Sac County, IA Genealogy Trails

ODEBOLT
Sac County, Iowa

History
[contributed by: Barb Z. 2008]

    This town is situated in the western part of Sac County on a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It was laid out by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company in 1877. M. H. Heninen is not only the first business man of Odebolt, but is one of the earliest settlers, having been engaged in selling supplies to the laborers before the town was laid out or the railroad completed. The first house erected in the town was built by W. Van Duesen, and served both as a store and dwelling. He was soon followed by Geo. McKibbin, and James Ross. The railroad was completed to this town in 1877. The first regular train reached this point November 19th, 1877.
        The depot was built in 1877. J. T. Martin was appointed the first depot agent, and Miss Emma Martin was first telegraph operator.
    H. T. Martin is among the early settlers of Odebolt. He organized the first Sabbath School in December, 1877, and was the first commissioned Notary Public in the place.
    The town of Odebolt was incorporated in March. 1879, James Ross being the first Mayor, and J. M. Zane, Recorder; J. Flanders. J. Ketterer, E. Geist, C. Dalbkymer, C. B. Hatfield, and J. Bowles served as Councilmen. James Ross still holds the position of Mayor, W. V. Sindt, Recorder; J. Flanders, J. Ketterer, E. Geist, H. Rheberger, J. W. Fairbanks and C. S. Lee, are the present Councilmen.

History of  Churches, Schools and Societies
[contributed by: Barb Z. 2008]   

The Odebolt Reporter was started in Sac City in 1877, by W. W. Yarham, and was moved to Odebolt the same year. Frank Kelley purchased the paper from Yarham. It was afterwards bought by Taylor & Mann, and still later was purchased by A. J. Mann. G. A. Kikok afterwards purchased the paper and sold it to F.L. Dennis in April, 1881. This paper is republican in politics, is an eight column quarto, and has a circulation of 600. The population of Odebolt is now estimated at 1,200 souls. The Odebolt Observer is a neat six column quarto weekly paper. It was started in July, 1880, by Martin & Bennett. Bennett soon bought Martin's interest, and is now the sole proprietor. This paper is Democratic, and has a circulation of 500 copies.

    The Central Western Iowa District Fair Association.—This comprises the counties of Sac. Ida and Crawford, and was organized August 1st, 1881, with W. W. Field as President, P. Coy, W. Van Duesen. H. C. Wheeler, A. D. Peck, I. S. Bailey, E. P. Masser; E. A. Bennett and S. Peterson as Vice-Presidents; F. L. Dennis, Secretary; W. J. Summerville, Treasurer. This society owns twenty five acres of land, situated one half mile northeast of the town, and will hold their first fair in the fall of 1882.

Odebolt Fire Company.—The Hook and Ladder Company was organized in the spring of 1880, and consists of forty members, all uniformed. J. Mattes, Foreman; E. E.Hamlin, Secretary; W. V. Sindt, Treasurer; Dave W. Flack, Assistant Foreman. Odebolt boasts of a flax mill which was' established in 1880 by Winslow & Son. This is a large frame building with steam power. John Dement is the present proprietor.
 

Odebolt has the finest public hall in Sac County. It was erected in 1881, by John Wright. It is a brick structure, 50x90 feet with five hundred sittings.
The business of Odebolt may be classified as follows: Seven general stores, three groceries, two harness shops, two hardware stores, three drug stores, two jewelry stores, two furniture stores, three restaurants, two banks, three hotels, three elevators, three lumber yards, four agricultural implement dealers, three livery stables, four blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, three millinery stores, three barber shops, two meat markets, one photograph gallery, two printing offices, one ready made clothing house, one exclusive dry goods store, three saloons, post office.

Early Residents Biographies
[contributed by Barb Z. 2008]
 

F. R. Bennett is editor and proprietor of the Odebolt Observer, which was established in July, 1880, and is a six column quarto paper. In 1847 he edited and published the Advertiser, at Rock county, la. He came to Odebolt in 1880. This is the only democratic paper published in the county and it has a subscription list of about 500. Office on second floor of Schmitz block and is thoroughly fitted up as a job office. He employs three compositors.

C. D. Boardman, physician and druggist, was born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, if. Y., in 1854; moved with parents to Lyons, Clinton county, la.; there attended school, and in 1871 entered the Agricultural College, of Ames. He graduated in 1874 and in the winter of same year entered the Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. The same year he opened an office at Monticello, la., also engaged in the drug business, in partnership with Dr. Mellett; at the end of one year Dr. Boardman became sole proprietor. In May, 1880, he moved the stock to Odebolt and established his present business.

J. C. Bodine, farmer and stock raiser, was born in N. Y. in 1835; in 1805 moved to Aurora, Ill., where he engaged in the stock business. He moved to Grinnell, la., in 1808; he came to Sac county, in 1874. He purchased in Cook township, where he now resides, a farm of 320 acres, which is well improved. He also owns another farm, counting 100 acres, which he rents. Mr. B. is one of the representative farmers of this county; has filled many offices of trust; in politics is a democrat.

S. H. Bowman, of the firm of S. H. Bowman & Co., dealers in lumber, coal, lime and mixed paints, was born in Baltimore, Md., in March, 1854. In 1873 he entered the Business College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated in May, 1874. He went to Feb. in 1878, and was engaged in the lumber business at various towns. In March, 1880, he came to Odebolt, la., and established the above business; he is the senior member and business manager of the firm, which has branch yards at Ida Grove,
Battle Creek and Danbury.

 J. W. Burnside, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, carpets, etc., was born in Steuben county, N. Y., in 1833; moved with parents to Crawford county, la., when quite young. He
received his education at the Methodist University of Delaware, O., afterwards attended Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1854. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Garden Prairie, Ill. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in the 95th, Ill. Inft..; remained in the service until 1866. During that time he was transferred from the volunteer service to the regular army. He was in several important engagements, was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, also at Fort Du Risse. After leaving the army he located at Boone, la., and engaged in mercantile business. In 1878 came to Odebolt and engaged in business as above.

Frank L. Dennis, editor and proprietor of the Odebolt Observer, was born in Clinton county, la., in 1852. He learned his trade in the DeWitt Observer office; remained there until 1878, then moved to Wall Lake, Sac county, and established the Wall Lake Journal, which he sold in April, 1881 . He came to Odebolt and purchased the Odebolt Reporter, which was first established at Sac City by W. W. Yarham, who moved it to this city in November, 1877. The office is in the basement of Wright's Opera Block and is fitted for a, first class news and job office. The paper is republican in politics, is a six column quarto, with a subscription list of six hundred.

Henry Dockstader, proprietor of the Revere House, was born in Jefferson county, N.Y., in 1836; moved in 1842 to Tioga county, Pa.; thence to Jones county, la., in 1857. He there engaged in farming until 1872, then moved to Panora, Guthrie county, where he farmed until the autumn of 1881. He came to Odebolt and took charge of the Odebolt House, which he thoroughly renovated and refitted, changing the name to Revere. It is now a first class hotel.

Alfred G. Erlenborn, dealer in general merchandise, was born at Mendota, III., in 1860. He received his education at the Jesuit College, of Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1875. He entered the banking house of Erlenborn Bros., at Mendota, of which bank his father was the senior partner. In 1879 he went to Denver, Col., was there employed as bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house. He returned to Iowa in 1881 and located at Ode- bolt. He engaged in the loan business and also as bookkeeper for Warneke. Afterwards engaged in business as above; also does a loan and insurance business; is assisted by his brothers, Otto and Julins and W. Pitschuer.

C. E. George, of the firm of George & Coy, attorneys at law, was born at Alexandria, Grafton county, N. H., Dec. 20th, 1857. He received his education at the high school of Bristol, N. H., and the New London, N. H., and Newbury, Vt., Academies. He read law for two years with Hon. S. B. Page, at Woodville, Vt., and in 1879 graduated from the Vermont University, obtaining the degree of A. B. He also graduated from the law department of the Ann Arbor, Mich., University. He came to Odebolt, la., in March, 1880, and engaged in the practice of his profession. During the summer of the same year he formed a partnership as above. Dell Coy, of the above firm, was born in Kane county, Ill., Aug. 15th, 1857. He received his education at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill., and in 1878 entered the Union College of law. at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1880. Came to Odebolt the same year. They attend strictly to law, collection and insurance business, and although both young, have placed themselves in the foremost ranks of the profession.

A. Groman, M. D., was born in Lake county, Ind., in 1856. He received his preparatory education at Crown Point Seminary and studied medicine with his father, Dr. C. Groman. In the autumn of 1876 he entered the Homeopathic College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in March, 1878. He opened an office at Odebolt, la., in June of the same year. Office on second floor of Wright's Opera block; consultation room adjoining. Henry Hanson, grain, seed and stock dealer, was born in Sweden; came to America in 1808 and landed in N. Y.; remained in that state until 1874, when he came to Sac county, la. He purchased land and farmed until 1877, then moved to Odebolt and engaged in present business. He owns a steam elevator fitted with all of the latest improved machinery, employs nine men in elevators and warehouses, two bookkeepers and C. B. Hatfield, grain and stock buyer.

W. A. Helsell, of the firm of Zane & Helsell, attorneys at law, was born in Millersburg, O., in 1855; moved with parents to Iowa 1861. He graduated in the scientific course at the Ames
Agricultural College in 1877 and in 1879 graduated from the law department of Simpson's Centenary College. He was admitted to the bar before the supreme court at Des Moines, June 9th, 1879, and in the July following formed a partnership as above. He attends to the law and trial business and Mr. Zane to the loan, insurance and abstract business of the firm. They have a complete set of abstract books.

Martin Keck, proprietor of restaurant, ice cream and oyster parlors, also dealer in fancy groceries, confectionery, cigars, tobacco, etc., came to Sac county, la., in 1878; engaged in farming, then came to Odebolt and established business as above.

J. H. Kitterer & Co., proprietors of the Pioneer hardware store, which was established in 1878 by W.  Van Dusen, purchased the business in Aug., 1879. The firm is composed of J. H. Kitterer and Joseph Mattes; they are men of long experience in the hardware business, having previous to coming to this city been engaged in the same. They carry a stock estimated at $18,000, and do a driving business. They employ one clerk and three tinners. Make specialties of Glidden barbed wire, "Splendid" heating stoves, "Diamond" and "Acorn" cook stoves.

C. S. Lee, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, came to Denison, la., in 1869 from Philadelphia, Pa. in May, 1877, he moved to Odebolt, and opened a restaurant; two years later added a full stock of groceries. He has since closed out the restaurant and now attends strictly to his fast increasing grocery trade. Joseph Mercer, dealer in agricultural implements, was born in Beaver county, Pa., March 1st, 1856; moved the same year with parents to De Kalb county, Ill. In June, 1880, he entered the employ of the Sandwich manufacturing company, at Sandwich, Ill.; traveled for them until Nov., 1881. when he located at Odebolt and engaged in business as above. He is agent for the goods manufactured by the following named firms: Sandwich Co., Briggs & Enochs, Scandia Plow Co.. of Rockford, Ill., Vandiver Co., of Quincy, Ill., Daly Harrow Co. and others.

E. A. Moody, painter and grainer, was born in Milwaukee, Wis. in 1848; was educated at Notre Dame College, of South Bend, Ind. In 1861 he enlisted in the regular army, and served during the war of the rebellion. Was discharged in 1865; returned to Milwaukee and learned his trade, in 1868 he moved to Cincinnati, O., where he remained one year, then went west, and after a time located at Yankton, Dak. He returned to Milwaukee and soon after moved to Cherokee, la.; was there engaged in business three years. In Dec., 1878, he came to Odebolt and engaged in business. He does a good business and employs five men.

Frank A. Ross, insurance agent, came to Odebolt from Boone, la., where he had resided for twenty five years. He first engaged in teaching school, and in Feb., 1880, established business as above .His office is at the Mayor's office, over the City Drug Store. He is agent for the Home Life Association, of Burlington, Iowa, for three counties, Sac, Crawford and Carroll. H. F. Warneke, dealer in grain and stock, came to Odebolt. la., from Plattville, Wis., in 1879. He established a saloon, which he continued until Aug., 1881, and in the Sept. following he established his present business. He has shipped since establishing business to Jan. 1st, 1882, two hundred car loads. His warehouse has a capacity of ten thousand bushels; employs five men.

H. C. Wheeler, farmer and stock raiser, was born May 10th, 1835, at Hopkinton, N. H.; the following year moved with parents to Chicago, Ill. He there received his education and finished at the Academy of Warrensville. In 1854 he went to San Francisco, Cal.; there engaged in the real estate business, and after two years returned to Chicago. He remained two years and again went to San Francisco. He became one of the first members of the San Francisco Stock Exchange and remained there until 1864. After spending one and one half years traveling in Europe, he came to Sac county, la., and invested in real estate and commenced extensive farming operations. He now owns a large tract of land adjoining Odebolt on three sides. Also one thousand acres in Plymouth county, and one thousand- acres in Crawford county. In 1877 he donated the right of way, town site and 82,000 in cash to the railroad company. He laid out and owns two additions to the town of about one hundred acres. He resides in Wheeler township, three miles from the city; has three boarding houses on the farm, employs forty men and fifty teams. He has a herd of sixty head of Short Horn cattle and forty Clydesdale horses and colts, besides other stock. He has spent considerable time in making practical a steam plow for use on his farm; it in- eludes ten plows in a frame. Mr. Wheeler is one of the directors of the State Fair Association. He owns valuable property in Chicago.

John Wright, banker, came from Cedar county, la., to Sac county in 1872. He purchased 1,000 acres of land in partnership with his brother, N. Wright, and engaged in farming until Nov., 1878, at which time he opened the bank, having previously erected the bank block, the front room of which is occupied by the bank and contains a fire-proof vault and a Marvin safe, with an electric time-lock. The rear room is occupied by George & Coy, attorneys. Mr. Wright does an extensive loan business in partnership with C. E. George. He has recently erected, on the corner of Second and Maple streets, a brick block, containing two store rooms below and two offices in front oa second floor, and fine opera hall in rear.
This hall is well fitted with stage, scenery, dressing rooms and well lighted. He also owns other valuable city property. Wheelock & Rehterger, dealers in agricultural implements, on corner of Second and Maple sts., handle McCormick's goods, also goods from all the leading firms, including Cook's buggies and carriages. R. U. Wheelock has been in the employ of the Mc- Cormick Co. for fifteen years, and is a man of extensive experience with machinery. Mr. Rehterberger is by trade a blacksmith, and owns a shop in the rear of warehouse, on Maple street, where he employs two men. He does a large business, making a specialty of wagon and buggy work.

Winchell & Webster are grain dealers and proprietors of the Star store. The grain business was established in Oct., 1879. They have three flax and wheat warehouses on First st., with capacity of forty thousand bushels. They shipped during the year 1881 three hundred cars of grain. They also own a coal' yard. The store, which is situated on First and Second sts., the building running through from one to the other, is two stories high; the first is occupied by dry goods, groceries, queensware and clothing, the second by boots, shoes, carpets and gentlemen's furnishing goods. They carry an average stock of $20,000, and employ three clerks and a book-keeper. Messrs. Winchell & Webster were formerly of Chicago; the former was there engaged in a wholesale house, and the latter in the coal trade.

John M. Zane, of the firm of Zane & Helsell, attorneys at law, was born in Cumberland county, N. J., Oct. 16th, 1845. He received his education at Bridgeton. At an early age he moved to Philadelphia, Pa.; during the rebellion he was for two years a member of the U. S. quartermaster's department. In Sept., 1866, he went to Springfield, Ill., there read law in the office of Herndon & Zane. He taught school at intervals while reading law; in Feb., 1872, he moved to Jasper county, la., and in Dec., 1873, was admitted to the bar at Newton, under Judge L. C. Blanchard. He began the practice of law at Prairie City. In 1874, on account of failing health, he went to Colorado and spent two years traveling in the Rocky Mountains; then returned to Prairie City, la. He came to Odebolt in 1877 and opened a law office, and in July of the following year formed his present partnership.

 

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