Keokuk County Iowa IAGenWeb - Keota Centennial Book

Keota Centennial Book
1873-1973

Keota - "The Gem of the Prairie"

Keota - "Just a Little Friendlier"

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Copyright, 1973 by
Keota, Iowa Centennial Committee

Compiled by
Mrs. Alva Bohrofen

No part of the Keota Centennial Book can be pulished or reproduced without the
permission of the Keota Centennial Committee.

Sutherland Printing Co., Inc.
Montezuma, Iowa 50171

Aerial View of Keota, Iowa - 1973 West to East down Broadway

Aerial View of Keota
Dedication
Centennial Book Committee
Introduction
The Settling of Keokuk County. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .	2
Court Houses of Keokuk Co. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .	2
Pioneer Experiences in Keokuk Co. 1858-1874.. .. . . . .	5
The Pioneer Mutual Insurance Association. . .. . . . . .	13
Incorporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
Keota Centennial Celebration July 4, 1876. . . . .. . . . .	16
First Birth, First Marriage & Origin of Keota. . . . .. . . .	23
Quotes about the "New Town of Keota". . . . . . . . . .	25
Wilson Park - 1876. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .	25
Historical Sketch of Lafayette Township - 1882. . .. . . .	28
Businessmen, Farmers & Professional Men - 1888. . . .	28
Entertainment & Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .	30
Opera House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .	33
Petrified Woman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	33
Hitchracks, Sidewalks & Jails. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	37
General Parrott. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	39
Over The Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	41
Stewart Family. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	41
Leinen's Market. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	41
Richardson Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	43
E. E. Neal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	60
Hulse Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	62
Doctors, Dentists & Veterinarians. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	43
100 Years of Newspaper Service . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	47
Professional Directory 1973. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	222
History of Banking in Keota. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	58
Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	64
Keota GIass Factory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .	73
Mayors of Keota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .	77
Centennial Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	134, 135
Early Places of Business . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .	50, 52, 54, 56
Keota Street Scenes. . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .	79, 81
Singmaster Horse Fame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	83
Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .	103
Buffalo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	172
Lagos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .	84
Keota Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	100
Electric Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .	105
Hotels. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	107
Allender's Steam Swing. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	111
Train Wrecks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	113
Sewage & Disposal Plant. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	115
Telephone Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	117
Waterworks. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .	119
Fire Department. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	122
Storms, Disaster & Crime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	127
Kate Glover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	129
Post Office. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	131
Cemetery. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	136
Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	137
Automobile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .	137, 140
Moving Pictures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	143
Scouting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	143
Agriculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	147
Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .	156
4-H Clubs, Campfire Girls. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .	169
Interurban Railway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	175
Valuable Relic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	175
War History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	176
Bands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .	189
Oil Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	196
1973 Business Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .	222
Talleyrand. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	224
Clear Creek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	220
Scotland Neighborhood. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .	219
Places of Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .	198
Washington County Neighbors. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .	218
Harper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .	229
Biographies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	242

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Chairman, Mrs. Alva Bohrofen
Assistant Chairman, Roger Richardson
Advertising, Lewis J . Powell

References:
History of Keokuk County, 1880
Old files of "The Keota Eagle"
Wilson Memorial Library, Keota, Iowa
Washington County Centennial book of 1936
Atlas of Keokuk County Iowa, 1874, By Harrison and Warner
Iowa Journal of History (Newton Diary)
1873, Secretary Record book of Lafayette School District No.7
Washington Public Library
"The Keota Plaindealer", November 27, 1873, Volume 1, Number 1
Records at Keokuk County Court House

Note: Errors or ommissions, typographical errors, misspellings and all oversights will be rectified
and acknowledgement made in the next Centennial Book to be published in the year 2073. Please
contact committee at that time.

Denny Bohrofen

OUR CENTENNIAL CHAIRMAN

When Denny Bohrofen agreed to accept the job of General Chairman of the Keota Centennial Celebration he unselfishly began a very demanding job which lasted well over a year.

The amount of time and personal money he has contributed cannot be measured, but he has unselfishly contributed much of both. A great deal of the success of the Centennial Celebration is directly attributed to this local farmer who has given so willingly.

The people of the community say....
"Thanks, Denny."

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INTRODUCTION

From the beginning of the planning for the Keota Centennial it was the wish of the Keota Community Club and the Keota Centennial Corporation to include not only the town of Keota but the territory surrounding the town — the territory which is known as the Keota Community School District. This includes the town of Harper which was also founded in 1872, the Clear Creek Community, the Talleyrand Community and several communities in Washington County.

It has been a task to attempt to compile 100 years of progress and growth of the Keota Community.

It has been time consuming and yet rewarding to pore through 100 years of the old files of The Keota Eagle of which the present editor, Roger Richardson, so kindly provided.

A lot of events have happened in Keota's 100 years and we believe that all facts contained in this book are authentic, having happened in the Keota Community.

We wish to thank those who have in any way made this book possible by the interest and generous loan of their historical pictures most of which were taken by Keota's pioneer photographer, E. E. Neal; to those who gave reports on their clubs, lodges and church organizations, etc. and others who assisted in any way in the preparation of this Centennial Book.

We hope you will find the growth of the Keota Community in pictures and quotes in this book interesting and enjoyable.

"With our heritage and our memories we face the future."

CENTENNIAL BOOK COMMITTEE

Mrs. Cleo Bohrofen, Chairman

Roger Richardson, Ass't. Chairman

(Other assistants, Mrs. Lillian Flander, Mrs. Isabelle Flander, Mrs. Margaret Lillig, Mrs. Margie Sellman and Mrs. Tressie Schreckengast.)

VII

I am proud to have been chosen your Centennial General Chairman.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to everyone in the community for the spirit in which they have entered into the planning of our celebration. Everyone in the community has been very co-operative and with the help of our very efficient chairman it is our hope that the Centennial will be a success.

Denny Bohrofen

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