MINDEN

This is a thriving village of 300 inhabitants. The surrounding country is a beautiful rolling prairie, well settled with industrious farmers. Minden is the seat of government of Minden Township. The population of Minden town is mostly of German people, and progress is indicated on every hand. The town is 26 miles northeast of Council Bluffs, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and commands the trade of a large surrounding scope of country.

We find in the dry goods line, Messrs. Bartle & Co., who carry also a general stock of merchandise. They are well established. J.W. Crow deals in dry goods and keeps himself supplied up to latest styles and prices. He deals in a fair manner and is a courteous gentleman.

Shrader & Yoder are princes of the hardware business. One will find in their store everything he needs for his plow, wagon, doors, wire fence, and every conceivable convenient household invention.

J.C. Garmong furnishes anything in the line of agricultural implements, and the farmers have found him one of the most enterprising business men of the town. His stock is large, new and diversified. His present large trade is deservedly earned by strict attention to business in all its details.

W.M. Cochrane is one of the Minden's oldest business men. He supplies the market with lumber, doors, sash, blinds, lath and shingles. His identification with every good interest of his town and county has earned for him a long list of patrons. He grows in business proportions with the unusual growth of the population of the township.

J.B. Morton is an extensive real estate dealer of Minden. His list of lands and lots for sale indicate his standing as a responsible man. He buys and sells lands and lots, pays taxes for nonresidents, and does a general real estate business.

James Crow is justice of the peace for Minden Township. He has grown well along in years highly honored by all who know him. Along with his fellow citizens he is progressive in spirit, and assists in every enterprise looking to the growth of his adopted home.

Peter Ehlers is an extensive dealer in grain, and an old citizen -- a German by birth. He commands the esteem of all his nationality with whom he deals. He is a man of quiet demeanor and few words, and through careful attention to business has gathered together a large share of this world's goods.

Henry Jessien has a reputation as a lumber dealer that is well worth envying. Like many more of his German fellow sojourners on American soil, he appreciates the chances a man of grit has in this country, of growing rich. His reputation as an enterprising business man has gone beyond his own town in this county. He carries a full stock of lumber, doors, sash, blinds, lath and shingles, and miscellaneous stock.

[1880-81 City Directory, Submitted by Darlene Vergamini]