CORYDON
As
stated before, George Garman bought the first lot, on which
he erected a little store.
This is now used for Peter Sallman’s meat market. Joel Phillips was
the second to build. He
put up the Phillips hotel.
This was torn down in 1885, and its site is occupied
by the stores of Oscar Rogers and Ben. Miles. Next came one
Cade, who kept a grocery and confectionery in a log house on
the north side of the square.
Richardson & Thornberry put up a grocery on the
southwest corners of the square, and operated it four years. Richardson &
Hay had the business the next four years, then Samuel
Markham took it, and he was succeeded by P. M. Phillips, who
moved his stock to Allerton.
John
Atkinson built a dry-goods store on the east side of the
square. Bonaparte
Miller put up a similar store near by, but it was afterward
moved to the southwest corners, and Lloyd Selby became a
partner in the business.
William Drake embarked in the wholesale notion
business on the east side.
James Carter started a dry-goods store on the
southwest corners, where now is Clark & Hamilton’s
grocery. Carter
was in partnership for many years with a man named Sales,
and then they broke up.
Another early well-known character was James Baker,
who came here with a large family, and built a hotel on the
east side of the square, where the American House now
stands. Baker
was a popular man, and his attractive daughters were a
considerable addition to the society of the village. Dr. Purcell’s
drug store was another early business house. It stood where
Zern’s drug store is now.
These
were about all of the early business houses. There were also
among the early arrivals other families, some farmers,
professional men, county officers, etc. At the close of
1853 the population of Corydon was about 100. For the next
fourteen years it grew slowly, and in 1867 it had 300
inhabitants, and was incorporated as a town. The population at
different times since has been: 1870, 618; 1875, 672; 1800, 801; 1885,
820.
John
Hayes, Jr., was the first postmaster of the county seat. His mail did not
usually exceed a handful of letters, and was kept in a box. His successors
have been James Carter, Colwell Russell, Randolph Chenoweth,
William Hartshorn, William Boyle, I. N. Peck, George
Albertson, B. T. Raisor, Al. Smeenk, S. W. Miles, H. H.
Lusher and J. S. Whittaker.
The
jail was built of logs in three tiers, one perpendicular,
then one horizontal and then one perpendicular. It was afterward
sided up and painted.
It has long been considered unsafe, and for three or
four years past the county’s boarders have been kept in the
Lucas County jail at Chariton.
The first school building at Corydon was a frame structure erected not far from 1857, to which an addition was made fifteen years later. It contained four schoolrooms after the addition was made. The building has been remodeled for a dwelling, and stands on the second block south of the square. The present brick building is a very handsome edifice, erected in 1880 at a cost of $13,000. It stands about two blocks west of the square, and contains six rooms, besides office and hallways. It is 60 x 90 on the ground, two stories and basement in height. It is ninety-two feet to the summit of the tower. The course of study is very thorough, and the students are prepared for any college in Iowa.
Six
teachers are employed, besides the principal. The roll for
1885-‘6 includes C. W. Martindale, Principal; George O.
McBroom, Assistant; Maggie Jeffries, Grammar grade; Mrs.
George Hammack, Intermediate grade; Sarah Martin, Second
Primary; Mary Pritchard, First Primary. The enrollment is
about 300. Eight
months school is held in each year. The annual
expenditures for school purposes amount to $4,000. The present
School Board includes W. F. Howell, James Harper, E. A. Ray,
F. M. Everett, Uriah Welch and Alexander Mardis, the last
named being president; C. W. Steele is secretary.
The first sermon preached in Corydon was by Morgan Parr, one of the pioneers in Wayne County, in 1852.
The
Baptist Church, the oldest in Corydon, was
organized in 1854. Among
the first members were
J. W. Lancaster, John Ritchie, John Atkinson and Anna
Miles. Rev.
Mr. Sea was the first Pastor, remaining but a short time. His successors
have been Revs. Andrew Green, J. L. Cole, Martin, Swallow,
Martin, Newell, Archey, Spring and Carpenter. The last named
commenced his labors here in 1885. The church was erected in 1868, at a
cost of nearly $2,000.
The society has now about forty members. The attendance at
Sunday-school is from fifty to sixty. Miss Theodosia
Beal is now superintendent.
This position was for many years held by C. G.
Nelson.
The
Methodist Episcopal Church was
organized as a mission in 1856, and the following year
purchased a church which has been begun by the United
Brethren in 1855. The
pastors have been in succession, Revs. B. F. Williams,
Spooner, T. D. Sweem, Z. R. Piercy, B. Shinn, Jacob Delay,
J. M. Baker, W. F. Hestwood (1867-‘9), E. H. King
(1869-’72), W. F. Bartholomew (1873-‘6), Fred Harris
(1876-‘8), C. C. Mabee (1878-‘9), D. Austin (1879-’81), H.
C. Langley (1881-‘2), J. D. Moore (1882-‘3), W. F.
Bartholomew (1883-‘6).
The house of worship now in use is the handsomest in
Corydon, and the only brick church. It was commenced
in the autumn of 1882, and dedicated in July, 1883. Its cost was
$7,000. The
membership of the society is about 150. J. S. Harlan has
been for eighteen years past the efficient superintendent of
the Sunday-school, which has an attendance of 125.
The
Presbyterian Church was
organized in 1857. In
1860 T. W. Riley purchased an unfinished church from the
Disciples’ society, and presented it to the Presbyterians. Rev. J. P.
Bringle, formerly of Decatur County, served the society from
its organization until 1882, when he resigned. Since then W. P.
Braddock preached in the summer of 1884, and W. M. Devoe in
the summer of 1885. No
services are held at present.
W. P. McClanahan was the last superintendent of the
Sunday-school.
The
United Presbyterian Church was
organized about 1857, and held occasional services in the
old court-house until the following year, when it built a
frame church in the northern part of the village, at the
cost of $2,200. Rev.
Leonard Proudfit ministered to the congregation from 1867 to
1884, since when no services have been held. The society is
now much reduced in numerical strength, and there is little
prospect for better times.
The following are now active: Corydon Lodge, No. 91, A. F. & A. M.; Corydon Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F.; Hawkeye Lodge, No. 81, K. P.; Corydon Lodge, No. 83, G. T.; and Robert Jackson Post, No. 192, G. A. R.
Following are the business firms of 1886:
J.
S. Hardin, general store; L. C. Jordan, dry goods; B. T.
Mills, general store; W. G. Clark, grocery; Clark &
Hamilton, grocery; C. A. Booth, grocery; E. A. Ray,
hardware; S. D. Zerns, drug store; W. S. Sproatt, drug
store; O. K. Rogers, drug store; H. M. Belvel, restaurant;
I. H. Harris, restaurant; J. P. Horton, boots and shoes;
Mrs. E. J. Dickinson, millinery; Mrs. J. W. Frame,
millinery; W. W. Holstein, furniture; J. W. Law, furniture;
Broadbent & Roof, blacksmiths; A. Trinkhaus, blacksmith;
John Ripper, blacksmith; James Ray, wagon shop; John Tommy,
Barber; Peter Sallman, meat market; W. G. Riley, harness; E.
S. Riley, harness; W. P. McClanahan, dentist; J. W.
Whitaker, postmaster; J. M. Bullard, elevator and feed mill;
I. H. Meekings, Meekings Hotel; S. S. & J. E. Wright,
Palace Hotel; Moore & Lazer, livery; Hand &
Richardson, livery; Wayne County Bank; Farmers and
Merchants’ Bank; J. A. White & Co.’s Bank.