CHAPTER XX
On the 2d day of January, 1849,
For agricultural purposes none better lies out
of doors. All of its timber is found on the western border, along the banks of
the south fork of the Maquoketa, which affords
ample water and drainage. Corn, wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, grasses, etc., grow to luxuriance here
and the raising of cattle for the market and dairying is a very
profitable industry of the community.
Theodore Marks was elected
first clerk of
"
“ theodore marks,
"Town Clerk."
From this primitive record
the reader learns that the following named persons, among others, were
residents of the township in the '50s. Of course, a number
came before: James Barnes, Peter Heinan, Jacob
Lanier, Ira G. Green, Simeon Eller, Lerov Jackson,
Allen A. Wilson, George Rutherford, Daniel Livingston, Archibald Tate, William
Morgan, Ebenezer Culver, William Carpenter, A. A. Wilson, James L. Getten,
Jacob Diffenderfer, Sylvester Meade, James Hardesty, Thomas Mathers,
Christian Myers, George Connery, James Hardy, James P. Farmer, Joseph
Porter, W. P. Cunningham, Thomas Boy, John McQuig, G. R. Browder, John M. Holmes, Franklin
Lewis, Edmund Davis, Isaac Smith,
Lewis Matthew, Peter H. Warner, William Holt, I. C. McVey, Jerome T.
Davis, A. Nash, G. J. Bentley, William Ireland, John Livingston, H. P. Fletcher, Joseph Cool, T. H. Bowen, Thomas Cearns, Ashford Smith, E. Baldwin, William A. Roberts, J. Cadwell,
James Harper, Andrew A. Lowe, William Spence,
M. Byington, R. M. Brooks, A. Kirkwood and W. H.
Finley.
The first settlers in this township were James
and Hugh Livingston and Hugh Rose, who were of a party of emigrants from the
Selkirk Colony in
The next to take up a
habitation in South Fork were the Nicholsons, Thomas,
his wife, and sons, William and Montgomery Nicholson, who came in the spring of 1838 and located near
the Maquoketa River, on land which is now a part of Hopkinton. Here they built
a cabin and broke a small piece of prairie. In the month of March the elder
Nicholson was laid low with a mortal malady and died.
Leroy Jackson was the third settler in this
community. He was a man who had spent his boyhood days on the
A word or two in
relation to the efforts of Carter and Jackson in building up a new country and
from whence they came. Leroy Jackson was born in
H. A. Carter was born in
Duncan McCullom
settled in the southeast part of the county near the
Theodore Marks came here and entered a tract of
land about three miles northeast of Leroy Jackson's in 1841. He was first clerk
of the township after its organization in 1849.
S. M. Slausen was a
settler in
Elliott M. Chapman, a native of
James Harper was one of the
prominent men of
Norman Luke left his native State of
HOPKINTON LAID OUT
The Town of
SOME EARLY CITIZENS
William H. Martin settled on Plum Creek
in July, 1843, with his family and
engaged in farming. His father, William Martin, died here in 1876 and that same
year William H. became a resident of Hopkinton and was elected mayor in 1877.
William B. Morgan was born in
Isaac Smith moved on to a farm six miles west of
Hopkinton in 1846. In 1855 he moved into the village when there were only two
houses in existence there. He paid his attention to farming and also worked at
carpentry. Mr. Smith was a member of Company F, Thirty-seventh Iowa, the famous
"Gray Beards” and served the county faithfully and well for four years as
sheriff.
James Hardy was born in the State of
The Littlefields
came to
F. W. Doolittle was born at
One of the first blacksmiths in Hopkinton was L. C. Tapping, who came from
Among the early residents of Hopkinton
was Peter H. Warner, who located in the village in April, 1856. He served a
clerkship in a general store until his arrival in Hopkinton, when he went into
business for himself. He was postmaster at the village eight years and held
other positions in the township of trust and responsibility. Mr. Warner
established the first drug, dental, photographic and jewelry business at
Hopkinton, and called the first meeting held in the interests of the Davenport
& Northwestern Railway Company.
Gorham K. Nash was born in the State of
Alexander Kirkwood
first saw the light of day in bonny
William Flude
was a prominent figure in the educational field of music. He
was a native of
Robert G. Crawford was a pioneer merchant
of Hopkinton. He was a native of
There was quite an influx of people
seeking homes in this beautiful new country in 1856. About this time appeared
Rev. W. L. Roberts, a clergyman of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, located
here, preached the Gospel to the scattered settlers and was a strong force in
persuading a number of his religious faith to become residents of Hopkinton and
the nearby farms.
J. H. Campbell was one of the early
merchants. There were also Barker & Campbell, general merchandise; A.
Kirkwood, undertaker and furniture. Other early merchants were C. E. Merriam
& Company, Jo Bernard, P. O. Joseph; Williamson & McBride, drugs; H.
Livingston, drugs; J. G. Wallace, hardware;
restaurant, Charles Abbott; millinery, Misses M. & N. Dawson; harness,
C. F. Shimeal.
P. H. Warner was a notary public here in the '60s, so was M. Harmon; C.
E. Reeve had a meat market, James McArthur flour store, G. H. Crawford, W. P.
Gerry and J. H. Williamson early blacksmiths; John Dunlap, wagon maker; livery
stables, N. Loop and Lough & King; lumber, P. D. Smith.
The firm of Campbell & Williamson
built an elevator in 1873. In 1863 the
elevator at Sand Springs was moved to Hopkinton by John Stevenson.
Dr. W. H. Finley was one of the first
physicians to take up the practice in
The Davenport & St. Paul Railroad,
now the
James H. Bowen, who came here in 1855, saw the
land was adapted to the raising of broom corn, which led him to induce Samuel
Dickerson to join him in the manufacture of brooms on the Bowen land near
Hopkinton. A crop of broom corn was raised in 1856, which was worked
into brooms in an establishment, having necessary machinery, built by Bowen
& Dickerson. Shortly after others took up the industry and followed it
several years.
Disputes and tragedies were frequent even in the
days of pioneering. It is said, in this relation, that
on
Another crime was committed here while
Hopkinton was yet in its infancy. Edward Kennedy, who lived a few miles west of
town, was shot while preparing his evening meal, by John Duncan. Kennedy, an
old man, was found the next morning lying dead on his kitchen floor.
Theodore Marks was the first township clerk and
later became justice of the peace. He was a unique character in some respects,
as his township record and the following marriage certificate will attest:
EVERYBODY COULD NOT
ATTEND
"I hereby certify
that on the 20th day of February, A. D., 1851, at the house of William Dighton,
in Delhi Township, Delaware County, Iowa, in the presence of the above named William Dighton and his
wife, his father, two brothers, two sisters, one brother-in-law, one
sister-in-law, three step-children, several of his own children, nephews and
nieces, friends and acquaintances, neighbors,
etc., I joined in the holy bonds of matrimony Mr. Anthony McGarvey,
of Scott County, Iowa, aged 24 years, and Miss Mary Ann Morgan, stepdaughter
to the above mentioned William Dighton, of this county, aged 18 years.
"Given under my hand this 20th day of
February, A. D. 1851.
"theodore marks,
"Justice of the
Peace,
"P.S.—The
streams being up very high, everybody could not attend. The
undersigned had to travel sixteen miles extra to get home. T. M."
Bowen Collegiate Institute was founded in the
year 1865 by certain of the citizens
of Hopkinton. and was named in commemoration of C. T.
Bowen, of
F. E. Williamson established the present
brickyard about twenty years ago and it is now in his hands.
Archibald Tate established a brickyard
almost on the same site as the present one, fifty years ago. The
college, churches and many old buildings were of brick got there.
INCORPORATION OF HOPKINTON
Hopkinton’s growth was gradual and substantial. The town was a good
trading point and by the year 1874 there wore about three hundred and fifty
people within its borders. A number of enterprising men were engaged in different lines of business, good schools were in
operation, the institute was on a sure footing, church edifices
were to be seen and the commercial, educational and religious aspect was
pleasant and satisfactory. Transportation facilities had been greatly enhanced
and the prospects were so flattering that the
leading men of the community felt the time had arrived for independence from
township government. This led to a
successful movement for incorporation.
At an election in Lathrop’s Hall,
The first real business of the newly made
council was to pass an ordinance to create
the offices of marshal, treasurer and street commissioner.
The next municipal election was held March 1,
1875. J. G. Diffenderfer was returned for mayor; D.
A. Barnes, clerk; J. G. Diffenderfer, street commissioner; M. H. Harding, assessor;
J. P. Cramer, marshal; P. H. Warner, P. P. Westcott, E. W. Harvey, Charles
Lathrop, James Williamson, trustees. Since its incorporation in 1874 until the
present the following persons in addition to those above named have held the
office of mayor of Hopkinton:
F. M. Earhart,
1880-81; J. H. Campbell, 1882; N. J. Dunham, 1883; S. P. Carter, 1884-86; C. E.
Merriam, 1887; J. H. Campbell, 1888; John Chrystal,
1889-90; C. E. Reeve, 1891-92; S. P. Carter, 1893-95; G. Merriam, 1896; F. A.
Williamson, 1897; G. Merriam, 1898-1900; F. R. Tesar,
1901; S. P. Carter, 1902-04; T. C. Reeve, 1905-09; F. A. Irish, 1910-11; D. C. Oehler, 1912-13; J. J.
Kirkwood, 1914.
MUNICIPAL WATERWORKS
SYSTEM
At a special election held on the 15th
day of April, 1901, the question of erecting and maintaining a system of
waterworks was placed before the taxpayers of Hopkinton, and 160 votes were
cast on the proposition; 116 for, and 43 against, of the male votes. The women,
who were graciously (?) accorded the right of suffrage on the subject, cast 153
ballots; 97 for, 51 against; 5, spoiled.
The election plainly indicated that a majority
of Hopkinton people desired plenty of water, not only because their principles
were in favor of it as the best and most refreshing beverage for man, but also
the added reason that the town demanded more and better protection against the
destructive element of fire. Therefore, lots were purchased for a power and
pumping station, secured of S. P. Carter for the sum of $250, and located on
Public Square Addition. A contract was let to the Des Moines Bridge & Iron
Works Company of
ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Peter Milroy secured a franchise for an
electric light and power plant in 1892 and furnished both the town and private consumers with
electricity. The franchise was renewed in 1912. The plant is installed in the
old grist mill, on the south side of the Maquoketa. In 1912, William Milroy. a son, the
present owner and manager, inaugurated a continuous service. In November, 1912,
the merchants, at their own expense, bought and set up eighteen 5-globe electroliers, on First and Locust streets, and donated
them to the town.
THE POSTOFFICE
The postoffice
was established here in 1852, and Archibald Tate, pioneer brickmaker
of
SCHOOLS
The first schoolhouse built in this district was
a log cabin, situated at the edge of a small
strip of woods, called Scotch Grove, about midway of
the town and the settlement where the Scotch people located. The
settlers hauled the logs in the winter of 1849 and themselves
put up the rude temple of learning. Miss Beard, a
In March, 1865, the independent district was
organized by the election of Henry A. Carter, president of the board of
directors; J. G. Diffenderfer, vice president; Edmund
Davis, treasurer; A. Nash, secretary; C. A. Ball, G. H. Crawford and G.
Merriam. On March 13th, the board voted a tax of 5 mills for school purposes and at the next meeting
appointed G. Merriam, Leroy Jackson and A. Nash a committee with
instructions to build another schoolhouse and have it completed by
LENOX COLLEGE
As early as 1854, the late Henry A.
Carter cherished the hope of establishing a college at Hopkinton. Mr. Carter
had been born and raised in
In March, 1856, a building
committee was appointed to proceed to the erection of the college building. This was
the first
In June, 1856, the name of Bowen
Collegiate Institute was adopted in honor of C. T. Bowen, of
In September, 1856, the members of the
first board of trustees were elected and in October of the same year the first articles
of incorporation were filed, the institution therefore being, from the
beginning, entitled to all the rights and privileges
of a college. The names of the members of the first board of trustees were:
Henry A. Carter, president; W. P. Cunningham, secretary; Leroy Jackson, treasurer; James Kilpatrick, H. R. Hackson, Asa C. Bowen, Edmund
Davis, I. Littlefield, Christian Myers, W. A. Roberts, William Robinson,
William Holt, Jacob Diffenderfer, William Morrison, J. B. Whittaker, and Jerome
Davis.
In the autumn of 1856, the foundation of the
center of the main building was laid and the roof put on in 1857. This was a
two-story brick structure 40x60, containing eight rooms built in the center of
a four-acre plot of ground donated by Mr. H. A. Carter. The campus was
afterwards enlarged by another donation by
Mr. Carter's son, Samuel P. It is a beautiful piece of ground, sloping
in all directions from the main building, with a slight ridge running through
the center from north to south. It is artistically set with groups and rows and
groves of sturdy oaks and spreading elms and graceful, symmetrical, hard
maples. The "fifties" were early days for
Finally by means of a public
entertainment and a festival sufficient money was raised to prepare the inside
of the building for occupation and on
The control of the institution was
tendered the Old School Presbyterian Synod
of Iowa, North, in 1860, and that body the following year took a limited supervision.
In 1863 two of the principal stockholders, H. A. Carter and Leroy Jackson,
obtained a sheriff's deed for the property of the corporation, after the
trustees concluded that they were unable to meet the obligations that were contracted in building. These two men
presented the entire college property to the synod. A deed was signed
The first president of the institution was the Rev. Jerome Allen, Ph. D., who occupied
the chair
from 1859 to 1863 and for two years
additional acted as financial agent and teacher of natural science and English
literature. Doctor Allen was one of the foremost educators of his day. He was
the author of a number of books and established the department of pedagogy in
the university of the City of
Next came the soldier
president, the Rev. J. W. McKean, A. M., 1863-1864. One morning a recruiting
officer attended chapel service and after a strong and noble appeal by
President McKean for the young men to
obey the call of President Lincoln to enlist in the army of the Union,
he informed the students that a recruiting officer was present and all who wished to enlist should arise. All
arose and enlisted but one and he was too young. The
faculty and girl students were in tears and President McKean closed the tender
scene by saying, "Well, boys, if all of you are going, I am going
too." President McKean resigned May 6, 1864, and entered the army as captain of a company in which
all but two of the students enlisted. The work of the institute was suspended
till the fall term.
For a brief period, from
In September, 1866, the Rev. Samuel
Hodge, D. D., who for one year had been professor of languages, was chosen
president and filled that office with becoming dignity and increasing power till
1882.
In 1875 the original building was enlarged by a
wing 55x30 feet. This additional room
was made necessary by the increased attendance of students, the number for one
term reaching 200. This convenient improvement in the size of the building is due, for the most part, to the
liberality of the citizens of
Hopkinton and vicinity. The times were hard and money was scarce. Every effort
had been exhausted to secure enough funds to complete this wing and still the
amount was not sufficient. Mr. Carter had hauled brick on to a piece of ground
adjoining the campus where he had
planned to erect a cottage and spend the rest of his days. It was at this
juncture that Mr. and Mrs. Carter
decided to give their brick for the
new wing, and not in connection with the
erecting of the original building as is sometimes stated. The brick were
removed and built into the wing which has served the institution for nearly
thirty-five years. So Mr. and Mrs. Carter never had their brick cottage and
the land on which it was to have been erected was afterwards given to the
college for an extension of the campus by their son who fell
heir to it as noted above.
In 1882 the trustees departed from the
prevailing custom and elected as president a layman in the person of James A.
Ritchey, Ph. D., who was an experienced educator and for six years labored with
marked success. In 1883 the curriculum of the college was revised and greatly
extended and provided for three regular courses of study as well as for many
electives. Thus the institution was made equal to the best average college in
the state. This year the Helen Finley bequest of $5,000 was made as an addition
to the permanent funds. During this year also occurred the death of H. A.
Carter who was the first president of the board of trustees and a life-long
friend and generous supporter of the college.
In 1884 the articles of incorporation were so
amended as to change the name of Lenox Collegiate Institute to
In 1884 the quarter centennial of the
college was celebrated. An unusually large number of people were present at
that commencement season. Every year in the life of the college seemed to have
sent back former students to represent it. The Old Students' Association,
organized in 1883, made its first public appearance, effected
this general reunion, and contributed much to the social and literary interest
of the occasion. This association was composed of former non-graduate students.
The organization was suggested by Mrs. Lucy Cooley Finley, first preceptress in the .school. The first officers were: F. B.
Dickey, president; Christina M. Kirkwood, secretary.
During the summer of 1888 the board of
trustees chose the Rev. Alexander G. Wilson,
In the spring of 1894 the Rev. Hugh
Robinson, A. M., a son of Lenox College, and a brilliant preacher, was chosen
president and remained for two years in that office. During the presidency of
Reverend Mr. Robinson considerable field
work was done which resulted in increased enrollment. At the commencement
of 1895 the friends who gathered on the
campus to enjoy the exercises of the day contributed $2,500 toward the erection
of a new building to be used for the library, gymnasium, and literary society
halls. James McKean, M. D., '80, of Chenung Mai,
Next came
Andrew G. Wilson, A. M., who was chosen president in the spring of 1896. He too is an
alumnus, '80, and in 1884 began to teach natural science in Lenox College. He
is the peer of any teacher in his department. His scientific knowledge is
extensive and his quiet but forceful manner qualified him for the position he
held till the spring of 1902. In 1897, though the times were hard, the people
of Hopkinton and vicinity loyally and nobly responded with $5,000 for permanent
endowment. It was during President Wilson's time that the new building used for
library and gymnasium was completed. Due to the generous gift of Judge F. B.
Doolittle of Delhi, Iowa, the building was named Doolittle Memorial Hall in
honor of his son, F. W. Doolittle, of sacred memory. In 1901 Mr. Wilson
resigned but remained at his post of duty till the close of the winter term,
1901-2.
In February, 1902, the Rev. Francis
William Grossman,
Progress in the curriculum was also made. The
courses were revised and extended and there was a decided increase in the
requirements both for admission and graduation.
In July, 1906, Doctor
Grossman resigned and in August of the same year Rev. E. E. Reed,
Doctor Reed set himself about securing
subscriptions to meet the conditions of Mr. Carnegie's offer of $25,000, which
had been made sixteen months before and towards which only a small amount had
been subscribed. Many thought the undertaking could not be carried to a
successful issue. The new president thought it could and accepted the
presidency with this belief. He began by setting
a time limit on the subscriptions at January 1, 1909—allowing thus a little
over two years in which to complete the work. It was not an easy task by any
means and yet the full amount was finally secured 3 1/2 months ahead of the time limit
and was carried $8,000 beyond the required amount by the end of the time limit.
A second campaign was soon started for $65,000,
of which $25,000 was to be an endowment for the agricultural department. It was
afterwards advanced to $75,000. A. long
and serious illness of the president laid
him aside from his work for some nine months. In the meantime, Mr. Archibald
Livingston, a citizen near Hopkinton,
died, leaving a legacy estimated to be worth $30,000 to
The academic course has been advanced during the
present administration from a three-year to a four-year course and in other ways
the educational standards of the
college have been raised. Departments of agriculture and domestic science have
been added. The former was advocated by President Reed in his inaugural
address. At that time an agricultural department was a new thing for a college that was devoting itself to classical and general scientific
work. These departments have been put on a strong footing and the studies taken are given regular college
credit.
The library has been considerably more than
doubled in number of volumes and in efficiency has been augmented much more than the increase in volumes would indicate.
Over twelve hundred dollars has been put
into six-foot cement walks over and along the campus. One block east of the campus ten acres have been
purchased, five of which are used for athletics and five acres for the
agricultural department.
In connection with the first campaign Mr.
and Mrs. C. O. Torrey, of
The membership of the faculty has been
almost doubled and the salaries have been materially increased. The annual
expense budget has been almost doubled.
The assets of the
college have been advanced from $65,370 to $250,916. Besides this, some twelve
wills have been written in which Lenox is made a beneficiary. The college is
yet to realize on most of these wills. This alone will add considerably to the
present assets even though no other money was secured for the college in the
meantime.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
“Psalm singers'' were the first settlers in the
neighborhood of the present Town of
The first Reformed Presbyterian family came to
Hopkinton "with faint hopes of
seeing a congregation of Reformed Presbyterians growing up around them."
It was the family of James Kilpatrick, who came to Hopkinton in the fall of
1853, and of whose influence upon the
growth of Hopkinton we spoke before. Mr. Kilpatrick immediately bought land for
himself and for his two brothers-in-law, J. B. Whitaker and Dr. H. P.
Cunningham, who followed him in the early spring of 1854. These faithful
covenanters not only brought their family altars with them, but thought of the
observance of the divine ordinances as soon as they were settled. Thus Rev.
James Neill preached several times to them during the years 1854 and 1855, and
Mr. Kilpatrick's log cabin served as the church. Other Reformed Presbyterian
families began to move in during 1855, of which we will name the families of
Joseph, Miller, Milroy, Gilmore and McConnell, and the desire to have a
congregation organized was expressed. The people entered into correspondence
with Rev. William L. Roberts,
This commission, consisting of Reverends
McDonald and Cannon, and Elder David Willson,
appeared to organize the congregation
Thus the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation was
organized, and pastor, elders and members began active work immediately. The
congregation was divided into three
prayer meetings (societies) and Doctor Roberts preached two sermons every
Sabbath, using Mr. Kilpatrick's house as a church. Later services were held in
what is known as the "red brick" schoolhouse, and still later in the
large room over Farmer's wagon shop; but in the summer Doctor Roberts preached
in the grove. The audiences, especially in the afternoons were very large,
because Doctor Roberts was an excellent orator.
During the years 1856, 1857 and 1858 the membership of the congregation rapidly
increased. We find added to the roll the names of James Greer, November 19,
1856; James Stevenson, Alex Marshall, William Coleman, James Orr, Peter Outline,
William Wright, William Morrison,
James Wood, William and Nancy Stevenson (now Mrs. Cormany),
all in July, 1857; and of the Douglas and
McGlade families, Alex and John Johnson, Hugh Ewart and the brothers Chrystal, all in November, 1858.
The congregation, thus increasing,
desired a church building, and in the fall of 1858 the work on the timber for
the new church was begun. Mr. Robertson made the plan; Mr. Humphreys did the
main work on the foundation; the
brothers Fuller superintended the carpenter work; and all the members of the church worked together in peace and
brotherly love. Thus in September, 1860, the church was finished. This served
the congregation forty-one years and
stands today well preserved, a memorial of the
consecration and zeal of our fathers. In August, 1860,
had occurred the installation of Doctor Roberts as pastor, which, through
peculiar circumstances, had been delayed since 1856. The remaining years of his
pastorate were years of quiet work and prosperity and the utmost harmony
prevailed between pastor and people, so that it was a hard blow to the
congregation when Doctor Roberts was suddenly called to his rest,
After the death of Doctor Roberts the
pulpit was regularly supplied by the other ministers of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church in
On
On
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Under authority
of the Cedar Rapids Presbytery, Rev. A. F. Kerr, on the 5th day of October, 1855, organized the First
Presbyterian Church, of Hopkinton, with
the following members: John Williamson and wife, Mrs. Sarah B. Williamson, Mrs.
Mary A. Hardy, Mrs. Clarinda Davis, Mrs. Sarah Livingston, Mrs. Isabella Livingston, Mrs. Porthura
Livingston, T. N. Williamson and
wife. John Williamson was elected
ruling elder .and served one year, when Robert Wilson, E. T. Williamson,
Just when the first house of worship was erected
is not definitely known by any one now living in the vicinity. But
The church now standing, an ornament to the town
and a splendid monument to the memory
of its projectors and supporters, was finished in 1905
and dedicated on Sunday, June 11th.
The morning sermon was delivered by Reverend Doctor Robinson, of Dubuque;
afternoon, by Reverend Doctor Ruston; and evening, by Reverend Doctor Fahs, of Independence. After the impressive exercises the
presiding pastor announced that the church was free from debt.
The First Presbyterian Church building is architectually all that could be desired. It stands at the
head of
The following named clergymen have been pastors
of this church as successors to Rev. Merritt Harmon: Jerome Allen, first
president of Lenox College; Reverend Doctor Mason, a few months; Samuel Hodge;
M. Stevenson, an evangelist, a brief period; Henry Cullen; H. Gill, "who
could conduct the college, sing in the choir and, withal, preach a sermon of
more than average merit;'' Alexander Scott, two years; J. M. Smith;
Charles Fish, one year; Doctor McIntosh, who came in 1895 and was pastor in
1905, at the time of the dedication. Others who preached at various times were
Revs. Hugh Robinson, W. J. Bollman
and Doctor Coulter. The present pastor is W. H. Ensign.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
The annual conference held at McGregor in
September, 1862, organized the Hopkinton Circuit, and for the first year
included the following appointments: Hopkinton,
During Reverend Whitman's charge two substantial
churches were built, one at Hopkinton and the other at Sand Springs. The old
This charge was arranged in its present
form,
The
FARMERS EXCHANGE BANK
The Farmers
Exchange Bank was established as a private concern in Hopkinton,
In June, 1878, Frank Thompson entered the
bank as bookkeeper and was succeeded in January, 1881, by F. W. Doolittle.
The bank began operations
on the south side of
The present officials of the Hopkinton State
Bank are: F. E. Williamson,
president; Mary R. Doolittle, vice president; F. C. Reeve, cashier. Capital, $40,000: surplus and undivided profits, $32,000:
deposits, $306,000.
THE FARMERS STATE
BANK
One of the strong and influential
financial institutions of
At a regular meeting of the directors, in
January, 1910, W. S. Johnson succeeded to the presidency, and at the same time
S. M. Hucker followed S. P. Thorpe as vice president.
John Turnis took the latter office in 1913.
The official list now appears as follows: W. S.
Johnson, president; John Turnis, vice president; A.
W. McDonald, cashier. Directors: R. J. McNeil, Ralph Milroy. W. S. Johnson, A.
W. McDonald, James F. Delay, James Kehoe, John Turnis,
J. W. Milroy, Frank King. Capital. $25,000; surplus, $7,000; deposits, $115,000.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Rising Sun Lodge, A. P. & A. M., No.
187, was organized at
Sunbeam Chapter, Order Eastern Star, was
organized March 2, 1905, with the
following charter members and officers: W. M., Mrs. C. E. Reeve; W. P., W. S. Beels; A. M., Mrs. R. G. Crawford; secretary, Miss Emma
Richardson; treasurer, Mrs. J. S. McConnell; conductress, Mrs. T. B. Tibbitts; assistant conductress, Mrs. J. J. Kirkwood; Adah, Miss Alice Crawford; Ruth, Mrs. L. P. Cummings;
Esther, Mrs. P. R. Wheeless; Martha, Mrs. J. D. Morgan;
Electa, Mrs. F. E. Williamson; warder, Mrs. J. S. Deshaw; sentinel, G. H. Deshaw: chaplain, Mrs.
A. B. Wheeless; marshal, Mrs. W. A. Place; organist,
Mrs. Bollman.
Other charter members were: Mesdames A. Richardson, M. C. Merriam, C. Guthaus, Harry Wilson,
W. A. Lang, J. Baker, — Nichols, Ola Snyder, John Lawson,
C. C. Hoag, J. C. Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Armstrong and Mr. and Mrs.
John Hilsenbeck.
Sunset
Lodge, No. 525. Independent Order Odd Fellows,
was organized
Amon Lodge, No. 115,
Daughters of Rebekah, was organized in September,
1902. The lodge now has a membership of about sixty.
Sand Spring is one of the primitive towns of
Delaware County that cut some figure
in its day as a trading point, but with the passing of time and events and the
control of man, its prestige long since has taken wings and but little is left
of the place to speak of. Be that as it may, however, the village was laid out by Surveyor George Welch in January,
1858, for the owners, T. H. Bowen and L. H. Langworthy.
Mr. Bowen had located a large tract of
land here and in the vicinity and in
1856 the Southwestern (
The first building
in Sand Spring, a log cabin, was put up by Asa C.
Bowen in 1852 and he was one of the first to locate in this vicinity.
In the year 1858 an important event occurred, in
the arrival of a number of families belonging to the "Exodus
Colony" formed in
Reverend Bolles was an
earnest, eloquent preacher, a good man, who fulfilled the duties imposed upon
him in purchasing the "Colony” land and making
arrangements for the "Exodists." That the
primary scheme of colonizing
A school was opened here in the summer of 1858
by Miss Lucy Battles, daughter of Otis Battles. Later, in 1868, a commodious
and substantial school building was
erected. E. P. Couser was principal of the graded
school.
The Methodists had organized a society
and, in 1865, erected a house of worship. A similar building was put up by the
Baptists in 1868.
The Southwestern, now under the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul System, failed to reach Sand Spring in the fall of
1858. This was irksome to those who had contributed to the building of the
road, as they needed and greatly desired railroad communication with the outer
world. The spring of 1859 came and still the rails were three miles distant.
This led the farmers and business men, and even their women folks, to pitch in and help the track layers finish
their work into the village. It is said that Mrs. Asa
C. Bowen, Mrs. Karst and other helpful pioneer
matrons, assisted in carrying and placing the ties.
When the Davenport & St. Paul (
The postoffice at Sand
Spring was established in 1858, and T. H. Bowen was commissioned postmaster on
the 19th day of June, 1858. The names of his successors follow: William Cline,
April 16, 1860; E. H. Sellers, January 30, 1861; Robert Elliott, April 25, 1863; Orson Henry, December 17, 1863; S. R.
Tuttle, May 18, 1870: G. H. Brown, October 20. 1871; Leonard Loffelholz, April 13, 1886: G. H. Brown, May 9, 1889; O. J.
McGinnis, June 30, 1893; Adam Reichart, October 2,
1895: F. E. Wood, Jr., July 30, 1897; S. D. Garlinghouse,
March 2, 1903; William J. Gelvin, December 14, 1906;
Alexander Blair, March 23, 1909.
For a number of years the manufacture of
brooms was an important industry at this place, T. H. and Asa
C. Bowen, of Hopkinton giving it an impetus that put the innovation on a substantial footing. Broom making meant raising of the raw product, all of which increased the
revenues of those directly interested.
The
Becky
Teubner, Contributor
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