Monona County IA Archives History - Books .....Monona County History 1882 1882 ************************************************ 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: Alice Warner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003503 July 25, 2009, 3:49 pm Book Title: History Of Western Iowa: Its Settlement And Growth MONONA COUNTY. This county lies on the Missouri River, and is in the fifth tier from the northern and southern boundaries of the State. It is twenty-four miles north and south, by an average of nearly thirty miles east and west, in extent, and comprises sixteen full congressional townships, and some four or five that are fractional, embracing in all an area of about six hundred and eighty square miles. The Missouri River, which is the western boundary, runs in a southeasterly direction, making the southern boundary line some twelve miles shorter than the northern. A considerable area of the county is of bottom, or valley lands, upwards of one hundred and sixty-five thousand acres being included in the great Missouri River bottom, through the western portion of the county. The ascent of these bottoms to the north is more rapid than that of the Missouri River, thus leaving a small portion of these valuable lands subject to overflows in high water seasons, and rendering them sufficiently dry and well drained for easy and successful cultivation. The eastern portion of the county is a high and rolling prairie, well watered and drained by Willow Creek, Soldier and Maple Rivers, and their affluents, all of which are surrounded by wide, beautiful and exceedingly fertile valleys. The uplands abut abruptly on the bottoms along the east side of the Little Sioux, presenting the varied and peculiar features characteristic of the bluffs along the Missouri bottoms throughout their extent in the State. These bluffs are unusually uniform in elevation, the highest point being not less than three hundred feet above the sea level. The uplands in the immediate vicinity of the bluffs, are too broken and uneven to be practically adapted" to agricultural uses, and are cut up with wooded ravines, while the valleys of the smaller streams, a few miles inland, are bordered by gentle acclivities which ascend from the sloping bottoms to the well rounded and gentle divides which intervene between the water courses. Most of the streams in the eastern part of the county are bordered by beautiful bottom lands, varying from one-half to two miles in width, while the streams themselves are margined by grassy banks, with beds composed of mire and quicksand. The Little Sioux River, with several other streams, affords some good water powers for machinery, on which several mills have been established, while numerous other eligible locations still remaining will yet be properly and similarly utilized. Wells of excellent water are easily obtained in the valleys at depths varying from ten to twenty feet, while in the uplands it is often found necessary to sink through the bluff deposit to a depth of over one hundred feet before a permanent supply of water can be reached. Springs are found at frequent intervals issuing from the bluffs, and with the brooklets that are fed by them, as also with the larger streams, afford plenty of water for stock, which find excellent grazing on the uplands, while on the low-lands several varieties of native grasses furnish very nutritious hay. Several lakes of considerable size are found in the Missouri Valley, which are clear and inhabited with a variety of excellent fish. Some of these lakes have the appearance of having once formed a portion of the channel of the Missouri, which is now, however, several miles distant, with heavy cottonwood groves intervening. The soil in the valleys is usually a deep black mold or fine loam, it is from six to fifteen feet in depth, and produces exceptionally large crops of corn, and other grains, and vegetables indigenous to the western slope. In the Missouri bottoms, low, sandy ridges are frequently met with, which are the remains of bars formed by the currents, when the river occupied the whole width of the valley from bluff to bluff on either side. The bottom deposits are quite variable in the character of their component parts, though the fine, dark loam constitutes by far the greater proportion of the surface soil. This is generally underlaid by sand and gravel, and sometimes by a deposit of clay containing large quantities of partially decayed wood, and other vegetable matter, which are frequently met with in sinking wells. Most of the upland is covered with a heavy coating of dark humus-charged loam, with subsoil of the light mulatto-colored bluff deposit. No sterile Inad is found in the county, for even that which is broken in the vicinity of the bluffs, is very fertile, and produces excellent crops of wheat, oats and other cereals, and in its native state produces very fine pasturage for stock. The largest bodies of timber are the extensive groves of cottonwood, which border the banks of the Missouri, while more or less extensive groves of this and other kinds of timber are found on the Little Sioux, and many of the deep ravines running further back into the county are densely shaded with luxuriant forest growths. Like most of the counties on the Missouri slope in Iowa, Monona County has no stone or coal, while the bluff deposit furnishes an abundance of material for the manufacture of brick, which must be depended upon for the future supply of building material. The local supply of fuel, which all comes from the forests, though ample for the present wants, must become scarce in time, unless the future demand is anticipated by the cultivation of artificial groves. So far as can be ascertained, the first white man to spend the winter in Monona County was Aaron Cook, who with some associates, passed the winter of 1851 here, engaged in herding cattle. The first permanent settler was Isaac Ashton, who, in 1852, located about two miles north of the present town of Onawa, where, in 1855, he laid out the town of Ashton. Philip Ashton, who was frozen to death in the winter of 1852, was the first white person to die in Monona County. Other settlers came in the summer of 1853, in which year Josiah Sumner located in the vicinity of Onawa, and Aaron Cook at Cook's Landing, on the Missouri River, seven miles southwest of Onawa. Among others who came prior to 1855, were C. E. Whiting, Robert Lindley, Timothy Elliott, J. E. Morrison, J. B. P. Day, and B. D. Holbrook. Several of the early settlers came from the eastern part of Iowa, while others were from Illinois and the Eastern States. Among the early settlers of the county was Charles B. Thompson, a Mormon leader, who, with a number of followers, located on the Soldier River, in what is now called Spring Valley Township, about fifteen miles southwest of the present town of Onawa. They commenced their settlement in 1854. Thompson called the place Preparation, as he designed here to prepare his apostles for the "good time coming." As Thompson was an important man in the early history of Monona county, some account of him, and of the enterprise in which he was a leader, will be of interest. He had been a follower and disciple of Joe Smith at Nauvoo, but went to St. Louis in 1852, and organized a church. In the summer of 1853, he sent some of his followers as commissioners to look for and select a location for his people in Iowa. They selected the valley of the Soldier in the south part of Monona county, all the land at that time being vacant. In 1854 he brought some fifty or sixty families, and pre-empted several thousand acres of the best land to be found in the region. Some of the land he subsequently entered. Thompson regulated and controlled all the affairs of the colony, both temporal and spiritual, pretending that he had authority to do so under the direction of a spirit which he called Baneemy. Among other assumptions, he pretended that he was the veritable Ephraim of the Scriptures, and directed his people to call him Father Ephraim. A strict compliance with his teachings divested his followers of all worldly care, and prepared them for the further essential doctrine of his religion, that in order to obtain the Kingdom, they must sacrifice all their earthly possessions. They accordingly conveyed to him all their lands and other property, including even their wearing apparel, and the right to their services. Under this arrangement, "Father Ephraim" and Baneemyism progressed swimmingly, until the autumn of 1855, when a little rebellion occurred under the leadership of an Elder named Hugh Lytle, who, with some twenty of them, began a suit in the courts for the recovery of their property; but they failed, and the matter was subsequently compromised by the Lytle part}- receiving some of their property and withdrawing from the society. The remainder adhered to Thompson without serious difficulty until the autumn of 1858. During the summer of that year, most of the male adults of the society were absent in other States, preaching the doctrines of Baneemyism to the Gentiles. Thompson, who arrogated to himself the title of "Chief Steward of the Lord," took advantage of their absence to convey all the realty to his wife, Catharine Thompson, and to one Guy C. Barnum, reserving only forty acres as a homestead for himself. His disciples, hearing of this transaction, returned and immediately called on "Father Ephraim" for restitution. Being unable to obtain a satisfactory adjustment of the matter, they notified him that on a stated day he would be expected to meet them in Preparation to make settlement. The " Chief Steward of the Lord," and "Assistant Steward of the Lord" Barnum, had not sufficient courage to " face the music," however, and postponed their visit to Preparation until the day after the one appointed, doubtless thinking that the angry crowd would have become dispersed by that time. On the way they were met, about a mile from the village, by a young woman who had not yet lost confidence in "Father Ephraim" and Baneemyism, and who informed them that the people were still congregated at Preparation, and would hang him on sight; which information had the effect on "Father Ephraim" it was well calculated to have, especially as at about that moment of time, men on horseback were observed coming from Preparation at full speed, and heading in all earnestness in the direction of the Chief Steward and Assistant. Springing from the wagon in which they were seated, and unharnessing their horses, the two Stewards hurriedly sprang upon the backs of the animals, and the chase, which ensued, was of an exciting and highly interesting character. After a lively race of fifteen miles, across prairies and over creeks and ravines, the "Father" and the "Assistant Father," arrived safely in Onawa. where they were given protection by the citizens. Thompson went from Onawa to St. Louis, and Barnum remained in Onawa until the following spring, removing thence to Nebraska, where he, in course of time, became a prominent citizen. Thompson subsequently attempted to found another similar religious society, but was unsuccessful, and next turned his attention to publishing a book on the "Origin of the Black and Mixed Races," which book he pretended to translate largely from the Hebrew and Greek languages, which, it is said, he in reality knew nothing about. The last heard of him by his former followers in Monona, was to the effect that he was in Philadelphia in destitute circumstances. After his flight from Preparation, his family was sent to him at Onawa, his followers (?) dividing the personal property among themselves, each taking such of his own property as he could identify. An action in chancery was immediately begun to set aside the conveyances of real estate, which litigation lingered in the courts for eight years, or until December, 1866, when the conveyances were all declared to be fraudulent, and were set aside, the Supreme Court of Iowa holding that Thompson held the property only as a trustee. The property was sold under an order of the court, and the proceeds were divided among the original contributors in ratio to the amount contributed by each. Of the sixty families brought to Monona by Thompson—to the settlement at Preparation—only three or four remain—to such an inglorious termination was Baneenyism destined to attain. The proper name by which this peculiar sect sought to be known is said to have been the "Congregation of Jehovah's Presbytery of Zion," which was contracted to "Con-je-pre-zion," and hence the members came to be known as the "Conjeprezionites." Preparation was also familiarly known as Baneemy Town. Monona county was organized in 1854. At the time of its organization, it had a population of 222; its population in 1860 was 832; in 1865 the population was 1,056; in 1870 it had reached 3,654, which was increased to 5,967 in 1875, and to 9,055 in 1880. Thirty-two votes were cast for Governor in the county in 1854; 134 votes were cast in 1857, and in 1859, Samuel J. Kirkwood and A. C. Dodge, Gubernatorial candidates, each received 105 votes in the county. Charles B. Thompson was appointed the first County Judge. This was before the location of the county seat, so that the first county business was transacted at Preparation. In the autumn of 1854, the county seat was located by the commissioners appointed by the Legislature. They gave the place selected the name of Bloomfield, but there being another town of that name in the State, it was changed to Ashton. The county seat remained there until the spring of 1858, when it was removed to Onawa by a vote of the people. The following were the first county officers: Charles B. Thompson, County Judge; Guy C. Barnum, Treasurer; Hugh Lytle, Clerk; Homer C. Hoyt, Sheriff. Monona county then embraced what is now the west range of townships of Crawford county, but the change was made in accordance with the votes of both counties in 1865. In 1860 a vote was taken on the question of the removal of the county seat from Onawa to Belvidere, and another vote was taken in 1862, on the removal to Arcola; both of which attempts, however, failed, and the location of the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad may be said to have, in all probability, finally settled the question. The first newspaper was published bv "Father Ephraim" Thompson at Preparation, and was called Zion Harbinger and Weekly Messenger. Thompson also published a monthly periodical. During the continuance of this paper, it flourished under several different names, such as the Weekly News and Messenger and the Democratic Messenger. This paper was started in 1854; in 1855, Thompson published a paper called the Onawa Adventure. In November, 1860, a paper was commenced at Onawa, by A. Dimmick and D. W. Butts, called the Monona Cordon. The next paper, the West Iowa Gazette, was started by Mr. Butts about the beginning of 1863, and was succeeded in 1865 by the Monona County Gazette, the first number of which was issued December 2d, 1865, F. M. Howdendobler and C. H. Aldridge being the publishers. The People's Press made its first appearance in Onawa in 1870. The first frame house erected in the county was built at Preparation in the summer of 1853, of materials brought from Pottawattamie county. Thomas Lewis taught the first school in the county at Preparation in the same year. In 1854 the first lumber was sawed at Preparation. Amos Chase, at the same settlement, was the pioneer blacksmith. John S. Blackburn began the making of that very palatable article, corn meal, in 1857. In 1857, a frame school house was erected at Ashton. The first officers of Ashton Township were: Lorenzo D. Driggs, J. B. Gard, Justices of the Peace; Josiah Sumner, Isaac Ashton, J. B. Gard, Trustees; Aaron Cook, Clerk; Lorenzo Driggs, Assessor; J. Sumner, M. Owens, Constables. The present county officers of Monona county are: C. H. Aldridge, Clerk; James Walker, Sheriff; John K. McCasky, Auditor; G. H. Bryant, Treasurer; M. W. Bacon, Recorder; J. B. P. Day, Surveyor; J. G. Iddings, Superintendent of Schools; G. M. Scott, E. Wilber, Fred. McClausland, Board of Supervisors. The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad traverses the county from north to south, along its western border. A branch of the Chicago & North western enters Monona County at the northeast corner, and terminates at Mapleton Station. This line is, it is presumed to be built through the county, touching Onawa, and extended into Nebraska, crossing the Missouri at Decatur. Another line, running from a point in the western part of Crawford county, through Monona County, and passing on to Sioux City, is looked forward to. This line is expected to be built by the W. & St. P. company, and will pass about ten miles east of the county seat. The towns of Monona County are: Whiting, situated in the northwestern part, on the Sioux City & Pacific; Mapleton, to the northwest; Soldier, to the southeast, and Onawa in the western part of the county. ONAWA. The prosperous and progressive town of Onawa, the county seat of Monona County, is located near the middle line of the county, north and south, and about eight miles east of the Missouri River, but only about four miles from the nearest point on the river to the southwest. The Monona Land Company laid out Onawa in 1857, including in its area about six hundred acres, with about six bundled additional acres of out-lots. The principal streets run east and west, and are one hundred and fifty feet in width, the other streets being eighty feet wide, with alleys sixteen feet wide. Two blocks were reserved in the northern part of the town for public parks. S. S. Pearse built the first house in Onawa July 2d, 1857; the Onawa House was raised on the 4th of the same month, by J. E. Morrison. Among the first settlers were Judge C. E. Whiting. J. E. Morrison, Timothy Elliott, R. G. Fairchild and S. S. Pearse. Surrounded by an excellent farming country, with plenty of timber within two or three miles, Onawa is certain to develop into a point of considerable importance. Since its incorporation, and the completion of the railroad, the population of the town has steadily increased. Onawa is thirty-seven miles from Sioux City, about sixty-five miles from Council Bluffs, and thirty-eight miles from Missouri Valley Junction. Up to 1868, Onawa remained a sub-district of Franklin township district. A petition was presented in that year, pray ing for a special election to vote upon the question of the organization of an independent school district. This petition was granted, and the organization was effected February 22d, 1808. The members of the Board, for the first year, were: Charles Atkins, President; James Armstrong, Vice-President; F. M. Snow, Secretary; N. A. Whiting, Treasurer; R. G. Fairchild, L. D. Sittle and J. E. Selleck, Directors. The first school taught in the town was taught by A. R. Wright, now of Sioux City, in a little log school house, now on Main street, about the year 1857. There was a brick school house— 28x50 feet in dimensions, and one-story high, erected subsequently, which was successfully utilized until the building of the present edifice in 1874. The present public school building is a fine brick structure, 48x85 feet, and three-stories high. It contains six rooms. The building cost in the neighborhood of $20,000. The present school officers are: Board of Education — J. K. McCaskey, President; S. B. Martin, Secretary; C. H. Holbrook, Treasurer; N. A. Whiting, B. D. Holbrook, G. E. Warner, J. E. Selleck, M. Vincent, members of the Board. The corps of teachers as composed at this writing, is as follows: W. H. Dempster, Principal; Belle M. Gilcrest, Assistant Principal; W. J. Maughlin, Annie C. Gillette, D. E. Smith, Flora J. Maughlin, Bessie Gray, teachers. Present enrollment, about 300. The school building is a model of architectural beauty and finish, the rooms are large, heated by means of furnaces, ventilated in accordance with the Ruttan system, and furnished with single and combination desks. The Court House at Onawa was built by the Monona Land Company in 1858, and donated to the county. The building cost about $7,000. A summarized history of Monona county's newspapers has been given hitherto. Room—or rather want of room—only suffices here to say that the Monona County Gazette was taken charge of in 1879 by W. A. Green alone, who ran the paper until 1870, when it subsequently passed into the ownership of the Gazette Publishing Company, with Mr. J. D. Ainsworth as the editor. In 1875, Ainsworth became sole proprietor, and has continued to hold the fort in a most commendable way. The Gazette is an eight-column folio, and has a circulation in excess of 800 copies. The first railroad was completed to Onawa in November, 1867. The town gave the company the right of way, and lots, and cash to the amount of $8,000, besides donating twenty acres of land for depot grounds. Onawa has a reasonable prospect for a railroad from Mapleton during the present year. The date of the platting of Onawa was the year 1857. The following persons composed the Monona Land Company: T. Elliott, J. E. Morrison, J. L. Merritt, C. E. Whiting, R. G. Fairchild, S. S. Pearse, A. B. Gard, W. S. Phillips, A. Dimmick; Judge Whiting being the President; T. Elliott, Treasurer; S. S. Pearse, Secretary. The first Mayor of Onawa was Dr. R. Stebbins. Present municipal officers: H. E. Morrison, Mayor; T. P. Noble, Recorder; J. C. Pike, D. B. Kenyon, John Cleghorn. J. R. Thurston, T. C. Walton, Council. The business interests of Onawa may be classified, with reasonable accuracy, as follows: General stores, four; groceries, three; drug stores, two; millinery, three; harness, two; hardware, two; meat markets two; clothing, one; Jewelry, one; agricultural implements, two; flour and feed, one; bank, one; barber shop, one; hotels, three; blacksmith shops, three; furniture, one; boots and shoes, two; livery, two; lumber, one; flouring mill, one; fancy goods, one; saloons, two. CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. Congregational Church Society. — The Congregational Society was organized June 27th, 1858, by Rev. G. G. Rice, of Council Bluffs, and Rev. Reuben Gaylord, of Omaha. The first-named gentleman was the society's first pastor, and he was succeeded by the Rev. George L. Woodhull, who died October 1st, 1870, aged 28 years. Mr. Woodhull's successor was the present pastor, Rev. Charles N. Lyman, who assumed the charge January 1, 1871. The church edifice was erected in 1870, and was dedicated in December of that year. The cost was $6,000. Prior to the erection of this building, the society held its services in the Court House. The present membership of the society is fifty-five. A Sabbath School, with an average attendance of seventy-five pupils, is connected with the church. The superintendent of the school is the Rev. Charles N. Lyman. Methodist Episcopal Church Society. — The Methodist Episcopal Society was organized October 9th, 1870, by Rev. J. F. Walker, who was the first pastor. The successive pastors were: Revs. L. H. Woodworth, A. L. Mattison, 0. S. Bryan, J. B. Starkey, J. Warner, H. W. Jones, S. W. Owen, C. E. Chase, P. A. Burdick and A. J. Beebe, the latter being the present pastor. The edifice now in use was built in 1873, at a cost of $2,000. The society had previously held services in the public school house. The present membership is forty-three. The society has a parsonage, which was built in 1873, during Rev. Starkey s pastoral term. There is also a Sabbath School with about seventy-five pupils, the superintendent of which is Miss D. E. Smith. The present Trustees of the society are: M. W. Bacon, S. W. Grow, L. D. Sittle, W. C. Marr and T. C. Walton. Roman Catholic Church Society. — The Catholic Church Society at Onawa may be considered to date its existence from the building of its church edifice in the latter part of 1872. Mass had been celebrated there occasionally, as far back as 1866, and in 1867, when Bishop Hennessy assumed charge of the western part of the State, which, during the government of his predecessor, Bishop Smythe, had been administered by the late Bishop O'Gorman, of Omaha. Mass was celebrated prior to 1866, by priests of the Diocese of Nebraska, and particularly by Father Tracy, of old St. John's, who had charge from the Yellowstone to the Platte. Rev. B. C. Lenehan is the present pastor. Monona Lodge No. 380, I. 0. 0. F. — This Lodge was organized June 7th, 1878, by Grand Master A. J. Morrison. The charter members were: E. W. Holbrook, H. W. Cady, L. H. Belknap, John Douglas, C. M. Ross, J. S. Baggs, D. L. Utterback, James Carmody, R. Horning and J. K. McCaskey. The first officers were: J. K. McCaskey, N. G.; J. Carmody, V. G.; J. Douglas, S.; E. W. Holbrook, T. The membership of the Lodge is twenty-eight. Present officers: P. T. Noble, N. G.; Geo. W. Penn, V. G.; L. D. Sittle, S.; W. M. Bacon, T. The meetings of the Lodge are held on every Saturday night of each week in the hall of the society over the bank. Vesper Lodge No. 223, A. F. and A. M. — A dispensation was granted to this Lodge August 28th, 1867. The first officers were: F. W. Snow, W. M.; James Butts, S. W.; Truman Pierce, J. W.; Charles Atkins, S.; Fred McCouslan, T.; W. A. Grow, S. D.; M. A. Treeland, J. D.; John Baggs, Tyler. A charter was granted the Lodge June 3d, 1868. The charter members were F. W. Snow, James Butts, Truman Pierce and other worthy gentlemen. The present officers are: James Walker. W. M.; H. Douglas, S. W.; G. E. Warner, J. W.; J. D. Ainsworth, S.; R. Stebbins, F. S.; B. D. Holbrook, S. D.; D. Handle, J. D.; J. D. Giddings, S. S.; 0. D. Bishop, J. S.; F. W. Snow, Tyler. The Lodge meets every Wednesday, on or after each full moon, in the hall over the bank. The membership of this society is thirty-eight, and it is in a flourishing condition. Monona County Agricultural Association. — This association was organized in the spring of 1871, as a stock company. The first official board of directors was composed of the following-named gentlemen: C. E. Whiting, Fred McCausland, J.E. Morrison, M. A. Freeland, W. G. Kennedy, A. Dimmick and E. Peak. The first officers were: C. E. Whiting, President; M. A. Freeland, Vice-President; James Walker, Secretary; B. D. Holbrook, Treasurer. The association owns thirty-five acres of land situated about one mile north of Onawa, which Land is enclosed with a good, substantial fence. Inside the enclosure is Floral Hall, an excellent building, with dimensions of 20x40 feet, as well as an additional "L," of 24x60 feet. There are also a fine Amphitheatre and good stables and cattle-sheds. A half-mile race-track is another improvement. All these are in good condition. The present board of directors is composed of W. T. Boyd, A. Oliver, J. D. Woodward, J. B. P. Day, R. G. Fairchild, C. E. Whiting and G. E. Warner. The present officers are: A. Oliver, President; J. B. P. Day, Vice- President; J. D. Ainsworth, Secretary; B. D. Holbrook, Treasurer. The society is hi a very prosperous condition. Its last annual fair, the ninth, was held in September, 1881. Monona County Old Settlers' Association. — This association was organized in August, 1879, by C. E. Whiting, R. Stebbins, T. R. Carratt, J. E. Morrison, Judge Oliver, F. H. Day and others. The first officers were: F. H. Day, President; C. E. Whiting, C. M. Scott, W. L. Ring, Vice-Presidents; James Walker, Secretary, R. Stebbens, T. R. Carratt, John Heisler, James Robinson, J. D. Woodward. Executive Committee. Present Officers: W. L. Ring, President; F. F. Roe, T. Elliott, G. M. Scott, Vice-Presidents; James Walker, Secretary and Treasurer; J. B. P. Day, C. E. Whiting, Judge Oliver, J. Cleghorn, Executive Committee. The present membership of the association is about 275. MAPLETON. This growing town was platted in the autumn of 1877, by the railroad company. The first hotel was built by A. P. Kennedy in 1877. The Maple River branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, was completed from Maple River Junction, the first train arriving in October, 1877. A branch of the C., M. & St. P. R. R. from Sioux City to Mapleton is now graded, and will ere long be placed in running order. In September, 1877, J. Garrison built the first store in Mapleton. It was 10x12 feet in dimensions. The Messrs. Scott soon afterwards built the store they now occupy. The first settlers in the village were: J. Garrison, W. F. Scott and brothers, W. F. McHenry and B. Whiting, who settled here in the autumn of 1877. The town was incorporated in 1878, with J. F. Scott as Mayor. The population is about 600. The Mapleton Bank was organized October 3d, 1878, with B. Whiting, President; N. H. Bliss, Cashier, and with abundance of capital. It is a flourishing and substantial institution. At present, B. Whiting is the President, C. I. Whiting, Cashier. The schools of Mapleton are graded, and in excellent condition. A handsome structure was erected in 1880-81, at a cost of $3,500. J. A. Wakefield is the Principal. About 100 pupils are enrolled. An order of Odd Fellowship was organized Sept 1lth, 1879, with five charter members. J. Hutton was the first N. G. The Lodge now has twenty-five members. A Masonic order was organized in July, 1880, with ten charter members. The present membership is fifteen. J. D. Rice was the first Master of this Lodge. The Presbyterian Church Society was organized July 31st,'1881, by Rev. A. K. Baird, assisted by Rev. J. C. Gilkerson, the present pastor, with a membership of seventeen. The church officers are one Elder and three Trustees. The M.E. Church Society of Mapleton was organized by Rev. Thomas Cuthburt, during the year of 1880. The church edifice, a neat and durable brick building of the Gothic style, 32x50 feet in dimensions, was erected during the same year, at a cost of $2,300, and the following Trustees were appointed: W. E. Roberts, President; B. Whiting, Treasurer; George Adams, Secretary; A. W. Cobland, G. A. Smith, Trustees. The Society is small, but growing, was organized with a membership of six, and now numbers twenty. During the year, 1881, the Society built a parsonage at a cost of $800, the building being in every way highly creditable to the organization. There is, in this connection a Sabbath School, with an average attendance of eighty. W. E. Roberts is the Superintendent. Rev. H. P. Dudley is the present pastor. The Baptist Church Society was organized in March, 1866, by Rev. George Scott. Its membership is thirty-eight. Rev. W. H. Dorward is the present pastor. The Mapleton cornet band was organized in 1880, with ten members. A. I. Lanterman is the leader. Mapleton's business and professional establishments are represented as follows: Four general stores, one newspaper—the Mapleton Press—one bank, four hotels, two livery stables, two hardware stores, three saloons, two blacksmiths, one boot and shoe store, one grocery, one millinery store, one harness shop, four physicians, two grain dealers, two lumber yards, one wagon factory, one furniture store, one farm machinery establishment, two meat markets, four dealers in live stock. An article with the captivating caption. "Society in Mapleton," says: "Mapleton will compare favorably with older towns east or west as regards social privileges. Although a town of only eighteen months growth, we here find many advantages that would be prized by those seeking homes in the West. "Our people are mostly from the Eastern States, and are well informed, public spirited and up with the times. As yet we are without an organized church, but union services and Sunday school are regularly held in the public hall, and there is a prospect that either a Presbyterian or Congregational society will soon be formed. The Methodist Episcopal church contemplate building a house of worship the coming summer. "The 'Blue Ribbon' movement has reached Mapleton, and upward of 200 have signed the pledge. It is to be hoped that efforts that have been made in this direction will not be in vain. "A literary society has been sustained during the past winter with considerable interest. Lectures, readings, concerts and other entertainments have not been wanting to afford amusement for the winter evenings. The many demands for money incident to carrying on the enterprise of a new town are met with cheerfulness and a ready response by our citizens and no laudable undertaking has yet failed for the lack of means. "A tax has been levied in Maple Township and partly collected for the purpose of erecting a substantial school building, that will be the pride of our city. A mayor, six alderman, and other efficient officers manage municipal affairs; quiet and good order universally prevail in our midst. "People looking for homes in Western Iowa should visit Mapleton before deciding on a permanent location." The following is taken from editorial correspondence to the Carroll (Ia.) Herald : " Western Iowa is constantly furnishing examples of the sudden rise and rapid growth of new towns. The wild prairie of yesterday is frequently transformed into the busy and bustling center of trade today. One of the most notable of these instances is found in the history of Mapleton, from which place I write. The town was platted in the fall of 1877, and is consequently less than a year and a half old. The Maple River branch of the Northwestern road reached here about the middle of October, 1877. At that time there was no settlement worth mentioning. Now the town numbers five hundred inhabitants, and is growing steadily. The railroad, which leaves the main line sixty miles southeast, terminates at Mapleton. By virtue of this fact, the place enjoys exceptional advantages over other towns on the line. It is located near the beautiful Maple River in the far-famed Maple Valley, long noted as comprising within its limits the finest farming land in the west, but until recently not accessible by railroad. It will doubtless remain the terminal station for years to come, and its present prosperity cannot but increase in the future. Although Mapleton is young, it has none of the characteristics of a mushroom town. The buildings are extremely creditable and calculated for permanency. Many of the residences are handsome and attractive. The location of the town is excellent. It lies on high, but nearly level ground, sloping just enough to afford good drainage. The residence lots are all superior, and there is ample room for a large city. The land surrounding it is unexcelled for agricultural purposes, nearly every acre being tillable. The Maple River furnishes numerous water powers, there being three grist mills within five miles of the town." WHITING. Although comparatively young, in respect to many other Western Iowa towns, Whiting has made rapid strides since its first settlement. A complete representation of its more enterprising business establishments will be found among the biographical data hereunto appended. Additional Comments: Sioux City: Western Publishing Company. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/monona/history/1882/historyo/mononaco56gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 35.3 Kb