Garden Grove, Decatur County, Iowa - History Timeline Transcribed by Diana Hanson . Submitted to the USGenWeb Project Archives on July 2nd, 1998. ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================================================== Garden Grove was founded in 1846 by a colony of Mormons on their way to Utah, From 1,000 to 1,500 altogether, stopped here for a few years and then passed on to "Zion.". Brigham Young, the leader of the Mormons, gave the town its name 1st, because there was then a fine grove where the opera house now stands, and 2nd, because the "Saints", arriving late in the season, were unable to plant farm crops, and only made gardens. The first permanent settlers arrived in October, 1848, and following that there was a steady stream of immigration, and it was not long before the town thrived. 1858 - Odd Fellows lodge organized 1860 - Temple Lodge AF & AM organized rechartered in '65 1861 - Abt. August 5, Col. L. 3d Iowa Calvary left Garden Grove for the War. 1862 - August 25. Co. A, 34th Iowa Infantry left Garden Grove for the War. 1866 - The first Presbyterian church building was completed at a cost of $1,375 1868 - The first Methodist church building was built, under the pastorate of Rev. J.W. Todd 1869 - H.M. Belvel established the Garden Grove Enterprise. 1871 - The C. B. & Q. Railroad reached Garden Grove. 1875 - J.O. Parrish established the Express, the Enterprise plant having been moved to Eagleville, Mo. 1875 - the first cheese factory built 1876 - The Ohio House built 1878 - The Alumbaugh temperance meetings were held and 428 signed the pledge. 1879 - the town incorporated 1880 - Normal school building opened 1882 - Ordinance passed for a one mill tax for a public library 1883 - St. John Episcopal church organized. 1883 - The Tiffin Bank was organized 1884 - Henry Walton Post G.A.R. organized (Grand Army of the Republic) 1884 - February 28, $20,000 fire, one block on the south side of Main street, destroyed. 1884 - Memorial Day first observed here. 1886 - First Old Settlers Meeting held August 25th. 1888 - Knights of Pythias lodge organized with twenty-two charter members. 1889 - Chapter T, P.E.O. Sisterhood organized. 1891 - Disastrous wind storm. 1891 - J.F. Lewis' saw mill blown up, the boiler being thrown 200 feet north, where it can still be seen. 1892 - March 19, $10,000 fire, eight buildings on the south side of Main Street burned. 1893 - Decatur County Banking Association failed with assets amounting to $300,000.00 The Old Settlers Association The association of the Old Settlers of Garden Grove and vicinity was organized in 1886 and included all who had been residents of Iowa for thirty years or more. The first reunion was very successful, it being estimated at the time that there were nearly 4,000 persons present and about 250 of them settled here early enough to come within the thirty year limit. Every year since then the meeting has been held, and there has never failed to be a large crowd present and a pleasant time. Of the 254 whose names were given as present at the first reunion, more than forty were dead at the time of the writing of the County history. Enos Davis, a member of the first party of permanent settlers was made president at the first meeting and has held that position ever since, until his death.