West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
WEST LIBERTY
And
Its Progress for the LAST TEN YEARS

We now propose to speak of our town and its growth and improvements during the last ten years, and in a cursory manner mention some of the most conspicuous permanent improvements that have been made, stating, as nearly as can be, the aggregate cost of the business houses and private residences within the period above mentioned. It will not be expected, of course, that we will enter into detail and particularize every improvement, as our space would not allow anything of that kind; and, we must therefore, depend more upon figures that must show whether we are advancing or not; and, although we may mention individuals in connection with certain improvements, it will be more for the purpose of designating the particular improvement than to bring the individual conspicuously before the public.

From 1866 to 1869 there was but very little done by the town. Travel was then confined to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and the old freight house on Calhoun street was then the passenger depot, as well as for freight; and our boundaries only extended West to where Elm Street now is. But in anticipation of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Rail Road, to the stock of which our citizens subscribed $ 60,000, building had commenced. Elisha Schooley had built a brick on the corner of Calhoun and Third Street; R. G. Lewis, Z. N. King, Chesebro & Romaine and Dr. Holmes each put up substantial and commodious business houses on Third Street. Jesse Bowersock and D. F. Smith soon followed with their building on the north side of the same street, and yet the demand for good business houses was not satisfied. The People's Bank, N. Gaskill, Manfull & Nichols, Hormel & Luse soon followed, each with a good building. While these improvements were being made on Third Street, great changes were taking place in the West, or new part of town. Until now this had been a part of Wm. A. Clark's farm, and had very recently been laid out into lots, and in a very short time there appeared a pleasant street, lined with good substantial dwellings.

While we are well aware, that towns are not always fairly judged by the increase in population alone, we think that within the time we speak of, indeed we are very sure, we will not suffer by comparison with any previous time in our history.

But, in order to show that we have other and more convincing evidence of substantial prosperity, we append the following statement in regard to the value of improvement made within the time above mentioned:

A careful estimate of the value, or rather the cost of improvement and erection of business houses and dwellings made by the writer, aided by others, shows that within the last seven years, is not less than $ 236,300---add to that sum their actual value over and above cost, including the rise of real estate, which we are very sure is not less than 5 per cent, on the cost, we have as an increase of wealth arising from this source, alone, the sum of $248,110.

And we come to reflect that we are in the center of a portion of our noble State, that is unsurpassed for fertility of soil, and that there is not a square rod of earth within a circuit of seven miles that is not admirably adapted for the plow, the sythe, or pasturage, we will cease to be amazed at the above results.

And the above God-given advantages, our people know well how to turn to good account and make the most of, as will be fully shown when we say that we have now and have had in our township some of the best horses in the State, both as roadsters and for the turf.

Again we notice that our breeders of Berkshire and Poland China hogs are doing a thriving business, and are almost daily shipping their stock to other places for the purpose of improving the stock in these parts.

We now come to speak of the great absorbing interest in husbandry. The big bonanza of Iowa---that portion of agriculture, that, while it is a beneficience to that branch of industry, yields unprecedented profits to the operator. We allude to the Short-Horn breeding. Only about seven years have elapsed since the first thorough-bred was brought to this vicinity, and since that time there has been sales at public auction of not less than $200,000 worth of that kind of stock, besides one car load for the Pacific slope at $5,000; and there is at this time two hundred thousand dollars' worth within the sound of the church bell at West Liberty. While this demonstrates the excellent quality of our soil, and the superior nutriousness of our blue-grass pasturage, it indicates to the intelligent, energetic farmer, unerringly the way to a competency if not to wealth, and our farmers are wisely improving their herds from the best of the Short-Horn herds.

---