THE PICTURESQUE CHUBB HOUSE

Charles and Colman Chubb

Brothers Charles and Colman Chubb came to Kossuth County shortly after the close of the Civil War.  Born and raised in Wisconsin, they farmed with their father prior to their enlistment.  On August 9, 1861, Charles, two years the elder, enlisted in the 3^rd Wisconsin volunteer infantry and Colman in Company A of the 1^st Wisconsin cavalry.  The time spent in service would be the only protracted separation of the brothers during their lifetime.  The Chubb Bros. partnership they formed before leaving Wisconsin would be terminated only by death many years later.

COMING TO KOSSUTH COUNTY

Following the end of the war, Charles was the first to travel to Kossuth County in July of 1865.  He fell in love with the rich fertile soil and the prospects of the young community and so he soon wrote Colman telling him to come.  Colman drove a team of mules from Wisconsin to Algona arriving August 27, 1865.  The first night of his arrival, he camped on the site where they would later build their two story dwelling at 407 North Harlan Street. Camp was spread under a large tree on the property.

A house was needed for the ambitious brothers and so during the winter of 1866 they had logs sawed for lumber at the old water mill and built a house on the site where they would later build a much more expansive home.  A grand celebration was held in the timber north of town on Independence Day that year.  The story goes that their house was completed to the point that the brothers decided to host a dance the same evening.  The house had no windows due to the fact that they had not yet arrived from the railroad.  Multitudes of mosquitoes were attracted to the two kerosene lamps hung on the walls making it very difficult for the two musicians, Colman Chubb and Will Reed, to play.  Two men with green brush from the nearby timber fanned the musicians throughout the night to keep them comfortable.  The swarm of mosquitoes did not dampen the enthusiastic dancers and a grand time was had by all.

Chubb Road (n/k/a Call State Park Road)

Another View of Chubb Road

Soon the brothers’ attention turned to their future. They homesteaded a tract of land south of Algona (near Call State Park) and commenced farming and raising stock, becoming well known for their cattle.  The two remained in town, living in the simple house they had built and to it they each brought brides.   Colman returned to Ottawa, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where he married Helen May Wallace on October 15, 1867.  Later that same day, they were driven to North Prairie, Wisconsin where they boarded a train bound for Iowa.  Of course there was no railroad to Algona at that time.   Charles met them at the station in Iowa Falls – the closest terminal to Algona.  Three days later, at midnight, they arrived in Algona.

On January 1, 1869, Charles married Hattie M. Taylor with whom he would have three children, Colman, Charley, and Laura.  That year the brothers built a home on the farm where both families would live for almost 30 years. 

Charles began to expand his interests in businesses other than farming and cattle ranching.  He became involved in the banking business, at one time serving as president of the Burt Savings Bank, and was a director or officer of nine county banks including vice-president of the Algona State Bank.  He was one of the founding directors of Kossuth County Mutual Insurance Company.  Charles served as a county supervisor when the court house was built and went on to serve as a State Senator for four years. Colman focused his attention mostly on the cattle operation but also shared an interest in banking, himself serving as a director of the Algona State Bank.

NEW ALGONA HOME

In January of 1896 a fire broke out in the house in town which the brothers had built on their arrival to the city, rendering it uninhabitable.  Within a few weeks it was decided that a new home for the two couples would be erected on the site.  Plans for a large two story home to accommodate both couples were soon formulated.  Shadle and Herman got the bid and construction began in August.  It was estimated that the house would cost more than $8,000.  By early September the frame was erected and it was soon enclosed.  The placement of the house on the lot raised many questions from passersby.  It seems the brothers once again wanted to sleep under the same branches that shaded them in their first days in Algona and so they placed the house at such an angle to save the tree which is clearly pictured in the photo from “Picturesque Algona.” 

The house was finely finished and featured hard wood throughout the structure.  The generous wrap around porch was an invitation to the Chubbs and their visitors to sit and enjoy a visit on a warm summer day. 

The Chubbs moved into their beautiful new home in March of 1897.  They had also built a 24 foot square barn near their residence.  The families had lived in their new home only a few weeks when fire threatened the new structures.  A neighboring stable caught fire and soon burned to the ground along with two horses kept there.  Although the fire company turned on water to keep the flames from spreading, heavy winds blew cinders threatening the Chubb brothers’ barn and residence.  The barn actually did catch fire but using ladders left nearby by a painter by the name of Ward, the firemen were able to climb to the roof and extinguish the flames before they could do much damage.  Thankfully the house was unscathed and was prominently featured in “Picturesque Algona” when it was printed in 1900. 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

As mentioned above, the Chubb Bros. partnership endured until Senator Chubb passed from this life on May 21, 1911. His services were held at the Chubb home with full military and Masonic ceremonies.  Hattie, his widow, continued to live with Colman and Helen in the home they had built together. 

Colman and Helen Chubb

In 1927 Colman and Helen celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary quietly at home, enjoying visits and congratulations from their many friends.  Mr. Chubb spent much of his time reading to Helen who had lost most of her vision in her old age. 

Hattie Chubb died in January of 1929 and was buried next to her beloved Charles in Riverview Cemetery.  Colman and Helen remained in the family home until Colman’s passing in March of 1930.  Helen was in poor health at the time of his passing, having fallen and broken her hip four months before.  Her health continued to decline until her death on October 16, 1931.

The house stayed in the family for several more generations through Laura Chubb Palmer, the daughter of Charles and Hattie.  Her son, Richard Palmer, became a teacher and taught at Algona High School until his retirement in 1978.  Following his death several years ago, a painting of the Chubb house that he had owned was donated to the Kossuth County Historical Society.  

House located on Chubb lot in 2015

The house was purchased from Richard by Keith and Eileen Myers who had restored all but one room when in 1987 a fire broke out inside the chimney and quickly spread through the walls to all four floors of the house.  The house was razed shortly thereafter leaving only memories of another beautiful Algona home.

Until next time,

Jean (a/k/a Kossuth County History Buff)

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