Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-01-21
MORE ABOUT THE
EARLY SETTLERS
David Carroll Starts First Store
Near Hooks Point Kept
Stock Under His
Bed.
WHISKY WAS A NECESSITY.
Isaac Hook was the First to Keep it
for Sale Settlers Coming
in 1852.

Hamilton County History: David
Carroll came next and to him may
be accorded the credit of keeping
the first store near Hooks Point. His
stock of goods was exceedingly limit
ed and it is reported that he kept
most of it under his bed. Still it
was source of supply to settlers
for gunpowder, lead and few other
indispensables. Indeed large stock
would have gone begging among so
few customers.
Whisky was considered prime
necessity and while almost all of the
settlers brought with them small
amount for present use, Isaac Hook
was the first to keep it for SALE His
place was therefore resorted to to
such an extent that he also put in
small stock Of goods and became
the second storekeeper, if indeed he
was the first, as some aver he was.
Both stores, however, were started
the same year.
1t must not be thought these
stores began business with a grand
opening" as do the mercantile insti-
tutions of the present day. They
simply forwarded supply of ar
ticles most needed by early settlers,
and as customers were few, the
members of the storekeeper's family
were his clerks, and they chalked on
the door the items Of credit or car
ried them in their minds Whichev-
er way 1t was done there was little
grumbling by storekeepers about
bad debts, for the men and women
who brayed the hardships of pioneer
life, were honest, as rule, and
whether any account was kepl Of
debts or not they were usually paid
Mr.. Hook, in addition to his small
store, opened hotel and Hooks
Point became the principal trading
place in the county.
w. w. Mckinney first came to
Iowa in 1889, but moved to Hamil-
ton county in August, 1852. He set
tied Just north of Hooks Point.
Elziar Russell came in September,
1852, and settled on the southeast
quarter of section 9-s7-26, the farm
which is now known as the Low
Stock Farm. He began at once to
make permanent improvements and
resided there until the winter of
1854, when he moved to section
seven in the same township. His new
claim was a piece of ground claimed
by the Des Moines River Land Com
pany and Joined the town plat of
Homer. Mr.. Russell made some i'm
provements,. but did not occupy the
land long. becoming interested in
town property in Homer, as well as
in some mill property In Webster
county.
Andrew Gloseclose, with his son
and daughter, came to the county In
the summer of 1852. He built al
dam across Boone river In section
i5-S7-26, preparatory to building a
mill. He had been in the milling
business on Big Creek, about three
miles north OF Polk City, for several
years, but that stream had gone dry
In the summer and the location was
not good. Mayor Brassfield had vis-
tted the mill and told him of some
excellent millsites on the East
Fork and pursuaded him to move
up there. After finishing the dam
and putting UP pole cabin, to the
square, he went back to Polk coun-
ty and In December brought the rest
OF his family. The snow was deep,
the weather cold and the cabin had
no roof. He planted two forks in
the ground. put pole across and
put up poles, covering them with
bark. thus providing temporary
abode until the cabin could be fin
ished. The next year he had his mill
moved and set up and sometime in
1853 was ready to grind. Lewis Nc
Crary and William Strickler were
the men employed to set up the mill.
The buFrs. were made OF Iowa. mig
gerhead., In Polk county. and