Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-12-23

poles and manufacturing coope
stock. ready for shipment Larg
amounts of cordwood are also beins
shipped from Stratford.
THE PoSTOFFICE
at this point was removed from
| Hooks Point in the summer o.
1881. The first postmaster was Fl
&. Hicks, who was succeeded in 1882
by r. w. Biggs. the present post
master. 1t became a money-ordel
Office in 1882. The first order issu-
ed was August 18th to John Trite1
for SIS. The first paid was to Levi
O. Lane, August I'd, for $40. There
have been LAO orders issued from
this Office up to January 6, 1885.
THE OPERA HOUSE
was built by Johnson & Lindreth, in
| 1881. 1t is over two business rooms.
and is 44x50 feet, provided with
good stage scenery and furniture.
This hall has been of much value to
the people in and about Stratford,
! as place for holding all public en-
tertainments, meetings, etc.
THE CHURCHES
of the town are the Methodist and
Lutheran. The former was first Or
ganized at Hooks Point, but soon
after the railroad was built was
changed to Stratford. The society
is within the northwest Iowa confer
ence and have the finest church edi-
flee in the county, save at Webster
City. which is we'll furnished and
cared for by embership of over
forty. Rev. A. D. Hooker is the pres
ent pastor in charge. The Luther
an church membership is made up of
Scandinavians. This church was
formed five years prior to the rail-
road era, and had a commodioous
church erected on a ive-acre plat
secured of Mr.. Ten Eyck, through
his agent, Huitt Ross. This church
has quite a large membership. Ser
vices are conducted in the Scandin-
avian tongue.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
of Stratford are indeed an honor to-
the town. A large, well arranged
frame building was built in 1882, at
a cost of $4,000. There are two de-
partments in this school where the
best methods of teaching are en-
ployed. No better index can appear
in any community, as to the thrift,
intelligence and morality of peo-
pie, than to see due observance to
religious and educational matters.
This is quite manifest about STRAIT
ford
THE GRAND ARMY POST
t"Daniel Hill Post, No. 373," was
mustered in Nov. IA. 1884, with the
following charter membership:
Thos. E. Ross, commander: L. M.
Linn, senior vice commander: J. S.
Evans. il, vice commander; E. J.
Bently, officer of day: James We'd
ding, adjutant; Geo. w. Krouskup,
quartermaster; N T. Wilson, chap
lain: E. A. Erickson, sergeant Of
guard: C. c. Austin, quartermaster-
sergeant; James Virgins, sergeant
major; Henry Snees and P. L. Pet
erson, privates. This post was nam
ed in honor of the first soldier who
enlisted from this county. as he was
also the first to die. The post now
about eighteen, and is in
fine condition. They meet the first
and third Saturday evenings of each
month
The I. l.. of H. Lodge, No. ISL,
Nov. IS, 1888, by four
teen charter members. They now
twenty-one and are in a
condition. Their times
of meeting are the second and fourth
evenings Of each month.
THE INCORPORATION
of Stratford dates from September,
1888. The present officers are j. H.
Johnson. mayor: Geo. F.. Tucker, re-
corder: L. Emerson. |. Hyatt.
Charles Rodine, M. II. Greene.
George Gelder and Robert Norton.
r. W. Biggs. marshall.
The Incorporation is provided with
lookup" but since the prohibitory
law went into effect, the citizens of
the place say it is OF no use to them.
The professional men of the town
are G. F. Tucker. J. NJ. Blake and
Judge Mckinney, attorneys; Drs.
Rodgers and Chamberlain, physic-
ian, and surgeons. These men are
skilled in their chosen professions,
and are doing a good business.
ROSS TOWN"
is that portion of Stratford which
was plated by Huitt Ross, and is
on the south side of the