USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 76
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 76
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In testimony of the present satisfactory condition of school matters in Carroll County, the following figures are taken from the last published reports:
Number of district townships, 15; inde- pendent districts, 15; sub-districts, 135; un-
graded schools, 127; rooms in graded schools, 24; average duration in months, 7; male teachers employed, 75; average monthly compensation, $44.88; female teachers, 153; average monthly compensation, $33.92; males of school age, 2,687; females, 2,705; enrolled in public schools, 3,993; total aver- age attendance, 2,288; average tuition per month, per pupil, $2.30; frame school-houses, 132; brick school-houses, 3; value, $100,555; value of apparatus, $6,148.
Paid for school-honses and sites, $8,160.69; for library and apparatus, $108.85; on bonds and interest, $2,314.86; for other purposes, from school-house fund, $3,714.95; for rent and repair of school-rooms, $4,324.42; for fuel, $3,562.73; secretaries and treasurers, $1,496.88; for records, dictionaries and appa- ratus, $796.87; for insurance and janitors, $1,219.87; for supplies, brooms, chalk, etc., $854.52; for other purposes, from contin- gent fund, $5,790.41; for teachers, $37,- 972.46; for other purposes, from teachers' fund, $26.43.
AGRICULTURAL.
The Carroll County farmer, having no stones or stumps to remove, finds his farm clear and already prepared for cultivation, so that he may plow his land, plant his crops, and reap such a harvest the first year as will abundantly reward his labor. The richness of Iowa soil is attested by the fact that as many as twenty successive crops have been gathered from a single field, without the use of fertilizers. In the variety of products this region is unexcelled. Corn is the most reliable crop, is more extensively cultivated than any other, and yields from fifty to seventy-five bushels per acre.
The business of stock-raising has assumed vast proportions, and a large percentage of the agricultural wealth consists of all kinds
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of farm stock. These unsurpassed prairie lands, yielding abundantly of rich, nutritious grasses and watered with numberless streams and rivers, have the conditions of climate, food and water which are favorable to success, and with superior transportation facilities, giving access to the markets of the world, the prose- ention of this industry has beeome one of the most profitable sources of revenue. Stock feeding is a business in which the surplus grain can be most profitably utilized, a fact which has been fully demonstrated by every one who has given his attention to it. There is no branch of agriculture which pays so large a revenue in Iowa, as there is scarcely a farmer who does not give his attention, in a greater or less degree, to the raising of stock for market. The following are the census (1885) figures as to the chief farm and stock interests:
Average size of farm, 141; acres of im- proved land, 242,044; acreage in cultivation, 180,429; acres of unimproved land, 44,593; acres in pasture, 41,674; rods of hedge fence, 67,058; rods of barbed wire fence, 492,146; rods of other fence, 87,925; farms managed by owner, 1,504; by tenant for money rent, 144; by tenant for crop rent, 326.
Acres of Indian corn, 92,897; bushels harvested, 3,231,439; acres of spring wheat, 55,454; bushels harvested, 617,254; acres of oats, 23.409; bushels harvested, 795,797; tons of straw, 16,334; acres of rye, 1,487; bushels harvested, 19,713; tons of straw, 863; aeres of barley, 8,508; bushels harvested, 225,794; acres of buckwheat, 83; bushels harvested, 1,247.
Acres in planted timber, 2,403; acres in natural timber, 1,916; cords of wood ent in one year, 746; number of bearing apple trees, 13,425; bushels gathered, 8,785; bearing plum trees, 2,966; bushels gathered, 790; bearing cherry trees, 1,546: bushels gathered,
161; other bearing fruit trees, 1,309; trees not in bearing, 51,357; aeres of vineyard, 5; pounds of grapes gathered, 1,860; vines not in vineyard, 10,023; pounds of grapes gathered, 7,956; stands of bees, 122; pounds of honey gathered, 1,586.
Aeres of clover, 203; tous of hay, 166; bushels of seed, 15; acres of Hungarian, 208; tons of hay, 317; bushels of seed, 53; acres of millet, 218; tons of hay, 431; bushels of seed, 62; acres of timothy, 5,924; tons of hay, 4,979; bushels of seed, 1,530; tons of hay from wild grass, 34,476; acres of flax, 3,950; bushels of seed, 19,291.
Gallons of milk sold or sent to factory, 7,629; gallons of cream sold or sent to factory, 68,673; pounds of butter made, not at factory, 357,350; pounds of cheese made, not at factory, 4,390; acres of potatocs, 1,261; bushels raised, 69,458; bushels of beets raised, 603; turnips, 9,084; peas and beans, 724; acres in sorghum, 292; gallons of sorghum sirup, 5,184.
Milch cows, 8,671; other cattle, 17,394; slaughtered and sold for slaughter, 2,791; total horses, 8,387; sold for export, 101; mules and asses, 358; sold for export, 8; Poland China hogs, 8,907; Berkshire hogs, 2,703; Chester Whites, 285; Duroe Jerseys, 123; Essexes, 32; other improved breeds, 89; total hogs, 60,874; slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 38,738; Merino sheep, 315; Cots- wold sheep, 102; Southdown sheep, 5; total sheep, 644; slaughtered or sold for slaughter, 55; number of fleeces, 454; pounds of wool, 3,612; common chickens, 109,671; improved breeds, 1,126; other domestic fowl, 7,745; dozens of eggs, 306,589.
Value of farm products, $1,142,434; mar- ket-garden produce, $1,020; products of forest, $4,135; orchard products, $3,914; produets of vine, $1,618; small fruit, $2,030; products of hive, $245; products of dairy,
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$76,263; animals slaughtered, or sold for slaughter, $433,547; poultry and eggs, $28,958.
RAILROADS.
The prosperity and development of a State is essentially dependent upon its means of transportation, and to our railroads is due, more than to any other single agency, the present prosperity of Iowa. The attractions which Iowa presents to enterprise, capital and skilled labor, with all her natural elements of productive wealth, have been developed by the greatest river navigation and the best system of railroads existing in any State in the Union. The benefits which are derived from railroad communication are untold, and can only be realized when we remember that civilization and improvement of all kinds follow the iron horse, and, as if by magic, towns and villages spring up in its wake. The building of railroads assisted greatly in the development of our State by furnishing convenient markets for the farmer. lowa is to-day traversed by railroads in almost every direction, while the work of building new lines is steadily progressing, and this wonder- ful advanee in the construction of railroads indicates the confidence which capitalists entertain in regard to the future of our State. Indeed there are very few States in the Union, if any, in which railroad building has been pursued with sneh energy as in Iowa. The great national highways across the con- tinent pass directly through the State, afford- ing our people access to the principal markets of the world. From these roads branches deflect in all directions, until with these, and her north and south lines and their branches, there remains not a county in the entire State which has not one or more railroads.
In the spring of 1855 the first locomotive and cars were introduced within the borders
of our State at Davenport. In 1856 Congress made a munificent grant of lands to the State, to aid in the building of railroads, which in turn was granted by the State to various companies for the construetion of lines in different directions throughout Iowa. For several years thereafter progress in railroad building was slow, owing to the financial depression in 1857-'58, and the civil war which followed so soon afterward, and it was not until after the close of the war that the increased demand for transportation facilities necessitated the more rapid building of rail- roads. The benefit derived from these com- mereial highways is two-fold. Not only are the people of the State afforded an easy communication with the great markets of the country, but when it is understood that these great corporations are subject to local and State taxation, and that they pay into the treasury of the State a large amount annually, it will be seen that the burden of the tax- payer is lessened thereby. The railroads of the State are subject to legislative control, so that the General Assembly has the power to fix the maximum rates for the transportation of passengers and freight on the various lines and to prevent unjust discrimination between points on the same line. The interests of the people are guarded by a board of railroad commissioners, consisting of three persons, appointed by the Governor for the term of three years, and whose duty it is to adjust those differences which may arise between the people and railroad companies, or between one company and another, hearing and deter- mining complaints, inquiring and recommend- ing, and up to this time its recommendations have been heeded. It is to be taken for granted that the public appreciate the great convenience of the railroads as well as the fact that they have been indispensable in the development of our State, and there is no
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
reason for, and we believe there is no real antagonism of, interests between our people and the railroad companies, although there have been misapprehensions on both sides, though perhaps no more than arises in other business relations of the same magnitude, yet they are each interested in the prosperity of the other, as a broad and comprehensive view of the rights of each reveals. The manage- ment of the railroads of Iowa has been wise and judicious, and in their endeavors to pro- mote the prosperity of their respective com- panies they have been important factors of the development of our wonderful resources.
Although Carroll County has now two east and west main lines of railroad, and north and south branches, it was 1867 before the first rail was laid in the county. The county was then twelve years old, but had scarcely half as many hundred people living in its boundaries. The great impulse given to immigration, which has continued steadily until the county has now over 16,000 inhab- itanis, is one of the most powerful arguments that can be addneed to prove that the advent of the railroad was an unmixed blessing for Carroll County.
Chicago & Northwestern .- More than thirty years ago it was designed to eneonrage the building of four trunk lines of railroad aeross the State of Iowa. One of these was to be on or near the forty-second parallel of latitude, and would hence cross Carroll County nearly midway. Congress in 1856 granted to the State of Iowa, in trust for this purpose, a liberal strip of the public lands. At a special session of the General Assem- bly, in July, 1856, the land grant for this line was transferred to the Iowa Central Rail- road Company. This grant was declared forfeited by act of the General Assembly, March 17, 1860, and nine days later was assigned to the Cedar Rapids & Missouri
River Railroad Company. This grant em- braced 88,120 aeres in Carroll County. Owing to the paralyzing influence of the civil war, several years more elapsed before the actual work of construction began. In the mean- time, by aet of Congress, approved July 2, 1864, another grant was made direct to the railroad company. This took 29,240 aeres more in Carroll County, making 117,360 acres given in this county to seeure the railroad.
The road was built in 1866 and 1867, pass- ing through this county in the latter year. Immediately after completion the road was leased for ninety-nine years to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, which has since operated it. This powerful company has 3,584 miles of road, including 1,022 miles in Iowa. The main line in Iowa is 354 miles long, with 667 miles of branches.
The townships erossed in Carroll County, with mileage in each, are: Glidden, 6.150; Grant, 5.000; Carroll, 7.635; Arcadia, 6.625. The stations, with distance in miles from Chicago, are: Glidden, 388; Carroll, 395; Maple River Junetion, 399; Areadia, 405.
The Iowa Southwestern Railroad was built under the anspices of the Chicago & Northwestern Company, in 1880. It was intended to build to Harlan, in Shelby County, but on account of the rapacity of some land-owners near the latter place the road stopped at Kirkman, seven miles this side of Ilarlan. The right of way was eon- tributed by adjacent property owners. This braneh is thirty-five miles long, from Carroll to Kirkman. Soon after this line was built a branch was built from Manning in this county to Audubon in Audubon County. George Gray, of Audubon, furnished the right of way. The line from Manning to Kirkman is now operated as a branch from the former place, while trains run through from Carroll to Andubon.
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The townships crossed, with mileage in each, are: Carroll, 4.997; Roselle, 3.722; Washington, 4.933; Warren, 11,786. The stations are, with distances from Carroll: Carroll; Halbur, 9; Manning, 8.
Maple River Railroad .- This leaves the Northwestern line at Maple River Junction, four miles west of Carroll, runs north to Wall Lake, and thence west. It was con- structed as an appendage of the North- western, and was completed to Onawa, Monona County, on the Sionx City & Pacific Railroad, in the autumn of 1886, though begun in this county in 1877. The town- ships crossed, and mileage in each, are: Car- roll, 2.628; Kniest, 3.215; Wheatland, 3.457. There is but one station in this county be- sides Maple River Junction, and that is Breda, seven miles north of the former place.
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul .- This crosses the county near its southern edge, and was built in 1881. It crosses the Iowa Southwestern at Manning, which is now nearly as much of a railroad eenter as Car- roll. The townships crossed, and miles in each, are: Union, 5.110; Newton, 6.630; Eden, 6.390; Warren, 6.820. The stations are: Coon Rapids, Dedham, Templeton and Manning.
All the villages in the county are stations on railroads, except Mount Carmel and Car- rollton. Indeed they have been started after the road was built, in each case.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The court-house at Carrollton was begun in 1858, by Nelson B. Moore; he was not very speedy with his work, and nearly a year later, when the first story was built, but not plastered or painted, he died. In December, 1859, the county paid H. L. Youtz, admin- istrator of Moore's estate, $818, and took the building off his hands. William Ivers |
and T. T. Morris contracted to do the paint- ing and plastering. The second story was built in 1865, by 1. & J. Hampton, who were paid about $1,500. The building cost, first and last, about $3,000. After the removal of the county seat the old court-honse was sold. At Carroll the offices and records were first in a building belonging to William Gil- ley. In 1869 a frame building was put upon the square, which had been sold to the county for $1 by the railroad company. The cost of this building has been stated at $4,000. It was used till the spring of 1886, and in April of that year it burned-not totally, but sufficient to prevent its being used. The offices are now in the Joyce building, but the county has accepted plans for a 840,000 court-house to be built in 1887. The people have voted $50,000 for a court-house and jail. The county has had no jail as yet. It has for several years owned a farm of 160 acres for its panpers, on section 6, Grant Township. There is a good frame building on it, sufficient for all present needs.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION.
The first settlers nearly all came to the county in 1855 and 1856. The census of 1856 showed the county to have a population : of 251. It was then nearly stationary for ten years, after which it began the rapid in- crease which has been steadily maintained ever sinee. The population of the county at the several enumerations has been: 1856, 251; 1859, 250; 1860, 281; 1863, 297; 1865, 400; 1867, 688; 1869, 1,450; 1870, 2,451; 1873, 3,601; 1875, 5,760; 1880, 12,351; 1885, 16,329.
The German population of the county is nearly or quite 10,000. In 1868, just after the laying of the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad (now Northwestern) through this county, the Iowa Railroad Land Com-
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pany contraeted with Lambert Kniest for the latter to settle fifty families in the township which now bears his name (85 north, 35 west). Mr. Kniest was then city collector of Dubuque. Senator George W. Jones recom- mended Mr. Kniest to the land company as being eminently fitted to perform this difli- cult work. He went speedily to work, and came ont to this county with twenty-six fan- ilies. Others came subsequently, and in three weeks less than the year which limited the agreement the fifty families were located. So anxious was he at the last that he gave
the land to two families. Mr. Kniest aeted as agent for the land company in selling all of the land in Kniest Township. Most of the immigrants he seenred were from Du- buque County, this State, and from Grant County, Wisconsin. This was the beginning of the German settlement of the county, and in due time Wheatland, Arcadia, Washing- ton, Roselle and other townships were settled np, largely by the same thrifty people. There are a number of Irish in the county, mostly from La Salle, Stephenson, Ogle and other counties in Illinois.
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CARROLL.
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CARROLL.
ARROLL, the county seat of Carroll County, is situated within a mile and a half of the geographical eenter, and hence will never have a competitor for the seat of justice. The railroad company laid out the town in August, 1867, at first calling it " Carroll City," and at the next election the people voted to re- move the county seat from Car- rollton to this place, by a vote of 88 to 30. The records were re- moved in May, 1868. The first building was erected by the railroad construction company as a supply house for the men, in 1867. When the field of active work was removed farther west on the line, and the building be- eame useless to the company, it was sold to William Gilley, who rented it to the county for sixteen months at $50 per month. It was here that the county offices and records were kept until the court-house was built.
It stood on lot 3, block 22, and was finally burned in the great fire of 1879.
The second building was the railroad sta- tion, and is a part of the building which is yet in use. The third was on lot 11, block 3, and was used by A. L. Kidder as a store below and residence above. This building also was burned in the 1879 fire. Kidder was the " first white settler; " that is, the first to take up his residence in Carroll; and the only one in 1867. The next spring came George W. Wetherill, who is still a resident. He built the fourth building, and the first respectable business house, on lots 1 and 2, block 21, and here was kept a hard- ware store until the great fire. The lots are now vacant. Among others who located here the same season were Dr. J. M. Patty (the first physician), J. H. Colclo and family (who kept the first hotel), J. W. Hatton (who opened the first drug store and is still in that business), William Gilley, John K. Deal and J. E. Griffith.
The last-named gentleman secured signa- tures to a petition and forwarded the same to
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Washington for a postoffice. This was granted Crabbs; Street Commissioner, A. S. Curtis; and A. L. Kidder was the first to hold the Treasurer, D. Wayne. office. His sneeessors have been S. M. Moore, John W. King, E. R. Hastings and C. C. Colclo.
The town grew quite rapidly in 1869, and the census of 1870 eredit it with 384 inhabi- tants. In 1873 there were 563; in 1875, 812; in 1580, 1,385; in 1885, 1,885. There are now over 2,000.
INCORPORATION.
Carroll had gained sufficient population in ; Commissioner, William J. Lundy; Assessor. the autumn of 1869 to warrant its incorpora- Charles H. Dunham.
tion. This step was accordingly taken, and the conneil held its first meeting November 20 of that year. The officers of the town at that time were: Mayor, I. N. Griffith; Re- corder, B. B. Terry; Trustees, John W. King. D. Wayne, L. C. Bailey, F. E. Dennett and William N. Boots; Marshal, Thomas Basler; Treasurer, J. E. Griffith; Attorney, O. H. Manning. The officers chosen at the regular election in March, 1870, and each year there- after have been:
1870 .- Mayor, 1. N. Griffith; Recorder, J. B. Rumsey; Councilmen, E. II. Brooks, L. C. Bailey, -Perrin, F. E. Dennett and D. Wayne; Treasurer, J. Fajans; Marshal, B. W. Crabbs; Street Commissioner, Thomas Basler.
1871 .- Mayor, J. F. Tuttle; Recorder, William Lynch; Councilmen, L. (. Bailey, John K. Deal, J. W. King, I. N. Griffith and George P. Wetherill; Marshal, B. W. ('rabbs; Street Commissioner, A. S. Curtis; Treasurer, J. E. Griffith; Assessor, F. A. Warrick.
1872 .- Mayor, J. C. Kelley: Recorder, William Lynch; Councilmen, E. R. Hast- ings, F. E. Dennett, William Gilley, E. HI. Brooks and R. B. Sweet; Marshal, B. W.
1873 .- Mayor, Jolm F. Tuttle; Recorder, William Lynch; Couneilmen, John W. King, William Gilley, L. A. Lewis, John L. Barger and C. L. Bailey; Marshal, B. W. Crabbs; Street Commissioner, William J. Lundy; Treasurer, William O. Sturgeon.
1874 .- Mayor, D. Wayne; Recorder, Will- iam Lynch; Trustees, William II. Price, William Arts, W. L. Culbertson, William Gilley and II. C. Stevens; Marshal, A. D. White; Treasurer, I. A. Callamore; Street
1875 .- Mayor, E. H. Brooks; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Couneilmen, William Arts, George P. Weatherill, I. N. Griffith, J. P. McAllister and J. II. Lowry: Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Street Commissioner, Jolin Sil- bangh; Assessor, John W. King.
1876 .- Mayor, E. II. Brooks; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Councilmen, J. H. Lowry, W. A. More, R. J. Hamilton, Joseph Wieland and W. L. Culbertson; Marshal, B. W. Crabbs; Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Street Commissioner, John Silbaugh ; Assessor, John W. King.
1877 .- Mayor, John F. Tuttle; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Councilmen, R. J. Hamilton, William Arts, W. O. Sturgeon, J. P. McAll- ister and M. J. Bohnenkamp; Assessor, John W. King; Marshal, J. D. Mathias; Treas- urer, J. W. Hatton; Street Commissioner, Samuel Todd.
1878 .- Mayor, William Gilley; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Conneilmen, R. J. Hamilton, J. P. McAllister, James Thompson, N. Beiter and D. A. Cudworth; Assessor, John W. King: Treasurer. J. W. Hatton; Marshal and Street Commissioner, Samuel Todd.
1879 .- Mayor, William Gilley; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Councilmen, James Thompson,
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N. Beiter, J. P. McAllister, D. A. Cudworth, W. J. Bohnenkamp and W. L. Culbertson; Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Marshal and Street Commissioner, Samuel Todd.
1880 .- Mayor, William Gilley; Recorder. A. E. Smith; Councilmen, W. J. Bohnenkamp, W. L. Culbertson, N. Beiter, J. P. McAllis- ter, James Thompson and L. Anderson (re- signed and D. A. Cudworth appointed); Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Marshal and Street Commissioner, Samnel Todd.
1881 .- Mayor, J. W. Seott; Recorder, A. E. Smith; Conncilmen, N. Beiter. L. S. An- derson, J. P. McAllister, James Thompson, W. L. Culbertson and Charles Ilamilton; Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Marshal and Street Commissioner, Samuel Todd.
1882 .- Mayor, Thomas F. Barbee; Record- er, F. A. Suydam; Couneilmen, W. L. Cul- bertson, L. T. Anderson, N. Beiter, Charles Hamilton, James Thompson and John Nye; Treasurer, J. W. Hatton; Marshal, Samuel Todd: Street Commissioner. II. W. Ilage- man.
1883 .-- Mayor, Thomas F. Barbee; Re- corder, F. A. Suydam; Councilmen, Charles Hamilton, N. Beiter, James Thompson, W. L. Culbertson and A. Park; Treasurer, O. A. Kentner; Marshal and Street Commissioner, Samuel Todd.
1884. - Mayor, Thomas F. Barbee; Re- eorder, F. A. Suydam; Couneilmen, W. L. Culbertson, James Thompson, J. L. Wether- ill, John P. Cooke, A. Park and George W. Bowen; Treasurer, O. A. Kentner; Marshal, John P. MeAllister.
1885. - Mayor, Thomas F. Barbee; Re- eorder, F. A. Suydam; Conneilmen, James Thompson, A. Park, J. L. Wetherill, W. J. Patterson, John E. Nestle and Ira M. Gilley; Assessor, J. II. Marnette; Marshal, John P. MeAllister; Treasurer. O. A. Kentner.
F. A. Suydam; Conneilmen. John L. Weth- erill, W. J. Patterson, John E. Nestle, Ira M. Gilley, A. W. Crawford and Joseph M. Drees; Treasurer, O. A. Kentner; Assessor, J .; II. Marnette; Marshal and Street Com- missioner, John P. McAllister.
FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
All the buildings ereeted in Carroll for the first ten years were built of pine, and by 1879 the condition of the business portion was such as to invite the destruction which oe- eurred September 25 of that year. Henry Crow, a freight engineer, coming into town on his engine early in the morning, saw the beginning of the fire in Henry Schapman's saloon. If the building had not been locked, and a pailful of water had been handy, the fire could have been extinguished. At that moment a little water would indeed have been worth $5,000 a quart. Before anything could be done, however, the fire had gotten beyond control. During the day the devouring ele- ment swept away all the business buildings (blocks 16 and 21), one ehureh and several residences-in all, abont thirty-five buildings. The total loss was estimated at $200,000, and there was from $35,000 to $40,000 insurance.
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