CHAPTER XV.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF GRISWOLD.
BY D. H. SCOTT..
"No two persons see a town, its people or its surroundings, exactly alike, and no two will wholly agree in a description of any one place. The citizen views his town in one light--possibly an exaggerated one; the stranger views it in another, and also--possibly an exaggerated one. Most people will speak of towns as they have found them, and their descriptions of them will vary almost as much as the temperaments of the writers vary.
"Some have seen a place under disadvantageous circumstances--winds blowing, dust flying, water on the streets ankle deep, and poor or no sidewalks. Under such conditions the description would probably not be flattering. Others have seen the same place when the sun was shining brilliantly, when all nature seemed to be in accord with the best there is in man, when the atmosphere was pure and invigorating, the wind lulled to sleep, no dust, the people thronging the streets and filling the stores, optimistic in their views and believing and saying 'There is no place in the world as good as this.' The writer's views under such circumstances, are likely to be exaggerated to the other extreme, and disappointment caused to those who might be induced from the flowing description to settle in that place.
"Every sun has its shadow; it would not be a sun otherwise. Every rose has its thorn; but the sun with its shadow, and the rose with its thorn, are both acceptable, both good and welcome by all mankind. The works of the Creator are all good, all perfect, but the works of man are all imperfect; and the town of Griswold being the handiwork of the latter is imperfect in many ways, in many things--in others it is as excellent as man ever made.
"The writer of this brief historical article has seen Griswold blossom and grow, and we confess our inability to do justice to the town, but will do the best that we can.
HOW THE RAILROADS COMPROMISED.
"Griswold is the home of about 1,200 happy and contented people. It is one of the new towns in southwestern Iowa. It came into being through a compromise entered into by the officials of two of the great railway corporations crossing the State of Iowa--the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific. These two railroads each wanted to enter the territory between Atlantic and Red Oak, but each was afraid to make the start, knowing that the aggressor would be met by the competitor. So these officials got together in the summer of 1879, and agreed on terms for occupying this coveted territory. By this agreement the 'Q' was to name and control the town site midway between Atlantic and Red Oak, and the 'Rock Island' was to name and control the town site midway between Avoca and Hastings.
THE CORN FIELD TOWN.
"It was in the month of October, 1879, that the land (320 acres) on which the town is built, was purchased of John Rezner. The title was taken in the name of C. E. Perkins, trustee, and Frank H. Whitney, of Atlantic, the father and builder of more towns than any other man in the West, was commissioned to convert this great corn field into a mart of trade. The land was leased by James Gilmore, now living north of Atlantic, and arrangements were made with him to use all possible haste to clear off a certain part of the corn. Other parties were engaged to clear off the corn stalks, and Henry Miller was employed to build the first house.
"The first load of lumber was hauled from Atlantic, and was unloaded among the corn stalks on the 27th day of November, 1879. Henry Miller brought to his assistance a whole army of carpenters and inside of two weeks this house was ready for occupancy. Mr. Whitney installed in this house E. G. Peck, a hustling young busines [sic business] man, who looked after the sale of town lots, for which there was a great demand, which continued uninterrupted until every location on either side of Main street for fully half a mile was taken, and a large number of business lots in other parts of the new town were also secured.
"No town in Iowa can look back without wonder upon the marvelous development which characterized this young town during the first few months of its existence. Winter had set in before a single house was built; not a day of spring time, of summer or of autumn had smiled upon it, but instead the elements had conspired to spend their force in opposition. The fact that cold and storm had no terrors, and that all other obstacles had yielded gracefully to the invincible spirit of those locating in a dreary, desolate cornfield, in the dead of winter, is sufficient evidence that the men who build towns had located here to stay. It was under these adverse circumstances that the now thriving and very prosperous town of Griswold was brought into being.
PRESENT STATUS AND NEEDS.
"The natural advantages of Griswold as a commercial and manufacturing center are unsurpassed. It is in the very heart of the most fertile section on earth, famous for its varied and wonderful resources and prolific productions. From that bleak mid-December morning back in 1879, when Ed. Peck displayed his small stock of hardware in a shell of a building, and Uncle Johnny Kerns and his good wife, who is still a resident of Griswold, opened up their little 'lean-to' restaurant, down to the present day, Griswold has been most fortunate in the class of business men. Few 'knockers' have ever located here, and when they did, the real live men who did business on strictly business principles soon made things so uncomfortably warm for them, that they either fell in with the progressives, or folded their tents and silently stole away.
"The many substantial business houses that mark both sides of Main street in Griswold are conducted by live and energetic business men, who carry complete and extensive stocks in all the different lines, and are enjoying a merited and prosperous trade. Griswold's great need at the present time is more manufacturing enterprises. Near the town is one of the largest shale beds that is to be found in the State, and the experienced man with a little capital would find this a bonanza, as the demand for brick and tile is greater than ever before. A canning factory is another need. The business interests of Griswold are awake to all these needs, and will give every encouragement within their power to establish the desired industries.
"Griswold's development has been healthy and rational, and of a steady character. She has never been afflicted with a 'boom.' Her position as a commercial center and leading shipping point is due to the indomitable will, courage and public spirit of her business and professional men and women, who, by keeping 'everlastingly at it,' working in conjunction with the natural advantages, have effectively demonstrated the truth of the statement, that great things from small beginnings rise; and to the personal integrity and purity of purpose of her public officials, who have held her name untarnished.
AS A SHIPPING CENTER.
"As a shipping center, Griswold stands at the front of all southern Iowa towns. During the year 1895, no town along the entire system of either the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy or the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railways equaled this point in the shipment of live-stock. This is accounted for by two reasons. First, that we are in the very center of the feeding district of the State, and secondly, that the live-stock buyers of Griswold pay from five to ten cents more per hundred, the year round, than is paid by like dealers in any other town in this part of the State. This is not a mere assertion; it is a fact. For the handling of grain Griswold has two very large elevators equipped with all up-to-date machinery for handling everything in their line.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
"In the way of churches, public school buildings, hotels, city park, etc., the town is well provided. The Presbyterians, Methodists, the Christians, the Disciples, Church of Christ and the Catholics--all have commodious church homes and each is provided with a regular pastor. The city park is a beautiful spot, and is under the special care of the ladies of the place, who take a special pride in keeping it up.
"Griswold is also well provided with fraternal societies. Among those that are strong here are the Odd Fellows, Masons, Woodmen, K. of P., Court of Honor, Yeoman, etc."
"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 181-184.Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.
