Carroll County IAGenWeb History Journal

      In 1868, a year or two after the railroad came through Carroll County, a depot was built and station fixed at what is now Glidden. It was named in honor of a director of the railroad company. The next building was A. B. Wattles' store, which has since been torn down. Martin L. Peters built a hotel, now vacant. William Stiles, S. H. Glidden, William Harris, W. E. Potter, M. W. Beach and L. G. Bangs also located here in 1868, and of these Mr. Potter is the only resident survivor. Glidden grew slowly for several years. In 1870 the population was 177. During the next decade the number of inhabitants increased to 584. It has since remained about stationary, the State census in 1885 giving it 522 people. During the last five years a better class of buildings have been put up, and the village has a much more substantial appearance. There are now eight brick buildings in the business part of Glidden.

INCORPORATION.

      The village of Glidden received the name of an incorporated town thirteen years ago, the exact date being October 2, 1873. The first officers were: Mayor, J. O. Havens; Recorder, William H. Stilea; Trustees, Sam. Campbell, N. D. Thurman, George Ferguson, D. N. Smith and P. H. Hanking. The officers in 1886 are: Mayor, S. C. Dunkle; Recorder, W. E. Potter; Trustees, Jesse Mavity, W. H. Plainer, I. N. Clink, G. W. McNaught and William Waldron; Marshal, Ed. Barber; Treasurer, L. M. Lyons; Street Commissioner, W. H. Platner; Assessor, M. M. Vonstein.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

      A hand-engine and 800 feet of hose were purchased eight years ago, for protection against fire. The apparatus is in charge of a volunteer company of sixteen members, which meets monthly in a building just south of the bank, bought by the town for the use of the tire department. Sam. Schneppa is foreman.

     The most serious fire in Glidden's history occurred on Christmas day, 1883, when nine buildings were destroyed. The conflagration began in a drug store.

POSTMASTERS.

      The post office of Glidden was established in 1868, with A. B. Wattles as postmaster. He has been succeeded in the office by F. M. Harding, Dan. Browning, L. M. Lyons, W. E. Foster and Thomas Rich.

GLIDDEN BANKS.

      George Stafford started the Glidden Bank in 1877, and in 1882 sold to Lambertson & Gabriel. Lambertson died in January, 1884, and now S. C. Dunkle is President, and H. M. Gabriel, Cashier. L. M. Lyons also conducts a banking business.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

      These firms are doing business in Glidden in December, 1886:

     L. H. Banner, boots and shoes; Browning & Browning, general store; J. C. Cornell, restaurant; Frank Chandler, saloon; Dickey & Coder, general store; Dunkle & Gabriel, bank; Gilbert Eaton, furniture; George Ferguson, hardware; Jacob Ford, blacksmith; W. E. Foster, drugs; Mrs. J. O. Havens, millinery; William Kuebler, restaurant; R. A. Laug, grocery; James Lee, hotel; Linn & Smith, hardware; L. M. Lyons, bank; Ben. Masker, shoe shop; Geo. W. McNaught, grocery; John G. Merrings, general store; A. II. Mertz, meat market; R. P. Myers, harness; Homer Nickels, livery; G. W. Parsons, barber; Potter & Wolcott, agricultural implements; Prill Bros., general store; Henry Pruss, grain and cattle; W. O. Reed, photography; Thomas Rich, postmaster; Schultz & Son, meat market; J. C. Scott & Co., drugs; D. N. Smith, lumber and coal; M. S. Smith, lumber and grain; II. K. Soper, general store; John Vaughn, saloon; John Waldron, watch-maker; W. F. Waldron, blacksmith.

SCHOOL.

     A two-story frame building was erected in 1868, on the highest point in town, for school purposes. It contained two rooms, cost $2,200, and was used until 1879, when the present two-story and basement building was put up, at a cost of $5,000. It has five rooms. Four teachers are employed, M. M. Warner being the principal for the current year. The enrollment is 180; average attendance, 160. The rooms are full, and the annual expenditures for school purposes amount to $2,200. The board of directors comprises W. H. Platner (president), John Harris, G. W. McNaught, J. Mereness, Thomas Ferguson and M. Linn. James Campbell is secretary, and S. C. Dunkle, treasurer.

CHURCHES.

     Presbyterian Church - Services of this denomination were first held in the schoolhouse, in the autumn of 1870, by Rev. W. R. Smith. Among the pastors since his day are Revs. Phillips, Shafer, Sammis, McLowry, Jones and Reed. No services have been held since the spring of 1886. The house of worship was built during Mr. Phillips’ pastorate, in 1877, at an expenditure of $1,700. In 1882 $700 was used in making repairs and additions. The membership is about fifty. William Knox, M. M. Warner, M. W. Beach and J. E. Mereness are elders; Robert McCreath, John Grace, William Prill, H. Gabriel and J. L. Mereness, trustees. J. L. Mereness is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has an average attendance of seventy-five.

     Methodist Episcopal Church. – The first pastor of this society was Rev. Elliott, who first came in 1871. Rev. Vail came in 1873, Rev. C. W. Smith in 1874, Rev. C. W. Poston in 1876, Rev. J W. Echels, in 1878, Rev. W. M. Welch in 1881, Rev. Jean in 1884 and Rev. L. W. Archer in 1885. In 1880, during Rev. Echels’ pastorate a church was built, at a cost of $2,000. The trustees are J. H. Dickey, l. M. Lyons, W. F. Waldron, and G. W. Merritt; Stewards, L. P. Myers, H. D. Dutcher and H. B. Vedder; class leader H. B. Vedder. A. J. heaton is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has seventy-five pupils.

SOCIETIES.

      Haggai Lodge, No. 369, A. F. & A. M., was organized December 22, 1875, und chartered June 6, 1876. It has thirty-three members, and meets on Saturday on or before each full moon. Robert McCreath is Worshipful Master; S. C. Dunkle, Senior Warden; W. E. Foster, Junior Warden; R. A. Lang, Secretary.

     Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R. A. M., was chartered June 3, 1885, and has now forty-seven members. It meets on
Thursday on or before each full moon. D. N. Smith is High Priest; S. W. Briggs, Senior Warden; and W. E. Foster, Secretary.

     Philo Lodge, No. 291, I. O. 0. F., has thirty-five members and meets every Tuesday evening. Officers: F. Rust, Noble Grand; W. D. Valentine, Vice-Grand; J. Mavity, Secretary; W. E. Foster, Treasurer.

     Glidden Lodge, No. 27, K. P., was chartered November 22, 1886, with twenty members. There are now thirty-two members. Meetings are held on Monday evenings. J. 0. Scott is Past Chancellor; George R. Clond, Chancellor Commander; Dr. J. J. Deshler,; Vice-Chancellor; Gilbert Eaton, Prelate; M. M. Warner, Master of Finance; William Sexton, Master of Exchequer; N. C. Browning, Keeper of Records and Seals; R. C. Kyle, Master at Arms; Philip Zimbeck, Inside Guard; Robert Gabriel, Outside Guard; J. C. Scott, Department Deputy Grand Chancellor.

     N. P. Wright Post, No. 291, G. A. R., was organized March 3, 1884, with twenty members. This number has been since increased to thirty-five. J. N. Coulter was commander in 1884 and 1885; George Ferguson in 1886. The officers for 1887 are: J. O. Havens, Commander; J. A. Harris, Senior Vice-Commander; W. F. Waldron, Junior Vice-Commander; Jesse Mavity, Quartermaster; W. D. Sherman, Surgeon; G. Eaton, Chaplain; J. N. Coulter, Officer of the Day; . D. N. Smith, Officer of the Guard. The post meets on Friday evening on or before each full moon.