Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-03
Pioneer Suggests
Celebrating Advent
G. g N. w. Railroad

NJ L. Rogers. one of the early settlers
of Marshalltown, now of Los Angeles.
has addressed to the Times Republican
communication dealing with his
memories of early Marshaltown.
Mr. Rogers suggests that this year
be made a semi-centennial of the ad-
vent in Ma-shalltown of one of its most
important mprovements-the building
OF the Chicago & Northwestern railroad
into this city.
Now in his seth year, Mr.. Rogers
thoughts are much occupied in retro
spection, and he refers to the earlier
DAYS and what they meant TO the pres
emf Marsha!ltown. His communication
follows:
Editor Times Republican: Sixty
years ago, Marshalltown was small
hamlet, little known outside its county
boundary. but it covers period OF
events important IN its history S lead
ing up TO its present prominence as
commercial and manufacturing city.
''Marshaltowns location and broad
surrounding territory, which, for fer
tility of soil. is unsurpassed by any
section of the great prairie domain OF
the west, was an attraction thar
brought to il a class of settlers who
proved themselves equal 10 the require
uent essential IN formulating and pro-
noting schemes that would contribute
TO the growth and advance the interesrS
Of the settlement.
important among these pioneer set
tiers We're Henry Arson. Judge G. NJ
Click, a quartet of broad, c ;mprehensive
minds and progressive ideas, and en-
Lued with that spirit of energy that
would Yield 70 nothing short OF success
in any enterprise of their undertaklns
This fact was evidenced in the spirited
and long-waged struggle with ballots
nd courts in the memorable contest
mat resulted in securing for Marshall
town its location for the county seat.
an event Of first Importance 10 the
town, and factor in drawing to II a
citizenship that has kept the Wheels
of progress. both, active and effective,
in advancing the social and business
interests of the town.
s with this brief review of events i'm
ports Mt in the history Of Marshalitown.
it is Impossible for NE to name all to
whom the need Of praise is due for the
prominence it has attained as COM
mercial and manufacturing city. but
when its history is written it Will be
incomplete except special mention IS
given Of A c. Abbott, G. +. Kirby, Ed
Sears, S P. knisely, A. I. Birchard.
e. T Frederick, George Click and oth-
ers who gave to the city the best serv-
ice they could command, in support
of measures tending TO its material
interest and prosperity.
MY first experience in Marshalltown
was a half century ago. at its celebra-
ton in 1916 of an event important. in
it's HISTORIAN event that gave it rail
connection with Chicago, and 10 the
producer a home market for the pro-
ducts of the farm which, to this period.
could be marketed only by long and
expensive haul.
AN event Of sucl, interest should
receive more than casual mention. IT
should be COMMUNICATED by q half
centennial celebration. and a historical
record of all events of the period made
and preserved. which would he Of in
terest to people of the vicinity half
century hence.
''Marshalltown. as municipality,
has a record of being foremost in its
adoption Of progressive ideas, but 1
have no knowledge of its having an
organized historical society. If it be
lacking in this. l beg to suggest that
no time be lost in perfecting such or
;anization while events IN its history
may be obtained and preserved Later.
in the national order of things. they
will have passed to oblivion"
MIR. Rogers will be glad to know
that the city already affords a county
historical society. which recently has
been granted quarters in the court
house as a museum displaying relics
Of historical interest.-Ed.1