LYON COUNTY GENEALOGY

TIMELINE

The Larchwood, Iowa Community

• 1700 The land around Blood Run Creek was home to members of the Oneota culture.
• 1869 Site of Larchwood and the land adjacent to it was obtained by a grant of the U.S. government to Charles Holder of Bloomington, IL
• 1869 Ed Lewis homesteads southwest of Larchwood
• 1870 A patent was issued on the land obtained by Charles Holder.
• 1870 August Swanson came to Lyon County in 1870 and married the same year.
• 1871 Drought
• 1872 Rev. John Wretlof came to the Swedish settlers along the Sioux River and conducted services in the dugout homes of John Long, Isaak Swanson and Peter Newberg.
• 1873 Charles Holder transferred the bulk of the land grant to Jesse Fell at $1.25 an acre.
• 1873 First school house built. It was a small one-room structure. There were four school houses built in the district, one in Larchwood, one near J.B. Dement's one and a half mile east, one five miles south near the E.W. Lewis farm and one seven miles west on the Sioux River near Nels Peterson's.
• 1874 The first church service in town was held in the school house, just north of the park, conducted by Rev. Palmer, a Congregational minister from Sheldon, IA
• 1874 First town school taught by Phil J. Allbright. He and his bride lived in the school house while awaiting the building of their house (to be the third dwelling in town). There were 6 pupils enrolled.
• 1874 First marriage in Larchwood was the union of William Friscius and Hanna Nelson in July of this year.
• Late 1870's The English brought some of the better racing horses and polo ponies to this area.
• 1881 Mr. Fell disposed of his interest in Lyon County to the Close Brothers of LeMars, IA who in turn sold the tract at an advance of about $1 per acre to Richard Sykes of Manchester, England.
• 1881 May 25, William McKay was given a contract to build 90 houses and 90 stables (both for $500.) in the area.
• 1881 C.B. Martin, Larchwood's first mayor came to town, he was an implement dealer.
• 1881 A windmill is being put up over the town well. Guess it is too hard to pump by hand.
• 1881 Blizzard
• 1883 Survey documented some 276 mounds - both round and in the shapes of various animals at the Blood Run Creek area.
• 1883 Grasshoppers invade the area.
• 1884 First store erected by Rulland and Helgerson to serve the need of the growing number of farmers.
• 1885 18 people met in the schoolhouse and organized a church and favored joining the Congregational denomination.
• 1886 Railroad was built through town by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls, and Northwestern Railway Company.
• 1886 Business district was moved from west and north of the city park to its present location.
• 1887 First Mass offered by Father Phelan of Rock Valley in Phelan's Land and Weighing office with nine families present.
• 1888 Bad Blizzard, Jan 12th.
• 1888 C.T. Swanson and Phil Jacobson built a shanty by the Sioux River costing $12.00 and broke the sod on three quarters of rented land. The land was later offered to C.T. for $7.00 an acre but he didn't buy it.
• 1888 In the fall, Rev. Green, pastor of the Methodist church at Inwood, came to preach in the schoolhouse and organized a Methodist class with 30 members.
• 1889 Larchwood was the top station for immigrant cars, having had 20 cars prior to April 1st with more on the way.
• 1889 The First Congregational Church was built in the north part of town at a cost of $1,500.
• 1891 A two-story, two-room school house was built.
• 1891 April 9, The Larchwood Nursery Co. started work for the season.
• 1891 April 23rd, "J.D. Sheneberger of Rock Rapids was in town Wednesday, purchasing trees for the planting around the Lyon County Courthouse."
• 1891 June 4, 1,200 people paid admittance to the Horse Racing. The celebration also included a baseball game and bicycle races.
• 1893 May 18, "Ed Lewis was in town Tuesday. He has lived here 23 years and says that during that time he has never seen a better crop. It is reported that Banker Shade will build a $5,000 residence this summer. L.E. McGilvera now rides in a brand new Curby Surry, purchased in Milwaukee."
• 1893 June 8, A Fine Field of Fliers, 70 horses were entered at the Larchwood Race Meeting. There were 800 people in attendance the first day and 1,000 the second day.
• 1893 An addition was added to the school house, raising the roof 2 feet and adding a 28 by 28 foot addition. The change made room for two more departments.
• 1893 Notoriety came to the area when illegal prize fighting matches were held 3 miles from Rowena, SD, on the state line. A special train came from Sioux City to bring spectators to the fight. The fight went 81 rounds and was called a draw. The fighters got the gate - 500 people at $3.00 each plus side bets.
• 1893 Dec. 7, "A few would be gentlemen undertook to run the dance to their own satisfaction, but met with disappointment as Marshall Bothwell seemed a little inclined to play "boys in the air" and tossed several out into the street."
• 1897 Telephones made their appearance in Larchwood.
• 1897 Larch Lodge No. 552 organized January 4th.
• 1900 160 acre farm was advertised for sale at $32.00 per acre.
• 1901 St. Mary's Court of Catholic Order of Foresters was organized in St. Mary's Parish on January 29th.
• 1902 The Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern Railway became part of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Line.
• 1903 The B, CR & N became part of the Rock Island Railroad this year.
• 1903 Horseless carriages appeared in the Larchwood area.
• 1904 In the fall, work was started on the organization and building of The German Evangelical Church.
• 1904 The school board made a motion to "purchase a Raw Hyde whip and take it to the Professor with orders to have it applied whenever necessary".
• 1905 Andrew Wood Company of Rockwell City, IA opened a cream buying station.
• 1905 Land advertised at $50.00 to $65.00 per acre.
• 1906 Farmers Savings Bank opened July 10
• 1906 Opening of the Farmer's Mutual Coop Elevator
• 1908 Tornado at the Parkinson Ranch on April 23rd, all farm buildings were totally destroyed and the south side of the house was badly damaged.
• 1909 New City Hall opened January 28. The building cost $8000.00. Seats were $445.00 and a piano cost $125.
• 1909 School board accepted a contract for the erection of a new school, an eight room brick building for $13,265.
• 1909 The First Congregational Church burned to the ground, April 27.
• 1910 The Royal Neighbors of America, Evergreen camp 6358 was chartered on June 14th in Larchwood.
• 1910 E.J. Reigel was the first man from Larchwood to be elected to a county office, being elected County Auditor.
• 1910 Corn yield was approximately 60 bushels per acre and land prices had advanced to $100.00 to $125.00 per acre.
• 1911 School Board passed a resolution that read in part, "...That any teacher attending a dance shall be subject to termination of their contract."
• 1912 A direct current light plant was built
• 1912 In July the Order of the Eastern Star, White Ray Chapter No. 456 was organized.
• 1912 In August the Grand View Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church of Granite, IA was organized in the home of C.T. Swanson under the supervision of Rev. Wretlof.
• 1912 This fall the trustees of the Congregational and Methodist churches met to discuss the Federation of the two churches, the Federated Church of Larchwood continued for 12 years.
• 1914 A social and needlework club formed. The Fortnightly Club No. 1161 was the result of several stages of evolution, many years it was known as the Thimble Club.
• 1915 Basketball was introduced to Larchwood on New Years Day. Larchwood played against Luverne, MN in the then new City Hall.
• 1915 St. Mary's school was built for $24,378.92.
• 1916 Silent movies became part of the local entertainment in a building on the east side of Main Street, south of the present highway.
• 1917 First American troops arrived in France in June, many men from the Larchwood area were engaged in battle during World War I.
• 1918 Armistice was declared on November 11, the people of Larchwood expressed their joy and relief with a huge bonfire, which included burning of the grandstand at the ball park, many out-houses and anything loose that would burn, including an effigy of the Kaiser, hauled to the scene by John Cauley's hearse.
• 1920 Many cases of small pox, including the Prof. Curry family. School was closed for ten days and the building was thoroughly fumigated before school reopened.
• 1920 The Security Savings Bank was chartered on April 22nd, as the Granite Savings Bank.
• 1921 The school board decided to remove the cupola from the school.
• 1922 A "Colored" baseball team by the name of "The Tennessee Rats" met with the Larchwood team at Snyder's Field.
• 1923 In the fall citizen met to discuss creating a Community Church. Articles of agreement were adopted between the Community Church of Larchwood and the Methodist, Congregational and Evangelical churches.
• 1923 American Legion, Flessner Post No. 561 was organized on October 5th. The first meeting was held in the M.W.A. Hall.
• 1923 The American Legion Auxiliary held their first meeting December 1st.
• 1926 Drought
• 1927 The Larchwood Public Library had its origin in the basement of the Savings Bank building.
• 1929 Stock market crash
• 1929 The first truck was purchased for the Larchwood Fire Department. It was a six cylinder Chevrolet.
• 1933 Country school teacher's salaries were $45.00 per month
• 1934 During the fall the bank and building in Granite were moved to Larchwood and the name changed to the Security Savings bank.
• 1936 There was an abundance of snow and constant winds that blocked roads for a major part of the winter.
• 1938 The Farmer's Cooperative formed on July, 8th. William Dubbelde acted as temporary chairman.
• 1938 A group interested in organizing a Lutheran church acquired the use of the German Evangelical church building and started holding services.
• 1941 Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor December 7th. War was declared on December 11th. Again many Larchwood men enlisted and were called to serve their country.
• 1945 War in Europe ended May 8th, V.J. Day came September 2nd.
• 1947 A second truck was purchased by the Larchwood Fire Department.
• 1948 The Women's Catholic Order of Foresters was instituted on August 29th with 26 charter members.
• 1954 Members of the Community Church decided to affiliate with the Congregational denomination under the pastorate of Rev. and Mrs. Gilbert Cook
• 1958 A new constitution was adopted in January establishing a new name for the country church west of town as the Grandview Covenant Church of Larchwood, IA.
• 1959 Larchwood baseball team won the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Championship.
• 1965 St. Mary's parish constructed a new grade school at the site used as a baseball diamond for many years.
• 1965 Optimist Club formed with 60 members. The first president of this service club was Gerrit Scholten.
• 1967 The Congregational Church now is known as the United Church of Christ in their new building along Highway 9.
• 1967 The Larchwood American Legion sponsored ball team became the State Runner-up
• 1969 All railroad service was ended by flooding of the Mud Creek at Lester which washed out great portions of the tracks in May.
• 1969-1970 the Larchwood Optimist Club was honored as the most outstanding club in the state.
• 1970 A new Woman's Club was organized with Mrs. Chas. Hocke Jr. as President.
• 1971 Old Larchwood School demolished.
• 1971 St. Mary's school includes grades one through six with 117 students enrolled.
• 1973 November 17th, four Sioux Falls area teens are murdered in Gitchie Manitou State Park by the three Fryer brothers.
  

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"Larchwood Timeline" contributed by Diane Johnson

Reference materials include:
LARCHWOOD IOWA CENTENNIAL Remember the Past 1872 - 1972 Build for the Future.
BLOOD RUN National Historic Landmark, ©1996
State Historical Society of Iowa.

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