Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-20
deal for the teachers, who receive only
enough to pay the bare expenses of lib

Ing.
Next year Charlton will have free
public library, for which Mr.. Carnegie
has contributed $4,000. This is large
ly due to the efforts of Miss Margaret
Wright Brown, daughter of Joseph A
Brown. a local capitalist. She is u
member of the state library commits
sion, and spends much of her time pro-
noting the free library movement.
Women's Work.
The progress of Charlton is largely
due to the women, who, in 1902, or
ganized the pioneer Improvement AS
ISOLATION of Iowa under the leadership
of Miss Margaret Mccormick, public
spirited woman of means, who became
exasperated by the lack of enterprise
on the part of the men folks. She call
ed the women together, formed COM
mittees and commenced an agitation
which resulted in arousing spirit of
enterprise here and set an example
for the organization of similar i'm
provement associations all over the
state. In 1895 the association was re-
organized, and men and children were
admitted to membership. To the as
ISOLATION is attributed directly the
dumping ground into beautiful park,
of introducing important sanitary i'm
proyements and of securing the pres
ent appearance of the lawns and gar
dens of the residence district Its par
ticular purpose is to beautify the city.
The Noxall club, which was organic
ed in 1895 by few young men for a
frolic, has become serious institu.
1tyifh Ior 81
business and professional men, with
pleasant club rooms just off the pub
lie square. 1t is not only the social
headquarters of the town, but takes
the place of a board of trade and the
commercial organizations that are
found in other cities. 1t has initiated
several public movements anu is grow
ing in influence.
Charlton Chatauqua.
The Chautauqua epidemic struck
Charlton last year. No organization
was effected, but few business men
guaranteed the expenses of the assem-
bly, because they considered it an ad-
vantage to the town.. Because of the
lack of other suitable ground tent
was erected under the shade of a
grove that surrounds one of the public
schools within three squares of the
courthouse, and some of the most ex-
pensive attractions were engaged, yet
there was no deficit An imported
manager was paid a salary of $1,000,
and handsome balance was left for
working capital. This, the second
year, promises to be even more profit
able because of its high-class program
There is nine-day course of lectures,
concerts, dramatic readings and other
entertainments, the principal stars be-
ing Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth, Cen
eral 0. o. Howard, ex-senator Gordon,
Attorney General Hamlin, Rev. Rob-
ert Mcintyre and others.
The Episcopal Church.
The best thing in Charlton is a
church, ST. Andrews Episcopal, re-
Gently erected by Isaac Purcell, of
Philadelphia. The outside walls are
of red Colorado sandstone and the in
side walls of the gray Bedford stone
fror, Ohio. The finishings, the pews,
the choir and heavy grained ceiling
are of natural oak and the windows
are filled with stained glass. An altar
OF Dakota marble is soon to be erect
ed. which will make st. Andrews one
of the most beautiful little, churches
in the country. 1t was erected by be-
quests from the late Mrs. Elizabeth
Hammer and S. H. Mallory, for whom
memorial tablets will be soon placed
upon the walls.
Death of S. H. Mallory.
The town suffered great loss by
the recent death Of Mr.. Mallory, who
was the wealthiest and most promi-
nent citizen,an always foremost in
public movements. He came here in
early times as civil engineer, and his
first wages were SIS a month. When
he died he left an estate of about $780, |
900, invested in farm lands, business
blocks, bank and railway stocks, mort
cages and other property. He was a
plain, democratic type of man, with
high principles, great abilities, untir-
ing energy and pride in his town and
his state. He left widow and a |
daughter, Mrs. Jessie NJ Thayer, who
has taken her fathers place in both
business and social affairs. She is
president of the Charlton Improvement |
Association.
The Methodists are the strongest |
religious denomination here, and have
a large handsome new church. The
SWeQlSu LuLIlefdllS are dlSO UulluluS.I
Growth in Population.
By the census of 1900 Charlton has
a population of $685. and subscrip-
ton census of the city taken last
spring showed 4,400 people. The
growth was not due to boom nor to
the establishment of new manufacto
ries nor to any particular reason or in
fiuence, but represents chiefly retired |
farmers from the surrounding country,
who have sold or leased their lands or
left them in charge of their sons and
have come to town to live upon their
savings and enjoy well deserved rest
and leisure. During the last two years
there has been an epidemic of farm
sales in this section because of the
high prices offered for improved land
by young men from older states The
last six years have seen unprecedent-
ed prosperity. The farmers have grown
rich and many of them have deposited
enough money in the banks to give
them a comfortable income for the
rest of their lives without further