Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book
Stories of Early Nichols
INCORPORATION !!
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 120-121The following series of stories were found in the Muscatine Weekly Journal.
They tell of the incorporation of the Town of Nichols3 March 1882. Only a Dutch row, originated from their two boys fighting on the common. Each parent takes up for his own boy and abuses the other one. Bad state of fix. A town of this size without corporation laws and with the elements we have here is a nuisance to raise children in. No one appears to be responsible for the peace of the town.
17 March 1882. Nichols will be a town yet, despite predictions to the contrary.
28 April 1882. Some excitement in this place with regard to incorporating the village. An attempt will be made, but we fear that it will not be a success.
19 January 1883. A petition has been sent to court to incorporate this village.
9 November 1883. We see notices posted for an election to decide whether the city of Nichols will incorporate or not. The fight for and against is exceedingly warm.
7 December 1883. On Saturday the special election was held in Nichols to decide whether the city of Nichols will incorporate or not. The fight for and against is exceedingly warm.
7 December 1883. On Saturday the special election was held in Nichols to decide whether the town would be incorporated or not. There was a tie of 25 for and 25 against. There were some who signed the petition to incorporate who did not vote at all and some who, after signing the petition, voted against incorporation.
1 February 1884. Nichols will try to incorporate at the next term of court.
22 February 1884. The Circuit Court has ordered another election for incorporation, to take place March 15th, and notices are duly posted.
29 February 1884. On the 15th of March there will be an election here to see whether we will incorporate.
21 March 1884. The election for Nichols to incorporate carried. There were 55 votes cast – 37 for and 18 against.
18 April 1884. The town election was held on Saturday and the result was: For Mayor, W. S. Gilbert; Recorder, N. P. White; Trustees, B. Kirchner, J. J. Boston, M. W. Gilbert, W. S. Baker, S. M. Mansfield and G. Olds. They qualified on Monday night and received their certificates of election and cast lots for the length of the term which resulted: B. Kirchner and W. S. Baker one year; S. M. Mansfield and W. N. Gilbert, two years; J. J. Bosten and G. Olds, three years.
25 April 1884. There is war in Israel, or rather Nichols. The town “dads” have passed an ordinance that the saloons shall pay twenty-five dollars license from May 1st until July 4th, and it by no means suits the saloon men. That will make the cost of running $2 for government license and $25 for town license which will make a cost of $25 per month for the privilege of selling beer and wine legally and other intoxicating liquors illegally.
29 August 1884. This is a very quiet town since the incorporation. There are no drunken men wallowing on the sides of the streets, consequently the burdocks have been permitted to grow to full size and I have no doubt but that the ever faithful “Iowa Watchman” will call the street commissioners attention to the fact that they will soon be ripe enough to harvest.
12 March 1886. Our town election was close enough to be exciting. Two good men were in the field. Ninety per cent of the vote was polled. The following ticket was elected: Dr. S. H. Smith, mayor; W. F. Wilson, H. Morris and B. Kirschner, members of the council; N. P. White, recorder and assessor. It was a complete defeat for the saloon element.
A new calaboose is to be built immediately, and this town will be differently managed than heretofore. Of course we will not be a model town for a month or two, but wait and see if we do not improve.
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Page created January 23, 2011 by Lynn McCleary