The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-09-23
EDITOR e. PROPRIETOR.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CALMAR, WISNEsHrEK Co., Iowa.
September 18th, 1857.

september lOtNS 1907.
Ed. NORTH Iowa TINES.
DEAR SIR :--Beinga a constant read
er of the Times, l often noticed in that
valuable paper descriptions of some or
other of the towns and villages spring.
ing up SO rapidly in our young and
prosperous State. / have therefore been
thinking that few lines relative to tins
town would also find place in your
columns. .. .s ... =
Calmar, Winncshiek County. was laid
out in the Spring of 1854, by Alfred
Clark. 1t is situated in the corners of
four sections, viz 4: 25, &c, 35 and Sc.
North of Range 9, West of Fifth Pr.
Meridian. For an interior town and
for trading point it would have been
very difficult to make better or hap.
pier choice as to location. It is pretty
near the centre of the Co. and a point
for nearly all the travel on the Milwaukee
Road, which runs right through the
place, and there is not less than dozen
roads besides the one just mentioned,
centering in here. 1t lays OH almost
leyel ground and has plenty of water.
even for mechanical purposes. East and
West it is skirted with beautiful groves.
and at a very short distance timber and
fuel are abundant. The climate is the
very best, such things as Chills and
Fever &c, are diseases unknown in tho
place. ...
The progress of the town has in every
respect justified the selection of it,
There is four large two story Brick
buildings up, and a fifth one under erec-
lion. Most of the houses else are frames
one and half and two stories high
Take it in all there is no other town in
Northern Iowa that can boast of as good
and substantial buildings as Calmar.--
This season there has also pretty near
been completed Church for the Luthe-
ran Episcopal Denomination. Said
Church is stone structure built so as
to endure for good many decsnniums,
the ravages of time. A brickyard on
which operations were commenced last
season is giving superior advantages to
all that wish to build, the brick being
first rate in quality, and as to quantity
the town is well supplied, as also places
all round, there being upward of 400, 900
bricks turned Gu. already. As yet
there is no Saw nor Grist Mill nearer
than three to eight miles, but to remedy
this defect there is proposal on foot to
have such Mills put up next year
Trade is flourishing, there being tho
very best farming land around. Dealers
at present
p. NJ. Stanbery, General Variety of
Goods. -
II. Mattcson. Hardware and Agricul-
tursl Implements. "'
Jno. p. Landin, Groceries, Provisions
and Restaurant. 7.t =
Jno. Becker, Hotel, the Calmar
House. 'a'.s
Physician and Surgeon, P. D. Has
kell. ~. nH.s
Post Master, p. NJ. Stanbery. .sa
Mechanics we have as vet not many.
and Of that useful class Of citizens you
can never get too many. The proprie-
tors pursue a very liberal course to such
of them as want to make the place their
home. AT present we have three Car
penters, one Cabinet Maker, two Brick
Masons, one Shoemaker. one Tailor and
one Blacksmith. Within one month or
six weeks from now, there will be two
more stores opened, the country around
demands it, and will support even three
times the number. They also talk of
another tavern for the better accommo-
dation of the travelling public, one not
being sufficient. -. .Ef
When the town was first laid out there
were not moro than four or FIVE farms
within a distance of six to eight miles
all round, now every quarter is takensup
by good, substantial farmers, (Specula-
tors own but little. Most of these farm
ers when they settled, had nothing to
pay for the land, but they are now, in
consequence of their own labor and In
dustry, and the richness Of the soil in
dependent, and some of them even row
commence to think that the quarter Sec
ton they possess here is BY no means
sufficient but look westward to get
more. 2" 81. '
So with the advantages VIC possess,
and which should be used right, we can
confidently look forward to bright
future. Perhaps, which is hard tell, in
two years from now we will see the Iron
Horse bounding through our town (then
a small city, One of the preliminary
surveys of the Rail Road from McGREG-
OR to Clear Lake, has sone right through
here but one block from Main Street.
AS we are on the continual Ridge, and
as every body says, on the nearest, best
natural grade, and cheapest route. there
is, at least if "every body" is right, a
pretty good foundation for the belief
that we will have the whistle waking our
sleeping organs before We get very much
older, and so mote it be.
Very respectfully yours, s.