Dean Wagner's Genealogy - Bancroft, Iowa

Bancroft History

Bancroft, Kossuth County, Iowa, USA

Greenwood Township and Bancroft

(Part 2)

from
"History of Kossuth County Iowa
Volume 1"
by Benjamin F. Reed, LL.B.
Chicago
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
© 1913
Pages 677 - 683

Rev. W Spell, a Congregational minister, conducted the first religious service on January 1, 1882, in R. M. Richmond's' building. During the summer Rev. R. A. Paden, a Presbyterian minister, preached several times and later held services at the Phoenix Hotel.

It was also during the year 1882 that J. G. Edwards bought H. Smith's saloon and ran it; that J. F. Jordan became the station agent; that George W. Smith began cementing the sides of wells; that P. A. McGuire sold his grain business to W. E. Jordan; that Sam Hutchinson bought the meat market of Higley & McDonald; that the school building was erected; that John Henry purchased the Hawkes stock; and that the Johnson Brothers added implements to their merchandise. In June of the following year Bush sold his interest in the hardware to O. A. Searle and the firm then became Woodworth & Searle.

B. F. Clarke was the first postmaster, beginning his service January 1, 1882, after the government had ordered him to move the office over from Greenwood Center. Those holding that position since his retirement have been W. E. Jordan, S. Mayne, C. J. Pettibone, J. B. Johnson, W. F. Laidley, Grace Littlefield for the bondsmen, and J. A. Frech, the present incumbent.

W. E. Morrison was the first attorney, coming in the early days of the town, and devoting his attention mostly to the land business. Then came Sam Mayne, who also operated in land. C. C. Thompson and C. H. Kegley tried to practice for a while and then left for other parts. H. H. Fellows flung his shingle to the breeze and then he too located elsewhere. S. W. Crowel opened up for practice in 1898 and in a few months located at the county seat. P. M. Barslou was also admitted to practice that year, though he had been trying cases before the justice of the peace and assisting in cases in the district court for several years previous to that date. J. H. Sowers succeeded E. C. McDowel in dentistry in February, 1913, the latter having succeeded O. H. Bemis.

C. B. Lake was the first doctor to locate, but he engaged in the grocery business, and put up the first new building for that purpose. Dr. A. W. Berryman practically began with the town, and then came Dr. G. T. West in 1884. He located four years later in Algona but came back in 1897. Dr. W. E. H. Morse came next, but he too moved later to Algona. Dr. E. A. Howe, Dr. F. H. Cutler, Dr. C. M. C. Walters, Dr. George Walters, Dr. A. H. Vorwerk, Dr. Piere Sartor, Dr. Julius Plonske, Dr. W. C. Gulde and Dr. J. A. Devine have located since then but only two remain - Dr. Sartor, who came in 1901, and Dr. Devine, who has succeeded Dr. C. M. C. Walters. The latter practiced here for a period of twenty years.

The four general stores carry large stocks of a good quality. The Kennedy Brothers' department store, in their double front brick building, erected in 1897, is a credit to the town. The east half of the building is where the old G. W. Smith store stood, and the west half where Wickwire had his store. Kramer & Merrill in the spring of 1910 bought out C. B. McLaughlin, an old-time merchant. The Furstenberg Mercantile Company, in the old Joe Hackl building, succeeded Charles Sarchett in 1901. Mr. Furstenberg was in the hardware and implement business for several years before purchasing this store. The Model Store Company, on the corner where Woodworth & Bush first had their hardware, has for its proprietor P. J. Nemmers, who began there in 1911.

Two drug stores, with jewelry departments in connection, supply the demands of the people in that line of goods. On the spot where R. M. Richmond had his first building, the P. J. Nemmers Drug Company has its store. The firm ten years ago succeeded E. C. Anderson. The building is the one erected by J. E. Hudson in 1895 when he was the manager for the Westenhaver Brothers. The other drug store is conducted by J. & G. S. Underkoffer, who purchased the business from B. H. Sudmeier in 1906. Both stores appear to be flourishing.

The hardware trade is confined to two stores. On the location where G. V. Davis in the fall of 1881 built his hotel, M. Nemmers has his store. He succeeded Alcorn & Bronson in 1902, but has been a resident for twenty-three years. Mayer & Gulde own the other store and are firmly established. They are located on the corner where Nate Hawkes sold the first goods in town and where C. W. Goddard, G. R. Woodworth, George Simpkins, the Westenhavers and others were once doing business. The present firm erected the brick building during the year 1901-2. Before that time for several years the firm dealt in implements.

The Phoenix House is owned by Clayton Brown of Fort Dodge and is now run by J. J. Grein. It has had many landlords and but few of them remained very long. The old Tallman House is now conducted by Mrs. Elizabeth J. Shea, who recently took charge.

Barney Gardner is the boss of the telephone system and its proprietor, having begun the line about twelve years ago. Near him is the office of G. D. Hart & D. L. Leffert, drainage engineers. They succeeded J. H. Curtiss at the close of the year 1912.

The first school was taught during the winter of 1881-2 by Audell Austin in the R. M. Richmond building, and the new school house was built during the following summer at a cost of $2,000. In it Laura Bush and Mrs. J. F. Jordan were the first teachers. James Crose, Nell Walker, E. C. Anderson and G. N. Sabin were in turn the head teachers for a few years. Other principals since then have been J. F. Doderer, 1891; A. W. McCausland, 1892; J. P. Hugett, 1893; J. R. Byers, 1894; E. G. Bailey, 1898; S. M. Coddington, 1901; S. J. Backus, 1903; O. C. Alexander, 1907; Hugh M. Cooper, 1910; and the present principal, G. W. Remsburg, 1912. The other teachers now doing service are Cora Krueger, assistant; Helen Behrmann, grammar; Ethel Owen, intermediate; Emma Adolphson, second primary; and Esther Adolphson, first primary.

The election on the measure of incorporating Bancroft was held February 16, 1884, the judges being C. B. Lake, Charles Woodworth and B. F. Wickwire, and the clerks J. B. Johnson and W. E. Jordan. There were thirty-three ballots cast for the proposition, fourteen against and one rejected.

W. E. Morrison became the first mayor. Those holding the position since he retired have been in turn Ed. Ward, Sam Mayne, P. M. Barslou, J. B. Johnson, P. G. Pettibone, C. C. Thompson, S. W. Callanan, J. H. Sheridan, Frank Sparks and the present incumbent, J. B. Mousel, who is serving his third term. Other city officers are Ed Howe, Ed Kennedy, P. B. Nemmers and Henry Gulde, councilmen; Arthur Murray, clerk; Barney Wessel, street commissioner, marshal and superintendent of the water works; William Putzier and John Duckmanton, justices.

The water works system was begun after G. W. Smith had drilled the well 212 feet deep. Henry Smith built the tower and put up the tank. The ordinances pertaining to the use of water were published in May, 1895. The equipment consists of a gasoline engine, pump, hose cart with hose, and fire whistle, but no fire company is organized.

The Bancroft Register was started by D. A. Ellis in April, 1882, and was run by him until the fall of 1887, when V. S. Ellis assumed charge. He in turn sold to W. F. Laidley in 1895. June 23, 1909, Mrs. W. F. Laidley took the control and management, and issued the paper until December 1, 1912, when she sold the plant to A. H. Westphal and R. E. Hutton to accept the position of county recorder, to which office she had been recently elected.

Editor Hutton, the partner in charge, has been making some improvements and contemplates installing a new press and other features. He has been getting out a good paper considering the olbstacles with which he has been compelled to contend.

The Catholic church - St. John the Baptist - is under the supervision of the resident priest, Father A. J. Schemmil, who came to the parish in February, 1891. The work had been begun by Father McCaffrey, and then continued by Father Nichols before Father Schemmil came. The church edifice had been partly built in 1889; but the addition was not made until 1896, nor the parsonage erected until 1893. The parochial school building was completed in 1900 and school opened that fall with four teachers in charge and 135 pupils in attendance. At present there are ten teachers instructing 325 pupils in the well-equipped building. One full block is devoted to the use of the church, parsonage and school building.

Father Schemmil's pastorate has been a peaceful one, carrying on his work with a zeal and holding the respect of all classes alike. He is an entertaining conversationalist and is informed on a wide range of subjects.

The Catholic cemetery was acquired in 1891 and the body of Thomas Holland of Seneca was the first to be interred. That occurred October 3, 1891.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized during the summer of 1882, the first trustees being W. E. Jordan, R. M. Richmond, A. W. Berryman, John Lochtu and John Chapin. Among the numerous pastors who have presided over the church have been Rev. J. F. Black, Rev. A. G. Ward, Rev. H. L. Smith, Rev. E. L. Benedict, Rev. O. M. Bond, Rev. Hotchkess, Rev. Walker, Rev. Geo. Stephens, Rev. N. L. Lyons and the present pastor, W. W. Tyrrell, who came in 1910. The present trustees are C. O. Blanchard, H. L. Inman, J. J. Yeager, E. M. Sarchett, and Mrs. John Duckmanton. G. D. Hart is the Sunday school superintendent and Mrs. H. L. Inman the president of the Ladies' Aid. The members report that they are satisfled with Rev. Tyrrell's work and hold him in high esteem.

The Swedish Lutheran church was organized soon after the town was started, but the edifice was not built until 1886. The pastors have generally resided at Algona. Rev. C. G. Lundell is the present minister and is living at that place. He is the president of the congregation, Geo. Nyman the secretary, and Helen Behrmann the organist. the officers of the Luther League are Rev. Lundell, president; Helen Hulterstrum, vice president; and Geo. Nyman, secretary.

The Baptist church that was organized and incorporated in October, 1888, has had no regular services for several years. A neat little edifice was built, and the church prospered for a term of years. Some of the best people in the town at one time attended there, but the removal of several of the principal supporters caused its weakened condition. The first trustees were J. B. Johnson, E. Tallman, C. B. Hofius and C. W. Goddard, and all of them were strong pillars of the church.

The Hatten Bros. have their harness store in the old J. B. Johnson building, where they have been since they purchased the business from C. P. Deschler in April, 1911. Close to them is the tailor shop of Wm. Putzier, who began the work in 1898, and on the opposite side of the street is the popular cafe run by Mrs. T. M. Ludwig.

C. Behrmann came to the county in 1885 but did not begin in the land and insurance business until 1901. John Nemmers has been operating in that line for several years, and in 1910 bought out the insurance business of J. A. Frech. The Sheridan Bros. have been dealing in land in Bancroft since 1891, and are kept busy looking after the details of the work.

John Duckmanton began serving meals at his restaurant in 1902 and has worked up a large patronage. The rush for the lunch counter stools at the noon hour is an evidence of the success he is making in feeding the hungry.

The milliner's shop, for several years conducted by Susie Hackl, has been run since 1907 by Mary McCarty. Her patronage increases with each succeeding year.

Edward A. Howe began as a veterinary surgeon about twenty years ago and has built up an extensive practice. He is the son of Dr. E. A. Howe, who located in 1890 in Ramsey, and who later came to Bancroft. B. J. Lattimore is another of the profession who began about a year ago.

Other lines of business are represented as follows: Photographs - H. J. Hanapel since 1911, succeeding Kinney, the successor of O. L. Harper; barbering - J. M. Williams, alone since 1910, when he and J. L. Johnson dissolved partnership; pool halls - one by Peter Sandt, who succeeded H. E. Nemmers in July, 1912, and the other by Albert Ditsworth, who bought out James Johnson in 1912; meat market - Peter Becker since October, 1902, when he succeeded Wegner & Company; livery and sale stable - Carl Blakley, who recently purchased from Will Lattimore; box ball alley - G. A. Lichliter since November, 1911; blacksmiths - M. A. Saunders, who began in 1911, and J. H. Goetzinger, who bought out Alva Hunt in 1905.

The Farmers Elevator Company was organized in March, 1911, with a board of directors consisting of James Nelson, E. C. Smith, Joseph Blatz, J. P. Mousel, Charles Ame, John Krapp and Joe Hatton. They purchased and took over the business which John A. Winkel had begun in 1889 and conducted for twenty-two years. Mr. Winkel came to Bancroft in 1881, when the first building began.

Joe Murray, who also deals in grain, began eighteen years ago when he purchased the business from J. B. Carr. Nels Martin, W. E. Jordan and Frank Purdy had each previously been the proprietors.

Of the many lumber yards that have been started in town, that of John H. Queal's is the only one that remains, and it has had for its manager Theo. Jacobs for seven years. The Bruer Bros. sold to the Queal company in February, 1900, this yard and those they had at Germania and Burt. The Queal company a few years ago also bought the competing yard from the GoodrichCall Company. This was the yard formerly owned by the John Paul Lumber Company, the Lamb Lumber Company, H. C. Behrens and others.

The Co-operative Creamery Company has for its officers Frank Froehly, president; Frank Fangman, secretary; A. J. Doleschal, butter-maker and manager; and N. B. Schiltz, Henry Naber, Frank Deidring and Frank Froehly, directors. The company was organized first in January, 1892, and then reorganized in June, 1895, when Frank Thola, A. Mayer, W. W. Alcorn and M. Wagner composed the board of directors.

The banking institutions, like the other enterprises have their history. Z. Roberts in the fall of 1882 started the first bank, and it was located on the corner just south of the Phoenix House. He soon sold to Moorehouse & Richmond, but later the latter sold his interest to his partner, C. R. Moorehouse, who conducted it alone until January 1, 1891, when the opportunity came for him to become the cashier of the State Bank of Bancroft which had just been organized. The other officers of the State Bank were S. T. Meservey, president; and Geo. H. Daniels, vice president. Tom C. Sherman, J. B. Johnson and R. N. Bruer were three of the directors. The bank started with a $25,000 capital, but was soon increased to $37,500, and still later to $50,000. During the year 1891 a neat brick banking home was erected on the spot where C. B. Lake erected the first building in town.

The State Bank of Bancroft was dissolved into the First National Bank December 15, 1900, under charter number 5643 and the latter at once occupied the home of the former bank. This building was one among the several that were burned by the fire December 13, 1893. The bank has been successful and regarded as sound and reliable because it has had officials that were conservative. The present officers are R. N. Bruer, president; J. B. Mousel, vice president; Joseph J. Sherman, cashier; and Chas. Nelson, assistant cashier. The other directors besides the president, cashier and assistant are Tom Sherman and J. W. Sullivan.

The Farmers & Traders Saving Bank was organized April 13, 1892, with R. M. Richmond as president, I. J. Bruer as vice president, and A. B. Richmond as cashier. Other incorporators at the time were N. E. and J. P. Sheridan, S. Mayne, B. F. Smith and C. E. Mallory. Mr. Richmond soon opened the Commercial House in the same building and served very acceptable meals. About five years after the organization he was succeeded as president by I. J. Bruer and then the latter in turn by C. J. Lenander in 1899. The present officers are J. E. Kennedy, president, who was elected in October, 1911; P. A. Lonergan, cashier, who accepted the position in 1904; and L. F. Kennedy assistant cashier. The brick banking home was erected in the early nineties at a cost of about $5,000. The bank is one of the solid institutions of the town and has many patrons.

The Northwestern Drainage and Construction Company, organized in March, 1907, had for its directors C. J. Lenander, J. J. Warrick, C. M. C. Walters, J. H. Welp, Alva Hunt and W. J. Anderson. The company had contracts for dredging and tiling the county drains amounting to about $600,000. The equipment for cutting the many huge ditches was costly, and the great quantity of thirty-six-inch tiling that was manufactured and placed in the construction by the firm was a wonder. January 1, 1911, the company dissolved, and since that time C. J. Lenander has been winding up its affairs. J. H. Welp became the sole owner of the manufacturing plant, now called the Welp Cement Products Company. During the year 1911 he furnished $60,000 worth for the drains. J. J. Warrick on his own account continued as drainage contractor, and Alva Hunt engaged in dredging with an outfit costing $18,000.

O'tee Tribe, No. 114, Red Men, was organized February 3, 1905, A. L. Hunt, Wm. Putzier, E. A. Howe, J. A. Lang, J. J. Warrick, G. S. Campbell and others being charter members. At present Geo. Austin is S.; John Wood, Sag.; Chas. Nelson, P.; David Gilbert, C. R.; H. W. Nagel, K. W.

Bancroft Lodge, No.544, I. O. O. F., was instituted October 20, 1892, with Geo. V. Davis, R. I. Brayton, O. A. Searle, Jas. Gallion, F. B. Ward, W. T. Hall and others as charter members.

Greenwood Camp, No 3241, Modern Woodmen, was organized September 25, 1895, and has for its present officers, H. W. Nagel, V. C.; H. W. Phelps, W. A.; John Wood, C.; J. J. Sherman, B.; Geo. Horton, E.; August Sprank, S.; Dr. Devine, P.; John Johnson, P. C. The Mayflower Camp, Royal Neighbors, No.1646, was instituted May 1, 1899, with twenty-five charter members. Bancroft Homestead, No. 43, was organized August 15, 1906, and B. F. Resseguie was the president and Mrs. Linn Beck the secretary.

Progressive Lodge, No. 503, A. F. & A. M., was instituted June 4, 1889. August Johnson is W. M.; T. M. Ostrander, S. W.; W. J. Anderson, J. W.; J. A. Frech, secretary. Progressive Chapter, Eastern Star, No. 364, was organized October 29, 1903. Mrs. J. A. Frech is W. M.; Mrs. S. W. Callanan, A. M.; T. M. Ostrander, P.; J. A. Frech, secretary.

The Brotherhood of American Yeoman, which now has lodges scattered all over the Union and in Canada and which has had a phenomenal growth, was founded in Bancroft, where Alpha Homestead, No. 1, was instituted January 27, 1897 with a charter membership of 120. C. B. PAul, J. E. Paul, A. D. Clarke and W. J. Stewart were the organizers. The Pauls and Alva Hunt were the committee who framed the first ritual, basing it upon the historic story in Scott's Ivanhoe. The present officers are J. A. Frech, F.; Mrs. L. H. McQuirk, M. C.; Elmer Myhre, Cor.; Wm. Putzier, M. A.; Rev. Tyrell, chaplain.

The Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Anthony Court, No. 1503, was instituted August 8, 1907, the first board consisting of P. A. Lonergan, N. J. Schultz, Anton Mayer, Joe Murray and C. E. McLaughlin. At present Frank Hatten is C. R.; Frank Froehle, V. C. R.; Dr. Sartor, P. C.; L. F. Kennedy, F. S.; P. A. Lonergan, R. S. The present officers of the Women's Catholic Order of Foresters are Magdalena Schiltz, C. R.; Barbara Krapp, V. C. R.; Mary M. Sartor, R. S.; Anna E. Lonergan, F. S.

Bancroft's most destructive fire occurred December 13, 1893, when all the stores on the north side of the street between Morrison's office and the next street west were burned. The First National Bank building on the corner was also destroyed. Several old landmarks of the town disappeared at that time.

Several residents are very early settlers of the county. Mrs. Elizabeth Reibhoff Winkel, Mrs. Mary Schenck Winter and Wilson Green came with their parents in 1856; G. W. Austin in 1865; and John A. Winkel and John Duckmanton in 1866.

Peter Matheis deserves notice on account of his having escaped death in a way that seems miraculous. On the 26th day of April, 1891, while working for Samuel Reed on his farm near Irvington, Peter went up the windmill ladder to adjust a portion of the machinery that prevented the mill from running. While on the platform he accidently set the fans to revolving, and they knocked him off in an instant. He fell 65 feet and struck the solid ground on his hip and shoulder, and landed between two piles of stone that were less than three feet apart. In a few minutes he got up and walked to the house, while a portion of his overalls were fluttering in the breeze on one of the fans as it went round.

The county officers elected from Bancroft have been W. E. Jordan, supervisor; J. G. Graham, sheriff; S. J. Backus, superintendent; and Mrs. W. F. Laidley, recorder.

Many of the citizens of the town, like those in other parts of Greenwood township are heavily burdened with taxes that have been assessed against their land on account of the Mud creek county drain; one of the most expensive of the entire number that have been constructed.