HISTORY: Poweshiek Co., IA From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pat April 2003 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Poweshiek County, Iowa Please visit the Poweshiek County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/poweshiek/ ________________________________________________________ POWESHIEK COUNTY. PHYSICAL FEATURES. Poweshiek County lies between latitude 41(degrees) 30'and 42(degrees), midway between Des Moines and Iowa City, the former State capital, and is the fifth county from the Mississippi at Davenport. It is twenty- four miles square, containing an area of 368,640 acres, of which 11,687 acres are native timber, the rest prairie. It is traversed, in a line passing through Grinnell and Montezuma, by the principal watershed of Iowa (except that of the Mississippi and Missouri), which marks the southwestern boundary of the territory drained by the Cedar River. Numerous small streams here find a source, on one side flowing southward and on the other eastward. The north fork of Skunk River touches the southwest corner of the county, and is the only stream in it of sufficient volume for valuable water power. The drainage is unexcelled, the streams falling rather abruptly from the watershed, having cut deep channels in the drift, which is here of great depth, and running upon muddy beds intermingled with sand and gravel. The face of the country is consequently varied. The level or undulating expanse of the watershed, part on either side in numerous ribs, whose rolling, and in some places, broken slopes, pass in turn into as many winding valleys. Frequent groves of timber nestle in the valleys, or skirt the uplands, adding variety to the scenery. The general effect of these picturesque features is highly pleasing to the eye. The drift is not only of great depth, but is composed principally of soil free from troublesome beds of gravel or hard pan. Black vegetable mold is found, varying from two to six feet in depth. Underneath this a light brittle clay predominates. The soil is rarely surpassed for fertility; durability, or adaptability to diversified farming. Good well water is obtained at from fifteen to thirty feet. Rock appears only in the bed or banks of the Skunk, where a good quality of limestone is obtained. Traces of coal are here found also. Coal abounds a few miles south and west; but, as Skunk River is here very near the northeastern boundary of the Iowa coal-fields, nearly all of Poweshiek County is outside the limit, and embraced within the area of the subcarboniferous system, according to the classification of geologists PRODUCTIONS. The staples of Poweshiek County in the order of their importance, are corn, hay, wheat, oats and barley. The chief exports are corn, beef cattle and swine. Wheat, oats and barley are exported in considerable quantities, but the former are the great sources of revenue. Timothy and clover flourish, and corn and hay are unfailing crops, oats usually good, wheat and barley fair. In 1874 there were 172,588 acres of land in cultivation, a trifle less than half the area of the county. For fencing, pine lumber, hedge and wire is chiefly employed. There are about seven hundred miles of good substantial hedge in the county, principally Osage orange. RAILROADS. The Mississippi & Missouri River Railroad line was completed to Grinnell in the year 1863. It is now known as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and has twenty-five and one-half miles of track in Poweshiek. The Central Railroad of Iowa was completed in the county, with twenty-three miles of track, in 1869. A branch road is in contemplation, to connect Grinnell and Montezuma, and a company has been formed for the purpose of building it, which they promise to do before next winter. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Poweshiek County was a part of the reservation held by the Musquaka Indians, a remnant of the Sacs and Foxes, until 1842, after which it was known as the "New Purchase." Pioneer settlements were begun at three points in the county, independent of each other; in Union Township, on the southern border; on Bear Creek, between Brooklyn and Victor; and on Sugar Creek, on the western border, near Grinnell. The tide of immigration that headed up the Des Moines Valley spread into the southern border. The Dragoon Trail, or military road, from Davenport to Fort Des Moines, opened a way to the other points. Richard B. Ogden settled within the present limits of Union Township in the Spring of 1843. Daniel Satchel, Joseph W. Satchel and Richard Cheesman followed in 1843 or '44, it is uncertain which, as authorities differ. Mahlon Woodward, Thomas Rigdon, Jesse Hyatt, Conrad Nisson, Elias Dement, Harrison Barnes and Joseph W. Hall came in 1844. Nicholas Moore and two sons, John and Stephen, came in November, 1844. John Moore is the present representative of the county in the Iowa Legislature, and resides on the fine farm on Union Prairie where he originally located. Quite a number of others followed in 1845, among them William English and James McDowell, who located a little farther west at a point known as Mill Grove, where English built the first saw mill in the county. In the Spring of 1844 Henry Snook penetrated the wilderness as far as the east end of the grove on Bear Creek, called by his name, but better known as Talbott's Grove. His sons and daughters still reside in the vicinity. The 7th of April, 1846, a neighbor appeared at the west end of the grove, in the person of John J. Talbott, who, with his wife and seven sons and six daughters, emigrated from Holmes County, Ohio. The sons were Joshua, Robert, Joseph, John, Kinzie, Basel and David, the oldest twenty-three. Nearly all still reside in Brooklyn and vicinity. John J. Talbott died February 20, 1849. In the Fall of 1856, Jacob Yeager settled in the Grove, and in the Spring of 1849, Robert Manatt, Sr., another patriarch, located where Brooklyn now stands, bringing with him eight sons and two sons-in-law. Another son, William Manatt, now one of the principal men of Brooklyn, followed in the Fall. About the same time that the Talbotts settled on Bear Creek, Lattimer, or Lattimore, located at the grove known by his name, on Sugar Creek, eighteen miles west. This was known for years as a stage station on the route to Fort Des Moines. Neighbors gathered round him slowly, and the settlement gradually extended southward until it met that which followed up the creek from Mill Grove. This concludes the principal list of pioneer settlements, but there are one or two others worthy of mention, viz; one in Deep River Township, near the present Village of Dresden, begun in 1848; and another on English Creek, within the limits of Lincoln Township, in 1849. The early settlers at the former place were Robert Taylor, Albert and John Morgan, Sargood, Ginther and Ephraim Cox; at the latter, Jonathan Harklerhode was first. About the same time Snider settled on Walnut Creek, in the northeast corner of the county, and was for years the only settler in that section. The nearest flour mill accessible to the early settlers was at Wassonville, forty-five miles away; the nearest store at Oskaloosa, and the nearest post offices Oskaloosa and Iowa City. The survey of public lands was completed in 1847, the township lines having been run some time before. The settlers then squared up their claims to the section lines. In the south part of the county there was an organization among them to settle disputes and prevent "jumping" of claims. In the Fall of '47, the land was brought into market at Iowa City. John J. Talbott entered the first tract in the county. The first school in the county was in the Winter of '47-8, taught by Stephen Moore, in what is now District No. 4, Union Township, in a log cabin with greased paper in lieu of glass for windows; there were about ten pupils. The first mail was carried on horseback, through, between Iowa City and Fort Des Moines, in 1847. There was no post office in the county until 1851, when Joshua C. Talbott was appointed post master. This office supplied the entire county for some time. ORGANIZATION, ETC. An act of the Legislature, approved January 24, 1848, provided for the organization of the county, and appointed commissioners to locate county seat. The preliminary election was held April 2d, following, at the house of Mahlon Woodward. The officers elected were Richard B. Ogden, Martin Snyder, and Jacob Yeager, County Commissioners; Stephen Moore, Clerk; Isaac G. Willson, Treasurer; Wm. English, Sheriff; Mahlon Woodward, Surveyor. The commissioners held their first "court" as they styled their meetings, on the 14th day of April. Their only act worthy of note was the division of the county into two civil Townships, Jackson and Bear Creek, giving Bear Creek three-fourths of the territory on the north side. The impression then prevailed that the northern prairies would never be settled, and this belief finds curious expression in an official document dated June 17, 1848, which sets forth that the subscribers "proceeded to examine the situation of said county, taking into consideration the future as well as the present population; and, having also paid strict attention to the geographical center of said county, do hereby locate said seat of justice for Poweshiek County, on the southwest quarter of section six, township seventy- eight, range fourteen west, and have also named said seat of justice Montezuma." This document bears the signatures of David Edmundson, John Rose, and John White, commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat. At their second meeting, July 3, 1848, the county commissioners formed a third civil township out of the four western congressional townships, and named it Sugar Creek. The following record of same date will give some idea of the state of county finances at that time; "Ordered, that Richard B. Ogden be appointed to negotiate a loan to the amount of twenty dollars, on the best terms that can be procured, and the faith of Poweshiek County is hereby pledged for the payment of the same, with interest." This was to procure stationery, and was entered upon the record no doubt with as much gravity as the pledge of faith to the railroad for $100,000 ten years later. At the same date (July 3, 1848), the commissioners authorized Ogden to negotiate a loan of $200, with which to enter the quarter section designated as the seat of justice. The land was purchased and platted, and the proceeds from sales of lots passed to the "municipal fund," with which in 1850 a wooden building was erected for county purposes and used until 1858, when it gave place to the present handsome and commodious structure built of brick, with limestone foundation, caps and sills, at a cost of $22,000. POPULATION—SCHOOLS, ETC. The first assessment of the county was made in the Spring of 1848, for which Wm. English received the sum of $500. The census returns of 1850 show a population of only 615; in 1860, it was 5,668; in 1870, 15,581; in 1875, 16,285, males outnumbering females 799. Barely one-tenth are foreign born. New England and the Middle States are largely represented. The people are intelligent, and maintain nearly 150 public schools, and pay teachers annually about $40,000. The value of their school houses is about $140,000, permanent school fund $61,976.66, Iowa College $200,000, making the sum permanently invested for educational purposes upwards of $400,000. With the exception of $89,000 of the $100,000 bonds issued to the Mississippi & Missouri River Railroad Company in 1858, and falling due in 1878, the county has no debt to pay, and its public finances are in excellent condition. The present county officers are as follows; Supervisors, J. Leonard, Thos. Morgan, Henry Sherman; Auditor, F. L. Pierce; Treasurer, G. W. Kelrulff; Clerk, J. W. Carr; Recorder, S. S. Snider; Sheriff, J. W. Farmer; Superintendent, J. R. Duffield; Surveyor, J. Griffith. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Poweshiek County Agricultural Society was first formed at Montezuma in 1854, and a fair was held that year. There is not much trace left of its early history, and it was not regularly maintained until 1864, when it was reorganized and incorporated, with Porter J. Woods, President; J. E. Johnson, Secretary; and Thos., Rainsburg, Treasurer; and an efficient Board of Directors. Grounds were leased at Brooklyn until 1872, when the affairs of the society had so far prospered that it was enabled to buy grounds. A suitable tract of twenty acres was purchased within the corporate limits of Brooklyn, for $1,500, which is now furnished with an excellent fence, a commodious hall, stables, sheds, wells, etc., and a good half mile track. The society maintains a sufficient membership to draw the $200 state appropriation annually. Thos. Rainsburg is President, and A. J. Wood, Secretary. GRINNELL. Eleven years after the first settler erected his cabin in the county, Grinnell was founded on the treeless prairie, in advance of civilization. This event marks an era in the history of Poweshiek County. Its founders were of New England origin, and imbued with the New England spirit. Neither love of adventure, nor thirst for gain, was their dominant purpose; they came to the West to secure homes, and aid also in building up a literary institution which should be a center of moral and intellectual influence. Their hopes have been abundantly realized, and their influence has spread far and wide. In the Winter of 1853-4 there appeared in some of the leading New York papers a notice by Reverend J. B. Grinnell, a Congregational minister, of his purpose to form a colony and locate in the West. Accordingly, on the 8th of March, 1854, Mr. Grinnell, Doctor Thomas Holyoke, Reverend Homer Hamlin, and Henry M. Hamilton met by appointment at Iowa City, where the three former procured a team and a surveyor, and started out on the Des Moines road, leaving Mr. Hamilton behind to make further arrangements. Their objective point was the spot where the railroad survey crossed the "summit," or principal water-shed between Iowa City and Des Moines. They reached Lattimore's stage station, some four miles southwest of this point, at noon the second day; at once proceeded to view the location, and finding it satisfactory, determined here to locate the colony. Mr. Grinnell returned immediately to Iowa City, and entered a large tract of land in the vicinity for the party and others who were to follow. The school section, upon which the town was afterwards platted, was soon after secured of Poweshiek County for $1.50 per acre. The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad had then just been completed to Davenport. An extension of the line had been surveyed through to Des Moines, and definitely located as far as this point. Any required amount of land could be obtained in the immediate neighborhood at government price, and no prior settlement had been made. Such were the inducements which decided the gentlemen to plant their colony here, so far in the interior, where they could organize it as they should see proper, without interruption from discordant spirits. They hastily constructed a log camp, and in May definitely fixed the location and named it in honor of the founder. About the first of June they found themselves compelled to erect some means of shelter for the colonists who were arriving. A building was hastily put together for the occasion, which chanced to be low, long and narrow, and thereby got the name of the "long home," but its ominous name excited no untoward fears to deter others from coming. Accordingly we find the muster roll of the colony soon increased by the names of Deacon W. N. Ford, Deacon Bixby, S. N. Bartlett, J. P. Harris, W. S. Leisure, John Bailey, M. Stevens, J. B. Woodward, H. G. Fuller, S. G. Paige, Henry Hill, L. C. Phelps, L. H. Marsh, Deacon A. Whitcomb John Hays, Darius Thomas, and others. The first lady residents were Mrs. Dr. Holyoke and Mrs. Bixby, who soon followed their husbands. The first death in the colony was that of a Mr. Hale, in 1854, soon after his arrival. The first birth was that of a son to Doctor Holyoke, in April, 1855. The first wedding that of Homer Hamlin and Miss Hamilton. The first bill of goods brought to the place was purchased by J. B. Grinnell in Burlington, wagoned to its destination and sold by Mr. Lawrence. The first store was opened in the Summer of 1854 by Mr. Anor Scott. A building was erected in the Fall for a hotel, and kept by George Chambers. The first permanent frame dwelling house was erected by Doctor Holyoke. During the first season a small building was hastily constructed as a place for the joint purpose of holding religious meetings and a school house. Miss Louisa Bixby taught the first school. Reverend J. B. Grinnell supplied the first religious instruction, and it is noteworthy that from the day the colony was first located not a Sabbath has passed without religious services. The formal organization of the Congregational church was perfected May 8, 1855, with a membership of twenty, from which it has grown until now it is the strongest society of that name in the State. The first election in the place was held in August, 1855; there were 35 votes. In the Fall of the same year a school house was erected, 40 by 40 feet, and two stories high. A post office was obtained in August, 1856; A. W. Lowry, post master. The town was regularly platted by J. B. Grinnell, January 26, 1855, and deeded to a board in trust for educational purposes, for the nominal sum of $10 per acre. Thus the entire proceeds of sale of town property, over and above original cost, were secured to a "literary fund," to be devoted to education in the way in which the colonists should decide, every deed providing for reversion of title to Grinnell in case intoxicating liquors be sold on the premises described. This provision has thus far been an effectual bar against all saloons. Additions have been platted and recorded from time to time since, until the original plat has been surrounded by them. The town is regularly laid out, with handsome streets and a delightful park near the center. Shade trees are extensively cultivated, and profusely adorn the streets and grounds. Many neat, tasty and even elegant residences are to be found amid these miniature forests. INCORPORATION. The preliminary steps toward the incorporation of Grinnell as a city of the second class were taken by the citizens early in 1865, and consummated the 21st of July following, by the election of a town council composed of Colonel Samuel F. Cooper, Mayor; W. W. Sutherland, Recorder; and L. C. Phelps, S. N. Bartlett, Stillman Needhan, G. C. Carmichael, S.T. Pruyn, Trustees. The present Mayor is G. M. Hatch; Recorder, J. Delahoyde. SCHOOLS. The Grinnell sub-district was organized as an independent district in 1867. In February, 1871, their school house was destroyed by fire, and immediate steps were taken to erect the present edifice, which was completed the following Summer at the contract price of $10,147.50. It is a very good and serviceable frame building of two principal stories and a basement of coursed stone. It contains eight principal rooms, well furnished, and capable of seating nearly 600 pupils. The school is graded in seven departments, employing seven and a portion of the time eight instructors. The principal is paid $100 per month. CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. The organized church societies with regular meetings are the Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and Universalist. The three former have church edifices. The Congregationalists have in contemplation a new edifice at a cost of $30,000 or upwards. Of secret societies the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Orders have prosperous organizations here. PRESENT BUSINESS. Grinnell is an important railroad junction of east and west, north and south lines. It has a large, fertile and rapidly developing farming region tributary to it, consequently its business is extensive and increasing. Six hundred thousand bushels of grain were shipped from here during 1874. It has one general passenger and two freight depots, five grain elevators, a national bank with a capital of $100,000, a good foundry and machine shop, three flour mills run by steam power, and two tanneries. Mercantile trade is represented by four general stores, one commission store, ten grocery, one dry goods, two clothing, three hardware, three drug, and five boot and shoe stores, and numerous shops of all descriptions. There are two large lumber yards, three agricultural implement warehouses, three hotels, and two liveries. Present population, 1,500. The foundry and machine shop is owned and operated by Randolph & Lewis. It was erected in the early part of 1874, chiefly to construct the grain header, of which Mr. Randolph, senior member of the firm, is patentee. The principal building is 32x42 feet, two stories high, the lower part constituting the iron shop, the upper a wood shop. The wing part consists of an engine room, 20x20 feet, and foundry or molding room 25x36. The works do a general jobbing business besides the manufacture of the headers, which are being successfully introduced in Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. NEWSPAPERS. In March, 1868, the first newspaper was founded in Grinnell by A. R. Hillyer, Esq., and called the Poweshiek County Herald. It was published by him and subsequently by his son, J. M. Hillyer, until December 1, 1869, when it was purchased by J. M. Chamberlain and Samuel F. Cooper, who edited and published it jointly until August, 1870, when Mr. Cooper sold to his partner. In January, 1872, Mr. Chamberlain sold a half interest to S. A. Cravath, and his remaining interest to Mr. Cooper in November, 1873. In May, 1874, Mr. Cravath purchased this other half interest, since which time he has been sole editor and publisher. It was first printed as a six-column folio, was enlarged to eight columns in March, 1869. Mr. Chamberlain still further enlarged it by widening the columns, in August, 1871, and changed its name to the Grinnell Herald. Dr. Cravath subsequently enlarged it to six pages. It is Republican in politics, published Thursdays, and has a large and increasing circulation. It has a cylinder press and a good job office. The presses are operated by means of a horse-power conveniently attached, and propelled by one horse. This is the only horse-power attachment to printing presses in Iowa. The College News Letter is the name of a spicy little sheet of eight pages, edited by the students of Iowa College, and published monthly during the college session. It was established in July, 1873, and is printed at the Herald office. IOWA COLLEGE. One of the first acts of the Grinnell colonists was the appropriation of the net proceeds of the sales of village lots to the establishment of an institution of learning, and, in December, 1855, they set to work in earnest to give the projected institution a definite form. It was decided that the institution should be named "Grinnell University." Trustees were selected and arrangements made to proceed with the erection of a building. It is believed that every male citizen of the place became an "elector" in the organization perfected to carry on the enterprise, by the payment of $20 each to the "Literary Fund" raised for building purposes. Separate departments for males and females were contemplated. A site was chosen for the female seminary where the college buildings now stand, and work upon it commenced immediately, with the understanding that it should be used for both departments until better buildings could be provided. The building was not completed at the time of its transfer to the trustees of Iowa College, as hereafter described. The establishment of a college in the then Territory of Iowa was a favorite plan among Congregational and new school Presbyterian ministers as early as 1841. This plan took definite form in 1846, when a Board of Trustees was elected, and Davenport selected as the location for the future college. The Board of Trustees was duly incorporated, and a charter was obtained in June, 1847. A building was resolved upon "not to exceed $2,000 in cost." Citizens of Davenport contributed $1,362, and thirteen lots as a site. The Preparatory Department was opened November 1, 1848, under E. Ripley, Professor of Languages. The first freshman class was admitted in the Fall of 1850; the first senior class was graduated in 1854. The professorship of mathematics was filled in 1851; that of natural science in 1853; that of mental and moral science in 1855. For many years the college had a hard struggle with poverty and adverse circumstances. The early contributions were small. In 1853 the professorship of languages was endowed by Deacon P. W. Carter, of Waterbury, Connecticut, with $5,080. In 1856, about $10,000 was raised on subscription. The Society for Western Colleges gave material aid from time to time. In 1854 the city laid out a street through the college grounds, and it was obliged to remove to a new location farther back, where a good stone building was erected. In 1857 the city again encroached on the grounds, and it was decided to remove the college elsewhere. In 1858 the trustees asked proposals from other places. The trustees of Grinnell University regarded this as a favorable opportunity to unify and centralize the educational interests of Congregationalists of Iowa in one college, and promptly offered their unfinished building and site of twenty acres, and an additional subscription, in all estimated at something over $40,000. The offer was accepted and the nuptials duly solemnized. Instruction was suspended at Davenport, and classes were organized at Grinnell, September 14, 1859, under the care of Reverend S. L. Herrick and L. F. Parker. The first freshman class at the new location was organized September 4, 1861. The prospects for the future now seemed peculiarly gratifying. For a time thereafter, however, the growth and progress of the institution were retarded by the events which drew so many young men to the scenes of war. The first important effort to secure and endowment was made in 1863. In the Spring of that year Reverend J. C. Holbrook went East, by arrangement with the Society for Western Colleges, to obtain $2,000 pledged by the society to the current expenses of the college. His success led the society to consent to his raising $20,000 for endowment, and afterwards $50,000. Subsequent efforts have raised the endowment to about $90,000. Five chairs are endowed, three are not endowed. The entire property of the college has grown to about $200,000, including endowment. The college buildings are respectively forty-two feet by eighty, and fifty feet by ninety-five in size, three stories high; the one to contain eleven recitation rooms, chemical lecture room, laboratory, art and museum rooms, society and cloak rooms, arsenal, and apparatus rooms-part of these are already completed, and for the immediate finishing of others arrangements are on foot; the other containing seven recitation rooms, chapel, library, reading and apparatus rooms, with lodging rooms for students. The smaller building is constructed of brick, the larger of stone. In 1872 the original building, or "East College," was destroyed by fire. The college department embraces a classical course, and a scientific course of four years each, which are fully co-ordinate. These are open to gentlemen only. The course of study pursued in them is slightly abridged and modified so as to be applied to a college course or separate department of three years, for ladies exclusively. Besides this there is an academy course, or preparatory department, and a normal and English department, for ladies and gentlemen. The College Faculty consists of Reverend George F. Magoun, D. D., Professor of Mental and Moral Science; Reverend Samuel J. Buck, A. M., Mathematics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy; John Avery, A. M., Greek and German; Richard W. Swan, A. M., Latin; Stephen G. Barnes, A. B., Rhetoric, English Literature, Elocution and Esthetics; William H. Herrick, A. M., Chemistry and Natural Science; Jesse Macy, A. M., Physiology; Miss Mary Ellis, French and Botany, and Principal of the Ladies' Course; and Irving J. Manatt, A. M., Professor elect of Modern Languages. There are other instructors in the Academy and normal departments. The college library embraces a very good collection of about five thousand volumes, with a convenient reading room adjoining, besides which the several society libraries contain nearly two thousand volumes. The museum of natural history was thought to be unexcelled west of Michigan before the destruction of the east building, by which a portion of the collection was destroyed. It has been re-collected and arranged in a much ampler room in the new building, and many valuable additions have since been made. The old apparatus had been replaced by new, manufactured in Germany, which is adequate for the illustration of the principles of natural philosophy, chemistry and astronomy. The chemical apparatus is the donation of Henry Lee, Esq., of Manchester, England; the philosophical, that of citizens of Iowa. The department of civil engineering has recently been supplied with valuable instruments, to which additions will be made annually. The college has also a good physiological cabinet. Iowa College was the first to offer free instruction to disabled soldiers. MONTEZUMA. Montezuma was purchased of the United States Government by the county, and platted under the direction of the commissioners, August 9, 1848. Previous to that date Martin Snyder had settled on adjoining land west of the plat, either in 1845 or '46. William H. Barnes built the first frame building on the town plat in 1848; it was raised election day. Isaac G. Willson built a log house the following Fall or Winter, which was used as a hotel. In June, 1850, Gideon Willson opened the first store in the town and county. The first white child born here was Catherine Wilson, daughter of Isaac G. Wilson, in March, 1850. The first death was that of William B. Hardee, in 1849. The town had a rapid and prosperous growth for some years, and for a time was the most promising point in this section of the state. It is said to have numbered at one time about a thousand inhabitants. Railroad lines gave it the go-by, however, and put a period to its growth, and dwelling houses were removed from town to country. Its population is now about five hundred. Its present business is considerable. It has a number of heavy dealers, and well stocked stores, and good hotels, The professions of law and medicine are well represented. Its public schools and churches are prosperous. It has the advantages of a delightful location in an old and well settled region of country, and the public business of the county, and its citizens hope to see the iron horse at their doors at no distant day, as elsewhere mentioned. The town was incorporated in the year 1868. The election of the first town council took place May 9, resulting in the choice of A. W. Ballard as Mayor; G. W. Keirulff, Recorder; and W. R. Lewis, J. F. Searight, J. W. Carr, C. G. Adams and D. W. Bacon, Trustees. The succeeding mayors have been Edward Hall, Nicholas Carr, W. H. Redman, Thomas M. Adams, and W. W. McCready, present incumbent. Montezuma was made an independent school district in 1867, of which S. W. Bosley was the first president. The present school house was built in 1857, but has since been materially enlarged. A new building is contemplated. The school is graded into four departments. Four teachers are employed; Charles R. Clark principal. There were during last term, Spring and Summer of 1875, 310 pupils enrolled. There are three church organizations in the place; Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian. The Methodist Episcopal Church built the first house of worship in the place in 1857 or '8, at a cost of $4,400. The other societies have good houses of worship. Montezuma has one of the oldest Masonic societies in the state, of which A. W. Ballard is W. M. The Odd Fellows also have a live and prosperous organization. NEWSPAPERS. The Montezuma Republican, the oldest newspaper in the county, was founded in March, 1856, as a seven column folio, by John Cassady. It was afterwards owned and published successively by A. M. Cowing, F. T. Campbell, J. B. Besack, Colonel S. F. Cooper, W. C. Condit, Sperling & Grove, Grove & Pike, and Grove & Dalby, until 1870, when J. W. Cheshire bought a third interest in connection with Grove & Dalby. In January, 1871, William Remsburgh purchased the entire office, but sold in March, 1872, to J. W. Cheshire, the present editor and publisher. The paper was enlarged in 1870 to eight columns. It is Republican in politics; published every Wednesday. The office is furnished with a power press and excellent jobbing facilities. In 1856 the Poweshiek County Gazette was started as a Democratic newspaper, by G. D. R. Boyd, but lived only about a year. In September, 1871, J. W. Cheshire founded the Montezuma Standard, which was merged in the Republican March 13, 1872. BROOKLYN. The Town of Brooklyn was originally platted by Robert Manatt, April 26, 1855. The more important additions since made are those by Robert Manatt, senior, in 1856; by Robert Manatt in 1862, by William Manatt in 1862, and by J. C. Talbott in 1865. Doctor Reuben Sears opened here the first store, September 9, 1854. The first frame house was built on the town plat in 1855 by Robert Shimer, and about the same time a hotel building was commenced by one Broadbrook. The school house near Talbott's was moved inside the town limits in 1856, in which John Davidson taught the first school in Brooklyn. Brooklyn became an incorporated town of the second class in 1869. The first election for town council took place May 19, and L. L. Littlefield was chosen Mayor. He has been succeeded by T. Reinsburg, in 1870; S. M. Gibbs, 1871 and 1872; W. T. Sharp, 1873; B. M. Talbott and J. D. Halle, 1874, and W. T. Sharp, 1875. The addition to the town, platted south of the railroad track, was not included originally within the corporate limits, but was annexed in 1874. The town was formed into an independent school district in February, 1868, and the following Summer a school house was built at a cost of $8,000. It is a large two-story frame building, constructed without regard to external ornament, and divided into four commodious apartments, which are well furnished. Total cost of building and furnishing about $10,000. The school is graded into four, and in the Winter five departments. The principal, Professor A. L. Shattuck, receives a salary of $700 a year. The South side school house, a very neat and attractive building, was erected in 1873, at a cost of $3,500. The Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist and Advent societies have organizations here. The Episcopalians rent a hall for worship, the others have good church edifices. The Masonic Order has a prosperous Lodge here, and the Odd Fellows a very strong one, which is building an excellent hall for Lodge purposes. A Library Association was formed in January, 1873, and has now a small, but well selected library, of about 300 volumes. Brooklyn is a division station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, which has here a large engine house. It is an important shipping and trading point, containing two elevators, a steam flouring mill and elevator combined, three lumber yards, four hotels, four agricultural implement warehouses, six general stores, two clothing, two hardware, three drug, seven grocery and two furniture stores, besides numerous shops of minor importance. The professions are represented by five lawyers and five physicians. Adjacent to the town are three brick yards and an establishment for the manufacture of Frear stone for building purposes. The population of the town is about 1,100. MALCOM. The Town of Malcom is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, between Grinnell and Brooklyn, pleasantly situated on a southern slope, and numbering nearly 400 inhabitants. It was platted by Abel Kimball and Z. P. Wigton, September 26, 1866. Incorporation was decided upon in 1872, and on the 18th of May the first town council was elected. George S. Tabor was chosen Mayor and W. R. Ackers, Recorder, and have been continued in their respective offices until the present time. The town was organized as an independent district in April, 1874. The school house is a good two story building erected in 1869, and is sufficiently large to accommodate 300 pupils. The Methodists and Presbyterians have organizations here. The Presbyterians own a neat, unique house of worship, which was built in 1868 or 1869. The Methodists are just completing an elegant small church building. The Masonic Order has a Lodge and Chapter here. The town has a steam flour mill, two hotels, seventeen business firms in the ordinary branches of trade, two attorneys and two physicians. A bank is in process of organization. SEARSBORO is a lively little unincorporated town and railroad station on the Central Railroad. The other villages in the county are Deep River, Victor and Forrest Home.