Washta
Washta's
name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm
into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from
Correctionville, Iowa, to Cherokee, Iowa. He was asked to be the
the official postmaster for the area. When asked what the name of his
town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native
Americans the year before: While Whisman was out hunting, the two came
upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and handed it back while
saying, Wash-tay, Wash-tay, meaning "good". Changing the pronunciation slightly Whisman decided he would call the town Washta.
(Source: Wikipedia.com)
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Moses
Pierson, one of the earliest settlers in this part of Iowa, first came
in 1854 with a surveying crew and, liking the country, he returned the
following year with his wife and two children. His daughter, Mrs.
Frances Bunn of Los Angeles, Calif., describes the early days as
follows:
“My
folks came from Illinois to eastern Iowa where they lived on the Iowa
river until they came to Cherokee county in 1855. We ate our dinner the
fourth of July that year at Pilot Rock. My mother was the first white
woman in Cherokee county. We went on south and located west of
Correctionville, Pierson creek and the town of Pierson being named for
my father. When the Indians became trouble-some, we went back to the
eastern part of the state for a while before returning to Cherokee
county where we took a homestead in 1865, southeast of the present site
of Washta. One day I walked to Pilot Rock to get a man to cut hay for
us, and we often walked to Quimby to spend the day visiting friends.”
Among
the other earliest settlers were George B. Gano, G. W. Ranney, Robert
and Stephen Johnston, all coming in 1866; Moses D. Purdy and A. J.
Whisman, 1867; Jacob Hamilton and Joseph McCown, 1868; John Guilliams,
Henry Gipe and Martin Guilliams.
In the Beginning
The first wedding was that of A.C. Gipe and Jane Ranne in 1867.
The
first death was that of Mrs. Alexander Brown in 1868, when she gave
birth to a baby later adopted by the Gipe family. The grave of this
pioneer woman is in a pasture on the George Stratton farm a mile north
of Washta, and is unmarked except for the boulder of native rock and
some forest trees placed as a marker by the early settlers nearly 60
years ago. Mrs. Rosa Dewey, wife of William Dewey, taught the first
school in a log cabin, with slab seats and puncheon floor.
A. J. Whisman opened the first store in Willow township and was the first postmaster.
Early Business
In
1887, the year the Illinois Central railroad was built from Cherokee to
Onawa, lots were sold to Bunn and Mattoon; Felter and Brackney; E. M.
Gatchell, and Elias Stratton. After these came W. A. Henderson, the
first shoemaker; W. W. Meredith, blacksmith; J. H. Shelton, harness
maker; Allie Bunn, grocer; James McDonald, Jeweler; Clarke Barwick,
furniture; James Robertson, lumber; John McCown, hotel; Smith and
Wilcox, wagon shop; A. W. Bishop, livery; Bunn and Mattoon, implements;
J. R. Mowrer, drugs; W.J. Ballah, doctor; Lucy Mowrer, millinery;
Fannie Bowers, school teacher; Lige McLashing, saw mill, and D. W.
McNeal, now of Cherokee, was the first mayor.
John W. Brackney
and Harvey L. Felter built and operated the first store of general
merchandise with the coming of the railroad in 1887. Both men came from
Tama county where the latter had been in the mercantile business for
some time. They acted as postmaster as well as merchants and Mr.
Brackney continued the business after Mr. Felter moved to a farm on the
edge of town in 1893.
The Felter fruit farm became known as
having the largest orchards in this part of the county. He sold the
farm in 1915, and retired from active farm life but still makes Washta
his home. Mr. Brackney then conducted the business alone until 1902,
when he sold to L. S. Munson. Now the partners, Brackney and Felter,
who are also brothers-in-law, are 75 and both living in Washta where
they began in business together 40 years ago.
Washta Churches
The
first church at Washta was the Congregational, established in 1887,
when the church was built. The first pastor was Rev. L. R. Fitch,
who was succeeded by G. H. Smith, J. F. Horne, A. A. Baker, W. Radford,
J. Douglas, S. Simpson, H. A. Simpson, F. W. Luxford, W. E. Saverman,
R. E. Helms, C. H. Gilmore, James Parker, J. E. Jansen, Chas. Sinnett
and E. C. Farnham.
The church was destroyed by fire in 1918,
after which came the federation of the Congregational church with the
Methodist Episcopal church, which was organized in 1889, with Rev. J.
L. Whitney serving as the first pastor. The pastors of the Federated
church at Washta have been Rev. E. C. Farnham, L. G. Gartner, W. N.
Baker and L. D. Havighurst, pastor at present.
The Washta Unity
society was organized September 26, 1894 and Miss Mary E. Safford, now
of Orlando, Fla, was the first pastor. Although regular church services
were discontinued some years ago, several get together meetings are
held each year at the home of some member.
Some of the records
of the Methodist Episcopal church, organized in 1889, have been
destroyed, but among the early pastors were J. L. Whitney, R. M.
Kiernan, James Ballz, O. Chittick, V. C. Thomas, G. F. Wood, J. C.
Shirk, A. H. Bryan, R. D. Acheson and E. T. Fegtyly.
Lodges and Clubs
The Masonic lodge was formed at Washta in 1892, and the order of Eastern Star sometime later.
Spruce lodge, I.O.O.F. obtained a charter in 1895, and the Rebekah lodge was instituted in 1897.
The
Good Templar’s order was popular for several years and there is a
Modern Woodman and Royal Neighbor lodge in Washta, with many members.
Although
the town is small it contains two federated women’s clubs, the Woman’s
Literary club, organized in 1911, and federated in 1913, has 17 active
members; and the Washta Study club, organized and federated in 1925,
with 27 active members.
Schools Consolidated
The
town of Washta has modern conveniences such as electricity and city
water and sewer. A fine consolidated school building of brick has
replaced the frame school building which burned. Seven teachers, three
in high school and four in the grades, have been employed until this
year when an extra teacher for the high school has been added. A live
Parent Teacher association was organized several years ago, meeting
each month during the school year. Interesting and instructive programs
are given and a pleasant social evening is the result. The school lot,
its landscaped beds of trees/shrubs and flowers, resemble a park in its
beauty.
Washta’s Big Fire
 Photo donated by: Wendi Buesseler
Much
of the history of Washta is reckoned from the time of the “big fire” in
1918. Washta had suffered several smaller fires in the business part of
town, but the blaze of 1918 nearly wiped out the business district. The
fire originated in a livery barn and in less than two hours the
conflagration had destroyed stores, offices and homes. Most of the
business houses were replaced by bigger and better buildings until now
Washta is a prosperous looking town with a modern, up-to-date business
district. The fire with it accompanying discouragement, inspired the
members of the Woman’s Literary club to buy four lots down town where
they each planted a tree and some flowers. In the nine years since the
fire the trees have made a wonderful growth and the tiny park is a
matter of pride to many of the town people.
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Washta is called the
"Coldest Spot in Iowa"
A temperature of -47 F, without wind chill, was recorded on January 12, 1912.
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Washta Saloon
(click image to enlarge)
Photo donated by: Wendi Buesseler
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1918 Fire
Birt Karringer & Hardware Shed
(click image to enlarge)
Photo donated by: Wendi Buesseler
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