"Tour of Iowa Counties" Clarke County Towns and Villages 10 July 1868, Daily State Register Transcribed by K. Torp Osceola - Something of the history of the county seat has been given in this article. It is beautifully situated on a high dry, rolling prairie between the valley of Squaw and Whitebreast creeks. It is 45 miles south of Des Moines, 28 west of Charlton, 24 north of Leon and 28 east of Afton. Of its railroad and railroad prospects I have before remarked. There are five church organizations, viz: - Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Christian, Old School Presbyterian and Baptist. The first three named have each a good building for public worship and the Presbyterians are building a good brick church. The Baptists are also making preparations to build. There are two Sabbath Schools, both well attended and prospering. that connected with the M.E. Church numbers 280 teachers and pupils. The Union Sabbath School numbers about 125 teachers and pupils. H.C. Sigier, Esq., the banker at Osceola, contributes much of his time and means to the cause of Sabbath Schools. Osceola has flourishing lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows and also a Masonic Chapter, and Odd Fellows Encampment. The Masons have a tastefully furnished hall. The lots in Osceola are large - most of them being 214 ft., 6 in by 107 ft ? in. Fronting the public square, the lots are the same length, but only half the width of the others. The streets are mostly 68 feet wide, and the alleys 20 feet 7 ½ in. Additions containing acre lots have also been laid out. The Public Square contains about three acres. It is neatly fenced and set in maples. Being but recently planted, they have not yet obtained a large growth. There are two public wells on the he square, affording good water at all times, which by the way, is not a scare article in any portion of the town. Good air and good water, are promotive of health, and Osceola possesses all these most desirable blessings. The town was incorporated something over a year. ago. Its officers are L.M. Wilson, Mayor; J.O. McAuley, Recorder, and J.W. Richards, Treasurer. The town contains at this time 14 general stores, 4 family groceries, 3 drug stores, 2 hardware stores, 2 stove and tin ware stores, 1 clothing store, 1 marble dealer, 4 hotels, 2 meat markets, 1 bakery, 2 artists, 2 house and sign painters, 2 wagon shops, 1 book store, 2 jewelry shops, 3 lumber yards, 1 printing office, 2 boot and shoe dealers, 3 millinery stores, 1 bank and dealer in exchange, 2 furniture establishments, 2 harness shops, 2 livery stables, 6 lawyers, 6 physicians, 4 blacksmith shops, 1 barber shop, 2 commission warehouses, 1 flouring mill, 1 woolen mill, 2 merchant tailors, and the usual proportion of mechanics, including carpenters, plasterers, &c. The leading mercantile dealers are G.P. Howe, R.A. Dague, Grant & Garretson, Wilson & son, James Morrison, Brown & Williams, Hall & Mintonye, Wetdenhammer & Co., John Alexander, W.T> Rowland, S. & J. W. Richards, and E.K. Kennedy. In the family grocery business are Agnew & Atkins, Read & Harrison, and L. Ewing, while the drug business is represented by Prole & Gore, E.M. Laws & Bro and Millard & Nugent. The soda fountain, belonging to the establishment of Prole & Gore, is one of the institutions of Osceola. In the hardware line, L. Lyers and the Langdon Bros. are leading firms. Col. Thos. Dare, the old established stove and tinware dealer of the place is the best and most skillful workman in Iowa, as the awards of the Iowa State Fairs have attested. Atkins & Son are the only marble dealers and have an extensive trade. The "Hawkeye House," kept by James Brown; "Fleming House," by Asa Fleming' and "Cochran House," by J.F. Cochran, are all said to be good hotels. Of the first named I can speak from experience, and can assure the traveler that his comfort will be cared for at the "Hawkeye." The leading artists of the place are our young friends Clapp * Millard. C.H. Younkin & Co., of Charlton have established a branch in the news and stationery business here, supplying the mental ailment essential in every community. Mr. J. Dibble furnishes to the citizens the "Staff of Life." B.F. Chapman and J.G. Watts, Jewelers, ply their delicate art and furnish the "time o'day." The latter is the inventor of a new sewing machine that has the advantages of cheapness and simplicity. C.W. Rieck and W.H. Ridgway, furniture dealers, have large establishments, the latter manufacturing extensively. George Wilson has established a wagon manufactory, and designs to increase its capacity, while Rhen & Evans do a large business in iron work on wagons and general blacksmithing. M.S. Cummings in boots and shoes; and J.F. Wright in harness and saddlery, each do a lending business. A heavy branch of business is the lumber trade, Gilbert, Hedge & Co., E.D. Rand & Co., and Frank Millard & Co., each do an extensive business in that line. The two large commission and grain dealing houses are those of Smith, Watson & Co., and Ream, Knox & Co., The former is in charge of N.T. Frederick as managing clerk. These establishments both do a large shipping business. Osceola boasts the possession of some first class mechanics and artisans. As mechanics and builders, N. McGrew and James Cree stand at the head of their calling. Last, though perhaps not least, I come to the professions. Among attorneys, the following stand high: James Rice, M.B. Reese, E.F> Riley, John Chaney and F.N. Colwell. Ayers & Kaley constitute a new legal firm, just going into business here. They come highly endorsed and will doubtless make their mark, and add to the laurels of the Clarke county bar. The disciples of the healing art are Drs. E. M. Lucas, F.M. Brady, W.R> Nugent, H.Love, L.M.D. Sherick and J.H. Carman. The names I have mentioned embrace most of the prominent and leading business men of Osceola and who have contributed to make it one of the most lively business places in Southern Iowa. Taking all things into consideration -- her railroad advantages, present and prospective, beauty of location, health, fertility of the surrounding country, and many other circumstances in her favor, Osceola may be considered one of the promising towns of Iowa. Her present population is not far from 1500. WOODBURN - This is a spanking, bran new little town on the railroad, ten miles east of Osceola. It began its happy, lively little existence almost since the grass of the present year began to grow. The first house was built since January, 1868. It now contains thirty dwelling houses, and a population of over 150. There are two general stores, a drug store, hotel, boarding house, blacksmith shop, post office, railroad station and telegraph office, commission ware house, express office, physician, and I heard some talk of building a flouring mill. The town is beautifully located on a southern prairie slope - partly in the valley of Brush Creek, and extending back on the highland overlooking the valley. Its proprietors are the R. & M. R.R> Company and H.C. Sigler Esq., of Osceola. I must not omit to say that it has a good school in operation and will soon be constituted an independent school district. If there is no Sabbath School, Mr. Sigler will soon see that there is one established. The leading men of the place are J.L. Tedrow, merchant J.E. Chapman, station agent Bornine(?) & Mason, druggists; Dr. C. Blythe; Ira Parmenter, doing business for C.I. Palmer of Charlton; and John O.. Grady and Matthew Duggun, in the service of the Railroad Company. John McDonough is one of the enterprising farmers of Clarke county, and lives in the immediate vicinity of Woodburn. He has an orchard embracing 14 acres, and containing 1700 trees - about 200 of which are bearing. Smith, Watson & Co., have a branch of their commission business located here, and ship from this point considerable quantities of grain. Woodburn is surrounded by a fine grain producing country. Lumber sells from $3 to $5 per 100 feet, and shingles from $2.50 to $5.00 per thousand. Wild land in the vicinity is from $5 to $10 per acre, and improved farms from $15 to $25 per acre. Lots in Woodburn range from $25 to $50 each. This town gives indication of a prosperous future. It affords a good opening for business. The post office is called Ottawa. MURRAY - This is the name given to the new station of the B. & M. R.R. ten miles west of Osceola. It is located on a beautiful, high rolling prairie, in the midst of a splendid agricultural potion of the county. It is in Troy township. and near the State road leading from Osceola to Afton, and also on the road from Winterset, running south. It is perhaps in the most fertile but least timbered part of the county. There is, however, good timber in sight on South river and Seven Mile Creek. The proprietors of Murray are the B. & M. R.R. and H.C. Sigler, Esq., of Osceola. It is expected to become an important shipping point. HOPEVILLE - This village is in Doyle township, in the extreme southwest part of the county. It was laid out in March 1861, and is consequently one of the oldest towns in the county. Its original proprietor was David Newton. It contains at this time 3 general stores, 1 drug store, 1 stove and tin(?) store, 2 hotels, 1 harness shop, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 churches, 1 school house and 4 physicians. Its population is about 250. There is also a Masonic Lodge. The church organizations are Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, and Christian. The Methodist Protestants have, as yet, no church. Bates & Adkins, merchants, are among the leading business men of the place. The junior member of the firm is the present County Superintendent. GREEN BAY - This place is situated about 9 miles south of Osceola in the township of the same name, and on the line of the Iowa & Minnesota Railroad. Part of the land was entered by Ogden Gray, July 3d, 1855, and part by William Cochran, Dec. 10, 1855. The town was laid out by Gilham Overton in June 1862. It now contains 1 store, 1 hotel, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 brick church, 1 brick school house and a population of about 40. John E. Chaney, member of the Board of Supervisors, and one of the large farmers of the county, lives near this place. SMYRNA - This is a small village in Franklin Township, 12 miles southeast of Osceola. The land on which it is located was entered by Dickemon Webster, October 21, 1853, and by him laid off as a town. It contains a store and school house. The Friends have a large meeting house in the vicinity. Population, 40. LIBERTY - This place was laid out by Alfred Rhodes in July 1855 on land originally entered by John Branner in the northeast township of the county. It is 11 miles from Osceola. It has but a small population. There is a post office. OTTAWA - This place is about 10 miles east of Osceola, and one mile north of Woodburn. The land was entered by Benjamin Coppock, March 20, 1854, and by him the town was laid out in March, 1855. At one time it was an important village, but the location of the railroad a mile south has had the effect of building up the rival town of Woodburn. Many of the buildings have been removed to the latter place. It contains a church, large school house and a Masonic Lodge. LACELLE - This is a small post village in Knox township, about 10 miles southwest of Osceola. It contains a school house and several dwellings. It was laid out as a town by S.& J. French and D. Lindley in July 1855. Its population is about 30. LAPORTE - This is situated in Madison township in the northwest part of the county. Its original proprietor was James Hall. It was surveyed into town lots in March, 1855. It is little more than a mere post village; population about 23. PRAIRIE GROVE - in Washington township and MILFORD in Troy township, were laid off as towns, it is said, but no records of them have been preserved. The former has a population of 40, and contains a mill, blacksmith shop and several dwellings. REMARKS With her railroad advantages, educational facilities, fertility of soil; abundance of water; general healthfulness; cheapness of land improved and unimproved, manufactories; abundance of building material, and the general intelligence and morality of her people, Clarke county offers inducements to the farmer, mechanic, laborer, stock raiser and business man, at least equal to other counties in Southern Iowa. She will welcome to her borders all who will come and assist in developing her resources, assuring all who desire to seek comfortable homes in the great west that she yet has many thousands of rich acres that the plough has never turned. ©2008 Genealogy Trails