HISTORICAL SKETCH
Part V
Towns and Manufacturing Facilities
Considering the fact that all our towns
are less than two years old, we evidently can give but a description of
those resources and conditions which promise future municipal growth and
prosperity. In so doing we follow the order in which improvements
began on the sites of our several towns.
Beloit is situated in the extreme southwest corner of the county, on
a smooth plain which rises gradually from the east bank of the Sioux river.
The town has a charming location on the south, the river bends
abruptly to the east, and the high bluffs on either side loom up in a
thousand weird and
fantastic forms; to the north and west the view takes in beautiful groves
of maple and elm, the wide valley of the Sioux and the rolling prairies of
Dakota.
In natural resources, advantages of location, present
improvements and future prospects, Beloit surpasses any town in the
extensive and fertile valley of the Sioux. It is the commercial and
manufacturing center of a large and productive region, and now does a
flourishing business.
The town is connected by daily and tri-weekly mail and
stage lines with Doon, Sheldon, Lemars, and Sioux City, Iowa, and Yankton,
Vermillion, Canton and Sioux Falls, Dakota. The Sioux City and
Pembina and Iowa and Dakota railroads are both expected to strike Beloit.
The former is now under construction and the company has secured grounds
near the town plat for a depot. There are also excellent water
privileges near by which are beginning to be improved.
Beloit
now contains one flouring mill, a fine structure, 34x44,
four stories high, with a grinding capacity of forty bushels per hour.
It has also a grain elevator, saw mills, several real estate offices,
stores, shops, an hotel, public hall, fine school building and some twenty
residences.
The following are the leading business firms:
J.A. Carpenter & Sons, proprietors of the Beloit saw and
flouring mills, and dealers in lands and town property.
Goetz & Thorson, real estate and tax paying agents and
examiners of titles.
Keep & Carpenter, dealers in general merchandise.
H.T. Helgerson, dealer in agricultural implements, lands
and town property, and proprietor of the Lyon county nursery.
M. Nelson, dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware.
K. Gesley, saddlery and harness making.
The Lyon county nurseries contain 20,000 apple trees hardy
varieties selected especially for this climate; 5,000 evergreen and
ornamental trees, over 200,000 silver maple, larch and other
varieties, adapted to forest culture; also a full stock of small fruits.
The farm of J.A. Carpenter & Sons, near town, is worthy of
mention as showing how farming may be carried on in the west. It
contains over 5,000 acres, 1,600 of which are now under cultivation, and
2,000 acres more will be put under the plow the coming season.
Over 40,000 acres of farming lands surrounding Beloit are
for sale to settlers upon easy terms. Town property is held at
merely nominal prices, and every inducement is offered by one of the most
promising towns in the Northwest.
Information concerning Beloit and surrounding country will be cheerfully
given by addressing any of its business firms.
Doon
Doon is situated upon a smooth plateau
on the east bank of the Rock, at the confluence of the
West Branch, Rock and Little Rock rivers. It commands a view of the
valleys of these streams, whose sweeping bends, shady groves, and
sparkling waters, present a beautiful landscape as far as the eye can
reach. Here fancy would again restore to us some eastern village,
surrounded by orchards, meadows and farms, were it not for that enterprise
so characteristic of rising towns in the West.
Its geographical situation is very nearly at the middle of
the county east and west, and one mile and a half from its southern
boundary. It is located on the line of the Rock Valley Railway, and
will also be the crossing of the Iowa and Dakota Railroad.
Doon has been amply provided by nature with the foundation
for a substantial and flourishing town.
The country drained by the several streams that unite at
this place is tributary to Doon. Two of the finest water powers on
Rock River are conveniently located. The water has cut out an almost
perfect mill race, the banks of the stream are solid, and the power can be
utilized at little expense. Timber and stone are also plenty and
convenient.
With the improvement of these advantages for
manufacture, the development of the surrounding
country, and completion of railroads, Doon will rank as one our finest
western towns. For the purpose of encouraging these objects some of
our leading business men have organized "The Lyon County Town Lot and Real
Estate Company." The objects of this Company are to deal in real
estate, and in particular to invite immigration, encourage manufacturers,
and promote the growth of Doon.
The town has already made rapid progress. Tri-weekly mail stages
connect it with Sheldon and Sibley, on the St. Paul railroad, and with Rock
Rapids, Beloit and Lemars. A lively newspaper, Republican in
politics, is also published at Doon. The first paper ever printed in
Lyon county was issued from this office, Sept. 20th, 1872. It also
contains a good hotel, several real estate offices and stores, a public
hall and an elegant school building. Other buildings are going up
and steps are being taken to erect a church. The Rock river is being
spanned near town with an iron bridge. At present a flouring mill is
urgently needed; other manufactures must follow. More than 50,000
acres of our best farming lands are held for sale at Doon. The
home-seeker and the capitalist are urged to investigate the inducements
which are here offered, either by visit or correspondence with any of the
following firms:
The Lyon County Town Lot and Real Estate Company, A.J. Warren,
President; H.D. Rice, Vice President; James H. Wagner, Treasurer;
Charles E. Goetz, Secretary.
M.W. Jeffries, dealer in general merchandise and agricultural implements.
The Lyon County Press, L.B. Raymond & Co., editors and proprietors.
James H. Wagner, real estate, tax paying and collection Agent.
G.R. Badgerow, real estate and tax paying agent.
Geo. W. McQueen, dealer in real estate.
S.C. Hyde, real estate agent and surveyor.
Rock Rapids
Among the many Northwestern towns that have sprung into existence within
the last two years, none have shown more life and vigor than Rock Rapids,
and none now offer superior inducements to capitalists or immigrants.
Located upon a beautiful table land at the junction of the
Rock and Kanaranzi rivers, abounding in foliage from stately trees to tiny
flowers, and within the sound of water falls it is, indeed a lovely town.
Geographically it is situated very near the middle of the
county east and west, and five miles from its northern boundary. It
is also located on the line of the Rock Valley Railway, and will be the
crossing of the Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls Division of the McGregor and
Missouri River Railroad. Tri-weekly mail and stage lines also
connect the town with Sibley, on the St. Paul Railway, with Doon, LeMars
and Larchwood, Iowa, Luvern, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, Dakota.
An extensive region of country, embracing the northern part
of Lyon County and a large district in Minnesota, is its natural
tributary. But a surer foundation for the future greatness and
permanence of Rock Rapids, stronger than all local advantages, are its
exhaustless manufacturing facilities. Three first-class water powers
are situated within one mile of the town. Their power is ample for
milling and manufacturing purposes. The banks of the stream and
building sites are safe and substantial. An abundance of rock for
the construction of dams lies loose in the bed of the stream where it is
needed for use.
Rock Rapids contains a good hotel, several real estate offices, stores,
shops, a newspaper, public hall and a fine school building. A church
has been organized, and steps are being taken to erect a house of worship.
Other buildings are also under construction, and an iron bridge is
now being stretched across the Rock River opposite the town.
Many of the buildings are fine structures. The
residence of C.H. Moon, the finest in the country, does credit to so young
a town. A visit to the garden of J.S. Smith, filled with plants,
flowers and shrubbery of all kinds, would show what may be accomplished in
horticulture on our western soil. The grounds surrounding the
residence of J.S. Howell, near town, would do credit to one of our eastern
cities. They are regularly and tastefully laid out, with walks,
drives, orchards and groves, the latter containing over 20,000 trees of
many rare varieties.
A large nursery is being planted near town, which will be able to supply
the whole valley with all kinds of fruit and forest trees.
The different real estate firms of Rock Rapids are agent
for the sale of more than 50,000 acres of adjoining farming lands, for all
of which settlers are earnestly desired. A flouring mill is also
urgently demanded and would richly repay the investment. With the
development of the surrounding country other manufactures must spring up
and Rock Rapids take an importance far beyond what is most hopeful
citizens ever anticipated.
We invite an examination of the town and surrounding country or
correspondence with any of the following named parties:
The Rock Rapids Water Power Improvement, Milling and Manufacturing
Company; J.S. Howell, president; C.H. Moon, vice-president; O.A. Cheney,
secretary; D.C. Whitehead, superintendent; T.K. Bradley, treasurer; J.F.
Eccleston, attorney.
Van Sickle Brothers, dealers in general merchandise and agricultural
implements.
T.K. Bradley, dealer in general merchandise.
D.C. Whitehead, attorney at law and real estate agent.
J.S. Howell, real estate broker and notary public.
Mount Brothers, real estate, title and insurance agents.
Smith & Monlux, dealers in agricultural implements.
The Rock Rapids Review, O.A. Cheney, editor and proprietor.
J.F. Eccleston, attorney at law.
Ethan Allen, real estate agent and surveyor.
Rock Rapids Hotel, T.E. Convers, proprietor.
Rock River Nurseries, D.E. Sweet, proprietor.
Larchwood
Larchwood is situated in the northwestern part of the county, surrounded
by some of our best farming lands. The place has a handsome location,
on the Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls stage line, and expects to receive the
McGregor railroad. It is now the central point for a colony
from Illinois, which is changing this portion of the county from a wilderness
to a fine farming district. One of the principal advantages offered
at Larchwood is improved farms with artificial timber for settlers.
The surrounding vacant lands are owned by J.W. Fell,
of Bloomington, Ill., who is taking
every pains to prepare them for settlement. Ten acres are broken on
each quarter section and planted to timber-principally European larch.
The new comer may thus find lands ready for cultivation the first year and
a grove of timber growing. These lands are among the best in the
county and the colony is prosperous. For further information address
J.W. Fell, Bloomington, Ill., or J.F. Geiser, real estate agent,
Larchwood, Lyon county, Iowa. The county seat of Lyon has not yet
been established, but the legal steps are now being taken for its
location.
Prices of Land
There is room enough in Lyon county for
1,500 families with 160 acres of land each, which may be bought for $5.00
per acre. The best lands in the county are offered at $5.00 much at
$4.00, and we know of none for which more than $6.00 per acre is asked.
Thousands in Northwestern Iowa are paying for these lands from the
proceeds of the soil alone. The new-comer arrives in the spring,
which is the best time puts up a temporary cabin and breaks up forty or
fifty acres the first season, there being none of that laborious process
of removing trees, stumps and stones. A part of this land may be
planted to "sod corn" the first year, yielding a good crop. He then
finds time to cut hay and prepare for winter. The next season this
land is ready for wheat, and from this time on he finds no difficulty in
making his annual payments from the proceeds of this crop alone. A
large share of our vacant lands are held by railroad companies, which
offer it upon long time and easy terms. Look at the payments upon
the usual plan:
| 160 acres, at $5 per acre, cost |
|
$800 |
| Paid at time of purchase |
|
80 |
| One year's interest on balance |
$50.40 |
|
| End of first year |
44.80 |
80 |
| End of second year |
39.20 |
80 |
| End of third year |
33.60 |
80 |
| End of fourth year |
28.00 |
80 |
| End of fifth year |
22.40 |
80 |
| End of sixth year |
17.80 |
80 |
| End of seventh year |
11.20 |
80 |
| End of eighth year |
5.60 |
80 |
| End of ninth year |
|
80 |
| |
$252.00 |
$800 |
Conclusion
"Westward the star of empire takes its
way." Five years ago the land we occupy was a howling wilderness.
Vast herds of buffalo roamed over our prairies, or came thundering down
our green slopes, where the husbandman's flocks now graze in quiet.
The huts of savages marked the sites of our flourishing villages.
The aged man of New England can recollect when central New York
constituted the west. Following down the aisles of time he will
recall the period when the few enterprising men who decided to emigrate to
the "far west," collected their household goods hitched their ox teams to
their wagons, and started on a two months journey to Ohio. Their
friends crowded around them to speak their sad farewells, little expecting
they would ever be able to return. Today, although a thousand miles
further west, we are yet east of the middle of the United States, and
still the course is west. We can take the railroad almost at our
doors, and in three days reach the Atlantic or Pacific coast.
Flourishing communities, cities, territories and powerful states have been
established, among which the noble state of Iowa occupies a proud
position.
Blessed with favorable climate, personal
liberty and energy protected and encouraged by equal laws, great strides
have been made in agriculture, commerce, art, science and learning.
Thousands of poor men from the Old World and the New, have followed this
march of progress up the rugged valley of pioneer life, to fortune and
independence. Hundreds of thousands of young men have here begun
life and grown up with the country, sharing its wealth and prosperity.
And yet there is room for millions more with opportunities equal to those
who have preceded them. In the region which it is hoped this little
pamphlet will describe are hundreds of thousands of acres of rich lands,
as fresh as when first from the hands of nature, whose surface has never
been furrowed by the plow. This must be made to contribute to the
sustenance of man. Our water-powers are to be made useful' our
railroad system is to be developed; our institutions are to be founded and
our history shaped. Who will join us in this noble work and share
the blessings which it will confer?
"I hear the tread of pioneers of nations yet to be--
The first low wash of waves, where soon shall roll a human sea.
The rudiments of empire here are plastic yet, and warm.
The chaos of a mighty world is rounding into form."
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