1838-1938
| West Liberty History 1838-1938 | |
Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
ITEMS TAKEN FROM LOCAL NEWSPAPERS Advertisements taken from the first West Liberty Enterprise, issued April 4, 1868
Two shops furnish understandings for the inhabitants. Stratton and Regnier, west of post office keep foot-toggery until you can't rest.
Polders and Keith, at the sign of the big boot on Third street, build boots and shoes to order and sell without orders, stack already built.
Blacksmithing---At the west end of Third street, Hormel and Bro., hammer iron for the benefit of the public and a pecuniary consideration.
Next door West of Wright Bros. grocery store, V. Morris is stoving around in a store and tinware establishment.
Protect your lives, protect your property. Copper Scroll Lightning Rods. ---Sedgewick and StaplesJan.29, 1880. Now is the time to join the elocution classes. Ladies' classes meet at 3 and 7 p.m. Gentlemen's class at 8 p.m. and children's class at 4 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. All these classes meet in the room over Wyant's grocery store.
March 4, 1880. Come and take supper at the hall next Wednesday evening. Tables will be spread in the armory, and the hall will be open for promenading.
Ladies' Aid Society Festival. This society proposes giving a supper next Wednesday evening to raise funds for a walk to the cemetery. The cornet band and orchestra will furnish music for the occasion.
March 11, 1880. The gross receipts from the Ladies' Aid Society Festival held, totaled $126.55.
April 1881. The council ordered the fire chief to fix up the west town pump (location on southwest corner of Third and Calhoun streets) and put down a good platform with a railing around it.
Sept. 1881. W. W. McClun attended the funeral of President Garfield at Cleveland.
October 1881. One hundred eighty immigrants changed cars here going north. Governor Kirkwood spoke in Liberty Hall.
October 1883. T. C. Manfull has purchased the brick for his new block at Third and Spencer streets ( which Dr. Albert Ady is now remodeling for new offices ) ( J. L. Peters tells that he dug the clay from which these bricks were moulded and burned by Isaac C. Nichols, owner of the brick and tile yard, loaded, hauled and unloaded same, thus handling them three times.)
April 11, 1884. We fear that Larry Swem, by the faithful discharge of his duties at the telephone office, is going to compromise his intelligence and weaken his claim to the title of boss law giver of this "deestrict" for although Larry is now admitted to the bar he still is trouble shooter for the telephone office.
April 18, 1884. West Liberty grocery firm is soon to put in use a delivery wagon. This is the first thing of its kind ever known here, but we do boast of a switch engine, round house and street lamp.
April 25, 1884. Hon. Pliny Nichols is receiving, as he richly deserves, much commendation and hearty congratulations on the success his semi-annual tax bill. The bill has now become a law and will be of great relief to the tax payers, shifting part of the load from spring to fall when money is more plentiful.
April 25, 1884. West Liberty had a visitor Wednesday in the person of William McMahon. He is probably the oldest citizen in Muscatine county as he will in a few days celebrate his 102nd birthday. His eyesight is very good and he has never worn glasses. He walked to town Wednesday from the home of his son, John, a distance of 4 miles.
May 1884. I. C. Nichols made a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, last week and purchased one of the finest brick making machines in the United States. It is capable of putting out 35,000 bricks per day without crowding.
June 1884. A. A. Ball has been reprimanded by the West Liberty marshal for fast driving.
September 1884. Some of the first money winners in the livestock department of the 22nd fair in 1884 : C. S. Barclay, Gad James, John Evans, Smith & Judd, W. B. Gregg, E. E. Harrison, G. W. Baldwin, Ira Nichols, Edd Webb, George McFadden, S. G. Hogue, S. R. Propst, Fred Evans, Phineas Nichols, John L. Wilson, P. N. Gibson, C. P. Gibson, C. L. Luse, S. A. Barnes, W. F. See, L. O. Mosher, Pliny Nichols, Mercer Hall, B. L. Wood, Samuel Kimberly.
June 1886. A new orchestra has been organized, composed of Grant Nichols, violin; J. H. Rogers, cornet; Ben Gatton, trombone; Tom Rhodes, piano; and John Rolfs, piccolo.
May 1887. C. D. Gibson is erecting a store building on the upper end of Calhoun street. N. W. Ball is to put in a stock of groceries.
June 1887. Eli Elliott and Harold Childs left for Baltimore, going from there to Scotland after a cargo of Shetland ponies.
Feb. 1887. A. E. Kimberly returned from Kentucky with " Bezant," and promised to revolutionize the horse business in this region. In 1892 M. O'Reilly of Iowa City offered Mr. Kimberly $42,000 for Bezant, but failed to secure the horse, Mr. Kimberly's price being $65,000. Later in the year he sold the horse for $50,000.
April 1891. Council granted petition of Columbus street residents to lay sidewalk on west side of street.
April 1892. Potter Sisters embarked in the millinery business, adding this line to their dressmaking establishment.
April 1892. The Rock Island company announced that the Cottage Hotel would be closed May 1st because of the death of patronage.
Feb. 1896. Burglars looted the McClun Brothers store and got $300 worth of goods.
August 1897. The union depot burned Sunday night. An overturned lantern in the baggage room ignited some oil and the entire room was soon a mass of flames. Many books and records were consumed as well as some express matter. The Hise House was saved with difficulty. Work soon began on a new $6,000 depot.
Feb. 1901. Carrie Nation spoke to a crowd at the depot as she stopped on her way to Muscatine.
May 2nd,1907. F. Marion Gray of Gower township was instantly killed at 11 a.m. Friday by train No. 46, southbound on the Rock Island. Mr. Gray was driving to West Liberty in a closed top buggy, coming in on Elm street over the west Springdale road. At the Snake Hollow school house on the county line his vehicle was struck by the train and completely demolished.
April 1892. Jack Evans mysteriously disappeared from home. No cause for leaving was known. He was 14 years old.
March 20, 1893. Dr. Albert Ady died of heart trouble, at the old Dan Smeltzer house while attending Mylan Ryhal.
Oct. 18, 1899. Starting to dig artesian well at power house.
Aug. 10, 1900. First annual picnic of the Nichols family at the fairgrounds; attendance 124, eligible 221.
May 1901. Moved Hise House across the tracks; took two weeks to move.
April 18, 1904. Special addition for franchise for Electric road from Davenport to Iowa City; yes 343; no 49. Very large vote polled here.
Aug. 27, 1904. Baldwin's old livery barn burned at 11:15 p.m. Saturday.
July 27, 1915. First brick laid in paving West Liberty, commenced at intersection of Columbus and Third streets; last brick laid on Tuesday Oct. 19th.
Nov. 2, 1915. Celebration of the completion of paving. Day, fair and warm; fed about 8,000 in one hour. (Feed was free.)
"Dutch" Sullivan is one of the oldest race horse drivers in the state of Iowa. Having been born and reared within a half-mile of the race track, he started driving when fifteen years of age and has never missed driving at a fair here since.
