HISTORY:  History of Osceola County by D. A. W. Perkins 1892 
Chapters XXI-END

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History of Osceola County by D. A. W. Perkins 1892 
 
CHAPTER XXI
The first settler in Baker Township was in 1871, but during that winter 
following, there was hardly anyone there. Several who had settled in 
Goewey in 1871, afterwards moved to Baker, and now reside there. 
Among these are W.H. Lean and Adam Batie. In 1872, a great many 
took claims in Baker; indeed, in 1872 and 1873, the Government land 
was about all taken. Among those that came to Baker in 1871, were 
Philip and Peter Ladenberger, and came from Wisconsin. Philip still 
resides in the county at Sibley. Peter perished in 1873 blizzard, 
elsewhere mentioned. John Kinne also came in 1871, and we believe 
that this gentleman and family were the only residents in this township in 
the winter 1871 and 1872. There were also Jacob Henshaw, Albert 
Waldo and Ed. Melvin. Mr. Melvin is in Sioux City, and Mr. Henshaw now 
resides in Dickinson County. 
 
There was some breaking done in the township in 1871, and some 
vegetables raised, but the products of the county that year amounted to 
but little, and the shacks were very limited in number. Adam Batie drove 
through from Wisconsin in 1871, with Stephen Higgins, filed that year on 
a claim in Goewey Township, and afterwards settled in Baker. Mt. Batie 
is a member of the Board of County Supervisors. Elmore R. Hazen 
arrived in the county in 1872, and settled on the southwest quarter of 
Section 2, in Baker. He still owns the original claim. he put up the usual 
shack and did some breaking. On the Hazen place now live the Holle 
family, consisting of Herman Holle, wife, one daughter and three sons. A 
picture of C.W. Holle is elsewhere in the book. They own land 
themselves, but at present live on the Hazen place, and farm this along 
with their own. 
 
Harmon Runyon took the northeast quarter of Section 2 in 1872, and is 
still living on the same place with valuable improvements. He came here 
from Winneshiek County, and along with him came Mr. Smith and Benj. 
Davis. Smith and Davis soon returned. Davis afterwards died, and Smith 
still lives in Winneshiek. Smith and Runyon also had a dangerous 
experience with the December 1872 blizzard. They went to Sibley at that 
time and then drove around to Huff's to get their papers, and while on 
their way home the blizzard overtook them. They kept pushing on with 
the storm, and finally brought up at Teabout's ranch, in Clay County. 
Runyon's hat blowed away, and in running after that, he lost sight of the 
team, and with difficulty found it again. Alto0gether it was a narrow 
escape for them, as it was with a great many others in those early 
blizzards. 
 
Henry Dunkleman is still living in Baker on the same original claim filed 
upon in 1872. Baker Township has one postoffice called Gopher, of 
which W.H. Lean, elsewhere mentioned, is postmaster. It is on Section 6. 
Henry Bremmer is an early settler on Section 5. 
 
Among other residents of the township, not otherwise mentioned, are Ira 
Peck, who is at present the only one living on Section 3. John Haskins, 
Charles Wilson, S.T. Price, Harvey Nash, Theodore Frey, H.W. Jones, 
Adolph Knox, A. Hager, John Frey, Peter Wilson, Peter Anderson, 
Herman Frey, Henry Verteen, A.D. Wilson. W. Logar, George Leggett, 
August Buchholtz, Will Philips, Philip Schertzer, Henry Walters, Conrad 
Fink, John Fink, Charles Fink, Casper Dickman, Benj. Dickman, George 
Webster, H. Weigands, Clark Howard, W. Bell, James McAnrich, Herman 
Lyman, Thomas Dewey, Charles Goodman, John Price, Frank Cressap 
and son, Mr. Lyons, David Logar. Mr. Logar has invented a flax cleaner 
and obtained a patent on it, which is said to be a great improvement. 
Charles Timmons is on Section 2, and C.M. McDougal, is on Section 15. 
Still others are Dirk Frey, J.D.C. Frey, Frank Quiggle, Philip Keller, John 
Benz, John Wiggenhausser, Peter Keutzer, John Jobes, Ernest Benz, 
John Wiggenhausser, Peter Keutzer, John Jobes, Ernest Benz, Fritz 
Rhoda, S.M. Stanford, August Gentz, O. Dufrees, Henry Bremmer, H. 
Wachtel, Peter Johnson, J. Hokkoff, Theodore Reimmers, George 
Reimmers. C.W. Bryan, who is School and Township Clerk, lives on 
Section 21. Palmer Rumford lives on the east side of the township. 
 
Hans Graves, who yet lives in Baker Township, came in 1872, along with 
H. Steffenhagen and one other party. Mr. Steffenhagen still lives in the 
township, and both himself and Mr. Graves are entitled to the success 
they have made of it, as they went through the early hard times. They 
returned for the winter and came out again in the spring of 1873. The 
came from Clinton County, and when the came back the following spring, 
there came with them Mr. Frank Graves, uncle to Hans, and other 
members of the family, Peter, John C., Frank and Jerry Graves and 
Claus Yess. These all took claims. Peter and Frank Graves are now in 
Chicago in the jewelry business, and John C., with his family, live in 
Ocheyedan, and is engaged in the mercantile business. The other 
members of the family live on their original claims and all are well-to-do. 
 
As has been said with reference to other townships, some names are no 
doubt omitted as we did not intend to make a complete directory but 
more of a record of past events. Baker Township is one of the best in the 
county. 
 
Harrison Township, which was a part of Baker until a few years ago, was 
not early settled as other townships were. We believe about the first 
settler in this township was Mr. Billion, and the place where he lived was 
known for several years as the Billion Ranch, and is so called now. It 
was land owned by Rev. Peter Haverman, a Catholic priest, of Try, New 
York, who started there a cattle ranch, and sent Mr. Billion out from New 
York State to run it. From poor management, the enterprise proved a 
failure. Mr. Haverman was out several times, and is spoken of as a very 
honorable and conscientious man.  
 
In the north part of the township is quite a settlement of Mennonites. This 
sect is distinguished by antique simplicity, by their indifference to the 
great interests of the world, and at the same time their industry and self-
concentrations make then well-to-do. The main interest in the sect lies 
not in dogma, but in principle, and as men they are conscientious, law-
abiding citizens. They have about thirty members, and hold services 
every two weeks. They came from Canada to Harrison Township. Jesse 
Bauman came first in 1887, and his report concerning the country being 
favorable, others soon followed. They sent out carpenters, who erected 
buildings for them, and there is a sameness about all their surroundings. 
Josiah Martin, one of the leaders among his people, has all of Section 
10. The Bauman's are also prominent-Jesse, Amos and Elias. Elias is on 
Section 4, and Jesse and Amos on Section 9. In this north part of the 
township are also Julius Worm, Louis Clatt, Frank Gregory, John Huchn, 
Louis Johannes, Daniel Weaver, Daniel Stauffer, John Dunnenworth, 
George Bryer, Abraham Widmer, Jacob Brubaker, Elias Ginrich, Henry 
Gregory, Elias Reist, Daniel Harley, Fred Kampene, James Reist, Mr. 
Kesterling. 
 
The May City postoffice is on Section 8 in this township, about the 
center. This section is owned by a company, and is intended for a 
townsite. E.S. Robertson is postmaster, and Mr.Robertson's father and 
two brothers are living there at present. Martin Houcks and August Hess 
are the village blacksmiths, and John Brendley the shoemaker. An 
incoming railroad, which is expected, would make May City quite a point. 
Section 12 is owned by Lon, John and Joseph Chambers. On Section 6 
are the Smith brothers, O.J. and A.W. 
 
Among other of the residents there, George and E.L. Krukenburg are on 
Section 31, Henry Krukenburg is on Section 30, Chris Dorman and John 
Marsh are on Section 32 and John Isley and Henry Schmoll are on 
Section 33. Among other of its residents are Ernest Krukenburg, Henry 
Lager, Henry Groff, Conrad Schmoll, Danied Tyards, W.D. Sauer, John 
Brochus, Peter Anker, Henry Newkirk, T. Hemming, George Ryers, 
Charles Mielke; also Albert Milke, John Sittler, Martin Fritz; also Peter 
Anker, David Anker, A.F. Berdine, W.H. Breryer, L.W. Lopp, Gerritt 
DeBoor, Wm. Eden, Herman Eden, R.E. Ellis, R.C. Fuller, J.C. Herlie, 
J.W. Wardrip, A.B. Weidman, Daniel Shafer, W.J. Smith, Hugh Starts, 
Louis and Philip Kesserling, David Steiner, Henry Heimrich, John Kimble, 
E.T. Willner, Martin Hank, John Huchn. This township was named after 
President Harrison, and many of its fine farms are attractive and delight 
the eye. E.C. Roberts, in addition to the postoffice at May City, has also 
a general stock of goods and his store is well patronized. Emil Hemmig 
and Fred Tschudin also live in Harrison. T. Hemmig is an old settler for 
Harrison, and came here six years ago. 

Chapter XXII
Since writing the preceding chapters in this book there has come under 
the writers observation an article written by some clever writer in 1876 on 
the History of Viola Township, and, although it may be somewhat on the 
order of repetition, I will here reproduce it. We think it was written by 
Peter Shaw: 
 
"VIOLA TOWNSHIP, December 2, 1876-In accordance with the 
proclamation of Samuel J. Kirkwood, the Governor of Iowa for 1876, the 
Centennial year, the one hundredth anniversary of America, that the 
several township clerks of each county be requested to write a sketch or 
history of their townships, though I am not much skilled in writing history 
or anything that would be of much interest to the people, I will endeavor 
to write something. 
 
"This township was first settled A. D. 1871. The first settlers, or rather the 
pioneer settlers as we term them, were as follows: 
C. C. Collison, John Smith, J. F. VanEmburgh, H. W. Tinkum, G. W. 
Ketchum, J. T. Sage, John Stamm, Hugh and Oren Jones, W. H. Gates, 
and Mr. Beeman, Mrs. Jane Smith and Miss Carrie Smith. These 
comprise the pioneers. C. C. Collison, John Smith and John Stamm were 
the first. C. C. Collison built the first house that was built in the township. 
There was considerable breaking done that year, and some sod corn 
raised and a few potatoes. The settlers worked at a great disadvantage 
in building, as there was no timber within fifteen or twenty miles and no 
lumber within fifty miles, till late in the fall the cars came as far as 
Worthington, a distance of eighteen miles, the St. Paul Railroad being 
completed no further. So most of the first settlers built sod houses to live 
in, which made very comfortable houses for the homesteaders of Viola. 
But they had a pretty severe winter to go through. They had their wood to 
haul from fifteen to twenty miles, which made snug work to keep warm, 
as they had not learned to burn hay at that time. 
 
"Mr. Beeman was frozen to death. He got caught out in a blizzard on his 
way home from the Big Rock River, where he had been after a load of 
corn. He left a wife and several children to provide for themselves in the 
dead of winter in the wilds of Osceola. Though the pioneers came out in 
the spring fat and smoking, for their houses were mostly covered over 
with snow, as the snow fell very deep that winter. 
 
"The settlers of A. D. 1872 were as follows: 
Peter Shaw, John H. Douglass, N. I. Wetmore, S. Ford, Abram Shapley, 
John Hart, M. D. Hadsell, C. C. Hadsell, E. Headley, C. C. Ogan, E. S. 
Bennett, C. G. Bennett, William Rubow, A. Averill, D. Averill, O. Averill, A. 
B. Graves, E. Mulmex, S. Smith, E. Smith, John Tann, W. M. Barnard, J. 
Blair, J. S. Patterson, George Carew, L. Clark, G. S. Downsend, D. B. 
Wood, E. Nulton, J. Farren, H. Graham, T. W. Graves, H. Jordan, L. 
McConnell, P. L. Piesley, Levi Shell, C. T. Torrey, P. Wilcox, M. 
Winchester, J. F. Ransom, A. Van Blockham. These were the 72 settlers 
of '72. But the settlers of '72 had great advantages over the settlers of 
'71. The St. Paul Railroad being completed to Sibley in the early part of 
June, lumber and wood were within three to eight miles, and the settlers 
went right to work and built their several shanties, and then proceeded to 
break and plant sod corn and potatoes and gardens, and as it was a fine 
growing season, they had fine crops for sod crops. Some rented land 
that had been broken the year before, and had an excellent crop from it. I 
raised 206 bushels of wheat off of the nine and one-half acres of late 
breaking that season. Most of the settlers that year raised their 
vegetables and feed for their teams, but most of them had their meat and 
flour to buy till the next fall. 
 
"Viola Township was organized in the fall of 1872, and held its first 
election in John H. Douglass' shanty. The following township officers 
were elected: Peter Shaw, Township Clerk; M. D. Hadsell and John 
Smith, Justices of the Peace; Jackson Blair, Assessor; T. J. Stage, C. C. 
Hadsell, C. G. Bennett, Trustees; C. C. Ogan and John Stamm, 
Constables; Hugh Jones, Road Supervisor; U. S. Grant, President of the 
United States, re-elected; John H. Douglass, Sheriff of Osceola County, 
Iowa. The township polled thirty-six votes, but part of the officers went 
away that winter and left their offices vacant. The following persons were 
appointed to fill vacancies: W. H. Gates and David Wood, Trustees; N. J. 
Wetmore, Assessor; John Hart, Road Supervisor; Abram Shapley, 
Justice of the Peace; Mr. Shapley did not qualify. 
 
"The first blacksmith shop was erected by J. F. VanEmburgh in 1871, 
and in 1872, Abram Shapley built another shop. 
 
"The first school house was erected in the summer of 1872 on the 
southwest quarter of Section 25, and called the Gates School House, 
and Miss Carrie Smith was the first teacher. She taught a term of six 
months. The first half of the term was taught in one part of C. C. 
Collison's house, and three months in the Gates School House. The next 
two schoolhouses were built in the spring of 1875, one on the northwest 
corner of Section 20, the other one on the northeast quarter of Section 
32. The first school directors were M. D. Hadsell, N. I. Wetmore and D. 
B. Wood. 
 
"The first Sabbath school was organized in the summer of 1871 and held 
at H. W. Tinkham's, and has been held every summer in different parts of 
the township. In the summer of 1875 the Sunday school officers were all 
lady officers, with Mrs. Ripley as superintendent. 
 
"The first church society was organized by Brother Mallory, of Sibley, in 
the winter of 1875 and 1876, at the Greaves School House, but meetings 
had been held by different denominations. Since the summer of 1872, 
Revs. B. A. Dean, Brashears, Webb, Lowrie and several others have 
held regular appointments here. G. W. Ketchum's sod house was used 
for the first meetinghouse, till the Gates School House was built. 
 
"The first white child born in the township was the daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. J. W. Nims, in June 1871, and was the first child born in the county, 
but it only lived to the age of 18 months. 
 
"The deaths have been but few. The first was Mr. Beeman, who was 
frozen to death in Lyon County in the winter of 1871 and 1872, in a 
blizzard, some time in February, while on his way home from the Big 
Rock, where he had been after a load of corn. The next was the 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nims. The next was Mrs. Jennings, the 
daughter of Ms. Abram Shapley, who died very suddenly at Mr. G. S. 
Downsend's with a heart disease. The next was Mr. Wrightmire, though a 
resident of Minnesota. The next was Mrs. C. Collison, died in March 
1876. The next was Mrs. Eliza J. Smith, died in April 1876. Mrs. Collison 
and Mrs. Smith died but a month apart, and came into the county 
together in 1872, and lived near neighbors and were highly esteemed by 
all who knew them. Mrs. Collison left a large family of small children. Mrs. 
Smith was the mother of John Samuel, Edwin and Carrie Smith. She 
took a homestead when she came, and had lived within a few weeks of 
her five years on the homestead. 
 
"The first married couple was Mr. John Tann to Miss Carrie A. Smith, in 
Sibley, at the parsonage, by Elder Webb, January 1, 1873. The next was 
Edwin Smith to Miss Greaves, and several of the bachelors have married 
out of the county. They have all taken a better half except Joseph Farren 
and J. T. Sage, who still are waiting. 
 
"The heaviest farmers are Abram Shapley, Peter Shaw, G. S. 
Downsend, P. L. Piesley, J. Blair, J. Farren, W. H. Gates, A. Averill, A. B. 
Greaves, John Tarn, M. D. Hadsell, S. F. Smith, Ed. Smith, and C. C. 
Collison. 
 
"So far the farmers have had rather discouraging farming on account of 
the grasshoppers. They came here in June 1873 and destroyed the 
greater part of the crops that year, so that the people had to apply for 
assistance in the way of relief. The State Legislature appropriated 
$50,000 to the grasshopper sufferers in the way of seed grain. But in 
1874 the 'hoppers hatched here and came in from Minnesota, and hurt 
the crops from about one-fourth to a third. In 1875 the crops were good 
except corn and oats, which were badly eaten by the pests. But the 
people began to feel considerably encouraged, and in 1876 the 
centennial year, they went in as if they were going to make up for losses, 
and put in every foot of ground that they had broken. And the grain was 
looking fine and promising until within a few days of harvesting, when the 
'hoppers came again from the north in great numbers and waded into the 
grain, and destroyed almost the entire crop in this township. So most of 
the farmers are bankrupt, without seed or money. 
 
"Many of the settlers were compelled to go away for the winter in order to 
make a living for their families and get something to seed their places 
with for the next year. Some are too poor to get away and have been 
compelled to prove up on their homesteads and mortgage their places to 
raise money to carry them till they can raise another crop. The people 
nearly all burn hay for fuel because they have not the wherewith to buy 
anything else to burn, but if all other necessities could be remedied as 
easily as the fuel we could manage to get along very well. As it is, most 
of the farmers will be compelled to let part of their farms lie still next year, 
for the want of means to get seed to seed their lands. Most of the 
farmers did considerable breaking this season, and now have more 
ground broken than they have the means to carry on. There were about 
fifteen hundred acres broken in this township this summer. The lands in 
this township are very rich and productive, and the face of the country is 
most beautiful, just rolling enough to drain well, and it is as well watered 
as any part of Osceola County. It has the Otter Creek running through on 
the east, the Little Rock on the west and the Muddy Creek on the north. 
These streams all have fine grass land along them, which produces the 
best of hay for stock. It is not only good farming land, but well adapted to 
raising stock and the dairying business. We have one cheese factory in 
the township, which is owned by David B. Wood, and is located in the 
center of the township. Al that is lacking now is the means to get the 
stock to make it one of the most productive townships in the northwest. 
Some new settlers have settled in this township." 
 
TOWNS IN THE COUNTY.  
 
HARRIS 
 
This is a station on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad, 
on the East Side of the county. At present it does not claim to be 
metropolitan, but expects some time in the future to acquire prominence 
as one of the towns in the county. It is well located, and when the country 
around it becomes more settled, the town will grow correspondingly. It 
has one general store, managed by Rufus Townsend, who is also 
postmaster, and the store has a good trade. M.B. Smith has a lumber 
yard; also a harness shop. J. Ryckman runs a coal yard and John 
Walting is the blacksmith. The station agent is Homer Richards, and 
Harris has a decorative painter, Frank P. Burley. This about comprises 
the business interests of Harris, and no doubt the historian ten years 
from now will be able to make an extensive record, which will come from 
its future growth. 
 
ASHTON 
 
The Town of Ashton was laid out by the Land Department of the Sioux 
City and St. Paul Railroad Company in 1872. It was first named St. 
Gilman, but afterwards, in 1882, this name was changed to Ashton. The 
town is beautifully located, and on the East Side of its business portion 
runs the Otter, a beautiful stream, though not a large one. It is a thrifty 
town, having tributary to it a scope of country that for productiveness and 
fertility of soil is unexcelled in the state. The first building on the townsite 
was placed there by T.J. Shaw in the fall of 1872, and the building still 
stands there and is now occupied by John Kunnen for a restaurant. Mr. 
Shaw is the same party who, previous to that time, had a store on 
Section 32 in Gilman Township, and he put up the building now in 
Ashton before the town was laid out, and when lots were to be had, 
placed the building on one of them and gave it a permanent abiding 
place. Mr. Shaw left Osceola County in 1888, and now resides in 
Oregon. After Shaw's store, followed a warehouse in 1873, put up by 
Brown & Roundsville. Mr. Brown resides in Nebraska, and Mr. 
Roundsville died several years ago. About the same time the warehouse 
was built, a lumber yard office was put up, and this was used afterwards 
for various purposes, and, by adding to it, Mr. David Underhill now has it 
for a residence. Then followed a blacksmith shop, run by Charles Miller, 
who sold to John Lee and in 1878 Lee sold out to I.B. Lucas, who still 
continues the same business. Another store soon followed, a millinery 
shop, and, in those days of beer and native wine from fruits grown in the 
state, a saloon. A hotel building was also erected soon after by J.D. 
Billings, which still stands in Ashton, but which has been improved by 
large additions, and is now owned by C.W. Freeman and run by Nick 
Reiter. When Ashton got fairly started, it had two stores, a millinery shop, 
blacksmith shop, hotel, warehouse, saloon and two residences. Then 
came the grasshoppers, whose ravages are mentioned elsewhere, and 
these so discouraged and disheartened the first businessmen of the 
town that one by one they "Folded their tents like Arabs, and as silently 
stole away." The storekeepers sold what they could, and packed up the 
balance of the stock and departed. The hotel man had no custom and he 
went, the saloon-keeper had to tend both sides of the bar and do all the 
drinking himself, the millinery goods were not in demand, no grain came 
to market, and the exodus was thorough and complete.  
 
In 1879, a writer in the Gazette said the following of St. Gilman: "Last 
week we spent an hour or two in Gilman. This village is struggling with all 
its hopes in the future, waiting patiently for a depot, an elevator, an 
express and telegraph office. A year or two of good crops will bring it into 
notice, give it more buildings, sidewalks, a mayor and all the 
paraphernalia of a full fledged metropolis, until then it must move quietly 
and contentedly. Its only merchant, F.M. Bashfield was at his post. He is 
a gentleman, courteous, social and of much intelligence; is a close 
dealer and watches every penny, and indeed this is the secret of 
success. Kit Carson, who is the magistrate, was absent, either figuring 
on the increase and improvement of stock, or else talking politics. Kit is a 
host in himself and good company. The portly form of Lucas, the village 
blacksmith, was seen bending over his work which seemed to be lying all 
around. The old Shaw store building is used for a dwelling and the 
familiar countenance of its former and original occupant is no longer 
seen in town. Churley Miller has moved into the country, not far from 
Gilman, and now follows the plow instead of measuring wood and 
weighing coal. When the country tributary to Gilman is settled, it will 
make a snug town and a good business point." 
 
J.D. Billings, now of Sheldon, was the first justice and one of the first 
school officers. His daughter Mary was the first child born in the town.  
 
In about 1883 business revived there again, stores were opened, the 
hotel once more had a landlord, and St. Gilman then made another start 
on the road to wealth and prosperity. About that time Nick Boor opened 
up there in business, and this had something to do with its new start. The 
Pattersons also, A. and G.W., gave the town an impetus, and since the 
change in name, and new parties going in, the town has continued to 
grow. 
 
Its leading business interests are now represented by J.H. and C.C. 
Carmichael, drug store, who came to Ashton in 1892; restaurant by John 
Kunnen, who commenced business in 1892; H.A. Carson, son of J.W., 
who opened a photograph gallery this present year; furniture store by 
F.H. Thompson, established 1891; clothing store, M. Hingtgen, 1891; 
meat market, Ira L. and P.E. Kennen, 1891; harness shop, N. Klees, 
1892; jewelry store, A.L. Hyde, 1892; restaurant, Henry Wheelhouse, 
1890; hardware, C.W. Rahe, 1890; livery barn, J. Smith and L. Lamar; 
Blacksmith shop, I.B. Lucas and W. B. Reagen; hotel, N. Reiter; wagon 
shop, J.W. Clark; general store, Henry Wheelhouse; also general store, 
H. Ennga, 1892; general store, S.S. Dean and J.A. Hoffman; general 
store, W.S. and G.L. Queenby, 1892; general store, M. Wermerskirchen, 
1890; Nick Boor and W.L. Benjamin have an agricultural house and an 
elevator; H.S. Grant, farm machinery; C.J. King and L.M. Match, 
blacksmith shop; Frank DeVoss, barber shop; and S.M.Brown, a 
mechanic, and has charge of the elevator. 
 
Ashton's postmaster is J.W. Reagan. It has three church buildings, 
Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist. One paper is published there, the 
Leader, by C.A. Charles. It is a bright, five-column quarto, and has large 
circulation. 
 
Ashton is a live business town and one of general prosperity. It has some 
very elegant residences, good stores, and thorough businessmen, and 
the town will continue its growth. It is a good grain market and a good 
place for general trading. 
 
Ashton is situated on Section 15, in Gilman Township; is on the Chicago, 
St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway line. It has the usual secret 
societies and social organizations and its businessmen are on a solid 
basis. J.B. McEnany is its physician. It also has a creamery, managed 
and owned by C.W. Baird and is soon to have another elevator. 
Altogether Ashton promises to be considerably of a place in the future. 
Its present municipal officers are: 
Mayor.....................................................Joseph W. Reagan 
Trustees.................................................W.L. Benjamin 
C.J. King 
John Lenn 
C.W. Rake 
Peter Wagner 
P.E. Kiemen 
Recorder................................................J.H. Carmichael 
Marshal..................................................E.S. Knowles 
 
OCHEYEDAN 
 
The town is laid out on a part of Section 2, and a part of Section 11, in 
West Ocheyedan Township. The writer has been unable to ascertain 
correctly the origin of the word Ocheyedan, and hence will not attempt to 
account for it.  
 
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad crossed Osceola 
County in the year 1884. The coming of this road brought into existence 
the Town of Ocheyedan, and in the fall of 1884 building commenced. 
The first building put up on the town site was a "shanty," which kind of a 
building is well understood, though the word itself is becoming obsolete. 
This was put up by James Wood, and he lived in it and stored his goods 
there, while a building was being prepared for occupancy. Out of his 
stock, however, he made some sales, and ran a sort of "shanty" trade 
until he got straightened out in more mercantile condition. This was in the 
fall of 1884, and at this same time Charles Woodworth had lumber on the 
ground for a hardware store; also did Wood for a general store, and 
William Smith for a general store. Woodworth moved into his building 
first with his stock of hardware, so that this building, which Mr. 
Woodworth still occupies, may be said to be the first business house in 
the town. Wood put his stock also in Woodworth's building temporarily, 
and as soon as his own was finished moved into that. Mr. Smith got his 
building finished in October, and put in a general stock. This same fall of 
1884 the Kout brothers, Joseph and Dominick, put up a store building 
and filled it with a general stock of goods. L.B. Boyd also put up a 
building that fall, in which he opened a general store, and these four 
general stores, with the hardware, constituted the mercantile business of 
the town in the winter of 1884-85. We will add however, that Dr. C. Teal 
erected the building now occupied by Ed Becker as a barbershop in the 
fall of 1884, and opened a drug store, also practiced as a physician. Dr. 
Teal moved from Ocheyedan a few years ago, and now lives in North 
Carolina. William Smith sold out a year or so afterwards to D.J. Jones, 
who carried on a general store until the spring of 1891, when he died. 
Mrs. Jones continued the business after her husband's death until this 
present year when she sold out to Bunker Bros., who now occupy the 
building with a stock of groceries. Wood sold out to M.H. Young, who 
carried a general stock, and in the fall of 1891 Young sold out to J.W. 
Thomas & Son, who now run a general store in the same building. The 
Kout Bros. sold out building and stock to R.J. O. McGowan, who now 
occupies the same stand with a general store. The L.B. Boyd building 
first had a general store, and is now occupied by W.F. Stimpson for a 
restaurant. In the fall of 1884 also Archibald Oliver put up the livery barn 
now owned and occupied by E.D. Cleaveland. Mr. Oliver was then, and 
was the first, station agent in Ocheyedan. 
 
There was also erected in the fall of 1884 two warehouses for grain and 
coal. One was put up by French & Hayward, and the other by D.L. Riley. 
These business houses, with a few dwellings, was what constituted the 
town of Ocheyedan until the spring of 1885. There was however in 1884 
a lumberyard started by D.L. Riley, and run by Fred Wheeler. In the 
spring of 1885 C.A. and M.A. Tatum's erected the building now occupied 
by A.J. Coulton. Tatum's opened a feed store and butcher shop, and 
afterwards sold it to Coulton. Peter Graves opened a general store in 
1885 and erected the building now occupied by John and Mary Graves. 
Also the same year John Wilson put up the W. J. Robinson building, now 
occupied by L.D. and E.P. Johnson. The hotel building, called the 
Ocheyedan House, was built in 1885 by John Wilson, who ran it a few 
months and was then succeeded by Charles Carnes, and he by H. 
Runyon. I.N. Daggett soon after purchased the building and ran the hotel 
himself a short time, and was succeeded by J.F. Pfaff. Pfaff was 
succeeded by S.A. Dove, who bought the property in 1891, and is still 
owner and landlord. Mr. Dove has recently sold and will move to 
Missouri. 
 
Ocheyedan celebrated the first year of its existence on the 4th day of 
July 1885. It was given out beforehand that a great time was to be had, 
and the country around looked upon the coming celebration as an event 
of considerable importance, and it was. People flocked into Ocheyedan 
in great numbers on that day, and it seemed as if the whole country was 
there. Archibald Oliver was president of the day and C.A. Tatum, 
Marshal. W.J. Robinson read the Declaration of Independence, and 
Henderson, a farmer living south of Ocheyedan delivered the oration. 
The music consisted of fife and drum; also playing upon the organ and 
singing. There was a foot race, sack race and a horse trot. Will Peters 
won the foot race purse, and in the sack race Joel Rice took first money 
and Frank Daley second. The Tatum's carried off the honors in the horse 
race, M.A. taking first money and H.C. second. The contestants in the 
horse race were M.A. and H. C. Tatum, Broadfoot, Adam Sterling, Smith 
and Claus Yett. There was considerable excitement over this and the 
boys were somewhat demonstrative over it, but did not let their angry 
passions rise to the extent of an open fight, but at times were near to it. 
The day wound up with a bowery dance; Joseph Hall played the violin 
and there was other music. The dance lasted all night and towards 
morning the remaining participants in this first celebration went home to 
recruit up after this enthusiastic siege.  
 
The drug store building recently occupied by A.E. Smith was built by 
John Webster and was placed between Cleveland's livery and the 
railroad track, and it was used there for a saloon. It was built in 1886. In 
1887 it was moved to where it now stands. It is now used by T.H. Dravis 
for a clothing house. 
 
Ocheyedan, as a town location, is unexcelled. It is on a gradual rise from 
the railroad track, and most of the town is on the elevation. This enables 
it to have clean streets and a complete drain for water.  
 
Other buildings followed along in the course of construction, and in 1885 
A.V. Randall erected a business house built in the corner of Main Street, 
which is now used by Walton Brothers for a furniture store. In 1890 C.A. 
and M.A. Tatum put up a building for livery barn, now occupied by Tatum 
Brothers for an agricultural house. The elevator, now owned and 
occupied by A.W. Harris & Company, was placed there in 1885. In 1890 
Bowersock Brothers, consisting of Asa and E. Bowersock, bought out 
D.L. Riley's lumber yard, and are still running the same business. In 1891 
John Porter & Son of Reinbeck, Iowa, started the second lumberyard in 
Ocheyedan, which is still running under the management of W.F. Aldred. 
 
The bank building, now occupied by the Ocheyedan Bank, was erected 
by I.N. Daggett, who sold out to the Northwestern State Bank of Sibley, 
and it was then placed in charge of E. Baker, now vice president of the 
Northwestern State Bank. They sold to the Ocheyedan Savings Bank, of 
which C.S. McLaury is president, W.M. Smith, vice president, and J.L. 
McLaury, cashier, under whose management it now is. 
 
The present year, 1892, John Porter & Son also established a bank, 
which, in connection with their lumber business is under the 
management of W.F. Aldred, whose name appears as cashier. 
 
Ocheyedan has grown gradually each year since its first starting. It has 
never been boomed, but has made its way quietly as the country 
demanded its growth. This year of 1892 it has pushed ahead 
considerably. Kout Brothers have erected a very fine business house, 
which is now occupied by A.E. Smith for a drug store. A.V. Randall has 
added a business building to Main Street, as has also E.N. Moore. 
Several elegant dwelling houses have also been erected by C.A. Tatum, 
W.F. Aldred, Dr. W.E. Ely, Mrs. D.R. Jones, Charles Woodworth and 
others. In 1891 Asa Bowersock put up a very fine residence house, as 
also did M.A. Tatum. 
 
In 1889 several of the farmers around established in Ocheyedan a 
creamery, which is a joint stock corporation. The association was formed 
in 1889, and the following year buildings were erected and business 
started. Its present officers are: President, J.C. Moar; secretary, W.E. 
Ely; treasurer, J.L. McLaury; directors, Dick Wassman, Geo. W. Thomas, 
W.A. Cooper, Henry Bremer, J.C. Ward.  
At the close of last year the secretary, W.E. Ely, published the local 
paper the following report: 
 
"The Ocheyedan Creamery has just finished the second season of its 
existence, and as there is some inquiry concerning its workings and 
profits, we will endeaver to give a short account of what has been done. 
Active work commenced about the middle of April and continued until the 
middle of September, or about five months in all. During that time we 
have received 526,430 pounds, making 21,435 pounds of butter, or an 
average of 4.07 pounds per hundred. Our cream wagon has gathered 
6,703 inches of cream, making the total amount of butter manufactured 
28,138 pounds. For milk we have paid the shareholders at the rate of 55 
cents per hundred for May, June and July; 68 cents for August, and 80 
cents for September, or a grand total of $3,098.99, averaging 59 cents 
per hundred for the season. For gathered cream we paid 13 ½ cents per 
inch in May and June, 12 ½ cents in July, 16 ½ cents in August, and 17 
¾ cents in September; in all $920.66, or an average of 13 ¾ cents per 
inch for the season. All of our butter has been sold in New York at Elgin 
prices---the gathered cream excepted, that grading lower and bringing 
from 1 to 3 cents per pound less. 
 
"It has been demonstrated that a creamery pays, and in proportion to the 
amount of patronage it receives. Four hundred pounds can be 
manufactured each day as cheap as 100 pounds, and reduces the 
expense accordingly. When milk can be brought to the creamery in good 
condition for separating, that system pays better than the gathered 
cream system, while the latter on the whole is more profitable than the 
home dairy. But a creamery is like any other business concern, to be 
successful it must have patronage, and if its own incorporators stand 
back waiting for it to become a paying concern before they put their 
shoulder to the wheel, how can they expect outsiders to take any interest 
or invest any capital in the concern. Two years' work has demonstrated 
sure success, and if each shareholder does his duty during the coming 
season I am sure he will find that not only will the creamery relieve his 
family of the drudgery of butter making, but will pay him more cash than 
he could possibly make out of his milk himself.  
Respectfully, 
"W.E. Ely, 
"Secretary." 
 
Ocheyedan has two church organizations, the Methodist and 
Congregationalist. The Methodist organization was first completed in the 
country outside the town before the town started, and for awhile had two 
buildings, one of them still standing and used near Mr. Mowthorpe's 
place. Judge McCallum, in giving us the history of the building, says that 
in 1876 or thereabouts, when he was holding down his claim near 
Ocheyedan, himself and L.G. Ireland, with F.H. Hunt, D.H. Boyd, Wm. 
Mowthorpe and others concluded that they wanted a sanctuary for 
worship and someplace to go to church. Ireland, McCallum and some 
others were sort of outsiders and not sound in the faith, and the question 
arose as to the location, and upon this they were divided. A meeting was 
held at Mr. Hunt's and the majority sat down completely on any location, 
except that where a church building now stands, near Mr. Mowthorpe's. 
The McCallum crowd were bound to have a church anyhow where they 
wanted it, so they went at it, and inside of three weeks they had a 
building all ready for occupancy on a corner of Ireland's claim. The other 
fellows, not to be outdone, also went at it and built their church near Mr. 
Mowtorpe's, where it now is. One was called grit and the other grace-the 
McCallum one being grit. After they were erected, however, the brethren 
dwelt together in unity, and, with the help of Brother Mallory, their 
spiritual welfare was looked after, and all were satisfied. The McCallum 
church was moved into Ocheyedan when the town started. 
 
When the building was moved into Ocheyedan the church pastor then 
was Rev. R. Hild. He was succeeded by Rev. Keister, he by Rev. J.M. 
Woolery and then Rev. S.C. Olds, the present pastor. The church 
building is far too small for the present accommodations and one larger 
and more spacious will be erected in the near future. 
 
The Congregational society was organized in the spring of 1889. For 
awhile its exercises consisted of a Sunday School and occasional 
preaching from some clergyman sent from the State Missionary Society 
and this continued until 1890 when Rev. L. R. Fitch became its 
established pastor and is such now. This society now holds its services 
in the schoolhouse in the upper story, but will at no distant day erect a 
church building and they are very much in need of one. Rev. Thomas 
Pell was at one time pastor and is a forcible preacher. 
 
Ocheyedan became an incorporated town fully, upon the election of its 
first officers in April 1891. In March of that year, the previous month, the 
question of incorporation or no incorporation was submitted to the 
people. Public opinion was about equally divided and a discussion of the 
question previous to the vote being taken, had warmed the contending 
parties into a strong and almost belligerent controversy. Incorporation 
carried by a few votes and as soon as the conflict was over, the 
opposers submitted gracefully, and the feeling then was undivided in all 
interests that would promote the welfare and progress of Ocheyedan. 
Soon public improvements were entered into, ordinances for the better 
government of the town, and in promotion of its welfare were passed, 
and internal improvements became the order of the day. The town's 
greatest need then was a system of sidewalks and these came along in 
good time, are now on all streets where business or residences require 
them. There is an eight-foot walk that adds not only to the convenience 
of the town, but to its appearance as well. The present town officers were 
the first officers elected in April 1891, with one exception, which is that of 
Mr. Aldred, and he was elected at the election held in the spring of 1892. 
The present officers are as follows: 
Mayor........................................... W.E. Ely 
Recorder....................................... A.E. Smith 
Treasurer...................................... J.L. McLaury 
Assessor..................................... .R.J. Jones 
Street Commissioner................. George Rupner 
Marshal...................................... .George Rupner 
Trustees..................................... C.M. Manville 
S.A. Dove 
Charles Woodworth 
W.F. Aldred 
Asa Bowersock 
C.A. Tatum 
Ocheyedan has one newspaper, published by Mr. Perkins. The paper 
was started in 1891, and its first issue on the 7th day of August. The 
paper was started by D.A.W. Perkins, who intended it for his son, 
George W. Perkins, but while the material was still in the boxes at the 
freight depot, the boy was drowned in Silver Lake, near Lake Park. Mr. 
Perkins, however, under the shadow of this terrible misfortune, 
proceeded with its publication and after an intermediate change it is still 
published by Mr. Perkins. The paper is a five-column quarto and the 
public spirit of Ocheyedan people is well manifested by giving the paper 
a liberal patronage which they have since the first issue, and its 
circulation is large and constantly increasing. The town is not numerous 
with secret socieites, but a Masonic lodge has a complete organization, 
with a hall finely furnished in the upper story of the building built by 
Joseph and Dominick Kout. There is what is called the Ocheyedan 
Lodge, I.O.G.T., of which C.M. Higley is C.T., and Mary McCallum, 
secretary. This society meets each week. The first postmaster in 
Ocheyedan was D.H. Boyd, who was succeeded by A.V. Randall and he 
by E.N. Moore, the present postmaster. 
 
The town of Ocheyedan is in nearly the center of the eastern part of 
Osceola County, and hence as a trading point is favorably located. It has 
a fine farming country around and tributary to it, and its future is 
exceedingly promising. Everything is peaceable in the town, at the same 
time full of business activity. Ocheyedan socially is a model town. 
 
Its present most prominent business interests and citizens are as follows: 
Elevators-A.W. Harris & Co. (manager, John Harris); 
A. E. Brown (manager, A.D. Moreland.) 
Lumber-Bowersock Brothers; John Porter & Son (manager, W.F. 
Aldred.) 
General Stores-Mary Graves; J.W. Thomas & Son; 
Banker Brothers; R.J.O. McGowan. 
Banks-Ocheyedan Bank; John Porter & Son 
Drug Store-A.E. Smith 
Hardware-Charles Woodworth 
Hotel-S.A. Dove 
Restaurant-W.F. Stimpson 
Meat Market-C. Bowersock 
Feed Store-A.J. Coulton 
Livery Barn-E.D. Cleaveland 
Agricultural House-Tatum Bros.; Frank Cleaveland 
Bowersock Bros. 
Harness Shop-C.A. Tatum & Son 
Millinery-E.P. Johnson 
Barber-Ed Becker 
Contractors and Builders-Zeug Bros.; Fred Wheeler;  
C.L. Buchman; Kout Bros.; T.M. Spencer; McLagen & Son 
Blacksmith-C.A. Spencer; Fred Meyer 
Mason-E.N. Moore 
Stock Buyers-C.M. Manville; Bowersock Bros. 
Furniture-Walton Bros. 
Newspaper-Ocheyedan Press 
Postmaster-E.N. Moore 
Physician-W.E. Ely 
Lawyer-D.A.W. Perkins 
Painter-Elmer Spencer 
Clothing Store-T.H. Dravis 
Well Borer-C.R. Boyd 
Stockmen-C.A. Tatum; David Eicher 
Clergymen-S.C. Olds; L.R. Fitch 
Station Agent-O.L. Beck 
Assistant Station Agent-A.O. Beck 
Mr. T. R. Stewart, formerly in the land business here, is now with John 
Porter & Son;  
C.M. Higley, formerly of Sheldon, is in the Ocheyedan Bank, and 
Fred Bumgardner is engaged in general farming and stock dealing. 
The interests of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern in its track 
repairs are represented by John Wallace and P. Cramer. 
Eustace Manville is also in business here, and the creamery is under the 
management of Peter Jensen. A.V. Randall has a crockery store and Mr. 
A. Arend has a shoe store. The Zeug Brothers have a building as a 
workshop and in which is a public hall. Daniel Weaver, though living in 
the country, is the Ocheyedan jeweler. 
 
The prospect is that Ocheyedan will continue to have a substantial 
growth and will be a town of some importance. 
 
SIBLEY 
 
The Sibley townsite is situated on Section 13, in East Holman Township. 
It was laid out by the land department of the Sioux City and St. Paul 
Railroad Company, in 1872, and subsequent additions have been made, 
which are Chase's addition and East Sibley addition-the first by R.J. 
Chase and the last by several different parties, among whom are Jacob 
Brooks, H.S. Brown, Mrs. C.I. Hill, Wilbern Brothers, G.W. Meader and 
others. The first building erected on what is now the townsite was by 
F.M. Robinson in the fall of 1871. The town was first named Cleghorn, 
and afterwards changed to Sibley, named after Gen. H.H. Sibley, of St. 
Paul. The Robinson building was on the shack order, and in which John 
L. Robinson, with his son, Frank, lived during the winter of 1871 and 
1872; also, W.H. Rogers put up a store building and this, with the 
Robinson building, constituted the town of Sibley that first winter. In the 
spring of 1872 a fellow by the name of Ward had a small building near 
Roger's store, and in which he kept a saloon. These buildings, on the 
start, were on what is Tenth Street, the street where the old Pioneer 
Hotel building now stands, and this point, then, was expected to be the 
center of business, and was, until the fire hereafter mentioned, when the 
town formed another location north of that, and where the business part 
of the town now is. Just before the railroad reached the townsite, D.L. 
McCausland hauled lumber from Mountain Lake, Minnesota and put up a 
residence on the townsite, and this was the first residence building. After 
the road had been built into Sibley, in June 1872, J.T. Barclay obtained 
lumber out of the first brought in, and immediately put up a residence, 
which he still occupies with his family. After McCausland got his building 
up he used it for a boarding house, and J.F. Glover, John Hawxshurst, 
with many others, were his boarders. The house was two-story, and in 
the hurry of its erection stairs were neglected, so that cleats were nailed 
on the studding for steps to get up and down. All who have had 
experiences as pioneers know how its out-door life, its expectations, and 
all its ambitious surroudings, bring health to the cheek and puts one in 
the best of physical condition; and the result of it all, enormous appetite. 
McCausland's boarders became so ravenous, so anxious for their meals, 
and in such extroardinary quantities, that it kept Mc on the go to keep up 
with the demand. It is a wonder that it hadn't broke Mc up in business, for 
no doubt there were some who never missed a meal and who never paid 
a cent. 
 
The town did not get fairly started until the summer of 1872, after the 
Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad, now the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis 
and Omaha, reached the townsite, which was June 1, 1872. Soon as the 
roadbed was in shape for hauling, lumber came in, and the first sales 
made were by Levi Shell, who then established a lumberyard, and has 
continued in the business since, and is still here. 
Quite a number of business houses and residences were erected during 
that year; also the courthouse and schoolhouse. The Sibley Hotel was 
also built that year, and in the Sibley Hotel barn, then just completed, 
was held the exercises on the Fourth day of July, which was the first 
celebration had on the townsite. L.S. Fawcett, of Sioux City, delivered 
the oration, and John H. Douglass was captain of the whangdoodles. 
This day is remembered by the old settlers as a very cold one, making 
an overcoat quite comfortable. Sibley, in 1872, had the usual air and 
appearance of Western towns in their first starting. These are generally 
characterized by a feeling of independence and a freedom to act 
unrestrained by the settled ways of society and of social and religious 
organizations. It took the balance of that year (1872) for the men to get 
squared around with buildings for business and residences for their 
families. In 1873 the substantial conditions of society prevailed in Sibley 
and the usual town societies came into existence. In March 1873 the 
town was out of coal owing to the snow blockade, and people burned 
what they could get hold of until the blockade was lifted. E.L. Kinney, 
who died March 2, 1875, was the first landlord at the Sibley Hotel, and 
he is remembered by old settlers not only as a first-class landlord, but 
also as one of the best of men. 
 
The I.O.O.F. lodge was started in May 1873, and among its first officers 
were: W.W. Cramm, treasurer; J.T. Barclay, R.S.N.G., and J.H. 
Douglass, R.S.S. 
 
In June of that year there was considerable rain, and the mud was so 
deep that lumber was rafted down the otter to build bridges at Doon. 
 
Some of the business men at Sibley then who are still here are Brown & 
Chambers, Robert Richardson, P.A. Cajacob, D.L. McCausland, J.T. 
Barclay, J.F. Glover, W.C. Grant, H.L. Emmert, Levi Shell, S.H. Westcott, 
David Littlechild, S.S. Parker, C.M. Mandeville, George Carew, W.R. 
Lawrence, Augustus O'Neill, A.W. Mitchell, W.J. Miller, J.P. Hawxshurst. 
 
In May 1873, David Little child purchased a photograph gallery, and in 
his announcement said to the ladies: "Come and secure the shadow ere 
the substance fades." This was in the days of Dave's youth and modesty, 
when he was content with the shadow, but since then, in his increasing 
years of bachelorhood, he has been looking for the substance. 
 
David Littlechild was also in the livery business in 1872. This business 
required considerable driving, and Dave was more than once out in a 
blizzard when his life was in danger. In driving once from Spirit Lake to 
Sibley, a fearful snowstorm overtook him; the weather was extremely 
cold, and he was unable to tell exactly where he was or where he could 
find shelter. Fortunately he was near the house of D.H. Boyd, near 
Ocheyedan, and saw it in a lull of the storm, and remained there until the 
blizzard was over. 
 
A.W. Mitchell established the first genuine furniture store. J.A. Cole was 
about the first druggist, and L. Garner about the first harness shop.  
 
The substantial lawyers at that time were J.T. Barclay, Hugh Jordan, J.F. 
Glover and R.J. Chase. Mr. Barclay retired from the practice several 
years ago for other business interests. Hugh Jordan died in 1887, and 
R.J. Chase moved to Sioux City in November 1874, where he is still in 
practice. Mr. Chase purchased eighty acres on the north side of Sibley, 
and laid out an addition, which now is well settled with fine residences. 
The writer knew Hugh Jordan well, and was interested with him in 
several litigated cases. He was a good lawyer, a prince of good fellows, 
a good citizen, indulgent to his family and kind to all. D.D. McCallum 
studied law with Mr. Jordan, and was admitted in 1878. 
 
Wilbern Brothers were first in the agricultural implement business, and in 
the spring of 1873 retired from that and opened a grocery store. 
 
In 1873 Robert Richardson had a meat market, and P.A. Cajacob also 
opened up on the same business in the spring. Mr. Richardson started in 
1872.  
 
July 4th of that year, 18873, the people of Sibley had a celebration, 
which was largely attended. C.I. Hill was president of the day; L.G. 
Ireland, marshal. Mr. Jordan read the Declaration, and J.F. Glover 
delivered the oration. Porter P. Peck and C.I. Hill were on the finance 
committee, and having realized quite an amount on paper, they 
expended considerable of their own money, and at last had to foot many 
of the bills. They came out in an article in the paper afterwards and 
roasted the delinquents severely. They forgot the old admonition that the 
time to take up a subscription is when the coffin is being lowered into the 
grave, as waiting after the funeral is over is a dangerous chancing of 
contribution. 
 
Mr. Peck came to Sibley in 1872 and was for a while in business there 
under the firm name of Wetherell, Peck & Co. He is now a capitalist in 
Sioux Falls, and is mayor of the city. 
 
In July 1873 a severe windstorm swept over Sibley scattering lumber, 
blowing down a few barns, and carrying away the store signs. 
 
Charles Armbright was Sibley's first barber, and he was also at that time 
leader of the Sibley band. 
 
A military company, called the Osceola County Guards, was organized in 
1873, with Robert Stamm orderly. 
 
The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated December 18, 1874. 
The services were conducted by Rev. R.H. Webb, assisted by Rev. John 
Webb. There was an indebtedness of $400, and this was raised at the 
dedication. The Congregational Church was dedicated November 25, 
1874, the services conducted by W.L.Colman. 
 
July 4, 1874 was also celebrated. The president of the day was C.I. Hill, 
H. Jordan delivered the oration, J.F. Glover read the Declaration, and 
C.M. Bailey was marshal. 
 
On the 7th day of November 1873 Sibley was visited by fire. It started in 
the rear of Barber & Lawrence's drug store, and the cause of it was 
either from a stove in the back part of the building or by an incendiary. 
The losses, as then estimated, were: Barber & Lawrence, $900; A.H. 
Clark, groceries, $600; H.C. Kellogg, store, $1,200; Kelley & Walrath, dry 
goods, $1,244; J.A. Cole, drugs, $2,000; Wilbern Bros., stock, $1,100. 
This fire was a hard blow on Sibley then, but most of the losers soon 
rebuilt and were soon in business again. 
 
C.L. Davidson, one of the prominent men of the Northwest, who was an 
early settler in Sibley, now resides in Sioux County. W.L. Parker 
established himself in the drug business at Sibley in 1874. D.L.Riley, 
now at Iowa Falls, put in a grain warehouse in 1872; also a lumberyard 
with W.C. Grant. D.M. Shuck was also in the lumber business. 
 
Sibley was incorporated as a town in the spring of 1876. Its first officers 
were: 
Mayor D.L. Riley 
Trustees C.L. Norton, 
C.E. Brown,  
D. Cramer,  
H.S. Brown,  
H.L. Emmert 
Recorder George S. Murphy 
 
The first banking house was started by H.L. Emmert and C.I. Hill in 1873. 
Mr. Hill retired in 1874. 
 
C.I. Hill was one of the early settlers in Sibley, and died a few years ago. 
He was a man of sterling integrity, of much public spirit, and he was a 
man much missed by the people of Sibley when he died. His widow still 
resides here. 
 
Rev. W.W. Mallory, a Methodist preacher, here in the seventies, was a 
man of strong, vigorous expression, yet of sincere convictions and an 
upright life. 
 
On the 21st day of December 1878, John L. Robinson celebrated his 
golden wedding. Mr. Robinson and his wife are still living at Sibley. 
 
Dr. J.M. Jenkins was Sibley's first physician, in 1871, though Dr. Gurney, 
holding down a claim near here, was also in practice. Dr. Churchill was 
also here in 1871, and Dr. Mellin in 1872. 
 
The Sibley Gazette was started in July 1872, B. L.A. Barker. In May 1873 
he sold to Riley & Brown, who a few months after sold to E.H. Craig and 
John F. Glover. Mr. John Hawxshurst then succeeded Mr. Craig, and 
with Mr. Glover published the paper. Mr. Glover then retired, and Mr. 
Hawxshurst was the sole proprietor. It was then Edwards & Reed, then 
Reed & Glover, then Glover, then Glover & Hawxshurst, then George 
Carew. Afterwards it was Perkins & Foster; then the paper returned to 
Mr. Carew again, who retained its ownership until in 1891, when the 
paper was sold to Ward & Co., who in turn sold to the Gazette Publishing 
Co., who are its present proprietors, under the management of J.A. 
Flower. It is the first paper published in the county, and is Republican in 
politics. 
 
In 1878 Sibley had seventy scholars in its school-forty-four in the higher 
department and sixteen in the primary. 
 
The Sibley Tribune was started by Charles E. Crossly; then Dennis 
bought in, and in 1884 W.P. Webster bought Crossly out. In November 
1890 G.L. Caswell purchased Dennis' interest, so that the present 
proprietors and publishers are W.P. Webster and C.L. Caswell, under the 
firm name of Webster & Caswell. It is a six column quarto, and is a 
Democratic paper, but not extremely partisan. 
 
There is also published the Sibley Saber, representing the order of Sons 
of Veterans. A.W. McCallum is editor-in-chief, and George A. Romey, 
general manager. 
 
The history of Sibley would be incomplete without a mention of Hon. 
Stephen Miller, ex-governor of Minnesota and who was, when Sibley 
started, representing the land department of the Sioux City and St. Paul 
Railroad Company, and had personal control of the townsites along the 
line of that road in northwest Iowa. He was an intellectual, honest, noble 
man. His occasional visits to the different towns always found the old 
settlers ready to greet him warmly, and he was highly respected by all, 
and died in 1880. He is buried at Worthington, Minnesota. It would also 
be incomplete without a mention of Gen. J.W. Bishop, who was then 
manager of the above named 
railroad and for whom any fulsome praise is unnecessary, as his 
standing, his character, and his business integrity are too well known and 
too well remembered by all of us of the early days. The businessmen of 
Sibley, early in the seventies, had a hard time of it, as well as did the 
homesteaders. The settlers were poor, generally so by reason of being 
poor when they came, and then by grasshoppers suffered a failure of 
crops afterwards. It was hard to refuse them credit altogether, and a 
great many were carried along on book account, expecting each year to 
realize a harvest. 
 
Those of the settlers who staid here were, after a while, able to meet 
their obligations, while others got out of the country in the darkness of 
night, driven to desperation in their condition of poverty and debt, and of 
course the business men of Sibley in all such cases were losers. Others 
went away in broad daylight, after informing their creditors of their 
inability to pay, and making promises for the future. Many of these, as 
the years went by and the debt became ancient, were after a while 
indifferent, and, even with the best of intentions originally, never paid. 
The merchants, of course, were the losers. 
 
Sibley in its present condition is a town of about fifteen hundred 
inhabitants. It is the abode of considerable wealth, is a very fine business 
point, and of high social character. It has the best of educational 
facilities, is a peaceable town, has very fine residences and commanding 
brick business houses. 
 
Of its banks, are the First National, capital $50,000; C. E. Brown, 
president; H.L. Emmert, cashier; directors, L.Shell, R.S. Hall, N. Boor, 
C.E. Brown, H.L. Emmert. 
 
There is also the Northwestern State Bank. It has a capital of $75,000, 
and its last quarterly statement shows cash deposits amounting to 
$264,695.62. J.W. Orde is president, E. Baker, vice-president, L. Dawn, 
cashier. 
 
IOWA LAND COMPANY (LIMITED.) 
 
This company was organized early in the eighties, principally by the 
Close Bros., who several years ago left the county and ceased to 
operate in Northwest Iowa. Its business here is now managed by C.W. 
Benson and Ker. D. Dunlop, both of whom are men of the highest 
business integrity and gentlemen in every sense of the word. This 
company, without question, has advanced the business interests of the 
town and the settlement of the county. They have opened up farms, 
brought settlers in, and given opportunities to men without means to 
work and raise crops and become landowners themselves. During their 
business career here they have foreclosed only one mortgage, and this 
was for the purpose of settling title, in which the mortgagee himself had 
an interest. They have erected substantial brick buildings in the town, 
and their investments here have been a benefit to all as well as profitable 
to themselves. They control a large number of acres of land, both 
improved and unimproved. John H. Douglas is connected with this land 
company in certain departments of its business. 
 
J. T. Barclay. 
 
This gentleman, formerly a lawyer, now is principally engaged in real 
estate. He issues each month a land journal, and in his August number 
say: "The town is well supplied with business houses, newspapers, 
flouring mills and elevators, and is now eager to secure manufactories of 
all kinds. Such a growing town, in the midst of an elegant farming 
country, is bound to make land and farms near it very valuable in a short 
time." Mr. Barclay handles land principally with his own capital, buys and 
sells, and his continued operations through grasshopper times, and up to 
the present, have helped largely the settlement of the county. We quote 
somewhat from his land journal as to other business interests in Sibley. 
 
M. M. TRAINER 
 
is Sibley's efficient and popular dentist. Mr. Trainer thoroughly 
understands his business, and is among the most prominent dentists in 
the Northwest. 
 
T. H. DRAVIS, 
 
the "Square-Dealing Clothier," has one of the finest stocks of exclusive 
clothing and gent's furnishing goods to be found in the West. 
 
WILLIAM COTTRILL 
 
is one of Sibley's most extensive harness dealers. 
 
J. W. KAYE 
 
is an efficient and accurate abstractor, and whose office is with Lawyer 
O.J. Clark. 
 
C. A. SANDERS 
 
is the popular caterer in the City Bakery and Restaurant, on the south 
side of Ninth Street. 
 
LEONARD & CARMICHAEL, 
 
dealers in lumber, wood and coal, are one of the largest firms in this line 
in the Northwest. 
 
D. L. M'CAUSLAND 
is in the insurance and loan business, and, as will be noticed elsewhere, 
is one of the first settlers and was first County Recorder. 
 
JOE GATES, 
 
the boot and shoe man, is located just west of the post office. 
 
G. F. BRAND 
 
conducts what he calls the "Palace Grocery" in the Lansing & Brown 
building. 
 
JOHN DE BOOS 
 
is proprietor of the Third Avenue hardware store. 
 
HEIM, the PHOTOIST 
 
has the only photograph gallery in Sibley. 
 
J. C. BRICKNER 
 
is a popular grocer, and does a good trade. His picture will be found on 
another page. 
 
WILLIAM RIDDLEBARGER 
 
is proprietor of the Bargain Store. 
 
MRS. KNIGHT 
 
conducts a fashionable millinery store through her assistant here, Mrs. 
Evans. 
 
J. B. CAJACOB 
 
conducts the harness shop on the west end of Ninth Street. 
 
A. BUCKMAN & SON 
 
are proprietors of a grocery store on Third Avenue. 
 
V. B. GUTHRIE 
 
has a very fine barbershop under the Northwestern State Bank. He is 
assisted by M.L. Workheiser. 
 
ARMIN & SHELL 
 
have an extensive lumber yard. Mr. Shell was on the ground, as 
elsewhere stated, in 1872. 
 
J. WEBBER 
 
is proprietor of Central meat market. 
 
LAMME & M'KENNA 
 
These young men are successors of Grant & Milner. They handle 
agricultural implements. 
 
CIGAR FACTORY 
 
This has just been started by Nic Koerting, of Le Mars. 
 
WM. SMITH 
 
is proprietor of a new restaurant and boarding house on Ninth Street. 
 
NIC KIMLANGER 
 
is Sibley's merchant tailor. 
 
J. BROOKS, 
 
who is one of the early settlers, has a flour and feed store. 
 
A. ROMEY 
 
has a general store next door to the Osceola House. Mr. Romey is an old 
settler in the county, as our readers have already noticed. 
 
W. R. LAWRENCE 
 
operates a drug store and grocery on the north side of Ninth Street. He is 
an old resident of Sibley and Osceola County. 
 
ROBERT RICHARDSON 
 
has a butcher shop, and we notice in the 1873 Sibley paper that the 
same Robert had a butcher shop then. 
 
W. L. PARKER 
 
has a drug store, and erected the building he occupies, a picture of 
which is in this book, in 1891. Mr. Parker is one of the early settlers. 
 
WALTON BROTHERS 
 
have a very extensive furniture store in the Academy of Music block. 
These are E. Walton and H.E. Walton. 
 
THE SIBLEY HOTEL 
 
Sibley hotels are fully up to the demands of the town. The Sibley Hotel, 
conducted by H.L. Leland, is located near the Omaha depot. 
 
THE OSCEOLA HOUSE 
 
is located on the north side of Ninth Street, in the business center of the 
town. It is conducted by John Hickok, and managed by Hickok Brothers. 
 
J. B. LENT 
 
is dealing entirely in farming machinery of all kinds. 
 
ECKERMAN BROTHERS 
 
This firm are successors to Davidson & Eckerman in the implement 
business. 
 
J. B. GREY 
 
has in full operation one of the best creameries in the State. The output 
of his institution the past year ranks among the highest of any in the 
Northwest. 
 
PEAVEY & CO. 
 
One of this company's elevators is located at Sibley. J.T. Grow is their 
manager at this place.  
 
B. MILLER 
 
a city drayman and transfer man. 
 
H. E. PERRY, 
 
mail and express transfer man, and general delivery. 
 
F. E. CRAM 
 
a bridge builder and house mover. Also agent for the Austin steel 
reversible road machines and well drills.  
 
J. L. DURFEE 
 
delivers milk at Sibley houses every day. 
 
MRS. KENNY 
 
conducts classes in instrumental music in Sibley. 
 
MRS. WILDER 
 
has a large class in vocal and instrumental music. 
 
MISS GRACE CAMPBELL 
 
conducts classes in instrumental music in Sibley, Ashton and Bigelow, 
Minnesota. 
 
E. F. BEAUMONT  
 
is Sibley's artistic wielder of the brush, and a professional paperhanger. 
 
SIBLEY MARBLE WORKS. 
 
M. J. North looks after the monument business. 
 
TOBEY BROS. 
 
are dealers in agricultural implements and farm supplies. 
 
L. D. BARNES 
 
conducts a tin shop and deals in small hardware in the building next to 
Webber's meat market. 
 
B. A. WILDER, 
 
physician and surgeon, has had forty-two years' experience in 
homeopathic methods. 
 
H. NEILL, 
 
is Sibley's oldest physician and surgeon. 
 
MRS. HAHN-MILLINERY. 
 
She keeps hats, bonnets, hoods, ribbons, tips, bridal wreaths, China 
silks, etc. 
 
F. A. HOWARD 
 
is an extensive dealer in all kinds of school furniture. 
 
LAWYERS. 
 
The lawyers of Sibley are C. M. Brooks, D.D. McCullum, O. J. Clark, 
G.W. Lister and John F. Glover. Mr. Glover is the oldest in point of 
residence, and Mr. McCullum also does an extensive pension business. 
Mr. Lister is County Attorney. Mr. Clark has been in Sibley about ten 
years. Mr. McCullum served a term as Circuit Judge in that judicial 
district, and is mentioned elsewhere as an old resident. The bar is well 
represented and Sibley'' lawyers are efficient and able practitioners. 
 
LONG & SCHLEGEL 
 
are land, loan and insurance agents, south side of Ninth Street. 
 
JOHN A. FLOWER 
 
is county surveyor and also manager of the Sibley Gazette. 
 
LEISCH & BRODT 
 
A. Leisch and C. H. Brodt are the oldest draymen in the city. 
 
A. W. MITCHELL 
 
is a milk dealer. Mr. Mitchell is spoken of elsewhere as one of the early 
settlers. 
 
G. W. MEADER 
 
has an extensive hardware store, and elsewhere in this book is a picture 
of his building. 
 
LIVERY STABLES. 
 
These are represented by Littlechild Bros. and Joe Gill. 
 
W. H. STEWART 
 
Mr. Stewart is veterinary surgeon. 
 
C. W. LOWRY, 
 
proprietor of the Sibley Steam Laundry. 
 
D. F. CAUGHEY, 
 
is proprietor of City Laundry. 
 
CLINT HUDSON 
 
is handling the Dustless grain and grass seed cleaner and separator. 
 
HENRY NEWELL 
 
is the efficient young manager of the business of the Chicago, St. Paul, 
Milwaukee & Omaha Railway at this station. 
 
GEO. W. BAXTER 
 
is the good natured gentleman who attends to the wants of the patrons of 
the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway. He is assisted by C. A. 
Thompson. 
 
Sibley is having something of a boom in fine residences this year. A. W. 
Harris, grain dealer, has erected a large house of modern architecture. 
A. Shipley, a retired farmer, has the foundation in for a large and 
commodious dwelling in which he proposes to take life easy for the 
remainder of his days. Geo. Carew, the veteran newspaper man, is 
comfortably situated in a large, well built residence. Mrs. C. I. Hill has a 
fine residence just completed, which is an ornament to the city. There 
are several smaller residences which have been constructed this spring. 
 
Among its other business men are 
 
W. B. STEVENS 
 
A picture of this gentleman and his residence will be found elsewhere in 
this book. He has an extensive drug store; also a line of jewelry and 
hardware. 
 
SIBLEY ROLLER MILLS. 
 
Sibley boasts of the best and most complete roller flouring mills in the 
State, with a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. It is rushed with 
business every hour. Its makes of flour are considered equal to those of 
any mills in the country, and their field of trade extends to England. J. W. 
Orde and G. B. Gurney appear as its proprietors, with Charles Himes 
miller, and Guy P. Elliott as an interested party, and also M. A. Harbord. 
 
BLOTCKY BROTHERS 
 
have dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc. 
 
HINLKEY & TAYLOR 
 
have a general store. Mr. Taylor is manager, and his picture is elsewhere 
in this book. 
 
E. F. ROBINSON 
 
is the proprietor of the Postoffice book and news store. 
 
BROWN & CHAMBERS. 
 
This firm has been spoken of elsewhere as on the ground at an early 
day. I 1890 they erected a brick building at a cost of $15,000, a picture of 
which is on another page. They carry a stock of general merchandise. 
 
IRA BRUNSON 
 
is engaged in the general land business. 
 
WILLIAM PROPER, 
 
one of the pioneers, is a resident of Sibley. 
 
DANIEL MAHONEY 
 
is a resident, and is road-master on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and 
Northern Railroad. 
 
JACK HANNA, 
 
one of the old residents, is now in the land business. 
 
JOHN SCHESTAG 
 
is boot and shoemaker and repairer. 
 
GUS O'NEIL, 
 
paper hanger and painter, kalsominer and plasterer. 
 
Other of Sibley's business and professional men are as follows: 
 
Brand & Suter, contractors and builders. 
A. M. Mastick, wagon maker. 
A. M. Culver, carpenter and builder. 
Ed Garland, blacksmith. 
S. J. Cram, carpenter and builder. 
A. L. Blackmore, blacksmith. 
H. C. Mory, carpenter and builder. 
J. Grant, blacksmith. 
C.H. Manderville, carpenter. 
J. W. Flint, plasterer and mason. 
H. G. Upp, carpenter and mechanic. 
Charles Anderson, plasterer. 
Joe Hillerns, blacksmith. 
N. H. Brand, carpenter. 
T. W. Turk, painter and decorator. 
 
SCHOOLS. 
 
Sibley has an elegant High School building with eight rooms. The 
teachers are all the best that can be had, which makes the schools very 
thorough. A large number of scholars from other places attend here. 
 
CHURCHES. 
 
Sibley has six church societies and five fine buildings. The Catholic, 
Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal and German Evangelical. 
All support good ministers and hare a large attendance. 
 
CIVIC SOCIETIES. 
 
Sibley has numerous fraternal orders and all in a prosperous, healthy 
condition. They consist of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, 
Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans, Modern Woodmen, 
Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of Rebecca, W.R.C., L.A.S., 
W.C.T.U., I.O.G.T. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, 
G.A.R., and Good Templars all have halls of their own. 
 
E. J. FAIRBROTHER 
 
is a pioneer, and is an active, intelligent gentleman, eighty-one years of 
age. 
 
S. A. COLBURN 
 
is selling sewing machines. 
 
F. C. ALMONT AND A. SCHMITS 
 
have established wagon and carriage works, with paint shop attachment. 
 
GEORGE T. VOORHEES AND H. C. WEBB 
 
are engaged extensively in the land business. The pictures of both of 
these gentlemen are in the book. 
 
W. J. MILLER 
 
is in the land and loan business. He is one of the early settlers. 
 
JOHN P. HAWXSHURST 
 
is doing abstracting and real estate work. Mr. Hawxshurst figures in the 
early history of the county. 
 
H. E. THAYER 
 
came to Sibley in 1892 from O'Brien County. He is engaged in the real 
estate business with J. T. Barclay. 
 
DR. CRAWHALL 
 
is established over Brown & Chambers' store. 
 
The Sibley municipal officers are as follows: 
Mayor-J. F. Glover. 
Recorder-W. P. Webster. 
Treasurer-J. Fred Mattert. 
Marshal-John Morrow. 
Councilmen-G. O. Learned, E. Walton, C. E. Brown, A. Romey, J. T. 
Barclay, John De Boos. 
Street Commissioner-R. L. Norris. 
Assessor-John Townsend. 
 
Sibley has two railroads, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, 
which crosses the townsite north and south, and the Burlington, Cedar 
Rapids and Northern, which crosses east and west. 
 
A picture of J. C. Trainer appears elsewhere in the book.  
 
This gentleman was for several years principal of the public schools in 
Sibley, and left an impression of thorough scholarship and the best of 
school training upon all who came under his instruction or in contact with 
him. He died a few years ago, and his death caused a feeling of sadness 
in the entire community. 
 
WILBERN BROTHERS. 
 
These gentlemen are engaged extensively in business, principally in real 
estate. They will be remembered from reading elsewhere as early 
settlers in the town.  
 
So far as the writer can gather from investigation and inquiry, the 
foregoing comprise the business interests of Sibley. If any have been 
omitted it is unintentional. 
 
The churches in Sibley are the following: 
 
CONGREGATIONAL. 
 
Services every Sunday morning at 10:30 and evening at 8 o'clock. 
Sabbath school immediately after the morning services. Prayer meeting 
on Thursday evening. Rev. P. B. West, pastor. 
 
METHODIST EPISCOPAL. 
 
Services every Sunday morning and evening. Sabbath school at 2:30 
o'clock in the afternoon. Prayer meeting every Thursday evening. 
Rev. C. Artman, pastor. 
 
BAPTIST. 
 
Services every Sunday morning and evening in the church. Sabbath 
school from 12 to 1 o'clock p.m. Prayer meeting every Thursday evening. 
Rev. R. Bradshaw, pastor. 
 
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
Located on the corner of Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue. Services each 
Sunday. J. W. Orde officiating as minister. 
 
ST. MARY'S CHURCH OF SIBLEY. 
 
Services each alternate Sunday. Father Dollard, pastor.  
 
Sibley is having a gradual growth. Some new building seems to be in 
process of erection all the time, and electric lights and water works will 
soon be the order of the day. 
 
Chapter XX111
To start on there were only three townships. The congressional township 
running east and west across the county, numbered 100, was called 
Horton Township; the same running east and west across the county, 
numbered 98, was called Holman Township, and the same numbered 98 
called Goewey Township. These remained in that way until October 7, 
1872, when the board divided Horton Township into three townships, 
making section 100, range 42, Fenton, section 100, range 41, Wilson 
and section 100, range 40 and section 100, range 39, Horton. 
Afterwards, by a demand of the people in that township, Fenton was 
changed to Viola. Fairview was set off September 7, 1874. Holman 
Township remained as established until at the September 27, 1873, 
meeting the board made two townships out of the four, making the east, 
being section 99, range 39, and section 99, range 40, one township, and 
giving the name Ocheyedan. These townships, remaining the same as 
Holman, comprise two congressional townships, and Ocheyedan two, 
which for convenience sake are called East and West Ocheyedan. At the 
January 1, 1884 meeting, Gilman Township was set off by itself. June 7, 
1875,the board passed a resolution that township 98, range 40, be set 
off and called Baker, except sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and sections 
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 19, and 30, in township 98, 
range 39. Harrison was set off September 3, 1888, and that fall had its 
first election.
EDUCATIONAL
If there is any one thing that is distinctly American, it is our educational 
system, which offers to each rising generation the grandest facilities for 
scholarship that can be found in the world. 
 
The American boy knows no barrier to distinction in the line of education 
save in himself. Iowa is not behind any other state in the Union in its 
legislative provisions concerning schools, and Osceola County, as a part 
of the great state, is ever active in the organization of its school districts 
and their effective management. 
 
If any boy or girl lives in Osceola County during their school days, and 
grows to manhood or womanhood here without a good common school 
education, the fault must be charged to the parent or the child and not to 
lack of opportunity. 
 
Immediately upon the formation of the civil townships, as made by the 
Woodbury County Board, the same townships by operation of law 
became school districts, and the school townships now are the same in 
size and name as the civil townships. 
 
F.W. Hahn is the present County Superintendent of Schools, and his 
official management in that department is efficient and highly 
satisfactory. 
 
There are at present in the county eighty-one school houses, as follows: 

Fairview                            3
Horton                              6
Wilson                              6
Viola                               6
Ocheyedan                           12
Harrison                            7
Baker                               7
Goewey                              7
Gilman                              8
Holman                              15
Sibley, town                        2
Ocheyedan, town                     1
Ashton, town                        1

The value of Osceola County school houses is estimated at $44,000; the 
value of school house apparatus at $2,000.

The present school officers are as follows:

FAIRVIEW

President                           J.C.Ward
Secretary                           M.B.Smith
Treasurer                           Wm.Mowthorpe
Directors                           Geo.Hamilton, B.F.Webster

HORTON

President                           Dick Wassmann
Secretary                           John Robertson
Treasurer                           N.W. Emery
Directors                           I.B. Titus, August Bremer

WILSON

President                           W.A.Cloud
Secretary                           A.B.Evarts
Treasurer                           Will Thomas
Directors                           W.C.Connor, Mons.Soren, C.E.Yates, 
                                    F.A.Klampe, Joseph Zweck
VIOLA

President                           Joseph Raine
Secretary                           George Downend
Treasurer                           J.P.Wallran
Directors                           S. Newman, Pat Piesley

HOLMAN

President                           W.L. Taylor
Secretary                           M. Harvey
Treasurer                           P.A.Cajacob
Directors                           T. Ling, John Gallagher, Thomas Reycraft,
                                    D.W.Whitney,John Karpen, James Hunter,
OCHEYEDAN

President                           W.E. Ely
Secretary                           E.N. Moore
Treasurer                           L.B. Boyd
Directors                           G.W.Thomas, Joseph Smith

HARRISON

President                           J.W.Wardrip
Secretary                           T.Hemming
Treasurer                           F.H.Newkirk
Directors                           George Krukenberg, Daniel Tzards

BAKER

President                           Hans Graves
Secretary                           C.W. Bryan
Treasurer                           W.H. Lean
Directors                           J.L. McAnnich, Fred Kuester

GOEWEY

President                           H.C. Allen
Secretary                           Henry Huffman
Treasurer                           Alex Gilkinson
Directors                           O.B.Harding, A. Brunson, Charles Bangert, 
                                    Jacob Brandt, George Spaulding, Eugene
GILMAN

President                           B.T. Pettingell
Secretary                           J.C. Wilmarth
Treasurer                           W.C. Craig
Directors                           A.Schent, R. Lensen, H.H.Nolte, R.J. Stemm, 
                                    E.Beckwith, Nels Porter

INDEPENDENT DISTRICT OF ASHTON

President                           H. Neill
Secretary                           W.P.Webster
Treasurer                           Levi Shell
Directors                           A. Romey, M.J. Campbell, J.B. Lent, Geo. 
                                    Learned, W.H. Chambers

INDEPENDENT DISTRICT OF ASHTON

President                           I.B. Lucas
Secretary                           J.W.Reagan
Treasurer                           W.L.Benjamin
Directors                           N. Boor, H.S.Grant

The school sections, so-called, are numbered sixteen in each township, 
which were donated by the general government, to the State, for the 
benefit of the schools. These sections are sold, and the proceeds 
constitute a fund which remains and not disposed of, but it is loaned out 
upon good real estate security, and the income from it byway of interest, 
is distributed over the State to each township according to its number of 
scholars. Osceola County has now of this fund, and as proceeds from 
the sale of land in this county, about $100,000. The first sale made of 
school lands in Osceola, was in July, 1881, and the first quarter sold was 
bought by Close Bros. In Gilman Township. These school lands have all 
been disposed of except one quarter, and this will go to sale soon. 
 
There are in Osceola County at the present time, about twenty-one 
hundred persons of school age, and the best of teachers are secured, so 
that our schools are of a high order and the means of much 
advancement. Several school buildings have been erected this present 
season. Prof. Trainer, mentioned elsewhere, did much for Osceola 
County in the line of education. He constantly contributed to the public 
press articles intended to stimulate the young in the line of their studies. 
The following is one of his contributions: 
"A PLEA FOR THE CHILDREN"
"Children hunger perpetually for new ideas. They will learn with pleasure 
from the lips of others what they deem drudgery to study in books; and 
even if they have the misfortune to be deprived of many educational 
advantages, they grow up intelligent people. 
 
"We sometimes see people who are the life of every company which they 
enter, dull, silent and uninteresting among children; such cannot teach. 
The teacher must be the life of the school. How can we expect life and 
energy to come from dry, cold, silent books! The use of books is a 
detriment rather than an aid to the younger pupils. When the pupil enters 
school at the age of five years he already has learned more than any 
teacher on earth can teach him in a long life time. Teachers, did you ever 
think that the child at that age has learned two of the most difficult things 
mortals have to learn-walking and talking? How many works in 
philosophy has he heard to be able to make known his thoughts by 
talking. We know that these and a thousand other attainments have been 
reached by doing for himself. Yet without a knowledge of these things, 
from the first hour the child enters school many teachers attempt to 
change the whole course of nature by forcing upon him that which is as 
foreign to his nature as day is from night. What we need is the teacher 
who will give the children a chance to observe, experiment and to think 
for themselves, and let us remember that language is the instrument of 
thought, and that without language there can be no thought." 
 
CHAPTER XXIV
Early in the seventies there was much discussion as to the depreciation 
of county warrants, which were down then to fifty cents on the dollar. 
Some writer in the local press, in January, 1874, has the following: 
 
"Northwestern Iowa needs assistance, and such assistance can only be 
granted by the State Legislature. The munificence of individuals can 
relieve the wants of individuals, but it takes legislation to relieve the 
embarrassments of counties. 
 
"In no part of the state is there more fertile soil, more healthful climate, 
larger yearly improvements, or more rapid increase in population, than in 
Northwestern Iowa. In a few years the counties will be as independent as 
any in the state. But circumstances, over which the county had no 
control, for the very reason that they were, themselves, controlled by 
designing men, brought the credit of many of them into great disrepute, 
owing to the issuing of warrants for no valid consideration, so that after 
affairs began to be economically managed the warrants were worth, in 
the market, but half their face. 
 
"It maybe safely said that the New Code of Iowa went into operation 
finding the administration of our northwestern counties in as good hands 
as other portions of the state, but just as the New Code took force the 
bonding law expired by statute limitation, thereby taking away that which 
had caused warrants to be, at least in some degree, in demand, as 
offering an investment which yielded a fair rate of interest. 
 
"By economical management it was hopped that warrants would not 
depreciate very much, but when the Supreme Court's decision was 
announced there was no longer a market, something, of course, must be 
done. The counties cannot remedy the matter; it rests with the 
Legislature. 
 
"Our assessment is $612,000. At four mills the revenue amounts to 
$2,448; this, with the present amount of property, is all that can be raised 
for county purposes. 
 
"Now, see what county expenses are to be paid out of this sum: Section 
3844 of the Code provides that "The Board of Supervisors shall furnish 
the Clerk of District and Circuit Courts, Sheriff, Recorder, Treasurer, 
Auditor and County Superintendent with offices at the county-seat, 
together with fuel, lights, blanks, books and stationery necessary and 
proper to enable them to discharge the duties of their respective offices." 
 
"The compensation of the officers is fixed by the board, and paid out of 
the county fund, except such as paid in the shape of fees. The sum total 
of fees received in the different offices is no more than sufficient to afford 
one officer a reasonable and fair compensation, leaving four or five 
officers to be paid out of the county fund. The sum total of fees and 
expenses, fixed by law, and that cannot be reduced, amounted, for the 
last year, to $4,625.94; add to this amount compensation for officers and 
the amount necessary to pay the interest on bonds drawing ten per cent, 
payable semi-annually, and you have, at the least calculation, a sum 
three or four times the amount of the revenue. At present it would take 
just about a twenty mill tax to keep up all the drafts on the county fund. 
 
"In view of the above condition of affairs, we appeal to the Legislature to 
provide for a revenue. We submit that it is an outrage on the Board of 
Supervisors, to the people of the county, to the name of legislator or 
legislation, that a body of men, chosen to legislate for the interests of the 
whole state, should compel Boards of Supervisors to provide for the 
payment of bills of expenses and provide for only one-fourth the 
necessary revenue. 
 
"We must have the bonding law revived, a higher levy, and direct taxes 
voted by the people. We need one, or more, or all these means of relief. 
There is no reason why, if sufficient revenue is provided, the paper of a 
county cannot be just as good as the paper money of the government."
PRICES IN 1873
In 1873, prices in Sibley ranged about as follows: Sixteen and one-half 
pounds of dried apples for $1.00; prunes 7 ½ pounds for $1.00; 
blackberries, 7 ½ pounds for $1.00; peaches, 10 pounds for $1.00; 
Standard "A" sugar, 7 ½ pounds for $1.00; brown sugar, 10 pounds for 
$1.00; bacon, 12 cents per pound; shoulders 7 cents per pound; hams, 
16 cents per pound; oil, 35 cents per pound. 
 
The above was from a local dealer advertising his goods. The market 
report in a June, 1873, number of the Gazette, was as follows:

Wheat, No. 1, per bush.                        75@86
Corn, per bush.                                   40
Oat, per bush.                                    25
Barley, per bush.                              35@40
Flour, per hundred lbs.                         3.25
Corn meal, per hundred lbs.                      1.9
Beans, per bush.                                 1.5
Pork, per lb.                                     12
Hams, per lb.                                     18
Potatoes                                          30
Shoulders, per lb.                                12
Lard, per lb.                                     17
Butter, per lb.                                   30
Cheese, per lb.                                   20
Eggs, per doz.                                    15
Dried apples, per lb.                         12 1/2
Dried peaches, per lb.                        12 1/2
Tea, per lb.                                 72@1.80
Coffee, per lb.                                29@34
Sugars, per lb.                             121/2@17
Syrups, per gal.                                   1
Molasses, per gal.                                80
Kerosene, per gal.                                40
Lumber, per M.                           18.00@37.00
Nails, per lb.                                  7@10
Shingles, per M.                           3.00@5.00

Hard coal was then selling at $25 per ton, and soft coal correspondingly. 
 
Whatever the farmer raises in Osceola County he finds a good market 
for in either of the towns, and a prominent business house in Sibley, 
Ocheyedan and Harris, inadvertently omitted from the Sibley write-up, is 
A.W. HARRIS & CO.
This firm has a large grain and coal business in Sibley, also in the towns 
of Harris and Ocheyedan. 
 
The town of Harris was named after the head of this firm, who laid out 
the townsite, and still owns it except what lots have been sold. They put 
up the first building on the Harris townsite, and at present are the only 
grain buyers there. This firm located in Sibley in 1887, and are very 
prominent in their line of business in Osceola County. 
 
CONCLUDING CHAPTER
The condition of Osceola County in this year of our Lord, 1892, is one of 
general prosperity. Pauperism does not exist, and opportunities for labor, 
for securing homes, and for establishing business are on every hand. 
There has been an abundant harvest, and each year is an advancement 
in farming interests and in all classes of business. 
 
The last assessed valuation of the county was $1,726,582. The 
indebtedness of the county has been, at it highest, about $90,000. Its 
present indebtedness is $60, 500. The amount of school money now 
loaned out, and under contract for loan by the county on farm land, is 
$96,500.75. The amount paid out for school purposes in 1891 was 
$29,040. This came from taxation except $611, which was derived from 
the permanent school fund interest. The running expenses of the county 
in 1891 required $18, 568. The income to the county from taxation for 
1891 was $61,375. 
 
The county has a substantial court house and every school district has 
the required buildings for school purposes. 
 
The people are thrifty, intelligent and law-abiding, and as a class are 
comparable with those of any county in the state. 
 
The County has changed in its inhabitants since the first settlement, 
some coming and going, some remaining yet, and others with the fate 
that must follow all of us, are lying in the cemetery. Western people are 
given to changing their business locations more than are the people of 
the East; here, if anywhere, is the spirit of unrest, implanted seemingly in 
our very nature on the first move, and with many it becomes a fixed 
feeling and irresistible. Osceola County has had its share of this tidal 
change, this flowing in and out of population, and of the original settlers, 
those who came here in 1871,'72 and '73, there are not a great many 
left. 
 
We close this book with a poem that has fallen under our observation 
without knowing to whom credit is due.
COMING TO OSCEOLA COUNTY
They are coming from the deserts of the dim and dusky East, 
Where to raise a stunted turnip is the prospect of a feast; 
Where the farms are made of gravel and they plow with dynamite, 
Where the festive chattel mortgage sings its dirges day and night; 
They are coming in their wagons, they are coming on the train, 
They are coming from the regions where they struggled long in vain; 
They are coming from the cabin, they are coming from the hall, 
They are coming to Osceola County where there's plenty for them all. 
 
They are coming from the South-land, they are coming from the North 
From the valleys and the mountains they in droves are coming forth; 
They are coming with their husbands, they are coming with their wives, 
They are coming with their hammers, with their axes and their knives; 
With their harrows, with their rakes, with their seeders and their guns, 
They are coming with their fathers and their mothers and their sons; 
They are coming stout and slender, they are coming short and tall, 
They are coming to Osceola County, where there's plenty for them all. 
 
Where the savage used to wander searching for a crop of hair, 
The farmer takes his porker to the nearest county fair; 
And the corn is daily growing where the grassy wigwams stood, 
Where he burned the walling captive, now the poultry scratch for food; 
And the people who are coming to this pleasantest of climes, 
Show a happy knack of keeping with the progress of the times; 
They will find a country beaming from the spring-time to the fall, 
If they land here in Osceola County, where there's plenty for them all.