From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875
GEOGRAPHY
Worth is fifth from the Mississippi River in the northern tier of counties; area, twelve congressional townships, viz; ninety-eight, ninety-nine and one hundred of ranges nineteen, twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two. Its surface is gently undulating in the eastern portion, more rolling further west, and in the southwest somewhat "knobby." Excellent natural drainage is afforded by the Shellrock and its tributaries, and other minor tributaries of the Cedar River, whose general trend is southeast.
GEOLOGY
Rock is exposed only in the beds of Lime Creek and the Shellrock, and in one or two places near the water's edge. West of a line passing through Northwood and Rhodes' Mills it has not been discovered at all. What has been discovered is an impure limestone, belonging to the Hamilton group of the Devonian system. The drift deposit overlying this basis rapidly increases in depth from southeast to northwest, as the country rises from the valley of the Cedar, where the drift is shallow, to the elevated lake plateau of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, where it reaches an unknown depth.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The above described characteristics secure to this county a soil very fertile and durable, equally well adapted to grain and grass. Few counties in the state possess a soil so productive and so well adapted both to grain growing and stock raising. Its future wealth and importance is therefore certain. Beautiful prairie lands can now be had for prices ranging from five to twelve dollars per acre, but in a very few years they will double in value.
Timber is found along the Shellrock, and in groves distributed over the western and northwestern portion of the county. The total area of timber land is variously estimated at from 6,000 to 10,000 acres. Peat abounds in the western portion, but has not been utilized.
Abundant water power is afforded by the Shellrock, which has a rapid current of considerable volume, affording frequent mill sites. Lime Creek also affords some water power, upon which is built a good grist and saw mill.
Stone suitable for building purposes is found in several places. Materials for making brick are abundant. Lumber for building and fencing is now generally imported by rail.
STAPLES
The staple productions of the county are wheat, oats, corn and hay. Wheat is the principal export. The export of beef cattle is increasing in importance, and stock raising is becoming more general as the farmers acquire the means to stock their farms. There were in 1874, 33,157 acres of land in cultivation, which produced 410,487 bushels of wheat, 161,57 of oats, and 122,291 of corn, besides other crops.
DEVELOPMENT
The early development of Worth County was hindered by several circumstances. The lands were mostly bought up by speculators in advance of immigration. Markets were distant and barely accessible. The advantages of railroad communication were at first thrown entirely in favor of adjoining counties. These disadvantages have one by one passed away, and the county is now being settled and improved steadily and rapidly. As shown by the census returns, the number of inhabitants was; in 1860, 756; in 1865, 1,140; in 1870, 2,892; and in the beginning of the present year (1875), 4,908.
RAILROADS
The county has twenty-five miles of railway. The Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway passes eleven miles through the southeast corner. It was completed in 1870. The Central of Iowa was built in 1871 to Northwood, its present terminus. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railway have a track up the Shellrock as far as Plymouth, and propose to push on as rapidly as possible to Minneapolis, via Northwood, making the latter a division station.
UNITED STATES SURVEY, ETC
The survey was made during the Summer of 1853, except in the three western townships. Two of these were surveyed the following year, and the last one--100.22--not until 1856. Some of the lands were in market at Fort Des Moines, and afterwards at Decorah, in 1854-5-6, but found few purchasers. In 1857 the unsold lands of all but the three western townships were offered in market at Osage, and found ready takers in the speculators who were then wild for land anywhere. This sent immigration for a while mostly to the western townships, which were not brought into market until 1858.
ORGANIZATION
Worth was attached successively to Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell and Cerro Gordo Counties, by the Legislature, prior to its organization. By an order dated September 1, 1857, from Arad Hitchcock, County Judge of Mitchell, to which it was then attached, Worth County was divided into two civil townships, Bristol comprising all its territory west of the center of range twenty-one, and Northwood consisting of the remainder. The order designated the house of Johnson & Turnure as the voting place for Bristol, with Frank Wiggins, Joseph I. Loveland and James Keeler as judges of election, and the house of B. H. Bedett as the voting place for Northwood, with Charles Wardall, David H. Phelps and H. Crandall as judges, and directed the election of county and township officers at the ensuing general election, October 13. At this election one hundred and eighty-six votes were polled, one hundred and twelve at Bristol and seventy-four at Northwood. Choice was made of Doctor James Keeler as County Judge; Chauncey S. Lane, Treasurer and Recorder; Benjamin K. Walker, Clerk of District Court; Stanley Wadsworth, School Fund Commissioner; Amos Bently, Prosecuting Attorney; Lorin Turnure, Sheriff; Edward Cole, Surveyor; W. C. Caswell, Coroner. Alonzo Frink and Martin Bently were chosen Justices of the Peace of Bristol, and Charles Wardall and Warren Barbour of Northwood Township. Some informality delayed the organization until a legalizing act was passed by the Legislature the following Winter; it was completed, and the officers entered upon their duties during the first week of May, 1858.
The several townships were organized as follows; Bristol and Northwood in 1857; Hartland, 1859; Fertile and Silver Lake, 1861; Brookfield and Union, 1864; Deer Creek and Danville, 1872; Kensett, 1873.
COUNTY SEAT
Bristol and Northwood were rivals for the county seat from the beginning. The influx of immigration in 1857 gave Bristol the advantage in numbers; but being near the western border, it desired to release a part of Worth on the east to Mitchell, and get a part of Winnebago in return. The Legislature, during the session of 1858, consented to the change of boundary; but, through the influence of a large land proprietor otherwise disposed, the Governor quietly pocketed the bill. Soon after, Judge Murdock, of the tenth district, appointed O. P. Harwood, of Mitchell, Van Patten, of Cerro Gordo, and George Finney, of Winnebago, commissioners, who, on the 7th of May, 1858, located the county seat at Bristol. Northwood several times petitioned to have the question of re- location submitted to a vote, but did not succeed until 1863, when the county seat was removed to Northwood, by a vote of one hundred and fifteen to forty. Thus ended the county seat struggle.
While at Bristol, the offices were kept first in a log hut, and afterwards in the upper room of a small frame building used as a store. At Northwood a small frame building was erected for their accommodation, motives of economy dictating the postponement of the erection of an expensive building until some future time.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
The first settlement in the county was an off-shoot of the Scandinavian colony led into Mitchell County by Rev. C. L. Clausen in the Spring of 1853. About the 18th of June Gulbrand Olsen and three others from this company pushed out as far as the Shellrock. Olsen took up 160 acres, embracing a part of the present site of Northwood and the water power adjoining. His companions located in the vicinity, but soon returned to the principal colony, leaving him and his family without a neighbor nearer than fifteen miles. In the Spring of 1854 he was reinforced by four countrymen, Simon Rustad, Christian Ammandsen, Nelson and Ole Lee, and also by three brothers by the name of Hart, who purchased the timber claim near the state line, afterward known as Phelps' Grove, four miles above Northwood, of one of Gulbrand's first company. They remained only until the following Spring (1855), when they sold to David H. Phelps. He was accompanied by Tilly McWithy, and Hiram Bilton and his two sons, with whom he divided the timber. Nelson died in the Fall of 1854, but his widow remained upon the claim. In the Winter of 1854 William Burgert, a trapper, settled near Phelps Grove. In 1855 the Norwegian settlement was increased by the arrival of M. Paulsen, John S. Mark, Aslak Lee, Elling Ellingsen, Ole and Hans Aslaksen, S. Syversen, Ole Hansen, H. Halvorsen, Abraham Christophersen and G. Jorgensen, and may be said to have passed its pioneer days. It received a considerable accession again in the Spring of 1856. May 19, 1855, Charles Johnson made the first claim in the settlement, afterward known as Bristol, near Rice Lake, fifteen miles west of Northwood, and, during the following Fall, Chauncey Lane, Ben Bloker and John M. Bennett (the latter with family) located at the east end of the lake, where they were joined by Haskell Skinner and his family.
The following Spring they removed about a mile distant to the present site of Bristol. Here, in the Spring of 1856, they were joined by Otis Greeley and two men by the name of Tyler, with their families, and Henry Greeley. In July, Dr. James Keeler came and located, and in September brought his family from Janesville, Iowa, accompanied by Millard and Frink, with their families. J. S. Loveland, Sperrin, Fuller and Isaac Cummings came in August, or thereabouts, and McPherson in October. Two ministers, named Strobridge and Forbes, came about the same time. July 10th, 1856, Samuel Egbert moved in with his family, and took up a claim on what is now a part of Northwood, where he still resides. During the same season there settled in the vicinity of Northwood and Phelps' Grove, J. W. Thompson, John Bickell, W. H. Pritchard, Thomas Lowthin, N. W. Emory, William Senior, Frank Coop, Jerry Epworth, John Elliott, Benjamin Eyr, I. M. Bolton, Arthur T. Bolton and G. H. Atwood.
In 1855 Ed. Wright located at Glen Mary, but, the following Spring, two brothers, Martin and Amos Bently, took his place at Glen Mary, while Wright, with his brother Samuel, and two others named Crane and Crandall, located at Wright's Grove. Owing to trouble between them and the Norwegian settlement, a club was formed called the Settlers' Club, William Burgert, President; Samuel Egbert, Secretary; whose rules bound them to protect each other in occupying 320 acres each. Late in the Fall the settlement at Elk Creek was commenced by Rugg, Stevens and Platt, and the Silver Lake Settlement was commenced the same year by Lars Larsen and G. K. Hundeby.
The succeeding Winter (1856-6) is known as the hard winter by the pioneers. The snow fell to an uncommon depth, and was, much of the time, impassable to teams. Provisions were hauled on hand-sleds from Osage and other points. The log huts, many of them without floors, admitted the snow in drifts. Deaths by freezing were quite common.
FIRST THINGS
The first birth in the county was that of a son to Gulbrand Olsen, November 23, 1853. The first marriage was that of William Burgert and the widow Nelson, in the Spring of 1856. The first road laid out was from Bristol to Northwood, in September, 1857. The first court in the county was held September 27, 1859, by John Porter, Judge of the Eleventh District, B. K. Walker, Clerk, and Lorin Turnure, Sheriff. The first mail route to this county was established July 1, 1858, from Howard Center to Bristol, via Osage; in the Fall it was changed so as to run via St. Ansgar and Northwood.
NORTHWOOD
Northwood is beautifully located on the high, dry bank of the Shellrock. It is regularly laid out, with wide, handsome streets. It was surveyed and platted in November, 1857, and September, 1858, by Charles Wardall, Lemuel Dwelle and Joel Dayton. Additions have since been made by L. & A. J. Dwelle, Egbert & Jones, and A. M. Woodward, and the plat now comprises about 320 acres. Messrs. L. & A. J. Dwelle are the principal proprietors. Since the advent of the railroad Northwood has become a town of considerable importance as the only advantageous market and trading point for a large section of country, and has every promise of a permanent and steady growth.
EARLY HISTORY
In the Spring of 1857 the land was owned by Gulbrand Olsen, Samuel Egbert and Kittel Olsen. Early that Spring Charles Wardall purchased Gulbrand Olsen's property, and, a little later, Dr. D. D. Franklin purchased that of Kittel Olsen. During the Spring the place was visited by Lemuel Dwelle and B. H. Beckett, both of whom invested and became permanent residents. Others soon followed.
The first frame building in Northwood was erected during the Summer by S. H. Franklin. B. H. Beckett opened a store in this building on the 9th of September, with goods hauled by team from McGregor, 130 miles distant. His was the only store here until 1864, when a second one was opened by Nelson, Peterson & Klove. In the Fall of 1857 Northwood was made a post office, with Dr. Franklin as post master. In the Summer of 1858 Charles Wardall constructed a dam and saw mill. In 1859 S. H. and Asa Franklin erected a hotel building, which was opened for custom in the Fall by John Becker. During this season the first school in Northwood was taught by Catherine Hostetter, in a room over Beckett's store. In 1860 a small frame school house was built. In 1861 Lemuel and A. J. Dwelle bought Wardall's mill property, and proceeded to erect a substantial grist mill, furnished with four run of stone. For some years grists were brought to them from a distance of a hundred miles. In 1863 the acquisition of a county seat gave the growth and trade of the town considerable impetus, which was greatly enhanced by the railroad in 1871, since which time its prosperity has steadily increased.
SCHOOLS
Northwood was made an Independent School District in 1873, at the March election, choosing as School Board, A. C. Walker, President; Thomas Wardall, Treasurer; H. V. Dwelle, B. H. Beckett and David Abbey, Directors. These gentlemen superintended the erection of the finest building in Northwood, the Graded School House, during the Summer and Fall following. It is a tasty, substantial, commodious brick building, of two high stories and basement, well finished and furnished, and suitably adapted for enlargement by the addition of a large wing whenever necessary. Its cost was about $5,000, much less than the usual cost of buildings of this class of like proportions.
INCORPORATION
Northwood has recently become an incorporated town of the second class, and July 3d, 1875, the first Town Council was elected, as follows; Mayor, O.V. Eckert; Recorder, E. W. Smith; Trustees, Lemuel Dwelle, Henry Peterson, C. A. Knapp, E. L. Johnson, J. B. Thomson.
NEWSPAPERS
The Northwood Pioneer was established by P. D. Swick, who issued the first number the 24th of October, 1869. It was first published as a six-column folio, enlarged to seven columns in 1870, and to a five-column quarto in 1873, which is its present form; size, 30x44. A. T. McCarger, the present editor and proprietor, purchased the office of Mr. Swick in March, 1874. It is a good local paper, Republican in politics; circulation 500 copies, published Thursdays.
The Sentinel was started June 1, 1875, by Mr. Swick, in connection with Dar Weed. Published Tuesdays, by Swick & Weed. Form and size same as the Pioneer. Independent in politics. Both newspapers have fair job offices.
PRESENT BUSINESS
Of stores, there are three general merchandise, two hardware, two drugs, one grocery, one furniture; one harness shop, two millinery, one jewelry and watchmaking shop, and six blacksmith and wagon ships. The professions are represented by two law firms and three physicians. Other business; One bank, two lumber merchants, two machinery firms, five real estate dealers, two hotels, one livery, and three grain dealers.
CHURCHES
Northwood has two active church organizations, Methodist and Presbyterian. The Presbyterians have a good house of worship, and the Methodists are erecting a neat and elegant church edifice.
BRISTOL
Is situated twelve and one-half miles west and two miles south of Northwood, within one and one-half miles of the west line of the county on high dry prairie, near the head of Elk Creek. It was platted in the Spring of 1857, before Worth County was organized, by Chauncey S. Lane and Joseph S. Loveland, and the plat was filed for record with the Recorder of Mitchell County, May 4, 1857. Its main hopes were built upon the prospects of the county seat (as it was then in the largest settlement of the county) which its projectors sought and almost succeeded in obtaining permanently by a re-adjustment of county boundaries as elsewhere mentioned.
Goods were first brought here to sell as early as the Winter of 1856- '57, and soon afterwards a store was opened by C. S. Lane.
Doctor James Keeler was appointed post master October 30, 1857, with directions to get mails as best he could from accessible points until the establishment of a mail route the following Summer.
Charles Johnson and L. B. Turnure built the first frame building, and the latter opened it as a public house in the Summer of 1857.
May 7, 1858, the county seat was located here and the town began to rise.
During the Summer and Fall of 1858 its first school was taught by Harriet Lycan.
A commodious two story frame school house was built in the Summer of 1859.
The first birth in the place was that of Joseph B. Keeler, son of Doctor and Mrs. James Keeler, October 15, 1856.
The town continued to rise until the beginning of the war, when many of its most active citizens entered the military service, and soon after the removal of the county seat stopped its progress and led other prominent citizens away. At present a hotel, two stores, post office, agricultural warehouse, and a shop or two, comprise its business.
Among the pioneers who still reside there may be found Doctor Keeler, first County Judge of Worth County, and one of its most highly esteemed citizens, and Ben Bloker, proprietor of a store.
The Methodist Episcopal, Wesleyan, and Catholic Churches have organizations here.
KENSETT
This is the name of a station on the Central Railway six miles south of Northwood, platted by James Thompson in October, 1872. It contains little more than a depot building.
