Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-17
HosrELRY WHICH HOUSED ENG.
LisH PIONEERS OF IOWA
BEING TORN DOWN.
HEADQUARTERS OF BRITISH
COLONY IN EARLY EIGHTIES
Building to Make Way for Modern
Residences at LeMars-Recalls At
tempts to Induce Enelishmen to Be-
como Good Farmers-Men Who Built
Hotel Grew Rich off countrymen.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to es-Republican.
LeMars, May 1.-THE old Albion
Hotel is being torn down. and it's pass
ing recalls the exploitation of northwest
Iowa by Englishmen who brought
many of their countrymen to the
prairies of this section and grew rich
dealing in lands and in teaching young
British sports the science of farming.
The house was known in the early
SO's as "The Albion" and was head
quarters for the English in those days.
In the latter 7O's and early SOS several
hundred young Englishmen came to
northwestern Iowa and bought farms
In Woodbury.. Plymouth. Sioux, Osceola
and Lyon counties. The majority Of
these youths, most of whom were Of
good families, sought LeMars as the
Mecca where good luck and fortune
We're to be obtained. Close Bros, firm
composed Of three brothers, John, Will
and Fred, who were Englishmen, made
a fortune in exploiting northwestern
Iowa lands. How they came to know
about them is worth relating. John and
Will Close visited the Philadelphia ex-
position in 1876 and there met a man
named Paullin, who was interested in
western lands. He told them Of hid
den wealth concealed in the vast
prairies of the northwest and after re-
turning to England the Closes backed
by an English syndicate concluded to
invest in lands in the northwest and
returned here ltaer. John Close mar
ried a daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Paul
lin, and Paul1in's son at one time owned
twelve sections of land in O'Brien coun-
ty where he conducted a big wheat
ranch and also owned two or three Sec
lions adjoining Kingsley. The town OF
Paullna was christened in honor of
him.
Knew How to Advertise.
Close Bros, appreciated the value of
advertising and scattered brochures
broadcast turnout England and the
British Islands telling of the glorious
opportunities to be found on the
prairies of northwestern Iowa. Hun
dreds Of Englishmen living on a small
salary with no prospect of anything
better in sight sought the opportunity
thrown in front Of their gaze. But it
was to the parents of large families in
England that the pamphlets issued by
the Close Bros, appealed. Here was a
chance for the younger sons to go forth
and gain competence in the world.
A golden E1dorado for the youth to
seek. and if he did not find a fortune
he might in many cases go so far that
he would never come back to poster
his relations. This was not always
said, but often implied when the tear
full farewells were taken Of youthful
sons, whose early proclivities had not
indicated that they were in any way
world -conquerors in individual lines
Land was cheap in northwestern Iowa
in those days, lots of it for IS an acre
and Close Bros, carefully explained
how an English youth could achieve a
fortune with small outlay. They told
the truth, but a large number Of the
colony which they induced to come
over here was composed of irrespon-
sible youths who did not know how to
make a dollar or the value Of one.
Refused to Be Taught.
Close Bros, had two ranches at
Quorn. which is near where Kingsley
now stands. Here they took youths at
a premium Of $500 year and taught
them how to farm. Captain Moreton
conducted a similar ranch mile and
d NAH uOTII Ol LeMdIS VII lIlO ldi III
now owned by J. L. Sullivan. Precious
few of them learned anything about
farming, but they had a glorious time.
hunting, shooting, fishing, horse racing
and in other sports. Some who could
not afford to Fay 5000 paid premium
of $25 and were placed on a farm with
some American pioneer, who If the
youth stayed long enough taught him
some valuable lessons and gave him an
insight into the ways of the country
"rhe Albion" was headquarters and
when an EngIishn1an landed at the de-
pot surrounded by pile of baggage
ten or fifteen feet high he was conduct
to to this hosiery where he was well
coined and fed and got acquainted with
the gang. while making UP his mind
where he was going to locate if intend
ing to buy or to which ranch he were
going if a novice Many man, who
was living on scaly. grub in the coun-
try. when farmers We're not princes
and did not own automobiles has
lloofed it into town to get a square
meal at "The Albion" which was
famed for its cooking in those days,
and to foregather with a consenial
bunch and to take in the doings for
LeMars was frontier village in those
days and everything went day, at
night and Sundays.