LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

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        We can be found of the early history of the village of Grandview, in Louisa County states that the town was laid out by Alvin Clark and Robert Childres.

        It was first surveyed, July 3, 1842, by John Gillland, county supervisor. A post office was established on May 2, 1838, with Alvin Clark as the first postmaster. On October 1, 1839, Gabriel Walling took over the office.

        We have no record of how the town received the name of Grandview. It is situated on a bit higher spot on the prairie, often said to be the highest spot in Louisa County. Perhaps the location prompted the name.

        The early settlers were mostly eastern immigrants of German descent who came to the area by waterway travel on the Ohio River to its junction with the Mississippi and thence north landing at the then thriving town of Port Louisa. This town is now completely gone, much of its former location in the Great River.

        A country publication of 1854, Wapello Intellengencer, states that “the village of Grandview was improving finely. Several good buildings were being erected there among which was quite an extensive dwelling of brick built by Dr. J.B. Latta.”…..

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….This building, in fairly good condition, still stands today. It was a well-known history in connection with the early education of the locality and the famous Grandview Academy.

        A further excerpt from the Wapello Intellengencer speaks of a business and building by a Mr. Hutchenson who also accommodated the traveling public at a commodious hotel. It is believed the hotel referred to was a well-known stage stop and the building itself was indeed very commodious for the size of the village for it was a two-story brick about a half-block long with many rooms. It was on Market Street which was once the main street in Grandview. In later years, it was called “The Long Brick” and several families lived in it. It was been torn down for about twenty years.

        By far, the most well-known and famous building was the aforementioned Grandview Academy. It was known by various names: Grandview Seminary of Learning, Grandview Institute, Eastern Iowa Normal School, and Grandview Academy.

        This establishment of learning was brought about by an act of the legislature of Iowa on January 24, 1843, as Grandview Institute. It was the first….

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….Normal school west of the Mississippi River and was attended by students from wide area.

        The first seminary building, The Grandview Institute, was established in 1844 under the direction of Professor Eldridge. In 1856, Professor McClanahn changed the name to Eastern Iowa Normal School and a three-story brick building was built. It was an imposing building for the time and place. The brick came from a local brick kiln and the building was constructed by a German immigrant who had traveled around the world for learning as a Journeyman Mason, a special construction attainment for the time. He was a careful, meticulous workman as many large brick homes still standing for more than a hundred years and still in good condition today will testify. His name was Frances Stocke, a relative of many in the vicinity.

        However, the Grandview Academy Building which should have been preserved for historical value was torn down during World War I, “structurally unsafe,” they said. It was, it is believed, a case of fast-talk and a lack of civic pride as well as the fact that there was a war being fought and peoples’ minds were concerned with problems elsewhere…..

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….The large brick home on Main Street, built by Dr. Latta and still standing, has many rooms that were used by students of the Academy as was another wooden structure known as the Milburn House built nearby in the same block and for the same purpose. The third story of the Academy Building was also so used. There were also girls’ and boys’ dormitories.

        The young teachers-to-be were required to supply their own bedding: straw ticks, sheets, comforters, their towels, etc. Meals cost around $1.75 to $2.00 per week. Light housekeeping rooms were available. Tuition was between $7.00 and $8.00 per term, the term being about ten months in length. $1.00 extra was charged for ancient languages. Other institutions charged an added fee for penmanship, bookkeeping and drawing but the Eastern Iowa Normal School considered these subjects so essential to a practical education that they were included without an extra fee.

        The Normal School was moved to Columbus Junction and the Academy Building was used as an elementary and high school until 1917. Consolidation was being considered and the construction of a….

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….new school building was begun in 1918.

        During the span of Grandview’s history many businesses flourished, served a purpose and were gone with time. Amount some recalled is included a lumberyard owned by John Schaffer and located on the south corner of Jefferson and Monroe Streets. In the block north on the lots between Cemetary Lane and Jefferson Street was a large grist mill built, owned and operated by Frederick Gast and son Herman. This mill was powered by steam boilers whose furnaces were fired with wood cut from surrounding areas. Across from the John Schaffer lumberyard on the same corner of Jefferson and Monroe Streets was an undertaker’s parlor. Later in Grandview’s history, Charles Wagner with his son Paul had the undertaker’s business in his home west of town.

        In 1881, Rush Vibber moved from a farm northeast of Grandview where it is recorded that he opened a general merchandise store on Main Street. Later, he and his son George as partners continued the business. Still later in the late eighteen-nineties, George Vibber and Farrie Gast conducted the business on the northwest corner of Main and Monroe Streets. This place later became a restaurant….

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….Frank Latta operated a store where the present Bonnichesen store is located. Next door south, Peter Muller and D.N. Johnson had a store later purchased by Walter Shellaberger. Peter Muller built the large house on the corner of Columbia and Monroe Streets east of the present Community Church and long known as the Connor house.

        Following Frank Latta, as is recalled, Ed Garrett carried on the business. It was customary to exchange farm products such as butter and eggs for general merchandise. It was a usual sight to see farmers’ wives bringing to market cases of eggs and baskets filled with these products. At the end of a month or a reasonable period of time, people “settled” their accounts with the grocer. This was a time that was looked forward to and remembered by children who in those days had few treats. The grocer closed the deal by giving the “paid-up” customer a large sack of candy.

        On the northeastern corner of Main and Monroe Streets was the Grandview Savings Bank; a neat, and in its time, a very important and busy place established by local stockholders. A. L. Holiday was a long the cashier assisted by Mrs. Holliday. For a time, Carl Stocke was a part-time assistant casher. Gertrude Connor also worked there….

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….Next to the Bank the Sweitzer Brothers had a well-stocked general store. After many years, the business was sold to the Famers Union. Some of the operators of this business were Walker and Lynn, D. C. Nagley, Glick and Glass and Elmer Carter who for many years was assisted by Fannie Kuder. After the Farmers Union Store closed out, Mr. Carter, assisted by Fannie, served the community with a general store where the present grocery is located. Some of the later grocers were Jack Ellingsworth, “Dusty” Rhodes and Glen Beard. The present grocers are Argene and Lois Bonnichsen.

        Beside the post office north in a building that was formerly a millinery show under the direction of Mrs. Clark, Aunt “Toad” Cocklin, B. Graham had for many years the town’s barber show there. Later, Dewey Toland, Dewey Peck and Jonnie Werner had a shop on Monroe Street opposite the present grocery.

        Some of the restaurant owners from time to time in various locations were Mr. and Mrs. Everett Reed, Glen Shellaberger, Luther Williams, Lou Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. John Grady, Lee Syphert and Dan Gast, to name a few. In a building now occupied by the Bonnichsen Store, Vinnie and Harry Martin long had a restaurant enjoyed by many…..

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….Joe Collier had a pool hall in a portion of the building that is now occupied by El Sombrero. Before this, George “Curley” Allen, brother of Mrs. Ella Reed, had a hardware store here.

        Though not “under the spreading chestnut tree” but in a building east of what was then the Grandview Savings Bank was the blacksmith show of Dan and Clarence Bridges equipped with what seemed to be an ever-burning forge of glowing coals always in readiness for service while in the shadowy corners law the tools and metals with which and from which these two smiths forged so many needed items. The bellows from this shop are in a room above the City Hall in Wapello preserved for a future museum.

        One of the first blacksmith shops recalled was owned and operated for many years by “Billy” McGill. This shop was on Washington Street. It was a busy and much needed place where general repair of every kind was done. Harry Walker and Ralph Hardman each had shops of various times. In the same part of town as the McGill ship, there was always for long years of Rowe butcher shop – the last one carried on by “Cap” Rowe.

        In 1896, a railroad was built from Muscatine to Elrick Junction were freight was transferred to….

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….Iowa Central Railroad. It was called the Muscatine North and South. Later, the railroad was extended to Burlington and became known as the Muscatine Burlington and Southern. The railroad was located at the eastern edge of Grandview where both a passenger and freight depot were built. Some of the agents were Swain, Fuestal, Anderson and Frank Lamansky. Mr. Lamansky built the very neat residence on the northwest corner of Jackson and Market Streets. Luther Williams is one remembered who drove the horse-drawn dray wagon which clattered away from the stations after each train had passed through taking freight and express to businesses around town. Some U.S. mail came by train and Moses Guthrie had the contract to get it from train to P.O. Some mail came by rural carrier.

        James Buster built the elevator which became a very useful asset to the farmers. He was also the stock buyer throughout the community. Mr. Buster too built a very large and attractive house, the one just north of the Connor House.

        John Beik and an extensive lumber business with large lumber sheds for storage and a neat office building. His business was one of the first to employ a private secretary, Eva Bretz, who served in the ….

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….office for several years. Later, Marie Hoffmeyer worked in the same position. The lumber business was a thriving industry. Mr. Beik, too, built a large home, the place located on the corner of Jefferson Street and Cemetary Lane.

        East of the railroad track by the Beik Lumber Yard, George Cocklin built the Diamond Feed Mill. This building afterward became the first button factory. This factory was later moved to a location north of the elevator and enlarged. The industry, which employed an average of twenty-five employees, continued in service for some twenty years. It was at the time an important economic industry for a small town, the payroll averaging $1,000.00 per week. Some families operated two or three machines as a backyard industry. Together, these businesses and industries of Grandview furnished considerable employment and supported two hotels.

        In time, the railroad became bankrupt and cars and trucks took over the transportation. Today, the nearby city of Muscatine has the industry. Grandview has become a desirable place for homes and most space has been used for the building of new houses….

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….W. G. Cocklin (Western George) took over the implement business in the first floor of the Lewis Krahl Building, Krahl having operated the business previously. Mr. Cocklin afterward constructed a garage across the street from the Telephone Building on Monroe Street from where he sold Auburn cars bought in Auburn, Indiana, and driven to Iowa. Later, C. V. Cocklin and son Howard sold cars and farm implements. Mr. George Cocklin later converted this building into a roller-skating rink. Dan Gast bought the location and built a restaurant there.

        C.V. Cocklin built a garage of hollow tiles covered with stucco on the northwest corner of Main and Vernon Streets across from the Grandview Consolidated School. The business, for a time, was carried by George Cocklin and his son Levi who sold Reo cars driven from Lansing, Michigan. Later, Charles Nelson and Howard Cocklin bought the business. They were dealers in Ford, Star, Hudson and Essex cars. The Ford cars were shipped by train and then assembled. After Mr. Nelson left the business, Howard conducted it alone but later moved his business to a location on the east side of Highway 61 where he had a lunch counter,….

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….a filling station, and three small motel cabins. For some time, Dan Gast had the lunch counter. Later, Howard enlarged this business in a new location on the west side of Highway 61 at the junction with Highway 92. After this place was well established, Howard sold the former location to Cecil Weile where Cecil operated the filling station and Francis managed a popular and well-known café. Her matchless home-cooked meals were served to customers from far and wide. Mr. Cocklin’s new location became a large and busy truck stop. The motel accommodations were also enlarged. This place Howard owned and operated until the close of World War II when he sold to Wayne Buster and Ray Houseman. Later, Ray sold to Paul Stineman where for years it was appreciated as a “home-owned” and operated business while serving a wide public. Across from this Phillips 66 Station, as it was called, Casper “Cap” Rowe and a café and filling station. New highway surveys and locations completely closed out these stations. The first station on Grandview Corners was a small filling station built and operated by Scott Stephens.

        To get laces in former times would sometimes pose a problem when cars were few and roads were….

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….muddy.

        It took four railroads, a horse and buggy, and three days to get to Yarmouth and back, a distance of about 25 miles. Howard Cocklin sold a moving picture outfit to Joe Scofield in Yarmouth, Iowa. In the deal, Howard was to set up the machine. From the Grandview depot he caught the Muscatine North and South to Wapello. Here he changed to the Rock Island and rode to Mediapolis where he had to stay over night at the hotel. Next morning he caught the C B & Q to Yarmouth. After a day’s work setting up the movie equipment, he stayed over night with Joe Scofield as Yarmouth had no hotel. Next morning for transportation he rented a horse and buggy from Joe who took him to Morning Sun where he caught the M & St L to Elrick Junction. The last change was to the M N & S to get him back to Grandview. Who says that railroads didn’t serve the public?

        The brick business buildings on Main Street were built by Elmer Gochanour. These include the Bank and the adjoining building on the east side of Main Street and the brick buildings on the west side. Some years thereafter, Mr. Gochanour operated a tomato canning factory. The first concrete road in the state of Iowa was laid by Mr. Gochanour….

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…. from the present Highway 92 northwest where it ended in Fredonia. This was done to make travel possible over sandy land in the area. The construction, so well done, can still be seen from Highway 92. The labor for this road was furnished by Ft. Madison prison inmates.

        The Post Office, it seems, has been in the same building in the same location for at least seventy-five years. It served as a post office and drug store. Previously the Post Office had been in the John Robison home. Clay Airhood was postmaster until 1928. He was followed by Ruth Higley Young who, in turn, was followed by Iva Buster. The present postmaster is Paul Stineman.

        The drugs were dispensed by a long-time resident, Dr. D. J. Higley when he was not on call. The Higley family came to this locality in the time of its early history. Dr. Higley, along with another doctor, W. O. McGrew, drove many, many miles in winter storms and muddy spring weather to east pain or sit by the beside of those critically ill. There were no hospitals then. Dr. McGrew’s home, the large white house on south main Street, was especially constructed to accommodate an adjoining office with its independent entrance….

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…. After neither Dr. Higley nor Dr. McGrew any longer practiced medicine in the community, Grandview was for some length of time without a doctor. IN 1924 Dr. O. A. Kabrick, originally from Minnesota, began a medical practice which continued for many years. His faithful, dependent and conscientious services was deeply missed when he returned to Minnesota. Residents now have the medical services of the University, Veterans and Mercy Hospitals in Iowa City, the Burlington Hospital and the Muscatine County Hospital. It would have been a severe hardship without the medical services of Drs. Leslie Weber, Sr., and Jr. of Wapello.

        Adjoining the Post Office Building on its south side was a hotel built by Lewis Krahl from material salvaged from the St. Louisa Fair of 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Krahl long furnished hotel service for the community. The first floor was used for an implement and buggy store. Later, it was converted to an Opera House. Traveling entertainers, as well as local talent, provided entertainment, especially during the long winters. One of the most popular programs was known as the Lecture Series. Through the winter season, such series brought a variety of educational programs with some…

….nationally known speakers for those eager for learning but denied easy travel to larger cities. One very popular talent group was the Zimmerman Quartette: Dallas, Bert, Charley and George.

        Before the new Grandview Consolidated School was completed, this auditorium was used for presenting high school plays, operettas and similar programs. At one time, it served also as a floor for basketball players. It was the most popular place in town when the silent movies were in fashion.

        On the north side of the Post Office in a space now occupied by the present fire station in a large frame building was the other hotel that served Grandview. It was known as the Grandview Hotel and was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. William Dickerson. The Bell Telephone Service was located in this hotel Various members of the Dickerson family operated the switchboard assisted by Hazel Dulgar and Ethel King. In time, the farmers organized an independent telephone company. Ethel Dickerson Gochanour continued as an operator at a switchboard located in a portion of the west end of what is now the Bonnichsen Grocery Store. In time, a new building was constructed across the alley west….

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….where Ethel continued as an operator. At the end of her service in this neat and well-ordered office, Bernice O’Dell served faithfully for many, many years as well as did Ruth Shellaberger and Ina Graham.

        While the high school building was under construction, rooms on the second floor of the Bank Building and another vacant building across the street with very shabby interior the present location of El Sombrero, were used for high school study hall and classes.

        The new consolidated school building, graduating the first class in 1920, was a well-honored place for many outstanding students and graduating classes. Many Grandview graduates have held notable positions throughout the United States.

        After centralization, which included the areas of Letts, Grandview and Fruitland, a new high school building was constructed on Highway 61 between Letts and Grandview. The original consolidated school building in Letts and Grandview were then used as grade schools. However, with an ever-increasing enrollment the junior high school was moved to the new high school building which had been forced to make an enlargement. At that time, an extensive…

City Map Map Partly Taken from Louisa Coounty Atlas Published 1917

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        ….library was added. The class of 1959 was the last to be graduated from the Grandview Consolidated School System.

        At one time, the town supported four churches, the Evangelical, the German Congregational, the Methodist and the Presbyterian. In 1928 the churches, except the Presbyterian which had previously disbanded, were united to form the Grandview Community church, non-denominational. In these churches there were always morning and evening services. The lights of swinging lanterns along the streets as the faithful lighted their way to church intrigued not only because the bobbing lights of the lanterns seemed a mysterious unattached something there in the winter darkness, but also because of the devotion of those on their way to evening service.

        Grandview was seldom missed commemorating the Fourth of July and always with a parade. At one time, the celebrations attained a remarkable variety of entertainment. In the earlier days after the morning parade and the family picnics, in fashion then, or lunches from the commercial stands were over, all activities stopped for an hour or more while everyone, young and old, was expected to listen to the speaker of the day and join in the….

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…. patriotic signing. This brief interlude observed year by year renewed by a reverence and respect in the minds of citizens for their country and the values for which it was established. Seldom, too, in earlier days was there a celebration noted without the popular merry-go-round. This structure was owned and operated by Fred Shew and son Mike. Rush Gast had one of the first of this amusement equipment. Also, in the evenings there were fireworks. In the year 1900 there was a balloon ascension with parachute jump. Overshadowed by the significance of the Academy Building itself, the Academy lawn, now the city park, was the center of all activity at the time. Residents proud of Grandview, joined in their efforts in making the celebration a community activity worthy of note. The tradition still continues and the annual parade is rather widely known.

        Grandview, in a small way, also pioneered in aviation. Orin Sabin and a partner with a World War I model Jenny with 0X5 engine came “barnstorming” from town to town and stopped at his home town Grandview. Fr $5.00 anyone could have a ride to view the town and countryside.

        Dan Gast took flight training at Varney’s Flying…

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….School in Peoria, Ill. This was at the same time that Charles A. Lindberg was flying the mail from St. Louisa to Chicago and landing at Varney’s for refueling and repairs. Later at home, Dan and Bill Smaltz, a local farmer who needed repairs for a threshing machine, started for Peoria for these parts. A forced landing at Bushnell, Ill., delayed the trip and the plane needed repairs. They managed to get someone to take them on to Peoria to a garage friend of Dan’s who transferred them to Varney’s Flying Field. Varney telegraphed St. Louis for the repairs which were flown in that same evening to them by none other than Charles A. Lindberg with the prop and other parts tied to the outside of his mail plane. Dan’s brother Floyd also learned to fly and Howard Cocklin got an aeroplane Mechanics license. Their airport was Johnnie Kemp’s hayfield on the south side of town and Glen Beik’s on the north side. These plans, you may recall were made of very light material and covered with stiffened varnished cloth. A strong wind could easily upset them.

        A country divided against itself cannot stand. So, thought those who answered the call of Abraham Lincoln for service in the Civil War. Many of the young men of this area joined the Union forces, some…

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….not to return. A more or less complete roster of these men is printed and stored in the Shelter House in the Academy Park.

        Other than for the Civil War, many young men of the community gave their time and many their lives in the service of their country in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and Ii and the wars in Korea and Viet Nam. It is to their memory that this brief History of our community which enjoys freedom because of their sacrifice is dedicated.

        This is a brief history of Grandview composed of information supplied by residents of the community to Ruth and Howard Cocklin, who have arranged it in its present form. If those who read it have further interesting facts that could be written into this history, it would be challenging to write a revised edition.

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North on Main Street, Grandview, Iowa

South on Main Street, Grandview, Iowa

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Dr. D.J. Higley Home Built by Dr. J.S. Latta

Grandview Millinery Shop

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Grandview High School 1914 Formerly Grandview Academy – 1856

Formerly Girls Dormatory, Grandview, Iowa

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Grandview Academy, Boy’s dormitory being moved to west of Monroe St.

From sidewalk: Clarence Roushenbeger, Albert Dodder with Cane _?_ , John Robinson, boy on ground Chas. Robinson. In doorway_?_, _?_, Vern McGrew next to screen door. Center Jim Pallet-Mover, Mose Guthrie, Edwin McGrew, ? , Burl Pallet holding lines, 2 boys _? , Rush Gast, Tom Tharp right corner of house, _? .

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Methodist Church, Grandview, Iowa

Evangelical Church and Parsonage, Grandview, Iowa

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Grandview Community Church

Grandview Consolidated School, 1918

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John Beik’s Office, Lumberyard G.V. Button Factory

Privately owned Button Factory of yesterday; operated 4 machines

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Work Force Button Factory 1908

Back row: Billings foreman, John Beik, Wm Beckey, Charles Anthony, Jesse James John Hidlebaugh, _?_ , Harry Buster, Floyd Kind, Jim Cockerill, True Green, Jesse Grady, John Grady, -engineer, Frank Fowler (arms folded) Middle row: _?_ , and girl friend, Silas Guthrie, Royce Dickerson, Phil Buster, Bill Arihood, Chas Stokes, Adam Beckey (holding shell) Front row: _?_ , Curley Sievage, _?_ , George Brown, Bill Thompson, Bert Dulgar, Harry Keever, Harve Rexroth, Harve Campbell.

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Grandview Seranade Band 4th of July Celebration

Back: ? , Bert Zimmerman, Dallas Zimmerman, James Pallet, Ed Hass, Middle: Earl McGrew, Jim Cockerill, True Green, Verne McGrew, ? , Drummer, Front: Charles Schneider, Glen Shellaberger, Ralph Cross Floyd King.

Grand Opening Given by W. G. Cocklin March 10, 1909. Dealer In All Kinds of Farm, Machinery, and Automobiles.

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Back Seat: Fred Guthrie, Claude Hammer, Howard Cocklin, Front Seat: Claude Hammer, Howard Cocklin, Hood: Fred Guthrie.

1926, Dan F. Gast and father Farry with Dan’s first plane, an 0X5 Standard

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M.N. & S Depot Grandview, Iowa.

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Grandview Civil War Soldier’s Reunion (many absent).

Back: Patty Chinowith, Isaih Gipple, Jephiah Kent, Wm, Hoffman, Pete Stineman, Ed Latta, Matthew McGrew. Middle: Elias Michael, T.B. Christy, Front: Joe Fraze, William Robinson, Harve McGill, Reuben Cocklin, John Schafer.

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Homecoming Celebration W.W.I. Grandview, Iowa Aug. 14, 1919

Back: Warren Allen, Herb Alberton, _?_ , Edwin McGrew, Wayne Werner, Reuben McGill, Harve Johnson, Burl Reed, Jonas Westerbeck, Dewey Peck, Robert Satterwaite, Clifford Olin, Jesse Grady, Frank Schafer, David Westerbeck, Fred Guthrie, Dr. O.W. McGrew,. Middle: Lawrence Martin, Glen Buster, Glen Latta, Verne McGrew, Ray Kemp, _?_ , _?_ , Walter Hammer, Lou Weir, George Weir, Harry Stineman. Front: Lonnie Dickerson, Earl Dickerson, Verne McCulley, B.McGill, Harold Krahl, Fred Weir, Charles Nelson, Howard Tisor, H.M. Cocklin absent discharged 1 day later.