South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-06-07
Letter from Iowa.
DYERsv1LLE, Iowa. Nav p. IA,

I 6'Nsf it~A%It 1O"A. MAY 20. 1910.
Mr.. HARPER IL fear am worrying
you and your readers with tie history
of country in which you and they may
feel little interest yet feel like talk
ing with my old friends in Hampshire a
little, and am too far Off for that, so a.
muse myself by writing, hoping that if
you and they tire before do, you will
let me know. promised quite a num-
Der OF the good people TO write to them
when found time, so if you see fiji to
publish in your Harpey's ,roekiy what l
write. they can all consider themselves
written to; and what can write abou.
this far from home, but the country, the
people, aud my surroundings in my
last promised TO give some account OF
this town, where my little family & self
are being well fed, and are enjoying
good health.
Dyersville is located on the extreme
ives. line OF Dubuque county, is beauti-
fully situated on the line of the Illinois
Central Railroad, (by the by one Of the
incest, smoothcst, straightest roads /
have ever found,) % miles from Du-
buque. This road affords highway ve-
~ important to its commercial prosper.
ity, by putting it in direct communion
tion with Dubuque, Chicago, and the
Eastern Cities, Dyersville being an in !.
land town, contributes largely TO the
commerce Of the road, by its extensive
shipments of grain, country produce,
live stock, beef and pork. The country
surrounding Dyersville is rolling prai.
rie, intermiXed with considerable GUAM
titles of growing timber. The soil is
! light, yet of n very productive character
East and West; while North and South.
| IL is of 4 black clay loan, the former
! giving quick, and the lStter more
substantial growth to the cereals; and
the populous and well to do people or
farming classes find the harvests Weld
ing bountiinlly TO their we'll directed ef.
forts. These people are working PEG.
pie, and they have good land to work
The general surroundings are such as to
guarantee for all future time a health.
ful and pleasant location, and prosper.
Gus business for Dyersville. The coun.
try is well watered, its principal stream
being the Ma9uoheto, which affords very
good water power for milling purposes
The territory on which the town Of Dy-
ersville is situated was purchased from
the Government in 1913, by James Dy~
err IN whose honor the town is named
who commenced the settlement of what
is now thrifty and prosperous incorpo.
rated town. In lS49 his partner, James
Dyer, ST., and Rev. William Trick, with
their families, came here from Bonwall
Somersetshire, England, and became
| permanent residents. Other families
collected, and in 1853 the town was first
| surveyed; in 1854 it was resurveyed
and plated; its limits are one and q
half miles East and West, and one mile
North and South; its streets are very
wide, we'll graded, neat and clean, the
principal ones covered with gravel, and
set out with beautiful naples, about the
size of those in Romney, and remind me
of them every day. The location IS roll.
ing and drains we'll, the soil is quite san.
dy, and the water sinks rapidly-and
soon becomes dry after q heavy rain
In the year 1854 Dyersville made re.
markable progress among other sub
| stantial improvements O. l.. Foote built
the present Dycrsvillc Hotel, purchased
q one half interest in the water power.
ard in partnership with James Dyer
erected n mill.
The Sabbath was observed by public
worship, with preaching by Rev. VIM.
Trick, in James Dyer's store, and early
in 1853. through the instrumentality of
Rev VIM. Trick, tie first NJ. T.. Church
was formed, and house Of worship G..
rectod. This building afterward became
the district school house, but is now,
with additions and improvements. the
commodious town hall, and new and
more modern school-house has been
built, Of brick with two stories, and
large basement, ample TO contain win
tcr's supply OF fuel there arc four large
well ventilated school rooms, we'll sup :
piled with all modern appliances, as we'll
as recitation rooms, vcstibule. and bell
towcr-all at a cost of $8,000-the sess.
| ions are ten months, and both English
and German are taught. The school
grounds arc large square. with nice
double rows Of trees surrounding. SINH.
lar TO those around our Courthouse
In 1856 the first newspaper was pub.
lished. The first frame house was built
by George lIylor, md is now n part of
the Pennsylvania House. In 1872 Dy-
ersville became an Incorporated town.
and at the March election. 1873. the
/ following officers were chosen: VIM.
/ Trick, .sou OF Rev. VIM. Trick Mayor
a. Limback, ID. G.. Smith, G. &. Chester.
man, Andrew Krapn e August Mauch,
( Trustees john MORLEY. Recorder w.
j.. Bagley, Marshal. WIN. Trick has
been continued in the Mayors Office G.
yer since. lie is an active business
man, aud the partner Of &. w. Pattie-
these two composing tho Blue Store Co.
in the namo Of Pattie & Trick Since
the incorporation many improvements
Of public character have been made,
and all from revenue derived from Sa-
looms, and other licenses no officers Of
the town are salaried except The Recor-
/ der & Marshal. who have $50 each. In
+ 1874 new Iron truss bridge was built
NJ n cost Of S4,5OO, across the Maquoto.
"a river, las they call it herc,) which de
! yldcs the town. There arc five Church
es here, tho Methodist. the Episcopal.
tho German Presbyterian. the Catholic.