CHAPTER XVI.
MASSENA TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ARTICLE.

BY G. A. HILL.

"Massena, one of the youngest towns in Cass county, is located near the south border of Massena township, and includes within its corporate limits all of section 33. The town site was platted by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company near the close of the year 1884, on land purchased by that company from A. Vredenburgh. It is one of the two towns located in Cass county as a result of the extension of the Creston & Northern Railroad to its present terminus, in the latter part of 1894 and the summer of 1895.

FIRST BUILDINGS AND PIONEERS.

"The first building to be erected in the new town was a combined store building and lumber office, on the west side of Main street near the right-of-way, the owner of the lumber business being B. A. Green, and of the general store, C. E. Baker. Soon after this building was erected C. E. Townsend, of Anita, established a second lumber yard, and placed it in charge of E. S. Hoyt, and until the railroad track was completed the lumber for these yards was hauled by Mr. Green from Fontanelle, and by Townsend, from Anita. Building operations did not flourish during the first few months of the town's history on account of it being an extremely severe winter, but with the opening of spring the new town assumed a lively appearance and enterprises of all kinds sprang rapidly into being.

"Among others of the pioneer business men and citizens were A. F. Black and J. N. Deer, who engaged in the general mercantile business; R. N. Schooling, who established the first hardware store; J. S. Sherdeman, the first in implements, soon followed by McCurdy & Polders; Baker Bros., buying and shipping live-stock, and D. N. Dunlap, grain and coal. 'The One Horse Drug Store,' which still stands at the corner of First and Main streets, was built in the early summer of 1885, and is still owned and operated by Dr. William Snelson, the pioneer physician and druggist of the town. The pioneer banker was D. R. Grabill, who founded the Massena Bank in the summer of 1885.

MUNICIPAL AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS.

"The first meeting of the Council of the incorporated town of Massena was held on the 21st day of March, 1887, when J. H. Elwell, justice of the peace, administered the oath of office to Van McCurdy, the first mayor, who in turn administered the oath to the other members of the council--I. O. Hart, Andy Chambers, J. E. Wilson, R. N. Schooling, Dr. J. Scott and J. D. Johnson. E. S. Sill was the first town clerk. At the same meeting the original ordinances, fourteen in number, were given their first reading, and on the 28th day of the same month they were read the third time and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Council.

"A special election was held on the 10th day of December to vote on a proposition to enlarge the corporate limits of the town so as to include all of section 33. The proposition carried and the town was enlarged to its present area.

"The present town officers are: Eli S. Smith, mayor; E. W. Holmes, W. C. McCurdy, A. I. McMartin, L. C. Mitchell, W. J. McVinua and C. L. Shields, councilmen; C. W. Pawley, clerk; D. P. Hogan, treasurer, and J. E. Wilson, assessor.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.

"Of those pioneers who constituted the original group of men engaging in business and professional life in Massena, but two now remain. They are Dr. Snelson, as the first druggist and physician, and A. J. Leap, who established the first furniture store. The general mercantile lines are represented by Homan & Wilson, with a complete and up-to-date stock approximating in value $10,000; J. H. Yarger, with a somewhat smaller stock, and C. B. Parkinson, who located in the town in September, 1905. The hardware and implement lines are represented by W. H. Langworthy & Co. and Wm. Downey & Son, each of whom carries a complete stock and is doing a large and profitable business. The lumber business is in the hands of E. W. Holmes & Co., whose yards and office are located at the corner of First and Spruce streets, and whose business is managed by E. W. Holmes, who has been prominent in the affairs of the town during the greater part of its history; and by the Fulllerton Lumber Company, located on Main street, near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy right-of-way, and managed by H. Habberstad, a thoroughly experienced lumberman.

"In addition to the 'One Horse Drug Store' owned by Dr. Snelson, that line is represented by Fee & Co., whose business is ably conducted by Frank Fee. Besides Dr. Snelson, the medical profession is represented by Dr. William S. Greenleaf, who located in Massena in 1895 and has built an extensive practice in medicine and surgery.

"The grain and coal business, at the present time, is in the hands of Chaney & Bell and Johnson, Moorehouse & Co. The first named are also dealers in live-stock, and have for their competitors P. R. Smith & Co.

"A. J. Allen and A. J. Leap are engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and A. H. Millen and J. T. Griffeth each operates a harness shop. C. Emig, D. J. Moyer and I. O. Hart were the pioneer hotel and restaurant men, the former establishing the Central Hotel during the first summer of the town's history, and continuing to operate it for about fifteen years. The Commercial Hotel was built a year later by Wm. Holste and is still in operation, owned by L. S. Buckley and conducted by his son, J. W. Buckley.

RAILROAD AGENTS.

"S. M. Mercer, was the first agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and opened the company's office late in the summer of 1885, after the railroad track was completed to the terminus at Cumberland. He remained in Massena about a year, when he was succeeded by Jerry Dodds whose stay was short. The office was in charge of various agents for a few years and finally P. A. Swepston became agent and held the position until 1902, when he resigned and moved with his family to the far West. During his residence in Massena Mr. Swepston was active in all affairs tending to the upbuilding of the town's business and social interests, and was for years secretary of the school board and town clerk.

POSTMASTERS.

"Among the first institutions to be established was the ever necessary one, the postoffice which was christened 'Smith.' The name was not satisfactory to the people of the town and the patrons of the office, and they petitioned the department to change the name to correspond with the town. The request was granted, and J. W. Loudon was commissioned first postmaster. He resigned after a short service and J. N. Deer was appointed to succeed him. Mr. Deer continued as postmaster, until shortly after the inauguration of President Harrison, in 1889, when, in common with all other federal officers of his class, he was replaced by a Republican in the person of A. Chambers. The latter served two years and was succeeded by Dr. C. M. Dodge. The election of Grover Cleveland in 1892 made it appear probable that Dr. Dodge's term of office would be limited to two years, but he was permitted by the administration to continue as postmaster during a full term of four years, when Miss Regina Emig succeeded him. Miss Emig retained the office until the autumn of 1898, when she voluntarily resigned to enter matrimony. G. A. Hill was appointed to be her successor and is still the incumbent of the office, having completed eight years of service on the 24th day of September, 1906. The postoffice, which is always a correct barometer of a community's business progress, has marked a steady and continuous growth and is now near to the point where it may become a third-class office.

CHURCHES OF MASSENA.

"In the matter of churches, the people of Massena have always taken thorough interest, and the founding of a religious society and the building of a house of worship constituted one of the first objects toward which they directed their energies. The first religious services were held in the building erected for a drug store by Dr. Snelson, amid rude surroundings, but the gratification of the desire for spiritual nourishment was as truly realized by the sincere worshipers as if they had been surrounded by the more commodious and comfortable environments of a later day.

"The first house of worship erected was the Massena Methodist Episcopal church, which was built in the autumn of 1885. The plans at first contemplated the organizing of a union society and the building of a union church, the society to include all people of Protestant denominations, but before the work had progressed far the difficulties confronting the promoters of the work, and the probability of failure to satisfactorily unite the various elements on such a plan became apparent, and it was deemed wise to make the enterprise a unit of some distinct church. The members of the Methodist Episcopal denomination being the most numerous, the society became a Methodist Church, with Rev. T. E. Madden as the first pastor. Connected with this church, in what has been known as the Whitneyville charge, were two outside points--Whitneyville appointment, located first at the Whitneyville school house in the northwest corner of Massena township, and Victoria appointment, located at the Skellenger school house six miles southeast of town. Coincident with the growth and prosperity of the town, this pioneer church throve and grew in membership and financial strength. In 1903 the needs of the society having outgrown the measure of the building to accommodate them, a new house of worship, larger in its appointments, was erected at a cost of about $4,500, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas E. Farley who was at that time pastor of the church. A new parsonage for the pastor's home had been erected, in 1899, and the completion of the new church building gave the society and their pastor an excellent home. J. R. Ramsey, Ph. D., was in September, 1906, assigned by the Des Moines conference to be the pastor of the church, and as this record is made the Massena church, and the churches at Pine Grove (formerly Whitneyville) and at Victoria, are under his leadership. The board of trustees of the Massena M. E. Church was incorporated in 1904, and at the present time includes in its membership W. C. McCurdy, chairman; G. A. Hill, secretary, and Dr. W. S. Greenleaf, C. B. Parkinson, N. S. Newton, J. J. Ecklin, W. H. Hosfelt, R. Vetterick and H. F. McKee. Wray Wilson is secretary of the official board.

"The second church organization of a permanent character to come into existence in the town was the Catholic Church. That denomination erected its church edifice in 1886, and Rev. Father Bede was the first pastor. At that time the Massena and Reno parishes were under the authority of the same priest, but about ten years later the two were separated and each had its own pastor. The Massena church has always possessed a large membership and exercised a deep moral influence over its people. It owns a handsome and commodious house of worship and a comfortable parsonage. At the present time its welfare is looked after by Rev. Father Thos. F. Loftus.

"The Baptist Church was organized, in 1896, under the ministry of Rev. Harry Ferguson, and the church building was erected soon after the founding of the society. A home for the pastor was built in 1901. The church has grown in strength and influence and is now an important factor in the social and religious life of the community. Rev. A. A. Du Bois became pastor in the latter part of September, 1906. The trustees are, S. L. Hawks, Josiah French and Noah Bright. Maggie Downey is church clerk.

"The Christian Church was organized, in 1898, by Rev. J. T. Spurrier, who became its first pastor. The society did not have a home until four years later, and during that period they held their services in the town hall, or in what was formerly the Adventist church. In 1902 they erected a church building, while Rev. Victor F. Johnson was their pastor. At the present time they have no regular pastor, but have a well organized Sunday school and Christian Endeavor society. The trustees are, L. L. Langworthy, R. T. Perrin and Andrew Larson. D. L. Gardner is church clerk.

"The German Evangelicals have a prosperous society organized and working under the leadership of their pastor, Rev. Fred J. Rolf. They have a church building of their own, which was formerly occupied and owned by the Seventh Day Adventists.

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

"Fraternal and secret societies have flourished during the town's history, and at the present time there are prosperous branches of the Free Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen. The veterans of the Civil War also maintain a post of the G. A. R. Of the Masonic lodge Dr. W. S. Greenleaf is Master and Wray Wilson, secretary; of the Odd Fellows Frank Byrd is Noble Grand, and C. W. Pawley, secretary of the subordinate lodge, while B. F. Eastman is Chief Patriarch and Frank Byrd, Scribe of the Encampment. F. E. Wickey is Venerable Counsel of the Modern Woodmen camp, and M. M. Tryon, Clerk. At one time there were prosperous lodges of Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World, but these have some years since been abandoned and their charters surrendered.

SCHOOLS OF THE TOWN.

"On the 15th day of March, 1886, a petition signed by H. McElfish and twenty-six others, residents and electors of Sub-District No. 8, of Massena township, asking to be set off as an independent school district, was presented to the Board of Directors of the District Township of Massena. At an adjourned meeting of the township board held on the 27th day of the same month the petition was granted and the Independent District of Massena came into existence. The first school board of the new district was composed of J. E. Wilson for three years, A. F. Black for two years, and H. McElfish for one year, as directors, and E. S. Sill, secretary, and Van McCurdy, treasurer.

"The first term of school taught in the district was held in the old McElfish school house, one-half mile northeast of the present school house site, and Cynthia Hill was the teacher. During the first summer following the establishing of the Independent District, a new house was erected in town, and on the eighth day of November, 1886, E. W. Symonds, as principal, and Flora Kinsey, as primary teacher, opened the first graded school in the new building, the principal receiving a salary of $40 and the primary teacher $35 per month, for a term of five months.

"The schools of Massena have maintained a steady growth, both in population and efficiency, and at the present time there are 160 persons of school age within the bounds of the district, and four well organized departments in the school, with eleven grades. In the summer of 1896 the house was enlarged to its present proportions. The present school officers are: E. W. Holmes, president; H. G. Homan, George Arnold, W. C. McCurdy and C. L. Shields, Board of Directors; J. E. Wilson, secretary, and D. P. Hogan, treasurer. The teachers are: Warren L. Rankin, principal; Tessie McMahon, grammar department; Maude Gibson, intermediate, and Eva Moore, primary.

NEWSPAPERS OF MASSENA.

"Among other indispensable institutions coincident to the growth of a prosperous town is the newspaper. Before a twelve-month of her existence had passed Massena boasted of a weekly newspaper owned and published by D. H. Clarke under the name of 'The Massena Dispatch.' Clarke's experience with the 'Dispatch' was limited to a few months of time, and the paper passed into the hands of Powers & Dow, who presided over its destinies for a few months and then the publication languished. Spasmodic efforts were make [sic made] at various times by different persons to revive the paper, but finally the attempts to make it a success, from a financial standpoint, were abandoned and the paper suspended publication.

"In 1890 S. T. Thompson, tempted by the opportunity which he thought presented itself, commenced publication of the 'Star.' He continued in the business for two years, or until June, 1892, when he sold out to W. E. Irons, who changed the name of the paper to 'The Echo' and continued as its owner and publisher until the spring of 1897, when he sold the business and plant to P. E. Boesen. Mr. Boesen conducted the enterprise until the first of September, 1899, when he disposed of it to G. A. Hill, the present publisher, who with the exception of two years, from April, 1903, to April, 1905, when the paper was under the ownership and management of Gonder & Gilmore, has continued its publication.

OTHER ENTERPRISES.

"The Massena Mill was built in the summer of 1901 by T. J. Knott & Son, and has since formed an important factor in the commercial progress of the town. Messrs. Knott & Son sold the mill to R. Vetterick in June, 1906, and Mr. Vetterick is now operating the plant and doing a large and profitable business.

"The Massena Independent Telephone Company was organized and the first lines were built in the winter of 1901-2, with George J. Anstey president, Fred T. Knott, vice-president, G. A. Hill, secretary, and D. P. Hogan, treasurer. The following summer an exchange was built to accommodate the increasing demand for the service and in the spring of 1905 the company was voted a franchise by the town, and later incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000. The present officers are: George J. Anstey, president; F. H. Greenwaldt, vice-president; G. A. Hill, secretary, and D. P. Hogan, treasurer.

"The movement to organize The Massena District Fair Association began in the fall of 1904, the proposition met with the unanimous support of the people of the town and surrounding country, and in September the association gave its first annual exhibit. The meeting was a success, was followed the next season by another equally successful meeting, and thus became firmly established. The association was incorporated soon after its organization, with a capital stock of $10,000, and has permanent quarters convenient to town, with a fine half-mile race track and plenty of commodious and substantial buildings.

DISASTROUS FIRES.

"In common with other towns, Massena has suffered from some severe misfortunes, chiefly fires. The first disasterous blaze took place on the 2d day of January, 1900, when eight buildings, including the postoffice, on the east side of Main street between First and Second streets, were destroyed, causing a loss of about $30,000. The second great fire was on the 30th day of April, 1905, and the burned section at that time was on the opposite side of Main street from the scene of the first fire. The burned area was somewhat less than that of the preceding fire, but on account of the more substantial character of the buildings the loss was about the same. Six months later another fire swept the lower part of the town on the west side on Main street, destroying several buildings and the huge sheds and stock of lumber belonging to the Fullerton Lumber Company, with a total loss of close to $35,000. From all these losses the people quickly recovered, and rebuilt the burned portions with handsome and substantial brick blocks; so that these misfortunes again demonstrated the rule that, although such disasters are severe for the individual losers, they always result in bettering the appearance of a town."

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 188-195.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.