The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 62

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 62

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completed the track from Gowrie to Pocahontas, and the first, a construc-

POCAHONTAS NEWSPAPERS.

POCAHONTAS TIMES-The first pa- tion or track-laying train arrived. per published at Pocahontas was the On August 15th a regular train serv- Pocahontas Times, Messrs. McEwen ice was established from Gowrie to & Garlock, editors and proprietors. Laurens, and the new era ushered in It was moved there from Old Rolfe, by these events was duly celebrated at Oct. 10, 1876, at the time of the re- Pocahontas Sept. 4, 1900, by an appro- moval of the county records. On Nov. 1, 1877, Ed B. Tabor became the ed- priate industrial parade, vocal and in- strumental music, addresses by Judge itor, and after the issue of May 9, Helsell, Carroll Wright, M. F. Healy 1878, the outfit was moved to Fonda. and others, and the marriage of three THE POCAHONTAS RECORD-The young couples. For a number of Pocahontas Record as a seven-column years Pocahontas had enjoyed the un- folio, 16x233 inches, was established at enviable experience of being the only Pocahontas by Port C. Barron, editor county seat in Iowa without a rail- and proprietor, and the first issue was road. "An event of great importance published April 24, 1884. In his salu- had occurred. Pocahontas, a thirty- tatory the aim of the editor was stat- year old bride, had secured the desire ed to be "to make the Record a reli- of her heart, a union with the great able newspaper, devoted to the pro- motion of the best interests of Poca- outside world with bands of steel! During a long period of waiting, she hontas county and independent in all smiled on many suitors, but one and matters relating to its material inter- ests." It was established and through- another passed her by until the Chi- cago, Rock Island & Pacific looked out a period of sixteen years was pub- upon the lonely maiden on the prairie lished in a small country village that and recognized a wealth of beauty did not enjoy the facilities afforded that others, blinded by the love of by even a narrow-gauge railroad. Dur- gold, did not see. She smiled, she ing this period it was sent forth from spoke and the great Rock Island was the press week by week, clean, fresh, won. In her joy she invited her bright and cheery, a messenger of comfort to the lonely dwellers on the prairies. friends to make merry with her; set the date and 5,000 people thronged to congratulate her."* She is now com-

forted by the song of the locomotive, and improved to meet the demands of "Monster of steam and steel,

With soul in shaft and wheel;

Child of man's brawn and brain

Whizzing o'er mountain and plain."

The original name, "Pocahontas Center," in 1885 by request of the board of county supervisors, was abridged to "Pocahontas."

In October, 1896, Nicholas Stelpflug "Pocahontas Record, Sept, 6, 1900,

As the years passed it was enlarged the times. On Oct. 1, 1885, it was en- larged from seven to eight columns. On April 15, 1889, at the beginning of its sixth year, it began to be printed on a power press. On Dec. 26th, fol- lowing, the entire paper began to be printed at home, and it was the first one thus printed in the county. From June 26 to Aug. 14, 1890, A. R. Thorn-

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CENTER TOWNSHIP.

ton edited its third page as The Fonda October. The value of the annual Record, and on the last named date it sales ranges from $60,000 to $70,000. was enlarged to a seven-column quar- Few or no cattle are fed during the to. On June 22, 1893, it appeared in a winter season, the places of those new and modern dress as a six-column that have been marketed being sup- quarto, its present form.

plied by purchases in the early spring.

It has advocated the principles of About 500 tons of hay are made each the republican party and every enter- year, and during last year 100,000 prise that would make Pocahontas bushels of ear corn were purchased "the gem of the prairie," the queen from the neighbors. The cattle are of Pocahontas county. The pathetic fed twice a day during the feeding appeal for a railroad that has found period, the daily ration being 500 expression in its columns and its court- bushels of shelled corn. Before it is eous, conciliatory spirit availed great- fed the corn is shelled and soaked ly to unite the people in one grand ef- twelve hours in cold water. For fort to obtain the first one available. soaking the corn and distributing it

Port C. Barron, its founder and ed- at the time of feeding, the farm is itor for sixteen years, died July 9, supplied with five water tanks, hold- 1900, and Mary E. Barron, his wife, ing sixty bushels each and set on wag- has published it since that date. ons. When the corn is soaked it is

POCAHONTAS HERALD-The Poca- drawn to the pastures.

hontas Herald was established at Po-

The buildings occupied by the resi- cahontas Feb. 15, 1899, by A. L. dent manager are located on section 7 Schultz, editor and proprietor. It is and consist of a fine house, a medium a democratic paper and "is as frisky sized barn, two cattle sheds, one 146x as can be expected" at its present age. 24 feet, the other 128x24 feet, and a It was founded under circumstances half-mile of corn cribs in the vicinity. not very encouraging, but making its On section 3 there is a small house interests identical with those of the and barn and another lot of cribs.

town, its subscription list has con-

James H. Charlton had charge of stantly increased with the growth of this farm for ten years previous to Pocahontas.

SHANNON RANCH.

1897, and John Johnson since that time. Mr. Shannon visits it once a

Osburn J. Shannon, a commission month during the summer. Nothing stockdealer of Chicago, at an early is undertaken without his approval day foreseeing the future develop- and whatever is done must be well ment of Northwestern Iowa, pur- done. chased all of sections 1, 3 and 5 and CHARLTON RANCH. 240 acres on section 7, Center town-

In 1882, James Henry Charlton, a ship, making altogether 2,160 acres. young man, resident of Dallas county, These sections are enclosed with good bought the W3 NW} Sec. 11, Center fences and with the exception of 300 acres under cultivation, are used for pasturing and feeding the large herds of cattle and hogs that are annually township-80 acres-and erected some improvements. The next year he be- gan to occupy it together with his father's family, completed its im- prepared here for the Chicago market. provement and embarked in the busi- This ranch is one of the largest busi- ness of raising corn, hogs and cattle- ness enterprises in Pocahontas county, the corn for feed and the stock for the about 500 head of hogs and 1200 head city market. The profits, from time of fat cattle being annually shipped to time, have been invested in more from it, the latter about the month of land, and he is now the owner of 3,000

464

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

acres, to the successful management farm and the kind of management of which he gives his entire time and needed to secure the best results. attention.

This land is located on sections 2, 10, 11 and 18, Center; sections 16, 20, 21 and 35, Powhatan; sections 30 and 31, Des Moines township, Pocahontas county, and on sections 28 and 29, El- lington township, Palo Alto county. It is divided into ten farms on each of which a house and other outbuild- ings have been erected. These farm houses are occupied by persons or fam- ilies who have been employed at an annual salary, with the understand- ing that they shall board from one to three other persons as occasion may require.

in eighteen years it was increased from 80 to 3,060 acres, yielding a gross

POCAHONTAS CREAMERY.

In 1884, Welch & Litts erected and operated a creamery on Litts' farm, one and one-half miles north of Poca- hontas. For a while it received a lib- eral patronage and made first-class butter, but closed about July 1, 1886. On August 1st, following, it was pur- chased by John Wallace, the pioneer of the cheese and creamery business in Northwestern Iowa, who reopened it fifteen days later, and continued to operate it for some time, and then this enterprise was abandoned.

On Sept. 1, 1898, a number of the leading citizens of Pocahontas met in The aim, in their management, has been to mature for the city market each year all the hogs and cattle pos- sible. During recent years about 2,500 head of cattle have been carried and to supply their needs in the summer season it has been necessary to pur- chase from 60,000 to 80,000 bushels of corn, in addition to the large quantity raised on the farms. The amount of sales including the dairy and other products, in 1899 was $114,620.30; and for the present year, 1900, they will aggregate about the same amount. the court house to discuss ways and means of securing a butter factory at that place. Mr. Hinn, of Laurens, then operating creameries at Laurens and Havelock, was present and sub- mitted a proposition. Geo. A. Heald, S.C. Jones, F. E. Hronek and Nicholas Stelpflug were appointed a committee to ascertain what aid the people might be willing to give, and W. C. Ralston, R. D. Bollard and Port C. Barron were appointed to secure a suitable loca- tion. Subsequent meetings were held and as a result in May, 1899, there In 1891 he married Franc Lenore, daughter of W. W. Beam, M. D., and since that time has resided in Rolfe. was completed a good building 40x60 feet, supplied with the latest im- proved machinery for making butter and a mill for grinding feed. This One cannot read the story of the has proven to be a substantial and rapid growth of this ranch, whereby profitable business institution.

POCAHONTAS POINT.

About the year 1890, W. D. Mc- annual income of more than $100,000, Ewen and A. O. Garlock purchased a without being impressed with the tract of land at the southwest corner thought that its proprietor and man- of Lake Okoboji in Dickinson county, ager has found the golden secret of and erected a spacious summer cot- "how to make the farm pay." As a tage in the beautiful grove of natural farmer he has certainly found the timber, overlooking the classic and philosopher's stone-the secret of suc- sparkling waters of West Okoboji. cess-and his wisdom appears in strict- To this delightful summer resort they ly adhering to it. That which has gave the name, "Pocahontas Point," been achieved is a practical illustra- and decided to sell lots in it only to tion of the possibilities of the Iowa those who were residents of Pocahon-

JOHN W. WALLACE, CLERK OF COURT, 1875-86.

MRS. J. W. WALLACE.

WM. C. RALSTON, CLERK OF COURT, 1887-94.

LUCIUS C. THORNTON.

POCAHONTAS.

PORT C. BARRON, EDITOR POCAHONTAS RECORD, 1884-1900.

MRS. MARY E. BARRON, COUNTY RECORDER, 1885-6.

ALONZO L. THORNTON, COUNTY RECORDER, 1883-85.

MRS. EMILY R. THORNTON.

POCAHONTAS.

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CENTER TOWNSHIP.

tas or of the county that bears that at Spirit Lake and later as foreman charming name. Other cottages were of the Fonda Times, he established soon erected by George Fairburn, the Pocahontas Record, at Pocahon- Lute C. Thornton and Col. John B. tas, Iowa. Through the columns of Kent. In 1895, Messrs. McEwen & this paper for a period of sixteen years. Garlock put a swiftly moving steamer he labored unceasingly for the devel- on the lake, called "Pocahontas," opment and improvement of the town and George Fairburn another one of his adoption and exerted a potent called "Nellie F,"both for their own influence throughout the county. He private use; and almost every day dur- located in this town when it was mere- ing midsummer, they may be seen ly a village, but had an expectation "bounding over the rolling waves, " at that a railroad would soon be built to Iowa's greatest summer resort. it. When the promised railroad did not come he did not become discour-

FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The first Sunday School in Pocahon- aged, but resolutely worked away, in- tas was organized May 8, 1881, as a dulging the hope the time would soon union Sunday School, under E. L. come when Pocahontas would be af- Hastings, superintendent; Walter forded the same privileges and con- Hodges, assistant superintendent; Mrs. veniences that were enjoyed by other J. W. Wallace, secretary, and Mrs. E. communities. He thought and worked M. Hastings, treasurer. The meeting for "our little community" as long as was held in the court house and an ar- he could, and "fell asleep just a few rangement was made with Rev. Thos. days before the dream of his life was Cuthbert, (M. E.) of Rolfe, to hold di- to be realized."

vine services at the close of the Sun-

He is remembered by those who day School session on alternate Sab- knew him as one possessing an unusu- baths.

PUBLIC OFFICERS.

al amount of cheerfulness, hopefulness and enthusiasm. His kindly disposi-

Public officers have been elected tion, strict integrity and steadfast- from Center township as follows: Sur- ness of purpose also elicited admira- veyors, Lute C. Thornton, '84-85, '88- tion. To make others happy and not '89; H. W. Bissell, '90-93, '98-1900. Re- wound the feelings of any, were aims corder, Mary E. Thornton, '86. Attor- constantly before him in the use of neys, Wm. G. Bradley, '87-88; Wm. his pen. Through the columns of the Hazlett, '97-1900. Supervisor, Samuel Record he gave the strength of his Powell, '93-95.

best days and the noblest thoughts of his being to the development of the

LEADING CITIZENS.

Barron Port C., (b. Feb. 3, 1861; d. community in which he lived. He July 9, 1900) editor and proprietor of was ambitious and manifested an un- the Pocahontas Record from the time bounded faith in the future.

it was established, April 17, 1884, un- "During the first ten years the Rec- til his death, was a native of Freder- ord was published, those who knew icksburg, Iowa, the son of F. W. and not its editor personally often won- Marion Barron. During his childhood dered how the paper could live or his parents moved to Nashua, where where its support came from; but his mother died when he was fourteen. those of us, who knew its editor, knew At this early age he entered the office full well that he knew no such word of the Nashua Post, and, acquiring a

as fail, and as time passed the paper knowledge of the printers' trade, fol- has grown with the growth of the lowed it ever afterward. After work- community so that now there are few ing several years in the Beacon office county seat towns in Town that are

466

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

better supplied with a newspaper than Here on June 8, 1879, he married Pocahontas. "*

Susan Harpster, a native of Pennsyl-

"In his death Pocahontas lost an en- vania, and during his subsequent ca- thusiastic boomer. He knew no such reer she has proven herself to be "one word as fail. 'Hope sprang eternal of the best women in the state of in his bosom.' With the collapse of Iowa." He was then engaged in the one railroad boom he went to work on marble business, but his health fail- another. In everything that went for ing him they spent the ensuing winter the improvement of the town he wasin in Canada. In 1880 they located at hearty accord. He never lost faith in Fort Dodge, and in February, 1881, in the ultimate success of Pocahontas. Pocahontas, where he became owner It took sixteen years of waiting to re- and proprietor of the "Center," aft- alize his ambition for Pocahontas-a erward called the "Bissell House," railroad. He won the battle, but just which he still owns and continued to as his labors were to be rewarded his occupy until 1899, when he erected a new home in the Bissell addition to light went out. "+

In accordance with his expressed Pocahontas.

wish his body was laid to rest in the

The history of the Bissell House, soil of the place that was the princi- during the eighteen years that Mr. pal scene of his life's activities and in and Mrs. Bissell had charge of it, is the midst of those who will longest full of delightful and romantic asso- appreciate his labors. ciations that are peculiarly its own. He served as the first recorder of Po- Here judges and jurors, attorneys and cahontas, '92-94; was a member of its their clients, county officials, minis- first school board in 1896; mayor in ters of the gospel and people from all 1897, and postmaster from Aug. 1, '97- parts of the county, year after year, July 9, 1900. have sat down together around the variety of those good things, which in

On Feb. 3, 1887, he married Mary E., tables that groaned with a sumptuous daughter of Alonzo L. and Emily Thornton, and she became his succes- this life satisfy the cravings of the in-

sor in the postoffice and in the pro-

ner man; and in the office or parlor prietorship of the Pocohontas Record. the great questions of the day have

discussed. Their family consists of three chil- been freely and fully dren, Phaen Thornton, Joab Eunice When one thinks of the way in which and Port Comstock.

many long winter evenings were

Bissell Hiram Wallace, (b. July 4, whiled away at this ancient hostelry 1844) resident of Pocahontas since 1881, before the arrival of the railroad, he is a native of Granville county, prov- cannot resist the notion that Gold- ince of Ontario, Canada, the son of smith had sach experiences in mind Truman and Cynthia Bissell, both of when he wrote the following touch- whom were descendants of the French ing description of the home in the Huguenots. He received his education poem entitled, "The Deserted Vil- as he had opportunity, in the public lage": schools.

"The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,

In 1869, he went to California, but soon returned to Peoria, Ill., where he Sat by his fire, and talked the night remained three years. He then lo- a vay, Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sor- row done, cated at Grand Rapids, Mich., and after two years, at Freeport, Ill. Shouldered his crutch and showed how fields were won. "From tribute by W. C, Raiston.

Marion Bruce, in Rolfe Reveille.

Pleased with his guests, the good man

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CENTER TOWNSHIP.

learned to glow,

water. In 1874, the grasshoppers de- And quite forgot their vices in their woe." voured the small grain again, but not the corn, and he fared better; but Mr. Bissell served as assessor of that fall and again in 1881 his crops Center township, '85-93; as justice of and improvements were saved from the peace, '87-90; as member of the prairie fires only after the most heroic first town council of Pocahontas, '92- efforts. In the fall of 1874 he got lost 93; mayor, '94, and as county surveyor, and had to remain all night alone on seven years, '90-93, '98-1900.

the prairie. In the winter of 1881, Brinkman David, (Diedrick) resi- while returning from Humboldt in a dent of section 24, Center township, was born near Hamburg, Germany, in 1843. At the age of twenty-three, having learned the carpenter trade, he crossed the ocean in a sail boat that was seventy-two days on the voy- age. He located first in Michigan, sleigh, he was caught in a blinding snowstorm, passed within three rods of his home, but did not know it or discover the fact until he had gone two miles further, and ran against the walls of a deserted sod shanty. When he reached his home he was where he worked at carpentry. On nearly frozen to death. His brother- Feb. 28, 1871, he married there Anna in-law, after one year's experience on Wiegman, and on April 18, 1873, lo- the frontier, returned to Michigan.

cated in Pocahontas county, first in

As the years have passed, David Clinton township, and the next year Brinkman has added acre to acre so on his present farm.

that his home farm, which he has im-

He is one of those hardy pioneers proved with fine buildings, contains who were not frightened from the 540 acres, and he is the owner of two frontier by early hardships, and his other farms in the vicinity that con- splendid success on the farm places tain 300 acres more. He keeps from him in the front rank as a farmer. 25 to 30 cows for dairy purposes and When he came to locate on the front- in August

1894, began to use the ier his brother-in-law accompanied Delaval cream separator, the first one him. Leaving their wives at Fort in Center township. The result of Dodge, they set out on foot at Man- its use has been so satisfactory that he son to walk the distance to their new would not think of dispensing with it homes-twenty miles-and had to car- while keeping cows. He aims to keep ry their clothing in their hands when a sufficient amount of stock to eat all they waded the Lizard. A few days the grain raised on the farm, and has after they returned to Manson, sent met with good success in feeding both for their wives and families and took cattle and hogs. He is a highly re- them out with an ox team. A few spected citizen, was a trustee of Cen- days before harvest that year the ter township in '77-78, president of grasshoppers came and destroyed thir- the school board in '76-77 and assessor ty acres of wheat and ten of oats, a in 1884.

loss that left David in the fall of the

His family enjoys all the comforts year with ten dollars and thirty bush- of a good home and consists of twelve els of potatoes for the support of him- children: Hattie, a native of Michi- self and family during the winter. gan, married Morris Ives and lives in township; Caroline, after

When the corn was ripe he went east Clinton of the grasshopper district, husked teaching school six years, on March 8, corn on the shares and survived that 1899, married Henry Oelrich and lo- winter by making his home in a cellar cated on one of her father's farms; and living on potatoes, cornbread and Henry, a teacher, Dora, Jessie, John,

468

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

William, August, Anna, May, Glide 1898." In Pottawattomie county, he and Idella are at home.

served several years as a justice of the

Bollard Richard D., (b, Oct. 15, peace, in Fonda was street commis- 1847) resident of Pocahontas and Re- sioner, and at Pocahontas he was a corder of Pocahontas county, 1891-98, councilman, '92-94, and president of is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. the

school board in '99-1900. He He received his education in the pub- taught twenty-one terms of public lic schools of Edinboro, Erie county, school. Pa., where his father located when he His family consisted of ten children, was quite young. In 1864, at the age six of whom are married: Walter, a of sixteen, he lost his left arm by the drayman, married Rose Early, and accidental discharge of a gun he was lives at Fonda; Mattie B. married endeavoring to draw across a log while John Stream, a traveling salesman, hunting. In 1867, he went to Grant and lives at Fonda; Mary Ella, July 3, county, Wis., where he worked on a 1899, married Wm. Boyd Mcclellan, a farm and taught school. The next jeweler, and lives at Pocahontas; year he returned to his home and on William married Maggie McCormick Dec. 25, 1868, married Emma Law- and lives in Lake township; Frederick rence. The next spring they located P., in June, 1898, enlisted for the war in Wright county, Wis., where he against Spain in Cuba and spent sev- taught school in winter. In 1878, he eral months in Jacksonville, Fla .; Roy moved to Pottawattomie county, Iowa, in 1900, married Ida Lyon, and is a where he bought eighty acres of land

druggist clerk at Fonda; May in 1899, and continued farming and teaching. married Charles Lucas, and lives at In 1881 he met with another serious Pocahontas; Gracie, Lawrence and accident, the loss of the three largest Gorton are at home.

fingers of his right hand, while shell-

Eral John, (b. 1832) owner and oc- ing corn. Undaunted by these mis- cupant of a fine farm on section 23, fortunes he continued farming and since 1874, is a native of Bohemia. In teaching until the spring of 1886, 1874 he bought his present farm and a when he moved to Fonda and engaged tract of timber in Clinton township. in the coal and grain business.

He is now the owner of 490 acres of

In the fall of 1890, he was elected land in this county which he has recorder of this county, an office to finely improved with two sets of good which he was re-elected with a con- farm buildings, the beautiful grove stantly increasing majority in 1892, '94 on the home farm being one of the and '96. The efficiency of the public largest in Center township. He par- service rendered during these eight ticipated in the organization of Cen- ter township in 1874, and served as years, elicited the unstinted approval of the people of this county. The of- trustee six years, '80-83, '93-94. He fice was not closed at night until the has been an industrious and suc- necessary work of each day had been faithfully performed.

cessful farmer, a highly respected citizen and has endeavored to perform

Just previous to the adjournment of faithfully every matter of public in- the board of supervisors, Jan. 19, 1899, terest entrusted to him.

he was presented with a solid gold

His family has consisted of six chil- watch, chain and charm, the latter dren, of whom the first three-James, set with a diamond of purest luster, Frank and Mary -- were born during and inscribed with the words, "A his residence in Illinois. token of esteem from the county offi- 1-James W. Eral (b. 1862) in 1873 lo- cials to R. D, Bollard, recorder, 1891- cated on the SW:tSec, 27. In 1883 he

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 62

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058