H. D. Wright, retail. By 1866, the retailers were: Brooks Bros., Carl Eilers, A. Pierce, W. & J. Flemming, A. Patterson and the Strouse Bros.; wholesaler: J. G.    Baker; produce brokers: P. H. Mills & Co., G. W. Emery, A. L. Patterson, Wright & Jack, Wood & Clark; hotel: Jno Wyland; insurance agent: 0. F. Johnson; liquor establishments: A. A. Bollinger, Geo. Ginter, C. Helwrig, Andrew Hanson, Philip Spillman and Jas. Wyland; stallion keeper: C. E. Brooks; distiller: A. F. Gaertner; butchers: Neeling & Jack; and physician: W. J. Conly.

THE MCGREGOR & WESTERN RAILWAY

A photostatic copy of a document written in long hand appeared in the Milwaukee Railroad Magazine under the dateline of May, 1923. It is of interest to the residents of Ossian. It reads as follows:

Pursuant to a notice, a meeting was held at the Brooks Hotel. On motion, Mr. Benjamin E. Bort was chosen chairman and Jas. S. Brooks, secretary. Hon. G. Hammer addressed the meeting. On motion, an invitation was extended through Mr. Hammer to Mr. Green, president of the McGregor Western Railway, to address the people of this place on March 6, 1864, at 1:00 P. M. On motion, a committee on arrangements was appointed whose names are as follow: C. E. Brooks, McKinzie Hall, H.    P. Nicholson, R. N. Sawyer, John DeCow, A. DeCow, J. G. Ricker, E. Pease, Tosten Christianson, Englebert Lee, Wm. E. Wait, John Fisher, P. Rosa, Wm. Cremer, Tosten Johnson, Andrew Meyer, Charley Myers, John Cameron, C. A. Sawyer, A. Bort, and Chas. H. Bullard. On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet at the Brooks Hotel on Saturday, March 6th next, at 1:00 P. M.

Ossian, Feb. 26, 1864    B. E. Bort, Chm.    J. S. Brooks, Sec'y

Pursuant to previous notice an adjourned meeting was held at Ossian as per notice. On motion, John M. Wedgewood was appointed chairman and James S. Brooks secretary. Hon. Mr. Green was introduced to the meeting and addressed the assembly on the subject of the railroad know as the McGregor Northwestern Railway. On motion of C. E. Brooks, Messrs. James S. Brooks, Peter Rosa, McKinzie Hall, and C. E. Brooks were appointed as a committee to take subscriptions to aid in the construction of the McGregor Western Railway to this point. Mr. Hammer made some remarks, and the meeting adjourned.

Ossian, March 6, 1864    John M. Wedgewood, Chm. James Brooks, Sec'y

In June of 1864, the Republic reported the McGregor & Western rail bed was almost completed to Ossian. This rail line, later the C. M. St.’P. & Pacific, gave the community's economy a tremendous boost. Until the opening of a branch line connecting Decorah, Ossian was by far the largest shipper of any town in Northeastern Iowa and Southern Minnesota.

These business houses were reported to be prospering in 1866: C. E. & J. S. Brooks have a fine hardware and farm implement store; J. C. Baker is erecting a 30' X 60' building for dry goods; H. A. Baker & Sons handle general merchandise;

A. Patterson & Bro. are building a two story 20' X 40' dry goods store. In addition, Ossian brags a tinshop, two blacksmiths, a wagon shop and Mr. Stone is establishing a drug store. A fine hotel building is going up and Charley Meyer, of Festina, will set up a harness shop. Quite a number of private residences are being constructed. A Sunday School meets each Sabbath morning with McKinsey Hall as superintendent, and Rev. J. M. Wedgewood (Baptist) and Rev. Young (Methodist) alternate conducting afternoon service. All in All, Ossian is a promising town.