100 Years Old

As we embark upon this great celebration of Lowden we are apt to reminisce a great deal. The history of any town is the history of its people and all of us, rich or poor, good or bad, great or small, have contributed to the development of this community. Lowden is our town; it belongs to all of us, and here everything seems just a little better than any place else. This town is full of priceless treasures, be they mere memories of “the good old days” or the actual relics and souvenirs handed down from generation to generation.

We owe much to the early pioneers and should pay tribute to those who have answered “the last call” for making this community what it is today.

The flow of landseekers into Iowa started in 1834 when the area defined as the Black Hawk Purchase was opened for settlement. How did this territory appear to the first settlers who came to Cedar County in 1835? There were no roads of any kind to guide them to the site of their new home. A pocket compass, the North Star, the wind, or the course of the streams was their only guide. The prairie grasses and prairie flowers had scarcely, if ever, been disturbed by the feet of the invading white men. In those days there were but few railroads in any part of the United States. The immigrants and land owners came by wagon, mostly drawn by oxen, or they came on foot or horseback.

First Settlers Arrive

The first settlers to venture forth to this country, where Indians and wild animals were the only inhabitants, included John Calvin Parr and sons; Wm. Van Horne; and Wm. Parr and sons, who entered the village site in 1839. Among other early settlers coming in 1848 were Elliott Parr; James Henry, father of N. D. Henry, one of Lowden’s earliest postmasters; John Shearer; Wm. Hoskins; Porter McKinstrey; Geo. Rone and others. It is said they came together in a caravan of 13 covered wagons from Ohio. They were a mixture of bloods—Irish, German, etc. A menace presented itself enroute—the Mississippi River. Others in the group were reluctant to cross and later settled in southern Illinois. The more sturdy ones, however, loaded their effects on a ferry that had been built at Clinton and ventured forth into this new land.

After fighting Indians and enduring hardships, they managed to build a few log cabins for protection from the severe winter storms of that era. There was a living to make and cultivation tools were scarce, but through great perseverance and faith, the livelihood of these early pioneers was earned. The late Mrs. Elizabeth Henry, daughter of Elliot Parr, loved to tell of the way they lived and of the Indians with their snooping and massacres and of the fierce activity of the wild animals at that time.

Among the early comers to this vicinity was one David Kidd, who opened a grist mill at Toronto on the Wapsie River. Very soon he was doing a flourishing business. This was the only place where people could get their grain ground unless they wanted to grind it on the ground with boards as many had to do because they had no horses to get to market. Some joined forces and worked together.

There was nothing like law and order to keep things straight. The pioneers knew right from wrong, and they wanted law and order. If a man dared to cross the line to do a mischief, he was hauled up a tree. Among these folk there were bad men as evidenced by the horses that disappeared. One incident that remained in the hearts of the early settlers was the hanging of Gleason and Soper, horse thieves, on a big tree that stood on the Martin Henry place. The event was a terrifying one and a lesson to all inclined to do bad. It had its effect on the big crowd that gathered to “see the fun.” The old elm south of town stood many years as a landmark—a grim reminder of the pioneers’ idea of justice, a symbol of death to all not bent to do good.

A large number of settlements were made from 1852 to 1855. Among them were Mrs. Anna Rice and sons, William Cook, Henry Arlington Sr., and John Worley. John Huff settled in the southern part of Springfield Township in 1839 and moved to the village in 1858. J. S. Burwell settled one half mile north in 1854; Jacob Doty settled immediately south of the townsite; T. R. Johnson, in 1856, one-half mile northwest; Thomas Shearer, east one-half mile.

J. D. Shearer came here in 1850. Mr. Shearer; his brother-in-law, J. S. Burwell; and his father, Thomas Shearer, were at one time the principal land owners near Lowden. Several additions were named after the Shearers and J. D. Shearer donated the ground for the former Methodist Church and parsonage. Mrs. J. D. Shearer was a daughter of James Noe, who in the early days lived on the Robert Schneckloth farm near the stone quarry. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer’s home in Lowden was the corner lot which is now the playground of Trinity Lutheran School.

The Burwell family, the first to locate in this immediate vicinity, owned the land north of the village site, part of which has been added to the town of Lowden. The old Burwell homestead is now owned by the Harry Gehrls family. The site of the Lowden cemetery was also part of the Burwell farm.

The Petersen brothers came here in the early ‘50’s. August and Emil Petersen bought farms in this community, and later after the town was laid out, they went into the general merchandise business. Emil Petersen was the father of the late Mrs. J. H. Andresen of Lowden. Another early settler was Henry Heiner, grandfather of Mrs. Elizabeth Williams of Lowden. He came to this neighborhood in 1856 from Illinois. Mr. Heiner hauled the first load of lumber in 1857 from the Wapsie to this place for Wm. Dugan. At that time there was only one house near, and that was not in the town limits. This lumber went into the first house erected in Lowden, a two-story frame hotel and store room built by Wm. Dugan in the fall of 1857 on the west side of Main Street near the railroad.

The late Philip Schneider was also one of our earliest settlers. Mr. Schneider came to Springfield Township in the winter of 1851, making the trip from Davenport to Cedar County with ox team and sleigh. At that time settlers were very few, log houses were scattered along the timber, and land sold for $1.25 per acre. Among his children are Mrs. Frieda Hamdorf and Mrs. Minnie Koch of Lowden and P. H. Schneider of Massillon.

Joseph Fisher, another early settler, located on a farm southwest of Lowden in 1857. One of his sons, Joseph H. Fisher, was a Civil War veteran. He was the father of Clyde and Clarence Fisher, who live south of here. C. H. Hansen, father of the late Lincoln Hansen and Mrs. George Mueller of Lowden, helped lay the first railroad to Lowden in 1857. When it was completed, he brought his wife here. They built a one-room house, which we are told is still part of the house occupied by the David Conrads.

Lowden Begins

The village of “Louden,” an outgrowth of the Chicago and North Western Railroad, was laid out in October, 1857, by L. M. Nute, surveyor for Horace Williams and Milo Smith, agents for the Iowa Land Company, and was named “Louden” by Thomas Shearer after his old home town—Loudenville, Ohio. Seven acres were donated by James Van Horn and five acres by Mr. Shearer, making a total of 1twelve acres in the original town site, which lies in Springfield Township. The town was in two townships for awhile after the additions were made over the section line into Massillon Township. This necessitated residents living in Massillon Township to go to Massillon to vote. This north section of Lowden was later attached to Springfield Township.

The year of 1857 was one of financial panic, and it took great courage and perseverance to lay the foundation for a town and build a railroad. Very little money was passed in those days. Exchange of work was the custom and purchases or sales a mere question of barter. Horsethieving and printing of counterfeit money in this neighborhood marked that year as a very active one for the vigilantes of Cedar County.

Although the village and railroad station had been named “Louden” the Government had named the new post office “Lowden” from the beginning, and so the original spelling was changed.

The first two business establishments in Lowden were the hotel and store room built by Mr. Dugan and a “tavern” built by Mrs. Frances Page in 1857. Mrs. Page and seven children came here from Ohio. She cooked for the men who laid the first railroad to Lowden. Mr. Dugan opened a grocery store which he enlarged to a general stock and moved to a building which he erected where the Lowden Produce now stands. Previously John B. Huff moved a house into town and built a store room on the lot which is now the Mrs. Fred Hasch property. In the same year Robert Henry entered into partnership with Mr. Huff, and the firm erected a warehouse where the H and L store is now located. Another warehouse was built the same summer by H. F. Clark, where part of Freund’s store is now located. Other warehouses were erected by Mr. Dugan, 1860; Holton and McCabe, 1860; and Samuel Crozier, 1860-61. In 1861 or ’62 Mr. Rorick built an elevator, and afterwards another was built by August Petersen. In 1859 Mr. Dugan built another store where he continued in business until the war (1862) when it was sold to Petersen Bros. Mr. Dugan was killed in the Civil War.

Martin Henry bought the business interest of Mr. Huff. Robert and Martin Henry afterwards sold to N. Whitney, an old resident, who closed the store. In 1859 G. H. Rorick and D. Kimball built a store room where they opened a general stock of goods. Mr. Rorick soon purchased the interest of Mr. Kimball and continued until his death in 1868, after which Richmann and Kahler were proprietors.

C. H. Northrop and Co. established the hardware business in 1862 and continued for many years. Wm. J. Hahn established the drug business in 1862. Among other early business men were George Rosencranz, Stephen Bros., and B. B. Kinney, grain dealers; Samuel Hobaugh, first blacksmith; C. H. Hansen, first wagon maker; and Barney McCabe, first saloon keeper.

Another pioneer figuring greatly in the actual building of Lowden was James Reid, father of A. P. (Pat) Reid—retired barber. He came here in 1858 when there were but two or three buildings. He, an energetic carpenter, went right to work, and for many years was the main carpenter here. He also laid out an addition to the town which is named after him. He died in 1904.

In 1868 Wm. Richmann opened a general store here. In 1885 he went into partnership with D. Baird. He retired in the late ‘90’s. C. H. Muesing came to Lowden in 1876 and worked as a carpenter until 1883 when he went into the furniture and undertaking business.

H. D. Kemmann, founder of H. D. Kemmann and Sons, was another of Lowden’s earliest business men. He came to Lowden from Germany in 1875. He was a blacksmith by trade and after working four months took over his employer’s shop in lieu of eighty dollars, his wages for four months. He continued in this business, branching out as the town progressed. In 1904 he with three of his sons opened a branch in Clarence. Mr. Kemmann and his son Paul operated the business here until his death in 1938. Paul Kemmann, who will be remembered here by his friends for his knowledge of early pioneer history, continued in the business until his death in 1951.

In 1876 the late August Freund, a prominent business man, came to Lowden. After clerking in the Petersen Bros. store here for a number of years he became sole owner in 1894. He continued to enlarge the businesses and was also active in the banking business here. He retired in 1940. He continued to make Lowden his home until his death in 1953. J. H. Andresen actively participated in operations of A. Freund and Co., especially farm equipment sales, from 1893 until his retirement in 1951. Mr. Andresen, 87, is presently among Lowden’s older esteemed residents.

In the course of time several additions were made to the original town; Reid’s addition to the south in 1860; Thomas Shearer, two on the east, one in 1861 and the other in 1866; John Walker, to the east in 1867; J. D. Shearer, north in 1863; A. S. Benson, north in 1869; M. L. Banks, north in 1869; Petersen Bros., north in 1870; and Wm. Hahn, north in 1871. Then for 29 years no additions were needed as the town suffered a standstill as far as building was concerned. Large tracts of land laid for nearly a quarter of a century in commons and were used for pasturing and farming. The town took a new start with a bounce in 1900 when it became necessary to add more land. August Meyer’s first addition to the east was filled in 1901, and in 1902 a large addition was laid out by Chas. Heiner and H. H. Petersen on the east. Other additions since that time include Sophie Deichmann’s, H. H. Rath’s, Henry Twachtmann’s, T. D. Hall’s, and August Meyer’s on the east and C. Hilscher’s, Amelia Anderson’s, W. H. Henry’s and W. J. Richmann’s on the west.

Post Office

In the winter of 1857-58 Mr. Dugan obtained a post office at his store, the mail being carried from the terminus of the railroad by stage. In 1858 Congress passed a bill establishing a daily mail route from Tipton to Lowden. Until this time the pony express, as it was called, was about the only means of transportation, and any means of transportation in those days told of hardship. But the mailman braved the terrific elements. The mail must go through at least once a week. Many a morning the snow and ice were piled high over the fences and in some places had even hidden the houses and the wells.

The post office was discontinued for a few months in 1859, but re-opened with G. H. Rorick as postmaster and D. W. Baird as deputy. In 1861 Mr. Baird became postmaster, which position he filled for many years. He was succeeded by Frank Henry. George Mueller was postmaster next and served for a number of years, when N. D. Henry was elected to the postmastership. Mr. Henry retained the position until 1906 when Chas. Reid took his place. Other postmasters in turn were P. H. Jurgensen, Lambert Meier, A. L. Mensing, E. J. Rutenbeck, and our present postmaster, Herbert Wiebel. The first rural mail carriers noted were John and Wm. Lillis followed by Walter Baade and presently F. H. Strackbein, who has held the position since 1919.

Lowden Incorporates

In 1868 sixty-one residents of Lowden petitioned the county court to appoint commissioners to call an election for the purpose of voting upon the propriety of incorporating Lowden as a town. After consideration a warrant was issued by the Clerk of Court to call an election. The final vote was in favor of incorporation and Lowden was accordingly incorporated May 5, 1869. The first municipal election was held with the following results: Mayor, M. McGarvy; Recorder, J. M. Alexander; Trustees, Wm. Hahn, A. S. Benson, W. P. Hills, J. S. Burwell, and Herman Petersen. J. D. Shearer was the first Justice of the Peace from 1857 to 1865. Ben Kimball was the first city marshal. At the close of the census taken in 1875, there were 439 inhabitants, representing 101 families here.

Early Hotel History

Lowden has its share of hotels in the early days. The first hotel built here burned in 1873. Owners included the builder, Mr. Dugan; Morton Bros; V. A. Bennett; and Wm. Plattner. In 1860 Alex McGregor built a hotel where the John Sander house now stands. John Kelso built one near there in 1865 which burned in 1869. The next hotel was a Railroad Eating House north of the depot built by Frank Risely. In 1874 Raymond and Risely built a large two-story railroad hotel just south of the depot. It was operated as the St. Cloud Hotel by W. H. Bruns (having been moved farther north). In 1891 Miss Maggie Orr became proprietor of the Railroad Eating House and continued in business until 1902 when she sold out to A D. Appleby. It was later sold to John Gibney. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schaeffer bought the hotel from Mr. Gibney and operated it for many years. When the railroad improved to such an extent that trains did not stop for meals here, the old Eating House was torn down. Nellie Johnson managed the hotel north of the depot in early days. The exact dates are not known. The building still stands and is now occupied by the Lowden Produce.

First Creameries

The first creamery built in Lowden is said to have been erected where the Rex Feed Mill now stands. It was operated by George Harden and wife. The second creamery was built northeast of the public elementary school grounds. Surrounding the creamery was pasture land where people kept their family cow for a small rental fee. Ernest Sieling operated the creamery. Ernest Huxoll built the third creamery in this community. This was located at the first crossroads south of Lowden. Later G. F. Reinking erected a creamery on the southeast edge of Lowden which he operated until 1911.

Lowden’s Past Industries

Shoemakers here in the early days included John Stoecker, Louis Stoecker, Wm. Knoop, and Henry Hein. Lowden also had several cigar manufacturers including Albert Henke and Carl Portewig.

A sash and door factory was built here in 1902. It was located across the tracks from Ruprecht Lumber Co. After a short period it was forced to cease operation. Later a feather-cleaning business operated there. This also failed and the building was razed in 1906. An adjoining building left standing was rented for many years by Wm. Glatstein, Muscatine horse buyer. This structure burned in 1929.

Thriving ice businesses were conducted here until the refrigerator age. Ice was supplied from the Joe Pancratz pond in Yankee Run in the early 1900’s. Another enterprise in Lowden was a mink ranch operated by Charles Heiner and daughter in the early 1930’s.

Former dairy businesses were run by Henry Kreinbring, L. D. Rix and Son, Hoffmeier Bros., Herman Wiebel and Sons, Walter Mensing, and Julius Freese. Draymen here included Joe Pancratz and Sons, Geo. Twachtmann, Herman Steinke, and Dick Twachtmann.

Lowden once had a jeweler, goldsmith and engraver named John Hierl. Erich Amstein also operated a watch repair service here. The blacksmith trade here in early days was quite prosperous. Early blacksmiths included Nick Wilself, C. C. Boettger, C. A. Taylor, and H. D. Kemmann.

August Timpe was a photographer here in the late 1800’s. A. D. White preceded him in the same business.

John Horstmann came to Lowden in 1880 and operated a saddlery business for a number of years in a building then south of the present Leroy Hansen home.

Lowden’s Fires

Lowden and vicinity have seen their share of tragedies which included three disastrous fires. In 1869 a disastrous conflagration destroyed nine businesses and dwelling houses, including the block where Freund’s store is now located. A second fire in 1878 destroyed nearly two blocks (nineteen buildings in all) in the business part of town. In 1903 fire struck again, this time destroying five buildings on the southeast corner of Block 3, in the area of the Trio Café.

Several severe tornadoes have happened in this vicinity during the past century; however, each time Lowden has been spared, thus holding true the Indian tradition that Lowden would never be visited by a cyclone. They have swept away areas surrounding the town, but none has ever hit here.

Fire Company

Following the 1878 fire here the need for fire protection was realized, so in 1879 a Fire Company was organized with August Klein, Henry Kemmann, Henry Felter, Henry Reyelts, Peter Rohwedder, Joe Pancratz, Lewis Dyckhoff, D. Bogart, W. C. Northrop, Charles Dreunce, Edgar Johnston, and Irwin Dugan as members. A charter was formed in 1887 with Gustav Baumngart as captain at that time. The group was limited to twelve active and three honorary members.

The present company consists of eighteen members and the fire chief, Leroy Hansen, who has served in that capacity for a number of years. They not only help fight fires in the town but in the rural area as well. During the last half century the Farmers’ Fire Truck Assn. has purchased the needed fire trucks, the present one being bought in 1947. The town maintains the truck and equipment, which is manned by the firemen. This group are to be commended for their efficiency in keeping local fires at a minimum.

Lowden’s Festivals

Celebrations are in order here the year round—Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving. These are traditional with their feasts, Christmas trees and programs, Easter Lilies and choruses. For a number of years Lowden always staged a Fourth of July celebration. The first of these was in 1858 when the railroad had been completed. This big affair included a free dinner served at the railroad wood house. The locomotives at that time burned wood and the railroad had a tread mill here.

One outstanding celebration remains in the memory of older inhabitants. It was the Fourth of July and evening had come with it final number – the fireworks. The spectacle had been set up at the school house where Link Hansen was to have charge of affairs. But something went amiss, and the whole works went off at one time. A big crowd ready for the entertainment scrambled in every direction. The nigger chasers, shooting stars, and spinning wheels flew through the air. Nobody was injured, luckily. It was an anxious night for the parents, but the youngsters had a lot of run. According to Mrs. Ethel Murphy of Clinton, Edna Ferber used the “Fireworks—people chase” incident in her book “So Big.”

In September, 1907, Lowden celebrated in grandest style the 50th anniversary of its founding. The semi-centennial celebration was a great success in spite of a steady rain the first day. Highlight of the entertainment featured a balloon ascension and parachute leap by an experienced aeronaut.

Lowden Grows

By 1905 Lowden had grown to a village of 611 inhabitants. Lowden’s continuance to prosper in the early 1900’s prompted the need for a community newspaper. In 1902 Geo. Mueller and Chas. Seaton founded “The Lowden News, which still today is considered by many as an asset to the town. Present owners and publishers are S. E. Sennett and Dick Sennett. Mrs. Dick Sennett is editor. In 1949 she succeeded Mrs. S.E. Sennett, who had served as editor 24 years. Other editors and publishers were Chas. Reid, Richard Parr, Hubert Hoeltje, A. W. Bushnell, Geo. H. Wasson. Lowden’s first newspaper was called the “Lowden Enterprise,” printed in 1897 by D. D. McGillvray. After several issues it was discontinued. Another paper, “The Lowden Journal,” was published during the 1930’s by Dwain Mueller.

Lowden’s Banks

The present American Trust and Savings Bank was incorporated and opened for business in 1913. The bank, an outgrowth of the original private bankers of Petersen Bros., was continued by August Freund under the name of A. Freund and Co. until the business was transferred to the German Savings Bank. The bank opened in the building just south of the present Freund’s Dep. Store as temporary quarters until the erection of the present building in 1913-14. The original directors were August Freund, Kossuth Pauls, Chas. Reinking, C. E. Kroemer, Louis Hoeltje, Conrad Rowald, and Ernst Schluter. Fred Freese became a director and W. H. Witte, cashier in 1927. In June, 1918, the name was changed to the present title. Mr. C. E. Kroemer is the only living charter board member. Present board members are Henry Freese, Arthur Kroemer, Ezra Kruckenberg, A. L. Mensing, Wilfred Niermeyer, Matthiessen Pauls, and W. H. Witte.

The Lowden Savings Bank was organized and opened in 1900. First directors were H. D. Snoke, H. D. Kemmann, Dr. A. DeFries, H. H. Petersen, Wm. Bierkamp, O. W. Schiele, August Meyer, Wm. Kruckenberg, H. O. Sander, and Chas. Heiner. Business was begun in an old frame building on the lot now occupied by Fox Produce. They later built and occupied the present post office building. It was continuous in operation there until the 1930’s when it went into liquidation.

Doctors Come to Lowden

First records show Dr. Erhart as the first Board of Health physician, receiving the office in 1881. Other early doctors here included Drs. Pine, Boydstown, Esher, Hills, Richter, Steen, McWilliams, Joerger, and DeFries in the 1800’s; and Drs. Runkle, Murray, and Kelling in the early 1900’s. Dr. A. J. Charlton, who with his wife came to Lowden in 1911, bought out Dr. Kelling. Dr. Charlton built a home and office which now is the Lee Milota home. Dr. Rabe came to Lowden in 1918. Their home and office is now the John Petersen home.

Our present doctor, Dr. Fred Montz, has practiced in Lowden since 1922. He has served the community faithfully since his graduation from the University of Iowa and his Internship. His wife, the former Alys Charlotte Mollart, R.N., of Decorah, has been his able assistant through these years. They are the parents of one son, Dr. C. Robert Montz of Bismarck, North Dakota. Dr. Montz has delivered approximately 2,000 babies during his practice here.

Early dentists here were Dr. F. A. Hoyt, Dr. Dannett, Dr. Lewis, and Dr. Brady. Our present dentist, Dr. C. E. Stofflet, came to Lowden in 1921. He married Tillie Miller of Lowden in 1923. They have one daughter. In addition to his duties as dentist he served as secretary of the school board for fifteen years.

First veterinarians here included Drs. Flager, Kelso, Parr, and Todd. Dr. F. E. Rugger established a veterinarian business here in 1923. Dr. Warren Bowstead came to Lowden in 1939 and has continued a successful practice here since. He is a graduate of Iowa State College at Ames. He married Pauline Licht of Lowden in 1940, and they are the parents of four children. He served in the Army during World War II.

Memorial Park

Lowden has not been unscathed by war. Young men from Lowden have fought in all the major wars and even today a number of our fine young men serve in the Armed Forces both at home and overseas. In 1947, following World War II, the Legion Post here conducted a drive for funds to construct a park in memory of all those serving their country. In 1948 Memorial Park became a reality and was opened in 1949. The park is now one of the most popular recreation centers in this section. It features fine lighted baseball and softball diamonds, ice skating pond, and a picnic area with pavilion and playground equipment.

Lowden’s Utilities

Public utilities in Lowden are highly satisfactory. The town is well serviced in electrical power by the Iowa Electric Light and Power Company. In 1954 modern street lights were installed; these are a far cry from the old kerosene street lights of long ago. From 1906 to 1915 a gas plant supplied lights and energy to the town. In 1915 electricity came to Lowden. A municipal water works system was installed in 1915 and in 1933 the present city well, tank, and pump in North Lowden were put into use. A new sewer system and disposal plant were installed and put into operation here in 1956, thus ending the drainage problem which had confronted Lowden residents for some time. The first telephone service was extended here in 1902. Our telephone service now is furnished by the United Telephone Company of Iowa which installed a dial system here in 1954.

Highway 30 had been routed through Lowden for a number of years. The new highway 30 now borders the south city limits. Lowden has two beautiful cemeteries. Van Horne cemetery lies a mile south of Lowden. The Lowden public cemetery lies just north of the city limits and is joined on the west by the large Lutheran cemetery. An old cemetery is located 2 ½ miles south of here near where the first Evangelical Church stood, the latter having the first burial grounds here.

Our Century Closes

Today Lowden has a population exceeding 670 and has grown from its original 12 acres to approximately 240 acres in size. It can boast of more than 60 business firms which serve the town and community. Many of the farms in this vicinity are still held by third and fourth generations of early settlers. We are now witnessing the sunset of the first century of its history and are ready to greet the dawn of a new era. In writing of the past it has been possible to recognize only a few of the many people who have contributed to the progress and welfare of this town.

The many worthy citizens whose names do not appear herein were none the less builders of a great heritage which is ours to share.

It is now 1957 and the sod has been turned many times and new trees have grown to replace those planted by early comers. We express gratitiudefor our many blessings here as written by Olive Ridenour in her poem “Centennial” ~

“My home-town and the quiet country-side close by it,
Here folks live and work who love –
A patch of green sod near their little homes,
A bit of sky to lift their hearts above.”