Crawfordsville - Its History and Write up of Its Business Houses
Last updated 23 Feb 2018
This article was published in the Washington Gazette, December 18, 1891 and transcribed by Joanne Breen. The names of some of the people cited in this article were abbreviated
and have been spelled out in this transcription.
A Town of Historic Interest which has Recently Renewed Its Youth.
It is over 50 years since the town of Crawfordsville sprang into being, the date on which it was laid out being July 4, 1839. The town was laid out by Walker, Joseph and Robert Neal and
named in honor of Dr. Isaac Crawford, who was the first resident physician.
Crawfordsville was settled largely by Abolitionists and was a prominent station on the underground railway which ran from Salem, in Henry County through Crawfordsville to Columbus City.
Major Rankin was station agent and many a darky was assisted over this line to Canada and freedom.
It was eminently proper that a town with such a record should be the birthplace of the Republican party in Iowa. In the old hotel, which still stands, the committee met which completed the
organization of the great party and in Crawfordsville its first state convention was held. We have not been able to find anyone who could give us a history of that convention; but the fact
remains, and is glory enough, that the Republican party of Iowa came into being in the town of Crawfordsville.
War Record. It was nothing more than natural that a town which was such a hot bed of Abolitionists in ante-bellum days should furnish its full quota of men to put down the Rebellion. Crawfordsville has a
splendid war record and sent as many men to the front in proportion to population, as any section of Iowa. Many of these distinguished themselves in the service and received merited promotions.
We are not able to give a complete list of the brave men who enlisted from the village and vicinity; but a few of those best known are mentioned below: Major Rankin, Capt. S. A. Russell, Capt. Harper,
Capt. T. H. Maxwell, Irvin Dungan, now a congressman from Ohio, Capt. Lemon, Samuel Gordon, John Cochran, George Riley, Chris Harper, Thomas Craig, Andrew Ferguson, Joseph Huston,
Marion Beauchamp, Andrew Jackson, Henry Russell, since commander of the G. A. R. in Nebraska, William Johnston, Henry Yeager, W. T. Neal, David Twinam, James Harper, S. W. Neal,
James Strain, Dr. Miles, A. H. Mintier, John Ballou, Andrew Johnston, John Goble, A. J. McCutcheon, Capt. William H. Maxwell, E. W. Allen, Samuel Lee, Austin Cherryholmes, John Thompson,
Samuel Thompson, D. H. Hainer, B. F. Brown, John McKee, W. N. Manners, A. J. Mitchell, John Holmes, Marsh Haines, Nathan M. Ireland, H. Manners, James Hope, John Cherryholmes, Austin Crawford,
Rufus Bennett, John Gormley, Samuel Hawthorne, Perry Neal, Warren Neal, Thompson Crawford, James Crawford, L. Cavitt, Thomas Ferguson, Dwight Lowrie, Louis McKinney, Patrick McKinney,
Capt. Milton Davidson, Smith Davidson, Alvin Davidson, Frank Johnston, George Johnston, William Goble, Charley Lease, William Smiley, David Knowles, George Gates, Edward McMillian.
Many of those mentioned have since been honored by prominent positions in civil life in this other states.
Since the war life has flowed on quietly and uneventfully in Crawfordsville. Business was brisk for a time, one firm doing, in a single year, during those palmy days, a business that footed up $35,000. But
railways had left Crawfordsville in the lurch and after a time business began to languish a little. Then the B. & N. W. were built; but it failed to revive trade, for stations were put in on each side which took
a part of the business. The Iowa Central and the B. & W. were built, a few years later on the south side of the creek and cut off more territory.
One year ago a visitor would have pronounced Crawfordsville a dead town. Sidewalks, which had always been scarce, had fallen into decay; houses and store rooms looked dilapidated and the town had
a listless and careless air that gave no promise for the future.
Last spring, however, a change came over it; a vote was taken, the village was incorporated and an era of prosperity began. Henderson Manners was chosen mayor; H. L. Haines, D. C. Campbell,
J. W. Harper and Chris Harper councilmen; G. W. Haines, clerk; Archie Hout, marshal and Harvey Harper, street commissioner. Since that date improvements have been the order of the day; about two miles
of new sidewalk have been laid and new buildings have gone up with rapidity that was startling. Hotel Haines was built and furnished at a cost of about $2,500; J. S. Vernon erected a $1,000 residence and meat
market; Joseph Lease, James McElroy, John Cochran, Jesse Haines and James Kelsey followed with new residences or built additions and remodeled old ones; the U. P. parsonage built at a cost of nearly $1,500
is about completed, and is now occupied by the pastor Rev. H. B. Turner, and D. H. Fox, the gentlemanly agent of the B. & N. W., has in the foundation of a new residence that will be completed in the spring.
Other Changes of minor importance have been made and old citizens declare that more improvements have been made in 1891 than during the entire period from 1876 to 1890 inclusive.
But Crawfordsville energy will not rest and new enterprises are being considered. Joseph Hagie, who recently moved into town from the German settlement, has the lumber ordered for a new meat market
which he expects to open in the spring. He is an experienced butcher and will no doubt make a success of the enterprise; but that which most interests citizens of Crawfordsville is the Co-Operative Creamery,
the foundation for which is already in. It will be 50x33 feet with an ell 34x13 feet and will be fitted up with the latest and best machinery, including a centrifugal separator, and will have a capacity of from 20,000 to 24,000 lbs.
of cream per day. The capital stock of the company is limited to $8,000, $5,400 of which is already taken, and the enterprise promises increased prosperity to the town. Crawfordsville has enterprising business men and for
the past year trade has been growing steadily.
W. H. Riley, Postmaster, has looked after Uncle Sam’s business for about 24 years and is an efficient officer. During the past year the postal business has increased steadily, the receipts from postal orders alone
footing up over $7,000, an Increase of nearly $1,500 over the record of the previous year. Mr. Riley, in addition to his duties as postmaster, is a justice of the peace and notary public.
One of the improvements of which citizens have reason to be proud is Hotel Haines, completed and thrown open to the public Aug 1st. It is a neat and commodious hostelry and under the supervision of mine host,
H. I. Haines, is very satisfactory to the traveling public. The rooms are well finished, handsomely carpeted and tastefully furnished and the table all that could be desired. Everything is neat and the hotel is quite popular
with traveling men who, in the desert of poor cooking, poor rooms and beds and poor accommodations generally are glad to find such an oasis as Hotel Haines proves to be. Mr. Haines’ enterprise is meeting with the
success it merits and the hotel pays well financially.
There is a good hardware store in Crawfordsville owned by Seward L. Anderson, a Washington county boy, born in Washington township, but for some years before going into business a farmer in Crawford township.
In April last he bought the hardware, stoves, tin ware and some farm implements. Like most Washington county boys he has the push that makes a man successful and is the kind of a business man who is a credit to
any town.
N. Lease is one of the oldest business men in Crawfordsville and has been into almost every enterprise that promised to benefit the town. He embarked in the general merchandise business there in 1865 and though
engaged in other work at times has always retained his interest in this. He ran a lumber yard for a number of years and also established the first creamery in Washington county. This was run for about a dozen years:
but was discontinued several years ago. Mr. Lease has been a successful business man and his stock of dry good, groceries, boots and shoes, clothing, etc. is as complete as is usually carried in towns of this size.
C. Harper is a veteran of the civil war and soon after his return from the army began working at the harness making trade. For the last 18 years he has run a shop in Crawfordsville and turned out honest work for the
farmers of the vicinity. He carries a nice stock of harness, almost entirely of his own manufacture, and has the reputation of being a steady and reliable business man.
Manners & Maxwell is the title of one of the most reliable firms in town, the successors to Manners Bros. in the general merchandise business. For twelve years J. J. and Henderson Manners ran the business in partnership,
but about a year ago Henderson Manners sold his interest to T. E. Maxwell. This firm carries the largest stock in town and enjoys and extensive trade. Both members of the firm are wide awake, judicious business men and
their goods are choice and fresh.
N. L. Long, dealer in dry goods and groceries became a resident of Crawfordsville in 1876. He has been engaged in various occupations, having been in the lumber and grain business for a time and later the proprietor of
the livery barn, but for some time past be has devoted his time almost exclusively to this store, which is well stocked with goods. Like most of the business men in Crawfordsville he has been prospered in his undertakings
and has little reason to complain of Dame Fortune.
The livery and feed stable of Sewell & Cochran is one of the most prosperous businesses in town. They keep four teams which are out on the road most of the time and of course they are coining money. A good many
traveling men drive from Crawfordsville to the towns along the I. C. and B. & W., and thus make the livery business a lively one.
One of the most complete stores in Crawfordsville is the drug store of Dr. Lindsay, until a few weeks ago owned by D. C. Campbell. Seven years ago, Mr. Campbell bought this store of J. H. Steward and his management
of it has been entirely satisfactory to the public. He is an expert druggist and a fine business man and will remain with Dr. Lindsay until March 1. Dr. Lindsay the new proprietor is a native of the Emerald Isle, a graduate
of Queen’s University, Ireland and a very scholarly man. He is an aggressive young man and will no doubt prove as successful as Mr. Campbell has been. He does not intend to abandon his practice as has been rumored.
J. S. Vernon, proprietor of the Crawfordsville meat market is one of its most wide-awake business men and his new shop and residence was the first new building in town for a number of years. He has been a citizen of the
town for ten years; a liveryman for a part of the time, but for the past two years has followed his present occupation. He has a neat shop and is doing a good business.
A furniture store is a new institution in Crawfordsville and was opened last spring by Henderson Manners and William Logan. Recently Mr. Logan sold his interest in the business and the store is now owned by
Manners & Sons, and while their stock is not a large one it is all new and well selected and they have built up an excellent trade. Henderson Manners, the senior member of the firm, was a partner in Manners Bros’
store for a dozen years and is one of the best business men in the town.
No sketch of the business firms would be complete with mention of L. L. Vernon, the village blacksmith, a skilled mechanic, who is kept busy most of the time.
The professional men in the town in addition to Dr. Lindsay, mention of whom has already been made, are Drs. Hull and Mendenhall, both of whom enjoy a large practice, and Capt. S. A. Russell who is the only lawyer
in town and is a man of marked ability. He represented the county of Des Moines for two terms and was at one time a prominent candidate for the congressional nomination in the district.
Others who should be mentioned in speaking of business interests of Crawfordsville are Joseph Lease, proprietor of the restaurant, Miss Sarah Crawford, who has the only millinery store in town, and J. B. Crooks, grain
dealer and stock buyer who has amassed a comfortable fortune in this business.
Socially and morally Crawfordsville ranks very high and no town in the state has a more intelligent or thrifty people.
Churches are well represented. Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, United Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist, being the denominations now occupying the field.
A Congregational church held its ground for many years, but was disbanded a few years ago, most of the members going into other organizations.
The oldest church organization is the United Presbyterian which was organized in 1838 with 25 members, its first pastor being Rev. William Smith. Since that date Revs J. D. McNay, N. McDowell, William M. Richey,
Thomas Brown and J. H. Elliott have successively ministered to this flock. The present pastor is Rev. H. B. Turner, who has a warm place in the hearts of his people and is well liked by everyone. The membership is
180 and the congregation is thoroughly organized for aggressive movements in all departments of church work.
In the year 1850 the Presbyterian church of Crawfordsville was organized with 12 members its first pastor being Rev. Robert Dinsmore. Others who have successively occupied the pulpit being: Revs. Braddock Dinsmore
Wortman, A. W. Haines, Dr. T. A. Shearer, A. W. Haines for a second pastorate, E. C. Haskell, G. W. Hayes, Dr. Yanest, A. W. Haines for a third time, C. F. Bowers, C.T. McCampbell, and Dr. T. A. Shearer for a second
pastorate, since which time the church has had supplies. The original church building was erected in 1854 and the present comfortable structure in 1880.
In 1885 the Methodist Episcopal church was organized and a neat church building erected. It has been very prosperous and at present numbers 120 members. It is well organized and under the efficient pastorate of
Rev. T. F. Barker, is making its influence for good felt in the community. Mr. Barker has been in the ministry only a short time, but he is a man of ability and has been very successful in his work thus far.
The youngest church organization is the Wesleyan Methodist, which was organized in 1890. It has not many members, but services are conducted regularly by Rev. Platt of Wayne, in the old Congregational church, which
was purchased by the Wesleyans.
The educational interests of Crawfordsville are safe in the hands of Prof. Alexander Miller, who has been principal of the public school for two years. The building is new and commodious and the rooms well supplied with
apparatus, an organ having been put in by the efforts of the pupils. The course of study takes up many high school branches and is as complete as time will permit. Three students will complete the course this year and there
are 6 in next year’s class, the total enrollment in both rooms is nearly 80. Miss Viola Donahay is the assistant and is a very efficient primary teacher. That the Crawfordsville schools are doing good work is shown by the fact
that many of its pupils continue their studies in Washington Academy, or in educational institutions elsewhere.
The outlook for Crawfordsville at the present time is a very bright one and while it is not probable that it will grow very much, the era of improvement which has now set in is rapidly transforming into one of the best
country towns in Iowa.
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