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Biographical and Historical Record
The Lewis Publishing Company
1887
Jefferson

Go to 1887 History Index

Jefferson, the county seat of Greene County, is beautifully located on high table land between the North Raccoon River and Hardin Creek, being about half a mile east of the former and two miles west of the latter, and near the geotrraphieal center of the county. The town site has an elevation of some seventy-five feet above the level of the river. It was laid out in 1854, at a time when the financial condition of the county was such that it was necessary to effect a loan of $200 for the purpose of purchasing the site. That amount was borrowed of Hoyt Sherman, of Des Moines. At the first sale of lots those around the square brought from $10 up, while those not so advantageously located were sold at from $3 to $5 a lot. The largest amount, $60, was paid for the lot at the southeast corner of the square, just east of the Head House. It is said that, after the survey of the lots, Judge Phillips and B. F. llobinson wrestled to see who should have the first choice, and that Phillips threw Roliinson, and had the honor of purchasing the first lot in Jefferson. The first building erected on the town plat was a hewed log house, built by George S. Walton in the autumn of 1854, for a dwelling. The following year he put in a small stock of merchandise. The bnildine is still standino near the Head House, where it was first erected.

The town was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson by the commissioners who selected the site; but in consequence of there being an old town of that name in Dubuque County, the Postotfice Department refused to grant another office of the same name in the State and suggested that the name be changed. Captain Rippey then gave it the name of New Jefferson, and the Department granted a postottice under that name. The prefix "New" has since been dropped, and it is now known as Jefferson, as was at first intended.

The first house within the present incorporation was not that of Walton, but was built bv B. F. Robinson in 1854. It was outside the original town plat, but still deserves a place in the early history of Jefferson. Mr. Robinson, who is yet living at Jefferson, sold goods there the following year. In the sununer of 1855 Robert M. Uippey built the second house on the town site. It was used as a residence and office and was the lirst frame structure in Jefferson. The third house was erected by Dr. Lewis, who was the first physician of the place. He died the following winter, and this was the first death in Jefferson. The first birth was in the family of Columbus Peek, who soon after moved away, and the second was Charles Culley, the same winter.

In the spring of 1856 a saw-mill was built by Rippey, McBride & Culley, and this was of material assistance to those desirous of building. Among those who put up houses in1856 were Dr. William S. McBride, James Orange, Sam. Cowan, and one Rivers. The first court-house was also built this year, and was the first building fronting on the square. All the other buildings were southeast of the square. Soon after the first settlement of the county the major portion of the land was acquired by speculators, and this fact retarded the further settlement of the county, and also the growth of Jefierson. From 1862 to 1865 not one building was put up. The population at tins time was about 200. The first mail route through this region was established in 1857, from Adel to New Jefierson, once a week.

After the war, when nearly a million Northern soldiers were returned to civil life, there began a steady immigration of home-seekers. In 1866 the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad (now Northwestern), which had been surveyed as early as 1856 by the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Company, was built through the county, and this gave Jefierson a substantial start. During the next four years the growth of the place was rapid, and the census of 1870 showed Jefferson to have 779 inhabitants. By this time store buildings sought the hitherto neglected square. In 1865 the only buildings on the square were the court-house and O. J. White's shoe shop.

From this time Jefferson carried the air of a respectable and prosperous county seat. Tiie population increased by 1878 to 906; by 1875 to 895; by 1880 to 1,444, and by 1885 to 1,730. The Wabash Railroad arrived here in 1880 and gave the town a north and south railroad.

The original town plat of Jefferson included eighty acres, but there have been added since Manning's, Blair's, Gallagher's (two), J. F. Head's and Albert Head's additions, so that the area subdivided into lots is now nearly three times what it was thirty years ago. The incorporation of Jefierson is a square two and one-half miles on a side, or six and one-fourth square miles, in the northwestern part of township 83 north, range 30 west. The east and west streets of Jefferson are: Fair, Stanford, Central, Head, Lincoln, Perry, Wall, Adams, Clark, Reed, Adams (two streets by this name), Washington, State, Main, Harrison, Monroe, Madison and South. The north and south streets are: Willow, Pinet, Maple, Oak, Elm, Vine, Cherry, Chestnut, Locust, Olive, Pine and Mulberry.

The square is bounded on the north by  State street, on the east by Chestnut, on the south by Main, and on the west by Cherry.

INCORPORATION.

Jefterson was incorporated as a town in January, 1872, the first meeting of the council having been held on the 29th of tiiat month. Mahlon Head was mayor, and the council was composed of William P. Henderson, George McCulley, James Stanford and H. B. Wynkoop. H C. Rippey was chosen recorder, the recorder-elect having failed to qualify; Samuel Beard was chosen marshal, D. Northway, treasurer, and Wright Gray, commissioner. These officers held only till the regular election in March following. The officers chosen for that and subsequent years have been:

1872.—
Mayor, Mahlon Head
Recorder, H. C. Rippey
Trustees, William P. Henderson, James Stanford, H. B. Wynkoop, George G.Lawrence
Marshal, F. N. Cooper
Treasurer, I. F. Anderson
Street Commissioner, Wright Gray.

1873.—
Mayor, S. S. Wilkinson
Recorder, J. M. Rhoads
Trustees, George G. Eagleson, John M. Culley, John Inbody, James L. Perry and Abijah Anderson
Assessor, I. L. Hammer
Treasnrer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner, Wright Gray
Marshal, A. Child.

1874.—
Mayor, O. W. Negns
Recorder, J. L. Perry
Trustees, J. F. Anderson, W. B. Mayes, E. M. Troxell, D. Northway and W. A. Holtsclaw
Assessor, T. B. Reece
Street Commissioner, T. L. Chambers
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Marshal, John Inbody.

1875.—
Mayor, W. D. Chandler
Recorder, James L. Perry
Trustees, John D. Hall, George G. Lawrence, G. S. Toliver, David Milligan and John A. Hassett
Assessor, B. F. Robinson
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner, John McNeil
Marshal, Lewis Ehrhardt.

1876.—
Mayor, W. D. Chandler
Recorder, James L. Perry
Trustees, G. S. Toliver, Andrew Watts, L. B. Remick, David Milligan and D. B. McCulley
Assessor, J. Dick
Treasurer, A. Watts
Marshal, Clinton DeWitt
Street Commissioner, John McNeil.

1877.—
Mayor, Albert Head
Recorder, James L. Perry
Trustees, L. B. Remick  D. Milligran, D. B. McCulley, Samuel Jay and W. D. Chandler
Assessor, G. B. Dean
Street Commissioner, Clinton DeWitt
Treasurer, A. Watts
Attorney, James A. Henderson.

1878.—
Mayor, M. B. McDuffie
Recorder, C. H. Crawford
Trustees, D. M. Bossart, John Skirving, J. M. Rhoads, John Inbody and W. D. Chandler
Assessor,  E. L. Shircliff
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner, A. King
Marshal, A. Lindell.

1879.—
Mayor, M. B. McDuffie
Recorder, William S. Livingston
Trustees, S. H. Mathews, James L. Perry, Ed. M. Troxell, J. F. Anderson, Henry Fluke and B. F. Robinson
Assessor, J. W. Fitz
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner, A. King
Marslial, S. B. Cooper.

1880.—
Mayor, J. H. Gallaher
Trustees, M. B. McDuffie, Charles Bofink, Henry Fluke, E. M. Troxell, J. A. Hassett and E. L. Shircliff
Recorder, C. H. Crawford
Assessor, George G. Lawrence
Treasurer. George G. Lawrence
Marshal, A. Lindell.

1881.—
Mayor, J. M. Rhoads
Recorder, C. H. Crawford
Trustees, H. B. Wynkoop, E. M. Troxell, J. A. Hassett, E. L. Shircliff, Charles Bofink and M. B. McDuffie
Assessor, Samuel Beard
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner, A. King
Marshal, Samuel Wise.

1882.—
Mayor, J. M. Rhoads
Recorder, C. H. Crawford
Trustees, A. S. Gilliland, D. M. Bossert, A. Moorhouse, H. B. Wynkoop, E. M. Troxell and M. B. McDuffie
Assessor, John Dick
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner and Marshal, Samuel Wise.

1883.—
Mayor, 1. D. Howard
Recordor, O. R. Gray
Trustees, M. B. McDuffie, A. Moorhouse, D. M. Bossert, E. M. Troxell, H. B. Wynkoop and A. S. Gilliland
Assessor, Samuel Beard
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Coinmissioner and Marshal, Samuel Wise.

1884.—
Mayor, Z. A. Church
Recorder, W. E. Whitney
Trustees, J. W. Fitz, H. B.
Wynkoop, A. S. Gilliland, A. Moorhouse, D. M. Bossert and E. M.Truxell
Asessor, Samuel Beard
Street Commissioner and Marshal, Samuel Wise
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence.

1885.—
Mayor, Mahlon Head
Recorder, E. C. Freeman
Trustees, P. M. Vest, F. L. Witt, J. W. Fitz, H. B. Wynkoop, A. Moorhouse and M. B. McDuffie
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner and Marshal, Abijah Anderson.

1886.—
Mayor, John McCarthy
Recorder, E. C. Freeman
Trustees, J. H. Gallaher, J. M. Rhoads, J. W. Fitz, P. M. Vest, F. L. Witt and H. B. Wynkoop
Assessor, Samuel Beard
Treasurer, George G. Lawrence
Street Commissioner and Marshal, Samuel Wise.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

In November, 1886, the business firms of Jefferson were as follows:

J. L. Adams, creamery
Barrett & Tew, painters
Charles Blake, restaurant and commercial house
George Blakney, saloon
Charles Bofink, hardware
D. M. Bossert, postoffice
A. D. Bullock, general merciiandise
John Byerley, tailor
E. H. Carter, dry goods and groceries
City Bank
Church & Ellis, groceries
Culley Brothers, restaurant
C. E. Dean, Head House
J. Will Dick, clothing
O. L. Dick, books and news
C. M. Dodge, second-hand store
H. A. Dwinnell, clothing
Ferguson & Head, publisliers, Souvenir
B. W. Foy, drugs
F. M. Franklin, furniture
Leopold Freund, restaurant
J. A. Gallaher, opera house
Gallup & Marquis, groceries
John Gray, harness
Greene County Bank
P. E. Greene, restaurant
J. D. Hall, dry goods and groceries
John Hancock, billiards
Harrington. Moorhouse & Milligan, Jefferson rolling mills
J. A. Hassett, hardware
A. M. Head, abstracts and loans
Head Brothers, opera house
V. Hiddleson, meat market
S. B. Hotchkiss, Revere House
Inbody & Covell, blacksmiths and foundry
G. B. Kendall, restaurant
Kinney & Freeman, drugs
Legore & Co., clothing, boots and shoes
Lindell & Sutton, wagon shop
Mahanay & Morris, blacksmiths
George Mann, barber
McCarthy & Young, boots and shoes
G. B. McCulley & Co., general store
Mrs. McKinnell, millinery
Frank Mott, millinery
J. H. Nihoff, shoes
T. P. Nugan, restaurant
J. B. O'Donahue, photographer
S. J. Piersoll, coopering and feed store
J. M. Rhoads, sewing machines and organs
F. M. & A. G. Riley, drugs and jewelry
Roland Roberts, livery
David P. Root, meat market
J. E. Smith, groceries
J. W. Smith, feed store
R. J. W. Speers, dry goods and groceries
C. M. and M. D. Starring, shirt factory
E. B. Stillman, proprietor of the Bee
P. F. Valiant, barber
O. .I.White, shoemaker
W. E. Whitney, jeweler
John Wilkinson, hardware
Henry Willard, livery
E. S. Wood, general merchandise
Wright & Witt, furniture
W. H. B. Wynkoop, dry goods and groceries.

PROFESSIONAL.

Two newspapers are published at Jefferson - the Bee and the Souvenir. The practicing lawyers are: Russell & Toliver, Howard & Rose, Z. A. Church, J. A. Gallaher, Harvey Potter and C. H. Jackson. The physicians are: Drs. Charles Entield, J. H. Grimmell, W. S. Schermerhorn, D. J. Bowman and H. W. Dickinson. There are two dentists - S. E. Warner and L. D. Allen.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The town of Jetferson bought a hook-and-ladder truck in 1882, and in February, 1884, the Jefferson Police Department was formally organized, with Mahlon Head as chief, which position he has held since. Soon after, a hand engine and hose-cart were bonght, the whole outfit costing about $4,000. The headquarters of the company are in the lower part of the building known as the City Hall. The town council meets above. The building was put up in 1884 and rented to the town by A. Head. In 1885 a fine bell, weighing 1,600 pounds, was bought at a cost of $425. The Hook and Ladder Company has twenty-nine members, with W. D. Chandler as foreman. The Hose Company has twenty-two members, and Z. A. Church is foreman. The Engine Company has twenty-two members, and M. J. Covell is foreman. A cistern has been placed at each of the three corners of the square, and the water that falls on the roof of the court-house flows into these, keeping a good supply on hand. The council has appropriated so much of $5,000 as may
be necessary to bore an artesian well on or near the court-house square.

BANKS.

The two banking institutions now in Jefferson are the only ones that have ever done business here, and are both very substantial concerns.

Head Brothers commenced business in 1866, on the site of the present Gallaher Opera House. In 1871 they built their present banking building at the northeast corner of the square. M. L. Steele is cashier. The City Bank was started in 1876 by F. M. McGee & Co. They were succeeded by M. B. McDuffie, J. J. Russell and Charles Bofink. July 1, 1886, E. E. Hughes became a partner. At present Charles Bofink is president, M. B. McDuffie, vice-president, and E. E. Hughes, cashier. The capital of the bank is $100,000.

SCHOOLS.

Previous to 1872 the building now used as a house of worship by the Presbyterians was the grammar scliool, and the primary school was conducted in the upper story of what is now the beer saloon. In the year mentioned the present brick school-house was erected on the third block north of the northwest corner ol the square. It occupies the whole square, thus providing ample play-grounds. There are 147 shade trees on the latter. The cost was not far from $17,000. The building is two stories in height, contains six rooms, and is heated by Ruttan furnaces. A kindergarten school is also conducted in a small frame building west of Gallaher's Opera House.

A course of study was adopted in 1885, on completion of which pupils are admitted to the State University without examination. The class of 1886, two in number, was the first graduate under this arrangement, and one of those two is now in the University. Diplomas, however, have been given here for the past five years.

The school has had five principals - Professor Grumbling (now of Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant), Professor Eldon, Dr. A. G. Riley, H. E. Hammond and S. A. Kendall. The last named, the present incumbent, began his duties as principal in 1885. There are eight other teachers for the year 1886-'87, as follows: Mary Stock well, assistant principal; Clara Gyer, principal of grammar department; Ida Squires, assistant in same; Delia King, intermediate; Nettie Johnson, third primary; Belle Smith, second primary; Cora Taylor, first primary; Anna Potts, kindergarten. Thie average salary of all the teachers is $49 per month; exclusive of the principal, whose salary is $1,000 per year, the average is S41 per month.

The total enrollment during the year 1885-'86 was 553; average attendance, 342. Teachers were paid $4,284, and the total expenditures were over $5,000. A surplus having accumulated, the levy for 1886 is hut $2,000. There is yet owing on account of the schoolhouse $3,000. The school lihrary has 600 well chosen volumes for use of pupils and teachers, and the apparatus is valued at $500.

CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal Church
As is usual in in the West, this denomination is the pioneer at Jefferson. The first preacher mentioned as visiting this place was Rev. Daniel Lamont in 1862. Those returned each year since have been: Rev. John Hestwood, 1863; Rev. Joseph Neigh, 1864-'65; Rev. J. W. Snodgrass, 1866-'87; Rev. M. D. Collins, 1868-'69; Rev. S. E. Willing, 1870-'71; Rev. Samuel Jones, 1872-'73; Rev. J. C. Eckles, 1874-;75; Rev. L. H. Woodward, 1876-'77; Rev. J. A. Wilson, 1878-'79; Rev. J. W. Eckles, 1880; Rev. E. W. Sage, 1881-'82; Rev. W. W. McGuire, 1883; Rev. W. F. Harned, 1884-'86. The church, which stands one block east of the northeast corner of the square, was built during the ministry of Rev. M. D. Collins, at a cost of $4,000. It will comfortably seat 450. The tall steeple contains a fine bell, the first brought into Jefferson.

The membership of the church is 210. Following are the official members:
Local Preachers, Joseph Manning, M. H. McDuffie and W. H. Henderson
Trustees, Mahlon Head, C. H. Carter, John W. Wilkinson, S. J. Counselman, Vet. Anderson, Ed. Gallup and James Henderson
Stewards, Ira McLaughlin, Mrs. A. H. Oliver, Harvey Potter, Mrs. Harvey Potter, J. D. Hall, L. D. Remick, J. W. Huntington, W. S. Livingston and F. M. Franklin.
James Henderson is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has about 200 pupils, divided into fifteen classes.

The First Baptist Church of Jefferson
Organized June 19, 1859. Rev. W. J. Sparks was moderator and Dan. Mills clerk of the council. Delegates were present from the following Baptist churches: Des Moines, Adel, North Union and Buffalo Grove. The organization was effected with nine members: Thomas Roberts, Elizabeth McCoy, Mary Oungst, Dan. Mills, Jeannette Mills, Joel Honver, B. T. Houver, Catherine Honver and Lydia Honver. From the organization until May, 1864, the church had no regular pastor. Revs. Yarnell, Russell, Oldfield and Robinson supplied the pulpit a part of the time. Thomas Roberts and Isaac Clopton were elected and installed deacons. Of these, Deacon Roberts still remains, having been a faithful and efficient officer and member during the whole term of the church's history.

In May, 1864, the church extended a call to Rev. A. W. Russell to become pastor. He accepted and continued pastor until the autumn of 1867, when he resigned. During this time valuable lots, centrally located, were purchased and a building 30 x 40 feet erected and dedicated, free of debt. Rev. W. M. Simons was pastor from November, 1867, to
December, 1869; Rev. Amos Robinson from April, 1870, to November, 1871: Rev. A. J. Delano from December, 1871, until November, 1873; Rev. D. Heagle from July, 1874, to January, 1877; Rev. J. H. Delano from March, 1877, to January, 1883; Rev. F. N. Eldridge, then for a year and a half; Rev. J. C. Hart for two years, and in the autumn of 1886 Rev. William E. Randall began his labors here. The membership of the church is now 214. The value of the church property is $3,500.

The Presbyterian Church of Jefferson
Organized February, I6, 1867, with these eight members: William Potter and wife Amanda, William R. McNeil and wife Sarah Ann, Daniel Leasure and wife Rebecca, Samuel D. Potter and wife Eliza. Of these William R. McNeil and S. D. Potter and wife are yet living and members of the church. There have been four pastors: Revs. John S. Dunning, W. G. Hillman, A. R. Mathes and H. G. Rice. The last named has filled the pulpit since October, 1880. Regular worship was not begun until 1870. For a year or so meetings were held in the schoolhouse, and in the spring of 1872 the society purchased the building and remodeled it. The membership is now about 165.

The official members are:
Elders, A. G. Riley, Levi Stockwell, George McBirney, E. B. Stillman, J. D. Starring, H. W. Kellogg and Dr. W. S. Schermerhorn
Trustees, M. B. McDuffie, A. Moorhouse and H. W. Kellogg.

The Sunday-school has an attendance of about 100. H. W. Kellogg is superintendent. The church contemplates building a new house of worship at an early day.

Catholic Church
About 1875 the Catholics of this vicinity bought a church three blocks nortliwest of the square that had been built, but never used, by the Congregationalists, and services have been held since every two weeks. The priest in charge is Father Quirck, of Grand Junction. The membership is about 150, mostly in the country.

The Chrhtian Church, or Disciples
Organized in the autumn of 1880, with about thirty members. A frame church was completed about April 1, 1887, at a cost of $5.000, and donated to the society by C. F. McCarthy. The auditorium is 30 x 54 feet; class-room 27 x 28, and ante-room 9 x 20.

SOCIETIES.

Morniny Star Lodge, No. 159, A. F. & A. M., was instituted January 5, 1860, and chartered June 6, 1861. The present officers are: L. L. Smullin, Worshipful Master; J. M. Rhoads, Senior Warden; J. Will. Dick, Junior Warden; G. Ci. Lawrence, Treasurer; H. W. Kellogg, Secretary; M. E. Marquis, Senior Deacon; E. M. Troxell, Junior Deacon; A. Lindell, Tyler [outer guard]. The lodge has ninety-six members, and meets on Saturday, on or before each full moon. It owns the upper story of the opera house building, known as Masonic Temple, and valued at $6,000.

Comer Stone Chapter, No. 64, R. A. M., was constituted November 20, 1871. The first officers were: C. H. Jackson, High Priest; J. S. Dunning, King; A. Yerger, Scribe; J. N. Harrington, Treasurer; R. Ellis, Secretary. The officers for 1886 are: Z. A. Church, High Priest; G. G. Lawrence, King; John McCarthy, Scribe; M. Head, Treasurer; J. Will. Dick, Secretary. The chapter has a membership of sixty, and meets on Monday on or before each full moon, at Masonic Temple.

Emmaus Commandery, No. 35, K. T., was constituted December 8, 1879, with these officers: C. H. Crawford, Eminent Commander; D. Milligan, Generalissimo; J. M. Rhoads, Captain General; J. S. Dunning, Prelate; A. S. Gilliland, Senior Warden; A. A. Watts, Junior Warden; Henry Fluke, Treasurer; A. M. Head, Recorder; W. W. Loomis, Standard Bearer; W. D. Chandler, Sword Bearer; A. Moorhouse, Warder; C. B. Thorp, Sentinel. The officers for 1886 are: Dr. W. S. Schermerhorn, Eminent Commander; G. G. Lawrence, Generalissimo; M. Head, Captain General; L. L. Smullin, Prelate; J. WV. Fitz, Senior Warden; A. Moorhouse, Junior Warden; A. S. Gilliland, Treasurer; J. Will. Dick, Recorder; J. L. Gore, Standard Bearer; M. E. Marquis, Sword Bearer; Charles Bofink, Warder; A. Lindell, Sentinel. The membership is now sixty-four. Meetings are held on Monday following each full moon, at Masonic Temple.

Greene Lodge, No. 315, I. O. O. F., was chartered October 21, 1875, by Grand Master Ben. Newman, with these members: G. McCnlley, A. J. Eiteman, S. S. Wilkinson, William Elden, R. M. Vanx and George Blakney. At present writing Isaac Norris is Noble Grand; G. M. Potter, Vice-Grand, and William McKinnell, Secretary. The meetings are held every Friday at Odd Fellows' Hall, which is owned by the lodge. It is valued at $1.000. The furnishings are worth $500, and the lodge also has $1,000 loaned at interest. Membership, about 100.

Jefferson Encampment, No. 103, I. O. O.F., was chartered October 19, 1880, by Grand Patriarch J. K. Powers, with these members: O. R. Gray, Albert Head, D. P. Root, G. B. Dean, R. Townsend, John Dick, Charles F. Peek, .1. C. Toliver, Frank Hassett, G. W. Blakney, J. A. Shank, E. A. McCoy, A. J. Eiteman, O. O. Jay, L. C. Schultz, E. U. Daly, Joseph Shaw, A. M. Head, H. L. Dresser. A. S. Gilliland, S. M. Heck, P. O. Vest, Z. A. Church, F. M. Franklin, John Wilkinson, Sol. Kuh, 1. E. Smith, T. J. Locker, John F. Gesner, J. S. Eiteman and Isaac Millspaugh. The present officers are: H. C. Sayre, C. P.; John Hassett, H. P.; G. B. McCulley, Senior Warden; J. S. Smith, Guard; A. J. Eiteman, Junior Warden; R. Townsend, Inside Sentinel; C. Brown, Outside Sentinel; D. Vest, F. G. T.; M. Shane, S. G. T.; G. W. Thompson, Treasurer; William McKinnell, Scribe. The membership is fifty, and meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month, at Odd Fellows Hall.

George H. Thomas Post, No. 23, G. A. R., was mustered January 21, 1880, with fourteen comrades, and Albert Head was the first commander. The officers for 1886 are: W. S. Schermerhorn, Commander; Mahlon Head, Senior Vice-Commander; J. J. Shannon, Junior Vice-Commander; A. R. Mills, Chaplain; H. W. Kellogg, Adjutant; J. W. Fitz, Quartermaster; C. M. Starring, Officer of the Day. The membership is now sixty-eight, and meetings arc held the second ami fourth Thursdays of each month.

Garfield Lodge, No. 62, K. P., was organized November 9, 1881, and the list of charter members numbers seventy-one. The officers at present writing are: Ed. M. McCaffrey, Chancellor Commander; John Dodge, Vice-Chancellor; Harvey Potter, Past Chancellor; George Colvig, Keeper of Records and Seals; D. R. Edwards, Prelate; M. D. Starring, Master of Finance; C. Sturtevant, Master of Exchequer; I. F. llotchkiss, Master at Arms; Stillman Aldrich, Inner Guard; Samuel McClellan, Outer Guard. The membership is about forty. Meetings are held every Tuesday evening at Castle Hall.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1883, and meets at Head's Hall every Sunday afternoon at 3:30. The  young men hold meetings also on Wednesday evenings at 8:30. Professor S. A. Kendall is President; Elmer E. Johnson, Secretary. Literary meetings are held on alternate Friday evenings, the programs embracing debates, readings, declamations, music, etc.

The other societies which have been organized here, but are now dead or inactive, are: Independent Order of Good Templars, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Legion of Honor and "V. A. S. Fraternity."

Go to 1887 History Index

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.

Transcribed by Lynn Diemer-Mathews and uploaded September 6, 2023.

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