The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-08-21
LOOKING BACKWARD.
Mr.. chas. K. Meyers Tells OF
His Coming to Denison in IA.
DENIsoN MERCHANTS THEN
Noting the Many Remarkable Changes
In Thirty Three Years.


Meyers and his son Charles in Deni-
son. 1t was in 1874. just thirty three
years ago. While the fact may not
be of remarkable interest to the gen.
eral public. it was one of much note
to a lad of fourteen years who was
leaving his mother for the first time
except for period of two weeks. IL
then took eighteen hours to come from
Chicago to Denison. and in the hot
August. night and day Of that year
lit seemed longer yet. The boy stood
at the rear door of the car and
watched the single line of rails run
together mile after mile. the rails
that seemed the connecting links be-
tween him an all the past history of
his life. At length he asked the
child's question. When will we get
there. and what is the name of the
station before Denison?" Then for
the first time he knew there was such
town as "Vail.'
Toward the close of that August
day the train made its halt and the
boy and his father left the cars and
began the assent of the hill toward
the north of town to the home of MIR.
Charles Tabor first cousin of the
boy. By a strange coincidence the
boy now man of family. is at the
present time living nearly on the
identical spot where stood the house
in which he spent his first night in
Denison. When he came to undress,
what sight his little legs present.
ed. He had been clothed in a new suit
OF blue kentuckey Jeans and the
perspiration OF the hot summer travel
had caused the color of the cloth to
run into the pours of his skin until
he looked as if he had been but in the
bluing bag up to his waist. But he
was too tired out to worry about
that. SO said his prayers for his
mother. sister Grace and brother
Willie who were back at Washington
City. and went to sleep. After all.
he did not feel homesick for his COUSIN
Mrs. Abbie Tabor had given him a
most loving welcome.
Denison thirty three years was not
the town it is now. There were few
sidewalks. the place was not incor-
porated. there were no waterwork for
fire protector. and but one or two oil
lamps on the street corners maintain
ed by private parties. Looking over
the copy of the first paper issued with
the Meyers name we see that the
lawyers were j. P. Conner, M. H.
Wygant. j. S. Nicholson C. C. Nc
Donald. Geo. l.. Wright. E. W..
Sargent and Charles and Frank Tabor.
At that time the court house was being
rebuilt. and court with Judge Stockton
presiding was held in the east down
stairs room of the west brick. Capt.
Partridge officiating as baillff.
The county officials were that grand
old man A. D. Mallory as auditor and
clerk of the courts. with r. P. Bart
ley for deputy clerk; A. C. Smith so
we'll remembered as "Al. Smith. -
sheriff with W. j. McAhren deputy
L. Cornwell. treasurer and Geo. W.
Heston his deputy; ] B Poltevin.
recorder; j. o. Stanon superintendent
of the schools. and Morris McHenry
surveyor. The board was made UP
of Clark Winan. chairman. and Robert
Bell. Robert Hope. George Rae and
Mike Riddle.
The names of the business men in
town will recall many recollections.
We might mention first II. c. Laut
then in the prime of his business car
reer. E. S. Plimpton in the general
merchandise business on the corner
where the Huetumann clothing stock
is now kept. He had A. j. Bond and
young Will McHenry for clerk. Above
the Pllmpton store was the bank con-
Quoted by Morris and William A.
McHenry with M. S. Sayre as head
clerk. On the corner where the Craw-
ford County bank now stands. r.
HeEelanger was running the post
Office and carrying on his hardware
business. Next door was the modest
little grocery store of Miller Brother,
j. T. and Nick. and next below them
the harness shop of Claus Sievers. In
those day j. P. Miller and Mr..
Sievers lived over their stores. The
building fronting on Main street this
year. re-bricked by Mr.. Laub was
then standing. but there was series
of many steps to be climbed to reach
the business place of Laub & Romans
on the main floor when coming from
the south. Those were the days wher
j. B. Romans was laying the founda
in for the great business which hi
so successfully carried on. Hi!
brother r. A. Romans. then a yer,
young man was just beginning to tax,
hold. In the same building the Henry
FUNI