HISTORY: Rippey, Greene County, Iowa ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Submitted by Deb December 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Greene County, Iowa Please visit the Greene County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/greene/ ________________________________________________________ This is from the book "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa" by E. B. Stillman, 1907 RIPPEY. The town of New Rippey was laid out on the then newly established lines of the Des Moines Valley Railroad in June, 1870, by William H. Cartwright of Mediapolis, Iowa, who owned the northwest 1/4 of section 11, township 82, range 29, and Percival & Hatton of Des Moines, Iowa, who owned the southwest 1/4 of section 2, township 82, range 29. The original town plat covered about eighty acres on each side of the section lines between the above named sections. The town received its name from the pioneer village of Rippey which had been established about fifteen years before, three and one-half miles to the southwest on the old Des Moines and Sioux City state road. A change in emigrant travel had practically killed the old town of Rippey, so there was but little left to remove to the new railroad station of Rippey. In fact but one building was moved and this was a small, poorly constructed affair, owned by John Hampenstall, who located this the first building in the new town just across the railroad and about fifty feet north of the depot building. Dr. J. C. Lovejoy, one of the pioneer merchants in old Rippey, who had held the postoffice for ten years, as soon as Hampenstall had established himself in his new location, turned him over the postoffice with its effects. Thus John Hampenstall became New Rippey's first postmaster in the fall of 1870. The first general merchandise store was opened by C. H. Suydam, who is still a resident of New Rippey and president of the Rippey Savings Bank. Dwight Thorp built and ran the first blacksmith shop on the corner of Main and Third streets, the present site of J. H. Shoemaker's blacksmith and implement house. About the same time Isaac Worthington opened up a wagon and blacksmith shop. This was in 1871. There was but one general merchandise store in Rippey until 1875, when J. H. Peabody put in the second store on the corner of Main and Third streets, on the present site of B. F. Osborn's drug store. In 1878, J. H. Peabody closed out his business and B. F. Osborn opened the first drug store where he has continued uninterruptedly ever since. New Rippey made but little growth until 1875, but during this and the succeeding year it took on quite a substantial boom and developed into a thriving village and good business point. John Betterbenner built the first hotel and was New Rippey's first landlord. He was followed in 1876 by J. C. Oakes, who built the present hotel building on the corner of Main and Third streets, and who continued in the business for over twenty years. William Anderson was Rippey's first grain and stock dealer. His office and warehouse was located about fifty yards north and east of the depot. Captain W. C. Wells, the first regularly established railroad and express agent did most of the buying for him. Captain Wells was also the pioneer postmaster for ten years. John Hampenstall and C. H. Suydam only holding it for very short periods prior to this. NEWSPAPERS. The Rippey Times was the first newspaper published. It was started January 1, 1884, as an advertising sheet for the general merchandise firm of W. B. Keeler & Sons. It was edited by William S. Keeler, an eighteen year old son of W. B. Keeler. Young Keeler had never had any experience in newspaper work but after experimenting four months, on May 1 he came out with a four column quarto and launched his newspaper venture. Although the paper lacked in a great many ways of coming up to the usual standard, yet in spite of the disadvantages of inexperience, the young editor got out a newsy little sheet that had quite a respectable circulation for about two years, until failing health compelled him to lay down his work. William H. Cartwright who owned the townsite, besides other real estate interests, had a daughter who had married a young man by the name of George E. E. Townsend, who had practical newspaper experience. Mr. Cartwright fitted out his son-in-law with a good printing outfit and Townsend took up the work laid down by young Keeler. Although Townsend got out a very good paper he failed to make a success, and after struggling along for about a year abandoned the field. Succeeding this there was sporadic efforts to maintain a paper. There was the Rippey Review, the Rippey Rippler, The Rippey Gazette, etc., with the names repeated by different adventurers, but after a longer or shorter periods, all met the common fate. It was not until 1900, when H. F. Smith started the Rippey Register, that the business was on anything like a permanent foundation. Although there has been a number of changes in editors and ownership, the Register has been a regular and continuous publication, and at the present, under the management and ownership of A. D. Granger, is a creditable publication issued from a well equipped printing office. SCHOOLS. The first schoolhouse in New Rippey was built by Samuel Fulks during the summer of 1871, on lots 5 and 6, block 4, corner of Percival and First streets, where J. M. Parr's residence at present stands. In fact the schoolhouse was remodelled and worked into the present building. Mrs. Charles M. Ridle, then Miss. Maggie Cochran, was the first teacher both in the town and in the first schoolhouse. New Rippey originally was a part of the district township of Washington, being known first as subdistrict No. 12, when it extended to Grand Junction, as subdistrict No. 9, in the spring of 1871, when a school was provided for it. J. H. Ridle was the first subdirector and employed the first teacher. Rippey continued in the district township of Washington as an unorganized country school until 1884, when it with five contiguous sections was set off as the Independent District of Rippey. The first board of directors of the independent district was composed of three members, W. L. McCrory, president; B. F. Osborn, secretary, and Thomas Carmody. This board in 1884 located the present school site, and had erected the present school building. School opened in the fall of 1884 with John H. Upton of Perry as principal, Miss. Georgie McNeil, grammar, and Mrs. E. O. Nutt, primary. Since its organization our school has always maintained a high standard and its alumni association includes the best and most progressive young men and women who have gone out from our town. The district is entirely out of debt. There is no discord either in the board, the school, or among the patrons and the surrounding country outside of the district is generously contributing its brightest students to swell the already large and enthusiastic attendance. The present corps of teachers is D. D. Carleton, principal; J. L. Hoshal and Agnes Kupfer, intermediate, and Sadie Pyle, primary. The board is: N. P. Burk, president; A. H. Hyg, H. E. Robert, J. S. Dugan and E. A. Shaw, with F. F. Kreamer as secretary and C. H. Suydam, treasurer. BANKS. The Bank of Rippey was established in 1888. It was a private bank with C. H. Suydam as president and C. L. Suydam, his wife, cashier. A second private bank was organized in 1889 by S. W. Johnson & Bro., with S. Wesley Johnson as president and William A. Johnson cashier. With the exception of a short time Rippey has continued to have two banks and at present have two regularly incorporated substantial banks, each owning and housed in fine substantial brick buildings. The First National with W. H. McCammon president, J. M. Woodworth, vice-president and J. H. Van Scoy, cashier. The board of directors are: W. H. McCammon, J. M. Woodworth, J. H. Van Scoy, Allen Mace and A. P. Gilliland. The Rippey Savings Bank, C. H. Suydam, president; John Cavanaugh, vice-president, and E. E. Robinson, cashier. The board of directors are: C. H. Suydam, John Cavanaugh, John Phelan, E. E. Robinson, B. F. Osborn, J. H. Shipley, John Carmody, Oscar Strauss and C. H. Martin. INCORPORATE RIPPEY. Although Rippey had been a thriving village for over twenty years and was filled with active, progressive citizens, there had always been a strong sentiment against incorporation, the business men preferring to put in public improvements by popular subscription. Good sidewalks and crossings were supplied in this way, and the town was very well governed by a justice of the peace and constables. With business changes, a change of opinion gradually grew, until in the spring of 1896 a movement was put on foot to incorporate the town which resulted in favor of incorporation. Quite a spirited election for town officers was held, resulting as follows: A. J. Leake, mayor; D. W. Davis, clerk; S. W. Johnson, treasurer. For councilmen, C. H. Suydam, A. M. Hall, W. J. Leake, Archibald Burk, W. H. Bardole and J. H. Shipley. The first council meeting was held in W. J. Leake's grain office on May 29, 1896. The first year's work for the new town's temporary officers was too strenous to be pleasant and when they heard it rumored that the faction that had been defeated the year before, had held a caucus and were making a still hunt for all the offices, the weary officials decided to let the opposition have the elephant without even making a showing. Unfortunately the other fellows got scared, and did not file their nominating papers. A few days before election, when too late, it was discovered that no nominating papers had been filed and no election could be held. Through the kind assistance of the legal talent of the legislature, an ingenous loop hole was found in the law which saved the incorporation. But it did not save Rippey from a vast amount of questionable notoriety. The newspapers, not only in the United States, but in several instances in Europe, took the incident up and all kinds of stories were afloat, at the expense of the citizens of Rippey. The most common version was that the town was a back number and let the election go past without knowing it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as Rippey in fact is one of the most live, wide awake little towns in the state, although her population is a little below the five hundred mark, yet she does a business equal to the average town of double the size. Extensive coal deposits have been developed and are being worked near the town. Several years ago a large railroad coal mine was operated in town for a number of years, but was abandoned on account of bad business management, coupled with labor trouble, although large deposits of good coal were exposed at the works when the mine was abandoned. Charles Summers was Rippey's first marshal. In 1898 James P. Fowler was elected mayor and served until August, 1899, when he moved from the village and B. E. Loar was appointed to fill the vacancy. He resigned in October and A. H. Mercer served the remainder of the term by appointment, and afterward served a full term of two years. In 1902 Charles summers was elected mayor, filling the place for two years. At the regular election in 1904, H. L. Davis (now deputy county auditor), was chosen as mayor and served until his removal to Jefferson in December of that year. E. McDowell was appointed as his successor, but only served until February following, and the remainder of the term J. L. Hoshal was mayor of the town until the spring election, when E. Radebaugh was elected for the term of one year. The present mayor is J. N. Gilmore, whose term will expire in 1908. John Haberer is clerk and J. M. Parr, treasurer. The council is as follows: H. F. White, George Naylor, D. F. Smith, William Radebaugh, J. H. Shoemaker and W. B. John. The business interests of Rippey are represented as follows: one hotel, two physicians, three general stores, one hardware and furniture store, two implement houses, one drug store, two banks, two millinery stores, two restaurants, three blacksmith shops, one printing office, one harness shop, one meat market, one livery barn, four real estate offices, one novelty store, two elevators, two stock buyers, three insurance offices, one lumber, tile and cement yard, one poultry company, three coal mines, two telephone exchanges, four painters, two paper hangers, one veterinary surgeon, three carpenters and builders, one dray line, two barber shops, two shoe shops, one railway, the Minneapolis & St. Louis, making direct connection between Des Moines and St. Paul. COMMERCIAL CLUB. The business interests of Rippey are well organized and all work in harmony for the best interests of the town. A commercial club which embraces practically the entire business realm, has been organized for a year and is doing effective work. Its officers are B. F. Osborn, president; J. H. Van Scoy, vice-president; John Haber, secretary; and E. E. Robinson, treasurer. CIVIC SOCIETIES. JOSEPHINE LODGE, No. 99, AMERICAN YEOMEN OF RIPPEY.--This is, comparatively speaking, a new lodge. James A. Garvin is foreman and Mrs. Mary McDowell correspondent. The present membership is sixteen. While the organization is on a solid basis, its primary object is fraternal insurance, hence its meetings are not stated and regular. ELMO LODGE, A. F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation at Angus, Iowa, December 31, 1884, and in June, 1885, was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge, as No. 465, and June 24, 1885, the following officers were installed: W. M., L. B. Thomas; S. W., A. Y. Swayne; J. W., Morgan Jenkins; treasurer, A. S. Grossman; secretary, John F. Curran. At the time the lodge was organized, Angus was a flourishing mining town, with a population of 5,000. A big strike occurred in the mines in 1885, and most of them were shut down. The town rapidly decreased in population and the membership of the lodge was scattered. As a majority of the members who attended the lodge lived in or near Rippey, in January, 1894, by unanimous vote, the lodge was moved to this place. The first meeting of the lodge in Rippey was held February 7, 1894, the officers being as follows: W. M., J. H. Shipley; S. W., B. F. Osborn; J. W., M. F. Fry; secretary, A. J. Leach; treasurer, L. F. Lofstedt. The following are the present officers of the lodge: W. M., E. A. Shaw; S. W., S. I. Beaman; J. W., William Radebaugh; treasurer, A. M. Hull; secretary, J. H. Van Scoy. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of thirty-six. The worshipful masters of the lodge since its organization have been as follows: L. B. Thomas, 1884-89; A. L. Grossman, 1890-91; D. F. Davis, 1892-93; J. H. Shipley, 1894-96; B. F. Osborn, 1897; William Radebaugh, 1898; S. A. Dorland, 1899; W. F. Templeton, 1899-1900; B. F. Loar, 1901; D. J. Bidwell, 1901; J. N. Shipley, 1902-05; E. A. Shaw, 1906-07. RIPPEY LODGE, No. 466, I. O. O. F., was organized June 23, 1883, with eight charter members, as follows: Jesse Bullock, E. L. Frizelle, G. J. Griffith, G. N. Phillips, R. B. Cook, J. P. Law, E. P. Harmon, and S. Q. Free. Officers when organized: N. G., Gus J. Griffith; V. G., E. L. Frizelle; secretary, S. Q. Free; treasurer, J. P. Law; Trustees, Jesse Bullock, F. E. Harmon and R. B. Cook. The present officers are: N. G., S. J. Beaman; V. G., J. L. Dugan; secretary, S. McDowell; P. S., J. Bullock; treasurer, Banyer Burk. This lodge has had the services of twenty-three men in the past grand's chair, and its records show a present membership of twenty-three. In 1884 the lodge built its hall, a commodious two-story structure, 22x60 feet in size. ALICE BLUE REBEKAH LODGE, No. 414, I. O. O. F., was organized November 8, 1906, with thirteen charter members, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Naylor, Mr. and Mrs. George Turpin, Mr. and Mrs. Banyer Burk, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Morain, Dr. and Mrs. H. E. Lovejoy, and Miss. Bertha Beaman. The first officers elected were: N. G., Mrs. Eva Lovejoy; V. G., Mrs. Rebecca Naylor; financial secretary, H. E. Lovejoy; secretary, Bertha Beaman; treasurer, Banyer Burk. The present officers are: N. G., Rebecca Naylor; V. G., Bertha Beaman; secretary, Almeda Rittgers; treasurer, Ella Lysinger; financial secretary, Mary McDowell. The organization seems to have grown at once into special popularity. The sessions are held in the Odd Fellows' hall. PAWNEE TRIBE, No. 104, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RED MEN, was organized April 5, 1901, with the following charter members; D. P. L. McDowell, N. D. Miller, L. W. Hardenbrook, P. O. Jackson, T. H. McClure, George Fessler, Thomas E. Dugan, Charles A. Garvin, August Frable, I. B. Hiddleson, Allen Moberly, M. Sullivan, W. J. Hoshal, Herman Fisher, O. Smith, D. E. Davis, F. B. Riley, William Patterson, Jr., Joseph McGaffee, J. L. Dugan. The first officers installed were: D. P. L. McDowell, sach; George Fessler, sen. sag.; I. B. Hiddleson, Jr. sag; D. E. Davis, chief of records; C. A. Garvin, prof. The present membership in good standing is eighty and the tribe is in a good, healthy, growing condition, supported by bright, active young men. The present officers are: Charles G. Barnes, sach.; George T. Mercer, sr. sag; I. B. Hiddleson, jr. sag.; J. L. Dugan, prof.; Jay States, chief of records. Trustees, C. D. Connor, Milton Hiddleson, George T. Mercer. RIPPEY CAMP, No. 1761, MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA, was chartered September 8, 1892, with the following members: George W. Harvey, Edward B. Curtis, David William Davis, Charles Harmon, Eugene Harmon, John H. Shipley, Benjamin F. Osborn, Joseph Lampman, Herman Raaz, William R. Martin. At the first election the following officers were chosen and installed: B. F. Osborn, consul; J. H. Shipley, Benjamin F. Osborn, Joseph Lampman, Harmon, secretary. Rippey camp is an active, progressive, growing organization, with a present membership of ninety- nine with the following officers: E. A. Shaw, consul; W. G. Cain, advisor; J. M. Parr, banker; John Haber, secretary. THE RIPPEY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was first organized at what is now called "Old Rippey," four miles west of Rippey, by Rev. John Anderson, in 1855, and added to the Panora circuit. The Rippey circuit was organized in the autumn of 1873, with sixty members, and Rev. D. M. Mallory appointed to preach. The pastors since then have been: 1876-'77, Rev. C. Hover; 1877-'78, Rev. B. F. Shetterly; 1878-'79, Rev. S. W. Milligan; 1879-'80, Rev. C. W. Stewart; 1880-'82, Rev. G. W. Hall; 1882- '83, Rev. A. W. Armstrong; 1883-'85, Rev. William Abraham; 1885-'87, Rev. John Elliott. Names of pastors since that date were not obtainable. The first board of trustees were: H. B. Kerr, Robert Gibson, Samuel Free, J. H. Ridler, Asa Fritz, Wm. Anderson, John B. John, W. M. Law, Wm. C. Elder, Wm. Tall, Thos. Young. The society worshiped in the village school house until 1880, when during the pastorate of Rev. G. M. Hall, a church was built which did service for twenty-six years, when it became necessary to remodel and enlarge it. These improvements were commenced in the fall of 1906 and the completed church was dedicated December 30 of the same year. It is now a modern, commodious and beautiful structure, valued at $5,000. G. W. Koser is the present pastor, appointed in September, 1906. The official board at present is: J. H. Van Scoy, H. F. White, Jacob Rohrer, Allen Mace, E. E. Robinson, Miles Morain, H. S. Free, S. D. McDowell, Mrs. Jacob Derry and Mrs. J. H. Van Scoy. The charge consists of three appointments: Rippey, Berkley and Angus, with a combined membership of 240. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF RIPPEY was organized May 24, 1900, with six charter members, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hoshal, Mrs. C. M. Ridle, Mrs. D. J. H. Shipley, Mrs. Colo Laub and Mrs. Adelaide Smith. Officers were: Deacon, J. L. Hoshal; church clerk, Mrs. C. M. Ridle; pastor, Rev. J. O. Staples. Recognition services were held June 26, 1900. During the summer of 1901, the church having increased its membership to 25, erected a beautiful frame house of worship at a cost of $3,000. The Sabbath school was organized in November, 1900, with J. L. Hoshal as superintendent, an office he still occupies. B. Y. P. U. was organized in 1902, with James Cross as president, an office now held by Guy Glidden. On the morning of August 1, 1906, the church building was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The members, with the aid of sympathizing friends, at once rebuilt, with cement blocks, a more costly building than the one destroyed. The present pastor is Rev. Alex. Robertson; Deacons J. L. Hoshal, C. M. Ridle and Sam Jay. The men last named with L. B. Crandall are the trustees. Mrs. C. M. Ridle is clerk and Mrs. Grace Glidden, president of Women's Mission Circle. Membership at present, forty. CHURCH OF CHRIST.--This congregation was organized at Rippy in April, 1883, by Elder J. D. K. Lowrey with twenty-five charter members, and the church immediately employed Rev. Irvin Wright as pastor for one year. For the second year the services of Rev. J. A. Walters were engaged. The officers at the time of organization were as follows: Elders: J. D. K. Lowery, W. M. Fleetwood, Orlando Kinshaw. Deacons: Kelley Webb, John H. Bethel, Fernando Kinshaw. On the 16th of April, 1899, a meeting of the members was held at the Gonder schoolhouse to consider the advisability of erecting a house of worship at Rippey, and the project was unanimously endoresed and the present structure built. The trustees at the present time are: F. M. Stevens, J. A. Chambers, John Burke, B. F. Bradley, John Shoemaker. At the present time the church has one hundred and forty-three members, and supports all the various auxiliaries of a local religious body. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was organized May 18, 1880, by the following committee, appointed by the Presbytery of Fort Dodge; Rev. W. G. Hillman, Rev. A. K. Baird and Elder C. Metzger. The original members were Samuel Rhodes, Mrs. E. B. Lovejoy, Mrs. Hannah Keller, Mrs. Margaret Holines, W. A. Shormley and wife, E. A. Porter and wife, Robert Fleming and wife, J. R. Derry, Miss. Mary Aylet, George H. Bennett and wife. The following have served as ruling elders: Robert Fleming, E. A. Porter, W. A. Shormley, C. A. Garvin, A. L. Grow, A. C. Lovejoy and William McCrory. This church has never had a regular pastor, its pulpit having been supplied by the pastor at Grand Junction church. Until within the past few years the organization has been in a comparatively prosperous condition. In 1883 a handsome, commodious church building was erected and occupied until two years ago, when, owing to deaths and removals, the numbers became so reduced they abandoned further effort and disbanded, and their edifice was offered for sale. THE RIPPEY CLASS OF THE BETHEL U. B. CHURCH was organized with a membership of thirty, to take advantage of the church building thus vacated and offered for sale, and immediately contracted for its purchase, which was recently effected. Since it came into possession of its newly acquired property, services have been regularly held by Rev. R. R. Percy, of Dawson.