THIS TAX RECEIPT OF 1891 is sure to stir more than a pang of nostalgia for the "good old days" in these times of spiraling taxes. This amount, $13.36, represented the second installment of taxes. It was on a quarter section of land described as the NW 1/4 of Sec. 31 T 85 R22. A receipt for the same quarter section of land, dated 1905, showed taxes due of $30.36 for the first installment. Included in this amount was a road tax of $8,17. Still another tax receipt showed taxes due of $24.95. No road tax was included in this amount. Taxes on this land which is located down in the extreme southwest corner of Warren Township would be at least 75 times that amount now depending on the improvements.
man who put $100.00 into the construction of the road was to receive a bond for it.
From this period on "progress" was the word. In 1882, the town was incorporated as Latrobe and it was at this time a Mr. J. W. Smith, of Ames, built the first hotel in which was located the first postoffice. However, human nature, then, as now, caused differences of opinion and so it was there were those who felt the town should be named in honor of one who had done much to get it started, namely T.C. McCall. Failing to come to any agreement by 1883, we find in order to visit the town by rail one purchased a ticket to McCallsburg. If one wanted to write a letter it was addressed to Latrobe.
No doubt many meetings and heated discussions were held before some one suggested the various names should be placed in a hat and chances were drawn as to who should name it. As of February 23, 1883, the name was officially set as McCallsburg, and one source of information says "It ought to be permanent any how, for it is its seventh name." The only other name I have been able to find is Sinclair. To my knowledge the other four are, and perhaps ever will be, a deep, hidden, mystery.
It was also during this time (1881) J.W. Smith built the first store in McCallsburg. This was on the south side of main street and housed the first postoffice. The main part of the building was McCallsburg's first