Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-18
EFFORTS OF PIONEERS REclTED
IN PAPERS BEFORE AlsToR-
lcAL SOCIETY.
MARK BUSINESS, RELIGIOUS
AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
Organization of Towns Told in Inter
estins Paper BY T. P. Marsh - Mr..
Greene Traces Pioneer Industrial Ef-
forts and Early School and Churches
Are Named.

Much valuable information, touching
on the early history of the county. and
especially the organization of its
towns, its early business men, the pro-
motors of its pioneer factories foun-
dries and mills, its early schools and
churches, was given to the public ir
papers read at the meeting of the His
torical Society of Marshall County, held
at the public Library Wednesda,
night.
The papers We're compiled by Messrs
I. P. Marsh, B. A. Beeson Merritt
Greene and Mrs. A. c. Abbott, all of
them pioneer residents of the county
and by Mr.. j. W. Wells. In addition a
prophecy of Marshalltown, written by
Mrs. Sylvester Lacey in 1853, was read
by her daughter, Mrs. Susie GRAY An
audience of about seventy-five people
thoroughly enjoyed the papers and
CLEANED therefrom much valuable in
formation regarding the county and
city's early days.
When Towns Were Organized.
The paper read by Mr. I. p Marsh
on The Organization Of Towns in
Marshall, County, was especially val
liable from historic standpoint. be-
cause. SO far as known, it is the first
compilation Of the recorded dates of
the plating of the towns of the coun-
~ and the incorporation of those that
have advanced to that point.
Mr.. Marsh's paper explained that the
towns that survived their plating were
those which were fortunate enough TO
find themselves afterwards Oh the line
of some railroad
Albion Senior of All.
According to Mr.. Marsh. Albion. or
tgnally plated as Lafayette and later
given its present name, is the senior of
all of the towns of the county. The
date of its plating was 1852. Mar
shalltown was second. in 1853 Mariet-
ia, Bangor and LeCirand We're all
plated in 1854 and Edenville in 1856.
These made up the list of organized
towns during the sos.
The following is the complete list
and the date of the plating into town
sites Of each: Albion, June Is, 1852;
Bangor, Aug. II. 1854; Bromley, Sept
"A. 1881; Clemens, Oct. 81. 1882; Dillon
June Is, 1876; Dunbar, Feb 8, 1882:
Edenville. Aug. %, 1855: Ferguson. Feb
l. 1882: Gilman, Sept. 20, 1870; Greer
Mountain, Feb. IS. 1888: Haverhill
Feb. 1. 1852; Lamoille, Nov 8. 1867;
LeGrand, July 25. 1854; Liscomb, July
Dec 16, 1897; Marietta, May IS, 1854
Dec. 16. 1887; Marietta. May %. 1854;
Marshalltown, April Is. 1853; Mel
bourne, Feb. 26, 1882; Minerva, March
Z. 1852; Quarry, Jan /, 1870: State
Center, April Il. 1864; St. Anthony
Dec. IA, 1891: Nancleve. Nov. 90, 1880
The Pioneer Business Men.
Adjutant B. A. Beeson, of the sol
diers' home, covered the decade from
1850 TO 1860. with the list of business
and professional men in his paper or
the subject The First Stores and Bust
ness Houses" He covered a number OF
the towns of the county, and named
among others the following who were
in Marshalltown at that time: G. NJ
Woodbury., banker; L. Butler and Mr.
Johnston. blacksmith; Mr.. Loveland
baker; E. \. Chaplin. editor; H. c
Henderson and \. P. Graves. LAWYERS
Wells Rice, E. Nilligrod, David Par
rott and Enos Hoes, merchants; an6
Enos Asher, miller Mr. Asher was
credited with being the county's frs,
miller, his mill being opened in 1s47
He was also credited with being the
first distiller. Others Mr.. Beeson named
were Drs. W. B. Waters and y. l.
Bunce. physicians: L. O. Arson. and s
Rice. tavern keepers; Perry Holcomb
timer; and John Walker, wagon maker
The First Manufacturers.
Inc paper on the subject Iron Foun-
dries, Mills and Factories" written by
Mr.. Merritt Greene, was read by Mrs
Greene, owing TO her husbands ab-
sence. 1t covered the subject up to 1890
According TO Mr.. Greene the first pow
er mill Of any kind was one of tradi-
ton, said to have been established by
the Mormons during their stay in the
county in the '40s. This mill, a most
crude affair, was a grist grinder, and
it was set UP near where the present
city pumping station now is 1t was
rather more a pounding than a grind
ing mill. since the peculiar power pro-
duced from the method of handling the
water caused a large stone to rise
above and fall upon corn held in 9
suitable receptacle Mr.. Greene secured
his information regarding this earliest
OF mills from an eye witness who haG
seen it pound or grind.
Early Saw Mills.
Horace Arson, who still lives here
is credited with being one Of the ear}y
saw mill owners. His house on Wes1
Church street contains some of the
lumber turned out of this mill more
than half a century ago.
Sixty years ago there seems to have
been some sentiment against III.
booze" business, according to Mr.
Greene. A man named Hayden estab
iished the original distiliery in 1917
back of what is now the Duffield prop
erty on Jerome street. The power wa.
secured from the springs which flowe,
out of the hillside in the rear, an,
which were known as Bunce's springs
DR.. n. L. Bunce having owned tn
property for many decades. In 1853
however, public sentiment was arouset
against the distillery, and 1t ceased t.
operate. =.
Brief History of Woodbury. Mill.
The brief history given of the origin
OF the Woodbury. mill, which a few
years ago passed into the city's own
ership. and was recently sold by it, il
interesting because of the enterpris
shown IN the early days.
The land on which it stands wa
bought from the government by Henri,
Arson and Wells Rice in 1855. The
decided forty acres of it to G. M. Wood
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