Owing to the location of the depot in the extreme part of what is now the Fourth
Ward, South Pella had been built up rapidly and the citizens petitioned the
Pella Council that the South Addition be incorporated in the city proper. This
was submitted to a vote of the people on the 12th day of September, 1870, and
carried. Hence the Famous Fourth Ward came into existence on that date.

The year 1871 was also marked by several serious accidents, two of which had
fatal consequences. On July 21 Willem Van den Oever--father of our townsman,
Henry Van den Oever--was so severely injured in a runaway that he died two days
later.

On the 17th day of September, Hugo Synhorst and his brother Fred were driving a
team that became unmanageable and in the runaway that resulted, the youngest
child of Hugo Synhorst was instantly killed.

In the spring of 1872 the business of Beurkens [sic, Buerkens] & Co. had grown
to such proportions that their wagons were shipped in carload lots to various
parts of the country. The first carload was shipped from Pella to the west on
the 24th day of February. In the week following two carloads were shipped north
and one south. At the same time Snow & Huber placed orders for the entire output
over and above the demand of the outside market.

Not only did Beurkens & Co. do a large business at that time, but by the year
1872 Henry Van Maren was doing an extensive business in farm implements and
other machinery.

One of the leading mercantile firms of Pella in the seventies was that of
Kruidenier Bros. For a number of years they were located on the north side,
immediately west of the Pella National Bank. Here they carried on a very
successful business until 1881, when they moved into a new building they had
erected on the southwest corner, where the Star garage is now located. In this
location they continued the business until January 23, 1897, when their building
and stock was destroyed by fire.

West Side of Garden Square