Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-10
LAST Bull DINO in WHITE CLOUD,
MILLS COUNTY,, TORN
H DOWN.
RAILROAD KILLED ONCE
PROSPEROUS PIONEER VILLAGE
Built VI Rival Towns and One BY One
Business Men Moved Away-Neth.
ING Now Rsmains But Holes Which
Were Once cslIars-Early Emisrants
Used to Stop There.
Special to Times. Republican.


Council Bluffs, Aug. 10.-There IL an
element Of pathos in the passing of
White Cloud, one of the earliest towns
established in western Iowa. to which
10 long after the railroad had passed
1t by and made of 1t only memory.
The past week the last house in the
place was torn down and moved away.
For many years 1t had been occupied
by Dave Baidozier and family, but re-
membered for many years before as the
old Fowler residence. This was the
last house Of the one-time good old
town, q town which thrived In the
/ '.sixties'' and continued a pretty good
town until long after the Burlington
railroad went thru and Malvern and
Hhstingins were built. One by one the
old houses have been torn down and
moved away, until this last removal
leaves not single vestige of the for
mer town other than the indentations
in the ground which were formerly the
cellars underneath the residences and
store buildings. This last house was.
singuiarly, the first building erected
In the place and was built in the early
fiftiee by Solomon Purcell. Of native
timbers which seemed just as good
when taken out Of the building as when
placed there.
SawntilI First Building.
Mrs. H. w. Summers, who is among
the few early residents Of the COM
munity, says that when they moved
to Fremont county in 1855. Henry Ha-
maker was the only resident of the vi
cinity Of White Cloud, and that he
had built saw mill on the banks of
the river from which early settlers Sc
cured lumber for their buildings. He
also built bridge across the river
and charged toll for its use. but after
the receipts from this source had
reached q sum which he estimated to
be the cost Of the bridge he removed
the barriers and made 1t a free bridge.
Mrs. Summers, growing reminiscent.
relates story Of a big dinner which
was given at the Purcell home and
recalls that there was served six DIFF
ferent kinds Of wild meat. They in
chicken and some other kind Of game
mers smiles as she recalls to mind
congeniality which was feature Of the
days.
Towns First Store.
Probably the first store at White
Cloud was built by John vogeler. who
moved over from old st. Marys. Later
there were stores run by John Sheldon
and two or three others. with drug
store owned by DR.. Brothers. Solo
mon Purcell's son, Samuel, was the
first postmaster. A hotel was situated
in a picturesque spot at one end of
the town in grove OF trees, and dur
ing the Pixies peak excitement 1t was
quite noted point as a stage station.
end thousands Of people passed thru |
on their way to the golden west and
at night the streets and river bank in
the vicinity of the bridge would be
lined with teams Of campers and the
camp hres cleaning gave wide play to
the imagination Of the fortune hunters. !
The freighters and emisrants used
to stop there q day or longer to re-
plenish their stores, to repair their
wagons and harness. bake bread, etc..
before hitting It across the Nebraska
plains. The stage line from Council
Bluffs to Burlington also passed thru
there and It can easily be imagined
that White Cloud was in those days a
lively place, business and pleasure be-
ing given full sway.
Railroad Kills Il.
Then. few yeara after the @"
came thru and missed White
Cloud by about two miles. its glory
waned and waned and finally departed
save in the memories of those pioneers |
who had enjoyed its hospitality in va
rious forms. Drs Brothers moved his
store to Malvern, other stores moved
away. and at last there was but one
store, mill and blacksmith shop in the |
place. J. 8. Miller was the last mer-
chant to leave. Being built on old
fashioned lines there was more Of a
attachment to the place
for him than for the younger gener-
alton. and he refused for long timc
to sever his relations with the glorified
spot.
Then the Wabash came thru and the
shop ana store left. and
one by one the residences were moved
away. until the last has just disap-
peared from view in the old town Of
White Cloud. .