THE INDIAN RAID OF '55 - PART I

In 1902, Ambrose A. Call wrote a series of articles for the Upper Des Moines Republican recounting his experiences with Indians in the early days of the settlement.  The story of the raid on the Maxwell cabin was part of his story and B. F. Reed later included it in the "History of Kossuth County" which was published in 1913 and also in Harvey Ingham's book "Old Indian Days" published in the 1920's.  However, there was so much more to his account than what was chronicled in either book. I was fascinated to read the entire series -- particularly his description of his meeting with Inkpadutah in his teepee.  Over the next several weeks, I want to share these articles with with you.  We begin today with his introduction and a portion of the Maxwell story.

A Memoir of the Incursion of the Yanktonaas

By HON. AMBROSE A. CALL

        To The Editor—In compliance with my various promises I will undertake to write of some of the events in the early history of Kossuth county, the story of which has never been published.

        We are approaching the half century mile post that marks the time since the first settlers reared their cabins and contended with the savage Sioux for their possession.  The old timers, our old friends, are rapidly passing away and will soon all be gone, and the history of those first trials and struggles will be irretrievably lost unless a record be made of them before it is too late.  The history of our county should not only be written but it should be true.  Our records should be kept straight.  Those who know it should write it.

        One very much dislikes to write of himself or of events in which he took a prominent part, but when it is desirable to keep a true history and there is no one else to write it for him, possibly he may be justified in doing it himself.  Before I begin to tell my Indian stories I wish to correct a mistake which might later be taken as true and get into the history of the county.  Some friend recently sent me a publication from Belmond, Wright county, in which a lady, the daughter of one Mr. Hunt, I believe, states in a very interesting article that her father and one Mr. Overacker explored the country west and made claims in 1853 where the city of Algona and also Spirit Lake now stand.  She says further that they intended to return and hold them, but upon their return heard of the Indian troubles around Clear Lake and the killing of Captain Hewett’s Winnebago boy and were deterred through fear of the Indians.  By reference to history it will be seen that the Indian trouble spoken of occurred in July, 1854, and their return was subsequent to that event.  I have on the margin of an old book this notation:  “July 28^th, I find upon my return two parties, named Overacker and Hunt, have, during my absence, marked out timber claims on sections 11 and 12, south of Asa’s claim.”  No one made claims in Kossuth county prior to the settlement made by my brother and myself.

        For the two years prior to my coming to Kossuth county I spent most of my time on the upper Mississippi river around St. Paul and Fort Snelling and on the tributaries of the Saint Croix river; a part of the time among the Indians, Sioux and Chippewas; and I learned a great deal of the Indian sign language and quite a few words both of Chippewa and Sioux.  The sign language is identically the same with all the tribes east of the Rocky mountains, but their word language is very different.  In the same tribe each individual has his own pronunciation.  A buffalo is a “titonka,” or “tionka,” or “tetonka,” as you find your Indian. 

        “Titonka” also means a cow or ox or most anything big; a big white man is at once saluted as “titonka wasecha;” so with an elk, he is an “humpa” or “umpa” or “impah,” a moccasin or mitten or any other thing leather is also called “umpah.”  They have no written language to hold them to a uniform pronunciation, and besides have all manner of defects in their speech, with usually a lazy grunt at the end of every word.

        In the early part of July, 1855, a large party of Sioux Indians, some forty tepees including the chief, Inkpadutah, came into the settlement, the same party that created the panic and stampede on the head waters of the Cedar, and came near capturing his excellency, Gov. Hempstead, the year before, and who in 1856 terrorized the settlers on the little Sioux, culminating their deviltry by the Spirit Lake massacre in March, 1857.  This band of Indians came into the settlement from the west and pitched their tepees on section 24, near Mark Parsons’ present residence.  My first intimation of their presence was rather startling.  My cabin door was open.  I had just eaten a bachelor’s dinner and was lying down reading the Missouri Republican, which Maxwell had brought me from Ft. Dodge, when a ringing war whoop saluted my ears.  I sprang to the middle of the room, seizing my gun, but was met by a big guffaw from a burly Indian who instantly stood his gun against the wall and held out his hand with a “How, how.”  Of course he considered it only a joke.  I was not quite so sure of it, but shook his hand and said “How.”  A squaw tagged along after him with a few moccasins to trade.  My rifle was a large one, carrying an ounce ball, and the Indian, noticing the caliber, pulled a crude ball pounded out of a bar of lead and measured it in my gun.  He asked to see one of my bullets, and when he found it just fitted his shot gun he was much pleased and proposed at once:  “How swap for umpah?”  I found two pairs of moccasins which fitted me, for which I gave him ten bullets.  He told me he would return with more, which he did, and I traded for enough to last me a year or more.

        I inquired of my visitor how many tepees there were and he opened both hands four times, indicating forty, and then pointed the direction.  After he left I visited the village, near Barney Holland’s cabin.  Some of the neighbors were there and they were having some contention, as the Indians had turned their ponies in Holland’s corn, had taken Holland’s large grindstone to the center of their village and set Holland to turning it, and as many as could get around it were grinding their tomahawks and knives.  The perspiration was pouring from Holland’s face and he seemed very tired.  With the others I insisted upon their turning their ponies out of the corn and also made Holland quit turning the grindstone.  We came near having an open rupture with them, as they were very surly and stubborn, but finally the squaws turned the ponies out of the corn and the bucks installed one of their own number at the stone.  The next day they scattered through the settlement, visiting every cabin.  Some they plundered, but where they found white men in sufficient force to resist they merely begged for something to eat.  Two tepees were pitched near my brother’s cabin, on the hill just west of the power house, and it was the occupants of these tepees who frightened Mrs. Call, the story of which she wrote for the reading circle in 1872, and the sequel to which Mrs. Blackford wrote for the Advance.  Of course my brother’s family was in no danger from two Indians, as he had four or five hired men boarding with him all the time.

        The evening of the second day Mr. Maxwell came to my cabin, seemingly somewhat alarmed, and told me that three Indians had just left his cabin, that they were sullen and saucy, took what they pleased and that he dared not resist them on account of his wife and children, and asked me to come down and stay with him.  I had made my home for some time with Mr. Maxwell and knew him to be a courageous man, not to be frightened without cause.  He had recently returned from Boonesboro with a large load of provisions and supplies which would naturally tempt the cupidity of the Indians.  I promised Maxwell I would come down early in the morning.  The Indians made all their raids in the day time.  I consequently started early without my breakfast but found the Indians were there before me, as they were already swarming inside when I arrived. There were eleven lusty young fellows, each armed with a double barreled shotgun, cocked and loaded with ball, also tomahawk and knife.  They had the house turned inside out, so to speak, when I got inside.  Mrs. Maxwell had a boarder named Craw, who was one of those nice, peaceable men, and who believed it an evidence of cowardice to carry a gun or other weapon of defense; he never did.  Well I found Craw sitting in a chair, his face as white as a sheet, suffering every imaginable indignity from the young bucks.  They had pilfered his pockets and unbuttoned his clothes, were pulling his nose, ears and hair, occasionally slapping him on the side of the head, and nearly knocking him to the floor.  He didn’t dare to move; he was paralyzed with fear.  I said to him:  “Craw, for God’s sake run if you can’t fight,” and Maxwell told him to get out of there and make for the brush.  After a short time I noticed his chair was empty, so he must have got out in some way.  Maxwell told me he had but two chambers of his revolver loaded and asked me to stand in front of him while he loaded the remainder.  He stepped behind the door and I stood in front and, although his revolver was an old fashioned Colts which loaded with powder and ball he did it very quickly, without being seen.  As I came out from behind the door a big young Indian who seemed to be leader noticed a two bushel bag of corn meal and started to drag it to the door.  I thought the time had come to take a hand, if we intended to resist at all, so I sprang and took hold of the sack, telling him to stop, but with a defiant grunt he jerked it out of my hand.  At this I grabbed the bag with my left hand and with my right caught him under the chin, and as we were standing quite near the doorway he went out violently, clutching the door as he went, nearly pulling shut and striking on the back of his head.  I stood the sack up against the wall and stood beside it, Maxwell, with his revolver in his hand, standing beside me.  An ominous silence came over the cabin when the Indian went out doors but presently one who if not a chief was spokesman for the crowd, pulled his tomahawk out of his belt and advanced toward me, asking me to feel the edge of it.  I snatched it from him and stuck it in his belt.  Again he drew it out and held it toward me and again I snatched it from him and stuck it behind his belt.  He then in a loud, menacing voice told me they would “nepo squaw and papooses” (kill the women and children).  In an equally loud voice and with some emphatic profanity—Indians mostly understand that—I told him as well as I could that if he undertook it we would “nepo” every damned Sioux in the cabin.  He then scoffed at the idea and counted two “wasechas.”  Then holding two hands high over his head he opened them many times, saying:  “Sioux!  Sioux!”

        In those days, when the Indians wished to terrorize the whites they called themselves Sioux, but at other times they were “Yanktonaas.”  Notwithstanding the Indian’s loaded talk and brave actions he backed off and subsided when he noticed Maxwell’s fingers playing nervously around the trigger of his revolver.  I think Maxwell understood what the Indian meant when he threatened to “nepo” the squaw and papooses, and Mrs. Maxwell understood a part of it, for Maxwell said that we must get Eliza and the children out if we could, but he was afraid they would follow her.  I asked him if he did not think he could get their attention away from the door by giving them something to eat, to which he replied that they day before they had boiled up a mess of corn meal, pork and molasses and that he would try them on that.  So he put the stove boiler on the stove, filled it half full of water and gave them a part of a bag of meal, some bacon and a jug of molasses.  The young bucks at once began to build a fire and stir in the stuff and soon got to quarreling over it, in which quarrel the others, who had been sulking, took a hand.  I told Mrs. Maxwell that when Mr. Maxwell gave the sign to slip out, get into the woods and run for Brown’s and tell John to run his horse over and tell Asa and the boys we were having trouble at Maxwell’s cabin.

        We watched our opportunity, and when the Indians were all busy with their mush Maxwell partly closed the door.  He and I stood between it and the Indians and Mrs. Maxwell slipped out and got away without being noticed.  The Indians continued to quarrel and fuss over their mush and Maxwell delayed them as much as possible.  They couldn’t make the fire burn well and the water refused to boil.  They set their guns up beside the door and turned their whole attention to their breakfast, occasionally one of them running and looking out of the door. 

        After the lapse of about an hour their mush was done satisfactorily but was so hot they could not eat it.  One of them looked out of the door towards the west and cried out “Wasecha!  Wasecha!” others ran and looked out and returned in much excitement, making a rush.


Stay tuned for the second chapter of "The Indian Raid of '55" which will be brought to you next week.

Until next time,

KC History Buff

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THE PICTURESQUE LAIRD HOUSE

One of my favorite parts of researching the homes featured in the book “Picturesque Algona” is learning the histories of houses that I have passed a million times and taken for granted.  Such is the one showcased today located at 703 East Call Street.

THE J. R. LAIRD HOUSE

Identified as the J. R. Laird home in “Picturesque Algona,” the house was actually built by C. E. Hyde.  Mr. Hyde was the owner of a cooper shop.  His specialty was manufacturing butter tubs, but he also built barrels and firkins (casks or vats).  In 1880 he acquired a group of adjoining lots.  The following year he built the house now standing at this location.  A conservatory was added on the south side of the house seven years later.

That was the same year that James R. Laird moved to Algona.  Born in Carroll County, Indiana, in 1843, his family moved to Dubuque when he was two years of age.  They later moved to Jones County.  His father passed away when James was 13, leaving the young boy to help support his family.  He worked as a farm hand until 1863, when he enlisted in Company C of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry.  He fought to the end of the war.  Although never wounded in battle, Laird suffered from typhoid fever, dysentery, and rheumatism while in service.  Following the war, he eventually settled in Marshalltown where he operated a furniture business until he came to Algona when he acquired the Bronson furniture business located on State Street.

Mr. Laird had been married in 1878 to Alice Fowler who died two years later.  They had no children.  He then married Ella Launsbery on September 16, 1882.  They had several young tots when they moved to Algona and their family would grow to five children within a few years.  In 1890 they moved into the Hyde house but soon realized they would need more room.  The Lairds built an addition to the top of the house in order to make more room upstairs.  The roof was raised about six feet.  When completed, there were five rooms on the lower floor and five rooms and a bath upstairs.  That was how the house looked in 1900 when “Picturesque Algona” was printed.

Further improvements were made in later years.  In 1901 the house was raised and a stone foundation was placed under it.  The next year stone walks were added.  Because Laird owned several adjoining lots, he built a large barn behind his new home shortly after purchase.  It is always hard for me to picture how the property would have looked at the time because I am so used to the neighborhood as it now appears.  However, in the late 19^th century and early 20^th century, it was not uncommon for homes in town to have their own barns to keep not only a cow for milk, but also their trusty horses, a buggy and/or sleigh, or other large items used on a regular basis.

THE LAIRD FURNITURE STORE

In his early days in Algona, J.R. had two partners in his firm.  The first was James Patterson, a local man looking for a business to suit his talents.  The partnership itself was brief and another young man, W. L. Dingley, took his place.  That affiliation was also short lived.  Mr. Laird operated on his own until he hired his nephew, Warren Laird, to take over the undertaking business some years later. 

The Laird store was on State Street and was two stories in height.  The furniture department was on the ground floor and carried almost every piece of furniture you can imagine.  From upholstered chairs and bedroom sets to dining room and kitchen tables, he carried all furniture needed to fully outfit a home.  In addition, he carried all the necessary furnishings—pillows, decorative accessories and framed pictures—even baby cabs, hobby horses and coaster wagons!  His frequent ads proclaimed the superiority of his goods.  The advertisement published in the Algona Advance on November 22, 1906, however, had a more negative tone—most likely aimed as his competition.  It contained the following poem:

The shades of night were falling fast,

As to our store there quickly past,

A man who mattresses desired to price,

But as to kind, replies ‘gainst all advice,

                “Excelsior”

Try not that kind, we quickly said,

We’ve others, better for your bed.

A cotton-felt you’ve never tried.

But stern and loud his voice replied,

                “Excelsior”

Beware of cheap mattresses as you’ve been taught,

Beware of what you think you’ve bought,

This followed him our last goodnight,

He answered, passing from our sight

       

                “Excelsior”

When but a week had passed away,

Dying, he on that mattress lay,

No other would he have to ease his pain,

And with his last breathe faintly said again

                “Excelsior”

Do you get the impression that Mr. Laird did not think much of the Excelsior mattress?

In addition to operating the furniture store, Laird also served as the local undertaker.  It was quite common at that time for a furniture business to be combined with an undertaking establishment.  Stocking coffins along with furniture most likely made a lot of common sense.

Published in the Algona Republican
June 13, 1888

The second floor of the business was dedicated to the undertaking department.  Here the embalming was performed as well as other pre-burial needs met.  Mr. Laird had a very striking hearse which originally cost over $1,100.  He traveled the county assisting families as their needs arose and was often called to the scene of accidents to transport bodies.  Laird also provided funeral services for the indigent, being reimbursed by the county for his costs.

The Laird Hearse

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Lairds were involved in their church, the Congregational, as well as many other area organizations.  Like many Civil War veterans, J.R. found much comfort in his participation in the local James C. Taylor post of the Grand Army of the Republic.  He served in many officer positions including commander.  Mrs. Laird honored her husband’s service by her activity in the area chapter of the Women’s Relief Corps.  She served as president for a period and often traveled to the state convention representing her group. 

On several occasions, J.R. was elected a state representative to the national encampment of the G.A.R.  He would travel with other local veterans such as Dr. H.C. McCoy and Lem Stockwell to places like Cincinnati and Philadelphia where they would participate in meetings, parades and other memorial celebrations.  His support of the local veterans was so well thought of that he was appointed by the Kossuth County board of supervisors to serve as a member of the soldier’s relief commission. 

THE END COMES

The old illnesses that had attacked him during his service to our country continued to plague him the rest of his life and by 1900, he was encountering some difficulties.  He was awarded a veteran’s pension at that time, but continued to operate his business until the spring of 1913 when he sold out.   He died the following November in the home where he and his wife had raised their beloved family.

Ella Laird had no choice but to carry on.  Her youngest child was only 18 years of age when his father died and he would soon find himself engaged in World War I.  Clare Laird became a pilot and flew many missions over France. 

Mrs. Laird remained in the family home the rest of her life.  Her 14 grandchildren helped to keep it a busy place and she enjoyed their visits immensely.  She lived to the ripe old age of 90 and was able to enjoy the comforts of her own home until the end with help of her daughter, Ethel Chubb, who resided with her during the last years. 

The house continues to stand in faithful tribute to those who have lived and loved inside its walls. 

Until next time,

Jean

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JESSAMINE L. JONES

It seems like when I am researching a specific topic, I always come across two or three other things that catch my attention that could serve as future stories.  Such is the case with Jessamine Jones.  I had never heard of her before.  The article that I read suggested that she was a gifted author and with a first name like Jessamine, I just had to find out more about this girl. 

THE BEGINNING

Jessamine Lynn Jones was born June 1, 1868 in Jesup, Iowa, where her father operated a grain business.  Her father, John R. Jones, moved to Algona in 1870 and opened a farm implement store known as “The Wigwam.”  Jessamine, her brother, Wilfrid, and her mother, Flora, came in the spring of 1871 to join him. 

Although her physical condition was delicate and frail from childhood, Jessamine was a very intelligent child.  She loved learning and became a profound student rising through the grades and graduating from Algona High School.  With a goal of becoming a teacher in mind, she attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls for a short time and then came back to teach in Kossuth County for a year.  Her desire for education was so great that she spent the next year at Ladies’ Wesleyan College in the east studying music, painting and languages.  Jessamine would go on to complete her education at the State University of Iowa in Iowa City where she graduated in 1893 third in her class and first among the female students.

She was chosen to write the class poem and read it at the commencement.  Here is her ode:

Kind Father Time, as we thy children leave

To face life’s battles now our Alma Mater dear

Be kind to us, we dare not say be just

For in that world in which we now must bear our part,

All things are just to him who serves thee well.

Young minds go forth to meet yet other minds

Young hearts become a part of that,

This mighty heart which throbs thro’ all,

Into the realm of love and hate, of joy and pain.

Enter our hearts full citizens.

And Father Time,

Be not too kind, for ‘tis the heart that aches

Which comes in touch with other aching hearts,

And there will always be full many hearts that ache

In this world so full of weakness and of sin.

We must now leave behind us what our hearts hold dear;

Our Alma Mater, friends and pleasures great,

But college days are now all past; their joys

Will gleam adown the future with a light,

Transforming all the future holds.

We know the truth, that in the universe of mind

One mind is small, and yet

The units make the whole;

All souls the common soul, which dwells

In all, the flower to heart and man.

A power which in perfection we adore,

And call it God.

And Father Time, thou ask’st us not to leave

A shining mark upon the walls

But in the fabric which thou weav’st,

Thou would’st that each should make

One honest strand, which by its strength

Makes others strong.

                A strand

Which will not shrink nor pull awry

The fabric all, but which

By its perfection does its part,

To make a perfect whole.

And now, Kind Father, we upon thy mercy rest

With many others leaving now

Their college walls.  Teach us

To know those who honor us and bring

Upon our Alma Mater nought

But fairest fame.

TEACHING

Coming back to Algona, Jessamine became the painting and drawing instructor in the local schools.  Two schools were in use in Algona in 1894—the Central School which had been built in 1886 and the Normal School which was a wooden edifice that had been built many years before to be used as a college.  It is not clear in which school Jessamine was assigned to teach, but due to lack of available space, some of her classes were conducted in a damp basement which was not conducive with her delicate constitution.  The illness she contracted there would cause further deterioration of her condition.  She resigned her position at the end of the year and the following fall began teaching in the Britt school system where it was said that not only did she have superior working conditions, but was better compensated as well.

Jessamine was very active in the local community.  She was a gifted pianist who performed at many area functions including the Merchant’s Carnival each year, the Call Opera House, funerals and other gatherings.  Many local organizations sought her out to read her poems and papers on various topics at their local meetings.  She was a member of the Women’s Library Aid Society, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the Social Union Club.  Always ready to promote the rights of women, Miss Jones was the first lady to cast a ballot from the second ward in Algona. 

HER WRITING CAREER

Unfortunately, Jessamine's health continued to fail.  After her year in Britt she moved to Los Angeles in an attempt to regain her vigor.  She found the weather to be of help and while there, she began writing for the dailies which she found to her liking.  Returning to Algona briefly after a two year stay in LA, the young woman soon moved to Chicago.  She graduated from a post-graduate course at Chicago University and while there, began submitting her own stories to the Record-Herald and the Times.  The publication of those pieces gave her the incentive to submit articles to other magazines and soon her writing was beginning to achieve some national exposure.

The August 7, 1901 edition of the Algona Republican reported that Designer magazine had published her story of a newly married couple in a railway station on the plains and the night of terror they experience when a fight for existence breaks out between two neighborhood gangs.  The newspaper reported that “Miss Jones writes a good story.”

Algona Advance
December 6, 1906

Although Jessamine loved Chicago, her health was once again put in jeopardy due to the harsh winter weather.  She moved with her mother to see if the California climate would help her a second time.  She continued to write, publishing numerous articles including one in the Western magazine entitled, “Bell of the Plaza Church” which was a story about how an American man fell for a Spanish girl who lived in San Diego and how through the unlikeliest of odds managed to make her his bride.

Her story “Little Johnny’s Emancipation” was published in the McClure magazine and the publisher sent a personal letter requesting that Jessamine send all of her articles and stories.  At the same time The New York Era printed another of her articles entitled, “Timmie’s Breakfast Food.”

"One Less at Home"

Not finding much improvement in her health Jessamine came back to Algona.  In the fall of 1908 she traveled to Buffalo, New York, in search of relief.  During her travels she contracted a severe cold which soon led to pneumonia.  Jessamine Lynn Jones passed from this life on October 12, 1908, in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 40 years. Her body was returned to Algona, accompanied by her father and brother, and she was laid to rest in Riverview Cemetery.

Carolyn Ingham wrote an appreciation of Jessamine published with her obituary in the October 14, 1908 edition of the Upper Des Moines Republican which included the following verse:

“One less at home!

The charmed circle broken; a dear face

Missed day by day from its accustomed place,

But cleansed and perfected and saved by grace

One more in heaven.

One more in heaven?

Another thought to brighten cloudy days,

Another theme for thankfulness and praise,

Another link on high our souls to raise,

To home and heaven.”

Until next time,

Jean, a/k/a Kossuth County History Buff

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THE ALGONA HOSPITAL

I never seem to have problems coming up with topics for blog posts.  It is always my hope that you will find each subject as interesting as I do.  I certainly enjoy reading your comments and suggestions.  When I received a request for a story on the history of the hospital in Algona, I was delighted to comply.  I had done some research on the local hospitals in the past and so already had quite a bit of material gathered.  Today we are going to look at the Algona Hospital, the first of its kind in our community.

THE LOCATION SITE

This hospital was located in the northwest corner of the intersection of State and Harlan streets.  In the very early days of Algona it was the site of the R. M Bessie home according to the “History of Kossuth County” published in 1913 by B.F. Reed.  Sometime prior to 1867 the Harrison House hotel was built at that location.  Its original owner and proprietor was Frank Harrison.  It exchanged hands several times and in 1881 was once again for sale.  The business was purchased by Aaron Rutherford and was rechristened the Rutherford House.

Rutherford House

Providing lodging must have been a booming trade in Algona by 1884 because there were three hotels in town.  Despite his competition, Aaron Rutherford chose that year to expand his business.  Moving the old building back on the lot, he constructed a new modern structure 60 feet long and 22 feet high.  The old hotel was attached at the back for use as a kitchen and for other needs.  At a cost of $4,250, the new Rutherford House was declared to be one of the finest hotels in town.

The Rutherford House, sometimes known as the Kossuth County Hotel, remained an inn until 1906 when it was purchased by Dr. M.J. Kenefick for use as a hospital.

DR. M.J. KENEFICK

Dr. Michael J. Kenefick came to Algona in 1892.  Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, in May of 1861, he traveled to Iowa as a child with his parents by covered wagon.  They settled in Ackley where he graduated from high school.  Initially the young man was interested in teaching.  He received a diploma from the State Teacher’s College in 1883.  After serving for a short time as a principal at Steamboat Springs, Michael enrolled in medical school in Iowa City which he attended for two years before transferring to Rush Medical School in Chicago where he graduated just prior to his arrival in town.  He spent a few brief months in Marshalltown before deciding that Algona was the place to be. 

The new physician rented an office in the Algona Republican building and set up practice.  He was soon very busy performing surgeries, making house calls and delivering babies.  Along with another local physician, Dr. Pride, he conducted the Algona Gold Cure for treatment of patients with liquor, morphine and tobacco addictions. 

Dr. Kenefick began to contemplate the operation of a hospital in the early years of the 20^th century.  When the Rutherford House came on the market, he decided that it was time. 

THE REMODELING PROJECT

The first step in the remodeling was the installation of a basement.  The building was lifted and excavation began.  The City of Algona used the dirt which was removed for grading purposes.  A cement block basement was laid which, when completed, raised the building about 30 inches above its previous elevation.  A large portico adorned the front of the building with columns of cement block for supports.  Doors to the basement were located below.  The interior was completely renovated and a heating plant installed.  New plumbing for bathrooms and lavatories was added.  Even the roof was newly shingled.

The Rutherfords had resided at the hotel under their ownership and so when the building was remodeled residence quarters were also included for the Kenefick family.  In fact, as part of the purchase, Cora Rutherford, the widow of Aaron, received the Kenefick home on North Dodge Street in lieu of a portion of the sale price and so the two families actually exchanged living quarters. 

Dr. Kenefick moved his office to the hospital building early in 1907 while still in the midst of construction.  He also traveled to Chicago in April of that year to order suitable equipment and other necessary furnishings. 

THE HOSPITAL OPENS

An official opening of the hospital was held on September 15, 1907.  Less than a month later a Dr. Murphy from Mason City came to tour the hospital and visit with Dr. Kenefick about its operations.  It seems that Mason City did not have a hospital at that time.  Although a plan to build a hospital had been formulated, sufficient funds for construction could not be raised.  I find it quite interesting that Algona had a hospital before Mason City.

Although privately owned, Dr. Kenefick offered the use of the hospital to other area physicians.  Local as well as visiting doctors would often use the facility.  Many surgeries were performed in the operating room there with follow up patient care on site.  It was interesting to note that several articles referred to the hospital as being scrupulously neat and clean.  Obviously the doctor maintained very sanitary conditions.  Many appendicitis operations were performed there as well as cancer surgeries.  As early as 1915 the facility had an x-ray machine which was put to good use for the diagnosis of broken bones.  During a typhoid outbreak, the hospital was filled to capacity with patients from as far away as Britt and Goldfield.

Edith Kenefick, Michael’s wife, was a graduate of nursing school and a wonderful asset for the hospital operations.  In addition to caring for patients, she was in charge of training and supervising the nursing staff.  Many area women worked and studied under her guidance.  In addition, several student doctors served their residency at the Algona Hospital.

Always with a burning desire to further his education and to learn the latest in medical developments, Dr. Kenefick took many classes.  Early on in his practice, he closed his office doors for six months while he took a class in bacteriology.  Later he took post graduate work at the Postgraduate and Polyclinic hospitals in Chicago, the Minnesota university college of medicine and at Bellevue, New York. 

He served as past president of the Austin-Flint, Cedar Valley and Twin Lakes medical societies and in every office in the Kossuth County Medical Association.  Because of his statewide reputation, he also served a term as president of the Iowa State Medical Association. 

The good doctor had a reputation for treating all people equally, whether rich or poor.  No matter the weather he had to battle, Dr. Kenefick would do his best to care for his patients.  He often treated people without any expectation of payment and would turn down payments from families he felt were too destitute to afford his fees even when they would somehow scrape the funds together.

Blessed with a good sense of humor, he was full of Irish wit and loved to both share a joke and to hear one as well.  It was said that his friends were numbered by his acquaintances.

THE ALGONA HOSPITAL CLOSES

The hospital officially closed January 31, 1931 after 24 years of faithful service to the community.  There were several reasons for the closing.  Vera Ogren, the head nurse who had been managing the hospital for the last few years, had resigned to get married leaving an aging Dr. Kenefick to find an appropriate replacement.  A competing hospital was also operating in Algona making it difficult for each to pay their way.  Improvements in travel made it much easier for patients to seek treatment out of town.   

The patients and all hospital equipment were transferred to the Kossuth Hospital.  Dr. Kenefick continued to office in the building until the structure was sold a few months later to the local Masons to be transformed into a Masonic Temple.  In 1973 the building was torn down to make room for a drive up banking facility for Iowa State Bank.

The doctor moved his office to new quarters where he continued to practice.  He was delighted when his nephew, Dr. John Kenefick, moved to Algona and joined his practice.  However, their partnership did not last long.  Not in the best of health, Dr. M.J. Kenefick passed quietly from this life on August 5, 1932, from a brain hemorrhage in his sleep.

The site in 2016

The Algona Hospital became a cornerstone of downtown Algona.  The structure was admired by local citizens and visitors alike and was often included as a universally recognizable symbol of Algona.  It was pictured on postcards both on its own and grouped with other one-of-a-kind community buildings.  Thanks to these many photos, it will live on in the history of Algona.

Until next time,

Jean

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