The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-08
MONTOUR!
Early History, Business
Prospects, etc.
fGDlstiMned from last wssk.1


town we believe, built little seventy
nine store aud had few goods for sale.
Mr. Rugglcs moved down his store III
1864, and commenced business in the
same building with Dr. Doc, or rather in
an addition to that structure. Mr.. Helm
built little house, In September 1864
JOHN W. NIMAN
was appointed Deputy Postmaster
and remained in that position until the
next year, in September, when he com
menced selling groceries in Oxford, and
built upa good trade, persons coming
from along distance, to trade with him.
Iuka now Tama City, had little business,
but not until the next year, did it begin
to build up rapidly.
Mr. Niman was soon appointed post
master in the place of DR.. Doe, who re-
signed after two months experience with
the mail bags at Oxford station. In 1860,
Mr.. Ninan was appointed Notary Public,
afterwards elected Mayor. Mr. Niman is
still in the grocery, in the Postolfice, and
has always been identified with the inter
ests of the town. He is prominent
member of the NJ. Z. Church, and a
staunch Republican.
The first store in Oxford or Montour,
was one brought from Indiantown by DR..
Doe, who, wishing railroad communities
ton with the world, found that the rail
would not come to him, so, he went to the
railroad Edwin Ruggles, quite as enter
prising moved his frame stole, and plump
ed it down by DR.. Doe, thus competition
commenced her perfect work.
Rev. Mr.. Wortz preached sermon at
Edwin Tap.in's barn, one pleasant Sab
bath day, the congregation uniting in
singing old Coronation with a good deal
of spirit. But the most devoted minister in
this moral vineyard, was Rev. Mr. Stuart,
who pioneered over bad road, to preach
the gospel, who went through hardships,
and want enough to shame some CT our
velvet footed preachers into more effort,
than reading rose colorcd essays, and
making fashionable parochal calls.
Daniel Uempcy built the first residence
in the new village, while several houses
from Indiantown added dignity and com
fort to the place, by being rolled 10 upon
wheels.
G. J. Stevens having moved his effects
to Oxford or Montour, went into the lum-
Der trade and agricultural machinery SO
that the town in the spring of 1865, had
seven houses all told. In April, trains did
not stop without tlaggings, the train men
throwing off the mail, as it passed
through.
Soon after, Mr.. Bartlett repaired over
the old stores of Mr. Ruggles and DR..
Doc, and turncdthc buildings into hotel,
the merchants erecting new places of
business.
Amos Rouse and Miss Alice Finch made
a sensation, by getting married this sum-
mer and placing their names into history,
as the first welded couple in Oxford.
Mr.. Alvin Way was the fist to pass
over into the spirit land from among her
citizens, and Miss Lovelacc (Mary by
baptism) was the first school teacher here.
The school house at one time, stood
over the south hill, but afterwards was
moved into the village.
HARRISON BEALE
in partnership with H. G.Wallacc, bought
wheat in the old rcd warehouse through
the season of 1865, They paid from 65
to 70 cents per bushel. Mr.. Bcale the
successful grain buyer of to-day came
from Somerset, Pennsylvania, and being
one of the best of men, they soon incrcas-
ed the business, so that in 1868, he built a
large elevator, that holds 1900 bushels
of whcat-a very substantial structure.
Dissolving the partnership later with
II. G. WALLACE
whose word is just as good as bond, and
man of most stirring activity, built his
elevator in 1870, that holds 10, 900 bushels
of grain. Mr.. Wallace formerly lived in
BLAIR Co., Penn, and is doing 4 splendid
business at present. Messrs. Beale and
Wallace, have bought One Hundred and
Forty-tive Thousand, and Six Hundred
bushels of grain, also Eighty car loads of
stock since First of August 1874 up to
June list, 1875. Both firms ship to Chicago
and New York, and we think, the above
showing of the grain market is a better
one than at any station, between Cedar
Rapids and Marshalltown, on the line of
the c. & NV. R.-R.
The year of 1865 was quite prosperous
one to Tama County, as wheat brought
one dollar and half per bushel, and the
soldiers returning from victorious army,
brought to their Iowa homes plenty of
greenbacks, land changed hands, real
estate went up kiting, and the march of
improvement was heard in every quarter
of Indian Village township.
The frame shanty where Mr. Helm
kept the freight and station tickets, gave
place to the depot now standing, built by
the Northwestern Company to the great
joy of Oxford citizens-the trains leaving
passengers in regular order, and a daily
mail was established.
In the summer Of 1866, one August day
the death of Mrs Ruggles occurring at the
same time that little Charley Stuart (son
OF the clergyman was killed, made sen.
sation of profound regret through the
community. Mrs 'Ruggles was much be-
loved by her friends, Charley, a little boy
OF three years, was run over by the cars,
and crushed to dcath-both funeral SER
mons were preached by Rev. Mr.. Stuart,
the fathers heart was bursting
with grief.
Business increased through 1866. The
Congregational Church was built this
year, Rev. Mr.. Stuart being the settled
pastor. Methodist clergymen officiated
in the school house after it was moved in
to town.
The Fourth of July 1866 brought wagon
loads of patriotism into the grove north OF
town to witness the celebration of Ameri-
can Independence. National Flags were
unfurled in the cotton wood trees, anvils
sent out their artillery music, that startled
the echoes over the Iowa river, the birds
cleared their Threats for the occasion, and
the Rev. Mr.. Blake delivered speech full
Of happy illusions to the growth and pros
perity OF the nation. Rev. Mr.. Cordner
read the Declaration of Independence,
and the Calathumpians without the count
blow your nose OFF, paraded in rac-tas
and bob-tail jollity, to the infinite amuse.
ment of the large crowd in attendance.