Clay County IA Archives History - Books .....History Of Clay County 1882 1882
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Alice Warner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003503 July 31, 2009, 9:36 am

Book Title: History Of Western Iowa

CLAY COUNTY.

The county of Clay is twenty-four miles square, containing an area of 368,640
acres. It is located in the second tier from the third county from the west
boundary of the State. The little Sioux River and its tributaries afford water
and drainage in nearly all portions of the county. The stream, with its
serpentine windings, has a length of not less than seventy miles within the
limits of Clay County, and furnishes quite a number of good water powers. Its
largest tributary is Ocheyedan Creek, which rises in Osceola County and, flowing
in a southeasterly direction, empties into Little Sioux River near Spencer. Both
these have broad, rich and beautiful valleys. Among other smaller streams are
Willow, Prairie, Henry and Muddy Creeks. The eastern portion of the county has
several small lakes, the most important of which are Lost Island Lake, Swan
Lake, Pickerel Lake, Virgin Lake and Mud Lake. Fish abound in some of them.

The county has a very limited supply of native timber, but more than some of the
other counties in this part of the state. The surface is undulating prairie,
with scarcely any waste land, and the soil is exceedingly fertile. The staple
productions are wheat, oats, corn, grass and the various root crops. The county
is well adapted to grazing, on account of the abundance of nutritious wild grass
and pure water.

The first settlement of whites in the county was made in July, 1856, by Ambrose
S. Mead and Christian Kirchner with their families. The former built his cabin
on section 34, township 94, range 38, and the latter on section 32 of the same
township and range. John J. Bicknell had the honor of holding the plow that
broke the first sod in the county, while Ambrose S. Mead was honored by driving
the oxen. In the fall of 1856 there were several more families came in, to-wit:
James Bicknell, Ezra Wilcox and two men named Gillett.

In the latter part of February, 1857, the Indians, on their way to Spirit Lake
before the massacre, visited the infant settlement in this county, killed four
head of cattle belonging to Mr. Kirchner, and drove away ten horses and five or
six head of cattle belonging to Mr. Mead. Passing on to what is known as
Gillett's Grove, they drove away forty head of cattle, four horses, and
destroyed most of the personal property of the Gilletts. The five or six
families in the county, in consequence of this raid, fled and were away several
months. The first marriage was that of John A. Kirchner and Mary J. Bicknell,
daughter of James Bicknell.The first birth was that of Ella, a daughter of these
parties. The first death was that of Clay Crego, infant son of Y. B. Crego. A
barn erected by C. Kirchner was the first frame building in the county.

Clay County was, previous to its organization, a part of Woodbury County. In
accordance with a petition of the majority of the legal Voters of Clay County,
presented to the Honorable County Court of Woodbury County, Judge John L.
Campbell presiding, an election was ordered to be held by the said county on the
12th day of October, 1858, and the voters of Clay County were authorized to meet
at the house of Ambrose S. Mead, for the purpose of perfecting an organization
of Clay County, and voting for district, county and township officers, thus
severing the ties between the independent county of Woodbury, and the
independent county of Clay. James Bicknell, E. M. Wilcox, and Ambrose S. Mead
were appointed to act as Judges of Election, and to make returns according to
law; consequently, on the 28th of September, 1858, Ambrose S. Mead was qualified
as one of the Judges of Election, with power to qualify the other Judges and
Clerk of the same. There were eighteen ballots cast at this election. The first
county officers were: F. M. Foreman, Treasurer and Recorder; E. M. Wilcox,
Clerk; C. Kirchner, Sr., Coroner; J. Kindelspeyer, Drainage Commissioner;
Ambrose S. Mead, County Superintendent; C. C. Smeltzer, County Judge. Pres-ent
County officers: H. B. Wood, Auditor: H. Chamberlain, Clerk; P. E. Randall,
Treasurer; S. W. Dubois. Recorder; P. W. Madden. Sheriff; M. M. Gilchrist,
Superintendent of Schools; E. N. Jencks, County Surveyor; T. P. Bender, J.
Goodwin, Reuben Somers, J. Dodge and H. Watts, being the Board of Supervisors,
with T. P. Bender, Chairman. The population of the County, according the census
of 1880, was 4,248; the present population maybe safely estimated at 6,000.

At the time of the organization nearly all the settlers were in the southwest
corner of the county, and Peterson was made the county seat. There was at this
place a considerable body of timber and a good water power on the Little Sioux,
on which John A. Kirchner erected a grist and sawmill.

SPENCER.

This is the county seat of Clay County. Spencer was platted by J. B. Edmunds, J.
H. Hale and J. Calkins, in 1871. The second house in Spencer was erected by W.
R. Lamberton, the first house being a log house which was built by J. W. Mastin
upon the site where Spencer now stands, in 1866. B. P. Hough built a house in
1869; J. W. Mastin opened a stock of goods in his log bouse in 1870, this being
the first store in Spencer. Peeso & Bergin, and Tattle & Smith, each opened a
store in 1870. Horace Smith and Field Bros, also opened stores in 1871.

Spencer was incorporated in the spring of 1880. Its first officers were: W. C.
Gilbraith, Mayor; Charles Penfield, Recorder; J. Rood,C. M. Squire, T. P.
Bender, M. P. W. Albee, M. E. Grffin (sic), E. E. Snow, City Council. Present
officers: J. B. Edmunds, Mayor; J. E. Steele, Recorder; I. F. Constant,
Assessor; E. A. Maker, Marshal; C. McKay, Treasurer; J. Rood, W. L. Bender, J.
C. McCoy, M. S. Green, A. C. Perine, J. P. Evans, City Council.

The Spencer Weekly Reporter was first started in 1877, by J. F. Ford, who was
followed by A. T. McCargar; the Barnard Bros, purchased it of McCargar January
1st, 1882. Its politics is Republican; it is a nine-column folio, and has a
circulation of 1,250 copies, and is all printed at their office in Spencer. They
have a finely fitted office, situated on Main street, have a steam power press,
etc.

The Clay County News, C. M. Whitman, editor and proprietor, was established at
Peterson in 1870, but was removed to Spencer in 1871, under the management of J.
F. Ford, now of the Sheldon News. Ford sold to McCargar, who ran the paper some
time, subsequently transferring it to C. M. Gilbreath, who, in turn, disposed of
it to C. M. Whitman, who took possession in 1880, and has since continued in the
management of the paper. It is a seven-column quarto, having been enlarged by
Whitman since he- took charge. It is the oldest paper in county.

The Owl, a monthly paper, conducted by J. B. Edmunds, is devoted to the land and
immigration interests of Northwestern Iowa. It was first issued in 1879, is a
five-column folio, and is gratitutiously circulated through many of the Eastern
States.

CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.

First Congregational Society—Organized March 14th, 1872, under the charge of W.
L. Coleman. First officers: E. Perine, P. M. Moore, H. B. Coryell, Trustees; L.
C. Bergin and P. M. Moore, Deacons; A. W. Miller, Treasurer; L. C. Bergin,
Clerk. The church was organized with the following members: L. C. Bergin, E.
Perine, H. B. Coryell, C. Van Eps, C. Snyder, A. W. Miller, I. Laughten, P. D.
Graves, Helen Graves, P. M. Moore, Mary S. Moore. Present membership, fifty-six.
Rev. J. M. Cumings is the present pastor. The church building was dedicated in
February, 1875; size, 26x36 feet; is supplied with a church bell, the first in
the town, which was placed there by the church society under the pastorate of
Rev. J. M. Cummings in 1869. The cost of the church was $2,754. A parsonage was
built in 1880; size, 16x24 feet; cost, $435. There is a Sabbath School with
ninety-three pupils; Dr. McAllister, Superintendent; Clark Skinner, Treasurer.
The present officers of the church are: L. C. Bergin, P. M. Moore, Deacons; Dr,
McAllister. P. M. Moore, A. W. Miller, Trustees.

Methodist Church.—Spencer Circuit was formed in September, 1871, with Rev.
Charles B. Winter as the first pastor. The first Board of Trustees were: John
Hood, President; M. M. Peeso, Secretary; J. H. Hale, Treasurer; A. M. Calkins,
W. W. Scott, R. Hough, H. B. Wood. The church was built in 1872, and dedicated
June I8th, 1873, by Rev. J. W. Clinton, with a debt of $1,714, which was paid
off by subscription. The first pastor was Rev. C. B. Winters, who was followed
by F. M. Cooley, he by W. H. Drake; then in order by J. W. Lothian, Seymour
Snyder, and E. C. Warren. The present pastor is Rev. P. H. Eighmy. The
membership when first organized was 46, present membership, 115. The first
church was destroyed by fire, and left the society in debt $600. It was rebuilt
in 1880, during the pastorate of E. C. Warren, at a cost of $2,000, and the
society is now free from debt. A parsonage was built in 1881 at a cost of $700;
size, 16x24 feet. The Sunday School has seventy-five pupils; P. H. Eighmy,
Superintendent; M. M. Peeso, Treasurer; Millie Hagrath, Secretary.

Baptist Church.—Organized January 7th, 1874, with David Skinner, Catherine
Skinner, J. A. Bowman, W. H.Davis,S. Hayes, L. Chapin, J. J. Ayres and L. W.
Miller, as members. First officers: D. Skinner, Deacon; L. F. Miller, Clerk; J.
A. Bowman, Treasurer; D. Skinner, J. A. Bowman and W. H. Davis, Trustees.
Present officers: D. Skinner, Deacon and Treasurer; G. C. Farr, Clerk; D.
Skinner, W. M. Davis and William Desbrow, Trustees. First pastor, T. H. Judson,
who was followed by A. V. Bloodgood. This society has no building of their own,
and at present are not supplied with any pastor. There is a Sabbath School with
forty-five pupils; G. C. Farr, Superintendent. This society has purchased two
lots, upon which they propose soon to erect a church and parsonage.

Evening Shade Lodge No. 312, A. F. & A. M—Instituted January 24th, 1872. Charter
granted, June 8th, 1872. Charter members: S. Lacore, S. F. McDonald, A. Wright,
J. W. Crist, S. B. Crist, E. J. Marvine, A. H. Wilber, William Harvey. A
dispensation was granted by 0. P. Waters, Grand Master. First officers, under
dispensation: W. Harvey, W. M.; E. J. Marvine, S. W.; H. H. Wilber, J. W., who
were also the first officers under the charter, with the addition of J. H. Hale,
Treasurer; S. B. Crist, Secretary; J. W. Crist, S. D.: J. F. Ford, J. D.; J. H.
Fend, Tyler. Present officers: W. C. Gilbreath, W. M.; M. P. W. Albee, S. W.; H.
C. Brown, J. W.; J. F. Constant, Secretary: W. M. Davis, Treasurer; J. C. McCoy,
S. D.; A. R. Claxtion, J. D.; S. B. Taylor, Tyler. Membership about thirty.
Meetings are held every Monday evening in each month, on or before the full
moon. The Lodge has no hall of its own, but is in a very flourishing condition.

Spencer Lodge No. 247, I. 0. 0. F.—Instituted October 17th, 1872. Charter
members: H. Smith, A. B. Kline. J. F. Ford, A. G. Hardin, W. I. Rood. First
officers: A. S. Kline, N. G.; H. Smith, V. G.; W. I. Rood, R. S. Present
officers: A. F. Masterman, N. G.; P. E. Randall, V. G.; A. Hubbard,R.
S.;H.Smith, Treasurer. Membership, fifty. Meetings are held Tuesday evening of
each week in Mason's Hall. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition.

Spencer Temple of Honor No. 13.—Organized December 5th, 1881, by Grand W. C. T.
Smith. Charter members: P. E. Randall, C. W. Whitman, M. Tuttle, P. Hodge, J. I.
Garret, W. B. Davidson, Will Hodge, E. D. Sanders, M. C. Brainard, D. R.
Hubbard, D. C. Skinner, and others. First and present officers: C. M. Whitman,
W. C. T.; D. R. Hubbard, W. V. T.; P. E. Randall, F. R.; W. B. Davidson,
Treasurer; M. C. Brainard, R. S.; P. Hodge, Usher; C. Skinner, Chaplain;
membership, twenty; meet once each week (Monday evening), in the Court House.
This is a temperance organization, and is doing effective work for the cause.

Spencer Lodge No. 201, A. O. U. W.—Instituted in August, 1879. First officers:
A. T. McCarger, M. W.;-W. C. Gilbreath, P. M. W.; C. P. Buckey, Rec.; I. F.
Constant, Financier; W. L. Bender, Receiver; E. Pickering, O. S. W.; J. M.
Haggarty, I. S. W.; J. P. Evans, Guide; M. P. W. Albee, Foreman; T. P. Bender,
M. S. Green, M. E. Griffin, Trustees. Present officers: J. W. Andrew, M. W.; N.
Tuttle, Receiver; M. E. Griffin, Recorder; I. F. Constant, Financier; P. E.
Randall, Foreman; W. C. Gilbreath, O. W.; A. T. McCarger, I. W. Meetings are
held once in two weeks.

Clay County Agricultural Board.—Organized in 1879. First officers: T. P. Bender,
President; M. E. Griffin, Treasurer; W. C. Gilbreath, Secretary; Dr. C.
McAllister, J. B. Edmunds, A.T. McCarger, James Godwin, Directors. Present
officers: T. P. Bender, President; J. B. Edmunds, Treasurer; W. C. Gilbreath,
Secretary; C. McAllister, A. T. McCarger, J. P. Evans, M. Hackett, R. Jackson,
Directors. This society owns thirty acres of land, situated one-quarter of a
mile northwest of town, and enclosed with a close board fence seven feet high.
There is a nice amphitheater, which seats 400 people; a floral hall 24x36 feet;
also sheds, stalls, pens, etc.; a Judge's stand, etc., and a good one-half mile
track. Fairs are held once each year. The society is nearly free from debt. The
total cost of the grounds and improvements was $3,000.

The first school-house in the town was built in 1869; C. Carver was the first
teacher. Spencer became an independent district in 1874. Previous to this it was
a part of Spencer Township District. The first Board of Education was: H. B.
Wood, Secretary; H. Smith, Treasurer; M. Hines, President. The first teachers of
the independent district were: Geo. Mann, Principal; Augusta Smith Assistant.
The present school building was erected in the fall of 1879, at a cost of
$4,000; cost of furnishing, $800; size, 48x58 feet. The present Board is
composed of the following gentlemen: T. P. Bender, President; A. W. Miller, J.
C. McCoy, Ackley Hubbard. Present teachers: J. T. Lemar. Principal; Miss L.
Parker, Miss E. Bean, Miss Cowan and Miss Olive Woodruff. The present enrollment
of pupils is about 300.

The Court House was built by the citizens of Spencer in 1871. the county being
given the use of it for three years. The county afterwards bought it. Its
dimensions are 20x40 feet; cost $1,000. There is a prospect of a new Court House
being soon erected.

The C., M. & St. P. Railroad was built to Spencer in 1878. There is a narrow
gauge in course of construction to meet the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, from
Des Moines through Spencer, and thence north through Dickinson County. The
grading for this road is at present completed through the county of Clay.

Tho Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company have in course of construction a road
from Spencer to Spirit Lake, most of the grading on which is completed. This
road is expected to be completed through Clay County during the present year.

Spencer boasts of a creamery, which was established in 1878, by McPherson &
Allen. They have a large building and steam power. This creamery is run on the
cream-gathering plan, and uses cream from nearly every section of the county. It
was operated in 1881 by Penfield, Allen & Co. The building is 20x50 feet in
dimensions, two stories high, and cost about $3,000.

Spencer also has a plow factory, which does business on a small scale, but which
it expects to largely increase in the near future.

The business establishments of Spencer may be thus classified: drugstores, two;
harness, two; agricultural implements, three; billiard halls, three; hardware,
three; shoe stores, two; saloons, two; bookstores, one; furniture, three; banks,
three; general merchandise, ten; elevators, three; barber shops, two; merchant
tailor, one; butter and egg packers, two: music dealers, one; livery, three;
groceries, seven; lumber, four; hotels, three; restaurants, three; jewelry, one;
meat markets, two; fruit store, one.

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