O'Brien County is the second from the west line and the second from the north line of the State, is twenty-four miles square, containing a superficial area of 576 square miles, and is divided into sixteen townships.

The largest stream is the Little Sioux River, which crosses the southeast corner. Henry Creek rises in the northeastern part of the county, draining several townships while Waterman and Mill Creeks flow through the central townships, and are all branches of the Little Sioux. Floyd River rises in several branches in the northwestern part of the county, affording drainage to several townships. The supply of timber is very limited, being mostly confined to groves on the Little Sioux, in the southeastern corner of the county, and is chiefly oak, hickory, ample, elm and cottonwood. When protected from the fires timber grows rapidly, and many of the settlers have promising groves of planted trees. The soil of this region is exceedingly productive, and in its wild state produces luxuriant crops of native grass, which is excellent for pasturage or hay. The bottom or table lands along the streams, are composed of a deep, rich vegetable mold, on a sub-soil resembling clay mixed with gravel. The soil of the upland prairies is the highly productive bluff deposit of this part of the State, with a vegetable coating, and produces in great perfection all kinds of grain and vegetables. The surface is generally undulating, and susceptible of easy cultivation. There are no exposures of rocks "in place," or in quarries, in the county, the only stone being the boulders that are found scattered over the surface, and are mostly granite, red-quartzite, with a few magnesian limestone. The material of the bluff formation is manufactured into very good bricks, and this, of course, is abundant. Excellent pure water is easily obtained in all places at a few feet below the surface. The great abundance of excellent wild grass and pure water renders this a fine region for stock-raising, especially where provision is made for winter shelter. In this, as well as other counties in this part of the State, settlers must plant trees to insure a future supply of fuel, and thus may soon obviate the necessity of depending upon coal shipped from other parts of the state.

The first white settlers in O'Brien County were H.H. Waterman and family, who on the 11th day of July, 1856, located on the northeast quarter of section 26, township 94, range 39. They removed here from Bremer County, Iowa, but were formerly from the State of New York.

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The county was organized in 1860, the first election being held at the house of H.H. Waterman, where the following first county officers were chosen: J.C. Furber, County Judge; H.G. Waterman, Treasurer and Recorder; Archibald Murray, Clerk and County Surveyor. The first county seat was at a place called O'Brien, in the southeast corner of the county, where the principal settlement was made prior to the construction of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad, The first district court was held by Judge Henry Ford. The first religious meeting held in the county assembled at the home of pioneer Waterman, while Mrs. Waterman taught the first school at O'Brien. The first newspaper was the O'Brien Pioneer, commenced by B.F. McCormack and J.R. Pumphrey.

At the general election of 1872 a vote was taken on the question of the permanent location of the county seat, which resulted in favor of the geographical center of the county. Accordingly a town was laid out at that point, to which the name of Primghar was given. At the time the surveyors were engaged in the work of laying off the town plat, the persons present were Messrs. Pumphrey, Roberts, Inman, McCormack, Green, Hays, Albright and Rerick. The initials of these names in the order give form the word Primghar, and hence it was agreed that this should be the name of the new town. The first house on the town site was erected by J.R. Pumphrey for county purposes. The next was a house of public entertainment, erected by C.F. Albright.

Present County officers are: T.J. Alexander, Treasurer; J.L.E. Peck, Auditor; W.N. Strong, Clerk; H. Sprague, Recorder; D. Algyr, County Superintendent; W.C. Green, Sheriff, J.H. Smith, Surveyor; C. Longshore, Coroner.

Population of O'Brien County according to the census of 1880 was 4,156. Its population is now estimated at abut 5,500. The towns in the County are: Pringhar, situated in the center of the county; Sheldon, in the northwest corner; Sanborn, seven miles east of Sheldon, in the northern part of the county; Hartley, in the northeast part of the county, and O'Brien, in the southeast part of the county.

The Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad passes through the northeastern edge of the county, forming a junction at Sheldon with the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad, which traverses the county east and west, passing through Sheldon, Sanborn and Hartley.

PRIMGHAR

Primghar's closest railroad station is six miles, north, on the line of the C.M. & St. P., and its next nearest established station is Hosper, on the S.C. & St. P.R.R., some fourteen miles west.

Primghar has been the county seat since 1872. It is located at the center of the county a high and well drained prairie, twenty-five miles from Cherokee, twenty-eight from Spencer, and twenty-

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eight from Sibley. The place is laid out with a public park, which has been planted with forest trees, and as it is surrounded by a region of great fertility, will doubtless continue a steady and a healthy growth. The town is in Summit Township.

The following humorous acrostic, descriptive of the origin of the name of the town, has been published heretofore:

P umphrey, the Treasurer, drives the first nail— R oberts, the donor, is quick on his trail, I nman dips slily his first letter in, M cCormack adds M which makes the full Prim; G reen, thinking of groceries, gives them a G, H ayes drops them an H, without asking a fee, A lbright, the joker, with his jokes all at par, R erick brings up the rear, and crowns all PRIMGHAR.

W.C. Green built the first store in Primghar in 1872. The first dwelling was built by A.H. Willets. The population is about 200.

The present township officers are: J. Harris, T.G. Stewart, J.L. Rerick, Trustees; D. Algyr, Clerk; A.H. Willets, R.C. Tifft, Justices of the Peace; W.H. Willets, G.W. Ginger, Constables.

Summit Township's first teacher was Clara Healy, who taught school in a building erected in Highland, and used as a store and postoffice by Mr. Paine. This building was moved to Primghar and used for a Court House. Afterwards it was used for a drug store; then as a printing office. This building has since been moved to Sanborn by A.H. Willets.

The first paper printed in the county was conducted by L.B. Raymond & Co.

A school house was built in 1874, size 40 x 50 feet; two stories high, with two departments. It is a handsome and substantial building.

The members of the first Board of Education were: A.J. Edwards, President; J.T. Stearns, A.H. Willets Present Board: W.W. Johnson, President; J.A. Smith, W.N. Strong, D.W. Inman, Treasurer; W.H. Willets, Secretary.

The cost of the school building was $3,200. S. Harris is the principal Miss Ive Inman, Assistant. The total enrollment is 59 pupils.

The Court House was built in 1875, is 30x40 feet in dimensions with an addition, 10x14 feet; is two stories high, the upper part being used for the curt room, and the first floor for offices. The cost was $5,000. the court yard is enclosed with a nice board fence, and the yard planted with a nice growth of soft maple trees.

The Primghar Times is a weekly paper, Schee & Achorn, proprietors. The first issue was January 12th, 1882. It is a seven column folio, Republican in politics, and has a circulation of 600. Mr. Bundy is the editor.

There are in Primghar, a general store, hardware store, agricultural implement store, bank, meat market, lumber yard, newspaper, hotel, furniture store, drug store, blacksmith shop, grocery and saloon.

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At the Methodist Episcopal Conference in Sioux City, held October, 1871, the Rock Rapids Mission was organized. This Mission took in the counties of Lyon, Sioux, Osceola and O'Brien. Rev. Ira Brashears was put in charge of this mission. At that time there were two societies in O'Brien County, with a membership of about twenty people. The M.E. Society in Primghar was organized in 1873. C.W. Clifton organized the first society in O'Brien County in 1871. Present officers of Primghar Society: T.J. Alexander, D. Bysom, Mr. Robinson, Trustees. Membership, twenty-four. The Sabbath School averages an attendance of sixty pupils. D. Bysom, is the Superintendent. The church was built in 1880 at a cost of $1,300, is 26x50 feet in dimensions. There is also a parsonage.

Abiff Lodge No. 347, A.F. & A.M., was instituted in 1874. The charter was granted in 1875. Charter members: H. Day, A.H. Willets, Geo. W. Schee, D.H. Wheeler, E.C. Fosket, J.T. Stearns, J.C. Doling, W. Pursel, C.W. Inman, W.H. Brown, M. Dimon, A.B. Husted, S.J. Jordan. First officers: H. Day, W.M.; A.H. Willets, S.W.; G.W. Schee, J.W.; D.H. Wheeler, Treasurer; E.C. Foskett, Secretary; J.T. Stearns, S.D.; J.C. Doling, J.D. Present officers: A.H. Willets, W.M.; S. Harris, S.W.; D. Algyr, J.W.; E.C. Foskett, Secretry; T.J. Alexander, Treasurer. Membership, twenty. Meetings are held every Saturday on or before the full moon, in the Court House.

SHELDON

This town was named after Israel Sheldon, who was a large stockholder in the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad. Sheldon in 240 miles from St. Paul and fifty-eight miles from Sioux City. The country around Sheldon was settled several years before the town started. The railroad reached Sheldon July 3d, 1872. The first building was erected by S.C. Highly, for a saloon, in July, 1872; the second, by H.A. Fife, in the same year, and was used for a store. B.F. Bushnell and D.A.W. Perkins erected buildings the same year.

There have been two additions to the town, namely: Islinville and Hicksville. The population of the town is 1,200.

Sheldon is located at the crossing of the Iowa and Dakota Division of the C.M. & St. Paul Railway and the Sioux City and St. Paul Railway, and in the northwest part of O'Brien county, fifteen miles northwest of Primghar. The main street runs east and west. This street slopes both east and west from the center of town.

The depot was completed August 4th, 1872. The first dwelling was built by B. Jones in September, 1872; J. Wykoff followed in October of the same year. The first newspaper was the Sheldon Mail, by Raymond, January 1st, 1873. He was followed by Perkins, who was succeeded by J.F. Glover, the paper finally passing into the hands of its present editor and proprietor, F.T. Piper.

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The first school was taught by Columbia Robinson in L.S. Bradley's lumber office. This building was also used for church purposes. The fist general store was opened by B.E. Bushnell; the first marriage was that of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas DeLong, in January, 1873, at the Sheldon Hotes, H.C. Lane, Justice of the Peace, officiating; the first birth was a child born to Mrs. James Wykoff; the first death, a child of Patrick Walsh; the first postmaster was A.J. Buck; the first school house was built in 1873, and was taught by J.M. Webb.

Sheldon was laid out and platted by the Railroad Company in 1872. The town was incorporated in 1876. First officers: H.B. Wyman, Mayor; L.F. Bennett, Recorder; J.M. Stephenson, S.W. Harrington, C. Allen, Geo. Boutelle, James Wykoff, Trustees; Geo. Hill, Marshall; E.F. Parkhurst, Assessor; H.C. Lane, Treasurer; R. Dodge, E.M. Brady, T. Holmes, G. Haskman, J.L. Kenney, Supervisors.

Present officers: James Wykoff, Mayor; F.H. Nash, Recorder; W.L. Ayres, Treasurer; F.W. Houck, Assessor; D. McKay, Marshal; Geo. Hill, Street Commissioner; J.A. Brown, S.C. Nash, J. Shinski, D.S. White, Jr., H.S. Islin, F. Fisbee, Councilmen.

The Sheldon Mail, previously mentioned, is a seven-column quarto; Republican; circulation, 960 copies. The Sheldon News is a weekly paper, started in June, 1879, with B.F. McCormack as editor and proprietor; it then changed to the hands of A.c. Satterlee & F.M. McCormack; then to A.W. Sleeper & Bro. Subsequently it was purchased by J.F. Ford, its present editor and proprietor. The News is a seven-column quarto; Republican; circulation, 700. While run by B.F. McCormack, the paper was independent in politics; under Satterlee it was Democratic, and under F.M. McCormack it was a Greenback organ.

The Sheldon Flouring Mill was built in 1879, is a frame structure, 60x70 feet, three stories high, and cost about $35,000; has six run of stone and four set of rollers; capacity, 200 barrels per day. The mill is furnished with the most modern machinery for manufacturing patent flour, and was built by J.H. Islin & Co. It is at present in the hands of Sleeper Bros.

There are in Sheldon, three general stores, two hardware stores, two drug stores, two boot and shoe stores, one grocery, one clothing store, two agricultural implement establishments, three blacksmith shops, two banks, three hotels, two meat markets, two saloons, two millinery stores, three grain elevators, one flouring mill, three restaurants, one barber shop, one merchant tailor, one jewelry store, two furniture stores, two newspapers, three lumber yards, two harness shops, two livery barns, two flour and feed stores, and two dray lines.

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CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES

Episcopal Society—Organized in 1880 by J.H. and H.S. Islin and R.B. Arden. The first pastor was Rev. Hale Townsend, of Emmettsburg. First Officers: D.C. Bothwell, H.S. Isling, and R.B. Arden. R.D. Arden is lay-leader. Services are held once each month. Lay-services are held three times each month, under charge of Bishop W.S. Perry, of Davenport. E.N. Toncey is Warden. There is a Ladies' Aid Society connected with this mission. This society has a building in curse of erection, which will be completed during the coming spring. The building will be 46x26 feet, and will have a steeple sixty feet high. The seating capacity will be ninety. The cost will be $2,000. This church is situated in Islinsville, one of the additions to the town. The lot was donated by the C., St. P., M. & O. Railroad in 1881. The membership is twenty. Services are at present held in the Congregational church. The present pastor is Rev. S.H. Johnston who came from England twenty-five years ago, and settled in Tennessee; then came to Sheldon, and took pastora charge in 1881. He resides at Spencer, where he is in charge of the "The Church in the House." The subscriptions for building were furnished principally by Eastern parties, Sheldon giving generously according to her ability.

Congregational Society—Organized in 1874, by Rev. Mr. Covey. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Wiard, who was followed by Rev. J.A. Palmer. The present pastor is Rev. E. Southworth, who took charge in April, 1878. Membership, about forty. There is a Sabbath School also, with an attendance of about forty pupils. O.F. Young is the Superintendent. The church edifice was erected in 1874, size 30x50 feet; seating capacity, 160; plain frame building, cost over $2,000. First officers: H.P. Holyoke, M.G. McClellan, W.C. Butterfield, Trustees. Services were held in the school house previous to the building of the church. Present officers: W.L. Ayres, M.J. McClellan, A.W. Husted, Trustees; O.F. Young, Clerk; A.B. Nash, Treasurer.

Methodist Episcopal Society,—Organized in 1874; first pastor, Rev. J.B. Starkey; then in order following, Revs. W. B. Hastings, C.W. Bryan, W.M. Edgar. Present pastor, Rev. J.W. Lothian. Membership, about forty-two. There is a Sabbath School with an attendance of sixty pupils. F.H. Zander is the Superintendent. The church edifice was built in 1881, and dedicated September 4th, 1881. It is a very fine building, 40x60 feet, with a seating capacity of 275, and cost of $4,500. The society held meetings in Husted's Hall previous to the erection of this building. Present officers: J.A. Brown, D.A. Elder, C. Hook, G.M. Graham, Trustees. There is a parsonage in connection. The Stewards are: F. Brown, D.W. Wellman, F. Potter.

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Catholic Society—Organized in the spring of 1880, by D. O'Donnell, P. Guinther, Rev. J. Smith and J. Shinski. Rev. Father Lenehan, of Sioux City, first had charge of this Society; then Rev. Father P. Lynch. Rev. John Riley is the present pastor. First officers: D. O'Donnell, P. Guinther, J. Shinski, Trustees. These Trustees procured a donation of three lots from the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad Company in 1880. A building was erected in the winter of 1880 and 1881, 37x60 feet in dimensions. It is a frame building, seating 600 people. It has a gallery twenty feet wide extending across the south end of the building. The cost was $2,500. The society previously held services in the school house, also in the town hall. Membership, about sixty families. Present officers: W. Gavin, J. Shinski, P. Guinther, Trustees.

Independent School District—Organized in 1876. It has a fine frame building, containing four departments, which cost $5,300. First Board of Education: C. Allen, J.C. Elliott, A.B. Nash, J. A. Brown. The first term of school in the independent district was held in 1877. The first teacher was G.S. Mann; Kate O'Donnell, Assistant. The building is furnished with the latest improved seats and apparatus. Present Board of Education: J. Wykoff, President; S.H. Ladd, E.A. WArd, Mrs. A. Morton, Mrs. O.E. Waggoner, Mrs. Geo. H. Boutelle, Directors; E.C. Brown, Treasurer; F.E. Wyman, Secretary. The present teachers are: W.S. Wilson, Principal; Sarah Clark, Assistant; Mrs. F.C. Marcussen, Mrs. A.C. Green. The present school building was erected in 1879 at a cost of building and furniture, of $5,300, is 40x60 feet in dimensions, two stories high, and has four rooms. The average attendance is 117.

Northwestern Agricultual Association—Organized in February, 1880. First officers: Henry Hollenbeck, of Sioux County, President; R.F. Andrews, of Osceola County, Vice President; H. Cook, of Lyon County, Secretary; J.I. Hatendower, of O'Brien County, Treasurer. This society extends over the four above named counties. The first fair was held in September, 1880, at Sheldon. The fair grounds are located here. Present officers: J.S. Kenney, of O'Brien County, President; J.R. Cook, of Lyon County, Vice President; C.F. Wyatt, of Osceola County, Secretary; H. Hollenbeck, of O'Brien County, Treasurer; D.S. White, of O'Brien County, Deputy Treasurer. A fair is held once each year. Forty acres of land have been leased for ten years, and are enclosed with a good board fence eight feet high. There are a half-mile track, floral hall, sheds, etc., etc.

Mistletoe Lodge No 376, A.F. & A.M.—Instituted June 26th, 1876. Charter members: H.B. Wyman, E.M. Winslow, J.C. Elliot, J.A. Brown, S.W. Harrington, J.D. Bunce, E.A. Ward, J.A. Waggoner, R. Sturgeon, A.E. Frear, O.A. Borden, C.J. Dunham, W.J. Newell, W.N. Strong.

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First officers: H.B. Wyman, W.M.; E.M. Winslow, S.W.; J.C. Elliot, J.W.; J.A. Brown, Treasurer; J.H. Greattrax, Secretary. Membership, thirty-three. Present officers: E.C. Brown, W.M.; E.F. Parkhurst, S.W.; E.M. Winslow, J.W.; B. Jones, Treasurer; A.M. Dougall, Secretary.

Meetings are held once each month on the Saturday on or before the full moon, in Husted's Hall. The Society is in a flourishing condition.

Locust Lodge No. 367, I.O.O.F.—Charter members: C.H. Cottell, J. Wykoff, W.C. Butterfield, D. Barmore, H.B. Wyman, O.E. Waggoner, Geo. Taylor, J. Morris, C.W. Green, G. Schee, J.H. Pumphrey, E.M. Brady. First officers: C.H. Cottel, N.G.; J. Wykoff, V.G.; H. Humphrey, R.S.; D.R. Barmore, Treasurer; W.C. Buterfield, P.S.; Present officers: Geo. Berry, N.G.; L.S. Hackett, V.G.; James Wykoff, Treasure; N.F. West, R.S.; W.C. Butterfield, P.S. Membership, thirty. Meetings are held Tuesday evenings of each week in Husted's Hall. The Lodge is in a prosperous condition.

Sheldon Cornet Band—Organized in 1876. F.C. Marcussen is the leader.

SANBORN

the town of Sanborn was laid out and platted by the C., M. & St. P. Railway Company in 1878. The town has made a very rapid growth, being now a town of 800 inhabitants. Quite a number of the settlers of Sanborn are former residents of Primghar. The end of the division of the railroad is located here. Located here also are some of the best stock yards east of Milwaukee, as well as the railroad company's machine shops, employing quite a large number of men. There is also at Sanborn a large round house, with a vast amount of appurtenance. Thanksgiving Day of 1878, the workmen arrive, and commenced work on the depot, a building which is quite a credit to the town.

The first house was built by Frank Teabout, and was used as a grain warehouse; the first store was opened by S.W. Clark in February, 1879; Teabout & Valleau opened a store about the same time.

The postoffice was established in December, 1878, and was in operation early in January, 1879. The first and present Postmaster is Ira Brashears.

The town was incorporated in April, 1880. The first school house was built in May, 1879—size, 26x40 feet; cost, $800. The first teacher was Mrs. L. Crossan. The first Board of Education was: Ira Brashears, President; W.M. Woolworth, Thomas Burns, Directors; I.W. Daggett, Tresurer; J.H. Woods, Clerk. The present school house was built in 1881—size, 40x60 feet, two stores high, and has four departments. It was built at a cost of

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$4,000, and is seated with the improved desks, &c.[etc.] Sanborn became an independent district in 1881. The present Board of Education is: M.D. Comes, D.L. Crowley, Wm. Harker. The present teachers are: Prof. C.E. Foote, Principal; Jennie Mayne and Miss G. Davis, Assistants.

The M.E. Church was organized March 29th, 1879, by Rev. W.H. Drake, who was succeeded by Rev. J.A. Beebe, he by the present pastor, Rev. S.C. Bascom. During the year 1879, the building was erected and was dedicated June 20th, 1880. First officers: I.W. Daggett, T.J. Alexander, C. Tifft, Ira Brashears and Daniel Bryson, Board of Trustees. The cost of the church was $1,400. Present membership, fifteen. The Sabbath School has an average attendance of fifty-five. J.H. Wolf is the Superintendent. The size of the building is 28x48 feet. The seating capacity is 200. the present officers are the same as given above.

The Presbyterian Society was organized January 30th, 1881, by Rev. W.S. Peterson, of Dakota. First officers: D.Miller Elder; J.S. Grear, Trustee. The first pastor was Rev. J.M. McComb, who is also the present pastor. The membership is twenty. Present officers: D. Miler, R.E.; C.E. Foote, D. Miller, L.D. Thomas, Trustees; H. Day, Treasurer, and Mrs. C.E. Foote, Secretary. Services are held in the new school house. The present pastor took charge May 1st, 1881. The Sabbath School has an average attendance of forty. C.J. Everhard is the Superintendent. There is a parsonage in connection, which was built in November, 1881.

Onyx Lodge, U.D. was instituted October 22d, 1881. First officers: Harley Day, W.M.; J.H. Douglas, S.W.; J.T. Parker, J.W.; A.G. Mittels, Secretary. Charter members: D.R. Phelps, T.D.White, P.Miller, J.A. Stocum, C.E. Foote, E.M. Brady, A.G. Willets, C. Broadstreet, W.H. Skinner, H.D. Chapin, Ira Brashears, J.E. Drake, C.P. Veilie, F. Teabout, N.L.F. Peck, A.E. Bates, J. Morrell. Membership, twenty-five. Meetings are held every Wednesday evening on or before the full moon. The Masons have a fine hall, which is also used by the I.O.O.F. The internal arrangement of the hall is as fine as can be found anywhere in the West. the hall is furnished in modern style, carpeted and hung with emblematic tapestry, and supplied with furniture that would adorn a wealthy lodge of that order.

The Order of the Eastern Star was instituted in January, 1882, Mrs. H.D. Perry is Worthy Matron, and Mrs. A.G. Willets, is Secretary. The membership is about thirty.

Sanborn Lodge No. 434, I.O.O.F.—Instituted November, 29th, 1881, by Hon. S.P. Leland, D.D.G.M., and a large delegation of the order from Sibley and Sheldon. First officers: H.D. Chapin, N.G.; W.C. Green, V.G.; E.R. Wood, Recording Secretary; J.R. Pumphrey Permanent Secretary; W.H. Skinner, Treasurer. Charter members: H.D. Chapin, William Roberts, E.R. Wood,

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J.R. Pumphrey, W.H. Skinner, C.Tifft, H. Algyer, C. Green, R. Boyd, L.D. Thomas, T. White, A.H. Roden, J. Clancy, F.A. Turner and Mr. Powell. The Lodge meets every Saturday evening in the Masonic Hall. Membership, about thirty.

The Sanborn Cornet Band was organized in the spring of 1881. Ed. Drake is the leader; has made various changes since its organization.

The O'Brien Pioneer Weekly was established in December, 1871, by L.B. Raymond & Co.; was afterwards run by A.H. Willets; then Willets & Inman; then in the order named: Willets & Pumphrey, A.H. Willets & Son, A.G. Willets, Walker & Willets—its present proprietors being Willets & Perkins. It has always been Republican in politics. It is a six-column quarto; circulation, 750 copies. It is printed on a large steam power press in a good, commodious building.

Sanborn can boast of having the best town hall in the county. It was erected by Messrs. Roden & Linden, at the corner of Main and First streets, in 1881. It is a frame structure, 32x70 feet, with a flat roof. The lower rooms are occupied by Henry Roden, as a restaurant and billiard hall. The hall up-stairs is arranged with a ticket-office entrance, and has a commodious and well adapted stage. The building an appurtenances cost about $6,000.

The Main street in Sanborn runs north and south, and is located on level ground. Sanborn is a good shipping point. The town has telephonic communication with Primghar. The business may be thus classified: General stores, 3; printing offices, 1; hardware, 2; saloons, 3; groceries, 2; agricultural implements, 2; furniture, 1; lumber, 3; jewelry, 1; blacksmiths, 2; drugs, 2; carpenters 4; bank, 1; land, loan and law, 4; flour and feed, 2; restaurant, 1; boot and shoe, 1; meat markets, 2; barber shop, 1; liver, 2; hotels, 3.

HARTLEY

Hartley is situated in the eastern part of O'Brien County, on the C., M. & St. Paul Railroad, eight miles from Sanborn and eighteen from Spencer. It was laid out and platted by J.S. Finister in October, 1880. The first house in the town was built by the Railroad Company, in 1879. the first store was built by J.S. Finister & W.S. Fuller in April, 1879. It was also used as a dwelling. Then came A.H. Miller, J.K. McAndrew, M.G. Silverthorn, and W.H. Eaton, all of whom built in the year 1879. H.E. Hoagland built in 1880. Hartley is a thriving town, and has a population of 185.

The first school was held in Finister's store in 1870 and 1880. The first teacher was O.M. Shonkwiler, first Board of Education: W.S. Fuller, W.H. Eaton, C.A. Feitkaw. The present school building was erected in the spring of 1880, is 26x36 in dimensions, and cost $1,200. The first teacher was Allen Crossan; first Board,

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the same as above. Present Board: C.A. Feitkaw, George Bowes. Present teacher: E.A. Thomas Number of pupils enrolled, sixty-seven.

The Baptist Society was organized in December, 1880, by D.F. Johnson. Membership, about ten. this society is not supplied with any regular pastor, and has no building, but holds its prayer meetings in the school building occasionally.

Methodist Episcopal Church Society was organized in 1881 by A.S.R. Groom, who was the first pastor. The first and present officers are: Allen Crossan, Class Leader and Steward; Mr. Whiteman and Mr. Dice, Trustees. R. Crosby is also at present a Trustee. Membership, about seventy-five. They have no church building, but meet in the school building. This society built a parsonage in 1881, under the directions of Rev. Groom, at a cost of $300.

Hartley Lodge, I.O.G.T., was organized December, 28th, 1881, by F.E. Anderson, of Algona. Charter members: J.K. McAndrew, D.F. Johnston, Allen Crossan, D.M. Gano, E.A. Thomas, H.E. Finister, James Johnston, George Bowes, W. Bowes, T. Shoemaker. First officers: D.S. Johnston,W.C.T.; E.A. Thomas, W.V.T.; E. Finister, W.M.; Allen Crossan, Recording Seretary; D.M. Gano, Financial Secretary; Will. Bowes, Treasurer; Geo. Bowes, Chaplain. Present officers: E.A. Thomas, W.C.T.; M. E. Silverthorn, W.V.T.; J.Jones, R.S.; R. MakinsF.S.; D.M. Gano, Treasurer; Allen Crossan, Chaplain; W. Bowes, W.M.; Mrs. D.F. Johnson, I.G.; Ed. Williams,O.G. Membership, about thirty. Meetings are held Thursday evening of each week in the school building.

The business houses of Harltey are classified as follows: General stores, two; hardware, one; hotels, three; blacksmith shops, two; wagon shops, one; meat markets, two; lumber dealers, two; saloons, one; agricultural implement dealers, one; livery barns, one.

O'Brien County Biographies

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