The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-07-27
The valuation of the taxable prop.
erty of Loudea was set down in 1875
as follows:
Total

Aosai ..... ,.'..... Sfosooo
exclusive of the property of the Chi
cago & Northwestern r. II. Co., which
is valued at s29,664.
In 1874, after the old school house
had become insufficient to answer its
purposes, new and handsome brick
building was erected at cost Of
something over $4,000, and furnished
very comfortably with all the modern
improvements at cost of about
$500. The school which forms an
independent school district Of Louden,
is now visited by l4o pupils from this
town as well as from several distant
places. The first church at Louden,
belonging to the Methodist Episcopal
congregation Of 50 members, was
built in 1861. In 1874 another
church was erected 10 accommodate
the German Evangelical Lutheran
congregation with 43 members. A
German school is connected with this
church for the children of the church
members. A third church, for the
German Evangelical congregation,
numbering 30 members, is to be built
in the course Of the present summer.
The commercial aud business in
terests Of the town are represented
by 5 dry goods and grocery stores, 3
stores for agricultural implements, !
stock and grain dealers, l drug
store, furniture stores, 2 hotels, 3
restaurants, | millinery store, | hard
ware store, l saddle and harness
shop, l blacksmith and 2 boot and
shoe shops and by number of other
various trades. A postoffice was es.
tablished as early as 1858.
On the Sth day of December, 1869,
disastrous conilagration destroyed
nine business and dwelling houses
and great 2mount Of other valuable
property.
The general impression of our town
on the visitor is very favorable one.
Most of the dwelling houses are small
but neat, and some of them may be
termed elegant, almost every one be-
ing surrounded by beautiful and
shady garden. The large brick busi-
ness houses Of Petersen Brothers and
VIM. +. Hahn would be an ornament
to any large CITY.
Such is the present condition of
Loudep, but we cannot close this
sketch without having mentioned
two factors that have given our town
considerable importance in regard
to commerce. One of these is the
Chicago & Northwestern railway and
the other one is the farming popula-
ton Of the surrounding country.
The railroad which passes through
Louden is now known as the Chicago
& Northwestern railway, and was
built by the Chicago, Iowa & Ne
braska r. r. Co., who sold it to the
present owners in 1862. The road
was surveyed in the summer of 1856;
the next summer it was graded and
in 1858 the first train run over it
through Louden to the great delight
OF her inhabitants.
Louden, 17S miles west of Chicago,
is the principal stopping station on
this road between Clinton and Cedar
Rapids. There are two large water
tanks, worked by steam engine,
which supply all the locomotives
with the necessary water. Seven
teen freight trains and four passenger
trains are passing the town every
day; five of them stop here for meals.
The railroad hotel, which was built in
the year 1874 by Raymond and +.
Riseley, is fne establishment. 1t
has some 20 rooms furnished with all
the comfort Of good hotel and ac
commodities in the average l5o pas
sengers daily. With the railroad
station is also connected an Office Of
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany.
The shipment of cattle, grain and
all other kinds Of country produce
from Louden are of a considerable
extent. In the year 1875 there have
been shipped Of Indian corn 7,4s9
bushels; wheat, 1858 bus; barley,
1908 bus; oats, 81 ,625 bus; cattle,
425 head; hogs, 1920 head. 80 car
loads of lumber and so car loads Of
coal have been received here during
the same year.
TIE land in the nelghborhooi Of
Louden is Of the best quality and
well adapted to every kind Of agri-
cultural purposes as we'll as for
raising stock. The soil, consisting Of
rich humus, is sufficiently watered
by several creeks and streams Of
water. Most of the farms are held
by residents and not one is in the
hands of spectators.
The town of Louden, which is sit
uated in two townships, Massillon
and Springfield, is the staple place
for all the country produce of this
section of the State and in order to
form an approximate idea of her COM
merce, the following figures in re-
gard to the agricultural matters of
her immediate vicinity are given.
In 1874 the number of acres of i'm.
| proved and unimproved land in the
town and townships was as follows:
improved. unimp
Louden 244
/
Massillon township 1862 88(