Guthrie County IA Archives History - Books .....1880 - 1890 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 6, 2007, 12:53 am Book Title: A Record [photo - OLD SCHOOL BUILDING IN GUTHRIE CENTER] 1880-90 THE dominant feature of the life of this municipality during this decade was construction,—political and commercial extension. A railway connection was established; a big celebration of that event occurred August 19, 1880. The Center Bank passed into the hands of Rogers & Dewey. The Calderwood block was built in 1882. The Citizens Bank was established with E. R. Sayles as cashier. The Hess and Longacre buildings were built in 1887. D. L. Motz built the second court house in 1883, to replace the one that burned March 3, 1882. The Motz opera house was built, a fire department was organized, and went in a body to Des Moines and took part in the State Tournament. The permanent organization of the Presbyterian church occurred in May, 1880. In 1887 the Guthrie State Bank was organized, which afterwards changed to the First National. [photo - GUTHRIE COUNTY COURT HOUSE] In 1887 Capt. Charles Stuart, the founder of Stuart, started his dry goods business in Guthrie Center, and afterwards built a large building where the Farmers Creamery now stands, and for a number of years conducted the largest general mercantile business in the county. He followed the railroad in, with his grain and lumber business; H. M. Sampson, manager. Because of his wholesale slashing methods of doing business, his lavish use of money, and pull with the railroad, he was believed to be a very dangerous rival by a numer of our business men, and opposition developed so strong that he centralized his interests at Audubon, instead of Guthrie Center. Some notoriety was given the town through political channels. The county was part of the old seventh Congressional District, the capital district of the state. E. W. Weeks was elected a delegate therefrom to the Republican national convention, (1884, the Blaine and Logan convention). Hon. James A. Lyons was elected Auditor of the State. The Blaine and Logan campaign was a "rip-snorter." Speakers, parades, fire-works, everybody including the men, women and children, became excited and enthused. Guthrie Center people went to Stuart, by special train and paraded the streets one night, Stuart folks went by special train to Guthrie Center, and in greater numbers; Guthrie Center, to Panora, then Panora to Guthrie Center: Charlie Hill brought over a mounted company, paraded down State street in a blaze of glory, and with a din of noise, the envy of the Center folks and the delight of the boys. Alack! "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion", uttered by an unwise friend was the "Shibboleth" that brought death to the political life of James G. Blaine and defeat of the national ticket. He lacked some 1500 votes of carrying New York. The schools were strengthened. Highways into the town were improved, new ones established and opened up. The press strengthened and built up along permanent and influential lines. In May, 1880, the Ashtons took control of "The Guthrian." Charles Ashton, the father, editor, the two boys, Will and Hib, handling the mechanical part. This paper under this management became a very useful organ, moulding public opinion and building up true American social life, not only in Guthrie Center, but throughout the western part of the state. H. W. Stoy bought the "Iowa Star" from Motz & Mingus, in March, 1887, and gave it a new name, "The Times." H. W. Stoy was reporter, editor and publisher. He made it a very influential paper, a success. And from that time to the present (45 years), the paper under the management of the Stoys (father and son) has been an influential factor in all that was good for Guthrie Center and her people, and in the growth and development of the town. Thus, there came into this decade two important factors for good, and to our people, since the dates given, a dependable and progressive press. Additions to the town: Tracy's September 24, 1880. Wetmore's September 25, 1880. Clippinger's December 31, 1880. The following gentlemen served as postmaster at Guthrie Center, Iowa, during the eighties of the nineteenth century: Wm. Holsman, date of commission, April 12, 1882. John A. McLaughlin, date of commission, July 12, 1886. The following gentlemen were conspicious for their influence and contributions to the growth and development of Guthrie Center during the Eighties of the nineteenth century: [photo - CHARLES ASHTON] CHARLES ASHTON Charles Ashton hated shame and sin, and loved God and righteousness. He had great ability to express himself vigorously, either orally or with his pen. His courage, energy and militant spirit prompted him to combat every cause or project which he conceived to be wrong or unwise, and he usually did so with such vehemence and facts as to discomfit those who opposed him, and to bring approval of his own views and a large following. He had a tinge of the Puritan, and the intolerance that he sometimes manifested was bred in him from his long and successful pastorate in the M. E. church. He sought to hold everybody to a high standard of good and pure living. His was a very useful character in developing and establishing a new center of social life. He was a member of the "Iowa Columbian Commission," representing: the ninth congressional district, and was chairman of the "Archaeological, Historical and Statistical committee." He was largely responsible for Iowa's building and showing at the Exposition, and he formulated and prepared the report of the commission which is a very useful and valuable record, containing four hundred twenty-five pages, a 25,000 edition of which has long since been exhausted. The prominence and success of the showing of the state at this fair placed the state in the front rank of the states and countries participating in the exposition, and brought to the state of Iowa the attention of the world, and it was largely due to Mr. Ash-ton's labors and genius in bringing together the facts and material showing the resources and civilization of his beloved Iowa. As illustrative of his characteristics I quote two sentences from one of his editorials. "We have no patience with the foolishness of populist (socialistic) political ideas that are framed on the idea that the government should furnish the meal and bake the cake and see that it is baked in a first-class cookery style while the chap that is to eat it stands with folded hands looking on. We have ever found that when we waited for Providence to turn things up they often didn't turn; but when we went at it to turn things up we turned something up at least." It may be well said that, so far as the influence and impress of any one mind upon the people of Guthrie Center during the decades included in the article are concerned, his was the greatest and most useful of them all. To be able, as this man did, to mould the thoughts of men and drive them to a better life and to push society onto higher levels of progress and righteousness by the very power of his character, arguments and assemblage of facts, shows the mark of genius. He was born in England. June 2, 1823, and died at Guthrie Center, August 26, 1903. [photo - H. K. DEWEY] H. K. DEWEY H. K. Dewey—"Kirk," as he was familiarly called— was a keen, shrewd business man, ever ready to take a chance on, or with, his friends. The Center Bank and abstract business projected by Ira P. Wetmore in the early seventies was taken over by the firm of Rogers & Dewey, and for many years successfully operated thereby. Kirk was honest, faithful and full of energy. His word he remembered and kept. He was full of fraternal love and fellowship; a loyal, true character and unselfish, benevolent and useful in his service to his fellowmen, auditor of the county, member of the general assembly, representing his church in the general conference and always performing his official duties with great ability and efficiency. His life was a tower of strength on the battle line of development and progress. He was born in Vermont in 1846, and died at Guthrie Center in 1921. At the marshalling of the world's assets, there will be found a balance to the credit H. K. Dewey. JAMES H. ROGERS James H. Rogers was different but useful. He was literary and aesthetic in his tastes. Books, nature and his family were his horizon, his food, his life. He was clean and accurate in his business. He had the confidence of all. He accumulated a fine library in which he took great delight and loved to share it with his friends. He became a strong Bible teacher and very useful in Sunday school work. He suggested a literary lecture for Guthrie Center, and with the writer procured Robert J. Burdette, who came and delivered, in the old Baptist church the first lecture in the new town. His subject was, "The Rise and Fall of the Mustache." The attendance did not equal the guaranty. "Bob" declared that he would not allow an Iowa audience to lose on him, and he accepted the receipts as his pay. Oliver Buck, the liveryman, took him to Casey the next morning, and "Bob" told so many funny stories on the way that Buck would not accept any pay for taking him to the railway station. "Jim," as we called him, was gentle and kind in his manner and tender and sympathetic toward his fellows. His was a character that smoothed the rough surface of social life and was an influence for culture and refinement,—always placid, good natured, peaceful. He was interested in the schools and churches of the town. He was born in the state of New York. February 22, 1844, and died at Guthrie Center, June 17, 1904. H. J. HESS H. J. Hess, hardware merchant, was a very useful character in building up the town of Guthrie Center. He was honest, careful and prosperous. His was a rugged, vigorous character, full of energy and hard work. He had the confidence of his friends and customers and occupied many positions whereby he could and did serve the people faithfully and well. He was conservative and careful in all his ways, giving good service in many responsible places. He was connected with various projects that were vital to the progress of the town. His judgment was always safe and correct. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1849, and died at Guthrie Center, in 1921. DAVID P. WILLIAMS. David P. Williams, operating a stock and meat business, had to do with a wide circle of patrons. The townspeople were his principal customers, and the farmers and country people had dealings with him. He had the confidence of those who dealt with him, he was genial, courteous, prompt. He brought into the county and developed the Hereford, white faced cattle, adding much to the improvement of and value of the cattle industry. In buying and selling stock and handling the meat market business he developed into a very influential and responsible business man. He attracted and held trade at Guthrie Center; aided the farmers at public sales, and did much to help and develop the town and the county. He was born in the state of New York in 1845, and died at Guthrie Center in 1916. The activities of the men of this decade covered a wide range. Their loyalty to the interests and good of Guthrie Center was the "polar star" of their course. It can be said of them, they added to the legacy that came to them, to the great good and benefit of their own beneficiaries. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A RECORD History Biography Memory Pioneer Times and Peoples GUTHRIE CENTER I0WA By ELBERT WRIGHT WEEKS 1932 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/guthrie/history/1932/arecord/1880189037gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 12.1 Kb