LeMars Evening Sentinel, Tuesday Evening, June 16, 1885

THE WIND'S WORK.
Additional Accounts of the Destruction in Town, and Reports from Neighboring
Places.

PIONEER DAYS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

BY W. L. CLARK.

     Congressional township ninety-two, range forty-three west, since October 18th, 1881, has formed the civil township of Remsen; prior to that date it was included in Marion township. It is bounded by Meadow township on the north, Cherokee county on the east, Henry township on the south and Marion township on the west.

     The Dubuque & Sioux City (Illinois Central) railway passes through the northwest corner of the township, with a station known as Remsen, which is located on section six.

     The chief stream of Remsen township is Whiskey Slough, in the eastern part of the territory.

     The population in 1885 was given at 650, of which 400 were American born. The present population is 1,279

    The oldest settler now living within the township is Henry Mullong, who bought a second-hand homestead claim of S. C. Pringy, on the south half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-eight. Mr. Mullong settled on the land in 1873, and he thinks that it was originally claimed by the first settler of the township, whose name is forgotten, in 1867.

    The next to locate was J. J. Murphy, on the southwest quarter of section ten, where he still lives. He is at present in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, at their water tank.

    Ed. Wilier came to the township in 1878, and bought land of a speculator named Baxter. This land was on the northwest of section thirty-two.

    Until after 1880, there were no settlers in Remsen township to speak of, and from that time on the territory was largely settled up by Germans, who have come to be wealthy farmers and stock-growers.

    Many artificial groves adorn the township and lend both beauty and actual value to the domain.

    There are no religious societies in the township, except those found at Remsen village, the only post-office and market place in the township.

    The first school was taught at the residence of R. E. McCaustland, on section thirty-four, about 1880. At this date, 1891, the county school records show that this township has five sub-districts, which are provided with four good school houses. The total enrollment of scholars is ninety-three.

    The village of Remsen is situated on the west half of section six in Remsen township. It was platted August 28th, 1876, by the Sioux City and Iowa Falls Town Lot and Land Company. Since then five additions have been made. It is located on a beautiful tract of rolling prairie land, and is now a thriving little mart of about 537 people. It derived its name from Dr. William Remsen Smith, of Sioux City, a large land owner. It was made a station on the original Dubuque & Sioux City railroad line, and has come to be one of the best market places and shipping points along the line.

    The first business in Remsen was engaged in by J. H. Winchel, who owned a large farm one mile north, and H. W. Alline, of Remsen, under the firm name of Winchel & Alline. Scales were put in and grain bought and shipped. This was in the fall of 1880. At the same time P. Hopkins, of LeMars, bought and shipped,, from this point, cattle and hogs.

    But little was accomplished in the way of business improvements until 1881, when Frank Miller put in a general store.

    The same year the "Blake House" was erected by C. R. Blake. It is now known as the Munhoven House.

    The first to engage in the sale of agricultural implements were Rathmann & Michael. The first hardware was sold by John H. Rathmann. The first grocery store was that of Samuel Wentz. In 1882 a furniture store was put in by Hubert Nothem. The same year, Dr. Theodore Wrede opened up a stock of drugs. "Dr." Baker had kept a few patent medicines, etc., the year prior. A saloon was started to quench the thirst of the pioneers, in 1871, by Peter Monner. The pioneer grain company was Peavey & Co. The first to handle lumber were Townsend Bros., of LeMars.  The first blacksmith to wield his hammer beside the glowing forge was Martin Seba, in 1880-81.  A wagon shop was put in operation by John Schumacher. The first bank was the Bank of Remsen, in 1887.

    In the spring of 1889, the citizens of Remsen concluded, to further the business interests of the place, that it was, best to become an incorporated town. The first election of officers resulted as follows: N. Lang, Mayor; Edward S. Lloyd, Recorder.

    The village supports a local newspaper, edited by J. P. Kieffer, who issues twice each week—one issue printed in German called the "Remsen Clocke" and later in the week one of the same contents, only printed in English, called the " Remsen Bell." These papers have a large circulation, some hundreds going to Europe, sent by Germans to their friends.

    Remsen became a post office point in 1879. H. W. Alline was appointed the first postmaster; he served until 1885, when he was succeeded by L. L. Page, who conducted it until April 11th, 1889, when A. C. Morgan was appointed, and still serves acceptably to all. It became a money order office in 1886. The first money order was issued August 20th, 1886, to Rev. F. X. Schulte, in favor of Appleton & Co., Chicago, Illinois.

    There are two church organizations at Remsen, each having a good building. The Evangelical Lutheran society was formed in 1884 by six members, Rev. Miner, of LeMars, officiating. In 1888 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $I,600. The present membership of the society is twenty-six.

    Until October, 1889, the church was supplied with a minister occasionally from other points, but at that date Henry Bender became pastor and in still serving.

    The Roman Catholic people of this vicinity were first attended by Father Gilchrist, formerly of Marcus, Iowa. He looked to the spiritual welfare of this people for some two or three years. The first church building was blown down by a cyclone in 1885, and the present building was erected the same year. Rev. F. Schulte took charge of the congregation in December, 1885, and finished the new edifice, which seats about three hundred people comfortably. In the fall of 1886 the fine parsonage was built at a cost of $I,900. In the summer of 1888 the parochial school house was built at an expense of about $3,600.

    The winter of 1880-81 is known in the annals of Remsen as the "starvation winter," it might also be termed the "freeze-out winter," because if hunger did beset the little garrison, none the less did the lack of fuel cause much trouble. Those who remember the serious inconveniences of the long snow blockades, even in a much larger town, can imagine the sufferings of those who were ten miles from a grocery store, the same distance from a meat market, and who did not live on a farm, consequently did not have a well filled cellar to fall back on.

    The first school was taught by Miss Mary Alline, during the summer of 1881, in one of the living-rooms of the depot building. It found its next home in a room over J. H. Rathmann's hardware store; from there it was moved to a building owned by J. K. Alline. This house also served the Protestant people of this section as a church. In it was organized the Methodist Episcopal church, under the leadership of William Edgar. The original members were four in number, F. K. Morgan and wife, and Daniel Arburthnot and wife. A successful Sabbath school was for a long time maintained. Its superintendent was Z. Gilman.

Iowa Historical Record
Vol. IX, July 1893, No. 3

Band photo contributed by Jack Martens