Guthrie County IA Archives History - Books .....1870-1880 1932
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 6, 2007, 12:20 am

Book Title: A Record

[photo GUTHRIE CENTER IN 1874. VIEW FROM HILL SOUTH SIDE OF EAST STATE STREET]

1870-80

   THE eighth decade, (the seventies) was ushered in by a very successful
religious revival under the leadership of Rev. Charles Ashton, a pastor of the
M. E. church. The first M. E. church was built in 1871.

   In 1870, the people voted for the third time on the removal of the county
seat. Panora won by 29 votes. In October, 1873, at the time of the regular
election, the removal was again submitted and at this time decided in favor of
Guthrie Center by a majority of 182. This was the final contest and a triumphant
victory for the town.

   The skids were taken from under the county capital and it was safely anchored
at Guthrie Center.

   The next question was a court house. Two-thirds of the swamp land fund was
voted to build a court house at Guthrie Center. A court house was built in 1877,
at a cost of $30,000.00. Railway connections were undertaken. Mercantile
ventures were established and developed.

   In 1879 D. L. Motz rebuilt the flouring mill, put through a new race, and
made the plant modern and up-to-date. The mill became a very popular and
flourishing one, drawing trade from a large territory.

   During the evening of February 17, 1878, a fire broke out in the back part of
the Dr. Bower drug store which was supposed to have been the work of an
incendiary. D. P. Williams was severely hurt. The I. O. O. F. lost their hall
and all their paraphernalia and records. All the buildings on the northeast part
of block thirty-four on State street were burned, except the Carpenter dwelling.
This fire, with the criminal litigation connected with it, was a tragic event.
There was no conviction for arson in connection therewith.

   The county was settling up. New people were coming in. It was the age of
adaptation, subduing, multiplying, "sit steady, don't rock the boat." Where the
cabin was, the school house appeared; where the school house was, the church
arose. The prairies gave way to golden fields; the ridge road, to the highways.

   The soldiers of the sixties became warriors of agriculture and industry. The
promise of a wider and broader world was in the air and the possibilities of
great agricultural development put a tinge of golden promise in the heavens.  
It was a period of holding onto the beginnings and developing them, of
foundations and building them. Every mental faculty focused on the arithmetic of
addition. It was not a place of health and peace for the loafer and criminal.
Churches and fraternities were well patronized. The ills and tragedies and
sorrows of one became the anguish of all. Communal relations were closely drawn
and always for the common good. Hearts throbbed with hospitality, human sympathy
and love. It was cling, dig, push, pull and pray, close margins, capacity loads,
carry your own burden, and help the weaker. It was a great decade of
responsibility and great anxiety. Additions to the town were: Gingrich's 1871;
Ordway's 1876; McIntire's 1877.

   The following were commissioned postmasters at Guthrie Center, Iowa, during
this decade:

   Wm. H. Wetherbee, October 3, 1871.
   George F. Whesler, March 18, 1872.
   E. F. Huxley, December 7, 1872.
   Wm. Tracy, January 13, 1873.
   Charles Huxley, July 28, 1873.
   Emerson H. Kimball, December 14, 1877.
   Wm. Holsman, February 20, 1879.

   The following quintet contributed in a large measure to the history and
growth of the city during this decade and were prominent in its affairs:

[photo - DR. JOHN BOWER]

DR. JOHN BOWER

   Dr. John Bower, one of the most necessary and useful men connected with the
growth of Guthrie Center, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, April
12, 1823. Actively engaged in the practice of medicine, he rode the hills and
valleys of Guthrie county in daylight and darkness, in storm and sunshine,
making a trail where there was none, following faint ones along the ridges and
across the sloughs, unrestricted by section lines, floundering through the mud
and swamps, over drifts wherever and whenever called, facing flood, suffering
the sting of sleet, the chill of frost, never turning back but on to the bedside
of those who moaned with pain and burned with fever. The ills of men, suffering
of mothers, the piteous appeal of stricken children, were ever upon his mighty
soul. Rich with the love and gratitude of the multitudes that had received his
lavish services and of the hosts of friends that knew him, he died at Guthrie
Center December 12. 1892. His son, Dr. Edward L. Bower (Ann Arbor, Mich., 1886)
became associated with him following his graduation and has continued this
practice successfully to the present day, 47 years in the same office building.


[photo - JAMES A. LYONS]

[photo - EDWARD E. DOSH]

[photo - MOTZ OPERA HOUSE]

JAMES A. LYONS

   James A. Lyons, merchant impetuous, forceful, honest and trustworthy, made a
success of the dry goods business and without neglecting his business became
interested in politics and served in the General Assembly and as Auditor of the
State. He was a captain in the Civil war. He went to Grand Junction, Colorado,
in 1903. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, April 12, 1832, and died at Grand
Junction, Colorado, May 12, 1906.

JOHN MOTZ

   John Motz, the merchant, shrewd, genial, good natured, could be depended upon
in all that was for the welfare of the town. His cheering personality and public
spirit made him a helpful character in this decade and drew trade to his store
from all parts of the county. Born in Center county, Pennsylvania, October 13,
1822, died at Guthrie Center, Iowa, June 6, 1906.

GILES C. MILLER

   Giles C. Miller, a lovable friend to everybody, was superintendent of public
instruction and active in the development of the schools. He was loyal to
Guthrie Center and interested in its growth. His genial personality attracted
folks to the new town and to himself. He was born near South Bend, Indiana,
December 14, 1848, and died at Guthrie Center, October 7, 1890.

DANIEL LUTHER MOTZ

   Daniel Luther Motz, the miller, was probably the most versatile in his
commercial enterprises of them all. He was a merchant, landlord, farmer, miller,
contractor, builder and liveryman. Was a soldier in the Civil war. It was said
of him that no matter how often he fell he always lit on his feet. He was born
in Center county, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1839, and died at Cripple Creek,
Colorado, a few years ago.

   These distinguished citizens in passing this municipality on to their
successors, could do so with honor and a sense of pride and satisfaction.

   The Decade of the Seventies were years of promise and possibilities.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A RECORD
History
Biography
Memory

Pioneer Times and Peoples

GUTHRIE CENTER I0WA

By ELBERT WRIGHT WEEKS
1932


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