ST. CHARLES

From the History & Business Directory

of Madison County, Iowa, J. J. Davies, 1869

  St. Charles is a small village situated on the Winterset and Indianola road, about twelve miles south east of Winterset. It is located on a high prairie, near the timber of Clanton creek. It contains about seventy houses, and about three hundred inhabitants. The town was laid out on 07 Oct 1852 when George Hartman and Jesse C. Young, who at that time owned the land on which the town site is located, platted a town site on 80 acres. For some time, the town had no name and several names were suggested but in the end, St. Charles was selected, taken from the town of the same namesake in Missouri. 

The first house in St. Charles was erected by John Byers in 1853. In a short time after the village was laid out it grew into a flourishing place but, during the war no improvements of importance were made. (For the little village of  St. Charles was largely represented in the war, Capt. J. M. Browne having raised a full company in that village and vicinity.) During the last two years it has taken another start, and it is now growing quite rapidly. The village is surrounded by one of the best farming countries in the world. The soil, stone, timber and water privileges surrounding it will compare favorably with the most favored localities in the state. And, its central location between Winterset and Indianola, in the midst of a well settled farming community, make it a good point for business.

        The village contains at the present time two hotels—one kept by William Barton, and the other by M. E. Clanton; two dry goods firms. 

—Smith & McClure, and Browne & Thompson; three resident physicians—Drs. A. B. Smith, L. J. Forney, and Wm. M. Anderson; and also one grocery story; all of which are doing a good business. It has also one saddle and harness shop, one blacksmith shop, two cabinet shops, one wagon shop and one boot and shoe shop. 

       It has three church buildings and one school-house, which speaks well for the village. The religious denominations are the Methodists, United Presbyterians and Disciples. 

      It has also a large three-story flouring mill, known as the “Madison Mills.” This mill is owned by Messrs. McClure, Ergenbright & Co., and it is doing a very extensive and constantly increasing business.

Transcribed and edited by Kent Transier