CHAPTER VIII
THE CITY OF NORTHWOOD
PIONEER TOWNS --FIRST SETTLEMENTS--MILLS-- INCORPORATION—-POSTOFFICE—PUBLIC UTILITIES-- HOTELS—LODGES--FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT
In the early settlement of the West every state had its quota of land specul ators, whose principal object seems to have been the laying out of towns, without the slightest regard to the geographical importance of the site or its possible future commercial advantages. The great aim of these speculators was to sell lots to new immigrants. An early Iowa writer (Hawkins Taylor, in the Annals of Iowa) says: "Everybody we met had a town plat, and every man that had a town had a map of the county marked to suit his town as the county seat." Many of these towns were advertised throughout the East in a manner that did not reflect much credit upon the veracity of the advertisers. The proprietors of some of the towns along the Des Moines River sent out circulars showing a picture of the town, with a row of three or four-story buildings along the river front, large side-wheel steamers lying at the landing, etc., when the truth of the matter was that only occasionally a steamer of very light draft Was able to navigate the Des Moines, and the town consisted, perhaps, of half a dozen small cabins. A few of these towns, by some fortunate circumstance, such as the location of the county seat, the development of a water power or the building of a railroad, have grown into considerable commercial centers. Others have continued to exist, but have never grown beyond the importance of a neighborhood trading point, a small railroad station, or a post office for a moderate sized district. And some have disappeared from the map altogether.
Fortunately for Worth County, the mania for founding towns had about spent its force before the first settlements were made within its borders. The pioneers who settled and organized the county were more interested in the development of the natural resources than they were in speculation. A few towns were laid out for purely speculative purposes—such as Glenmary—but those of the present day, with few exceptions, are laid out upon railroad lines and have at least some excuse for existing. Many of them were founded after the railroads were built.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS The first settlement within the limits of the City of Northwood was made in the spring of 1853 by Gulbrand O. Mellem. Mr. Mellem located his claim on the southeast quarter of section 32 and there built a log cabin. He entered this land, also the southeast quarter of section 29 on May 12, 1857. About this time he sold to Charles Wardall all of this land lying northeast of the Shell Rock River. The latter paid cash in part and gave a mortgage for the remainder. Perceiving that the site possessed strong features which go to make up the ideal townsite, he determined to survey and plat the same, but was deterred by the purchase money which he owed to Mellem. Without a clear title he could not legally file a plat for record.
About this time Lemuel Dwelle, in company with Joel Dayton, arrived in the county. He purchased a portion of Wardall's land and thus allowed the latter gentleman to pay his debt in full. Then Wardall, Dwelle and Dayton proceeded to survey the original townsite of Northwood, laying it off in blocks and lots during the month of July, 1857. This plat was filed for record September 21, 1858.
The houses in Northwood at the time of the platting were few and small. William Anderson owned a small "pole shanty"; S. D. Green had a small frame structure; and Wardall possessed a log cabin. Dr. D. D. Franklin bought the northwest quarter of section 33 the same summer and constructed a log cabin, and Samuel Egbert, who had entered the southwest quarter of section 28, resided there. In July S. H. Franklin built a frame store building, which was immediately rented to B. H. Beckett. The latter opened the first general store in Northwood in this building on September 9, 1857. His stock of goods was hauled here from McGregor, a distance of 130 miles. Beckett's store became the most important place in the new town. Here transpired whatever events of interest occurred. It was for many years the only store, and here was held the first election on the organization of the county.B. H. Beckett came to Worth County in 1857. He was a native of Warren County, Indiana, and was the son of William F. and Experience (Call) Beckett, natives of Ohio. As the pioneer merchant of Northwood, B. H. Beckett underwent the experiences which fell to the lot of the early settler. His first stock of goods he hauled alone from McGregor, many times forced to carry it by hand across sloughs and impassable stretches of land. There were no bridges or highways at that time. The financial panic of 1857 caused a total loss of all the small funds which he had brought to the county, caused shrinkage in value of his stock, but by persistence and indefatigable effort he maintained his business until 1865, when he sold out. In 1869 he opened the first abstract office in the county, later combining a banking business with the real estate. Mr. Beckett died April 27, 1899.
The firm of Pike & Wattson purchased the Beckett store in 1865. In the meantime, in 1864, the firm of Nelson, Peterson & Klove had opened the second general store in the village, but in the same year Nelson died and the firm name was changed to Peterson & Klove. After eight months Klove sold out his interest to R. C. Pike, and a new firm organized under the title of Pike, Peterson & Company. This lasted but a short time, when Peterson sold out, and then Pike & Hunter existed until 1871, then was abandoned. In the meantime Klove had returned to Northwood and entered the firm was dissolved and a new one formed under the name of Peterson, Gullickson & Sime. This was known as one of the most successful of the early business houses in Northwood and an immense trade for the time was carried on. Upon the dissolution of the old firm, Mr. Klove bought out the Gullickson & Sime interests and the firm became Peterson & Klove. In 1877 E. L. Johnson purchased the Peterson interests and the firm became Johnson & Klove, later E. L. Johnson & Company.
In the spring of 1878 the firm of Thompson & Lund started in the business of selling dry goods, groceries, etc. After a year Lund retired and L. T. Sime was admitted. J. B. Thompson and T. L. Ringham were later owners, under the firm name of J. B. Thompson & Company. Other firms in the early days were Beers & Murdock and O. T. Edwards. E. W. Babcock & Company opened a general merchandise store on June 11, 1878, and in 1880 sold out to E. T. True.
The first drug store was started by George F. Wattson in 1867, who shortly after was joined by his brother, C. C. Wattson. The store was operated under the title of Wattson Brothers Drug Store. Subsequent firms which owned this store were those of Wattson & Bentley, Wattson & Tofte, Spalding & Tofte, Spalding & Hundeby, Hundeby & Wolfsberg and Hundeby & Wilson. The second drug store in Northwood was started by E. W. Sprague in 1871. After several years this store came into the possession of a Mr. Shore, who shipped the stock to Fergus Falls, Minn. In March, 1879, just after the store was closed, McCargar & Bender opened up a new stock there for sale. J. F. Emery was the next proprietor. The firm of Gordon & Hanson, druggists, began business in December, 1881.
The first hardware dealer in Northwood was D. De Wolf, who opened a store in 1868. He remained but a short time, then sold out to C. A. Knapp. Mr. Knapp continued until 1876, when the owner took in Frank C. Hall as partner. Hall later ran the business along after Knapp had retired. John M. Henderson established a hardware business in the spring of 1874.
The agricultural implement business was initiated by T. K. Hundeby. Other early firms in this line were Eckert & Williams, Kenaston & Savre, L. L, Carter.
The grocery trade, as separate from the general store, was started in Novem ber, 1877, by C. F. Littlefield. E. W. Sprague began in the business in 1881. Sprague was previously in the drug business and also agent of the American Express Company, succeeding T. R. W. Fleming in the latter position. Fleming was the first agent for the American Express Company in Northwood.
The first blacksmith was William Hunt. In 1860 he built a shop on Main Street. Enos Smith, W. Goodrich, Alex Meir and A. Gray later did business at the same place. D. S. Lawrence started blacksmithing here in 1874, then Benjamin Fletcher, Charles David, Hans Christian and Hans J. Hanson.
The first harnessmaker was Walter Stott. His first business was conducted at Phelps' Grove, but later moved into the village and worked with Matt Farmer. A. Heimke and J. M. Henderson were other harnessmakers.
The first shoemaker in Northwood was August H. Beeber, who located here in 1860.
The first butcher was Fred Rickard.
The first lumber yard was opened by James Gordon in the fall of 1870. Gordon & Eckert and Eckert & Williams later operated this yard. William Hunter established a lumber yard in 1871 and in 1875 admitted A. D. Robertson as partner.
Madison & Enger came to Northwood in April, 1880, and entered the trade of wagonmaking. The wagon and carriage works of F. Findeisen was established in 1876.
FIRST MILLS AND WAREHOUSES In the year 1857 Charles Wardall constructed a dam and sawmill at North- wood, along the Shell Rock River. He operated this mill until 1860, when Lemuel and A. J. Dwelle bought him out and proceeded to erect a substantial gristmill, a feature strongly needed in this community, as the settlers had been compelled to haul their grain to Osage for grinding. The Dwelle mill had four run of stone and was considered one of the most modern in the state at that time. In 1875 the firm of Nye & Willing purchased the mill from L. and A. J. Dwelle.
In the summer of 1870 several warehouses were erected in Northwood. O. V. Eckert constructed one near the railroad tracks. An elevator was built a short time later by the firm of Eckert & Williams. This elevator was built by the patentee, O. D. Spalding, of Mitchell County, and was of circular type, forty feet in diameter and fifty-five feet in height. In the autumn of 1877 S. S. Cargill built an elevator and W. T. Spencer a warehouse.
INCORPORATION Northwood was incorporated in 1875 and the first officers elected under the incorporation were: O. V. Eckert, mayor; E. W. Smith, recorder; Lemuel Dwelle, J. B. Thompson, E. L. Johnson, C. A. Knapp and H. Peterson, trustees. Following Mr. Eckert in the position of mayor have been the following:
W. S. Thomson, 1876-78; T. R. Crandall, 1878-79; George F. Wattson, 1879- 80; S. O. Peterson, 1880-81; A. C. Walker, 1881-82; W. E. Pickering, 1882-83; A. J. Cole, 1883-84; O. V. Eckert, 1884-85; L. S. Butler, 1885-86; William Hunter, 1886-89; O. V. Eckert, 1889-90; Dow Simmonds, 1890-91; O. V. Eckert, 1891-93; W. H. Barnes, 1893-94; O. V. Eckert, 1894-96; Bert Hamilton, 1896-1900; Frank Forbes, 1900-02; Dow Simmonds, 1902-06; W. A. Willing, 1906-08; H. C. Finch, 1908-14; George E. Whitcomb, 1914-.
POSTOFFICE The first settlers in Northwood were obliged to go to Osage for their mail. An application was sent to Washington, asking for the establishment of a post-office at Phelps' Grove, the same to be called Northwood. When the papers arrived from the national capital the citizens appropriated the name of Northwood for the town. This occurred in the autumn of 1857, and Dr. D. D. Franklin was commissioned the first postmaster. Succeeding Doctor Franklin the postmasters of the Northwood office have been: B. H. Beckett, J. U. Perry,
On July 7, 1873, a money order department was established at this office. The first order was issued to P. D. Swick, of Northwood, for the sum of $1.35, in favor of the Wisconsin News Company, of Milwaukee.
PUBLIC UTILITIES In 1898 George W. Owens and L. F. Madson established an electric light plant under the firm name of Owens & Madson. On July 1, 1901, Mr. Owens retired from the management, leaving Mr. Madson the sole owner of the plant. He continued to operate the plant successfully until August 1, 1906. At this juncture the plant was taken over by a stock company which had been formed and organized, but Madson was retained as manager. The company was then known as the Northwood Electric Light and Power Company and so remained until the early part of the year 1917, when the plant and all equipment was purchased by the Iowa Falls Electric Company, a corporation doing an extensive business throughout northern Iowa.
Sewerage has been a recent acquisition to the public improvements of North- wood. A complete sewerage system was laid in the Northwood streets in 1916 and will undoubtedly be succeeded within reasonable time by street pavements. The sewerage system cost $32,000, only $7,100 of which amount was provided for by the bond issue. Property owners were assessed for the remainder.
The municipally owned water plant was established in the year 1897 and bonds to the amount of $8,000 issued to cover the cost of building. The bonds have just been redeemed in the year 1917. The supply of excellent water for the city is taken from one zoo-foot well and is pumped to an iron tank of 55,000 gallons capacity. A wooden tank was at first used, but in 1915 it was replaced by the present one.
HOTELS Not the least factor in determining the public spirit and character of a city is the hotels. Northwood received its first hotel in 1858, when Simon H. and Asa Franklin erected a frame hotel building. John Becker rented the place and so became the first public landlord of Northwood. He named the hostelry the City Hotel and quickly secured a profitable business, as many homeseekers were visiting Worth County. However, for some reason, Becker shortly sold to Jerome Beals, who, in turn, was followed by J. C. Hitchcock, William Weed, J. C. and John Colony. In December, 1874, the house passed into the hands of Harry Pepper and was then operated under the name of the Pepper House until October 12, 1876. .On this date the building was totally destroyed by fire.
In May, 1875, George Gardner purchased the boarding-house of R. C. Pike, refitted it, and ran it as a hotel under the title of the Gardner House. A year's trial was sufficient to convince Gardner that his hotel could not succeed. Other early hotels were the Northwood House, which was started in October, 1875, and the Union House, once a tannery and then a saloon.
The Dwelle House, now the Park Hotel, was built in the summer of 1877 by L. and A. J. Dwelle and was first known as the American House. C. B. Ingalls first rented the house. The Pioneer spoke of the hotel as follows: "The new house, so long needed in Northwood, is open and in running order. It is large and commodious, the main building being 30 by 60 feet, three stories high, with a dining-room 32 by 22 feet in addition. Southeast of this dining-room is still another department, containing sitting-rooms, two bedrooms, kitchen and laundry. The house contains in all thirty-three sleeping rooms." A reception was held the night of the opening and the citizens requested that it be named the Dwelle House. The lot was a former site of Mr. Dwelle's residence. The hotel is now known as the Park Hotel, and since the time of its inception in 1877 has been the home of many landlords, the success of whom has been of variable degrees.
Northwood now is the home of one of the best and most popular hotels in this portion of Iowa, a modern, up-to-date and comfortable hostelry which has done much to boost the City of Northwood and to advertise the well-known hospitality of the community. The Winifred Hotel was built in 1912-13 and opened to the public on April 7th of the latter year. W. H. Larsen is the builder, owner and landlord of the Winifred Hotel and, with Mrs. Larsen, has given to the traveling public accommodations and fare unsurpassed. The hotel building is of brick, with a basement and three stories, and has twenty guest rooms.
LODGES Northern Light Lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispens ation July 10, 1869, with T. J. Hunt, worshipful master; Thomas Wardall, senior warden; and H. V. Dwelle, junior warden. On the evening of October 2, 1869, the lodge was convened and regularly instituted. The following men were the charter members: M. V. Bentley, H. V. Dwelle, B. H. Beckett, Lemuel Dwelle, Theron Finch, T. J. Hunt, William H. Perkins, William H. Russell, C. C. Wattson, E. C. Finch, B. H. Fletcher, J. W. Ferry and Thomas Wardall.
Heredom Chapter, No. 135, Royal Arch Masons, at Northwood, was chart ered October 12, 1911, and the first officers were: I. H. Darnell, high priest; C. W. Marcy, king; and C. H. Beckett, scribe. The charter members were: W. H. Larsen, G. E. Whitcomb, W. A. Westfall, E. H. Miller, H. A. Cleophas, H. B. Graeser, H. C. Finch, T. O. Lund, L. O. Brown, L. T. Dillon, W. D. Lamb, John Shobert and John L. Miller.
The first lodge building erected by the Masons is that now occupied by the First National Bank, which was constructed in 1883. The present handsome building, costing about $17,000, was begun in the spring of 1917 and at this writing is nearing completion.
Worth Lodge, No. 378, I. O. O. F., was organized under dispensation February 14, 1878. Under this the work was continued until October of that year, when a charter was granted, and a permanent organization effected. The charter members were: W. T. Boughton, A. H. Gibson, Herman Borleske, C. S. Anderson, F. Findeisen, F. E. Kenaston and C. D. Mattock. The first officers were: W. T. Boughton, noble grand; F. E. Kenaston, vice grand; R. C. Pike, secretary ; Fred Findeisen, treasurer.
Miller Lodge, No. 209, A. O. U. W., was instituted at Masonic Hall January 16, 1880, with the following charter members: Dr. N. L. Kean, T. J. Dennison, A. Gray, T. R. W. Fleming, L. T. Sime, Matt Farmer, George Boynton, F. E. Kenaston, Captain Wackman, M. Z. Paul, L. L. Carter, Dar Weed, S. O. Peter-son, John Duncan, W. T. Hartley, W. S. Thomson, A. C. Abbey, S. A. Carter, L. S. Butler, Charles W. Clausen, C. B. Ingalls, G. H. Whitcomb, William H. Perkins, William B. Hildreth and Otto Antilman.
Northwood Lodge, No. 9, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organ ized August 7, 1875, but has now passed out of existence. The temperance work of the Good Templars bore fruitful results.
FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT The present volunteer fire department of Northwood had its beginning in May, 1883, when the town trustees purchased a hook and ladder truck, engine and hose cart, with all the necessary hose and appurtenances thereto, at an expenditure of $1,800. An engine house was built and a bell purchased for the same at an expense of $375. The fire department itself was organized in June, 1883, with the following officers: George F. Wattson, fire marshal; A. W. Gilbert, assistant marshal; John Lukens, hook and ladder marshal; Captain Wackman, hose marshal.
Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. I, 1918 pages 372-378.
Transcription by Gordon Felland, 12/23/2008