DRAYMEN: Wm. C. Starr, since anna Barthel.
1899: C. F. Pattee, B. E. Kreul and W. A. Kiefer.
DRESSMAKERS AND MILLINERS: Mrs. July 9, 1900, successor of Port C. . Bar-
B. Whitney, Lizzie Montgomery.
DRUGGISTS: S. C. Jones, (blind) since 1894; F. E. Freeman, since 1899. its founder, in 1898.
ELEVATORS: Counselman's and Wheeler's, both built in 1900.
PAINTERS: A. H. Gilbert, Wallace Haven.
FURNITURE DEALERS: McIntire PASTORS OF THE CHURCHES: Rev. Bros., since 1899; C. P. Leithead & W. A. Pape, Catholic, since 1895; Rev. Sons; J. E. Pattee, agent; Wm. J. C. W. Flint, M. E., since 1899. Churches built by Catholics, Baptists
GENERAL MERCHANTS: Joseph and Christians. Services also held by Simpson, since 1892; Fritz & Fritz, in Presbyterians and Methodist Episco- 1900, successors to Frank E. Hronek; pals. Flaherty & Elliott, H. Townsend & Co.
GRAIN DEALERS: Counselman, Mr. Jones, Mgr .; Wheeler Grain & Coal Thornton, W. A. Hawley.
Co., P. L. Rivard, Mgr .; S. B. Fritz and Byrne Bros.
HARDWAREMEN: Steinhilber Bros. (Geo. H. & Stephen F.) since 1892; Sol- omon Cundy.
HARNESS DEALERS: J. M. Bentley, Leavitt. Henry Becker.
HOTELS: Bissell House, built by Joseph Nemick in 1874, Thos. Hutch inson, manager, since 1899, successor to H. W. Bissell; The Grand, R. Burns. IMPLEMENT DEALERS: Steinhilber Bros., F. W. Moore.
TELEPHONE SYSTEM: Pocahontas INSURANCE AGENTS: Wm. J. Leav- Telephone Company, established by W. itt, H. J, Murray, J, H Stegge.
JANITORS: B. E. Kreul, of court house; John Dockal, school house.
JEWELERS: Wm. Boyd Mcclellan, Geo. Kreul.
since 1889; F. P. Jensen, since 1890. LIVERYMEN: Thomas Hutchinson, John Soegde.
F. J. & Joseph Southworth, both since 1899.
POSTMASTER: Mrs. Mary E. Barron.
PHYSICIANS: O. H. Barthel, A. H.
R. R. AGENT: W. F. Gerhart, of Gowrie & Northwestern.
RACKET STORE: M. McGrath.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS: L. C. Thornton, Foster & Graves, W. J.
RESTAURANT KEEPERS: M. E. Burkhalter, W. A. Haven, Hawley (Wm.) & (Ellis) Rubendall.
SHOEMAKER: John Dockal. STOCK DEALERS: Fritz & Fritz, Wm. Flaherty.
Boyd McClellan in 1900, R. D. Bollard, operator.
WAGON MAKERS: W. H. Joner,
WELL DRILLERS: Joseph Mikesh,
THE CHURCHES.
CATHOLIC-Early in 1875, Rev. T.
MASONS AND PLASTERERS: J. A. Byerly, Robert Payton, M. Leahy.
MEAT MARKET: Shupe Bros. since
MUSIC TEACHERS: Mrs. I. C. Thatch- er, Mrs. Geo. H. Steinhilber, Miss Jo-
NEWSPAPERS: The Pocahontas Rec- ord, by Mrs. Mary E. Barron, since
ron, its founder, in April, 1884; The Pocahontas Herald, by A. L. Schultz,
Leavitt, agent.
REV. W. A. PAPE, CATHOLIC, POCAHONTAS.
CATHOLIC CHURCH, POCAHONTAS, 1902.
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CENTER TOWNSHIP
M. Lenehan, of Fort Dodge, held the Kees, Mrs. O. A. Pease and Mrs. C. first Catholic service in Center town- M. Hunt. O. A. Pease was elected ship in the school house at Pocahon- treasurer and Mrs. Mary M. Wallace, tas, and maintained an occasional clerk. The church was recognized as service until 1881, when it became a one of the sisterhood of Baptist mission of the Lizard church under churches, in the court house Aug. 14, Rev. Matthew Norton, who began to 1889, and a house of worship, 28x46 hold the services regularly once a feet and costing $1700 was dedicated month. In 1883 Warrick Price donat- June 21, 1891. In 1893, Rev. Geo. W. ed three acres of land, one-half mile Braker became and continued pastor east of the court house square, for for a short time. He was the last res- church and cemetery purposes and a ident pastor. church building, 32x40 feet, was built PRESBYTERIAN-Presbyterian serv- ices were established at Pocahontas that year.
In 1887 Mr. Norton died and Rev. about the year 1894, by Rev. M. T. M. Darcy became his successor. In Rainier, then stationed at Plover. 1889, Gilmore City became a perma- His successors have been, Mr. W. N. nent mission and Pocahontas a part of Gillis, of Plover, '95-6; Mr. A. W. it under Rev. T. D. Sullivan. In 1890 Bailey, in 1897; Rev. Roderick Corbitt, Pocahontas was served by Rev. D. F. Rev. Z. W. Steele, in 1899-1900. On McCaffrey, of Fonda, the church was Feb. 19, 1897, a church was organized moved to its present site in Pocahon- with seventeen members. Frank H. tas and an extension of thirty feet was Plumb and I. C. Thatcher were elect- added to it. In 1891 it became a per- ed elders, and Wm. Hazlett, Mrs. Isa- manent mission under Rev. J. P. bella Ralston, Mrs. Clara B. Malcolm, Broz, who, as the first resident pastor, F. H. Plumb and Mrs. I, C. Thatcher, remained until April, 1895, when he trustees. The Sunday school was or- was succeeded by Rev. W. A. Pape, ganized Feb. 21, 1897, with Frank H. the present pastor. During that Plumb, superintendent; Mrs. W. C. same year the church was enlarged, Ralston, assistant and Ella Bollard, remodeled and decorated at an ex- secretary. The Endeavor Society was pense of $1,800. In 1896, a parochial organized April 13, 1897. The services school and convent were erected at a held for some time in the Baptist cost of $3,500. The church and school church are now held in the court are both in a very flourishing condi- house. tion. In May, 1900, block 3 in Fair- CHRISTIAN-The Christian church view addition, containing eighteen at Pocahontas was organized about lots, was purchased as a future loca- the year 1896, and a church building tion for both the church and school buildings.
was erected in 1897, during the minis- try of J. W. McDonald. The present
BAPTIST-Baptist services were first pastor is Rev. E. S. Grove, of Plover. held at Pocahontas by Rev. John A. METHODIST-The services that led Kees, soon after he became a resi- to the organization of the M. E. dent of Center township in the fall of church at Pocahontas were first con- 1885. An organization with twenty- ducted by C. B. Lawrence, M. D., from five members was effected Oct. 4, 1888, February, 1897, to March, 1898. he became their first pastor and Among the original members were C. served them until 1893, when he D. Hobbs, W. B. Munson and Mrs. moved to Powhatan township. The Byerly, Mrs. Coughlin, Mrs. Thomp- first board of trustees consisted of O. son and Mrs. Montgomery. Rev. J. J. A. Pease, J. W. Wallace, Rev. John A. Ehrstein conducted the services on
460
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
alternate Sabbaths from October, 1898 road laws enacted by the General As- to August, 1899, and Rev. C. W. Flint, sembly of Iowa about that time. a resident pastor, on every Sabbath since that date. The stewards are,
In 1894, the citizens of Pocahontas, being no longer able to stand the sus- Guy S. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. pense, organized the Pocahontas Rail- McIntire, Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. road and Improvement Co., and sur- McGhee. The trustees are J. H. Al- veyed a line from Pocahontas to Have- len, Geo. H. Miller, Joseph Simpson, lock. An unsophisticated farmer Guy S. Robinson and S. L. McIntire. planted three acres of potatoes on The services are held in the Baptist church.
WOOING A RAILROAD, 1870-1900.
In 1870 when the beautiful site of Pocahontas was platted, the Des Moi- nes & Fort Dodge railroad was confi- dently expected, but instead of it the grasshoppers came, destroying every- thing in their path. In 1881, after the county seat had been located there, this company surveyed a line through Pocahontas, new hopes were raised and a tax was voted by the people, but when the railroad was built, it passed through Rolfe. A few months later the Newton & North- western made a survey through the town and another tax was voted, but it did not come. Before the end of that year the Des Moines & North- western ran a line through Pocahon- tas, but built the railroad to Fonda.
In 1882, the Dubuque & Dakota and in 1883 the Minneapolis & Omaha R. R. companies made surveys through Pocahontas, and new expectations were raised that were not realized. In 1886, the surveyors of the Sioux City & Northwestern arrived, in 1887 a special tax was voted for it by Cen- ter township, but when the grading should have commenced, a mysteri- ous silence and inactivity began to prevail. The branch of the I. C. R. R. surveyed to Pocahontas that year, was disposed of in the same way.
this survey and threatened to shoot the first man who came to build the railroad. To avoid the war that seemed inevitable, this company en- deavored to get the Chicago & North- western to build the railroad, and they also "begged to be excused."
In the fall of 1898, the Northwest- ern surveyed a line from Sac City to Algona, passing through Pocahontas (Nov. 5, 1898) and the citizens of Po- cahontas proposed to give them the site for a depot in town and the right- of-way to Rolfe if they would build the road. A new railroad was then crossing the west end of this county, and when this generous proposition was treated with indifference, it seemed as if Pocahontas would never get a railroad. Hearing the whistle of the locomotive at a distance of eight miles, having no prospect of its coming to Pocahontas, constantly facing the possibility of a railroad passing only a few miles distant and the consequent removal of the county seat to some new town there estab- lished, many of her citizens were be- ginning to feel that they were wast- ing the best years of their lives wait- ing for a railroad to come to Pocahon- tas. They were on the verge of aban- doning all hope, for "hope deferred maketh the heart sick," and were even ready to pack their goods, move to the first railroad that should pass in the vicinity and seek their fortunes elsewhere. As the years passed and
During the next four years Poca- hontas was allowed to rest without a the state developed, bands of steel suitor; there was not the least sign of were stretched across the prairies the coming of a railroad-a fact that from north to south and from east to some attributed to the granger rail- west, but with a wearisome regularity
REV. CHARLES W. FLINT, METHODIST.
REV. ROBERT W. TAYLOR, PRESBYTERIAN.
WILLIAM HAZLETT Co. ATTORNEY, 1897-1902.
REV. JOHN A. KEYS, BAPTIST.
POCAHONTAS AND VICINITY.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, POCAHONTAS, JAN. 26, 1902.
461
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
the new railroad always happened to any town in Northwestern Iowa. run elsewhere than through the town of Pocahontas.
In the spring of 1899, after thirty years of alternate hope and disap- pointment, M. M. Carss and a corps of surveyors traced a line for the C., R. I. & P. company from Gowrie to Sibley, passing through Pocahontas county about five miles southwest of Pocahontas. On July 6, 1899, Super- intendent C. N. Gilmore, Carroll Wright and Engineer W. B. Worrall, representing that company, met the citizens of Pocahontas in the office of the Bissell House, accepted their prop- osition to furnish depot grounds in town and the right-of-way for ten miles, and agreed to build the road through Pocahontas.
"The beautiful story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith has been branded as a legend and a myth by the brutal iconoclasm of the period in which we live, but that which tells how Pocahontas, the county seat of Pocahontas county, vainly struggled so many weary years for an highway of steel to connect herself with the great commercial and industrial world, and of the manner in which the Great Rock Island Route came to her rescue will always remain one of the most interesting chapters in the history of the state."*
No longer thy wares shall be toted On stoneboat, bobsled and truck, O'er highways and byways deep-coated With gumbo and fathomless muck, For the lightning express now goes scooting
Like wind through the midst of the town .- H. W. Harris in Rolfe
The new survey was made and on Tribune.
Everything is now changed and all
Aug. 31, 1899, Capt. J. A. Ware, of Sedalia, Mo., who had a contract to her citizens are happy. grade 25 miles of the railroad, arrived
The men whose names have been with his grading outfit that soon con- most prominently connected with the sisted of 100 teams divided into seven history of Pocahontas during the ante- gangs. The track-laying machine ar- railroad period have been Warrick rived July 25, 1900, and on Aug. 15th, Price, its founder; Wenzel Hubel, the the station was opened in a box-car first postmaster; Port C. Barron, who for the regular train service, by W. more than any other, assumed the re- F. Gerheart, of Forest City. The sponsibility of securing the right of- telegraph line was erected three days way and depot privileges for the C., later and the depot was completed R. I. & P. at an estimated cost of $12,- soon afterward.
000.00; F. E. Hronek, Hiram Bissell, W. D. McEwen, A. O. Garlock, C. H.
The effort to secure the Gowrie & Northwestern R. R. was the most im- Tollefsrude, A. L. Thornton, J. W. portant movement ever carried to a Wallace, W. C. Ralston, Dr. M. F. successful issue by the citizens of Po- Patterson, O. A. Pease, L. C. Thorn- cahontas. In this effort they were ton, W. G. Bradley, Esq., and C. M. united so that every man put his Hunt. All of these men were ani- shoulder to the wheel and, by a liber- mated with the desire to secure a rail- al donation, discovered his public road for Pocahontas, and while they spirit. If this unanimity of purpose worked and waited for it, they beau- shall mark her future course, other tified the town by planting an abun- enterprises of material value will soon dance of shade trees and the most be secured for her benefit. The sur- beautiful park in the county. rounding country is sufficient to sup- RAILROAD DAY. port a town of 5,000 people, and there A 5 per cent. railroad tax was voted are good reasons for believing that by Center township Feb. 28, '81, in fa- during the next few years, Pocahontas vor of the Des Moines & Fort Dodge, will make the most rapid growth of *Des Molnen Capital,
462
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
Aug. 19, '81 in favor of the St. Louis, platted the first addition at the south- Newton & Northwestern, and July west corner of the town. Its recent 5, 1887, in favor of the Sioux City & growth, increasing the population to Northwestern railway companies, but 800 and causing the erection of sev- the railroad did not come until July enty new buildings in 1900, has led to 25, 1900, when the Gowrie & North- the platting of the Allen and Bissell western, a branch of the Rock Island, additions.
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