Carroll County IAGenWeb History Journal

     Isaac N. Voris laid out a village in 1872 on the highest land on the entire line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad in the State of Iowa, and give it the appropriate name of “Tip-Top”. H. E. Carpenter bought the first lot (lot 13, block 13), and put up a building in which he conducted a general store store for two years. The place is now the site of a saloon. The second store was erected in the spring of 1873, by Lampman Bros. Before there was any thought of a village, however, there were in this neighborhood the dwellings of I. N. Voris, L. J. Lampson, S. W. Lampson, William Bellvale and John Benson. Philip Hense and Henry Benke came in 1873, and were partners of Lampson Bros. In the fall came a man named Gilger, and started a grocery in the southwest part of tow, in Lampson’s building. They afterward built on Main street. James Carroll came in 1874 and bought the dwelling formerly occupied by Mr. Voris, who built the house he now occupies. Mr. Voris suggested the name of Arcadia, which was adopted in place of “Tip Top”. Arcadia acquired its principal growth in the first four years. The census of 1880 gave the village 426 inhabitants. In 1885 the population was 454.

INCORPORATION.

     The town of Arcadia has had a legal organization since 1881. D. J. McDougall was the first mayor. The present officers (1886-’87) are: Mayor, H. F. Arff; Recorder, H. Pruter; Trustees, D. H. Moore, t. Koepke, P. Appel, D. Erp, Jr., F. Hagen and C. H. Westbrook; Marshall, B. H. Bruening; Street Commissioner, William Bargfriedt; Treasurer, C. H. Westbrook; Assessor, Charles Lahan.

POSTMASTERS.

     Isaac N. Voris was the first appointee of Uncle Sam’s mail service at Arcadia, which was made a postoffice in 1872. He has been followed successfully by H. C. Newton, H. E. Carpenter, J. M. Locke, John R. Benson, H. E. Carpenter and C. H. Westbrook, who was appointed in 1885.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

     Arcadia business firms in December, 1886, are:

     H. Altmans, Arcadia Hotel; Peter Appel, wagon shop; F. D. Bohr, barber shop; H. H. Book, hardware; D. Bornholdt, agricultural implements; H. E. Carpenter, hardware; L. R. Curran, Bank of Arcadia; C. A. Daniels, grain; Erp Bros., general store; Claus Erp, lumber; J. B. H. Feenstra, drugs; Mrs. J. B. H. Feenstra, millinery; Hoch & Gabel, general store; D. Joyce, lumber; C. Jentsch, music hall; Peter Klein, harness; Frank Koepke, blacksmith; Theo. Lampman, general store; D. J. McDougall, grain; D. H. Moore, general store; A. Oelkers, saloon and restaurant; Peters & Bornholdt, millinery; H. Raden, shoes; Miss Mary Reiff, millinery; William Richards, meat market; Frank J. Rogers, station agent; M. F. Schmalfeldt, blacksmith; C. H. Westbrook, postoffice and drug store.

SCHOOL.

     A school-house was built in 1873, 22 x 30 feet, containing one room. In 1881 extensive additions were made, so that there are now three rooms. As many teachers are employed, those for 1886-’87 being C. S. Tarbox principal; Miss E. H. Gabel, intermediate; Miss Annie E. Reed, primary. The directors for this year are: John Walsh (President), J. B. H. Feenstra, C. A. Beiterman, J. Klespies, L. R. Curran and Frank Hagen; Georg Hock is Secretary, and D. H. Moore, Treasurer. The enrollment for 1885-’86 was 137; average attendance, 84 ˝. The aggregate expenditure for school purposes are $2, 100.

CHURCHES.

     Catholic Church. – The church used by the Catholics at this place was built in 1874, by Rev. Father Pape, then of Carroll. It is in the southwest part of the village and cost $3,200. It is a frame structure, and will seat 650. Father Urbany succeeded Father Pape, and then Father Fendrich was stationed at Arcadia. After four years residence here removed to Carroll, in 1886, to take charge of the German Catholic church in that city. He still conducts services at Arcadia every two weeks. The priests’ residence is worth $2,600, and $900 has been expended by Father Fendrich in an addition to the church.

     Zion’s German Lutheran Congregation was formed in 1879, and worships in a church that cost $2,700. The present pastor is Rev. C. H. Fred. Hermann, who commenced his labors here in April 1885. There are about thirty voting members, but nearly twice as many attend. The pastor conducts a parochial school, which is attended by from twenty-five to thirty pupils. It is proposed to build a school-house in two or three years.

SOCIETIES.

     Tip Top Lodge, No. 167, Iowa Legion of Honor, was organized in February, 1885, with twenty-seven members. There are now twenty-four. Meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of each month. Henry W. Pruter is President; William F. Erp, Recording Secretary; Dr. C. A. Beiterman, Financial Secretary; C. H. Westbrook, Treasurer.

     The Catholic Mutual Protective Society was organized in June, 1886, with thirteen members. Jacob Klesbies is President’ Frank Hagan, Secretary and Treasurer.