LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Pg 16

INCORPORATED IN 1874

Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, submitted June 10, 2017

       Fredonia was first incorporated in 1874, and later thrown out. On November 30, 1922, Fredonia voted to incorporate again. In the Gazette and article reads: The purpose of incorporation is to enable the community to better regulate the traffic seeders on the cement highway passing through the center of the city, and also to make satisfactory arrangements to have town equipped with electric lights. Incorporation was filed and dated March 24, 1923, by Judge Oscar Hale.

        From the Gazette of February 15,...

Pg 17

...1923, we read of the election held in Fredonia: Our neighboring city of Fredonia, which was recently incorporated, and which is, at this time, experiencing a real business boom, with the operation of a very successful button factory and a number of other new houses, will hold their first city election.

       The election was held Feb 20, 1923, with W. H. Wilson as mayor, Nellie Quinn treasurer, Carrie Curtis, assessor, Lillian Taylor, clerk and council men were; E. S. Curtis, Earl Trimble, S. McDaniel, Jesse George, and Earl Wagner.

       Commissioners appointed to file for incorporation were; Ves McDaniel, Jas. Snyder, E. S. Curtis, Jesse George and Lawrence Crull.

       The barber shop mentioned, was built on the location where the house stands new, occupied by Mr. Elmo Manley. And was operated by Russell Shellabarger first, and later by Mr. J. L. Burham, when it was proven to be a poor business venture, the building was sold to Bill Gage and moved over to Columbus Junction to the property now owned by W. R. Lord, and served as a gasoline service station by Mr. Gage, Mr. Gould and other.

       The butcher shop was built on the south lot, owned at that time, by Mr. Joseph T. Gambell, and operated by Bob Morgan, and J. L. Burham. This building burned down and was never rebuilt. We read clippings from the Columbus Junction Gazette where Nellie Gambell (Meeker) started work in the Fredonia Cooperative store, March 3, 1923.

       Another clipping tells of the death of Bert Mosely, December 18,1922.

       William Knott first built and operated the Kingsberry Inn, 1927, on the home place just east of Fredonia, then in 1934, when that land was incorporated, he moved it to its present location. And is now owned and operated by Neale McKean Drake.

       The land laying between Kingsberry and the edge of town,was once laid out in lots and alleys and a part of the original town of Fredonia, and was later sold at public auction on the street in Columbus Junction in 1904. Jesse Knott bought the acreage for $40.25. After clearing it of brush and trees he sold it to Hank Wilson.