Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-21
Original Records Of the Iowa
Falls First Musical Organi-
zation Are Unearthed
FORMALLY ORGANIZED in 1868
The Union cornet Band Of Earlier
Days Was Succeeded In 1868 by the
Iowa Falls cornet Hand-Iowa Falls
Military Band Was Formed In 1888.
elal to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Iowa Falls, Aug. 21.-The history of
Iowa Falls first musical organization
has just been unearthed and 1t offers
an interesting bit Of history OF pioneer
days in Iowa Falls. The first meeting
for the organization was heidi at the
home of James r. Larkin, on Dec. 13,
1862. The prime movers of the enter
prise, who attended this first meeting,
were George G. Stout, w. M. Larkin,
Samuel Cuplin, Charles Caldwell, and
b. ID. Bigelow. 1t was decided to Or
ganize band by forming stock
company, each member taking share
of stock and thus creating fund with
which to buy the necessary instru-
ments. AT the second meeting S. r.
Woodwvorth and A. A. Wells joined the
organization making seven members in
all. Each agreed to pay to the treas
ure1 SIG as an instrument fund On
December oath several Instruments
were purchased at independence. ami
on January 3rd, 1863, the band was
formally organized by the election of
the following officers: Leader, George
G. Stout, president; A. A. Wells, treas
urer; B. d. Bigelow, secretary; w. II.
Larkin, inspector, s. F. Woodwork
The name % the new band was the
Union Cornet Band. Benjamin Hav-
ems, who is still resident Of this city,
was elected to membership and assign
ed to play the bass drum. A few weeks
later, r. DIN Soule now travelling
passenger agent for the Rock Island,
was elected as a member Of the band
The bands first public appearance was
at Fourth Of July celebration in this
city in 1868, and the committee paid
the band $40 for its services. In July
William p. Macy applied for member
ship and was elected. About the same
time, Eugene s. Ellsworth. now one
of Iowa's best known citizens. Joined
the organization. Mr.. Ellsworth was
assigned to play the snare drum. The
winter of 1894 series Of dances were
given that were fairly we'll attended.
The proceeds Of one dance was turned
over to the soldiers relief fund. Band
concerts were given that winter at
Hampton and Alden.
At the request Of the ladies Of the
town, the band played att a donation
party rendered Rev. Williston Jones. OF
the Presbyterian church. The dona-
tons for the divine amounted to $64.
In April Charles Caldwell and G. 6.
Stout were granted a leave of absence
with their instruments to play two
months in the Orion Bros circus band.
July Fourth the band was engaged to
play at Webster City, but the trip
"fizzled" and 6oule, Barnum and Stout
went and played for a dance. For sew
eral month"; this summer and fall the
band did not meet as the leader had
the smallpox. This same year, c. f.
Dyke, Lewis Pratt and Nathan Town
send Joined the band. Mr.. Pratt is still
q resident of 1bwa Falls. In 1887 the
band was reorganized with q. o. Soule
as president, William Treloar as sec
rotary and S. f. Woodwork treasurer
But this reorganization was not eff
fective and the following year, the
Union Cornet Band was succeeded by
the Iowa Falls Cornet Band, with the
following officers: G. F. Dyke, leader;
E. o. Soule, president; s.. F. Wood
WOFlu, lISdSOleI anu oSolSO W. SLdP~
man, Jr, secretary. The citizens do
mated over 5000 for the new band. but
out Of the eighty subscribers, not over
a half dozen are now living here.
Among the new members, in addition
to those belonging to the old band,
were George A. Lambert,
F. H. Hart, w. L. Leon
ard, and w. G. Morton, J. l.. Kratzer,
o. P. Lane, Frank Roybar, w. L. Sim
plot and George Williams. In 1871 the
band instruments were sold for $500
and the organization disbanded. There
appears no record of band from this
time until 1883 when the Iowa Falls
Military Band was organized by the
new generation. In order that history
may be kept straight, 1t may not be
amiss in closing this article to give
the present officers of one Of the fin
est bands Iowa ever had: Leader,
George w. Beebe; manager p. o. Els
worth; secretary and treasurer, Claude
HI. Keen. The original records will
be placed in the Carnegie Ellsworth
library for preservation.